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Issue#11 #9 Issue

Published Biweekly January 6, 9, 2020 February 12 Tevet, 11 Shevat, 5780

Region Braces for Response

his ultimate love to Hashem. The arts bring that after a very contentious and draining us closer to the Creator. God created a Education Committee meeting, he couldn’t isiting the Levene home is a treat, not only for the company of Rabbi beautiful, colorful, musical world, and we sleep. He got up and painted this painting the By Yaakov Lappin/JNS cansevere show scenarios. our appreciation for these great entitled “Salamandria.” Salamandria is a Abraham and Choni Levene,for but formost Even though Iran may seekHis to creativity.” creature (Messechet Chagiga 27a) that is gifts by imitating the treasure trove of seforim, Judaica, art, launch a calculated retaliation, he American airstrike created by and comes out of the fire. As you approach the house, you see a books, and the stories behind them. The which would exact a price withassassination of Iran’s colorful menorah sculpture centered in the One of the Rabbi’s favorite paintings on Rabbi and Choni are both artistic (more out from going to war, no oneflank can the stairs, additional display is behind his seat at his study desk. garden. Lions aboutIslamic that later)Revolutionary and they come be sure of where will go Stepping through the He purchased the portrait of HaRav Hagoan Guard families. Corps’ Works Quds of Force lions inevents the vestibule. artistic art, in countless next. commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem doorway you enter to spaces of contrast; Reb Avraham Yitzchok Kook, ztvk”l, by Ruth mediums from Judaica, paintings, sculpture, Indications of bright Iran’s yellow in- and somber black, Gila himself. Particularly meaningful, as the Soleimani, in to Baghdad early and papercuts music, micrography, and cheery poetry are incorporated all aspects tent toofescalate in the on Friday follows a into major sunshine and region dark, serious and whimsical. Rabbi was the first baby in the family circle their lives. late miscalculation on the part of were already No apparent wall is inunadorned. No space is named after Rav Kook. As you move from November, when U.S. Gen. Tehran in the decision to up the unoccupied. And always a lion is at hand! one side to the other in front of this portrait, The Rabbi explains, “The difference Kenneth F. McKenzie, the ante against the United States. Enter the living room, the dark and serious the Rav’s eyes mystically follow you. between Judaism and Hellenism is that head of the military’s Central While the extent of Iran’s reroom of seforim on black bookcases, over The sun beckons and we move to the the hero or role model for Hellenism is responsible for the sponse is not yetking clear,and military mantle (filled with lions of all types) is adjoining room, filled with plants, more books the philosopher the roleCommand model the planners in the region, Soleimani a medal from Iranian Supreme lion surrounded byreceives and objets d’art (and always more lions). for Judaism is the poet includking. King David, a fiery oil painting of aQassem ing in Israel, needand to prepare Ali Khamenei. (source: Wikimedia Commons) CONTINUED ONby P. 6the Leader painted Rabbi. Ayatollah He explains through his will poetry shira, expressed flames CONTINUED ON P. 14 By Linda Dubin Garfield

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he Survivors’ Talmud is January an n Monday, 27, the liberation of Auschwitz. edition publishedJewish Surrounded by their teachers, 2020, Perelman in theDay United SchoolStates fifth graders students sat in reverent Zone in Allied-Occupied gathered to watch a livestream silence while bearing witness Germany at theanniversary request of the 75th of to the historic event. After of Holocaust survivors the commemoration, in the displaced students were persons camps. At the Rabbi Mordecaiencouraged Terebelo, Menahel to reflect 13th Siyum HaShas, at Politz Hebrew andThese rabbi onAcademy the Shoah. held on January 1 at at Congregation Ahavas beautifully Torah, poems MetLife Stadium in New examines the gemara with portraytogether the maturity, Jersey, the siyum was his students. v u l n e ra b i l i t y a n d made by Rabbi Shmuel humanity of the overflow crowd at of Kamenetsky using a volume was an young students people at the from this printing. More than nearly 20,000 Perelman. 90,000 people Maurice Kanter wereElipresent Hocking at MetLife there CONTINUED ON P. 19 26 5th Grade Stadium, and 5th Grade

By Nachi Troodler By Akiva Erlbaum ’ve driven down Forshay Road in Monseyack hundreds in my of times. Having day, grown up an in Monsey less thanideal twodream miles from there, I’ve traveledforthat scenario a large majority of road on countless occasions during the Jewish coursedayofschool my students in my circles to lifetime. However, as Iwas drove eventually achieve Hall Fame down Forshay Road onof Sunday status on the heels of long, afternoon, December 29,athings illustrious career in professional were noticeably different. sports, while still managing to News trucks lined both sides maintain a fully observant Jewish of the street, TVstraying reporters were lifestyle and not from the doing live interviews, and there faith. Throughout the maturing were hordes of peoplehowever, walking stages of my childhood, in various directions. my parents and teachers would Approximately 15 athletes hours stress the point that and public whether earlier, on figures Motzei – Shabbat, intentionally often December 28,or a not man – walked

into the home of Rabbi Chaim provided a false impression of a Leibish Rottenberg as people reality that seemed to be rooted were gathered there to celin true, authentic happiness. ebrate theoneseventh night to of However, only needs Chanukah. After entering the peer a bit beyond the surface to rabbi’s home, he unsheathed recognize that their high-profile a large machete and lacking began lives are frequently people, seriously astabbing recipe for sustainable joy grounded a strong depthThe of wounding in several of them. meaningful living. attacker then attempted to enI convinced terConsequently, Rabbi Rottenberg’s shul, myself to steer clear of perceiving Congregation Netzach Yisroel, professional athletes which is located next as doorrole to models and mentors for the the rabbi’s home, but thankfully kind of person that I eventually those inside the shul heard the wanted to become. I began to commotion from the house and reserve those positions for the locked the thereby preRabbis anddoor, real-life heroes, venting the attacker from whose admirable deeds getand ting in and likely lives. of adherence to a saving strict code conduct would serve as loftier

CONTINUED ON P. 7 CONTINUED ON P. 16

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W SAUDI ARABIA BARS IRAN FROM OIC MEETING ON TRUMP PLAN (JNS) Saudi Arabia on Monday barred an Iranian delegation from an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Jeddah to discuss the recently revealed U.S. Middle East peace plan, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. “The government of Saudi Arabia has prevented the participation of the Iranian delegation in the meeting to examine the ‘deal of the century’ plan at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” said ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi, according to Reuters. Saudi authorities had not issued visas for the Iranian delegation, said Mousavi. Mousavi added that Iran has filed a complaint with the OIC. There was no immediate comment from Saudi officials. Also on Monday, Mousavi announced during a press conference in Tehran that Iran will not participate in bilateral talks with the United States, reported Reuters. “Iran does not have and will not have any kind of bilateral negotiation with [the] American[s] and this is our policy,” said Mousavi, according to the report. “What [the Iranian authorities] have emphasized is that the Americans should return to the situation before 2017 and remove the unilateral sanctions they have imposed and return to the negotiation table within the framework of [the] 5+1 [nations],” said Mousavi. Separately, a leaked recording of an exchange between an Iranian air-traffic controller and an Iranian pilot aired by a Ukrainian television channel on Sunday purports to demonstrate that despite days of denials, Iranian authorities knew immediately that Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was downed by Iranian missiles, the AP reported. The passenger airliner was shot down on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people aboard. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the recording’s authenticity, according to the report. REPORT: GAS PIPELINE IN SINAI ATTACKED, ISRAELI IMPORTS UNAFFECTED (JNS) Gunmen attacked a gas pipeline in the northern Sinai Peninsula late Sunday, according to Egyptian security sources, but imports of Israeli natural gas were unaffected. The attackers, suspected Islamist terrorists, blew up the pipeline west of el-Arish, causing a fire but no casualties, according to Reuters. The pipeline brings gas to homes and factories in el-Arish and central Sinai and has been attacked several times in the past, the sources were quoted as saying in the report. Egyptian authorities stopped the flow of gas to extinguish the fire, officials said, according to the AP. Egyptian security forces have been fighting

RLD NEWSBRIEFS

an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai for years. Egypt began importing gas from Israel’s Leviathan field in January through a pipeline which includes a subsea section that connects el-Arish to Ashkelon, Israel. “The flow of gas from Leviathan to Egypt is continuing as normal,” said the partners developing the Leviathan field said in a statement, according to Reuters. IDF STRIKES GAZA, IMPOSES PUNITIVE MEASURES FOLLOWING ROCKET ATTACK (JNS) In the wake of rocket fire and incendiary balloon launches from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Israeli warplanes and helicopter gunships struck Hamas targets in northern Gaza on Sunday, and the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it would freeze cement imports to the coastal enclave. The Israeli military on Sunday reported that it had hit a Hamas “war room” and underground facilities “in response to hightrajectory fire and the launch of incendiary balloons from Gaza into Israel.” On Saturday night, a rocket launched from Gaza landed in an open area in the Sha’ar HaNegev region. No damage or casualties were reported. Video circulated after the attack of Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz taking cover in a bomb shelter along with his staff and local residents after warning sirens sounded. Earlier that day, multiple balloon bouquets rigged with explosive devices were launched from Gaza into southern Israel, landing in Lachish and Merhavim regional councils. In response to the attacks, Israel suspended cement imports into Gaza and cut the number of commercial entry permits to Gazans by 500—an approximately 9 percent decrease. “The decision was made following security consultations and in light of repeated terror activity from the Gaza Strip against Israeli citizens over the past weeks, which have represented a violation of Israeli sovereignty,” said the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) in a statement. Israel carried out airstrikes in Gaza early on Friday in response to the launching of three rockets from the strip. Two of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome airdefense system, while the third landed in an open area. The retaliatory strikes were carried out against a “wide array of targets belonging to the Hamas terror group” and constituted “a real blow to Hamas’s abilities to build up” its forces, according to the Israeli military. No injuries were reported in the strikes. No group took responsibility for Friday’s rocket attacks, which came days after U.S. President Donald Trump released his longawaited Mideast peace plan, which has

been accepted by Israel but rejected by the Palestinians, who have taken to the streets to protest the proposal. US SANCTIONS HEAD OF ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION OF IRAN, AS IT ALSO EXTENDS WAIVERS (JNS) The United States announced that it has sanctioned the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its chief, Ali Akbar Salehi. The agency “has played a big role in Iran breaching its key nuclear commitments” under the 2015 nuclear deal, said U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook at a press conference at the U.S. State Department. “It has exceeded its commitments on uranium stockpile an enrichment levels. [Salehi] personally inaugurated the installation of new advanced centrifuges to expand its uranium enrichment capacity.” “He also chaired a ceremony when Iran started injecting uranium gas into advanced IR-6 centrifuge machines,” continued Hook. Hook also announced that the United States will extend sanctions waivers for another 60 days to continue allowing Russian, Chinese and European companies to keep operating at Iranian nuclear facilities, despite U.S. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The United States has continuously extended the civilian nuclear waivers under the 2015 agreement since withdrawing from in May 2018 despite reimposing sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new financial penalties against the regime as part of what the administration has called a “maximum pressure” campaign. The deadline to extend the waivers, which have lasted 90 days, is Saturday. They affect the Arak and Bushehr facilities, and the Tehran Research Reactor, where the fuel is provided by Russia, which also removes the facility’s spent fuel after being used in the reactor. Hook did not elaborate on the change of time frame. The nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers allowed Tehran to continue its nuclear program within certain limits in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions. In November, the United States canceled a sanctions waiver to allow research at the Fordow nuclear facility. It took effect last month. The move came as Iran announced and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the regime resumed uranium enrichment at Fordow, which is underground, in violation of the Iran nuclear deal. Nonetheless, Republicans on Capitol Hill, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have previously objected to waivers being extended and are likely do so in response to the upcoming

TABLE OF CONTENTS World Newsbriefs.............................................. 4 Israel News..................................................6-7, 10 Publisher’s Perspective.................................. 8 Editor’s Letter....................................................... 8 Letter to the Editor............................................ 8 Op-Ed........................................................................ 9 Community Happenings.............................. 11 Community News..................................... 12-26 Features..........................................................27-30 Divrei Torah...................................................31-32 Health & Wellness...........................................32 Food & Wine...............................................33-34 House to Home by House of Kosher ............................ 33 Roast by Jonathan Chodosh ....................... 34 Schools..........................................................35-38 Sports...............................................................39-41 Home & Living...........................................42-43 Important Tips for First-Time Home Buyers by Israela Haor-Friedman...........................42 What Buyers Want – Do You Agree? by Anne Goldberg.......................................... 43 extension. According to a spokesperson for Cruz’s office, the senator “believes that the waivers should have been canceled months ago, and in fact should have never been granted. He will continue to work with his colleagues in the Senate and the House to ensure that they are revoked.” Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the chairwoman of the House Republican caucus, slammed the move. “This decision perpetuates [former President Barack] Obama’s disastrous nuclear deal and sustains Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, even as Tehran continues on its path of escalation,” she told JNS. “I urge the president to fully implement his successful maximum pressure campaign against Iran and revoke these waivers once and for all.”

Where can I pick up a copy of the Philadelphia Jewish Link? See page 30 for a complete list of pickup locations 4

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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ISRAEL NEWS

Auschwitz Liberation Ceremony Draws World Leaders, Holocaust Survivors and Their Families

“Seventy-five years ago today, when Soviet troops entered these gates, they had no idea what lay behind them. And since that day, the entire world has struggled with what they found inside,” said World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder. (JNS)

n the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Monday, January 27, Holocaust survivors and world leaders gathered to commemorate the 75 anniversary of the liberation of the camp, where a stark message about the growth of anti-Semitism was delivered. About 200 survivors of the concentration camp attended the program, many of them elderly Jews, in addition to non-Jews who traveled from across the world from countries including Israel, the United States, Australia, Peru, Russia, Slovenia and elsewhere. Joined by their own children, grandchildren and even great-grandchild, the ceremony was held in a large heated

Survivors of Auschwitz laying a wreath of flowers on Monday, January 27. (credit: Omar Marques/Getty Images)

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tent that straddled the infamous train tracks that had transported people to the camp where some 1.1 million people were killed, including 960,000 Jews. The Soviet Red Army liberated the camp on Jan. 27, 1945. Delivering the keynote address was World Jewish Congress president and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria Ronald S. Lauder, who warned about the rise in anti-Semitism as the world commemorated the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Lauder presented keynote remarks on behalf of the Pillars of Remembrance, private donors who support the

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

ISRAEL NEWSISRAEL NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Auschwitz Liberation Iran Crossed Red LineCeremony with Trump Draws World Leaders, Holocaust Administration SurvivorsFROM and P.Their Families CONTINUED 6 CONTINUED FROM P. 6

region, neutralize American influence Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation and and intimidate states that stood in his its mission to preserve the authenticity way. He brutally repressed Shi’ites in of the site, at the memorial ceremony Iraq, who were fed up with their Iranianon the grounds of the death camp influenced corrupt government. Under marking the liberation. On Monday, the Soleimani’s directive, militias in Iraq$2 U.S. announced that it would donate turned squads, mercilessly million into to thedeath foundation. gunning hundreds of protesters Lauderdown emphasized that it was on Iraqi streets—meaning many unbridled anti-Semitism, that combined Iraqis will not be upset tothat seeled histodewith world indifference, the parture fromAs thesuch, scene. Holocaust. and in the shadow their choiceoftoanti-Jewish, step up attacks on ofIn a resurgence anti-Israel activity worldwide, he urged citizens the world’s top superpower, Soleimani and the government leaders everywhere and Iranian regime made a numto speak out errors against and ber of critical in intolerance recent weeks. hatred. Attacking Americans in Iraq was one; ‘Do not betaunt silent.ofDo not beon indifferent. Khamenei’s Trump Twitter, ’ “Today is about you, the survivors, saying that the U.S. president was and I cannot to was tell another; you how powerless to actbegin in Iraq grateful I am that you and the mob attack onare thehere, U.S. and em-in some cases, here with your children bassy in Baghdad was a third mistake, and grandchildren, said. sensitive “Seventywhich touched on ”ahe highly five years ago today, when Soviet American nerve. The U.S. establishtroops entered these gates, they ment has painful memories from the had no idea what lay behind them. embassy siege in Tehran during the And Islamic since that day, the entire world 1979 Revolution and the 2012 has struggled with what they found attacks on U.S. government facilities in inside.” Libya. Benghazi, Lauder continued, saying “when we The Iranians displayed a major mishear something is anti-Semitic, calculation in failingthat to understand how when we hear someone talk about

A Hate Crime In My Hometown the U.S. would view these incidents, and when Soleimani arrived in Baghdad— CONTINUED FROM P. 1 apparently to plan more attacks—the miscalculation only grew. The suspect was subsequently ar“The highly vigorous American rerested in New York City and federal hate sponse points to the fact that from crime charges were filed by prosecutors the U.S.’s standpoint, the Iranians against the alleged attacker. crossed a red line, and it seems the The heinous and cowardly attack drew Americans had intelligence that the instant condemnation from across the Iranians were going to cross further political spectrum, both in the United red lines,” Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov States and Israel, with Prime Minister Amidror, former national security Netanyahu, President Trump, Senate adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Netanyahu, told JNS. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and many of the “The American response is a warning Democratic presidential candidates to the Iranians, but also it is designed to issuing public statements denouncprevent the operation that the Iranians ing the anti-Semitic attack. New York were planning,” added Amidror, a seGovernor Andrew Cuomo met with Rabbi nior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Rottenberg and called the attack “an Strategic Studies. “Since we do not act of domestic terrorism,” while a host know how the Iranians will respond, of elected officials, including Senators the assessments are not important. We Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, must assume that the Iranians will reRepresentatives Nita Lowey and Eliot spond, and we have to be ready for this Engel, and NYS Attorney General Letitia response.” James, visited the area and met with local That readiness should include intencommunal and political leaders. World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder at Auschwitz concentration sive intelligence-gathering activity with I had the opportunity to speak with and Extermination camp for ceremonies marking the 70th year of its liberation by a major focus on identifying Iranian Josef Gluck, who was hailed as a hero Allied forces, January 2015. (credit: European Jewish Press) preparations to strike. The Iranian reafter the attack and recognized by ofIsrael unjustly, when Jewsattacks are attacked Polish President sponse might well include on ficials as likely havingAndrzej preventedDuda, furon your streets, do not be silent. Do not ther whoinjuries earlierin light marched throughas the the Israel. of his actions be indifferent. And do not just do this infamous entrance to the camp with “We have to be ultra-cautious,” emsituation was unfolding. Gluck, whose for the Jewish people aroundno theone world. grandfather Polish survivors, also addressed phasized Amidror, “because first moved to Monsey the in Do this for your children, do this for your gathering. knows how the Iranians will respond.” 1966, tried to shepherd people away from grandchildren.” “We have with us the last living

survivors, the last among those who saw the machete-wielding attacker in Rabbi the Holocaust with hurled their own ” he Rottenberg’s house, a coffeyes, ee table said. at the assailant, and took down his liIsraeli President Reuven also cense plate number as he fledRivlin the scene, attended the ceremony, which followed thereby providing law enforcement with the Fifthinformation World Holocaust Forum in valuable that helped lead to Jerusalem on Jan. 23, which brought nearly his arrest. 50“The leaders sizablehadlakas international Rav and just afinished neigathering together for commemorative ros, saying some Torah and giving out speeches gelt, and and joint of Chanukah theremembrance guy came in and World War II devastating Europe, and in started hitting people right and left,” he particular, European Jewry. told me as he described the chaotic and Rivlin scene. met earlier Duda, who terrifying Taking with a group of people boycotted those proceedings after he with him, Gluck ran out through the kitchwas not included as a main speaker. en, circled back around the front of the Poland, and along with a the number other building reentered house of through Eastern European countries, has been the front door. In the process, he tried to criticized for downplaying its role and help Josef Neumann, who remains in critthe condition acquiescence of its citizens the ical and who doctors fearinmay Holocaust. never regain consciousness due to the “We remember that Nazi Germany severity of the injuries he sustained at the initiated, planned and implemented hands of the attacker. the genocidetheofcoff the people “I grabbed ee Jewish table and threw in it Poland and other places, and that takes in his face,” Gluck said. After beingitstruck full the responsibility its actions. by table, the for assailant exited And the we also remember, with distress, that home, as did Gluck. The attacker walked significant assistance came from over to Rabbi Rottenberg’s shul nextacross door, all of Europe, and that also demands but when he looked at the glass doorsthe to acceptance responsibility, said locked, Israel’s the shul andofsaw that they ”were president. he got into his car. As he was pulling Among attendance away, Gluckother took leaders down hisinlicense plate was German President Frank-Walter number and provided it to the police. Steinmeier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Ukrainian CONTINUEDPresident ON P. 20 Volodymyr Zelensky.

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THE PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE

ith his strong ties to Philadelphia and his status as a global basketball icon, Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash was shocking for many of us. While I never met him, I felt like I knew him. For many of us, our first introduction to Kobe was when he made the bold decision in 1996 to go straight from high school to the NBA, à la Kevin Garnett, who in 1995 became the first player to be drafted right from school to the NBA in two decades. Kobe’s exploits as a player were legendary and his status as one of the best to ever play the game is forever etched into our minds. There was the epic 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, in which Kobe seemingly scored at will and appeared to be virtually unstoppable. There was the time he scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks in 2005, in a game in which he played only three quarters. There was the game in 2009 in which Kobe walked into Madison Square Garden and wowed the New York crowd by putting up 61 points. There was the head-to-head matchup with Michael Jordan, then of the Washington

punished by our teachers who encouraged us to partake in this odd assortment. Yes, we did learn the words to Hashkediya Porachat (“The Almond Tree Blooms”) and sang collectively during music class in the weeks leading up to the holiday. But even still, drawing a connection between this unusual celebration and trees blooming in Israel, 6,000 miles away, was challenging at best. There are a number of differing explanations of what precisely is being celebrated on Tu B’Shevat. To name a few: 1. The day the trees start to bloom again. 2. The birthday of trees. 3. The day when farmers begin to calculate the tithing of their fruit crop for the coming year. 4. The day the sap begins to flow once again to revitalize the trees. Now how can we properly celebrate a holiday when we aren’t even sure what we are celebrating? I think Jews in general do better with a more scripted way of marking a holiday (think Pesach Seder or the specific

sounds of the shofar that we are required to hear on Rosh Hashanah). Perhaps that is why Tu B’Shevat Seders have become popular of late. But even these are wide open to interpretation. Might I suggest that we start with simply teaching our children the Seven Species of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates). Then, depending on where you live, either plant a tree (weather permitting), or mark a date on the calendar closer to Spring when this can be done, or make a monetary donation to an organization who will plant a tree in Israel on your behalf. And finally, offer edible (read: NOT buckser) fresh fruit to your family from the varieties that grow in Israel and discuss how each species is miraculously able to thrive in a desert environment. Wishing you all a meaningful and tasty Tu B’Shevat! Lisa Stein Editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Editor, Lisa Stein, is correct when she writes about the current Astros cheating and says this is not the first time. For example, Bobby Thompson’s shot heard round the world would not have been fired if the New York Giants weren’t stealing signs. The Brooklyn Dodgers were 13 1/2 games ahead of the Giants on August 15th when miraculously the Giants played .700 ball and overtook the Dodgers to force a three-game playoff. With the short series tied at a game

the fact that he constantly gave it his all. “I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success,” Kobe once said. “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” Most of us will not become NBA players, and it would be foolish for us to emulate Kobe Bryant simply because of his basketball prowess. Instead, we should look to the meticulous approach that Kobe employed in his quest to improve himself, whether it was as a basketball player, a husband, a father, a businessman, or as a human being. Settling for mediocrity in life is by no means the ultimate goal; rather, striving for excellence and seeking constant growth should be the engine that propels us forward. The other and perhaps more obvious lesson that we should learn in light of this tragedy is that we must never take life for granted and that we should always cherish and make the most of our time on this Earth. Time is one of our most precious commodities, and squandering time is deleterious to our personal and spiritual well-being. We should live each day and love each day, because we have no idea what tomorrow may have in store. Nachi Troodler Publisher

EDITOR’S LETTER

u B’Shevat (the fifteenth of Shevat) is one of those minor Jewish holidays that often flies under the radar. The holiday, which will be observed next week on February 10th, is a celebration of the New Year for Trees – in Israel. Perhaps therein lies the problem. I think it is challenging for us as Americans to feel a connection to a holiday that is inherently Israeli, where the climate and topography are so different from what we experience here in the United States at this time of year. As a young student in day school, I vividly recall being handed a Ziploc bag of assorted dried fruits on Tu B’Shevat. Invariably, the bag contained a sample of buckser (dried carob) that was black in color, emitted an unpleasant odor and was rock-hard. As a child, it was unclear if we were being treated to an exotic delicacy or if we were somehow being

To The Editor:

Wizards, in 2003, when Kobe scored 55. And, of course, there was that magical night in April 2016 when Kobe played the final NBA game of his celebrated 20-year career and put on an unforgettable show in front of the Lakers’ home crowd en route to a 60-point performance against the Utah Jazz. That being said, Kobe Bryant was not perfect, and in 2003 he found himself as the defendant in a sexual assault case that was ultimately dropped, and he was also a defendant in a related civil case, which was settled out of court. However, Kobe managed to rebound from his legal troubles, and his reputation as a loving father and spouse helped him put that disturbing incident in the rear-view mirror, although it was never truly forgotten. The tragedy that claimed nine lives, including Kobe Bryant and his young daughter Gianna, was absolutely heartwrenching, and we will never know why all of these people had their lives tragically cut short. As a general rule, when something life-altering happens, it is an opportune time to reflect and try to learn a lesson from what transpired. As I think about Kobe Bryant, one thing that everyone noted about him was his extraordinary desire to keep improving and

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apiece and with the Dodgers leading 4-1 in the ninth, it looked all but over. But, with Giants on second and third and one out and a 4-2 score, the Dodgers replaced starter Don Newcombe and brought in Ralph Branca. As we all know, Thompson took a high inside fastball on the second pitch and drilled it into the lower deck in short left field culminating in THE GIANTS WINNING THE PENNANT. What we know now and what we didn’t know then is that the Giants manager slick Leo Durocher planted a spy with binoculars in the distant center

Founder/Publisher Nachman Aaron Troodler Editor Lisa Stein Associate Editor Gwen Horowitz Contributing Editor Meryl Troodler Layout & Design Adam Negnewitzky Jewish Link Marketing Solutions Bookkeeper Gila Negnewitzky Sales Representative Danielle Daitch Consultants Moshe Kinderlehrer Jewish Link Media Group Contributors Carly Chodosh Jonathan Chodosh Dovid Halpern David Magerman Sam Maron Ari Nestlebaum Dr. Frani Pollack Yaeli Sokolic PJL Media Group, LLC P.O. Box 956 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 www.PhillyJewishLink.com Phone: 484-424-5200 Email: publisher@PhillyJewishLink.com Advertising: ads@PhillyJewishLink.com To submit news, events and photos: news@PhillyJewishLink.com The Philadelphia Jewish Link welcomes letters to the editor, which can be emailed to editor@PhillyJewishLink.com. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and appropriateness. We do not welcome personal attacks or disrespectful language and replies to letters through our website comment feed will not be posted online. We reserve the right to not print any letter. The Philadelphia Jewish Link, an independent publication, promotes Judaism and Zionism, and vigorous debate on these topics. The opinions reflected in articles from our contributors do not necessarily reflect PJL’s positions. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and edit for content and length. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising that in our opinion does not reflect the standards of the newspaper. We are not responsible for the kashrus of any product advertised in the Philadelphia Jewish Link. The PJL does not endorse any medical or nutritional claims by writers in our paper. The Philadelphia Jewish Link asks our advertisers to use pictures of women and men in their advertisements when women and men are mentioned.

field clubhouse stealing signs. Thus, it can be deduced that the .700 winning ball would not have been .700 thus giving the Dodgers the pennant and negating the drama of the three-game playoff. The Remedy. While I am not advocating the tenth plague for the Giants (much too severe), how about some good old-fashioned hail and boils with a little lice thrown in. Zachary Margolies Philadelphia, PA February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

OP-ED Why Should We Care About Auschwitz? As much as we may not want to, we must confront the depth of evil, malevolence and moral depravity humanity is capable of. By Edward Jacobs/JNS

an. 27 was chosen for International Holocaust Remembrance Day because it marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, which occurred on Jan. 27, 1945. According to a recent poll, 41 percent of Americans and 66 percent of millennials no longer know what Auschwitz was. Why should they, or we, care about Auschwitz? Oświęcim was a small town in southern Poland containing a few army barracks left over from World War I. Under German rule, those barracks became a concentration camp for members of the Polish underground and intelligentsia, and quickly grew to contain others. The first group to arrive—728 Poles, including Catholic priests and Jews—did so by train. Many more would follow. That necessitated “technological innovation.” The first crematorium was constructed during the summer of 1940. By spring of 1943, there were four crematoria being fed by eight gas chambers which could

collectively process 4,400 victims per day. Even those who don’t know what Auschwitz was have probably heard that somewhere the Nazis designed gas chambers to look like shower rooms. Contrary to popular belief, neither water nor gas came out of the showerheads— the gas was dropped in through the roof. Auschwitz was an industrial complex whose primary commodities were captivity, slave labor and murder. It was the largest. It was the most efficient. It was the culmination of lessons learned. Auschwitz was a netherworld where lawless terror, intimidation and brutality ruled. It personified the Nazi spirit. It was the archetype. It was constructed to prove that the unprecedented goal of exterminating an entire people was possible. It was a satanic reality conceived, enabled and realized by human beings. While the evil they promulgated was anything but banal, many of those who made it possible were banal indeed. Without the active and ongoing contribution of architects,

Are you concerned about your child’s development

bureaucrats, army officers, doctors, lawyers and businessmen, there could be no Auschwitz. As Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi observed: “Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men.” Auschwitz wields an inexorable hold on us to this day—and it’s a good thing it does. For at Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel reminds us, “Not only man died, but also the idea of man. It was its own heart the world incinerated at Auschwitz.” We should care about Auschwitz because as much as we may not want to, we must confront the depth of evil, malevolence and moral depravity humanity is capable of. Yes it was long ago and far away—but not that long ago, and not that far away. The United Nations designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. Rejecting any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution

by consensus condemning “without reserve” all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, whenever they occur. In honor of the day, last week saw over 50 international delegations descend upon Jerusalem for the largest gathering of world leaders in Israeli history. Many of them were present on Monday in Poland, at Auschwitz, for further commemorative activities and oaths of commitment to “the continued importance, 75 years after the Holocaust, of collective action against anti-Semitism and other forms of bias to ensure respect for the dignity and human rights of all people everywhere.” That these events are taking place with the level of participation we have seen in recent days is almost incomprehensible. Beneath the specter of resurgent violent anti-Semitism around the world, this recognition and its attendant call to action is both timely and encouraging. Let us not see Auschwitz as some

CONTINUED ON P. 10

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ISRAEL NEWS

Trump Administration’s Mideast Proposal Receives Subtle Support From Muslim Nations While some media outlets reported “muted” responses and even loud objections from the Arab world, the reality seems to be the opposite.

voiced his rejection of the plan two days before it was revealed. “Our position is very well known toward the so-called ‘deal of the century.’ The word ‘no’ is clear to everyone,” he said. Abdullah Swalha, founder and director of the Center for Israel Studies in Jordan, told JNS that the king’s objection notwithstanding, “Jordan, as most of the moderate Arab states, is reluctant to criticize the Trump deal, but at the same time doesn’t embrace it.” As such, the Jordanian ambassador in Washington reportedly declined an invitation to attend the White House ceremony. “Jordan will react to the plan specifically after coordinating with Egypt and other Arab countries,” said Swalha. “Jordan will adopt the strategy that maximizes the advantages of the plan, such as the status of the holy places, as mentioned in the plan, in addition to its position as a key actor in fighting terrorism in coordination with the U.S.” “The other aspect of Jordan’s strategy,” he added, “is to minimize the losses or

disadvantages of the plan through not clashing with the Trump administration, by separating the peace deal profile from its normal relations with the U.S., which is based on economic and security cooperation.” ‘The new normal under a new U.S.Israel understanding’ In a phone call arranged by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), David Makovsky told JNS that he is concerned about the plan and expressed reservations that it would work. The Palestinian’s signature policy was always defiance,” he said. “I am not betting on the Palestinians at this time to say ‘yes.’ “ According to Makovsky, two elements are driving the administration. The first is that this plan serves as “a reference point for the future.” “This is a reset,” he said. “And if Trump is re-elected, [Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud] Abbas or his successor will acquiesce to this new reality.” The second element, according to Makovsky, is that the Trump administration is saying to the Palestinians, “we are giving

you the chance.” “This is the new normal under a new U.S.-Israel understanding,” added Makovsky. “The questions of who wins the next election in the U.S. might impact whether this [plan] really is a reference point or not. If Trump wins, that will be the new normal.” He warned, however, that if Trump doesn’t get re-elected, “this might not be the reference point for the next administration.” Makovsky said that by giving the Palestinians four years to prove that they are capable of becoming a recognized state, the ball is now in their court to discuss the points of the plan and to seriously consider whether to accept it or not. “I hope they use that time to try to have these conversations,” he said. Krasna noted that past Saudi support of the Arab Peace Initiative—a 2002 Saudiled proposal that called for Israel’s full withdrawal from the disputed territories in exchange for normalization with Arab world—as a starting point,as well as previous remarks by King Salman, in which he expressed support for the Palestinians, demonstrates that it may be tougher to get the Saudis completely on board. However, Saudi Arabia, together with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, did express support for the U.S. administration’s “efforts,” while addressing the plan as a “starting point” for negotiations. “If the Palestinians strongly reject it, it is hard to believe the Saudis will support it,” he said. On the other hand, given the amount of flexibility towards Israel that Saudi Arabia has shown in recent years, especially with regard to confronting Iran, there are signals that could mean a shift in the Saudi position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Kransa, it could be that Bahrain’s support for the plan is a “trial balloon” for the Saudis. If the plan moves forward satisfactorily, it is possible that the Saudis may throw more of their support behind it.

indelible stain on all humanity. Let it lead us to renewed commitment to battle—in whatever way we can—those forces of evil running roughshod in the world, that we may redeem our collective humanity by “ensuring respect for the dignity and human rights of all people everywhere.”

Edward Jacobs is a partner in the conceptual design firm Berenbaum Jacobs Associates, specializing in the subjects of human rights and genocide. Jacobs was the concept and exhibition designer for the recently opened Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, as well as

the The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal. He has authored 10 graphic novels on genocide, and has a featured chapter in the upcoming Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology on the Arts and Humanities.

By Israel Kasnett/JNS

he words were barely out of U.S. President Donald Trump’s mouth— and the much-anticipated peace plan to resolve the century-old IsraeliPalestinian conflict for good was barely uploaded to the White House’s website— when the doomsayers and naysayers launched their attacks, mocking nearly every aspect of the proposal and condemning it to failure. But the three Muslim ambassadors in the East Room— from the nations of Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates—stood quietly, their silence understood as tacit support. Indeed, the cause of Palestinian statehood is no longer the unifying rallying cry across the Arab world that it once was. Speaking with JNS just before the plan was revealed, Joshua Krasna, an expert on strategic and political developments in the Arab world at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute, correctly predicted that Bahrain would be more supportive of the plan then, say, Saudi Arabia. Egypt’s response was surprisingly positive when some assumed that it would not say very much at all. In a statement it released shortly after the initiative was revealed, it said it “appreciates the continuous efforts exerted by the U.S. administration to achieve a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue, thereby contributing to the stability and security of the Middle East, ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Egypt called on Israel and the Palestinians to “undertake a careful and thorough consideration of the U.S. vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue, under U.S. auspices, for the resumption of negotiations … ” While some media outlets reported “muted” responses and even loud objections from Arab and Muslim countries, the reality seems to be the opposite. Krasna also correctly predicted that the Jordanians “will react badly.” Jordan’s King Abdullah II explicitly

Why Should We Care About Auschwitz? CONTINUED FROM P. 9 silent memorial for inhuman crimes of a distant age. Let us remember what went on there. Let us decide to care about what happened there, because it is an

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U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and members of his delegation, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (credit: Shealah Craighead/White House)

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

CONGREGATION DIBROT ELIYAHU Congregation Dibrot Eliyahu in Northeast Philadelphia hosted a Melave Malka that was attended by people throughout the Rhawnhurst community. The featured guest speaker was Rabbi Yehudah Peretz, a former pastor and a very engaging speaker, who talked about his past and present life and how he came to find Judaism.

RABBI YEHOSHUA YEAMANS IN HARRISBURG On January 21, Rabbi Yehoshua Yeamans of Congregation B’nai Israel – Ohev Zedek in Northeast Philadelphia delivered an invocation in front of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in Harrisburg.

MAYOR KENNEY VISITS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL O n J a n u a r y 2 7, I n t e r n a t i o n a l H o l o c a u s t R e m e m b ra n c e D a y, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney visited the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza and received a tour of the Plaza from Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation (PHRF) Executive Director Eszter Kutas and Board Vice Chair Matt Pestronk. After viewing the historical artifacts and the messages of tolerance displayed throughout the Plaza, the Mayor formally presented the Plaza with a generous donation from the City of Philadelphia.

NCSY NCSY of Greater Philadelphia hosted various events for the Cardin Scholars Program in Lower Merion, Cherry Hill and Huntingdon Valley. Lower Merion businessman and philanthropist David Magerman spoke to the teens as part of the Cardin Scholars Program in Lower Merion.

MEKOR HABRACHA/CENTER CITY SYNAGOGUE Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue celebrated its 5th Annual Gala on Sunday night, January 26 at the National Museum of American Jewish History, where they honored Lexi Schieber and Jon Gradman.

BNEI AKIVA OF PHILADELPHIA Bnei Akiva of Philadelphia enjoyed their second movie night of the year! They watched an exciting movie while enjoying popcorn and ice cream on a fun Motzei Shabbat.

Davening Bucks Sale The CBS Kollel had one of its amazing davening bucks sales this week. Kids can collect a davening buck by coming to shul for tefilla, and once every 5-6 weeks the kollel has a big sale. A big thanks to Rabbi Akiva Gavrylin for all of the work he puts in giving out and running the davening bucks program.

Avos U’Vanim The CBS Kollel’s weekly Motzei Shabbos Avos U’Vanim program has come to a close. Thank you to Rabbi Shimon Shain for running such an amazing program each week. The kollel looks forward to starting up again on Shabbos afternoon in just a few short weeks.

CBS KOLLEL

From L-R: Speaker of the House Hon. Mike Turzai, Rep. Ed Neilson of PA’s 174th Legislative District, Rabbi Yeamans, Ezra Wohlgelernter, and Hon. Jared Solomon of PA’s 202nd Legislative District. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Shevat, 5780 February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Learning Program The CBS Kollel puts on many learning programs throughout the week. Pictured here are the kollel’s Sunday Breakfast and Learn program, where the Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Meir Riber, gives a shiur on practical halachic topics over a bagel breakfast. Congratulations to Yosef Aryeh Naumets for his siyum on maseches Yuma at the kollel’s Wednesday Community Learning Night!

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As a member of the Einstein Victor Center team, Dr. Chani Yondorf, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Einstein Healthcare Network, provides women’s healthcare that honors the traditions of the Jewish community, while advocating for preconception screening of Jewish genetic diseases for young adults.

Since it first opened in August 2019, Zagafen, a Merion Station eatery that offers delicious dairy cuisine, has focused solely on offering a dinner option for its patrons throughout the community. That is about to change. On February 24, Zagafen will expand its hours to include a lunch option as well. The restaurant will be open from 11:00am–2:00pm for lunch from Monday–Thursday, and it will be open from 4:00pm–10:00pm for dinner from Sunday–Thursday. According to General Manager Thomas DiStefano, Zagafen’s new lunch menu is conducive to both people who are looking to have a leisurely lunch, and the business crowd, who may want a faster lunch option in the middle of the workday. The new lunch menu, which is available at www.zagafen.com, will consist of soups, various types of salads, including Caesar Salad, Kale Salad, Roasted Beet Salad and Chickpea Salad, different varieties of pizza, the Calza “Calzone,” Salmon “B.L.T.,” Tomato Mozzarella Grilled Cheese, and a Fungi & Mozzarella Melt. DiStefano noted that Zagafen’s dinner menu will also be undergoing changes, including adding some sandwich options to further contribute to the family-friendly feel of the restaurant. Both the new lunch menu and the modifications to the dinner menu are

being overseen by new Executive Chef Richard DiStefano, who is also the Executive Chef at Citron and Rose Tavern, Zagafen’s sister restaurant in Bala Cynwyd that features delectable meat fare. In addition, to the menu changes, Zagafen’s wine, liquor and beer list is being reworked as well. “We’re delighted to present the community with a great place to go for lunch,” said DiStefano, Zagafen’s General Manager. “The community was looking for a family-friendly place, and with opening for lunch and with the new menu, we are making it more familyfriendly, but not taking away the adult atmosphere.” “I’m excited about Zagafen being open for lunch,” said David Magerman, the restaurant’s owner. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good option for meeting people for lunch, and I think Zagafen will be a great atmosphere for lunch for families and for business meetings. I hope the community responds to the offering and supports it, so it can remain available for a long time to come.” DiStefano commented that in addition to rave reviews on the food offerings, the management and staff at Zagafen has also received positive feedback on the atmosphere and overall feel of the restaurant. “It’s beautiful in here – the vibe is energetic and lively,” he said. “It’s a terrific place to spend some time with your friends and family.”

Chani Yondorf, MD counsels a patient.

1-800-EINSTEIN EinsteinVictorCenter.org

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More than 300 people attended Lower Merion Synagogue’s Gala Reception on Motzei Shabbat, December 21 to pay tribute to Guests of Honor Stuart and Shari Rudoler and Outstanding Service Awardees Eliot and Israela Friedman. February January6,9,2020 2020| /1112Shevat, Tevet, 5780 5780

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COMMUNITY NEWS Where Religion, Art and Love Converge: The Home of Rabbi Abraham and Choni Levene CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Here, along with other artists, we find several more of Rabbi Levene’s works. Of interest to us, is the painting of the original Lower Merion Synagogue building. I ask the Rabbi if he has any other paintings that he chose. He confides that the only painting from his in-law’s (Rabbi Jacob and Dr. Belle Rosenbaum) collection that he wanted was a large work by Jeffrey Packard, titled, “The Gateway of Life.” We climb the stairs to see it, passing a portrait of the Rabbi, by Elkins Park artist Joye Schwartz, a portrait of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ztvk”l, by Khandros, and a LeRoy Neiman lion! When we approach “The Gateway of Life”, the Rabbi shares a letter written to his in-laws, by the artist: “The boat is the soul. The water is time. We pass from this world to the next Through the portal of life, we have both bounty and grief. The fire is the fire of faith and the will to live. I am certain that your place in Jewish history is bejeweled with the prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude of hundreds of artists yearning to see Hashem and the thousands of families supported and encouraged by your gifted taste and lev tov. I love you. I appreciate you. I thank you with all my life. Enjoy in good health my dear friends, – Jeffrey Packard” The Rabbi is a poet as well as an artist. Many of his poems were originally printed in the Lower Merion Synagogue monthly bulletins. Many people in the Lower Merion community remember the cover drawings he did for the bulletins as well. Choni and the Rabbi have created a warm and culturally rich environment. Choni’s favorite painting is one that was lovingly painted by her husband for her father, Yaakov Tzvi, z”l, who treasured it as did Choni’s mother. When they passed away Choni brought it home to her house. It is of a deer for Yaakov Tzvi. Another favorite by her husband is a dark atmospheric painting of an old mystical Aron Kodesh. Choni’s mother was, among other things, an interior designer, an artist, and a world expert on Judaica. Her father was a chazan and an appreciator of Jewish arts. Together they encouraged young Jewish artists and, under their influence, many of them became more interested in Judaism and became religious. Their collections started small, and the hunt for the items was part of Choni’s early life and started her on her own collection of Judaica. When her parents

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wanted to know what she wanted for her high school graduation present, Choni asked for an antique Torah Yad that she had seen when her parents were searching for mezuzahs for their collection. (The Rosenbaum mezuzah collection is on permanent display at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem.) There is a Mogen David sculpture at the Lower Merion Synagogue which was donated by the Rosenbaums. All her siblings also have an artistic sensibility. Her sisters are interior designers and painters and all of their homes reflect the idea that when you enter a Jewish home everything you see should reflect a love of Torah and mitzvot practiced within the walls. Choni has done many artistic adventures – floral arranging, cake decorating, party planning to name a few. She designs and needlepoints her own original tefillin and tallis bags for many members of her family and all of her grandsons. All of her children are creative! Judy paints and sings, Lolly studied architecture, sings, and does party planning. Beccy draws and writes prose and poetry. Jonathan appreciates the arts and loves museums. And the talent and interest go into the next generation as well. (If you are curious about the enormous collection of lions and their significance, here is the lowdown. Rabbi was born in Yerushalayim, the symbol of which is a lion. Rabbi and Choni are both descended from the tribe of Judah, whose symbol is a lion, and each of the Rabbi’s beloved grandfathers had lion names, Aryeh and Yehuda Leib.) The arts are alive and well at the Levenes, enriching their lives and the lives of those who know them. They are proud to name some of the artists whose works adorn their home: Mr. Riback, z”l, Ruth Feldman*, Linda Garfield*, Abby Greene*, Grace Miller, Dara Goldshmidt, Simmi Brodie*, Salvador Dali, Rebecca Lauer, Altamura, Abe Feigenbaum, Judith Wasserman, Michael Muchnick, Mordechai Rosenstein, Eleanor Schimmel, Bobbi Gordon, Richard McFee, Reuven Kovaks, Mindy Greenspoon, Saul Rabinow, Chaim Lauer, Vicki Falk, Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield, Chaya Levene, Kayla Friedman, Russell Jacobs, Kalman Friedus, and last but certainly not least, fantastic murals by Rose H. Lauer. Once the Rabbi was at a favorite old bookstore and he saw that they were burning books. He rescued as many as he could. One book from the 1800s which he rebound was “How to View a Picture.” Everyone sees things differently, he explained. The artist

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LMS bulletin covers

The original LMS Building (poet, visual artist, musician, etc.) sees what no one else can see and shares that vision with others through their art. Rabbi and Choni believe that the ultimate and truest art is Torah, mitzvot, and the great people who pass this glorious heritage from one generation to another. *Works by these artists can be seen in the Shabbat Suite at Lankenau Hospital as well. Linda Dubin Garfield, an award-winning printmaker and mixed media artist, creates visual memoirs exploring the mystery of memory and the magic of place, using hand-pulled printmaking techniques, photography, collage and digital imaging. She also creates installations that include public participatory art, especially when she is exploring themes relating to women in today’s culture. In 2005 she founded ARTsisters, a group of professional artists who empower each other and their community through art. In 2007 she started smART business consulting, helping emerging artists reach their goals and their audience, providing consulting and coaching on the business

Deer side of art through individual, small groups, and workshop experiences as well as providing opportunities to exhibit work. She also provides art-making workshops to several organizations like Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Centers for Older Adults, Simpson House and Atria Senior Living. Today she serves on several non-profit boards including Da Vinci Art Alliance, Congregation Beth Hamedrosh, and AMIT, and appreciates her good fortune to be able to make art every chance she gets. Learn more at www.lindadubingarfield.com. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Politz Hebrew Academy to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Concentration Camp Liberation With a Permanent Memorial

his year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz that took place in 1945. The “Sheris Haplaita,” those that had the determination and courage to rebuild a broken world, are getting older. Through their mesiras nefesh, we

inherited a world of Torah with Talmidei Chachamim, generations of shomrei Torah and mitzvos and thousands of Torah institutions that stand strong today. As time passes by, we are, unfortunately, losing the last of our survivors. Politz Hebrew Academy feels it is our obligation,

as a testament to the invincible spirit of klal Yisroel, to memorialize our kedoshim and our survivors. Politz will be creating a permanent memorial structure in one of our hallways and will list the names of those who survived as well as those who perished

in the Holocaust. If you are interested in submitting names, please contact Mrs. Karen Krebs-Wellerstein, Director of Development and Marketing, at: kkrebs-wellerstein@politzhebrewacademy. org and you will be provided with a form.

My Farewell To ‘The Black Mamba’

and he simply could not be fazed. At Friday night Shabbos dinner when I was growing up, my father would sometimes suggest a technique for tapping into the power of Shabbos through the analogy of channeling our inner-Kobe: that just as Kobe would get into the “zone” by creating a forcefield around himself – pushing all distractions aside and becoming transcendently focused on the court for the next 48 minutes of play – we could also get into a similar “zone” on Shabbos, by removing our external burdens and barriers and thereby becoming transcendently tuned into the peaceful sanctity of the day. Kobe went from being a young jock, climbing up the rankings in the Philadelphia basketball circuit at my very own hometown’s Lower Merion High School basketball program, to eventually becoming a household name worldwide, winning championships on the biggest stages with the brightest lights. The ways in which Kobe commanded the utmost respect from his peers and became known as the fiercest, most fiery competitor always struck a major chord with me. Kobe Bryant was not perfect in any sense of the word. He had to overcome tremendous adversity and many growing pains early in his career. Scandals and allegations swirled around the tabloids, and his complicated personal life was exposed to the world, tarnishing his once squeakyclean reputation. Sadly, he also struggled to maintain a healthy relationship with his parents as a result of several monetary and memorabilia disputes. My mom was

decidedly critical of my Kobe “idolization,” and rightfully so. In fact, she went as far as to ban members of our Erlbaum household from purchasing his highly acclaimed Mamba signature sneaker for many years, until eventually, I pushed the matter so much and eventually took advantage of her sports naivete. For all she knew, the new shoes that I just used her credit card to purchase were just a pair of LeBron’s. But now that I think of it, what reason would a Jewish mother have to favor Kobe? After all, at that time, he seemed to epitomize immorality and was seen as a delinquent punk, a person that no Jewish boy should ever model his behavior after. However, after years of gaining perspective and wisdom through life experiences and learning to take responsibility for his actions, Kobe changed the narrative and completely flipped his life around. Although I cannot claim to know how Kobe conducted himself behind closed doors, from an outsider’s point of view, I noticed a steady progression in the later years of his career leading up to the years preceding his death. He presented himself more and more as a well-spoken family man who exuded kindness and had an innate strong moral compass. He jumped at the opportunity to impart his vast knowledge in order to help the next generation use basketball as a healthy outlet and share the same love of the game that he felt. He also expanded his repertoire, which began to include achievements such as winning an Oscar for his short film, avid advocacy for children’s education, and many other charitable pursuits. Being a young kid myself from a suburb of Philadelphia known as Lower Merion, I always felt a special bond with Kobe Bryant, even though I knew deep down that the feelings were likely not mutual. Although he was a lifetime Laker and I am a dedicated truster of “The Process,” I appreciate him for putting my township on the map, and for doing so in such astonishing fashion. I am not exaggerating when I say that I spent countless hours studying tape on the ins and outs of his game, breaking it down to a science. I would analyze the finesse, grace and elegance required to perform his silkysmooth fade-away jumper, and I would head outside in attempt to replicate his masterful footwork, often to no avail. Watching Kobe perform and master his craft caused me to view basketball as a true art form. In

retrospect, I realize that it would likely have been more beneficial for me long-term to have hit the books with all of that spare time, but those memories on the court will last me a lifetime. Directly following Kobe’s untimely passing, I spent hours trying to process the reality, lying restless at 4 a.m. in my bed, awe-stricken and attempting to comprehend a world without Kobe. His death is hitting me with a lot more force than any celebrity passing than I’ve ever been exposed to. He was and probably always will be the most electrifying player ever in my eyes, and my personal all-time favorite. It also breaks my heart to know that his daughter Gigi, a rising star in her own right who had so much life ahead of her to live, has now been stripped of her exciting potential and opportunities for greatness. I know, however, that these painful losses were in accordance with Hashem’s will, and that everything He does is for a reason. It is of course comforting to have the faith that every decision Hashem makes is calculated and part of His masterplan, and is somehow ultimately for the good – even when things emotionally feel exactly the opposite, which is probably why it was most difficult for me to hold back my tears as I was imagining the anguish and suffering that Kobe’s family must have been experiencing. My prayers go out to the entire Bryant family, to the countless individuals that Kobe was close to and had an enormous impact on, and of course to all the families and friends of the other victims who perished in the tragic helicopter crash. Kobe, there is so much more that I could say about you. From the bottom of my heart I want to say: Thank you Kobe Bean Bryant. Thank you for all that you’ve taught me about what it means to give every fiber of your being in order to excel in an area, or to reach a goal that you wish to attain; for being a trailblazer and an ambassador for the game that I hold dearest to my heart; for not allowing your elevated status and countless accolades to dissuade you from being a personable and approachable mentor for the next generation; for the phenomenal memories and iconic moments that I have had the privilege to witness; for showing the world that repentance and self-improvement are always feasible; and for just being you. So, for the last time, Mamba Out... Rest easy, legend...

CONTINUED FROM P. 1 examples for how I could truly strive to better myself. I must admit, however, I was still unhealthily obsessed with sports, so I’d tell myself that despite the extremely apparent shortcomings of athletes off the court/field, there was still plenty to learn from how they conducted themselves in relation to the game that had become second nature to them. I viewed their practices of intensive grit, consistent discipline, and a diligent work ethic as models and motivations that I could try to apply back to many areas of my own life. My grade school gym teacher, Coach Kenny, imparted many invaluable gems and lessons to me throughout my youth, and I partially credit him for molding me into the ethical, refined, “menschy” human being that I strive to be each day. I can still distinctly recall how poignant and impactful Coach’s words were when he used to describe the late, great Kobe Bryant. He laid out several distinguishing factors for us that he felt gave Kobe that edge and made him visibly dominant over his opponents. Kobe had that combination of an unrivaled passion and desire to be the best, fused with a fundamentally sound presence of mind that allowed him to block out all outside noise and tap into a freakish, Zen-like state that is best described as “Kobe-Mode.” When threatened, he wouldn’t even flinch, and when heckled, he didn’t need to retort with words. He let his game do the talking for him,

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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ISRAEL NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Academy to Honor the Bleiers NotCaskey Just Torah Another and Elana Stiel Obstfeld at Annual Dinner

Iranian General

By Nachi Troodler By Eyal Zisser/JNS n Sunday evening, February 23, Caskey Academy (CTA)alike, will or Iran’sTorah friends and foes hold its 56th Annual Scholarship Qassem Soleimani was second Banquet tribute toLeader Guests Ali of onlyand to pay Supreme Honor Sara and Josh Bleier and to Mrs. Khamenei. Tehran will struggle to find Elana Stiel Obstfeld, the Rabbi Israel M. another strategist of his caliber. Axelrod Excellence in Education Awardee. For many in the Middle East, Gen. The event, which will be held at Qassem Soleimani, commander of the the Crystal Tea Room Philadelphia, will Quds Force, the inIslamic Republic’s feature a buffet dinner at 5:30pm, followed elite extraterritorial black-ops arm, by presentations a special video embodied Iran’s and desires, aspirations at 7:15pm. There will complimentary and directives withberespect to the parking. country’s operations worldwide. He “Wealso are the so man excited have suchthe a was whotocontrolled special pair of honorees, ” said CTA Head purse strings with respect to funding of School Rabbithat Isaac Entin. the weapons have so “Sara often Bleier ignithas been a pivotal force in the planning, ed the region. design construction of ourfoes renovation For and Iran’s friends and alike, and expansion. We are so proud to be Soleimani was second only to Supreme honoring devotion toailing, CTA. elderly Elana Leader Aliher Khamenei—an Obstfeld was the driving force behind man who sits in an ivory tower in Tehran, our music, from drama, ourregional school-wide detached theand harsh realenrichment programs. They are both ity on the ground. leaders every sense ” Littleinwonder thenof the thatword. Iran’s reBoth Sara Bleier, who worked in gional allies—Hezbollah leader Hassan real estate finance and construction/ Nasrallah, Syrian President Bashar development and who ofnow a Assad and the leaders the runs pro-Irahand-engraving studio business and nian militias in Iraq and Yemen—have

O F

been left feeling orphaned by the U.S. drone strike that killed him in Iraq on Friday morning. Presidents, defense ministers, chiefs of staff and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders have come and gone in Tehran over the past few decades, and no one remembers their names. But since Soleimani was named head of the Quds Force in 1997, he has steadily and resolutely consolidated his position within the regime, and more importantly, Iran’s grip on the Middle works East. part-time for AMIT Children, and Dr.Soleimani Josh Bleier,was a Professor of Surgery the driving force and Vice-Chair Department of Surgery behind the Russian-Iranian move at of Pennsylvania and to the propUniversity up Assad’s regime in Syria Section Chief of Colorectal Surgery at during the eight-year civil war that Pennsylvania Hospital, have consistently threatened to unseat him, and also dedicated their timedecision and efforts CTA behind Tehran’s to totransover the years. Sara, who oversees form the Houthis, a mostly moderate the House Committee for the Board Shi’ite faction, into a powerful, radiof Directors at CTA, played an integral calized Iranian proxy in Yemen, with role in bringing the school’s the power the threaten both recent Saudi construction project to fruition. Two of Arabia and Israel. theSoleimani’s Bleiers’ children currently attend assassination in CTA, Iraq while their other two children are proud came as he worked to complete the CTA graduates. “It has been our privilege and pleasure CONTINUED ON P. 29

to be parents and volunteers at this exceptional school,” said Sara and Josh Bleier. “We hope we can continue to be of service whenever we are needed or wanted! We can’t imagine our family without CTA.” Elana Stiel Obstfeld spent seven years at CTA before joining the staff of the national music education program Music and the Brain in 2019. During her time as a beloved teacher at CTA, Obstfeld used her unique brand of creativity to enhance the arts and enrichment programs. Whether it was working with students on music instruction and literacy, serving as Enrichment Program Coordinator and introducing enrichment cluster for

elementary and middle school students, or offering numerous opportunities for artistic performances, Obstfeld assumed several leadership roles during her time at CTA. Elana and her husband Amrom are the proud parents of three CTA students. “It has been an absolute privilege to work with the talented students and faculty at Caskey Torah Academy,” Obstfeld said. “I feel fortunate that I was able to bring the Music and the Brain program, quality music education for all students, musical theater, and the Schoolwide Enrichment Model to CTA. I am so grateful for the incredible support the CTA administration showed me throughout my time at the school.” “I look forward to continuing to partner with CTA through my role as Mid-Atlantic Program Manager for Music and the Brain and as a parent volunteer,” she added. “I am so proud of the work we’ve done to develop the arts and enrichment at CTA. It is heartening to know that the programs initiated during my time on the faculty have impacted the students and the school community and will continue to be central to the educational experience at CTA.” For more information about the dinner, visit www.taphila.org/ctadinner.

Upcoming Community Events Ms. Chevi Garfinkel at Young Israel of the Main Line on Shabbat, February 22 The Young Israel of the Main Line Sisterhood is hosting a “Women’s Shabbos of Connection” featuring educator and speaker Ms. Chevi Garfinkel on February 22. Ms. Garfinkel will give a Shabbat afternoon shiur at 3:00 at the home of Mrs. Rivky Milgraum. On Motzei Shabbat, there will be a Melave Malka at Kosloff Torah Academy featuring a Chinese Auction, kumsitz with Ms. Garfinkel, and a dairy buffet. Visit www.yiml.org for more information.

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January 9, 2020 / 12 Tevet, 5780

Simcha Leiner at Lower Merion Synagogue on Shabbat, February 28-29 Lower Merion Synagogue will host Jewish music star Simcha Leiner on Shabbat 28-29. Tickets are on sale now for a Motzei Shabbat concert at 8:00 p.m. at LMS. Visit www.lowermerionsynagogue. org for more information. Comedian Eli Lebowicz at Congregation Sons of Israel on February 29 All are invited to for a comedy night featuring award winning comedian Eli Lebowicz on Motzei Shabbat, February 29, at Congregation Sons of Israel. Doors

open at 8:00 p.m. and the program will begin at 8:30 p.m. Visit www.soicherryhill. org for more information.

Kohelet Yeshiva Presents “Music & Art” on Motzei Shabbat, February 15 Kohelet Yeshiva invites the community for an evening of music and art, which will take place at the school on Motzei Shabbat, February 15. There will be a concert featuring performances by Kohelet Yeshiva High School students and alumni, in collaboration with the school’s music teacher, Mr. Sheridan Seyfried. The program will also include the national anthems sung by the Kohelet Yeshiva Lab School Choir and an opening performance by Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School students. Artwork produced by Kohelet students will be exhibited throughout the evening, which will conclude with a special kumsitz and dessert reception. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8:15 p.m. Visit www.koheletyeshiva.org/concert for more information. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bikkur Cholim of Philadelphia Announces New Initiative By Gwen Horowitz

ikkur cholim is the mitzvah of visiting the sick. In Bereishit 18.1, God appeared to Avraham in Mamre on the third day after Avraham had his circumcision when he was sick and in pain. The reward for performing this mitzvah can be found in the Gemara (Shabbos 127a) where it states that bikkur cholim is a form of chesed for which one is paid interest in this world, while the principal is held for him in the Next World. Bikkur Cholim of Philadelphia was organized to support patients receiving treatment at Philadelphia area medical facilities. They help both patients who live locally and those coming from other areas for treatment. Among the services they provide are weekday and Shabbat meals, hospital visitations, respite services, kosher pantries at a number of area hospitals, loans of medical equipment, and transportation for family members and patients to and from hospitals and medical appointments. More information about these services can be found on Bikkur Cholim’s website at www.bikkurcholimphilly.org. Bikkur Cholim of Philadelphia has just kicked off a new initiative called “Sponsor a Shabbos.” The program provides the opportunity to sponsor Shabbat meals (dinner and lunch) on

Perelman Jewish Day School Students Reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Six Rows - A Commemoration of the Holocaust By Maurice Kanter, 5th Grade Six rows, millions in each so many thoughts out of reach The first row tall and in gear, for the ones who fought brave without fear A second row for the ones who died young, so much to know a song that remains unsung A third row for innovation beyond belief, so many died without a feeling of grief February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

the week of the sponsor’s choosing. This provides a meaningful way to honor a special occasion or individual, or to commemorate a yahrzeit while providing kosher meals to patients and families. Between six and twelve families receive meals each week, alleviating the need and worry to plan meals so they can concentrate on caring for their loved one. The organization delivers homemade challah, potato kugel, and muffins all baked fresh by dedicated volunteers. They also include a beautiful box, prepared weekly by a volunteer, which includes a tablecloth, challah cover, grape juice, a kiddush cup, and havdalah needs. To reserve a date for “Sponsor a Shabbos” for a donation of $180.00, visit www.bikkurcholimphilly.org and click on “Shabbos Sponsorship.” If you or someone you know is in need of Bikkur Cholim’s services, please email bikkurcholimphilly@gmail.com or call Malkie Schwartz at 215.805.8668. A fourth row for the family and friends, separated but still together with different ends A fifth row for the Jews as they rest, so many gone when trying their best A sixth row for one single person the cause of this pain, as all the others look, a single man stands by six rows, six rows all but the same. A Sad Story By Eli Hocking, 5th Grade Their faces are streaked with mud Their heads are bald and round They’re flowers without a bud They’re cold upon the ground The chambers of despair The silent voices’ song The place that gives no care The gates are big and long Their eyes are so, so dark They’re waiting to be free They’re like a caged-in shark There for eternity.

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COMMUNITY NEWS Kohelet’s Fab Lab is Bringing Art to Life By Nachi Troodler

“A

rt Class” has taken on a whole new meaning at Kohelet Yeshiva High School (KYHS). With its new innovative Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), Kohelet now has a dedicated space for its STEM and arts programs, which is used for multi-disciplinary, projectbased activities. The Fab Lab is used for an array of projects, including woodworking and ceramics, and is equipped with a variety of equipment, such as a pottery wheel, an oversized printer, a state-of-the-art 3D printer, and a laser cutter which has the ability to cut and engrave using a number of different materials, including wood, thin metal and acrylic. “It looks like a workspace – it is a workspace,” said Dr. Jeremy Sullivan, Director of General Studies at KYHS. “It’s not going to look polished and clean and shiny all the time. It’s going to be a place where students are going to be working.” Sullivan noted that ninth and tenth graders at Kohelet are required to take art, and eleventh and twelfth graders can take electives and continue their studies in art. “There’s also an elective called Fab Lab Club, which enables students who are more focused on the tech-aided programs and devices to take an additional class,” he added. “There is a real range of what students can create and build.” In addition, ninth and tenth graders also have computer coding classes, and that helps give them the confidence to try some of the more advanced software in the Fab Lab. The Fab Lab is run under the auspices of KYHS art teacher Daniel Ostrov. “Mr. O,” as he is affectionately known to his students, has a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and History from Tulane University and a Master of Fine Arts in Glass from Tyler School of Art, and has extensive

experience working with glass, wood, metal, and ceramics. “Mr. O is an amazing resource for us in his own right,” Sullivan said. “It helps to have somebody who is enthusiastic about encouraging students in the room, where the students who come into the room frequently say, ‘Mr. O, I want to do this, how do I do it?’” Sullivan highlighted the collaborative aspect of the Fab Lab, in that when a student comes in and says, “I want to do this myself,” and Ostrov is not quite sure how to do it himself, they work together to figure it out. “When the students demonstrate that willingness to say I want to try and figure this out, then we have the facility for them to take it as far as they want to go,” Sullivan said. “I have liked building for as long as I can remember but have not had access to the right skills and materials to express myself in this way,” said KYHS senior Boaz Crammer. “However, this changed when I came to the Fab Lab at Kohelet. Here, I was taught by Mr. O, the talented art teacher, to use devices such as the band saw and drill press. This has now given me the chance to build to my heart’s content.” Sullivan and Ostrov noted that the Fab Lab can be used in many ways, including creating posters, making 3D items that can be used throughout the school building, and desktop publishing. Ostrov added that he is thinking about working on projects in the Fab Lab that use two-dimensional cut-out forms to create three-dimensional shapes. In addition, Ostrov said that Kohelet is hoping to be able to offer some continuing education for the community in the Fab Lab. Dr. Sullivan stressed the vital role that student input has in the operational aspects of the Fab Lab. “Some of the things we’ve done have arisen by necessity in student needs,” he said.

KYHS senior Boaz Crammer in the Fab Lab

KYHS senior Jared Matlis in the Fab Lab

Sullivan cited the robotics team that Kohelet had last year. They needed a particular piece for the robot they were constructing and one of the students stood up and said that he could make the necessary piece using the 3D printer. The student manufactured pieces that the robotics team then used for their robot. “As an educator, I like the idea of a laboratory,” said Sullivan. “It’s a laboratory of manufacturing, a laboratory of art, a laboratory of tech. What goes on in there comes from the people who bring their interest and bring their ingenuity into the room. We have the tools and the equipment at the ready, and I imagine that three or four years from now, the students themselves will turn this into a different facility based on their interests.” “After taking a summer course on 3D printing in the summer of my sophomore year, I returned to Kohelet with a yearning to continue my learning and share my passion with my peers,” said KYHS senior Jared Matlis. “Thankfully, my teachers were excited to help me achieve my goal. After talking with the IT staff, I worked with them to establish the “3D Printing

and Modeling Club,” where I taught my peers, while fixing the old 3D Printer we had. Although the printer broke near the end of the year, the school quickly bought a replacement for me to use. During my senior year, Kohelet gave me an official position within our new Fab Lab, where I had complete freedom regarding the 3D printers and time to teach students. Without the constant support of the school, I would not have been able to improve as much as I have and achieve what I have.” Sullivan and Ostrov are working to explore additional ways to bring a crosscurricular component into the Fab Lab, where the STEM activities can be further integrated into general and Judaic studies classes, whereby students will be able to engage in project-based, experiential learning, such as building an Aron Kodesh or a sukkah. “Our school day is long, and our academics are intense, and so this is a great way for students to exercise a part of their brain that’s not being exercised the rest of the day,” Sullivan said. “This creative outlet is such a great way for kids to mentally flex a part of their brain muscle that isn’t always being exercised.”

Mid-Atlantic Mini and Junior Maccabi Games Return to South Jersey (Courtesy of the Katz JCC)

he Katz JCC in Cherry Hill will host the Mid-Atlantic Mini and Junior Maccabi Games on Sunday, May 3, a one-day sporting event for Jewish athletes ages 9-12. This day is an opportunity for young Jewish athletes to be a part of a team and experience what the JCC Maccabi Games experience is like, but on a smaller scale.

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Delegations from all over the Mid-Atlantic region, from as far as Baltimore, MD, and Albany, NY, will travel to Cherry Hill to participate in an opening ceremony and a variety of team and individual sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, and tennis. “The Mid-Atlantic Junior Maccabi Games are a great introduction to the JCC Maccabi Games program,” said Bryan Lentine, JCC Sports and

Leagues Director. “Our mini and junior athletes find the Mid-Atlantic Games to be an incredibly rewarding experience and gets them motivated and excited to participate on Team South Jersey during the weeklong JCC Maccabi Games in years ahead!” The Mid-Atlantic Junior Maccabi Games are open to Jewish athletes between the ages 9-12 as of May 1, 2020. All athletes receive lunch and snacks, a commemorative t-shirt and

a day of camaraderie and competition. Tryouts for Team South Jersey will be held throughout the month of February. Please visit www.katzjcc.org/2020-games/ for details. If you are interested in becoming an athlete, coach or volunteer, please complete a brief form at: katzjcc.org/2020-mid-atlantic-maccabi-games. For more information, please contact Bryan Lentine at blentine@jfedsnj.org or 856.424.4444 x1145. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

COMMUNITY NEWS

etween January 21 and March 11, 2020, American Jews have the ability to vote for the Jewish future in Israel and around the world. By voting in the U.S. election to the 38th World Zionist Congress, you can ensure that your point of view is represented. You will be able to choose from over a dozen slates representing diverse political beliefs, religious denominations and cultural traditions. The 152 delegates elected from the United States will join hundreds from Israel and around the world at the 38th World Zionist Congress in October 2020, the international “parliament of the Jewish people,” to make decisions and set policies regarding key institutions that support global Jewish life and which allocate nearly $1 billion annually to support Israel and World Jewry (including the World Zionist Organization, Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Agency for Israel). With more slates and candidates than ever before, American Jews have a rare opportunity to make a direct impact on the future direction of Israel and diaspora affairs. For more information and to vote, visit www. ZionistElection.org. The Philadelphia Jewish Link asked a number of local delegate candidates from different slates to answer the following question: Why is it so important for people to vote in the World Zionist Congress election? Here are their responses: Rabbi Ephraim Epstein Cherry Hill, NJ (Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi: Vote Torah, Slate #4)

It seems that every Jew in the know has an opinion or three about Israel and the complexities therein. However, Jews in the galut often feel February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Vote for Your Voice in Israel that they simply don’t have a say or have a right to have a say about what goes on in our homeland. This vote gives us our say about the character and overtones of the State of Israel. Therefore, every Jew that cares about their homeland, Israel, most certainly should vote. Morton Klein Lower Merion, PA (ZOA Coalition, Slate #11)

The World Zionist Congress election gives American residents an important say in Israel’s national institutions’ policies and priorities. It’s a chance for Americans to have a say as to whether the resources of Israel’s national institutions should be used (as we believe) to defend and strengthen Israel; prioritize rescuing and bringing to Israel Jews who are endangered by rising global anti-Semitism; combat anti-Israel boycotts; promote love and respect for Torah, tradition and every Jew; and provide positive Jewish and Zionist education. It’s a chance to do real good for Israel and Jews throughout the Diaspora. Lori Lowenthal Marcus Lower Merion, PA (ZOA Coalition, Slate #11)

It is of vital importance for American Jews to know about

and participate in the elections for the World Zionist Congress because the WZC is the body that determines the global Jewish agenda. It does that by setting priorities for the key national institutions of Israel and the allocation of $3 billion in support of Israel and world Jewry. Those key institutions include the Jewish Agency, the Jewish National Fund, the World Zionist Organization and Keren Kayemet LeIsrael. The election will determine which of the 15 slates running will have the greatest impact on setting policy for the coming years. The entire spectrum of recognized Jewry is represented by those slates, with potential delegates representing the far left through to those who have long been publicly committed to safeguarding the Jewish State and Diaspora Jewry. Now is the time and this is the opportunity for American Jews to take an active role in determining the future of our People and our Homeland. It will take such a small effort on their part, but if they register and vote they will know they have taken the proactive steps necessary to defend what deserves their protection. Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl Lower Merion, PA (Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi: Vote Torah, Slate #4)

I think that members of our community don’t often realize the role that Israeli government funding plays in enriching our lives as committed Jews here in the United States. From helping offset the cost of study in Israel through Masa, fighting BDS on campus through various hasbarah and advocacy programs, enriching our children’s lives through Bnei Akiva, or infusing our schools with morim shlichim, the impact is everywhere. The continued success of those

programs, their expansion or their decline, directly depends on the funds allocated to them by the World Zionist Congress. And, the funds allocated by the WZC depends directly on the number of votes each party in the WZC receives in this current election. So, to ensure that these programs continue to exist and continue to educate, defend, and inspire our community, it is critical for everyone to get online and vote for the party whose platform reflects these ideals. Moshe Phillips Bucks County, PA (Herut Zionists – The Jabotinsky Movement, Slate #10)

Voting in the Zionist elections is important for both symbolic and practical reasons. As the only nationwide democratic election in the American Jewish community, it offers individuals a very rare opportunity to express their political preferences in the American way – at the ballot box. The delegates who are elected will have a say in significant decisions such as the Zionist movement’s budget allocations for developing the Land of Israel. This is the same World Zionist Congress, the “Parliament of the Jewish People,” started by Theodor Herzl in 1897. Today it convenes every five years in Jerusalem. The WZC oversees a budget of $5 billion until the next Congress. Candidates will vote on allocation of funds and programming in Israel and throughout the world. This directly impacts us in the Philadelphia area every day as Hebrew schoolteachers at day schools and Zionist youth group shlichim (emissaries from Israel) are budgeted through this $5 billion. 152 delegates will be elected from the U.S.; put another way:

30% of all delegates come from the U.S.. As candidates for WZC we are part of an over 120-year-old tradition in our endeavors to advance and promote Zionism and support Israel. Please share your enthusiasm for Israel and commitment to Zionism by voting. Rabbi Avraham Shmidman and Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman Lower Merion, PA (Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi: Vote Torah, Slate #4)

The World Zionist Congress election provides Jews a crucial opportunity to have a meaningful say in how up to close to five billion dollars (not a typo!) is spent on Jewish causes in the coming five years. We need to assure advancing core causes such as promoting affordable Torah education and fighting the BDS movement are at the forefront of the Jewish agenda. For those of us living in the Diaspora, participating in these elections is a meaningful and productive way to engage with and support Israel and World Jewry. We encourage everyone to learn about this election and to participate by voting.

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DIRSHU WORLD SIYUM THI S SUNDAY, FE B RUARY 9 , 2 0 2 0 LO C ATI O N S

TR AFFI C & S E CURIT Y

B U S IN G

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102

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

Dirshu will be providing transportation to the siyum.

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

S CHE D ULE 4:30 pm

Security Checkpoints Open

5:30 pm

Arena Doors Open

6:15 pm

Tefillas Maariv

6:30 pm

Event Begins

10:30 pm

Program Concludes

TI CKE T S & E NTRY You will not be able to enter the event without a physical hard copy ticket. Rabbonim, VIP, and event staff will also need a ticket to gain entry. The siyum has a no re-entry policy. Once your ticket is scanned, you will not be able to leave and re-enter the venue. Children under the age of 8 will not be allowed into the stadium.

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

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

PUB LI C TR AN S P O RTATI O N Prudential Center is easily accessible by NJ Transit trains, PATH, Amtrak, Light Rail and Bus.

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

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

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

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

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

PARKIN G Parking at Prudential Center: Prudential Center is one of the most easily accessible arenas in the country, with over 3,500 parking spaces within two blocks of its location. Highways surrounding the arena include 280, 78, NJ Turnpike, 1 & 9, 21, 22, Garden State Parkway, 80 and NJ 3. Parking lots will be open from 10:00am. Price for parking at the stadium is $45.00. There are several additional parking facilities within close proximity to Prudential Center. Parking at NJPAC : • Surrounding Streets • NJPAC Parking Lots A AND C: 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102 • Military Park Garage: Located across the street from NJPAC: 633 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102 Price for Parking: $25.00 Parking at Newark Symphony Hall: • There will be sufficient street parking surrounding the venue. • A heavy security and police detail will be present to ensure your safety and protection.

Questions? Contact us at Questions@DirshuWorldSiyum.org or 888-5-DIRSHU 22

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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

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

In order for the tzibbur at large to participate, the inspirational program will be broadcast live: KOL MEVASER: 212-444-1100 KOL HALASHON: 718-906-6400 Press * to listen live JROOT: 88.7 FM - Brooklyn / JrootRadio.com HAMODIA.COM • DIRSHU.CO.IL • C-LIVE.CO.IL

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

BottomLineMG.com

KOL BERAMA: 107.9 FM - Lakewood / NewYorkJewishRadio.com

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Kosher Meets the Modern Era Passoverlistings.com Features Reviews by Pesach Vacationers

By Matt Aaron

aking up to a beach view in Mexico, shopping at the Shuk in Jerusalem, the clean mountain air of Northern Italy… Some of my vacations, I’ll remember forever. Vacations can be the best, can’t they? Especially for the family. You pack everyone up, skedaddle to the perfect spot, and everyone is blown away. Ideally. But have you ever been disappointed? Most of us have. Remember Murphy’s Law. Anything can go wrong. But what if it’s a Passover vacation? The stakes seem a little higher, don’t they? In this case, sure it’s a vacation, but on top of that, it’s also your favorite Jewish holiday. It just has to be right. But how do you make sure you’ve picked the best program, the one that fits your family’s needs and desires best? There’s really no way to know. Not really. If you’re lucky, maybe you know someone who went on a program last year and had a great time. But what if they went to Palm Springs and you want to go to Miami? Or maybe they had a great experience, but a lot of other people on the same trip didn’t. In most areas of day-to-day life, this problem has been solved. Want to find reviews on hotels? No problem. Go to Trip Advisor or hotels.com. Need to find a great plumber or locksmith? Try Yelp. Want to find out which airline has the most comfortable seats? There are even websites for that. How can it be that there is no place to go for dependable reviews about Passover vacations? A number of years ago, a few friends had this very question. Brandyss Katz, Daniel Kramer, and Doni Schwartz had all been going to different Passover programs for years, and they were frustrated. Some were good. Some not so much. There had to be a way to modernize the search for a good Passover vacation. We can all complain. We’re good at that. But these three friends decided to do something about their frustrations. Katz got the ball rolling, founding the Facebook group “Passover Program Reviews” in 2018. Buoyed by positive reactions and grateful vacationers, Passoverlistings.com was born. And just in time for your 2020 Passover plans. So far, there are over 140 program listings, which is good if you’re picky. The website is pretty amazing. You can scroll

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through different Pesach programs by location, or search based on budget or ratings. Want upscale? Check. Want to search for a particular destination? No problem. Want to lounge by the beach between Seders? They’ve got you covered. Looking for a mixed crowd? Easy! So far, their approach seems to be working for all sorts of people, from vacation-goers to the Pesach program owners listing their programs. One user raved about her holiday in Salou, Spain: “Everything was fresh and clean. The view was magnificent! Food was fantastic!!!” Another gushed about the cuisine at his Fort Lauderdale Passover program: “My wife says I am a foodie, but I just like good food. We’ve been regulars at the Majestic for the last three years. While it was always very good, their introduction of all-day barbecue was amazing!” A user from Houston was impressed by the website itself: “It’s so easy to use! Over lunch I looked at half a dozen programs and found exactly what I wanted! The kids are going to be so excited!” Of course, some of the Passover program reviews point out problems, which is exactly what you want. If the ice cream isn’t so great, or there’s freeway noise, you need to know about that too. It’s all there, honest and transparent, just like a Pesach program Yelp. The program owners seem to appreciate the service. Alyson Feldman, with FFH Events out of New York, said, “We decided to list our program because we enjoyed the Facebook group so much. We like to read all the different feedback on programs to see what guests are happy and not so happy with. We are very impressed with the knowledgeable sales team. We can tell they know the industry and it’s not just another advertisement in a travel section.” Ben Camille at Upscale Getaways agreed. “We saw the potential of Passover Listings and the hole that they are filling in the industry. We wanted to partner with them to guarantee our online influence would be tops in the industry.” So, if you’re looking to take a Passover vacation this year, you might want to check out Passoverlistings.com. Especially, if you have some special desires for your trip, or want to get detailed information about all the programs in a certain region. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

COMMUNITY NEWS Politz Cherry Hill Middle School Students’ Holocaust Course Highlighted with a Trip to Visit Survivors By Mrs. Darcie Young, MS Principal

ne of the exciting educational models our teachers strive to implement is the idea of “bringing the classroom to life.” This week, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, middle school students at Politz Day School of Cherry Hill were able to extend their Holocaust Studies classroom walls all the way to Brooklyn, New York. In small groups, the students were invited into the homes of four Holocaust survivors to hear their stories first-hand. • Rabbi Greenwald was part of a group of boys who were condemned to death in the Auschwitz camp. He made the bracha on the shofar right under the noses of the Nazi guards. He was later saved by someone who gave money to free him and another boy. • Mrs. Seidenfeld was also an Auschwitz survivor. She shared her story with several of our girls in which she outlined her perseverance and

great commitment to Yiddishkeit. • Rabbi Romi Cohn, at the young age of 14, joined the underground partisans and risked his life time and time again in saving 56 families during the war. He authored the book “The Youngest Partisan.” • Mrs. Kugelmas was just 16-yearsold when she lost her family and made the decision to join the Bielski partisans in Poland. This group was instrumental in leading many to safety during the war. The students then traveled to the Amud Aish Memorial Museum. This museum offers a unique perspective on observant Jewish communities and Holocaust victims. Through artifacts, documents, photographs, and many survivor testimonies, the museum focuses on the role faith played throughout the Holocaust and how it withstood as survivors were left to begin their lives again after the war. Seventh grade student Berel Mangel knew there may be a connection with the museum and his grandfather, Rabbi

Nissan Mangel, as he is a survivor of Auschwitz. The museum staff was able to locate a video Mangel’s grandfather gave to the museum a few years back. Overcoming great odds, Rabbi Mangel was able to go on to become a wellknown speaker and scholar. This trip was more than just another school field trip. Our students were given such a beautiful gift being able to meet so many Holocaust survivors, hear their personal accounts, and share in their lives for a few hours. As we commemorate more and more years after the Shoah,

we know these special encounters will not be possible for much longer. It is crucial that our students continue to tell these survivors’ stories and share with future generations about their great resilience and unwavering faith.

Linking Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey.

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Reach a loyal readership of thousands of members of the dynamic religious Jewish communities in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. With an educated and engaged readership, you will be able to communicate directly with an audience of enthusiastic consumers that actively support local businesses and take part in local philanthropic endeavors.

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COMMUNITY NEWS Remembering Kobe Bryant By Nachi Troodler

he shockwaves from the recent death of Kobe Bryant, a native Philadelphian, reverberated throughout the United States and around the world, but there is no doubt that the tragic helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others, rattled the Lower Merion community. Kobe, who grew up on Remington Road in Wynnewood, was a superstar at Lower Merion High School. As a senior in 1996, Kobe led the Lower Merion Aces to a state championship title. Along the way, he shattered the Southeastern Pennsylvania high school scoring record that had been held by none other than NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. When Kobe made the jump from Lower Merion High School directly to the NBA, it further cemented his status as a local luminary. For Audrey Gornish, a fourth generation member of Philadelphia’s Jewish community who has children at Kohelet Yeshiva High School, Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School and Perelman Jewish Day School, Kobe Bryant was much more than a basketball icon. Gornish first met Kobe when they were both students at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. Kobe was only there for a short period of time because his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, moved his family to Italy so he could play basketball overseas. When the Bryant family returned to Lower Merion, Kobe, who Gornish recalls had become fluent in Italian, spent four years at Lower Merion High School and their friendship continued. According to Gornish, Kobe played basketball in Lower Merion after returning from Italy, but as a high school freshman he had not yet blossomed into the star player he ultimately would become. What stood out to Gornish about Kobe was his incredible work ethic and determination, and the fact that he always worked really hard to keep improving. She remembers fondly how Kobe would play basketball outside his house and keep repositioning the garbage cans and pretend that they were defensive players. “He was always playing ball and watching videos about playing ball,” she said. Gornish, who was in Math and English classes with Kobe throughout their four years of high school, also remarked how he stood out in the classroom and in the school in general. “Kobe was a very bright light – always happy and always smiling – and he looked like he never had a bad day,” Gornish said. “He was respectful and worked hard, and he was a model student who exuded derech eretz. He was a real mensch who got along well with anyone – he was everyone’s friend.” Kobe had strong connections to the local Philadelphia Jewish community. Gornish noted that Kobe, who had many Jewish

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From L-R: Singer and actress Brandy Norwood, Kobe Bryant and Audrey Gornish during their senior year in high school.

(credit: Lisa Stein)

friends, spent a tremendous amount of time playing basketball at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center in Wynnewood, where his father worked in the fitness center. Kobe’s father also served as the girls basketball coach at Akiba Hebrew Academy in the early 1990s. Gornish commented that when he was playing ball at the JCC, Kobe would happily play with anyone who wanted to play with him. She also noted that Kobe did not get his driver’s license until his senior year of high school, and he therefore had to walk to the JCC on most days. Because Gornish’s family did not live too far from the Bryant family, her mother would often give Kobe a ride home from basketball practice. After Kobe bought a shiny black Land Rover following an endorsement deal during his senior year, Gornish joked with him and told him “you really owe me a lot of rides.” Gornish remembered fondly how Kobe used to inspire her and encourage her to keep playing basketball at Lower Merion High School. Kobe affectionately gave Gornish, who was “short and speedy” as a high school basketball player, a nickname. “He called me ‘Diesel,’” she said as she spoke about the motivation that Kobe provided to her. “He was a powerhouse of positivity and one of the

best people I got to grow up with.” Kobe’s gregarious personality mirrored that of his parents, Joe and Pam. “Kobe had that megawatt smile and he was very kind and very sincere,” Gornish said. “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” She noted that Kobe’s two older sisters were also so nice and polite, and that they too were great ball players. “I want to remember Kobe as the 18-yearold who was walking down the hall with a smile for everyone,” said Gornish. “He didn’t suddenly become different. He already knew he was going to the NBA, but he still showed up to class and took finals, just like the rest of us. He didn’t steal the show and he didn’t make anyone else feel less than him. He had such humility.” “He was a superstar and he had an amazing attitude towards winning and trying,” she added. “The guy didn’t have a mean bone in his body and he was always looking to do something good for someone else. Even when he wasn’t playing his best, he never had a temper.” “Kobe was just one of those people that was so wonderful, you always wished them the very best. I was very proud to know him. He was a star person and an absolute mensch.”

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Why Holding on to Your Airline Miles and Credit Card Points is a Bad Idea and Bad Investment By Eli Schreiber

n the past, we’ve highlighted five things NOT TO DO with your credit card miles and points and included the aspect of not holding on to your credit card miles for too long. Before we explain why you shouldn’t do this, it’s important to understand the relationship between airline miles and credit card points. Equally important is understanding the rewards industry is becoming increasingly more competitive, bringing with it new opportunities to make money and travel the world (whatever your preference for earning miles and points) but also bringing with it new challenges as well. We will first explain the relationship between the credit card points like American Express, and airline miles like American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and the association between the two. The airlines offer frequent flyers the opportunity to earn miles based on the number of miles flown or the price of the airline ticket. They also sell these miles to partners like credit card companies, e-commerce sites, florists and rental car companies among others. Credit card companies in turn, buy these miles from the airlines so that they can incentivize the public to use their specific credit card. And as we know, credit card companies make money by charging vendors a percentage of every sale. One needs

to understand that the airlines who sell miles are also the ones who control how the public uses their miles (and in turn how many credit card points are needed for tickets), which makes the rewards industry a very profitable enterprise for them. Imagine you were in the manufacturing business and the product you manufactured was shoes, and not only do you manufacture shoes and sell them to retail shoe vendors (in our example airlines selling miles to the credit card companies) and individuals (in our example frequent flyers) but as part of the terms and conditions when selling your shoes, you leave yourself the ability to determine what and when they could be used for. And that if later down the road you decide you hadn’t made enough money when you sold the shoes originally, you can change the price of the shoes so that it affects people retroactively, (in our case, changing how many miles are required for a certain tickets, after people have already accrued those miles). If this isn’t a sweet business model, we don’t know what is. In fact, a study by IdeaWorks, a company that analyzes the airline industry, estimates that more than 55% of airlines revenue result from the sale of frequent flyer miles. So the airlines make the bulk of their money just from selling the miles and make even more money by restricting how they can be

used, including limiting how many seats can be purchased with miles, leaving themselves blackout dates for using miles, and charging fees for mileage tickets. Additionally, what this means for the consumer is that since it’s in the best interest for the airlines to control and limit the value frequent flyer holders receive when they redeem their airline miles, the redemption process the airlines make you go through to redeem miles for travel is quite difficult. The airlines thereby eliminate a large percentage of people who would otherwise use their miles for flights. Let’s analyze some examples, including one that hits close to home. El Al Airlines had two great partnerships that Jewish consumers enjoyed including their partnership with the HAS Advantage credit card, so that cardholders could earn points for tickets redeemable on El Al. Additionally, customers who wished to fly El Al could do so using American Airlines miles. In October of last year, the partnership with AA ended suddenly. And due to a dispute with HAS, customers who earned HAS points for the sole purpose of converting them into flights on El Al were suddenly left unable to do so. That dispute is ongoing but in the interim, El Al increased the number of miles and points needed for tickets, in some cases requiring 30% more points to book tickets from NY and Toronto to Tel Aviv (besides the $350 in fuel charges

they charge as well). Another example highlighting consumer frustration is British Airways (BA) partnership with other airlines, which offered flyers the option to travel in the domestic U.S. using BA miles, and which required far less miles than other airlines. BA offered a credit card with a bonus promotion of 50,000 miles which many people signed up for. But early this year, BA implemented drastic changes to the new British Airways redemption program, increasing mileage ticket prices by as much as 150% on flights from New York to Los Angeles and London, with tickets from Miami and Berlin increasing significantly as well. And if you think all of the above is unfair and unethical and perhaps illegal, a Florida congressman agrees with you, and has placed the airlines habit of devaluing miles under investigation. This leads us to our final point, eloquently summarized by one savvy travel blogger. Whichever kind of card you have, “redeem early and redeem often… at least once a year.” “Minimize the amount of miles you have sitting around.” Because holding on to your airline miles and credit card points is a bad idea and a bad investment! Eli Schreiber is a partner and Director of Marketing at Get PEYD and PEYD Travel LLC. Visit www.getPEYD.com for more information.

Adventures in Cholent By Rabbi Ira Budow

s a sports fan, one of my favorite pastimes is to listen to Philadelphia sports radio. The raw emotion of the fans comes across loud and clear. I must confess that when the Eagles lose, I love listening to 94 WIP and especially Angelo Cataldi. I believe Angelo has wished to fire every coach of all the Philadelphia teams; of course the fans are fully supportive of Angelo’s position on sports leadership in the Delaware Valley. Why am I writing about Angelo? During the lean years of the Eagles, Angelo came up with an event preceding the Super Bowl. It was called the “Wing Bowl.” It was an eating contest to determine who could eat the most February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Shevat, 5780

Joe Glassman and Aaron Katlin judging the cholent

8th grade students at Abrams getting ready for the Cholent Bowl

wings. This turned out to be a major competition with close to 20,000 people in attendance. With this event in mind, I was inspired to do something during the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl that would be an exciting experience for Abrams. So the Cholent Bowl was born. Every class would make their own

respective cholent at Abrams. We have the full kaleidoscope of Jews – Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Russian – and so we had many different cholents. Mrs. Arusy, our Sephardic teacher, made Chamim recipes from Morocco. The Bensalem Kollel would make Litvish cholents. Our rabbis, Rabbi Chaim Tesser and Rabbi Joshua Ottensoser, would bring their

The crock-pots are lined up and ready! wives’ recipes to the Cholent Bowl. Every year we have 15 different cholents being prepared and when all of us would come to school in the morning, the aroma of Shabbat cholent would permeate the building. We wanted to have the excitement of a

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The “Living Benefits” of Life Insurance By Miriam Wartell

eople often say to me “life insurance doesn’t do anything for me, it only pays out when someone dies.” I think there’s a common misconception that life insurance is only about death, but it doesn’t have to be. First of all, the primary goal of life insurance is to give a better life to the beneficiaries who are living. Second of all, some types of life insurance do have benefits that can be used during a person’s lifetime. In my first article, I briefly discussed Term Life Insurance and Whole Life Insurance. Term Life Insurance is meant to be used as a “just in case” insurance. Most Term policies will be for a specified amount of time (like 10 or 20 years) and during that duration of time, the premium will not go up in price. It’s meant for a relatively short duration of time like for when there are young kids or if there’s a new mortgage, in case something happens. While the primary focus of Term insurance is financial protection, there are also beneficial features that people can take advantage of when they are living. Many life insurance companies offer Term policies with an option to “upgrade” or what’s known as a “conversion privilege.” If someone chooses to get a Term insurance policy, I would say that it is imperative that it has that option. The reason that option is so crucial is because that conversion privilege will allow people to upgrade their Term insurance to permanent life insurance with no medical questions asked. It will typically stipulate that it has to be within the specified Term duration. Meaning, if someone gets a 10-year Term policy, then they will have 10 years to upgrade their insurance with no medical questions asked. The ability to upgrade and therefore get longer lasting or permanent coverage can be life changing. Imagine, no matter what happens to your health, you cannot be refused or denied life insurance. That is the power of this option. Life insurance policies also have something called “riders.” Riders are essentially “add-ons.” Some riders provide features for when you are living, others not. These can be added onto a policy, sometimes at an additional premium. There are many that can be added, but I will focus on a few. There is what’s known as a Children’s Insurance Rider. That rider provides insurance on children until they are

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of age. What it does for them is it helps to lock in their insurability so they can get insurance when they are grown. This rider not only protects the child but allows them to upgrade to permanent insurance without any medical questions asked. There is something called the Accidental Death Benefit Rider that will provide additional money to the beneficiary if a death is a result of an accident. One of the most helpful and commonly used riders is what’s known as the Disability Waiver of Premium Rider. This rider will pay premiums for someone if they are disabled and can’t work for a specified period of time. Think about this. Usually, if someone is unable to work, even if they receive disability benefits, they are typically receiving a significantly lower amount of income. Isn’t it powerful to be able to keep the life insurance in force and have one less bill to pay? There are people who have been injured in car accidents that this has helped tremendously. Where Waiver of Premium can be even more beneficial is on Whole Life policies. Whole Life Insurance, unlike Term Life Insurance, is meant to last someone’s entire life, hence the name. With Whole Life, aside from permanent coverage, the premium is locked in and will never increase. This is incredibly important because Term policies will tend to balloon up in price after their specified duration and if someone hasn’t converted their policy, they may not medically qualify for a new affordable Term policy. It is therefore always good to have at least a portion of the insurance portfolio be a permanent policy

that will not go up in price. (That’s why even for people who prefer Term insurance, I recommend at least a small Whole Life policy as well.) Whole Life policies also offer what’s known as cashvalue. Cash-value is the savings component within the policy. You can withdraw an amount up to or equal to what you have paid into the policy (cost basis) and the rest can be taken out as a loan. You have an option as to whether or not you pay back the loan, but every dollar taken out of the cash-value will equally reduce the death benefit. (That’s why both the death benefit and cash-value will often grow simultaneously.) Oh, and did I mention this is all tax-free? A lot of people choose to supplement their retirement income with Whole Life policies. They may also use Whole Life policies to help save for college as life insurance is not included as a contributing asset on the FAFSA (financial aid) form. When someone utilizes a Whole Life policy for the reasons of using the cashvalue, the Disability Waiver of Premium Rider becomes an even stronger tool because then, even when someone can’t work, the plan can, in essence, be self-completing. What other savings tool will do that? There are also other very important and impactful riders like the Chronic Care Rider and the Living Benefits Rider, and those will be discussed at another time. In the meantime, I would advise you to review any insurance policies you have in place to see if your needs are adequately being met and to see if there’s something else that you think should be a part of your insurance and financial plan. Please note: Disability Waiver of Premium as well as other health-based riders require you to medically qualify before it is added to your policy. This is done at the time of application. Once added, it becomes a part of the policy. Rider provisions will vary by company. Also, certain tax advantages are not applicable to a life insurance policy if too much money is put into the policy proportional to the cost of the premium. Please consult your tax professional. If anyone is interested in having an insurance or financial review, or for information on life insurance in general, please email Miriam Wartell at mwartell@ ft.newyorklife.com. Miriam Wartell is a Financial Services Professional with New York Life. Miriam has been working in the financial industry since 2014, providing education to clients to help them make informed decisions.

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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New Antiviral Masks from Israel May Help Stop Deadly Coronavirus

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wto put into operation using treated yardage from our R&D product — if we have a partner and As the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak continues interest.” Interest is not a problem: Sonovia hosted to spread, two Israeli companies are finalizing development of revolutionary antiviral reusable visitors from China earlier this week and is receiving “non-stop calls” following media face masks. “Israel has technologies that can exposure. support controlling this epidemic,” says Liat Goldhammer-Steinberg says there is Goldhammer-Steinberg, CTO of Sonovia in enough treated fabric available to make Ramat Gan. about 5,000 to 10,000 reusable face masks. The virus is spread by These would not be for air and direct contact. The sale, rather for partners World Health Organization to distribute as an reports approximately emergency measure. 4,200 cases of infection since December 31. Most “Right now, there is a of the cases are in China. A shortage of supplies [in few have been confirmed affected countries] so we in 15 additional countries. could help decrease that Because there is no stress. Even if there is a vaccine or treatment for remote chance it could the Wuhan coronavirus, help, it is worth trying,” she dubbed 2019-nCoV, tells ISRAEL21c. personal protective Jerusalem-based equipment is an important Argaman is nearing way to combat the commercialization of transmission of the virus A prototype of the Bio-Block mask a reusable, washable, and avoid a pandemic. breathable antiviral from Argaman Technologies Disposable facemasks facemask called Biocannot block all pathogens and do not kill them. Block. A used and discarded mask can even become a According to founder and CEO Jeff Gabbay, a vector for disease as the pathogens multiply in its textile engineer with a background in pathology fibers. and infectious diseases, Bio-Block is a layered That’s why washable, reusable masks with mask. anti-pathogen properties could provide a potent It’s made from a proprietary cotton embedded prevention tool against the 2019-nCoV and other with accelerated copper oxide particles, and a coronaviruses that have evolved into more severe nanofiber textile that blocks pathogens. illnesses, such as SARS and MERS. “The pores of the nanofiber pad are so small Sonovia’s ultrasonic fabric-finishing that bacteria cannot go through it — nor a droplet technology, invented by two Bar-Ilan University that contains a live virus –and our EPA-approved chemistry professors, mechanically infuses 100% CottonX fibers destroy the pathogens that antiviral, antimicrobial zinc and copper oxide come in contact with it,” Gabbay says. nanoparticles into textiles for facemasks and “The mask not only blocks the virus but kills other protective products. the viruses going both to the wearer and away Sonovia recently received a European from the wearer in case the wearer is infected,” Commission Horizon 2020 grant and the he explains. technology has won several prizes in China. An independent lab found that CottonX remains Tests have shown that Sonovia’s treated effective against Staph and E. coli bacteria for 50 textiles work against six types of bacteria industrial washings or 100 home washings. including E. coli and Staph. Effectiveness lasts for A hospital test sponsored by the US Centers up to 100 washes at 75°C (167°F) or 65 washes at for Disease Control found that CottonX bedding 92°C (197°F). and gowns in the ICU reduced multi-drug The impregnated polyester-cotton fabric has resistant pathogens by 50%. This study is soon to been shown effective against some strains of be published, says Gabbay. influenza. It has not been tested for effectiveness Like the Sonovia textile, CottonX has not been against the current coronavirus. tested for effectiveness against the 2019-nCoV Once a lab that can do this test is identified, coronavirus. the process could take eight weeks, says The first 20,000 Bio-Block masks are in Goldhammer-Steinberg. production in Argaman’s Jerusalem facility and “We are not commercialized yet,” she stresses. will retail for about $50. They will be available in “But we have a prototype machine we are willing about two months.

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Domestic Violence By Dr. Frani Pollack

ophia called her mother, telling her how her husband has been insisting that she clean the house in a particular way, leave her job, and not go out unless he is with her. She claims the frequency of his demands has increased and she is feeling like a prisoner in her own home. Sam reported to his brother that his wife has been getting increasingly angry and frustrated since their sixth child was born. He said she has started to hit him, often yells, and puts him down in front of the children. He didn’t take it seriously at first, as he is much larger than her, but it began to cause him extreme stress and worry. Devorah, a newly married woman with a young baby, calls her best friend, telling her that she feels horrible about herself. Once a self-confident, happy person, she feels her husband is always criticizing her. He complains about her cooking, says she is too fat and cannot do anything right. He often tells her he is going to leave and take all the money and the baby. She is terrified.

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What do these situations have in common? They are all examples of domestic violence. Yes, domestic violence does not need to include physical violence, but it can. And yes, domestic violence does occur with men. And yes, it occurs in the Orthodox community. But what exactly is it, and what can we do about it? What is domestic violence? All of the above examples of domestic violence have something in common. They involve one person in a marriage putting down or controlling the other in a regular ongoing pattern. This can be emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, or financial. Often when we think of domestic violence, we think of a man beating a woman. Although this is one form of domestic violence, there are many others. Domestic violence is a form of maltreatment that occurs in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence effects more than two million women and 800,000 men. It can result in serious psychological and physical injury, or even death. Some of the signs you may see if someone is

a victim of domestic violence include: missing work, unusual injuries, low self-esteem, personality changes, fear of conflicts, self-blame in their relationship, and increased isolation. Is this happening in the Jewish community? It is happening in every community. Perhaps we do not think it can happen in our community because of the great value we place on the family, the marital relationship, and children. Because we have a strong value embedded lifestyle, it’s hard to understand. Yet it happens as we share many of the risk factors other communities have. Things like: history of family violence, poverty, large number of children all increase risks of domestic violence. Although we hold a number of risk factors, we also have protective factors which include a strong religious value system. Yet, one of the biggest risk factors that contributes to the continuation of domestic violence is the secrecy that often surrounds it. Secrecy implies something that no one knows, no one can know. There is often great shame, embarrassment, and humiliation with secrets. Privacy is something that is kept between trusted people. It implies that everyone does not need to know this information, but telling a few trusted people is important. It often does not include shame and embarrassment. Domestic violence is often a secret. Particularly in the Orthodox world, people are afraid of the stigma and shame for themselves as well as their family. Yet there are high costs to live with continued abuse. Divorce, abuse, domestic violence: there is great fear these will all bear black marks on people’s lives and their children. One may feel that “It may be easier to live with a little abuse especially if the kids cannot really see it, than have to deal with the stigma on oneself and family after a messy divorce.” Or even worse, there are fears of losing one’s children or fears that the spouse will get more violent if they try to leave. What should someone do? Tell a trusted friend to help you. In an ideal world it would be good to have a religious social worker as well as a rabbi involved. People knowledgeable in this area can work together to figure out what may be best. A trusted rabbi may be able to help the spouse (often a man) seek treatment and separate from the family until he is safe to return.

Domestic violence does not always mean an end to a marriage, but it does mean the abuser acknowledging what they have done and getting help. It also means the spouse living in a safe environment. How can the community help? If you are aware of a family struggling, have them over instead of running from them. Be strong about them getting help. If a man is getting help, he does not need to be treated like a pariah. It is important to not speak to others about the family going through this, but instead to reach out to the family as much as possible and protect their privacy. If you are not sure what to say or how to respond, imagine it being you in that position or your child: how would you want to be treated? Domestic violence could happen to anyone and can happen in respectable good families. Please do not judge the victim or family… they are victims to something they did not choose. We not only need to be helpful and supportive, but to also be aware of our own inner judgements. Also, the abuser may have come from a home of abuse or had other abusive experiences. We may understand their history, but this person has to take responsibility for their actions, which means owning what they have done, getting help, and making needed changes. It takes great humility to own what is wrong and sincerely apologize and change. Lastly, as a community we need to own that domestic violence is happening: now, today and tomorrow. We need to keep things private for families and at the same time not turn our heads or assume it is not possible. We need to bring in speakers and increase our own awareness of domestic violence. Domestic violence hurts men, women, and children every day. Important Domestic Violence Resources Dinah: 215.645.2142 Rachel Hotline: 215.635.7344 Domestic Violence Prevention: 1.866.JFCS.NOW Frani Pollack is a licensed Social Worker and Psychologist with a private practice at Bala Child & Family Associates. She teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, the Council for Relationships, and the Home-Based Family Program. Dr. Pollack speaks and writes regularly on a range of psychological topics. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

February 6, 2020 | 11

DIVREI TORAH

Spiritual Stand-By By Rabbi Zecharia Weitz

t was looking like a horribly anticlimactic end to our great run. A furious Egyptian army was rapidly approaching from behind, the vast Red Sea was a wall in front and, according to the Midrash, adversarial angels were descending upon us from above! Nachmanides infers from the text that the Jewish people in the moments prior to the Splitting of the Sea were polarized; while part of the Nation cried out to Hashem, the rest of the Jews sadly lost hope and questioned why Moshe had not let them die in Egypt. It is this latter faction that is described in Tehillim (106:7) as “rebelling at the Red Sea.” In retrospect, they were clearly wrong, but were they rebellious or simply realistic? Prior to Hashem splitting the Sea, would an objective onlooker put their money on the Jews? However, in truth, the desperate moments prior to the Splitting of the Sea did not occur in a vacuum but were the climax of the Ten Plagues. The Almighty offered us a multifaceted seminar demonstrating His absolute conviction to take us out of Egypt, give us the Torah and take us to the Promised Land. Questioning Hashem’s ability or conviction to deliver us at the Red Sea disregarded all that Hashem had

miraculously conveyed to us; tantamount to a rebellion against Him. Micro Sea-Splitting Moments Our Sages equate a number of human experiences to the Splitting of the Sea. The more famous examples include every individual’s daily sustenance and finding one’s shidduch. Unlike the wrong choice from a menu or even buying the wrong car, our Sages are identifying areas in life often accompanied by a sense of urgency and closing windows of opportunity, real or perceived. Perhaps, it is in these acute moments when we can feel a shuddering sense of hopelessness that our Sages are reminding us that the world has been around for 5780 years. That means that not only has Hashem established a track record through sustaining me for every infinitely complex moment of my life until this juncture, but He has apparently done the same for all of my ancestors on the micro and macro level for thousands of years until now. I am a survivor of the Egyptian persecution, the destruction of our Temples and subsequent banishment from Israel, the Spanish Inquisition, numerous pogroms, the Holocaust and so much more. Every one of us today was chosen to survive the vicissitudes of Jewish history to carry on our awesome legacy. My personal existence is a clear testimony that Hashem must really want me here and I am meant

to play a vital role in our destiny. When faced with what seems like despair, our collective experience at the Red Sea serves as our paradigm; these are our micro Sea-splitting moments; we may not know the plan, but Hashem has demonstrated unequivocally that He certainly has one. A Message For Us Today One of the first six questions that we will be asked after 120 years is “did you yearn for salvation?” (Shabbos, 31a). As parents and teachers, there will inevitably be children that will disappoint and/or concern us. Included in this charge is to hope and believe that there is a salvation for every individual. If there is a challenge, we are reminded to yearn for salvation and that it is wrong to look with disdain at another’s current state or to perceive it as a hopeless aspect of their being. One of the most inspiring aspects of being an educator is when, often long after they graduate, children who seemed to be on “spiritual stand-by” turn around, find purpose, happiness, and their own personal path in serving Hashem. These salvations are a tribute to the all of the individuals who believed Hashem would somehow split their Sea and did not give up on a child even when they might have felt like giving up on themselves. This is not only an encouraging thought

for us parents and teachers, but it is so powerful to convey to a struggling child as well. They have a real purpose; they are going to be successful and Hashem will help them find their light as long as they keep looking for it. Isiah (106:7) tells us something that we remind ourselves of every morning in davening: “A Redeemer will come to Israel…[the Torah] will not leave you, your children and your children’s children from now and forever.” A micro salvation occurs when we appreciate that the Torah will live on in all of our children. It’s been thousands of years and Hashem is still waiting for us, as a nation, to recognize our potential. In the merit of our firm belief and prayer that all of our children will find their light, Hashem should help us collectively experience our Ultimate Redemption with Mashiach soon in our days. Rabbi Zecharia Weitz is the Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies at Caskey Torah Academy. Prior to coming to CTA, Rabbi Weitz was a rebbe at Columbus Torah Academy for 12 years , where he assumed the role of Coordinator of Upper School Judaic Studies. He received Smicha from Ner Israel Rabbinical College, a Masters in School Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and has completed YU Lead, the Principals’ Training Institute (CoJDS) and is currently a mentor in the Jewish New Teachers Program.

Shabbat Shira: Song of Milk & Honey By Rabbanit Shani Taragin

n Shabbat Shira, which always coincides with the week of Tu B’Shevat, we read “Shirat HaYam” – the Song of the Sea (Shemot 15), praising God for the miraculous salvation from the Egyptian army, and “Shirat Devorah” as the haftarah reading (Shoftim 5) – a similar national military song against the Canaanite forces. As we sing of independence and eventual “planting” in the Land in Shirat HaYam: “Teviaymo vetitaeymo behar nachalatcha” – “You will bring them and implant them on the mount of your heritage (Shemot 15:17), we find a clear connection to the celebration of Tu B’Shevat – a time for planting and calculating the growth of trees in Eretz Yisrael. Moreover, as we read the haftarah from Shoftim chapter 4 with its ensuing song (as per the Ashkenazic custom; Sephardic custom is to begin the haftarah reading with the song in chapter 5), the Land imagery February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Shevat, 5780 February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

strikes immediately and the blessings of Eretz Yisrael resonate loudly. The narrative begins with Devorah – a prophetess who sits under a palm tree near Bet-El. Our initial association is with Devorah, the nursemaid of Rivka who is buried under a tree in Bet-El as Yaakov returns to his homeland (Hadar Zekeinim in Vayishlach 35:8). Hence, the imagery of milk (associated with nursing) and honey from Devorah (the “bee”) sitting under the date-palm come to mind, reminding us of the blessing of Eretz Yisrael as the “Land flowing with milk and honey” (reflective of both opinions in the Mekhilta of Rashbi (13:5) regarding the interpretation of “Land of milk and honey.” Rabbi Eliezer maintains that both the milk and honey are from fruits; the honey from dates. Rabbi Akiva posits that the blessing of milk is from animals and the honey from bees, mentioned sixteen times in the Torah and five more times in Nevi’im. Perhaps the prophet is alluding from the outset that after twenty years of oppression from the nearby Canaanites, the blessings of the Land will finally be restored through Devorah’s divine inspiration! (Similar

Weekly Dvar Torah F R O M E R E TZ Y I S R A E L

allusions to honey may be found in the parsha as well – “And they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees; and they encamped there by the waters,” (15:27) and – “And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (16:31)). This is underscored through the continuation of the story as we hear of the miraculous mayhem (indicated through the word “vayahom” in both the parsha and haftarah stories) that led to the defeat of the Canaanite chariots by Mt. Tabor, followed by Yael’s heroic assassination of the Canaanite general, Sisera, through her offering of milk. She thereby merits praise of Devorah and Barak in song – “Minashim baohel tevorach” – providing for a peaceful settlement in the Land through the women of milk and honey!

The Chatam Sofer explains (Chiddushei Chatam Sofer, Gemara Chullin 71b) that the Land of Israel is blessed with milk and honey to remind us that just as Torah is compared to milk and honey (Shir HaShirim Rabba 1:3) for it enhances the body and soul with all its words, so the fruit of the Land nourishes us as if each day is Shabbat (the last letter of each word of zavat chalav udvash spells Shabbat!). How appropriate that we enter Tu B’Shevat, celebrating the blessings of trees, fruit, milk and honey of the Land of Israel, after singing the songs of milk and honey on Shabbat, praising God for the miracles of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael! Shabbat Shalom and Tu B’Shevat sameach! Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational Director of World Mizrachi and teaches at Matan and other educational institutions in Israel.

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DIVREI TORAH

The Importance of Unity By Rabbi Elchanan Abergel

n this week’s parsha, we learn about the Exodus from Egypt that was taking place on the morning of Passover. On the seventh day of Passover, B’nai Yisrael were on the banks of the Red Sea, looking behind them and watching the Egyptians who were coming to take them back into slavery in Egypt. Chazal tell us that the nation was divided into four groups. The first group said that there was no way they were going back to being slaves and that they wanted to kill themselves. The second

group said that the Jews should go back with the Egyptians. The third group indicated a desire to fight back against the Egyptians. The fourth group assessed the situation and expressed a desire to pray to Hashem. Moshe Rabbeinu responds to each one of the four groups. He tells the first group to stand still and watch the redemption that God will deliver to you today. Moshe addresses the second group and says, ‘like you saw them today, you are not going to see them ever again.’ The third group, which wanted to do battle with the Egyptians, is told by Moshe that God will

fight for them. Finally, Moshe speaks to the fourth group and says, “and you will stay silent” (Exodus 14, 13-14). The question is, if someone wanted to pray, why would Moshe Rabbeinu tell him to remain silent? We have two answers to this question. First, the group of Jews that expressed a desire to pray only did so because of Pharaoh, in that they did not talk about the need to daven until he was close to them and they were fearful. The second answer is that the prayer did not emanate from a sense of unity among B’nai Yisrael. God does not want

prayers without unity, so in order to get to the point where the miracle of Kriyat Yam Suf, the splitting of the Red Sea, was able to take place, Moshe asked for unity. Shortly thereafter, once B’nai Yisrael safely crossed the Sea, we learn from the song of Az Yashir that all of the Jews were united. From Az Yashir and Parshat Beshalach, we learn how important maintaining a sense of unity is to us as a nation. Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Elchanan Abergel is the rabbi of Congregation Dibrot Eliyahu in Northeast Philadelphia.

Keep - A Guide To Navigating The Smiling Green Smoothie Challenge Dental Emergencies

If you’re a parent like me, you know

By Christina Sciarretta

By Miriam Friedman, DMD

very March, it feels like I am aveof you pulling myself out a pitever of had a toothache crappy health and way too in the middle many months ofofcold, dark, the night?damp Have weather, and if you youever liveexperienced here at bumping the shore, you know thatyour withmouth the during a sporting event or while drinking weather we have had, this year is no from a glass bottle? As many precautions different! I don’t knowemergencies about you, but as we take, dental can ithappen feels toatme like it has raining any stage ofbeen life and it is important to know how to manage them for 87 years. I cannot understand until people you are live ableintoyear-round be seen byrain, your how dentist. like Seattle or London. We, here in Toothache Atlantic County, are beach people. In growing children dental pain may We don’t thrive in gloom and darkbe related to dental decay or cavities, an ness. We come to life in sun, sand, infection, or it can be from a loose tooth and As such, always or a salty newly air. erupting tooth.I Make surefind the myself needing total area is clean, rinse a with warmrecharge saltwater andMarch. gently That floss recharge to dislodgecomes any food in in that may be stuck between the teeth. the form of a giant cup full of green DO NOT place and aspirin nextvibes. to the sore awesomeness good tooth or gums. If there is any swelling I use the month of March to replenassociated with the area or anywhere ish my mouth, depleted with the vitain the youbody should contact your

to theand area.nutrients In the event is a mins that that it is there missing, cut or tear in the intraoral tissue due to due to the over-abundance of carbs chewing or any other cause, gently clean and sugar and lack of anything green the area with water. You can also apply or healthy… anyone else? Come a cold compress to help alleviate pain. In on, somebody! the pressure Green the case of bleeding,Enter apply firm

Cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek After any dental procedure, while still numb, it is common for children to chew on the numb tissue in their mouth since it feels strange or funny to them. Make sure to keep a close eye on your child in the event this occurs to prevent any damage

Broken tooth Whether it’s a two-year-old who trips while learning to walk, a seventh grader who gets hit in the mouth with a ball during gym, or a 30-year-old trying to

dentist immediately.

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with a clean cloth or gauze. If the bleeding persists longer than 15 minutes, go to your nearest emergency room.

open a beerI have with his teeth, chipping or Smoothie. found that blending fracture of teeth can occur. Regardless of nutrient-rich leafy greens with other whether it is a baby or permanent tooth, veggies, fruit, and liquid (yogurt, corinse the mouth with warm water, apply conut water, almond milk, etc.) bring a cold compress to the area and contact my body mind back to life. It is your dentistand immediately.

a total rejuvenation! For 31 days, I commit to out consuming a tooth homemade Knocked permanent A knocked outevery permanent is green smoothie single tooth day. By athedental requires end ofemergency the month,which I almost don’t immediate dental myself. care andMy theskin following even recognize is rasteps in the interim: If the tooth is dirty, diant, my hair is shinier, my energy hold the tooth by the crown (the part levelyou is sky-high, mental clarity that see in themy mouth) and rinse is it improved, sleep deep, myinwake briefly (lessmy than 10 isseconds) cold is easy, I’m usually a bit more trim, I begin to crave healthier foods, and I feel unbelievably freaking awesome. I decided that I just couldn’t keep this magic to myself, so I created The Sci-

water, making eating sure notistojust touch the root that healthy about last (the part that is normally hidden in the on the to-do list for most of the year, gums). If you are able to place it back in so socket, it’s important us toastake time the do so asfor quickly possible, to stop and reset.toIfavoid you go too long again using caution touching the without nutrition, it will root. Bite proper down on a cloth to helpcreep hold the tooth back upininplace. awful ways, like chronic If you not able to re-implant the disease,areillness, aches and pains, tooth, place the tooth in a glass of milk or low energy, moodiness, etc. I’d like saliva (by spitting into a cup, or holding to encourage you all to join our comthe tooth in your mouth, making sure munity, take charge your health, not to swallow it). DO of NOT place the and in consider the immediate challenge tooth a glass oftaking water. Seek yourself or withas your or team! dental treatment thisfamily will impact the likelihood of saving the tooth. (Of course, as with anything healthTo helpitavoid these and other possible related, is always important to disdental emergencies, make sure that cuss the benefits and risks with your you have a dental home for you and physician.) All you have to do peace, your family. Keep up with regular daily love,hygiene, and good vibes, my friends!twice oral including brushing Whatand makes a green smoothie? a day flossing, recall visits and appointments. DO NOT try to substitute Leafy greens of your choice spinyour teeth for your hands or a pair ach, kale, collards, swiss chard, etc of scissors containers, Other when veggiesopening of choice: carrot, bottles or wrappers. Lastly, if you are cucumber, beets, etc involved in contact sports, wear a Fruit of your choice (I almost almouthguard! ways more Teethuse playbananas a crucialand roleone fromorboth a of the following: pineapple, mango, functional and aesthetic standpoint. A smile is often the first thing we notice berries, cherries, papaya, avocado, when meeting new people. Make sure to apple, etc take care of your teeth and keep smiling Liquid of your choice: yogurt, cocobecause smiles are contagious! nut milk, almond milk, ice, water, etc Miriam Friedman is a board certified Extras: dentist chia seed, flax seed,inprotein pediatric practicing Bala powder,and hemp Cynwyd Southseed, Philly.cacao powder,

etc February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780 Here are just a few of the benefits of green smoothies: February 6, 2020 | 11 • Increased energy • Improved digestion

FEATURES

House to Home ‘Mocha Crème’ Launches at Mocha Bleu By House of Kosher

By Elizabeth Kratz Recipes by Esther Chana Schechter Photography by Shani Josefovits

F W

resh baked pastries, new ore still house have those early Motzei ganic coffees, croisShabbosim to enjoy those sants and muffins, not to menyummy Melava Malkah’s with tion gelatotopped crepes, smoothfamily and friends. These updated takes iesclassic and milkshakes, andeveryone two types on dishes will take for aofride. Plus, we’ve got a make once, use grabandgo savory sandwiches, twice our cream sauceabeing are allwith part ofbasic Mocha Crème, new used in both our Truffle Cheesy Smashed meeting place now debuting at MoPotatoes and our Kani Mushroom cha Bleu. Ravioli. The addition of the truffle oil in new potatoes counter-purchase oftheThe smashed makes this dish restaurant be fooled ferings areworthy. perfectDon’t to sample withthough Creamy Potato Soup cofmay a friendour while having morning look simple, in reality the flavors are fee or an afternoon treat with the magic. It will surely become your new kids; favorite. the ambiance is as comfortfamily Happy Cooking! able at 7:30 in the morning as it is Creamy Potato SoupCrème is open six at 10 p.m.. Mocha 2 onions, diced days a week and on motzei Shab1/2 stick butter bat in winter. Priced comparably to 5 potatoes, peeled and diced 1other carrot,coffee peeled options and dicedin the neighMocha 2borhood, celery stalks diced Crème is launchSalt ing to astaste Mocha Bleu turns 10 years

Sauté onions in butter until golden. old. inAveggies communal table4 for Add and about cupsfamilies, of water or till vegetables are covered. Bring friends or small group meetings istoina boil and then simmer for area, 45 minutes to the new Mocha Crème perfect an hour so veggies are soft. Blend soup. for high school students coming

in for a quick gelato or sandwich.

Basic Cream Sauce Thestick couches 1/2 butter and small tables just tocloves the coffee area are quiet in 6next garlic chopped morning and perfect for friend4the tbsp flour Pinch of salt meetups after carpool and business 2meetings, cups heavywith cream coffee and muffins. 1/2 c shredded mozzarella There is ample space cheese for children

in strollers and free wifi. With a Melt butter and add in garlic. Whisk new shiny white chrome in flour then addwoodandheavy cream and Frigomecccanica ‘jewelrybring to a boil making sure to style’ whisk pastry case, in consistently. Addcustom-designed in salt then remove from flame. Stir in cheese and let cool. Italy and intended for everything to be seen easily from eye-level, MoTruffle Cheesy Smashed Potatoes cha Bleu’s owner Naftali Abenaim is 15-20 red baby potatoes bringing his most exciting dessert Olive oil and coffee ideas out into the open. 1/2 stick butter, melted Temperature controlled to just the 1/3 tsp onion powder degree, 1right tsp dried basil Abenaim explained 1/2 thattsphesalt could do more and different

Adventures in Cholent CONTINUED FROM P. 27 real contest so we brought in many judges from the outside world. Joe Glassman, an owner of Dunkin Donuts, has been a judge since the very first Cholent Bowl. His wife, Joni, has gotten into the excitement and she will serve as a judge this year. We have had many rabbis from all walks of life judge our event. To sum up, the Cholent Bowl is a super hit in our community. Joe Glassman and I have had a running debate of where to find the best cholent in New York and the Delaware Valley area. Joe and I have traveled throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and of course we do not agree. Joe’s choice for the best cholent comes from a shop in Crown Heights that is only open two days a week. Joe loves Dovid Malka’s cholent. Dovid Malka is a Lubavitch favorite for cholent, it is heavy on potatoes, and has lots of flanken and kishka. It is a bit foreign to put kishka in cholent since the main component of kishka is bread. It has too many calories and the old time kishka flavor is not for me. I often travel to Lakewood, New Jersey and I might declare it the cholent

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Joe Glassman sampling the cholent capital of the world. Yapchik on Route Nine serves cholent six days a week. If you want your arteries to survive you

desserts with a higher level dessert case. Just in time to enjoy along with the new desserts, Mocha Bleu is also debuting a line of house coffees from Jim’s Organic. While Nespresso cappuccino, espresso and other Italian coffee drinks are still available, Jim’s Organic, a local New Jersey company that sources beans from all over the world, developed a smooth blend called Papua New Guinea just for Mocha Bleu. Mocha Bleu’s new iced house coffee and decaf coffee is another blend, called Sweet Nothings. “We developed this roast with them to get it just right. It’s smoother and sweeter than your average,” Abe-

should avoid this place. The cholent and the kishka are excellent, but having a cholent special every day is a little much. My favorite cholent in Lakewood is sold at Seasons supermarket. You have the choice of many different cholents; pastrami, spicy, and Heimishe, but my vote is for the simple barley cholent. It is delicious and available starting on Thursday. Seasons take out area is my favorite in Lakewood. My vote for the best cholent in the region is Sophie’s Bistro & Lounge at 1906 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Sophie told me that on Thursday nights over 300 yeshiva students come out to eat her cholent. It is a bean and meat cholent with high quality meat being used. It is by far the most expensive cholent at $10.00 a pound, but well worth it. My problem is that it is much harder to get to Brooklyn than Lakewood, so I experience the cholent at Seasons more often than at Sophie’s. I want my students to experience our religion in many ways. Serious Torah study, trips to Israel, and having fun being a Jew. Cholent to me is all fun and there are so many hidden recipes from

Mushroom Mixture 12 oz mushrooms, peeled and diced very small 1/2 stick butter 3 garlic chopped Salt to taste 1 cup cream sauce Cut an “x” into the top of each potato. Smear with olive oil and bake on a baking sheet for 45 minutes at 400. Meanwhile, sauté mushrooms and garlic in butter. Add in the cream sauce to mushroom mixture and up to 1/4 c milk to thin it out. Combine melted butter with onion powder, basil, and salt. Open potatoes a bit where the x was and pour butter mixture over followed by mushroom mixture and shredded cheese. Broil naim said.minutes Chalavuntil yisrael Italian gefor a few cheese is crisp.

lato, made once a week by an Italian

Creamy Kani Mushroom Ravioli chef, headlines the new menu of1ferings. pckg mushroom ravioli The difference between ice 2cream cups basic cream sauce and gelato is that gelato gen6 sticks of kani diced

erally contains heavy cream rather than milk as the majority of its base, Cook ravioli according to package giving it a Add higher fat content a directions. diced kani to and cream more and decadent, taste. “It’s sauce pour overcreamy ravioli. Optional: Top with bestParmesan to just close your eyes and

all over the world. When I was attending Ner Israel Rabbinical College, the head of the yeshiva, Rabbi Ruderman, of blessed memory, was upset with us when we “broke in” on Shabbos night to have a sample of the Yeshiva’s cholent. The Executive Director of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Naftali Neuberger, came up with an amazing solution. Rabbi Neuberger had the revolutionary idea of providing an extra pot of cholent for the students at the yeshiva. Rav Naftali was ahead of his time. Just a suggestion, let’s have a community-wide cholent contest to find the best cholent in the Delaware Valley. Each school could run their own cholent contest and we could bring together all of the winning cholents and crown a champion. I am sure that we have connections to celebrity food judges that would make this an incredible event. We could even expand across the country and crown a U.S. cholent champ. Rabbi Budow has been the Head of School at Abrams Hebrew Academy for 39 years. One of his greatest accomplishments has been taking 700 people to Israel. His favorite pastime is seeing his grandchildren grow up.

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Shevat, 5780 February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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May 10, 2019 / 5 Iyyar, 5779

Roast at Mocha Bleu ‘Mocha Crème’ Launches By Jonathan

By Elizabeth Kratz Chodosh

raditional Japanese resh baked pastries, new orcuisine, known as ganic house coffees, croiskaiseki cuisine, sants and muffins, not to menis known for its many tion gelatotopped crepes, courses andsmoothspecific ies and milkshakes, two simple cooking methods. and One of thetypes many of grabandgoinsavory sandwiches, dishes to be served a Japanese tea ceremony isaretheallyakimono plate. The yakimono dish part of Mocha Crème, a new describes how it is prepared rather than what meeting place now debuting at Mo-is in it. An expectation is that this dish is grilled but cha Bleu. grilled doesn’t encompass all the possibilities. The new counter-purchase ofIt can be prepared on charcoal, broiler, frying ferings are perfect sample vessel. with pan or even roasted in an to earthenware while having morning cofIta isfriend a nice way of understanding that all these fee or an afternoon ways of cooking your dish treat transferwith heat the into the food in similar ways despite them looking kids; the ambiance is as comfortvery What roasting able different. at 7:30 in thedoes morning as really it is mean? How can we use it most effectively in at 10 p.m.. Mocha Crème is open six our everyday lives? days a week and on motzei ShabRoasting is done by cooking food with bat in winter. Priced comparably to dry heat, often very intense dry heat. other coffee optionsare in grilling, the neighExamples of roasting pan borhood,broiling Mocha is launchroasting, andCrème often baking. Each of ways transfer heat into food ingthese as Mocha Bleu turns 10 ayears without any additional water as a conduit. The heat moves into the food, often from one side requiring food to be rotated, until the center barely reaches the desired doneness. Here is a model of how heat moves and transfers. Hold on folks, I’m about to get really nerdy. This is a form of Fourier’s law. It describes heat conduction. It will help us conceptualize how to leverage the tools we have. q=−k∇T where (including the SI units) q is the local heat flux density (heat flow rate), W·m−2 k is the material’s conductivity (this is constant for any solid single food item), W·m−1·K−1 ∇ T is the temperature gradient, K·m−1 In other words, the type of food you are cooking and its starting temperature will determine the cooking time and temperature to achieve desired doneness. The only thing we can vary in this is the ∇ (change in) T (temperature). The larger the temperature differential is between the food and the heat the faster heat can move into the food. But there is a catch; the further the colder the food is the further (heat wise) we have to travel to become edible. In higher temperatures heat will transfer into the food faster. However, our food is not paper thin and this transfer occurs within the food itself

old. A communal table for families, friends or small group meetings is in the new Mocha Crème area, perfect for high school students coming in for a quick gelato or sandwich. The couches and small tables just next to the coffee area are quiet in the morning and perfect for friendmeetups after carpool and business meetings, with coffee and muffins. There is ample space for children in strollers and free wifi. With a new shiny white woodand- chrome Frigomecccanica ‘jewelry- style’ pastry case, custom-designed in Italy and intended for everything to be seen easily from eye-level, Mocha Bleu’s owner Naftali Abenaim is bringing his most exciting dessert and coffee ideas out into the open. Temperature controlled to just the right degree, Abenaim explained until the could whole do item reaches the same that he more and different

temperature. However, this is tricky science. If we make that temperature differential too large, you’ll end up with an inedible, burnt mess. Trust me, even I have done it. Tip: start with room temperature foods when roasting. Imagine your two chicken pieces, one is room temperature 70F the other out of the refrigerator is 35 F. You will bake them both in the same oven. The exterior of the chicken will cook at nearly the same rate however the refrigerator chicken will take significantly longer for the middle to reach the safe 165F than the room temperature one. Imagine the chicken like a tree trunk with rings. The outer rings have been very hot for a very long time. That makes the cold chicken dry and the room temperature chicken juicy. If you can leave your protein on the counter for about an hour before cooking and no more than two. You will notice a difference. It is difficult to illustrate this abstractly. The recipe below will expound on exactly what is happening. Pan Roasted Fillet of Salmon 1 or 2 portions of salmon, 3-5 oz. each Salt and pepper to taste light olive oil or neutral oil for lubricating pan lemon wedge as condiment Recommended: heavy nonstick or cast iron pan and spatula (fish spatulas are

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In a cold pan drizzle in a very small amount of oil. (Salmon is an oily fish and will release some of its fats while cooking so don’t add too much.) Season the fillets with salt and pepper and place them in a cold pan skin side down. Dropping a fillet into a hot pan makes the skin contract and separate from the rest of the fillet. Use a cold pan to start. Place your pan on medium high heat. Once sizzling, reduce to medium. Cook 3-4 minutes. Turn once and cook an additional four minutes. Serve immediately garnish with lemon wedge. The first-place finisher has the center of the fish just barely cooked. Overshoot and the fish will start to overcook and dry out. Undercook and it isn’t quite edible. Picture your cold fish being heated from only one side. The top half is completely raw and the bottom surface risks burning. Turn it about halfway through the cooking process so that as the center of the meat approaches an edible temperature the raw side starts to cook. We use medium heat so that the surfaces don’t burn. Please only turn it once. The more we play with the fish, the more it will fall apart. Fish is a fragile food and we aren’t trying to make salmon salad in this article. Some things demand a bit more char.

Marinade 1 medium raw onion, rough dice ½ rib celery Dijon mustard 1 tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. sugar 1 tbsp. vinegar 3 tbsp. oil London broil is one of my favorite cuts when done well. Sometimes it is too tough to enjoy. Poke the meat at the store. If it feels soft and tender that is one you should consider. If it feels hard perhaps you should move on to the next one. Not sure? Feel a ribeye steak for a great point naim said. Chalav yisrael Italian geof reference. lato, madethe once a week by an Italian To make marinade, puree everything together. I like to use an immersion chef, headlines the new menu ofblender. meat minimum 1 hour ferings. Marinade The difference between ice and up to how ever many days are left cream and gelato is that gelato genon your meat’s shelf life. Not sure? Most erally contains heavy cream rather supermarkets give cut beef a four-day than milk as the majority of its base, shelf life. The label should have a packedgiving a higher fat content on date.itCheck it to determine howand longait more decadent, creamy is safe to marinade your meat.taste. “It’s Set up gas eyes grill onand high best to and justpreheat closeyour your heat. Shake off excess marinade from the beef and sear on high heat for 3 minutes. Turn and reduce the heat to medium and cook an additional 5-6 minutes with the grill closed. Add 2 minutes to each step for a well-done London broil. Charcoal is a bit harder to use. Set your coals up in zones of high heat (lots of coals) and indirect heat (no lit coals at all). Sear for 1.5 minutes each side on the high heat and move to the indirect side with the lid on for an additional 6-12 minutes depending on how well done you prefer your meat. In both cases rest meat for 5 minutes, slice and enjoy or save whole to slice and enjoy later. If the fish and London broil sound rather similar, it is because they are. The method of cooking both of these is identical though the tools may look different. The grill is a bit more aggressive although the results are surprisingly alike. The goal is a barely cooked center with char or browning on the exterior. Jonathan Chodosh is a food scientist and the owner of Teavon Food Group. You can find his vegan products (gelato, tapas salads, and dips) at Jack Levin’s Wine Store, or order by reaching him directly at jonathan@teavonfood.com. Follow him on social media @nerdydadfoods and @teavonfoodgroup.

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Grilled London Broil With Wet Onion Marinade 1 London broil about 1.5-2.5 lbs.

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

May 10, 2019 / 5 Iyyar, 5779

SCHOOLS ABRAMS HEBREW ACADEMY

Morah Raya Benhaim’s 6th grade Jewish History class completed a unit on the Israeli wars from 1947-present. Each student made a presentation to the class and the lesson will culminate with a trivia game and a prayer for the soldiers.

Thanks to Officer Melissa Robinson of the Middletown, PA Police Department for talking to the Abrams students about being prepared in an emergency situation. Teachers have been explaining how the school responds to these events and have been developing a plan and practicing with the students.

On Tuesday, January 28, Officer Joe Harris from the Yardley Borough Police Department spoke to the students in Grades 5-8 about Cyber Bullying. He began his presentation with a discussion about how what these students put on media is accessible forever to high schools, colleges and jobs to which they apply in the future. Officer Harris dispelled the notion that on some apps posts are programmed to disappear; that disappearance is just from public view, not from the view of authorities. Officer Harris spent the majority of his talk explaining harassment of others and the forms that can take. Students were very attentive during the discussion. Abrams really does appreciate the special relationship it has with the Yardley Borough Police Department.

CASKEY TORAH ACADEMY (CTA)

KOHELET YESHIVA MIDDLE SCHOOL (KYMS)

CTA 1st graders are enjoying their brand-new library furniture, sponsored by the CTA PTO!

After returning from Winter Break, the 2nd graders are refreshed and ready to begin new Perakim in Parshas Lech Lecha.

KYMS students preparing for their school Shabbaton, which took place on Shabbat, Parshat Bo.

KYMS students working hard on developing the presentations for their Tower Garden project in Science. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

CTA 8th graders have begun their study of the Holocaust, in conjunction with the school’s “Rosel and Jack Breitkopf Koleinu Program.” The students will soon begin writing up interview questions and interviewing survivors.

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SCHOOLS CONGREGATION BETH SOLOMON PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

THE MESIVTA HIGH SCHOOL OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA

Students spending some time learning after davening

KOHELET YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL (KYHS) Color War 2020! (credit: Rabbi Gil Perl)

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February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

SCHOOLS KOHELET YESHIVA LAB SCHOOL (KYLS)

KYLS students preparing for their trip to the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Bat Sherut, Morah Liron, running an Ivrit Peulah with Lab School students. 4th Grade Band

KOSLOFF TORAH ACADEMY (KTA) Over the past three years, KTA, in its commitment to women’s education and personal growth, has been growing its STEM programming. Ninth grade students study Introduction to Engineering on honors and academic levels. In this class, students learn programming, applied physics, and engineering, and work in teams to create solutions to practical, real life problems. The year culminates with a capstone program and a presentation at the CIJE (Center for Innovation in Jewish Education) Innovation Day at Bell Labs in New Jersey. This week, a team of five freshmen joined the CIJETECH Hackathon IOT (Internet of Things) Day at Yeshiva University in New York. They competed against teams of five from 20 schools from the tri-state area. Their task? To design and build a product that would be environmentally friendly and create an app or website for remote monitoring of the product. Over the course of the day, students had crash courses in HTML, web design, and internet protocol. Teachers could not help the team, but chaperone Mr. Russell Spiewak, an engineering student at the University of Pennsylvania, was allowed to assist and gave our students valuable guidance throughout the process. The KTA super team, in only four hours, created a product

called The Iron Man, which counts how often a person throws out trash and records that number to a website. That way families can keep track of this number and try to lower it, in order to lower the amount of trash entering landfills. The students completely followed the environmentally friendly brief and completed the task extremely well. Thank you to Mrs. Sara Spiewak, KTA’s honors STEM teacher, and to Mr. Russell Spiewak for chaperoning and guiding the students.

This past week, led by Mrs. Cheryl Epstein, the staff spent a day reviewing student exams and class goals and objectives. Teachers assessed whether students had met the course goals to date, exceeded them, or were approaching them. They then

reflected on why and what the student needs for the second half of the year would be. Together, they came up with differentiated strategies to help each student meet and exceed goals. Another day was dedicated to semester two planning. Educators reflected on the semester goals for knowledge and skills, the essential questions and big ideas associated with these goals, and the assessments that would demonstrate whether the goals had been met. The days culminated with team work on the scope and importance of the work students will be doing during the second semester.

Have you checked out our social media pages? Don't miss out on the latest photos, articles, article discussions and much more. PhillyJLink phillyjlink PhillyJLink February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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SCHOOLS PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL

POLITZ HEBREW ACADEMY

Politz Hebrew Academy Began Winter Girls Clubs and Boys Winter Leagues Clubs and Leagues are back! The Girls School began their Clubs on January 31, 2020. Clubs being offered for the Girls are: School Newspaper, Fitness, Sewing and Jewelry Making. Boys winter leagues are Basketball, Football and Baseball. The clubs and leagues are for six-weeks with two three - week sessions so students can participate in more than one club or league.

Forman Center

Gan students making homemade pita as part of their community helpers unit.

4th grade students learning about the effects of water on land by creating a variety of stream tables.

Stern Center

Kindergartners made Cheerios necklaces as they celebrated the Bracha of Mezonos.

4th grade students engaging in collaborative learning.

Ganon students learning through play.

POLITZ DAY SCHOOL OF CHERRY HILL

Kindergarten students made yummy fruit salad as they celebrated the Bracha of Ha-eitz .

5th Grade boys learned about Vatikin in class, and then had an early morning tefilla and breakfast get together to put their learning into practice.

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1st grade girls were enthusiastically practicing their play which they will perform at their upcoming Chumash Ceremony. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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The HOK Sports Star of the Week: Hilla Ben-Shoshan

The Philadelphia Jewish Link and House of Kosher would like to recognize Kohelet Yeshiva High School guard Hilla Ben-Shoshan as this week’s Sports Star of the Week. Ben-Shoshan, a junior who has shined all season long, leads the Kings in scoring, threepointers, minutes, and steals. Last week, Ben-Shoshan put on a show in her team’s home game against Villa Victoria when she poured in 22 points, including four triples, to swat the Yellow Jackets. “When you think of Hilla, you think team player and leader,” said Kohelet Head Coach Kevin Scholla. “Hilla is a pleasure to coach because she always gives it her all and always has the team’s best interest on the top of her list. Hilla never backs down from a challenge. She’s a true fighter. She is respectful and coachable. Any team would be better with someone like Hilla on their side. We are so fortunate to have a dynamic student athlete like Hilla at Kohelet.”

For the week, Ben-Shoshan led Kohelet in scoring, threes, minutes, and steals, plus she was tops in rebounding and blocks as well. It was truly a remarkable week for a player who has had a tremendous season on the court.

What is your favorite sports memory? In our school color war basketball game, we were losing by 1 point and had 3 seconds left. I quickly took the ball and shot it from the white line and it surprisingly went in. We won the game and it was a really happy moment for me.

The Philadelphia Jewish Link had an opportunity to speak with Hilla about being named Sports Star of the Week and her love of sports. Who is your role model and why? My role model is my mother because she always helps me strive to do my best and always supports me with what I do. What is your favorite sport? Basketball, of course. What is your greatest sports accomplishment? I believe it’s leading by example. I play hard and I work hard, and it shows on the court.

What is your pregame routine? I tend to just shoot around and try my best not to get nervous.

What is your earliest sports memory? When I was little, I remember playing with my older brother and my dad outside just for fun and that’s when my passion for basketball began. Who is your favorite athlete and why? Jimmy Butler’s work ethic is beyond amazing and I strive to be like him. He was kind of underrated when he played with the Sixers, but he always tried his best and showed everyone his skill.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports? I really enjoy spending time with my friends, I value that a lot. What is the best thing about being the HOK Sports Star of the Week? I work hard and I try my best every game and it feels good to be acknowledged for my work.

The HOK Sports Star of the Week will receive a “Winner’s Pie” – a free regular pizza pie from House of Kosher. Please send nominees to be featured as an upcoming Philadelphia Jewish Link and HOK Sports Star of the Week to: publisher@PhillyJewishLink.com.

Caskey Torah Academy vs. Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy On Wednesday, January 29, the Caskey Torah Academy Tigers hosted the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy Cougars. The Tigers who prevailed, 42-27, were led by Max Mogyoros, who scored 22 points. Shua Gross, who added 10 points of his own, also contributed on the defensive end with a plethora of blocks and rebounds. Mogyoros exhibited his typical poised style of play as he controlled the tempo throughout the entire game and was virtually unstoppable in transition.

On Sunday, February 2, The Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia squared off against Foxman Torah Institute (FTI). The Mustangs were firing on all cylinders and cruised to a 60-52 victory over FTI. Senior Noah Mogyoros led the way with 14, while juniors Bennett Stein and Dovi Erlbaum chipped in 11 and 9, respectively. In the Mesivta-FTI JV game, the Mesivta Mustangs walked away with a 41-39 victory. Freshman Ephraim Shmidman had a strong performance and finished with a team-high 19 points. Sophomore Matan Schwartz added 6 points of his own for Mesivta. February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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(credit: Ikey Troodler)

Mesivta vs. FTI

(credit: Shlomo Troodler)

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Caskey Torah Academy vs. Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School On Motzei Shabbos, February 1, the Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School boys basketball team hosted Caskey Torah Academy. It was an exciting game from start to finish, with KYMS keeping it close every time CTA tried to make a run and build a lead. With the score tied at 31 late in the fourth quarter and the clock winding down, CTA had possession. Shua Gross had a huge basket with eight seconds left in the game to put the Tigers up by 2. Kohelet’s Daniel Benjamini got the ball off the ensuing inbounds play and raced down the court while being well defended by the CTA players. He managed to get a shot off from the corner that hit the backboard and rimmed out, and CTA ended up with a hard-fought 33-31 win.

(credit: Shlomo Troodler)

(credit: Rabbi Gil Perl)

(credit: Shlomo Troodler)

(credit: Rabbi Gil Perl)

(credit: Shlomo Troodler)

(credit: Rabbi Gil Perl)

KYHS Boys Basketball

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Kohelet Yeshiva High School Girls Basketball Squad Secures Winning Record By Coach Kevin Scholla Kohelet Yeshiva High School’s girls basketball team was clicking on all cylinders when they hosted International Christian (Philadelphia) on January 6. The Kings crowned the Titans 56-6. Kohelet freshman point guard Barbara Sasson led all scorers with 16 points. Senior forward Ma’ayan Schwartz chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds. In all, ten Kings scored in the game. The real story was the defense. Kohelet held International to just one field goal for the entire contest. Kings junior guard Hilla Ben-Shoshan had seven steals to pace her squad’s suffocating defense. Gabi Gindoff and Isabella Schwartz both hit three-pointers for the winners. On January 13, the Kings topped New Jersey United Christian Academy, 35-21 for their second straight victory. Freshman point guard Barbara Sasson led the Kohelet scoring attack with eight points. Sasson was one of eight Kings to score. Hilla Ben-Shoshan hit two threepointers for Kohelet. Huvi Bochner and

Senior Ma’ayan Schwartz gets ready to inbound the ball. (credit: Rabbi Gil Perl) Gabi Gindoff each scored three-pointers as well. Junior forward Chaviva Lebovits added six for Kohelet. The Kings squared off against The City School on January 22. Down by six late in the fourth quarter, Kohelet stormed back to edge The City School 38-36. Sophomore Agam Halperin led the Kings attack, scoring 14 and draining critical free throws down the stretch. Hilla BenShoshan buried a big three-pointer for Kohelet to ultimately tame the Lions. The Kohelet defense clamped down in

From L-R: Junior Hilla Ben-Shoshan, freshman Barbara Sasson, and sophomore Agam Halperin. (credit: Rabbi Gil Perl) the fourth quarter, proving to be the difference. Sophomore Lauren Williams and senior Jordyn Guritzky anchored the suffocating Kings defense along with Halperin and Ben-Shoshan. After trailing by six in the final stanza, Kohelet actually went up by six minutes later. The City School cut the lead to just two late, but with seconds remaining Halperin stole the ball to secure a dramatic victory for the Kings. Kohelet hosted Villa Victoria on

Senior Jordyn Guritzky driving to the hoop. (credit: Rabbi Gil Perl)

January 29 and clinched a winning record with their 54-37 win. Hilla Ben-Shoshan topped all scorers with 22 points. The junior guard canned four three pointers and led all players with six steals. Agam Halperin shined on both sides of the ball, scoring six points and dishing out nine assists. Halperin and sophomore Yaffa Troodler led the Kings’ tenacious defense, each coming up with three steals in the game. In all, nine players scored for Kohelet.

No. 22 YU Men’s Basketball Outlasts Williams College for Program Record 18th Straight Win (Courtesy of Yeshiva University) The nationally-ranked No. 22 Yeshiva University men’s basketball team knocked off perennial NCAA Tournament contender Williams College, by a score of 77-68, at the John Wesley Chandler Athletic Center on Monday evening. Yeshiva advances its record to 18-1 which is the best start in the 89-year history of the program. The Maccabees extend their winning streak to 18 games which sets a school record. “Just a good road win against a tough NESCAC team,” Yeshiva University Head Coach Elliot Steinmetz said. “They did a good job taking us out of our rhythm early, but our depth really helped us tonight.” The Maccabees never trailed during the second half, as timely baskets and free throw shooting led the Blue and White to a key road victory. For the game, Yeshiva shot 50.0% from the field, including 42.3% from 3-point range, and went 12-for-13 from the charity stripe. Four Macs players reached doubledigits in scoring. Junior forward Caleb Milobsky led the team with a careerhigh 19 points, while grabbing six February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

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rebounds. Senior forward Gabriel Leifer produced his 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while leading all players with seven assists. Sophomore guard Ryan Turell had 18 points and brought down six caroms. Senior guard Simcha Halpert added 12 points of his own. Williams (10-11) held the lead three times in the opening half. The third and final time was courtesy of a pair of free throws from first-year guard Cole Prowitt-Smith to put the Ephs up, 1816, with 11:18 remaining in the opening stanza. After freshman guard Ofek Reef converted a layup to tie the game, Simcha Halpert forced a steal and

delivered the ball to Leifer. Leifer then fed it to junior guard Eitan Halpert, who drained a 3-point field goal to give YU a 21-18 advantage with 10:26 left to play in the half. That sparked a 9-0 run by the Macs, capped off by a successful jump shot by Turell, to give the visiting team a 25-18 hold with 9:06 to go. After Williams rallied to pull to within one, at 27-26, Yeshiva finished the half strong with a 9-2 run. In the final play of the half, Turell received the inbound pass and drained a three-pointer from the corner, at the buzzer, to give Yeshiva its biggest lead of the game, 38-28, at the intermission. The Ephs started the second half with an 8-2 run to pull to within four. A few minutes later, Milobsky drilled a timely 3-point field goal to give Yeshiva more breathing room, at 47-40, with 13:14 remaining in regulation time. After Williams pulled to within four, Milobsky countered with yet another shot from beyond the arc to increase Yeshiva’s lead back to seven. Williams refused to quit as a 3-point shot by senior guard Mickey Babek concluded a 10-4 run to pull the home team to within one, at 54-53, with 8:22 to go. After Williams evened the game at 56 points apiece, Milobsky came

through once again with a key shot from downtown to allow YU to regain the lead. After Yeshiva managed to get a stop on the defensive end, Eitan Halpert converted a jump shot to extend the Macs’ advantage to 61-56, with 6:08 to go. After Babek’s 3-point shot made it a one possession game, Milobsky struck again with a 3-pointer of his own to give Yeshiva more breathing room at 64-59, with 5:12 remaining in the second half. Less than two minutes left in the game, senior center Matt Karpowicz converted a layup to shrink YU’s lead to 69-66. After both teams went scoreless during the next two possessions, Yeshiva got the ball back with less than a minute to play. Turell launched a shot just before the shot clock expired that swished through the net to extend Yeshiva’s lead to two possessions, at 71-66, with 54 ticks left on the clock. That would be the unofficial victoryclinching basket as Simcha Halpert and Leifer combined to go 6-for-6 from the charity stripe during the final minute to put the exclamation point on No. 22 Yeshiva’s historic win. For the Maccabees, Eitan Halpert added seven points and three assists, while senior forward Daniel Katz scored five points of his own.

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Important Tips for First-Time Home Buyers Tip #6: Relax You don’t have to make an offer on the first home you see. Make sure to look at other listings in the area to get a feel for the marketplace. When you decide to make an offer on a house, consult with your real estate professional so that all of your questions are answered.

By Israela Haor-Friedman

f you are currently in the market for your first home, you probably have lots of questions. You are about to make an important decision for your future, a great investment of both money and time. I have a wealth of experience helping first-time buyers like you make sound, informed decisions. Here are some tips that can help make your home buying process successful: Tip #1: Do Your Homework The perfect home won’t find you by itself. The key step in buying a home is doing the proper research. Educate yourself on local schools, neighborhoods, and the kinds of homes available. By reading available materials and talking with experts, you can start to put together your idea of the perfect home. Tip #2: Start Planning Most decisions benefit greatly from proper planning, and home buying is certainly no exception. Start a filing system with sections such as home buying, home financing, and service

providers. By forming a home buying plan, you can more easily focus on the most important factors and help give structure to the entire process. My website is a great resource for property information. Tip #3: Get Prequalified Getting prequalified for a loan normally only requires a short phone conversation with a lender and can greatly help your home search. Prequalification does not guarantee you a loan, but it does provide you with an estimated monthly payment and a price range to use as a guide when shopping for homes. Being prequalified

can also often indicate to sellers that you are a serious, prepared buyer. Tip #4: Look for Value When shopping for homes, it’s important to consider potential value. Even if you’re not planning to sell the home sometime down the line, it’s a good idea to consider the future value of the home. Protect yourself against things like falling prices and gradual shifts in the nature of the neighborhood. You may not think of a new home as a means to make money, but it’s an important investment that requires caution. Tip #5: Decide What You’re Looking For Settle on the home features that are important to you (covered parking, hardwood floors, architectural style, etc.) and make an ordered list. Having wellestablished guidelines will help narrow down your search and will prevent you from being shown properties that lack your key amenities. It can help you make the decision not to buy an attractive property that doesn’t really fit your needs. My website has a search feature that allows you to filter thousands of listings based on attributes that you select. If you know you want a brick house with gas heat and a garage, you can get the results you’re looking for.

Please call me and together we can find the place you’ll love too.

Passionate about the place you call home

Connect with active home buyers and sellers from our dynamic, growing community.

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Tip #8: Protect Yourself Be careful when signing a contract on a home that allows you to find financing, have the home inspected, and work through any problem areas that may arise. Paying for a quality home inspection is absolutely crucial! You can save yourself thousands in repair costs by being sure of what you’re getting into. More information for first-time buyers can be found on my website israelafriedman.foxroach.com or israelarealtor.com, or by giving me a call at 610.730-.0731. I’m confident that I can provide the kind of exceptional service that will make this process an exciting one. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have, I would love to be of assistance to you. Israela Haor-Friedman is a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors in Haverford, PA. She is a member of The Gail Kardon Team and can be reached at 610.730.0731 or at israela.friedman@foxroach.com.

I love Lower Merion & I am a Proud Resident!

ARE YOU A GROWTH-MINDED REAL ESTATE AGENT? To be included in our real estate section or for more information, please call 484-424-5200 or email publisher@phillyjewishlink.com

Tip #7: Shop Around for Your Mortgage Deciding on the financing for your home can be as important as choosing a home itself. The first step is deciding what kind of loan best fits you: a fixed rate mortgage, or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). There are benefits to each form of loan, and your real estate professional can provide you with more information. Next, you’ll want to begin to shop around for different lenders.

A passion for the place you call home

ISRAELA HAOR-FRIEDMAN REALTOR®

610-730-0731 cell

Israela.friedman@foxroach.com www.Israelafriedman.foxroach.com 610-649-4500 office

A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

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What Buyers Want – Do You Agree? respondents is a deck or back porch. Demand for outdoor living space has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, many homebuyers are willing to give up square footage to have it. What are the top features you want in your next home? When consulting with your agent on your home search, be sure to prioritize what is important to you. This process helps your agent find homes that meet your needs more quickly. Anne Goldberg is a Realtor with Keller Williams Main Line Realty. She can be reached at 610.520.0100 (office) 973.985.9053 (mobile) or annegoldberg@kw.com.

By Anne Goldberg I was browsing through a popular blog a couple of days ago and this caught my attention: A recent study conducted by Porch.com revealed the top features buyers across several generations listed as being very important in their home search. Among the top 10 were finished basements, natural sunlight, renovated bedrooms and bathrooms, and energyefficient features. Also high on the list were finished garages, open floor plans and hardwood floors. The number one must-have for survey

Thinking About Refinancing? Five Things to Consider (StatePoint) Mortgage rates have recently hit near-record lows and Freddie Mac predicts rates will remain low for the foreseeable future. If you haven’t already taken advantage of the low-rate environment to refinance your home, experts say it’s worth considering. “There are lots of reasons to refinance your home mortgage when rates go down,” says Liz Bryant, national sales manager for Wells Fargo Home Lending. “Lower rates can reduce your payment, shorten the overall length of your loan or provide you access to cash that you can use for home improvements or other expenses.” Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking of taking that step: • It may make sense to refinance if your goal is to reduce your monthly payment as well as the interest you will pay over the life of the loan. A mortgage consultant or refinancing calculator can help you decide. Reducing your payment will free up money for saving, investing or spending in other ways.

• Refinancing can shorten the length of your loan, for example, by reducing your loan from a 30-year repayment period to 15 or even 10. That can allow you to pay the loan off faster and reduce the amount of interest you pay. But, depending on your individual situation, it could mean a larger monthly payment. • Some homeowners refinance to tap into available equity. This can be useful if you’re paying for a large project like a home renovation or are making another large purchase. You should talk to a home mortgage consultant to see if a cash-out refinance fits into your long-term financial goals or whether a home equity line of credit makes more sense for this need. • If you have built up equity in your home, you may want to consider refinancing to remove mortgage insurance. Typically, you can request your lender to remove mortgage insurance if you show you have at least 20 percent equity in your home. However, if you have a government-backed mortgage, you will need to refinance to a conventional loan

to remove your mortgage insurance, which will reduce your monthly payment. You can find more details at yourhomematters.wf.com. • Finally, if you want to move out of an adjustable-rate mortgage and into a fixed-rate one, refinancing may make sense. Depending on rates, your payment could be higher, but

doing so will protect you against rising rates in the future. “If you’re thinking of refinancing, take some time to do some research and talk to your mortgage lender,” says Bryant “Refinancing may save you money over the long-term and help you achieve your financial goals.”

Are you, or someone you know, looking to buy or sell a home or invest in real estate on the Main Line or greater Philadelphia?

ANNE GOLDBERG, REALTOR® Mobile: 973-985-9053 Office: 610-520-0100

Email: annegoldberg@kw.com Website: annegoldberg.kw.com

Making Realty Dreams Reality Lori & Scott F.

720 W. Lancaster Ave Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Each office is individually owned and operated.

February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Shevat, 5780 February 6, 2020 | 11 Shevat, 5780

Anne helped us purchase a very unique property, under very unique circumstances. She was steadfast in her commitment to make the dream a reality for us ... and she then sold our home in no time, again calmly guiding us through ups and downs of that experience. We can safely say that Anne will be a great partner for you, whether buying or selling.

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