Koleinu 2nd Edition

INSIDE Of Baseball And Shalom Bayit 2

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What’s In A Name?

By Shmuel Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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WWW.KOLEINU.CO.IL VOLUME I ISSUE 2 Egypt Through My Eyes

A m e m b e r o f t h e 5 To w n s J e w i s h T i m e s F a m i l y o f N e w s p a p e r s 4

Heard In The Bagel Store

By Larry Gordon. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Halachic Musings

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman . . . . . . .

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A Time To Write

By Ben Brafman . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Middle East Wrapup

By Samuel Sokol . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Under The Sun: A Survey Of Bet Shemesh News

By Rabbi Dov Lipman . . . . . . . .

MARCH 1, 2011

SITTING ALONE IN A ROOM

BY SHMUEL KATZ Last week my kids commented to me that we have lived in Israel for 1,700 days.

I did not understand how they could be so exact, until I noticed that morning’s daily newspaper. On the front page was a story marking the 1,700th day of captivity for Gilad Shalit. In actuality, my kids were wrong. We made aliyah on July 6, two weeks following his kidnapping.

Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday, and other times I have a hard time remembering how we lived before we came here. Readers of

Reuters

By Joel Berkowitz . . . . . . . . . . .

E E

my column in our sister paper, the 5 Towns Jewish Times, shared in our trials, small and large, and witnessed our successes and failures (hopefully more of the former than the latter).

Continued on Page 13

FIRST EVER BNEI MENASHE OFFICER IN IDF MAKES HISTORY History was made on last Wednesday, February 16, when Shalem Gin became the first IDF officer from the Bnei Menashe community, who are descended from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Gin received the rank of Second Lieutenant in front of friends and family at a ceremony held at the Bahad 1 military base in the Negev.

Gin, 20, was born in Manipur, a state in northeastern India. He and his family made aliyah to Is-

Photo by Michal Fattal

By Michele Justic . . . . . . . . . . .

rael in 1995. Gin joined the IDF in 2009 and enlisted in the Combat Engineering Corps, where he finished near the top of his class in his commanders’ course.

Continued on Page 7

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Chessed Corner

By Sharon Berkley . . . . . . . . . . 10

Insights On The Torah

By Rabbi Eli Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Why You Made Aliyah

By Shmuel Sackett. . . . . . . . . . 14

Invest In Real Estate Now?

By Aaron Katsman . . . . . . . . . . 15

Associate Editor Larry Gordon and Rabbi SImcha HaKohen Kook in the Churva shul. More on his visit to Israel on page 6.

Shmu’s Shmooze

Kineret water level -213.39m +28cm

The Jerry Meyer Studio

By Shmuel Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

A Baseball Wedding — Page 2

Dear Editor, As we drank our morning tea, we noticed Koleinu on our children’s breakfast table.

It looked familiar, yet not so.

Then we saw your name as editor, and we realized what your new career opportunity was before we even read your announcement. And we get to read Volume 1 Issue 1! What a zechut! Hatzlachah Rabbah and thanks for making us feel at home away from home.

Tzvi and Rachel Roseman Woodmere, NY Dear Editor, I am a blogger on Jewish and Israeli issues for a fairly popular blog called Life in Israel. I read the editorial by Rav Aryeh Ginzberg entitled, “Those Killer Comments.” Many people suspect that Rav Ginzberg really has the goal in mind of stopping the blogging phenomenon, and uses the phenomenon of nasty anonymous comments as a tool to that end.

I don’t know if that is his goal or not, though I would not be surprised if it is, as many in the mainstream have gone on the attack against blogs. The blog is the first open forum that provides people the ability to publicize their views, to question the standard accepted authority, and to want to understand more. The existence of the blog means no more taking everything the way it is fed to us by the askanim. If his goal is to shut down all blogs, under the guise of lashon ha’ra, I disagree with his goal. Blogs are here to stay, and his efforts would be better served in trying to shape the blogs into responsible mediums of conversation rather than banging his head against a wall to try to get them to disappear.

However, despite my disagreement with that goal, I do agree that he makes a good point. People do hide behind

Continued on Page 14

Of Baseball And Shalom Bayit The Jerry Meyer Studio The Jerry Meyer Studio

Sports fans: perhaps you’ve considered taking a date to a ballgame. But have you considered getting married there? Shelli Hoffman of New Rochelle, 23, and Chaim Sussman of Teaneck, 31, held their wedding at the Queens home of the NY Mets on Feb-

the first kosher wedding at Citi Field.

“We were looking at different halls online, and Shelli mentioned that Terrace on the Park overlooks Shea,” Sussman told the NJ Jewish Standard, using the old name for the stadium.

ruary 13, 2011. Though other couples have gotten married there, and other kosher events have been held there, the Hoffman-Sussman wedding was

“As a joke, I said, ‘Why don’t we just look into Citi Field?’ She filled out the application, and they actually got back to us. Then we went for a walk-

through and fell in love with the idea.”

Heather Collamore, director of Metropolitan Hospitality, the management company for events, told the Standard that her staff had researched Orthodox weddings and met three times with the couple. As a result, “everything was spot-on per tradition. We had great reactions, and people came up and asked for information, so hopefully we’ll be having more Jewish weddings here. One of the most fun parts of my job is that I get to see people’s vision for their big day come to life.” The venue is de-

five months later. Their attraction to the Mets has a longer history.

Chaim’s dates back to the 80s when stars such as “Doc” Gooden helped win the World Series; Shelly’s to the later 80s and favors players John Olerud and Robin Ventura.

Everyone got into the swing of things for this wedding. Mr. Met, the mascot, danced the horah. The rabbi’s speech was laced with sports references. And the photographer, Jason Meyer of the Jerry Meyer Studio in Cedarhurst, was excited to be at this dream wedding.

scribed as “deliver[ing] warmth, intimacy, and modern amenities to enhance your guests’ experience…. Your guests will be awed by the inspiring designs of the modern event spaces, world-class cuisine, and five-star service. Citi Field has over 200,000 square feet of hospitality space…”

According to the Edgewater View, 400 friends and relatives gathered together for the Od Yishama song and some kosher caviar in the Delta Sky360 Club directly behind home plate. The reception was held in the Caesars Club atop the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

Chaim met Shelly in June through a friend. He proposed at Disneyland

Jason explained that “though new venues can always be difficult, I was really excited at this prospect since I’m a Mets fan.” To gain familiarity with the new setting, he did a walkthrough and planned out where to photograph. He achieved some magnificent results at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the press conference room, in the stands, the tunnels, and by the home run apple.

These two lovestruck teachers had quite a bit of excitement despite their self described “conservative” disposition. As they learn that happy marriages don’t have scorecards or strikeouts, they can focus on building a bayit ne’eman biYisrael.

The Jerry Meyer Studio

BY MICHELE JUSTIC

‫קולינו‬

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March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

What’s In A Name?

BY SHMUEL KATZ I am sure you are wondering why the front page of this edition is so different from the front page of our first edition. What is the deal with the name?

Opening any new business is a major undertaking. There are so many different factors to consider and

can public school system, KULANU is truly an inclusive organization that strives to represent their entire community, no matter what their background or the level of stringency of their religious observance.

The word Kulanu led me to the word Koleinu. We viewed Koleinu as meaning a unified voice, or perhaps more literally, the voice of us all. A

The first draft of our logo, with our original name

each one has to be carefully weighed against the whole, in order to make sure that you are putting your best foot forward. Especially in taking your first steps.

One of the most important factors in starting a business, especially one like ours in media, is choosing the right name. Unless you name the business after yourself, as in Yossi Cohen Plumbing, the name of the business tells a lot about what you do and who you are. It is your brand.

The Paper Place is either the place to buy disposable plates and cutlery or an office supply store and Mike’s Cell Phone is … well, you get the point.

So, when Larry Gordon and I first discussed putting this newspaper together, one of the first things we discussed was a name for the paper.

After considering several different ideas, all of which were rejected for one reason or another, I began to get frustrated. I wanted to think of something that was inclusive of all the different cities we wished to cover, a concept that in a simple way would

single standard bearer that presented news and information important to each of us, even if we might not agree with the conclusion of the writer. We wanted to present the information in a way more representative of the

052.952.7500 editor@koleinu.co.il Published by: Shmu Media, Ltd. Editor: Shmuel Katz Associate Editor: Larry Gordon Managing Editor: Goldie Katz News Director: Samuel Sokol Copy Editor: Michele Justic

THE

Copy Editor: Shmuel Gerber Contributing Editors: Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Aron Katsman, Rabbi Dov Lipman Staff Photographer: Yissachar Ruas

The logo we used in our inaugural edition

community papers we all were familiar with in our countries of birth. We thought the name Koleinu encapsu-

This second version of the logo featured both a sharper graphic image as well as a more literal translation of the Hebrew version of our name

communicate the fact that while we may live in different cities, we share a similar background and have a lot of the same mindsets and (unfortunately) prejudices.

I was reminded of an organization in New York named KULANU. This organization runs school programs for children who for whatever reason cannot attend mainstream yeshivot.

In order to provide an environment that is nurturing for them without their having to enroll in the Ameri-

concept of a singular vision, one that speaks to each of its readers. This is how we came up with “The Voice.”

While it is true that we took a little liberty in translation, we tried to remain loyal to what we viewed as our brand. Sometimes, we can outthink ourselves. One of the comments I have heard the most over the past couple of weeks is that the word Koleinu does not actually translate into “The Voice.”

No matter how we try to explain it, the simple concept that we tried to capture gets lost in the translation. Since we are a publication that actively solicits reader submissions and input for publication, we decided to listen to the readers and do away with our inaccurate translated English version of our name.

Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as just changing the name on the front of the paper and using a different one

The Voice ‫קולינו‬

lated an inclusive sense of togetherness for all English-speakers, wherever they happen to call home.

Of course, as a newspaper written almost entirely in English, we felt that we needed to have an English component to the name, one that encompassed the ideal we were trying to convey with our Hebrew name.

We struggled with different permutations of the English version (as you can see by some of the different logos we created), trying to present our

going forward (the newspaper is legally owned by a corporation, which is keeping its name regardless, so we are only talking about the name of the actual publication). We had to register the name of the publication with the government and were issued a license to publish under that name.

As I am sure you know, anything involving the government has the potential to take quite some time. So, even though we have decided to change our name, we will still officially keep our old name (as you can see in our masthead) until we get approval from the appropriate authorities to make a change.

Interestingly, you can be a part of this change. Since we are in the midst of identifying exactly what we need to do to effect a name change, we probably have a week or two (at a minimum) before we will know exactly what papers we need to submit.

Until then, we invite you to help us out. If you have an idea for the English name of our paper, please send an e-mail to editor@koleinu.co.il. We will definitely share the best suggestions with you.

News Intern: Zahava Pinsker Design by Design-ER Printing: Graphoprint, Tel Yitzhak DISCLAIMER: The Voice | ‫ קולינו‬is an independent newspaper owned and operated by Shmu Media, Ltd. Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. Opinions expressed by the advertisers are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher, or owner. We are not responsible for the hashgachah or kashrut of any product or establishment advertised or featured in the newspaper. All submissions are property of the newspaper.

The editor reserves the right to reject any submissions for publication and/or advertisements, at his discretion. We are not responsible for any typographical errors or omissions or the content of any advertisements or submissions.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

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Egypt Through My Eyes

Joel Berkowitz

For the past 25 years, I have photographed historic synagogues in over 50 countries. I am a professional photographer by trade and also teach a course in Jewish history at Rambam Mesivta in the Five Towns. Experience has taught me that in order to photograph historic synagogues in exotic places, it is imperative to plan far in advance of one’s trip. This January, I returned from Egypt after photographing four very famous synagogues. My planning began in August of last year.

ry and the various layers of bureaucracy. It took two months to find the people I felt were competent to meet my specific needs.

The hardest part in my preparation was making contact with the Jewish communities in Alexandria and Cairo as well as the Israeli embassy in Cairo and the Israeli consulate in Alexandria. Strangely, all my letters went unanswered. Without the approval of the Jewish community, I knew I would have difficulty in photographing these historic buildings.

When I began teaching my class in Jewish history at Rambam Mesivta this

Joel Berkowitz

BY JOEL BERKOWITZ

Cairo’s main synagogue, built c. 1905, was slightly vandalized recently.

Local residents chased away the vandals and saved the synagogue from major harm.

male. Ambassador Levanon had set up an appointment for me with Carmen Weinstein, the president of Cairo’s small Jewish community. Ms. Weinstein is fiercely loyal to both her Egyptian heritage and her role as a guardian of the Jewish historic sites. On the wall behind her desk there are large portraits of both Anwar Sadat and Hos-

Joel Berkowitz

uled to depart on January 5, and as of mid-December the Jewish community in Egypt had not yet responded to any of my inquiries. It looked as if I was about to have a major problem on my hands.

Rabbi Eliach called a contact of his in the Israeli government, and finally, on the morning of my departure, I

The Rambam used the well visible in the rear left corner. Sick people would spend time here, up until 1948, hoping to be cured of their ailments. In 1948, the Egyptian government forbade any further use of this room as a place of healing.

Joel Berkowitz

Initially, I wrote a letter to the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, requesting authorization to photograph three synagogues in Cairo and one in Alexandria.

Synagogues and churches in Egypt are under the jurisdiction and protection of the Ministry of Culture, Supreme Council of Antiquities. Dr. Hawass graciously approved my request.

The Jewish sites in Egypt are valued historic venues that the government considers part of its national heritage. Photography of these buildings is strictly forbidden, whether from the street or inside the sanctuary. (Heavily armed officers patrolled the streets in front of every shul I visited. The officers were highly professional and made a point The famous Geniza was discovered here in 1897. The of evaluating anyone who current building dates to 1892. The foundation of this approached the building.) building may date to 1039.

The next step was to obtain a qualified driver and guide who past September, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, could negotiate the terrain and act as the principal, immediately offered to an intermediary with the local citizen- help me if the need arose. I was sched-

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March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

The Maimoun Synagogue, last restored in 2010. Originally a synagogue was on this site in the 12th century, and a larger one was built on the same site in the 19th century.

received an e-mail from Yitzhak Levanon, the Israeli ambassador in Cairo.

The ambassador asked that I call him as soon as I landed in Cairo. Ambassador Levanon had arranged to have me meet with the representatives of the Jewish community. Finally, and just in the nick of time, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. I could finally relax and enjoy my trip back to Mitzrayim.

I rarely travel alone, and on this trip my wife Linda and daughter Lisa accompanied me. In Cairo we were met by a very dear family friend, Rachelle Feigenblum, who also shared in our adventure.

As recently as 1947, the Jews in Cairo numbered 41,860; now there are approximately 80, mostly elderly and fe-

ni Mubarak. After I was interviewed by Ms. Weinstein, permission was granted to photograph three of Cairo’s synagogues. Additionally, Ms. Weinstein made contact with the president of Alexandria’s Jewish community, Yusuf Gaon, and arrangements were made enabling me to photograph Alexandria’s remaining synagogue.

During the eight days that I spent in Egypt, I saw no indications that there was a sense of unrest among the people. In fact, the Egyptians we came into contact with were warm and friendly. They appeared to like America and Americans and had no problem with my being Jewish. In retrospect, the only sign of impending trouble was a remark made to me by

were permitted full access to the shul.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue (built c. 1836) is situated within a complex of buildings housing the community office, a day school that is no longer in use, and a beautiful synagogue that can seat at least 600 people. Mr. Gaon, the president of the community, informed us there are only 20 Jews remaining in Alexandria (17 women and 3 men).

Joel Berkowitz

Joel Berkowitz

bam is affectionately known as “Maimonides the Egyptian.”

The most beautiful of Cairo’s synagogues is the Ben Ezra, where the famous geniza Solomon Schechter discovered in 1897 is located. According to the tradition of the Jews of Egypt, this synagogue is located on the spot on the Nile that infant Moshe was found

by Pharaoh’s daughter. The current

The original “Rambam yeshiva,” 12th century.

Ambassador Levanon over the phone.

The ambassador cryptically said he could not talk to me about certain things and then proceeded to give me his personal cell-phone number with pointed instructions that I was to immediately call him, even on Shabbat, if the need arose.

The shuls of Cairo. The first synagogue we went to was the art nouveau Shaar Hashamayim, built c. 1905. Even though the officers guarding the shul knew we were coming, they carefully checked our passports and inspected Dr. Hawass’s letter of authorization. After the formalities were completed, we were treated as VIPs. This synagogue once served as the base of operations

for the chief rabbi of Cairo and is currently the only one in Cairo regularly opened for prayer. It is a beautiful, imposing structure.

My favorite synagogue was the recently restored Moshe ben Maimon Synagogue. It is neither large nor grand, but it had a special attraction for me. Incidentally, Dr. Hawass was instrumental in overseeing the restoration of this shul. It was in this synagogue that the Rambam davened after his appointment as leader of the Jewish community of Fostat in 1177. It was also here that the Rambam maintained a yeshiva as well as a medical clinic that ministered to patients, both Jew and gentile. To the Egyptians, the Ram-

Eliyahu HaNavi Synagogue in Alexandria, built in 1836.

foundation of the synagogue may date to 1039. The interior, which was recently restored, was erected in 1892. Behind the synagogue is an ancient mikveh.

Alexandria. As in Cairo, after first being vetted by the police guarding Alexandria’s remaining synagogue, we

The recent events in Egypt have made me feel very sad. I can only hope and pray that others will be able to follow in my footsteps and visit this extraordinary community and explore the remaining historic synagogues of Egypt.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

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A JERUSALEM CROWD Heard In The Bagel Store Everywhere there seemed to be large assemblages of people, regardless of where we went and what we did. Maybe it was so crowded in these places because that’s what we were looking for— a place where the multitudes of people were concentrated.

It was erev Shabbos in Jerusalem. It’s the time of the week when everything is calibrated up several notches as the clock ticks and the sacred Shabbos looms in the Holy City. In reality, the special heartbeat that arrives with Shabbos can already be felt on Thursday evening. It’s just that the entire Friday seems to be one very long last minute of preparation time, so to speak, as Israel heads into and counts down to Shabbos.

We started out the day on Rechov Malchei Yisrael, where the palpability of Shabbos, in addition to being felt, can also very much be seen and heard. The men and women crowding the stores in preparation for Shabbos seem to possess an added air of earnestness to whatever it is they are doing. Usually whatever that is involves food for Shabbos.

We walked down the streets on an unusually warm springlike day, perusing the activity in the stores and on occasion stopping in to pick up some items for

fresh-out-of-the-oven and irresistible rugalech, the level of intensity of the rush of the masses is probably greater in one particular place. And that store is the one with the fish, meats, kugels, dips, and other take-out foods.

In all fairness to the rugalech people, the Shabbos take-out store is smaller than the baked-goods shop, so it seems busier and more crowded. This place probably could use a much larger kitchen to feature the menu that it does, while in the other place the baking is right out there in the open and to an extent part of the show.

While Shabbos in Eretz Yisrael is relatively quiet, with dramatically less traffic on the roadways and mass transit coming to a complete halt, those moments of revved-up preparatory intensity leading up to the arrival of Shabbos seem to crescendo until just before the serenity of Shabbos smoothly flows in.

While we could not be in both places at once, there is no doubt that the shops

Shabbos for ourselves. Even though it is only 11 a.m., it seems that the young man who digs the popcorn out of the popcorn maker does so with a different type of intensity and even a solemnity as he fills those large plastic bags l’kavod Shabbos.

In the store that makes those always delectable chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and other assorted varieties of rugalech as well as challahs of all shapes and styles, there is a frenzied scurrying about that is only present in part because the baked goods are so fresh and mouthwatering. The hustle and bustle as those bags are filled with cakes is really about the imminent arrival of Shabbos.

These streets of Geulah and Meah Shearim are no place to be found dawdling or standing still, unless you don’t mind being bumped into and involuntarily moved from side to side. But even compared with the shop that sells the

in Geulah are shutting down so that the business owners can get ready for Shabbos just as the very loud crush can begin in another traditional pre-Shabbos venue. And that is at the Machaneh Yehudah market at the top of Rechov Agrippas Hamelech in the center of Jerusalem.

Here, at about two hours prior to Shabbos, we are witness to an old-fashioned open-air Middle East market at its best.

The vendors are doing their utmost to move their product before the z’man, the time for candle lighting, arrives. Some of the stuff will be able to survive Shabbos packed away in freezers. But a good deal of the other products, like the fruits and the vegetables, will have to be sold in the next two hours, given away, or disposed of.

As we made our way to the exit toward the end of this pre-Shabbos jaunt, I heard one vendor shouting at his loudest that a kilo of succulent freshly picked grapes

BY LARRY GORDON

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March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

could now be bought for only three shekel—that’s less than a dollar.

The maddening crush of the people in here, the loudness of the noise from all the talking on top of the vendors’ shouting and the otherwise calm movement of thousands of people in a relatively narrow space, has to be one of the miracles of erev Shabbos in Jerusalem.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this exercise is being in a position to engage in impulse buying. At the end of the day, you end up with so much stuff that, once displaying and surveying what you’ve purchased, you cannot fathom why, or what you are going to do with all those things. Some of our pre-Shabbos inventory ended up being two kinds of pistachio nuts, dried apricots, candy, more candy, and strawberries so large and red that one could be convinced that he was looking at them under a magnifying glass.

But soon it is back to where we were staying for Shabbos, as we placed things where they belonged and prepared ourselves for what would be the largest crowd of the day by far. That would be Kabbalas Shabbos at the Western Wall.

Our routine includes taking a taxi to the Kotel about a half hour prior to Shabbos so that we only have to walk one way—that is, back home. I placed 30 shekel in my suit jacket pocket, then went outside to wave down a cab. Most scooted by, either filled with passengers or just in a rush themselves to get home for Shabbos.

Finally one picked us up and I immediately told the driver we were headed for the Kotel. He said that it would be 45 shekel. I told him that I only had 30 and that this was the average price that I pay whenever I go to the Old City.

He said something about it being erev Shabbos and the price of fuel. I wasn’t going to get out of the taxi, not at that hour, so I offered him my phone number and address and asked him to come by after Shabbos and I would give him the additional 15 Shekel. He didn’t like that idea, and as I was suggesting it I didn’t think it was such a practical idea either.

He was driving, and then I finally said to him to just take us as far as 30 shekel would allow him in good conscience to go.

You have to understand that he never put the meter on, and I knew from experience just the day before that 30 shekel can take you right up to the stones of the Wall. He said that for 30 shekel he would take us to the Jaffa Gate. I had no choice; I had to take the deal.

And in my estimation it was a good deal, because there is nothing else in life—as far as I am concerned—like Friday night at the Kotel. And what a crowd there was on this night as the sun dipped into the horizon and the moon rose above the distant hills, for a few moments mimicking the look of the dome on the Har HaBayit just to its left.

I don’t know if tourism is up or down, but I haven’t seen so many people at the Kotel on a Friday night in years. There were times during the evening that we were literally shoulder to shoulder in some spots. Maneuvering around to taste the different minyanim, we finally planted ourselves at a Kabbalas Shabbos for IDF active-duty soldiers. They stood in a circle for most of the tefillah, singing songs with energy and vigor. More than just a few observers like me jumped into the circle to be part of the experience of sharing a moving moment of faith with the men who protect the borders and the integrity of Eretz Yisrael with their bodies and souls.

A few moments later, an older man emerged from the circle and asked me if I knew who was in charge here at the Kotel. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, so I repeated the question, asking him if I heard right—that he wanted to know who is in charge. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, so I just pointed straight up and said, “He’s in charge. You can’t see Him, but He’s here.”

Then he waved a siddur in my face, saying that he was dancing with the soldiers and wanted to take the siddur back to his hotel with him as a memento of what for him was a very special experience. I then told him that I didn’t think there was anyone here to speak to about it, but that if it meant so much to him I didn’t see what damage would be done by keeping it as a souvenir.

“So there is no one to ask?” he inquired again. And then he said to me, “I don’t know if you understand. I’m a Jew, but I don’t know the prayers; I can’t read Hebrew. But I was dancing with the soldiers and, while I couldn’t express myself, I felt in my heart that I was one with them.”

I think that even those of us who read Hebrew and who know the prayers felt the same way.

Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at editor@5tjt.com.

First Ever Bnei Menashe Officer In IDF Makes History After completing the course with honors, Gin was then sent to officer training, which he officially completed at the ceremony. He will now return to his unit as a platoon commander.

“This is a dream come true. It brings great joy and pride to me and my family,” Gin said. “As the first Bnei Menashe officer in the IDF, I hope that more from the community will follow.”

“Shalem is a very talented young man with extraordinary ambition,” said Michael Freund, founder and chairman of Shavei Israel, the organization responsible for the aliyah of the Bnei Menashe. “When I met Shalem a few years ago, he told me that even as a child in India he always dreamt of becoming an Israeli combat soldier. Nonetheless, I’m sure that Shalem himself did not imagine that he would become the first Bnei Menashe officer in the IDF, but today he has achieved that goal and we are all very proud of him.”

“Shalem Gin made history,” Freund added. “He is a pioneer in his community who has paved the way for others to follow in his footsteps.”

Photo by Michal Fattal

Continued from Page 1

Freund also called on the Israeli government to allow the remaining 7,232 Bnei Menashe in India to make aliyah as soon as possible. “Shalem Gin’s success story underlines the contribution that the Bnei Menashe wish to make to the State of Israel. It is time to bring about an end to the community’s waiting, and to enable them to come home

to Israel as soon as possible,” he said.

The Bnei Menashe (Hebrew for “sons of Manasseh”) claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago. They currently live in India’s northeastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram. Throughout their exile, the Bnei Menashe nonetheless con-

tinued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following the laws of family purity. They continued to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel. In recent years, Shavei Israel has brought some 1,700 Bnei Menashe back home to Zion.

Another 7,232 still remain in India, waiting for the day when they too will be able to return to Israel and the Jewish people.

Shavei Israel is a non-profit organization founded by Michael Freund, who immigrated to Israel from the United States, with the aim of reaching out to descendants of Jews around the world and strengthening their connection with the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The organization is currently active in nine countries and provides assistance to a variety of different communities such as the Bnei Menashe of India, the Bnei Anousim in Spain, Portugal, and South America, the Subbotnik Jews of Russia, the Jewish community of Kaifeng in China, the “Hidden Jews” of Poland from the Holocaust era, and others. For more information, visit www.shavei.org.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

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Honoring The Other Relatives Halachic Musings

BY RABBI YAIR HOFFMAN Everyone knows about the mitzvah of honoring and showing awe to parents; it is one of the Ten Commandments and also, according to the Gemara in Kiddushin, one of the natural laws that the entire world is well aware of. But what about other relatives? What about older brothers, stepmoms, uncles, aunts, and in-laws? Are the obligations the same as to parents or are there differences?

The first thing we must do, of course, is differentiate between obligations that stem from kavod, honor, and obligations whose source is moreh, or showing awe. For example, the obligation to serve one’s father or mother comes from honor. The fact that we don’t sit in his or her seat comes from moreh. Most of the obligations that apply to the other relatives come from kavod. The issues are dealt with extensively in volume six of LeRayacha Kamocha by Rabbi Dovid Ariav.

Stepparents. Let’s start with the stepmom and stepdad. The Gemara in Kesuvos (103a) tells us that the word “es” in kabeid es avicha comes to include the stepmother. (See Shulchan Aruch YD 240:21). While there is a debate in the Rishonim whether this obligation is biblical (Rambam, Hilchos Mamrin 6:15) and the Meiri (on Kesuvos 103a), we rule that it is Biblical. The obligation though

stems from kavod and not moreh (See Betzeil HaChochma 3:95). Technically, the reason why we don’t call parents by their first names is moreh. Although one could technically call them by their first names, the minhag in Klal Yisrael seems to be not to do so. [One should also be careful not to call them Dad or Mom in front of one’s own parents unless one is absolutely sure that they do not mind at all—author’s extrapolation from letter #9 of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita.]

The obligation is also only during the lifetime of the parent. After the parent has passed away, the Chayei Odom (67:22) writes that the obligation is only rabbinic. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 240:21) calls it a davar hagun—a proper thing to honor them. It would seem that the Chaeyi Odom is actually arguing with the Shulchan Aruch when he writes that it is a rabbinic obligation. The simple indication of the Shulchan Aruch is that it is a good and proper ethical imperative, but not a full halachic obligation.

Older Siblings. The Gemara in Kesuvos (103a) tells us that the extra vav in v’es imecha comes to include the older brother. The rationale is because it is disrespectful for a parent if their descendents are treated improperly, according to the Ramban (Hasagos LeSefer haMitzvos of the Rambam Shoresh 2).

The Minchas Chinuch (#33) understands this obligation to be Biblical in origin, while the Aruch HaShulchan (YD 240:43) understands it to be rabbinic. Here too the obligation stems from moreh—he may thus sit in his older brother’s seat.

Is this obligation limited to the firstborn son, i.e. the eldest son or does it apply to all older brothers? To this we have a debate between The Arizal as cited by the Birchei Yoseph (in YD 240) and the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch who rule that it applies to all older brothers versus the Gilyon Maharsha and the Chasam Sopher and the Ramban on Bereishis (32:5) who rule that it is just the eldest brother.

Although one would think that the litvisha poskim would rule in accordance with the Gilyon Maharsha on this issue, it seems that Rav Elyashiv as cited in Kvod Horim 16:5 as cited in Lerayacha Kamocha Vol. VI p. 290 rules that the obligation is toward all older brothers.

Since Rav Elyashiv is ruling like the aforementioned Birchei Yoseph’s citation of the Arizal—there would be no distinction between that and the other ruling of the Arizal cited by the Birchei Yoseph—that the obligation applies to older sisters as well.

In-Laws. The Shulchan Aruch rules that mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law must also be honored (SA YD 240:24).

It is debatable whether this obligation is Biblical or rabbinic. The obligation, once again stems from honor and not moreh. One must always speak to them respectfully and with honor.

Grandparents. There is also an obligation to honor grandparents. This is the ruling of the Rama in a responsa (118). Although the Maharik (Shoresh 30) rules that this is not really an obligation, most poskim reject the view of

the Maharik. Indeed, the Rama’s view is so accepted that the Minchas Elazar (3:33) rules that the honor of a grandparent has precedence to that of a father in law. The honor that is extended to a grandparent stems from kavod and not moreh, once again.

Uncles And Aunts. According to Rabbeinu Yonah in his Sefer HaYira (203) there is an obligation to honor one’s uncle and aunt from either his father’s side or his mother’s side. The source is a kal vachomer, a fortiori argument from the obligation to honor a stepparent. Rabbi Dovid Ariav wishes to limit the words of Rabbeinu Yona to only uncles and aunts that are older than the parents. It seems to this author, however, that another source might be the fact that they are descendants of one’s grandparents and it would be according them honor if one honors their children, similar to the Ramban in the Sefer HaMitzvos.

All of the above obligations concerning other relatives only apply, of course, if he or she is not halachically considered an evil person. If they are evil then one may not disrespect them, but there is no obligation of honor. To determine whether such a person has this status one must consult a qualified poseik. There are many factors that should be considered and often people are too quick to decide that the relative is disqualified for the honor truly due them.

The author may be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.

A Time To Write

BY BEN BRAFMAN Because I am a fairly well-known criminal-defense attorney who is also active in many community projects and charitable programs, my name works itself into enough media outlets without my trying.

Accordingly, it is rare indeed that I seek out a public platform through which to publish my own personal thoughts on any issue of the day.

Recent world events, however, have made it impossible for me to sit by quietly and allow the brutal and offensive intellectual dishonesty of our government and the secular media to escape criticism on a very serious issue that should be very important to every Jew, every American, and all fundamentally decent world citizens who simply cannot continue to deny the obvious—and if they do, must at least admit their bias and deep-rooted prejudice.

In recent weeks, we have all watched the turmoil as the Middle East begins to

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spin wildly out of control. Arab military police murder hundreds of their own citizens in Libya. Additional fatal clashes continue in almost every other Arab country.

A ban on foreign journalists prevents, at least for now, an accurate body count, which is guaranteed to swell in coming weeks. Criminal dictators hold on to their power bases, even if in order to do so they brutalize their own citizens. The world, and in particular the United Nations, essentially stands by and does nothing.

Perhaps that is why I was startled last week when our own government, and of course the United Nations, paused to again criticize Israel for allowing continued construction in its own cities and communities—defined by the rest of the world as “settlements.” Were it not so sad, it might even be funny. Our president and secretary of state use the same words and tone in their criticism of Israel for building homes in a democratic nation as they use when criticizing Arab leaders for the mass murder of their own citizens—who only want the freedom and civil rights that Israel has always provided to all of its citizens, including every Israeli Arab.

When it comes to the United Nations, pretty much considered a worthless organization by most people of reasonable intelligence, we have lost count of the dozens if not hundreds of anti-Israel resolutions voted by member nations. Those same member nations regularly rise to condemn Israel on any issue regarding Palestinians, but they are eerily and conspicuously silent as mass murder of their own citizens becomes a very public, common, and revolting reality.

I have watched and studied this extraordinary hypocrisy for much of my adult life, listening as world leaders repeatedly condemn Israel at each opportunity—often fabricating events or distorting facts in order to seemingly justify these unwarranted and virulently anti-Semitic condemnations.

All too often, however, these pitiful but unfortunately powerful talking heads find some way to support the anti-Israel resolutions and manage to sell it to a large part of the world that is all too eager to bash Israel. Somehow it has become politically correct to hate Israel, even if that means being anti-Semitic and ignoring the obvi-

ous—much like the world did 70 years ago as millions of Jews were fed into gas chambers while the civilized world stood by almost until it was too late.

Well, here we are again. The murderers are killing their own now, and instead of unified, forceful world condemnation of the harshest kind, we denounce these “unfortunate” developments with great diplomacy, while condemning Israel (the only real democracy in the entire region) for having the chutzpah to expand a thriving, peaceful, law-abiding democratic community.

Shame on the world leaders who obviously get it but do not have the guts to say it out loud in clear and convincing language that leaves no room for doubt. Now is not the time to criticize the only legitimate government in the entire Middle East. Now is the time, instead, to point to Israel as an example of a free nation, where democratic ideals are sewn into the fabric of the country itself, where Israeli citizens are given the rights that Arab dictators brutally deprive their own people of.

Ben Brafman is an attorney in New York.

Middle East Wrapup

BY SAMUEL SOKOL NEWS DIRECTOR

Gadaffi: Bin Laden Stirring Up Trouble Saying that sane men would not engage in rebellion, Libyan strongman Muammar Gadaffi claimed that protesters, furious over his autocratic rule, have been taking hallucinogenic drugs.

Speaking on Libyan television, the longtime North African ruler stated that agitators are giving those in the streets “pills at night ... they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafé.”

Despite offering his condolences to the families of those killed in the recent disturbances, some by airstrikes carried out by his own armed forces, Gadaffi attempted to deflect responsibility from his regime by blaming Al-Qaeda head and international terrorist Osama Bin-Laden.

Calling on citizens “not to be swayed by bin Laden,” Gadaffi said that “he is the one in charge of any murder or any disaster.”

“Bin Laden … this is the enemy who is manipulating people.”

The Libyan ruler, who styles himself the leader of a popular revolution rather than a dictator, compared himself to the “Queen of England,” a constitutional monarch with only “moral” authority.

“I have no authority coming from laws or decisions or anything else, I just have moral authority. I only have moral authority. I am like the Queen of England. I have jurisdictions.”

U.S. President Obama has stated that his national security team is preparing “a full range of options” for an American re-

sponse to the developing crisis and that the violence in the streets of Tripoli is “outrageous and unacceptable.”

Even Gadaffi ’s regional allies are pulling away from him. The Arab League has suspended Libya’s participation in its meetings while the bloodshed continues.

Turkish TV Crew Complains Of Snub By PMO A Turkish television crew contracted by two Polish networks to cover Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to Jerusalem has complained of discrimination by the Prime Minister’s Office based on their nationality.

Upon arrival at PM Netanyahu’s office, the crew was turned away and not permitted to enter and film the planned press conference. The networks that had hired the Turkish crew subsequently issued a formal complaint to both their embassy in Tel-Aviv and to Netanyahu’s bureau.

A source in the Prime Minister’s Office, however, told Yediot Aharonot that the film crew did not coordinate their arrival in advance and that “the team arrived without journalist IDs as required of any journalist arriving at the office.”

The Foreign Press Association, a trade organization representing overseas correspondents operating in Israel, issued an ultimatum in January, stating that it will “decline further invitations” to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless changes are made to the Israeli premier’s existing security arrangements, following an incident in which several journalists, including a Turk, were allegedly harassed by Netanyahu’s security detail.

One Turkish correspondent, speaking with this reporter, stated that he had been made to remove his pants at the Prime Minister’s annual reception for the for-

eign press. Several journalists were either strip searched or instructed to remove their pants, including veteran Israeli photojournalist Menahem Kahane.

Prime Ministerial spokesman at the time, Mark Regev, apologized for offending reporters. Speaking with Koleinu’s sister paper, the Five Towns Jewish Times, Regev stated that “when we invited people to this event, we had no desire whatsoever to cause embarrassment or ill-feeling.”

PA Calls For Boycott Of Tourism Event In West Jerusalem The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has called for an international boycott of the 2011 International Tourism Conference in Jerusalem.

In a prepared statement released to the media, Dr. Kholoud Daibes, the Palestinian Minister of Tourism, said that Israel’s tourism sector is “part of the illegal settlement enterprise,” and that the government of Israel is “unlawfully” sponsoring the conference in Jerusalem. According to the minister, there are “no countries in the world that recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel.”

Daibes’ remarks are significant in that the convention is being held in the capital’s International Convention Center, known in Hebrew as Binyanei Hauma, which is located squarely in West Jerusalem, indicating that the Palestinians do not acknowledge Israeli sovereignty over any part of the city.

“It is particularly problematic for international officials to participate in such a conference at this critical time, especially when intense international efforts are underway to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the final status of Jerusalem,” Daibes said.

The statement, which was issued

through Ghassan Khatib’s Government Media Center, a bureau under the control of the Prime Minister’s Office, quoted the minister calling on “all tourism officials and professionals to respect international law and not to be complicit in Israel’s unlawful activities.”

According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, the PLO has also called for a boycott of the convention.

The Palestinian Authority also called on the United Nations to grant World Heritage status to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The church, which predates Islam by several hundred years, has no direct connection to the Palestinians. According to Daibes, “this step is part and parcel of our plan to end the occupation and build the institutions of the state of Palestine.”

Palestinian gunmen took over the church in 2002, holding clergymen hostage for over a month, until an agreement was reached, allowing the gunmen to find refuge in the European Union.

Almost 30% Of Arabs In Judea/ Samaria Willing To Emigrate According to a recent poll conducted by Dr. Nabil Kukali and published by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, almost 30 percent of Arabs living under the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria would be willing to leave Israel should the West be willing to take them in.

Asked, “If the immigration door to the West would be opened for you, would you immigrate or stay in your country?” just over 60 percent of those polled responded that they would not leave, while nearly 10 percent replied that they did not know.

29.5 percent said that given the chance, they would leave Israel.

Under The Sun: A Survey Of Bet Shemesh News

BY RABBI DOV LIPMAN 2011 City Budget The city council passed the 2011 budget of NIS 285 million, by a vote of 153. Mayor Abutbol opened the meeting by highlighting the following items included in the budget: The “computer for every teacher” program which aims to supply every teacher in the city with a computer, new traffic circles, a new building for the welfare department, additional grants for college students, and additional funds for children at risk.

Questions were raised by opposition members of the city council. Natan Sheetrit (Likud) asked why the city income from arnona was NIS 80 million last year and projected at 91 million for 2011. The treasurer responded that the city was going to be stricter about arnona collections in 2011 and the projections were

based on this change in policy.

Shalom Lerner (B’yachad) noted that the city was basing its budget on the hope that the government would supply the missing NIS 50 million unaccounted for in the city income to cover the budget. He also challenged the decision to assume increased parking fees in the budget since the residents will already pay increased water and arnona fees.

Motti Cohen (Dor Acher) commented that NIS 2.5 million set aside for the industrial zone in the 2010 budget was never spent to improve the area and questioned the city’s budget process.

Ministers Visit Bet Shemesh Absorption Minister Sophie Landover (Yisrael Beiteinu) visited Bet Shemesh last week. The visit began at the mayor’s office where the mayor highlighted the various municipal projects to assist new olim and mentioned that the city

would need help from the minister for additional projects. Presentations were made by various representatives about the challenges facing the Ethiopian olim and the need for more funds to assist them, especially with schooling. Minister Landover was then brought to visit Ahavat Yisrael, a school in which 60% of the students are children of olim. She ended the visit with the following statement: “I am happy to be a witness to the excellent absorption situation in Bet Sh-

emesh and the mayor’s desire to take in immigrants from all over the world.”

She promised to increase funds to the city for additional assistance and expressed a strong desire for a closer working relationship between the national and municipal absorption departments.

Education Minister Gidon Saar (Likud) also visited Bet Shemesh this past week.

His new chief of staff, Keti Sheetrit, lives in the city and hosted a haramat kosit to celebrate her appointment to this prestigious position. Minister Saar has had a close relationship with the city and has been of assistance since he took office, especially in preserving the existence of a secular school for gifted students located in Ramat Bet Shemesh.

Dov Lipman teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim and Machon Maayan in Bet Shemesh. He has semichah from Ner Yisroel and a master’s in education from Johns Hopkins University and is also the author of three popular books geared to teenagers and their parents. In recent years, Dov has become a community activist in Bet Shemesh. He can be reached at ddlipman@ gmail.com.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

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The Chessed Corner

From Welfare To Wellbeing In Just Four Months

BY SHARON BERKLEY The Jaffa Institute When Helena arrived in Israel at the age of 24, she didn’t have much. Having left her family and teaching career behind to escape political unrest in the Ukraine, she made her way to the Absorption Center for New Immigrants in Be’er Sheva. Though she was nervous about starting over, she remained hopeful and planned for a bright future.

After a few months marked by great difficulty in acclimating to her new life, Helena was overcome by feelings of loneliness, insecurity, and low self-esteem. With no one else to turn to or confide in, she befriended a young man who happened to have a drug addiction. It wasn’t long before Helena was drawn into the vicious cycle of drug abuse and a relationship that was dominated by violence and humiliation.

Three grueling years later, Helena managed to escape to Tel Aviv. By this point, she had lost over 90 pounds, not to mention faith in herself, others, and life. Helena realized that she had hit rock bottom and checked herself into a drug rehabilitation center. After beating her drug addiction, she began putting her life back together.

For several years, she distanced herself from society and earned the minimum amount required to rent a room and pay her bills. It was only once Helena uninten-

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tionally became pregnant at the age of 37 that she began to reevaluate her life and realized that drastic actions needed to be taken if she wanted to provide appropriately for her child.

On the advice of a social worker, Helena enrolled in “Welfare to Wellbeing,” a program run by The Jaffa Institute (www. jaffainstitute.org) that helps long-term unemployed women living in the greater Tel Aviv-Jaffa area find and maintain meaningful employment, thereby releasing them and their families from the cycle of poverty. Helena graduated from the program and now works part-time at a large Israeli telemarketing company. She has cut her dependence on welfare, enjoys a steady and regular income, and spends her afternoons with her son.

Helena’s story is not uncommon. In the areas of Israel in which the Jaffa Institute operates, namely Jaffa, South Tel Aviv, and Bat Yam, unemployment and poverty are endemic, with over 30% of the population dependent on welfare services—almost 1 in 5 are single mothers.

While The Jaffa Institute’s main focus is combating child poverty, it established “Welfare to Wellbeing,” a program funded by the Lowy Family Foundation and the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, in order to attack the problem at its root: long-term unemployment and under-

employment of parents. By providing concrete tools, skills, and support to the women in these communities, the program helps them achieve economic self-sufficiency and provide a better life for their children.

Since 2007, 70 women have graduated from the program and a remarkable 80% have secured long-term employment. For many of them, this represents their first permanent job in over ten years, and for others the first in their lifetime.

“We have been privileged to get to know some of the most courageous and determined women in the country through the program. The challenge is to convince potential employers and the women themselves to look beyond their somber histories and recognize their unique strengths, talents, and skills,” comments Shalom Portowicz, the director of the program.

The secret behind the success of “Welfare to Wellbeing” is the personal attention given to each participant as well as the close tracking of current employment trends. The program identifies sectors in the workforce that would suit the participants and that display high demand, and trains the participants accordingly. Certified instructors coach the participants toward success via group workshops, individual training sessions, and on-the-job training in rapidly expanding fields in the Israeli job market such as telemarketing and debt collection.

The participants also meet with a social worker on a regular basis. Initially, each participant works with the social worker to map out a personal development plan that helps manage the participant’s expectations of what she hopes to achieve throughout the course. Thereafter, participants meet with the social worker every week or as needed.

Every year, The Jaffa Institute runs three cycles of the program with each cycle lasting four months from enrollment to graduation. While the first three months of each cycle are devoted to theory, vocational training, and tutorials, participants spend the final month working in real jobs in the field of their choice. Often, these work placements lead to offers for permanent employment. If such offers are not made, course participants receive assistance identifying job opportunities, preparing and submitting their résumés, and practicing for interviews.

“It’s simply remarkable to think that given the tools and support that she needs, a woman can bring herself back from the brink and achieve full economic independence in just a few short months,” adds Portowicz. “In fact, empowering these incredible women not only breaks the cycle of poverty but sets in place a desire to attain higher goals, become better parents, and secure the brightest future imaginable.”

ʹʣʥʧ ʹʠʸ ʡʸʲʥ ʭʩʬʷʹ ǣʩʣʥʷʴ ʺʹʸʴ ʱʩʥʥʬ ʩʬʠ ʡʸʤ ʺʠʮ ʤʦ ʣʥʡʫ ʯʫʬ .ʸʺʥʩ ʣʡʥʫʮ ʠʥʤ ʸʺʥʩ ʣʡʫʥ ʸʺʥʩ ʬʷʥʹ ʠʥʤʹ ʬʫʫ ,ʣʡʥʫʮ ʯʫʬʥ ʣʡʫ ʠʥʤ ,ʬʷʹʮʡ ʥʺʥʠ (weigh) ʭʩʬʷʥʹ ʩʫ ʪʫ ʠʸʷʰ ʬʷʹʤ .ʡʤʦʡʥ ʳʱʫʡ ʣʡʫ ʭʤʸʡʠʹ ʡʥʺʫ. ʳʱʫʡ ʣʡʫ ʠʥʤ ʩʫ ʣʡʥʫʮ ʠʥʤ ʸʩʹʲ ʹʩʠ .ʣʡʫ ʹʸʥʹʮ ʺʠ ʺʩʧʴʤʬ ʥʰʬʹ ʬʷʹʮʤʮ ʩʶʧ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʠʬʠ ʭʩʣʡʫ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʠʬ ,(humility) ʤʥʥʰʲ ʥʰʺʥʠ ʺʣʮʬʮ ʬʷʹ ʩʶʧ ʷʸ ʺʺʬ ʤʡʥʧʤʥ ʭʩʬʷʹ ʺʹʸʴ .ʩʶʧ ʷʸ ʥʰʧʰʠ ʥʰʩʣʡʬ ʩʫ ʭʬʹ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʥʰʺʥʠ ʭʩʬʹʤʬ ʬʥʫʩʹ ʩʮ ʹʩ .ʭʩʮʬʹʥʮ ʠʬʥ ʩʶʧ ʥʰʧʰʠ .ʥʰʬ ʭʩʠʺʮ ʸʺʥʩʹ ʬʣʥʢʬ ʥʰʩʮʶʲ .ʺʩʺʩʮʠ ʤʥʥʰʲ ʩʤʮ ʥʰʺʥʠ ʺʣʮʬʮ ʩʣʥʷʴ ʺʹʸʴ ʭʢʹ ʩʬ ʤʮʣʰ ʺʹʸʴʡ ʩʫ ʤʮʣʰ ʤʦʮ ʸʺʥʩ ʬʡʠ ;ʤʮʶʲ ʬʲ ʺʸʦʥʧ ʤʹʸʴʤʹ ʯʥʩʫ ʳʩʱʥʤʬ ʥʠ ʹʣʧʬ ʤʮ ʤʡʸʤ ʯʩʠ ʭʩʰʹʸʴʤ ʡʥʸʬ ,(gliƩer) ʷʸʡ ʩʬʡ ʤʹʸʴ ʥʦ ʩʫ ʬʫ ʭʣʥʷ .ʤʥʰʲ ʬʹ ʹʣʧ (peak) ʠʩʹʬ ʲʩʢʮ ʤʹʮ ʩʣʥʷʴ ʯʫʹʮʤ ʯʩʰʡ ʬʲ ʤʹʷ ʣʠʮ ʣʡʥʲ ʤʹʮ .ʥʫʸʣ ʩʫʩʹʮʮ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʥʫʦ ʠʬ ʤʹʮ ʬʹ ʥʩʰʡʹ ʤʣʡʥʲʤ ,ʤʩʰʴʬ ʺʸʧʠ ʤʹʸʴ ʬʫʮ ʸʺʥʩ (stands out) ʨʬʥʡ ʥʦʤ ʤʹʸʴʡ ʯʥʸʤʠ ʺʠ ʺʧʷʬ ʹʷʡʺʮ ʠʥʤ ʣʥʡʲʬ ʬʩʧʺʤʬ ʯʮʦʤ ʲʩʢʮʹʫʥ ['ʮ ʷʸʴ ʩʣʥʷʴ ʺʹʸʴ] "...ʸʨʷʩʥ ...ʬʲʩʥ ...ʭʹʩʥ...ʪʥʸʲʩʥ ...ʯʺʩʥ ...ʠʡʩʥ ...ʧʷʩʥ ...ʹʥʸʴʩʥ ...ʭʷʩʥ" ʯʸʤʠʥ ʤʹʮ ʥʰʮʮ ʥʶʧʸʥ ...ʥʩʰʡ ʺʠʥ ...ʯʸʤʠ ʺʠ ʺʹʡʬʤʥ ...ʥʩʰʡ ʺʠʥ ʯʸʤʠ ʺʠ ʺʡʸʷʤʥ" .ʤʣʥʡʲʬ ʯʩʫʤʬ (anoint) ʧʥʹʮʬ ʭʺʥʠ ,ʹʩʡʬʤʬ ʭʺʥʠ ,ʥʩʰʡʥ [ʭʹ] "ʥʩʰʡʥ .ʤʥʥʰʲ ʥʦ .ʤʠʰʷ ʥʠ ʡʶʲ ʭʥʹ ʩʬʡ "ʤʹʮ ʺʠ 'ʤ ʤʥʥʶ ʸʹʠʫ" ʤʹʥʲ ʤʹʮ ʤʦ ʬʫ ʺʠ ʤʦ ʤʩʤʩ ʠʬ ʥʰʡʹ ʤʣʡʥʲʤ ʬʥʮ (frustrated) ʬʫʱʥʺʮ ʣʮʥʲ ʬʥʠʹ ʪʬʮʤ ʤʡ ʲʥʡʹʤ ʺʸʨʴʤ (in contrast to) ʬʥʮʬ ʸʺʥʩ ʣʥʲ ʨʬʥʡ ʤʦ ʬʫʹ (it appears) ʤʠʸʰ ʺʠ ʬʬʷʮ ,ʥʺʲʣʮ ʠʶʥʩ ʠʥʤ ,[ʠʬ ʫ ʠ ʭʩʫʬʮ] "ʪʺʥʫʬʮʥ ʤʺʠ ʯʥʫʺ ʠʬ ʩʧ ʩʹʩ ʯʡ ʸʹʠ ʭʩʮʩʤ ʬʫ" ʥʮʥʷʮʡ ʠʡʩ ,ʥʰʮʮ ʸʺʥʩ ʡʥʨ ,ʸʧʠ ʪʬʮʥ ʥʫʸʣ ʺʠ ʪʩʹʮʩʹ .(embarrassment) ʤʹʥʡʤ ʬʲ ʺʥʱʫʬ ʩʣʫ ʬʫʤʥ [ʭʹ] "ʠʥʤ ʺʥʮ ʯʡ ʩʫ" (son-in-law) ʥʰʺʧ ʣʥʣ ʺʠ ʢʥʸʤʬ ʥʬʩʴʠ ʯʫʥʮʥ ʥʰʡ .ʤʥʥʰʲ ʬʹ ʭʩʩʧʥ "ʭʩʩʮʹ ʺʠʸʩʥ ʤʸʥʺ ʺʡʤʠ ʥʰʡ ʠʤʺʹ ʭʩʩʧ ...ʤʮʩʬʫʥ ʤʹʥʡ ʭʤʡ ʯʩʠʹ ʭʩʩʧ"ʬ ʤʫʦʰʹ Rabbi Eli Lewis is one of the rabbonim at the Puah Institute in Jerusalem and the associate director of its English department. Rabbi Lewis lives in Neve Daniel and was a former rav and rosh kollel in Perth, Australia.

Editor’s Note: Although we did not include one in our inaugural issue, we will

ʠʸʷʩʥ ʺʹʸʴ

always try to include some Torah content

ʤ ʓˈʕʲ ʒˢ ʯ ʓʮ ʓˉʔˎ ʺʓʬʖʱ

in the paper. We are also cognizant of the

ʱʩʥʥʬ ʩʬʠ ʡʸʤ ʺʠʮ

fact that we live in Israel and even though

ʨʲʮ .ʬʥʫʠʬ ʸʺʥʮ ʤʮ ʬʠʥʹ ʩʰʠʹʫ ʭʩʩʰʩʬʷ ʭʩʰʨʠʩʣ ʬʹ ʺʬʡʥʷʮʤ ʤʶʬʮʤʤ ʥʦ ;"ʤʣʩʮʡ ʬʥʫʤ" ʷʸ ʬʡʠ .ʠʸʥʰ ʠʬ ʤʦ ʭʲʴ ʩʣʩʮ ʭʥʣʠ ʸʹʡ ʨʲʮ ʭʢ ,ʲʸ ʠʬ ʤʦ ʤʡʥʤʶ ʤʰʩʡʢ ʥʠ ʱʷʸʥʡ ,ʤʣʩʬʢ .ʭʲʴ ʩʣʩʮ ʷʸʥ ʨʲʮ ʥʦ–ʧʬʮʥ ʯʮʹʥ ,ʧʮʷ ,ʹʡʫ ʸʹʡʥ ʹʡʫ ʯʮʥʹ ,ʭʩʦʩʲ ʸʹʡʥ ʭʩʦʩʲ ʯʮʥʹ ,ʸʷʡ ʸʹʡ ,ʸʷʡ ʯʮʥʹ ʯʩʠʥ ʺʥʷʸʩ ʯʩʠ .ʲʥʡʹʡ ʭʩʮʩ ʤʲʡʹ ,ʭʥʩʡ ʺʥʧʥʸʠ ʹʥʬʹ .ʹʣʷʮʤ ʺʩʡʡ ʯʤʫʤ ʬʹ ʤʨʠʩʣʤ ʯʥʦʩʠ ʯʩʠ .ʭʩʧʬʮ ʥʠ ʱʰʸʨ ʯʮʥʹ ʩʦʥʧʠ ʡʥʹʩʧ ʥʠ ʺʥʩʸʥʬʷ ʺʬʡʨ ʯʩʠ. ʤʠʥʰʩʷ ʥʠ ʣʸʺ ʯʩʠ .ʺʥʸʩʴ ."ʤʣʩʮʡ" ʯʩʠʥ "ʬʥʫʤ" ʯʩʠ. ʭʩʰʥʡʬʧʥ ʺʥʮʩʮʧʴ ʯʩʡ ʤʮ ʯʩʠ ʹʣʷʮʡ ʩʬʥʠ ʬʡʠ .ʤʦʫ ʲʥʡʹ ʩʸʧʠ ʹʩʢʸʮ ʥʠ ʤʠʸʰ ʩʺʩʩʤ ʪʩʠ ʡʥʹʧʬ ʤʶʥʸ ʠʬ ʩʰʠ ʭʥʷʮ ʹʩ ,ʭʣʤ ʺʥʸʮʬ ʭʩʡʥʡʦ ʯʩʠ ,ʧʥʸʤ ʺʥʸʮʬ ʸʹʩ ʤʬʥʲ ʯʹʲʤ–ʭʩʱʩʰ ʹʩ ʹʣʷʮʤ ʺʩʡʡ .ʢʥʠʣʬ .ʤʨʠʩʣʤ ʺʥʸʮʬ ʡʬ ʺʥʩʲʡ ʯʩʠ ʳʩʱʥʮ ʩʺʩʩʤ .'ʥʫʥ ,ʺʥʴʩʴʶʤ ʺʥʸʮʬ .ʺʥʠʩʶʮ ʥʤʦ ʬʡʠ .ʠʩʸʡ ʸʠʹʰ ʠʬ ,ʭʬʥʲʡ ʹʥʣʷ ʩʫʤ ʬʫʥʠʤ ʤʦ ʭʠ ʭʢ ,ʧʬʮʥ ,ʯʮʹ ,ʧʮʷ ,ʯʮʥʹ ,ʸʹʡ ʷʸ ʬʫʥʠʹ ʩʮ ʬʬʢʡ ʭʩʬʥʧ ʹʮʮ ʥʩʤ ʭʩʰʤʥʫʤ ʹʣʷʮʤ ʺʩʡʡʹ ʣʮʬʮ (ʣ"ʩ 'ʦ ʹʣʷʮʤ ʩʬʫ ʺʥʫʬʤ) ʭ"ʡʮʸʤ ʭʩʩʲʮʤ ʺʥʩʲʡ ʬʲ ʬʷʤʬ ʺʶʷ ʥʱʩʰʹ ʹʣʷʮʤ ʺʩʡʡ ʣʧʥʩʮ ʩʠʥʴʸ ʺʥʥʶ ʤʩʤ ,ʪʫʮ ʤʸʺʩ .ʤʨʠʩʣʤ .ʭʩʰʤʥʫʤ ʬʹ .ʸʩʧʮ ʹʩ ʺʥʥʶʮ ʭʥʩʷʬʹ ʡʥʹʧ ʸʥʲʩʹ ʥʰʺʥʠ ʣʮʬʬ ʠʡ ʤʦ ʩʬʥʠ ʤʮ ʤʡʸʤ ʹʩ ,ʤ"ʡ .ʭʩʸʥʤ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʺʥʢʥʦʬ ʸʥʦʲʬ ʭʩʱʰʮ ʥʰʧʰʠ ,ʤ"ʲʥʴ ʯʥʫʮʡ ʡʸʫ ʩʬʹ ʤʣʥʡʲʡ ʺʥʢʥʦ ʹʩ .ʥʬʹ ʤʩʲʡʤ ʺʠ ʹʩ ʣʧʠ ʬʫʬ .ʯʨʡ ʩʸʴʬ ʭʩʫʥʦ ʥʰʩʬʠ ʭʩʰʥʴʹ ʺʥʢʥʦʤ ʡʥʸʥ ʸʥʦʲʬ ʠʬ ʺʩʠʥʴʸ ʤʩʲʡ ʯʩʠʹ ʭʩʮʲʴʬ ʤʸʥʷ .ʤʩʲʡ ʹʩ ʤʹʠʤ ʬʶʠʹ ʤʬʠʫ ʹʩʥ ʬʲʡʤ ʬʶʠ ʠʩʤ ʤʩʲʡʤʹ ʤʹʩʠʤ, ʤʧʴʹʮʤ ʺʸʤʨ ʺʥʫʬʤ ʭʩʸʮʥʹ ʭʤʹ ʯʥʩʫʹ ʠʩʤ ʤʩʲʡʤ .ʤʹʩʠʤ ʬʶʠ ʠʬʥ ʹʩʠʤ ʬʶʠ .ʺʥʸʤʬ ʬʫʥʺ ʠʬ ʥʦʫ ʤʹʩʠ. (ovulaƟon) ʵʥʩʡʤ ʩʸʧʠ ʤʬʩʡʨʬ ʤʲʩʢʮ ʺʠ ʭʩʸʣʱʮ ʭʤ .ʭʩʰʥʮʸʥʤ ʺʧʷʬ ʠʥʤ ʣʧʠ ʨʥʹʴ ʯʥʸʺʴ .ʭʩʰʥʹ ʺʥʰʥʸʺʴ ʭʰʹʩ ʥʦʤ ʤʩʲʡʬ ʤʮʬ" ,"ʠʩʸʡ ʠʬ ʤʦ" .ʡʥʨ ʤʠʸʰ ʠʬ ʤʦ ʭʩʹʰʠʤʮ ʷʬʧʬ ,ʬʡʠ .ʯʮʦʡ ʬʴʥʰ ʵʥʩʡʤʥ ʸʥʦʧʮʤ ʭʩʰʤʥʫʹ ʪʩʸʲʮ ʩʰʠ .ʭʩʰʥʮʸʥʤ ʭʩʧʷʥʬ ʠʬ ʪʸʥʶ ʯʩʠʹʫ ,ʭʩʫʱʮ ʩʰʠ ;"?ʭʩʰʥʮʸʥʤ ʳʥʢʬ ʱʩʰʫʤʬ ʺʠ ʯʥʥʢʬ ʸʹʴʠ ʩʬʥʠʥ ʠʩʸʡ ʠʬ ʤʦ ʺʥʬʥʣʢ ʺʥʩʥʮʫʡ ʭʥʣʠ ʸʹʡ ʬʥʫʠʬʹ ʭʩʸʮʥʠ ʥʩʤ ʭʩʩʰʸʣʥʮ .ʺʥʰʡʸʷʤ ʬʹ ʨʩʸʴʺʤ ʭʩʮʲʴʬ ,ʩʬʫʬʫ ʠʥʤ ʸʩʧʮʤ ʭʩʮʲʴʬ .ʸʩʧʮ ʹʩ ʭʩʮʲʴʬ ʺʥʥʶʮ ʭʩʩʷʬ ʩʣʫʹ ʺʣʮʬʮ ʥʰʬʹ ʤʹʸʴʤ ,ʺʥʩʥʴʩʣʲʤ ʸʣʱ ʹʠʸʡ ʤ"ʡʷʤ ʺʠ ʭʩʹʬ ʤʦ ʺʥʥʶʮ ʭʩʩʷʬ .ʺʥʠʩʸʡ ʠʥʤ ʸʩʧʮʤ ʭʩʮʲʴʬʥ ,ʩʰʮʦ ʺʩʡʡ ʠʬ ,ʱʰʬ ʺʥʫʧʬ ʭʩʸʥʮʠ ʠʬ ʥʰʧʰʠ .ʠʩʸʡ ʹʮʮ ʠʬ ʤʦ ʭʠ ʭʢʥ ʳʱʫ ʩʬ ʤʬʥʲ ʤʦ ʭʠ ʭʢ .ʥʬ ʤʶʥʧʮ ʠʬʥ ʹʣʷʮʤ ?ʩʣʥʤʩ ʺʥʩʤʬ ʬʷʹ ʸʮʠ ʩʮ

this paper is essentially an acknowledgement that many of us are simply much more comfortable reading in English than we are in Hebrew, we decided to include some Hebrew content in the paper as well.

So we decided to combine the two.

We will invite a different guest columnist to write, in easy-to-understand Hebrew, something Torah-based for each edition of the paper.

While most Torah scholars can certainly write in Hebrew, being able to communicate difficult ideas in simple Hebrew is not such an easy task. So we will predominantly select writers who are either native born Hebrew speakers or who made aliyah as young children and therefore have an excellent grasp of the language.

We may occasionally stray from that model, but we want this column to be a mini-ulpan of sorts, a place where even the most unskilled of the Hebrew readers among us can have a fighting chance of understanding the Hebrew column of the week.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

11

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March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

Sitting Alone In A Room Reuters

Continued from Page 1 Last July, as we prepared to celebrate our 4th “Aliyaversary,” as I have come to call it, I wrote about the juxtaposition of the milestones surrounding Gilad’s captivity and our aliyah. Every milestone that passes for him, brings us to a similar milestone for our family. And it is astonishing to me how much of his life has been stolen from him.

Our family and all those who came here with us in that summer of 2006 have witnessed two wars as Israelis. We have seen the demise of the career of two heads of government (Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni) and the rebirth of another.

Our family has overcome so much in this time. My wife Goldie battled lung cancer in our first year; with the help up and make sense to them, Eema got here. We watched with pride, joy, and of tefillot and support from friends, we sick. Yet now, here they are, finishing no small amount of terror when he were given a divine gift. Her treatments grades 6 and 4 and so comfortable in joined an elite combat unit. Quickwere successful and she has been (thank their schools and lives that they would ly tabbed as a leader, he went through G-d) cancer free for almost 4 years. It be like fish out of water anywhere else. commander’s school and was assigned was the defining moment of our first Moshe, who was just over a year and to a special experimental unit. year here and could have destroyed our barely talking when we came, is less He fought in Gaza and I have written aliyah; instead, it has become the an- than a year away from 1st grade and about the people who meant so much chor of our acclimation. as Israeli as a Katz can be. It is incredto him during the war. From Dorothy 1,700 days saw a lot of adjustments ible to consider just for each of our six kids. Each one had how much they have issues unique to their situation. Is- grown over this sues much greater than the simple fact time. that their parents uprooted them from 1,700 days. Ala home they had known and loved to most 243 weeks. a strange world 6,000 miles away. Yes, More than half there were language and educational a cycle of daf gaps, but there was so much more. yomi. More Chaim (now 20 and a dean’s list student in YU) and Chaya (now 18 and doing Sherut Leumi in Gush Etzion) came in their teen years—years in which all the “experts” said that aliyah would destroy them. Yet somehow they were able to establish Shapiro, great friendships and quickly now a 90-year-old identify (each in his or her own woman who sent him a way) how they could fit in and care package during the succeed on their own terms. war, to my good friend JaAliza (age 15) became a bat son Schwartz who went mitzvah in our second year and to deliver the care packis in the 10th grade. She was alages and called me to tell ways a social butterfly, with me he was standing with great grades, but sacrificed her my nephew at the border, academics to make friends (unit is this support that protil we found out.) She struggled vides spirit and encoura bit in finding the right school, agement to our young solbut is now thriving and, aldiers. though she hates to hear it, will My nephew’s service do quite well in following in just ended. Tragically, her big sister’s footsteps. And, he lost a close buddy in as we expected from the day a Gaza firefight on erev she was born, she will continShabbat HaGadol, just ue to challenge us every step of two days before they were the way. to be rotated out of Gaza.

Batya (who will be bat mitzMy nephew will never be vah just before Pesach) and the same and has suffered Mordechai (age 9) suffered a loss that few of us can greatly with Hebrew. In many comprehend. ways, we had expected their A chair for Gilad is waiting for him at Fresco café in Bet Shemesh.

His service—from trainadjustments to be the easiest, ing to fighting to celebratsince they were so young and adapt- than 10 percent of my life, 20 percent of ing to tragedy—all fell within the 1,700 able. Yet the language was torture for my married life. days of our aliyah. them. Their first seven months were My oldest nephew was an aspiring I went from one job to another, both terrible. When things began to look combat soldier when we first moved in non-profit but in vastly different

spheres, in the time we have lived here.

I am actually lucky in this regard— many of us go through several jobs in the first couple of years as we try to identify what works. And here I am, becoming a journalist and editor in publishing a newspaper. I think that there are more lawyers-turned-gardeners and doctors-turned-vintners here in Israel than anywhere else. This is a frustrating land, but also a land of great opportunity.

For those of you who came here with us in that summer, think about how much we have lived in these 1,700 days.

Think of all the people we have met and the places they have taken us. Even those who have been here for longer or shorter periods can remember where they were 1,700 days ago in late June 2006. Think back for a second to who you, your family, and friends were in those days.

Think of how far your own lives have come in the last four years. Think back to how little your children or grandchildren were and how much they have grown. Think back to where your life was and what you were doing. Take a moment to reflect upon how much has happened to you and your family.

Then remember that before all that happened, two weeks before my family made aliyah, Hamas terrorists tunneled across the Gaza border and attacked Israeli soldiers, killing two of them and wounding and capturing Gilad Shalit, who has been in captivity ever since.

We have no idea as to his whereabouts or the conditions in which he is being held. Presumably, he is being held in isolation somewhere, sitting alone in a room and waiting. He has sat and waited for the entire time my family has lived in Israel—and he continues to sit and wait. Think about how long 1,700 days is. Think about how much of his life has been stolen by despicable terrorists and murderers.

As the world continues to torment us and plague us with their complaints about “inhumane actions” and their need to band together to demand we further expose ourselves to terrorism, threatening “peace flotillas”, and other such activities, where is the Gilad Shalit flotilla? Why has that flotilla, full of liberal activists and celebrities, not disembarked? Why do they not sail with an empty “peace ship” to the docks of Gaza City and demand that he be returned with them to his family and his home for the sake of peace?

I do not know the answers. I do not know what the right formula is to get Gilad home and allow him to rejoin them. Nor do I claim to have any idea what price to pay for him is enough and what price is too much. I do know this: he has missed so much life and living, and I fear that we may not be doing enough. May Hashem grant that he be returned soon so that his clock can finally restart, while ours continues to turn.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

13

Why You Made Aliyah

BY SHMUEL SACKETT Maybe you came this past summer, four years ago, or back in 1970.

Maybe you made aliyah from Teaneck, Woodmere, Toronto, Melbourne, or Hendon. Maybe you came as a single, a newly married couple, or with your eight children. Whatever the case, whenever it was and wherever you’re originally from, the most important part is that Baruch Hashem, you are now home!

Why did you make such a major move in your life? I’m sure it wasn’t easy. I’m sure you left behind a lot of family and friends and I’m doubly sure that many of them let you know about it many times throughout the year.

So, why … why the aliyah? Let’s be honest with ourselves. If you picked up this publication I am going to assume that you weren’t born in Tel Aviv or Beersheva. You are an English speaker who made aliyah from the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, South Africa, or Ireland. Life in those countries for Jews, in the last 30 years, has not been so miserable. While anti-Semitism is definitely on the rise, especially in Europe, you probably didn’t run away from a pogrom, crusade, or a horrific life. Actually, many of you reading this probably had wonderful lives in “Chutz La’Aretz.” Big houses, nice salaries, 2-3 cars, fancy va-

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 1 anonymity and use that to leave nasty and hurtful comments, saying things they would never say with their name attached, let alone face to face. I personally think people should put their names to their opinions, and anonymous opinions are worthless and best be ignored.

However, while I think people should not be anonymous, I understand why people want to be—not because they want to be able to say hurtful things and get away with it, but because in “our community” one cannot say anything against the leadership and get away with it, even if it is said in a respectful manner. If you say the wrong thing, your kid will be thrown out of school, or you will be chased out of the neighborhood, or ostracized in other ways.

Even if a person feels the need to be anonymous in order to be able to express himself, that does not give him the right to ignore either halacha or general middos. Criticism can be levied with respect, in respectful tones, and a

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March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

cations, fantastic sleep-away camp for the kids, and many comforts that most people living here only dream about. So why did you give it all up to move to Israel?

I am not trying to discourage you. I am elated that you are here … and more than that; I am one of you! I made aliyah in 1990 with my wife and four children from the “Five Towns” (Long Island, NY) and Baruch Hashem, added two more Bnei Brak-born Sabras to that list. My only reason for asking that question is to focus your attention and open your eyes to what has been forgotten by most English-speaking olim: We came here to make a difference!

I will be the first to admit that there’s no comparison to raising kids in Israel vs. Chutz La’Aretz.

I will further admit that our quality of life is far superior to what it was back in “the old country”—young and old.

And finally, I agree that living in Israel helps you rearrange your list of priorities in a manner that most of our friends back there simply cannot comprehend.

But that’s not why I made aliyah. I came here to make a difference. I came here because I loved Israel so much and didn’t want to just complain about it all day long. I came here because I smelled the geulah yet couldn’t touch it in New York. After six million brothers and sisters of mine were thrown into ovens and gas chambers, I couldn’t allow myself to sit comfortably and watch Jewish history play itself out on a TV screen. I needed to be a part of that history.

Please engrave this on your heart: You

came here to make a difference; a difference in your private life … and a difference in your national life. This must never be forgotten! Making aliyah is not about moving to a new and different country. That’s what happens when you move from London to Chicago. It’s not about learning the new driving rules, the language, or how to read product labels in the supermarket. It’s not about getting used to kids coming home from school at 2:30 or about working on Sunday. It’s about fulfilling a national destiny and helping change this country into a strong and proud Jewish State!

One of the major mistakes made by olim is the focus on their private lives.

Of course we must get these things in order; from joining the right Kupat Cholim to finding the perfect shul to daven in—but that must not be the only focus.

We must get involved in national matters of concern as well. Face it … you are no longer a minority in a foreign country. You are not in the galut anymore.

You are home. Repeat that line (and say it out loud with excitement, vigor, and passion): You are home! This is your home, your country, your army, your court system, and your educational network … and just like you need to get your personal things in order, you had better start working on your national “to-do list” as well.

The first thing you need to do, immediately after getting your Teudat Zehut, is to join a political party. That’s right.

You must become a member of one of Israel’s political parties because if you really want to make a difference—as I am sure you do—you cannot do it from the

person’s point can still be made. People should not be hiding behind anonymity for the purpose of writing hateful comments, but must figure out how to comment, even anonymously, with respect and displaying responsibility.

On that point I agree with Rav Ginzberg.

Kol tuv Rafi Goldmeier http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com http://rabbirunningamarathon. blogspot.com

beautifully while visiting here. However, there’s another side to Mr. Huckabee.

Prior to his visit in Israel, he was the celebrated keynote speaker at the ninth annual banquet of the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI). MJBI is a deceptive and aggressive Christian missionary organization which exists for the sole purpose of converting Jews. That is their stated mission.

There is enough recent evidence to indicate that Mr. Huckabee appears to have no problem being seen in high profile situations with messianic leaders and media personalities who have an evangelizing agenda directed at Jews.

Mike Huckabee is a sensitive man, but he might remain oblivious to the feelings of the Jewish community on this issue unless Jewish leadership takes the initiative and informs, educates, and insists that the presidential hopeful use some wisdom and discretion.

Jews in both Israel and the Diaspora should assert themselves and strive for an honest and respectful relationship with any man or woman whose sights are set on the White House.

Dear Editor, JewishIsrael.com would like to congratulate Koleinu on its inaugural edition. Yours is a voice we’ve been waiting for and we wish you much success.

We noted that you carried an article on page 10 praising Mike Huckabee: “A Land of Milk, Honey, and Mike Huckabee” [February 15].

Like many of my Israeli friends and colleagues, I was both impressed and touched by Mr. Huckabee’s actions and outspoken support of the Jewish right to the land of Israel, which he expressed so

outside. Holding a sign at some demonstration or adding your name to a petition just doesn’t cut it. Here in Israel there is no such thing as not talking politics. It’s passed from mother to child in her milk. It’s discussed in business meetings and over millions of cups of coffee each day. It’s part of life and rightfully so! After all, this is not about someone else’s country … it’s about you and your family!

Around the world, elections take place all the time and while you may prefer one candidate over another, in most cases, it really doesn’t matter who wins. Life goes on, the kids grow up, and things are great. In Israel, however, if the wrong candidate gets elected, you can find your entire village destroyed, your house uprooted, your factory closed, and your city rocked by rockets and missiles. Think I’m kidding? Ask the people from Gush Katif, S’derot, and Kiryat Shemona.

Getting involved in Israeli politics is a must—especially for olim from Western countries who truly know what a democracy is. I am sure that you have seen great things accomplished by serious people who used the democratic process to make dramatic changes in many ways. Let’s start making those changes here as well. Join a political party—any one that speaks to you— make your voice heard and start making a difference!

Shmuel Sackett is a member of Likud’s Central Committee. He made aliyah in 1990 and is the cofounder and international director of Manhigut Yehudit. He lives with his family in Herzilia Pituach. Feel free to e-mail him at Shmuel@manhigut.org.

Our organization has written a respectful letter to Mr. Huckabee expressing our concerns. Included in that correspondence are the following questions: • Do you see any contradiction between your supporting Jewish territorial claims to the land of Israel while simultaneously endorsing missionary efforts which erode the spiritual foundations of Judaism?

• If you were U.S. president and Israel initiated measures to adopt counter-missionary legislation, in order to safeguard the spiritual integrity of the Jewish people, would you respect those moves or would you make use of international freedoms of religion legislation to challenge and pressure the Jewish state?

Is devout Baptist Mike Huckabee “our best friend”? Until we get some clarification, we suggest that the rule of the day be “respect and suspect”—“kabdeihu ve’chashdeihu.”

Ellen Horowitz Content and Research Director JewishIsrael.com

Is Now The Time To Invest In Real Estate?

BY AARON KATSMAN Global real estate markets have been crushed. With prices in some markets 50% lower than they were a few years ago, real estate seems to be cheap.

Owning property is part of most asset allocation models, meaning that it serves as a good diversification tool.

Even the Talmud is ‘pro’ real estate.

The Talmud (Bava Metzia 42a) advises that one should keep a third of one’s assets in property, another third in business, and the other third in cash.

For those of you who do not have exposure to real estate, the question is whether now is a good time to start to invest in real estate.

preciation, both the Bank of Israel and the government are doing all they can to try and cool off the local market.

Buy Low/Sell High Ahh, that old investing refrain. A good way to potentially make money is to buy quality assets when they are out of favor and trading at low levels. That brings us to international real estate. After such a serious fall, can prices keep dropping?

The answer to the question is a resounding, maybe! But for an investor, that question may be less relevant. It is virtually impossible to pick the exact low price of any asset. What is possible is to buy a quality asset at a huge discount— i.e., buying low.

Israel vs. The World

Options For Real Estate Investments

Although the local real estate market has been on a tear, it’s important to note that nothing goes up forever.

Moreover, investors should note that the old refrain, “real estate never goes down in Israel,” isn’t necessarily true.

In fact, earlier this decade, the real-estate market in the country was dormant. Keep in mind that while supply is limited and that is good for price ap-

1. Investment Property. Go out and buy an apartment. As an individual property owner, you are in control. You decide when to buy or sell, how much rent to charge, etc. There are a few negatives to an individual buying an investment property. When buying an investment property, a common problem faced by many individuals is raising the large amount of money needed to get started. Even

then, the high initial investment minimum means that most beginners are only able to purchase one property, and this lack of diversification enhances the risk involved with the investment. There is also the headache of being a landlord and having to deal with leaky faucets and burst pipes.

2. Real Estate Investment Trusts. Another option is to invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). A REIT is a trust company that raises a sum of money to buy, develop, manage, and sell assets in real estate. By purchasing one unit of a REIT, you are purchasing a part of a managed real-estate trust, providing much greater diversification. REITs are similar to investing in regular stocks, so there is no prohibitive minimum investment.

They are publicly traded on major stock exchanges, providing relatively quick liquidity. In addition, REITs are normally required to distribute 90% of the income that was generated from their real-estate holdings. This way, you receive your rental income without having to fix the plumbing!

3. Deals. There are many people out there peddling real estate deals. For a reasonable investment, you become a

limited partner in a group that is going to buy a building, a strip mall, or some other property whose price is well beyond the average person’s means. Keep in mind that you need to do a lot of due diligence on the people behind these deals to make sure they are honest. The media is full of stories of fraudulent real estate deals.

4. Related Stocks. Ask your financial professional for stocks that are related to the real estate market. They may include publicly traded roofing, landscaping, and lumber companies to name a few. These companies have the potential for price appreciation if the construction market would stabilize or start to grow in the U.S. Whether looking to enhance your income, or for a capital gain, at these depressed levels, real estate is worth taking a look at.

Aaron Katsman is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. a registered broker dealer, Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, NFA, SIFMA. For more information, call (02) 624-0995, visit www.aaronkatsman.com, or e-mail aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.

March 1, 2011 ʥʰʩʬʥʷ

15

Shmu’s Shmooze Jewish Geography

BY SHMUEL KATZ Wow. I think that sums it up. A nice small word that is read the same backward and forward, yet conveys the true meaning of how overwhelming the last two weeks have been. They have been wow.

There is no other way to explain the feeling of pulling up to Kibbutz Tel Yitzchak at 9:00 a.m. for only the second time in my life, driving around to the loading docks, and filling my Rodius with my first newspaper ever. It accurately describes three days of driving all over the country to meet storeowners and find outlets to distribute that same newspaper. And it certainly represents how quickly word started to get back to me from readers.

Having never actually published and/or edited a newspaper before, it was and continues to be a tremendous learning experience. Without the staff of the 5TJT and the designers of Design-ER, all of whom are veterans at this type of thing, neither the first edition nor this, our second edition, would have been in your hands. Thankfully, I am taking advantage of the very steep learning curve and definitely felt a lot less pressured this time around.

Another great benefit of getting the paper out was that people saw it and turned to us to contribute. It sparked activity in a few friends who helped us identify some areas where we could improve and provide better coverage to our readers. It also, like all firsts, began the treadmill of operations that are the lifeblood of any regular publication, finally setting us on a path that allows us to deliver news and information that we think is important to you.

You’ll see new writers in this edition of

the paper, along with what will be a rotating author for a Hebrew dvar Torah. We actually goofed a bit on that one and I take the blame. I forgot that it was a leap year and assumed that Vayakhel and Pekudei were joined as a double parashah. So, I asked our guest writer to write something on parashat Vayikra. When we realized my error, I contacted him and he graciously wrote an additional piece on Pekudei.

So now you are prepared for next week.

You’ll continue to see new writers and features as we continue to grow. Maybe something for the kids. A dining guide.

The list of ideas is long and we are always excited to get more suggestions, so please keep them coming.

Of course, there is a lighter side of life too. Things that have nothing to do with the news. And that is why we have Shmu’s Shmooze, a less formal review of the things that struck me this week and/or a story or two that reminded me about how things in Israel just do not follow the rules that seem to apply elsewhere.

Take last Wednesday. I had spent the entire day in Yerushalayim. I started the day with the brit milah of my new cousin Aryeh Engel, born to Daniel and Divi Engel (she is my first cousin, originally from Chicago). A simcha is always a great way to start the day, especially when I had the chance to wish my cousins and my Uncle Shimmy and Aunt Helen a mazal tov as well and catch up with them for a while.

The brit took place in the Zhvil building near Arzei Habira and my first meeting was in the Old City. The weather was sadly quite comfortable (I prefer rain, rain, rain), so I decided to walk there and enjoy the rush I get in walking to the Old City.

Walking also gives me a chance to think

and clear my head, which is also a well appreciated break.

After my meeting, I had to drop some papers off at some potential advertisers on Ben Yehuda. Sure, I could have cabbed it and saved 15 minutes of time, but I couldn’t resist the chance to stretch my legs again. The same thing happened when I needed to go from Ben Yehuda to the Central Bus Station (where I interviewed and hired our first intern ever— welcome aboard, Zahava).

My last meeting was in Har Chotzvim, and despite how much I longed to stroll there, I simply did not have the time and I ended up on the bus. By the time I headed for the bus stop to catch the 417 to Bet Shemesh, I was tired and dreading the long bus ride, first through the streets of Yerushalayim and then home.

So I am sure you can imagine my surprise when, as I was standing in the median strip waiting to cross the street, a driver behind me asked, “Hey, aren’t you Mordechai Katz’s father? Do you need a ride to Bet Shemesh?” I was thrilled to hop in the car.

The driver, Beverly Simkin, has a son who was in Gan Chova with Mordechai our first year here (he is now in kittah dalet) and recognized me as I crossed the street. Her friendly reaction in offering me a ride home was lucky for both of us. I got a comfortable seat, good conversation with her, her married son, and one of her daughters, and a quicker trip home than I anticipated.

The benefits to the Simkins did not become apparent quite so quickly. As we chatted about our kids and aliyah (they were also olim in our year), the kilometers flew by. The traffic was surprisingly

light. So light, that Mrs. Simkin commented that it must be the zechut of giving me a ride home that merited such a quick trip.

We continued to chat and she mentioned that her son and his wife (who had recently lost her mother) would soon be moving to Chicago. As a former Chicagoan, I played some Jewish geography with him. After a couple of minutes he commented, “It is nice to talk to someone who knows people in Chicago. Listen, if you know of anyone who is going to Chicago and might be able to take some things for us, please let me know.”

“Know?!?” I exclaimed, “Of course I know someone! My Uncle Shimon Ray, who you just told me is a friend of your in-laws? I attended his grandson’s brit milah this morning and he is flying to Chicago tonight! Let me give him a call and see what we can do.”

Which is exactly what I did. And everything worked out.

And that is another “only in Israel” moment and a good one at that. Think about all the variables. If I had taken one cab or bus instead of walking, I would not have been on that corner. If Mrs. Simkin had seen me and thought to herself, “Hey, there is Mordechai Katz’s dad, I have too many kids in the car to give him a lift.”

If we had not been chatting amiably, we would never have come to that topic.

Yet somewhere upstairs, it was decided that a suitcase needed to be brought to Chicago to help a young family in a move to support their siblings, when they all suffered a loss. And so the weather was right, the different variables combined, and we all were little part of a nice mitzvah.

That’s my “only in Israel” story this week, what’s yours?

WANT TO REACH CUSTOMERS IN THE USA? Contact our sales department at 052-952-7500 or advertising@koleinu.co.il and learn about marketing opportunities with our sister paper, The 5 Towns Jewish Times.

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