Queens Jewish Links, No. 27 (#122), July 30, 2015

Y WEEKL Candle-lighting/Shabbos ends

PAROL ED! SEE P. 43

Friday, July 31:

Kew Gardens Hills • Kew Gardens • Forest Hills • Hillcrest • Briarwood • Jamaica Estates Holliswood • Fresh Meadows • Great Neck • Rego Park • West Hempstead • New Hyde Park

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

July 30, 2015 • 14 Av 5775

Queens Family Man, Jeweler To The Stars Killed In Road Rage Incident

SEE STORY ON P. 25

Free

Rallying For Our Future

Mike Huckabee Wins Over Distinguished Orthodox Group In Jamaica Estates

Thousands gather at Times Square in “Stop Iran” rally to protest proposed disastrous deal with Iran

SEE STORY ON P. 42 AND SNAPSHOTS ON PAGES 26/27, 30/31

SEE STORY ON P. 48

As I See It

Shabbos Inbox

Op-Ed

A Shabbat Thought

Financially Forward

What Is In A Name?

Eat Your Frog

The Iran Deal: What We Can Do To Stop It

Jewish Genius

“Be Careful What You Wish For…”

By Eytan Kobre

By Cynthia Zalisky

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ew York’s senior United States Senator Charles Schumer often likes to remind people that his surname – Schumer – is a derivation of the Hebrew word “shomer,” meaning guardian, and he accentuates it to CONTINUED ON P. 21

See Centerfold

7:54/8:57

Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot fun until you get the bill.

-- Christopher Parker

N

ative American lore tells of an eagle flying high over the Niagara River on a cold and wintry day. Sighting a dead CONTINUED ON P. 11

By R’ David Algaze

J

hen we read Megilas Eichah on Tish’ah B’Av night, there was one pasuk that resonated more this year than in the past. The pasuk

ewish genius is not a rare phenomenon, and it has been well documented and noted.

Rashi comments that through our laws and behavior we will be recognized as a smart and wise nation in the eyes of the peoples of the world. This has certainly been the case. More and more research-

CONTINUED ON P. 33

CONTINUED ON P. 14

By Manny Behar

W

By Gerald Harris

T

he odds of being hit by lightning are about 1 in 1.1 million. The odds of being attacked by a shark are even more remote, about one in 3.7 million.

CONTINUED ON P. 23

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Stories Of Greatness R’ Dovid Hoffman

A

The Double Rescue

non-religious Israeli lawyer was taking a scenic drive with his wife alongside the Kinneret. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hysterical woman jumped onto the main road and began screaming and waving her arms, frantically trying to flag someone down. Cars swerved all around her and drivers angrily honked their horns at this “crazy” lady, but when she put her arms up and stood right in front of the lawyer’s car, he quickly braked to a halt.

“My daughters ... my two girls ... they can’t swim!” she screamed hysterically, and pointed down to a beach area where a few bathers had gathered at the water’s edge. “Please, please, somebody help them.

They’re drowning!”

The man jumped out of his car and ripped off his jacket. His wife began yelling, “Come back, it’s too dangerous. You must be careful after your heart attack!”

But he paid her no mind and dove right into the cool waters of the Kinneret.

After a long, agonizing moment, he surfaced, holding up the convulsing body of one of the girls and brought her to shore.

“Please,” cried the mother, “I have another daughter still in the water! Please save her!” The man turned and dove back into the water and a moment later, he came out dragging a limp body in his arms.

“Hold her head up,” someone cried, “she needs to get oxygen!” He hadn’t realized that as he was carrying her out, her head had fallen below the water’s surface and she had stopped moving. He quickly pulled her head up out of the water and dragged her to the beach where someone performed CPR and an ambulance was called.

It all happened so quickly and the girl was taken to the hospital where the prognosis was grim: Her head had been in the water for far too long and the doctors felt that her chances were not good. The family prayed for a miracle and Tehilim was said around the clock.

The next day, the doctors took a scan of the girl’s brain and were amazed to find that everything was perfectly normal. “I can’t believe it; regular brain activity has resumed,” said the astounded physician.

The girl woke up soon after and was well

enough to leave the hospital only two days later. The doctors said they had never seen anything like it. She was deprived of oxygen for so long; medically speaking, it was impossible to have this outcome.

A seudas hoda’ah (meal of thanks) was in order, and the family of the two rescued girls was determined to locate their rescuer. When he called the hospital to find out about the girls and left his number, the family managed to get hold of him and begged him to come. He was not religious at all but he felt that he wanted to be part of their simchah.

At the meal, he told his story. He was recovering from a heart attack before this incident, and he and his wife were headed up north for a vacation. When he saw the charedi woman in the street, his wife said keep driving – “She’s a meshuganeh” – but he decided to stop. Incredibly, just the previous week, as part of his therapy for his heart attack, he was in a hotel that had a pool, and he started to swim laps during the week. He was a former Olympic swimmer, but hadn’t swam in years. He had no doubt that had he not been swimming laps, he would not have been in shape to rescue their daughters. But he was, and after saving the first girl, he went back in for the second girl. To his dismay, he hadn’t realized that her head was still bobbing about in the water and he almost lost his mind from grief at what he had neglected. He was furious with himself and when he got home, he screamed, “It was my all fault; she could have lived!”

Frantic with worry, he got into his car and drove to the top of a mountain. There, he cried out, “G-d, I have never prayed before. I was raised on a kibbutz, and laughed at prayer. G-d, this is the first time in my life I’m praying to You. Please, G-d, consider it as if I prayed to You my whole life, and combine all those prayers that I could have said, and use them to save this girl. Please G-d, I’ll never be able to go on living, knowing that I caused her death!” He cried like that for hours.

Finally, he went home and called the hospital. “They told me,” he said, “that an hour ago, as I was saying this prayer, your daughter woke up!”

Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications. com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail Torahtavlin@yahoo.com

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Regular Features As I see it – Cynthia Zalisky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Beauty briefs – Risselle Naimark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Community calendar – Rebecca Wittert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Community corner – Susie Garber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34/35 Community snapshots – Yaakov Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-31 Dating today – Goldy Krantz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Delectable dishes – Estee Kafka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Financially forward – Gerald Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 For what it’s worth – Warren Hecht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Frontlines – Joseph Frager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 The Fun side – QJL Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52/53 Hooked on healing – Caroline Schumsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 House and home – Sarah Newcomb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Op-ed – Manny Behar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Politics and ethics – Abe Fuchs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Rabbis musings & amusings – R’ Dani Stam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 A Shabbat thought – R’ David Algaze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Shabbos inbox – Eytan Kobre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Shmuz – R’ Benzion Shafier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Snippets of strange – QJL Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-20 Stories of greatness – R’ Dovid Hoffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Style myths debunked – Meira E. Schneider-Atik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Special Articles The Iran Deal: What We Can Do To Stop It – Manny Behar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Queens Family Man Known As Jeweler To The Stars Killed In Road Rage Incident – Sergey Kadinsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Rallying For Our Future – Jeff Klapper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mike Huckabee Wins Over Distinguished Orthodox Group In Jamaica Estates – Abe Fuchs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 PUBLISHED BY Queens Jewish Link, LLC RABBINIC CONSULTANT Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld MANAGING EDITOR Naftali Szrolovits SENIOR CONSULTANTS Yaniv Meirov Cynthia Zalisky Helen Hoffman Jennifer Jaffe ADVERTISING MANAGER Yaakov Serle COPY EDITORS R’ Yisroel Benedek Rivky Bergstein STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Aharon Katz

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Shabbos Inbox Eytan Kobre

Eat Your Frog CONTINUED FROM P. 1

bull floating downriver, the eagle landed and sank its talons deep into the carcass and began to feed on it. It enjoyed the feast thoroughly and was hesitant to let go, thinking there was plenty of time to withdraw. So it continued to eat and planned to let go at the last minute. But as it approached the falls, the eagle realized its sad fate: its feet were frozen to the carcass, and it met a grisly demise on the boulders at the bottom of the falls.

As the yarn teaches, there is no anguish worse than that resulting from having procrastinated too long. Had the Jewish people cried one genuine cry before being exiled they would never have cried again (Yalkut Shimoni, Tehillim 137).

Had Moshe not procrastinated in praying to be allowed to enter the Land of Israel, his request would have been granted (Devarim 3:23 and Lev Eliyahu ad loc.).

R’ Yoel Sirkes (the Bach) once had a student who rented a small abode from the local “poritz,” the Polish landowner who could—and usually did—make life miserable for his Jewish tenants. The student’s finances took a turn for the worse, and eventually he lacked money with which to pay rent. The poritz threatened to evict him and his family.

With nowhere to turn, the student went to the Bach and poured out his soul. Now it just so happened that the Bach had another, wealthy student who was friends with the poritz and exerted some degree of influence over him. So the Bach suggested that the wealthy student intercede with the poritz on behalf of the student facing eviction.

Emissaries of the Bach arrived at the home of the wealthy student only to find him packing his bags. “I’d love to help,” the wealthy student explained, “but I just can’t at this moment. I have an important business deal in another city and must leave at once. Rest assured, though, I will do everything I can upon my return.”

It sounded like a reasonable plan.

But by the time the wealthy student returned from his business trip, the poor student and his wife and small children

had been evicted and shoved out onto the street for a full week. Eventually, the wealthy student returned and prevailed upon the poritz to forego the outstanding rent balance, and the poor student and his family moved back into their humble abode.

But it was too little, too late. The wealthy student passed away a short while later, and the Bach related that this wealthy student had been admitted to Gan Eden—but he would be made to wait sever years before his soul could enter, one for each day his procrastination caused the poor student and his family to live on the street.

There’s no shortage of warnings for the perpetual procrastinator (see e.g.

Pele Yo’etz, “Dechiya”). “One who pushes off the time, time will push him off” (Berachos 64a). “When the horn is sounded in [the market of] Rome, you, the son of the fig-seller, sell your father’s figs [and don’t wait for him to arrive]” (Berachos 62b). “Do not say, ‘When I am free I will study [Torah],’ for maybe you will never be free” (Avos 2:5; see Rambam, Talmud Torah 3:7). “And, if not now, when?” (Avos 1:14). Good deeds should be performed without delay (Mechilta, Bo 9).

Although they would not become operative until those in the Land of Israel were designated, Moshe decided to designate the three trans-Jordanian Cities of Refuge because he refused to procrastinate; rather, he reasoned, “if there’s a commandment to fulfill, I will fulfill it immediately” (Devarim 4:41; Makkos 10a).

Likewise, Naomi knew that once Boaz wanted to marry Rus, he would do so immediately: “the man will not rest, until he has finished the matter this day” (Rus 3:18). Because successful people don’t procrastinate. They do—and they do now.

When attacked by Amalek, Moshe told Yehoshua to “pick men for us, and go out and fight against Amalek, tomorrow, I will stand on top of the mountain with the staff of G-d in my hand’” (Shemos 17:9; Yoma 52a-b). But the word “tomorrow” is ambiguous: Did Moshe tell Yehoshua to fight tomorrow or did he expect Yehoshua to fight that day and that he would join them tomorrow? R’ Yosef Chaim

Sonnenfeld explains that the Torah purposely left the reference to “tomorrow” vague to teach us that the power of the Evil Inclination (symbolized through Amalek) is in procrastination, in “tomorrow.” “It can wait ‘till tomorrow!”

But there’s no guarantee you’re going to show up tomorrow. The Brisker Rav once asked a prominent community alderman to prepare an important letter just before Shabbos. The alderman asked whether it had to be done at such a busy time or could wait until immediately after Shabbos. The Brisker Rav shot him a puzzled look. “Who said you’ll be alive after Shabbos?” Once you’ve put off something until tomorrow, you’ve already lost. As an old Spanish proverb observes, “Tomorrow is the busiest day of the week.”

That’s the reason we’re told to do things in the here and now—today. “And

you should know today, and return it to your heart, that [our G-d] is G-d in the heavens above and upon the earth below” (Devarim 4:39). “And these words that I command you today should be on your hearts” (Devarim 6:6). “And you should guard the commandments… that I command you today to do them (Devarim 7:11)—“today is the time to do the commandments, and not tomorrow; today is the time to do them, and tomorrow is the time to reap the reward” (Eruvin 22a; Avoda Zara 3a). “And now, Israel, what does G-d ask of you but to fear [Him]…” (Devarim 10:12). “See, I have given you today, blessing and curse” (Devarim 11:26). “Today, if you listen to His voice” (Tehillim 95:7). Never tomorrow.

Always today. Always now.

Halacha, too, regards procrastination CONTINUED ON P. 23

Eytan Kobre is a lecturer, writer, and attorney, residing in Kew Gardens Hills with his wife and children. He can be contacted at eakobre@gmail.com.

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A Shabbat Thought R’ David Algaze

Jewish Genius “See I taught you decrees and ordinances from Hashem…you shall safeguard and perform them, for it is your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of the peoples, who shall hear all these decrees and say, ’Surely a wise and discerning people is this great nation!’”

(Devarim 4:5-6) CONTINUED FROM P. 1

ers and students of medicine, psychology, health, and other social sciences have noticed the wisdom of many Jewish customs.

The low incidence of cervical cancer among Jews, for instance, can be traced directly to the benefits of circumcision. The halakha of mourning practices has been hailed as one of the most salutary ways of coping with loss. Many studies have documented the health benefits of a kosher diet. In the Middle Ages, when the bubonic plague erupted, Jews were accused of planting the poison because they were almost totally spared from the scourges of the disease – undoubtedly due to the hygienic practices that are commanded by Jewish law.

Research may surely yield many more

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instances of the wisdom of our laws and demonstrate with greater clarity their divine origin. In every field someone may discover a perfectly rational reason behind every commandment. Our Rabbis resisted the temptation to study and find out the reasons behind the commandments (ta’ame hamitz-

understand fully the wisdom and reason behind every one of the mitzvoth.

One of the most fascinating facts is the enormous accomplishment of Jews in relationship to their numbers. Jews constitute only a fraction of one percent of the world’s population, and yet their presence

One of the most fascinating facts is the enormous accomplishment of Jews in relationship to their numbers vot) because they were afraid that people may find alternative ways of achieving the same purpose and discard the mitzvah. Additionally, they wanted people to highlight their commitment to Hashem by observing the laws out of obedience rather than mere reason. However, although today we distinguish between the hukkim (laws that have no rational explanation at present) and mishpatim (rational laws that would be legislated anywhere) – the day will come when all laws will become clear to us and we will

in the annals of scientific accomplishments is nothing short of miraculous. To take the case of Nobel Prizes, the number of prizes awarded to Jews is astounding. In the first half of the 20th century, despite the discrimination against Jews and despite the Holocaust, Jews won 14 percent of Nobel prizes in literature, chemistry, physics,

and medicine/physiology. In the second half of the 20th century the figure rose to 29 percent. So far, in the 21st century, it is 32 percent. (source: Charles Murray, “Jewish Genius,” Commentary, April 2007) It is noteworthy that in trying to explain the reasons behind this phenomenon, researchers try to find a Jewish gene, the development of higher IQ due to persecutions, the tendency to marry scholars, and many other theories. At the end of his survey of all hypotheses, the author writes, “At this point, I take sanctuary in my remaining hypothesis, uniquely parsimonious and happily irrefutable: the Jews are G-d’s chosen people.” The people who received the Torah at Sinai, who have made learning a cornerstone of their culture and who faithfully and meticulously observed all the mitzvoth of the Creator of the world, has acquired the reputation promised to them by Moshe Rabbeinu, “For it (the Torah) is the source of your wisdom and intelligence.”

Rabbi David Algaze is the founder and Rav of Havurat Yisrael, Forest Hills. He is a noted public speaker and author and is the President of the international Committee for the Land of Israel.

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The Shmuz On The Parshah R’ Ben Tzion Shafier

The Midah Of Rachamim “And pays back His enemies in their lifetime to destroy them.”

– Devarim 7:10

R

ashi explains this pasuk to mean that Hashem pays back His enemies in this world so that there will be nothing owed to them in the World to Come, and then they can be destroyed.

The Rishonim tell us that one of the worst punishments a person can possibly suffer is to be paid back his reward in this world. Since our stay on this planet is so fleeting, if a person is paid the reward for his good deeds in this world rather than in the World to Come, it is to his eternal misfortune, and is something that Hashem will only do in retribution for wickedness.

This concept is difficult to understand. If this person is an enemy of Hashem, why does Hashem have to pay him back any reward at all, whether in this world or the next? Why not simply destroy him?

To better understand this question, it will be helpful to focus our perspective.

Hashem owes us nothing One of the manifestations of the immature person is a sense of entitlement.

I am entitled to every benefit under the sun. I am entitled to life, health, and well-being. That is a given; that is the starting point. It’s all coming to me. And even if I grant that you have done something for me, what have you done for me lately? This attitude of entitlement strains many relationships, and is one of the most difficult parts of our serving Hashem.

The Chovos Ha’Levavos explains that one of the realities of life is that a person isn’t entitled to anything. A person has to earn what he enjoys. We are the recipients of much good, not because we are entitled, not because anything is coming to us, but because Hashem gives freely.

Hashem owes us nothing.

In reality, we are deeply indebted to Hashem for everything that He does for us. If a person ever wanted to enter into judgment with Hashem, comparing what Hashem has given to him versus what he has given back, even the greatest tzadik would fall woefully short and would have no reward waiting for him.

However, as long as a person lives in accordance with the Torah, then what he receives in this world remains a gift, free to him without expectation of anything in return, and his reward remains intact in the World to Come.

Therefore, this question is powerful.

If the Torah describes someone as an enemy of Hashem, then Hashem should simply act with strict justice, charge him for all he received in this world, and there would be no reward left. Why does Hashem have to bother even paying him back with reward in this world?

Why did Hashem create this world?

The answer to this question lies in

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understanding why Hashem created this world.

The first, most basic understanding that a person must come to if he wants to relate to Hashem is that Hashem lacks

Before I was created, what did I do to merit being created?

By definition, the answer is nothing.

I didn’t exist; therefore, I couldn’t merit anything. Once I come to grips with that

I am the recipient of good, not because I am entitled, not because it is coming to me, but because Hashem gives freely nothing. Hashem is complete. When Hashem created this world, it wasn’t for Him. It was for us. It was to give of His good to others. We are the recipients of that good. When Hashem put us on the planet, it was so that we could earn our reward in the World to Come – the ultimate good for man. There we can enjoy Hashem’s presence, there we can bask in His glory, and there we can enjoy the ultimate happiness that man can find.

There is nothing in it for Hashem. Hashem is the Giver.

What happens when man veers off course?

concept, I now have a starting point to understand my relationship with Hashem.

I am the recipient of good, not because I am entitled, not because it is coming to me, but because Hashem gives freely, without holding back and without expecting anything in return.

As I stand here today, I may have sullied myself, and I am therefore not deserving of anything from Hashem, but very little has changed since my birth.

Before I was created, I wasn’t worthy of anything. Yet, Hashem created me because He is giving. So, too, now, I am surely not deserving, but I can trust in the kindliness of Hashem to have mercy and provide for me. Much like a rebellious child who knows that his father will always love him and that he can always turn to him, so, too, we are called children of Hashem. We can always rely on that mercy.

For that reason, provided that we follow the Torah’s system and sincerely attempt to serve Hashem and improve ourselves, we can always rely on Hashem, even if it is true that we aren’t deserving.

Born and bred in Kew Gardens Hills, R’ Ben Tzion Shafier joined the Choftez Chaim Yeshiva after high school. Shortly thereafter he got married and moved with his new family to Rochester, where he remained in for 12 years. R’ Shafier then moved to Monsey, NY, where he was a Rebbe in the new Chofetz Chaim branch there for three years. Upon the Rosh Yeshiva’s request, he stopped teaching to devote his time to running Tiferes Bnei Torah. R” Shafier, a happily married father of six children, currently resides in Monsey.

Hashem also recognized that man will likely veer off course during his lifetime. According to strict judgment, man should then immediately lose his lease on life. The King of Kings created you and told you not to do something, but you had the audacity to violate His will! The punishment should be immediate and severe. However, man will inevitably sin, so the world cannot survive strict judgment. Therefore, Hashem created the world with the system of rachamim. Now, when man fails, the midah of rachamim calls out to forgive him and overlook what he has done.

According to strict judgment, of course, he is completely guilty. But rachamim says, “There were mitigating factors that influenced him – environmental, social, and personal factors.” And so, Hashem has mercy.

This seems to be the answer to the question. The attribute of mercy is so powerful that it comes into play even with someone whom the Torah calls an enemy of Hashem and who deserves to be eliminated. The midah still calls out in his defense. For that reason, if it could be, Hashem feels obligated to at least pay back this wicked person in this world, as if to say, “Pay him back for whatever good he did so that I can be rid of him.”

What right do I have to ask Hashem for anything This concept has great relevance in our lives. Many times a person may feel, “What right do I have to ask Hashem for help? After everything that Hashem has showered upon me, do I serve Him as I should? Most of the time, I don’t even feel grateful for what was given to me.

How can I now have the audacity to ask Hashem to intervene on my behalf?”

The answer to this dilemma can be found by asking one revealing question:

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Snippets Of Strange California Woman Offers Home As Prize In Dessert Contest

A

Northern California woman is offering a sweet deal on her 1906 Craftsman home. She’s trading it for a great dessert.

Erin Allard is hosting a dessert contest with the 2,267-square-foot century-old home as the grand prize. The four bedroom, two bathroom home has been restored and is valued at $390,000.

She says she opted for the competition because it can take months to sell a home in the area in which she lives.

Allard, who is a licensed real estate agent, has spent weeks checking details and legalities to make sure the competition goes off without a problem.

The contest will be judged by a panel of food experts. Those looking to apply have until Sept. 7 to submit a $100 entry fee and a million-dollar recipe.

Toll Operator Says He Was Fired For Not Charging Driver

French language, but began memorizing words from the dictionary near the end of May -- only nine weeks before the contest.

“He’s not a francophone, I can confirm that,” Yves Brenez, vice president of the Belgian Scrabble federation and organizer of the Francophone championships, said.

“Nigel will say ‘bonjour’ with an accent and he can also give the score in French, which is obligatory, but that’s all.”

“The challenge was a bit crazy, but he learned French vocabulary in only nine weeks. He’s a fighting machine. To him words are just combinations of letters,” Brenez said. “I’m perhaps exaggerating a bit, but he comes up with scrabbles (words of seven or more letters) that others take 10 years to know.”

Woman Pinned To Her Bed By 5,000-Pound Tree

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77-year-old Florida man has been fired from his job as a toll booth operator after reportedly using his own money to pay a toll for a tractor trailer whom he had undercharged.

Vladislav “Sam” Samsonov had worked at the toll booth in southwest Florida for almost 30 years when he was asked to scale back his hours after his bosses discovered the incident. He refused the deal and was terminated.

This wasn’t the first time Samsonov’s supervisors had told him not to pay drivers’ charges with money from his own pocket.

New French-Language Scrabble Champ Doesn’t Speak French

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New Zealand Scrabble player who has only been studying the French language since the end of May has been crowned the world champion for francophone Scrabble.

The Federation Internationale de Scrabble Francophone -- the French-language Scrabble federation -- announced New Zealand native Nigel Richards triumphed over a native French speaker during the final game of the tournament last Monday in Belgium to take the title of world champion.

Richards, who has previously won championships for the English version of the game, told officials he does not speak the

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A

New York state fire department said it took about two hours to rescue a woman who was pinned down by a 5,000-pound tree that crashed into her bedroom.

The 5,000-pound tree crashed into the 20-year-old woman’s second-story bedroom while she was sleeping just after midnight early last Monday.

Fire officials said they used hydraulic lifts to free the woman in a 2-hour operation that involved responders from many different emergency units.

The woman was hospitalized in stable condition. Police said the woman may have incurred more serious injuries if she hadn’t been sleeping on her side when the tree fell.

Police said investigators are working to determine why the tree fell.

Starbucks Lifts Ban On Man Who Confronted Drivers In Spaces For Disabled

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Florida man said Starbucks has lifted a lifetime ban he was given for asking people not to illegally use parking spaces reserved for the disabled.

Rob Rowen, who said he has been pa-

tronizing the Tampa Starbucks for several years, said he recently started asking drivers to move their cars after he noticed how often vehicles were parked in the handicapped-accessible spaces without the proper placards on their cars.

“My son-in-law has muscular dystrophy and is in a power wheelchair. I’ve seen so many times, the issue of him trying to find a parking space,” Rowen said.

He said his efforts began by telling a man he would publicly embarrass him for parking illegally, and he later had a confrontation with a woman after snapping a picture of her license plate.

“She said, ‘I’m calling the police, you’re harassing me.’ I said, ‘go right ahead,’ so she ended up getting a ticket, which felt really good,” Rowen said.

He said a complaint from a driver whom he had asked to move led to a confrontation with the store’s manager, who told him he was banned from the store. Rowen said he appealed to the district manager, but was told the ban would be upheld because he was “harassing people.”

Rowen said he later received a letter from Starbucks in the mail, and he expected it to contain an apology. However, he said it instead told him he was banned from all of the chain’s locations worldwide.

“I regret to inform you you’ve been expelled from Starbucks,” Rowen quoted the letter as saying.

AStarbucks spokeswoman said Rowen’s attitude upset the chain’s “welcoming environment.”

“We understand Mr. Rowen’s concerns and have been speaking with him about this. Unfortunately, he became confrontational toward other customers, and we have asked him to refrain from visiting the store. We expect all of our customers to treat each other and our partners [employees] respectfully. We have been speaking with the landlord to improve the parking situation.”

Rowen said in a Facebook post he spoke with a Starbucks senior vice president from a regional office and the ban was lifted.

“The ban is lifted, but it is not about the ban, it is about the way they relate to their handicapped patrons. I told him [there] needs to be change to their store and local regional managers as they did not seem alarmed about protecting their disabled customers, but more alarmed about protecting their illegally parking customers,” he wrote.

Hackers Take Control Of Jeep Driving On The Highway

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pair of security experts showed the dangers of a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles security flaw by taking control of a Jeep on the highway.

Security experts Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek said they used a laptop computer

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and a cellphone on the Sprint network to exploit a security hole in Fiat Chrysler’s Uconnect Internet-enabled software to disable the engine and brakes on a Jeep Cherokee while reporter Andy Greenberg was driving on a stretch of highway in St. Louis.

Greenberg said Miller and Valasek were able to remotely wrest control of the radio, air conditioning, steering wheel and brakes while having a photo of themselves projected on the car’s digital display.

The hackers said the demonstration was different from their previous vehicle hacking attempts on a Ford Escape and a Toyota Prius because the Fiat Chrysler security flaw was exploited remotely and did not require them to directly wire into the car.

“From an attacker’s perspective, it’s a super nice vulnerability,” Miller said.

Miller and Valasek said they informed Fiat Chrysler of the security flaw about nine months ago, and a security update to close the hole was released July 16.

“This update might not sound particularly important, but trust me, if you can, you really should install this one,” Miller tweeted.

One computer security expert agreed that the update is crucial.

“Note that the researchers believe that, although they’ve only tested it out on Jeeps, the attacks could be tweaked to work on any Chrysler car with a vulnerable Uconnect head unit,” he wrote on his website.

“You should consider installing a security update that Jeep has issued for cars fitted with a model RA3 or model RA4 radio/navigation system.”

Florida Man Wins Hemingway Look-Alike Contest In Key West

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white-bearded Florida man has won the “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest on his 15th attempt.

Retired air traffic controller Charlie Boice prevailed last week at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a hangout of Ernest Hemingway during his Key West residency in the 1930s.

A panel of former contest winners chose Boice, 56, who said he shares Hemingway’s CONTINUED ON P. 19

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Snippets Of Strange CONTINUED FROM P. 18

passion for marlin fishing.

Celebrity cook Paula Deen’s husband finished in the top five.

The contest attracted 122 entrants. It’s a highlight of the annual Hemingway Days festival honoring the author’s literary legacy.

During his Key West years, Hemingway wrote the novel “To Have and Have Not.”

560-Pound Man Biking Across US To Lose Weight

Newport Bicycle is outfitting Hites with a new bike that can withstand his weight.

In two weeks on the road, the 40-yearold says he’s lost 60 pounds.

Hites, who currently wears size 70 pants and a 10X T-shirt, says he’s always been a big person. He hopes to lose hundreds of pounds and gather material for a second book.

He previously authored a humorous cookbook entitled “Everybody Loves Ramen,” which includes 50 recipes he developed in college.

NY Lottery Used Stick Figure Posters To Seek Winner

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A

560-pound man biking across the United States to lose weight hit a snag in Rhode Island.

A bent rim on Eric Hites’ bicycle has kept him in Rhode Island since late last week, 90 miles from where his ride began in Massachusetts.

14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

he New York Lottery used posters of a crudely drawn stick figure in an attempt to identify the person who purchased a $7 million winning ticket.

The lottery put up posters last week in Brooklyn with the hope of catching the attention of the person who bought the winning Cash4Life ticket July 24 of last year at the Milky Way Deli.

The winner had until last Friday to claim the prize.

One of the posters features a drawing of a stick figure holding a crudely drawn lottery ticket with the caption, “Is this you?”

The poster identifies the hat-wearing stick figure as “a male or female who is rich but doesn’t know it yet.”

Another poster features only the drawing of a lottery ticket and reads, “Have you seen me?”

“We are urging players to check and double-check their tickets one last time for the chance to claim this $7 million jackpot

prize,” said Gardner Gurney, acting director of the Division of the Lottery.

The winning ticket bears the numbers 05 - 20 - 35 - 43 - 48 and the Cash Ball number 03.

in surprise when she exits the building to find the band standing in a line and playing the school’s fight song, “On Wisconsin.”

Marching Band Greets Chemo Patient After Final Treatment

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woman who joked about wanting a marching band for her last chemotherapy appointment was treated to a surprise appearance by the University of Wisconsin band.

Ann Trachtenberg had joked to her niece that a marching band should play her out from her final chemotherapy appointment at the facility, so her niece secretly arranged for the school’s band to surprise Trachtenberg outside the hospital.

The video shows Trachtenberg laughing

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CONTINUED ON P. 20

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Snippets Of Strange CONTINUED FROM P. 19

The patient’s daughter thanked supporters in a comment on the post.

“Thank you to the UW Carbone Center for taking great care of my mom, to the UW marching band for providing the perfect celebratory soundtrack, to my amazing cousin for all she has done over the past few months, to our family and friends who have provided support in many ways, and to all of you for your kind and supportive comments here!” she wrote.

Spider Interrupts Meteorologist To Catch Its Breakfast

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Michigan meteorologist using a live stream from an outdoor camera during his report was interrupted by what appeared to be a giant spider catching breakfast.

Garry Frank was using a live video feed of the sunrise from a camera atop a building in Grand Rapids when the giant image of a spider came into view on the live stream behind him.

“That’s not a cloud!” Frank said when the giant spider image -- actually a normal-sized spider crawling directly on the lens -- appeared.

Frank decided to let the camera continue to play for a moment.

“But we’ll just kinda sit here and watch this guy,” Frank said. “He’s gonna catch one of these flies.”

The meteorologist offered the spider some encouragement as it lunged toward a fly.

“That’s an impressive spider. Get him!

Yeah! Got him!” Frank said.

ons and if any of the firearms have been linked to any crimes.

Detectives with a warrant entered the man’s home after the discovery of his body because they were looking for evidence that would explain his death.

The number of firearms at the house far exceeded the haul from a recent Los Angeles gun-buyback collection. On May 9, authorities rounded up 746 guns in exchange for supermarket gift cards they gave individuals who turned in the weapons, part a program intended to make the city’s streets safer.

Bus Driver Pulls Over To Buy Lemonade For Passengers

Plane Nearly Overturns In Strong Wind During Netherlands Landing

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he Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shared video of a bus driver stopping his vehicle at a roadside lemonade stand to buy beverages for his passengers.

The video shows driver John Lohan get off the bus while driving his route one afternoon last week and purchase lemonade for himself and his six passengers.

Lohan said he came up with the idea when he spotted the lemonade stand earlier in the day and he checked with his passengers to make sure they agreed to the stop.

“I said to them, ‘If any of you are in a hurry or need to make a connection, I’ll keep going,’” Lohan said.

Lohan said it was a brief stop.

“I thought it would take 90 seconds, tops,” he said. “Which is about what it was. ... I wait at red lights longer than that.”

The driver said he was pleased to find

R

ough weather in the Netherlands made for a rough landing that nearly turned disastrous for a KLM plane being pushed around by the wind.

The KLM Boeing 777 was coming in for a landing last Saturday during rough weather at the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam when the rough winds pushed the plane back and forth and nearly turned the jet onto its side just before its landing gear touched down.

the price of lemonade has not increased from the 50 cents he recalled paying during his own childhood.

“I was surprised by that,” he said. “Decades ago, it was 50 cents. I thought it was a good deal.”

Lohan said a repeat of the adventure is unlikely.

“All the stars were aligned,” he said. “The conditions were just right. ... Ninety percent of the time, you can’t do that on the job.”

Police Find 1,200 Guns At Dead Man’s House

A video posted to YouTube shows the pilot was able to make a last-second correction for a relatively smooth landing.

Recent storms in the Netherlands have been blamed for at least one death, but the KLM pilot was able to prevent any of the jet’s passengers from being added to the toll.

Police: Man Who Called 911 Sought Help With Air Conditioner

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olice uncovered a cache of 1,200 guns and more than 2 tons of ammunition in the Los Angeles home of a man found dead nearby, and investigators are checking if he legally owned the weapons and whether any were used in a crime.

Officers made the discovery after the man’s body was found in a car in West Los Angeles last Friday.

The 1,200 firearms found at the man’s home included handguns, rifles and shotguns. The weapons and 2 tons of ammunition were taken to the police department’s property division.

While there is no absolute limit to the number of guns a person can legally own in California, LAPD spokeswoman Officer Liliana Preciado said investigators will check who was the registered owner of the weap-

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tate police say a Pennsylvania man with a penchant for making unnecessary emergency calls recently complained of chest pains so he could ask medics to help him fix his air conditioner.

Twenty-six-year-old Travis Turner was charged last Wednesday with obstructing emergency services and disorderly conduct.

Troopers say Turner has called 911 dispatchers or the state police 63 times in the last three years for minor or harassing complaints.

In December, they charged him. The complaint later was withdrawn and Turner was warned to stop making such calls.

But police say Turner called 911 again.

They say that when an ambulance arrived, Turner said he didn’t have any medical issues but needed help with his air conditioner.

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

As I See It Cynthia Zalisky

What Is In A Name?

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

mean “shomer Yisrael.” He always gloats that when the chips are down, he will be the guardian of Israel’s and America’s best interests.

The problem with Senator Schumer’s pledge is that he is anxiously aspiring to replace retiring Democratic minority leader Harry Reid, but he cannot do that without the blessing of the White House. So he is walking a fine line.

Should he come out on the side of equity and justice and lead the opposition against this bad nuclear agreement in the Senate? If so, he will surely feel Obama’s wrath and vindictiveness and lose the Senate leadership. Or, should he placate Obama for personal aggrandizement – selling us all down the river? Should he be our “shomer” or watch his own political back? It is a tremendous dilemma for the Senator.

Senator Schumer defended himself by telling MSNBC last Monday, “There are times when I’ve broken with the president before, when I really think that I have a different point of view, and the right thing is not what he is doing.” But there cannot be a more urgent time for Senator Schumer to stand up for what’s right and not toe the party line than now.

It is considered unlikely that Congress will be able to garner the twothirds majority in each chamber needed to overcome a promised presidential veto of any resolution rejecting the nuclear deal, unless there will be a tremendous outcry from the American people that will scare the elected officials and jeopardize their electability. Fourteen Democrat senators must join the Republican majority in opposing this pact.

It is believed that if Senator Schumer steps up to the plate, seven other Democrat senators will immediately come on board and he has the clout to bring more in if (and that is the operative word) – if he will conduct himself as a “shomer.” He should be mindful of Mordechai HaTzadik’s admonition to Queen Esther in the Megillah: “If you fail to seize the moment now, salvation will come from elsewhere, and you and your father’s house will be lost…if you do not help your people, Hashem will find another to do the job.”

If Charles Schumer will be a true “shomer Yisrael” – or just a typical political hack – remains to be seen. The pressure is definitely on him. As Benny Avni wrote in a New York Post article, “Choose wisely, Chuck. This could well be the moment that’s turned you from partisan hero to historical figure, a man of conscience.” I truly hope that Senator Schumer has the guts to do what is morally correct.

The Obama administration is deliberately playing games with Congress. The president outmaneuvered them by first going to the United Nations to get their unanimous approval of the resolution phasing out all international sanctions against Iran before Congress even has

a chance to vote on the deal, which is scheduled for the middle of September.

Legislators from both parties were livid at the slight. Obama wants to make this a fait accompli situation in which the members of the legislative bodies

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has been quoted as saying that she has received about 400 calls to approve the deal and 36 not to. We have our work cut out for us. The task at hand is to target all those we feel strong affinity with

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has been quoted as saying that she has received about 400 calls to approve the deal and 36 not to.

We have our work cut out for us would have no say. But that is unconstitutional. Congress and only Congress can approve of this deal.

Senator Schumer and his colleagues just have to listen to the rants of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who recently said that US policies were 180 degrees opposite Iran’s. He also went on to say that Iran has no plans to cooperate with the United States: “Even after this deal, our policy toward the arrogant US will not change.” You do not have to be a rocket scientist to see that the mullahs cannot be trusted.

Unfortunately, President Obama and Secretary Kerry can’t be trusted either.

Despite a law requiring the deal to be reviewed by Congress, key aspects of it were included in ancillary agreements not meant to be shared with lawmakers or the public. Only American legislators can put continued pressure on this treacherous regime whose motto is “Death to America.” Also disturbing is the cavalier attitude by the administration concerning the four Americans being held captive by Tehran. Why wasn’t their release a prerequisite for any agreement in Vienna?

Congress has two months to consider whether to exercise its power to disapprove of the sanctions relief dictated by the Iran deal. Senators should question the fact that Tehran will receive upwards of one hundred billion dollars and other lifted sanctions on its banks, transportation companies, and energy sector at the outset of the deal. What is Iran going to do with all this wealth? The lawmakers should be deeply concerned that this economic windfall will be used to arm Hezbollah and Hamas. This infusion of massive amounts of cash into Iran’s hands permits the mullahs and their surrogates to continue their aggression against the United States, Europe, and Israel. This is a frightening security issue for the entire Western world.

We must prevent this from happening. The Constitution begins with the words “We the people.” We must demand that this deal be rejected in Washington. Constituents from every nook and cranny of this country must bombard their members of Congress in both houses to express their desire that the Iranian nuclear agreement be rejected or, as we screamed at the Times Square rally last Wednesday evening, “Kill the bill.”

to demand that they put partisan politics aside and vote to reject the pact.

Senator Schumer and the members of the New York federal delegations must be contacted. The lawmakers are counting phone calls and e-mails. It is incumbent on us to respond to the challenge.

Jews cannot sit back on this one and let

others do the job for us.

A disturbing recent poll showed that American Jews are much likelier than non-Jews to back the Iran nuclear deal.

The Los Angeles Jewish Journal poll published last Thursday shows 49% of American Jews support the deal and 31% oppose it. Among all Americans, 28% support and 24% oppose the pact. The poll was conducted by phone between July 16 and July 20. We must bust this trend by our pro-active actions.

According to a New York Post editorial of July 23, “[t]housands of his [Senator Schumer’s] constituents rallied against the deal Wednesday in Times Square.

Backing it – to please Obama and other Democrats – may help Schumer’s personal political prospects. But his constituents in America, and Israel, come first.” With Hashem’s mercy, Senator Schumer will be our shomer Yisrael and live up to his name.

Cynthia Zalisky is the Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community. She can be contacted at czalisky@qjcc.org 14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

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Hooked On Healing Caroline Schumsky, LCSW, MS

Words You Regret? I Bet.

I

f you think I talk too much, let me know and we can talk about it. Heh Ever blurt out something and feel oh so remorseful just a tad later? Verbally impulsive, are you? You typed it, posted it, e-mailed it, and pressed Send. Before you can blink, it already hit the next server.

Yikes. Gosh, why did I say that! What was I thinking…or was I thinking at all?

Where is the Undo button? The Delete button? Much of mass communication, my friends, has morphed into miscommunication.

What really irks you the most is when you have some time to relive it. Your gossip about someone? Your showing off or desperately trying to prove yourself by trying to convince others of your obvious greatness? Oh dear. Your non-stop whining or complaining about “stuff” in your daily life?

When was the very last time you spoke out of sheer anger or frustration? How did it feel a couple of hours later? Did you lose a friend, get into a fist fight (heaven forfend), or had to soothe hurt feelings for what seemed like forever? Perhaps you were just trying to be funny or simply felt that you must contribute something to the conversation.

Did you ever fire off that angry e-mail only to be mortified for days afterwards?

Ever try to get back a stone after you threw it… or time, after it had already passed? Or some words after you said them? Trust me: Even the swiftest horse can’t retrieve them.

Ya’ can’t take back words any more than

you can bullets, once you fired.

If you wouldn’t write it and sign it, perhaps you’d best not say it.

So how to prevent automatic pilot talking, you ask? First off, don’t take another mouthful before you have swallowed what is in your mouth.

1Halt before you Find Fault.

Okay. This one’s torture for me: Talk less. I know. I know. But hey, you can’t say anything you lament later when you aren’t talking at all, right?

Relax, listen, and observe others talking. Trust me, someone always wants the floor.

That’s right. Take a breather. Inhale and exhale even if it’s just for a few seconds. Break the spell instead of the usual pushbutton, kneejerk response. You will be surprised how much larger that moment will become. And do wait at least three seconds before you even begin to speak, please.

1...2...3. That wasn’t so hard, was it?

Dislike 2Find out what YouBefore you Strike.

So you got riled up enough to say something you regret. We have all been there.

But do we know what caused us to sink, slide, and slip into that mode? Dig a bit deeper. We have much to learn about the sensitive, thin-skinned, vulnerable parts of ourselves. If what you have to share is ego-driven and only serves to puff you up – then suck it up, Buttercup, and do not

share – at least not now, while you are simmering or on a slow burn. If something goes without saying…let it.

3Contemplate and Deliberate.

Instead of allowing your responses to be instinctual and involuntary, be deliberate and intentional. But, Caroline, isn’t that just another way of saying: “Think, before

you speak”? Heck, yea. Say it a few times in your head before you let the words escape your lips. Think twice, Speak once. A reflective, intentional thought is one that you will most likely not want to sigh or pine over or wish you had a “do-over” machine for.

So, how to save face? Keep the lower half shut. Heh. Trust me: You won’t get a bellyache by swallowing hurtful words.

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18 They say a tongue has no bones and yet is strong enough to break a heart. Always remember, sweet friends, that if your words did hurt someone, expressive words of forgiveness can soothe the pain – big time. So be a bit of bakery. It’s okay to sugar-coat things.

Feel free to reach out to me and speak your mind. I know how hard it can be to bite your tongue. Heh.

Caroline is a licensed psychotherapist, Crisis Counselor, writer, and dance instructor. She has worked extensively with Jewish outreach and is an individual psychotherapist. She can be reached at 917-717-1775, Safehavenhealing@gmail.com, or facebook.com/pages/SafeHaven-Healing.

Community Corner • Recent Happenings

KGH Jewish Library Celebrates 1,000-Book Milestone

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ehind an unassuming door on a quiet street in Kew Gardens Hills lies a surprise: a Jewish Library. The library, founded two and a half years ago, has flourished and become a neighborhood treasure.

Each week, dozens of books are checked out and returned by the hundreds of library members.

With the help of generous families who continue to donate books and money towards the library expenses, the library remains free to all its members.

The library began with 250 books.

Before long, queries flooded in: “Can I help?” “Do you need a new bookcase?” The eager responses and many helping sets of hands greatly contributed to the establishment of the new library. Several families donated carpeting, bookcases, and even more importantly, dozens of Jewish books.

These donations of books continue to pour in as families contribute books that they would like to share with the neighborhood. As

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Celebrating 1,000 Books

An Inviting Sight for Readers

one woman commented, “If I’ve read my books already, it’s a z’chus for me to be able to share them with my neighbors and friends.”

It is with the help of many families in the community that the library has reached an important milestone this summer: The library now officially contains over 1,000 books! The founder of the library is herself a recent teen who has always loved to read.

She remarks, “I always hoped that my idea would take off, but I never imagined that it would grow

to this extent. When I look back at how I was able to develop my small collection of books into a huge library that benefits so many people, I am proud of myself. I am also so proud to be part of a community focused on chesed, as I have seen from watching so many people and how they have helped the library grow!”

The KGH Jewish Library is usually open twice a week, on Sundays from 11:30 to 1:00 and on CONTINUED ON P. 52

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Happy reader

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Financially Forward Gerald Harris

“Be Careful What You Wish For…” CONTINUED FROM P. 1

And the chances of winning a multi-state lottery are 1 in 175,000,000 or higher. Even so, tens of millions of people defy the odds every week and, filled with hope and optimism, try their luck.

But what if the impossible happens and you win an incredible jackpot? Are your troubles over? Or are they only just beginning? Surprisingly, in a great number of cases the answer is the latter.

That’s because even for mature, levelheaded individuals the sudden realization that one has become fabulously wealthy can easily overwhelm good sense and good judgment.

First Things First Probably the first thing most winners would want to do is to call the boss, quit and tell him or her exactly what they really think of him and his job.

While that would be satisfying it would also be a mistake. According to the New York State Lottery the first thing a winner should do is sign the ticket. Lottery tickets are called bearer instruments. This means that whoever has the ticket is considered the lawful owner. If the ticket is not signed, a purchaser who lost the winning ticket is out of luck and whoever found it is considered the owner.

There are some other issues that need to be considered, and one of these is privacy.

In some states it’s possible for the winner to remain anonymous while in others, like New York, the names of winners are listed in the Public Record.

This being the case, lottery winners should expect to get barraged by calls from long lost friends and relatives asking for a “loan,” from charities they’ve always supported, from others that they have no interest in becoming involved with, and from many that are scams. They should also expect to get calls about fabulous business opportunities, from financial advisors promising to make them even richer, and from lawyers explaining how vital their services are. There is also a concern about safety, as mobsters or other criminals sometimes set their eyes on the prize money and make horrible threats.

How Would You Like Your Money?

One of the things that winners will have to decide immediately is whether they want one large, up-front payment or prefer to be paid in smaller installments over many years. There are advantages and

Back in 2002, J.W. won nearly $315 million in the West Virginia lottery. Unfortunately, the money was not blessed.

“I wished I’d torn that ticket up,” he later said disadvantages to both. A huge payout will be enough to pay off all your bills and still leave enough to buy or start a business, give very meaningful help to close relatives and charities, and to buy another house (or houses) anywhere in the world.

But there’s a big downside to taking the entire prize at once, and here’s why: Someone who wins $12 million in a lottery can take the entire amount in a lump-sum payment. However, the actual amount paid out will be much lower than the $12-million advertised prize; a lump-sum payment would yield the winner just over $7 million, or 58% of the $12-million prize.

Unfortunately, there’s also a downside to choosing payment in installments. True, by opting for an annual check for $461,500 for 26 years the winner will get the whole $12-million prize. But if the trend for the dollar to lose value over time continues, a business opportunity that now costs $100,000 may cost a great deal more in the future. In either case, taxes have to be paid on the winnings, so it’s important to speak with a tax expert.

One of the most difficult challenges lottery winners have to deal with is a sudden jolt to their lifestyles. One spouse now may want to travel around the world, purchase expensive collectibles, and buy all

Eat Your Frog CONTINUED FROM P. 11

as an anathema. One should not procrastinate the giving of gifts promised to another (Mishlei 3:28 and Rabbeinu Yona and Malbim ad loc.), the timely bringing of sacrifices (Devarim 23:22 and Kli Yakar ad loc.), the payment of employee wages (Vayikra 19:13; Devarim 24:15; Bava Metzia 111a), or the repayment of loans (see e.g. Tur, Choshen Mishpat 97).

Indeed, although prohibited generally, one is permitted to write novel Torah

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thoughts even on Chol HaMoed, lest one’s delay until after the holiday be the product of procrastination (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 545:9 and Mishna Berura ad loc.).

Above all, however, special care ought to be taken to ensure that procrastination does not become, to paraphrase 18th century poet Edward Young, the thief of life itself. A person should constantly repent because who knows what tomorrow may bring (Shabbos 153a; Rambam Teshuva 7:2; see also II Shem-

the things that he or she couldn’t afford before, while the other may want to live simply. Such sharply different viewpoints can lead to a great deal of friction, and with both spouses now financially independent it can even lead to divorce.

Mixed Blessing Winning many millions of dollars may seem like a dream come true, but on some occasions it has turned out to be a nightmare. Back in 2002, J.W. won nearly $315 million in the West Virginia lottery. Unfortunately, the money was not blessed.

J.W. was robbed at gunpoint in a club and a grandchild died under very mysterious circumstances. And his desire to pursue la dolce vita resulted in his bank accounts becoming depleted just a few years later. “I wished I’d torn that ticket up,” he said.

Back in the 1980s, E.B. won two payouts in the New Jersey lottery of more than $5 million each. Soon afterward she was beset by crooks and freeloaders. “Everybody wanted my money,” she recalls. “Everybody had their hand out.”

In any case, players have shown repeatedly that they’re interested in humongous

jackpots. Years ago, when the lottery first became legal in New York, payouts were relatively small and lucky winners usually won a prize of a few million dollars. But back then that was a lot of money, certainly enough to buy a house, quit one’s job, and have lots left over to live off.

Not anymore. The costs of basics have increased so much since then that winning a jackpot of one or two million dollars just doesn’t have the same appeal it once did.

That’s why the prizes on most games today are much higher than that. Consider some of the games now available. On July 21, someone won a $152 million prize in Mega Millions. A week before, a lucky player won $80 million in Powerball. And the prize for Lotto, a game sold only in New York State, now tops $30 million But players apparently want still bigger prizes. That’s why in October lottery officials will be making changes to Powerball that will make the grand prize much more difficult to win. The odds of picking all of the winning numbers will increase from the current roughly 1 in 175 million to a truly astronomical 1 in 292 million. The reason for this change is to generate higher sales through higher jackpots. The new odds make winning so difficult that almost certainly prizes will sometimes rise to a few hundred million dollars and theoretically may even exceed $1 billion.

Other players, who want to win a great deal of money but don’t want a prize that will completely change their lives, can opt for scratch-off games that offer prizes of $1 million, $5 million, and $10 million.

Playing the lottery clearly has advantages and disadvantages, but for the states that sell them they’re a gold mine. States earn many billions from lotteries, and those funds are generally allocated to help education. The numerous outlets that sell tickets earn a few cents on each ticket sold, but given the quantity of tickets they sell that adds up to a considerable amount of income for them.

On the bottom line, even though most lottery players don’t really expect to become multi-millionaires, purchasing tickets adds a little excitement to their lives.

Maybe that’s the real reason so many people buy them.

Sources: discovertheodds.com; forbes.com; thewildlifemuseum.org; wsj.com; zacks.com.

Gerald Harris is a financial and feature writer. Gerald can be reached at geraldhrs@ yahoo.com

iras Halashon 29:3). So it is no surprise that when the Torah uses the words “and now,” it is always a reference to repentance (Bereishis Rabba 21:6). True and lasting change happens only when you act now. As the Kotzker Rebbe was wont to observe: “In the end, you know that you will have to listen. So rent you better off listening right away?”

If you’re anything like me, you’re a chronic procrastinator. (Most people are.) Heck, I even procrastinated in writing this article. But the only way to stop procrastinating is simply to do something—now. ****

According to an old adage, if the first thing you do when you wake up each morning is eat a live frog, nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day.

Time management guru Brian Tracy explains that the “frog” should be the most difficult task on your to-do list, the one you’re most likely to procrastinate.

Because if you eat that first, you’ll have momentum and energy for the rest of the day. But if you let that frog sit there while you take care of unimportant things, you’ll never get around to it.

Now put down this article. Look at your list of things to do. Circle the frog.

And go eat it.

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For What It’s Worth Warren S. Hecht

Peacemaker

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he Sages tell us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred. The incident mentioned in the Gemara that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple involved Kamtza, Bar Kamtza, and an unnamed individual (hereinafter referred to as “John Doe”). John Doe had a friend named Kamtza and an enemy named Bar Kamtza. John Doe was having a party and told his servant to go invite Kamtza. The servant mistakenly invited Bar Kamtza. When John Doe saw Bar Kamtza there he told him to leave. Bar Kamtza first offered to pay for his meal, then offered to pay for half of the party, and then pay for the full cost. John Doe was not persuaded and threw him out.

Present at the party included the important Sages of the period.

Bar Kamtza decided to get his revenge and went to the Roman emperor to convince him that the Jewish people were rebelling against his rule.

From the above facts it appears that both John Doe and Bar Kamtza were wealthy and prominent people with access

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to those in high places. Bar Kamtza was upset at John Doe. However, he was more upset with the Sages because they did not intervene during the entire incident. Bar Kamtza understood the Sages’ inaction as acquiescence to validity of John Doe’s conduct. Not only did the Sages not attempt

merely the continuation of the dispute between John Doe and Bar Kamtza and not between Bar Kamtza and the Jewish community. Thus, Bar Kamtza would not have gone to the emperor with his slanderous charges against the Jewish community.

There are many possible reasons why

When there is an absence of a person who has the ability to defuse a situation and bring peace, then there will be tragedy to intervene but there is no indication that anyone else had tried to defuse the situation. If someone had tried to speak with John Doe and try to convince him to allow Bar Kamtza to stay instead of making a spectacle and throwing him out, the result may have been different. At a minimum, it would have made Bar Kamtza feel that someone is defending him and disagreeing with the conduct of John Doe. If John Doe did not listen, then it would have been

no one intervened. John Doe was an important individual and no one wanted to take a position against him. Moreover, the people present were guests at the party.

They may have felt that it would not be proper to speak against the host so they did nothing.

The person who is the best example of someone who made great efforts to keep

peace between people was Aharon HaKohen. The Torah mentions that Aharon died on Rosh Chodesh Av. Av is the month when many calamities have occurred to the Jewish people. The connection is that when there is an absence of a person who has the ability to defuse a situation and bring peace, then there will be tragedy. If Aharon had been at the party he would have intervened.

We should learn from both Aharon HaKohen and the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza about the importance of trying to keep the peace. Many times it is not easy to get involved. Those involved may tell us to butt out. However, we can’t say “it is not our problem” and ignore it. When possible, we should do our best to try to defuse disputes between others.

This is just another way for us to help in the process of eradicating the plague of baseless hatred and thus leading to the gathering of the exiles and building of the Third Temple.

Warren S. Hecht is a local attorney. He can be reached at whecht@aol.com

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

By Sergey Kadinsky

Queens Family Man And Jeweler To The Stars Killed In Road Rage Incident

O

n the two blocks of 71st Avenue in Forest Hills, between the subway station and the Bnos Malka building where Touro College holds some of its classes, are a set of tract mansions. Out of curiosity, I was always curious about their owners. Who were they, and how did they earn enough to build such palaces within the city?

Aron Aranbayev was standing outside his house and exchanged heated words with an unidentified driver of a black Dodge Magnum on the evening of July 19. Unexpectedly, the driver backed into Aranbayev, tossing him back onto the pavement. “He fell so hard that there was a fracture of his skull and there was nothing we could do to help him,” said his wife Sophia. His family was inside the home, a few feet away, but not close enough to save his life. The vehicle sped away into the night, and the family was left to cope without its breadwinner.

I visited the 40-year-old’s home for shiv’ah, where his extended family stayed to offer comfort to Sophia and her four children, the youngest of whom is a seven-month-old girl. “He loved his work, his work was his life,” said his father Rafael. His jewelry business was more than retail; it was a form of art as he created products that reflected the businesses, personal hobbies, and aspirations of his customers. His home was also unique for Forest Hills, seemingly transplanted from a warmer place – say Miami Beach.

Aranbayev immigrated to New York from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 1985 at age 11. Within two years, he was learning the jewelry trade at his father’s shop. Together with his cousin Gabriel Jacobs (Yakubov), he founded Rafaello & Co. in 2009, named in honor of his father.

How does a Diamond District jeweler attract a celebrity clientele? A few answers can be gleaned from Aranbayev’s business. It started with uniquely designed products: a jewelry piece for radio personality Angie Martinez that was based on her company’s logo. Soon enough, Martinez’s guests were hearing about Aranbayev, and his client list included other figures from the hip-hop music scene such as Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, Sean Combs, and Jay-Z. His online gallery features diamond-covered pendants, rings, and chains of all shapes and colors, including logos, sports items, and cartoon characters.

Each client went home with items such as a custom-design watch or a battery-powered diamond-encrusted necklace.

Famous clients attract crowds and, as a trusted vendor, Aranbayev was invited by stars to visit their homes with his catalog, avoiding the crush of fans and photographers. The relationship that de-

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How could such a promising life end so abruptly over something as trivial as a parking space?

Aranbayev’s home, outside of which he was run over.

veloped through such discreet sales resonated in the wake of his murder. Busta Rhymes and rap producer Swizz Beatz both shared thoughts on their favorite jeweler through social media. Boxer Floyd Mayweather contributed $10,000 in exchange for information leading to the capture of Aranbayev’s killer, and an anonymous donor kicked in another $15,000. Rafaello & Co. contributed $35,000.

Closer to home, Bukharian community leaders spoke of Aranbayev as a “man of mitzvot” who provided his children a Jewish education, lived modestly, and put his family first. His funeral was packed and the loss was universally felt across Forest Hills. To his clients, he was Eric, but at shul he was Aron, an Orthodox Jew who kept a kosher home and exemplified the ideal entrepreneur. He was always on call for his clients, but not on Shabbos. Although he had many famous friends, he was more likely to be seen at community functions than celebrity-studded parties.

Looking at the Instagram photo of basketball superstar LeBron James standing next to Aranbayev, it is a study in contrasts between the heavily tattooed athlete and the much shorter but equally proud jeweler in a buttoned shirt.

How could such a promising life end so abruptly over something as trivial as a parking space? We’ve seen it before as road rage transforms certain individuals into public menaces. How does one pass an exam that gives license to drive but over time, that license is used to cut people off, fail to yield, not signal when changing lanes or turning, steal parking spaces, and speed off with impunity? How often do we encounter drivers who fail to follow the rules? The NYC Department of Transportation recently lowered the speed limit on streets to 25 miles per hour, and installed speed cameras and bumps on certain streets. Perhaps more needs to be done. When one takes a defensive driving course, it includes a presentation on road rage, along with other dangers such as intoxication and fatigue. Perhaps it’s time to make such classes mandatory every few years as a refresher.

Inside the Aranbayev home, shiv’ah visitors learned about a man who worked tirelessly to see his family live in comfort and peace. Did his murderer know that inside the house next to that parking spot, there are now four orphans? What about the surrounding community that lost its role model? I’ve passed by his house countless times on my walk between the subway and the classroom.

If only I had known him sooner.

For information on the upcoming Shloshim commemoration for Aron Aranbayev, call 646-902-4735.

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Community Snapshots Photo Credits: Yaakov Katz

Yaakov Katz is a Queens-based photographer who currently works for the Queens Jewish Link and is a photographer at Yaakov Katz Studios.

“Stop Iran” Rally - Wednesday, July 22 - Times Square

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

- Wednesday, July 22 - Times Square

“Stop Iran” Rally 14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

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Community Snapshots

Yaakov Katz is a Queens-based photographer who currently works for the Queens Jewish Link and is a photographer at Yaakov Katz Studios.

Photo Credits: Yaakov Katz

y l l a R ” n a r I p o t S “ es Square im T 2 2 ly u J - Wednesday,

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Op-Ed Op

The Iran Deal: What We Can Do To Stop It CONTINUED FROM P. 1

states, “I called to my lovers – they deceived me.” The Targum explains: “I called to my lovers among the nations with whom I had made a treaty that they should help me, but they outsmarted me and turned about to destroy me. “ This is what we witnessed in the last few weeks as we watched President Barack Obama, the man who repeatedly assured the Jewish community, “I have Israel’s back,” stuck a knife in Israel’s back by reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran.

Under the agreement, Iran would significantly cut back its nuclear program for a period of about ten years in exchange for an end to economic sanctions. Even if Iran lives up to the deal, it can and likely will develop a nuclear weapon 10-15 years from now, strengthened by hundreds of millions of dollars in sanction relief. This is money that can be used right away to provide arms to Hamas and Hezbollah, to support the Assad government in Syria, and to support the same Shiite militias that attacked American forces in Iraq.

You can read far more about the agreement, written by people with far more knowledge than I have, elsewhere. My purpose in writing this column is to discuss what we, the members of the Queens Jewish community and more specifically the readers of the Queens Jewish Link can and must do to stop this disastrous deal.

Congress has a period of sixty days in which to review deal. In that time it can either approve the deal, do nothing – which would be the same as approving it – or pass a resolution of disapproval. If the resolution of disapproval passes, President Obama has vowed to veto it. To override the veto and kill the deal would then require the votes of 2/3 of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The resolution of disapproval is likely to pass in the House of Representatives, where a simple majority of all the members is needed. There is a good chance that it will get the 60 votes required to pass in the Senate. The real battle is likely to come over the vote to override the veto.

The key votes in that battle will be Democratic senators and representatives, and senators who have historically supported Israel but who are also supportive of a Democratic president.

To put it plainly, the votes of our senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand, and our representatives, Grace Meng, Joe Crowley, and Greg Meeks, could well be the difference. We have the power to influence their votes.

Over the next few weeks, they will come under pressure from powerful forces within the Democratic Party to be “team players” and to support the president. Last week, I received a robot call urging me to call Representative Meng to urge her to support the Iran deal. The other side is generating thousands of calls urging support for the Iran deal. It is up to us to let our senators and representatives know that we, their constituents and supporters, are strongly opposed to the Iran deal and that we are counting on them to stop it.

Call Senator Chuck Schumer at 202224-6542, Senator Kirstin Gillibrand at 202224-4451, Representative Grace Meng at 202-225-2601, Representative Joe Crowley

14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

at 202-225-3965 and Representative Greg Meeks at 202-225-3461. Tell them that you appreciate their support for Israel in the past, and urge them to oppose the Iran deal.

In order to be effective in winning the support of our elected officials, please remember these points while making your phone calls.

To understand this, a little historic perspective is helpful. In ancient times Eretz Yisrael was at the crossroads between the great powers, Egypt to the south and Assyria or Babylonia to the north. Many of the leading figures in the courts of both Israel and Judah advocated alliances with one of the great powers to ensure their security.

Kings were often overthrown or killed as a

you, and your backslidings will reprove you, and you shall know and see that your forsaking Hashem your G-d is evil and bitter.”

The Iran deal should be a wakeup call.

The real bedrock of Israel’s security is not its alliance with the United States but its reliance on the true Tzur Yisrael – Rock of Israel. This is a time to strengthen our

Call Senator Schumer at 202-224-6542, Senator Gillibrand at 202-224-4451, Representative Meng at 202-225-2601, Representative Crowley at 202-225-3965 and Representative Meeks at 202-225-3461 Stay on message – Our purpose is to defeat the Iran deal. The focus of your call should be on that and nothing else.

Our representatives are Democrats who are strongly pro-Israel but largely support President Obama on other issues. Any disparaging remarks about our representatives, the president, or the Democratic Party will not be helpful in achieving our goal.

Be positive – Our elected officials know that we are calling them about an issue we feel strongly about, and our support for them may depend on their position on this issue. But threats are likely to backfire. Make your statement positive. Say that you admire them for their past support of Israel, and strongly urge them to oppose the Iran deal.

Concentrate on a few key points – The Iran deal would, at best, merely delay, not eliminate, Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon. It would provide hundreds of billions of dollars in sanction relief that Iran could use to undermine the security of the United States and allies like Israel.

Provide your name, address, and phone number if requested – By providing that information you will be showing that you are a real constituent and your views will be taken more seriously.

The importance of reaching out to our elected officials over the next few weeks cannot be overstated. But there is something else we need to do that is even more important.

In calling on the Jewish people to do t’shuvah to avert the pending churban, Jeremiah said; “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.”

Redak explains that Hashem and the Torah are like springs of water that flow endlessly, providing an endless supply. Cisterns are unreliable because they rely on rain, which may or may not come, and they can develop cracks that will cause the water to leak out. Redak likened the cisterns to foreign powers who, “even if they are a mighty multitude, equipped with adequate armaments, are as nothing.”

result of maneuvering between supporters of the great powers.

The N’viim proclaimed that klal Yisrael should put its faith in Hashem and not in the empty promises of the great powers of their day. Jeremiah said: “And now, what have you to do in the way of Egypt to drink the water of the Shichor, and what have you to do in the way of Assyria to drink the water of the river? Your evil will chastise

efforts in Torah, t’filah, chesed, and kiyum ha’mitzvos.

Now more than ever, we need to shout out “Tzur Yisrael, kumah b’ezras Yisrael, u’f’dei k’numecha Yehudah v’Yisrael – Rock of Israel, rise in the aid of Israel and redeem your flock, Judah and Israel.”

May we be zocheh to celebrate next Tish’ah B’Av as a yom tov in the newly rebuilt Beis HaMikdash.

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Community Corner • Recent Happenings

Chazaq Brings Rabbi Hanoch Teller To Queens

By Susie Garber

O

n Sunday evening, July 12, Chazaq sponsored an engaging and inspiring shiur delivered by the famous author and storyteller, Rabbi Hanoch Teller. Rabbi Teller offered a powerful mashal about the destruction of the Temple. An artist stood on the summit of a mountain painting a magnificent work of art. He stepped back to view it, and as he stepped back farther and farther he moved closer to falling off the cliff. A mountain climber coming up to the summit realized the situation and, as there was no time to lose, he cut and slashed the painting. In the same way, Hashem had to destroy the beautiful magnificent Beis HaMikdash to save us from plunging into the depths.

As we know, the second Beis HaMikdash was destroyed because of senseless hatred, which we must fight. Rabbi Teller then shared that we have to be considerate of each other and remember that our face is in the public domain.

We should engrave these words on our mirror. If we don’t smile at someone,

Rabbi Hanoch Teller speaking for CHAZAQ

he or she may take it personally. Rabbi Heller recalled a personal story when he brought his twin daughters for a blessing to a great rav who was very ill in the hospital. The rav was in terrible pain, yet he smiled at Rabbi Teller’s children. Rav Yisroel Salanter taught that

“another person’s physical well-being is my spiritual well-being. I must be concerned about the other person’s physical needs rather than worrying about judging his spiritual level.”

Rabbi Teller taught that two people could look at something and not see the same thing. Each person sees things from his own perspective. Our greatest problem today is recognition of G-d’s presence in the world. Rabbi Teller then went on to speak about the Holocaust.

He shared that he works as a tour guide at Yad Vashem. He tells stories to personalize events, as it is hard to relate to statistics and numbers. He shared the story of the St. Louis, the ship owned by the Hamburg-Amerika Line with 937 passengers – almost all were Jews who were German citizens – escaping Europe during World War II that docked in Havana. Cuban officials required a bribe to let them stay. Unfortunately, the ship was sent back to Europe where all of its passengers they perished.

He shared two examples of people who changed for the better. The first was Henry Morgenthau, Secretary of State to President Roosevelt, who

wouldn’t authorize one million dollars to be given to the Nazis to save Hungarian Jews. Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l went to speak to the president and said to Henry Morgenthau, “Your life is meaningless, if you can’t save the life of one child in Europe.” This changed Mr. Morgenthau and he agreed to help. The second individual who changed for the better was Oskar Schindler, who Rabbi Teller noted was a dishonest businessman and womanizer, yet he changed and is remembered for all the lives he saved.

The lesson here, Rabbi Teller emphasized, is that certainly we can change ourselves if these two could do so.

Rabbi Teller then shared a powerful, well-known story about a student at Ohr Samayach who was in the mikvah and was embarrassed when his tattoos became visible. Everyone was staring, and then a Holocaust survivor approached him and showed him his number tattoo and said, “I have one too; don’t worry.”

Rabbi Teller concluded that we must see G-d in the world and pray fervently for the Temple to be restored. Everyone left inspired and eager to read Rabbi Teller’s new book, Heroic Children.

Lessons From The Holocaust Rabbi: Shmuel Yaakov Klein Speaks In Queens

By Susie Garber

S

ometimes you hear a speech so powerful that it changes your way of thinking. Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Klein’s shiur, delivered on Sunday evening, July 19, at Beth Gavriel and sponsored by Chazaq, was that sort of speech. After hearing his lessons from the Holocaust, the audience’s understanding of galus and what we can learn from the Holocaust will never be the same.

He began with an explanation of galus. Exile, he taught, is not geographical.

It is not about location, but rather about the situation of the Jewish people. There were four exiles: the exile of Babylon, the exile of Persia and Media, the Greek exile, and the Roman exile (also referred to as the exile of Edom). He explained that although Rome doesn’t exist anymore, we are still living in galus Edom.

He then taught that the Egyptian exile was a preamble to exile. It set the tone for the essence of exile. He then showed the pattern of our Egyptian experience and how it is the general pattern of exile.

First the Jews prospered in Egypt for 210 years. Then things changed and slavery and hardship began. In each exile this was the pattern. First we prospered and then things changed, and there was a calm followed by a storm. This was true in modern Poland and Germany. So one lesson of the Holocaust is to study the pattern of Jewish history. Today in America and Canada we flourish with yeshivos, kollelim, and other Jewish schools. We need to realize that this can all be taken away. This is the meaning of exile. He posed the question: Will there be a storm? We pray that there won’t be, and that Mashiach will come.

A second lesson of the Holocaust is

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that of western culture. The arts, sciences, entertainment, literature, and music surround us at all times. The culture of Germany was considered the jewel in the crown of Western culture. There were famous philosophers like Kant, Nietzsche, and Hegel, and there were the even more famous composers Beethoven and Mozart. Yet none of the sophisticated, enlightened culture that these people represented saved them from behaving like the lowest of the low.

He detailed how in January 1942, in a suburb of Berlin, 15 members of the Nazi regime met to see how to expedite the murder of Europe’s Jews. They came up with the plan of using poisonous gas in gas chambers and crematoria. Fifteen people, nine of whom held MD or PhD degrees, decided this. They were all highly educated and they met in a beautiful castle. Rabbi Klein pointed out that we know now that there were seven million or more Jewish people killed. Roman Catholic priest Patrick Desbois, head of the Commission for Relations with Judaism of the Bishops’ Conference of France and a consultant to the Vatican, has been on a mission to find mass graves of Jews, and he discovered at least another million were killed. That is the culture of Germany – the jewel of culture. Rabbi Klein stated: “Never make the mistake to think that in a right-minded society nothing like that can happen again.

That is certainly far from the truth.”

Another lesson of the Holocaust is the resilience of the Jewish people. Rabbi Klein explained that the midrash Sh’mos teaches us that Hashem enumerated the names of the Jewish people again to show his love for us, just as he counts the stars, the Jewish people are likened to stars. The Gerrer Rebbe taught that the stars are seen more clearly against

a black night sky than a city sky with lights. So, too, the Jewish people shine in times of darkness. The blacker the night, the darker the circumstance, and the brighter we shine – the more we have the ability to illuminate the world.

When we study the Holocaust, we see how Jews were able to shine and illuminate the darkness. We need to live sanctifying G-d’s name. When we live modestly and dedicate our lives to serving Hashem and doing mitzvos with love and excitement, we shine as stars.

Rabbi Klein noted that as a child of survivors he marvels at his parents’ resilience. They both lost spouses as well as all the members of their respective families. Yet somehow they were able to remarry and have children. His oldest sister was born in a DP camp. They moved to Canada and sent their children to yeshivos. Jews are resilient.

Rabbi Klein told two stories. In the first story, Rabbi Joseph (Yossel) Friedenson was in a concentration camp on Simchas Torah in 1943. In his barracks there was another rav and they decided to sing a song in honor of Simchas Torah. As they sang, an SS guard burst in demanding a translation of the words in the song. Rabbi Friedenson translated: “There is none who is as mighty as G-d, no one who is as fine as Moshe Rabbeinu, nothing as great as the Torah, and none can expound on the Torah as well as the Jewish people.”

The SS guard asked the rabbi if he believed these words. Rabbi Friedenson nodded. Then he asked all of the people in the barracks, some of whom were frum and some of whom were not frum, if they believed all of these words. They all nodded yes. He then said, “I believe even Hitler himself will not destroy this people.” And he left.

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R’ Shmuel Yakov Klein speaking for CHAZAQ

In the second story, which took place in a different concentration camp on Chanukah, the Jews in the barracks had figured out a way to light a Chanukah candle on the first night. They used a Nazi-issued wooden bowl, some thread from their clothing, and melted oil from shoe polish. As the Rebbe stood to light, he paused before the blessing of Shehecheyanu. Later he explained that at first he couldn’t imagine how he could say thank you for helping us reach this time when our loved ones are being killed, and we are starving and enslaved.

But as he gazed around the room and saw all these Jewish people, observant and not observant, prepared to do this mitzvah, he realized that he was thanking Hashem for allowing him to see the greatness of the Jewish people. He said, “I bless Hashem for keeping me alive to see what precious gems are your people.”

Rabbi Klein said that we must keep this lesson in mind: What does it mean to be a Jew? What lies at the core of each of us is a tremendous reserve of strength and commitment to Hashem.

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Community Corner • Recent Happenings

“You Can Just Call Me Lucky” Interview with Wolfgang Rauner, Hillcrest resident, Holocaust survivor, and author

By Susie Garber

I

had the distinct privilege last week of meeting Mr. Wolfgang Rauner and his wife Mrs. Rosie Rauner, who are both Holocaust survivors originally from Germany, in their home in Hillcrest, Queens. The purpose of my visit was to interview Mr. Rauner, a talented author, artist, and craftsman, about his recently published books on the Holocaust. Perhaps the most beautiful lesson I gleaned from our meeting was to meet someone who truly lives the teaching of Pirkei Avos: “Who is rich? One who is satisfied with his lot.” Mr. Rauner lives with gratitude for his wonderful wife, who is a gifted, retired educator, and his sons who are both married with children.

In fact, he often teaches a Pirkei Avos class for women at the Young Israel of Hillcrest.

He shared the fruits of his many talents, and it was amazing to see his beautiful professional paintings on the wall. One colorful painting displayed in his dining room depicts lilacs. Another painting, of sunflowers, startles the viewer with its brilliance. I also glimpsed his flourishing herb garden. He was planning to create a basil dish for dinner that night, as cooking is another of his many talents. In addition, he showed me the most exquisite wooden dollhouse that he built for his grandchildren. It had such detailed rooms and miniature furniture – every little girl’s dream house. Also, he designs the sets and scenery for his grandchildren’s plays in yeshivah. What a wonderful way of using one’s talents to serve Hashem!

Mr. Rauner also shared a journal from a recent dinner for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where he and his wife were guests of honor. He explained how, after his father was niftar, he and his brothers donated half of whatever money his father left to Shaare Zedek. He continues to be a big supporter of the hospital.

In addition, Mr. Rauner wrote several picture books for his grandchildren on Sukkos and Chanukah. All are digitized, as he likes to keep up with the modern age.

He also wrote a fictional novel titled Inventory, Destiny, and Redemption, available in both print and as an eBook at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Xlibris. The novel has the Holocaust as one of its themes. He explained how he designed the cover, which was inspired by photos his brother brought back from World War II after liberating the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Mr. Rauner has written his fascinating life story in a book titled, You Can Just Call Me Lucky: Reminiscences from My Youth, which is available to read online. The book details his experiences as a young child in Germany and then Luxembourg during the 1930s, his family’s escape to the United States in 1941, and more of his life’s events through his marriage in 1956. At the age of 12 he came to America with his family.

He notes that his bar mitzvah took place the day before Pearl Harbor was bombed.

There is a clear Yad Hashem (Hand of G-d) in his and his immediate family’s miraculous escape from the Holocaust.

He begins his remarkable story with these words: “Saturday, June 21, 1941, was

the first day my feet touched this blessed soil, the day that G-d gave us our life.” He notes, however, that since then he celebrates that date as a personal holiday. The ship on which Mr. Rauner and his family sailed was named the SS Mouzinho. It carried about 700 passengers from Lisbon, including a Kindertransport group and the famous artist Marc Chagall and other wellknown European artists and intellectuals.

His uncle, Simon Kahn, and cousin, Dr. Paul Kahn, along with his Aunt, Minna Hanau, had been instrumental in getting his family out of Europe. They had posted the security affidavits and also the tickets for their passage from the American representatives of the Portuguese line in New York. Mr. Rauner recalls that once the boat docked it was hot, and they were milling around the deck for hours. His Uncle Simon managed to send someone with ice cream pops on board the boat for the children. He said it was his first Creamsicle in America and he doesn’t believe any ice cream ever tasted better since. After hours of questions, interrogations, and legalities, they were finally allowed to disembark.

Mr. Rauner detailed the events leading up to his family’s escape on that ship.

He was born in a small town in Germany called Trier on November 26, 1928. He recalls a searing memory from when he was four years old. It was the Pesach Seder of 1933, and his father filled the wine cup of Eliyahu and rose to open the front door.

As he started to recite, “Cast your wrath upon the peoples who do not recognize You,” there was a tremendous tumult of

people. Mr. Rauner says it sounded to him like millions. They all ran to the door and there he writes that he saw a sea of people screaming, “Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler.” They were carrying torches and lighting up the sky. He remembers he was terrified and he ran upstairs to his parents’ bedroom crying inconsolably. This was Hitler’s triumphal tour of Germany after outmaneuvering his opposition in the Reichstag and being elected Chancellor.

In 1933, most German Jews thought that this was just a passing, short-lived political aberration, and these hoodlums would be kicked out of office. However, his father, Aron Rauner, told his mother, “We must get out; we must leave Germany before it’s too late.” His father contacted his sister who lived in Luxembourg and he made plans for the family’s departure.

In 1935, his family left Trier early in the morning by car. They brought all their possessions in two vans that followed them.

He describes the ordeal his parents went through until they were finally allowed to pass into Luxembourg. Mr. Rauner continues to detail his memories of the six years his family spent there. He recalls his best friend Rene Oppenheimer who, along with his mother, was eventually murdered in Auschwitz. He describes a carefree time, which ended with the German occupation of Luxembourg on May 10, 1940. Mr. Rauner writes in his memoir: “The knock on our door at about five-thirty that morning grew louder and louder, as we jumped out of our CONTINUED ON P. 52

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Shabbos

AUGUST

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14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

Shabbos

At 8:15 a.m., the Women’s Amein Group of Queens will hold a Rosh Chodesh Elul program Anna Aronovitch featuring ZWl[d_d], a WdZ Iki_[ =WhX[h talk by Rabbi Daniel will be holding programs for singles. #1 =bWjij[_d" e\ 9ed]h[]Wj_ed JehWi ;c[i" WdZ W At 6:00 p.m., the Å I_d]b[i W][i c_Z# XhWY^W^ fWhjo$ 7j j^[ Oekd] ?ihW[b e\ >_bbOekd] ?ihW[b e\ A[m 20s to 40: Lunch at crest (169-07 Jewel Avenue, Hillcrest). For Gardens Hills will the Garber home more information, please call 347-453-2539. hold the next lecjkh[ _d _ji Ikcc[h \hec deed je ( f$c$ (+" fb[Wi[ h[i[hl[ _d (&'+ I^WXXei 7\j[h- advance) and open house dessert at the From 10:30 a.m. to deed B[Yjkh[ I[h_[i =WhX[h ^ec[ (#+ f$c$ $ ( Å I_d]b[i W][i noon, UJA-Federafor Men and Women. Rabbi Simcha 40 and up: IÊkZW^ i^Êb_i^_i at Garber home. tion of New York Feuerman will speak on the topic, “The Je h[i[hl[ \eh I^WXXei bkdY^" fb[Wi[ YWbb will hold a backRambam’s Greatest Hits: A Survey of 917-696-2433 or e-mail ]WhX[hIki_[6]cW_b$ pack assembly sesSome of his Fascinating Halachic and Eth- Yec or cWjY^cWa[h'(&6]cW_b$Yec. Houssion for its second ical Perspectives.” ?d j^[ 8[_i C_ZhWi^ [d- ing list available upon request.

WddkWb Ikffb_[i \eh trance on 70th Road).

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supplies for disadvantaged children in yei^_lei WdZ ZWo iY^eebi$ 7j j^[ Oekd] ?ihWel of Jamaica Estates (83-10 188th Ijh[[j" @Wmaica Estates). For more information or to sign up to help, please contact Adrienne Rubin-Prince at 212-836-1674 or hkX_dfh_dY[W6k`W\[Zdo$eh]$

NOVEMBER

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Shevach High School (75-09 Main Ijh[[j" A[m =WhZ[di Hills) will hold an open house. Details to follow.

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Sunday

Monday

Friday

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7j +0)& f$c$" j^[ Oekd] ?ihW[b e\ A[m Gardens Hills will hold the next lecture in _ji Ikcc[h (&'+ I^WXXei 7\j[hdeed B[Yjkh[ I[h_[i \eh C[d WdZ Mec[d$ Judah S. Harris will speak on “The Family Documentary Project: Jewish genealogy basics and how to preserve your present history for the next generations.” ?d j^[ 8[_i C_drash (entrance on 70th Road).

Sunday

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At 4:30 p.m., Flatbush Hatzalah will hold a concert and Friday 31baseball game verSaturday 1 sus a team from the New York City PoKosher Chef Prolice Department ductions will hold a Shabbos Nachamu (opening pitch at 6:15 p.m.) at MCU Park program for singles >ec[ e\ j^[ 8heeabod 9oYbed[i" '/&* Ikh\ and families _d D[m >[cfij[WZ" DO$ <eh 7l[dk[" 8heeabod $ J_Ya[ji '+$ <eh ceh[ more information, please call 845-397-7271 or information about sponsorships, tickets, or group rates, please call 718-339-6814. e-mail Aei^[h9^[\FheZkYj_edi6=cW_b$Yec$

Sunday

JULY

Rabbi’s Musings & Amusings Rabbi Dani Staum

“In Our Hands”

S

omeone sent me a cute article that contrasts the value of something, based on who is holding it. “A basketball in my hands is worth about twenty dollars; a basketball in the hands of the NBA championship team is worth millions. A baseball in my hands is worth about six dollars; a ball in the hands of the World Series winning team is worth millions. A football in my hands is worth about

fall of your enemy, do not rejoice…”

The commentators question why this statement was attributed to Shmuel, if in reality he was only quoting verbatim from a verse in Mishlei (24:17-18)?

One suggested answer is that, while it may be true that Shmuel was only quoting from Mishlei, the verse took on new meaning when it was stated by the humble and unassuming Shmuel HaKatan.

It’s not what we tell our children as much as how we tell it to them

Solution to this issue’s puzzles

fifteen dollars; a football in the hands of the Super Bowl victors is worth millions.” The article then concludes, “So put your concerns, worries, fears, hopes, and dreams in G-d’s Hands, because it all depends in whose hands they’re in.”

It’s not always what is said that matters, as much as how it is said. Educational guru Rick Lavoie notes that the statement “My son did not break the window” can have five different interpretations depending on which word is stressed: “My son did not break the window” means my son didn’t do it; someone else did it. “My son did not break the window” means my son didn’t break it, but perhaps my daughter did. “My son did not break the window” means he absolutely didn’t do it! “My son did not break the window” means he didn’t break the window, but he did do something else to it. “My son did not break the window” means he didn’t break the window, but he did break something else.

It also matters who the speaker is.

The Mishnah in Avos (4:24) states that Shmuel HaKatan would say, “With the

In a similar vein, I once asked Rabbi Aryeh Rodin of Congregation Ohev Shalom in Dallas, Texas, for some quick rabbinic advice. He related what his rebbe, Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz zt”l, told him years ago: “Do not tremble before any man.” There, too, he was only quoting a verse (D’varim 1:17).

But the context and circumstance of how the verse was quoted gave it new meaning and a new dimension of understanding.

Two people can pray and say the same words, but their words may be worlds apart, depending on the level of their emotion and fervor. It may be the same words, but those words can have vastly different meanings, depending on how they are said.

This idea also has tremendous significance in the world of education.

It’s not what we tell our children as much as how we tell it to them. How passionate are we about the Yankees and Mets and the Giants and Jets? On the other hand, how passionate are we about t’filah and Shabbos?

We determine our own value systems – and that is in our hands.

Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is the Rabbi of Kehillat New Hempstead, as well as guidance counselor and fifth-grade rebbe in ASHAR, and Principal at Mesivta Ohr Naftoli of New Windsor. He can be reached at stamtorah@gmail.com. His website is www.stamtorah.info

Disclaimer While we make every effort to publish articles that are within the bounds of normative¿^WbWY^W^¿WdZ¿^Wi^aW\W^"¿m[ YWddej jWa[ h[ifedi_X_b_jo \eh [l[ho Whj_Yb[ mh_jj[d$ ¿?\ oek feel that anything you read is objectionable, please write a letter to the editor and, if appropriate, it will be published.

Additionally, the views expressed in any political article appearing in this publication are those of the author and do not necessaribo h[Ô[Yj j^[ fei_j_ed eh feb_Yo e\ j^[¿Gk[[di @[m_i^ B_da$¿J^[¿Gk[[di @[m_i^ B_da¿Ze[i dej support or endorse any political candidate.

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Disclaimer Please be advised that the QJL takes no responsibility of the Kashruth standards of any of its advertisers. Do not take the fact that an eatery appears in our paper as a kosher endorsec[dj e\ j^[_h fheZkYj$ ?\ oek feel that a particular establishment is under questionable supervision, please consult your rabbi for his advice.

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Dating Today Goldy Krantz

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

W

hen I started out in the shidduch parshah, everyone had a shidduch profile/resume. I spent almost two hours writing mine, taking more care in it than I did my actual resume, which I needed after graduation in order to find employment. Over the course of my shidduch career, I made necessary adjustments to the resume: age, job title, hobbies… Personally I never really put much stock in the resumes I would receive from shadchanim, because more often than not there was a sentence that resembles, “I am a warm person who goes out of his way to help others and am looking to find someone to share my life with.

I would like to grow spiritually with my spouse and have a bayis ne’eman b’Yisrael.”

I would end up rolling my eyes. The sentence and resume didn’t really tell me much about the person – who he really is.

Everyone had a “great personality, was a baal chesed, and was loved by his mother” (The last part was never included in the resume, but I imagine it was true). In my thirties, I ended up telling shadchanim, “I have never been out with someone who wasn’t a baal chesed and baal tz’dakah, so why don’t you tell me something about the actual person and his personality.”

When I was in my thirties, the resumes started to change; pictures were now “required to accompany the resume.” I was told on more than one occasion, “He said he wants a picture before he would even consider a date.” I am not the most technologically savvy person, and it took me quite some time to figure out how to add my picture (“in color”) to the resume. This is not including the time it took to take the “perfect picture” that shadchanim and possible future dates would be seeing. I made my sister and nieces take picture after picture until I settled on the right one that would basically scream to the person looking at it, “She is the one for you!” although, by looking at the picture, he would be judging me solely based on looks and nothing else.

There was a time when someone told me that she wanted to set me up with her son but, for one reason or another, the son didn’t want to go out with me. Fast forward a few months when the son came to one of the events that I was speaking at, and after seeing what I looked like, told his mother that he changed his mind and wanted to go out with me. I kindly told the mother, “Looks fade and if he didn’t want to go out with me based on who I am as a person, then I am not interested in going out with your son now.” What will happen when I get older or if I gain weight? The “issues” that made the son refuse to date me in the first place would still remain, but now I wouldn’t have my looks to fall back on.

I have received many emails and people have approached me since I have started writing the Dating Today column, asking me to address the topic of “Pictures for Shidduchim.” Everyone seems to have a different opinion. But I have noticed that many females have opinions that almost mirror each other. The women basically feel that they work so hard on their picture, they try to dress well and apply the correct make up… They want to make a good impression on shadchanim and on

14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

potential dates. Yet, when they see the pictures of the men that are being redt to them, they feel like the men aren’t even trying to put their best foot forward. They feel that the men take a selfie and, without really looking at it, upload it, or they ask a friend to snap a picture of them in an old t-shirt and use that on their shidduch resume. I am not saying if this is correct or not – I am just reporting on what has been mentioned to me.

dates when it just seemed like they just chose the first picture of themselves they were able to find. “A shadchan told me that she didn’t like my picture because it was a head shot. She said I needed a full-body shot, because guys she tried to redt me to thought I was fat because my body wasn’t pictured. Can you believe that! Does she tell that to guys, too??” That is what one young woman said to me. My friends and I never liked the idea that “he insists on you

Take a chance – say yes to a date without a Fords Modeling Company headshot accompanying the resume!

Personally, I remember looking at pictures of potential dates on websites. In one picture, the fellow had taken a selfie in a bathroom mirror (toilet and shower fully visible) while wearing an undershirt.

Another picture was of a fellow sitting on a couch with a beer in his hands wearing a Yankees cap and t-shirt and friends were cut out of the picture, but yet I was able to see half of one friend and half of another on either side of him. There was another picture of a fellow eating a hot dog with his shirt stained. Please don’t think that I am saying these men are slobs or they don’t deserve to date anyone. I am not saying anything of the sort. But is this the first impression that you want a potential date to see? Maybe these fellows want to seem like carefree fun-loving types. It seems that people spend more time on what picture to add to their Facebook profile than to their shidduch profile.

A friend of mine recently told me that she would rather not look at the picture attached to a shidduch profile because it would disappoint her. “Why can’t they use a picture where they look like a mentch?”

I knew exactly what she meant as I had looked at countless pictures of potential

sending him a picture of yourself before he will send a picture to you.” That has actually been said more than a few times.

Guys, why so picky? Can people stand in judgment regarding how anyone looks because they themselves are a perfect 10 – in their own book? Why is a picture the deciding factor for people, and why can’t pictures (as well as profiles) be exchanged simultaneously?? Why does the “boy get to decide first?” But that’s a whole other topic!

Am I telling men to upload better pictures of themselves to their shidduch resumes? No. Am I telling shadchanim to treat the pictures of the women and men the same, and tell each gender to look good and put their best foot forward?

Maybe. Maybe I am telling people to stop placing all their faith in pictures. Women, stop making such a big deal about pictures.

Men, start taking the pictures of yourselves a bit more seriously and be less judgmental with other pictures (“It’s a face shot, she must be fat.”) Again, I ask, when did pictures become the deciding factor? Is that

why no one smiled in old photographs from weddings circa 1910? Is it because no one got to see what the future spouse looked like, because pictures couldn’t be uploaded before the wedding?? No, of course not! Take a chance – say yes to a date without a Fords Modeling Company headshot accompanying the resume!

Several weeks back I wrote about Mordechai, a fellow I dated for five weeks, but who was not my bashert. In the article I wrote, “Yes, there were some things about Mordechai that annoyed me (no one is perfect), but I was able to see beyond the “flaws” and look at the big picture.” One of the things that I was unable to change about Mordechai was a particular feature that could not have been “fixed” through corrective surgery or makeup enhancements. I would like to think that if I had seen a picture of Mordechai before I actually dated him that I still would have agreed to date him, but I really don’t know if that is true. If I never dated Mordechai I would have missed the heartbreak, but I would’ve missed “the dance,” as Garth Brooks sings.

People care about looks. It’s just the way it is. You want to be attracted to the person you marry. It’s only natural. But let’s not forget that looks fade. You have to like and love the person whom you are marrying for who he or she is, not just based on how the looks. This will be the person you will marry and raise a family with, and hopefully grow old with. The girl won’t look the same at age 80 and neither will the guy. You can put some stock in pictures – but please don’t base the whole decision of dating someone literally on a snapshot of how he or she looks during one moment in time.

Hatzlachah to all in the search for their bashert.

Goldy Krantz is an LMSW and a lifelong Queens resident, guest lecturer, and author of the shidduch dating book, The Best of My Worst. She can be contacted at bestofmyworst@hotmail.com.

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Frontlines Joseph M. Frager

Neville Chamberlain All Over Again

T

he Neville Chamberlain story has been used appropriately and astutely regarding the Obama/Kerry Deal with Iran.

Who was Neville Chamberlain? He served as British Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940. He signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, surrendering the Sudetenland to the Nazis as a means of appeasement. He believed war should be avoided at all costs, much as President Obama espouses. Indeed, the president is frighteningly similar to Neville Chamberlain in many ways. Just

as Chamberlain scaled back the military as Germany was advancing theirs, so too has the president. Chamberlain said, “The longer the war is put off, the less likely it is to come at all.”

Both the president and his secretary of state have stated and intimated that it is this deal with Iran or war. Kerry has said this is a “good deal for the world.” Chamberlain said the deal with Germany would lead to “peace in (for) our time.” In Vienna, Secretary of State Kerry said he “went to war and it became clear to me that I nev-

er wanted to go to war again. That’s what this was all about. Trying to settle these matters through diplomacy and peaceful means.”

Wendy Sherman, architect of the failed North Korea Nuclear Deal and architect of the Iranian Deal, said that everyone in the room applauded the Secretary’s remarks, including the Iranian delegation. Chamberlain wrote to his sister that “Hitler definitely liked me and thought he could do business with me.” Kerry must have the same notion about the Iranians. William

Just as Chamberlain scaled back the military as Germany was advancing theirs, so too has the president Manchester wrote about Chamberlain, “More than any man except Hitler – and Hitler could not have done it without him – Chamberlain was responsible for the transformation of Germany into the most powerful military state in Europe.” It is eerily similar to what is now happening to Iran thanks to the president and his secretary of state.

Iran is being transformed into a superpower by our very own leaders. In 1939, British PM Chamberlain wrote in regards to the German oppression of Jews, “No doubt Jews aren’t a lovable people; I don’t care about them myself. But that is not sufficient to explain the pogrom.” President Obama said about the Prime Minister of Israel after Nicholas Sarkozy called him a liar, “You’re tired of him...what about me? I have to deal with him every day.” One gets the feeling we are reliving history. The words are different but the approach is the same.

The president of the United States and his secretary of state have taken Iran from a pariah state into one that has a legal basis to pursue all of its aggressor policies, including widening and increasing its terrorist ambitions and the pursuit of nuclear weapons. They have totally legitimized an evil empire, much as Chamberlain did in 1938. Just as Chamberlain thought his appeasement strategy would prevent war, so does the president think his deal with Iran will prevent war. Unfortunately, history says the opposite. The stakes are a lot higher this time around. The president and his secretary of state have been taken for a ride by the Iranians. According to the Pew Poll, the American people feel the same way, with only 38 percent supporting the Deal.

It is up to Congress to protect the American people, the world, and the president himself. This is not about partisan politics.

This is about survival. A nuclear bomb does not differentiate between a Democrat and a Republican.

Congress has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to save the world. It is time to learn from history instead of repeating history’s mistakes. Chamberlain died a broken man two years after he signed the agreement with Hitler, whom he thought he could trust.

The world does not need broken leaders.

It needs to prevent catastrophe before it is too late.

Joseph M. Frager is a physician and lifelong activist.

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

House & Home Rabbi Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb

In Real Estate, The Learning Never Ends

B

eing back in a classroom setting, in an educational environment again seemed funny when I first walked in to a live real estate continuing education class last week. It’s one of those things where you may feel you’ve “done your time.” In reality though, there is always something to be learned, especially for “thoughtful” folks and those who are willing to be flexible.

New York State requires continuing education every couple of years for licensees and while the credits may be for various topics, Ethics and Fair Housing are specifically required additionally.

There are no exemptions for these important topics and no matter how many times one may go over the laws, rules, and what may seem like common sense, it is an important reminder for everyone in this day and age to stay on top of and to truly internalize. For many, it is so easy and convenient to simply fulfill the required continuing education credits online. I have done this in the past rarely, most recently in the past very few years as our kids were getting married and expecting grandchildren and it fulfilled its purpose at that time. I always knew though, for myself, that there is nothing better than live, interactive classroom learning with a real education and other people present from which to learn with, learn from and interact.

This class was on a variety of topics a blend, if you will. The instructor was a seasoned realtor from Long Island, someone who has endured successfully by playing by the rules. The group was a mix of brand new licensees, people in the business for a short time, and a few long-term professionals - of which I was part of that chevra.

It was interesting as various subjects were brought up and discussed, the vast differences in attitudes and approaches among the group. A lot of it had to do with simple experience (or lack of it) in real estate and in life’s experiences. They say life is the best teacher. The things we go through on a daily basis hopefully leave an impression and teach us something useful either to repeat or to not repeat.

Some of the younger, newer folks seemed very focused on money and what they stood to gain from their dealings in real estate. As the teacher went around the room asking each attendee what their goals were for the coming year, many had a monetary goal. While there is nothing wrong with that per se, my goals were different. When it was my turn, I told her that I felt fortunate to work in a business where I am able to “serve” my community and serve people in general and that my goals were a bit different in that I would like to improve in the area of choosing those to work with as the best fit for both them and myself. I work hard and provide personal attention. Obviously, I cannot serve everyone; nor is everyone the best fit for me. Making the best shidduch was more of my goal, and an attainable one at that.

I have been extremely fortunate to work with many loyal sellers and buyers, and for this I remain eternally grateful.

The teacher said that while she has

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spent many years successfully on the South Shore of Long Island, that she is well aware of “what goes on” in Queens, and was quite glad herself that she did not have to deal with a lot of the “goings-on” in our borough. As other attendees confirmed, and as unfortunately I can attest to as well, there is a lot of not just “competition,” which may be otherwise healthy for consumers, but outright dishonesty, fraudulent activity, trickery and theft - yes, even in our areas.

Sadly, this has been all too true and it has been difficult to observe and admit.

Fortunately, we have been able to separate ourselves from this kind of behavior and from the people involved. More fortunately, we have been blessed to be able to choose those we wish to associate with, both with regards to buyers/ sellers and ever further to include attorneys, mortgage brokers, and so on.

As we went through the vital topics of Fair Housing and Ethics we learned once again about treating all human beings equally and fairly. We learned about discrimination. We learned about being considerate of others of all backgrounds.

We learned about the laws that affect discrimination and about the very serious penalties including loss of license for those breach them. We observed demonstrations on films of various scenarios where sensitivity was not offered to someone from a different ethnic background or to someone with a disability.

It was heartbreaking to me to watch this and imagine that perhaps these kinds of scenarios play themselves out on a daily basis, so needlessly and unnecessarily.

Throughout the Three Weeks leading up to Tisha B’av we learned (we hope) about the reason for the loss of the Beis Mikdash from the time it occurred until today. We learned that we are still causing problems with others and that until we rectify this we cannot move on and have our Beis Hamikdash rebuilt. There were tragedies as always, unfortunately, and they always take their toll on our communities. A member of the Forest Hills community was senselessly lost to an impulsive criminal act, a young woman at the threshold of despair made a traumatic choice regarding life which was plastered all over the newspapers and Internet, and there were others, including serious car accidents. As people may do, blame was being placed in every direction. The bottom line, in my very humble opinion, is that we have no right to place blame anywhere, except in cases of crime such as the Forest Hills incident, but with self-choice or other sad/tragic events, nobody knows what really went on in anyone else’s life, behaviors, mental health status, family, or decision-making. It is just tragic. Period.

What would be more helpful would be to offer help, prayers, encouragement, and compassion for those suffering both while they are here in this world and when they depart. Too many people and families are suffering and suffering losses. We need to be there for each other and support each other. It’s all we can do. It can make the whole difference. I heard a shiur on Tisha B’av where Rabbi Paysach Krohn said that in this day and

age, in the absence of the Beis Mikdash and korbonos, what we have is “kindness,” caring, helping others, and chesed, and that these acts can indeed bring us closer and bring us to the rebuilt Beis Hamikdash.

I find it no coincidence that my inspirational daily reader has this to say on the day of my real estate continuing education class. A suggested inspirational group closing reads: “Though you may not like all of us, you’ll love us in a very special way - the same way we already love you. In other words, every meeting can be an opportunity to practice placing principles above personalities. Most of us are highly aware of the personalities of people

around us. Instead of getting lost in petty likes and dislikes, it is important to remember why we come to meetings.

We all need each other in order to improve. I don’t have to like everybody, but I want to look deeper to find the spirit we share in common. Perhaps I can find peace with each person by reminding myself of those things that draw us together - a common interest, a common belief, a common goal. I will then have a resource for strength rather than a target for negative thinking. I will have placed principles above personalities.”

“Today’s reminder: I will keep an open mind toward each person I encounter today. If I am ready to learn, anyone can be my teacher.”

Rabbi Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb are NY State licensed realtors for over 13 years.

While specializing in Kew Gardens Hills, where they are long-time community members, they serve all areas in the five boroughs and Long Island. They hold several specialty certifications and are members of the Long Island Board of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service of Queens and Long Island. Rabbi Newcomb is a beloved rebbe at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe. Sarah Newcomb has won multiple awards from RE/MAX NY and RE/MAX International. They make their home in and are proud members of the Kew Gardens Hills community, along with their family. Contact information: Direct cell: 917-459-7549 • E-mail: SarahNewcomb@topproducer.com • Website: QueensRealtorTeam.com

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Classifieds REAL ESTATE Selling renovated semi-detached home in KGHS. New bathroom, kitchen, basement and central A/C. Asking $780,000.

Contact SHARONDEBORAH@gmail.com Lovely Jerusalem Apt for Rent by Owners.

Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Strictly Kosher Kitchen. Short walk to Kotel and Emek Rafaim and Great Synagogue etc.

Located in Pinsker building in Talbiah, near to Inbal Hotel. Air condioned, wireless internet, cable television, Washer Dryer, Parking, Easy Access, Two Shabbat elevators on 12th floor.

Shul in building. Fantastic views – 2 Porches. $900 per week plus electric and cleaning depending on time frame and #of people.

Call Owners 917-519-6185

OPEN HOUSE

this Sunday at 144-09 70th Road in Kew Gardens Hills from 2pm-5pm.

25x100 lot 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom 2500 square foot newly renovated kitchen and baths.

Finished Basement. Garage.

Asking Price $795,000 Terra Greenfield 917-655-5214 Luxury Property Group

Base salary (up to $1000 weekly) + lifetime residuals. Fidelity provides businesses with; credit card processing, online payments, check services, POS systems, invoicing, accounting integration, Gift programs, ATM machines Etc. Full training + support. Apply @ www.fidelitypayment.com/salescareer Yosefa Glazer Daycare for two-year-olds is looking for a recent seminary graduate for a full-time assistant position (Sep-June) , or possibly afternoons only. Candidate should be energetic, creative, and have a passion for nurturing young children.

Please e-mail yosefaglazer@gmail.com or call/text (917)721-3982.

SERVICES Young man with car available for courier work and light deliveries.

Contact Elliott at 718-427-0180.

LANDSCAPING SERVICES Patio tree & Landscaping service.

Tree cutting, pruning, stump grinding, planting, shaded trees, seeding, sukkah clearance.

No tree to tall for us. Free Estimate.

Phone: 347-794-0746 PLUMBING SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT Part time/Full time job available.

Jonathan 718-593-7613

Elite Plumbing. Commercial and Residential. 646-764-1014

Part time driver wanted for dry cleaning route.

Part time mornings and evenings Call Marc 917-612-2300

Reliable and experienced lady to take care of elderly persons, during day nights or weekend. References available. 347-461-6932

Salaried Sales Position - Electronic Payments Fidelity Payment, a nationwide electronic payment technology co. is hiring limited number of regional account execs with sales exper.

Safehouse Locksmith. 24/7 Locks , doors and garage doors. 718-380-6097

CARETAKER AVAILABLE

LOCKSMITH

TEACHERS General Studies Degreed/Experienced/PM/Small

Classes Grades 1-8

Hillcrest Queens Yeshiva T: 718-217-4700 FX:718-217-8739 yeshivaprimaryjobs@gmail.com

TEACHERS

LK Morah AM • Experienced/Grades 1-8/Small Classes • Kiruv Yeshiva for ZISSA YIDDISHA KINDERLACH • Hillcrest Queens • T: 718-217-4700 • FX:718-217-8739 yeshivaprimaryjobs@gmail.com

Teacher

Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe in Kew Gardens, NY is seeking a junior high science teacher Mon-Thur 2-5 PM. Excellent opportunity for a dynamic educator in a wonderful environment. Beginning September, 2015. Send resume to ytmprincipal@gmail.com or fax 718-441-3962

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14 Av 5775 • Vol. IV No. 27 (#122)

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Rallying For Our Future

Thousands gather at Times Square in “Stop Iran” rally to protest proposed disastrous deal with Iran

(L-R) Isaac Sasson, Paul Bernstein, and activist Dr. Paul Brody

Robert Morganthau

By Jeff Klapper

for Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, and Conservatives.” The deal does not eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat but merely contains and postpones it. Dershowitz says as much as he supports Obama’s domestic policies, he sharply criticizes the president’s mishandling of the Iranian threat.

Former Lieutenant Colonel and Congressman Allen West, wearing the hats of

I

n the iconic movie Godzilla, a dragonlike lizard, product of an atomic mutation, flees its Polynesian homeland for New York. The monster is chased through Times Square before being shot down on the Brooklyn Bridge. Last Wednesday, a far more ferocious nuclear monster stalked Times Square: the specter of Iran with its hands on an atomic bomb.

Last Wednesday, 10,000-12,000 protesters packed Times Square, demanding that Congress immediately scrap President Obama’s deal with Iran. For blocks around the rally, one could hear shouts of “kill the deal!”

The deal, signed with five other world powers – Russia, China, U.K., Germany, and France – permits Tehran’s infernal centrifuges to spin, turning the nightmare of Iran with atomic missiles aimed at Tel Aviv and Washington into a terrifying possibility.

Unless three-quarters of Congress vetoes the agreement by September 17, the deal stands.

Twenty-four speakers – titans from the

Former CIA Director James Woolsey

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worlds of politics, showbiz, military, and journalism – blasted the proposed deal.

The line-up included Alan Dershowitz, Harvard legal scholar; Caroline Glick, managing editor of the Jerusalem Post and the only Israeli speaker; Richard Kemp, commander of British forces in Afghanistan; and George Pataki, former three-term governor of New York. If that did not pack enough drama,

“While the rally was an extremely important event, it also points to some of our failings” Tony Lo Bianco, star of the film The French Connection, made a cameo appearance.

Pataki lashed out, “We have to stop the suicidal agreement that permits Iran to keep a nuclear infrastructure. We have to stop a terrorist state from going nuclear, when even now it menaces its neighbors.”

Harvard law don, and author of Chutzpah, Alan Dershowitz, employed positive chutzpah (oxymoron or not) himself: “I’m here today as a Liberal Democrat supporter of Barack Obama. I think this deal is bad

warrior and politician, ripped into President Obama for playing Russian roulette with America’s security and pussyfooting with a terrorist regime. “How dare Barack Obama…Kerry...and other charlatans who occupy Washington, D.C., surrender this great constitutional republic to the Republic of Iran... The U.S. does not surrender to a bunch of black-robed clerics who want to see us destroyed.” Instead of standing up to Iran, West says the U.S. projects impotence by slashing its armed forces to the

levels of World War I. Particular rancor was directed at Charles Schumer, Senator of New York. Shouts of “where is Chuck?” reverberated through the caverns of Times Square. Placards read “Schumer is no Shomer” (“guardian” in Hebrew). Monica Crowley, radio show host and political commentator for Fox News, could not have been more blunt: “Senator Schumer, I’m looking at you. We know you would walk over your grandmother to be Senate Democratic leader.” Crowley was referring to Schumer’s eyeing the position of Senate Democratic leader when the incumbent Senator Harry Reid of Nevada retires next year.

Organizers of the rally stressed the across-the-board, bipartisan opposition to the Iran deal. A nuclear Iran threatens the globe, not just Israel. The Confederation of Iran Students, formed by Iranian students of all faiths who oppose the dictators of Tehran, threw its support behind the rally.

Christians United for Israel (CUFI) found an eloquent spokesman in Kasim Hafeez, a CONTINUED ON P. 43

Former Gov. George Pataki

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Alan Dershowitz

Colonel Allen West

CONTINUED FROM P. 42

former anti-Israel militant of Pakistani-British origin, who, after reading Dershowitz’ “The Case for Israel,” became a fervent defender and supporter of the Jewish state.

Over one hundred organizations signed on, including Republicans for Israel, Iron Dome Alliance, and Rescue Christians Org. The Jewish/Zionist mainstream was well-represented by the “usual suspects” including: Aish, J.C.C., Americans for a Safe Israel, the Jewish National Fund, and the Zionist Organization of America.

The rally was the brainchild of the Jewish Rapid Response Coalition (JRRC), a term coined by Dr. Marvin Belsky, which led to the creation of an organization created to provide emergency response on the scene of Jewish crises, a sort of “political Hatzolah.” Dr. Paul Brody, a dermatologist and activist who grew up in Kew Gardens Hills, was one of the organizers of the protests last year following the disastrous Met opera The Death of Klinghoffer. Jan Fenster, past president of the Queens Jewish Community Council, was a member of this group, as

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well. The opera was widely condemned as obscene by glorifying terrorism. The group was incensed by the hesitation on the part of the Jewish establishment to protest this grotesque “opera” and decided to take action. “The mainstream is too hesitant to butt heads with the establishment.”

The Jewish Rapid Response Coalition, a grassroots, non-profit organization, was “born” after the two successful Klinghoffer rallies.

Many in the community are angry and disappointed that local and national media scanted the massive protest. Times Square got its name because it is the address of the New York Times, but the Times editors, gawking at the rally from their plush offices, did not consider the protest to be “news fit to print,” while the Bismark Tribune of North Dakota covered the demonstration.

Though Mort Zuckerman, publisher of the Daily News, was the inaugural speaker at the rally, his own newspaper did not devote an article to the rally in its print edition. Ironically, the rally was covered by Al Jazeera, in a surprisingly dispassionate tone.

Is a rally of 12,000 a success?

That is the proverbial “is the glass half empty or half full” question. Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Rav of Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, believes that the rally was significant but could have been ten times bigger had the Jewish establishment actively organized and publicized instead of just paying lip service.

“While the rally was an extremely important event, and Jeff Wiesenfeld and all the heroic grassroots men and women who work with him deserve a huge yasher koach, it also points to some of our failings,” Rabbi Schonfeld noted. “Where were all the establishment organizations, besides rubber stamping the ads? Why did not all the major Orthodox and non-Orthodox orgs conceive of this rally on their own? Why was it left to a handful of lone soldiers? We had 12,000 people, but why was it not 120,000? The future of Israel and the world is at stake! Where is the rabbinic leadership?”

The JRRC, unfazed, claims success, saying it was the largest rally ever held at Times Square. Ten thousand people (12,000

according to co-organizer Jeff Weisenfeld, 8000 according to the police) lining five blocks of midtown is an impressive turnout on a workday, in the “dog days of summer,” when many people, especially children, are out of town. Furthermore, the Times Square rally was the “mother rally,” dwarfing similar nation-wide rallies such as the one held in Fort Lauderdale that attracted around 400 protestors.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Brody claims the Times Square rally inspired similar rallies throughout the country, even using the same slogans and placards. Perhaps the greatest sign that the message got out was that the day after the protest, Assemblyman Dov Hikind was arrested for civil disobedience while protesting in front of Senator Schumer’s office on the Upper East Side, using the rally’s theme of “Schumer is no Shomer.”

The clocks are ticking as the centrifuges spin. Congress has but weeks to nix the deal. The Jewish Rapid Response Coalition is planning the next event to take place a few days before the September 17 deadline.

Hopefully, Congress will be responsive.

Statement Of Eliot Lauer And Jacques Semmelman, Attorneys For Jonathan J. Pollard

he U.S. Parole Commission has issued a Notice of Action granting parole to our pro bono client Jonathan J. Pollard.

Mr. Pollard is scheduled to be released on parole November 21, 2015. He has been in prison since November 21, 1985. We are grateful and delighted that our client will soon be released.

The decision to grant parole was made unanimously by the three members of the Parole Commission, who make their decisions independently of any other U.S. government agency.

The decision is not connected to recent developments in the Middle East. Had parole been denied, Mr. Pollard would have been required to serve an additional fifteen years in prison.

The Notice of Action follows a parole hearing that took place July 7, 2015 at the Federal Correctional Center in Butner, North Carolina, where Mr. Pollard has been incarcerated. He has been serving a sentence of

Jonathan Pollard

life in prison for conspiracy to deliver classified information to the State of Israel.

This was Mr. Pollard’s second parole hearing. At his first hearing, in July 2014, parole was denied. At that time, the Parole Commission informed us that nine months before the twothirds mark of Mr. Pollard’s life sentence (deemed for this purpose to be 45 years), the Parole

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Eliot Lauer (R), lawyer of Jonathan Pollard, with lawyer Jacques Semmelman (L), talks to the press outside the US District Court in September, 2003

Commission would perform a “record review” and assess whether, in its discretion, Mr. Pollard should be released on parole at the two-thirds mark of the 45-year term, i.e., on November 21, 2015.

The Parole Commission performed a “record review” but, to our great disappointment at the time, declined to consider granting parole without first

conducting an adversarial hearing, at which representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) would be present. The issues for the hearing, as set forth in the federal parole statute, were (a) Mr. Pollard’s record in prison, and (b) whether there was a “reasonable probability” that Mr. Pollard would commit any further crimes if released.

Over the next several

months, in advance of the hearing, we engaged in dialogue with the DOJ, and submitted extensive written materials to the Parole Commission and the DOJ in support of parole, demonstrating that Mr. Pollard had an exemplary prison record, and that there was no possibility that he would commit any further crimes if released. We also secured employment and housing for Mr. Pollard in the New York area, and made that information available to the Parole Commission as well as the DOJ. On July 1, 2015 the DOJ finally informed us that it agreed not to urge denial of parole at the hearing scheduled for July 7, 2015.

The Notice of Action requires Mr. Pollard to remain in the United States for five years.

President Obama, who has the constitutional power of executive clemency, has the authority to release Mr. Pollard before

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

Delectable Dishes

Estee Kafra, author of three best-selling cookbooks, runs KosherScoop.com, an interactive website with all the latest and greatest in kosher cooking, featuring over 1,000 recipes.

Estee Kafra, kosherscoop.com

Pickled Brisket With Tangy Pineapple Sauce Ingredients 1 pickled brisket – any desired size Pineapple juice – enough to cover the brisket in the pot Sauce 3 cups reserved pineapple cooking liquid ½ cup duck sauce ¼ cup mustard 1 tbsp. honey 2 tsp. soy sauce ½ cup dark raisins – (optional but recommended) 2 tsp. corn starch – dissolved in 1 tbsp. cold water

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Preheat oven to 300° F. Place the brisket (after it’s rinsed off) in a Dutch oven or Pyrex dish, and cover completely with pineapple juice (the kind from concentrate is fine).

Cover tightly and place in oven for 2½ hours.

Remove from oven and let cool. Slice the meat against the grain.

Prepare sauce: • Place 3 cups of the cooking liquid into a pot (discard any remaining liquid) and add remaining ingredients, except cornstarch.

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• Let simmer over med-low heat until reduced, and ingredients are fully combined, about 15 minutes.

Add the dissolved cornstarch and mix well to incorporate.

• Cook about 5 more minutes until sauce begins to thicken (It will thicken more as it cools).

Pour sauce over sliced meat and freeze, or reheat for ½ hour before serving.

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Last-Minute Miami Ribs Ingredients 12 Miami-style ribs (See Note) Sauce ¼ cup soy sauce (reg. or low sodium) ¼ cup orange juice ¼ cup ketchup ¼ cup honey 1 tsp. garlic powder

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Preheat oven to 300° F. Place meat in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Do not pile the ribs more than 2 high.

Mix all ingredients for sauce together in a bowl and pour evenly over meat, making sure all the meat is covered with sauce. Cover

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pan tightly with aluminum foil.

Bake for 2 hours.

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ote: Miami ribs are beef short ribs (Flanken) that have been sliced into thin strips across the bone by the butcher.

They’re about ½-inch thick.

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

The Informed Woman • Beauty Briefs Risselle Naimark

A crme or gel product, which gives a most natural glow, does not go on streaky, and stays put

Ten Ways To Lose Ten Years

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hy look any older than you have to? Here are some stayyoung strategies to help you look your best whatever your age.

Eye openers It’s possible to prevent or greatly reduce puffiness, especially the kind that’s worse in the morning as a result of overnight fluid retention. If you have residual puffiness, try splashing your face several times with cool water to help stimulate the circulation away from your eyes.

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Brush up on brow know-how Eyebrows can drag your face down, so help nature along. First, use an eyebrow brush to comb the hairs upward towards the hairline. Next, fill in with a soft neutral light taupe, dark taupe, or blonde pencil for the most natural look. Use short, feathery strokes going upward in a diagonal direction. After creating an arch, continue the strokes in a straight and feathery manner, making sure not to draw a semi-circle. The right technique makes all the difference. To help downward growing hairs stay swept upward, finish by stroking over them with a small toothbrush and set with either brow gel or clear mascara. Other options can include using brow powder in a compact or brow gel that comes in a pot and is painted on with a brush, by using the same feathery techniques.

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Erase by using a good base Even the healthiest skin will be ruined by cakey or poorly applied foundation. Always be sure to use a foundation that’s appropriate for your skin type, i.e. hydrating products for dry skin.

Make sure to blend well, so that your complexion also looks natural and luminous. The foundation must match your skin color, and the shade can only be a bit darker than your own skin.

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Always use a pencil… write that down To prevent feathering, the lessthan-chic effect you get when lipstick seeps into the vertical lines that extend beyond your lips, use a neutral-colored lip pencil to neatly outline and fill in your lip line. Pencils not only help prevent lipstick color from bleeding, they also allow you to make minor alterations in your natural lip line. The number-one thing to remember is that a lip pencil should be used to give definition only.

Look for a shade close to your natural lip color. Angle the pencil to shape the lips symmetrically, yet keep the line soft (using the point can create a harsh appearance). For the most flattering look, follow your own lip line and blend the line with a Q-Tip until it’s barely noticeable.

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The right-grade pencil You want to use eye and lip liners that glide on smoothly and have longevity. If you’re using a pencil that bleeds easily, it will soon look quite messy. Pencils that are too hard have a tendency to pull the lip and give a choppy line. Try the pencil on the back of your hand to test the quality, then slightly rub it. If it disappears from your hand, it won’t last on your lips, and if it drags or skips, it won’t go on smoothly.

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Choose matte over frosted If you have any crepiness in the eye area, opt for a matte color which will not magnify the problem. Although frosts are pretty and add a sheen, they are a better bet for someone who doesn’t have wrinkles in this area. You can, however, incorporate a bit of shimmer, either as a highlighter under the browbone or in the center of the lids, which can add just the right touch without aging you.

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Face lifter By prepping your skin with a face primer before foundation, your pores and lines will be less obvious, plus your foundation will glide on smoothly and have greater longevity.

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Mask your years Nothing says old and tired like dull, flakey skin that looks lifeless.

A hydrating mask or scrub can provide gentle exfoliation and moisture benefits at the same time. For a homemade mask try the following: Smooth on some plain yogurt (full-fat version, not fat-free) all over your face and throat, then leave on for 10 minutes. Afterwards, wet a clean washcloth with lukewarm water and remove gently.

Pencils not only help prevent lipstick color from bleeding, they also allow you to make minor alterations in your natural lip line

By prepping your skin with a face primer before foundation, your pores and lines will be less obvious, plus your foundation will glide on smoothly and have greater longevity

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Don’t rush your blush Two things to consider when applying blush are replacement and blending. You can usually wear any shade, as long as it’s applied correctly.

Look for a non-frosted shade that complements your lipstick and skin tone. For a beautiful, natural application that adds some life, begin on the apple of your cheek (smile at yourself in the mirror to locate the apples), and smooth your blush toward your hairline. When finished, the result should be a seamless wash of color. An alternative to using powder blush is trying a crème or gel product, which gives a most natural glow, does not go on streaky, and stays put.

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Smile Last but not least, the quickest and most convenient anti-aging ploy you can use is to smile, which not only draws your features upwards, it is a facial expression of youth and creates a more confident image.

Risselle Naimark is a Professional Freelance Makeup Artist and Skincare Consultant.

She carries an extensive line of personalized skincare, cosmetics, and anti-aging products. Risselle is also available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, makeup lessons, and all of your beauty needs.

She can be reached at 718 263-5517.

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To help downward growing hairs stay swept upward, finish by stroking over them with a small toothbrush and set with either brow gel or clear mascara

For a beautiful, natural application that adds some life, begin on the apple of your cheek (smile at yourself in the mirror to locate the apples), and smooth your blush toward your hairline.

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Politics & Ethics Abe Fuchs

Mike Huckabee Wins Over Distinguished Orthodox Group In Jamaica Estates

Gov. Mike Huckabee (2nd from left), contender for Republican candidate for U.S. President, honored at the Jamaica Estates home of Dr. Joe and Karen Frager, is flanked by (L-R) activist Dr. Paul Brody; activist Odeleya Jacobs; Foreground: Yaakov Serle, Queens Jewish Link publisher; Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Rav of Young Israel KGH; Dr. Frager; and Yaniv Meirov, Operations Manager for Chazaq

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ike Huckabee, current presidential candidate and former governor of Arkansas, who came in second to Senator John McCain in the 2008 Republican Primaries, spoke to a group of rabbis and political activists during a fundraiser in Jamaica Estates Monday night, hosted by Dr. Joe Frager. Mike was upbeat and confident and wouldn’t back down from a statement that he had made, comparing the per-

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ils of the Iran deal to the memory of Jews being shoved into the ovens of Auschwitz, even though the statement was roundly criticized by the likes of Hillary Clinton, President Obama, and the rest of the (predictable) liberal media. At the fundraiser were survivors or children of survivors of the Holocaust, and they gave Mr. Huckabee a solid round of applause for his comparison. They and indeed all who attended

Gov. Huckabee speaks to prominent members of the Queens Jewish community

were in agreement that the comparison was apt and appropriate.

Mr. Huckabee went on to explain that Iran has threatened the West, the US, and Israel for 36 years, ever since the Iranian revolution, and that we have to learn from history to take threats seriously, as what

happened in Nazi Germany started with threats. Huckabee went on to say that the president should never have been granted the power to make an executive action; rather the agreement should have been CONTINUED ON P. 49

Abe Fuchs was born in Wash. D.C. and attended high school at the Mesivta of Forest Hills.

He spent three years in yeshiva (Rabbinical Seminary, B’nei Torah and Sh’or Yashuv) in NY. He worked 25 years for the U.S Postal Service, retiring in 2009. In 2012, Abe ran against Nily Rozic for NY State Assembly District 25. He can be reached at aftimes@juno.com

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CONTINUED FROM P. 48

designated as a treaty from the start, in which case Obama would have had to have two-thirds of Congress to make it effective, as opposed to what it is now – that it is effective with a 60-vote majority. He feels it never should have been farmed out to the UN either.

Mike has a better approach to the Iran nuke problem, which is to have ratcheted up the sanctions and at the very same time build up our energy production, thereby depriving our non-allies like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran of their energy export business, and thereby diminishing their financial power. Russia is misusing its financial power by taking over Crimea and fomenting unrest in the rest of Ukraine; Saudi Arabia is using its petrodollars to fund madrasas, which is the brainwashing engine to al-Qaeda and ISIS, and Iran is using its petrodollars to foment its terrorist activity in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Iraq.

The former governor is extremely critical of the 159-page agreement that our president signed with Iran. With each page, he says, it gets crazier and crazier. He classifies our role in it as a surrender and an embarrassment to our country. He feels that three components should have been prerequisites to the agreement to even take place: 1) Release of our four hostages, 2) acknowledgment that Israel has a right to exist, and 3) there can be no more threats to the US or Israel. He feels Obama is a feckless president who didn’t take the opportunity to give the 2009 Iranian revolt any moral support. Huckabee, although very happy about the prospect of a release from prison of Jonathan Pollard, feels that this is Obama’s pacification to the Jewish voters for his horrible deal with Iran. The deal, he says, affords Iran the capability of making a bomb in ten years.

Mr. Huckabee, with a strong religious background, having once been a minister, has been to Yad Vashem three times, starting all the way back in 1973. He has been to Auschwitz three times. The strong message he derived from those experiences was that we should not deny the possibility that such evil could happen again. The modern world wants to forget, even though we are confronted by the likes of such savages as those mullahs who rule in Iran. He says that Obama’s agreement is no different from the pacification that we saw before World War II by Neville Chamberlain, and what we need again now is a Winston Churchill. Huckabee’s strong conviction for a strong Israel, despite himself being a gentile, is because if Jews were to be hit by a nuclear bomb, who is to say that Huckabee’s Christian grandchildren wouldn’t be next?

Mike is equally critical of the state of the economy. He says that too many people are working two and three part-time jobs just to make ends meet. When asked which is more important, national security or the economy, he likens it to which of the two wings of a plane is more important. The answer is neither one, because both are needed for the plane to fly. The economy is a life force and so is national security. He also believes in the nation claiming back moral clarity – that we know the difference between right and wrong. Huckabee maintains that the Republicans have lost recent elections because Republicans did not offer up “full spectrum conservatives” and that is what he is offering the Republican Party and ultimately, he hopes, the general election to become the next president of the US. He explained that with a mere 4% more voters from the Christian Evangelist group, Romney would have been our president for the last four years.

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The former governor says that the fact that he is not high up in the polls now is immaterial, because at this time in the 2008 polls, Rudolph Giuliani came in first and Fred Thompson came in second. Huckabee reminds us that he won the governorship in Arkansas, a state that then had a plurality of Democrats in the state houses, and won a surprising 49% of the African-American vote. Huckabee prides himself in having been a guest for the liberal show of Jon Stewart more than any other politician, aside from Bill Clinton. He recalled the time when he got a standing ovation from Stewart’s liberal audience, when Huckabee proclaimed that life in the form of an eight-week old fetus as well as a 100-year-old is worthy of protection by the rights we derive from G-d.

Mr. Huckabee comes across as extremely sincere and the guardian of traditional values. What I urged him at the end of the talk, during the question-and-answer period, is to come prepared for the cynical press and people of popular culture with scientific facts and figures and compre-

Honoring Gov. Huckabee (2nd from right) are (L-R) Dr. Brody; North Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman with wife Segal; and host Dr. Frager

hensive substantiation for the positions that he takes, because too many people from the left or even in the middle would be tempted to dismiss him as a Bible-belt ideologue, considering all the built-up bias there is against people of religious or traditional beliefs. In my opinion, if Huckabee

makes the extra effort to enhance his message, whether it be concerning the Iranian deal or his position on being pro-life, with scientific facts and figures, he could very well win the Republican nomination and ultimately the presidency. I wish him the best of luck.

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Statement Of Eliot Lauer And Jacques Semmelman, Attorneys For Jonathan J. Pollard CONTINUED FROM P. 43

November 21, 2015, as well as the authority to allow Mr. Pollard to leave the United States and move to Israel immediately. We respectfully urge the President to exercise his clemency power in this manner.

Mr. Pollard has asked us to communicate the following on his behalf: • Mr. Pollard is looking forward to being reunited with his beloved wife Esther.

• Mr. Pollard is deeply grateful to his longstanding pro bono lawyers Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, and their law firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, who stood by him for so many years, and whose perseverance, creativity, and forceful advocacy were instrumental in securing his release on parole.

• Mr. Pollard is also extremely thankful to the National Council of Young Israel, especially Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who worked tirelessly for many years on Mr. Pollard’s behalf, as well as Farley Weiss, President of the National Council of Young Israel, for his ongoing dedication and support.

• Others who Mr. Pollard wishes to thank publicly include David Nyer, Kenneth Lasson, and George Leighton, for their work on his behalf in the United States; and Larry Dub, Nitsana Dirshan-Leitner, Effi Lahav, Asher Mivtari, and Adi Ginsburg for their work on his behalf in Israel. Mr. Pollard is mindful that others have helped as well, and he thanks them all.

• Finally, Mr. Pollard would like to thank the many thousands of well-wishers in the United States, in Israel, and throughout the world, who provided grass roots support by attending rallies, sending letters, making phone calls to elected officials, and saying prayers for his welfare. He is deeply appreciative of every gesture, large or small.

We look forward to seeing our client on the outside in less than four months.

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Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

The Informed Woman • Style Myths Debunked Meira E. Schneider-Atik

Deciding what to take and not to take is not always easy, especially if you’ve edited your wardrobe and everything looks wonderful

Going On Vacation? Read This Myth: Traveling means just taking everything you need.

Truth: You have to have a strategy.

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t’s that time of year when many people take vacations and travel. Some people hate traveling and don’t stray too far from home. Other people love to travel and see new things and new places. Still others are in between. They enjoy visiting certain places, maybe sightseeing, but they don’t enjoy the hassles of planning it. I’m somewhere in the middle myself. I’m not particularly interested in most travel sites and I certainly don’t like the hassles of planning, but I do enjoy certain places. I admit it – Disney World is always fun even if you’re a grown-up. And there is no place on earth more beautiful than Eretz Yisrael.

Part of traveling and planning does involve your clothes. When it comes to dressing and grooming, you have three challenges. First, you do still need to look good while maintaining some comfort and practicality, and you want to be prepared for every situation. Second, you do not want to wear anything that screams “tourist” because it’s not safe. Third, you actually need to carry at least some of your luggage.

From me, you get the truth.

All of the above makes dressing for travel sound like a monumental challenge, but it’s actually not as hard as it sounds.

Start by knowing what works for you and what does not. If a certain item is the wrong shape for you, then it won’t be any better when you’re out of town. If a color makes you look tired, then it will show while you’re outdoors on a tour. By this time, if you’ve been following my advice, you’ve already weeded out everything that doesn’t work. Don’t save it for traveling because it won’t work any better that way. Make sure that any and all clothes you take with you are items that fit you well and flatter you.

Having said that, some items are better suited for travel than others. If you’re going on vacation, then chances are that you won’t need a lot of fancy clothes. You may need one Shabbat outfit, but you’ll be mostly in casual clothes, so you’ll want to stick with those. But as I’ve always said, casual does not mean sloppy. Even your casual clothes should make you look good.

Your second step is to know what to

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expect when traveling. Find out what the weather will be like and plan for that. Be prepared to layer if necessary. Know what activities you’ll be doing. Sightseeing calls for certain more casual items, while your nephew’s bar mitzvah calls for fancier items.

Try to make sure that you know what you’ll be doing while you travel so that you have the items you need.

Once you know what to expect, use your look book. Go through it and find the photos/cards of outfits that will work for every activity that you have planned and that are weather appropriate. Then, pull out each item from each outfit. See if there’s any overlap, such as two black skirts or three navy tops. You might be able to manage with one black skirt and two navy tops, which of course will save space and weight in your suitcase.

Notice that I referred to black and navy.

That was no accident. Neutrals are the easiest to use because they go with everything, including each other. That means that with mixing and matching you can get several outfits from just a few items. You can add color with underpinnings (if the weather allows), scarves, and jewelry, all of which are small and easy to pack. Just avoid taking along anything massively expensive that you cannot afford to lose.

Once you have the outfits picked out of your look book, it’s perfectly fine to take the pictures with you so that you can refer to them as needed. You might not remember everything you had in mind, but your photos will be there.

The above strategies will help not only with the first challenge, but also with the second. If you wear simple clothes that fit you and flatter you, you won’t look like a tourist. Be aware that there are certain items that scream out “tourist” that you want to avoid. T-shirts with pictures on them, especially those from your favorite tourist sites, are not good and they’re even worse when they’re oversized. Even if you’re visiting Disney World, it’s not good to wear a Mickey Mouse t-shirt. Fanny packs, which are something like pocketbooks that go around the waist, are not so common

Even if you’re visiting Disney World, it’s not good to wear a Mickey Mouse t-shirt

Fanny packs are not so common anymore, but they’re still nastily unflattering and they scream “tourist.” anymore, but they’re still nastily unflattering and they scream “tourist.”

Athletic sneakers for walking are a tossup. On one hand, they’re not particularly flattering and they are a bit touristy. On the other hand, you may be doing a lot of walking and you may need them. My suggestion is to wear them only when you expect to do a lot of walking, and make sure that your top and skirt are super-flattering. And you might be better off wearing slip-on shoes with thick sneaker soles – those are more flattering and less touristy.

More good news – by using outfits with

overlap pieces, you’ll pack fewer items, which will make your luggage lighter. You really don’t need all that much and you must not take along any outfit that cannot mix with the others unless you’re traveling for a special event that calls for it.

Deciding what to take and not to take is not always easy, especially if you’ve edited your wardrobe and everything looks wonderful. But if you follow my tips, it will be easier. And when you look and feel your best, it’ll be much easier to really enjoy your vacation.

To be continued...

Meira E. Schneider-Atik is a wardrobe organizer and personal shopper.

She helps women weed out their wardrobes, shop smartly, put together outfits, and save time, effort, and money, all within tz’nius. Her writing on fashion and style within tz’nius has been published both in print and online. She is also a jewelry designer and co-founder of RenaMei Jewelry – Designed Just for You. Her pieces can be seen on www.etsy.com (just look up RenaMei). She can be reached at 718-644-6135 or at MESAtik@gmail.com.

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“You Can Just Call Me Lucky” CONTINUED FROM P. 35

beds. Our parents, anxiously concerned for the children, ran downstairs to the front door to see what all the commotion was about. Most of the neighbors were already milling about on the street. There was much excitement, yelling, and shouting. The Prussians (Germans) are here.”

He explains that Hitler had invaded Luxembourg, Belgium, and Holland. His family lived directly off the Rue de Thionville, in Paris, so they saw thousands of soldiers marching close by the corner of his street. He describes a trail of monotonous gray-green uniformed soldiers on foot, on horses, in trucks, staff cars, and motorcycles going by. He notes that the sky above the town was buzzing with French and British fighter planes and a British plane was shot down near his house. All day long they heard “ack ack” sounds of the German antiaircraft guns. German motorcycles were racing up and down nearly every street. A soldier quickly jumped out and plastered orders and warnings on every available surface. All around them were old German biplanes circling and dropping motorcycles and soldiers. German paratroopers were falling from the sky. He writes how two German officers were stationed at their house for about two weeks. These men were actually polite to his family and didn’t display prejudice against Jews.

Mr. Rauner continues that, as time went by, they felt more and more restricted. Jews were disappearing daily. One day, the Germans came and took his father’s valuable stamp collection and his brother’s camera. Then food rationing started. Jews were given a much smaller ration of food.

He describes the last time the congregation was summoned together by the shul rabbi, Rabbi Dr. Steven Serebrenik, Chief

Rabbi of Luxembourg. The rabbi donned the clothing he wore on Yom Kippur and, with tears in his eyes, blew the shofar and told everyone that this was the last time they would be gathering together. He had returned from Berlin that week, where he was summoned by Adolf Eichmann and told that Luxembourg had to be Judenrein within ten days. Rabbi Serebrenik arranged for one more transport to leave Luxembourg via Portugal to the US. Mr. Rauner’s family’s name did not make it onto the list to leave. At first, this seemed devastating, but Mr. Rauner points out that it ended up being gam zo l’tovah (all for the best), because of the fate of that particular bus transport, which ended in a concentration camp.

He describes how the noose was growing tighter around the Jews in Luxembourg day by day. There were food and fuel shortages. “And then it happened.

The MIRACLE! The telegram from America arrived, with four short words: “AFFIDAVITS SENT, All HEALTHY, signed Simon and Mina – my mother’s brother and sister.”

Mr. Rauner’s well-written memoir continues with many details and descriptions, as well as photographs and fascinating historical documents in the back of the book. It is a good read that provides the reader with a feeling and clearer understanding of the time period, and all the telling and visual details make it come to life.

In the addendum to his book Mr. Rauner includes the statement by Rabbi Dr. Robert Serebrenik’s testimony at the final trial of Adolf Eichmann in Tel Aviv in June 1960.

Mr. Rauner concludes his story with the following statement: “And they lived happily ever after… I would say that I lived a blessed fairy-tale life, but since I really can’t say that I always deserved to be blessed, “you could just call me lucky.”

KGH Jewish Library Celebrates 1,000-Book Milestone CONTINUED FROM P. 22

Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30. Especially during the summer, these are busy hours, as many adults and kids eagerly fill up on reading material. “I love Jewish books!” said one pre-teen. It is with tremendous satisfaction that the library is able to provide so many people with free Jewish reading material in all genres, from novels to short stories, biographies to hashkafah works, and chapter and picture books for kids of all ages.

While the library has now quadrupled in size since its opening, this is by no means the limit. There is lots more room to expand, and as the number of members grows, the demand for more books grows too! Children in particular delight in every new children’s book they can find, so it’s especially appreciated when children’s books are donated. Many parents have commented, “This is such a tremendous chesed you do. Providing an adequate

supply of kosher reading material for our children, who are avid readers, is a real challenge. It’s so nice to be able to bring the children to a Jewish Library and know that they will leave happy.”

Adults and children alike delight in the selection of books. Older children help their younger siblings choose books to their liking, while parents browse through the novels or the section of recently-published hashkafah books. The big smiles on the faces of the members, and the reluctance of the children to leave the library, show what a tremendous simchah the library brings to the community.

The Kew Gardens Hills Jewish Library will be open all summer long! Visit the Kew Gardens Hills Jewish Library to join the growing list of members or to donate more Jewish books for everyone to enjoy!

For questions or comments, the library can be contacted at kghjewishlibrary@ gmail.com or at 917-497-7584.

Happy reading!

Side-Splitting Stand-Up Sources say the Obama administration is in the “final stages” of planning the closing of Guantanamo Bay. The way it’s gonna work is, they’re going to put a Radio Shack sign out front and let nature take its course.

- Seth Meyers

A couple was spotted this past weekend walking into the ocean in North Carolina wearing homemade cages to fend off sharks. Said sharks, “Wow, this really does taste homemade!”

- Seth Meyers BlackBerry announced today that it is buying another tech company to improve its BBM messaging service. Well, actually, they announced it weeks ago, but I just got the message now.

- Seth Meyers In Major League Baseball news, the federal government has decided to drop their criminal case against former superstar Barry Bonds. This is a case that started in 2003, it took forever, and nothing ended up happening. Just like baseball.

- Seth Meyers Tom Cruise is here to promote the new “Mission: Impossible” movie, which I believe is all about Donald Trump’s PR team.

- Jimmy Fallon New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced a new plan to improve LaGuardia Airport. That’s right, they’re going to burn it down.

- Seth Meyers A California couple last week had to be rescued during their first date after they got lost on a hike in the woods. Said the man, “Whoa, whoa, whoa – ‘couple?’”

- Seth Meyers Republican candidate Ben Carson told reporters he thinks American prisons might be too comfortable.

As opposed to Mexican prisons that

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have personal showers with $5 million escape tunnels.

- Jimmy Fallon The Museum of the Moving Image in New York is opening a new exhibit dedicated to cats that are famous on the Internet. So if you love the Internet, and you love cats, you’re probably not making it out of the house.

- Seth Meyers Donald Trump’s not backing down. Yesterday he said he doesn’t need to be lectured by the other Republican candidates, who he says have no business running for president. Not to be confused with Donald Trump, who ran for president and now has no business.

- Jimmy Fallon At a campaign event today, Donald Trump read Senator Lindsey Graham’s cellphone number aloud on live TV. It’s the craziest thing Trump has done since whatever he did right before that.

- Seth Meyers The White House is making a special Twitter account to answer questions about the new nuclear agreement. Finally using Twitter for what it was designed for — explaining complex, international nuclear agreements involving several nations.

- Seth Meyers A former Iowa lottery official was found guilty yesterday of rigging a computerized “Hot Lotto” game so he could win a $14 million jackpot.

He now faces up to 5, 12, 14, 20, or 25 years in prison.

- Seth Meyers

Vol. IV No. 27 (#122) • July 30, 2015

“Misdirection”

Down 1 “Give me children, or ___ I die”: Rachel 2 Nearly bubkes 3 Red Sea formation 4 Peeper, to Emma Lazarus 5 Souvenir, as from a Birthright trip 6 Harden, Job-style 7 President’s Medal and others 8 JDate exchange, for short 9 Compete in the Jerusalem Marathon 10 Post-Pesach digestion aids 11 Jewish campus group 12 Churchill who supported the Zionist movement 13 Hebrew form of Abe 14 2013 Spike Jonze film 15 Bubbe’s specialty 18 Baer vs. Schmeling outcome, 1933 23 Japheth’s brother 25 Full of schmutz 26 One needing real gelt to pay off a mortgage

28 Flowery Hebrew name 29 Lech-___ 30 “The Nazarene” author 31 Ralph Lauren line?

32 “Found the afikoman!”

33 Ayalon Highway, for instance: Abbr.

35 “Jerusalem Post” informants 37 Spike, as grape juice 39 Used an Uzi 41 Philistine city 45 ___ zemirot, Shabbat prayer 46 Theologian Kaufmann 47 Service admonition 50 “On the Jewish Question” essayist Karl 51 Enjoyed kugel 52 Barbara Walters is one 53 Display chutzpah 54 Knesset assistant 57 Vehicle that doesn’t operate during Shabbat in Tel Aviv 58 In biblical days 59 Sound of klutzes colliding

By David Steinberg Editor: DavidBenkof@gmail.com Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Across 1 “Feh, pick one boyfriend!”

8 Impose a plague on 12 What tensions in the Middle East will ideally do 16 1913’s “Cohen Saves the Flag,” for one 17 Third 31-Across book 19 Fourth 31-Across book 20 Preparing to dispose of, as a chocolate gelt wrapper 21 Temple membership charge 22 Golden Globe winner Dinah 24 Made dough at a bagel shop?

25 Former ambassador Moshe 26 Course for Israeli immigrants to the U.S.: Abbr.

27 Landed via El Al 31 It’s written from right-to-left, like each Across entry in this puzzle 34 Jewish religion et al.

36 31-Across form, often 38 Have the effect of matzo ball soup on the soul 40 Nat ___ (“Shadow Soldiers: Israel” network, informally) 42 Israel’s third-largest trading partner 43 Israel began sending one to the Olympics in 1952

See solution in this issue on page 36

44 Present time?

48 Noshes on 49 Fifth 31-Across book 52 Menorah mishap residue 55 Only method for producing kosher meat 56 ___ Yar 60 Jerusalem Biblical Zoo heavyweight 62 Tree mentioned in Isaiah 63 She can’t remarry 65 Second 36-Across book 67 Job for Ginsburg 70 Main 31-Across character 71 Israel’s is around $228 billion 72 Abbr. once seen in kosher markets 74 Goldman Sachs closes them 76 Its eruption caused a tsunami that submerged Atlit Yam 78 Plotz sounds 79 Challah ingredient 82 Boxer and Franken, at times 86 First 31-Across book 88 31-Across locale, sometimes 89 Shylock quality 90 Encyclopaedia Judaica, e.g.

91 Technion hurdle 92 Einstein’s collection

61 Lower Galilee boarding school 64 Sanitary state, as at the Ichilov Hospital 66 Gradually drives meshuga 68 Pharaonic symbol 69 Where rabbinical robes hang 73 Brandeis bigwigs 75 Walker known for anti-Semitism 77 Emulate a concerned Jewish mother 78 Part of William S. Paley’s CBS, briefly 79 The Talmud considers it an example of the weak who cast terror on the strong 80 Jezreel Valley kibbutz 81 Old-style “Oy vey!”

82 Take in, as light 83 Drink that’s Hebrew for “be exalted” 84 Goliath’s was big 85 Body part equivalent to itself, biblically 87 Sandy Koufax stat SEE SOLUTION IN THIS ISSUE ON PAGE 36

CAN YOU SPOT THE 10 DIFFERENCES?

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