HAPPY CHANUKAH!
Philadelphia
JEWISH LINK
Linking Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey
CANDLE LIGHTING December 13, 2019 15 Kislev, 5780 Parshat Vayishlach Candle Lighting: 4:18 pm
Issue #7 Published Biweekly December 12, 2019 14 Kislev, 5780
JRA: Helping Those Who Need it Most /,*+7 83 7+( +286(
&+$18.$+ 0(18 21 3$*( 6(( 285 :((./< 63(&,$/6 21 3$*(
See ads on pages 2 & 3
tavern
italian kitchen & wine bar
NOW AVAILABLE ON
261 Montgomery Ave. Bala Cynwyd, PA citronrosetavern.com
370 Montgomery Ave. Merion Station, PA zagafen.com
See ad on page 5
By Nachi Troodler
in the summer of 2000 to rent a U-Haul truck and deliver food to 19 Russian-speaking families who needed help, little did they know that their efforts would beget what has since become the Jewish Relief Agency (JRA). A lot has happened over the past 19 years. They have gone from helping 19 families to delivering to 3,246 households last month, they have outgrown two warehouses, and their volunteer base has swelled to approximately 1,000 per month. In short, the JRA has become an indispensable part of the
A
s we get caught up in our daily lives, it can be very easy to forget that there are people in our local Jewish community who may be less fortunate than we are and in dire need of our help. Fortunately, there is an organization in our midst that spends its time serving as a lifeline for thousands of individuals and families throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. When Merion Station resident Marc Erlbaum worked with Rabbi Menachem Schmidt
CONTINUED ON P. 14
Over 30 Years and Counting for the Rothenberg Mincha Minyan in Center City
The Fourth Annual Great Latke Cook-Off By Rabbi Akiva Pollack
I
By Nachi Troodler
See ad on page 43
Are you concerned about your child’s development?
old st ar rehabilitation Earlyy Intervention
for children 0-3 years aat NO COST to t you!
215.220.2210
www.goldstarrehab.com
F
or some people, davening with a minyan during the week can be taxing. For working professionals, getting to Shacharit often means waking up at the crack of dawn to get to shul for an early minyan before heading to work. Mincha poses its own challenges, with many working folks scrambling to find a local minyan in the middle of the day and trying to
Rabbi Dovid Max and Allen Rothenberg carve out time from their workday to get there, especially
t was a Sunday afternoon in the beginning of Kislev, but the smell of latkes was already wafting through the air. The date was Sunday, December 8, Chanukah was still a few weeks away, but 17 Jewish men and women were already peeling potatoes, chopping onions, and turning potato patties into latkes. The fourth annual Great Latke Cook-Off hosted by RAJE Philly (Russian American Jewish Experience) and sponsored by the Rothenberg Law
CONTINUED ON P. 16
See ad on page 9
Firm was well on its way. Five teams (it was supposed to be eight, but three teams “peeled” away) made up of three or four people each fiercely fried to make the best latke! The five teams were RAJE Philly (the Russian American Jewish Experience), Olami (The Global Outreach Foundation), NCSY (Jewish Youth Group), CBS (Congregation Beth Solomon Men’s Club) and Northeast Philly (comprised of the Yermish family). At 2:00 p.m., the CBS Community Center, the venue
CONTINUED ON P. 17
® NEW
YORK
|
HACKENSACK
|
LAKEWOOD
|
MONSEY
|
CHERRY
HILL
|
PHILADELPHIA
CHANUKAH SPECIALS CHANUKAH
IN OUR HOUSE THEREőIS ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON. Find More Special Deals In House. Shop our specials in-House or online @ HOUSEOFKOSHER.COM
Nassau Mango Chunks
Imported Chuck Roast
Chicken Legs Family Pack
Tide Pods
Mr. Clean
Tide
$2.99
$6.99/lb
$2.49/lb
$8.99
$5.99
$8.99
was $4.49 each 16 OZ
was $8.49/lb
was $2.99/lb
was $13.49 each
was $9.99 each 1 GAL
was $14.49 each
Chopsie's Garlic Knots
Dole Sliced Strawberries
Unger's 9" Pie Crusts
$3.19
$2.59
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets
Chopsie 18" Sliced Pizza, 8 Slices
was $3.79 each 12 OZ
was $3.99 each 14 OZ
was $10.99 each 40 OZ
Bodek Chopped Spinach
Bodek Broccoli Floret
$3.99
$3.99
was $6.79 each 24 OZ
was $6.79 each 24 OZ
Haddar Extra Light Olive Oil
Wesson Canola Oil
$5.99
$2.99
was $8.29 each 33.8 OZ
was $4.49 each 48 OZ
J&J Sour Cream
Givat Whipped Cream Cheese
$3.49
$2.99
$9.99
was $5.19 each 16 OZ
was $3.99 each 8 OZ
was $14.99 each 12 CT
HOUSEMADE DONUTS
Macabee Mozzarella Sticks
$6.99
$2.59
$2.59
was $4.19 each 7 OZ
was $4.19 each 15 OZ
was $5.59 each 2 PC
Lieber's White Milk Chocolate Coins
$4.19
4/$1.49
Ner Mitzvah Colored Haddar Extra Chanukah Candles Virgin Olive Oil
was $6.19 each 14 OZ
was $0.49 each 15 GRM
was $1.49 each 44 PCS
was $8.29 each 1 LT
Haddar Mini Pretzels
$3.99
$3.49
B&B Nish Nosh Onion Crackers
Lieber's Bittersweet Chocolate Coins
was $5.99 each 5 LB
was $4.99 each 30 Bag
was $3.99 each 10.6 OZ
was $6.49 each 1 LB
Meal Mart Beef Franks
Meal Mart Cooked Corned Beef
Perfection 7 OZ Cups
was $15.99 each 40 OZ
was $6.79 each 6 OZ
Dagim Breaded Flounder Fillet
King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour
Mehadrin Chocolate Leben Family Pack
$11.99
$3.99
$0.79
$5.99
$2.59
$4.49
$3.99
$0.89 was $1.29 each 100 CT
Give the gift that lasts longer than 8 Days
NOW AVAILABLE IN HOUSE & BY PRE-ORDER
Smores • Halva • Strawberry Shortcake • Boston Crème • Lotus • Lemon Meringue • Salted Caramel • Crème Brûlée • Maple Glazed With Candied Beef Fry Donuts are Parve. Maple Glazed Donut is Meat.
5% off* HOK gift cards
from 12.1-12.31 Perfect gift! Corporate • teacher • employee • family • friends • bus driver • appreciation *minimum $50 gift card to receive discount
CHANUKAH GIFT! Take 5% Off All Online Orders Throughout December
Use Code: CHANUKAHGIFT
Sign up to recieve our Specials! Email SUBSCRIBE to Shani@houseofkosher.com
CATCH US ON THE GO NOW ON
Full-time Mashgiach on premises Minimum $30 purchase of nonsale items required We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. While supplies last. Not responsible for typographical errors. orders@houseofkosher.com ő 215.677.8100 ő 9806 BUSTLETON AVE PHILADELPHIA PA 19115 őő
2
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
Download our Free House of Kosher App now available on Google Play & App Store
DELIVERIES WITHIN 5 MILES
Delivering to Northeast Philadelphia, Hungtindon Valley, Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, Elkins Park, & Fort Washington
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
LIGHT UP THE HOUSE
MENTION THIS AD FOR 5% OFF YOUR CHANUKAH CATERING ORDER OF $150 OR MORE
CHANUKAH MENU
LATKES & APPETIZERS
Min. 10 PC
Classic Potato Latke..…………...………….....……$2/PC Pulled Brisket Latke Sandwich...…………...$5.25/PC Our Housemade BBQ pulled Brisket sandwiched between crispy potato latkes Lox & "Sour Cream" Topped Latke..….….. $5/PC Crispy Potato Latke Topped with Parve Sour cream & smoked fish Sweet Potato Latke..…………...…………...………$2.50/PC Zucchini Latke..…………...…………...…………....…$2.50/PC Apple Topped Latke..…………...…………...….…$2.75/PC Crispy potato latke topped with soft baked apple pieces Brisket Egg Roll..…………...…………...…………....$5/PC
SUSHI SPECIALTIES
SWEET TREATS
Min. 10 PC
Zeppole………...…………...…………………...………….$35/9x13 Apple Fritter………...…………...……………….…...…$35/9x13
DONUTS Min. 12 PC
Classic assorted………...…………...…………………$12/DZ Jelly Donuts………...…………...……………..…...……$12/DZ Sprinkle Donuts………...…………...………...………$12/DZ
HOUSEMADE SUGANIYOT Min. 10 PC
Lemon Meringue………...………….…...……………$4.50 Lotus………...…………...…………………....…………...…$4.50 Boston Creme………...…………...…………………...$4.50 Salted Caramel………...…………...…………….…….$4.50 Smores………...…………...…………………...…………...$4.50 Crème Brulee………...…………...……..……………...$4.50 Maple Glazed with Candied Beef Fry...…$5.75
DESSERT PLATTERS
12"
Sushi Donut Platter..…………...…………...……….$60 Sushi Menorah Platter..…………...……………….$70-110
Chanukah Fruit Platter..................................$70 Chanukah Pastry Platter..............................$55
Charcuterie Board...……………………………...$120 Poppin Platter...……………………………………..$145
Shabbos Chanukah Package
PARTY PLATTERS
12"
16"
Deli Platter...…………………………………………...$65 $110 Kids House Platter...……………………………...$90 $130 Tuscan Chicken Strip Platter...……...…….$85 $130 Deli Sandwich Platter...………………………...$100 $140 Schnitzel & Grilled Chicken Wrap...…...$100 $140 Deli Wrap...……………………………………………...$85 $125 Trio Wrap...……………….........……………………….$80 $120 Grilled Veggie Wrap Platter...………………$75 $115
DAIRY & FISH PLATTERS 12" 16"
Assorted Cheese Platter...…………………….$75 $105 Lox Platter...………………………………………………………..$145 Lox & Smoked whitefish Salad Platter……………………………………………………….$80 $120 Lox, Sable, & Smoked Deboned Whitefish...…………………...……………………………………. $165 Tuna & Egg Salad Platter...…………………...$40 $80 Tuna, Egg Salad, & Whitefish platter...$75 $100
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
OTHER FLAVORS AVAILABLE IN HOUSE
16"
$90 $80
$199 FOR 4 PEOPLE FOR WHOLE SHABBOS. $50 ADDITIONAL PP
CHANUKAH PACKAGES FEED 8-10 BAGEL PACKAGE $99
PIZZA PARTY PACKAGE $175
CHICKEN MIRACLE $189
HUNGRY MACABEE $199
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
3
W TENTATIVE MARCH 2 DATE SET FOR UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ISRAELI ELECTIONS (JNS) The Likud and Blue and White Parties have agreed that barring a lastminute breakthrough by December 11, Israel will go to its third elections of 2019 on March 2, 2020. The proposed election date must still pass three Knesset plenary readings, although with the support of Likud and Blue and White it already has the parliamentary majority necessary to push it through. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said on Monday that all three votes would be scheduled for Wednesday, The Times of Israel reported. “Even when it seems that there is no chance of preventing these costly and unnecessary elections, we will not begin this legislative process before Wednesday, to allow the party leaders to come to their senses in the eleventh hour, a moment before it’s too late,” said Edelstein. If no last-minute solution is found, the Knesset is expected to dissolve on Wednesday night, after which an unprecedented third round of national elections will be called. While Israeli elections have historically been held on Tuesdays, this year’s March calendar contains various conflicts, anniversaries and celebrations which make that day inconvenient.
NATAN SHARANSKY IS AWARDED 2020 GENESIS PRIZE (JNS) Natan Sharansky, the former Russian Prisoner of Zion who would later become head of Israel’s Jewish Agency, was named on Tuesday as the winner of the 2020 Genesis Prize in recognition of his “extraordinary lifelong struggle for human rights, political freedom and his service to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” The Genesis Prize Foundation will confer the $1 million prize to Sharansky at an award ceremony to be held on June 18 in Jerusalem. The prize, which has been dubbed Israel’s Nobel, was established in 2012 to honor extraordinary individuals for their outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.” Sharansky said he would donate the award money to a worthy cause, in keeping with the tradition established by previous award winners, including philanthropist Robert Kraft, violinist Itzhak Perlman and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Isaac Herzog, current head of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the head of the prize selection committee, called Sharansky
RLD NEWSBRIEFS
“a true Jewish hero and an outstanding human being,” adding that the Genesis Prize “rightfully compliments the Israel Prize, the state’s highest honor.” Following the announcement, Sharansky expressed his gratitude to the Jewish state. “Having been raised as an assimilated Jew in the Soviet Union, I discovered my Jewish identity and belonging to the Jewish people thanks to Israel,” he said. “This connection to Israel gave me and other refuseniks the strength to fight for the rights of Jews, as well as other people whose essential freedoms had been denied.” The Jewish people’s unity and connection to Israel are more important than ever, he added. “Today, when anti-Semitism is on the rise—both from the political left and from the right—the unity of the Jewish people and our connection to Israel is very important,” said Sharansky. “We need to unite and combat the scourge of antiSemitism and efforts to delegitimize Israel together, as one people.” Sharansky’s nine-year imprisonment in Soviet labor camps led to international protests, particularly by Jewish communities in the United States and Israel. He was finally released in 1986 after heavy international pressure, including U.S. diplomatic efforts and efforts led by his former wife, Avital Sharansky, and immediately emigrated to Israel.
JORDANIAN COURT SENTENCES MAN TO EIGHT YEARS FOR PLOT TO ATTACK ISRAELI EMBASSY (JNS) A Jordanian court has sentenced a man to eight years in jail for plotting to attack the Israeli embassy in Amman last year, AFP reported on Monday. The country’s state security court ruled that the 33-year-old Khaled Abu Raya had “threatened to carry out terrorist acts,” according to the report. Raya planned “to open fire on the embassy and its employees in a bid to kill a large number of Israelis,” according to the charge sheet, which also said he was motivated by the transfer of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last year, as well as Israel’s policy towards the Gaza Strip. The court also sentenced another Jordanian, Munir Ibrahim, to three years in prison for planning to sneak into Israel and attack soldiers, according to the report. Despite a peace treaty between the two countries, most Jordanians are hostile towards Israel. Earlier this month, a group of Israeli deputy mayors seeking to visit Petra was
reportedly stopped at the Israel-Jordan and refused entry over their religious attire.
ISRAEL STRIKES HAMAS TARGETS IN GAZA AFTER THREE ROCKETS FIRED AT ISRAEL (JNS) Israeli aircraft struck military camps and a naval base belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip early Sunday, hours after three rockets were fired at Israel from the coastal enclave, according to an AP report. Israel announced on Saturday evening that its Iron Dome air-defense system had intercepted all three rockets. No Palestinian group claimed responsibility for the attack, and there were no reports of casualties from the Israeli strikes on Gaza, the report noted. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders are currently in Egypt in talks with officials there about reaching a ceasefire with Israel in return for economic benefits. Hamas responded to the Israeli retaliation by calling it a “dangerous step,” and saying that Israel “will bear the consequences” of its actions, Ynet reported.
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN ‘AN OPTION,’ SAYS ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER (JNS/Israel Hayom) A preemptive strike against Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon remains a viable option, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in an interview on Saturday. Speaking with Italian-language daily Corriere della Sera, Katz, asked whether Israel was mulling military options vis-àvis the Islamic Republic, said: “Yes, it is an option. We will not allow Iran to produce or obtain nuclear weapons. If it were the last possible way to stop this, we would act militarily.” The comments were reportedly made on the sidelines of a foreign policy conference in Rome. They came just hours after Iran announced its readiness to unveil a “new generation” of nuclear-related “products,” including new centrifuge systems and a heavy-water power plant scheduled to be built by the spring of 2020. Katz further admonished European leaders for not taking a more aggressive stand against Iran over its repeated, escalating violations of the 2015 nuclear deal. “As long as the Iranians delude themselves into thinking they have Europe’s backing, it will be more difficult for them to back down,” said Katz. On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif accused Israel of
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 ............................ 12 Community News ....................... 14-17, 21-24 It’s Right in Your Backyard by Carly Chodosh................................. 21 Community Events......................................... 18 Chanukah Events.....................................19-20 Features ........................................................ 24-26 Cherry Blossoms by Rabbi Ephraim Epstein...............24 Divrei Torah...................................................27-31 Torah from Eretz Yisrael by Rabbi Moshe Taragin................... 31 Health & Wellness ..................................32-33 ADHD Series: Part III by Dr. Dovid Levy................................. 33 Food & Wine ..............................................35-36 House to Home by House of Kosher and Esther Chana Schechter ................. 35 The Miracle of Oil by Jonathan Chodosh ....................... 36 Fun Corner ..........................................................37 Schools..........................................................38-40 Sports..............................................................40-41 Home & Living..........................................42-43 Staged Homes Sell Faster submitted by Israela Haor-Friedman.......................................42 Are You Thinking About Downsizing After You Retire? by Anne Goldberg ............................... 43 holding “a nuclear missile test aimed at Iran.” “Israel today tested a nuke-missile, aimed at Iran,” Zarif said on Twitter, adding that the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom “never complain about the only nuclear arsenal in West Asia—armed with missiles actually DESIGNED to be capable of carrying nukes, but has fits of apoplexy over our conventional & defensive ones.” The Israeli defense establishment successfully tested a rocket propulsion system on Friday. Defense officials stressed that the test was planned in advance.
Where can I pick up a copy of the Philadelphia Jewish Link? See page 30 for a complete list of pickup locations 4
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
tavern
italian kitchen & wine bar
NOW AVAILABLE ON 370 Montgomery Ave. Merion Station, PA zagafen.com
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
261 Montgomery Ave. Bala Cynwyd, PA citronrosetavern.com
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
5
ISRAEL NEWS
Israeli Medical Experts Head to Samoa to Combat Measles Epidemic The United Nations and WHO appealed to Israel for aid after the Island nation’s health-care system was overwhelmed by an outbreak of the highly contagious disease. By Abigail Klein Leichman/JNS
A
medical team from Israel is on its way to the Pacific island nation of Samoa to assist overwhelmed health-care workers trying to contain a serious measles epidemic and treat those already infected. A reported 65 people—mostly children—are reported to have died in the outbreak, which has affected more than 4,400 citizens in the country of 200,000 since October. Unvaccinated children under age 4 are most at risk of deadly complications from the highly contagious virus. Six nurses, two pediatricians and one physiotherapist—all with expertise in pediatrics and intensive care—left Israel on Saturday night. They should arrive in Samoa on Monday after a stopover in Hong Kong. The team is led by Dr. Itai Pessach, director of the Edmond and Lily Safra
Children’s Hospital at Sheba Medical Center, and nurse Assaf Luttinger, deputy director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response based at Sheba. The disaster medicine center’s director, professor Elhanan Bar-On, said that the United Nations and its affiliated World Health Organization (WHO) appealed to Israel for help. In response, Israeli’s Foreign Ministry asked Bar-On to deploy a team within two hours. They didn’t have to bring supplies or medications, only their expertise. “It is the capabilities of our personnel that they need, because the teams sent to Samoa from various regional, Pacific and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations are getting burned out, working around the clock,” said Bar-On. “They need heads and hands, and that’s what we sent.”
Your local family dentist treating adults and children in a gentle and relaxed environment.
Sending help across the world Since its founding in 2017 under BarOn, the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response has sent help to victims of a volcano in Guatemala, a cyclone in Mozambique and a cholera outbreak in Zambia. The center also has provided pediatric cardiac specialists to Nigeria; orthopedists and general surgeons to Tanzania; ear, nose and throat specialists to Mongolia; and ophthalmologists to Papua New Guinea to provide cataract-removal surgeries. The center is funded by donations. The cost of the current mission to Samoa is being footed by Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital in the Middle East. Bar-On says the team chosen for the Samoa mission is “highly experienced in intensive care and pediatric intensive care. Many of them also have extensive experience in disasters worldwide.” Bar-On, a pediatric orthopedist and
lieutenant colonel in the Medical Corps reserves of the Israel Defense Forces, was a member of several IDF humanitarian aid missions. He helped set up and staff field hospitals after natural disasters in Haiti, India, Nepal and the Philippines. He’s also worked with the International Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations. “They need heads and hands, and that’s what we sent.” Israeli relief teams usually receive coordination support from local Israeli diplomats. In this case, that assistance is coming from the office of Itzhak Gerberg, ambassador of Israel to New Zealand and non-resident ambassador to Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. Bar-On expects that his team will report to him at least once a day after arriving in Samoa. They will help at Tupua Tamaese Meaole Hospital, where workers are having difficulty meeting the need for
CONTINUED ON P. 18
EFFECTIVE PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY ...on the Main Line
Dr. Dana Kupfer is accepting new patients!
Mention this ad for a
FREE GIFT
at your appointment! *WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
ed acclaim highly ught after o and s GE
A -LANGU SPEECH LOGISTS PATHO
We are now accepting appointments for speech therapy in our fully equipped pediatric therapy center, specializing in: Autism Spectrum Disorders • Feeding Issues Developmental Delay • Oral Motor • Auditory Processing Social Thinking • Articulation/Phonological Disorders Expressive/Receptive Laguage Delays Tongue Thrust/Myofunctional Disorders Apraxia • Neurological Disorders Therapy Central participates with some insurance plans- call for details.
Therapy Central, LLC 610.747.0600 Th
www.merionfamilydentistry.com
(484) 278-4441
822 Montgomery Ave. Suite 306 Narberth, PA 19072
ww www.therapycentralpa.com
352 Montgomery Ave. Merion Station, PA 19066 6
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
ISRAEL NEWS
Is Now the Right Time for a US-Israel Mutual Defense Pact? The proposal has been met with criticism from some in Israel, who argue that it could limit Israel’s freedom to maneuver and constrain the Israel Defense Forces. But with the growing threat of Iran in the Middle East, proponents say now could be the time to sign the pact and boost deterrence By Yaakov Lappin/JNS
U
S President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promoted the idea of a Mutual Defense Treaty between their countries in September, with Netanyahu branding such a pact as being “historic” should it be achieved. The idea is now back in the headlines in Israel. Energy Minister and security cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz stated in recent days that the signing a defense pact is one the reasons why Netanyahu wants to remain as prime minister for the next six months. However, the defense pact has been met with criticism from some in Israel, who argue that it could limit Israel’s freedom to maneuver and constrain the Israel Defense Forces. One of the concerns among those who have raised objections
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 26, 2018. (credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO) is that the pact might force Israel to consult with the United States before taking
sensitive, proactive high-risk military action, subjecting Jerusalem to a potential
American veto. Opposition leader and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz, a former IDF chief of staff, tweeted on Dec. 2 that he would not “support an international agreement that would limit the actions of the State of Israel and the ability of the IDF to defend against the threats it faces.” Addressing these concerns, Steinitz said that a defense pact with the United States would not tie the hands of Israel any more than Britain has been constrained by its membership in NATO. In July, a working group run by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), under the leadership of former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Adm. (ret.) James Stavridis, issued a report making the strategic case for a U.S.Israel mutual defense pact. JINSA drafted
CONTINUED ON P. 10
“Helping injured people is what we do and we’ve been doing it proudly for 50 years.” - Allen L. Rothenberg , Esq.
®
(800) 624-8888 PHILADELPHIA | CHERRY HILL | LAKEWOOD | NEW YORK | HACKENSACK | MONSEY December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
7
THE PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE
I
got to reminisce a little bit this week. When Rabbi Ephraim Epstein shared with me some photos of Rabbi Berel Wein during his recent visit to Cherry Hill, it turned back the clock for me and I was instantly transported back to my high school years. Rabbi Wein was the Dean and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, New York, which is the high school I attended decades ago. An extraordinary personality whose breadth of knowledge seems endless, Rabbi Wein is someone who commands respect not because he craves it, but because his standing as a Talmid Chacham and scholar warrants it. His status as a Jewish history maven is well-known. People around the world are familiar with his Jewish history tapes, CDs and MP3s, which captured over 1,000 of his lectures during the past quarter-century, and his numerous literary works on the subject are renowned. I used to marvel at how Rabbi Wein would walk into our Jewish History class without a sheet of paper or a single note, ask us where he left off at the end of the last class, and then pick up from that very point in history without skipping a beat. In addition to his status as a
preeminent historian and Torah sage, what always struck me about Rabbi Wein was the path he took to get to the rabbinate and the secular knowledge he acquired along his journey. He was a practicing attorney before taking a pulpit in Miami Beach and subsequently in Suffern. The vast experience he garnered during his various professional careers manifested itself in both his public and private interactions. As a high school student, Rabbi Wein always impressed me. As I grew a bit older, Rabbi Wein also inspired me. He epitomizes what it means to successfully meld the secular and religious spheres, without compromising his Judaism one iota. Thinking of Rabbi Wein in this way reminded me of the story of Chanukah, which we’ll be celebrating shortly. The Jews became far too comfortable with Greek culture, and the Seleucids tried to compel the Jews to forsake their Judaism and adopt the Greeks’ beliefs. A large swath of Jews who became known as Hellenists embraced the Greek way of life and took tangible steps to renounce their Judaism. It wasn’t until Matisyahu and the Chashmonaim stood up to the Greeks and rejected their bold attempts to destroy the Jews through assimilation that the tide was turned, and the Jewish people ultimately persevered. Now, over 2,000 years later, Jews face the same danger yet again. Assimilation
threatens to destroy our people, and the willingness of far too many Jews to abandon their religion for the allure of modern culture is alarming. However, people like Rabbi Wein remind us that Judaism and modernity are not mutually exclusive. We can be Talmidei Chachamim and worldly all at the same time. We can be proficient in Gemara and Halacha, while also being knowledgeable about literature and philosophy. We can be committed Jews while also living in the real world. Yes, we must establish boundaries and ensure we are duly insulated from external forces that seek to weaken our resolve and undermine our faith. We have to focus on not getting too complacent, lest we become vulnerable. However, we don’t need to live in a bubble and shut everyone and everything out. We just have to stay true to the tenets of our faith and have the good sense to always remember where our real priorities lie. If more of us could strive to be like Rabbi Wein, it wouldn’t take an army like the Chashmonaim to defeat those who wish to dilute our Judaism. We’d be armed with the confidence and conviction necessary to rebuff those who attempt to poke holes in our beliefs and ensure that the lights of the Chanukah menorah illuminate our hearts and souls for generations to come. Nachi Troodler Publisher
EDITOR’S LETTER
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
C
hanukah, the Festival of Lights, is almost upon us. I look forward to this holiday for a myriad of reasons. Firstly, I find the candles glowing from the Chanukah menorahs during the darkest time of the year to be spiritually uplifting. Secondly, it is heartening to readily identify Jewish homes by viewing numerous chanukiot illuminated throughout our community. And thirdly, who doesn’t love doughnuts and latkes? I often find myself becoming nostalgic around this time of year. Perhaps it is because my birthday falls on Chanukah that I tend to think about years past. And
while my focus as a child was on receiving Chanukah and birthday presents, the emphasis today is completely different. As a child, human nature would prevail, and I would harp on what I didn’t have (i.e. a new board game, a bicycle, etc.). However, as I’ve gotten older (maybe not wiser!) I concentrate on recognizing the blessings in my life. The spirit of the chag, I believe is to acknowledge what we have, not what we are lacking. After all, the Chashmonaim celebrated finding a small jug of oil to light the menorah (that they believed would only last for one day) and did not lament the fact that they didn’t find more. There are so many things to be grateful for: family, friends, health, religion, my job and even my many shortcomings. I thoroughly
appreciate this winter holiday that allows me to take a mental inventory of all that I have while bringing family and friends together in a most joyous, uplifting way. Every family has special traditions that they hold dear during Chanukah. I challenge you during each of the eight days of the holiday to start a new tradition by recognizing a different bracha you have been bestowed with each night. Perhaps identifying some of our unique talents and “gifts” will enable us to give back to our family and community and in turn fulfill our mission to become a “light unto the nations.” Chanukah Sameach to all! Lisa Stein Editor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR To The Editor: In your November 28 article, “Eruvin in the Greater Philadelphia Area and South Jersey,” there was no entry for the Center City eruv. The Center City eruv covers the entire Center City area, as well as adjoining
8
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
neighborhoods. It runs from river to river, and from Washington to Poplar Streets, and connects to the University City eruv via the South Street Bridge. Please visit the website centercityeruv.org for all information, including status updates, a map of boundaries, or to make donations
and sign up for our mailing list. Kol tuv and a Chag Chanukah Sameach, Jonathan Gradman Director, Center City Eruv Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue
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.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! Send in your letter to the editor to editor@PhillyJewishLink.com
and it may be featured in our next issue! December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
OP-ED
Macron’s Unsettling Words: ‘Until Our Dead Can Sleep in Peace’ Barely a year can pass, it seems, without some episode or incident in France that compels its ancient Jewish community to wonder whether they have a future there at all. By Ben Cohen/JNS
O
ne of the criticisms leveled at the numerous Holocaust memorials dotted around Europe is their alleged tendency to, as an American Jewish leader memorably put it to me, “encourage Europeans to commemorate dead Jews, and ignore what’s happening to the living Jews.” But even that goal appears beyond reach these days. French President Emmanuel Macron inadvertently said as much last week when he pledged, in the wake of the desecration of 107 graves in a Jewish cemetery in the eastern Alsace region, that France would fight anti-Semitism “until our dead can sleep in peace.” There was, of course, little doubt as to Macron’s essential point: Anti-Semitism in his own country and in the rest of Europe is becoming so intolerable that even the dead are impacted. Still, his choice of
words will have reminded many listeners that Europe’s history means its lands are full of dead Jews, most of them in unmarked graves. They may also have been unsettled by the sense of despair lurking within Macron’s comment: We can’t even protect dead Jews anymore, he seemed to be saying. In fact, the desecration of Jewish cemeteries by far-right elements in France is hardly unknown. During the 1980s, nearly a dozen Jewish cemeteries were vandalized in different parts of the country. Famously, in May 1990, 200,000 people attended a protest demonstration after gravestones at the cemetery in Carpentras, a historic Jewish center in France, were daubed with swastikas by a group of violent neo-Nazis. Most gruesomely, the desecrators exhumed a body from one of the graves and left it on display with a Star of David rammed through the chest.
Are you concerned about your child’s development
?
feeding • sitting • crawling • walking ¡ talking • interacting
Leadin provid g e Philad r in elphia Montg omery & Dela ware Count ies
old st ar rehabilitation provides
Early Intervention for children ld 0-3 0 3y years at at NO COST to you!
Speech Therapy • Feeding Therapy • Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy • Behavior Therapy • Special Instruction • ABA Goldstar Rehabilitation Inc 822 Montgomery Ave. Suite 306 Narberth, PA 19072
215.220.2210 December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
www.goldstarrehab.com
At the time of the Carpentras outrage, French political leaders and the Jewish community were united in pointing the finger of blame at the late Jean Marie Le Pen, who was then in his heyday as the leader of neo-fascist National Front and enjoying a growing hold on the French public. “Mr. Le Pen, who has frequently insulted France’s 700,000 Jews and 3.4 million Arab immigrants, denied that his party was responsible for the desecration of the graves,” reported The New York Times on May 12, 1990. “ ‘I don’t feel guilty at all,’ he said. ‘I condemn those who did this.’ ” The same report quoted the observation of the then Chief Rabbi of France, Joseph Sitruk, that a “civilization that does not respect the dead is headed toward destruction of the living.” And so it has come to pass in France since Sitruk spoke those words. Not just the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, but the torture and murder of ordinary, unassuming French Jews like Ilan Halimi, just 23, or Mireille Knoll, an 81-year-old Holocaust survivor; terrorist attacks against synagogues, schools and kosher supermarkets in which dozens have been killed or wounded; the steady drumbeat of anti-Semitic rhetoric, much of it camouflaged as “anti-Zionism,” from French Islamists and their sympathizers, along with a dizzying array of extreme left and far right factions. Barely a year can pass, it seems, without some episode or incident in France that compels its ancient Jewish community to wonder whether they have a future there at all. Indeed, while it would be impertinent to ask the polite and diplomatically savvy Jewish leaders of France whether they ever get fed up of hearing the same speech of reassurance from successive generations of politicians, one imagines that at least some of them must grit their teeth. It is not that Macron is insincere. It’s that the gravitas of his words—for example, “Jews are and make France; those who attack them, even in their graves, are not worthy of the idea we have of France”—bear little correspondence to the experience of French Jews, for whom anti-Semitic acts of one sort or another are a daily experience. Even more grave is that among all the hand-wringing, the forces that could make a difference—law-enforcement agencies, social workers, the judiciary— have signally failed to do so. Before this
French President Emmanuel Macron paying his respect to fallen French soldiers from World War I (credit: Emmanuel Macron via Twitter) year is out, we will know for sure whether there will be a criminal trial for the murder, in April 2017, of Sarah Halimi—a 65-year-old Jewish woman who was beaten to death in her own home by a young intruder, Kobili Traore, who bellowed anti-Semitic abuse at his victim during the ordeal. At present, the indications from France are that Traore will escape the charge of first-degree murder aggravated by anti-Semitism because, on the night of Halimi’s murder, he smoked cannabis in a quantity that left him, according to prosecutors and psychiatrists, without any “discernment” (in effect, irresponsible by dint of temporary insanity.) Instead of answering for his crimes and going to prison, Traore, who appeared at a court hearing earlier this month where he apologized for the murder, may find himself in the more benevolent environment of a psychiatric hospital. And French Jews will again ask the same questions of their civilization. The way to break this pattern—in France and more broadly across Europe—is to toughen the legal sanctions for hate crimes against Jews and other minorities. As the president of a republican democracy, Macron cannot, of course, influence the final decision in the Sarah Halimi case. But if Halimi’s family and her memory are denied justice, it is within his power to implement the lessons of that outcome. He might even start, taking Traore’s own defense as a point of departure, with a legal reform that would enable the prosecution of racist and anti-Semitic offenders irrespective of whether or not they ingested cannabis before committing their crimes.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
9
ISRAEL NEWS Is now the right time for a USIsrael mutual defense pact? CONTINUED FROM P. 7 the text of a treaty that is similar to, but more narrowly defined than, existing U.S. arrangements with 50 countries, becoming the only organization to put out such a draft to date. Since then, the organization said in recent a statement that various objections to a pact have been raised, “and we believe it now constructive to advance the policy conversation by elaborating the most salient counterarguments.” To that end, JINSA released a follow-up report addressing the main points of concern. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, was received by a full honor guard of IDF soldiers at the Israeli Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv, May 9, 2017. Photo by Matty Stern/USA Embassy of Tel Aviv. In its new report, JINSA addressed six areas of criticism, beginning with freedom of action. It stated that “mutual defense pacts do not give allies a direct say in each other’s strategic decisions, nor do they obligate the parties to support or become involved in the others’ military activities.” The section on freedom of action added that the U.S.-Israel relationship “already features greater responsibilities than those officially
contained in or required by a treaty alliance, without the extra deterrence provided by an explicit security guarantee.” “We released that report because there’s been skepticism of the idea, even among many in Israel and some here in the United States who are pro-Israel. So we thought it was valuable to at least address some of the skepticism and objections head on,” Michael Makovsky, president and CEO of JINSA, told JNS. “This is an issue we’ve been pushing—first quietly, then publicly—starting in the summer, when we released our own paper and draft treaty,” he added. “I would encourage anybody, if they have concerns, to at least read our draft first. If they have other suggestions of what a draft should look like, they should put forward those edits. But right now, that’s the draft that Senator Lindsey Graham [R-S.C.] is championing. The Israeli prime minister seems very supportive.” Makovsky acknowledged concerns among some in Israel over potential restrictions to Israeli freedom of action, saying, “Obviously, we wouldn’t support any such treaty either that constrained Israeli freedom of action. But we don’t think it should. The U.S. has mutual defense treaties with 50 other countries, and it hasn’t stopped the U.S. or these other countries from various military action.”
-(586$/(0 ,VUDHOL *LIW 6KRS u:KHUH \RXtOO IHHO OLNH \RXtUH LQ ,VUDHOv
-(:(/5< × *,)76 :,1(6 × $57 *$//(5< &INESTȩ3ELECTIONȩ OFȩ7INESȩ ȩ,IQUORSȩ &ROMȩ)SRAELȩANDȩ !LLȩ/VERȩTHEȩ7ORLD
!LSOȩ!VAILABLE ȩ 3HABBATȩ#ANDLESTICKS ȩ -EZUZOT ȩ3HABBATȩ4ABLECLOTHS ȩ +IDDUSHȩ#UPS ȩ7ARMINGȩ4RAYS ȩ %LECTRICȩ5RNSȩ ȩ-/2%
] (*'5 !"0- $0. $"4503 "7& 1)*-"%&-1)*" 1" 3BCCJ "NJSBN BOE 3BDIFM (BCBZ
10
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
‘The Iranian Threat Has Become More Serious’ Any significant Israeli military action in the Middle East would likely be preceded by Israeli consultations with the United States in any case, and a mutual defense pact could add a level of deterrence for Israel, he argued. “If a war breaks out, it could also mitigate the intensity and scope of the conflict,” said Makovsky. “I would say that since we put out our report in July, the Iranian threat has become more serious. What’s going on internally in Iran is encouraging, but one never knows how that’s going to play out, and it could even lead the regime to conduct more provocative action. The situation is more serious regarding Iran.” Referring to the Sept. 14 Iranian drone and cruise-missile strike on Saudi energy sites, Makovsky noted that “provocations in the region have only intensified.” “I think Israel is more exposed, and therefore, the importance of having a mutual defense pact has grown,” he said. “But I would add that it’s not the only thing that needs to be done. We put out another report recently, detailing the the need and options for accelerating the delivery of weapons to Israel under the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding [MOU]. It’s in Israel’s DNA to rely only on itself. So it’s incumbent on U.S. also give Israel the tools it needs to continue its countering of Iranian aggression, and ultimately, also to prepare for major war against Iran Hezbollah, if it comes about.” Makovsky said that in terms of timing, “on the Israeli side, I think it’s unfortunate that it’s gotten caught up in the elections. Certainly, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s interest has nothing to do with elections. The Israelis were interested before this long before the elections. We raised this idea first a year-and-a-half ago.” He continued: “On the U.S. side, I think it’s a good time to engage the issue. No one knows how the presidential elections are going to turn out in a year, but at least for now, it looks like President Trump has shown interest. It’s important to seize that opportunity as much as possible. For us, the impetus is purely to contribute to regional stability.” In its follow-up report, JINSA said that Iran’s growing regional aggression, including providing more than 130,000 rockets and missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its now-revived nuclear program create the potential for higher-level conflict that Israel alone “might struggle to deter or defeat.” “By treating a major attack on one as an attack on both, a mutual defense pact would provide greater deterrence than either ally could provide alone. This could prevent Iran or others from initiating or escalating to large-scale action against Israel or U.S. vital interests in the Middle East—and others from joining in—or
mitigate or curb the scope of enemy action.” The report noted that officials and other experts in both Washington and Jerusalem have questioned whether the “mutual” aspect of a mutual defense pact “might oblige Israel to assist U.S. military operations far afield.” It added that “our proposal pertains only to a limited set of exceptional armed attacks on either or both parties, and only in the Middle East.”
‘A partisan political football in the 2020 race’ Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, and an expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Russian Federation, told JNS that caution needs to be the “order of the day” when it comes to examining such a pact. “That the issue is gaining currency in Washington and Tel Aviv shouldn’t be all that surprising,” he said. “There are compelling reasons for both sides to want a formal arrangement, especially as the regional situation worsens and the potential of conflict with Iran grows.” At the same time, he added, the strength of the U.S.-Israeli relationship has always rested on a broad bipartisan foundation. Having the Trump administration advance the treaty, especially during an election cycle, “inevitably threatens to make the issue a partisan political football in the 2020 race. That’s something that Israel, on balance, shouldn’t be eager to see.” The same holds true on the Israeli side, said Berman. “Given Netanyahu’s current, complicated political status, any such deal would inevitably be seen as an attempt to improve his domestic situation. And it’s likely to garner more resistance in Israel at present than it would if it were put forward at another time.” Any defense pact that formally codifies the concept of a “qualitative military edge [QME]” is going to have a hard time passing muster on Capitol Hill, cautioned Berman. “This is not because the U.S. isn’t committed to QME. It most certainly is. Rather, it is because the erosion of QME is a longstanding problem made worse by U.S. sales of advanced weapons to various Arab states over the past couple of decades. Quite simply, members of Congress aren’t going to be eager to sign on to anything that fundamentally alters the way the U.S. does business in the region. This is all the more true if Arab states who are major arms recipients [like Saudi Arabia] object.” While these factors do not mean that a deal can’t benefit both countries, the “devil is in the details,” stressed Berman. “For it to be workable, the pact needs to be narrow enough that it doesn’t impinge upon the freedom of action of either country, and robust enough that it can serve as a credible deterrent against threats like Iran. That’s going to be an exceedingly difficult needle to thread.” December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
,
LOVE WHERE YOU LEARN Now Accepting Applications for 2020!
VISIT US! OPEN HOUSE DATES December 18, 2019 March 20, 2020 610.922.2350 admissions@jbha.org As the nation's first pluralistic Jewish secondary day school, our modern approach to education is steeped in history. At Barrack, our challenging collegepreparatory dual curriculum combines in-depth critical analysis, rigorous text study, experiential education and a focus on Derech Eretz.
Come see how our students thrive within our warm community of inspiring educators and meaningful learning.
Through academic excellence and a commitment to Jewish learning, Barrack students develop a lifelong appreciation of learning, an understanding of their place in history, and a passion to reach their potential.
272 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
jbha.org
Partnering with Accredited by Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and Secondary Schools.
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
11
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS BENSALEM OUTREACH CENTER The Bensalem Outreach Center had a great turnout at its “Breakfast and Learn,” where attendees got a taste of yeshiva with a hot breakfast. People learned together with a chavrusa and then heard a shiur by Rabbi Kipper, the Rosh Chabura of the Kollel. It was a
NCSY
great way to spend a morning staying connected to Torah study. Rabbi Yitz Levi, the Director of Greater Philadelphia NCSY, making Havdallah at the NCSY Zach Magerman, the regional president, closing up New York Experience: the NCSY New York Experience: Underclassmen Underclassmen Shabbaton in Brooklyn, NY. Shabbaton.
JRA CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL – OHEV ZEDEK
RABBI WEIN VISITS SONS OF ISRAEL
Congregation B’nai Israel – Ohev Zedek recently held an active shooter response training, where they had a full auditorium of participants interested in learning what they could do to protect themselves and others in the event of an active shooter scenario. Detective Joseph Rovnan of the Philadephia Police Department Counter Terrorism Operations unit gave a riveting, informative and sobering lecture on how to react if you find yourself in such a situation.
On November 25, Rabbi Berel Wein visited Congregation Sons of Israel in Cherry Hill at an event that was hosted by the Vaad HaRabbanim of Cherry Hill.
Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) hosted its Annual Event to End Hunger on Tuesday, December 3. The theme for this year’s event was “Recipe for Raising a Mensch” and celebrated the impact of volunteering on children when introduced at a young age, as well as the values it instills in them as they grow older. The six Host Families (pictured) represent different stages of the JRA volunteer life, from new parents volunteering with their young children to families who have been volunteering for years. The event
brought together the community to celebrate and support what JRA does every day – that is, relieving hunger, improving lives, and strengthening community.
COMMUNITY TORAH CENTER OF BUCKS COUNTY On Sunday evening, November 24 the Community Torah Center of Bucks County/Levi Bible Academy celebrated its accomplishments, supporters and members at its 18th Anniversary Dinner Gala. There were several worthy honorees recognized at the event, Dinner Chairman with Rabbi Avrohom Max receiv- Brandon Swartz, ing the Amud Hatorah Award, Esq.
Mr. Marco Dilaurenti getting the LBA Founders Award, Irina Schvarzman and Avrida Shvartsman taking home the Keser Shem Tov Award, and Moshe and Mary Buchnik accepting the Amud Hachesed Award. Morton A. “Mort” Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, was the featured Guest Speaker.
LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE The Lower Merion Synagogue’s Youth Department held a “Cake Wars” event for middle school and high school girls on November 24.
Honorees Irina Schvarzman and Avrida Shvartsman and their daughters
Honorees Moshe and Mary Buchnik surrounded by their family
Honoree Rabbi Avrohom Max with his family
12
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
DRIVEN SALESPEOPLE NEEDED
Seeking high-energy, passionate individuals to grow a referral base in PA
ttlcreative.com
Sales experience preferred, but not crucial Comprehensive training & resources provided Huge growth potential in the healthcare industry Highly competitive salary + generous commission structure Travel required in Philly and surrounding suburbs — fully compensated All applications will be held in confidence.
EMAIL RESUMES TO HR@SKMEDICAID.COM
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
13
COMMUNITY NEWS JRA: Helping Those Who Need it Most CONTINUED FROM P. 1 community and one of the area’s leading chesed organizations, and it has built a vast network of dedicated volunteers along the way. “Directly connecting the volunteer and the recipient was the magic of JRA’s model from the beginning,” said JRA Chairman of the Board Daniel Erlbaum. “At a time when people were really motivated to touch and feel the good they were doing, JRA was a vehicle for exactly that.” “While feeding individuals and families in need will always be our North Star, activating an empathetic, kind and unified community in its own right has become central to our mission,” Erlbaum added. “The vision of over 1,000 volunteers in the JRA warehouse on distribution Sundays, representing all ages, means, affiliations and geographies within Greater Philadelphia, working arm-in-arm to do good, is as gratifying as it gets.” While the majority of JRA’s clients are Jewish, they don’t turn anyone away and they feed some non-Jewish clients as well. “It’s very inclusive,” said Marianna Salz, JRA’s Director of Client Services. All of the food delivered by JRA is not only non-perishable and nutritionally balanced, but it is also strictly kosher, with the kashrut supervision under the guidance of Rabbi Menachem Schmidt. All of the food included in JRA’s packages is pareve. While JRA’s primary programs center around delivering boxes of food to those who need it, they also have a program called Everyday Essentials, through which they deliver toiletries to families. In addition, they have a partnership with an organization called Cradles to Crayons that delivers clothing to children 12 and under. JRA also partners with an organization called Tools for School to provide backpacks to clients who could use them, and they also distribute materials for the Philadelphia Diaper Bank. JRA works in partnership with a number of social service agencies, area hospitals and other Jewish institutions who refer clients to them. In addition, JRA works with a number of individuals in Rhawnhurst and Wynnewood who help facilitate anonymous food drop-offs for people who wish to maintain anonymity. Individuals and families wishing to receive provisions from JRA have to fill out an application with the organization and must fall within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines in order to qualify, although each situation is evaluated individually. In addition, applicants have to live within JRA’s delivery zone, which currently includes 97 zip codes in the Greater Philadelphia area, including Montgomery County, Southern Bucks County, and
14
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
parts of Chester and Delaware Counties. They also deliver to Cherry Hill as well as some other areas in South Jersey. “It’s a fairly simple process,” Salz said referring to the application procedure. “There is almost no waiting period, and within a month, someone could receive a box.” Under JRA’s guidelines, a family of four gets one food box while a family of five or more gets two boxes. Anyone who has children 16 and under also gets a family friendly box, which includes snacks for school. “I am so thankful for what JRA does,” said Maralyn, a JRA client. “I feel cared for. Around the Jewish holiday time, it’s like a portable family that you unpack in a box.” “Words cannot express my appreciation for the JRA food box,” said Gloria, another JRA client. “I look forward to the food box every month. The food is so nourishing and delicious. The Jewish Relief Agency is a total blessing to me. I also want to thank you for the birthday cards you send me every year – I am overjoyed! I also want to thank the nice people who deliver the food.” While they thoroughly enjoy their work and relish the opportunity to deliver food to people in need, the JRA staff recognizes how wonderful it is when a client’s situation changes and they don’t require JRA’s help any longer.
“Sometimes people call us and say thank you so much, we no longer need your services, and that’s a great phone call to get,” said Elvera Gurevich, JRA’s Program and Communications Manager. Although JRA’s main distribution takes place on Sunday, they have expanded that to a pre-distribution Friday, at which time they pack the family friendly bags, the toiletry bags, and the first approximately 300 boxes of food because some people pick up boxes early on Sunday and they need to be ready ahead of time. With an average of 1,000 men, women and children in the JRA warehouse every month packing and distributing the boxes for the community, there is no question that the volunteers play an invaluable role in JRA’s day-to-day operations. “Without
our volunteers, we can’t function,” Salz remarked. As a result, JRA has unveiled a number of innovative programs over the years that are designed to make the packing and distribution easy, fun and meaningful for their volunteers. For example, there are people designated as “Route Owners,” which are individuals who have been delivering the same routes for months and years. “These individuals have built significant, real relationships with the recipients that are getting the food,” Gurevich said. “It’s pleasant for a recipient to see the same face every week and know that someone is really caring for them.” In addition, there is the “Yellow Capper Program,” through which longtime volunteers serve in more of a leadership role in the JRA warehouse. These 25-30 individuals are there every month and are essentially an extension of the staff. With just seven full-time staff members at JRA, the “Yellow Cappers” offer much-needed help in handling 1,000 volunteers and 3,000 boxes. There are also “Junior Yellow Cappers,” which are high school students who perform similar functions. Several years ago, JRA started its “Tiny Tots Program,” in which children age six and under come to the warehouse with their parents at 8:30 on Sunday morning and they’re the only ones there. The children get a cart, they put a box on the cart, and they go down the assembly line and put one item in the box at a time. “It gives them the opportunity to do the food packing at a pace that’s comfortable for them,” said Gurevich. “It’s a great handson experience,” noted JRA Program Specialist Rachel Loonin Steinerman. “A culture of kindness starts by sensitizing children to societal needs and the value of giving from the earliest ages,” Erlbaum said. At any given distribution at the JRA warehouse, there are parents who come
CONTINUED ON P. 16 December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
BS'D
Carlebach Shabbos & Concert with Srully Williger
CBS COMMUNITY CENTER INVITES YOU TO
Menorah Lighting with gifts and gelt
5:00 pm • 198 Tomlinson Rd
Sunday December 22 CBSCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM 215-671-1981
BS'D
ALL FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN CBS COMMUNITY CENTER FOR
Chanukah Ice Skating 6:00 - 8:00 pm
CBS NESHEI INVITES YOU TO OUR CHANUKAH
Flyers Skate Zone
Mother Daughter Pottery Paint Night
10990bDecatur Roadb
Tuesday December 24 CBSCOMMUNITYCENTER.COM 215-671-1981
Please RSVP to ensure there will be enough pottery for you. $20 for moms, $12.50 for girls. shuloffice@cbscommunitycenter.com
TUESDAY NIGHT DECEMBER 17 7:30 PM | 198 TOMLINSON RD CBS COMMUNITY CENTER Light refreshments will be served.
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
15
COMMUNITY NEWS Over 30 Years and Counting for the Rothenberg Mincha Minyan in Center City
there and available,” Rothenberg said. “We’ve had all kinds of people at the minyan, including judges, senators and the Solicitor General of Canada. People come from all over, and we’ve actually been mekarev people over the years through the minyan. The thank yous we get are wonderful and make it all worthwhile.” Rothenberg, who founded The Rothenberg Law Firm in 1969, noted that while everyone is busy, especially in the middle of the day, he has taken a number of steps over the years to help the minyan sustain itself for such a long period of time. He pointed to the pre-Mincha shiur, which features stimulating Torah discussions with Rabbi Max, the fact that they do a Heichi Kedusha, and the food that he provides for the attendees. In addition, he noted that there’s been a sukkah on the roof of his building since 1988, they have a minyan when there’s a fast day since they have a Sefer Torah, and they have a megillah reading and Purim seudah there every year. Every morning, Rabbi Max sends out
an email to people who attend the daily Mincha minyan with a d’var halacha, a reminder about the minyan, and notices about a special kiddush to commemorate a yahrzeit or celebrate the birth of a Rothenberg grandchild or great-grandchild when applicable. “I get so inspired each and every day at the minyan,” said Rabbi Max. “I watch as people with different levels of religious observance who are incredibly busy put everything on hold in the middle of the day to come daven and take part in a shiur. Their commitment to Judaism and connection with Hashem is overwhelming.”
“The atmosphere at the minyan is truly phenomenal,” Rabbi Max added. “A newcomer can walk into the minyan and by the time Mincha and lunch are finished, he feels like he’s been a long-time attendee. It really is a testament to Allen Rothenberg’s love for his fellow Jews and his incredible generosity. His deep desire to enable people to daven leaves a tremendous impact on so many people.” “I have been attending the Rothenberg Mincha minyan for several years now,” said Jonathan James, an attorney who works in Center City and lives in Elkins Park. “I can always count on the presence of a minyan and lunch at Allen Rothenberg’s office. Davening is preceded every day by Rabbi Max’s keen wit and brief Torah shmooze, which adds to the warm and friendly environment.” “I appreciate immeasurably the Mincha minyan because it facilitates the performance of the mitzvah of davening with a minyan,” said Bill McCauley, a regular attendee. “The Talmud states that davening with a minyan ensures the acceptance of one’s prayers by Heaven, which is incalculably precious.” For people interested in learning more about the Rothenberg Mincha minyan, they can visit the minyan’s Facebook page: @RothenbergMinyan.
“It’s part of the foundation of JRA,” said Loonin Steinerman. “It’s that hand delivering with a smile.” JRA’s volunteers come from all walks of life, and they include a wide variety of groups who come to participate in the packing and distribution. This past year, JRA had approximately 150 groups come, including shuls, schools, camps, corporate groups and families. Churches come, as do fraternities and sororities from local colleges. Corporate groups come as well, including CVS and Target. They also work with special needs organizations who are really key in helping with the distributions. “We do a lot of outreach to many different aspects of the community and we really rely on them,” said Loonin Steinerman. Among the other programs offered by JRA is a B’nai Mitzvah program, where the goal is for students who are in their Bar or Bat Mitzvah year to do 10 hours of community service, packing and delivering on three food distributions. There is also a birthday card making program, where volunteers make birthday cards that get sent to every single JRA client in the month of their birthday. In 2017, JRA established its “Leadership Academy,” which according to Gurevich,
“is a non-profit boot camp for young professionals to get involved to volunteer and to understand how a non-profit organization really works.” There are currently 11 young professionals involved with this program. JRA also has a grant from “Seed the Dream Foundation” to provide food for Holocaust survivors. They presently feed approximately 350 survivors through this remarkable initiative. JRA is working with Drexel Hillel on this program, and the students have a specific delivery route and their mission is to establish relationships with the survivors on that route. While discussing the numerous programs that JRA oversees on a daily basis, Erlbaum noted the vital role that the organization’s lay leaders play and the synergy between them and the dedicated staff members, each of whom is integral to JRA’s success in serving the community. “One of the things that makes JRA incredibly special is the way the professional staff and volunteer leadership work together,” he said. “As JRA was run for many years purely by volunteers, led by my brother Marc, our Board has always been involved in even the nitty-gritty. That dynamic is evolving somewhat as our small but mighty staff gets stronger
and tighter, under Jodi Roth-Saks’ leadership and thanks to the institutional knowledge and loyalty of long-time team members, Julie Roat and Marianna Salz. Given the unusual level of commitment on the part of both lay and professional leadership, JRA gets more done with less than most nonprofits.” JRA is currently planning “Day School Day at JRA,” which will take place on March 22, 2020, during the distribution for the Pesach food. They hope to get as many local Jewish day schools as possible, including elementary, middle, and high schools, to participate by bringing a group of people to represent their respective school and take part in this very important packing and distribution before Yom Tov. People interested in taking part in “Day School Day at JRA” or volunteering at any other point during the year, can contact Madeline Levine-Wolf, JRA’s Volunteer Program Manager, at 610.660.0190, x104. “Jewish unity and a culture of kindness are two conditions the world desperately needs,” Erlbaum remarked. “We believe JRA is a unique agent of both and we’re looking to scale it as much as we can with the result of massively reducing the pangs of poverty and otherwise bettering the world.”
CONTINUED FROM P. 1 during the fall and winter months when there is less daylight. Getting to Maariv may be difficult for some, as it necessitates heading out to shul after a long day at work when fatigue has already set in. All in all, while getting to minyan may not be easy, it is certainly both important and fulfilling. In 1988, attorney Allen Rothenberg decided to take steps to make it easier for people working in Center City Philadelphia to daven Mincha with a minyan. Now, more than 30 years later, the Rothenberg Mincha minyan is the longest continuous minyan in Philadelphia. Every weekday, people gather at the offices of the Rothenberg Law Firm on the Second Floor at 1420 Walnut Street in Philadelphia in a room that has been specially designated as a Bais Medrash, houses a Sefer Torah, and has walls covered with a replica of the Kotel. Mincha begins at 2:00 and is preceded by a shiur at 1:50, which is given by Rabbi Dovid Max. Attendees at the Rothenberg Mincha minyan are treated to a complimentary variety of fresh lunch sandwiches from Espresso Café, as well as snacks and drinks, all of which are provided daily by Rothenberg. “It’s a reliable minyan and we’re always
JRA: Helping Those Who Need it Most CONTINUED FROM P. 14 with their children and grandparents who come with their grandchildren. It is truly a multi-generational experience and a great bonding experience for families. “JRA’s monthly food packing and distribution is an incredible sight to see,” said Ilana and Mitch Appleson of Bala Cynwyd, who have been volunteering regularly at JRA with their children. “People from all different age ranges and backgrounds come together to pack and deliver boxes each month for those in need. Our experience at JRA has helped our children understand the importance of helping others and making a difference in our community.” While the majority of the volunteers spend their time in the warehouse packing boxes, the delivery aspect of the operation is equally critical, and there is always a need to get more volunteers to help in that area. While discussing how impactful the distribution is for the volunteers, Gurevich noted that, “the delivery component is the more meaningful component of the distribution because you actually see the person who is getting the food.”
16
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
COMMUNITY NEWS The Fourth Annual Great Latke Cook-Off CONTINUED FROM P. 1 chosen for this great cook-off event, started filling with contestants and viewers alike. The audience watched as the teams received their aprons and surveyed the scene before them. Each team was shown to a table laden with the many utensils they would need to compete in the cook-off of their lives. Another table was filled with ingredients each team would need to make their latke the best in the world. Of course, there were the basics like potatoes, onions and eggs, but there were also carrots, apples, zucchini, bananas, hearts of palm, sugar, flour, tomatoes and marshmallows. The judges of the event were three well-known food connoisseurs in the Greater Philadelphia area. Mrs. Sheila Lax, who had just become a bubby for the third time, has had many years of experience cooking in her own kitchen and critiquing the cooking of others. Shlomo Panayev, the official cook of the CBS Community Center, has worked in kitchens all over the world, and feeds meals to thousands of people a day. Rabbi Doniel Daitchman is a member of the CBS Kollel in Somerton, and a sushi chef when no
one is looking. Just before they were allowed to start, a secret ingredient was added to the contest. Each team would have to inject avocado into their inventions. For those teams that had been preparing their recipe for months, they would now have to think on their feet and change their intricate plans. For the next 35 minutes, each team functioned on superhuman levels. They peeled with great agility, they chopped with incredible dexterity, and they fried as if their lives depended on it. As the competition continued, there were booths set up for entertaining the children who were not intoxicated by the smell of cooking latkes. Ms. Rivky Riber drew menorahs, shields, and more on the faces of the kids, and Mr. Joel Rosen made balloon creatures. There was also
plenty of food. When the buzzer finally sounded, the teams were ready to present their creations. The CBS team presented a delicious wholesome latke with a heart of palm, avocado salad wrapped in carrot. They also made their own home-made delicious applesauce. It was something truly special to lay eyes on. The RAJE team made two types of latkes. One had a mixture of sweet potato and some other secret ingredients. The other was just your plain, old traditional latke. They were topped with an apple, cinnamon, banana sauce. What was cool was the guacamole salad they served in the avocado peel. Olami served a dessert latke made up of carrots and sweet potato and it was topped with a toasted marshmallow. It just kept getting better. NCSY created a jumbo golden latke topped with an
avocado slice and a sunny-side up egg. What a sight to see! The Northeast team made a Chanukah-themed latke plate with a marshmallow dreidel, and carrots for gelt. The actual latke was made of sweet potato and carrot. Although each team deserved to win with their outstanding presentations, the final winner of the day was the one and only NCSY! They managed to hold on to their title from the previous year. We can’t wait for our next Great Latke Cook-Off. Maybe it will take place in Jerusalem where the Maccabees can be the judges. Hey, you never know!
LAW OFFICE OF EVAN AIDMAN 822 Montgomery Avenue Suite 210 Narberth, PA 19072 (across from the Acme Markets)
legalaidman.com evan@legalaidman.com
610 642 7676 Winning Personal Injury Cases in PA and NJ for 36 Years
Vision Injuries
Slip and Fall Motor Vehicle Accidents
Workers' Compensation
Tinnitus Claims Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
17
COMMUNITY EVENTS RENOWNED SPEAKER AND AUTHOR RABBI PAYSACH KROHN COMING TO NORTHEAST PHILLY
AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENING FOR WOMEN IN NORTHEAST PHILLY
C
O
n Shabbos, December 13-14, there will be a special Pirchei Shabbaton in Northeast Philadelphia in loving memory of Dr. Lance Dunoff, z”l, which will feature Rabbi Paysach Krohn. Along with being a well-regarded Mohel, Rabbi Krohn is also a world-renowned lecturer and author. In addition to his bestselling “Maggid” series of books for ArtScroll, which was inspired by the stories of Rabbi Sholom Schwadron who was known as the “Maggid of Jerusalem,” he also wrote a book entitled Bris Milah which was published by ArtScroll. The Shabbaton will kick off with a Friday night Oneg for men and boys at Congregation Ahavas Torah at 8:30 p.m., where Rabbi Krohn will speak on the topic “Refining Your Life: Bringing Out the Best in Yourself.” On Shabbos afternoon at 3 p.m., there will be a program for women and girls over the age of ten at Rabbi Leizerowski’s shul (Bais Medrash Harav), where Rabbi Krohn will talk about “The Noble Role of the Jewish Woman.” There will be a Shalosh Seudos for men and boys at Congregation Ahavas Torah at 4:30 p.m., which will feature a presentation by Rabbi Krohn entitled
“Compliments, Chizuk, and Constructive Character.” After Shabbos, there will be a gala Melave Malka for men and boys at Congregation Ahavas Torah at 6:30 p.m., where Rabbi Krohn will speak about “The Torah of Tefillah: Your Siddur and Your Life.” Pre-purchasing tickets at a cost of $15 per ticket is recommended for the Melave Malka, which will include a Chinese buffet. Tickets for the Melave Malka can be purchased online at pirchei5780.ticketleap.com/rabbikrohn. There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door for $20.
Providing quality pediatric dental care in a warm, nurturing environment Focus on preventative care State of the art facility
Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Miriam Friedman, DMD
XXX CSJHIUTNJMFTGPSLJETPGCBMB DPN .POUHPNFSZ "WFOVF OE 'MPPS #BMB $ZOXZE 1"
5FM Y Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
’nai Israel – Ohev Zedek (BIOZ) is kicking off a special Shabbos morning program for youth featuring Mrs. Besie Katz, Head of School at Politz Hebrew Academy. Entitled “Shabbos Inspiration,” the program will feature stories, parsha and snack,
B
and is intended to give children a meaningful shul experience. It is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten – Fourth Grade and will take place at 10:30 a.m. on December 7, January 4, February 8 and March 14 in the BIOZ Social Hall.
Israeli Medical Experts Head to Samoa to Combat Measles Epidemic
coverage up from about 55 percent to 90 percent, at which point “herd immunity” kicks in and protects the few remaining unvaccinated. Many Samoan parents decided against vaccinating their children against measles after an incident last year in which a vaccine was improperly mixed with a muscle relaxant and led to the deaths of two babies. Anti-vax groups then urged citizens to avoid the vaccine. The vaccine itself is not in short supply. “We will not need to deploy our field hospital or bring measles inoculations to Samoa. The Samoan health-care system has been simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases,” said Bar-On. “Our team will be deployed to those locations where we can be of the most assistance and help save lives.” This article was first published by Israel21c.
CONTINUED FROM P. 6
Member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
18
helkeinu, B’nai Israel – Ohev Zedek, and Aish Chaim will present an inspirational evening for women featuring Rebbetzin Gevura Davis, who will speak on the topic: Chanukah: Shining Our Inner Light. The event will be held on Motzei Shabbos, December 21 at 8:30 p.m. at the Schwarzbaum home. A light Melaveh Malka will be served. A warm, engaging, and beloved teacher to many, Rebbetzin Davis is the Director of Engagement at Aish Chaim, where she leads the organization’s outreach ideas and drives, as well as spearheads a vibrant women’s program. She also leads trips to Israel and other locations on spiritually fulfilling missions. For more information, contact info@biozshul.org or call 215-742-0400.
intensive care treatment, including ventilation, of measles patients. Door-to-door vaccinations In addition to the burden of caring for those already infected, the Samoan government shut down last Thursday and Friday to give full attention to educating people about the need to vaccinate. They’ve been sending personnel door to door to give the measles vaccine or booster to those who hang a red flag or cloth outside to indicate unprotected family members. The shots are free for Samoans between 6 months and 60 years old. “The Samoan health-care system has been simply overwhelmed.” Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he wants to bring vaccination
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
CHANUKAH
EVENTS
A Sampling of Chanukah Events Throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area and South Jersey BUCKS COUNTY Abrams Hebrew Academy is hosting a Chanukah Chagiga and Open House on December 23 from 4:30-6:30 PM at Abrams, which is located at 31 West College Avenue in Yardley, PA. There will be food, games, and lots of fun. It is a free event and open to the public. The Bensalem Outreach Center is having a “Bensalem Chanukah Extravaganza” on December 23, starting at 6:30 PM. There will be a Delicious Dairy Buffet, Special Kids Chanukah Craft Stations, Latkes and Sufganiyot, a Community Menorah Lighting on a 6-foot Menorah, Raffles and Prizes, and much more. Register at Bensalemoutreach.org/chanukah and call 862-290-5484 for more information. Lubavitch of Bucks County presents the Annual J. Michael Swartz Memorial Event: an Evening of Fantastic and Mystifying Chanukah Fun on the first night of Chanukah, Sunday, December 22 at 5:30 PM at the Glazier Jewish Center, which is located at 25 N. State Street in Newton, PA. The event will feature Eric Jones, who performs some of the most spellbinding illusions imaginable, leaving the audience mystified. Eric has appeared on television in 19 countries spanning 5 continents and has wowed dozens of A-List celebrities all over the globe with his breathtaking close-up magic. Tickets - $25. Discounted Tickets prior to December 15th: $20 pp - $70 for a family of 4 & $105 for a family of 6. For reservations or more info visit jewishacademy.info, email rw@jewishcenter.info or call 215-497-9925.
Cost for supplies is $10 per child for the first two children in each family and $5 for each additional child; payment at door. To sign up or for more info, please email sigalit.magen@gmail.com.
CHERRY HILL Congregation Sons of Israel is having a Pre-Chanukah Event on Sunday, December 15, from 10:00 AM – noon at
the shul, which is located at 720 Cooper Landing Road in Cherry Hill. Come prepare for Chanukah through crafts, songs, and snacks! Register online at www.soicherryhill. org/event/chanukah-craft.html Young Israel of Cherry Hill presents a Pre-Chanukah Brunch and Learn for Women with Mrs. Rachel Biberfeld, the Rebbetzin of the Philadelphia Community
Kollel and beloved teacher at Kosloff Torah Academy, who will speak on the topic “Hidden Lessons from Chanukah.” The event will take place on Monday, December 16 at 10:00 AM at the Bienenfeld home at 10 Aaron Court in Cherry Hill. A $10 donation is requested from attendees. RSVP to Sarah.Bienenfeld@gmail.com.
CONTINUED ON P. 20
CENTER CITY Congregation Mikveh Israel will have a family Hanukkah Celebration on December 29 at 4:30 PM, featuring latkes, dreidels, raffles and games. There will also be a Hanukkah Candle Lighting on their beautiful Hanukkiah. The festivities will take place at 44 North Fourth Street in Philadelphia. For more information, call 215-9225446 or email info@mikvehisrael.org. Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue will present Chanukah Crafting Fun for Kids on Sunday, December 29, from 10:00 AM – noon at 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 206 in Philadelphia. Children of all ages will be able to paint their own ceramic menorah, decorate a wooden dreidel, and more. There will also be music and treats! December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
19
CHANUKAH A Sampling of Chanukah Events CONTINUED FROM P.19
ELKINS PARK Young Israel of Elkins Park will host a “Light Up The Night” Chanukah event on December 24 at 5:30 PM at the shul, which is located at 7715 Montgomery Avenue in Elkins Park. There will be Chinese food, live music, face painting, arts and crafts, and more, as well as entertainment by their very own renowned mentalist David Jaison. Member cost is $18/adult, $9/child, age 2-12, and $75/family. Non-member cost is $25/adult, $12/child, age 2-12, and $100/family. Please RSVP by December 17 to joyceschwartz@me.com or israelroling@gmail.com.
LOWER MERION Chabad of the Main Line is having a number of Chanukah events: Saturday December 21 at 7:00 PM Citywide Pre-Chanukah Menorah Parade on Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 PM Chanukah Wonderland at Chabad Monday, December 23 at 5:00 PM Menorah Lighting and Parachute Gelt Drop at Suburban Square in Ardmore Monday, December 23 at 7:30 PM Chopped – Latke Edition at Chabad Thursday, December 26 at 5:00 PM ACME Chanukah Celebration at ACME Market in Narberth Sunday, December 29 at 5:00 PM GIANT Chanukah Lighting at GIANT, Wynnewood Shopping Center For more information call 610-6609900, email mendy@chabadmainline.org visit www.chabadmainline.org/chanukah. Chabad of Penn Wynne is having several Chanukah events: Sunday, December 22 from 2:30-5:00 PM The Great Big Chanukah Jump at
the Kaiserman JCC, which is located at 45 Haverford Road in Wynnewood. Join them in their Moon Bounce park, decorate your very own Menorah, learn how to make olive oil, nosh on Sufganiyot and Latkes, and of course light the Menorah! Cost: $5 per child, Adults free. For more information or to register, visit www.Chabadpennwynne.org, call 610-529-9011, or email Moshe@chabadpennwynne.org. Monday, December 23 at 5:00 PM Menorah Lighting and Story Time at Penn Wynne Library Young and old are invited to join them for Menorah Lighting, Chanukah Story Time and Chanukah Treats! No Charge! For more information or to register, visit www.Chabadpennwynne.org, call 610-529-9011, or email Moshe@chabadpennwynne.org. Saturday, December 28 Magic and Martini’s at the Kaiserman JCC, which is located at 45 Haverford Road in Wynnewood. 7:30 PM: delectable Café style dinner, Dessert Bar, Martini Bar and more! 8:30 PM: Show with South Africa’s #1 illusionist Ilan Smith Tickets: $30 in advance. $35 at the door. For more information or to register, visit www.Chabadpennwynne.org, call 610-529-9011, or email Moshe@chabadpennwynne.org. Jkidphilly and Perelman Jewish Day School will present “ The Science Behind Chanukah” on Sunday, December 15 from 10:00-11:00 AM at Perelman’s Stern Center, which is located at 49 Haverford Road in Wynnewood. The program, which is geared for children ages 2-5 and their siblings, will help us understand wax, olive oil and how it relates to Chanukah. There will also be snacks and crafts to enjoy. To register, visit jkidphilly.org/ScienceBehindChanukah2019.
EVENTS Lower Merion Synagogue will have a Pre-Chanukah Festival Party on Wednesday, December 18. There will be a dinner at 5:45 PM with sufganiot decorating, followed by a concert at 6:30 PM featuring Naftali Blumenthal. The member early bird cost is $10/adult, $6/ child, and a family max of $36. The nonmember/at door cost is $15/adult, $10/ child, and a family max of $42. Register online at https://lowermer ionsynagogue.shulcloud.com/form/ Pre-Chanukah%20Festival%202019. Sha’arei Orah’s annual Chanukah party will take place on Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 PM at the home of Charlotte and Mordechai Shinefield. There will be crafts for children and Chanukah goodies, and we will light the first candle of Chanukah together. The Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia is having a PreChanukah Mesiba for men and boys featuring Dovid Gabay on Thursday, December 19 at The Mesivta gym. Admission: Online is $10 per person, $50 family max & at the door is $15 per person, $60 family max Tickets are available online at www.themesivta.org Young Israel of the Main Line is having a Bowling Chanukah Party on Sunday, December 22 from 2:30-4:30 PM at Wynnewood Lanes, which is located at 2228 Haverford Road in Ardmore. The cost is $6 per person or a family maximum of $42. For more information, visit www.yiml.org or email office@yiml.org.
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA Congregation Beth Solomon (CBS) Community Center is having several Chanukah events. Carlebach Shabbos and Concert with Srully Williger Shabbos, Parshas Vayeshev, December 21 Kabalas Shabbos: 4:25 PM Shacharis: 8:45 AM
Mincha: 4:00 PM Maariv: 5:33 PM Havdalah: 5:50 PM Motzei Shabbos: Concert at 8:00 PM RSVP Tickets $15 & $25 At the door: $18 & $36 RSVP and receive 5% off at House of Kosher RSVP to shuloffice@cbscommunitycenter.com CBS Community Center will feature a Menorah Lighting with gifts and gelt on Sunday, December 22 at 5:00 PM at 198 Tomlinson Road in Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.cbscommunitycenter.com or call 215-671-1981. All families are invited to join CBS Community Center for Chanukah Ice Skating on Tuesday, December 24 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Flyers Skate Zone, which is located at 10990 Decatur Road in Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.cbscommunitycenter.com or call 215-671-1981. CBS Neshei is having a Mother Daughter Pottery Paint Night on Tuesday, December 17 at 7:30 PM at the CBS Community Center, which is located at 198 Tomlinson Road in Philadelphia. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to ensure there will be enough pottery for you. The cost is $20 for moms and $12.50 for girls. RSVP to shuloffice@cbscommunitycenter.com. Congregation B’nai Israel – Ohev Zedek will have a Pre-Chanukah Event on Sunday, December 15, from 1:30-3:30 PM at the shul featuring comedian Eli Lebowicz. Price is $15 for adults and children over 12; $10 for children 4-12; and there is no cost for children 3 and under. RSVP needed to attend. RSVP at https://www.biozshul.org/ chanukah2019/ or call Leah Grossman at 810-333-1000.
Philadelphia
JEWISH LINK would like to wish our readers, advertisers and supporters a Happy Chanukah! 20
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
COMMUNITY NEWS
Annual Debate Invitational at Kosloff Torah Academy By Gwen Horowitz
K
osloff Torah Academy (KTA) hosted a debate tournament on December 4. Twenty teams competed in addition to students who participated in an Extemporaneous Speaking competition. The tournament included teams from Bais Yaakov Baltimore, Ilan High School (Ocean Township, NJ), Prospect Park Yeshiva (Brooklyn, NY), Shevach High School (Flushing, NY), Yeshiva of Greater Washington (Silver Spring, MD), and Bina High School (Norfolk, VA). Rabbi Ephraim Goldfein is the KTA debate coach. He also volunteers to coach students in the Model Beis Din program at The Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia. Rabbi Goldfein shared that KTA’s debate program has increased in participation each semester. Currently, 18 students attend a regularly scheduled class in addition to practice sessions. While the numbers of tournaments attended varies, KTA competed in six last year, including the annual one that they host. Approximately twelve teams participate in the league with KTA, which includes schools located in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia. Tournaments are judged by coaches from participating schools with the caveat that a judge does not coach his/her own team. At KTA, judges also include community members who are attorneys, law students, and senior educators. A recent addition to the debate program is the Extemporaneous Speaking track. Students who participate learn oratory skills, creative thinking, and the
ability to prepare their speeches very quickly. Unlike debate participants, they do not know their topic in advance and
learn it just a few minutes before giving their speech. Both programs provide important
opportunities for students to develop public speaking and critical thinking skills. Debaters do extensive research to prepare for tournaments and learn how to organize their ideas both on paper and verbally. They also learn how to argue for and against an issue, requiring students to substantively explore and analyze different viewpoints. Perhaps the most challenging task is to effectively argue in support of a position they do not personally agree with. KTA students can often be found during lunch and free periods doing research and other preparatory work for debates. Rabbi Goldfein shared that it is not unusual for him to receive emails or drafts to review very late in the evening. He added, “KTA’s debate program is an important co-curricular activity. The skills students master and their ability to present those skills in a highly academic and intellectual setting are an important preparatory step in the girls’ development. The all-girls debate ‘league’ in which KTA participates has, in my opinion, helped to dispel the myth that all-girls programs are somehow second-rate. These girls present effectively, with research-based speeches and arguments. They have learned to cross-examine and be crossexamined, and to be competent and persuasive speakers. These are valuable skills in whatever career paths they follow and the KTA administration and staff are extremely proud of our own students and those at the other participating schools and believe the incredibly positive feedback generated by the tournaments will result in additional schools participating.”
It’s Right In Your Own Backyard
Weekday Madness! By Carly Chodosh
W
e’ve all been there: a rainy, (almost) snow day (too soon?) with nothing to do with our kids. After speaking with a local mom who was lamenting the lack of options for weekday childhood entertainment, this mom decided to create a catalog of free and discounted local venues where kids (and their caregivers) can find respite. Every Monday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. at Jewish Family and Children’s Services Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Center in Bala Cynwyd, the BLOOM MomChat group meets for either an open-play, or some rest and relaxation for mom in the form of art therapy, yoga, a community meal, or an educational workshop. (Free babysitting is provided for programs where kids are not included.) This program is ideal for children under three years of age, and moms who are postpartum. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the Bala Cynwyd Library offers story hour, where their lively librarians make stories come alive at 10:30 a.m. (only through December 31, when a new schedule comes out). This is a great supplement to regular library visits, where your kiddos can play with toys that magically appear
from behind the library counter. Wednesday mornings, Mommy & Me at Lower Merion Synagogue from 10:3011:45 provides learning and entertainment for young children, while moms supervise and participate in the fun. Highlights include story time, davening, and an arts and crafts project for kids to enjoy with their caregiver. While afternoons are a little more challenging to find entertainment options for, the first Wednesday of every month Please Touch Museum discounts their museum entrance fee to $2 from 4-7 p.m. If you’re interested in a little bit more of a splurge, the Philadelphia Zoo is featuring their LumiNature light show daily from
4:30-10 p.m. through January 5. Are you aware of any additional children’s weekday programs that are offered in our community? Reach out to editor@phillyjewishlink.com to share! Carly Chodosh is a licensed Social Worker at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia. Among other responsibilities, Carly facilitates BLOOM MomChat meet ups at the JFCS Brodsky Center, from 9:30-11 a.m. every Monday. This free meet up, for mothers of young children, supports dialogue and activities from a therapeutic perspective to provide an environment of growth and reflection for all. For more information, email cchodosh@jfcsphilly.org.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
21
COMMUNITY NEWS
Penn Libraries Gets Major Gift to Enrich Judaic Scholarship and Digital Humanities (Courtesy of Penn Libraries)
T
he University of Pennsylvania Libraries has received a series of gifts from Arnold and Deanne Kaplan, including the world’s first endowed position in Judaica digital humanities, totaling $12 million. The Kaplans’ contributions also comprise an in-kind gift of collections of Americana and Early American Judaica, research fellowships, and an endowment for continuing acquisitions. The most recent gifts coincide with the release of a new website, The Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica (kaplan.exhibits.library.upenn. edu), offering free access to nearly 7,000 digital copies of items from the collection for viewing and downloading. Digital copies of recent acquisitions will be made available in the coming year, and all future items will be made available as well. “The Kaplans’ forward-thinking gifts continue an extraordinary tradition of philanthropy. Their generosity will ensure long-lasting access to a world-class collection,” says Constantia Constantinou, H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries. “We are proud to be home to a collection that speaks to the history and values of freedom and opportunity and the great tradition of pluralism in Philadelphia and at the University of Pennsylvania.” The foundation for a partnership between the Kaplans and the Penn Libraries was established more than ten years ago between Arnold Kaplan and Arthur Kiron, Schottenstein-Jesselson Curator of Judaica Collections at the Penn Libraries. Their initial collaboration, the Jesselson-Kaplan American Genizah Project, centered around the letters of the midnineteenth-century Rabbi Isaac Leeser. The resulting website served as an early model for using digital technologies to integrate dispersed but related documents and make them accessible to scholars around the world. “Arthur opened a window for us to see the extraordinary capabilities that Penn had in its Rare Book & Manuscript Library, with its expert curatorial staff and media resources, as well as the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, with its excellence in Judaic scholarship,” says Kaplan. “When we began to give serious thought as to where to place the collection, we sought out an institution with world-class archival qualifications that would make the material readily available for scholarship. The Penn Libraries was the obvious choice.” When the Arnold and Deanne Kaplan
22
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
Collection of Early American Judaica was donated to the Penn Libraries in November 2012, it was considered the most important private collection of its kind. Since that time, the Kaplans have added numerous important additions. Now largely available online, the collection documents an astonishingly broad range of commercial, social, religious, political, and cultural ties that connected Jews and the general public from the early colonial era through the onset of mass migration at the end of the nineteenth century. “Thanks to the Kaplan Collection, we now have the ability to study and analyze in precise detail a wide spectrum of Jewish business experiences, while also considering the fabric of their daily lives,” says Arthur Kiron. “The Kaplan Collection opens new vistas that show how Jews, male and female, individually and collectively, helped to shape their towns, cities, and frontier communities.” The collection reveals four centuries of history, not only from the perspective of American Jewish citizens, but also in the context of the larger communities in which they lived and traveled across the Atlantic. A bound file of documents, dating back to 1597, follows the arrest and trial of Goncalo Perez Ferro by the Mexican Inquisition for a “relapse” into Judaism. One of the publications of David Nassy, a Suriname-born Jewish physician who was in Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, details his successful treatment of the disease, which defied the bloodletting methods of Benjamin Rush. A handwritten receipt by Solomon Levy, confirming payment from Martha Washington for a shipment of cotton, is the only known document demonstrating trade between a Jewish merchant and the first family. A set of five rare trade cards advertise the Levi Strauss clothing business, which supplied pants worn by the “forty-niners” during the California Gold Rush. A small handful of artifacts – a Civil War-era pistol, an oil painting of a naval ship, and a shaving mug – were owned and held by Jefferson Levy at Monticello, which he restored following the Civil War at great personal expense. The Kaplan Collection also reflects Philadelphia’s key role as a city of Jewish “firsts.” Its contents include the largest private collection of materials related to Isaac Leeser, who lived in Philadelphia for most of his life and is widely regarded as the most important antebellum American Jewish leader. There are documents from the nation’s first Hebrew Sunday School, broadsides promoting the first Hebrew Education Society, and
Ticket for the annual Hebrew Charity Ball at the American Academy of Music. Philadelphia, PA, February 6, 1873. Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica (credit: University of Pennsylvania)
Photograph of a Jewish tombstone carver. New York, New York, United States; ca. 1860. Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica (credit: University of Pennsylvania) correspondence related to the first American Jewish monthly newspaper, all pioneered by Leeser and launched in Philadelphia before the 20th century. This collection represents four decades of research. When the Kaplans began collecting in the early 1970s, it was a solitary and challenging journey. Books on the topic were few and far between, and living outside of a major metropolitan area presented a barrier to accessing research material. Ultimately their collecting efforts broke new ground in early American Jewish history. “By collecting and studying these under-appreciated individual nuts and bolts of daily life, they have revealed invisible relationships and meaningful patterns that enrich our understanding of American history,” Kiron notes. The advent of the Internet transformed the Kaplans’ collecting efforts – Arnold described it as “a game-changer for the
Arnold and Deanne Kaplan (Courtesy of the Kaplans)
Acrostic broadside of the death of Isaac Leeser in English and in Hebrew, made by Isaac Goldstein. New York, New York, 1868. Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica (credit: University of Pennsylvania) amateur researcher” – as journals and other materials became available online and collectors could more readily connect with dealers. Reflecting on the challenges of pre-Internet research, and inspired by the promises of open access in a networked era, the Kaplans saw the critical importance of funding staff to process and digitize the collection at a granular level; as the collection is reviewed and stored, each individual item is described and photographed for future ease of access, not just in person, but online as well. “This unparalleled array of primary sources about the early American Jewish experience is a treasure for Penn and will be a destination for researchers for years to come,” says Beth S. Wenger, Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor of History and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania. December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
?
Neve Y Yerushalayim. Ye Dedicated Dedi ted d to iinspiring the next generation of Jewi o Jewish wi women for another 50 years.
GLOWING PAST. A GROWING FUTURE. A
DECEMBER 15-16
CHARIDY.COM/NEVE I 48 HOURS RAISING $7,500,000 I 3X IMPACT
#IAMNEVE
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Powered by
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
23
COMMUNITY NEWS Marking Two Years for the Lower Merion Community Mikvah By Carly Chodosh
I
t’s hard to believe that the Lower Merion Community Mikvah (LMCM) has been a community institution for nearly two years and has provided
a meaningful spiritual experience for women and men alike in their individual avodas Hashem. With ten preparation rooms, including one suite for kallahs, and a preparation room and mikvah that is fully accessible, the LMCM is a beautiful tribute to Monica Rasch Kohn, a”h, a woman whose legacy is one of
community and spiritual growth. As the mikvah enters its third year of operation, the women’s mikvaot are experiencing record use, with approximately 200 users monthly in October and November. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the men’s mikvah welcomed nearly 1,000 users. From a budget perspective, the LMCM’s
expenses are within expected projections and it is anticipated that it will remain in a financially stable position for the next calendar year. The LMCM board includes members from across the Orthodox community who share a strong commitment to maintaining the beautiful mikvah facilities and its services.
FEATURES Cherry Blossoms
What Are You Doing For The Winter? By Rabbi Ephraim Epstein
T
hanksgiving has come and gone, and the Chanukah lights are now in sight. While people do plan for winter break and later in the year for Pesach vacation, we rarely hear people ask one another, “So, what do you have planned for the winter?” As opposed to the pre-summer weeks when a common refrain heard at kiddushim in our shuls is, “So, what do you have planned for the summer?”, the wintertime is often not thought of the same way. Maybe it should be. In our part of the globe, the winter months are associated with cold and often snowy weather, short days and long nights, and the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, responsibilities and obligations. Yet, it can also be an incredible time for growth and achievement if we embrace the opportunity. The world we live in is so fast-paced and our days and nights are largely occupied with phone calls, texts, meetings, gatherings, etc. The only thing that slows us down is the gift of Shabbos when we unplug and hopefully celebrate
our souls, our families, and our relationship to Hashem. Yet it does not have to be this way. During the winter months, many animal species go into hibernation and trees become dormant as if to create a type of time-out. Don’t we all wish, every once in a while, that we could take a time-out and insert an extra day into the week or at least a few extra hours into a day? In the Yeshiva world it is well-known that of the three z’manim (semesters) – summer, fall and winter – it is the longer winter
z’man because of its uninterrupted calendar and longer nights when the greatest growth can occur and the most is able to be achieved. This winter, let’s take advantage of the longer nights to grow and develop however we choose to: either in study, relationships or health (to name a few possibilities). One thing is for certain, when we fail to plan, it’s almost like planning to fail. Let’s ask ourselves and others, “So, what are you doing this winter?” Life is
too short and precious for us not to make the most of this lengthy winter season. Here’s wishing everyone a light-filled Chanukah and a wonderfully productive winter. Rabbi Ephraim Epstein is the senior rabbi at Congregation Sons of Israel, Cherry Hill. He is also the Rav HaMachshir of the Cherry K, a Cherry Hill Police Chaplain and the inaugural president of the recently founded Vaad HaRabbanim of Cherry Hill. He can be reached at rabbiepstein@soicherryhill.org.
,
24
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
FEATURES
The Basics of Buying Life Insurance By Miriam Wartell
W
orking in the industry, a lot of people tell me that they are going to “buy term and invest the difference.” I joke around and tell them that that only works if they are actually going to invest. There’s a common misconception that certain types of life insurance (cash-value life insurance) should be bought for the main purpose of being an “investment alternative.” While it can serve as a way to accumulate money that can generally be accessed tax-free,* that is only one of its benefits. The reason to get life insurance is because you love someone. Whether a person buys term life insurance (temporary) or permanent life insurance really depends on one’s needs. The primary goal is to give loved ones access to liquid capital immediately without having to go through the probate process. Some are able to accomplish this through investing, others not, but I have found that many don’t realize how much money could be taken for taxes when passing assets to the next generation. When someone has worked incredibly hard for their money, I don’t think they planned on naming Uncle Sam as their beneficiary. I also don’t
think that many people realize that (nonlife insurance) inherited monies also increase their heir’s income bracket for the year. Lucky Uncle Sam. For young families, the term insurance or permanent insurance decision isn’t as crucial if their primary focus is covering basic needs. Many people just focus on covering the mortgage, but I often remind people that if a person passes away, their full income stream is then gone. Even for someone in retirement, both pension and Social Security can be affected. I often recommend that clients do a simple calculation to estimate how much life insurance they need. I tell them to multiply their after-taxable income x years until retirement. Many people tend to be in shock when they realize that over the course of their working career, even average-salaried employees will be bringing in over $1M. The other question I get asked is “why get life insurance now?” The short answer is, the younger and healthier you are, generally the less it will cost. Many are concerned by the cost of insurance, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve had clients pay as little as $11 per month for minimal coverage because they were in good health and that’s what they could afford. Something is always better than nothing. The thing with waiting to buy life insurance is that you risk a health change.
I tell people that it’s not that you’re likely to die soon, but you could become uninsurable. Some of us are only a doctor’s visit away from an unfavorable medical diagnosis. For that same reason, I tell people to be careful when buying term insurance from sub-par companies. Any term insurance bought should have an option to upgrade your term life insurance to permanent life insurance with no medical questions asked. Most companies offer this, but not all. Some who do say you can upgrade to a (typically very expensive) product of the company’s choosing while better companies will offer permanent options of your choosing. I’ve had numerous clients and potential clients who have had bouts with cancer. Some needed life insurance to cover a new mortgage, others wanted to use life insurance to help them maximize their pension, allowing them to take the highest amount. It is for a similar reason that I recommend clients get life insurance policies for their kids. Aside from the fact that cash-value life insurance can help kids as a supplemental saving option for college or a future home,* getting life insurance on them while they are young and healthy provides a safe guarantee that when they grow up and build families of their own, they will be able to protect their loved ones as well. They don’t have to worry about becoming uninsur-
able and their rate will be locked in at the forever low rate of that of a child. There are unending reasons to buy life insurance but, as I said, the greatest of which is because you love your family. For anyone interested in learning more, you can contact Miriam Wartell, Licensed Agent with New York Life Insurance Company, at 267.269.0515. There will be a pre-Chanukah life insurance “Dessert and Learn” at the Haber residence in Northeast Philadelphia on December 16 at 7:45 p.m. The event is free, but your RSVP is required. Please contact Miriam for more details. *Accessing the cash value through loans or withdrawals will reduce the total cash value and death benefit of the policy. While most policies provide tax-free access to cash-value, there may be tax implications for a policy recognized as a modified endowment contract (MEC) or for partial surrenders that exceed the cost basis of the policy. Distributions, including loans, from an MEC are taxable to the extent of the gain in the policy. A life insurance death benefit is generally passed along federal income tax free. 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.
Israel Needs Real Leaders By Rabbi Ira Budow
M
y heart is always in Israel. I follow Israel’s news daily through the printed version of The Jerusalem Post, Maariv and Arutz Sheva. The election impasse this year has been discouraging to say the least. Last year, during my trip to Israel, the first election took place. I remember being in Machane Yehuda on erev Shabbat when a caravan of “Bibi” supporters took over the shuk. I remember the elation of Sharon Abergel when it was announced that “Bibi” would be asked to form a government. King Bibi lives on – but this was not to be. Bibi was not able to get together a necessary coalition to form a government. As a result, Israel had to go through the selection process yet again. Nothing changed; the results were once again deadlocked. When I read that Iran is planning military aggression in the Middle East, I worry. We should have a government that is ready to protect the citizens of Israel 24/7. But with December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Israel in a state of disarray, could they be caught off-guard again like the Yom Kippur War? Make no mistake about it, the Yom Kippur War was a disaster. Simply put. the government was not ready and thousands of soldiers died in this horrible war. The leadership of government failed in their assessment of a possible attack on Yom Kippur. This situation is not as simple as I am framing it. To compound the issue, Benjamin Netanyahu has been indicted for a variety of crimes. When this indictment took place, Bibi was hoping to continue as Prime Minister and be protected from being brought to court. Now Netanyahu is facing serious charges that may result in imprisonment. Unfortunately, Netanyahu is not the first leader to face criminal charges. In recent times there were former leaders of Israel that committed crimes and these acclaimed leaders were sentenced to serve jail sentences. Two of the most famous Prime Ministers of Israel were David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin. These two men were lovers of Israel and their passion for their ideas for Israel resulted in great conflict
between them. Ben-Gurion bombed the Altalena ship that Begin was using to bring weapons for Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. Begin never forgave Ben-Gurion for shooting at a ship with Jewish people and Ben-Gurion felt that from 1948 and on there would be only one army in Israel. One thing that Ben-Gurion and Begin had in common was the modest way they lived their lives. In Ben-Gurion’s later years, he lived in the Negev at S’dei Boker. One can visit his hut until this day since it has been kept intact. I visited there and was impressed by how Ben-Gurion lived. Ben-Gurion owned a home in Tel Aviv and, upon his death, his home was donated to the State of Israel. Menachem Begin was a favorite Prime Minister of mine. He lived a humble life in a very modest apartment in Jerusalem and was buried on the Mount of Olives. Begin wanted a very simple burial in this huge cemetery overlooking Jerusalem. He did not want the glory of being laid to rest at Mount Herzl where many former Prime Ministers are buried. Ben-Gurion also was not buried at Mount Herzl; rather, he opted to be buried in S’dei Boker. These
two enemies – Begin and Ben-Gurion – shared a common trait. They didn’t want any glory or money from their leadership role. They lived modestly and were buried without fanfare. Maybe that’s why Ben-Gurion and Begin had great success in the military. In 1948, this new country of Israel was attacked by many Arab nations and Israel was able to win the war and thrive. These two military men took on the British and the Arab nations and won a spectacular war. I feel Israel won because their leaders were modest and lived like everyday Israelis. When Hashem commented on Moses our teacher, Hashem said that Moses was the most modest man on Earth. For the success of Israel, living an honest and humble life is a prerequisite for success of our nation of Israel. Our country of Israel today needs leaders like Ben-Gurion and Begin. 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.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
25
FEATURES
Neve Yerushalayim: In the Business of Igniting Souls (Courtesy of Neve Yerushalayim)
J
erusalem, December 1980. A young American tourist wearing jeans and a backpack descends the steps to the Kotel plaza. Gazing at the Wall for the first time, she knows she’s supposed to be moved. But she’s too annoyed – even angry – about the partition separating men and women. Why are women shunted off to the side? she fumes. She makes a decision. These religious people can segregate themselves if they like, but I’m standing wherever I want. And she marches right into the men’s section. She’s about halfway to the Kotel when a guard suddenly notices her. Running after the girl, he calls out to her to stop. “You not to be here, you to be there,” he says in broken English, pointing to the women’s side. He escorts her out. She’s seeing red. At that moment, a tall man wearing a suit and a black fedora approaches her. He smiles. “Are you Jewish?” he asks. “Yes,” she says, between clenched teeth. “Would you be interested in a Friday night Shabbat meal with a religious family, or a class on Jewish philosophy?” “No!” she replies, wanting nothing to do with either the Kotel or Judaism. For the next few hours, she wanders around the Old City. But something pulls her back to the Kotel. I’ll give it a second chance, she figures. Again, the partition upsets her, but she has no choice about it. On the women’s side, she goes up to the Wall. Placing her hands on the stones, she sees the notes pressed into the cracks, gazes upward, and looks at the people around her, then back at the Wall. She feels nothing. Oh well, she thinks. I tried. With that, she exits the women’s section. Just then, a young woman in a highnecked sweater and mid-calf length skirt approaches. “Excuse me,” she says with a friendly smile, “do you have a map of the Old City?” “Yeah, just a second,” the tourist responds, reaching into her backpack. “By the way, are you Jewish?” Hmm, the tourist thinks. I believe I’ve heard this before. “Yes. Why?” “While you’re here in Jerusalem, would you be interested…” Yup, sounds familiar. “Listen,” the tourist challenges, “before we talk about my doing anything religious, what’s the deal with this partition?” “Well,” the woman calmly replies, “wouldn’t you feel more comfortable
26
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
praying surrounded by women rather than men?” The tourist pauses. Yes, I would. Okay, that makes sense. Then a little light bulb goes on in her head. Maybe other things in Judaism make sense too? Two months later, she drops in on some classes at Neve Yerushalayim, intending to study no longer than a week. Ten months later, she returns to America – just for a visit – as a newly Orthodox Jew. The tourist? Gila Manolson. In Neve Yerushalayim’s 50-year history as a ground-breaking institution for Jewish women’s education, its staff has had the privilege to know thousands of women like Gila from all over the globe. Some may have had a strong Conservative background, while others didn’t even know they were Jewish growing up. They were seeking truth, seeking meaning, seeking a healthy family life and relationships, and seeking God. They came to Neve to find out what it means to be a Jew, to discover the depth of their heritage, which they knew almost nothing about. They were inspired to find that Judaism was not an archaic religion, but a guide to living the most meaningful life, freed from the fads and false morals of their generation. These women have left Neve to build lives in Jewish communities around the world. They have gotten married to men who share their dedication to Torah and are raising generations of Torah-observant Jews. Another Neve student, Sara (’85), tells how, after spending 15 years on an ashram, she began to discover that there was something more to Judaism than what they taught her in Hebrew school. She writes: “A month later my search took me to Jerusalem. There I studied at Neve Yerushalayim, billed as a ‘yeshiva for Englishspeaking women with little or no Jewish background.’ I fancied that I had a great deal of Jewish background, since I had gone to Hebrew school until I went away
to college and was the president of my synagogue youth group. Yet what I was learning in Jerusalem felt like a completely different religion. “Something started to stir inside me. My intellect, which so often at the ashram had been scolded and sent to sit in the corner, was now set free to run and do cartwheels. I was invited to pick apart every argument. And I did – I questioned, challenged, debated and argued. “I battled with several issues, but the depth of my teachers’ approach left nothing outside its ken. Here was intellectual brilliance aligned with spiritual profundity. The way of life enjoined by the Torah fit me like a dress that had hung in my closet for decades. Only when I actually tried it on did I find that it fit me perfectly. “In Jerusalem, during my first week of studies, I noticed that when people emerged from the restroom, they would stand for a minute with their eyes closed, muttering something. When I inquired what they were doing, I was told that just as there is a blessing to say when eating or drinking, there is also a blessing to say after using the toilet, acknowledging the Divine source of all the bodily functions. “I was blown away. “Still, my leave of absence from the ashram was drawing to a close, and my former life beckoned. “I was 37-years-old. The ashram was not only my physical and spiritual home, but also my place of employment and the residence of all my friends. Accepting the dictates of the Torah would require a radical change of lifestyle – a repudiation of so much I held dear, an estrangement from those I loved and the forfeit of whatever standing and prestige I had acquired in the New Age world. The very idea overwhelmed me. “One night, sometime after midnight, I went to the Kotel, the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. There I meditated. What was God’s will for me? “I had spent my entire adult life learning
to align myself with the will of God as I perceived it. Now I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was God’s will for me to stay in Jerusalem and practice Torah. “That night at the Kotel, I chose. “‘Yes,’ I told God, ‘I will accept Your Torah as my guide, even when it is inconvenient or downright difficult. I will do it on Your terms… whatever it costs me. I will live the way You want me to.’ “That night I fairly floated up the steps from the Kotel to my room in the Jewish Quarter. Instead of feeling saddled by the religious obligations to which I had just committed myself, I felt free and light.”* As Neve approaches its 50th year, idealistic young women, like Gila and Sara, from all over the world are still arriving almost every day of the year to immerse themselves in an environment of Torah. They are searching for clarity and a connection to their heritage in a confusing world where so many Jews are assimilated and intermarrying. Neve has an obligation to continue to provide quality Jewish education for these women. Neve can’t abandon its commitment to the future of the Jewish people and continues to dedicate itself to its mission. This year, it is launching its 50th anniversary campaign to raise $7.5 million in order to propel its work forward – to increase its recruitment programs, create more spiritual support for its alumnae, enhance its offerings to the present student body, award scholarships, and renovate the dorms, thus building more successful Jewish futures. A donation to Neve will enable the school to continue empowering Jewish women and the community at-large. You can learn more about Neve’s goals at www.nevey.org. * Reprinted with permission from “God Winked: Tales and Lessons From My Spiritual Adventures,” by Sara Yoheved Rigler. December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
DIVREI TORAH
Chanukah: The Holiday of Rededication By Rabbi Avraham Shmidman
T
he upcoming celebration of Chanukah raises an obvious question. Why is it that we do not even have a one-day holiday designated to observe the date the original Temple was built (a date many don’t even know) and yet we have an eightday commemoration for when it was rededicated? Chanukah recalls the miracle of the jug of oil that miraculously lasted eight days, even though it contained only enough oil for one day. Perhaps there is an additional subtle message as well. While dedicating new buildings and ideas are important, it is far more challenging to rededicate, rebuild, and refurnish. The festival of Chanukah brings to mind not only the miracle of the oil, but also of the heroism of the Chashmonaim and the Jews of that time who understood the importance of fixing up the broken Beis HaMikdash. It is harder in some ways to maintain existing structures then it
is to excitedly build new edifices. This is why we celebrate Chanukah for eight days and the building of the original Beis HaMikdash does not even find its way on to the Jewish holiday calendar. One of the most complex, and sadly understudied, areas of Jewish law is resource allocation of charity monies. Halacha teaches us how to observe Shabbos, keep kashrus and pray properly. This corpus of law also provides us with the parameters for giving tzedakah. There is an oft-stated truism about charitable giving – “people give to people, not causes.” This adage exposes a human weakness. Rational thinkers value needs, yet most people act on the basis of human emotions and direct their philanthropic dollars to those with whom they are personally connected. This results in capricious giving habits. Instead of carefully evaluating the competing demands of individuals and institutions, local and abroad, donors all too frequently make decisions on the basis of relationships. The flawed logic goes something like this: “my friends/relatives asked me to give and since I know them/ am friendly with them/feel pressured
by them I will financially support their cause.” By contrast, the responsible giver considers halakhic mandate with very little care for the solicitor. The agency or individual requesting aid should be assessed, with very little value if any, assigned to the one soliciting the funding and any affinity one may have for that person. Another area where giving tendencies are regularly misplaced is in regard to determining which causes are deserving. When a cause is new it often generates excitement and buzz, as well as a great deal of attention and support.
There is a certain allure to building a new building. Chanukah reminds us that rededicating our existing institutions is worthy of more celebration than erecting a new edifice. At times it is necessary for communities to take on new projects. As a matter of principle however, we ought to remind ourselves not to give impulsively on the basis of who did the “ask” or how flashy a new edifice might look. The Chashmonaim were lauded for eight days because they rededicated the existing Beis HaMikdash but did not feel the deepseated need to build something new. When we decide how to distribute our tzedakah funds we should learn from the Chashmonaim and figure out precisely what are our obligations, remember the importance and joy of sustaining an existing structure, and not just give to collectors with whom we have family or friend ties. May we merit to see the building of the Third Beis HaMikdash and be privileged to contribute towards its construction. Happy Chanukah! Rabbi Avraham Shmidman is the rabbi of Lower Merion Synagogue.
An Unfortunate Kiruv Opportunity By Rabbi Nesanel Cadle
T
he middle of sefer Beraishis is largely dominated by the complex and troubling relationship between Yaakov and Esav. Chazal teach us that much of our Jewish destiny may be found in this section of the Torah. Ashkenazi Jews have had the misfortune of living amongst the descendants of Esav for many centuries. (Christian Europe is
largely populated by descendants of Esav, most notably the descendants of the ancient Romans and of the ancient Germanic tribes.) Our highs and lows in this relationship may be traced to the brachos of Yitzchak to Yaakov and Esav. There are times when the Jewish people are more successful than Esav, and they achieve greatness in every area of human endeavor. For example, they are disproportionately represented as the leaders in academia and in the financial world. Then there are the other times with which we are all too familiar. Times like
SCHWARTZ HARDWARE
CHANUKAH SHOP IN STORE AND ONLINE
Shopschwartz.com
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
the one we seem to be slipping into now. These are the times in which openly antiSemitic candidates run for major political offices, our cemeteries are vandalized, and Jews are beaten, and even killed, for the crime of being Jewish. These are Esav’s times, he is on top, and the Jews are oppressed. If we examine the brachos of Yitzchak, and the reaction of Esav to them, we may be very puzzled. What precisely is Esav so upset about? He has been given the blessing of immense material wealth, something he so much coveted. Esav is primarily upset with the fact that Yaakov was also blessed with material and intellectual wealth. Esav has a very strong need and desire to always be the top dog. He intensely resents our success in these areas. Yet, while it’s true that Esav resents our material success, those who descend from his grandson, Amalek, do not want a Torah nation to exist in the world. They despise our spiritual success even more than our success in other areas. Esav mourned the brachos of Yitzchak because there’s no way for him to win. If the Jews are successful materially, he is jealous. On the other hand, if the Jews lose sight of Torah learning and its values, Esav is given permission to harm the Jews. The trouble for Esav then is
that the very act of oppressing the Jews causes them, generally, to recommit to Torah values, since the Jews understand they have no one to turn to other than God. So, by Esav and Amalek taking out their aggression and resentment on the Jews, the very result they despise – increased commitment to Torah – is the unwelcome result. We now unfortunately live in such a time. So many of our unaffiliated brethren are being reminded of their heritage. They are being told there should be no Jewish state. They are being told the Jews are greedy and power hungry. They are being told it’s ok to harm Jews. They are being told we don’t want you. We must be prepared to help these Jews, especially the young American Jews. They are, for the first time in their lives, confronting their Jewishness. We have the answers... we have a Torah. Let us be confident, compassionate, and caring. Let us be there to welcome back our confused, overwhelmed, and frightened brothers and sisters. This is a kiruv opportunity which is unprecedented in our lifetime. We dare not abandon our fellow Jews to the tender mercies of the Esav of today. Rabbi Nesanel Cadle is the rabbi at Congregation Knesset Hasefer in Yardley, PA.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
27
DIVREI TORAH
Why Didn’t Yaakov’s Name Stick? By Bracha Rutner
“
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet tells Romeo that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention, and that she loves the person who is called “Montague,” not the Montague name and not the Montague family. While Shakespeare may believe that names are artificial and meaningless, in the Torah names are symbolic, and they often indicate a person’s role in the world, as when Adam names Chava, stating that she is אם כל חי, the mother of all living creatures. We see the significance of names portrayed in Parshat Vayishlach, in a moment that is forever engraved into our collective conscience: Yaakov terrified and stricken by an impending confrontation with his brother Esav – is met all alone, by “saro shel Esav,” the archangel of Esav. As it is written in Beraishit, בראשית פרק לב ַﬠד ﬠֲלוֹת, לְ בַ דּוֹ; ַויֵּאָ בֵ ק ִאישׁ ﬠִ מּוֹ,כה וַיִּ וָּתֵ ר ַיﬠֲקֹ ב .הַ שָּׁ חַ ר 25 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. They fight through the night and the angel is unable to defeat Yaakov. As the two warriors stand, exhausted, Yaakov turns to the angel and demands a bracha. The angels response? - ִאם,כִּ י-- ל ֹא ַיﬠֲקֹ ב יֵאָ מֵ ר עוֹד ִשׁ ְמָך,כט ַויּ ֹאמֶ ר . וַתּוּכָל, ֲאנ ִָשׁים- ֱאֹלהִ ים וְ ﬠִ ם-שָׂ ִריתָ ﬠִ ם- כִּ י:יִ ְשׂ ָראֵ ל 29 And he said: ‘Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.’ The שרו של עשוtells Yaakov that from this day forth he is no longer to be called Yaakov but rather … ישראלAnd yet, this doesn’t happen. Yaakov remains Yaakov, despite this name change. This is very different than Avraham, as the Talmud in Masechet Brachot on page 13a tells us, עובר- ‘ כל הקורא לאברהם ’אברם:תני בר קפרא רבי.( ה, שנאמר ’והיה שמך אברהם‘ )י“ז,בעשה שנאמר ’ולא יקרא עוד את, עובר בלאו:אליעזר אומר (שמך אברם‘ )שם... “Bar Kapra taught: Anyone who calls Avraham ‘Avram’ transgresses a positive command, as it is written, ‘And your name will be Avraham.’ Rabbi Elazar said: He transgresses a negative command, as it is written, ‘And your name will no longer be called Avram.’” הכי נמי שאני- ‘ הקורא ליעקב ’יעקב,אלא מעתה דהדר אהדריה קרא ]שהח־,[התם ]=שם שונה הדבר דכתיב ’ויאמר אלקים לישראל במראות,[זירו הכתוב ..‘הלילה ויאמר יעקב יעקב
28
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
Further along the Gemara questions why no such transgression exists in the case of Yaakov’s name, and explains that God Himself calls Yaakov ‘Yaakov’ at a later time (Beraishit 46:2). בראשית פרק מו פסוק ב So, we see that Avraham’s name change is permanent, but Yaakov’s is not. But why? And to further add to this intrigue while Hashem may call Yaakov by his birth name in פרק מבprior to this in י- פרק לה פסוקים ט, Hashem himself renames Yaakov, as it says יֵרא אלקים אל יעקב עוד בב ֹאו מפדן ארם ויברך ויאמר לו אלקים שמך יעקב לא יקָ רא שמך עוד.אֹ תו יעקב כי אם ישראל יהיה שמך ויקרא את שמו ישראל Why does Hashem change his name after the malach did and why then still call him Yaakov? In order to answer these questions, we must examine the nature of the change in names of Avraham and Yaakov and the meaning behind them. Avraham’s name is changed in the context of the brit milah (Beraishit 17). Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, z”l, says that Avraham’s circumcision was in effect a process of conversion. Until that point, he was a gentile from the point of view of his lineage, and prior to Yitzchak’s birth God wanted him to convert in order that Yitzchak would have a Jewish lineage. Conversion is in fact a rebirth. This is true both halakhically and also fundamentally - the convert exchanges all his values and forgets everything that he previously believed in. The change in name symbolizes a similar idea: Avraham became a new person. It is therefore obvious why we should not refer to Avraham by his previous name, which expresses what he was prior to his conversion. In Yaakov’s case, on the other hand, the change in name represents not the creation of a new person but rather simply the addition of another aspect of his personality; therefore, he was still called Yaakov and there is no prohibition involved in referring to him thus. This is hinted to in the Gemara in Brachot ‘’לא יקרא שמך עוד יעקב כי אם ישראל יהיה שמך אלא ישראל עיקר ויעקב, לא שיעקר יעקב ממקומו.טפל לו Yaakov’s name would remain but would be secondary to his primary name, Yisrael. In what way was Yaakov’s personality changed? Yaakov, derived from the word eikev, heel, represents his lowly state, all of his problems with his brother, his being taken advantage of by his uncle, and even his children deceiving him. At every stage of his life, there was somebody to step all over him, somebody to take
advantage of him. This name, Yaakov, is also associated with a certain sense of simplicity; Yaakov, ish tam yoshev ohalim - Yaakov is the pure, innocent individual who learned in the Yeshiva of Shem v’Ever. And then Yaakov meets the angel and struggles with him. The pasuk tells us ותוכל- typically, the word vatuchal means to win, to overcome - that Yaakov has now won. His new name Yisrael signifies this victory. Yaakov is now a warrior. Rabbi Shmuel Klitsner in his book, Wrestling Jacob, defines vatuchal as to become enabled or empowered. The distinction between victory and empowerment is of critical importance. It is difficult to support a reading of victory as the struggle continues for Yaakov, just as his change of name is not final and irrevocable. Moreover, in subsequent episodes in Yaakov’s life he does seem to behave in a decidedly “Jacobly” manner. This understanding of the change of name as an evolving identity that does not discard the previous name or identity is essential to a nuanced understanding of the transition of Yaakov in that moment. The difference in the naming of Yaakov between the angel and Hashem, may hinge on their understanding of what really happened in the struggle and the change in Yaakov as a result of this struggle. The angel perceives strength as the most important asset in life. He regards Yaakov with admiration because he has accumulated so much experience of battles and victories; in contrast, he regards the Yaakov of old with scorn - the miserable, powerless, inexperienced man he once was. He looks at Yaakov and says forget your past, forget all that you were. You are now a new person. It is no wonder that the angel blesses Yaakov that he should no longer be called Yaakov, but rather only Yisrael. It is as if the angel is telling him, “May your unfortunate past be forgotten, and may people look only at your present situation - at your power and strength.” Yaakov has striven with God and with men, and has prevailed. Yaakov has shown that he can overpower others, that he is a true warrior and that is how he must face his future. God, on the other hand, perceives the change in name from another perspective. It is clear to Him that the name Yaakov is not to be cancelled, nor is it to be scorned. Simplicity, studiousness and humility are of great importance, while power is a secondary characteristic. Experience and strength can certainly add, but one should not concentrate on them alone. Clearly the name Yaakov will continue to exist, and there is no prohibition
involved in calling Yaakov by this name. Yaakov must remember his past and all that he has learned from it. Although the Gemara in Brachot (13a) implies that the name Yisrael is primary and the name Yaakov secondary, the Midrash Rabbah (78:3) suggests the opposite - that “Yaakov” remains primary, and “Yisrael” is an addition of secondary importance. Yaakov, through his struggle, has been enabled to understand the different parts of his personality; that of humility and that of strength. Hashem therefore blesses him and gives him another name, not a replacement but an addition. And now, Yaakov must embrace these different aspects to his personality, these seemingly opposing traits that he has been empowered to understand. He is Yaakov, a person who came from humble beginnings and was often at the mercy of others. He is also Yisrael, the warrior of Hashem. But he will forever remain both Yaakov and Yisrael. In order to arrive at this deep understanding of himself, Yaakov’s name change to Yisrael had to come about only after a struggle through the night with a stranger whose name he did not even know. Whom he struggled with was of less significance than the fact that the struggle took place. The growth necessary to become a servant of God is only possible if we struggle and meet the challenges of the world head-on. We may or may not succeed, but each struggle enables us to gain a deeper appreciation of who we are and what we have to offer the world. Sometimes, we don’t want to understand ourselves, it can seem too scary; what if we don’t like who we are? But Yaakov teaches us to embrace ourselves to feel empowered by who we are. We cannot forget our past but must learn to embrace and utilize parts of ourselves that may seem like a weakness. We can use our weaknesses to our advantage if we learn to meld them with our strengths. This is an important legacy that Yaakov has left for all of us; we have unique aspects to our personalities, some that may seem to be contradictory but in order to be enabled, in order to succeed in life, we must embrace them. The greatness of Yisrael is that he never forgot that he was born Yaakov. His name was a reminder of who he was and who he had the power to become. And for us, like Yaakov, our struggles may cripple us, but that is the only way to grow and become great before God and man. Ms. Bracha Rutner is Assistant Principal and the Director of Judaic Studies at
CONTINUED ON P. 29 December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
DIVREI TORAH From Yaakov to Yisrael: A Lesson in Self-Discovery By Mrs. Melissa Perl
A
lthough Yaakov Avinu had fled from his father’s house in last week’s parsha in order to escape the wrath of his brother, he begins this week’s parsha hopeful that, after twenty years away, Esav’s anger may have abated. Playing it safe, he sends Esav a message about his return in order to “gain his favor”; unfortunately, he finds out that Esav is coming towards him with 400 men and he is frightened about what the future holds. In preparation, he strategically divides his camp, asks Hashem for His help, and assembles a number of gifts to give to Esav. It seems as though he is ready for the encounter. And yet, right before he is to meet Esav, we hear about a strange interaction that Yaakov has with an “ish” and we wonder how it connects to the upcoming meeting. Filled with so many ambiguous pronouns that we are unsure exactly what is happening, the text says “Yaakov was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he wrenched Yaakov’s hip at its socket, so that the socket of his hip was strained as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for dawn is breaking.’ But he answered, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ Said the other, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘Yaakov.’ Said he, ‘Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.’” (32:25-29) After reading these pesukim, we are faced with many questions. Who is the mysterious stranger who appears in the middle of the night, wrestles with Yaakov, and then ultimately gives him a new name? What is the significance of this new name? Who is wrestling with whom and who could not prevail? What is the connection between this story and Yaakov’s impending meeting with Esav? While almost everyone asks similar questions on these pesukim, the way in which they answer them differs greatly. In order to explore this story in more depth, we will examine the opinions of Rashi, Rashbam, Radak, and Ramban. Each of these meforshim highlights a different aspect of the story and, in turn, teaches us
something different about Yaakov Avinu. Rashi identifies the mysterious “ish” as the angel of Esav. He explains that before actually meeting Esav, Yaakov needed to know that Esav recognized that he, Yaakov, was the rightful recipient of the bracha. Yaakov and the angel fight throughout the night but the angel will not capitulate. Finally, as dawn approaches, the angel asks Yaakov to release him so that he can go sing Hashem’s praises. Seizing the moment, Yaakov will only release him ִ ֖כּי ִאם־ בֵּ ַרכְ ָ ֽתּנִי. While the simple translation of this is “unless you bless me,” Rashi explains that Yaakov is saying that he will only release the angel if he admits that Yaakov, and not Esav, had the right to the blessings that his father gave him. According to Rashi this story had to take place before Yaakov and Esav met each other because it is only once Esav, through an angel proxy, gives up his claim to the blessings, that it is possible for the two to reconcile. Rashbam explains the incident in a very different way. He maintains that Yaakov was afraid of Esav and was trying to escape the impending encounter by running away in the middle of the night. Hashem had promised Yaakov that Esav would not harm him. He knew that Yaakov would prevail in the encounter and wanted to make sure that the two met face-to-face. As such, Rashbam suggests that Hashem sent an angel to fight with Yaakov to delay him until Esav could arrive. The angel and Yaakov fight throughout the night and the angel wounds Yaakov to slow him down and to prevent him from running away. This encounter thus serves to sufficiently delay Yaakov so as to ensure that his meeting with Esav would, in fact, take place. Radak agrees with Rashbam that Yaakov was frightened about his upcoming encounter with Esav. However, instead of suggesting that Hashem sent the angel to hold him in place until the morning, Radak maintains that Hashem sent the angel as a way to prove to Yaakov that he had the capacity to overcome Esav. After this he receives a new name as a testament to his power and ability to succeed in his endeavors. This encounter thus gave Yaakov a renewed sense of confidence in his abilities. In contrast to the explanations of Rashi, Rashbam, and Radak, who each attempt to explain how this encounter fits in with
the story that is happening between Yaakov and Esav, the Ramban takes a very different approach. Famous for referencing the idea of “maaseh avot siman l’banim,” “the actions of the avot are a sign for the children,” Ramban actually says that this incident is reflective of what will occur over and over throughout history. The struggle between Yaakov and the ish at night represents the fact that in the future the Jewish people will be in galut where they will struggle against anti-Semitism, and will even be wounded by it, but where they will ultimately prevail against their enemies. Thus, although this story involves Yaakov, it is meant to serve as a prelude to what will happen to the Jewish people in the future. Although the details of the incident are intentionally ambiguous, and thus allow for such markedly different interpretations by the various meforshim, there is no question that according to all explanations the encounter with the angel provided Yaakov with the confidence and the self-assurance that he needed in order to meet up with Esav. Yaakov left his father’s house accused of using cunning and trickery to steal the bracha from his brother. While in Lavan’s house he developed as a person, as a leader, and as an oved Hashem. He B R U C E B AC K M A N ’ S
PESACH in the NORTHEAST
rid himself of his tendency for deception and trickiness. A changed individual, upon his return to Eretz Yisrael, he thought that he was ready to receive the bracha from Hashem that would actualize his life’s mission. However, Hashem decreed that before he could receive this bracha he had to come face-to-face with Esav and overcome his past. Yaakov’s encounter with the ish therefore seems to have given him the inner strength for a frontal confrontation with Esav. It served as the culmination of years of growth and development and represented the transformation that Yaakov went through as he developed into Yisrael, the father of the Jewish nation. Melissa Perl is the Director of Limudei Kodesh at Kohelet Yeshiva High School. Before coming to Kohelet, Melissa held the position of Assistant Principal for Student Support and Professional Development (Pre-K-12) at MHA/FYOS while also chairing the Tanach department, heading the teacher mentoring program, directing Israel Guidance for girls, and teaching Honors Tanach and AP Psychology. She holds an undergraduate degree in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Stern College, a Master’s Degree in Bible from Yeshiva University, and has completed all but her dissertation for her Ed.D. AT T H E L U X U R I O U S
MARRIOTT WESTFIELDS RESORT Washington DC
HIGHEST RATED AND MOST TRUSTED PESACH PROGRAM IN THE NATION’S CAPITOL
F E AT U R E D A M E N I T I E S :
Indoor & Outdoor Pools Tennis Basketball Horseback Riding Excursions Spa Services Golf Professional Children’s Programming S P E A K E R S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Why Didn’t Yaakov’s Name Stick? CONTINUED FROM P. 28 Central/YUHSG. Ms. Rutner teaches Talmud and Halacha. She has a passion for Torah learning and hopes to inspire her students to share in that passion. Ms. Rutner December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
was the first Congregational Yoetzet in the United States and also serves as the Yoetzet Halacha for Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey and at the Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring, MD. She lives in West Hempstead, NY with her husband and four children.
HOME TO THE
“BEST FOOD IN THE BUSINESS” CHOLOV YISROEL GLATT KOSHER
Rabbi Simon Jacobson Rabbi Dovid Cohen ----
SHMURAH MATZOH NON-GEBROCHTS
Simcha Leiner
774.353.0170
Bentzi Marcus
PESACHINTHENORTHEAST.COM
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
29
DIVREI TORAH
From Flight to Fight By Rabbanit Sally Mayer
Weekly Dvar Torah
F
rightening news about shootings in synagogues throughout the world has made many of us wonder: How do we protect ourselves and our families? While this question feels new, it is also very old; so often through the centuries of our exile, we have found ourselves at the mercy of cruel rulers, merciless neighbors, and marauding mobs. How do we defend ourselves? Yaakov’s initial response was to run. When he takes the blessings meant for Esav, and Esav resolves to kill him for it, Yaakov leaves home and seeks shelter abroad with his uncle Lavan. When he returns to Israel after more than twenty years in Lavan’s house, he reaches out proactively to Esav to try to smooth things over but is alarmed to hear that Esav is approaching with 400 men. It seems that Esav has neither forgotten nor forgiven, and now he is coming to wipe out Yaakov’s whole family! Rashi
FROM ERETZ YISRAEL
(Genesis 32:9), quoting the Midrash Tanchuma, explains that Yaakov prepares for his confrontation with Esav in three ways: with doron (gifts), with prayer, and with war. Do any of these methods have parallels for us today? Yaakov sends gifts to Esav, hundreds of cattle of all types, sent in waves to impress and appease him. Yaakov’s tefillah is heartfelt and humble, as he begs God for help, speaking of God’s past kindness and loyalty to him and beseeching Him to save Yaakov and his family. His preparation for “war,” in the words of the Midrash, involves splitting his family into two camps; if Esav attacks one camp, the other camp can run away (32:9). How do the ways in which we prepare for today’s confrontations compare with the ways in
8IFSF DBO * QJDL VQ UIF OFXTQBQFS 1+- 1JDLVQ -PDBUJPOT #VDLT $PVOUZ
$FOUFS $JUZ
!BRAMSȩ(EBREWȩ!CADEMY "ENSALEMȩ*EWISHȩ/UTREACHȩ#ENTER #OMMUNITYȩ4ORAHȩ#ENTERȩOFȩ"UCKSȩ#OUNTY +NESSETȩ(ASEFER
"gNAIȩ!BRAHAMȩ#HABAD #ONGREGATIONȩ-IKVEHȩ)SRAEL -EKORȩ(ABRACHA #ENTERȩ#ITYȩ3YNAGOGUE 3TARȩOFȩ$AVIDȩ+OSHERȩ3ANDWICHȩ ȩ(UMMUSȩ"AR 3TA 44HEȩ2OTHENBERGȩ,AWȩ&IRMȩ-INCHAȩ-INYAN HE
$IFSSZ )JMM
-PXFS .FSJPO
#HABADȩ,UBAVITCHȩOFȩ#AMDENȩ#OUNTY #HERRYȩ'RILL #ONGREGATIONȩ3ONSȩOFȩ)SRAEL 0OLITZȩ$AYȩ3CHOOLȩOFȩ#HERRYȩ(ILL 4HEȩ"AGELȩ3POT 9OUNGȩ)SRAELȩOFȩ#HERRYȩ(ILL
!CMEȩINȩ.ARBERTH #ASKEYȩ4ORAHȩ!CADEMY /PSUIFBTU 1IJMBEFMQIJB #HABADȩOFȩTHEȩ-AINȩ,INE "EITȩ(ARAMBAMȩ#ONGREGATION #ONGREGATIONȩ"ETHȩ(AMEDROSH #ONGREGATIONȩ!HAVASȩ4ORAH +OHELETȩ9ESHIVA #ONGREGATIONȩ"ETHȩ3OLOMON ,OWERȩ-ERIONȩ3YNAGOGUE #ONGREGATIONȩ"gNAIȩ)SRAELȩ/HEVȩ:EDEK .EWȩ9ORKȩ"AGEL %SPRESSOȩ#AFdz 3HALOMȩ0IZZA (OUSEȩOFȩ+OSHER 3TARȩOFȩ$AVID 4HEȩ-ESIVTAȩ(IGHȩ3CHOOLȩOFȩ'REATERȩ0HILADELPHIA 9OUNGȩ)SRAELȩOFȩTHEȩ-AINȩ,INE &MLJOT 1BSL :AGAFEN 9OUNGȩ)SRAELȩOFȩ%LKINSȩ0ARK
30
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
which Yaakov, our forefather, prepared for his? What is the doron, the method of appeasement, that we have used? For centuries, it was bribes – offering ransom to help Jews escape imprisonment or murder, from the Crusades to the Inquisition to Nazi Germany. What is the modern State of Israel’s parallel to doron? We engage in diplomacy, in discussions with other nations to maintain a positive relationship, through trade, cultural exchange, and mutual respect and understanding. What a gift from God that Israel’s diplomatic status has been rising, and that our version of this method to deal with the enemy has developed to this level of mutual respect. Nations around the world admire us and see that they have so much to gain from associating with us. Yaakov prepares for confrontation by splitting his camp and hoping for an opportunity to escape. Throughout our exile, we, too, have usually despaired of actually defending ourselves and hoped,
at the most, to escape with our lives. How different things are today, thank God. Today, the Jewish homeland fields the most feared army in the Middle East, a model for other nations. Our third son has just begun his army service as his brothers did before him, and we are so proud and thankful to God that, as Jews, we can defend ourselves. Our army is called the Israel Defense Forces, emphasizing its purpose to defend our homeland, but our idea of “defense” has progressed from hoping that half of our family survives, to developing a force equipped with the training and sophisticated tools to enable us to meet any challenge in our region, God willing. Yaakov’s third mode, tefillah, remains as key for us as it was for him. Though our army is strong, God’s help is crucial in every military interaction. We pray that our soldiers, our children, as highly trained and well-equipped as they are, will be successful and safe. We in Israel are humbled by God’s kindness in bringing us to this point, as Yaakov was humbled by God’s generosity to him. We beseech Him every day to continue to protect us and our soldiers. As we say in the prayer for Tzahal, “May the verse be fulfilled for them, ‘For Hashem your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’” Rabbanit Sally Mayer serves as Rosh Midrasha at Midreshet Lindenbaum’s Overseas Program. She is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi. org/speakers).
Let us Cater your Chanukah event or party! Large and Small Events
Servicing the Greater Philadelphia Area since 1994
Vegetarian Mediterranean Kosher Cuisine
HAPPY CHANUKAH!
Serving Fresh Sufganiyot & Latkes
215-878-1500 • www.shalompizzeria.com • shalompizza@yahoo.com Bishul, Cholov and Pas Yisroel
, WE DELIVER December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
DIVREI TORAH Torah From Eretz Yisrael
Dinah in a Box By Rabbi Moshe Taragin
Y
aakov hurriedly spirits his camp to safety across the Yabok River to protect them from Esav’s murderous gang. The Torah carefully delineates the transport of his four wives and his eleven children, his entire entourage as well as all of his possessions. Yet, no mention of his lone daughter is included, prompting the midrash to pose the well-known query “where was Dinah?” The midrash documents that she was hidden by Yaakov and concealed in a container so that Esav should not get any “smart ideas!” This dramatic story provides an abiding lesson about protecting ourselves against hostile or dangerous influences. When facing potentially negative forces, the preferred solution is to hide, flee or generally disengage. Protecting our own set of values and the quality of our own religious experience is paramount. Yet, many are not aware of, or certainly not as familiar with, the continuation of the midrash. Yaakov is softly rebuked by Chazal for depriving Esav of this ‘kiruv’ opportunity. Perhaps, Esav would be enchanted by Dinah and, in the hopes of marrying his niece, would undergo a character transformation and a lifestyle change. Perhaps he would even have conceded the firstborn rights to Yaakov, supporting Yaakov throughout history rather than warring with him. The midrash applies a pasuk from Iyov (chapter 6) which can be read as an admonition of those who withhold rehabilitative opportunities from wayward acquaintances; the midrash even casts the rape of Dinah as eventual punishment for this error. This midrash –in its entirety– presents a more complex and nuanced assessment of the “Dinah” story. In a general sense, every religiousminded person must carefully calibrate the degree of exposure to a world replete with hazardous influences. Some people are more determined to keep those influences “at bay” while others, acknowledging the impossibility of this approach, admit greater exposure with the hope of properly applying filters. It is important and honest to wonder about the dangers of overexposure and the dangers of both improperly applying filters or, worse, of not applying any filters. Alternatively, totally suppressing the outside world poses its own set of dangers – chief among them the ‘forbidden fruit syndrome.’ Demonizing outside December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
influences may be “creating the monster” by rendering these experiences more tantalizing and seductive. Certainly, the case of Dinah provides a stern warning regarding this danger – her “protective custody” and lack of exposure only heightened her curiosity and ultimately drove her to an inappropriate setting. The balance between healthy “insulation” and metered exposure is a difficult one and shouldn’t be oversimplified toward either extreme. Though this balance is complex and delicate in a general sense, the “Esav factor” should alter the calibration and the decision. It is one thing to insulate ourselves against the foreign influences of a broader world; it is quite another to sever ourselves from those close to us who can benefit and be inspired by sustained contact with us and exposure to our lifestyles. The implicit message of the midrash is that, in an attempt to inspire the “other,” especially if that “other” is a family member or someone close to us, some degree of risk-taking is valid and even expected. I don’t belong to the Lubavitch community, but I have spent quality time visiting some very impressive Shluchim who have relocated their families to very religiously challenging environments. Sometimes the move reinforces religious commitment; operating in a foreign setting often evokes the “best within us” and provides a clear and sharp sense of conviction and principles. However, this decision can, and sometimes does, exact a very heavy toll upon the internal family of the Shliach. Closer to my own world, the agenda of religious young men serving in the IDF provides many significant benefits. Without question, many feel morally compelled to serve alongside their secular co-citizens; “why should my blood be redder than theirs?” However, moral considerations aside, army service provides a unique opportunity to showcase religion to secular Israelis who are generally saddled with unrealistic but highly negative stereotypes about religion. Joint army service can shatter many of these stigmas by exposing secular Jews to healthy religious role models in an ‘equal’ or level playing field absent of any political agenda or hint of proselytizing. It is undeniable that sometimes this exposure weakens a religious soldier rather than inspiring a secular soldier. Are we to discontinue the entire program and insulate all of our “Dinahs” in a box? Some would answer “yes” to this question and discourage army service for religious people across
the board. Others are more sensitive to the reproach of Chazal: When the ‘other’ is not just a faceless member of the outside world but part of our very own “family” the equation becomes more complex. A more delicate dilemma emerges for families with a child who has walked away from religious observance. At a basic human level, a parent doesn’t, and shouldn’t, stop loving their child or including that child within the family dynamic. Furthermore, maintaining ongoing ties and continuing family interaction can provide a healthy anchor for a child who hasn’t yet established a stable religious identity. However, within the more intimate setting of a family the price for “exposure” and inclusion can be very steep. Sibling influence is very powerful and inclusion of a sibling who has abandoned religious observance can profoundly affect other younger family members of the family. In this instance the decision of whether to place the entire family in a “box” and disengage from “one of our own” is a very painful question.
There is clearly no generalized solution to the Dinah question, but Chazal simultaneously laud and critique Yaakov’s decision as a manner of highlighting the two aspects of this dilemma. In the modern context, much of the modern yeshiva world has migrated to a more insulated and less exposure-based interaction with the “other.” Both Rav Aharon Kotler and Rav Yosef Kahaneman founded their yeshivot of Lakewood and Ponevezh respectively, far from diluting cultures of the big cities. This ideal of insulation and separation to protect purity and values has shaped the past 75 years of the yeshiva movement. Other communities, either ideologically or otherwise, are predicated upon greater degrees of exposure and interaction. While it is impossible to champion one policy over another, two conclusions seem obvious: the decision must not be oversimplified and opposing policies shouldn’t be vilified. There really is no right and wrong in this challenging dilemma. Rabbi Moshe Taragin is a rebbe at Yeshivat Har Etzion, located in Gush Etzion, where he resides.
Have you checked out our social media pages? Don't miss out on the latest sports photos, articles, article discussions and much more. PhillyJLink phillyjlink PhillyJLink Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
31
One Family’s Story of Success Thanks to Early Intervention By Penina Popper
B
enjamin Davis was nine months old in the fall of 2016 when his parents realized his development was not progressing as it should. Benjamin would sit surrounded by toys but was not making much eye contact with his parents and didn’t seem to “babble” like other babies his age. The feeling was not new to the Bala Cynwyd family. Just a few months earlier, Benjamin’s sister, Hannah, who is 15 months older, had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder after she did not reach motor and verbal milestones as expected. Josh and Debbie Davis quickly sought out professional help. “We recognized his delays because they were similar to his older sister’s,” Josh said of Benjamin. Today Benjamin, who proudly proclaims that he is three-anda-half-years old, can list the names of his friends in preschool and carry on a basic conversation. The Davis’s had reached out to the state’s Early Intervention Program, and Benjamin qualified for services, beginning with occupational therapy. A few months later, he began speech and physical therapy, too. Early Intervention
is a program that provides services to children from birth to age three who have, or are at risk of, developmental disabilities. Services are provided at no cost to the families of eligible children, regardless of insurance coverage. Early Intervention assists and empowers families to meet their child’s and their own needs and entitles children, regardless of race, ethnicity or income, to services based on the child’s individual eligibility. Services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special instruction, social work, nutrition, vision, hearing and/or behavior services. In the first years of Benjamin’s and Hannah’s lives, Early Intervention therapists and teachers were in and out of the Davis’s home from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and worked around their busy schedules, Josh reported. Benjamin and Hannah were slowly acquiring the necessary skills to enhance their development and had a plan which reflected the family’s priorities for their children. “It really was incremental progress,” Debbie says. “It certainly wasn’t overnight that we experienced success. It was just so empowering to know we had the tools to help Benjamin and
Hannah. Our children’s team at Goldstar Rehabilitation exceeded all of our expectations of the progress they were individually capable of achieving.” The Davis family’s experience is a testament to the power and effectiveness of Early Intervention. Goldstar Rehabilitation Inc. is a therapist-owned and operated agency committed to providing superior quality services to children in need of therapeutic interventions. “We are proud to have dedicated therapists and involved parents and caregivers who have cultivated a partnership to support the growth and development of the children we service,” says co-owner Rita Schwartz. “As therapists ourselves, we aim to look beyond the labels of disorders and developmental delays. Every child is unique, and we want them to be successful. That is our mission,” adds co-owner Yedida Teichman. “All of our therapists are licensed in Pennsylvania and are committed to employing evidence-based practices as they seek to achieve meaningful outcomes for children and families. Goldstar Rehabilitation provides a full range of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy,
and special instruction. Providing therapy services to children in their homes, daycares, and community settings, Goldstar’s therapists thus enhance the abilities of parents and caregivers to help their children acquire the skills necessary to function appropriately within their natural environments,” Teichman adds. “We are honored to have become an integral part of the lives of thousands of children and their families and help put them on the path to realizing their fullest potential.” “As soon as you know or feel that something’s not right, get your child checked out,” Josh urges. For children with developmental disabilities, identifying challenges and seeking assistance early is the key to progress and success and Goldstar Rehabilitation is ready to help your child take the first step. If you suspect that an infant or toddler has a disability or delay or is at risk of having a disability, please contact your local Early Intervention Office: Bucks County: (215) 444-2828 Delaware County: (610) 713-2406 Montgomery County: (610) 277-7176 Philadelphia County: (215) 685-4646 All Counties: 1-800-692-7288 (CONNECT Helpline)
Fall Prevention By Dalia Amar
E
ach year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Falls can cause serious injury and disability, and in extreme cases lead to death. A study reported in JAMA in June 2019 found that death rates from falls among U.S. adults (age 75 or older) more than doubled, from 52 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 122 per 100,000 in 2016. Falls can be attributed to hazards that are often overlooked but yet are easy to fix. Four Things You Can Do to Prevent Falls: 1. Begin a regular exercise program. 2. Review your medications with your healthcare provider. 3. Check your vision. 4. Make your home safer.
32
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
1. Begin a Regular Exercise Program Studies have shown that exercise is one of the most important ways to lower your risk of falling. It makes you stronger and helps you feel better. Exercises that improve balance and coordination are the most helpful. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chances of falling. 2. Review Your Medications With Your Healthcare Provider Have your doctor or pharmacist review all the medications you take, even overthe-counter medicines. As you get older, the way medications work in your body can change. Some medications, or combinations of medications, can make you feel sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall. 3. Check Your Vision Have your vision checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a con-
dition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision. Poor vision can increase your chances of falling. 4. Make Your Home Safer About half of all falls happen at home. To make your home safer: • Remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk. • Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping. • Keep items you use often in cabinets that are easily accessible without using a step stool. • Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower. • Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. • Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang lightweight
curtains or shades to reduce glare. Have handrails and lights installed on all staircases. • Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers without support and rubber soles. Other Safety Tips: • Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone. • Put a phone near the floor in case you fall and can’t get up. • Consider wearing an alarm device that will alert someone to help you in case you fall and can’t get up. •
Dalia K. Amar, MSPT, of LiveWell Rehab and Fitness, LLC, is a physical therapist providing outpatient physical therapy in the home, specializing in senior care. For more information on her services, visit her at livewell-rehab.com or contact her at 484.433.2291. December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
ADHD Series: Part III
Treatment: Creating a Support System Towards Independence By Dr. Dovid Levy
E
ven though ADHD is a multifaceted diagnosis, we tend to notice more quickly the child who is engaging in hyperactive and impulsive behavior than the child who is just struggling in areas of organization and working memory. This is simply because the Hyperactive/Impulsive presentation often comes along with associated disruptive behavior, which can make teaching a class or managing a home more difficult. The child who struggles with organizational issues, on the other hand, can be a very mild-mannered and well-behaved individual, not drawing our attention in as fast to address some of those challenges. Thus, children who struggle with the Inattentive presentation of ADHD have a greater likelihood of “falling through the cracks” than the children who display some of the more “active” features of ADHD. We need to change that. We need to be on the lookout for children who struggle with organizational and working memory challenges, and we must be armed with concrete interventions
to help them thrive. Here are some strategies we can use to help children who struggle in areas of working memory, particularly with organization, task initiation, and time management challenges: Breaking down tasks into smaller steps. We know that working memory is a core deficit for children who have ADHD. One of the implications of a poor working memory is having a more difficult time breaking down tasks in one’s own mind. Therefore, when asked to engage in even a simple multi-step task that is not already broken down (e.g., “go eat breakfast”), a child who has ADHD may overestimate the complexity of the task and would therefore feel emotionally overwhelmed, leading to procrastination or avoidance of the task altogether. Remember, this is not because of laziness or defiance. It is because of an underdeveloped working memory. The solution would be to break down the steps for them. When asking Yosef to “go eat breakfast,” we can verbalize that task in five steps: Get the bowls and spoons from the cabinet. Get the cereal from the pantry. Get the milk from the refrigerator.
Pour the cereal and then the milk in the bowl. Eat the cereal. This may seem like an infantile way of asking your child to do something, but for some children who have ADHD, it is very helpful. But you might ask yourself, “Doesn’t breaking down the task into steps only increase the amount of information we are requiring them to hold in their limited working memory? Won’t that just make it more difficult for them to engage in such a task?” That’s where we come to our next strategy… Visual/verbal prompting. Because an underdeveloped working memory means that their brain’s storage space to hold information is limited, we want to provide them with an “external hard drive,” so they don’t have to hold all the information in their mind. This, in turn, can make it easier for them to cultivate and maintain motivation to engage in a multi-step task. This “external hard drive” can be in the form of visual and/or verbal prompts. Visual prompts include signs, lists, charts, posters, etc. For example, if we wanted to provide a child with a visual prompt to help him/her better move through the morning routine, we can collaborate with
Play It Safe For Chanukah! (Courtesy of TorahTots.com)
I
ncreased activity and excitement often make people less careful just when they should be more cautious. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THESE SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR HOME: Keep the menorah and all burning candles out of children’s reach; keep matches, oil and lighters out of sight and locked away. Do not leave candles unattended. Do not place the menorah near draperies or anything that might easily catch fire. Teach children not to touch burning candles. If using decorative electric menorahs, use only UL approved appliances and cords. Inspect all wires for frayed wires or December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
broken sockets. Turn off lights when you go to bed or leave the house. When frying latkes, always keep baking soda and a cover for the frying pan nearby. Cover the frying pan with a frying
screen to prevent grease splatters and burns. Always keep a 10 lb. ABS fire extinguisher near the kitchen, away from the stove. HAVE A SAFE CHANUKAH!
them on making a checklist that includes all of the steps of the morning routine (brushing teeth, getting dressed, packing homework, eating breakfast, etc.). Each task can be broken down further, depending on the child’s specific working memory capacity. Another element that we can visually externalize is time. Because children who have ADHD often have a limited sense of time, it is helpful to visually attach time-segments to each of the steps being broken down, as well as providing them with timers to assist with time management. Additionally, giving gentle and brief verbal prompts can be very helpful right before a desired step in any given task. Collaborating with your child. With any of these strategies, it is important to collaborate with your child ahead of time. Going back to the breakfast example, you can sit down with your child the night before and help him/ her identify all the steps in the task of eating breakfast and how long each step would take. The child can also be part of the process of creating a visual prompt. For instance, the child can pick out different pictures that may go along with each of the steps of a desired task and put these images on a morning routine checklist. All this planning ahead can make the child feel part of the process, cultivating more motivation to initiate and maintain engagement in what would normally feel like very challenging tasks. If these strategies are implemented in a patient and clear manner, along with recognizing all of the child’s successes along the way, the child will eventually be able to apply these strategies to him/herself, further enhancing their self-efficacy and sense of independence. Dr. Dovid Levy is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents who have emotional and behavioral challenges. He provides individual and group psychotherapy treatment, and he runs various parenting workshops on raising children who have anxiety, ADHD, and emotional difficulties. He practices in Narberth, PA, and he can be reached at 845.201.9748 or drdovidlevy@gmail.com.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
33
34
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
House to Home By House of Kosher Recipe and Food Styling by Esther Chana Schechter Food Photography by Shani Josefovits Chanukah is twinkly lights, oily sufganiyot, and, of course, nights filled with fun parties celebrated with family and friends. We’ve created two dishes that make excellent Chanukah party foods. Inspiration for this hot pepper came from Bouef & Bun, where we had the most spectacular fried stuffed jalapeno peppers. Now, could we get a dish that was equally delicious but without the fry? Let’s just say, we did it, and we nailed it. And yes, we know Chanukah is all about oil, but guilt-free party foods will make everyone happy. We’ve also included a recipe for
deep-fried pastrami corn dogs that will appease those sticklers who need their fry on Chanukah. Wishing you a wonderful Chanukah! All ingredients can be found at House of Kosher Gourmet Market.
JALAPENO STUFFED PEPPERS WITH FACON WRAP
PASTRAMI CORN DOGS
16-18 jalapeno peppers 2 packages Facon or beef fry 1 lb. ground beef 1 packet of taco seasoning 2 tbsp. oil Heat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add oil and sauté the ground beef until browned. Add the taco seasoning and mix to combine. Shut the fire and let it cool a bit. WEAR GLOVES! Make a slit in the jalapenos, making sure not to cut through to the other side. Remove the seeds. Stuff the jalapeno pepper with meat and wrap with a slice of Facon. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until the Facon crisps up. Serve warm or at room temperature.
1 cup of flour ¾ cup cornmeal 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup of almond milk or soy milk pinch of cayenne pepper or chili pepper 8 hot dogs 2 packages pastrami 3 cups oil for frying Make the batter: Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, eggs, soy milk, and cayenne pepper in a mixing bowl. Whisk until fully combined and the batter is smooth. Heat three cups of oil in a pot. Cut each hot dog into four small pieces, wrap pastrami around hot dog and dip into the batter. Fry each piece until golden (about three minutes) flipping halfway through. Serve warm with a honey mustard dipping sauce.
A 21st Century Food Dream By Shani Josefovits, House of Kosher Marketing Manager
F
ood has the power to bring people together. The truth of that statement has been proven time and time again. As avid foodies, the Isaacson family always desired to bring kosher food to the Jewish community. That desire manifested itself in the creation of Kosher Foods and More –a kosher wholesale food distributor. But that just wasn’t enough. A dream to create a kosher supermarket for the public was born and, within a few years, the dream became a reality. On May 10, 2018, House of Kosher Gourmet Market – the first fully kosher supermarket in Philadelphia – opened its doors for the first time. Opening our House doors did more than bring kosher food to our area. It bridged a gap that existed between different communities and created friendships among neighborhoods. House of Kosher has become more than just a store, it has become a welcome haven for our vibrant communities. Our mission is to provide the kosher community, from far and wide, with the ultimate kosher experience. But this is the 21st century we’re talking about. And a good old brick and mortar storefront is not enough. We recently successfully launched our houseofkosher.com December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
website and followed it up with our houseofkosher app launch several weeks ago, on November 18. Fresh, delicious takeout, that is definitely all the rage, is
available on our app. We’re talking sushi, pizza, meat takeout, platters, and salads. Did we forget to mention groceries? That’s on there too. It’s literally a dream. New items are always popping up in-house, and our virtual shoppers now get to experience them too with the click of a finger. Our state-of-the-art website and app are so easy to use, (obviously our twoyear-olds figured it out in no time, but even the non-tech savvy can use it just fine). Here are some easy and awesome functions available to create a most pleasant shopping experience. Express Reorder Allows you to reorder your standard grocery order. It’s a time saver and time cruncher. Forgot Something? Edit your cart even after placing your order! Orders can be updated until our team starts shopping your order. (You can check the progress of your order on your account.) Shop By Recipe If you can’t decide what to make for supper, then we have over 100 recipes to choose from – you’ll definitely find something the whole family will love. Save Items to Favorites Allows for easy access to your favorite products. Shop and Scan Scan items in your home and quickly
add them to your cart. Just think, you and your phone walking around your kitchen scanning your cabinets. Like seriously, how much fun is that? We deliver daily to Philadelphia, Merion, Center City, Cherry Hill, Bucks County, Bensalem, Southampton, Elkins Park, Delaware and beyond. We are gearing up for a Chanukah like never before. We’re bringing back our gourmet House-made donuts, adding festive dishes to our menu, and, of course, knocking it out of the park with the cutest Chanukah games, projects, menorah sets, and decorations. You can see our Chanukah menu on page 3 of this week’s Jewish Link. Of course, while we love knowing that you have our easy and accessible app to get in all your shopping, we would love to catch up with you, meet new faces, and get to know the personalities behind our customers. So, use our app and just pop in from time to time so we can have a real chat. You can download our free House of Kosher app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or shop online at houseofkosher.com. Catch us on our next adventure, because, like we say, there is always something special going on at HOK. P.S. Stay tuned for our bakery coming soon!
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
35
FOOD & DINING
The Miracle of Oil By Jonathan Chodosh
O
n Chanukah as the days grow shorter and the cold becomes bitter, Jews across the world will light up the night and expand their waistlines. This time of year the culprit is oil and the gluttonous endeavor is frying. There are many ways to fry: pan fry, deep fry, oven fry and air fry. Let’s delve into how and why frying foods makes them so tasty. Excuse me while I get scientific. When something is fried, there are an enormous number of variables to consider. Oil type, heat, cooking time, coating, and lastly, the choice of food. Soaking in water and blanching are special steps used to make french fries. Let’s examine each item on this list more closely. Why is this oil different from every other oil? Oil is 100% fat. All oils are, and there are no exceptions, sorry. It is sugar-free, carb-free and most importantly contains no water. This is important! Oil can reach temperatures higher than water. Keep going too far and the oil will burn. When you fry something the exterior of the food is cooked in a dry heat environment. All the water on the surface of the food will boil off and what is left is hopefully a goldenbrown jewel. If a drop of water gets into your hot oil it will pop and splatter. This misstep is the cause of many a kitchen burn. The oil of preference for most commercial applications is soybean (also known as vegetable oil) and/or canola oil. These oils have a neutral flavor and won’t go rancid too quickly for frying. Peanut oil (allergen) is excellent for frying and tends to give food a crispier texture. Corn oil, palm kernel oil, cotton seed oil, low quality olive oil, beef fat, duck fat, and clarified butter are traditionally used for frying purposes. Do not use toasted sesame or extra virgin olive oil for frying. They contain impurities that taste great when raw or slightly heated but will burn and give your food an unpleasant flavor if cooked at a high temperature. Having the oil/pan/oven preheated to the proper temperature is very important. Proper heat management is needed to maintain the frying temperature. In the oven it is easy, while cooking on the stove can be a bit trickier. You can test your oil by using a thermometer or use a less precise method of gently dropping in a small bit of what you are frying. Look for the bubbles and sizzle you expect. If you see it start to burn immediately, you’re pan is too hot. If it doesn’t do anything you’re pan is way too cold.
36
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
Maintaining the proper heat level throughout the cooking process is important too. You want to keep a constant sizzle and bubbling in your fryer/pan. If it gets too hot, the food will burn. If it gets too low, the food will be soggy with oil. It is a popular food myth that frying food too low will lead to more oil being absorbed by the food. This has yet to be verified. Time is completely variable to what is being cooked. Fried chicken can take up to half an hour where tortilla chips are done in about 10 seconds. A good rule to follow is the larger the pieces are the longer they need to cook using a slightly lower temperature. A batter coating or breading is used for many fried foods. Most cultures have their coating of choice. Batter up? Which do you prefer? Below you will find a standard three stage breading recipe.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES FOR FRENCH FRIES Fresh cut potatoes turn brown quickly. One way to avoid this is to place the cut potatoes in a bowl of water. This will remove the surface starch and prevent the potatoes exposure to oxygen which causes the browning. Removing this starch should bring crispier results too. Blanching is a method used to make french fries. They are fried twice. The first time is called the ‘blanche’ and the second time is the ‘fry.’ Blanching cooks the fries through but the texture will still be lacking. Drain and slightly cool the fries while the oil is reheated for the next round. The second fry makes them crispy, golden and delicious. Season after removing from the second fryer. Eight nights, eight lights, and eight ways of frying food. Today we try to limit our exposure to such things. So, oven frying and air frying are some of the newest frying innovations. They are both pretty much the same thing. I highly recommend coating the food to be oven or air fried with some oil to replicate the oil on the surface of fried foods. The air is much less dense than oil and therefore a less effective conductor of heat into the food. Compensate for that by using the oven on convection mode at a very high temperature.
LATKES 5 pounds golden potato, washed 1 pound onion, peeled 6 eggs 1 tbsp. salt ¼ cup flour or cornstarch oil for pan frying Make the batter first. Use the S blade in your food processor to puree everything but the potatoes in the food processor. Add one potato and continue to puree.
Yes, you read that right – only one. Move that to your work bowl. Then shred the remaining potatoes and put them directly into the batter as fast as possible. Having the batter ready prevents overexposing the shredded potatoes to air and having them brown. Heat sauté pan (straight sides) with at least ¼ inch of oil to frying temperature. Shape your latkes with your hands. Try to make them equal thickness so they will finish cooking at the same time. Frying in a rush? You can also fry the long-short way. Fry the latkes until the form sets but the potatoes are still raw and finish baking in the oven.
• malt vinegar (or condiment of your choice) • oil for deep frying (peanut recommended) Drain and thoroughly dry potatoes. Preheat oil and as it is heating drop in a single fry. When it starts to ‘dance’ it is ready to fry. This is a lower temperature than most other deep-fried foods. When dropping the fries move your hand over the oil and away from your body in one fluid motion. This motion will make any oil splatters occur away from the cook. Remove fries and allow oil to reheat for approximately two minutes to refry in medium high heat. Gently fry the french fries until they are golden and delicious. When a cool food is dropped into a deep fryer, oil temperature will drop like water cooling from an ice cube. Increase the heat for a few minutes to help the oil rebound back to the proper temperature. Hope this article clari-FRIES some of the misconceptions and fears about frying in oil. Wishing the entire Philly community a joyful and plate-ful Chanukah. B’teavon! Do you have a food-related question that you’d love to have answered by an expert? Email me at jonathan@teavonfood.com and your query may appear in the next issue of the Philadelphia Jewish Link. 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.
THREE STAGE BREADING FOR CHICKEN 2 lbs. chicken breast, thin cut or in nuggets 1.5 cups flour 3 eggs ¼ cup water 1 tbsp. salt 3 cups breadcrumbs herbs and spices (to your taste) Make three breading (stage) dishes. In the first goes the flour. In the second the eggs, water and salt. In the third goes the breadcrumbs. Season the eggs since it is the easiest to disperse the salt and herbs into. The flour absorbs the egg which allows the most breadcrumbs to stick. Pan, oven or deep fry until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
HAND CUT FRIES • russet potatoes (washed, cut and soaked) • salt December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
FUN CORNER 12. Professional fighter
over Passover
13. David took this from Goliath
39. Poker holding
18. See 16-Across
40. Jr. preceder
22. ___-mentioned
45. Episode where Yoda fights The Em-
23. Jewish org. with a camp for children
peror
with special needs
46. Observed Yom Kippur, in a way
24. Powerful volleyball shot
47. Chalav’s partner, in Israel
25. Killer whales
48. Put on television
26. Former NBA star Nash
49. Big name in glue
27. Letters for Concorde crafts
50. They’re often sold by the dozen
28. Where Samson slew Philistines
51. Andean tuber
29. Seaside hotels might charge more for
54. Wiesel with a Nobel
rooms that have these
55. “Go ___ Watchman”
32. Animal Rebecca gave water to
56. Conveyance on a track
33. Occupied
58. Level below the majors
34. “What?” in Yiddish
59. Completed (like a puzzle)
36. Kaepernick taking one was contro-
60. Surgeon’s org.
versial
61. Modern TV feature, for short
37. Some Jews tend to eat more of them
Answers on page 43
YONI GLATT’S
CHANUKAH STAR* A HOLIDAY CLASSIC By Yoni Glatt koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Easy
ACROSS 1. One way to improve vision 6. Football commentator Rashad 11. Network that aired “Downton Abbey” in the US 14. One from Muscat 15. Swirly Jewish cake 16. Use an 18-Down 17. He was Spartacus 19. Losing tic-tac-toe line 20. Roth or Gershwin 21. Kate or Rooney 22. It’s counted in Judaism 23. He was Jones and Ryan 27. Long time Jazz coach Jerry 30. A Marvel Chris 31. Clock ticks: abbr. 32. Some Hondas 35. 1950’s nickname of a president 38. Holiday classic first played live on December 3, 1994 that mentions 17, 23, and 47-Across 41. Singer known for covering her face with wigs 42. Makes happy 43. An abbreviated blood type or word December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
with “Shabbat” 44. Numbers to dress to 46. Notre Dame has several of these nooks 47. Van Halen man 52. Henry known for having multiple wives 53. Meshuga, to Carlos 54. Winter setting in NYC 57. “Woe unto us! For we ___ spoiled” (Jer. 4:13) 58. Singer-songwriter of 38-Across 62. Do some stitching 63. “Voices Carry” singer Mann 64. Perón of note 65. Most TVs, now 66. Some years have two on the calendar 67. Something for Joseph or Daniel to interpret
Try to find the name of the famous Jew whose name is scrambled in the chanukiyah. He/she may be alive or dead. Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. For bonus fun try to find additional words using the K that are 6 letters or longer. Score 1 point for each answer, and 3 points for the star. You may reuse letters. *The “Jewish Star” will return after Kislev. Rating: 8=Good; 12= Excellent; 17= Genius
DOWN 1. Trickster from Asgard 2. A main character on “Srugim” 3. Lee or Netanyahu 4. Pen output 5. “Australia” star Nicole 6. He killed A. Hamilton 7. One of the twelve minor prophets 8. Org. that recently had celebrating Nats 9. Alias letters 10. Prosecuting attys. 11. They might increase sales or be the result of increased sales
See answers on page 43
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
37
SCHOOLS ABRAMS HEBREW ACADEMY The 4th, 7th, and 8th grade classes visited the NJ State Museum and their Planetarium. The 4th grade classes watched a show about the Earth, Moon and Sun, and our 7th and 8th graders learned about NASA and the obstacles to landing on the moon. There were also able to visit an exhibit to explore the geology of New Jersey. A highlight of the trip was touring the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ which was built in 1758. During the American Revolution, George Washington crossed the Delaware River at Trenton to catch the Hessian soldiers and it was also used as a military hospital. The students had a guided tour led by
historical interpreters and who brought to life the social studies curriculum that the students are learning in class.
JACK M. BARRACK HEBREW ACADEMY 11th graders at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy just returned from their semester abroad in Israel, where they took part in the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program. They returned to the U.S. and are back in school with their classmates for Trimester 2.
THE MESIVTA HIGH SCHOOL OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA S tudents hel ped prepare EITC thank you letters for the Jewish Scholarship, LLC as an expression of their gratitude for the EITC donations that serve such a critical role for our schools.
KOHELET YESHIVA MIDDLE SCHOOL (KYMS)
POLITZ DAY SCHOOL OF CHERRY HILL KYMS and KYLS students davening together in the new Middle School Beit Midrash.
Students and parents enjoyed the “Pre-Chanukah Family Fun Day,” which was presented by the Kohelet PTSO and featured food, music, crafts, learning, and chesed opportunities.
38
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
KYMS students enjoying learning about science.
Mazal tov to the 5th Grade boys who celebrated the start of their learning Gemara with a special breakfast with their parents and teachers! December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
SCHOOLS POLITZ HEBREW ACADEMY At Politz Hebrew Academy, we thank Hashem for the ability to learn Torah every day. On Thanksgiving, which coincided with Rosh Chodesh Kislev, Politz Hebrew Academy had its very special Annual Thanksgiving program. Over 140 boys attended this annual event. Treats were given to all who attended. The esteemed Rabbi Kaplan spoke to the 7th and 8th grades relating sto-
ries of Gedolim of yesteryear. Grades 1st through 3rd attended a Rosh Chodesh assembly. Following these programs, Politz had its Annual Thanksgiving Raffle. Two large volumes of Rashi Kipshuto, a soccer ball, and many free Slurpie coupons were raffled off. There were smiles on everyone’s faces by the end of the day.
CASKEY TORAH ACADEMY (CTA) CTA Fifth Graders and their parents had an evening filled with hands-on, authentic learning at “Move Up Night” as they experienced a taste of Middle School education and ruach.
PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
Students had a busy week in their Landau Family Makerspaces and spent a great deal of time engaged in coding and inventions.
Students prepared for Shabbat at the Forman Center.
KOHELET YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL (KYHS)
Students engaged in learning during their Limudei Kodesh classes. December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
10th grade boys volunteered to help clean up the Cynwyd Trail together with Dr. Jeremy Sullivan, the Director of General Studies.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
39
SCHOOLS KOHELET YESHIVA LAB SCHOOL (KYLS)
CHEDER CHABAD
KYLS students gave thanks to the school staff before Thanksgiving.
SP
CONGREGATION BETH SOLOMON PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
RTS
Kohelet Kings Win Two Games In As Many Days By PJL Staff
T
he Kohelet Yeshiva High School boys basketball team played host to New Foundations Charter School (NFCS) on Tuesday, December 3. After quickly falling behind 8-1, junior guard Isaac Melman hit two free throws followed by a 3-pointer, and senior guard Shmuel Zvi drove to the hoop and laid it in to tie the game at 8 with 1:40 left in the first quarter. Melman finished a fast break with a nice lefty layup to give the Kings a 10-8 lead after one period. The second quarter belonged to Kohelet, as the Kings defense shut down NFCS. After junior center Doron Sanker took a nice pass from senior point guard Noam Troodler and converted the layup to make it 1310, Melman hit another 3-pointer, junior Solomon Feldman hit a jumper from the right baseline, and senior guard Eric Dolitsky nailed a 3-pointer to make it a 21-10 game. Shortly before halftime, Melman and Zvi each converted on a fast break, giving Kohelet a 25-13 lead at the midway point.
40
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
Dolitsky opened the second half scoring for the Kings with a fast break and he was the beneficiary of a spectacular behind-the-back pass from Troodler, which he laid in for another 2. Junior Ori Bach had a put back to make it 31-17, and after Troodler knifed through the lane for 2 and junior Jeremiah Wallace finished on a fast break, Kohelet had a 35-26 lead. After Melman hit two free throws, he promptly stole the ball from NFCS and converted a fast break layup to give Kohelet a 45-31 lead after three periods. However, NFCS made it interesting in the fourth quarter. After hitting some free throws and making several quick baskets, they cut Kohelet’s lead to 47-42. Dolitsky
responded by hitting two free throws, finishing a nice move at the rim and then hitting another free throw to make it 5142. After NFCS hit one of two free throws to cut the King’s lead to eight with 2:40 left in the game, Bach scored for Kohelet. Troodler then drove down the lane and finished at the rim while being fouled, giving the Kings a 56-44 lead. When the final buzzer sounded, Kohelet had a 60-46 victory over NFCS. Melman led the Kings with 17 points, Dolitsky had 13, Troodler added 7 and Bach contributed 6. Less than 24 hours later, the Kings traveled to Pine Forge, PA to take on Pine Forge Academy (PFA). Kohelet jumped out to an early lead, finishing the first quarter up 12-5. PFA roared back in the second quarter, and Kohelet went into the locker room at halftime clinging to a 19-16 lead. After a solid third quarter in which they extended their lead to ten, the Kings dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring PFA by 20-3, and they walked away with a 52-25 victory. Noam Troodler led Kohelet with 15 points, Shmuel Zvi had 12 and Eric Dolitsky added 10.
MESIVTA YESODEI YISROEL OF ELKINS PARK
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
SP
RTS
Mesivta Mustangs Maintain Momentum By Yosef Niknam
O
n Tuesday December 3, the Mesivta Mustangs took a short ride to Friends’ Central School (FCS) for their second game of the season. While Mesivta and Friends’ Central play each other once every season, the relationship between the two schools runs a little deeper. This is because many Mesivta teachers (including former General Studies Principal and current English teacher, Mr. Raymond DeSabato) began their teaching careers at FCS. In fact, Mr. D. (as he is referred to by his students) consistently makes an appearance at this annual matchup. When asked which team he roots for, Mr. D. responded saying, “my loyalties are here, at The Mesivta.” Unfortunately, Mr. D. was unable to make it to Tuesday’s game due to a scheduling conflict. However, his absence was made up for by the return of senior Noah Mogyoros to the starting lineup for his first game of the season.
The first quarter saw the Mustangs pull ahead with a modest five-point lead. Leading the attack once again was junior Bennett Stein, who would finish the game with 16 points (FG: 47%). In addition to his exceptional scoring, Stein’s suffocating defense was nothing to scoff at, as within the first quarter he had four steals, and would finish the game with six overall. However, the Mustangs were not in the clear yet. In the first quarter, Mogyoros received two questionable fouls, forcing Rabbi Gershon Schwartz (Varsity Basketball Coach and Dean of Students) to bench him for the remainder of the first half. With Mogyoros on the bench, FCS looked to climb back into the game in the second quarter. A grueling defensive match ensued, with neither team able to build momentum. As time began to expire in the first half, FCS hit two three-pointers to cut the lead down to just three points going into halftime.
Having spent the majority of the first half on the bench, Mogyoros was determined to make sure his first game as a senior would go as planned by playing his best in the second half. He did exactly that, scoring 11 points in the third quarter, and a total of 17 for the game. Led by Mogyoros’ prolific scoring, the Mustangs headed into the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead. Despite their third quarter success, the Mustangs’ momentum began to slow in the fourth quarter. After making a plethora of three pointers, FCS managed to cut the lead down to just six points. However, Mesivta remained steadfast and won the game by a final score of 38-30. Now 2-0 with a tough schedule ahead of them, the question surrounding the Mustangs is whether or not they can keep their momentum going through the long winter. NFL Hall of Famer and former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Roger Staubach, once said, “In any team sport, the best teams have consistency
and chemistry.” Throughout these first two games, the tight-knit Mustangs family has displayed both of these traits, putting them on a promising trajectory for the rest of the season.
Kohelet Girls Take the Court for Their Season Opener By PJL Staff
O
n Tuesday afternoon, December 3, the Kohelet Yeshiva High School girls basketball team squared off against New Foundations Charter School (NFCS) in their season opener. The Kohelet Kings started
off strong, grabbing a 5-4 lead. NFCS then went on a big scoring run and used their stifling defense to keep the Kings at bay. With Kohelet down by 21 against the talented NFCS team, junior Hilla Ben-Shoshan hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 26-8. Down 33-8 at halftime, Kohelet came out of
the locker room ready to give it their all in the second half. The Kings opened the scoring in the third quarter when senior Jordyn Guritzky hit a shot in the lane while being fouled. Ben-Shoshan
hit another 3-pointer and freshman Barbara Sasson scored in the lane with a little under four minutes left in the period to make it a 37-15 game. Sasson hit two free throws with 2:48 left in the third quarter and the Kings entered the final period down 5017. Ben-Shoshan hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter to make it 52-20. The Kings ended up falling to NFCS by a final score of 64-20. Ben-Shoshan led Kohelet with 12 points, Sasson added 6, and Guritzky chipped in 2.
Philadelphia Fall Flag Football
The Kohelet Yeshiva High Schools’ JV Boys basketball team with their opponents from Rechovot Elitzur at a recent tournament in Flatbush, NY December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
41
HOME
&
LIVING SECTION
Staged Homes Sell Faster Submitted by Israela Haor-Friedman
I
n a survey released this year, the National Association of Realtors found that 83% of buyers’ agents said that staging helps home buyers visualize themselves living in the home and influences them enough to make higher offers. Sellers’ agents report that homes sell faster and for more money. Over half said that staging sells a home faster, and about 22% say offers improve by 5%, while 17% reported improved offers of up to 10%. Two percent say offers increased by over 20 percent – over $50,000 for a median priced home, reports housingwire.com. These are just a few of the advantages to staging your home to sell, but there are
other benefits for home sellers. Staging gives you a deadline. Getting your home ready to sell can seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to list it until it’s complete. Online photos and agent
showings should showcase your home at its best – decluttered, freshly painted and staged with new furniture and accessories. Staging gives you great ideas. You’ll
learn a lot about making rooms flow, creating focal points, improving lighting, and how to use color. Staging helps you decide what to keep or discard. If your furnishings are handme-downs, out-of-date, or not your taste, why take them to your next home? Staging can help you determine what you love so you’ll have far less stuff to move. Ask your Berkshire Hathaway Home Services network professional if staging is part of their service or to recommend a good stager. 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.
Have I Really Bought Only Half an Apartment?!? By Gedaliah Borvick
from the buyer, Yael and David started the process of purchasing the larger apartment. They once again ttorney Shlomi bought an apartment “on paper” Ashkenazi re- and received a mortgage. A few cently shared weeks later, David received a phone with me a distressing call from the buyer of his apartment story of a couple who who informed him that he wanted to bought an apartment “on paper” in a new cancel the deal. The buyer explained project under construction in Jerusalem. that he received initial approval for The couple, let’s call them David and Yael, a mortgage and the bank hired an did not hire an attorney to represent them appraiser to inspect the apartment. and relied on the developer’s lawyer to The appraiser first checked the deed, draft the contract and guide them in the and everything looked kosher, as the transaction. square meterage recorded on the Initially, everything went smoothly. The deed matched the apartment’s acConstruction site in Jerusalem couple moved into the apartment and, tual size. Then the appraiser checked (credit: Gedaliah Borvick) over the next decade, their family grew. the building permit and discovered Twelve years after purchasing the unit, that the apartment was not properly re- units and that the building permit was Yael and David decided to sell their apart- corded on the permit. The unit was ac- never revised. ment and purchase a bigger home to suit tually half of a big apartment that the When information in the deed does not their larger family’s needs. They found developer had illegally divided into two match the building permit, it is difficult to a buyer, agreed on a fair price, and the smaller apartments. The developer never obtain a mortgage. In the best-case sceapartment was sold – or so they thought. informed David and Yael that the apart- nario, a bank would lend the value of the After receiving the first few payments ment was illegally divided into two smaller smaller apartment less the cost to change the building permit. However, sometimes the building permit cannot be altered which makes the property unfinanceable, and this was one such situation. The developer had built the maximum number Please call me and together we can find Ple of apartments permitted and was prohibthe place you’ll love too. ited from creating the additional unit. Accordingly, the building permit could not be modified to reflect the revised apartment count. The lack of a correct building permit Passionate about the place you call home lowers the value of an apartment, as there are significantly less purchasers for a unit that cannot be financed. Unfortunately, as ISRAELA HAOR-FRIEDMAN we learned in Economics 101, decreased Israela.friedman@foxroach.com REALTOR® demand and unchanged supply leads to www.Israelafriedman.foxroach.com 610-649-4500 office 610-730-0731 cell lower prices. A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC This disaster could have been avoided
A
I love Lower Merion & I am a a Proud Resident!
42
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
altogether had David and Yael initially retained their own attorney who had no conflict of interest, as opposed to the developer’s lawyer who represented both parties. In the course of performing due diligence, their lawyer would have checked the building permits and discovered this issue before a contract of sale was executed. It is true that sometimes developers sell apartments prior to receiving the final building permit; in that situation, your lawyer can insert language in the contract to protect your interests and, even more important, will monitor the situation to ensure the final building permit has been received and is correct. The key is to hire an attorney who will guide you and advocate on your behalf should any surprises arise during – and after – the construction process. There are many good places to save money when purchasing a home; not retaining legal counsel is definitely not one of them. As I always say, a good lawyer is worth her weight in gold. Shlomi Ashkenazi is one of the excellent lawyers I recommend to overseas purchasers. If this article inspires any follow-up questions, please contact him at a6744467@gmail.com. This article is meant for informational purposes only. Please contact an attorney should you require legal counsel. Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@myisraelhome.com. December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
HOME
&
LIVING SECTION
Are You Thinking About Downsizing After You Retire? By Anne Goldberg
N
o matter if you’re looking to downsize for yourself, your parents, or grandparents, older homeowners have different needs than others. Family Having relatives close-by grows in importance for many. If family members have moved away from the family home, a relocation could be in order. Or, for those with family nearby, this could simply entail downsizing or rightsizing to a smaller place across town. Roots Many older homeowners choose to stay put because they want to maintain their existing friendships and community connections, meaning home needs may change but the zip code may not.
JEWISH SPELLING BEE ANSWERS (FROM PAGE 43):
Solution to crossword puzzle from page 43: 1
L
2
A
3
S
14
O M A
17
I
K
20
I
R
R
4
I
S
31
S
38
T
28
L
E H
41
I
S
47
D
52
V
57
A
62
S
65
48
D O U G
L
A
S
21
M A N
C H
I
A
33
I
A M U
45
I I
I
I
N D
E L
E
A
63
A
66
A
D I D
R
A
I
C
S
K
A
E
49
E
50
51
R O
R
E S
A
13
S
R O W
19
O
F T
X O R
O R D T 35
I
36
K
37
E
40
S O N G
O N
E G
A
P
E
T
H
S 54
O C O
A M S
M E
B
16
43
S
60
A
H 46
L
59
26
P
S 53
58
25
S O N
V
S
12
O M E
24
34
N U
P
22
30
42
V
S
A
C
39
A
E
R
R R 32
S
I
H D
18
11
D
K
O A
E W
10
A
A
R
9
K
29
N
B
8
H M A B
A
44
15
7
A
H
E
A
I
A
C
6
K
N
23 27
5
E
61
N D
55
S
S 56
T
L
E
R
V
I
T
A
D R
E
A M
64
E
67
Here is a list of some common words (Yes, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are the most common): The Star- MEL BROOKS Other words: BLOKES, BOOKER, BOOKERS, BOOKSELLER, BOOKSELLERS, BROKER, BROKERS, BROOKS, LOOKER, LOOKERS, MEEKER, SEEKER, SEEKERS, SLEEKER, SMOKER, SMOKERS, SMOKES Questions/comments/ compliments- email Yoni at koshercrosswords@gmail.com
Size Some homeowners in larger homes find the time and money necessary for its maintenance to be too much and simply look for a smaller home or a condo/townhouse that doesn’t require the same level of upkeep—or the same square footage.
Finances Many homeowners stay in the same city or state in which they raised their family despite the fact that a change in climate might be inviting. Many retirees examine their financial situation and the tax implications of moving to another state and realize it may not be a wise financial move. Emotions Before moving away from family—and a family home—can succeed, both the owners of the home and their entire family must be able to make an emotional break from the home. This will make the transition for the owners easier and the transaction simpler when all parties realize that the move is a business matter and not about a memory-filled structure that is being “lost.” Give me a call today if you’d like more information about the process of downsizing to a smaller home. The simplicity that a small home or condominium can offer is well worth considering. Anne Goldberg is a Realtor with Keller Williams Main Line Realty. She can be reached at annegoldberg@kw.com or at 973.985.9053.
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? I’d be happy to help. Give me a call!
ANNE GOLDBERG, REALTOR Mobile: 973-985-9053 Office: 610-520-0100
Email: annegoldberg@kw.com Website: annegoldberg.kw.com
Making Realty Dreams Reality
720 W. Lancaster Ave Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Each office is individually owned and operated.
December 12, 2019 / 14 Kislev, 5780
A Anne was extremely helpful throughout the p process of buying our first home. She was rresponsive at all hours to our endless stream of ques ons and guided us through from start to q finish with a steady hand. She found us a home fi tthat both suited our needs and budget.
Philadelphia JEWISH LINK
43
USE YOUR
MILES
ANY WAY YOU WANT
9 We can use your miles to get you
on any flight 9 Your hotel and car rental in Israel 9 A luxurious private villa in
Jerusalem, Miami, the Berkshires, Catskills or Poconos 9 Pay your holiday vacation
package
No travel plans in your future? Call us today to find out the many different ways we can help you maximize your miles & eliminate out-of-pocket expenses.
646.801.PEYD (7393)
www.getpeyd.com | info@getpeyd.com
Join the thousands of satisfied customers in Brooklyn who have trusted PEYD to help navigate the credit card rewards & travel industries.