COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 2013 08

Volume XII No. 11 Av - Elul 5773 August 2013

Let Us

STRENGTHEN OURSELVES!

The Capture and Rescue Mission Rabbi Eli J Mansour Judaism and Cosmetic Surgery Daniel Eisenberg, MD Innovative Website Teaches Sephardic Hazzanut Pnina Souid

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COMMUNITY Features

16

The Capture and Rescue Mission

26

Maternal Instinct – Beware of Mothers Protecting Their Young!

How to use our negative tendencies such as arrogance, lust, and greed to serve Hashem.

Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is no limit to what parents will do for their children. In the animal kingdom, too, motherly instinct is crucial for the birth and survival of the new generation.

Tuvia Cohen

28

Jack Hidary Launches Mayoral Campaign Jack Hidary receives ringing endorsements from rabbis and community leaders as he gears up for the upcoming 2013 New York City mayoral election.

Frances Haddad

Av - Elul 5773 August 2013 Volume XII Number 11

(718) 645-4460

Departments 14 56 58

Letters

60 62

Top 10 Rabbi Daniel Levy

Sportsman Of The Month From The Files of The Bet Din A $35 parking ticket, Rabbi Max Sutton

Dollars and Sense Rabbi Max Anteby

65 Back to School Features 66 Preparing for the Summertime to School Transition Frances Haddad

30

Let Us Strengthen Ourselves!

70 Back to School Sanity

Our generation’s leading sages offer guidance and inspiration at Dirshu’s unforgettable gathering in Jerusalem.

72 Motivating the Frustrated

40

The Man Who Died and Came Back to Life

74 Shaatra Does it - Back to

Sharon Estroff

Learner Rifka Schonfeld

46 48 54 76

After a massive automobile collision, Sharon Nachshoni was declared dead. He experienced a brief, frightening taste of the Next World while looking down on the scene of the accident.

Zamir Cohen

Innovative Website Teaches Sephardic Hazzanut Sephardichazzanut.com, launched by Hazzan Faraj Samra in 2009, is an invaluable resource for those seeking to learn Sephardic hazzanut and how to read the Torah.

Pnina Souid

Judaism and Cosmetic Surgery From a Jewish perspective, how far can one go to improve his/her appearance?

Some of the previous generation’s leading halachic sages weighed in on this fascinating subject.

Daniel Eisenberg, MD.

Celebrating Success at Or Haddash 2U +DGGDVK D XQLTXH LQVWLWXWLRQ SURYLGLQJ D TXDOLW\ 7RUDK HGXFDWLRQ DQG ÀQDQFLDO support for Israeli children from underprivileged homes, celebrates 18 years of achievement, and invites you to take part in their outstanding work on behalf of Israel’s poor.

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The Distant Stars Learn why life on Earth would be impossible without the billions of stars in the universe.

Nathan Aviezer

School Tips

78 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 102 104 106 108 112

Exploring the Wild World of Animals Ask Sito Sage Advice Professor Noe Ital Mabrouk The Chic Kitchen To Your Health Dental Sleep Apnea and Fatigue

Community Chest Incredible Stats & Facts The Lighter Side Riddles Life in the Big City &ODVVLĂ€HGV

Community Magazine is published monthly by Bnei Aram Soba, 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY, USPS Number 0021-802 (ISSN 1552-809X).

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Volume XII No. 11 Av - Elul 5773 August 2013

Let Us

STRENGTHEN OURSELVES!

The Capture and Rescue Mission Rabbi Eli J Mansour Judaism and Cosmetic Surgery Daniel Eisenberg, MD Innovative Website Teaches Sephardic Hazzanut Pnina Souid

Special Back to School Features

A PUBLICATION OF

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1616 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11223 Telephone: 718-645-4460 Fax: 718-504-4246 HPDLO FP#FRPPXQLW\P FRP ZZZ FRPPXQLW\P FRP Mashgiah Ruhani HACHAM DAVID YOSEF X]LOE Executive Mashgiah RABBI ELI DAVID Executive Publisher JACK COHEN Editor-in-Chief FREDDIE HARARI Editor ALIZA PARKER Contributing Writers YEHUDA AZOULAY TUVIA COHEN RACHEL DAYAN DR. JACQUES DOUECK DAVE GORDON FRANCES HADDAD RABBI ELI J. MANSOUR X]LOE KELLY JEMAL MASSRY MOZELLE MIMRAN, LCSW DANIEL ROSEHILL DAVID SILVERBERG PNINA SOUID RABBI MAX SUTTON X]LOE News Editor RAPHAEL COHEN Creative Director NETA SITTON Graphic Designer NADIA ASE Cover Design NADIA ASE Photography MORRIS ANTEBI Account Executives FRIEDA ELBAZ ROBYN GREEN BARBRA PANIGEL

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LETTERS RESOLVING THE ‘RELIGIOUS DIVISION’ CRISIS

Last month’s article by Rabbi Mansour was right on the money. There would be so much more peace and unity in our community if people were just more tolerant of one another. We all need to learn from the great wisdom and advice of Hacham Baruch zt”l (as shown in the article).

In the Talmud, the Jewish people are called “person.”

The entire Jewish nation is a singular unit. It seems as though our enemies are more aware of this fact than we are.

Terrorists consider all Jews one and the same. They do not discriminate between different Jews’ levels of observance. In their mind, a Jew is a Jew. It is sad to say – but it seems like the only time all Jews unite is when they are being attacked and persecuted.

The Talmud says that the Jewish people were able to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai only because they were united as one. Similarly, the ¿ QDO UHGHPSWLRQ IRU ZKLFK we pray for on a daily basis will only come when all Jews are united and genuinely care for one another – without the threat of being attacked by our enemies.

S. Falack WHEN BLOOD CLOTTING BEGINS The article in the July issue regarding berit milah was very enlightening, especially as the berit milah ritual is currently coming under attack right here in New York, as well as in countries outside the U.S. Bashing the berit milah ritual is not a new concept – actually, it is pretty old and 14

has been used by our enemies throughout Jewish history.

Anti-circumcisionists have been trying to regulate and ban the berit milah for centuries and have used every trick of the trade to impose their views onto the general public, claiming that it is unsafe, barbaric, oldfashioned, abusive, etc.

What is rarely discussed is the real agenda of these anticircumcisionists. The berit milah represents the Jewish mission of ethics and holiness, a point that our enemies have always understood (better than some of our fellow Jews and so-called friends and allies).

It was not too long ago that a man’s circumcision status was used by Nazi Germany in their attempt to exterminate the Jewish People. Perhaps the following quote from Adolf Hitler y”sh will shed some light on the real agenda of the anticircumcisionists: “It is true, we are barbarians.

It is an honored title to us.

I free humanity from the shackles of the soul, from the degrading suffering caused by the false vision called conscience and ethics. The -HZV KDYH LQÀ LFWHG WZR ZRXQGV on mankind: circumcision on its body and a conscience on its soul. These are Jewish inventions. The war for domination of the world is waged only between the two of us, between these two camps alone, the Germans and the Jews. Everything else is but deception.”

We should all be praying that these attempts to ban and regulate (which will eventually lead to banning) berit milah will not become yet another example of history repeating itself.

Danny F.

SAGE ADVICE

(The next two letters were written in response to last month’s “Sage Advice” column, which advised a diner who found a restaurant’s background music inappropriate to respectfully bring the matter to the owner’s attention, and then, if necessary, to notify the certifying kashrut agency.)

In the spirit of ahavat hinam [love for its own sake] and tolerance for people of different religious levels, may I suggest that a diner offended by a questionable atmosphere of an unquestionably kosher UHVWDXUDQW MXVW ¿ QG VRPHZKHUH else to go? Why impose stringencies and make a personal concern a communitywide issue? When a restaurant has hashgahah [kashrut supervision], it tells me that the food is halachically acceptable. ,I , ¿ QG WKH DWPRVSKHUH LV not for me, then I leave. Why potentially ruin a reputation or label an owner as bereft of yirat Shamayim [fear of Gd] over a non-food related issue? Once there is even a hint of controversy, even if it has nothing to do with the kashrut of the food, the owner may never fully recover his good name and it can cause an unnecessary loss of livelihood.

I would like to commend the person who is concerned about the background music at a kosher restaurant, which sometimes is not Jewish music.

As we know, we don’t just need to eat kosher food, but hear and see kosher things, too.

Everything we see and hear affects us our neshamah [soul].

I believe that every kosher restaurant should make sure to not only serve kosher food, but also provide an atmosphere of a kosher restaurant through its décor and music.

It would be wonderful if restaurants would take this into consideration so people can feel secure knowing they can enjoy both the food and the atmosphere in a kosher way.

TM

AH

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7KH

Capture and Rescue

MISSION

How to use our negative tendencies such as, arrogance, lust, and greed to serve Hashem...

RABBI ELI MANSOUR

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1DPH *DPHV" This history begins in the Book of Beresheet, at the time when the third of our patriarchs, Yaakov Avinu, was born. Yaakov was born together with his twin, Esav, the brother with whom he has been forced to struggle even in the womb. The Torah relates that as Yaakov and Esav entered this world, Yaakov was grabbing onto Esavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heel. The Hebrew word for heel is â&#x20AC;&#x153;akev,â&#x20AC;? and this word forms the root of the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaakov.â&#x20AC;?

Dedicated in memory of 16

Rashi raises the question of why Yaakov was not simply named â&#x20AC;&#x153;Akev.â&#x20AC;? If he was given the name to commemorate the unusual events surrounding his birth, these events should have been marked more clearly, by his being given a name that actually means â&#x20AC;&#x153;heel.â&#x20AC;?

Rashi explains that the letter yod was added to the beginning of the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;akevâ&#x20AC;? to form the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaakov.â&#x20AC;? This extra letter was â&#x20AC;&#x153;seized,â&#x20AC;? as it were, from Esav. Esavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was supposed to have been â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asui,â&#x20AC;? which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;readymade,â&#x20AC;? alluding to the fact that Esav was born physically mature, with adult hair. But Yaakov VRPHKRZ PDQDJHG WR ÂłVWHDO´ WKH Âż QDO OHWWHU RI (VDYÂśV QDPH WKH yod, and take it for himself, thus forming the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaakov.â&#x20AC;?

It goes without saying that the events which Rashi describes involve far more than petty name games. There is no question that Rashi refers here to much deeper concepts, to the symbolic meaning of the letter yod DQG LWV VLJQLÂż FDQFH IRU XV WKH GHVFHQGDQWV of Yaakov Avinu.

It says in the holy books that Yaakov and Esav divided the 12 months of the year between them, with each of them taking six months. The process began with Yaakov taking the months of Nissan, Iyar and Sivan. From the standpoint of Jewish history, these DUH WKH PRVW VLJQLÂż FDQW PRQWKV IRU WKH -HZLVK SHRSOH DV LW ZDV during this period when we became a nation, when we left Egypt and prepared for the event of Matan Torah, whereby we became Gdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eternal servants. These events were enabled by Yaakovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choosing the months of Nissan, Iyar and Sivan, which were thereby infused with holiness.

7 ) Jack ben Renee Gindi Z K

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a special time for the Jewish people, D EHDXWLIXO SHULRG RI UHĂ&#x20AC; HFWLRQ repentance, reconciliation and spiritual growth. How could it be WKDW VSHFLÂż FDOO\ GXULQJ D PRQWK WKDW LV XQGHU (VDYÂśV LQĂ&#x20AC; XHQFH -HZV across the world wake up early to recite special Selihot prayers, set aside time for the study of mussar, and commit themselves to strengthen their religious commitment?

The answer lies in the letter yod.

The famous Kabbalistic work Sefer Hayetzira establishes a correspondence between the 12 months of the year and certain letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and, for deep mystical reasons which I am ill-equipped to explain, the month of Elul corresponds to the letter yod.

And this is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;yodâ&#x20AC;? which Yaakov â&#x20AC;&#x153;seizedâ&#x20AC;? from Esav. This was not just a matter of having a nicer name, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaakovâ&#x20AC;? instead of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Akev.â&#x20AC;? It is far PRUH VLJQLÂż FDQW WKDQ WKDW <DDNRY Experience helping four generations of community families understood that he needed Elul on his side, and that the survival of the minimize taxes and structure their financial lives Jewish people depended on it. If the evil forces of Esav had controlled Elul, then it would have likely become a month of sin and spiritual KNOWLEDGE. EXPERIENCE. SOLUTIONS. failure. Under Esavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control, we could not be expected to utilize this crucial time before our yearly judgment for serious introspection Call Jeffrey Resnick, Managing Partner, for referrals or to set up an appointment. and teshuva. If Elul had fallen under Esavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control, we would stand little chance of preparing for the High Holidays, of making this month what it is supposed to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a month 212.594.2020 | www.therdgroup.com RI UHĂ&#x20AC; HFWLRQ DQG VLQFHUH UHVROXWLRQV Offices in Manhattan and Long Island This is the meaning of Yaakovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;theftâ&#x20AC;? of the letter yod. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t steal a letter. Rather, he ensured that the crucial month of Elul would be on After Yaakov chose these three months, Esav proceeded to select his side, and would thus become a beautiful and meaningful period the next three â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tamuz, Av and Elul. It was a result of this selection of spiritual growth.

Of course, this still requires further explanation. What difference that Tammuz and Av became months of tragedy and mourning for the Jewish people. Multiple calamities befell our nation during does it make that Elul was â&#x20AC;&#x153;snatchedâ&#x20AC;? from the clutches of Esav? these months, including the sin of the golden calf, the sin of the What effect does this have on our approach to this month, and what spies, the breach of Jerusalemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wall, the destruction of the Bet does it teach us about the teshuva which we are to perform?

Hamikdash and the fall of Beitar. These months are under the jurisdiction of Esav, and are thus subject to the powers of the Satan ³&DSWXULQJ´ WKH <HW]HU +DUD and evil spiritual forces. Hence, the months of Tammuz and Av 7R DQVZHU WKLV TXHVWLRQ ZH PXVW GHOYH GHHSHU LQWR WKH VLJQL¿ FDQFH have been marked by catastrophe and anguish for millennia. of the letter yod.

But what about Elul? This month, too, fell under Esavâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control, The Torah (Beresheet 2:7) describes Gdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creation of man with and thus it should have become a month of calamity and of our the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;vayiytzerâ&#x20AC;? (â&#x20AC;&#x153;He createdâ&#x20AC;?). Curiously, this word is nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downfall. And yet, happily, this month has always been spelled with two yodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, an oddity that caught the attention of our

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sages. They explain that the two yodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in this word refer to the two aspects of man with which we are all created â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the yetzer tov (good inclination) and yetzer hara (evil inclination). The word â&#x20AC;&#x153;yetzerâ&#x20AC;? begins with the letter yod, and thus the two yodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that appear in the context of manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creation signify the two opposite yetzarim â&#x20AC;&#x201C; natural inclinations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that coexist within each and every person. We each have a conscience, an innate desire to do the right thing, but we also have natural tendencies and vices that pull us toward inappropriate EHKDYLRU 7KHVH FRQĂ&#x20AC; LFWLQJ WHQGHQFLHV ZHUH LPSODQWHG ZLWKLQ XV right from the beginning, at the time Gd created Adam.

Our tradition teaches us how to handle this inescapable reality of life, the perennial tension that we experience between these two

Dedicated in memory of 20

forces. The Mishna in Pirke Avot instructs, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who is mighty? The one who captures his [evil] inclination.â&#x20AC;?

6LJQLÂż FDQWO\ WKH 0LVKQD GRHV QRW tell us to destroy or subdue our evil inclination, but rather to â&#x20AC;&#x153;captureâ&#x20AC;? it (â&#x20AC;&#x153;hakovesh et yitzroâ&#x20AC;?). In ancient times, armies would capture enemy combatants and take them as servants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Capturingâ&#x20AC;? the yetzer hara is much different than â&#x20AC;&#x153;destroyingâ&#x20AC;? the yetzer hara.

Destroying would mean eliminating it to the point where we do not experience any inclination at all to sin. The Mishna cannot tell us to do that because this is impossible. The human being will always have a yetzer hara, and will always have to struggle.

So instead, we are urged to â&#x20AC;&#x153;captureâ&#x20AC;? it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to bring it to our side, to use our QHJDWLYH WHQGHQFLHV IRU RXU EHQHÂż W 7KLV LV FRQÂż UPHG E\ WKH *HPDUDÂśV interpretation of the command in Shema to love Hashem â&#x20AC;&#x153;bechol levavecha â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with all your heart.â&#x20AC;?

The Gemara explains that the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;levavechaâ&#x20AC;? refers to both â&#x20AC;&#x153;hearts,â&#x20AC;? to our good inclination and evil inclination. We are to love and serve Hashem not only with our yetzer hatov â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with our natural inclination toward goodness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but also with our yetzer hara â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our innate negative tendencies.

For those hearing this concept for WKH Âż UVW WLPH LW VRXQGV UHYROXWLRQDU\ It instructs us to view our vices and sinful tendencies not as something bad which must be eliminated, but as valuable instruments for us to use.

Gd made our negative character traits part of our beings, and we can never eliminate them. Instead, we are supposed to use them.

How do we use negative tendencies to serve Hashem? How can arrogance, lust and greed be utilized for religious purposes?

7KH ,QVSLUDWLRQDO *UHHQ %D\ 3DFNHUV I was once speaking with a young member of my congregation on Sukkot, and he mentioned that he had eaten inside the night before.

He explained that the weather was on the chilly side and he felt uncomfortable out in the sukkah, so he ate inside.

Not mincing words, I said to the fellow, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You should be ashamed of yourself.â&#x20AC;? I explained my remark by drifting off to the world of the NFL. I do not know all that much about football, but I do know that it is played during the winter months, occasionally under

7 ) Jack ben Renee Gindi Z K

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Ř Honors options leading to graduate programs in medicine, pharmacy and the allied health sciences, including physician assistant, occupational and physical therapy, and nursing. Ř Preferential admission for qualified students to Touro’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Pharmacy and School of Health Sciences. Ř Opportunities to conduct research with faculty and publish in scholarly student journals. Ř An impressive record of successful alumni in medical, dental and the health science professions. Ř A flexible schedule that accommodates your needs. Ř Financial aid and scholarships available for eligible applicants.

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such physical discomfort for several KRXUV IRU VRPHWKLQJ DV LQVLJQLÂż FDQW as a football game. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it: in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter at all which team scored D WRXFKGRZQ NLFNHG D Âż HOG JRDO sacked the opposing quarterback or caught an interception. Perhaps on some other occasion we will elaborate on the inanity of the spectator sports industry, but for now, we can agree that the outcome of a Packers game LV KDUGO\ VLJQLÂż FDQW $QG \HW SHRSOH pay good money and brave bonechilling cold to watch their team play, instead of watching from the warmth and comfort of their living rooms.

This is the extent of their devotion to a football team.

But when it comes to sukkah, all it takes is a little chill in the air to send us indoors. When we are given the opportunity to serve our Creator and reside in His presence in the sukkah, we are suddenly very concerned about exposure to the elements.

Yes, we have what to learn from the Green Bay Packers and their fans.

And this is how we serve Gd with our evil inclination. When we see how effective the yetzer hara is in leading people to waste their time, and the VDFULÂż FHV WKH\ DUH ZLOOLQJ WR PDNH IRU nonsense, we can learn how far we are capable of going in serving Gd, in the pursuit of meaningful goals.

Stores abound of great tzaddikim who used the yetzer hara in this fashion. One rabbi was up early in the morning and heard some noise outside. He went to the window and saw the garbage crew collecting the trash. The rabbi noted with admiration how people are capable of arising so early every morning to dreadful climactic conditions. Especially noteworthy is the team collect garbage in order to earn a livelihood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly,â&#x20AC;? he said, called the Packers, who play in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The average â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are able to wake up early every morning to earn eternal reward low temperature in Green Bay during the month of January is 9.6 by learning Torah and doing mitzvot.â&#x20AC;? degrees Fahrenheit, and it often dips to 10-20 below zero. We In light of this concept, we are actually very fortunate to live would think that under such conditions people would prefer staying in such an indulgent and permissive society, strange as this may indoors with the heat on, but this is not what happens when the sound. All around us, we see how far people are prepared to go in Packers are playing. Not only do the players spend the afternoon the pursuit of vanity and pleasure. People spend themselves into RXW RQ WKH Âż HOG EXW VRPH IDQV Ă&#x20AC; RFN WR WKH RXWGRRU VWDGLXP poverty purchasing all kinds of unnecessary gadgets and trying to and spend the afternoon or evening in the subzero weather to root show off to their friends. Others waste hours upon hours every day for their team. Some even come without shirts so they can be RQ WKH LQWHUQHW VDFULÂż FLQJ WKHLU MREV PDUULDJHV DQG WLPH ZLWK WKHLU caught on camera. children for mindless, useless entertainment, or worse. Imagine if This spectacle is truly inspiring. And I am not being facetious. we could be as diligent in Torah learning as the average adult is There is much to learn from people who are prepared to endure LQ ZHE VXUÂż QJ ,PDJLQH LI ZH JDYH DV PRQH\ WR FKDULW\ DV SHRSOH

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7 ) Jack ben Renee Gindi Z K

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depression and suicide? Has it given SHRSOH D VHQVH RI IXO¿ OOPHQW VR WKH\ do not have to resort to self-destructive indulgence in drugs and alcohol? Or has it done just the opposite?

Our society might likely be among the most permissive and unrestrained that ever existed. Are people happier because of this “freedom” to wantonly indulge in physical pleasures? Are today’s teens healthier and happier because they can act as they wish, free from the “old-fashioned” taboos of the past? Are marriages stronger and more IXO¿ OOLQJ DV D UHVXOW" If we answer these questions honestly, we will never have to fear the yetzer hara again. It has been wildly successful in our generation, and the results speak for themselves. Our generation might very well be the alltime leader in depression, addiction, divorce, and general dissatisfaction.

We can “capture” the yetzer hara DQG XVH LW WR RXU EHQH¿ W E\ QRWLQJ WKH disastrous effects of its success.

$Q (OXO 6WUDWHJ\ This is the deeper meaning of Yaakov’s seizing the yod from Esav.

Yaakov “stole” the yetzer hara from his brother, teaching us this strategy of “capturing” the evil inclination.

Indeed, Yaakov himself spent 20 years with his wily uncle, Lavan, and beat him at his own game, learning from Lavan’s cunning and persistence how to achieve spiritual success. This is the example for us to follow – avoiding the yetzer hara’s trap by using it to our advantage.

Elul was rescued from the clutches of Esav and transformed into a month of spiritual elevation. It represents the spend on unnecessary luxuries. Imagine if we invested as much notion of “capturing” the forces of Esav and taking full advantage of time and energy into our marriages and children as people invest in them in our pursuit of spiritual excellence. And it teaches us the proper their social networking. Imagine if we looked up the answers to our approach toward repentance and change, and how to win the ongoing halachic questions as frequently as people check their email. Imagine struggle within us. We should be trying not to eliminate our yetzer LI ZH ZHUH DV SUR¿ FLHQW LQ WKH ZHHNO\ SDUDVKD DV SHRSOH DUH LQ WKH hara, but rather to use it by seeing what it does to people, by taking pennant race. And imagine if we were as up-to-date with the latest note of its catastrophic effects. When we observe how far negative Torah publications as people are with the latest apps. human tendencies can thrust their victims, we can feel encouraged Ironically, we have so much to learn from the society around us. And knowing how far our positive tendencies can thrust us, in the opposite if we learn these lessons, then we beat the yetzer hara at its own game. direction. This encouragement is a vital part of the Elul process, which There is another way to use the yetzer hara to our advantage. And is all about our optimism and hope that we can improve and be much that is by taking note of what its successes have led to. Contemporary better in the coming year. So let us learn from the yetzer hara how $PHULFDQ VRFLHW\ PLJKW EH WKH PRVW DIÀ XHQW VRFLHW\ RI DOO WLPH %XW much we can accomplish, how great we can become, and make these has all this material blessing made people happier? Has it reduced our goals for the upcoming year.

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Maternal

Instinct â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BEWARE of Mothers Protecting Their Young!

TUVIA COHEN eachers, beware!

Every so often, schools organize meetings at which parents can discuss their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress. Teachers look forward to these meetings with some degree of eagerness, for it affords them the opportunity to speak directly to the parents and deliver a frank appraisal of the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance. The meeting has been called, and the teacher sits behind his desk, pretending to mark a pile of books, the HSLWRPH RI HIÂż FLHQF\ DQG ZLVGRP 7KH PRWKHU VWDONV LQWR WKH URRP with the reluctant father in tow. Smiling in anticipation, the mother asks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, how is my little Joey doing?â&#x20AC;?

The teacher sees the family resemblance, and is suddenly aware that beaming in front of him is the mother of the biggest pest that humanity has ever produced. He feels like a spider whose victim has just walked into the web. The teacher begins to give a vivid account of the activities of the class nuisance, with a detailed analysis of the character faults that her darling Joey demonstrates. Carried away by his own eloquence, the teacher does not notice the change on the motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face. The smile quickly fades and is replaced by a look of annoyance, then anger, then undiluted animosity.

Teacher, beware! You have challenged her maternal instinct. An insult to her son is a personal attack on herself. It will take all of the fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powers of restraint to dissuade the mother from bending her umbrella around the teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speak about my Joey like that what chutzpah!â&#x20AC;?

T

Why Did the Mouse Attack the Snake?

There seems to be no limit on what parents will do for their young.

It could be in the middle of the night, it could be that the mother is exhausted, and has already been up several times for her baby. But let Junior emit but a tiny whimper, while Dad snores on blissfully, Mommy will dutifully attend to the needs of her tiny infant.

What is true of humans is also true in the animal world. When little birds are hatched from their eggs, all they want is food, warmth, shelter, and more food. And the parents instinctively provide it. A pair of titmice (a type of bird) gave their brood food 10,685 times in 14 days. A female wren fed her young 1,217 times in 16 hours!

The parental instinct in protecting their young is so powerful that parents will willingly endanger their own lives to protect their offspring.

There is no one as brave as a mother protecting her young.

Ever heard the expression â&#x20AC;&#x153;as frightened as a mouseâ&#x20AC;?? Not in the 26

following case. An American biologist once heard squeaks of terror ZKLOH VWXG\LQJ GHHU RQ D UDQFK +H WXUQHG DQG VDZ D Âż YH IRRW UDFHU VQDNH JOLGLQJ XS D ORZ WUHH LQ LWV PRXWK D WLQ\ Âż HOG PRXVH WKDW VWUXJJOHG vainly. Suddenly, the mother mouse ran up the tree and attacked the reptile. The second mouse bit into the snakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body several times, then JRW D Âż UP JULS DQG KXQJ RQ JULPO\ 7KH VQDNH VTXLUPHG DQG IHLQWHG savagely, but could not bite the second mouse as long as the baby mouse remained in its mouth. The snake dropped its victim and turned to settle the score with the little tormentor who was biting into its back.

The brave ruse worked. Instantly releasing its grip, the attacking mouse sprang to the ground and ran to safety with its rescued little one.

Dads Hard at Work Motherly instinct might be vital for the protection of the young, EXW HYHQ WKDW ZRXOG EH LQVXIÂż FLHQW ZKHQ WKH DQLPDOV UHTXLUH D VSHFLÂż F mechanism for the birth and survival of their young. In case you imagine that fathers have no share in the wonders of survival, listen to this.

Down in the Antarctic live the Emperor penguins. They spend most of their lives swimming in the icy Southern Ocean. They only leave the sea at breeding times, walking up to 100 miles, year after year, to the very rookeries where they themselves were hatched. Each female lays one egg, passes it to the male, and then goes back to the sea to feed. For up to nine weeks, the male keeps the egg warm with a VSHFLDO Ă&#x20AC; DS RI VNLQ MXVW DERYH LWV IHHW 7KH IHDWKHU FRYHUHG Ă&#x20AC; DS RI VNLQ Âż WV RYHU WKH HJJ OLNH D WHD FR]\ DOORZLQJ WKH HJJ WR GHYHORS 'XULQJ his nine-week wait, father penguin has no break whatsoever, and eats nothing. He survives from his own store of fat, and subsequently grows progressively thinner. Around the time the chick hatches, the female returns (how does she know precisely when to return, and to which location?) with a store of food. The tiny chick penguin reaches inside mommyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beak, whereupon mommy obligingly regurgitates the contents of her stomach. While the chick is growing, it keeps warm by VWDQGLQJ RQ LWV SDUHQWVÂś IHHW DQG VQXJJOLQJ XQGHU WKH VSHFLDO Ă&#x20AC; DS +DQG\ WKLQJV WKRVH ZDUP Ă&#x20AC; DSV RI VNLQ ,PDJLQH KDYLQJ \RXU RZQ warm pockets, not in your coat, but on your body! Why not grow some? For the penguins it is no luxury, but a necessity to ensure the VXFFHVVIXO SURGXFWLRQ RI IXWXUH SHQJXLQV :LWKRXW WKH ZDUP Ă&#x20AC; DS WKHUH would be a frozen egg. It would be the end of the penguins. Everything it requires for its survival has been received from the Manufacturer.

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The Pythonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shiver (YHU\RQH NQRZV WKDW WKHUH DUH QR Ă&#x20AC; LHV LQ ZLQWHU )OLHV OLNH PDQ\ animals, are cold-blooded animals (which means that they cannot regulate their body heat), so when the temperature drops, so do they.

May we present you with a problem? Imagine that you are a coldblooded animal that lays eggs. You have no way of elevating your own body temperature, but the eggs that you lay have to be kept at a constant warm level. How will you cope?

Enter the python. Three to four months after mating, the female python lays up to 100 eggs. She gathers the eggs into a pile and coils her body around them for about three months until they hatch. By a special And the Mother of the Year award goes to: It is documented that kind of shivering, the mother python can raise her body temperature a mother wren fed her young 1,217 times in 16 hours! by about 46 degrees while she incubates the eggs. She only leaves her eggs for occasional visits to fetch some water and for rare meals.

There are two factors of interest here. Firstly, the python is able to perform the impossible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to elevate her own temperature level with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;specialâ&#x20AC;? shivering. No one ever taught mother python how to perform her special shiver. But she knows exactly how it goes. Secondly, somehow, she knows that the eggs require a higher temperature than she can produce naturally. Who told her that? Inborn mechanisms do not come from nowhere. No one owns a car that, while parked outside his home overnight, â&#x20AC;&#x153;somehowâ&#x20AC;? senses the temperature, and should it drop beneath zero, induces the windshield to perform a And the Father of the Year award goes to: The male Emperor special shiver that generates heat and prevents frost from forming.

The Crocs Nest No one, except crocodiles, likes crocodiles. They suffer from a rather negative public image, possibly due to the fact that they lurk unseen in the water with just their snout and cold eyes visible above the water, waiting, patiently, for their supper to come closer to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge before lunging forward at lightning speed with their razor-sharp teethâ&#x20AC;Ś But for all that, it is a most caring parent. Each year, the female Nile Crocodile lays up to 40 eggs in a nest, dug in the sand above the waterline on the riverbank. She builds the nest in a shady place, about 10 inches deep, so that the eggs keep at an even temperature, never varying more than 5°. She covers the eggs with sand, and both parents guard them during the 90-day incubation period. When it is ready to hatch, the young crocodile makes loud piping calls from within its egg. The mother hears her unborn baby loud and clear, and scrapes away the sand covering the eggs. As the eggs hatch, she gently picks up each baby with those same razor-sharp teeth, and carries them in a special pouch at the bottom of her mouth to a â&#x20AC;&#x153;nurseryâ&#x20AC;? pool area off the river. The young crocodile stays in the nursery for about two months, guarded jealously by its parents.

Everyone knows that the crocodile is not known for its kindness or compassion. Yet it is very kind and compassionate to its own offspring, allowing them to crawl freely in and out of its terrifying mouth, never knowingly biting or scratching them in the process. $QG ZKHUH GLG WKH ³VSHFLDO´ SRXFK FRPH IURP" :KLFK FDPH ¿ UVW its babies or its pouch? One without the other has little purpose. Like HYHU\WKLQJ LQ WKH GHVLJQHG ZRUOG LW DUULYHG DV D SHUVRQDOL]HG ¿ QLVKHG product. Together with the myriad of essential features prevalent in parental care of their children, it is a classic illustration that the Designer of the world wants the world to continue forever with all its species.

Tuvia Cohen is a humorist, scientist, and an accomplished author.

His works include Designer World, Our Amazing World, and Our Wondrous World.

penguin must withstand the Antarctic cold for more than two months to protect his eggs from extreme cold. During this entire time he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat a thing. Most male penguins will lose about 26 pounds while they wait for their babies to hatch.

7KH VDFULÂż FH RI WKH PRWKHU S\WKRQ After pythons lay their eggs, the mother will typically incubate them until they hatch. This is achieved by causing the muscles to â&#x20AC;&#x153;shiver,â&#x20AC;? which raises the temperature of the body, and thus that of the eggs. Keeping the eggs at a constant temperature is essential for healthy embryo development. During the incubation period, females will not eat and only leave to bask to raise their body temperature.

Everyone knows that the crocodile is not known for its kindness or compassion. Yet it allows its offspring to crawl freely in and out of its terrifying mouth, never knowingly biting or scratching them in the process.

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,#%- *+&#4; .#70%*'5 /#;14#. %#/2#+)0 Jack Hidary receives ringing endorsements from rabbis and community leaders as he prepares for the upcoming 2013 New York City Mayoral Election.

FRANCES HADDAD

T

o most New Yorkers, it was a grey, dreary, overcast day. But for the spirited crowd that had assembled to support Jack Hidary in his run for Mayor of New York, Sunday, June 30th was a day that radiated the brilliant light of hope for the city’s future.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cayre extended an open invitation to all members of the Jewish community to hear Jack’s vision for NYC at their beach house at 18 Deal Esplanade. Hundreds of community members flocked to the Cayre home and sat on the wooden boardwalk overlooking the picturesque beach, eagerly anticipating Jack’s address.

They came knowing what all New Yorkers know – that there is a great deal of uncertainty looming over the Big Apple. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s position as New York City Mayor will soon become the stuff of yesteryear, as his third term concludes at the end of 2013. For a city as large and complex as New York, which incorporates a kaleidoscope of vastly different ethnic, religious and political groups under a single municipal roof, the transition from one mayor to another can create quite an upheaval. Understandably, community members are anxious to ensure that the new occupant of Gracie Mansion will be someone dedicated to accommodating our unique concerns as observant Jews.

At around 10:30am that Sunday morning, Jack Hidary ascended the boardwalk to make his opening remarks, and the combination of his soft smile and his palpable love for NYC and for people in general made it clear that he would be the solution.

|# /+.'5610' (14 174 %1//70+6;} His booming voice laden with fervor, Jack avowed that he had known his entire life he would be involved in public service. As a child, Jack heard many stories about the grandfather for whom he is named, Grandpa Jack Hidary, who passed on before Jack had the chance to know him. Grandpa Jack was passionate about helping others, and already from a young age Jack made a firm decision to perpetuate this family legacy of giving. This idealism has led him to announce his mayoral candidacy, with the understanding that the position of NYC Mayor will give him the leverage to positively affect millions of lives. He further noted that his passion for NYC, combined with his thorough knowledge of both commerce and education, and his many years of experience in public service, make him the most qualified candidate.

The crowd burst into raucous applause as Jack’s address came to a close, and the echoing exuberance attested to the staunch support that his words had garnered.

28

Three prominent community rabbis – Hacham Shaul Kassin, Rabbi Eli Mansour and Rabbi Isaac Farhi – were seated in the front row, and expressed their endorsement of Jack.

After addressing the crowd, Rabbi Mansour spoke of the significance of the event, and noted that he has known Jack for decades. “This is a tremendous milestone for our community,” the rabbi expressed. “As a childhood friend of Jack’s, I can attest to the fact that he is honest, bright and very qualified. It is our communal obligation to support one of our own.”

Rabbi Farhi, rabbi of Hathaway Shul and Kashrut Coordinator of the JSOR, added that the name Yaakov, Jack’s Hebrew name, is synonymous with strength. “Yaakov Avinu was the strongest of the forefathers. As the community stands behind Jack, we hope that he is strong in his run for Mayor. We pray that the tefillot of the rabbis and all the community members should make him successful.”

|470 9+6* ,#%-} The closing remarks were delivered by Mr. Harry Adjmi. After putting his arm around Jack and emphasizing that the prayers of the rabbis and the community would stand as his foundation, Mr. Adjmi publicly gave the first contribution of the day.

Dozens of community youths wore bright orange t-shirts emblazoned with the words “Run With Jack,” and assisted those who wished to contribute to the campaign. The celebration was topped off with a delicious brunch by Nahum Caterers.

Jack enjoys widespread support from the community, but perhaps just as importantly, he has received fervent support from his family at every step of the way. “My grandfather, Moses Hidary, as well as other founders of the community, came to the United States at the turn of the century,” said Jack’s father, Mr. David Hidary. “It’s been over 100 years since we are established on American soil, and it seems to be time to enter the political arena of our city. With Jack’s run for mayor, we hope to have a good impact on the city government.”

“I always knew that Jack was destined to do big things,” Mrs. Aimee Hidary, Jack’s mother, added. “And now that he is running for mayor, he can fulfill his dream of helping millions.”

Ricky Hidary’s words encapsulate the feeling shared by many in the community regarding his brother’s candidacy. “My brother Jack loves helping people and has a passion for public service. He naturally possesses a deeply ingrained commitment to solving problems and making this world a better place."

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WE CAN COUNT ON JACK. Jack Hidary is one of us and will ďŹ ght for our community as NYC Mayor.

Join us today in supporting his bid.

Sign the petition at these locations by August 9 to get Jack on the ballot: - 10 W. 33rd St 9th Fl, NY, NY - 45 Deal Esplanade, Deal, NJ

Let's back Jack. /hidaryfornyc

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7/25/2013 7:39:26 PM

Let Us

STRENGTHEN OURSELVES! Our generation's leading sages offer guidance and inspiration at Dirshu's unforgettable gathering in Jerusalem â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like a person cannot live without air, a Jew cannot live spiritually without Torah. The world cannot exist without Torah. A Jew cannot exist without Torah. If a person does not, Heaven forbid, have an etrog on Sukkot, he can still be a Jew. But if he does not have Torah, the world comes to an end!â&#x20AC;?

-HZLVK SHRSOH KRZ WR FRQGXFW WKHPVHOYHV GXULQJ WKLV GLIÂż FXOW SHULRG facing the Torah community in Israel, and to provide encouragement and motivation to all Jews to whom Torah learning is dear.

7KRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH Ă&#x20AC; RFNHG WR -HUXVDOHPÂśV %LQ\DQHL +DXPDK Convention Center, and to live satellite hookups around the world, recognizing the urgency of the situation and eager to listen and absorb the words of our sages. They came because they understand that we are living in very turbulent, trying times, when the Torah world is coming under attack and desperately needs direction. Luminaries such Those were the powerful, heartfelt words of the venerated, senior as HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, HaGaon HaRav Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, at the Shemuel Auerbach, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, massive kinnus (gathering) held in Jerusalem on Sunday, 15 Tammuz/ and numerous others, attended the conference despite physical frailty June 23. The gathering was called by our generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Torah leaders and busy schedules, recognizing that the Dirshu siyum was the ideal and organized by Dirshu, an organization that is leading a worldwide venue for addressing the burning issues facing the Jewish people. The Torah revolution through an array of incentive programs encouraging rabbis all spoke powerfully and passionately, energizing the crowd of thousands of scholars across the globe to master large segments of people who sat spellbound, latching on to every word spoken by these the Talmud. The event celebrated the completion of Masechet Eruvin Torah giants.

As the crowd enthusiastically rose to its feet, singing, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yamim al by students of the Daf Yomi program, including thousands of Dirshu participants who were tested on the material, many of whom mastered yemei melech tosif,â&#x20AC;? they craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the the masechet with all the commentaries of Tosafot. In addition, the GLPLQXWLYH Âż JXUH RI WKH 7RUDK JLDQW 5DY $KDURQ /HLE 6KWHLQPDQ JDWKHULQJ ZDV KHOG WR FRPPHPRUDWH WKH Âż UVW \DKUW]HLW RI +D*DRQ shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, slowly proceeding to the center of the multi-tiered dais. The HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, ztâ&#x20AC;?l. The primary purpose, however, sight of the great sage, stooped from age and the burden of the Jewish was to give Jews around the world an opportunity to hear words of people weighing on his physically frail but spiritually strong shoulders, guidance and inspiration from our leading Torah giants, directing the Âż OOHG WKH DXGLHQFH ZLWK HPRWLRQ 30

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Rav Shteinman was followed by HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Maalos HaTorah, and the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a. Other luminaries in attendance included HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Finkel, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, Rosh Yeshivah of Mir Brachfeld; HaGaon HaRav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Ateres Yisrael; HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, son-in-law of HaGaon HaRav Elyashiv and rabbi of Bnei-Brakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ramat Elhanan neighborhood; HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Porat Yosef; the Biala Rebbe, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; the Modzhitzer Rebbe, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Ezriel Auerbach, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Moshe Tzadka, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, and dozens of others.

Bringing the Redemption Following the entrance of these great luminaries, Rav Shmuel Auerbach addressed the audience, and emphasized that reinforcing our commitment to Torah can help bring our national redemption. â&#x20AC;&#x153;How can we display to Hashem our deep desire for the redemption?

The only way we can do that is by showing Him how important that which we still have, that with which he has left us, is to us. If we show KLP KRZ PXFK ZH ORYH 7RUDK KH ZLOO LQ WXUQ VHH ÂżW WR RQFH DJDLQ entrust us with the Bet Hamikdash.â&#x20AC;?

Rav Shmuel also called on the audience to invest even greater HIIRUW LQ SUD\HU DQG PLGGRW ÂżQH FKDUDFWHU WUDLWV :LWK KLV H\HV FORVHG DQG RYHUĂ&#x20AC;RZLQJ ZLWK SDVVLRQ 5DY 6KPXHO FRQFOXGHG ZLWK D YHLOHG UHIHUHQFH WR WKH GLIÂżFXOWLHV IDFLQJ WKH 7RUDK FRPPXQLW\ QRWLQJ WKDW strengthening ourselves in Torah, prayer and middot is especially important now as we are facing harsh decrees from those who seek to destroy us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strengthening ourselves in the above will certainly bring the redemption closer.â&#x20AC;?

mentor. His voice brimming with emotion, Rav Efrati exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we really want to remember Rav Elyashiv, if we really desire to follow in his ways, the only way to do so is by completing one masechet and beginning another â&#x20AC;&#x201C; completing Eruvin and beginning Pesahim!

There can be no greater commemoration for our master and rabbi than thousands learning and completing one masechet and beginning another. Similarly, there is no greater way to neutralize decrees against the Torah world than by learning more and more Torah!â&#x20AC;? Rav Efrati concluded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How fortunate you are, Dirshu, that you are perpetuating a Torah legacy through your many programs of accountable Torah study!

Rav Elyashiv was especially supportive of the halachah programs that ensure knowledge of, and adherence to, practical halachah.â&#x20AC;?

One of the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most moving moments was the recitation of kaddish upon the completion of the masechet by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Elyashiv, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, son of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, who has assumed his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role delivering the famed shiur in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;caravanâ&#x20AC;? bet midrash. Rav Mosheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncanny resemblance to his father symbolized the continuity of his illustrious fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy of Torah greatness.

Another son of Rav Elyashiv, HaGaon HaRav Binyamin Elyashiv, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, began the next masechet, Pesahim.

The Light of Torah Can Banish All Darkness

The Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, with obvious and genuine emotion, delivered a potent message of hope and optimism. He began by praising the holy work done by the Dirshu organization, facilitating Torah learning on a scale that no one would have dreamed of in the past. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only through Torah learning,â&#x20AC;? the Rebbe exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;can a person truly become close to Hashem, and Dirshu is at the forefront of creating the deep bond between Jews and Hashem.â&#x20AC;?

The Rebbe then proceeded to address the fears currently felt by Jews who care about Torah. His face grimacing in pain, he cried, "This is the Greatest Berachah!" Âł:H DUH OLYLQJ LQ YHU\ GLIÂżFXOW WLPHV WKHUH LV D ÂżHUFH EDWWOH EHLQJ Rav Moshe Tzadka, shelita, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Porat wagedâ&#x20AC;Śprimarily a battle against those who study Torah. Torah Yosef, whose students include many Dirshu participants, spoke of is the lifeblood of the Jewish people. Rav Saadia Gaon famously the ideal envisioned by Dirshu, that of a giant, inclusive tent that wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Our nation is only a nation because of the Torah.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; This is embraces all of the many different kinds of Jews compromising why they are so intent on uprooting the Torah from among us. So the rainbow of Am Yisrael. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Full-time Torah students, laymen, what should our response be? When Hashem created the world Sepharadim and Ashkenazim, all come together under the banner of there was darkness everywhere until He said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yehi or â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Let there Dirshu to learn Torah with alacrity. This is the greatest berachah!â&#x20AC;? be light!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Only by kindling the great or, the great light of Torah with another page of Gemara, another shiur, building another bet midrashâ&#x20AC;Ścan we neutralize the forces that seek to destroy us.â&#x20AC;?

Remembering Rav Elyashiv The Rebbe then noted how this message is especially relevant +D*DRQ +D5DY <RVHI (IUDWL VKHOLW´D D FORVH GLVFLSOH DQG FRQÂżGDQW of Rav Elyashiv, addressed the assembly in memory of his great on the yartzheit of the great sage, Rav Elyashiv. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is therefore 32

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so appropriate that this gathering is [being held] in memory of Rav Elyashiv. Rav Elyashiv spent his entire life illuminating the world with his Torah! It is certainly no coincidence that these decrees that plague us only started after his passing. With his learning, the or â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the light of his Torah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; protected the entire generation. As soon as he left us they began. The message is WKXV FOHDU WKDW ZH PXVW FROOHFWLYHO\ ÂżOO WKH YRLG KH KDV OHIW E\ LOOXPLQDWLQJ WKH GDUNQHVV ZLWK PRUH 7RUDK DQG ÂżQDOO\ EULQJ WKH ultimate light, when Hashem will shine a new light to illuminate 7]L\RQ DQG ÂżQDOO\ EULQJ 0DVKLDK DQG WKH FRPSOHWH UHGHPSWLRQ ´

The "Yissachars" and the "Zevuluns" As Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman arose and made his way to the podium, he brought with him nearly 100 years of total immersion in Torah. The Rosh Yeshivah spoke quietly, addressing himself to not only the Torah world, but also the supporters of Torah, emphasizing the role they must take on under the new circumstances which are currently unfolding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In certain areas of spirituality,â&#x20AC;? Rav Shteinman said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;one can perform a mitzvah on behalf of another. For example, one person can learn Torah on behalf of someone who supports him.

But this does not work with all mitzvot. After all, one individual FDQ FHUWDLQO\ QRW GRQ WHÂżOOLQ RQ EHKDOI RI DQRWKHU :K\ LV 7RUDK different?â&#x20AC;?

With strength and vigor that belied his advanced age, the Rosh Yeshivah explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because Torah is life! It is so important that a Jew cannot live without it. Torah is like air. Hashem makes air the easiest commodity to obtain because without it we would cease to live. Without Torah, a person would cease to live, as well. For that reason, Hashem infused in the creation the ability IRU D SHUVRQ ZKR FDQQRW OHDUQ 7RUDK RU FDQQRW OHDUQ D VXIÂżFLHQW amount of Torah to connect with the Torah by supporting it. In this way, everyone can have a portion in Torah.â&#x20AC;?

Addressing the new reality that appears to be unfolding, Rav Shteinman said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are many Yissachars and many Zevuluns. Not everyone can be a Yissachar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the ability to learn, others have various things preventing them from devoting their lives to Torah study. But they must have a connection to Torah. Without a connection to Torah, the world would cease to exist. That is why Hashem gave them the opportunity to support Torah, thereby giving the entire Jewish nation the merit of Torah.â&#x20AC;?

The Rosh Yeshivah concluded his remarks with a heartfelt prayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With Hashemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help, may the merit of Torah endow us with the requisite merits that we so need at this time!â&#x20AC;?

"We Do Have Strength" The Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, echoed the call of the Torah sages to reinforce our commitment to Torah study in light of the challenges facing the Torah world, and then proceeded to make an impassioned plea for unity and respect within our ranks. Âł,Q WKHVH GLIÂżFXOW WLPHV ZKHQ WKRVH ZKR KDWH +DVKHP DUH pursuing the students of Torah in an attempt to make both their VSLULWXDO DQG PDWHULDO OLYHV GLIÂżFXOW ZH PXVW ZRQGHU ZK\ LV Hashem doing this to us? How could it be that the beautiful Torah world that has risen from the ashes of the Holocaust is today under threat? Perhaps it is because we ourselves are lacking in the ideal of kavod haTorah [respecting the Torah]. Perhaps their AV - ELUL 5773 AUGUST 2013

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hatred of us indicates that we ourselves are lacking unity and mutual love for each other. Perhaps we must ask the supporters of Torah to show how dear the Torah is to them by increasing support of those who study Torah. When we internalize within our very beings the importance of Torah, those who want to destroy Torah will have no hold over us. If we promote true peace among ourselves, they will not be able to harm us.â&#x20AC;?

Rav Dovid concluded his powerful address by citing the haftarah of that weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parashah. After Eliyahu Hanavi killed the prophets RI LGRODWU\ KH Ă&#x20AC;HG WR WKH GHVHUW $IWHU KDYLQJ QRW HDWHQ LQ GD\V KH begged Hashem to take his life, whereupon an angel came to him and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come and eat, because you still have a long journey ahead of you.â&#x20AC;? Only then, after experiencing such immense frailty and fatigue, after feeling that he had no more strength to do anything, was Eliyahu able to muster the strength to anoint Yehu as king and Elisha as prophet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From here we see,â&#x20AC;? Rav Dovid passionately exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;that now, at a time when we feel so afraid, so frail and lacking in strength, we must realize that WE DO HAVE STRENGTH! If we strengthen ourselves, Hashem will give us strength to continue to sustain Torah!â&#x20AC;?

amount of toil and effort he invested in learning. That is all true, but it is important to understand that he constantly prayed to Hashem for this.

He asked Hashem to endow him with a lev shomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a, an understanding heart. He begged Hashem to help him learn and understand Torah. This is something we can all do. We can pray to Hashem and beg him to endow us with a lev shomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s siyum on Masechet Eruvin is far more about the future WKDQ DERXW WKH SDVW ,W LV D WLPH WR UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW DV ZH HQWHU 3HVDKLP DQG EHJ Hashem for the future, that we should possess an understanding heart.â&#x20AC;?

"May You Return to Us"

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hadranâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the text traditionally recited upon the completion of a masechet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was delivered by HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, world-renowned Rosh Yeshivah, Av Beit Din, author, and inspirational speaker. Rav Weiss focused on the words with which the Hadran text begins: â&#x20AC;&#x153;May we return to you, Masechet Eruvin, and may you return to us.â&#x20AC;? Rav Weiss asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is understandable that we say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;May we return to you.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But what is the meaning of, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;May you return to us?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? He explained by citing the Gemaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comment that the Torah itself asks Hashem to reveal its secrets to More Hours and More Depth those who toil in Torah. Torah is not a science; it is not just another HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Porat area of knowledge. Torah has its own soul and wants nothing Yosef, delivered a passionate address encouraging the audience to more than to reveal its secrets to those who truly appreciate it. The H[WHQG EH\RQG VXSHUÂżFLDO OHDUQLQJ DQG WR GHOYH LQWR WKH GHSWKV RI Sefer Hakaneh describes a â&#x20AC;&#x153;talmid hachamâ&#x20AC;? (â&#x20AC;&#x153;wise scholarâ&#x20AC;?) as the material to unearth the true meaning of our sagesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; words. He someone whose soul is bound together with the soul of the Torah. related that over the past 50 years he had occasion to speak to Rav â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our generation,â&#x20AC;? Rav Weiss declared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;saw in Rav Elyashiv the Elyashiv about numerous important issues involving both halachah ultimate manifestation of a person whose soul was bound with the and hashkafah. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you spoke to him, the only thing that came out Torah with an inseparable bond. If we follow in his footsteps, not of his mouth was Torah. He was totally Torah. It was impossible to only will we return to the Torah, but we will be privileged to have speak about anything else in his presence. If we want to do something the Torah return to us, as well!â&#x20AC;? in his memory, we must learn for more hours and learn with even The impact of the event and the impassioned cries of the greater depth.â&#x20AC;?

Torah sages reverberated throughout the Torah world, providing encouragement, inspiration, and, most of all, guidance for the An Understanding Heart challenging times in which we live. As Rav Avigdor Berenstein, a Rav Azriel Auerbach, a son-in-law of Rav Elyashiv, concluded senior member of Dirshuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration, described, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The response the evening with a moving speech in memory of his illustrious from the thousands world over to the Dirshu asifah [gathering] was father-in-law. He cited the famous story told in the Gemara of in effect a collective recitation of the berachah of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Baruch shenatan Shlomo Hamelech, who was asked by Gd to choose between a long mehochmato liyreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;av â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Blessed his He who has given of His wisdom life, a life of riches, and an â&#x20AC;&#x153;understanding heart.â&#x20AC;? Shlomo Hamelech to those who fear Him.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The wisdom that we have all collectively responded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Give me a lev shomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a heart that listens, a heart that heard and internalized from the gedole Yisroel [Torah giants] have understands.â&#x20AC;? Rav Auerbach said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have all heard remarkable given us our marching orders and instructions on how to conduct stories about Rav Elyashivâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing diligence, the tremendous ourselves in these times of travail.â&#x20AC;?

34

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ttending the unforgettable Dirshu gathering, I was struck by an almost inconspicuous banner hung on the balcony at Binyanei Haumah that read, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vechol banayich limudei Hashem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; And all your children are the students of Hashem.â&#x20AC;?

Those four words encapsulated the spirit of the event, and the lesson that all participants internalized and will carry with them well into the future: No geographical, cultural or generational boundaries can erode the bond that Torah-true Jews have with one another, a bond forged and sustained by their shared passion for Torah knowledge.

Despite our myriad preoccupations, countless Jews around the globe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in Dirshu and other programs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dedicated precious time to learn and master a masechet as complex as Masechet Eruvin.

Despite all the attempts to dispirit us and divide us, we are more determined and united than ever. Indeed, following the event, those on the ground in Eretz Yisrael reported a palpable rise in spirit and optimism amongst both the Torah leaders and their followers.

7KH PHVVDJH RI XQLW\ DQG VKDUHG UHVROYH ZDV DOVR UHĂ&#x20AC; HFWHG E\ WKH participation of thousands of Jews in communities across Europe and North America â&#x20AC;&#x201C; far from the most direct and imminent threats against the Torah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who took time on a Sunday afternoon to attend the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s satellite locations, or listen in on the various telephone networks that carried it live.

$SSUHFLDWLQJ WKH ,QKHULWDQFH The crowd at Cheder Bnei Torah in Lakewood rose as the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, entered the auditorium to address the gathering.

The Rosh Yeshivah began by citing the comments of the Hafetz Chaim ztâ&#x20AC;?l, who stressed the importance of completing a masechet 36

before proceeding to learn another one. The Rosh Yeshivah then noted that the Zohar Hakadosh describes the completion of a masechet as â&#x20AC;&#x153;inheriting a world,â&#x20AC;? and cited the famous verse, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Torah tzivah lanu Moshe, morashah kehilat Yaakov â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Moshe commanded us the Torah, an inheritance for the congregation of Yaakov.â&#x20AC;?

Rav Malkiel explained this concept by noting the â&#x20AC;&#x153;inheritancesâ&#x20AC;?

RI NHKXQDK DQG NLQJVKLS ZKLFK HWHUQDOO\ GHÂż QH WKH HVVHQFH RI those segments of Jews granted these special statuses. Similarly, Torah molds the very essence of those who learn and acquire it.

The Rosh Yeshivah concluded with a berachah that the merit of all the Torah learning represented by this siyum and others should help us maintain our prized inheritance and carrying it well into the future.

7KH $QWLGRWH The sight of the renowned senior Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Green, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, standing up and delivering his address despite his physical frailty made a profound impression on the members of the Monsey community gathered at Hamaspik Terrace.

Rav Green delved into the lessons we must internalize from the Templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destruction as we work to earn its rebuilding. The Gemara in Masechet Nedarim attributes the destruction to the fact that Jews failed to recite birkat HaTorah before learning Torah, a failure which, as the Ran explains, bespoke a lack of appreciation for the Torahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value. The Rosh Yeshivah exclaimed that the majestic celebration of the completion of Masechet Eruvin is the antidote to this grave spiritual failure which led to the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash.

7XUQLQJ WR WKH GLIÂż FXOW LVVXHV WKDW ZH IDFH WRGD\ 5DY *UHHQ QRWHG the importance of this concept, of appreciating the unparalleled

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value of Torah learning, in our struggle to draw our children away from the lures that abound in our time, toward the light and beauty ofTorah. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we feel a geshmak [pleasure] in Torah, if our children see that our lives revolve around Torah, Hashem will help that message reach our children,â&#x20AC;? the Rosh Yeshivah stated.

Rav Green urged the audience to take the decrees against Torah students in Israel as a message from Heaven that we need to enhance our appreciation of the value of Torah. In light of the campaign to uproot the spiritual Torah life in Israel, the Rosh Yeshivah said, we must all work to increase our enthusiasm for learning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is how we will nullify the gezeirah [decree],â&#x20AC;? he concluded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and this siyum is a zechus [source of merit].â&#x20AC;?

Torah Sages From Across the Spectrum Demonstrate the Power of

UNITY

$ 0DVWHU 3ODQ The crowd at Bais Medrash Birchas Avraham in Boro Park were treated to a special address from HaGaon HaRav Fishel Schachter, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, a lecturer at Yeshivat Torah Vodaath.

Rav Schachter cited an intriguing Midrash relating the story of an impoverished woman who lamented to Shlomo Hamelech that a wind blew away the bits of leket (leftover grain) from a Âż HOG WKDW VKH ZDV UHO\LQJ RQ IRU IRRG 6KORPR +DPHOHFK ODWHU turned to a businessman who had been enriched by the same wind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which allowed his boatload of goods to reach the shore before his competitors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to provide the womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs.

Rav Schachter applied the message of this story to the heavy â&#x20AC;&#x153;headwindsâ&#x20AC;? we face as a nation, and expressed faith in our ability to counteract them with positive winds of our own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pikudei Hashem yesharim mesamchei lev,â&#x20AC;? Rav Schachter concluded, citing King Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous description of the unique joy of Torah learning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hashem has a heshbon [plan] for tomorrow.â&#x20AC;?

$ &ULWLFDO 1HHG In the halls of the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, noted Dirshu lecturer HaGaon HaRav Zev Smith, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, spoke of the ease and accessibility of Torah learning today, which has no parallel in any period throughout history since the Templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destruction. He noted that the Gemara in Masechet Sanhedrin points to diligent Torah study as the remedy to save one from the suffering in the era of Mashiah, which no doubt applies today.

Rav Smith related the words he heard from a businessman ZKR KDG GLIÂż FXOW\ FRPPLWWLQJ WLPH LQ KLV VFKHGXOH IRU OHDUQLQJ until he became an avid participant in a Dirshu learning program which provided for him a solid structure for his learning. The man exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I only live once and I had to make it work. I am now a completely different person.â&#x20AC;?

1R GRXEW RXU KHFWLF OLYHV PDNH LW GLIÂż FXOW WR LQFUHDVH RXU 7RUDK learning, but Rav Smith implored us to consider the suffering of our brethren as an impetus to do our share in helping the Jewish people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a critical need for this today. It may not be a personal need, but it is Kelal Yisraelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need.â&#x20AC;?

The crowd was on its feet, clapping feverishly, overcome by euphoria upon seeing the entrance of the greatest sages of the generation. The venerated Torah luminaries took their seats and lovingly gazed at the audience, like wizened shepherds looking ZLWK FDUH DW WKHLU Ă&#x20AC; RFN 7KHLU UDGLDQFH DQG YLVLEOH ORYH HQHUJL]HG the crowd and led to even more joyous singing, accompanied by lively music.

In the front row we saw: HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; The Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, venerated senior Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Porat Yosef; HaGaon HaRav Moshe Tzadka, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; HaGaon HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a; and many more Torah giants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; each representing a different approach to VHUYLQJ +DVKHP \HW DOO XQLWHG E\ WKH 7RUDK WKH XOWLPDWH XQLÂż HU of the Jewish people.

Finally, the crowd was stilled, the music stopped, and silence Âż OOHG WKH FDYHUQRXV %LQ\DQHL +DXPDK &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU 7KH crowd was anxiously waiting for the chairman of the event to introduce the speakerâ&#x20AC;Ś and then it happened. One of the most beautiful sights was the Rosh Yeshivah of Maalos HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, shelitâ&#x20AC;?a, rising from his chair and slowly, with awe and reverence, approaching HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman and extending a heartfelt greeting. The two venerated sages shook hands and exchanged greetings for what was just a few seconds, perhaps half a minute, a gesture that truly captured the feeling of unity that was felt throughout Binyanei Haumah that evening.

The handshake, and the unity displayed by the large number of sages in attendance, said it all. A palpable, quiet admiration ZDV IHOW LQ WKH URRP EHIRUH WKH Ă&#x20AC; DVKEXOEV EHJDQ WR KXP DQG D wave of love and affection for the generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Torah leaders overcame each and every person in the audience.

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SHARON NACHSHONI â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

the man who died and came back to life tells of his chilling trial in the next world.

RABBI ZAMIR COHEN little less than 40 years ago, Raymond Moody caused D PDMRU VWLU LQ VFLHQWLÂż F FLUFOHV ZKHQ KH SXEOLVKHG Life After Life, a book that chronicles hundreds of near death experiences â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a term that he coined. In a near death experience, the patient is clinically dead, but is then revived and able to describe what â&#x20AC;&#x153;deathâ&#x20AC;? was like. Nearly all the cases share an eerie similarity.

Typically, there was no heart rate, no respiration, and no brain wave activity, yet the person was conscious, aware and watching as attempts were made to resuscitate him. Often the patients described a sense of popping out of their bodies and hovering near the ceiling, looking down on the accident scene, while their bodies were pronounced dead. When revived, they were often able to relate detailed information about what transpired while they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;dead.â&#x20AC;?

Some repeated conversations verbatim. Others recounted in vivid detail the medical procedures attempted on their lifeless bodies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all done while they lay there unconscious, stone dead.

Since the publication of the book, thousands of near death experiences have been reported, and the subject has undergone PXFK GLVFXVVLRQ DQG VFLHQWLÂż F VWXG\ 7KH HYLGHQFH VHHPV irrefutable. Over and over, people come back and recount seeing things that they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possibly have seen and knowing things

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that they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possibly know because they were dead when they KDSSHQHG )RU PDQ\ WKHVH Âż QGLQJV FKDOOHQJH WKHLU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ of life.

This Rosh Hashanah will mark the 10th-year anniversary of one of the most chilling and eye-opening near death experiences ever documented.

The following article appeared in the Israeli newspaper, The Week in Jerusalem on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, October 26, 2003. It told the famous account of Sharon Nachshoni, a man who returned to life following a brutal accident, and was deemed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;medical miracleâ&#x20AC;? in Israel and throughout the world. In the interview, Sharon revealed his incredible story â&#x20AC;&#x201C; about the catastrophic accident, the mysterious â&#x20AC;&#x153;angelâ&#x20AC;? that performed surgery on him only to disappear, the memories of his chilling trial in the next world, and the strength he found to carry on his life and spread faith, despite a body held together by screws, plastic joints and pins.

According to every medical indication, it was clear that the man was dead. And yet, we met with that same man recently, still living among us. Though he has tens of replacement joints and body parts, Sharon retains both his love of life and a deep religious faith. In Israel and throughout the world, experts consider Sharon a

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medical investigator at the accident and medical miracle. Rational science cannot took from him a simple screwdriver and offer an explanation for his condition â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pushed it into my lungs from the side. how a clinically dead person could return He also took the pen of the investigator, to life after a collision hurling such emptied its contents, and with the empty massive tonnage against his body. cylinder, started to drain the blood from â&#x20AC;&#x153;My name is Sharon Nachshoni,â&#x20AC;? my lungs. For 17 minutes he fought for Sharon says as he begins to tell his my life, and in the end I began gasping amazing account. again. The surgery he performed is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a father of three and live in a tracheotomy, and is generally performed Nes Zionah, Israel. I served in the Israel RQ WKH EDWWOHÂż HOG , ZHQW IURP EHLQJ LQ Defense Forces as an undercover soldier critical condition to a critical state with a ZLWK WKH UDQN RI RIÂż FHU DQG WKHQ DV D chance to live.

ERG\JXDUG LQ WKH RIÂż FH RI WKH ,VUDHOL 3ULPH Sharon Nachshoni â&#x20AC;&#x153;Later on, I was transferred from Minister. One day I received a notice for Kaplan Hospital to the orthopedic unit at 70 days of reserve duty in Hebron. On the day of my call-up, I put all my gear into the car, said goodbye to Tel HaShomer Hospital, where I underwent rehabilitation, which my wife, and started on my way. There was nothing extraordinary was the hardest part of the entire period. It is hard to describe the about it. The amazing thing is that about four minutes away from feeling of trepidation and fear in that department of the hospital. the house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not in combat duty in the West Bank or facing any You see young men aged 17 or 18, handsome and strong, losing particular danger â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something awful beyond description happened. their will to live. There are those who simply are not capable of â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I was driving, my left front tire exploded. I had been holding motivating themselves. During that period, my doctors at Tel the steering wheel with one hand from the inside, and my arm HaShomer told me that there was no chance I would ever stand suddenly slipped into the space at the center of the steering wheel. on my own two legs again. They made special arrangements for The wheel suddenly turned, dislocating my arm at the elbow and then me and told me they would get me a motorized wheelchair... I was convinced that I was done with any the shoulder. My head was thrust into the kind of walking on my own. My father steering wheel, breaking my jaw and nose invested many thousands of dollars to and destroying part of my left ear. So far, construct special elevators throughout our everything was okayâ&#x20AC;Ś house, so that it would be easier for me to â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was in the car, badly injured, get around. It was clear that I would never and from the intensity of the pain I lost walk again. consciousness. I lost my ability to breathe â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was Saturday evening when they because my nose was broken and my disconnected me from the morphine that mouth was bleeding profusely due to my I was taking to dull the pain from the broken jaw. I was basically gasping for air and choking to death, because I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expel or take any air into transplant of a bone in my leg to my jaw. No one believed that I would ever walk on my legs again, so they allowed for bones to be my lungs. That means there was no oxygen getting to my brain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know what happened afterwards only because of what people taken from my leg for transplant to other parts of my body. (During who were at the scene of the accident later told me. The car sped out that time, Rabbi Yoram Aberjel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a kabbalist from Southern Israel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; RI FRQWURO LQWR RQFRPLQJ WUDIÂż F DQG PLVVHG D IHZ FDUV RQ WKH ZD\ promised me that I would someday stand up and walk. The doctor but then it smashed head-on into a huge semi-trailer, wedging itself laughed at him and said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How will he walk? We took bones out of underneath. My car was dragged for many meters before the truck his legs!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;). â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the recuperation period, they took me to shower. I Âż QDOO\ VWRSSHG 7KH HQJLQH RI WKH FDU EHFDPH ORGJHG LQ WKH IURQW seat, ripping away the bottom of my foot, breaking my knees, and was scared, and asked my brother-in-law, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Shachar, where is Aunt dislocating both my pelvis and the elbow of my right arm that was Miriam?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He feigned ignorance and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t answer me. So I asked my sister, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do you know where our aunt is?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; still holding onto the gear shift. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She answered, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The doctors donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want us to tell you.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I asked â&#x20AC;&#x153;A rescue team arrived on the scene. After an hour of struggle they were able to remove me from the car, pronouncing me dead her why, and she asked, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why is it so important to you?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I said to on the spot. They even covered me up. I can show you the picture her, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;If she is alive, then I must have had some kind of dream, but if in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper of the man who covered me up. she died, then it looks like I really did see something.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then, thanks to Gdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kindness, bus #212 from Ashdod arrived, â&#x20AC;&#x153;At that point, my brother-in-law said to me, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell anyone driven by Moshe Melamed (who has since become religiously that I told you, but you should know that she died on the same day REVHUYDQW GXH WR WKLV VWRU\ $ PHGLFDO RIÂż FHU RQ WKH EXV EHJDQ as your accident.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That gave me strength. arguing with the driver, demanding that he allow him to disembark â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the whole period I was connected to morphine, I would and help the injured man â&#x20AC;&#x201C; me. He got off the bus and asked why talk and mumble about what I saw above in heaven, though I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the man was covered up. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What do you think, because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold? even remember what I said. It was my good luck that my brotherHeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dead!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; replied the medical staff. The stranger did not give in-law and sister sensed I was about to say something important and up. He removed the sheet that was covering me and checked my brought a pen and paper and wrote down everything that I said. It pulse. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;He still has a chance to live!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he shouted. He ran to the was a Saturday night, and I remember it only vaguely. But my

â&#x20AC;&#x153;After an hour of struggle they were able to remove me from the car, pronouncing me dead on the spot.â&#x20AC;?

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brother-in-law says that I was very frightened the entire time just by the thought of telling my story.â&#x20AC;?

Sharon offers us the original piece of paper upon which the story was written.

Here is a summary of the incredible story that it tells: After the accident, apparently during the time when he was considered dead, Sharon saw himself enter a tunnel, and was drawn after a light, until he arrived at a kind of large hall that had QR HQG ,Q WKH KDOO WKHUH ZHUH PDQ\ EHQFKHV ÂżOOHG ZLWK SHRSOH $OO of them were happy and radiated warmth and love. All of them were dead, but they looked as complete and alive as could be.

All the people in the hall were men, expect for Sharonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandmother, who was standing to the side, well-dressed with a silver kerchief on her head. Sharon continues: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hall was large without an end. I remember certain people clearly, like Tzadokâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father... Moshe Cohenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fatherâ&#x20AC;Ś David Rafaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father and others.

I looked for my grandfather EXW GLGQÂśW ÂżQG KLP , DVNHG Shalom Nachshoni, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Where is grandfather?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and he said that he had gone with his brother to speak on my behalf.â&#x20AC;?

Sharonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandfather was a man of great kindness and a wellknown personality in Nes Tzionah. The entire family was very close to him. Sharon really wanted to meet him. But then, Sharon sensed that he was moving towards the center of the hall in the direction of a sort of stage set there: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember that I looked at myself and was embarrassed by what I was wearing. The clothes were spiritual, but everyone else was wearing very fancy clothing, splendid, spiritual clothes, while mine were very dirty. I felt as embarrassed as I would if I were to walk into a bet midrash LQ ÂżOWK\ FORWKHV 7KH ÂżUVW WKLQJ WKDW entered my mind was to hide from my embarrassment. I found a corner. Then I saw a kind of strong light. I knew that if I looked at it directly I would be burned. From within the light two voices were emitted. One of them was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the bad voiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and one of them was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the good voice.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I clearly saw three rabbis sitting next to the light: Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, Rabbi David Batzri, and Rabbi Yoram Aberjel. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know Rabbi Aberjel during those days. Only afterwards did I ÂżQG RXW ZKR WKDW UDEEL ZDV

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then there was quiet in the hall and the bad voice said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Either you or your Aunt Miriam; one of you stays here!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; At the beginning I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand why he was talking about Aunt Miriam and what she had to do with that place, but suddenly I noticed her standing besides me. She was on the stage in the very same state in which I had seen her at the hospital â&#x20AC;&#x201C; frail and sick, and with that same robe. Then I understood that this was an awful day for our family, for one of us would not stay in the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Immediately I jumped up and said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I can stay here!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Then the good voice said that both my aunt and I are inclusive souls, responsible and concerned for the family, just like my grandfather was. For this reason, it made sense that I should remain alive and bring another soul into the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a child who will continue the good deeds of my grandfather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then it was the bad voiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turn again. He demanded a trial, and during this moment I saw my entire life pass before my eyes like a movie. It was much stronger than any video, as though I was reliving the events all over again. From childhood to adulthood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I saw everything. The embarrassment was unbearable.

The scenes passed by and everyone saw what I had done â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both the good things and the bad. Everything was open before them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the sin of hatred, lack of respect for parents, malicious gossip, crooked dealings, immodest behavior, and more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And then, to my surprise, I was asked a question just like it says in the holy books: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Were you honest in your business dealings?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; In heaven, they really emphasize the matter of honesty, which means being careful not to deceive anyone. Even little things like leaving the factory a few minutes early are important up there. The bad voice VDLG Âľ<RX GLG QRW SHUIRUP \RXU WDVN SURSHUO\ EXW RQO\ IRU SURÂżW You worked for money because you love money!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t answer him, and anyway I was sure that the good voice would answer any claim that the bad voice made. Afterwards I was asked questions like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Did \RX VHW DVLGH VSHFLÂżF WLPHV for Torah study?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;and I said yes. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Did you eagerly await the redemption?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand that question. During this time they detailed my sins and reviewed them with me very carefully. They spoke with me about malicious gossip.

You have no idea how condemning heaven is of malicious gossip.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And then to my surprise I was asked a question just like it says in the holy books: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Were you honest in your business dealings?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I saw my entire life pass before my eyes like a movie. The scenes passed by and everyone saw what I had done â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both the good things and the bad.â&#x20AC;?

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such as helping a widow. Even They continued with the subject she came forward to testify of hate: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You have a friend you on my behalf! This was what DUH ORRNLQJ WR ÂżJKW ZLWK DOO WKH shifted the scales in my favor, time!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; About vows: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You made I was told. a pledge to the synagogue and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then the judge spoke. didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep it!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And then they A loud, clear voice that had went to the subject of honoring emerged from the blinding light: parents: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t honor your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do you accept upon yourself parents enough because you the things that you must do?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; thought that you would marry And then he read for me aloud and then basically disconnect a number of the things which from the family â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now we will would become the purpose of show you that you need them!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; my life, which I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to From there they moved on to reveal. I obligated myself to talking about crooked dealings: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You used your grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;How happy was I for every foot I walked in this one of them and said I would do my best at the others. The voice phone credits without asking her world wearing tzitzit. It is impossible to describe continued: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You must know that permission!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; how much tzitzit helps up there because all the you stand to suffer a great deal â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then the good voice started to defend me, and said that I commandments have massive spiritual value in in this world, but this will be atonement.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; gave money to yeshivot. But and of themselves. Not a single commandment yourâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Then the trial ended. then the bad voice interrupted is forgotten â&#x20AC;&#x201C; neither big nor small.â&#x20AC;?

I started to turn around and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;But he became and run from the hall in a arrogant because of it and hung panic. I felt the same terrible the plaque up on the wall.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And then they began an accounting of my mitzvot P\ IXOÂżOOPHQW RI WKH embarrassment I had sensed about my dirty clothes, because Torahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commandments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; each one by itself. How happy I was for of the intense and complete exposure to everyone at the trial. every foot I walked in this world wearing tzitzit. It is impossible Then I saw my grandmother running after me; she was the only to describe how much tzitzit helps up there, because all the one left in the hall. When I left the hall, I saw other rabbis and commandments have massive spiritual value in and of themselves. people I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, and everyone glowed with warmth and love. Outside, too, my grandmother continued chasing after me, Not a single commandment is forgotten â&#x20AC;&#x201C; neither big nor small. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The good voice continued to list the commandments that I had and I felt that she was doing it to make sure that I really left that observed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like keeping the Sabbath assiduously and celebrating world of truth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suddenly change my mind and it in every way that I could. How I always tried to make brides remain there. And then suddenly, my grandmother disappeared, and grooms happy at their weddings. And then they started to as did the hall, and I saw myself inside the ambulance. I saw my bring witnesses to my defense. At this point the rabbis interjected body laying on the gurney and the doctors treating me. At that that they were on my side. People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand the greatness point I was unconscious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by medical standards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and breathing of tzadikkim, righteous and holy individuals. They can testify to through a respirator. Despite all this, I saw myself from above and the doctors working on me. our goodness and honesty. Even Suddenly, I stopped seeing from tzadikkim who are still alive are In order to understand the intensity above and I woke up in my body.â&#x20AC;? involved in the upper worlds. of the miracle, here is a list of special Sharon has told his story â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then they reminded me that I FGXKEGU CPF KORNCPVU KP 5JCTQPÂłU DQF[ hundreds of times, yet each time had driven together with my brotherhe becomes just as emotional as he LQ ODZ WR D UDIĂ&#x20AC;H WKDW WRRN SODFH LQ that help him walk and function in the GLG WKH ÂżUVW WLPH 7KLV LV WKH VWRU\ Bnei Brak for a yeshivah, and that world: A prosthetic foot due to loss of of his life that has continued until when the head of the yeshivah came the sole of one of his feet; plastic and today. Countless numbers of people in, they announced that anyone who OGVCN MPGGECRU VYQ DKE[ENG EJCKPU ZKR KDYH KHDUG WKH VWRU\ ÂżQG WKDW had not yet given a contribution and YKVJ UGXGPVGGP DQNVU CTQWPF JKU RGNXKU it ignites in them a spark about the would give one now would receive meaning of life. When they see a bottle of wine that the rabbi had JQNFKPI JKU NGIU VQ JKU DQF[ RNCVKPWO Sharon arrive at the lecture on two EOHVVHG , MXPSHG XS ÂżUVW DQG SDLG IRU and radium plates in his forearm; a strip legs, smiling and happy, it is very a bottle of wine blessed by the rabbi. of metal in place of one of his shoulders; hard for them to believe their own Can you imagine that that same C RNCUVKE GNDQY QP JKU NGHV CTO HCNUG eyes. rabbi, who is still alive, came himself VGGVJ C HCNUG LCYDQPG EQORTKUGF QH to testify for my worthiness because Rabbi Zamir Cohen is the founder of the I had donated money to his yeshivah!

DQPGU GZVTCEVGF HTQO JKU NGIU CPF C Hidabroot organization and has written â&#x20AC;&#x153;Afterwards, they recalled several books, including his national JGCTKPI CKF DWKNV KPVQ JKU GCT other kind acts that I had done, bestseller, The Coming Revolution.â&#x20AC;?

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7

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Innovative

Website Teaches Sephardic Hazzanut PNINA SOUID

Notwithstanding the dangers and risks of technology, it also offers us great opportunities when harnessed for the right purposes. And while there are plenty of inappropriate sights and sounds in cyberspace, it features many sights and sounds of holiness, as well.

H

azzan Faraj Samra is a young, busy internist who is also deeply involved in learning and practicing hazzanut since he was a child in Damascus, Syria.

Seeing the wonders of modern technology, Faraj sensed a valuable educational opportunity to perpetuate our sacred cantorial heritage by teaching Sephardic hazzanut online.

Hazzan Samra received encouragement from the founders of Sephardicpizmonimproject.org, a website that provides recordings of Sephardic hazzanut along with relevant texts, photos of ancient and contemporary Sephardic synagogues from around the world, and historical manuscripts. Driven by his love for hazzanut and the encouragement of his colleagues, in 2009 he launched Sephardichazzanut.com, a website dedicated to helping people who wish to learn to become a hazzan or read the Torah. It features all the tefilot (prayers) of Shabbat and holidays, including Selihot and the High Holidays, as well as the entire Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim.

From Damascus to Brooklyn Faraj grew up in Sham (Damascus), at a time when the Syrian 46

Hazan Faraj Samra at a wedding

government allowed Jews to study Tanach, but not other books.

He learned the ta’amim (cantillation of the Torah reading) under Hacham Eli Khalife, who now lives in Flatbush, in Knis Ktab Duer, one of the old Damascan synagogues. In 1992, when Faraj was 10 years old, his family moved to Brooklyn, where he studied at Yeshivat Ateret Torah. Every Friday the boys studied ta’amim with Hacham Jack Maslaton, the gifted baal koreh (Torah reader) of Ahi Ezer Congregation.

As a new arrival from Syria he participated in the children’s choir of SLC, which at the time was housed on E. 7th Street, at the site of what is now the Ahi Ezer Senior Citizen Center. The choir was run under the direction of Hazan Ari Ovadia. Faraj also sang in the special choirs that performed for Sephardic Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron and others when they came to Brooklyn.

He was given the special privilege of participating in a class for six months given by the renowned hacham and hazzan, Rafael Elnadav, zt”l. Hacham Elnadav taught the boys old and complex Turkish pizmonim, which Faraj believes helped him immensely in his early training and preparation to be the type of hazzan that he is today.

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The Discovery of a Prodigy After Faraj’s bar mitzvah, he read the Torah at Ahi Ezer on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as at Shevet Ahim, and at Ahi Ezer Avenue X, he was permitted to read the complete Parasha.

However, it was at Shaare Zion where Faraj Samra was really “discovered.” The first week that Faraj read for Minha of Shabbat at Shaare Zion there Hacham Shaul Kassin told him how much he enjoyed his reading, and would he please read in the Annex each Shabbat. Hazan Samara was 15 years old at the time, a student at Yeshiva of Flatbush.

Faraj continued nurturing his passion for Sephardic hazzanut, listening to the traditional tunes and making recordings. He studied in Yeshiva University under Hazzan Moshe Tessone, and became the regular ba’al koreh at Bnai Yosef. Ten years ago, a first year medical student, he began serving as hazzan on Shabbatot at Bnai Yosef during the summers, when many of the regular hazzanim move to New Jersey. He credits the synagogue’s main hazzanim, Moshe Yedid and Albert Cohen, as well as Hazzanim Moshe Mustacci, Yehiel Nahari and Moshe Tessone, for helping him hone his skills as he moved from the position of Baal Koreh to becoming the Hazan of Mikdash Eliyahu Synagogue.

At the Cutting Edge of Sephardic Hazzanut Faraj worked as a tutor and bar mitzvah teacher, but decided the time was ripe to reach out on a much larger scale.

Thus the website sephardichazzanut was born. The project started with recordings of the Torah reading and Haftarot, the various Maqamot and a Hazanut section. Faraj’s latest project is Tehillim, adding recordings of several new chapters each month.

Sephardichazzanut.com now features over 1400 recordings, and attracts visitors from over 100 countries and 1700 cities across the globe.

Hazzan Samra says that he finds the project immensely gratifying. (In fact, his wife Minna calls the website his “child.”) He receives emails from hazzanim in Eretz Yisrael who tell him how useful the site is in their preparation, as well as from Sephardic Jews in remote areas where there are no Sephardic community, who use the site so their sons can read the Torah and Haftarah on their bar mitzvah in accordance with their own Minhag (tradition). He has also been contacted by conversos in Costa Rica, a member of a new synagogue in South America who uses the site so he can read the Torah for his congregation, and the list goes on.

Sephardichazzanut.com is playing a leading role in the revitalization of the ancient Sephardic cantorial tradition, proving that modern-day technology can be used to strengthen our connection to our past. Hazzan Samra invites you to visit his website, take a tour through the rich tradition of Sephardic hazzanut, and leave your feedback on the comments page. He hopes that as the site continues to grow, and offer different types of methodology to enhance the Tefila of Sepharadim/Eidot HaMizrah in practice, providing those who live in within the USA but far from a community of their own; and as education to others who would like to know more of the ancient and unique liturgy of the Sepharadim.

Hazan Samra hopes that he is playing a part in enabling and enhancing the prayers of Jews around the world.

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Judaism Judaism and

Cosmetic Surgery DANIEL EISENBERG, MD

From a Jewish perspective, how far can an individual go to improve his/her appearance?

Is routine plastic/cosmetic surgery permitted at all?

What halachic concerns might arise for one contemplating plastic surgery?

Cosmetic Versus Reconstructive Surgery Plastic surgery may be divided into two categories: cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The former is performed for enhancement of one’s physical appearance (such as rhinoplasty and liposuction), whereas the latter is performed to correct a defect, whether congenital (from birth) or acquired (for instance, as a result of a car accident). These two indications for surgery may overlap, and the line that separates deformity from normal appearance is not always perfectly clear. As the old cliché goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

But what about a self-perceived cosmetic defect, one that is neither a true congenital defect nor the result of an injury? How much importance does Judaism place on self-esteem and self-consciousness? Do these uneasy feelings justify voluntarily going under the surgeon’s knife, from the perspective of Jewish law and values?

The Earliest Responsum In 1961, Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, considered by many to be the father of modern Jewish medical ethics, addressed the American Society of Facial Plastic Surgery at a symposium entitled, “Religious Views on Cosmetic Surgery.” Rabbi Jakobovits, who

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Magazine2013-08.indb 48

later became Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, discussed the parameters of plastic surgery from a Jewish legal perspective.

After explaining that no responsa had yet been written on the topic, he dealt with the question of whether one may undergo plastic surgery for the purpose of improving one’s physical appearance. As Rabbi Jakobovits eloquently described in his classic work, Jewish Medical Ethics: The problem was considered under four headings: the theological implications of ³LPSURYLQJ´ *G¶V ZRUN RU ³À \LQJ LQ WKH face of Providence”; the possible risks to life involved in any operation; the Jewish objection to any mutilation of the body; and the ethical censure of human vanity, especially among males. +H FRQFOXGHG GH¿ QLWLYHO\ WKDW SODVWLF surgery for aesthetic enhancement is a form of arrogance and vanity (particularly for men) and is forbidden unless the patient meets certain criteria. He later summarized this position as part of an overview of the Jewish approach to medicine: In the sparse rabbinic writings on the subject, these reservations could be discounted, provided the danger is minimal; and especially 1) if the operation is medically indicated, e.g. following an accident, or for grave psychological reasons; 2) if the correction of the deformity is designed to facilitate or maintain a happy marriage; or 3) if it will enable a person to play a constructive role in Society and to earn a decent livelihood.

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These four ethical concerns mentioned

by Rabbi Jakobovits remained the pivotal issues in all future responsa and therefore bear further elucidation, as subsequent poskim have approached them in different ways.

Ethical Concerns 7KH Âż UVW SRWHQWLDO REMHFWLRQ WR SODVWLF surgery is the Torah obligation to maintain good health and avoid unnecessary medical risks. Seemingly, this should forbid elective cosmetic surgery, whereby one voluntarily exposes himself or herself to the risks posed by surgical procedures. In addition to the hazards associated with the surgery itself, anesthesia, particularly general anesthesia, presents a very small but real risk of death or incapacitation.

Beyond the blanket obligation to guard health, there is the particular prohibition of self-mutilation. Just as one may not injure someone else, one may not cause injury to oneself. The prohibition of injuring someone else is called havalah and is derived directly from the Biblical verse that warns the court not to give a convicted criminal more lashes than legally mandated. The sages deduced that if the court must not strike a criminal without MXVWLÂż FDWLRQ VXUHO\ DQ RUGLQDU\ LQGLYLGXDO PD\ not strike or otherwise injure his neighbor. The Talmud discusses whether this prohibition applies to harming oneself, concluding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;one who injures himself, even though it is forbidden, pays no damages. But if someone else injures him, they pay damages.â&#x20AC;? Injuring oneself without a valid reason is called hovel bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atzmo, and is forbidden unless there is some necessity. The key question, then, is what is considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;necessary.â&#x20AC;?

But endangering and harming oneself are not the only issues. There are also philosophical considerations. Do we assert that Gd, as the ultimate craftsman and molder of human beings, makes each person exactly as he or she should be, and that our â&#x20AC;&#x153;remodelingâ&#x20AC;? of ourselves is an affront to His judgment?

That is, do the divine mandate to heal and the obligation to seek medical treatment extend to plastic surgery?

The fourth issue applies predominantly to men. The Torah forbids men from wearing womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing, and women from wearing menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing. This prohibition extends beyond mere clothing, but includes actions and activities that are characteristic of the other gender. For instance, in most situations a man may not dye his white hairs back to black for purposes of improving his appearance, since this is considered to be a feminine activity. Is plastic surgery also considered a â&#x20AC;&#x153;feminineâ&#x20AC;? activity?

50

Ungvarer Rebbe, Rabbi Menasheh Klein (1924-2011)

Rabbi Menasheh Klein was a Hasidic Rebbe and posek, author of 17 volumes of Mishneh Halachot and 25 other books. The Ungvarer Rebbe was considered by many to be a paramount leader of the Lithuanian-Haredi community in both Israel and the Diaspora, and many Ć?Ĺ&#x161;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ç&#x152;Ĺ?Ä? :Ä&#x17E;Ç Ć? Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x161; Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ĺľ Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜÍ&#x203A;Ć? ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? authority on halacha. Rabbi Klein points out that there Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹľĆ&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; ĨŽĆ&#x152; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x; ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ĺ?ĹľĆ&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ĹśĹ? Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ä?ĹŹ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ dÄ&#x201A;ůžƾÄ&#x161;Ĺ?Ä? Ć&#x; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;ĆľĆ? Ć&#x152;ƾůÄ&#x17E;Ć? that a man or woman may go to a doctor to correct a Ä?Ĺ˝Ć?ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x; Ä? Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĨÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ä&#x17E;ĹśĹ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;ĹľÄ&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; ŽĨ Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2DC; ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? <ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŠÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ƾžÄ&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x; Ä? Ć?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹŻĆ? Ć?ŽžÄ&#x17E; Ć?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161; ŽĨ Ä&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2022; Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?ŜĨŽĆ&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜ he received from physicians.

4CDDK $TGKUJÂłU #RRTQCEJ In 1964, Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Breish, Rabbi Menasheh Klein, and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein were each asked to rule on questions of cosmetic surgery for enhancement of appearance.

Rabbi Mordechai Yaakov Breish, author of the Helkat Yaakov and a prominent posek in Switzerland, discussed the issues of risk and havalah (self-injury) in reference to the case of a woman who wished to undergo cosmetic surgery to straighten and decrease the size of her nose in order to improve her chance of Âż QGLQJ D VXLWDEOH KXVEDQG He used a previous ruling of Rabbi Abraham of Sochachev, the 19th-century author of the Avnei Nezer,as a starting point for his discussion of why it is permitted to enter into surgery or other dangerous situations, even when not absolutely necessary. The Avnei Nezer had forbidden a child to have surgery to straighten a crooked leg due to the risk of the operation, but Rabbi Breish noted several objections to this ruling. First, so long as a doctor practices medicine in an acceptable way, it is a mitzvah to treat even non-life-threatening illnesses, despite the risk of inadvertently injuring or killing a patient in the process. That is the nature of the mandate to heal. Additionally, the Talmud allowed bloodletting as a preventative health mechanism, even though it was known to be

Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach (1910-1995)

somewhat dangerous. Moreover, we certainly do not prohibit women from having babies, despite the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Rabbi Breish also points out that the general population undergoes surgery for non-life-threatening conditions with a very low complication rate. As such, we may invoke the concept ofâ&#x20AC;&#x153;shomer petaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;im Hashemâ&#x20AC;? (literally, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gd watches over the simpleâ&#x20AC;?) to defend lowrisk surgeries. And thus from the perspective of risk, he rules, one may pursue plastic surgery as VRPHWKLQJ WKDW WKH JHQHUDO SRSXODWLRQ Âż QGV WR be acceptably safe.

As for the prohibition against selfLQĂ&#x20AC; LFWHG LQMXU\ 5DEEL %UHLVK FLWHV WZR proofs to support his contention that one may injure oneself for treatment of a non-life-threatening malady. The Shulhan Aruch forbids performing certain medical procedures on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents, such as removing a thorn, bloodletting, and amputating a limb, lest he transgress the capital offense of (unnecessarily) injuring a parent. Rabbi Moshe Isserles, in his glosses to the Shulhan Aruch, states that one should only refrain only if there is someone else present who can help the parent, but otherwise, the child should even amputate the limb if the parent is in pain. It seems clear that the prohibition is only to injure oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent, but the act of bloodletting

Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach was a renowned Orthodox rabbi, posek, and Rosh Yeshiva of the Kol Torah yeshiva in :Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĆľĆ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹľÍ&#x2022; /Ć?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÍ&#x2DC; :Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĆľĆ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹľÍ&#x203A;Ć? ZÄ&#x201A;ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x161; ^Ĺ&#x161;ůŽžŽ ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ĺ?Ĺ?Ĺ&#x161;Ä?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ&#x161;ŽŽÄ&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x152; Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹľÍ&#x2DC; /Ĺś Ä&#x201A; Ć&#x2030;ĆľÄ?ĹŻĹ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x2030;ŽŜĆ?ƾžÍ&#x2022; ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ&#x161; Ç Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ĩ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x; Ä? Ć?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x161;ŽŜÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ć?ƾč Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĆľĆ?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä?Ç&#x2021; Ä&#x201A; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĨÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ĺś ŽŜÄ&#x17E;Í&#x203A;Ć? ůŽŽŏĆ? ÍžĆ?ĆľÄ?Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;Ä?ŜŽĆ&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021;ͲĆ?Ĺ?Ç&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; ŜŽĆ?Ä&#x17E;ÍżÍ&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? Ç Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄ&#x161; Ä?Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹľĹ?ĆŠ Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä?ĆľĆ&#x161; Ĺ?Ĩ Ĺ?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x161;ŽŜÄ&#x17E; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x17E;ĹśĹ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E; ŽŜÄ&#x17E;Í&#x203A;Ć? ůŽŽŏĆ?Í&#x2022; Ĺ?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? ĨŽĆ&#x152;Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśÍ&#x2DC; Rabbi Aurbach sums up the consensus of most legal experts Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x152;ƾůĹ?ĹśĹ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x; Ä? Ć?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ç Ć?ŽžÄ&#x17E;ŽŜÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152; normal, and, more importantly, to view himself or herself Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ŜŽĆ&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹŻÍ&#x2022; Ĺ?Ć? Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹľĹ?ĆŠ Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Í&#x2DC;

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Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits (1921-1999)

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986)

Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits was the Chief Rabbi of the hĹśĹ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; ,Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ç Ĺ˝ĹśĹ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜĆ? ŽĨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝ĹľĹľĹ˝ĹśÇ Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; ĨĆ&#x152;Žž ϭϾϲϳ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ ϭϾϾϭÍ&#x2DC; ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? :Ä&#x201A;ĹŹĹ˝Ä?Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ć? Ä?ŽŜÄ?ĹŻĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ÄŽ ĹśĹ?Ć&#x; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x; Ä? Ć?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x; Ä? Ä&#x17E;ĹśĹ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;ĹľÄ&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x201A; ĨŽĆ&#x152;Ĺľ ŽĨ Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ć&#x161;Ç&#x2021; ÍžĆ&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x; Ä?ƾůÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĨŽĆ&#x152; ĹľÄ&#x17E;ŜͿ Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? ĨŽĆ&#x152;Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś ƾŜůÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161;Ć? Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ĺś Ä?Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ç Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161; ŽĨ Ä&#x201A;Ĺś overview of the Jewish approach to medicine: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the sparse Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ä? Ç Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć&#x; ĹśĹ?Ć? ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć?ĆľÄ?ĹŠÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜĆ? Ä?ŽƾůÄ&#x161; Ä?Ä&#x17E; discounted, provided the danger is minimal; and especially Ď­Íż Ĺ?Ĩ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜ Ĺ?Ć? ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ĺ?ĹśÄ&#x161;Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2DC;Ĺ?Í&#x2DC; Ä¨Ĺ˝ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ç Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ć?Ç&#x2021;Ä?Ĺ&#x161;ŽůŽĹ?Ĺ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć?ŽŜĆ?Í&#x2013; ĎŽÍż Ĺ?Ĩ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x; ŽŜ of the deformity is designed to facilitate or maintain a happy ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2013; Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; ĎŻÍż Ĺ?Ĩ Ĺ?Ć&#x161; Ç Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻ Ä&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ä&#x201A; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ç&#x2021; Ä&#x201A; Ä?ŽŜĆ?Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľÄ?Ć&#x; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; role in Society and to earn a decent livelihood.â&#x20AC;?

ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? DĹ˝Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; &Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?ĹśĆ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ĺś ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ć? ŜŽ Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ä&#x161;ĆľÄ?Ć&#x; ŽŜÍ&#x2022; ,Ä&#x17E; Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; as the Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem, and was one of the undisputed leaders of Orthodox Jewry who helped shape Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; KĆ&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ä&#x161;Ĺ˝Ç&#x2020; Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŻÄ&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x152; Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; tĹ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŻÄ&#x161; tÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152; //Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ?Ĺ˝ Ä?ŽŜĆ?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ŽŜÍ&#x203A;Ć? ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ä? Ä&#x201A;ĆľĆ&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; ZÄ&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ĺ? &Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?ĹśĆ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ĺś Ä?Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ć? Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ä&#x201A;ĹľĆ&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć? ŽĨ Ĺ?ŜŊƾĆ&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;ŽƾĆ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x; ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ĺľ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; :Ä&#x17E;Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹ?Ĺ?Ĺ?ŽƾĆ? ĹŻĹ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E; ÄŽ ĹśÄ&#x161;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Í&#x2DC; ,Ĺ?Ć? ÄŽ ĹśÄ&#x201A;ĹŻ ruling permits surgery when it is in the best interests of the Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ĺ?Ĩ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ĺ?Ć? ŜŽĆ&#x161; Ć?Ĺ?Ä?ĹŹ Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć? ŜŽĆ&#x161; ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x; ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Í&#x2DC; ,Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;ĆľĆ? Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹľĹ?ĆŠ Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ç Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä?Ĺ˝Ć?ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x; Ä? Ć?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; ĨÄ&#x17E;ĹŻĆ&#x161; Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć? ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; ĨŽĆ&#x152; ÄŽ ĹśÄ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A; marriage partner, since it was to her advantage and not being done to harm her.

utilizes an ingenious approach to evaluate the question, pointing out that there is ample precedent for medical intervention to improve appearance, dating back to Talmudic times.

The Mishnah discusses the case of a man who betroths a woman on the condition that she has no â&#x20AC;&#x153;mumâ&#x20AC;? (defect), and the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;mumâ&#x20AC;? LV GHÂż QHG DV DQ\ defect that would bar a kohen from serving in the Temple. Tosafot states that if the woman had her blemish corrected by a physician before her engagement, the marriage is valid. It is clear from Tosafotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments that blemishes which disqualify a kohen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; many of which are cosmetic imperfections of the face for which people today would desire elective plastic surgery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; may be surgically corrected. Rabbi Klein thus concludes that a man or woman may go to a doctor to correct a cosmetic defect merely for enhancement of his or her appearance. Rabbi Klein rejects the argument that plastic surgery entails some sort of danger, based on the information he received from physicians.

4CDDK 9GKUUÂł #RRTQCEJ In 1967, Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (1902-1989), head of the Eidah Haredit or amputation is permissible, even if this 4CDDK (GKPUVGKPÂłU #RRTQCEJ rabbinical court in Jerusalem and author is done merely to relieve pain. When it The same year, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein of Minhat Yitzhak, GHDOW EULHĂ&#x20AC; \ ZLWK WKH comes to oneself, too, it stands to reason (1895-1986) was asked the same question. issues of havalah and risk with respect that medical procedures are permissible, +LV UHVSRQVXP RQ WKH VXEMHFW Âż UVW H[DPLQHV to plastic surgery. He takes the same and do not fall under the prohibition of self- the parameters of the prohibition of havalah. DSSURDFK WR VHOI LQĂ&#x20AC; LFWHG LQMXU\ DV 5DEEL LQĂ&#x20AC; LFWHG LQMXU\ He points out that the Rambam, in his Feinstein, arguing that the prohibition of The second proof is fundamental to our Mishneh Torah FOHDUO\ GHÂż QHV havalah as havalah only applies when the wound is discussion of plastic surgery, particularly injury with malice. Rabbi Feinstein brings LQĂ&#x20AC; LFWHG ZLWK WKH LQWHQWLRQ RI FDXVLQJ KDUP cosmetic surgery. The Talmud states that several examples of injury without the or degradation. However, he feels that a man may remove scabs from his body intention to do harm that Jewish religious the risks posed by surgery are a serious to alleviate pain, but not to improve his OLWHUDWXUH Âż QGV DFFHSWDEOH +H WKXV SHUPLWV concern. He refers to one of his earlier DSSHDUDQFH $W Âż UVW JODQFH WKLV PD\ surgery when it is in the best interests of responsa which was directed to his in-law, appear to exclude the possibility of plastic the patient, even if the patient is not sick Rabbi Breish, in which he forbids surgery surgery. However, Tosafot, commenting on and the procedure is not necessary to treat for non-life-threatening conditions. While this statement, promulgates a concept that an illness. In the case of a woman seeking admitting that the line of reasoning of Rabbi demonstrates a very sensitive understanding a marriage partner, then, Rabbi Feinstein Breish has merit, he disagrees, arguing that of human nature and psychology. He writes: allowed her to undergo cosmetic surgery the permission granted to amputate a limb â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the only pain that he suffers is that he is since it was to her advantage and not being applies only in a life-threatening situation.

He also agrees with Rabbi Breish that embarrassed to walk among people then it is done to harm her. people desiring plastic surgery may be ill, permissible, because there is no greater pain but states that they are not endangered, and than this.â&#x20AC;? Tosafot recognizes that there is no 4CDDK -NGKPÂłU #RRTQCEJ greater suffering than psychological pain, and Also in 1964, Rabbi Menasheh therefore is hesitant to allow elective plastic WKDW LW LV YHU\ GLIÂż FXOW WR MXGJH IRU VRPHRQH Klein, author of Mishneh Halachot, dealt surgery. He concludes his 1967 responsa by else the degree of suffering he is experiencing with the question of the permissibility saying the question requires further study. as a result of a self-perceived defect. of cosmetic surgery to correct various Citing the psychological pain associated facial imperfections that mar a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the Lord Your Healerâ&#x20AC;?

ZLWK WKH LQDELOLW\ WR Âż QG D VSRXVH 5DEEL appearance, such as a very long nose which Despite the generally strong Breish ruled that the woman may undergo PDNHV LW GLIÂż FXOW IRU KHU WR PDUU\ DQG PDNHV support among halachic experts for the cosmetic surgery. her feel very unattractive. Rabbi Klein permissibility of reconstructive surgery for 52

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congenital defects and traumatic injuries, one dissenting opinion stands out with regard to cosmetic surgery which is desired for the sole purpose of enhancing oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance.

There is an inherent tension in Judaism regarding the philosophical underpinnings of the mandate to heal. While the Torah clearly empowers the physician to treat illness, there is some controversy regarding how far the permission extends. While most Biblical commentators and Jewish legal scholars interpret the Torah as granting a very broad license to heal, there is a consensus that the patient must be ill to allow the physician to treat the patient, particularly if the treatment is dangerous or requires injuring the patient in the process of healing.

This is one of the major concerns expressed by Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg, author of Tzitz Eliezer, a multivolume set of responsa, much of which deals with medical issues. First, Rabbi Waldenberg objects to performing surgery on someone who is neither sick nor in pain.

He argues that such activities are outside the boundaries of the physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate to heal (and he questions whether cosmetic surgery is truly included in the category of healing). He further asserts that the patient

has no right to ask the physician to wound him or her for the purposes of merely enhancing beauty. Rabbi Waldenberg then makes the theological argument that as the ultimate artisan, Gd creates each person in A Final Argument $V D ÂżWWLQJ FRQFOXVLRQ WR WKLV GLVFXVVLRQ we present the ruling of the last major posek to voice an opinion on the subject of plastic surgery. Dr. Abraham Abraham reports the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach (1910-1995), the great Israeli posek, on the question of whether a person whose arm RU ÂżQJHU KDG EHHQ WUDXPDWLFDOO\ DPSXWDWHG may have it surgically reattached. This procedure would require general anesthesia, and the patient had already been treated and no longer faced any medical risk. Rabbi Auerbach ruled that the surgery would certainly be permitted (on a weekday, but not on Shabbat), â&#x20AC;&#x153;since the surgery would not be considered an injury but a repair and treatment to save the limb. Why, then, should it be forbidden for someone to undergo plastic surgery in order to look normal?â&#x20AC;?

His image, exactly as he or she should be, with nothing extra or lacking. He therefore posits that cosmetic surgery that is not necessary for treating pain or true illness is an affront to Gd and is forbidden.

In one of his published responsa, Rabbi Aurbach writes: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the plastic surgery is done to prevent suffering and shame caused by a defect in his looks (for instance, a nose which is very abnormal), this would be permitted based on the Tosafot and the Gemara, since the purpose is to remove a blemish. However, if the only reason is for beauty, this is not permitted.â&#x20AC;?

Rabbi Aurbach sums up the consensus of most legal experts in ruling that plastic surgery undergone to allow someone to appear normal, and, more importantly, to view himself or herself as appearing normal, is permitted. It is only when such surgery is performed merely for vanity that the rabbis have serious reservations. Clearly, however, true reconstructive surgery, and even surgery to correct an appearance that causes embarrassment, is not an issue of vanity.

Dr. Daniel Eisenberg is with the Department of Radiology at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and an Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine.

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Celebrating Success at Or Haddash

Since 1995, the Or Haddash Talmud Torah in Jerusalem has been doing precisely what its name – literally, “New Light” – implies: illuminating the lives of hundreds of students who would otherwise be permanently plunged into spiritual darkness.

O

r Haddash was established to provide a quality Torah education for children from underprivileged homes, as well as food, clothing and financial assistance for their families. Over 600 students are currently enrolled in the school, most of whom come from disadvantaged or troubled backgrounds. At Or Haddash they receive a high-level education as well as the kind of care and support system that they so desperately need to grow and succeed. The educational formula of Or Haddash, which combines quality education with genuine and professional care for the students’ emotional and material needs, has drawn the fervent support of numerous personalities in Israel and around the world who have heaped praise upon the institution’s devoted and professional work. These include former Sephardic Chief Rabbis HaGaon Hacham Ovadia Yosef, shelit”a and Rav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, shelit”a, current Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Shelomo Amar, shelit”a; Rav David Hanania Pinto; Rav Eliyahu Mansour; Rav Shimon Alouf; and Rav Meir Yedid.

“It Warms Our Heart” On June 16, 2013, the institution marked its 18th anniversary with an unforgettable celebration in Jerusalem, attended by students, parents, staff, and distinguished guests, including Rav Bakshi Doron, Rav Shlomo Zafrani, Knesset Member Aryeh Deri, child singing sensation Meydad Tassa, and noted paytan Moshe Habusha. They came to express gratitude for the school’s remarkable success and their support for its continued efforts to ensure that even children from disadvantaged backgrounds receive a proper Torah education.

Simon Douek, President of Or Haddash Institutions, expressed his admiration for the school’s accomplishments: “It is an honor to be associated with this organization. It is always an exciting experience to visit the institution. The rabbis are fantastic and doing a wonderful job; they achieve tremendous things. It is because of people like them that Am Yisrael is still together and thriving. Most of the children here come from disadvantaged homes. At Or Haddash they have found a wonderful educational framework at a high level. But that’s not all. Many receive scholarships without which they could not attend the school. This evidences the work that is being achieved here.

“It warms our heart to see the smile of the children. They fill us with joy and the strength to continue. May their good work continue to provide for the future of Israel through spiritual guidance and wise leadership.”

54

Responding to a Growing Need Due to the rising demand for enrollment, the Jerusalem mayor’s office has agreed to allocate a territory of 5000 square meters for the construction of a new, modern educational and scholastic facility for the students of Or Haddash. The new building will allow Or Haddash to provide its students with the comfort and equipment they need to receive the finest possible education and thus the greatest chances of future success. The facility will include numerous classrooms, as well as: • 16 spacious and comfortable bedrooms for the boarding school.

• A library which will allow the students to hone their reading skills and expand their knowledge.

• Computer rooms where students will learn to be proficient in modern technology.

• Shelters in compliance with the requirements established by Israel’s Education and Defense Ministries.

• A kitchen and a dining room.

There are also plans for a gymnasium, soccer field and basketball court to facilitate a comprehensive athletic program, and play rooms for preschool children.

Construction at the site is already well underway, and the building’s exterior is currently being covered by Jerusalem stone, after which work will begin on the building’s interior. The project is slated to be completed next summer, with Hashem’s help.

In light of the ever growing demand, the realization of this project is essential for the future of Israel’s disadvantaged children. Or Haddash invites you to take part in this vital effort and help ensure its success, and the future success of its students. This year’s annual fundraising event, featuring wine and scotch tasting, will be held on Tuesday, August 13 at the home of Loretta and Simon Douek, 226 Elberon Avenue, Allenhurst, NJ. The event will honor longtime supporters and friends of the institution, Edgar and Sophie Azrak of Panama. By supporting Or Haddash, you are supporting hundreds of needy children seeking what all children deserve – a warm, nurturing home and a quality education.

To make a reservation, or to learn more about Or Haddash, please contact Simon Douek, simon61@earthlink.net.

Written by Rabbi Shimon Israel

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THE B.A.C., LLP

Sportsman of the Month

With his extraordinary on-court grace and agility, Raymond makes for an extremely talented athlete. Playing in both informal and prearranged games, Raymond has gained notoriety for his ability to play basketball with extraordinary intensity, yet ƐƟ ůů ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ ůĂŝĚ ďĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƌĞĨƌĞĞ ĚĞŵĞĂŶŽƌ͘ DĂŶLJ ĐĂŶ ĂƩ ĞƐƚ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƵŶĐĂŶŶLJ ability to “school” even the most skilled opponents while keeping the frame of mind to put up a fade-away jumper with astonishing accuracy.

What makes Raymond stand out among his peers on the court is not just his basketball ŝŶƐƟ ŶĐƚƐ͕ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ŚŝƐ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĚƌĂǁ ĨƌŽŵ a repertoire of moves that allow him to dominate the court with force. Players and observers alike have tried to understand Raymond’s on court success. Some say it ŝƐ ŚŝƐ Ň ĂǁůĞƐƐ ƐŚŽƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ Śŝŵ ŵŽƐƚ Ğī ĞĐƟ ǀĞ͕ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĂƩ ƌŝďƵƚĞ ŝƚ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ƐĞůŇ ĞƐƐ passing, and there are those who conclude that it must be his broad frame and impressive stature. But what all agree on is this: when facing Raymond, one must come prepared and ready to be wowed. As a fellow player put it, “When Raymond steps onto the court you get nervous. You can sense that he’s got winning on his mind. But ǁŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ Śŝŵ ƐƵĐŚ Ă Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ŽƉƉŽŶĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĨĂĐĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂŌ Ğƌ ƚŚĞ game he’s smiling and joking with you. That ĚŝƐĂƌŵŝŶŐ Ăƫ ƚƵĚĞ ŝƐ ƚĞƌƌŝďůLJ Ěŝĸ ĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ƉůĂLJ against.”

With accolades such as these being showered upon him, you’d expect a player to have some sort of air to him; ego or bravado, if you will. However, ask Raymond if he’s a decent player and you’ll get a nonchalant, “I’m ok” response. And any ĂƩ ĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ĐŽĂdž ĂŶ ĞdžƉůĂŶĂƟ ŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŽ ŚŽǁ 56

he achieved such a play or made that pass will be answered with, “It wasn’t a big deal.” This isn’t feigned humility; it’s simply vintage Ray. While Raymond’s sports acumen is ǁĞůůͲŬŶŽǁŶ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŚŝƐ Žī ͲƚŚĞͲĐŽƵƌƚ accomplishments that are most impressive.

Founding, planning and preparing the Lev Aharon basketball tournament is a massive undertaking, and one in which Raymond, ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ZĂůƉŚ ,ĂƌĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ZĂůƉŚ ^ƵƩ ŽŶ͕ ĞdžĞĐƵƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ Ğĸ ĐŝĞŶĐLJ͘ Held on Sunday July 21st, the tournament was, by all accounts, a smashing success.

Hundreds of players competed in a four-onfour, full-court style matchup for the chance ƚŽ ĐůĂŝŵ ƚŚĞ ƵůƟ ŵĂƚĞ ƉƌŝnjĞ͗ ƚŽƵƌŶĂŵĞŶƚ winner and trophy bearer. Well-known sportsmen throughout the community played vigorously, with both the will and ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂƟ ŽŶ ƚŽ ǁŝŶ ŝƚ Ăůů͘ WůĂLJŝŶŐ ŽŶ Ɛŝdž Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĐŽƵƌƚƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽǁŶ͕ ĞĂĐŚ game was a spectacle.

Every whistle blown was met with extreme enthusiasm, calls were contested and ĚĞĨĞŶĚĞĚ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ Ɵ ŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŵĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƉůĂLJĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŽƐŝƟ ǀŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚǁŝůů͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă Į ƌŵ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ standards of sportsmanship.

(L-R) Sol Whaba, Ralph Harary, Ralph Sutton, Rabbi Rabi and Raymond Starvrach.

As the tournament wound down and players ƌĞŐƌŽƵƉĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ Į ŶĂů ƚǁŽ ŽƉƉŽƐŝŶŐ ƚĞĂŵƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ŝĚĞŶƟ Į ĞĚ͘ tŝƚŚ Ă ĐƌŽǁĚ enveloped in excitement, the stage was set for what would be a hardly fought contest. ůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŝǀĞƟ ŶŐ ĞdžĐŝƚĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞŶƐĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƟ Ɵ ŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ marked by a wonderful feeling of unity and genuine desire to support a wonderful dŽƌĂŚ ŝŶƐƟ ƚƵƟ ŽŶ͘ The success of this event, and all that it accomplished for the yeshiva, is directly ĂƩ ƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ZĂLJŵŽŶĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ƌŝŐŚƞ ƵůůLJ ĞĂƌŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ^ƉŽƌƚƐŵĂŶ ŽĨ the Month award.

If you, or your league, would like to nominate a candidate who displays skill, sportsmanship, and community values that warrants recognition, simply send in the athlete’s name along with a photo and a brief summary, including statistics and accomplishments, to Sports@ CommunityM.com.

Athletes involved in any of our community’s sports leagues, events, tournaments, or other organized play are eligible. Please note that this honor is not necessarily awarded to the highest scorer or to the top rated player, but rather to the best allaround sportsman. A true sportsman is not interested in winning at all costs, but rather plays the game while demonstrating good values, teamwork, courteousness, self-discipline, and respect for all players.

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Bet Din A $35 PARKING TICKET

Rabbi Max Sutton, Rosh Bet Din Aram Soba, Jerusalem, Israel

The Case Sam double-parked his car in front of a local bagel store so he could quickly run into the store and purchase a cup of coffee, leaving the car keys in the ignition. Just then, David, an acquaintance of Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, was driving down the block searching for a parking spot and noticed a meter maid approaching the double-parked car to issue a ticket. David immediately parked his car in a nearby spot, jumped out, got into the double-parked car, and drove it away from the reach of the meter maid, sparing Sam a $115 ticket.

The meter maid took note of Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clever move, and proceeded to ticket his car, which he had parked at an unpaid meter. The cost of the parking violation was $35, and David presented Sam with the ticket, along with an explanation, and eyewitnesses, of what had transpired. Sam respectfully thanked David for his good deed, but did not feel obligated by law to pay for the ticket. He explained that he never requested that David move the car, and surely never instructed him to park his own car at an unpaid meter. David responded that he clearly saved Sam $115, at a mere cost of $35, and is thus entitled to compensation.

They brought the matter to Bet Din for a decision.

How should the Bet Din rule? Is Sam obligated to pay David $35? Should they at least split the cost of the ticket? Or is Sam free of any obligation?

58

photo by: Abraham Amzalak

FROM THE FILES OF THE

Torah Law According to the ruling of the Shulhan Aruch, just as one is obligated by Torah law to return a lost object to its owner, one must also take the necessary measures to prevent another from sustaining a loss. While one ZKR IXOÂż OOV WKLV 7RUDK REOLJDWLRQ LV QRW HQWLWOHG WR compensation for his services, nevertheless, if he incurs a personal expense as a result of his intervention, he may rightfully collect the costs from the person whom he helped. Loss of hourly wages or forfeit of personal property are primary examples of expenses incurred while recovering lost property. The rationale behind this ruling is that we can safely assume that a person would be willing to pay these relatively minor costs for the purpose of avoiding considerable damage. Hence, although a stipulated condition to pay the expense was never expressed, from a legal standpoint it is viewed as KDYLQJ EHHQ VSHFLÂż HG DQG DJUHHG XSRQ 1HHGOHVV WR VD\ one may not anticipate collecting his costs if they exceed the total value of the item he is retrieving. Additionally, one is entitled to compensation only for expenditures that were necessary for the sake of preventing the loss.

This law, entitling one to compensation for expenses incurred while saving somebody elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property, is subject to various restrictions. Leading halachic authorities award compensation only in situations of clear, imminent danger to the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property or belongings. If, however, the threat was not clear and imminent, the rescuer cannot collect compensation for his expenses. A classic case is where a frontiersman drove away a lion that was in the general vicinity of Sources:

Shulhan Aruch Hoshen Mishpat 264,265 Pitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;he Hoshen, Avedah 1:20 and 8(39)

somebody elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sheep. Although the frontiersman operated at a cost, he may not collect, since the lion in this case did not pose a direct threat to the sheepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welfare. This is in contrast to a case such as ours, where the meter maid was approaching an automobile to serve D WLFNHW FOHDUO\ SRVLQJ LPPLQHQW Âż QDQFLDO GDQJHU WR WKH carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner. Hence, one who prevents this loss is entitled to be reimbursed for his incurred expenses.

By Torah law, one who chooses to pay a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loan without his prior knowledge may not later collect the funds on account of his good deed. Although he spared his friend an expense by paying off the loan, he is nevertheless not entitled to the funds, as paying a loan is QRW FRQVLGHUHG SUHYHQWLQJ D Âż QDQFLDO ORVV )XUWKHUPRUH the borrower may rightfully claim that he intended to persuade the lender to release him from his obligation, such that the payment was unnecessary. Preventing one from receiving a parking ticket, however, differs fundamentally from paying off a loan, as the car owner LV XQGHU QR REOLJDWLRQ WR SD\ WKH Âż QH XQOHVV D WLFNHW LV properly served. And thus since no debt existed before the car was ticketed, one who intercepts and prevents the issuance of the ticket is entitled to reimbursement for the expense he entailed. In addition, the car owner may not claim that he would have persuaded the meter maid not to serve the ticket, since he was not present at the time it was served.

It should be noted that the information presented here represents the general consensus among the halachic authorities; there is a minority view which disputes the rulings presented here.

Rama, Hoshen Mishpat 264:3 Tosafot, Baba Metzia 31b and Baba Kama 58a Shach, Hoshen Mishpat 128:6 and 183:15

Divre Mishpat, Hoshen Mishpat 128 Teshuvot Bene Aharon 43 Ramban, Baba Metzia 30b

Verdict: NICE GUYS DO NOT FINISH LAST

The Bet Din ruled in favor of David, instructing Sam to compensate him for his $35 loss. As discussed, David performed a mitzvah by sparing Sam a $115 ticket. From a legal standpoint it is considered as if the reimbursement of his costs were stipulated, since we can safely assume that Sam would have accepted such a stipulation in order to avoid the $115 loss. Since the meter maid was walking directly towards Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car to serve it a ticket, it is legally YLHZHG DV LPPLQHQW GDQJHU PDNLQJ 'DYLGÂśV DFWLRQV FOHDUO\ EHQHÂż FLDO 'DYLGÂśV ORVV ZDV LQHYLWDEOH VLQFH KH was unable to reach a nearby money meter and move Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double parked car in time. Sam, by law, was not yet liable to pay for the violation, as a ticket had not yet been served to his car, and thus David cannot be considered as having voluntarily paid off Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt, and is rather considered to have saved him from a monetary loss. Although according to one opinion Sam might possibly be exempt from payment, the general consensus of leading halachic authorities is that he is liable. And, needless to say, from a moral perspective, Sam should pay the $35 to compensate his friend, rather than rely on the opinion exempting him from payment.

It must be emphasized that parking illegally, whether by double parking, parking in an illegal spot, or failing to pay for parking when legally required, is certainly wrong. It hopefully goes without saying that our Bet Din by no means condones illegal parking, and was rather tending to a dispute between two parties after the episode transpired.

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YOU

BE THE

JUDGE! THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CASH Steven sent his worker, Albert, to bring a sealed envelope with $1000 to Jack, to whom he owed the money. When Albert arrived at Jack’s home, he discovered that Jack and his wife were out for dinner. Albert decided to deliver the envelope to Jack’s niece, who was residing in their home for the summer. Later that evening, after arriving home, Jack counted the cash and found the payment to be short $300. He contacted Steven to inform him of the missing funds, explaining that the envelope he received was most GH¿ QLWHO\ RSHQHG DQG UHVHDOHG 6WHYHQ UHVSRQGHG WKDW KH VHQW WKH complete $1000 payment in a sealed envelope with Albert, a loyal and honest worker, and that Jack’s niece must have tampered with the envelope. Jack rejected Steven’s allegations and defended his niece, insisting that if in fact $1000 was sent, the missing $300 must have been stolen by Albert.

FALL/WINTER 2013 DESIGNER COLLECTIONS ARRIVING DAILY

WHO IS LIABLE FOR THE MISSING CASH? IS JACK’S NIECE RESPONSIBLE, SINCE SHE RECEIVED THE ENVELOPE? OR PERHAPS ALBERT IS THE CULPRIT AND IS REQUIRED TO PAY? ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE THEY ARE BOTH EXEMPT FROM PAYMENT, AND STEVEN IS REQUIRED TO PAY JACK $300. OR PERHAPS JACK IS LYING, AND DID, INDEED, RECEIVE THE FULL SUM OF $1000. HOW SHOULD THE BET DIN RULE? Congratulations to Allan Mordechai Ben-Dayan winner of: July 2013

YouJudge@CommunityM.com Verdicts – and the accompanying rationale – will be reviewed by the Rosh Bet Din. The first three correct submissions received before the deadline will

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7/25/2013 1:09:48 PM

The Top 10 Questions & Answers on

The Practical Applications of Gozez

One of the 39 categories of prohibited activity on Shabbat is gozez, “shearing.” While most of us do not shear wool nowadays, there are several important applications of this prohibition to contemporary life.

RABBI DANIEL D. LEVY

1

DOES THE PROHIBITION OF GOZEZ APPLY TO THE HUMAN BODY?

Gozez is defined as removing anything that grows from the body of any creature, even if the creature is no longer alive. This includes removing hair, nails and skin from an animal or human being.

One who removes nails or hair with a utensil especially designated for these purposes – such as a nail clipper to remove nails, or tweezers or razor to remove hair – transgresses the Torah prohibition of gozez.

According to some authorities, even removing nails without a utensil violates the Torah prohibition if it is done in a usual manner, such as picking pieces of skin from one’s lip and biting nails. Removing a nail or plucking hair with one’s hand does not violate the Torah prohibition, but is nevertheless forbidden by force of rabbinic enactment.

2

IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO REMOVE A BAND-AID ON SHABBAT IF HAIRS MIGHT BE DETACHED FROM THE SKIN IN THE PROCESS?

5

MAY ONE EXTRACT A LOOSE TOOTH ON SHABBAT?

6

IF FOOD GETS CAUGHT IN ONE’S BEARD ON SHABBAT, MAY HE REMOVE IT?

7

IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO COMB HAIR ON SHABBAT?

It is forbidden to extract a tooth on Shabbat, though there is a debate among the halachic authorities as to whether this constitutes a Torah prohibition or is forbidden by force of rabbinic enactment.

According to some authorities, if a person’s tooth is causing him intense pain, to the extent that his entire body feels sick, he may ask a non-Jew to remove the tooth.(Rabbi Avraham Haim Afes, Shabbat Btifartah, volume 2, p. 19).

One may remove food that was caught in his beard, as long as he does so carefully to avoid removing hairs.

One may brush his hair on Shabbat if the following three conditions are met: a)

One must use a soft bristled brush, preferably a baby’s brush. b) One must brush gently, and not too close to the scalp. c) The brush must have been designated for use on Shabbat.

One should ensure to remove band-aids before Shabbat. If, however, a band-aid was not removed, and removing it will invariably result in the removal of hairs from the skin, then one should apply vegetable or olive oil, or alcohol, to the skin to loosen the adhesive, so that the band-aid will slide off without removing any hair (Rabbi Dovid Ribiat, The 39 Melachos).

If one knows that his hair comes out very easily, he should consult a halachic authority for guidance.

3

8

MAY ONE REMOVE GUM WHICH IS STUCK ON A COAT OR A RUG, SUCH THAT SOME FIBERS WILL INVARIABLY ALSO BE REMOVED?

If the material originated from an animal – such as a fur coat or wool rug – this would be forbidden, as the prohibition of gozez applies even after the hair has been removed from the animal’s body.

4

MAY ONE STROKE HIS BEARD ON SHABBAT?

Strictly speaking, it is permissible to stroke one’s beard on Shabbat, despite the possibility of hairs being detached, because the person neither intends to remove hair nor has any interest in doing so, and this outcome is not guaranteed to occur. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia Yosef (in Yalkut Yosef) rules that it is preferable to avoid stroking one’s beard on Shabbat. In fact, it is told that the Arizal once mistakenly put his hand in his beard on Shabbat, and he kept it there throughout the rest of Shabbat in order to ensure that he would not accidentally remove any hair on Shabbat.

60

MAY ONE USE A PONYTAIL HOLDER TO MAKE A PONYTAIL IN HER HAIR ON SHABBAT?

Making a ponytail and using a ponytail holder is permitted on Shabbat, as this is unlikely to cause the removal of hair (Yalkut Yosef, 303:15).

9

MAY ONE FILE HIS NAILS ON SHABBAT?

Filing nails is prohibited on Shabbat, as it entails using a specially designated utensil and causes the removal of some of the nail.

10

MAY ONE REMOVE A HAIR FROM THE SKIN OF A COOKED CHICKEN WHICH WILL BE SERVED AT THE SHABBAT MEAL?

Once the chicken is cooked, it is considered food and no longer regarded as an animal. As such, the prohibition of gozez does not apply, and thus one may remove hair from the chicken on Shabbat.

However, this must be done immediately before eating, as otherwise it would be violate the Shabbat prohibition of borer (separating).

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Mesila presents...

$

DOLLAR AND SENSE $600 Sunglasses: A Shortsighted Proposition?

RABBI MAX ANTEBY

Your daughter has asked you to buy her a $600 unhappy in the future if she has to go back to the kind worn pair of sunglasses. Why? Because everyone is by the proletariat. And once she sees that it is acceptable to spend $600 on glasses, she will likely want to spend similar getting them. Should you buy them for her?

Like any question of hinuch, this depends on many factors. How many of your daughter’s friends are actually getting these designer glasses – 20 percent, 50 percent, or 90 percent? How is your overall relationship with your daughter? If you say “no” to her, will she be able to accept that without questioning your love and concern for her? And is your daughter going through a difficult time in her life?

If only a few of your daughter’s friends are wearing these glasses, if your relationship with her is generally good, and if she is not experiencing any particular difficulty right now, then there are a number of reasons why spending $600 on sunglasses might not be wise.

With $600, you can buy glasses for an entire family, or feed a poor family for several weeks. Spending that kind of money on sunglasses would either cause them to take on inflated significance, or reduce the value of $600 in your daughter’s eyes. Neither of those options represents good hinuch.

That is not to say that people who have money should not spend it on themselves. Quite the contrary – if Hashem gave you money, you should appreciate and enjoy the gift He has given you. But even when spending money that you can afford to spend, you should not go overboard and lose all perspective of the value you are acquiring with your money.

Chances are, the only added value you would be getting is the designer label.

Then there is the question of sensitivity to the tzibbur – i.e., your daughter’s peer group. There is already peer pressure among your daughter’s friends to wear designer sunglasses, as evidenced by your daughter’s desire to buy them. If your daughter begins wearing these glasses, it will only reinforce the trend and intensify the peer pressure on those girls whose parents cannot afford to spend $600 on sunglasses.

Beyond these considerations, buying your daughter $600 sunglasses sets a dangerous precedent by introducing her to a level of spending that may be unsustainable. While she might be happy with the sunglasses now, she may be very 62

amounts of money on other items that she wants.

In the not-too-distant future, your daughter will, please Gd, be married, and who knows if her husband will be able to keep up the level of spending you have conditioned her to? Spending so much money on sunglasses is therefore shortsighted (pardon the pun), and might ultimately be a major disservice to your daughter.

A Lesson Worth Far More Than Sunglasses Life’s disappointments can be much worse than not getting $600 sunglasses, and these disappointments often happen in areas of life where money is not involved. You would not want your daughter to fall apart if she is not accepted to the seminary of her choice or if she is turned down during the shidduch process. The best way to prepare her for these possible disappointments is in the training ground of a simple pair of sunglasses and other minor letdowns.

It is normal for children – and adults – to want things, especially things that their friends have. Before dismissing your daughter’s request as outrageous or frivolous, it is important to understand why she wants the glasses and empathize with her desire. That hunger may be for attention, for social acceptance, or for a boost to her self-image. Once you understand why she wants them, you can look together for alternative ways to satisfy her desire.

It is therefore essential if you decide not to buy her the glasses to cushion the “no” with understanding, compassion and love so that she can accept it without anger or resentment.

Helping your children to understand that money and material possessions are not what bring happiness goes a long way in teaching them to exercise financial restraint and self-discipline. Hopefully, a more reasonably priced pair of sunglasses will help her to see more clearly.

Mesila is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families and businesses in Israel, the US, Canada, and England achieve financial stability and independence.

For further information please contact us at info@mesilainternational.org.

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64

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Back to School FEATURES Preparing for the Summertime to School Transition Frances Haddad

Back to School Sanity Sharon Estroff

Motivating the Frustrated Learner Rifka Schonfeld

Shaatra Does it Back to School Tips

AV - ELUL 5773 AUGUST 2013

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7/24/2013 8:24:06 PM

Preparing for the

Summertime-to-School Transition FRANCES HADDAD

7KH EOD]LQJ KHDW WKDW DFFRPSDQLHV WKH GDZQ RI VXPPHU KDV VHWWOHG DQG EHOLHYH LW RU QRW WKRVH Ă&#x20AC; UVW GD\V RI VFKRRO DUH FORVHU WKDQ WKH\ PD\ DSSHDU 1HZ EHJLQQLQJV DUH NQRZQ IRU EHLQJ GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOW DQG WUHDGLQJ RQ D QHZ KRUL]RQ FDQ EH VFDU\ HVSHFLDOO\ IRU D FKLOG ZKR ZLOO ZDON WKURXJK WKH GRRUV RI SUHVFKRRO HOHPHQWDU\ RU HYHQ KLJK VFKRRO LQ MXVW D IHZ ZHHNV $V VXFK LW FDQ EH H[SHFWHG WKDW FKLOGUHQ DQG HYHQ SDUHQWV DQG WHDFKHUV ZLOO FRPH GRZQ ZLWK D VXGGHQ FDVH RI WKH MLWWHUV LQ WKH GD\V OHDGLQJ XS WR WKH VWDUW RI VFKRRO

Y

es, preparation and anticipation can be overwhelming, but there are ways to harness the calm and ensure that the transition from those fun days of camp to the grueling days of school is (almost!) effortless. So spend these weeks preparing your children for what is to come, and they can return to school invigorated, ready to learn and succeed.

Brain Power Summertime may be a period of relaxation, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it become a break from using brain power. Like any other muscle, the brain must be exercised continuously in order to maintain strength and agility. While it is true that children need a breather from the intense workload that school often imposes, it is imperative to encourage some amount of reading and writing over summer vacation. The sense of dread that accompanies the summer book list is likely to be felt no matter what, but flexing the brain during the summer months is necessary to prevent it from turning to mush.

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If reading and writing skills are practiced during the summer months, then when the children return to their desks come September, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like they have set foot onto completely unfamiliar territory. So teachers, if you are rethinking giving out summer homework, stop! It is for the best of the student. And parents, it is up to you to strongly encourage your children to read and read some more during the summer. For younger children, read to them their favorite stories and be sure to practice A-B-Cs and Aleph Bet. When children practice literacy skills over the long summer break, they return to school with their knowledge intact, thus sparing them a good deal of frustration when the academic workload returns. It goes without saying that summer reading and writing should be accompanied by motivational techniques such as cool prizes in order to give kids the extra push they need. And of course, the reading should be light and enjoyable. But remember, intellectual fitness is just as important as all that running, jumping and climbing that has kept your kids physically fit during the summer. So get thinking and keep that brain moving!

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Act it Out For a preschool child, the first days of school can be frightening.

They will be expected to walk into a big classroom, and confront the unfamiliar faces of new teachers and peers. They will be leaving the comfort of Mommy’s side, and will spend a long day away from the scents and sounds of home. Therefore, it is Mommy’s job to mentally prepare her child before school begins.

Goldie Schechter, MA, LAC, a seasoned educator with extensive experience in the field of psychology, says, “In order to help a young child overcome the trepidation of a new experience, it is important to give them the tools they will need to face obstacles. With my own preschool-aged children, I role-play the entire scene of going to school, in order to give them the tools to face the inevitable emotions that will arise. I tell my child to pretend that a room in my house is her new classroom, and as I hold my child’s hand, I say, ‘Ok! We are going to school today. Let’s walk there together. We’re here! It is time to stay in the classroom and Mommy will come back later.’

“Then, I address certain emotions that may arise by saying, ‘Mommy left and you feel sad. It’s ok to be sad, but let’s remember that Mommy will come back to pick you up soon.’ It is crucial to address a child’s feelings. Sometimes people try to deny kids’ feelings, and say things like, ‘School is so exciting!’, or, ‘There’s nothing to be scared of!’

But this is the wrong approach, as validating a child’s feelings is so important. It is up to us as adults to remember that it is very scary for a child to be dropped off by their mother for the first time, and they need tools to handle it.”

Mrs. Schechter also offers us some sound advice for handling a high school student’s fears about the first day of school. “When a teenager is afraid of the first day of school, it is important to address his concerns, and help him find practical solutions to his fears. If your child says, ‘I don’t want to go to school. I won’t make any friends,’ show that you understand his fears, validate his concerns and say, ‘I hear you, and that’s a real concern.

Let’s talk about how to handle it.’ If you talk about different situations, your child will be prepared to face whatever comes their way.”

In general, it is imperative to keep the channels of communication open with children. If they are comfortable being open with you, and if you learn to practice active listening, you can play a large part in assuaging their fears. If you have given your children tools to use in case of difficulty, they will see you in their mind’s eye, cheering them on, whenever they face a challenging situation.

Beat the Mad Rush “It is as clear as yesterday,” says Florence Shasho. “It was the first week of September, and I needed to buy notebooks for my children.

I ran to one Staples, and the line was out the door. When I finally made my way through the aisles, I saw that the shelves were empty. I must’ve gone to four or five stores before I found what I was looking for.”

Florence is not the only one who has experienced the stress of last minute school supply shopping. Those of us who have scavenged for school supplies, pulling out the last package of ballpoint pens from underneath the final stack of loose leaf paper, learned the hard way that the trip for school supplies should be made early.

Skip the stress-inducing scenario of running up and down the aisles last minute. After taking inventory of the supplies in your home, and putting together a comprehensive list of exactly what each child needs, go to the closest school supplies depot and stock up on necessities already a few weeks before the first day of school. Trust me, the thrill of being organized and prepared trumps the mad rush.

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“What Do You Want From Me?” In general, it is important to let people know what is expected of them. A boss must make job responsibilities clear for his employee.

And a wife can’t expect her husband to be a mind-reader. If you want him to take out the garbage, just say it! Parents and teachers, the same applies to your children and students. Expectations must be made clear, so children know how to proceed and succeed.

One community member shares a frustrating experience. “I remember as a student, this one teacher took points off of a report I had written. When I asked for an explanation, she told me that I handed in four pages instead of six. I was so confused, because she never specified how many pages she expected!” It is to our benefit, and to the benefit of the young people in our homes and classrooms, to spell out what we expect. Parents and teachers alike can sit down with their children and write up a list of expectations, such as, “Lauren will place her knapsack in the front closet each day after school,” or, “Students will place their homework on the teacher’s desk at the start of class.” Hang the list in a visible location, and the child will be reminded of their role.

It’s also important to allow children to add ideas, so they feel a sense of ownership and see that their contribution is valued.

Plus, they’ll be more likely to follow the rules.

The Glass is Half Full Children hear numerous criticisms throughout the day.

“Stand up straight! Tuck in your shirt! Clean your room! Tie your shoes!” Yes, it is up to us adults to guide the youngsters under our charge and provide direction. But it is crucial to remember that children thrive on positivity, and therefore it is essential to focus on what they do right. “You did a lot of thinking while doing your homework,” or “Wow, I like the way you put your knapsack by the door for tomorrow,” are things you can say to show your children that you notice their efforts.

Parents, make deposits in your child’s “emotional bank account” and catch them in the act of good behavior. Teachers, give your students reason to succeed in your classroom! If children see that their good behavior is recognized, they will be motivated to achieve.

When the adults in a child’s life bring in the first days of school with positivity and patience, a daunting experience is transformed into one surrounded by excitement and warmth. Parents and teachers, school can be a place where your child, or your student, can succeed. It is all in how you present it. Remember, your enthusiasm is contagious!

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Back Back ck to School to o School Sc SanitySanityJewish wisdom to keep your family sane, happy and healthy this back to school season SHARON ESTROFF

The back-to-school season is, for all intents and purposes, a period of pure parental mayhem. From tracking GRZQ WKH FRROHVW EDFNSDFN RQ WKH EORFN WR VHDUFKLQJ RXW WKDW HOXVLYH Ă&#x20AC; YH VXEMHFW ZLGH UXOHG SHUIRUDWHG VSLUDO notebook that our child needs for Hebrew class, our to-do lists seem virtually endless.

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till, for many modern-day parents, the stress of preparing our kids for their return to academia pales in comparison to the pressure we endure once they actually get there. After all, in our achievement-obsessed society, it often feels that our parental HIÂż FDF\ LV GLUHFWO\ FRUUHODWHG ZLWK RXU FKLOGUHQÂśV VWDQGDUGL]HG WHVW scores. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder that the sheer thought of homework, report cards and parent-teacher conferences has our stomach turning somersaults.

And if all this academic pressure is tough on us as parents, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wreaking absolute havoc on our kids. Research reveals all kinds of worrisome trends showing up en masse in 21st-century schoolchildren â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from anxiety and depression to psychosomatic illness to drug and alcohol consumption. So intense is the pressure to perform in school, in fact, that a cover story of Newsweek titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fourth Grade Slumpâ&#x20AC;? reported a rampant and unprecedented academic malaise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; characterized by declining interest in reading and gradual disengagement from school â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striking American kids.

One of the most marvelous aspects of the Jewish tradition is its ability to guide, protect, and strengthen us at times when we need it most. As if our forefathers could see eons into the future â&#x20AC;&#x201C; knowing their descendants would one day be faced with back-to-school stress of Biblical proportions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve sent sage advice our way. The following golden nuggets of ancient Jewish wisdom will go a long way toward keeping your family sane, happy and healthy this backto-school season - and for many school years to come.

Study for Its Own Sake The Mishnah states that Torah should be studied lishmah, for its own sake. In other words, we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be learning Torah with ulterior motives, such getting on Gdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A-list or wowing others with our Biblical mastery. Rather, we should release ourselves to the beauty and majesty of the text, enjoying it in its own right.

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By the same token, we should not present the act of learning to our children as a means to an end (i.e. you study science so you can ace the exam so you can get into a really good college one day). Instead, we must help them recognize and embrace the inherent magic, excitement and privilege of discovering the world around them.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful Jewish custom of drizzling honey on the OHWWHUV WKH Âż UVW WLPH D FKLOG OHDUQV WKH $OHSK %HW 7KH SXUSRVH RI WKH honey is not to disguise the work that inevitably lies ahead, but to serve as a reminder to savor its sweetness. Similarly, by following up the nightly homework drill with a family nature hike together â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or setting aside an hour one evening to cuddle up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn for some family DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we can recapture the inherent yumminess of learning without undermining the importance of schoolwork.

And on the Seventh Day Gd Rested Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it. Try as we might to reduce our kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic stress, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do away with it completely. School is, after all, hard work by design. While studying is enlightening and empowering, it can also be demanding and rigorous. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly the way it should be. Judaism places great value on work, and diligence, and of course, on study.

But our religion also believes in downtime. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Six days shall you labor and do all your workâ&#x20AC;? reads the Book of Shemot, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and the seventh day is the Sabbath to the L-rd your Gd [on which] you shall not do any work.â&#x20AC;?

Our kids spend their school weeks in constant motion, schlepping from classes to baseball practice to musical lessons to Hebrew tutors.

They desperately need a time to recharge and refuel. And in Shabbat, they have it. But Shabbat is far more than just a weekly chill session IRU RXU NLGV ,Q WKH 6DEEDWK ULWXDOV RXU FKLOGUHQ Âż QG WKH FRQVLVWHQF\ and predictability they need to thrive despite a frenetically paced life.

7KH\ Âż QG WKH VSLULWXDOLW\ DQG KRSH WKDW ZLOO NHHS WKHP HPRWLRQDOO\ healthy in an unpredictable 21st-century world.

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Educate a Child According to His Way In modern day America, cramming kids into societally constructed Harvard-bound boxes has become parental sport.

But the reality is that not every child is hardwired to go to Harvard. The wise King Solomon recognizes this truth in the Book of Proverbs when he teaches us that we must “educate a child according to his way.” Notice, he doesn’t say anything about our way; or the school system’s way; or the college entrance board’s way. He says simply the child’s way.

On one level, these words entail a basic acceptance of our child’s academic realities – coming to terms with the fact that our son may have certain learning challenges that require a unique educational approach, or that our daughter is simply going to be – despite tutoring sessions galore – a perfectly average math student.

But the commandment of educating a child according to his way also requires us to go a step further by recognizing and nurturing our children’s unique sets of gifts and talents – whether or not they’re considered “gifts” and “talents” by modern societal standards. In his Book of Jewish Values, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin shares his take on King Solomon’s timeless teaching: As a parent you are obligated to be conscious of your child’s special intellectual and artistic abilities and interests. Yet ,¶YH PHW SDUHQWV ZKR KDYH GH¿QLWH YLHZV DERXW SUHFLVHO\ what sort of person their child should be, and who do not take into account the child’s personal interests. Such an attitude denies a child’s very individuality.

One of my favorite tools for illuminating children’s unique gifts is Howard Gardner’s highly acclaimed theory of multiple intelligences (1983, 1999) in which he delineates at least eight distinct types of intelligences of value to society that exist in human beings, eight different realms in which to uncover the sparks of genius in our children.

Kids who are masters of puzzles and Lego, for example, exhibit what Gardner calls spatial intelligence, while children who love reading and telling stories possess linguistic intelligence. Bug-loving kiddies tend to exhibit naturalistic intelligence, while children who get a kick out of strategy games often have logical-mathematical intelligence. Children with natural leadership skills have interpersonal intelligence; while introspective, spiritual children have intrapersonal intelligence. Kids with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are agile and physically coordinated, while those with musical intelligence have a knack for singing and playing instruments.

And if you’re especially lucky along your parenting journey, you’ll get to know a child with menschlich intelligence – a spark of Gd-given sweetness and compassion that far transcends the 99th percentile on the New York State Regents exam.

So even if you conclude that your child is not a budding Albert Einstein, relax; you’re in good company. At the end of the day, most of our kids are, well, regular old kids – good at some things, not so good at others. And counting on us to love and support them in all their wonderfully regular-kid glory.

Sharon Duke Estroff is the author of ‘Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? and an internationally-syndicated Jewish parenting advice columnist, a freelance feature writer for Aish.com, as well as national magazines including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, and Parents.

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insights into education MOTIVATING THE FRUSTRATED LEARNER RIFKA SCHONFELD

“I

t’s not my job,” she said.

Years ago, while training a new teacher, I began discussing with her the idea of motivation. She began the conversation by saying, “Mrs. Schonfeld, I believe my job is to deliver the information to the students. I will teach phonics, spelling, and how to add and subtract. If they want to learn, they will pay attention and they will learn. If they aren’t interested in learning, they can sit quietly or stare at the window. That’s not my job.”

In reality, motivation is a teacher’s job. Motivation is an essential part of learning and is the way we can ensure that our children continue to be lifelong learners in the future.

Motivation Myths It’s impossible to motivate him! - The child who sleeps in class or takes out other homework is not unmotivated to learn.

Rather, he is motivated to sleep or take out homework. Everyone is motivated in some way; all of our actions stem from some sort of motivation. As parents or teachers, we have to get to the heart of that action and devise a strategy to steer the motivation in our direction.

Competition motivates - Many educators believe that competition motivates children to do their best. In reality, research has shown that people only participate in competitions that they believe they have a chance of winning. The best competition is competition with ourselves. Helping students recognize their potential and then achieve it, is the best way to ensure success.

He’s motivated one day and unmotivated the next - Think about motivation for school as a relationship between a parent and a child. You always love your child, but some days are good and some days are not as good. You can’t expect motivation to continuously be sky high in the right direction. Accept the days that are not as great and brainstorm ideas to move forward.

Punishment is great motivation - Punishment is only effective during the time that the punishment exists. If there is no longer a punishment, the motivation vanishes. Therefore, punishment is not a long-term solution. Instead, children need to find their own inspiration.

Learned Helplessness The first step in trying to motivate a child is determining the cause of the lack of motivation. Very often, the refusal to invest effort is the result not of laziness or defiance, but rather of an undiagnosed learning disability.

Many children with learning disabilities struggle and receive little positive feedback from their teachers and parents. Sometimes they

are misunderstood and labeled as “lazy,” “slow,” or “unmotivated.”

Rather than feeling good about what they are able to accomplish, these children often end up feeling shame and frustration because of their academic failures.

These feelings tend to manifest themselves in a lack of motivation, borne out of low self-esteem. Researchers at the University of Iowa and the UCLA found that as many as 70 percent of children with LD (learning disability) suffer from poor self-esteem. Dr. Marshall Raskind, an expert in the field of learning disabilities, says, “Over time, children with LD may just stop trying, entering a state of ‘learned helplessness’ where they see little connection between their efforts and ultimate outcomes.

‘Why bother?’’ they may ask. ‘No matter how hard I try, I always end up failing.’”

If a child seems unmotivated, he should be evaluated to determine whether he might have a learning disability. With a concrete diagnosis in hand, the teacher and parent can work together to devise the proper strategies to help the child overcome the disorder and achieve success.

Motivating the Unmotivated Perhaps the most important message that I can leave parents with is that no child is truly unmotivated. It’s simply a matter of decoding the child’s behavior and figuring out the best way to help your child maximize his true potential. Perhaps it is a matter of positive reinforcement (such as star charts), or hands-on learning (such as science experiments or field trips), or simply pinpointing deficits in learning in order to support them. Regardless, from my experience, no child is “unmotivable!”

Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld, founder and director of the SOS program, is an educator and educational consultant with specialization as a keriah and reading coach. Serving the Jewish community for close to 30 years, she has experience providing evaluations, G.E.D. preparation, social skills training and shidduch coaching, focusing on building self-esteem and self-awareness.

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Shaatra

Does It

(shõ•trä) n. An outstanding homemaker [Arabic]

FRANCES HADDAD

Shaatra: Back to School The box of 350 ice pops that you thought your kids would never finish is actually empty. The swimming pool is closed up, and the last barbeque of the summer has come and gone. Your kitchen table has been hijacked by packages of loose-leaf paper, and you know it’s time to get back into the swing of things.

Labor Day weekend is a thing of the past, and in just a few days, your kids return to school.

Those lazy days of summer got in the way of your year-long habits. Whether you packed up and moved to Deal or Lakewood for the summer, or even if you stayed home, it can be hard to start getting organized again. There is only one way to get your household back to running smoothly – by establishing some solid routines. This will help ensure that your kids are ready to return to school with more than just school supplies in their knapsacks. With routines, they will have a sense of security, and be equipped to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Early To Bed During summertime, late nights were all the rage. Sleepovers, camp overnights and 12-hour shifts at action-packed amusement parts got your kids into the mode of, “Bedtime? What’s that?”

Now school is back, and if you don’t want your kids sleeping through class, it is time to set and enforce a bedtime for each

W

READERS TIPS

e have a family homework calendar, where due dates for all reports and tests are written. That way, I can keep track of what my kids have coming up, and I can help them prepare in advance.

S.T.

F

or my younger children, I follow a set bedtime routine in order to give them time to settle down after a long day. About an hour before bedtime, I help them wash up and get into pajamas, and read them a story of their choice. By the time bedtime comes along, they are ready for a good night’s sleep.

A.L.

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child. Sure, your 15-year-old may go to sleep a little later than your nineyear-old will, but bedtimes should be established and adhered to religiously.

A set bedtime will give your children the energy to face the responsibilities of school with a clear mind.

Early to Rise This one’s for you, Mom! It may seem almost impossible to pull yourself out of bed after a long night of cooking, cleaning, taking care of a crying baby and giving your child his third cup of water before he finally settles in. But getting up and dressed before things get hectic is one of the best ways to maintain your composure during the pre-geton-the-bus rush. You might need an extra cup of coffee to fight the exhaustion, but work on waking up before the family so you can prepare your children for school in a calm and organized manner.

As for getting your children out of bed, you may want to invest in a loud alarm clock. This way they can learn to be self-sufficient and responsible for waking up on time. If you hear the clock ringing incessantly with no sign of movement from your child’s bedroom, you should open the blinds and sing a nice rendition of Modeh Ani as you gently help them off the pillow.

Prepare In Advance The key to a smooth morning is preparing the night before. Pick out clothing in advance, and hang them on the doorknob. (Yes, this applies even if your children wear uniforms!) Set up the cereal boxes and enough bowls and spoons on the kitchen table so your children can pour themselves breakfast. Have all the knapsacks lined up near the front door, with completed homework and signatures inside. Also, make sure that your children know where their shoes are, so you don’t have to hear, “Ma! I can’t find my school shoes with the laces!” as your son runs around in a frenzy two minutes before the revving engine of the school bus becomes amplified outside your window.

Facing the Inevitable Once children reach the elementary school years, they usually have homework. Yes, I know how dreaded homework is for both Mom and child, but implementing a homework routine is a great way to diminish stress. Prepare a nutritious snack, such as fresh fruit, and place it on the table in the designated homework room.

Act as homework facilitator, and guide your children toward getting the job done. A reward system may be necessary to prevent the kicking and screaming that may ensue.

With strong routines, your children will be familiar with the way things are run, and they will be more willing to cooperate and better prepared to face the school day.

Send in your tips for the next edition HOLIDAYS mobile: Scan the QR code at right

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The Distant

Stars

NATHAN AVIEZER

The story of creation told in the Book of Beresheet strongly implies that the entire universe was created solely for the benefit of man: Beresheet, chapter 1 1:27 – Gd created man in His image; in the image of Gd, He created him; male and female He created them.

1:28 - Gd blessed them, and Gd said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the land and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the winged creatures of the air, and over every living creature that crawls upon the Earth.”

1:29 - Gd said, “Behold, I have given you every herb-yielding seed which is on all the land, and every tree which has fruit-bearing seed; for you it shall be for food.”

I

f this is the case, if the universe exists solely for our benefit, then we must ask ourselves, why is the universe filled with many billions of stars? What possible relevance to man could there be in all the countless stars that stretch across the vast expanses of outer space? In fact, before the recent invention of powerful telescopes, no one was even aware that so many stars existed!

Star Secrets Recent advances in astronomy have revealed a remarkable link between life on Earth and the distant stars. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that without the stars, life on Earth would be impossible.

The bodies of all living organisms contain the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, plus smaller but crucial amounts of several other elements. What is the origin of these chemical elements?

It has been discovered that massive stars have limited lifetimes, and at a certain point they catastrophically explode. During the starts’ short lifespan, the thermonuclear furnace deep within them manufactures elements as heavy as carbon and iron; at their death, the awesome violence of the supernova explosion forges elements heavier than iron and blasts as much as 90 percent of the 76

star’s material into interstellar space. During this short interval, a supernova can radiate as much energy as the sun is expected to emit over its entire lifespan. Without supernova explosions, the carbon that is the key to life as we know it would not be distributed throughout interstellar space.

There is yet another important connection between ourselves and the stars, one which relates to the vast distances that separate us from them. It is now recognized that these distances are crucial to our existence. Stellar explosions emit not only the chemical elements that are essential for life, but also “cosmic radiation,” which is deadly. We are saved from cosmic radiation only because the stars are so very far away from our planet. Over the enormous distances that cosmic radiation must travel before reaching the earth, it becomes so reduced in intensity that it is no longer harmful. Professor Freeman J. Dyson of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton explains: The vastness of the interstellar spaces has diluted the cosmic rays enough to save us from being fried or at least sterilized by them. If sheer distance had not effectively isolated the quiet regions of the universe from the noisy ones, no type of biological [system] would have been possible.

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THIS BACK TO SCHOOL 2013

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“Recent advances in astronomy have revealed a remarkable link between life on earth and the distant stars. In fact…without the stars, life on earth would have been impossible.”

“Accidents” of Nature The sages of the Talmud accepted as axiomatic that man is the pinnacle of creation, and that everything in the universe was formed for his benefit. Nowhere is this principle demonstrated more strikingly than in the recent scientific discovery of the vital role played by the distant stars in making it possible for man to exist. It is now recognized that all the chemical elements that are necessary for life (except hydrogen) were originally formed deep in the interior of the stars, and were later ejected into space when the stars underwent a violent supernova explosion.

Eventually, the chemicals reached our solar system to form the living tissues of plants, animals, and man.

The explosion of distant stars is merely one example of a large number of different events that were necessary for the existence and wellbeing of man. Many scientists have taken note of, and marveled over, the numerous “accidents of nature” that seem to have occurred for our benefit. Particularly perceptive are the impressions of the aforementioned Professor Dyson: As we look out into the universe and identify the many accidents of physics and astronomy that have worked together to our benefit, it almost seems as if the universe must in some sense have known that we were coming.

We note the subtle harmony between these words of a world-famous secular scientist and the writings of the Talmudic sages. While these remarks do not precisely reflect the teachings of the sages, they’re refreshingly close.

Professor Nathan Aviezer is an accomplished author and is professor of physics and former chairman of the Physics Department of BarIlan University in Israel. His books are published by Ktav Publishing House in Hoboken, NJ. www.ktav.com

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Tzitzit • Kippahs • Talets • Embroidery All types • Kids-Adults AV - ELUL 5773 AUGUST 2013

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The Goat There are many different species of goats in the world; however, the most common is the domestic goat. Goats have cloven hooves; long beards on their chins; short tails; and straight hair. Male goats and most female goats have two horns that grow on top of their heads, but the males’ horns are much larger. The male goat, called a buck, uses its horns to defend itself from other dominant male goats and from its predators. oats also have very distinct eyes. The pupil in a goat’s eye is rectangular in shape. The width of the pupils allows the goat to see at a 330-degree angle, as opposed to humans, who see at around a 185-degree angle. Goats have excellent night vision, and they will often look for food at night. Most goats live in herds of about five to twenty animals. Goats prefer being part of a herd and will generally live longer while living with a herd, as opposed to living on their own.

G

Unique Traits Goats possess unique climbing capabilities, which enable them to live in some of the world’s steepest and most treacherous habitats.

They have an excellent sense of balance and enjoy jumping and climbing games with their herd mates. Wild goats, when climbing, can cling to the tiniest ledges of a cliff that is almost vertically straight, while domesticated goats enjoy climbing high walls and walking atop very narrow fences. Besides being very sure-footed, goats are also very agile and are expert leapers. They excel at making long, flying leaps from rock to rock, always landing with both front feet close together.

Markhors, a species of wild goats found in Central Asia, are

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well known for their spectacular climbing abilities. These goats can be found living on the dangerous hillsides of the Himalayan Mountains, and are able to climb as high as 13,000 feet above sea level. Tamri goats, found in western Morocco, are a species of goats that can climb trees. They are able to scale the steep and narrow trunks of Argan trees, and then balance themselves on the branches, in order to feed on the trees’ leaves and nuts.

How can goats do all this?

The secret of the goat’s sure-footedness is in the construction of its hoof. The goat’s hoof has a hard outer shell and a soft, concave, inner footpad, which acts like a suction cup when weight is applied to it. The goat’s hoof is also cloven, or split into two toes. This gives the goat a much better grip on the surfaces that it climbs, as each half of the hoof has its own hold on the area. The goat’s cushion-like soles provide the goat with superb traction, allowing the animal to keep its balance as it moves across uneven or slippery grounds and dangerous terrains.

Another benefit of the soft cushioning inside the goat’s hooves is that it acts as a shock absorber, enabling the goat’s leg muscles to suffer no strain at all when the goat lands after a jump, even if it’s on a hard surface.

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Torah Talk According to the midrash, the types of animals that qualify to be brought for korbanot were all chosen in the merit of the Avot. The ox was chosen in the merit of Avraham; the sheep was chosen in the merit of Yitzchak; and the goat was chosen in the merit of Yaakov.

The mishnah in Pirkei Avot (1:2) states: The world stands on three principles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Torah, service of Hashem, and acts of kindness.

Hashem chose the ox to qualify for an offering because it represents the hesed of Avraham, as Avraham served tender calf to his guests, the three malachim who visited him. The sheep was chosen because it represents the sacrifice and service of Yitzchak, as it was a ram that was found in the thicket and offered as a sacrifice at Akeidat Yitzchak. But how does the goat represent Yaakov, the pillar of Torah?

The Torah states, regarding Rivka telling her son Yaakov to take the blessing from his father Yitzchak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;So now, my son, heed my voice to that which I command you. Go now to the flock and fetch from there two good goats...â&#x20AC;?(Beresheet 27:9-10). The goats that Yaakov brought to his father were the means through which he received the blessings from Yitzchak. The midrash explains that these goats brought about two positive results. Firstly, Yaakov received the blessings. Secondly, in the merit of these goats, Yaakovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s descendants, the Jewish people, merited to be atoned each year through two other goats that were brought on Yom Kippur in the Bet Hamikdash, the seâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ir laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hashem and the seâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ir laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Azazel.

If Yaakov had not taken the blessings when his mother instructed him to do so, there would not have been a Jewish people. The blessings would have gone to Eisav instead, leaving Yaakov no material wealth with which to support and sustain himself. The ultimate fulfillment of the purpose of existence, which is the Jewish people accepting and fulfilling the Torah, was able to come about only through the goats that Yaakov had taken. Furthermore, it was only in the merit of the other two goats, the seâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ir laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hashem and the seâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ir laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Azazel, that Klal Yisrael were forgiven each year, thus allowing for a continuation of their existence.

Did You Know? â&#x20AC;˘ World-wide, more people drink goatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk than cowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk. â&#x20AC;˘ Goatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair was used for making the curtains of the Mishkan in the desert (Shemot 26:7). The women spun the goatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hair right off the backs of the goats while the goats were still alive. â&#x20AC;˘ The cry of the goats is referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;bleating.â&#x20AC;? Goats communicate with each other by bleating. â&#x20AC;˘ 7KH ,EH[ DOVR NQRZQ DV D ZLOG JRDW FDQ MXPS RYHU VL[ feet straight up from a standing position! â&#x20AC;˘ One of the rarer species of goats is the fainting goat.

This goat literally freezes up; its legs go rigid, and the goat falls over. Soon after, it gets back up and continues browsing, until the â&#x20AC;&#x153;faintingâ&#x20AC;? happens again. â&#x20AC;˘ When female goats give birth to babies, called kids, the process is called kidding.

The following are excerpts from Exploring the Wild World of Animals by Efraim Harari, published by Israel Bookshop Publications. Now in its second printing, and available online and in all Judaica stores.

: :KDW LV LW GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOW WR KDYH D VHULRXV conversation with a goat?

Q Because it is always kidding A: around.

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Sito

Ask

6L WR VƱWǀ *UDQGPRWKHU>$UDELF@

Dear Sito, I recently got engaged, and my family is pressuring PH DQG P\ ¿ DQFp WR get married within this year. The problem is that I'm not ready, QHLWKHU ¿ QDQFLDOO\ nor spiritually. I like P\ ¿ DQFp DQG WKLQN she is the one for me, and I feel that I can overcome the spiritual challenges of marriage, but not the ¿ QDQFLDO DVSHFW 0\ family expects me to pay over 75 percent of the wedding from my pocket, despite the fact that I'm in my early 20's and barely have a dollar to my name.

I've been to banks and considered taking out home equity, credit cards, loans, and so on, but does it make sense to start my future in such a way?

Young and Feeling Pressured 82

Dear Young and Feeling Pressured, First, I commend you for acknowledging the heavy responsibility and challenges that come with marriage. Many young people rush into marriage without properly considering all that this sacred institution entails, and it is heartwarming to see a young groom who is aware of the obligations and responsibilities that you will be assuming when you stand under your hupa.

In light of your brief description of your feelings and of the situation you now face, there are several important pieces of advice which I would offer.

First, I am a bit concerned by your comment that you "like" your fiancé and you "think" she is the one for you. These are very tepid feelings for such a permanent, life-altering step as marriage. Before making this lifelong commitment, one needs to be confident and enthusiastic about sharing his future with his bride. If there are any lingering concerns or hesitations, it is imperative that they be resolved as soon as possible either by speaking openly with your fiancé, or by consulting a rabbi or premarital counselor who specializes in this area.

Regarding your justified financial concerns, I fully share your view that a newlywed couple should not begin their marriage with enormous debt. In my day, many of us had very simple weddings – which we called a “labas wedding” – and then we went on to live modest lives. Today, however, weddings are lavish, orchestrated events that can often cost more than the average person’s annual income. Along with the requisite engagement party and swanne, this process can leave a family in debt for many years. When the couple’s parents choose to indulge and overextend themselves, it is ill-advised, but when the bride and groom are expected to finance

their own affair and incur a huge debt, it is far worse and could have disastrous consequences for the future. No couple should begin a marriage in debt by paying for a wedding that they cannot afford. If you are feeling pressured by your parents to do so, I urge you to sit down with them and express to them your concerns in a mature, respectful manner. You might want to meet with a financial advisor first to get a professional opinion which you can then bring to your parents as you politely explain your position.

Just as importantly, you must remember the young woman you have brought along into this situation. You have made a declaration to her by getting engaged. Be sure to discuss with her your financial concerns as well as her expectations regarding the wedding and your lifestyle afterward. Although technically marriage begins with a ceremony and a party, it truly begins when a couple begin to act as a cohesive unit, sharing thoughts, feelings and responsibilities. Make sure to include her at every step of the decision-making process, and to take her feelings, wishes and concerns into account as you chart your course.

Finally, I suggest you speak to a rabbi or close trusted mentor about your “spiritual” concerns. One should never get married with serious doubts about what his/her role will be. Marriage is a sacred union that requires a lot of understanding, patience and selflessness, and a willingness to include the other spouse’s needs in every decision without resentment and frustration. This is a tall order and every one of us will flounder and make mistakes along the way to shalom bayit. The more prepared and aware you and your fiancé are, the better chance you have of building a bayit ne’eman beYisrael.

Best of luck,

Sito

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7/25/2013 7:35:32 PM

Dear Rabbi, Although this is really quite hard for me, I feel I must be open in order to move ahead. It has been close to a year now in which I have been seeking to improve my Torah observance and my relationship with Hashem. The problem is that I have committed many serious sins throughout the years prior to this new resolution, and as I try to advance, I am constantly haunted by the thought that there’s no way I could ever expect Hashem to reaccept me. Is it possible for me to ever do a proper and acceptable repentance?

Trying to Repent 84

Dear Trying to Repent, The truth is that you’ve already begun embarking upon the path of true repentance leading directly towards Hashem and His acceptance. Our rabbis teach us that the first step to proper repentance – regardless of which sin one had committed – is a genuine recognition of the transgression that was committed along with sincere remorse, and the quality of one’s repentance is actually measured by the depth and sincerity of the individual’s remorse (Mesilat Yesharim chap. 4-end).

From reading your emotional letter it is clear to me that you have most certainly undertaken this first critical step, and are thus on your way toward complete teshuvah (repentance).

The concepts related to teshuvah are truly remarkable and deserve in-depth analysis, but we will limit ourselves to a few particular details that are especially relevant to your question.

Our sages teach us that teshuvah is so powerful and far-reaching that when done properly, it connects the penitent sinner with Hashem, makes him beloved in His eyes, and atones for any sin a human being could have possibly committed (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:4-6). And lest one think that this is true only when one committed a single misdeed, but not when one has spent several years mired in sin, our sages teach that even if one had stumbled upon sin after sin all his days and eventually brought himself to complete teshuvah at his very end, his teshuvah is fully accepted by Hashem (ibid. 3:14).

It must be noted that this principle applies particularly to sins which a person committed as a result of strong lust which he failed to control, being seduced by

another individual, or some degree of negligence. If, however, a person makes a conscious decision to engage in sin and consequently repent in order to avoid retribution, then the path to repentance is far more difficult, and, in most cases, he will encounter numerous obstacles along the road to repentance (Avot D’Rabbi Natan 39:1). Even then, if the sinner persists in his desire to change with effort and determination, and eventually achieves complete teshuvah, he is granted Gd’s full acceptance (ibid. 4:6).

We must also recognize that although Hashem repays every individual according to his actions measure for measure, His supreme goal is kindness. He does not anticipate the downfall of those who defy Him, but rather eagerly awaits their repentance (Yehezkel 33:11).

In light of all of this, it is certain that you still have the opportunity to achieve complete and proper teshuvah. I would suggest that you shift your focus from “if I could repent” to “how can I reconstruct my behavior for the better,” a shift that will have the effect of removing an anchor from your heart so you are free to move ahead and grow.

I wish you much success in achieving your noble goal of true repentance, and that you will earn full acceptance and favor in the eyes of Hashem, only to proceed from there onto a path of continued spiritual growth and perfection.

With warm wishes and Torah blessings,

Rabbi Yechiel Elbaz

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Professor Noe Ital has the answers to ALL your questions...

Ever won de r how bird s fly?

What exactly is the funny bo n e?

Why is can dy ba d for yo ur teeth?

Why is the sky blue? Ho w do e s a fax machin e w o rk? Why is the mo on so metim es o ut durin g the day? Well, y o u no longe r nee d to ask Jeeve s or text Ch a Cha. We are excit e d to anno un ce that Professor N oe Ital has jo ine d o ur staff an d he is avail able to answer ALL o f yo ur questio ns.

If you have a question for the professor, send it to: 1616 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11223 ATT: Professor Noe Ital Ask@CommunityM.com 718-645-4460

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QUESTION OF THE MONTH: This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s question was submitted by Harry of Eatontown, NJ.

Dear Professor, Where does sugar come from?

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sounds, and they can DUWLFXODWH RQH VRXQG DIWH U KHDULQJ DQRWKHU )RU H[DPS OH a parrot can learn to say ´+HOOR"¾ DIWHU KHDULQJ WKH YRLFH RI D WHOHSKRQH ULQJ 6HYHUDO RWKHU ELUGV FDQ LPLWDWH VRXQGV DQG YRLFHV DV ZHOO VXFK DV WKH PDJSLH WKH P\QDK and the crow.

ANSWER: Most of the sugar we use comes from the sugar cane plant. It is grown in huge plantations that supply two-thirds of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sugar. Not every country can grow sugar cane, because this plant requires heat and fertile, moist soil, and therefore sugar cane is generally grown in hot, tropical regions. Countries with cold climates produce sugar from sugar beet.

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Births – Baby Boy Rabbi Yosef & Esther Mizrahi Ralph & Mary Setton Moshe & Yael Mizrahi Jackie& Rivka Harary Avraham & Shifra Schweky Ezra & Caulette Shasho – twins Adam & Susy Cohen Jacob & Robyn Green Isaac & Lisa Chrem Kenny & Frieda Brown Hezi & Marina Salman

Births –Baby Girl

Engagements Moshe Zafrani to Ruchama Harari Raful Freddie Erani to Dena Edery Joseph Rudy to Rachel Grazi Zaki Mustacchi to Liat Zikry Avraham Seruya to Adele Chemtob David Moalam to Allei Mochon Yehuda Maslaton to Etty Vider Eli Farhi to Joyce Kishk Jida Kababeh to Claire Louzeh Esther Mitta to Ezra Faham

Weddings

Rabbi Shlomo & Adele Mizrahi Rabbi Eliyahu & Renee Ashkenazi

Freddie Erani to Dena Edery David Moalam to Allei Mochon

Mabrouk On Your Upcoming Or Recent Wedding.

But Don’t Let Your New Life Keep You Away From The Community.

Please Accept A Complimentary Subscription To The Most Widely Circulated Sephardic Magazine In The World. It’s Our Gift To You. Email:

subscriptions@communitym.com Include Your Name, Your New Address, Phone Number The K’nees You Attend & The Date Of Your Wedding.

Open To Newlyweds In Their First Year Of Marriage.

Mabrouk!

Eli David Rabbi

&HUWL¿HG 0RKHO

Phone:

Cell:

718-382-7041 917- 375-5213

Serving The Community For Over A Decade 88

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TH CHIC KITCHEN :KR VD\V

easy can't be fabulous?

ESTHER DEUTSCH

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Pretzel-Crusted Lemon Lime Pie COMPRISED OF a slightly salty and crispy crust topped with a mass of lemony lusciousness, each bite of this dessert delivers a flawless combination of tart and sweet. The synergy of the saltiness of the pretzels and the sweetness of the citrus is simply spectacular. This dessert is not only for lemon lovers - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a no-fail recipe with a shortcut option thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pressed for time.

Served in a prepared pie crust, the lemon topping still maintains the same

creamy loveliness. You may have some leftover lemon filling, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so good, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind at all. The filling will stay fresh in the freezer for several weeks.

Even simpler: Skip the pretzel crust preparation and fill 2 graham cracker pie crusts instead.

Dairy option: Substitute the margarine for butter and the non-dairy whip topping for heavy cream.

Ingredients: PRETZEL CRUST ½ cup sugar 4 cups salted mini pretzels 12 Tbsp. trans-fat-free margarine, melted

TOPPING 16 oz. (2 cups) non-dairy whip topping 1 can (21 oz.) lemon pie filling 8 oz. (1 cup) marshmallow fluff 1 Tbsp. lime juice Lemon or lime peel or zest, to garnish Pretzels, to garnish

Directions: 1.To prepare the crust: In a food processor, combine the sugar and pretzels and process until the pretzels are finely crushed with some small pieces remaining. Add the melted margarine and process until crumbly. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom and sides of a 9-inch Pyrex pie plate. Set aside.

2. To prepare the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the nondairy whip topping until very firm peaks form.

Add the lemon pie filling, marshmallow fluff, and lime juice. Beat for several minutes until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the mixture becomes firm. Pour the filling into the pretzel crust.

Cover and freeze overnight. Before serving, garnish with your choice of lemon or lime peel, zest, or pretzels.

Serves 8 90

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Roasted Portobello Chicken Salad THIS VIBRANT salad is a combination of perfect pairings. Marinated chicken and a light salad mingle with meaty, robust mushrooms that are gussied up with thyme and a teriyaki-honey marinade and then roasted or grilled.

When selecting Portobello mushrooms, make sure they are plump, solid, and firm. A slippery mushroom indicates decomposition. I found the bamboo

skewers decorating the salad in the photo at Crate & Barrel. For a quicker method of presentation, cut the chicken into strips and place on top of the salad with the Portobello mushroom strips. If you’re serving this salad for Shabbat lunch, bring the mushroom caps and chicken to room temperature before serving.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Large chicken cutlets (dark or white) 6 large portobello mushroom caps ¾ cup oil ½ cup teriyaki sauce ¼ cup honey 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves or ½ tsp. dried thyme 5 cloves garlic (frozen or fresh), minced 1 tsp. fresh black pepper

1. With a sharp knife, shape the chicken cutlets into rectangles by trimming the edges. Wash and clean the mushroom caps. Place the oil, teriyaki sauce, honey, thyme, garlic, and black pepper in a jar and mix until well combined. In one bowl, pour half the marinade over the chicken. In another bowl, pour the remaining marinade over the mushrooms. Marinate the chicken and mushrooms in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.

2. Preheat the oven or grill to 450° F. With a slotted spoon, remove the chicken and mushrooms from the marinade. Roast or grill the mushrooms, gill side down, for 20 minutes. Grill the chicken on an indoor or outdoor grill on high heat, about 6 to 8 minutes per side.

3. In a large salad bowl, combine the mesculin mix, peppers or tomatoes, and the pine nuts, reserving some of the pine nuts to garnish.

4. To prepare the dressing: Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar or cruet and shake well until well combined. Toss the salad with the dressing.

5. To serve, place a piece of grilled chicken on a plate. Insert a bamboo skewer into each corner of the chicken. Fill the center with salad, being careful not to overfill, and top with the sliced mushrooms. Sprinkle some of the reserved pine nuts on top.

Serves 6

SALAD 10 oz. mesculine salad 2 different colored peppers, cut into strips, or 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup pine nuts, toasted

DRESSING 1/3 cup oil 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 3 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar ¼ tsp. fresh black pepper 1 clove garlic, minced

Featured recipes are excerpts from CHIC Made Simple by Esther Deutsch.

CHIC Made Simple is published by Feldheim and is available online and Judaica stores everywhere.

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NEW DIET OFFER 5 DAYS OF FEASTING AND 2 DAYS OF FAMINE There is a new dieting craze sweeping Britain and taking off in the United States that lets people eat whatever they like – but only five days a week. “the fast diet,” also known as the “5:2 diet,” is the brainchild of TV medical journalist Michael Mosley and journalist Mimi Spencer, and allows people to eat what they want for five days, but only eat 600 calories a day on the other two.

Mosley said the diet is based on work

by British and U.S. scientists who found that intermittent fasting helped people lose more fat, increase insulin sensitivity, and cut cholesterol, which should mean reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.

He tried this eating regime for a science program called “Eat, Fast, Live Longer” last August after learning that his cholesterol level was too high and his blood sugar was in the diabetic range. He was stunned by the results.

“I started doing intermittent fasting a year ago, lost 18 pounds of fat over 3 months and my blood results went back to normal,” Mosley told Reuters.

Eating a 600 calorie daily diet – about a quarter of a normal healthy adult’s intake – could consist of two eggs for breakfast, grilled chicken and lettuce for lunch, and fish with rice noodles for dinner with nothing to drink but water, black coffee or tea.

Mosley attributed the diet’s success to the fact it is psychologically attractive and leads to a steady drop in weight, with an average weekly loss of one pound for women and slightly more for men.

However, it should be noted that currently the medical consensus is that there is a lack of evidence of, and knowledge about, the diet’s effects.

POSTURE POINTERS We’ve been told to stand up straight as long as we’ve been able to stand, but sometimes it’s harder than it seems. We know why we should do it: good posture looks good, feels good, and makes us look thinner. But in addition, studies have linked poor posture with lower self-esteem, depression and back pain. Below are three EASY ways to improve posture.

Reposition your monitor Your monitor should be 1-2 feet away from your face, and your eyes should be level with the top of the monitor. This will prevent your head from leaning forward and away from your shoulders.

EVEN BABIES PREFER THE UNDERDOG The human brain may be wired to sympathize with the underdog – even if the underdog is a yellow square being chased by a blue circle, and the brain has been active in the outside world for only 10 months. A Japanese research team found that 16 of 20 infants reached for the pursued yellow square rather than the aggressive blue ball as the ball bumped the square seven times and then smashed it. Twenty other infants observed the objects moving independently without touching, with nine of them reaching for the persecuted square, according to the study. The experiments hint at a very early cognitive ability to sense and respond to aggression with preference for the “victim,” a building block for sympathetic behavior that is a core element of social, cooperative animals.

ROBOTS HELP KIDS DURING VACCINATIONS Medical experts believe that robots can be used as a distraction for kids while they receive a vaccination, and help reduce the level of pain. Researchers observed over 50 patients between the ages of four and nine who were attending a hospital to receive flu vaccines.

The participants were assigned to a vaccination session to receive an injection from a nurse who used standard administration procedures, or with a human-like robot that used cognitivebehavioral strategies while a nurse administered the injection.

The robot interacted with the youngsters by introducing itself and discussing interests like music and movies. It asked the kids to give a “high five” and to help clean a toy while the nurse got their arm ready to receive an injection. Results showed that interaction with the human-like robot during vaccination significantly reduced the kids’ pain and distress. Over 85 percent of the children said that they would like the robot to be present during any future medical procedures.

Lumbar rolls Place a lumbar roll behind the small of your back when you’re sitting in a chair. This helps to maintain the normal curvature in the back when sitting. There is a tendency for the lower curve to flatten, which can cause fatiguing with prolonged sitting.

Reposition yourself in your car while driving Move your seat close enough to the pedals so that your knees are bent. A 90-degree angle would be too bent, and anything more than 130 degrees would be too straight. Your lower back should be against the back of the seat. Sit in an upright or slightly reclining position. Adjust the headrest so your head is actually resting against it. This position places your head directly over your spine and allows your neck and upper back muscles to relax while you drive.

92

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Sleep Apnea and Fatigue: What Happens at Night Affects You During the Day DR. JACQUES DOUECK

Fatigue, as most of us understand the term, means tiredness. It is a condition that affects the mind or body, or both, and generally manifests itself in an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion, a reduced desire to work, and an inability to effectively execute one’s responsibilities. Fatigue could happen suddenly (acute), or it may last a long time and become chronic. Most people who suffer from these symptoms find it difficult to explain their condition, and usually just say that they are feeling “tired.”

T

here are many causes of fatigue, including diabetes, sleep problems (sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome), anemia, thyroid problems, and others. In short, fatigue can be caused by any condition that results in a shortage of blood in the body, metabolic disorders, infections, ailments that are inflammatory in nature, and, of course, sleep disorders. Fatigue can also be a strong indicator of depression.

Additionally, there is another condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This is a complicated and debilitating disorder characterized by deep and persistent fatigue which does not improve with rest and gets worse with any mental or physical activity. Typical symptoms include an inability to participate in normal day-to-day activities, muscle pains, failing memory, difficulty staying focused, and sleeplessness, among others. CFS can sometimes be caused by sleep apnea.

Testing for Sleep Apnea Many patients do not realize that excessive daytime sleepiness is often a sign of a more serious condition – sleep apnea – that can affect their heart, and lead to stroke, diabetes and other serious medical conditions. It is therefore imperative that those 94

experiencing fatigue and daytime sleepiness undergo a sleep study, either at home or in a sleep lab, to determine whether or not they suffer from sleep apnea, and measure the severity of the condition.

Sleep apnea is treated with either a CPAP mask and hose machine or a dental device. After just a few weeks of treatment, patients see a dramatic improvement of fatigue symptoms and improved energy levels. Fatigue score of 8.8 (in a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 defined the highest levels of fatigue) have been found to be reduced to 0.1 after treatment.

Other therapies for treating snoring and sleep apnea include avoiding sleeping on your back, which can be done by using tennis balls sewn into a tee shirt or special sleep apnea pillows.

Unfortunately, about one-third of the cases of fatigue go undiagnosed. This happens primarily because doctors mostly go by what the patients report. Thus, if you are suffering from fatigue, be sure to report to your doctor all symptoms so he has a complete picture to work with. Only then can an accurate diagnosis be made and an effective treatment program be designed to restore your energy and vitality and allow you to achieve all you want to accomplish during the day.

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Project SAFE Presents Ike Chehebar

“Each time I think about what happened, I lose a piece of my heart. The thought is too difficult to bear. Every morning I wake knowing that there is nothing I can do to repair what I’ve done.”

Ike Chehebar spoke these words to 10th graders at The Yeshivah of Flatbush this past May, recounting the event in 2001 that changed his life forever. Students listened attentively.

“It was a beautiful afternoon when I took the wheel,” he recounted. “The sun was shining, the tunes were pumping, and my adrenaline was peaking. The light turned to yellow and I said to myself, ‘I can make it.’ So I floored it, but then I saw the turning car… I quickly steered toward the sidewalk, but there stood a family, whose fate I changed forever. My actions on that day killed two little girls and critically injured their mother, all as their father looked on.

“I did not set out that day to be a killer, but that was the result of my recklessness. Back then, I always drove like that, but boy, do I wish I would have acted less selfishly. Now I try to be more deliberate and thoughtful.

“The road is there for all to share, and as such, we have a responsibility to all motorists to drive carefully.”

Ike went on to talk about what he called the “cool factor.” He described it as a dangerous dynamic that teens aggressively chase at all costs. “Watch out for it,” he warned, “because it can get you into major trouble, as it did me.”

When asked what he now thinks of as “cool,” he said, “Becoming more educated and being around smart people. My motto is: always be growing; try to stay with people who encourage you to grow.”

Ike deeply regrets how his pursuit of cool led to six months in jail, five years with no license, 2200 hours of community service, and of course waking each day with the painful knowledge that he killed two innocent lives and destroyed a family.

Of the victim’s parents he said, “They are generous, good-hearted people who have allowed me to walk free so that I can educate the youth about reckless driving. I owe them my life and will forever be indebted to them.”

If you or someone you know needs help, please call Project SAFE at: 1-866-569-SAFE. 96

Renewal Kidney Donor Recognition Event Continues the Chain of Hesed Nearly 1,000 people packed the new Sephardic Social Center at Congregation Magen David in West Deal on the evening of July 3rd to honor seven special community heroes who each gave the gift of life by donating a kidney.

The event was organized to create awareness about Renewal, a non-profit organization dedicated to 6DP 6XWWRQ DQG KLV VRQ $OEHUW 6XWWRQ helping people who need a kidney transplant find a live donor, and to support that donor throughout the process.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Century 21 and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the guests had the opportunity to mingle with the donors, their recipients and their families in the magnificently decorated hall, and enjoy an elegant evening of cocktails, dinner and inspiration. As the guests arrived, they were asked to announce their connection to either a donor or a recipient, and given a badge to wear with pride. Even those not related asked for a badge, as “Friends of a Donor,” so that they could show their support!

Throughout the program, guests sat mesmerized as kidney recipient Sam Sutton spoke about the horrors of kidney failure and his gratitude at receiving a kidney from his youngest son, Albert. Then, donors Albert Sutton, Zac Gindi, AJ Gindi, Tomer Naftali, Ralph Hanan, Victoria Sutton and Steven Hafif were each thanked personally by their recipients. Rabbi Eli Mansour capped off the very emotional program with words of Torah encouraging all to honor these special heroes who humbly consider themselves just ordinary people who had to the chance to do something extraordinary, and to think about joining them to save a life.

The evening’s impact was felt almost immediately, as Renewal received numerous inquiries by community members seeking to donate a kidney. At least two community members are now being tested to determine their suitability to save the life of a patient on the organization’s list.

To date, Renewal has facilitated 218 live kidney donor transplants, but it still has over 200 men, women and children on its waiting list. There is no national or local registry for live kidney donors, and patients in kidney failure must undergo dialysis just to stay alive while they wait. The sad fact is that 60 percent of dialysis patients do not survive after three years, and the effort to find a donor is thus a race against time.

To learn more about kidney transplant, live kidney donation and how you can support the lifesaving work of Renewal, please visit the organization’s website at www.renewal.org, or call 718-431-9831.

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Lev Aharon Holds Seventh Annual Backgammon Tournament

Photo Credit: Morris Antebi

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Hundreds of players and participants filled the magnificent ballroom of the Deal synagogue on Sunday July 7th for the seventh annual Lev Aharon backgammon tournament. The event was founded and coordinated by Mr. Jack â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boxâ&#x20AC;? Dayon, a Lev Aharon alumnus who spent numerous sleepless nights and exhausting days preparing for this extraordinary event.

Lev Aharon is a post high school yeshivah in Jerusalem that has earned a reputation throughout the community for the quality education and inspiration it provides its students. Under the guidance of the esteemed Rabbi David Laniado, Lev Aharon has prepared hundreds of community boys for a life of meaning and Torah devotion.

Beginning at 5:30 pm, players sat to compete for the highly coveted title of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Community Champion,â&#x20AC;? but also, and far more importantly, they played to support a yeshivah that has profoundly enhanced spiritual landscape of the Syrian community. With 256 players competing in a one-on-one dynamic, and hundreds more spectating, the event was electrifying and inspirational. Players and spectators enjoyed a fully catered hot buffet, food vendors, an ices bar and a wide variety of light refreshments. Throughout the night players competed to advance to the next round in hopes of eventually claiming the title. Young men played older men, the skilled played novices, but all played with the same vigor and energy needed to win.

It was a climactic moment when the announcement came that an anonymous donor, so amazed by the magnitude and scale of the event, pledged $10,000 to the yeshivah. The announcement was received with tremendous applause and reinvigorated the alumni who had come to support their alma mater.

As the games progressed, the crowd eagerly awaited the finals that were to be held in the Yated Neâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;eman/ Stop-and-Shop sponsored Winners Circle. Finally, at nearly 1am, countless participants, riveted with suspense, gathered around to watch Mr. Jack Dabbah and Mr. David Hadrey, two highly skilled and experienced players, battle it out in a five-game set. The audience could hardly contain their excitement as they watched the two titans of â&#x20AC;&#x153;shesh beshâ&#x20AC;? compete for the final game that eventually resulted in Mr. Dabbahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard-fought victory.

Yeshivah Lev Aharon expresses its gratitude to the scores of its alumni and friends who came out to show their support, and to the numerous private and corporate sponsors who helped made this special evening such a success.

Bnai Yosef Holds Free Health Screenings and Cardiac Lectures Over 400 community members took part in a free health fair on Sunday, June 9 hosted by Bnai Yosef.

They were screened free of charge for numerous common health problems, including Carotid, Thyroid, BMI, Blood Pressure and Oximetry. The program included a special address by Rabbi Yaacov Ben-Haim and lectures about cardiac health by Dr. Jason Esses, a doctor in the community. Free refreshments were served. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a wonderful turnout,â&#x20AC;? enthused Mr. Gabe Haber, Patient Representative at Maimonides Hospital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both Maimonides Hospital, Dr. Esses and myself want to thank the Sitt family for being partners in this great event. Without the help of our Vice President Mr. Douglas Jablon, this event would not have taken place. His involvement and guidance made this event a success.â&#x20AC;? The Hospital supplied the screening team, the medical staff, the food, and the large banner that was hung on the building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the surprising features of the health fair was not the success of the program, or that many people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focusing on their health, but rather the amount of individuals without health insurance,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Esses observed with chagrin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately, in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society, if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have insurance, then chances are youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not seeing a physician. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The few minutes I had with individuals discussing their risk factors for heart disease â&#x20AC;&#x201C; high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease, diabetes and smoking â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I hope, could be a wakeup call.

These are the BASICS of health prevention, yet sadly I found many people were either unaware of the problem or ignoring the problem (including those individuals who have been seeing physicians). â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we were able to create awareness among these many participants of the fair, it will be more than worth it.â&#x20AC;?

Dr. Jack Fatiha Sworn In As Honorary FDNY Medical Officer Jack Fatiha, MD was sworn in as Honorary Medical Officer of New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fire Department by FDNY Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano on May 29, 2013. Several dignitaries were on hand to congratulate the newest member of this elite group of surgeons, including our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supreme Court Justice Bruce M. Balter, and Jack Lerch, Honorary Chief of the FDNY, who oversees this incredible network of physicians.

These dedicated doctors, who work in New York City and surrounding areas, pledge to assist injured members of the FDNY and their immediate family members when they are in need of medical treatment. When New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bravest and Finest need health care, they know they can turn to these honorary surgeons who are themselves the Bravest and Finest in the field of medical care. The FDNY has now welcomed Dr. Fatiha into this elite group.

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Councilman David Greenfield and Council Speaker Christine Quinn Announce Reforms to Restaurant Inspection Process Councilman David G. Greenfield has announced that the New York City Council is moving forward with a legislative package that will reform the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant inspection system. These proposed laws come directly as a result of complaints and concerns that Councilman Greenfield and many of his colleagues have heard directly from restaurant owners over the past few years.

These reforms are intended to ensure that the inspection process is &RXQFLOPDQ 'DYLG *UHHQÂż HOG fair, efficient, consistent and accountable, and to eliminate the arbitrary and unfair aspects that have left countless frustrated restaurant owners inundated with expensive violations that are often completely unrelated to food service or safety.

Among the major concerns that Councilman Greenfield and restaurant owners share about the current system is the sharp increase in the number of fines issued since the letter grade system was implemented, inconsistencies across inspections and adversarial relations between restaurants and city inspectors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can protect public health without harming businesses, and this legislation will do just that,â&#x20AC;? said Councilman Greenfield at a press conference held at Jerryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CafĂŠ in lower Manhattan, alongside Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Greenfield noted that under the current system, â&#x20AC;&#x153;food safety is no longer the focus,â&#x20AC;? as the emphasis under the current administration has shifted to collecting revenue for the city. He relayed the story of an inspector who poured bleach over a $3,000 shipment of cheese that had just arrived from a refrigerated truck and was one degree off the required temperature, and a restaurant owner who was fined for having wet floors after having just finished mopping. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The complaints I have personally heard from restaurant owners in my district made it clear that the current inspection system requires a serious overhaul in order to restore fairness for all parties,â&#x20AC;? said Councilman Greenfield, who hosted a town hall meeting last year to hear directly from local restaurant owners and has since fought for legislation to address these legitimate complaints. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On behalf of hard-working restaurant owners who contribute so much to our city, I am thrilled that the Council is taking real steps to bring about meaningful change.â&#x20AC;?

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Greenfield, DSNY Commissioner & Local Elected Officials Announce Clean Communities Initiative

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Councilman David G. Greenfield was in Boro Park on Thursday, July, 11 together with New York City Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and local elected officials to announce an initiative to improve cleanliness on streets throughout the district.

The effort aims at improving the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall cleanliness and reducing the amount of trash on the streets. A centerpiece of the campaign involves educating homeowners, tenants, and businesses about the laws they must follow to avoid fines, and their responsibility in keeping the community clean. This will include distribution of fliers and posters around the community explaining the basic guidelines for trash and recycling collection. The end result will be fewer tickets for businesses and homeowners and a cleaner, less dirty community for everyone to enjoy.

In addition to reminding residents and businesses about the different fines they can face from the Sanitation Department, Councilman Greenfield discussed specific projects and efforts, including a recently-completed cleanup along Bay Parkway that he funded, and the possibility of expanding it to areas of Boro Park. In response to one of the biggest issues plaguing many neighborhoods, Councilman Greenfield and Commissioner Doherty also discussed the possibility of a pilot program using cameras to catch individuals who illegally dump trash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all have an important role in keeping streets clean and our neighborhood beautiful,â&#x20AC;? said Councilman Greenfield, â&#x20AC;&#x153;which is why I am proud to lead this public outreach and education effort in partnership with Commissioner Doherty and the entire Sanitation Department. The bottom line is, a cleaner community means a better quality of life for residents and fewer tickets for local business and homeowners.â&#x20AC;?

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Ezer Mizion Connects to Sounds of the Soul “When I saw the audience dancing to the music that we had created, I understood that I am worth something.”

These words were spoken by Danny*, who plays the bass guitar in Ezer Mizion’s “Sounds of the Soul” music group, where musically inclined individuals with mental illness are given an opportunity that many mentally ill patients never have – to prove to the world, and, even more importantly, to themselves – that their lives can be meaningful.

Danny, now 28 years old, had a normal childhood, attending school while developing his love for music. But at the age of 14, he began “imagining all kinds of thoughts.” He stopped doing his homework and wandered around the streets for hours. For two years, he was in a hospital for the mentally ill, a period he does not remember and does not want to talk about. Afterward, he went back to school, while continuing to receive medication.

Today he is in a sheltered living facility, sharing an apartment with three other young adults.

Until he joined Sounds of the Soul, he had not emotionally connected to any program, and quit each one he tried soon after joining. When his mentor recommended Ezer Mizion’s musical framework, he did not hesitate. “Music gives me a sense of peace, of focus, and deep pleasure,” he says.

Ezer Mizion’s programs follow accepted halachic standards, operating separate occupational services for men and women. The program also includes a Counseling Center for families. Part of the organization’s goal is to convey to the families the message that they are not alone, and to alleviate the feelings of isolation, powerlessness and despair that overcome many patients and family members.

The Sound of the Soul ensemble was founded a year ago and consists of a diverse group of individuals from different walks of life and areas of training, including some highly trained and qualified professionals. Over the last several months, Sounds of the Soul has begun appearing before audiences – once at a professional seminar for psychiatrists and therapists for the mentally ill, once as a musical interlude for a festive ceremony, and most recently, at a family event of one of the ensemble members.

For more information about the work of Ezer Mizion, visit ezermizion.org. *Real name has been changed to protect privacy

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A Special Sound of Music in Jerusalem

Beautiful music fills the air every week in Jerusalem, straight from the voices and guitars of high school boys to the hearts and souls of elderly patients suffering from dementia. Whenever 11 Boys Town Jerusalem students come to serenade the nearby Melabev Day Care Center, something special happens to both the young and the old.

The moment they arrive at Melabev, an intricate set of dynamics goes into gear between the young Boys Town students – who represent a wide variety of backgrounds – and their avid audience of elderly men and women with Alzheimer’s. “Our members wait all week for the boys’ visit,” says Melabev coordinator Jackie Diamond. “It’s remarkable to see how the boys connect with their loneliness and reach out to each and every one.”

As the boys begin to sing their lively musical repertoire, the Boys Town troubadours soon resort to improvising and taking their cues from their elderly fans. Guitarists Yinon Magzimof (9th grade) and Nachman Ben Chaim (11th grade) don’t miss a beat as they switch chords to accommodate any song the Melabev members may begin to sing – from a Sabbath hymn to an old Israeli classic. Best, the boys spontaneously move from person to person to shake hands, give a hug and gently pull audience members into the circle to dance and to sing along.

“It’s amazing,” Jackie Diamond admits. “People who were quite restless are now calm and singing along with the boys.” After the singing stops at Melabev, the Boys Town students carefully circle their elderly friends to talk to each one.

The project, part of Boys Town Jerusalem’s hesed efforts, is demanding, yet Dean of Students Rabbi Meir Linchner says that students “fight to get accepted to the program.”

Boys Town Jerusalem is one of Israel’s premier institutions for educating the country’s next generation of leaders. Since its founding in 1948, BTJ has pursued its mission of turning young boys from limited backgrounds into young men with promising futures. Boys Town’s 18-acre campus is a home away from home for its more than 900 students, and it has produced over 7,000 graduates currently holding key positions throughout Israeli society.

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Smallest Model Railroad “T” Gauge, developed in Japan, has a track with a gauge of just 0.1 inch. It is the smallest commercially working model railroad. The models are 450 times smaller than the real thing.

First Peace Treaty The earliest known surviving peace treaty was drawn up between the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II and Hattusilis III, king of the Hittites, in 1271 BCE. A copy of the treaty remains in the Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt.

Loudest Insect The male cicada’s claim to fame is its singing voice. Its high-pitched song can reach in excess of 120 decibels at close range. Cicadas are the only insects capable of producing such a unique and loud sound.

INCREDIBLE Largest Antler Spread The world record for the largest antler spread was set in Canada by a moose that was killed in October of 1897. Its spread measured a whopping 6 feet 5 inches.

The record-setting antlers are currently displayed in the Field Museum in Chicago.

Highest Suspension Bridge The deck of the Si Du River Bridge in Badong County, Hubei, China is 1,549 feet above the bottom of the valley – which is more than high enough to fit the Empire State Building beneath it.

102

First Commercial in Space The first commercial filmed in space was a milk advertisement by the Israeli food company Tnuva, which was filmed aboard the Russian Mir space station on August 22, 1997.

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Tallest Dog A Great Dane named Zeus is 3 feet 8 inches tall, making him both the tallest living dog and the tallest dog ever in recorded history.

Largest Hershey’s Kiss The iconic Hershey’s Kiss turned 100 years old on July 7, 2007. To celebrate, The Hershey Company unveiled “The World’s Largest HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolate” in Hershey, Pa. The record setting kiss weighed 30,540 pounds!

Oldest Man

STATS FACTS

&

Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who had been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living man and the oldest man ever died this past June of natural causes.

Kimura was born April 19, 1897. According to Guinness, Kimura was the first man in recorded history to have lived to 116 years of age.

Lowest Automobile The Mirai is the world’s lowest roadworthy car. It measures 1 ft. 5.79 in. from the ground to the highest part of the vehicle. It was built on November 15, 2010 by Hideki Mori and his high school students in Japan.

Loneliest Tree The world’s loneliest tree is believed to be a solitary Norwegian spruce (Picea abies), which is more than 100 years old. It is located on Campbell Island in Antarctica, and the nearest tree is located more than 137.9 miles away, on the Auckland Islands.

AV - ELUL 5773 AUGUST 2013

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THE

SIDE

ALPHABET Little Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-grade teacher was quizzing them on the alphabet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eddie,â&#x20AC;? she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;what comes after â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;?â&#x20AC;?

Eddie says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah!â&#x20AC;?

Shmuel Lalehfar HANDWRITTEN An old man was sitting in the local park trying to write a postcard to his daughter. His arthritis was hurting him terribly and the task seemed impossible. Finally, he turned to a young man standing nearby and asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Would you mind writing a short message and address on the card and signing my name?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;No problem,â&#x20AC;? said the younger man. He wrote out the address and also agreed to write a short message and sign the card for the PDQ :KHQ KH ZDV ÂżQLVKHG KH asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, is there anything else I can do for you?â&#x20AC;?

The old fellow glanced at the card for a moment and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes, could you just add at the end, â&#x20AC;&#x153;PS: Please excuse the sloppy hand-writing?â&#x20AC;?

Yitzy D. FOR SALE BY OWNER Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes.

Excellent condition, $1000 or best offer. No longer needed, got married last month. Wife knows everything.

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104

ANSWER THE QUESTION As a Regents Prep teacher, Ms. Adler has heard all kinds of answers to typical questions.

These are some of the best.

Teacher: What did Mahatma Gandhi and Genghis Khan have in common?

Student: Unusual names.

Teacher: Name one of the early Romansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; greatest achievements.

Student: Learning to speak Latin.

Teacher: How does Romeoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character develop over the course of the play?

Student: It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just self, self, self all the way through.

Teacher: Where was the American Declaration of Independence signed?

Student: At the bottom.

Teacher: Explain the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x153;free press.â&#x20AC;?

Student: When your mom irons your trousers for you.

Teacher: Steve is driving his car.

He is travelling at 60 feet/second and the speed limit is 40 mph. Is Steve speeding?

6WXGHQW +H FRXOG ÂżQG RXW E\ checking his speedometer.

Eddie Gindi SUMMER VACATION Did you hear about the kid whose teacher told him to write a 100-word essay about what he did during vacation? He wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not muchâ&#x20AC;? 50 times.

Abhu Cohen

PONDERABLES Why do people order double hamburgers, large French fries, and a diet coke?

Why do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters?

Why is the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;abbreviatedâ&#x20AC;? such a long word?

Why do doctors and attorneys call what they do â&#x20AC;&#x153;practiceâ&#x20AC;??

Why is the man who invests your money called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;brokerâ&#x20AC;??

Why is the time of day with the VORZHVW WUDIÂżF FDOOHG ÂłUXVK KRXU´" Why are they called â&#x20AC;&#x153;apartmentsâ&#x20AC;? when they are all stuck together?

Jack V. Grazi

PLAY MONEY Two kids were playing Monopoly.

Joey really wanted to win, so he bought some extra Monopoly money and by mistake bought an $8 bill. He decided heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to try to use it anyway. He gave it to his friend Raymond, the banker in the game, and asked for change.

Raymond looked at the bill and handed the guy two $4 bills for change.

E. Salem BACK TO SCHOOL TIME Teacher: Eli, go to the map and ÂżQG 1RUWK $PHULFD Eli: Here it is.

Teacher: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?

Class: Eli.

LOCATION, LOCATION A Pre-1-a student named Judah came to his Rebbi and asked him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where is Hashem?â&#x20AC;?

Another boy named Ralph answered before the Rebbi had a chance to respond: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in my daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What?â&#x20AC;? the Rebbe asked, puzzled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why would you say that?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because,â&#x20AC;? Ralph explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;every morning when I wake up my father, he screams, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ribbono Shel Olam, get out of my room!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Isaac J Cohen WRITING To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

LESS THAN 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING Teacher: Jake, name one important thing we have today that we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have 10 years ago.

Jake: Me! Hannah A.

Tutu Mulu

HOME OR AWAY A famous surgeon went on a sabbatical in Africa to try to cure exotic diseases. When he came back, his colleagues asked him how it had been. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh, it was very disappointing,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn anything. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have been better off staying here in the hospital.â&#x20AC;?

Rivka Betesh

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DRAWING A primary school teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing, occasionally walking around to see each childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m drawing Hashem,â&#x20AC;? the girl replied.

The teacher paused and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;But no one knows what Hashem looks like.â&#x20AC;?

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They will in a minute.â&#x20AC;?

Yamir Safdieh HASHEM IS WATCHING The children were lined up in the yeshiva cafeteria for lunch.

At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The rabbi posted on the apple tray a note that said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take only one.

Hashem is watching.â&#x20AC;?

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table, was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. One child whispered to another, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take all you want. Hashem is watching the apples.â&#x20AC;?

Eddie Cohen AVOIDING TROUBLE Little Rachel was a good student, but sometimes she got nervous. She went up to her teacher and asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Would I get in trouble for something I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do?â&#x20AC;?

The teacher smiled and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course not.â&#x20AC;?

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good, because I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do my homework.â&#x20AC;?

Frieda Mizrahi EATING BREAKFAST Daniel: What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish for breakfast?

David: I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, what?

Daniel: Every morning you will rise and shine.

Yitzchak Shalam

106 4

IN THE LIBRARY Ruben was working in a library. He heard a chicken saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boooook,â&#x20AC;? and so he gave it a book. After two hours, the chicken came back and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Booook book,â&#x20AC;? so he gave it two books. After another two hours, the chicken returned yet again, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boook boook boook.â&#x20AC;? Ruben gave the chicken three books and followed it outside the library. He saw the chicken bringing the books to a frog, which said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Read it read it read it.â&#x20AC;?

David D. SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT A teacher asked his student, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can you think of a solution to end unemployment?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes, sir!â&#x20AC;? the student enthusiastically replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d put all the men on one island and the women on another.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And what would they do then?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Build boats.â&#x20AC;?

Michael Levy SCHOOL DAZE A man walked into the school and said to the secretary, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excuse me, I would like to come to school. I want to learn to read and write.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;OK,â&#x20AC;? the secretary responded LQ D ERUHG YRLFH ÂłMXVW ÂżOO RXW this form.â&#x20AC;?

Sarah Dweck

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SCHOOL SIGN Steve had a bad habit of coming late to school and he always tried to come up with new excuses.

When he walked in one day, his teacher asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why are you late today?â&#x20AC;?

He smiled and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of the sign.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What sign?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The sign that says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;School Ahead, Go Slow.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Nathan H.

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Back2013-08.indd 107

107

7/25/2013 7:36:15 PM

Life

in the

Big City Colorful Makeover for Coney Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parachute Jump

City to Install 20 Speed Cameras Near Schools

The Parachute Jump, a historic landmark in Coney Island, is now illuminating the Brooklyn sky. As reported by NY1 News, 8,000 colorchanging lights were recently installed on the iconic structure, The eco-friendly OLJKWV ZHUH ÂżUVW GLVSOD\HG EDFN LQ -XQH 7KH SURMHFW ZDV IXQGHG E\ WKH RIÂżFH RI %URRNO\Q %RURXJK 3UHVLGHQW Marty Markowitz, who said that the project shows Coney Island at its best. The display, which features patterns that can be seen from outer space, cost $2 million.

Some opponents to the project claim that the money should have gone to help rebuild Sea Gate and other communities hit by Hurricane Sandy and provide more services for the community.

The Parachute Jump was built in Flushing, Queens for the 1939 Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fair and moved to its current location in 1941. It operated as an amusement ride with functional canvas parachutes until 1964. The steel structure that still stands today was declared a city landmark in 1989.

After three years of lobbying, state lawmakers voted to install 20 new speed cameras across DOO ÂżYH ERURXJKV &%6 1HZ York reported. Drivers who exceed the speed limit by 10 PSK RU PRUH ZLOO EH ÂżQHG The new cameras will initially be set up near schools where LW LV GRFXPHQWHG WKDW DW OHDVW SHUFHQW RI GULYHUV H[FHHGHG WKH speed limit. If necessary, the cameras can later be moved to address different locations where speeding is a problem.

Nearly Three Million People Included in New NYC Evacuation Zones

Under the new hurricane evacuation map, 600,000 more New New Kiosks in 7-Eleven Stores York City residents are to Store Digital Keys now located in evacuation Hoping to solve the problem of zones. Nearly three million getting locked out, tech start-up company people, over a third of KeyMe has created a kiosk that stores the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, a digital copy of house and apartment are included in the new keys, the NY Daily News reported. evacuation zones.

KeyMe uses high-level encryption, and 7KH QHZ ]RQLQJ V\VWHP FUHDWHV PRUH Ă&#x20AC;H[LELOLW\ LQ FDVH the data stored does not contain addresses or any information that could evacuations are necessary. It also gives residents a realistic look PDWFK WKH NH\ ZLWK D ORFDWLRQ $ ÂżQJHUSULQW DXWKHQWLFDWLRQ LV UHTXLUHG WR DW WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;RRGLQJ ULVN 7KH QHZ HYDFXDWLRQ ]RQHV H[WHQG IDUWKHU log into each account. The proprietary technology to analyze and store inland, and include lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn each key was developed by KeyMe CEO Greg Marsh.

Creating an account and storing a key with KeyMe is free, and the DQG WKH %URQ[ EXW IHZ VWRUPV ZLOO UHTXLUH DOO VL[ ]RQHV WR EH price to create a new key is $19.99. The kiosks can also create duplicates evacuated. Updated weather data and a new understanding of of keys, charging $3.49 for basic brass keys and $5.99 for novelty keys. Ă&#x20AC;RRGLQJ KD]DUGV KHOSHG FUHDte the new zones. .H\0H NLRVNV DUH FXUUHQWO\ ORFDWHG LQ ÂżYH (OHYHQ VWRUHV WKURXJKRXW For more information and a map of the new evacuation zones, visit Manhattan. The company is looking to expand, starting with New York. http://maps.nyc.gov/hurricane.

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916 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11223

Phone:718-998-5700 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 718-998-5804 century21mizrahi@gmail.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.century21mizrahi.com

112

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Ave K/ Low East 30â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Det 1 Fam on 40x100.

6 bdrms - total of 9 rooms plus full fin bsmt. Mod MIC. Prv Drv. Much more! Asking $1.1 mil.

Ave N-O/ Teens Det 1 Fam 2.75 stories. 33x100, 5 bdrms, master bath. LG kit/ dinette. Huge rear deck. Den off living room.

Full fin bsmt. Prvt drv. Much more! Hi $900k.

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Deliv vacant. Needs TLC. Madison/Ave P/East 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Det brick 1 Fam. C/H. 3 bdrms.

Full fin bsmt w/ 2 bdrms and 2 baths. All mod mint MIC. Large deck off dinette. Private drive w/garage. Much more! Great buy!

Mill Basin, Mayfair Drive South Young corner Det 2 Fam Hi ranch on 43x100. Huge mod 6 rm duplex w/ 4 room rental.

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FOR APARTMENTS AND HOUSES FOR RENT CALL RIVKA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 917-699-2365

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Ave O/Ocean pkwy 1 bdrm, newly renovated. Low floor.

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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