ShiurTimes: March 2008 by queendeb

IN FOCUS: THE BRAIN DRAIN MAKING A DIFFERENCE: THE TEMPLE

Purim Meshulash HALACHA BY RAV RIMON

Jewish Life in Iran MODERN DAY SHUSHAN

Overexertion

PUSHING YOURSELF TOO FAR

Hi-Tech Power

START-UP COMPANIES IN ISRAEL

Machon HaMikdash

LATEST TECHNOLOGIES USED FOR THE MISHKAN

Halacha and Technology HOW IT’S DONE.

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VAYAKHEL, February 29, 2008 PEKUDEI, MARCH 7, 2008 Candle lighting Shabbat Ends Candle lighting Shabbat Ends BET SHEMESH: 5:19 PM 6:14 PM 5:25 PM 6:19 PM GUSH ETZION: 5:19 PM 6:14 PM 5:24 PM 6:19 PM JERUSALEM: 4:56 PM 6:13 PM 5:02 PM 6:18 PM MODI’IN: 5:19 PM 6:14 PM 5:24 PM 6:19 PM TEL AVIV: 5:20 PM 6:15 PM 5:25 PM 6:20 PM NEW YORK: 5:28 PM 6:28 PM 5:36 PM 6:36 PM LONDON: 5:21 PM 6:31 PM 5:33 PM 6:43 PM

VAYIKRA, MARCH 14, 2008 Candle lighting Shabbat Ends 5:29 PM 6:24 PM 5:29 PM 6:24 PM 5:07 PM 6:23 PM 5:29 PM 6:24 PM 5:30 PM 6:25 PM 6:44 PM 7:43 PM 5:46 PM 6:55 PM

TZAV, MARCH 21, 2008 Candle lighting Shabbat Ends 5:34 PM 6:29 PM 5:34 PM 6:29 PM 5:11 PM 6:28 PM 5:34 PM 6:29 PM 5:35 PM 6:30 PM 6:51 PM 7:51 PM 5:57 PM 7:07 PM

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® march 2008

Hi-Tech & Torah 6 News Snapshots 8 Parashat Vayakhel by Rav Yaacov Haber

10 Parashat Pekudei by Rabbi David Bigman

11 A Kollel in Warsaw by Staff of Kollel Torah MiTzion

12 Finance By Douglas Goldstein

14 Parashat Vayikra b y Rabbi Chaim Richman 16 H alacha

18 Parashat Tsav by Elad Korsiya

19 Halacha & Technology by Rav Shlomo Aviner

20 Healthy Living by Dr. Simcha Shapiro

22 Machon HaMikdash by Yehudit Singer

24 Family by Yael Solomon

26 In Focus by Yehudit Singer

28 Interview with a Hi-Tech Guru by ShiurTimes Staff

34 Jewish Community: Life in Iran by Orly Rahimian

36 C ommunity Profile by Ilene Bloch-Levy

38 T ravel by Rabbi Mordechai Weiss

39 H istory by Orly R. Rahimiyan

50 “Lo B’Shamayim Hi” by Elie Rubin

by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon Second Year, No. 15 March © 2008 by ShiurTimes, Inc., 10 Ben Yehuda Street. All rights reserved. To contact one of the staff with your questions, concerns, subscriptions or advertising needs, please call: 02-6256225 or e-mail: staff.editors@shiurtimes.com. Managing Publisher & Editor-in Chief: Elie Rubin Editor: Yehudit Singer Marketing Manager: Hillie Roth Art Director: Rachel Badach Studio Rubin & Co: 054-723-4520 Stock Photography: istockphoto.com. Copyrighting laws apply to all articles, and nothing may be reprinted without express permission from the Publisher. ShiurTimes is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. The Opinions of the articles within the ShiurTimes rest solely upon the authors. Reproduction of any parts of the ShiurTimes is forbidden without permission. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM READING THE SHIURTIMES IN THE BEIT KNESSET DURING TIMES OF TEFILLA. www.shiurtimes.com

READER’S PAGE

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editors, I am happy to inform you due to the publicity from the article in February’s “Making a Difference” section, Tikva Market received many positive results. On behalf of our staff and our customers, I want to thank the readers of ShiurTimes and the companies who donated to support our organization. It is so comforting to know that our community supports our initiative so generously. Following the publication of the article, “Tikva Market: An Investment in Chesed”, we received phone calls from large companies who want to become more involved with us, and other organizations who wish to plan further projects together. Thank you for helping us continue our important task. Haim Knopfer Founder, Tikva Market

Yasher koach on Rabbi Haber’s article, “What is Your Purpose?” It was just beautiful! Betzalel N. Last week I was at an hotel, and at the reception desk I picked up a copy of your magazine. There I saw Rabbi Haber’s picture and article and the next day, I saw the advert with your books and my pictures in it. In the article, I sensed the positive attitude that was common in ¨Reachings¨, at the end he wrote, “maybe it was for this very moment that you were born into the world.” I was wondering if that implies that once you reached that stage, that’s your final purpose, if your presence on the planet becomes obsolete? David M.

I don’t think that the point of what Rabbi Haber was trying to teach us is that once we fulfill our tafkid we die, but rather that we need to realize that we may be here for a very specific purpose (or purposes) and that we may not always recognize what that is. Therefore, seize the Mitzvah (as well as the day) and do each and every Mitzvah that comes your way with gusto, even if it doesn’t seem to be an enjoyable or “worthwhile” task! In short, the point is not to figure out how you can “outsmart” G-d and grab a few more years on your life, but rather to look for clues or indications of what it is you are supposed to do with those years that G-d gave you. Moshe

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News Snapshots internet

Economy

Google Earth, Accurate?

The Shekel

A small city in Israel sues Google for false information

fficials in “Kiryat Yam”, a small city in northern Israel, have filed a complaint with police against the Internet search engine Google. The city argues that one of Google’s programs, Google Earth, gives viewers false information that offends the city’s image. Those who see “Kiryat Yam” on Google Earth are told that the city was built on the ruins of an Arab town

from which innocent civilians were expelled. In fact, officials said, the city was built by Holocaust survivors on land that was completely barren and had not been settled in the past. The false information was placed as part of a deliberate attempt to hurt the city’s interests, they said. It is important to note that Google is not the one who posted the comment on

Google Earth. One of the most popular features in the program is that users can contribute their comments on specific places on the map. The information on Google earth was posted by a user by the name of “Thameen Darby“, a Palestinian living in Jenin, who took on himself to post comments on hundreds of Arab villages that were vanished in 1948 when Israel was declared a state. ° (http://www.israel-on-blog.com)

israel news

Sderot

The nation finally reacts.

emonstrators for Sderot have been bringing the significance of the color red to the forefront of the Israeli public’s consciousness. This past month, groups of students and parents wore red shirts and stood outside the Prime minister’s office and the Knesset. At times when a color Red rocket warning siren alert sounded in Sderot or in neighboring communities, demonstrators in Jerusalem sounded a similar alarm in front of PM Olmert’s office. Especially since the severe wounding of 8 year-old Osher Twito and his 19 year-old brother, Rami, the plight of Sderot residents has become more of a pressing issue for national leaders. The brothers were transferred to Sheba Hospital from Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon where they were first hospitalized. Osher had his left leg amputated due to severe wounds, and is now in stable condition. Throughout the past month, activists staging demonstrations have blocked traffic at the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, by the

Shalom and Arlozorov interchanges, the city entrance to Jerusalem and by the Prime Minister’s house in Jerusalem. They raised banners reading “We are not sitting ducks” and “No security, no shelters, no government” and called for PM Ehud Olmert’s resignation. They protested the government’s inefficiency in stopping Qassam rocket strikes on their city. Thousands of people have been descending to Sderot on Fridays to do their Shabbat grocery shopping. This is one example of how the nation is extending efforts to show solidarity with the resident of Sderot. Such endevors pump revenue and increase morale in the area.Surely these are welcome initiatives. °

CLS Bank, based in New York and supervised by the US Federal Reserve, has announced that within three months, Israel’s Shekel will become fully convertible in international currency markets. he

The fact that the Israeli currency will appear at banks as a fully convertible currency is a huge accomplishment for Israel. It will not only improve Israel’s status amongst institutional and private investors, but it will also influence Israel’s place amongst international credit rating agencies such as Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch. Moreover, this is good news for international travelers to and from Israel: shekels will be available at all the major commercial banks in about 80 developed and developing nations around the world. The possibility of making the shekel convertible became closer to reality after the head executives of CLS secretly visited Israel in 2006. Invited by Bank of Israel Chief Stanley Fischer, they came to gauge the strength of the economy and currency of the State of Israel. Since this time, the findings of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declared Israel’s economic performance in 2007 “exceptional” and attributed it to the Jewish State’s “responsible fiscal and budgetary policies, as well as the Bank of Israel’s appropriate interest rate policy.” ° |

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Archeology

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discovered an edifice that dates to the end of the Second Temple period located in the City of David, inside the Walls around Jerusalem National Park. According to the writings of Josephus Flavius the Roman historian, the building that was uncovered was likely built by the Hadyab family, the most notable member of which is Queen Helena of Adiabene who converted to Judaism, later lived in Jerusalem and was buried there. The excavations, executed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in conjunction with the Nature and Parks Author-

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rias on Tibe Sherat Anglo Program Premium ilable rooms a Last av ity and the Ir David Foundation, include a partially uncovered impressive architectural complex with huge foundations, walls, hallways, a basement level that was covered with vaults, remainders of polychrome frescoes, water installations and mikvaot (ritual baths). Evidence of the drama which transpired within the area prior to its destruction by the Romans in the year 70 CE can be seen in the narrow openings that were discovered in the basement level through which its inhabitants attempted to flee. Much of the structure was intentionally demolished at that time. The stones from the walls and the ceilings of the upper stories were discovered mixed inside the destruction layer that accumulated on the floor of the basement. Among the finds recovered are pottery vessels, stone vessels and coins that date to the end of the Second Temple period. The large edifice was overlain with remains that date to later periods: Byzantine, Roman and Early Islamic. Below it there are remains from the Early Hellenistic period and even artifacts from the time of the First Temple. 째 (Based on material from the Israeli Antiquities Authority)

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PARASHAT VAYAKHEL

The Days of Private Bamot Are Behind Us The same energy, generosity and unity, that went into building the Mishkan transpires in our synagogues. Is that enough to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash?

by Rabbi Yaacov Haber

n order for the world to work as designed — with peace and holiness — the Presence of Hashem, the Shechinah, must be embedded into the world. To achieve this, we needed a project that would bring all the tribes of Israel, in spite of their differences, together. The project was the Mishkan. Everyone brought something to the table. Some brought their wealth, some brought their engineering ability, some brought their weaving and other forms of artistry, some brought their physical strength and others brought their organizational skills. Everyone contributed their best and worked together. This 150 foot by 75 foot concerted effort

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Imagine someone saying to his wife, ‘Honey, I’m exhausted — let’s skip Jerusalem, I think I’m going to daven on the block.’” brought us from individuals to become a cohesive nation. Once we were a nation, the presence of Hashem rested upon us. They contributed so much to the Mishkan that not only was there enough, but “vehutar” — there was extra. What happened to the extra? The Zohar explains that the extra heart and soul was put away by G-d and later used in the building of the two Tem-

ples in Jerusalem , as well as every synagogue that would ever be built during the thousands of years of Galut. The energy that constantly goes into the building and upkeep of synagogues throughout history is the spillover of energy that was donated to the Mishkan. The energy of unity, generosity and freshness of spirit was used for the Mishkan and then trickled down through the generations, right into our synagogues. A synagogue, it seems, is more than just a minyan, more than a gathering place, and even more than a place to pray. It is more than a rabbi that can inspire with words of Torah and it is more than a beautiful chazzan. Since a synagogue is a combined community effort with sparks of the unity of the original Mishkan – it is a home for the Shechinah.

When our people first came to Israel we prayed in bamot. Bamot were little backyard shuls, little family shuls or neighborhood shuls (“on the block”). If you were wealthy, you may have had your own private bama. Wealthy cities in the Negev would boast about the two or three hundred bamot in their community. There were boutique bamot, hashkama bamot, late bamot, talking bamot and quiet bamot. Bamot were probably very comfortable and convenient. But, when the Beit HaMikdash was built in Yerushalayim, bamot became outlawed. We had a new mandate — to host the Shechinah, and in order to host the Shechinah we had to work together. Yom Tov would come and all of Israel prepared to travel to Jerusalem to recharge their souls and reunite with the Creator. Imagine someone saying to his wife, “Honey, I’m exhausted — let’s skip Jerusalem, I think I’m going to daven on the block.” We would lose the unity, lose the community and endanger the presence of the Shechinah! When we built the Mishkan in the desert, in spite of our differences, we built it together. Because of the joint effort we merited the Shechinah. Today, more then ever, we need the Shechina. If we overlook the differences that divide us, together we can again build the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem, and merit true peace in Israel, and peace in the world. ° Rabbi Yaacov Haber is the President of Torahlab, www.torahlab.org, an organization serving the world of Jewish education with unique and meaningful learning material.

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PARASHAT PEKUDEI

Aesthetics of the Mishkan Recalling the hard work that went into building the Mishkan helps us appreciate the final product. by Rav David Bigman

ne of the Psalms read during Kabbalat Shabbat includes a description of how G-d communicates with His prophets: “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call in His name, would call out to the Lord, and He would answer them.”(Psalms 99:6) This depiction seems a bit simplistic; it is hard to imagine that the prophet calls out and that G-d responds instantly. The conversation taking place between the Divinity and the prophet appears to be direct and immediate. Doesn’t revelation require some kind of prior preparation? Our parasha offers an answer to this question. There we read the following verses which conclude the series of parshiyot dealing with the Tabernacle: “And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud rested upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”(Shemot 40:34-35) This passage describes how the Divine Presence rested in a cloud that enveloped the Tent of Meeting. In contrast to the verses from Psalms cited above, here we are made privy to the process preceding revelation. The four parshiyot (Trumah, Tetzaveh, Vayakhel, and Pekudei) dealing with the Tabernacle describe the construction of the Tent of Meeting in all its particulars. The project is presented as having involved strenuous and exhausting efforts. One grows weary merely reading these parshiyot with their superabundance of technical detail. Those difficulties only marked the beginning of a process that concludes in inspiration. Artists are certainly acquainted with the feelings of excitement and satisfaction that build towards the completion of a project. The hard work is ending, no more sweat is to be dripped over each

Credits: Machon HaMikdash

new detail, and the painting is revealed in its full glory. Aesthetic appreciation of the work combines with recollection of the great investment of time and effort involved in its creation to produce a feeling of elation and inspiration.

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The artist’s work is akin to the construction of the Tabernacle. At the end of long and constant toil, all the details join together in the whole of the finished object.” The artist’s work is akin to the construction of the Tabernacle. At the end of long and constant toil, all the details join together in the whole of the finished object. Only after the Tabernacle stands in its full glory do we read of G-d’s presence resting upon it, as described in the verse: “Moses saw the entire work, and lo! they had done it-as the Lord had commanded, so had they done. So Moses blessed them.” (Shemot 39:43)

The preceding toil serves to deepen the beauty of the final product, the beauty which bathes everything in an aesthetic spirit which is the harbinger and catalyst of revelation. We see, then, that revelation does not come easily. The call to G-d is a laborious process requiring creative work; that alone can elicit G-d’s response— “and He would answer them.” The message arising from these parshiyot has bearing upon our efforts to achieve creativity and inspiration in our study of Torah. Having searched and toiled, one may attend to the beauty arising from a properly understood Talmudic discussion. Moving on to study a new discussion, the student suffers new difficulties and frustrations. He must repeatedly build and rebuild his comprehension of the passage, but when his study bears fruit he will experience great satisfaction upon beholding the aesthetic qualities and charm of the finished whole. This feeling grows stronger in proportion to the efforts expended in understanding the passage. Despite all of the above, the aesthetic enjoyment of Torah study is a kind of “evil inclination.” It captivates the student with external attractions such as literary beauty and elegance of argument. We, however, must aspire to seek something higher in the aesthetic experience; we must try reach out to touch the Divine, even if only at its most outer margin. Those inspired moments in which “the cloud descends” are far and few between; in them one rises above the beauty of the Talmudic discussion to experience a glimmering of exaltation that lies beyond the merely aesthetic. Efforts to gain clear understanding of a Talmudic discussion earn the student aesthetic pleasure, but that is only the first stage of study. Inspiration can only come later. ° Rav David Bigman is Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Maale Gilboa. This piece is taken from his soon-to-be-published sefer, Yoducha Raayonai. To be informed of the book’s release, send email to ron@maalegilboa.org

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COMMUNITY

A Kollel in Warsaw Revitalizing Jewish life through Torah learning. by staff of Kollel Torah MiTzion

fter investing considerable time and effort, Torah MiTzion is thrilled to announce the opening of the first religious-Zionist kollel in Warsaw. Led by Rav Ephraim and Efrat Meisels of Shaarei Tikva, the kollel comprises two avreichim (married students) and two bachurim (single students). Rav Ephraim delivers daily classes to the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adults and young people, and Efrat teaches the women about Judaism. The uniqueness of this kollel lies in the student body, which includes a Gerrer chassid who learns with a religious Zionist, Conservative and Orthodox Jews, teenagers and adults, Jews by choice, â&#x20AC;&#x153;partialâ&#x20AC;? Jews, and many more. Most of the students live in Warsaw.

The community numbers some 400 members, including those who attend prayer services daily, those who arrive only on Shabbat, those who make an appearance on the festivals, and those who just show up for the cultural activities. Many are the descendents of Jews; some are Jews according to the Halachah; and

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

What seems to be clear and trivial in Israeli terms turns out to be a difficult task here.â&#x20AC;? others are gerei tzedek (converts). The most challenging parts, Rav Ephraim Meisels, recounts are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;First of all, the Polish language is difficult...itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a language that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resemble any other

language. Buying kosher food at the supermarket isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a simple process; the selection of kosher products is very limited. In addition, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a need to seriously confront the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s composition and its aspirations... What seems to be clear and trivial in Israeli terms turns out to be a difficult task here. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m involved with issues ranging from brit milah for adults as well, bar mitzvah lessons, kashrut, premarital counseling, and everything connected with Jewish burial.â&#x20AC;? Despite the challenges, Rav and Mrs. Meisels say that the Warsaw Jewish community has received them â&#x20AC;&#x153;with much warmth.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The challenge is very great,â&#x20AC;? says Rav Meisels, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and demands an incredible amount of effort, and mainly siyata dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shmaya (Divine Providence). Any small modicum of success will bring me much satisfaction.â&#x20AC;? Â°

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FINANCE

Behind-The-Scenes Technology for Improving Portfolios Using technology to make money and save it.

by Douglas Goldstein, CFP

ut on your fancy suit, suspenders and a tie, and imagine you’re one of Wall Street’s top institutional investment managers. As you step inside the elevator at work, an elderly gentleman stops you and says, “Would you mind managing my $260,000 retirement portfolio?” Though you’ve got the skills to help, you must refuse. “I’m sorry,” you tell him. “Our firm requires a minimum of $5 million to manage an account.” That’s how it used to be. It required so much hands-on work to trade a sophisticated portfolio of stocks that money managers needed to set high entry barriers. But today, the technology has been developed to allow smaller accounts to benefit from the same service that once was only for the ultra-wealthy.

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Today, the technology has been developed to allow smaller accounts to benefit from the same service that once was only for the ultra-wealthy.” Institutional money managers use software (some of which was developed in Israel) to create and maintain diversified portfolios for all of their clients, no matter what size the account. Moreover, if a client says she prefers not to own tobacco stocks, for example, she can place that restriction on the account. A computer program then monitors her portfolio to make sure her wishes are followed. Allowing thousands of different clients to give their individual preferences would never have been possible years ago. Additionally, improved software al-

lows each account to be separately managed in order to be tax efficient based on each individual client’s tax situation. For example, if you’ve realized a large profit in a stock sale, you can ask the managers to scrutinize your account in search of unrealized losses that they can sell to offset your gains and lower your tax bill. This technique, called “tax loss harvesting,” could help you dramatically lower the amount of money that you must send to the government this year. Investors do not only benefit from hightech ideas in managing their portfolios, but in other aspects of life as well. Some examples from Israel include innovations that enable cell phones to do everything from sending e-mails to playing movies. Other high-tech inventions seem more like miracles: restoring motor movement in Parkinson’s patients by using adult stem cells to repair neurological damage; using a pill with a video camera inside to view a person’s colon; using artificial blood to try slowing the spread of the AIDS virus.

Some technologies—like software algorithms that allow money managers to help people build their nest egg so that they can live through their retirement in dignity, help pay for their children’s education, and leave a meaningful inheritance— may not have the same glamour that the gadgets and medical devices have, but they certainly improve the life of millions of people worldwide. ° Douglas Goldstein, CFP®, (doug@profilefinancial.com) is the director of Profile Investment Services. He offers securities through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc., member FINRA (formally NASD), SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA. Accounts carried by National Financial Services LLC, member NYSE/SIPC, a Fidelity Investments company. His book, Building Wealth in Israel: A Guide to International Investments and Financial Planning, is available in bookstores, on the web, or can be ordered at www. profile-financial.com, Israel: (02) 624-2788, USA: 1 (888) 327-6179.

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PARASHAT VAYIKRA

Understanding the Korbanot The contemporary perception of “sacrifice” causes a significant misconception of the true meaning behind “korbanot.”

By Rabbi Chaim Richman

eginning Sefer Vayikra, offers a time to reflect upon the meaning of the korbanot, the sacrifices in the Beit HaMikdash. A great deal of misunderstanding exists regarding the true purpose of the sacrifices, so we present a brief introduction to the subject. Maimonides writes (Guide for the Perplexed 3:32) that animal sacrifice dates back to the most ancient times and was a common form of worship from the earliest days of man’s need for religious expression. He opines that the Torah incorporated this type of practice by which this desire may be expressed to Him, and thus made provisions for it by issuing the sacrificial commandments. Indeed, it is a common position of many great scholars and thinkers that sacrifices were among the earliest and most profound expressions of the human desire to come as close as possible to G-d. Thus the Torah records the sacrifices of Cain, Abel, and Noah. It is evident that the Jewish concept of sacrifice as it existed in the Holy Temple is widely misunderstood. Checking the definition of the word “sacrifice” in Webster’s Dictionary, shows a conceptual gap in our thinking which exposes the cause behind much of the misunderstanding. In English the verb “sacrifice” means something entirely different and is related to “ something offered in sac-

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Indeed, it is unfortunate that no word in the English language can adequately render the idea behind the Hebrew word korban. We allow ourselves to use the word “sacrifice” for lack of a better word, but it is a highly unsuccessful attempt at translation; it could even be called unfortunate.”

rifice, destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else or something given up or lost.” However, the Hebrew word for “sacrifice” (korban, le-hakriv) is from the same root as ”to come near, to approach. or to become closely involved in a relationship with someone.” This is meant to be the essence of the experience which the bearer of the sacrifice undergoes. Indeed, it is unfortunate that no word in the English language can adequately render the idea behind the Hebrew word korban. We allow ourselves to use the word “sacrifice” for lack of a better word, but it is a highly unsuccessful attempt at translation; it could even be called unfortunate. The idea of a sacrifice or offering seems to indicate a gift or present; giving up something of value for another’s benefit, or going without something of value for the benefit of that other. None of this gift-giving idea is present in the idea of the korban. First of all, it is a word that never carries a connotation of a present or gift, and is used exclusively by the Torah in the context of man’s relationship with G-d. Thus, its true meaning can only be grasped through the concept behind its root: “coming close.” If the definition of the korban is “to come closer,” then the goal of the Temple sacrifices is nothing less than the aim of dedicating human life to a higher sphere of awareness; closer to the Creator and the source of all life. The Temple sacrifice is not an idea of giving something up |

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PARASHAT VAYIKRA or losing something of value; it strives for nearness to G-d. For as King David prayed in the book of Psalms (73:28): “but as for me, nearness to G-d is good.” For a Jew, nearness to G-d is the truest, the highest, the only conception what goodness really is. Without this aspect to his life, without this G-dly relationship which uplifts his physical existence and imbues his life with a sense of connection to the Divine, he feels himself to be like an animal, devoid of that which makes him into a human being: the spark of his G-dly soul. Without this he feels similar to the animal before him, on the altar. In a sense, what happens to the offering is also taking place within the heart and mind of he who brings it. However, precisely because Hashem is G-d of chesed, not G-d of punishment and death, He has prepared the sacrificial system as a method of restoring man’s moral and spiritual life, and purifying that life. The sacrifice represents the death of man’s physical side, the side of him that will die when kept at a distance from G-d. But if he will bring his entire self into the service of G-d, he will connect with his true purpose, namely the

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empowerment of his spiritual nature through the rectification of his own animal urges. Thus he gives satisfaction to his Creator; the “pleasing aroma” of the sacrifices is the very fact that man refines his own humanity. It was only in the Holy Temple that the full spiritual nature of this process

could be appreciated. It is of crucial importance to be aware that by no means did the sacrifices serve as an end in themselves. For example, the sin offering, which was a minority of all the offerings brought in the Temple, was powerless to atone for sin unless it was accompanied by a thought of teshuva – resolute, true

repentance. Without repentance, the sacrifice was invalid; the offering itself was only a means by which man could arouse himself to repent. We are likewise taught that G-d Himself did not require the sacrifice, but it was for the betterment of the crown of His creation: man. However, He would prefer that man not sin, and not need to bring any offering. (BT Berakoth 22:A) Today, there are those who refer disparagingly to the “cult” of Temple sacrifice; they find the concept repugnant. Their viewpoint is understandable, since their entire basis for understanding these lofty concepts comes from a standpoint that is totally pagan. Those of this ilk view the sacrificial system as brutal because they have no conception of a G-d who beckons to us to raise ourselves above the animals and dedicate ourselves to Him. For man is at the center of creation; all else which G-d created was brought into existence solely to help aid man in his quest for spiritual perfection. ° Rabbi Chaim Richman is the Director of the International Department for The Temple Institute (Machon HaMikdash.) in Jerusalem.

HALACHA

A Concise Guide to the Laws of Purim Meshulash By Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon THE ENACTMENT OF PURIM MESHULASH When Purim falls out on Shabbat, the megilla is not read in its proper time. Today, this can happen only in Jerusalem, when the fifteenth of Adar falls out on Shabbat. Rabba explained that the megilla is not read on Shabbat because of a rabbinic decree, lest a person come to carry the megilla four cubits in the public domain. According to Rav Yosef, the megilla is not read on Shabbat, so that the poor should not lose the charity that they ordinarily receive at the time of the megilla reading. CAN A JERUSALEMITE READ THE MEGILLA FOR A TEL AVIVI? If Friday is the proper time for megilla reading, as enacted by the Anshei Kenesset ha-Gedola, even for the Jerusalemite, it stands to reason that he can read for the Tel Avivi, because the level of obligation of each of them is the same. (In practice, a Jerusalemite should not read for a Tel Avivi.) GOING FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM AND VICE VERSA If the resident of an unwalled city who already fulfilled his obligation in that unwalled city went to Jerusalem for Shabbat: If the obligation of Purim falls out on Shabbat, and it is only the megilla reading which was advanced to Friday, then since he will be in Jerusalem for Shabbat, he may become obligated a second time (especially if he is a Jerusalemite), at least in the other mitzvot aside from the megilla reading (which he already did on the fourteenth, and also in Jerusalem it is read on the fourteenth). The halakhic authorities disagree. It would seem that according to the basic law there is room for leniency, but in such a case a Jerusalemite should ideally observe (at least in minimal manner) the mitzvot of mishlo’ach manot and the Purim meal on Sunday. If a Jerusalemite was in Jerusalem on Friday, ideally he should not travel to Tel Aviv for Shabbat, because the whole obligation might

only come into being on Shabbat, and he will therefore lose out on Purim. And if the obligation comes into being already on Friday, he does indeed become obligated in Purim, but he loses out on some things (for example, the Purim Torah reading). Ideally, then, he should not go away for Shabbat. If he went away, he should recite Al ha-Nisim on Shabbat (according to some, he should say it in ”Elokai netzor” or in ”Ha-Rachaman”), and on Sunday he should distribute mishlo’ach manot and celebrate the Purim meal, but he loses out on the Purim Torah reading.

FRIDAY On Friday, the megilla is read, but Al ha-Nisim is not recited. In the morning, the megilla is read a second time, and matanot la-evyonim are distributed. When reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing, one should have in mind the rest of the mitzvot of Purim which will be observed over the next few days. AL HA-NISIM Al ha-Nisim is recited only on Shabbat. This seems to imply that Purim essentially falls out on Shabbat, in accordance with its original time, and that it is only the mitzvot of the day that are advanced or delayed. Some authorities, however, disagree with this conclusion. THE PURIM MEAL According to the Yerushalmi, the Purim meal should not take place on Shabbat, because Shabbat is a time of joy, and the Purim meal should be eaten on a day that is not otherwise a day of joy (this would be a diminishment of Shabbat or a diminishment of the Purim meal). The

Meiri rules that the Purim meal should be eaten on Friday, but many authorities preferred Sunday, because only after the obligation comes into being (i.e., on Shabbat) is it possible to make up the Purim meal. This is the ruling of the Shulchan Arukh, and so it is the customary practice to celebrate the Purim meal on Sunday. (Some add a special dish on Shabbat in honor of Purim, and some also add a special dish in honor of Purim on Friday.) MISHLOACH MANOT There are two reasons for mishlo’ach manot: 1. Helping for the Purim meal. 2. Increasing peaceful and friendly relations. According to the first reason, mishlo’ach manot should be sent on Sunday, the day on which the Purim meal is observed. This is the common practice. (According to the Chazon Ish, mishlo’ach manot precedes matanot laevyonim, and so it should be observed on Friday. Therefore, there are those who are accustomed to send mishlo’ach manot on Friday as well. There are also those who also send mishlo’ach manot on Shabbat – Rav Sonnenfeld in “Purim Meshulash.”) DOES PURIM FALLING OUT ON SHABBAT AFFECT RESIDENTS OF UNWALLED CITIES? Owing to the honor of Shabbat, the Purim meal which non-Jerusalemites eat on Friday should take place before noon or before mincha ketana. (There are certain individuals who are accustomed to observe the Purim meal in the afternoon, and when Shabbat arrives, they recite kiddush [in the middle of the meal, without a blessing on the wine], followed by Kabbalat Shabbat, and the rest according to the usual order.) So, too, it is customary not to recite tachanun on Sunday, even in unwalled cities (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach). ° Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon is a distinguished rav in Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is also the Founder of JobKatif, a non-profit organization that finds employment for evacuees from Gush Katif.

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Hebron, the ultimate family experience in Israel! Isn't it about time you took your children to visit your great-grandparents in Hebron? New armored buses, inspiring guides like Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum, Yossi Baumol & David Wilder, Hebron's historic sites and our pioneering spirit - all come together to make this tour your most moving day in Israel!

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PARASHAT TZAV

Love Story in the Slaughter House From a bilateral to a unilateral relationship with G-d. by Elad Korsiya

e at times have a reaction of wonder and bewilderment when we consider the entire topic of korbanot. Initially, at first glance, the act of offering a sacrifice seems strange, unaesthetic, certainly unholy, and perhaps even irrational. A holy place, we would think, should generate an atmosphere of sanctity; it must be aesthetic, impressive, full of grandeur, clean and well kept. But according to the descriptions in the sources of the Mishkan, and the Beit Hamikdash, the buildings used for offering sacrifices, they were hardly aesthetic. They were filled with the blood and flesh of slaughtered animal-sacrifices. This is our holy site: a slaughterhouse. But if we try to perceive the korbanot as an external expression of a deep, internal feeling, a feeling of love and strong, genuine desire to draw nearer to the Almighty, then perhaps we will arrive at a somewhat different picture. Why is it that today, when we do not have a Beit Hamikdash, we find it difficult to grasp the concept of korbanot, whereas in Biblical times we find considerable attention given to this realm, which served as the primary expression of man’s relationship to his God? Tanach is filled with descriptions of sacrifices offered to Hashem on the one hand, and to pagan deities on the other. It appears that there was always a strong attraction to religious worship in a direct, authentic manner, while today, the notion of idolatrous worship has no place in our culture. Descriptions of korbanot therefore seem irrational and have an immediate association with paganism. Was this caused by mankind’s cultural progress, in which case we should view this as a regression, rather than progression, in the development of human culture?

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The longing for the restoration of the Beit HaMikdash is a longing to return to that deep, direct relationship, only in a more mature and secure form.” The Gemara tells that the Sages of Israel saw just how much damage idolatry caused both in the world-at-large and within the Jewish camp in particular. They therefore decided to eliminate the inclination towards idolatry from the world, which also caused the elimination of prophecy from Am Yisrael. This means that the world underwent a fundamental transformation at that point. The entire nature of the relationship between man and God changed drastically. Throughout the Biblical period, Am Yisrael experienced a bilateral relationship with the Almighty. During this period,

the people knew, through the prophets, how Hashem viewed their conduct, what He thought of their behaviour. There was then a strong impulse towards avodat Hashem, an impulse that manifested itself through both korbanot, in accordance with Hashem’s will, and idolatry which was always widespread. When this impulse was eliminated, everything changed. This transformation (which occurred approximately at the end of the First Temple period) is often referred to as the transition from nevu’a (prophecy) to chochma (wisdom, scholarship). Now, the relationship is one-sided, and there is a much weaker impulse towards avodat Hashem. Hashem is distant and hidden; we can no longer meet Him through His prophets. Instead, we can get to know Him to a very limited extent through the scholar, through the wisdom of God which is revealed in the Torah and the Sages of Israel. The connection to God is weaker and duller; it is difficult to maintain a connection when one side tries to connect and form a relationship while the other give no explicit response and does not draw tangibly near. |

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HALACHA The longing for the restoration of the Beit HaMikdash is a longing to return to that deep, direct relationship, only in a more mature and secure form. After accumulating a vast wealth of knowledge over the course of the many years of history, after the elimination of paganism and barbarism, it will be possible, so we hope, to restore the impulse towards avodat Hashem that has long since been forgotten. We will once again experience the direct connection with our God through the renewal of prophecy and the renewal of the service of God as described in the Torah. Today, the realm of korbanot perhaps appears peculiar and odd. But with the renewal of our connection with our God, when the longing to serve God directly will return, the concept of korbanot will become something natural and selfevident, perceived as an expression of a deep and direct relationship between the individual, the nation, and its God. °

Halacha Q&A With Rav Shlomo Aviner Technology and Torah

Elad Korsiya served as a shaliach for the Kollel Torah MiTzion in Montreal 2004. He learned in Yeshivat Hesder in Petach Tikva, and is currently studying at Hebrew University for a BA in Psychology and Humanities. Originally from Kiryat Shemona, he now resides in Jerusalem.

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There is nothing wrong with building “a city and a tower with its top in the heavens.” (Bereshit 11:4) There is nothing wrong with “‘Let us make bricks and fire them.’ And the bricks became their building blocks and the clay served them as mortar.” (ibid. 11:3) We are commanded to develop technologically, as the Ramban explains on the verse, “Fill the whole world and conquer it.” (ibid. 1:28) “He gave them the power to rule the world and do what they want with the animals, insects and crawling creatures; to build, to uproot, to quarry copper from its hills, and so forth.” Our Sages commented on the verse, “that God created to make” (ibid. 2:3): Everything that was created in the first six days must be made into something more complete. (Bereshit Rabbah 11:7) For instance, bread is more of a finished product than wheat, and cloth is more useful than flax. Technology only becomes “wrong” when it becomes an end in itself. People forget that it is only a means by which to arrive at the desired end— man’s moral improvement. (See Akedat Yitzchak to

Bereshit 11:1) Indeed our Sages relate that if a man fell from the Tower of Babel and died, no one paid any attention, but if a brick fell, they cried, “Oh, when will we get a replacement?” (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer chapter 24) A philosopher once remarked, “Railways and steamships do not impress me; that is not a sign of civilization.” Human progress means moral and spiritual growth for humanity. True morality is Divine morality. If the Master of the Universe is missing, man has missed the main point. This is the sin of the generation of the Tower of Babel who mistook the unessential for the essential. (See Rashi on Bereshit 11:19) Our Sages say that the atmosphere around the Tower of Babel causes forgetfulness. It makes us forget the Master of the Universe. Indeed the nations of the world are called “... the nations that forget G-d” (Tehillim 9:18), while the Nation of Israel is “a Nation which knows its G-d.” (Tehillim 9:11) ° Ha-Rav Shlomo Aviner is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ateret Yerushalayim. This article was prepared by Mordechai Friedfertig. To learn more of Rav Aviner’s Torah subscribe at RavAviner-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

HEALTHY LIVING

Health Q&A With Dr. Simcha Shapiro How do we know when we’re pushing ourselves too far?

Q: Dr. Shapiro, I am a 45 year old teacher, A: Dear Not Myself, Pay attention! Your body is sending you a message. husband, and father of 4. I have been While it is probably true that there is noticing that over the past few nothing “medically” wrong with you tomonths, while I have been dealing day, these signs are worrying. It sounds with a very stressful move, I have like you have been under a lot of stress lately. I want you to be healthy for many not been feeling myself. I have years to come, to participate in all of the done many more physically demany simchas that your family will have. manding things in the past, without Your body is telling you that it can not feeling it at all. I have been having support your lifestyle over time. It may be time to re-evaluate what you are dooccasional chest pains, heading, and if it is worth it. Stress is one of aches, and just haven’t felt quite the leading causes of illness. Your body right. I went to my doctor. She is made up of a masterfully balanced checked my heart, took blood, and system of organs and tissues, dynamidid a general physical. Everything cally working at every given moment to respond to your needs. This system can checked out OK, but I still don’t respond to a huge range of things that feel well. What can I do? come our way in life, but it has its limits — Not Myself . 20

How do we know that we are pushing ourselves too far? 1. Getting sick more often— We are constantly around bacteria and viruses that can act as a source of infection. Why didn’t I get sick last month, but this month I have been sick three times? Rarely is our exposure to regular illnesses so different from one time to the next. Over time, stress weakens our immune system and makes us more susceptible to infections. 2. Non-specific symptoms that medically check out OK (please get checked by your doctor if you have any of these)— headaches that are not normal for you, chest pains, fatigue out of proportion to your life (if you get 5 hrs. of sleep at night, go to sleep and then see how you are feeling), digestive disturbance. While these can all be signs of serious illness and should be checked by a medical professional, much of the time these symptoms are stress related. |

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HEALTHY LIVING 3. I r r i t a b i l i t y — N o r m a l l y , m o s t people can deal with the little bumps in day-to-day life. If these “bumps” start to feel more like “mountains”, you might by pushing yourself too far. 4. Emergency Mode- When everything in life needs to happen NOW!, it is a sure sign that you have pushed too far. More on this below. We can understand how this works by comparing a person to a car. Cars have a system of shock absorbers that mitigate the forces transmitted through the car by the bumps in the road. When working well, the driver of the car may not even be aware of many of the bumps in the road that they are traveling on. When this system does not work, every bump feels like a traumatic experience. Our bodies and psyches also have a buffering system. When operating well, we can flow with the ups and downs in life— the occasional need to run for a bus or re-arrange our schedule for a sick child at home. When one has exhausted their buffer, these types of “bumps” in the road of life are devastating. What is an over-stressed, no-bufferleft, not-feeling-myself person to do to extract themselves from this predicament? STOP!

Take a day or two and go to somewhere in nature. Leave your cell phone, Blackberry, Palm, computer, etc. at home. It may feel impossible; after all everything in life is overwhelming when you have no buffer. Recognize that the inability to stop is one of the symptoms that you have certainly lost your buffer, and with it a healthy perspective on life.

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Maybe you feel that you can not afford to take time off. Can you afford not to?” There are very few things in life that can not wait a day or two. One can not even consider a change in direction when they are so overwhelmed that all that they can think of is how to move forward on their present path. Maybe you feel that you can not afford to take time off. Can you afford not to? When this leads to its eventual end of illness, you will then be taking many days off to lay in bed, or worse, in the hospital. Which would you prefer: vacation or sick in bed?

While you are taking time off, ponder the following questions. Their answers may be very revealing. 1. How do you spend the hours in your day? What percentage to you devote to work? Family? Yourself? What percentage do you want to be devoting to the above areas of your life? 2. If you found out, G-d forbid, that you had a serious illness, what would you do differently in your life? A return to a dynamic, supportive, healthy life starts with the creation of space/time. This is your first step. The long term solutions to dealing with an overstressed life are beyond the scope of this article, and will be addressed in the future. I will look forward to reading your emails in response to what I have written... that is, after I get back from vacation! ° Dr. Simcha Shapiro is a US trained physician and osteopath. He is the founder and director of the Listening Hands Institute in the Maalot Dafna neighborhood of Jerusalem. He can be contacted via his website www.listeninghands.co.il

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Machon Hamikdash:

Revitalizing the real center of Jewish life.

Jerusalem’s Temple Institute integrates texts and technology to develop a deeper understanding of the significance of the Temple in contemporary life.

ave you ever thought about how your life would have been had you lived in another century? Another millennium? We all know that contemporary Jewish life differs greatly from the period of the Beit HaMikdash which existed over 1,900 years ago. For a relatively short span of time in our history the two edifices stood, but, since their destruction the significance of each structure has made indelible impacts on our culture, traditions, prayers and in some respects even our entire lives. We are meant to pray three times a day for the restoration of the Beit HaMikdash. Most of our tefilla is deeply rooted in the services that took place in the Beit HaMikdash. We have numerous rituals in our religious and cultural lives that serve to remind us of the Beit HaMikdash. Yet, how many of us can honestly say that we deeply yearn for its reconstruction? More emphatically, how many of us have an accurate perception as to what the existence with the Beit HaMikdash entails? What would modern Jewish life be if indeed, our Holy Temple stood once again? We pray for its reconstruction everyday, but do we really understand the meaning behind these prayers? For those visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, take a few minutes to step into another world where ancient traditions come alive. Where, just down the road from Bonkers Bagels on Rechov Misgav Ladach, life in the Beit HaMikdash is revitalized, right before your very eyes. For Rav Yisrael Ariel and the research fellows at the Temple Institute, or Machon HaMikdash, as it is more

commonly known in Hebrew, questions regarding the Temple are not just philosophical, theoretical issues. The former paratrooper from the Six Day War and former Chief Rabbi of the Yamit settlement in Sinai, Rav Ariel established the Institute exactly twenty years ago. Recognized by the Ministry of Education as a bona fide academic institution, the Temple Institute serves to study and reach the highest levels of understanding of the Beit HaMikdash. The researchers do not only discuss lofty, complex ideas about sacrifices and the architectural infrastructure of the building; they work with craftsmen, designers, gemologists, welders, and other professionals to actually rebuild exact replicas of the Temple’s vessels.

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Just down the road from Bonkers Bagels on Rechov Misgav Ladach, life in the Beit HaMikdash is revitalized, right before your very eyes.” “When you start to actually build the vessels, you begin to see the practical problems involved. It makes you think about what can or cannot be modified in our modern day and age. When you’re building a vessel, suddenly the [Torah] texts become real. There is a realization of the difference between theoretical and practical issues, and the complications therein,” says Yehuda Glick, Executive Director of the Institute. The finest public archetype of the In-

stitute’s vessels can be seen in the middle landing of the stairs going to or from the Western Wall (the Kotel). Standing radiantly encased in glass stands the jewel of the Temple Institute’s vessels: a 45kg menorah made of solid gold that carries with it an estimated cost of $3 million. “Take the example of the menorah,” says Glick. “The Torah tells us explicitly that it must be made of ‘pure gold.’ Does this mean 14 karat gold? 24 karat gold? We know that the higher the quality of gold, the softer it is. How would a 24 karat gold menorah stand up?” He continues to explain one of the difficulties in figuring out the bigdei kehuna, or Priestly garments. “The text tells us there were ’yahalomim’ (diamonds) in the Kohen’s clothing, yet gemologists and scholars maintain that the oldest ‘diamond’ is only 400 years old. So what does this mean? What size was this ‘yahalom’? How much would such a garment today? Can we have it machine-made or must they be sewn by hand? There are clearly financial considerations when faced with these practical issues,” notes Glick. As the researchers continue to delve into the Temple’s intricacies, the Institute is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with some one-of-a-kind projects. First, they are manufacturing and selling 120 sets of actual bigdei kehuna, which will only be sold to Kohanim. The other project is the kiyur, or tub, a huge technological enterprise in itself. In efforts to be environmentally safe, the kiyur will not waste any water. The rabbinic authorities ensure that it fits all halachik requirements, and the water inside the vessel will be heated. The structure will |

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Menora: The $3,000,000 Menora serve thousands of kohanim daily. The non-profit organization received a grant from a Ukrainian philanthropist, who sees the Institute as serving a niche role in the future of the Jewish people. “There’s a story about the Chofetz Chaim who had a suitcase packed in his home, in case Mashiach arrived. Being prepared and ready with the vessels is clearly an expression of making concrete efforts in preparation for the Beit HaMikdash,” Glick says. The Institute is currently seeking donations for a number of projects including the publication of several books, the creation of a high quality educational DVD and to support the research fellows at the Institute. In addition, there are plans to establish a World Center for Temple Knowledge which will include multimedia programs, and a hi-tech exhibit. Currently, the Institute hosts an educational branch with both domestic and international curricula available for schools and groups of all ages. In addition, they have a lecture series, educational plays, films, DVD’s and other www.shiurtimes.com

study tools. They have established satellite educational programs in numerous schools and communities throughout the country. These programs were first established during the Intifada, when many principals discontinued the policy of sending pupils to Jerusalem. This situation created a need for a high-tech team of educators who make presentations to groups and schools and so far having reached over 50,000 students. In an age where we are all attached to the computer, the Temple Institute has also a fascinating website that is seen by over 3,000 visitors daily. For those who are unable to make a visit personally to the Institute, take a virtual tour of the Beit HaMikdash on their website. Choose a topic, and listen to the audio/video lectures, a weekly radio show or utilize the plethora of study resources to enrich your understanding of the Temple. Almost two thousand years have lapsed without the edifice that was once the center of all of Jewish life, yet it is embedded into our collective memory and identity. If there is one institution

that has made tangible preparations for the third Temple (bimheira b’yameinu), it is the Machon HaMikdash, and we are grateful. The Institute offers a unique opportunity today to get involved. Educate yourselves, sponsor a project, contribute to rebuilding the Temple’s vessels. Surely it is a meaningful way to commemorate the memory of a loved one, not just for your community, but for all of Am Yisrael. Upon your next visit to the Old City, check out the exhibit space and store of Machon HaMikdash. Seeing their incredibly mesmerizing projects will give you a glimpse into what one-third of the mitzvoth are actually based upon. You will quickly realize the beauty and significance of rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash. The museum and store of Machon HaMikdash is located at Misgav Ladach St. #19, right past Bonkers Bagels, in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. ° For more information on Machon HaMikdash, or see www.templeinstitute.org/.

FAMILY

Knowledge is Power Parents equipped with information may grant their ADD child a better life

by Yael Solomon

he life of a parent who cares for a child diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD is not an easy one. There tends to be a pendulum-swinging of emotions, anywhere from denial (“My child does not have ADD!”) to guilt (“What did I do wrong to make my child this way?”) to anger, frustration and pure exhaustion. Every child is a unique creature; full of magnanimous potential and divine gifts. A child diagnosed with ADD/ ADHD is no different, yet they do share some symptomatic commonalities that partly contribute to a parent’s increased hardships. According to Dr. Brian Amen, author of Healing ADD, these core behaviors are: short attention span, distractibility, difficulty with organization, trouble with “follow through,” and poor internal supervision. Understanding these individual symptoms is the first, crucial step for the proactive parent to take in hopes of reframing their child’s behavior. What tends to confuse not only parents, but educators as well, is that the ADD/ADHD child seems to be able to either watch T.V. or play on the computer for endless hours, yet when it comes to doing their homework or chores, they simply cannot attend. Any activity that

“Understanding these individual symptoms is the first, crucial step for the proactive parent to take in hopes of reframing their child’s behavior.” is stimulating to the child (whether it’s frightening or exciting) causes adrenaline to be produced in the brain and increases his ability to concentrate. A common myth about ADD is that the child would be fine if he/she worked harder, but this is not the case for a child with ADD. Engaging in routine, mundane tasks is extremely difficult for them. If they find the activity boring, they simply cannot focus. The harder an ADD child tries to concentrate, the more difficult it becomes. This is because the part of the brain involved in concentration and attention tires out and simply shuts down at the precise moment he needs it shift into high gear. The challenge for

the parent and teacher alike is to help create assignments that are exciting for the child to do to help bolster his overall motivation. Another common myth regarding ADD/ADHD is that most children display signs of hyperactivity and that they are usually boys. While evidence shows that most ADD children (both girls and boys) are not hyperactive, ironically they are overlooked because they do not create school disturbance. They are usually described by their teachers as “unmotivated,” “lazy” and “daydreamers.” Unfortunately, because of their distractibility, these children’s holistic cognitive abilities are questioned. These children find it difficult to block out unwanted stimuli; the “background” noise tends to be competing for the same attention as what it is they are trying to focus on, like a teacher’s instructions or a test. Furthermore, children with ADD/ ADHD usually have difficulty organizing both his/her space and time. Backpacks tend to be messy and look like they have been hit by a hurricane. The same concept can be applied to how they manage their time. Homework and chores take exorbitant amounts of time, which frequently leading to altercations between parent and child. I stress the importance of accepting without rancor if one’s child is diagnosed as having an attention deficit spectrum disorder. At the same time, it is extremely important to avoid viewing your child through the prism of that diagnosis. It is essential to understand that that the ADD or ADHD does not represent the essence of your child, where his/her inherent talents or potential may lie or even necessarily diminish his potential to realize them. As a parent, the more knowledge you have about your own child’s challenges and effective treatment strategies, the better you can help improve both your child’s quality of life, as well as your own. The struggles are real and you deserve a tremendous amount of support as you cope with the challenges of raising a child with ADD. When you arm yourself with data, you can better represent your child to his teacher, his doctor and himself/herself. ° Yael Solomon is a licensed educational psychologist and made aliyah 12 years ago. She has a private practice in both Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. She offers 8-week parenting courses for those with children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. For further information and to schedule an appointment, please call 054-842-0628.

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MUSIC

HaMakor Fusing Carlebach folk with electronic trance, meaningful lyrics and a natural-born Solomon. What can be a better formula for a winning sound? by TightRope Productions

aMakor: def.: The Source [sawrs, sohrs] - any thing or place from which something comes, arises, or is obtained; origin. Groups of American yeshiva and college students line up outside a wellknown music venue in Jerusalem. A number of young, new bands are on the lineup for the night, but most of the crowd hangs outside the actual hall to chat and grab something to eat. HaMakor gets on stage, plugs a few chords and within minutes, the entire audience is on the dance floor or in their seats reveling in the unique sound of HaMakor. There’s something familiar about it; many of the lyrics are tradition pasukim with a bit of a folky, Carlebach flair. But there’s something else to it; there’s a warm texture; electronic and trance. Steady beats and an amazing lead singer. It doesn’t matter whether the audience picks up the power in the band or the band feeds off the energy of the audience. The hall is a-rockin’. Nachman Solomon, singer/songwriter of Solomon family fame, is the founder of HaMakor. He has put together a fantastic group of talented musicians including lead guitarist, Rebbe Soul, bass player Jonathan Fialka and keyboardist Ben Frimer. With drummer Jono Landon supwww.shiurtimes.com

plying the steady rhythm behind the long trance sets, the electric energy on stage becomes palpable. Drawing influence from the worlds of jazz, world, and trance with the Jewish content is what makes the band so unique. The fusion has captured audiences around the world, including their latest tour to Poland during Chanukah.

“It doesn’t matter whether the audience picks up the power in the band or the band feeds off the energy of the audience. The hall is a-rockin’.”

munity were Carlebach style, but they also played original material. Though the Polish audiences did not understand the songs, their meanings came alive simply by listening. Drummer Jono Landon says, “It’s important to me to believe in the person who’s writing the songs and singing them. He [Nachman] is a sweet neshama, he is pure and respectful and it’s important to be part of a project where we all respect one another’s talents.” The band will begin to plan a tour in the USA, including the Salute to Israel Concert in Central Park on June 1st. As for Israel, they hope to penetrate the Israeli music market. See HaMakor live on March 10th at the Yellow Submarine in Talpiyot, Jerusalem and March 11th at Tuesday Night Live at Heichal Shlomo. ° Check out HaMakor www.myspace.com/hamakorband for a full schedule or contact Jonty at TightRope Productions.E

HaMakor spent their nights playing in the synagogues and nightclubs of Lodz and Warsaw. They also performed in the Auschwitz Jewish Center, playing to an audience made of up local high school students. “We started to play Am Yisrael Chai and they were clapping along… it was surreal.” Most of the songs in the Jewish com-

In Focus

Yehudit Singer

Heading West & East: Hi-Tech Solutions to the Brain Drain As minds flee to the west and souls trek east, two innovations in hi-tech will eventually bring people back.

xperts now say that the biggest threat to Israel is not security or political instability, but the emigration of the country’s best and brightest minds. According to a study conducted by Jerusalem’s Shalem Center, educated people in Israel are increasingly heading west. As Israel’s talented citizens voyage starry-eyed to Western countries where more lucrative opportunities evidently pervade, Israel’s soul seekers tend to head in the other direction in a quest for spiritual fulfillment and self-identity. Though the two trends are not directly correlated, it is clear that Israeli society is failing to keep both groups of these seekers at home. Fortunately, two unique initiatives are actively working to replenish the pool of talented brains and complacent souls. Though concrete numbers are difficult to attain, some say that approximately 50,000 Israelis travel to areas such as India and Nepal annually. Just as the brain drain heads West, the drained soul flocks East. Though the majority of the backpackers heading East are not Torah-observant, they ostensibly quest

towards a fulfillment that can and should be reachable within the framework of Judaism. Instead, they temporarily find their tranquil place on the colorful floors of the ashram in Varanassi. Do these young people put in the same efforts to explore their own heritage? They spend decades living in the Holy Land, yet why can’t they seem to find a viable Jewish outlet that can satiate their existential quest? One online solution that works to educate Israelis on Judaism is Moreshet’s “Ask the Rabbi” forum. Rav Yuval Sherlow alone has provided over 25,000 answers. His virtual presence constitutes an innovative spirit of a different kind— one that is attracting Israelis of all sorts. The Rosh Yeshivat Hesder in Petach Tikvah is coined as the “Internet Rabbi.” He is not bothered by discussing sensitive, often-taboo topics that range from going “off the derech” to homosexuality, domestic violence, refusing orders in the army, and the ideal model of a modern, religious state. He makes sure to provide short answers, as most people who ask questions are not interested in reading

lengthy halachik discourse. Through the activity on the Moreshet website, perhaps those trekking East will rediscover the richness of Judaism. On a separate plane, two young entrepreneurs have taken the challenge of Israel’s “brain drain” in their own hands. With hi-tech entrepreneurship practically running through his veins, Nir Kouris has chosen to “bring the brains back” by establishing Israel’s first international technology summer camp: eCamp Israel. Together with his co-CEO Dotan Tamir, eCamp Israel is designed to expose young people to the world of Israel’s position as a global leader in hi-tech. eCamp Israel will be based in the eVillage of Aloney Yitzhak, 28 miles (45 km) from Tel Aviv. The camp will take full advantage of being home to the second largest number of start ups in the world by meeting with the industry’s top entrepreneurs including the originator behind AOL’s Instant Messenger. Campers will also visit leading research centers such as Intel, Microsoft, Google and Motorola. “As one of the global centers of technological innovation, it is time Israel gives back some of our know-how and share it with children from around the world,” said Kouris. “The time has come to bring the brains back.” Indeed for a tiny country with a track record of political and security instability (to say the least), and a population of 7 million, Israel’s hi-tech achievements are beyond praiseworthy. It is indeed about time that international students begin to appreciate the innovations that Israel’s industry has brought to the world. By the same token, with the increasing number of Israelis who are voyaging West for higher salaries, and East in a quest for spiritual fulfillment, today the leaders can take active roles in the virtual world to centralize the place of Torah and Israel in the lives of Jews around the world. ° |

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HI-TECH

Finding Wisdom Connecting great ideas with great people, MavenHaven is an innovative e-strategy that connects “Mavens” with “Havens.”

avenHaven.com is the new system being used by hundreds of speakers across the Jewish Community to find paying speaking engagements, and by venues to seek out the talent that makes programs great. Quietly launched from Israel last October by three young entrepreneurs, Aharon Horwitz, Ariel Beery, and Jason Lustig, MavenHaven.com is quickly becoming the most effective way for a speaker to reach out in a few clicks to hundreds of relevant venues—at the same time organizations are using MavenHaven.com to brainstorm for talent, and contact speakers and performers that are relevant to them. “Our goal is to give individual speakers and program planners the tools they need to quickly and efficiently promote themselves and find the talent they need for their programs,” says founder and CEO Aharon Horwitz, “It’s incredible about how excited people have become. No longer do they have to spend hours crawling the web finding phone numbers and email addresses. Now they just log into MavenHaven.” MavenHaven.com works by enabling speakers and venues to create interest, location, and cost profiles, and it uses that information alongside its own special algorithm’s and profiling tools to suggest relevant matches. Among the brand name speakers already listed on MavenHaven. com are best selling historian Michael Oren, New Republic Columnist Yossi Klein Halevi, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, Award Winning author Haim Watzman, alongside institutions and organizations such as Hillels, synagogues, federations, camps, and foundations. Jason Lustig, CTO and lead developer, noted that “we’ve done a lot to develop our own heuristics for matching, and each day it is becoming more and more effective in providing our clients with the contacts they seek to effect bookings and create programs that make constituents stand up and cheer.” In MavenHaven lingo, the speakers are Mavens and the venues are Havens. MavenHaven.com’s goal is to let these www.shiurtimes.com

“MavenHaven.com is quickly becoming the most effective way for a speaker to reach out in a few clicks to hundreds of relevant venues.”

actors take advantage of the internet’s connection making power in a market that is traditionally dominated by exclusive agents and bureaus that charge high percentages of speakers’ fees. MavenHaven.com is free to join and currently free to use. It’s upcoming release in April—aimed at smoothing out the booking and talent search process—will feature some for pay tools, but joining and getting the resultant exposure will remain free. For more information see www.mavenhaven.com. °

HI-TECH

10 Questions for a Hi-Tech Guru Talking with Emmanuel Benzaquen, CEO of Checkmarx by ShiurTimes Staff 1. What is your background? I have a BSc. and MSc. in Electrical Engineering from France, and was a Research Fellow studied in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence in the UK. After I finished in the UK, I moved to California, where I got my MBA. I shifted from the theoretical world of Academics to Marketing and Business Development. I worked in a number of start-ups in the Silicon Valley and made my way to various senior positions. All of these experiences let me see the full spectrum of start-ups. Currently, I am the CEO of Checkmarx, a leading hi-tech software start-up here in Israel. 2. Take us through the life cycle of a start-up company. All start-ups begin with an idea. You begin to brainstorm with a few people discreetly, because if there’s no patent on the idea, there’s no guarantee that it indeed belongs to any one person. Once you begin brainstorming, you approach key people in the field and/or other successful entrepreneurs. You then draft an executive summary. Nowadays, if it’s possible, you should build a prototype; something that gives a raw layout of the particular project. In the ‘90’s, building a prototype

Silicon Valley wasn’t necessary to show investors, but now they want to see something concrete. Once the initial funding is secured, the project can begin. There are multiple exit strategies: IPO (Initial Public Offering), M&A (Merger and Acquisition) or the worst: bankruptcy. 3. What options are there for funding for new projects? There are a few options. Among them, there are private investors, Angel Funds, Incubators, and/or Venture Capital Funds. Depending

“When I succeed, Israel succeeds. You just can’t say that about anywhere else in the world. ” on which one the start-up goes through, they either acquire the seed money to get the project off the ground or other resources to build a solid foundation. Only

serial entrepreneurs may go directly to a VC. In fact, in Israel, there are very few proactive VC’s. In general it is much easier to go through them if you are a serial entrepreneur with a highly successful reputation. 4. How long does a start-up stay in the incubator? Usually, they stay in the incubator for a duration of anywhere between 18-24 months. During this time they get guidance, supervision, and learn the basics outside their field of knowl|

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HI-TECH edge. After this period, they become independent. As a matching part for entering the incubator program, an entrepreneur will have to cede a substantial amount of his or the start-up shares. 5. What would you say are the building blocks for success? First of all, it’s essential to have a good vision and an excellent team. I believe that ethics, reliability and creativity are keys. One must always have a solid reputation and deliver on one’s word. A good dose of boldness doesn’t hurt too! 6. What keeps a particular company ahead of its competitors? I would say that the same thing for the individual goes for the company: ethics, reliability, creativity. What we all need to keep in mind is that success is made up of 20% technology and 80% execution. Without a small kernel of very dedicated people who are ready to work day and night, you will not stay ahead. 7. What are the aspects of Israeli society that charges its start-up culture? In the start-up culture, you must be bold and a risk taker. That is exactly what describes Israelis. We are bold, arrogant and we always know better. A lot of the technology in the fields of software and security and other industry initiatives here are derived from the Israeli army, largely recognized as one of the best in the world, so it’s no wonder we are at the top of the industry. 8. What would you say are the top growing industries in Israel today? Within the hi-tech field, some of the top industries are within Security (like Check Point, and Aladdin), Telecom and Services (Comverse, Amdocs, NICE), and Semiconductor (DSP Group and its derived various www.shiurtimes.com

start-ups.) Hi-tech is the best known industry within Israel and makes up for over a good third of the Israeli economy directly or indirectly. In addition to hi-tech, Israel is also a leader in bio-tech and clean-tech, which produces environmentally safe technology. Since energy conservation is such a huge issue now, I think clean-tech has the most potential to emerge as a top industry here. 9. If you were so successful in Silicon Valley, why did you choose to be part of a start-up in Israel? Yes, I had been working very hard in California. It was very intense and after ten years, I needed a break which I thought I would be getting in Israel (laughing). As a Jew, I believed it was important to bring Israel into my life. In Israel, achievement is more meaningful. What better manifestation of Zionism that to help employ Israeli people and sustain implicitly their associated families? To help the economy and the reputation of the country? At some point in your life, your convictions need to be in perfect osmosis with your actions and that is what Israel is all about for me. That is what being a Jew is about. There is motivation here that goes beyond being an entrepreneur; it is about reconnecting to Israel, being able to convey a message proudly because I am a Jew who lives in Israel and this is my company that is succeeding in Israel. These are inseparable. When I succeed, Israel succeeds. You just can’t say that about anywhere else in the world. 10. What are your aspirations for the future? I want still dream to retire by the time I’m 40 and if I am lucky I may actually get married (laughing). I want to leave a good track record for myself and Israel. And I hope to get more involved in the community and politics. °

Hi Tech Products

Virtual Beit HaMikdash Free Virtual Tour Offers Entire World Glimpse of Temple Mount

he Temple Institute has launched a virtual tour of the Temple Mount, which will allow everyone to experience a first-hand look

at Judaism’s holiest site. By going into the website of the Temple Institute, one can now view a tour of the location through a video taken by

the Director of the International Department, Rabbi Chaim Richman, Director of the International Department of the Temple Institute. Access is free of cost. The video offers hitorical information regarding Mt. Moriah, its development and its significnace to Judaism. It also explains the laws regarding what areas are permitted for Jews to walk upon, according to numerous rabbinical authorities. Taking the virual tour will also provide details as to the locations of various parts of the Temple. The fact that thee are varying opinions about being allowed to visit the Temple

Mount actually makes Rabbi Richman more excited about the enterprise. He feels that establishing this virual tour will allow Jews around the world to visit a location that they are physically cannot. Moreover, for those that have halachik opposition, such a video gives them an opportunity to have a taste of what visit would entail. For those who take interest in a visit to Har HaBayit, but for whatever reason able to make the pilgrimage, log onto www.templeinstitute.org. The depth of Rabbi Richman’s online virtual tour is until this point unparalleled. °

Medical Israel’s InSightec hopes to ease the pain of bone cancer

n Israeli-developed ultrasound treatment could have the answer to alleviate the pain caused by tumors in latestage cancer patients. ExAblate 2000 is a non-invasive, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery system that thermally ablates, or destroys, tumors inside the body. Developed by Tirat Carmel company InSightec, it has already been approved for treatment of women suffering from uterine fibroids - a pervasive condition that impacts up to 70 percent of childbearing age women and leads to serious symptoms and complications. Since 2004, when it received FDA approval, some 3,500 women around the world have undergone treatment. InSightec expects to enroll 148 patients with bone metastases for the new clinical trial which is expected to take place at 15 centers across the US and abroad, including hospitals in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Rochester, San Diego, Houston, Burlington, and Toronto. The company is now obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from each of these sites. Bone is the third most common tissue to which cancer spreads, after the lungs and liver. Almost all patients with metastatic prostate cancer have skeletal metastases, and in breast cancer, bone is the second most common site of metastatic

spread, affecting 90 percent of patients with progressive breast cancer. Most cancer patients suffer from pain and its control and management is an important goal of treatment. InSightec was founded in 1999 by Vortman and Oded Tamer. The company is headquartered near Haifa and has over 150 employees. It has invested more than $100 million in research, development, and clinical investigations. US headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas. The company is privately owned by Elbe Imaging (EMI), General Electric, Ameritech Advisors, LLC and employees. Last month the company was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer for 2008. Chosen from a pool of 273 nominees, it was picked for innovation in developing and applying technologies deemed highly transformational in the area of health. ° (excerpts taken from article on israel21c.org by Stephanie L. Freid)

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HI-TECH

Did you know?

Zomet: technology and halacha meet

10 facts about Israel’s Hi-Tech Industry

Creating Shabbat-permissible devices to benefit modern society.

The first foreign multinational companies to establish R&D centers in Israel: Motorola (1964), IBM (1972) National semiconductors (1978)

T he first Israeli company to be traded on a US stock exchange was Elscient (hi-tech company) in 1972

3. 4.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel. Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.

T he technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis

T he cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

ost of the Windows NT and XP M operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration hi-tech companies in the world — apart from the Silicon Valley, US.

I n the field of medicine, Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

10.

lans are currently underway to inP stall the world’s first electric car network in Israel by 2011. The project aims to decrease global dependence on foreign oil from undemocratic regimes, and mitigates health and environmental damages caused by emissions from gas-burning vehicles.

Courtesy of the Joint Action Taskforce and LightSpeedAnalyst Insights, and www.israel21c.net

www.shiurtimes.com

Thirty years ago, Rav Rozen, a seasoned engineer, rav and dayan (judge), established the Zomet Institute in effort to address issues and the parameters surrounding halacha and technology. They also produce relatively inexpensive halachically-viable solutions for situations that would be impossible without the advent of technology. Due to the creation of many of Zomet’s projects, thousands of individuals can function in society on Shabbat and holidays without feeling deprived. According to Dan Marans, Executive Director of Zomet, “many times we can be overlook issues that are issur d’rabanan (prohibited from the rabbis) if it comes at the expense of Oneg Shabbat.” They consult with leading gedolei hador (Torah scholars) such as Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav Noivert (author from Shmirat Shabbat Kehillchata), leading rabbis from Yeshiva University and others. For hospital patients, for example, Zomet designed a hospital bed equipped with a simple system which allows the patient to contact the nurse without opening or closing an electrical circuit. Relying on the principle of hamshachat matzav (continuation of the present status), the system has been installed in thousands of hospital beds and geriatric centers. Other products include electric wheelchairs, patrol vehicles and metal detectors (like those seen at the Kotel and Maarat HaMachpela in Hebron.) In each situation, Zomet’s products make for the smallest amount of chillul shabbat (violation of the Sabbath) as possible. Another example of Zomet’s innovation comes to the aid of farmer, kibbutz workers and other agriculturalists. While the action of milking cows on Shabbat poses halachic problems of melacha (creative work on Shabbat), not milking a cow is also prohibited because it indirectly causes the cow pain and distress.

Zomet solved this problem by developing equipment that enables the cow to be milked and the milk to be preserved, all done efficiently and within halchic confines. This project involves an ongoing effort due to the constant upgrading of machinery in modern dairies. In addition to these technological innovations for the Torah observant world, Zomet also publishes TanChuMin (Torah, Chevra (society) and Medina (state)) which is a multi-volume set that discusses contemporary halachik issues. They are also planning on opening a Torah and Science Educational Center, based in Gush Etzion. °

24 hours response time

HI-TECH

054-688-6718 pcbcomputers@gmail.com 31

SOCIETY

The Secrets of a Rabbinical Scholar Rabbi Benjamin Blech, recently ranked #16 in a listing of the 50 most influential Jews in America, renowned educator, religious leader and lecturer, is about to release his latest work: The Sistine Chapel: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican. This groundbreaking book, which is scheduled to be launched in April, coincides with the 500th anniversary of the commencement by Michelangelo of his work on the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Blech’s book, which is completely non-fictional and based on accurate historical facts, will reveal to the world fascinating Jewish secrets hidden deep in the Vatican and previously unknown. Following a personal audience with the late Pope John Paul II, Rabbi Blech was instrumental in securing the loan of precious Jewish manuscripts for exhibi-

tion in Israel. He is presently involved in further negotiations for the return of valuable Judaica held by the Vatican that may well prove to be of historic significance. Blech’s Understanding Judaism: The Basics of Deed and Creed, was chosen by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations as “the single best book on Judaism in our generation.” A professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University, he has also been lecturing around the world for years, and serves as Scholar-in-Residence in countless Jewish communities, and is an active supporter of countless Jewish causes. He has appeared on USA national television, including on the Oprah Winfrey Show; and written for Newsweek, The New York Times and Newsday. This Passover, Rabbi Blech will be scholar-in-residence in Israel at both of Eddie’s Travel’s Pesach programs. He

will be at the Daniel Dead Sea from Shabbat HaGadol until Yom Tov Rishon, including leading the Seder, and at the Sheraton Tiberias for the remainder of the Chag. Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat will then take over at the Dead Sea. ° The late Eddie Freudmann, (z’l), founder of Eddie’s Travel, was a pioneer of kosher travel. He initiated the Luxury Kosher Cruise concept over two decades ago, and also ran the first Anglo Pesach program in Israel 21 years ago at the Sheraton Hotel in Tiberias. Today Eddie’s Travel is well known for its high standard of personalized service and product quality offering luxury vacations to the discerning kosher traveler at 5 star resorts on the Chagim as well as its famous top quality cruises.

Join the #1 fastest growing English magazine in Israel ShiurTimes is looking for talented and exprienced Marketing/Sales Associates and top-caliber Graphic Designers Hebrew and English required Send CV to staff.editors@shiurtimes.com 32

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Join us with your family to enjoy a warm and festive holiday.

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•Rich breakfast served near the pool •For children + babies special meals •Daily Tfilot and conferences in Hebrew, English and French •Beautiful sandy beaches just 150 m from the hotel •Two pools (dedicated hours for Separate Swimming) •Sport activities such as tennis, mini-golf, billiards, and aerobics. •Song evenings, cantorial shows and much more •Greek evening with music and shows •Excursions during Hol-Hamoed (optional) Glatt-Kosher, Non-Gebrokts. Trusted kashrus supervisors led by Rabbi Moshe Nahshoni from Rishon-Letzion, Israel.

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SOCIETY

Jewish Community:

Life in Iran by Orly R. Rahimiyan

he cataclysmic event of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 had distinct ramifications for Iranian Jews. Since then, approximately two-thirds of the Jewish community (including most of the religious and social leadership) has left Iran. The revolution’s virulent anti-Israel and anti-Zionist stance aroused hostile feelings towards world Jewry and affected attitudes toward the Jews in Iran. In response to these attitudes, the Jewish community that stayed in Iran has adopted the formula that Judaism and Zionism are wholly distinct entities. Haroun Yahaya’i, head of Iran’s Jewish community, has stated: ‘’We are Jews, not Zionists. We are a religious community, not a political one.’’ This distinction is still generally endorsed in official statements, as vague as it may seem. Freedom of worship is not as restricted as one would imagine. Religious minorities (with the exception of the Baha’is) are protected, at least by letter of law, under Article 13 of the 1979 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which states: ”Zoroastrian, Jewish and Christian Iranians are the only recognized religious minorities who, within the limits of the law, are free to perform the religious rites and ceremonies and to act according to their own cannon in matters of personal affairs and religious education.” The city of Tehran, for example, has eleven functioning synagogues, many of them with Hebrew schools. It has two kosher restaurants, a Jewish hospital, an

old-age home, a cemetery and a Jewish library with 20,000 titles. Interestingly, Iranian Jews have some freedoms that Muslim Iranians don’t have. Jewish women, like Muslim women, are required by law to keep their heads covered, however most wear a simple scarf in place of the more restrictive chador. Unlike Muslims, Jews are allowed to use alcohol for religious purposes. Some Hebrew schools are co-ed, and men and women dance with each other at weddings, practices strictly forbidden for Muslims.

‘‘

Jews stay in Iran because they have their jobs, their lives and they love it.” During the revolution itself, a wave of anti-Israeli sentiment swept over Iran. Private wealth was confiscated on large scales, which sent thousands of the more wealthy Jews fleeing to the United States or Israel. In response, the remaining Jews have tried to compensate for their diminishing numbers by adopting a new religious fervor. Families that had been secular in the 1970s started to keep kosher and strictly observe rules regarding Shabbat. The synagogue became the focal point of their social lives. Just as it radically transformed Muslim society, the revolution changed the Jews. In recent years, Iran has become a major center for disseminating radical views regarding anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. For example, Iran promotes the ideas found in the Protocols of the

Photo Credits: JohnBeton

Experts say that today’s Jews of Iran struggle with loving their homeland and a desire to leave.

a SYNAGOGUE IN iSFAHAN Elders of Zion. Heads of the Jewish community have written letters to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, complaining about his Holocaust denial comments. Still, Jewish leaders say their community has far stronger roots in Iran than other Middle East Jewish communities. ‘’We are different from the Jews of the Diaspora. You see the name ‘Persia’ in the Old Testament almost as often as the name ‘Israel.’ The Iranian Jews are very much part of Iran,’’ said Gad Naim, who runs the old-age home in Tehran. The Jews of Iran nowadays are deeply torn between the love of their homeland and the desire to escape from the stifling isolation of Iran. Generally, Jews who have chosen to stay in Iran say that they are content and have no desire to leave their homeland. “Jews stay in Iran because they have their jobs, their lives and they love it” says Shirin Taleh, who left Iran in 2001 for California. To sum up, despite the apparent discriminatory attitudes and laws towards the Jews in Iran, the Jews enjoy a relatively peaceful and comfortable life. However, there is a constant fear that Iran’s political uncertainty can determine their fate. ° Orly R. Rahimiyan is a PhD student in the Middle Eastern Department at Ben-Gurion University and a Fulbright scholar. She is a Teaching Assistant at Ben-Gurion University and a Research Fellow at The Ben Zvi Institute, researching the Jewish communities of the Middle East. She was a research fellow at The Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University, New York, during the spring semester 2007.

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PSYCHOLOGY

Self Confidence When we use our unique talents and recognize our limitations, we trust that G-d will make it all come together.

South American Grill

all-you-can eat Kosher L’mehadrin

by Chana Frumin

hat is the difference between a life of self confidence and a life without it? Why is self confidence an experience that everyone yearns for? Self confidence is a look in the eye, a certain way of standing; a special smile that communicates strength. Self confidence is knowing what one can and cannot do. From this knowledge, we can take initiative and make clear decisions. Self confidence comes from knowing where I end and where Hashem begins. The first commandment says “I am G-d Your G-d.” The word “Your” tells us that we are each in a partnership with G-d. In this relationship I have to do my job, G-d will do His job and these jobs are intimately connected. In any circumstance, there is a role to play that involves my talents and skills which Hashem has granted me. When I use these skills, Hashem responds to me. The certainty of this response is an unending feeling of self confidence which is really a confidence in my relationship to the Creator who created this self to which I attach my name. When people get stuck in life or lack self confidence, they often lose the ability to take initiative. Or, the initiatives they have been taking on are too big and out of proportion to what is personally meaningful to them. By entering into a dialogue with a counselor or friend, they can again discover what would be

‘‘

a meaningful initiative for them to take on given the position in which they find themselves. I have been a shadchanit (matchmaker) for five years. Recently two sweet people— a man and a woman who both have been searching for their life partner for over ten years— met each other. They are taking it slow and celebrating their fourth month anniversary dating. They called to thank me for letting them take their time and for not pressuring them in their dating process. They shared with me that in the past, other shandchanim have called regularly to tell them to get on with marriage, but they both felt they needed to do this in their own special way. In my position, I respond to the special needs of the couple. Some need help; others need space. I know that Hashem has their welfare in His hands. I need only to respond to whatever I am asked to do, and He will take care of the rest. I trust He is doing his part in making marriages, while I do my little part as well as I can. My confidence in letting them do it “their way” comes from knowing how far my role extends and where it stops. I am a partner to the Great Initiative Taker and so I can take my initiatives with confidence. °

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Self confidence comes from knowing where I end and where Hashem begins.”

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COMMUNITY PROFILE

Ashdod The ‘undiscovered diamond’ on the Mediterranean is becoming the perfect alternative to Israel’s larger, more expensive cities.

by Ilene Bloch-Levy

shdod dates back to 17th century BCE when the city was a Canaanite fortress. Three centuries later, Ashdod became one of five magnificent centers in the Philistine kingdom. Subsequent conquests left the city in ruins. Shortly after the State of Israel’s establishment, David Ben-Gurion turned to the then mayor of Netanya, Oded Ben Ami, and asked him to transform Ashdod into “the Netanya of the south.” Today, Ashdod’s population has surpassed Netanya’s. Its diverse, harmonious populace, internationally rich cultural life, stable municipal budget, and innovative educational programs make Ashdod a ‘still undiscovered diamond’ on the Mediterranean. Population: Israel’s fifth largest city with 220,000 residents. Home to Israel’s third largest Charedi population and one of the largest Russian populations. In other cities, this ‘mix’ might lead to conflict, but in Ashdod, it is harmonious. The English speaking population is small, but active, less than 5%. ESCA -English Speaking Community of Ashdod (www.esca.co.il) -- members meet weekly and enjoy a full agenda of programming and activities. Religious life: Rabbi Sheinin is the Chief Rabbi. The large Charedi population (about one-fourth of the city’s total popu-

lation) is supplemented by a substantial orthodox community comprised of veteran Sephardi Ashdodians, newcomers, and with the relocation of the Neve Dekalim Hesder Yeshiva, Chardalnikim. Ashdod also has a conservative synagogue.

‘‘

With more than 300 synagogues, Ashdod is one of the only places in the world where tefillot representing every stream of Judaism can be heard.” The religious population lives in several of the city’s 17 districts: Zayin, Chet and Tet. Each district is a self-contained unit with schools, synagogues, shopping centers and health clinics. With more than 300 synagogues, Ashdod is one of the only places in the world where tefillot representing every stream of Judaism can be heard. Similarly, shiurim are bountiful, so enjoy to your heart’s content. Extensive network of Chareidi schools, 11 religious elementary schools including Torani, three religious high schools, Bnei Akiva Yeshiva, and Ulpana. One more thing: Ashdod has a beach for separate swimming. Employment: Ashdod is home to three industrial areas and several high tech com-

panies including: Elta and Savyon Diagnostics. Intel is a half-hour drive, and with the excellent train system people travel to Tel Aviv and Rishon Lezion. Housing: Apartments in Ashdod cost 25% of those in Tel Aviv. Every type of housing is available, including property along the 11 miles of beach front. Community projects and events: Ashdod has a symphony orchestra, ballet company (the Panov Ballet), two museums, art museum, and a 1000-seat opera house. Ashdod sponsors an annual Yiddish Festival and film festival, and every few years a sculpture competition, where the best sculptures are left to decorate public property. With 30% of the city’s budget for education and 70% high school students taking the matriculation exams, it would appear that Ashdod has done all it can for education. But, this year the city has put together an exciting package of financial incentives and scholarships to encourage college attendance. Transportation: Regular buses to Beer Sheva, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv; 40 trains a day. 70 kilometers to Jerusalem and Beersheva and 35 to Tel Aviv. Excellent intracity transportation. Wide boulevards and easy parking. Walk-able city. ° Community Research Profile has been contributed to ShiurTimes through the Kehillot Tehilla Communities department. www.kehillottehilla.com

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2008

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TRAVEL

Beit Guvrin:

Maresha National Park Visit King Herod’s birthplace and take a walk through a series of interconnected underground caves. by Rabbi Mordechai Weiss

ocated south of Beit Shemesh on Route 35, the Beit Guvrin Maresha National Park provides plenty of sites to enjoy with your family. Maresha, just across from Beit Guvrin, is the more ancient of the two places. The earliest reference to Maresha is in the Tanach. The most important reference that gives us some information about the place was from 3,000 years ago when Rehoboam, the son of Shlomo HaMelech, fortified cities. Maresha was one of these cities. Its fortification was intended to provide early protection against the Philistines for places like Hebron, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, who were on the coast. Assyrians came through and destroyed the area in 701 BCE, but it was rebuilt immediately. In 586 BCE, the city was again destroyed by Babylonians. The population was sent into exile, and although a small minority (8-10%) of Jews remained here, there was now a political vacuum. Edomites from the south moved in. Edomites did not resist the Babylonians so the Babylonians allowed them to move in. They took over the Judahite city and made it an Edomite city. Other people, like the Nabateans,

“The most important reference that gives us some information about the place was from 3,000 years ago when Rehoboam, the son of Shlomo HaMelech fortified cities.”

Jews, Greeks and Arabs lived here also. Over time, Phoenicians from Sidon also moved to Maresha. After being conquered by Alexander the Great, a wall was built around the area. Maresha served as the capital of Idumaea. The city produced wheat, olive oil, and slaves, which were exported to center of empire in Alexandria. The Book of Maccabees refers to this area as a staging ground for some battles fought during the time of Judah Maccabee. Though the Maccabees fought in the area, they did not conquer it. In effort to conquer the area, John Hyrcanus, the nephew of Judah Maccabee, launched a campaign and finally conquered the area in 112 BCE. Most of the residents of Maresha left, destroyed their homes and dumped ruins into their factories in the basements. The well-to-do converted to Judaism. It is believed that Herod’s grandparents converted. Josephus wrote that the city came to end, when it was razed by Matathias Antigonus in 40 BCE during his battle against Herod for rule over Judea. Supported by his Parthian allies, Antigonus destroyed Maresha because Herod was born there, and it was after all, his family’s ancestral city. The site consists of a group of interconnected underground caves, and an area outside where the findings can be sifted. Actual chisel marks made when stone was carved out of ground can be seen. Call ahead to make reservations if you plan to do your own digging. For more information on the area and a tour, call Archaeological Seminars 02-586-2011 to book Dig for a Day (up to 3 hour tour) Children 5-13: $20; Adults Over 13: $25 The site is open from April-September: 8:00-17:00; October-March: 8:00-16:00 ° Rabbi Mordechai Weiss is a licensed tour guide and currently resides in Mitzpeh Yericho and can be reached at rabbiguide@gmail.com.

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2008

HISTORY

Keverim of Esther & Mordechai A look into how the Jews of Iran preserve the tombs of Purim’s heroes. by Orly R. Rahimiyan

he tombs of Esther and Mordechai, according to belief, are located in the city of Hamadan (the Biblical city of Ahmata), in Northwest Iran. They city was summer home of the Achaemenian dynasty that Cyrus established, located in North-West Iran. According to most beliefs, Esther and Mordechai were buried in the tomb (see picture) in the 5th century BCE. According to one of the Persian legends, the tomb and its surroundings were made into an area of refuge for the Iranians during the Arab conquest of Iran in the 7th century BC. As the Arabs stood at the entrance, the Iranian residents went up to the tombs to pray for protection by Esther and Mordechai. With time, a commemoration site was build on top of the tombs. The dates that this site was actually built is a matter of controversy, but it was placed there at some point between the 13-17th centuries. Above the tombs is a structure in Muslim style made of stone, and on top of the roof stands a dome. The entrance door is made of stone, and it’s so low that one must bend down to walk through it. Above the doorway is the pasuk from Isaiah: “Open the gates, and let a righteous nation enter, [A nation] that keeps faith.” (26:2) Inside the building are two rooms: one for removing shoes, and a small inner room. Inside the smaller room are two coffins with embroidered parochet (the ornamental curtain that covering aron kodesh.) The words of Megilat Esther are engraved on top of the coffins. Throughout the years, the sacred Jewish graves became holy to Muslims and Christians. It is customary for women from all religions to visit the site as a sort of pilgrimage, to pray for their children, for spouses and for fertility. They bring colorful fabrics with them, which they place on the tombs and then donate to the prayer room next to it. According to tradition, fabrics that have touched the keverim bring blessings. Those who are in financial or emotional trouble tear off parts of the fabrics and sew them into various articles of clothing. Throughout the year, it is a amongst the Jews to visit the Keverim of Esther and Mordechai. On Purim, crowds of

people come to break the Fast of Esther and hear the Megilla. Those who have taken a (an oath) sometimes sleep there in the hopes that the fast and the holiness of the place will save them. Throughout many generations, the Jews of Hamadan have preserved the keverim and have been strict to fulfill the customs of Purim. Many traditions exist amongst the Jewish community there about the Messiah’s arrival due to their fasting and praying at the site of Esther and Mordechai’s graves. A legend tells of one of the Muslim religious leaders who incited the masses to attack the Jews. Afterwards, on Shabbat, the Jews gathered at the of Esther and Mordechai and prayed there all day and night. At night, an elderly man with an impressive countenance stood up before the Muslim clergyman and said, “I am Mordechai the Jew. Watch out, lest you hurt one of my dear children. Anyone who touches them will not be forgiven!” The morning after, a command came from the King to imprison the Muslim man, and to send him to the capital as a political dissident. Currently, very few Jewish families live in Hamadan, but the structure itself is maintained by the Iranian government, and protected by the Iranian police. Until today, Iranian Jews and non-Jews consider the site holy, and protect it from destruction. °

“At night, an elderly man with an impressive countenance stood up before the Muslim clergyman and said, “I am Mordechai the Jew. Watch out, lest you hurt one of my dear children.”

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INGREDIENTS 1 ¼ cup Diet Cola (not lemon flavored) 1 cup dates, peeled, pitted and chopped brown sugar substitute (equal to ¼ cup brown sugar*) sugar substitute (equal to ½ cup sugar) 2 tablespoons walnut oil ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup almond flour, or finely ground almonds ½ cup whole-wheat flour ½ cup oat flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup chopped nuts of choice** ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional) non-stick cooking spray Preheat oven to 350˚F and line a long loaf pan. Put cola in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from fire, stir in dates and mix well until consistency is smooth (with some dates it may be necessary to blend up either in a food processor or with an immersion blender). Add sugar substitutes and oil and mix. Combine dry ingredients. Add to date mixture 1 cup at a time, stirring well between additions. Beat egg well and add to mixture with

the vanilla, ground nuts and cinnamon. Pour mixture into lined loaf pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Test with a toothpick until it comes out clean. Cool, wrap well and freeze or keep refrigerated. Slice when cold. SERVING SUGGESTION: Top with out light cream cheese frosting. *If brown sugar substitute is not available just add this amount to the regular sugar substitute. ** Roasted nuts will add additional flavor to the cake. Nutrition Facts Serving size: 1 slice, 1 (oz), 30 (g), Calories 120, Protein 5 (g), Carbs 11 (g) Fat 5 (g), Sat. Fat 0.8 (g), Cholesterol 20 (mg), Sodium 135 (mg), Calcium 187 (mg) Fiber 2.5 (g), Exchanges: ¾ Starch, ½ Protein, ½ Fat This recipe was submitted by Nechama Cohen, CEO of the Jewish Diabetes Association and author of En-lightenned Kosher Cooking with permission from Feldheim Publishers. For more information on healthy living and to purchase the book go to our web site at: www. jewishdiabetes.org, or call 052-763-1500

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BEIT SHEMESH FOR SALE Bnei Beitcha, 10-Room Villa, 4 floors w/ basement, Anglo neighbors, 360 meters, well-kept garden, very nice view, exclusive housing. For price, call RE/MAX NE’EMAN 972-2-992-2265 Yossi Lipsh, Agent: 972-52-396-0551 Nachal Raziel, Cottage in nice quiet area. 3 floors, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large salon with lots of air & light. Central A/C, large kitchen with dining area, big basement. 2 porches, huge garden, fantastic breathtaking view. Call for price: RE/MAX NE’EMAN: 972 2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, agent 972-52-3960-551 Nachal Refaim, 4 room apt. 3rd Floor. Very upgraded kitchen, beautiful flooring, spacious rooms, well-kept. Bright and airy, nice view, storage room with window. Parking Space. Call for price, RE/MAX NE’EMAN: 972-2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, agent 972-52-396-0551

Nachal Dolev: Very invested apartment 145 m, first floor. 5 rooms, big salon. Beautiful garden 180 meters, storage room and covered parking. Call for price: RE/MAX NE’EMAN 972-2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, agent 972-52-396-0551 Givat Savion- Bet Shemesh 292\375 m² Property, 8 Rooms, Free Standing Home, Central Air & Heating3 Upgraded Bathrooms, Lovely Kitchen, Large Bedrooms, Screens, Alarm System, Maintained Garden Private with Amazing View Must See To Believe !!! Asking Price – 2,4999,999 NIS Exclusive to Anglo Saxon 02-999-8422 Givat Sharett- Bet Shemesh COUNTRY HOME- 150\750 m², 5.5 Rooms, One level, Easy Access, Custom Kitchen, Separate Living Room & Dining Room A/C and Heating Unit, Spacious and Bright, Very Large Garden Nearby to Everything You Need ! Asking Price- 1,600,000 NIS Exclusive to Anglo Saxon 02-999-8422

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Nachal Refaim, Duplex 5 rooms. 2 large porches with panoramic view. Great location, upgraded kitchen, elevator, storage room, private parking spot. Call for price: RE/MAX NE’EMAN: 972-2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, Agent:972-52-396-0551 Nachal Shimshon: 6 room fully detached cottage. Large living room/ dining room area. 100 m. Well-kept garden. Two porches with nice views. 4 pergolas. Private entrance, no steps, separate entrance for guest unit. Call for price: RE/MAX NE’EMAN: 972-2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, Agent 972-52-396-0551

æNachal Refaim: Three floor cottage very impressive, beautifully fully invested and in great condition! Marble floors. 6 Bedrooms, big master suite unit, 3 bathrooms, Central A/C. 40 meter porch with pergola, Really nice kitchen plus dining area. Call for price: RE/MAX NE’EMAN: 972-2-992-2265. Yossi Lipsh, Agent 972-52-396-0551

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Yossi Lipsh æAAA CERTIFIED Amazing deal in Caspi St.! Penthouse, 185 sqm. renovated in high standard, magnificent view of the Old City, private elevator, quiet st., 5.5 rooms, 4 directions, 2 terraces + 50 sqm. roof, 2.5 bathrooms, private entrance, 2 parking lots, 3 storage rooms. Price $2,200,000. Contact Kobi Hemed 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680 AAA CERTIFIED New Arnona – a rare garden apartment! 2 bedrooms + 1/2 room for study, 90 sqm., Shabbat elevator, storage, parking, parquet floor, 50 sqm garden, full of light! Contact David Chaouat 054-7316699, RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

æNofei Aviv, Beit Shemesh. Fantastic cottage, 6 rooms, custom Gepetto kitchen, patio with pergola, large garden, 183/350m². Asking price1,350,000nis. Anglo-Saxon Beit Shemesh. Ida 02-999-8422 or 057-777-2370 or 02-999-8422 Beautiful 7 room house, 180 m² (c.1,962 sq.ft), sought after location in Ramat Bet Shemesh Aleph,Separate living room/dining room, master suite with bathroom, eat-in kitchen, a/c, screens, large balcony, amazing view, private garden. Exclusive to Anglo Saxon For details: Sara Wolf 02-999-8422

JERUSALEM FOR SALE ARMON HANATZIV AAA CERTIFIED A golden opportunity! 4 rooms, 110 sqm., private entrance, patio, completely renovated, fully a/c, 2 bathrooms, spacious, good directions, light and view, $242,000. Contact Daphna Stein 0544-896003, RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

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Arnona - 5 rooms cottage in a very attractive street, modern style, balconies, storage-room, parking - “Hamishkenote” 052-3202488 Mikael Azran BAKA 6th floor apartment (elevator), 100 sqm, 2 bedrooms, dining - living room. Sukkah porch, parking. Magnificent city view. Needs renovation. Asking $340,000 Contact Annette 054-255-6225 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661 Heart of Baka! 110 sqm, ground floor with large garden, 2 bedrooms + den, 2 bathrooms, fully renovated. Asking $495,000. Contact Annette 054-255-6225 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661 5 year old, ground floor garden apartment, approx. 110 sqm., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garden and terrace, Storeroom and parking. Asking $620,000. Contact Annette 054-255-6225 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661

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Baka - 4 rooms, 1st floor, sukka balcony, quiet, parking - $ 350.000 - “Hamishkenote” 054-5220453 Miky BAYIT VAGAN Apt 3.5 rooms, 97 sqm, 1st floor, kitchen renovated, 1,500,000 NIS, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016 New Project! 4.5 rooms, 120 sqm, large garden, 1st floor, balcony, great location, project done from 6 to 8 months, $550,000, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016 CITY CENTER 2 rooms, 3rd floor, elevator, high standing building, swimming pool, SPA, fitness room, door keeper 24/24, Exclusivity Rubens Real Estate, Ruben: 054-6345581 / 02-5666016 2 rooms, 58 sqm, 2 balconies, well maintained, building being renovated, $295,000, Rubens Real Estate, Yoram: 054-3059128 / 02-5666016 Superb investment! 8 rooms, 180 sqm, 1.5 floor, elevator, renovated, 3 WC, $620,000, Rubens Real Estate, Yoram: 054-3059128 / 02-5666016

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æAAA CERTIFIED Exclusive! Horkania St., 4 rooms, 3rd floor, beautifully renovated, 2 bathrooms, roofed 16 m. balcony with option for closing to an additional room, storage room and parking. Asking price $320,000. Contact Shlomit Greenbaum 054-2556220, RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680 Elegant and beautiful, designerrenovated! 4 rooms, 1.5 bathrooms, panoramic view, parking, storage. 2.5 floors, no elevator, 85 sqm. net., $375,000. Contact Shira 050-875-9569 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661 Beautiful 2.5 room apt. off Palmach St., Spacious 70 sqm., 1.5 floors up with Shabbat elevator, renovated 3 yrs ago, master bedroom with en suite toilet. Asking $395,000. Contact Ilana Nelson 0545-341-403 or Dov Shapiro. 0525-533-739. Renovated apartment on the third floor, (elevator ready in a few months), 3 bedrooms, two balconies, great views of the Knesset, parking, Jerusalem stone building. Asking $390,000. Contact Yona 054-224-5121 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661 AAA CERTIFIED . A rare bargain! In Tshernichovsky St., 4 rooms, 90 sqm., 1.5 floor, 2 bathrooms, light, nice view, only $330,000! Contact Kobi Hemed 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

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New apartment ,4 rooms, 160 sqm, terrace, high standing, spacious, superb view, $850,000, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016 Superb 6 rm. Cottage with potential, private entrance, parking - “Hamishkenote” 052-8385401-Tova KATAMONIM Rare! Katamonim - 5 rooms + 1 room, huge garden (650 m2) - $ 550.000 “Hamishkenote” 052-3202488 Mikael Azran

Kiriat Shmuel - Large 4 rms.,1st. Fl., very large terrace (120m2), view, basement. $ 375.000 - “Hamishkenote” 052-8385401 – Tova KIRYAT YOVEL 10 rm. Magnificent villa (approx. 450 m2 ), on 3 fls., view, private entrance, garden, swimming pool - “Hamishkenote” 02-673-7725 - Benny MALHA Property 700 sqm, villa 200 sqm + possibility to build an extra 100 sqm, next to Malha Canyon, $1,400,000, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016

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CLASSIFIED RAMAT SHARET Nice 4 rooms, 87 sqm, 2nd floor, parking, storage, balcony, very bright, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016 Superb cottage + 2 rented apartments, 6.5 rooms, 240 sqm built, very well maintained, $950,000, Rubens Real Estate, Samuel: 054-6368772 / 02-5666016 RAMOT

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3 room, beautifully renovated vacation apartment. Close to cafes, shops and public transportation. Asking $395,000. Contact Dov 052-5633739 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661 Investment opportunity in central Shaarei Chesed/Rehavia. 220 sqm. duplex, 2nd floor, building rights, private parking, storage, needs renovation. Contact Dov 052-5533739 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661.

Rechavia- 3.5 rms., 3rd. Fl., balcony. Light, well kept -â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hamishkenoteâ&#x20AC;?052-6724003 - Elisheva Great location, 3 rooms, 95 sqm, ground floor, private entrance, high ceilings, garden, 2 balconies, renovated magnificently, Rubens Real Estate, Ruben: 054-6345581 / 02-5666016 TALBIEH

AAA CERTIFIED Best of Talbieh! Luxurious and spacious penthouse, full of light and charm, magnificent view, near the Jerusalem Theater, 4 rooms, 130 sqm., Sukkah balcony + additional balconies, option for elevator. Contact KOBI HEMED 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

JERUSALEM FOR RENT BAKA Apartment 4 rooms, 80 sqm, 1st floor, small sukkah balcony, very bright, NIS 4,000. Rubens Real Estate, Eliezer: 054-2307006 / 02-5666016

Beautiful new project seconds from Shaarei Chesed. 200 sqm. duplex, 6 rooms, highest building standard, sukkah balcony, Shabbat elevator. Contact Ilana 0545-341-403 ilana_n@netvision.net.il or Dov 052-5533-739 shapirod@netvision.net.il AAA CERTIFIED A rare opportunity! Unique 180 sqm. 5 rooms (1 level) apartment in Narkis St. near Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arei Hessed, 1st floor, Sukkah balcony, light, for renovation. Contact Kobi Hemed 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

ĂŚAAA CERTIFIED A presidential suite, 4 rooms, 115 sqm., 1st floor, balcony with view to the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residence, 2.5 bathrooms, custom designed in highest standard. Contact KOBI HEMED 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

On King George, 3 rooms, very charming, 65 sqm, 6th floor, elevator, view, renewed, 1,520,000 NIS, Exclusivity Rubens Real Estate, Ruben: 054-6345581 / 02-5666016

BEST BUY on Shalom Aleichem.Â Spacious and charming 5.5 rooms, 2.5 bathrooms, large living room. 3rd floor with Shabbat elevator,$860,000.Contact Shira Israel 050-875-9569 RE/MAX VISION 02-673-1661

Pesach & short-term rental. Beautiful, newly renovated 4 room apartment. Spacious, well-lit, modern kitchen, all amenities. Perfect for family. Towels, sheets, full kitchen. Close to all. Reasonably prices by night/week. No agent fees. Contact Yehudit at 050-875-7489. GERMAN COLONY Special rental in the with spectacular view. On three floors, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. For 3 years at $4000 a month. Contact Edna 050 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6330850 ednamiron@gmail.com

AAA CERTIFIED Ramot Alef - Spacious renovated 4 room terraced apartment + building rights, private entrance, Sukkahh porch, storage room, no stairs, gorgeous view! Asking price $370,000. Contact ELI BUTON 0544-637720 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680 RECHAVIA AAA CERTIFIED A rare opportunity! Unique 180 sqm. 5 rooms (1 level) apartment in Narkis St. near Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arei Hessed, 1st floor, Sukkah balcony, light, for renovation. Contact Kobi Hemed 054-2460246 RE/MAX AAA 02-6232680

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READER’S PAGE

Purim Costume Competition! Winner will be featured in ShiurTimes! ShiurTimes wants YOU! Have a unique costume that everyone LOVED?! Send ShiurTimes the best Purim Costume of the year! Here’s your 15 minutes of fame coming right at you! The first 10 respondents will receive a FREE CD! Email photos to: staff.editors@shiurtimes.com

Kosher Restaurant Survey ShiurTimes is polling its readers to find out the BEST restaurants in Israel. Save tourists’ time by telling us the BEST places to eat! The Top 5 venues will be featured with a write-up in upcoming issues of Shiur Times. Answer any of following questions and send to staff.editors@shiurtimes. com no later then March 14th. Include the location of the restaurant.

Best steak? (Explain.) Most unique ambience? (Explain.) Largest selection of entrees? Best chumus? (Explain.) Best customer service? Most child-friendly menu Where to go that’s cheap & good? (Explain) Other categories? Let us know!

Jerusalem Comedian’s Advice for Purim

On Driving Drunk: Take the Misrad HaTachburah’s (Israel’s Ministry of Transportation) message from last Purim to heart: ‘Do not drive drunk this Purim.’ It is important on Purim. The rest of the year is too hard to control. Focus is the key. The people driving on the roads during the rest of the year should be intoxicated. That is the problem: Israelis drive sober, causing anger and many accidents. If we drove drunk the rest of the year, there would be less issues in our lives. If you are drunk and you hit somebody, so be it, you don’t feel bad. If you are sober and you hit somebody, it’s an issue. Less issues makes for a happier society.

On Costumes: Dress in the costume that suits you and do not let down the people of Jerusalem with bad acting. Dress and live the part of your costume correctly. People get mad if you mess up Biblical characters in Jerusalem, and they know the Torah. My Moses costume last year got a lot of criticism; people don’t appreciate a Moses with no lisp. “Why do you have socks? Moshe was barefoot.” Well Moshe would have also worn socks in 6 degree weather, if he had them! “Moshe spoke with a lisp. Why are you talking like an American? There are kids around.” It’s Purim, I am just trying to have a good time- dress up like somebody else, walk on the streets with my bathrobe and call it a costume. Now, I am still wearing my Moshe costume. In Jerusalem you can make a living off it. David Kilimnick is Jerusalem’s Comedian. See him live every Thursday at 8pm at Off The Wall Comedy Basement. www.israelcomedy.com. See ad for details.

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2008

HUMOR

Psychological Purim Shpiel Honorifics and Frum Idiom Confusion Syndrome

sychologists and rabbinic leaders are warning about the prevalence of Honorifics and Frum Idiom Confusion Syndrome in the Jewish community, bli ayin hara. Over the past several years the number of honorifics and superstitious idioms added to the frum vocabulary has been increasing exponentially, k’niyna hara. This has caused some confusion to occur, baruch Hashem, especially to those with more simple minds, kein yirbu. Typically the syndrome starts with overuse of the terms, b’chasdei Hashem, then quickly turns to usage of the terms in the completely wrong place, shlita. In more advanced cases, nisht auf Shabbos geret, idioms foreign to the frum world, l’havdil elef havdalos, are used as well, praise the L-rd. In addition to the number of such terms, zi gezunt, the prevalence of usage of such terms has increased exponentially as well, yasher koach. For example, 20 years ago, mamesh, the term “baruch Hashem”, was limited to a portion

of Maariv that most people did not say, gezundheit. Today it constitutes 23% of a typical frum male’s spoken word and 27% of a typical frum female’s, im yirtzeh Hashem by you. It has been added to most kosher menus, thank you - come again, and has replaced “all of the above” on standardized tests given to yeshiva bochrim, lo aleinu. Family and friends of those afflicted with this disease, chas v’shalom, are advised to use caution when asking simple questions such as “How are you?” This may cause the afflicted person, zt”l, to reply with a stream of unrelated frum idioms that usually have nothing to do with how they are doing, yishtabach shmo. The best option, in the opinion of the professionals, Hashem yinakem damam, is to stick a tehillim in front of them, ad meah v’esrim. This should keep their mouths busy until such time as a permanent cure is found, rachmana l’tzlan. -Anonymous

COMEDY BASEMENT Jerusalem’s 1st Comedy Club

'Your choice for birthdays, anniversaries & a good night out!'

SATURDAY NIGHTS ENGLISH STAND-UP MONDAY NIGHTS

English Open Mic WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Live Music

THURSDAY NIGHTS

Hebrew Stand-up 'Open Mic followed by Hebrew Show'

02-624-3218

34 Ben Yehuda (corner of King George) down the stairs near the Mashbir

www.israelcomedy.com For groups, private parties and roasting, call

David Kilimnick JERUSALEM’S COMEDIAN

Creator and performer of the Aliyah Monologues, Find Me a Wife & Frum From Birth '8pm English stand-up starring David every Thursday (shows vary weekly)'

050-875-5688 www.shiurtimes.com

Point

View

Elie Rubin

“Lo B’Shamayim Hi” (It’s not in Heaven)

ot long after the first NY hassidic radio show was broadcast in 1960, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was met with criticism from those who felt that radio and television were “evil” things, and that the holy words of the Torah are “contaminated” when channeled via these instruments, he responded by restating a fundamental principle of Jewish faith: everything was created by G-d to serve His purpose in creation. Man, who has free choice, might make negative use of a creation, but its intrinsic function remains as the revelation of Divine wisdom and goodness. Throughout Jewish history, prominent figures such as Rashi or the Rambam have stressed the importance of Torah observance based on knowledge rather than faith alone. “Technology” implies utilizing knowledge of scientific laws (e.g. chemistry or physics) to develop a system that provides practical benefit to people. And so I believe that the teachings and mitzvot of the Torah are technological in that they are built on universal laws and meant for our practical benefit. In the field of medicine for example, modern science has led to some incredible advances. Doctors today have better tools at their disposal and a greater understanding of how diseases work than any previous era. They use their knowledge with great dexterity causing human life expectancy to skyrocket. Advances in technology have given us the resources to make the world a much smaller place. Instantaneous communication

with people on the other side of the globe is no longer fantasy but reality, and what is even better is that this ability lies with everyone who has access to a personal computer. What does all of this have to do with Judaism? Well from an “internet wired” Orthodox Jewish point of view regarding these advancements, the more we can acknowledge and communicate with the world around us, the more we can grasp Gd’s interactions with us. The capability to know what is going on in so many places around the world simultaneously demonstrates G-d’s omniscience. As I pick a fight on googlefight.com, I can find 9 billions results on “Torah.” (I leave you to look at the results.) In recent years, our gedolim have been forced to issue numerous warnings about the dangers posed by various modern technologies such as the internet, one of the prime controversial examples today. The internet is letting people study the daf yomi everyday online, listen to audio shiurim, watch rabbanim teaching from any place in the world. Even on our website, www.ShiurTimes. com, we have more than 400 visitors a day from around the world who access our articles and search for English shiurim taking place in their city. ”Hashem desired for the sake of Israel’s righteousness that Torah be made great and glorious.” (Isaiah 42:21) These examples of the use of modern technology to spread knowledge of Torah barely scratch the surface of what is being done. And we can be sure that even as I write, some fertile Jewish brain is hatching a new technology project le’hagdil Torah ve’lhadira. ° by Elie Rubin, Managing Publisher of the ShiurTimes Magazine

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www.shiurtimes.com

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2008