February 8, 2013

Remembering Ed Koch Page 2 Kosher Bookworm: The Hillel legacy Page 5 Who’s in the kitchen: Frozen hot chocolate Page 7 Laughter to benefit Emunah - Five Towns Page 10

THE JEWISH

STAR

VOL 12, NO 6 Q FEBRUARY 8, 2013 / 28 SHEVAT 5773

WWW.THEJEWISHSTAR.COM

One happy family: from left, Sara, daughter Meira, and Azriel Ganz, foster and then adoptive parents through OHEL.

Woodmere F.D. installs first Orthodox Chief “The members of the Woodmere Fire Department can look forward to the leaderLenny Cherson will be ship of a dedicated chief that installed as Woodmere works tirelessly and cares Fire Department Chief deeply for his community, as on Saturday night at the well as his members.”

Woodmere Country Club.

A member of Young Israel He has the distinction of of Woodmere, Cherson, and being the first Orthodox his wife Raizy are parents to Jewish chief in the departRebecca 18, and Sarah, 16. ment’s 124 year history.

He’s proud of the CommuAs an eleven year vetnity Chometz burning that eran of the Woodmere the Department started on Fire Department, Cherson its own close to 10 years ago rose up the ranks from as a practical service to resiprobationary fire fighter, dents and a very important to firefighter, Lieutenant safety measure. “Last year of Hook and Ladder, CapLENNY CHERSON over 1000 people came to tain of Hook and Ladder, our fire house to participate.

2nd Assistant Chief, and 1st Assistant Chief. The Woodmere na- This was implemented in response to some tive and HILI alum is also an emergency individuals using chemicals and gasoline to medical technician and has roots with the start fires to burn chometz,” noted CherNew York City Mayor’s Office of Emergency son. Other important fire safety information is conveyed to the community through Management.

Cherson, who spoke of the Department’s seasonal mailings. In the winter there is a annual activity as averaging 700 calls per pamphlet focused on maintaining boilers year, 967 to be exact in 2012 due to Super and hot water heaters; in the spring the Storm Sandy, looks forward to implement- Department stresses BBQ grill and propane ing his two agenda items as Chief of the De- use safety.

The Woodmere Fire Department boasts partment. “I want to increase training due to new regulations required by the State of one of the largest rosters of Jewish memNew York and Office of Safety and Health bers in Nassau County, with approximately Administration (OSHA), as well as updat- 30 active Orthodox Jewish members. Outside of serving the community, the meming standard operating procedures.”

The Department which currently has ap- bers often have social gatherings such as proximately 70 volunteer members, 40 of watching the Superbowl, and often they which are active, do not work in shifts. “We convene over schwarma at Delicious Dishare fortunate to have enough local cover- es, a glatt kosher Israeli restaurant, who is age during the day. In addition, we work a neighbor of the Department. “Best Chief very closely with the Hewlett, Lawrence/ in town, he’s number one, we wish him Cedarhurst and Inwood Fire Departments. the best of luck ,we love him,” expressed We have very detailed mutual aid with all owner Benny Roth, and his family Dorit, the departments,” noted Cherson. “Sixty Oren and Leo .

The Department, which dates back percent of our calls are fire responses, and forty percent are EMS related.” Fellow to 1889, is also installing three assistant WFD member, Lieutenant Marc Deutsch Chiefs, and department and line officers on conveyed the Department’s sentiment. Saturday night.

By Karen C. Green

Photo courtesy of OHEL

Calling all parents:

OHEL seeks foster homes

By Malka Eisenberg Three speakers sat on stools in front of a rapt audience of 25 men and women in the Ganz family home in Woodmere Saturday night, explaining the ups and downs, ins and outs of foster parenting.

In the first step of a long process to recruit potential parents through OHEL for foster children, OHEL presented the fourth recruitment meeting in two years, noted Derek Saker, Director of Communications for OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services. “We are always looking to increase the pool of foster parents,” he said. “There is a shrinking

pool of parents available to take foster children.” Currently, OHEL has 70 foster parents in their jurisdiction but they are having recruitment meetings “because there is a greater need for more foster parents.” He said the need is “especially acute” for adolescents and children with special needs.

“There isn’t a number of how many foster parents are needed,” said Saker. “We can’t predict how many foster children will come into foster care at a given time. We need many foster parents from diverse backgrounds and with various family compositions to find the best match to meet the indiContinued on page 11

Students protest Brooklyn College BDS forum support

By Malka Eisenberg Students and politicians are mobilizing to denounce Brooklyn College’s president and political science department for supporting and sponsoring an anti-Israel presentation on campus on February 7th.

The forum “BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) Movement Against Israel” will feature two speakers, Omar Barghouti, a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for

the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (and who is currently studying in Tel Aviv University), and Judith Butler, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Both are BDS supporters and outspoken anti-Israel, anti-Zionists.

Notes American Friends for a Safe Israel, “sponsorship of such an anti-Israel event by a Department of the College is something that would not occur with any other country.

Continued on page 3

Shabbat Candlelighting: 5:08 p.m. Shabbat ends 6:05 p.m. 72 minute zman 6:35 p.m. Torah Reading Parshat Mishpatim. Shabbat Shekalim. Mevorchim Hachodesh Adar.

Stay up to date with The Jewish Star Receive our weekly newsletter. Sign up at newsroom@ thejewishstar.com

Like us on Facebook The Jewish Star newspaper (Long Island, NY)

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ JewishStarNY

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID GARDEN CITY, NY 11530 PERMIT NO 301

Visit us on the web at www. thejewishstar.com

The Jewish Star Classified Ads From the Heart of Jerusalem Hebrew Only Please!

Kosher Bookworm Letters to the Editor On the Calendar Parsha Politico to Go Who’s in the Kitchen

15 13 14 5 4 12 13 4 7

How to reach us: Our offices at 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, with early closing as necessary on Erev Shabbat. Contact us via e-mail or telephone as listed below.

Advertising hparsons@thejewishstar.com 516-569-4000 extension 290 cslamowitz@thejewishstar.com 516-569-4000 extension 292 Manhattan & Queens rglickman@thejewishstar.com 516-569-4000 extension 250 Classified ereynolds@thejewishstar.com Community Calendar items jscalendar@thejewishstar.com Letters to the Editor letters@thejewishstar.com News and Sports items newsroom@thejewishstar.com Press Releases pressreleases@thejewishstar.com Publisher and Editor in Chief kgreen@thejewishstar.com 516-632-5205 extension 4

Facsimile: The Star prefers e-mail, but we are equipped to accept your letters, releases, etc. by FAX. Please dial 516-569-4942.

To subscribe: The Star is available free of charge in many kosher food establishments, other stores, synagogues and street-side news boxes in Nassau County and New York City. To have The Star mailed to your home or office each week call our circulation department at 516-622-7461, extension 7. You may charge your subscription to VISA, Mastercard or American Express. Subscriptions in Nassau County or Far Rockaway are $9 per quarter, charged to your credit card, or $48 per year by cash or check. Elsewhere in New York, New Jersey or around the United States, they are $15 per quarter on your credit card or $72 per year. Please allow four weeks to begin delivery.

To place a display ad: Reservations, art and copy for display advertising in the general news sections of The Star must be in our office by Tuesday at 1 p.m. for publication that week. An advertising representative will gladly assist you in preparing your message. Please e-mail or call for an appointment.

To place a classified ad: Please call 516-622-7461 during regular business hours and ask for The Star classified department. All classified ads are payable in advance. We accept all major credit cards.

News and Calendar Items: News releases of general interest must be in our office by Friday at noon to be considered for publication the following week.

Releases for our On the Calendar section must be in our office by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to be considered for publication the following week. To report a breaking news story or for further information call 516-622-7461 ext. 291 or e-mail newsroom@thejewishstar.com.

Letters to the editor: The Star provides an open forum for opinions and welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be e-mailed, must be signed, and should be accompanied by an address and daytime phone number for verification. You may offer longer submissions for inclusion on our Opinion pages. Letters and Opinion articles must be in our office by noon Friday to be considered for publication the following week.

They are subject to editing for length and clarity.

Remembering Ed Koch

By Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld I came into the ofďŹ ce at 5:30am today to have ample time to attend Ed Koch’s funeral today. Each personal – and public - memory gives me such pause. My ďŹ rst great campaign was for Henry “Scoopâ€? Jackson, when he ran for president. It was then Koch’s ďŹ ght against the destabilizing concept of “scatter-siteâ€? low income housing (we had just moved that year from the South Bronx to Forest Hills) which attracted me to him. I later worked in all 3 mayoral campaigns, had an administration job that I loved and we did many things together over the ensuing 35 years.

There were a few times, most recently his getting “back on the Obama bus� after he deservedly hit the president hard on Israel, that we disagreed. Many far more known than I agreed that Obama would be undeservedly tough on Israel if reelected. He never feared admitting he was wrong. As soon as Hagel’s name came up, he not only castigated the president but quickly wanted to see what certain Jewish Democratic allies of the president would do.

Before going into asset management, I had a solid 20 years in government because of Ed. When he lost in 1989, I was devastated – not for me personally, but because I just could not imagine the City without him.

Who could imagine that his presence would endure so strongly until last Friday? I went on to work For Senator D’Amato and Governor Pataki, but there was always a campaign or issue where Ed and I intersected. Just a few choice memories: In 1989, he dedicated a ramp for the handicapped at the Rego Park Jewish Center – the old-timers at the synagogue cherished that morning with him for years. He also came back for a great repast at Ben’s Best Deli and the community threw him a huge campaign rally, which ďŹ lled Queens Boulevard with adoring throngs of neighbors.

In 1995, Governor Pataki had me put together, in just a few hours, a delegation for the funeral of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. The Governor wanted Ed to come. When I called the Mayor, I realized that by sheer coincidence, both his and my passports were not in our possession – we had both sent them off for renewal. We exited and entered the US and Israel undocumented. If you’re standing next to Ed Koch, you can do anything.

Just last year, when the Dead Sea Scrolls were exhibited in New York, a premiere reception was held by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Koch, quite frail by then felt either felt weak or faint at the start of the walk-through – the exhibit’s path was dark, lit only by the images on the screens. I asked if he wanted to exit and sit down. We then walked arm in arm to the conclusion. He was determined to see every piece of this additional evidence of the Jewish connection to their holy land.

He personiďŹ ed New York and New York created him.

VOICE YOUR OPINION! E-mail letters to letters@thejewishstar.com or fax to (516) 569-4942.

K HUV G D /H L R Q

: LV 1( H Z 9 1

LS

³ ´ *R WR 16+$PD

16+$0$ 2XU &RPPXQLW\ 2XU &DPS

2SHQ +RXVH &RPH VHH 285 16+$0$

EUHDWKWDNLQJ FDPSXVHV EHDXWLIXO SRRO VLWHV XQLTXH SURJUDPV 1HZ GLUHFWRUV 722 PDQ\ FRXUWV ILHOGV

)(%58$5< WK 30

SURJUDPV WULSV DQG HYHQWV WR OLVW RQ WKLV IO\HU

)LQG RXW ZK\ \RX 722 ZLOO ZDQW WR EH DW 16+$PD

25

) /< * $5 ,&,1 $ (

(5 ' 35 ,172 R

67 *, %,5 5(' 83 7 $03 ( 5 /< 7( 25 5 ) & ($ ( (1 /( ) .6 2 % )) (( 5$ ( : ( )5

16+$0$'$<&$03 25*

&RPH PHHW RXU 1(: +($' 67$)) $// )URP *UHDW 1HFN &R 'LUHFWRUV .DWLH /LFKWHU 5DEEL (OL 6ORPQLFNL 'LYLVLRQ +HDGV $ULHOOD /HYLDQ 'U 0LFKDHO $WODV 3URJUDP 'LUHFWRU 7]LSS\ &DOP &20 3$1 <

)RU LQIRUPDWLRQ (;7 &KHUU\ /DQH *UHDW 1HFN 1<

610744

Inside

607975

February 8, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

2

3

By Malka Eisenberg Rabbi Moshe Weinberger will be joining the faculty of Yeshiva University at the beginning of the coming school year in September 2013, in addition to continuing as the Rav of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere.

His new position, according to an email sent out to the membership of Aish Kodesh, is as a Mashgiach at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University beginning in the Elul zman (session) 5773.

“We have an appreciation of the talents he has to offer,” explained Rabbi Yona Reiss, the dean of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) in Manhattan. “We had a pattern of inviting him to speak over the past few years and, during a recent visit, we had a conversation that we want someone like him to have a presence in the yeshiva. It developed and now we have the current arrangement. We began the conversation and had a relationship that evolved to a point and we brought him in as one of the personalities to offer hashgacha at the yeshiva.”

Rabbi Reiss said that Rabbi Weinberger

The main sanctuary of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, Long Island, NY. will be part of the “mashgiach team at the yeshiva” and that they are “very excited.” He noted that Rabbi Weinberger is an “amazing edition to the yeshiva environment.” Rabbi Reiss said that they are considering using the title of “mashpia” (to influence) for Rabbi Weinberger and the “main thing is that it is exciting to bring in a person of his caliber and inspiration. The details will crystallize between now and next year.” His role will involve “interacting and interfacing with the

students, offering guidance and mentorship and inspiration.” He will be working in the yeshiva campus in Washington Heights. “Yeshiva University includes talmidim (students) in different programs,” said Reiss. “We hope he will interact with as many as possible and offer his unique ability to connect and be a positive force in their lives.”

The email sent by Aish Kodesh, President Elliot Blumenthal, and Chairman, Board of Trustees Avi Feinberg, after a membership

meeting, was very positive. “It is with great pride and love that we wish our mora d’asra, HaRav Moshe Weinberger, Shlita, much hatzlacha and bracha in his new additional role…. We are certain that this partnership between our Rebbe, the Yeshiva and Aish Kodesh will be beneficial to all. We know that the bnei hayeshiva will love and appreciate Rebbe’s divrei Torah and divrei chizuk, and that the wonderful example of midos tovos and avodas Hashem that Rebbe embodies will lift the Yeshiva to new heights as it has done for us over the past twenty years.

“We look forward to many more years together with our Rav and with our new friends from the Yeshiva and look forward to the day when we will all be together in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh, bimheira b’yameinu.”

Rabbi Reiss pointed out that Rabbi Weinberger is an alumnus of Yeshiva College, a musmach (received Rabbinic Ordination) of RIETS and has a Masters of Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University. Concluded Reiss, “We are excited to bring him back home to Yeshiva.”

Call for College to withdraw support for BDS forum Continued from page 1 Only Israel is subjected to such hatred, disguised as “academic freedom.”

In the latest development, Political Science Department head Paisley Currah “backed out” of a scheduled meeting called

by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz with New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind called for February 6th at 9 am in Markowitz’s office. Yehudah Meth, Hikind’s spokesperson, said that Currah said that he “wasn’t feeling up to it. He backed out.” Currah did not respond to or return phone calls.

“We never said not to have this loathsome event,” said Meth, “just that the department should not be co-sponsoring, endorsing and putting their name on it. The school wouldn’t endorse other events of this nature targeting different groups. They are comfortable with this. (Brooklyn College President) Karen Gould can pretend that it’s a freedom of speech issue. It’s not about freedom of speech.” As of now, he said, they have no plans to attend the meeting.

Hikind noted that, “the boycott campaign against Israel today and the philosophical war demonizing Jews and denying the rights of Jews to self-determination and equality, is the modern incarnation of anti-Semitism.

Same stink, different excuse. This lecture, which is funded by tax dollars, gives a platform to the BDS movement, whose goal is to delegitimize Israel’s existence. Like its philosophical brothers in Hamas, BDS aims to eliminate the State of Israel from the map.”

Tanger Hillel at Brooklyn College issued a statement: “All students on campus have the right to explore and peacefully discuss their points of view. However, Jewish students are upset that a Brooklyn College academic department, specifically the Political Science department, is co-sponsoring an event they feel is antagonistic not only to their beliefs, but also to the facts. They expect that Academic departments should be a facilitator of dialogue, rather than a promoter of one side of the conversation. Our Board is concerned that Academic Freedoms are being abused at the expense of Academic Responsibility.

So, too, this event threatens to besmirch our Political Science Department and even

Brooklyn College. By providing an imprimatur to something so extreme and lacking in academic rigor, it dilutes their credibility and the College’s standing.”

Hillel estimates that there are 3,500 Jewish students on campus. Yelena Azriyel, the program director at Hillel there, noted that they are working on educating the student body and their goal is to “maintain a civil environment on campus the day of the event.”

Hikind is calling for Gould’s resignation.

He said that he is for freedom of speech, “we’re not arguing that, we are fighting Brooklyn College” because they are “giving the seal of approval for this event. The latest flier from this group says that the political science department supports the event.”

Gould, stressed Hikind, said that the department “took a vote” but she didn’t know who voted. “It’s outrageous!” he stated. He also pointed out that Currah did not return his calls. “A real chutzpah,” he said. “Is he afraid to talk to an elected official?”

“Many of the groups sponsoring the event are not campus clubs, rather, they are a collection of anarchist and extreme-left groups,” emphasized Azriyel. “In fact, we are proud to have working relationships with every campus group other than the Palestinians.

Moving forward, we hope to work with the Administration to ensure that the Political Science Department demonstrates that even though individual professors have a decided bias, the department is able to host events that reflect all sides of an issue.”

In a letter to Tanger Hillel, Gould said that she does not endorse or support the BDS movement against Israel and stated that CUNY has ties and exchanges with Israel and Israeli universities. She called for civil discourse, respect for diverse opinions, and for those who disagree to attend and “challenge any ideas with which they disagree.”

The Wolfe Institute for the Humanities will host programs with “different perspectives” on the issues of the forum, she said.

The BDS forum will “go on as scheduled,” said Jeremy Thompson, the executive director of communications at Brooklyn College. He said that it is hosted by a student group, co-sponsored by the Political Science Department and non-campus organizations.

Photo by Yehuda Meth

From left, Bill Thompson, former New York City comptroller, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Ari Kagan, Mike Nelson, city councilman, Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz, at press conference against the BDS forum sponsorship of Brooklyn College’s Political Science Department at Brooklyn College, January 31st.

“I don’t know a lot about it,” he said. “The college has hundreds of events every year, many sponsored by department and student groups. It is within the rights of the students and faculty; it’s a matter of freedom of speech.” He said that there were “no tax dollars” involved and it is being sponsored “in name only,” even though it is being held at the student center. He said that the student center is a “separate non-profit, not owned by the college” although he conceded that it is “closely affiliated” with the college. He said that there were some invitations for those from off campus to attend but it is “primarily for members of the college community. Each of the speakers will give a brief lecture and then there will be a Q and A. We encourage students and faculty who disagree to come to the event and challenge the points of view and ask tough questions.”

In a response to Gould’s letter, Nadya Drukker, Executive Director and Howard Wohl, President of the Board of Directors issued a statement representing Brooklyn College Hillel. They noted that one of the BDS forum’s sponsors is a campus club, Students for Justice in Palestine. “We are not advocating that this event be canceled, we simply

call upon the Political Science Department to remove its sponsorship and de facto endorsement of this propaganda event. This Department must surely recognize that their sponsorship will only serve to heighten tensions on campus and make many students feel targeted…. Sadly, this is not the first time that the Political Science Department has chosen to exploit their role on campus to advance their biased agenda. Their choice of professors and literature consistently reflect a hostile, anti-Israel viewpoint... we have communicated our concerns to President Karen L. Gould after reading her lackluster response to the Department’s continuing biased actions. While she contends that being a co-sponsor of the event does not imply endorsement, we strongly disagree.”

Students launched a petition, now with over 1000 signatures, for the department to remove its sponsorship, met with the College’s administration and have been educating the student body. “We continue to work with several pro-Israel and community organizations to educate our students so that they can develop the necessary skill-set to deal with the changing environment on campus.”

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

Rav of Aish Kodesh to join YU faculty

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

4

Opinion

Chuck Hagel should not be confirmed, but probably will be

R

egular readers of this column know the various objections that have been raised regarding Senator Chuck Hagel’s nomination to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense but, thanks in a big part to overt and de facto support from Jewish organizations, it is clear that, in the end, he will be confirmed, joining John Kerry as a two-man anti-Israel front in the Obama administration.

It is not just Hagel’s anti-Israel stances which throw his nomination, but what seemed to be the over-all incompetence exhibited in his Senate hearings last week. Even Hagel’s biggest detractors did not expect the perPOLITICO formance he gave. It wasn’t TO GO simply that he said things that people disagreed with, or got caught with some sort of scandal, Chuck Hagel looked totally unprepared and out-classed.

None of the questions should have been a surprise; the guy knew what he would face...his own statements and record, many of them identified in previous columns. Chuck Hagel had weeks to figure out responses, spins, etc. but, OH MY, he didn’t even understand what Jeff Dunetz containment means.

Things started out with his “old friend” John McCain. Old friend is in quotations because the Arizona Senator is still angry Hagel didn’t support his run for President in 2008. McCain was out for blood, but showed a justified angry streak when Hagel tried to tap dance around a question: his statement that the Iraq surge was the worst foreign policy disaster since Vietnam.

“I stand by ‘em because I made ‘em’,” Hagel replied. “I would defer to the judgment of history.”

As Hagel offered to “explain” his remarks, McCain cut him off.

“I want to know whether you were right or wrong.

That’s a direct question; I expect a direct answer.”

“The surge assisted in the objective,” Hagel said.

“But if we review the record a little bit—” “Will you please answer the question?” McCain jumped in. “Were you correct, or incorrect, when you said that the surge would be the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam?

Were you correct or incorrect? Yes or no?

“Were you right or wrong? That’s a pretty straightforward question,” McCain said.

“I’m not going to give you a yes or no answer,” Hagel said. “If you would like me to explain why—” “No, I actually would like an answer, yes or no,” McCain said, cutting him off.

“I’ll defer that judgment to history,” Hagel repeated. But he added that his Vietnam comments referred

to “the overall war of choice, going into Iraq” and called the March 2003 invasion “the most fundamentally bad, dangerous decision since Vietnam.”

“I think history has already made a judgment about the surge, sir, and you’re on the wrong side of it,” McCain said.

When being questioned on Iran, he said the Obama administration supports “containment” (allowing Iran to get the bomb as opposed to prevention). Then, what had to be less than five minutes later, he walked it back: “I was just handed a note that I misspok,e that I said I supported the President’s position on containment. If I said tha,t I meant to say that we don’t have a position on containment.”

Even that was wrong: the administration does have a public position on contentment—they are against it.

In the progressive National Journal, Michael Hirsh called The Containment Exchange, “Perhaps One Of The Worst Moments In A Fairly Bad Day For Hagel.”

“Perhaps one of the worst moments in a fairly bad day for Hagel came when even one of his apparent supporters, the committee chairman, Carl Levin, DMich., was forced to restate his position for him after Hagel twice misspoke about a critical issue: whether the Obama administration would accept mere ‘containment’ of Iran’s nuclear program, rather than prevention of it.”

Later, he called the Iranian government (which stole the last election) an “elected legitimate government.” And when asked about it by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, retracted that statement: “What I meant to say–should have said–it’s recognizable,” Hagel said. “It’s been recognized, is recognized at the United Nations. Most of our allies have embassies there. That’s what I should have said, and…thank you.”

RECOGNIZED? As in “Hey, aren’t you Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?”

Lindsey Graham took him to the woodshed. The South Carolina senator hammered Hagel on his “Jewish lobby” comment. He asked the former senator if he could “name one person intimidated” by the Israeli lobby. Hagel couldn’t. “I didn’t have in mind a single person,” he said. Then Graham asked Hagel if he could name “something that was dumb” that the Israeli lobby had forced U.S. legislators to do, and Hagel said he didn’t know that either.

The absolutely worst moment for Hagel came when questioned by freshman Senator Ted Cruz.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) destroyed Hagel over his 2009 interview with Al Jazeera, where he agreed with a description of the United States as the “world’s bully,” and one that called for Israel to be cited for war crimes.

CNN’s Dana Bash later reported that senators were Continued on page 11

THE JEWISH

STAR

Independent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island and New York City All opinions expressed are solely those of The Jewish Star’s editorial staff or contributing writers Publisher and Editor Assistant Editor Account Executives Contributors

Editorial Designer Photo Editor

Karen C. Green Malka Eisenberg Helene Parsons Rabbi Avi Billet Jeff Dunetz Juda Engelmayer Rabbi Binny Freedman Alan Jay Gerber Rabbi Noam Himelstein Judy Joszef Kristen Edelman Christina Daly

2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: 516-622-7461, Fax: 516-569-4942 E-mail: newsroom@thejewishstar.com The Jewish Star is published weekly by The Jewish Star LLC, 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530.

Subscription rates: $9 per quarter on a credit card in Nassau and Far Rockaway, or $48 a year. Elsewhere in the US, $15 per quarter or $72 a year.

Newsstand Price: $1.

Copyright © 2013 The Jewish Star LLC. All rights reserved.

Letters to the editor rule now known as the Act of State Pidyon Shivuyim: Doctrine.

These legal rules remained our Save Alan Gross law for 200 years.

To the Editor: I am contacting you to ask that you forward information to your readers about the current efforts to help get my friend Alan Gross back home. It is now over 3 years since Alan was arrested and placed in an 8’ x 10’ cell in Cuba. Alan went to Cuba to try to improve internet access for Cuba’s Jewish community.

Alan’s wife, Judy, has created a petition to ask President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro to negotiate to release Alan. Alan’s attorneys are trying to get 100,000 signatures on the petition and much help is needed. The petition can be found by going to: www.bringalanhome.org The link to the petition is the second item under Latest News.

Anything you and your readers can do to help is deeply appreciated.

Lenny Levy Gaithersburg, MD

Chabad Library To the Editor: On January 23, 2013 you published an article by Malke Eisenberg stating that a federal court had entertained a lawsuit against certain agencies of Russia and had ordered Russia to return certain books and manuscripts it had seized during the Bolshevik Revolution and World War II to the Chabad organization. Having read that article, I do not believe that either Ms. Eisenberg or the publisher of your newspaper can grasp the full significance of that litigation.

When we pledge allegiance to our flag, we proclaim that it represents a nation “with liberty and justice for all”. Unfortunately, there are times when our courts are closed to some who seek justice that will adversely affect the conduct of our nation’s foreign relations and thereby there are some who are denied justice they seek. This legal rule was recognized early in our nation’s history when Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of The Schooner Exchange v. M’Faddon, 11 Cranch 116 (1812). In that case, M’Faddon and his co-plaintiff owned the Schooner Exchange until it was seized by the French on order of their emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. The French equipped that ship with cannons and converted it to a French warship.

When the ship later found its way back to the United States, M’Faddon and his cohort, knowing that foreign sovereigns are immune from suit, sued the ship instead of France to have the court declare them the owner.

When the case was decided by the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Marshall found that even though the ship was the nominal defendant, the nation of France was the real defendant. Marshall also stated several other reasons why these plaintiffs could not succeed, among them, a rule that prohibits our courts from adjudicating the validity of a taking of private property by a foreign sovereign within its own territory, a

In the case of Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino, 376 U.S. 398, 84 S. Ct. 923, 11 L. Ed 2d 804 (1964), the Court announced why we need the Act of State Doctrine in this day and age when most nations have abolished that rule, stating that only the executive and legislative branches of our government are elected by the people and that only they (not the appointed judiciary) should control our foreign policy. Thus the Court proclaimed that he Act of State Doctrine need to exist because it is founded on “constitutional underpinnings” of Separation of Powers under our unique form of government.

Presumably, if the Constitution requires this denial of justice to all, that requirement cannot be abolished or amended by mere enactment of a statute; it requires a constitutional amendment to do so.

Malka Eisenberg states in her article that the federal courts have jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a statute passed by Congress and signed by the President in 1976.

There is much more involved in this case than the documents and books of former Rebeeim of the Chabad Lubavich Organization. All Americans should watch this lawsuit in the hopes that we may come closer to our proclaimed free nation with liberty and justice for all. Among other issues, it raises a serious constitutional issue.

Saul I. Weinstein Woodmere

#6 School To the Editor: Converting the Number Six School into a glorified office building is not in the best interest of the community no matter how “heimische” this medical center claims to be.

This proposed conversion will cause a drop in our property values and cause a loss of our community green space. Your article did not properly voice the opposition that the vast majority of this community has for this proposed sale. The referendum that will be held on March 20 will reject the sale of this property to Simone Development by a wide margin.

The article downplayed two of the most important problems of this proposed sale. The resultant traffic that will result from hundreds of cars entering a huge parking lot from only one entrance on Branch Boulevard will create traffic jams on Branch Boulevard as well as Peninsula Boulevard. There will also be increased traffic though the purely residential roads of Cedarhurst, Woodmere, and North Woodmere. With 60 doctor’s offices and an urgent care center operating from 8:00AM to 9:00PM, seven days a week, there will be at least 300 or more cars per hour exiting and entering this parking lot all day and for much of the night. Staff cars and trucks will be also entering before 8:00AM and exiting after 9:00 Continued on page 11

5

en separately; then they are wrapped into a sandwich and eaten together.”

“The Talmud explains that Hillel and some other rabbis disagreed about how to eat the three Passover foods. Hillel said they should be eaten all at once, wrapped together; the other rabbis said they should be eaten separately. Since the halachah did not decide which option was correct, both are followed.”

Further on Buxbaum explains, citing the Shulchan Aruch, chapter 126, “After the destruction of the Temple, the sages ordained that on every joyous occasion we must remember the destruction of the Holy Temple.”

“Therefore,” Buxbaum continues, “although one could no longer eat an actual ‘Hillel sandwich’ as in Temple times – because there was no Passover lamb – it was ordained that as much as was possible should be done, so as to remember not only the Temple, but also, it would seem, Hillel, the great Nasi, who so loved the Temple that his feet carried him there again and again.”

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in this classic, “The Basic Haggadah” [Maznaim Publishing, 1982, copyright by Rabbi Kaplan] translates the Hillel sandwich ritual as follows: “In memory of the Temple like Hillel. This is what Hillel would do long ago when the Jerusalem Temple still stood: He would make a sandwich of Matzah and Bitter Herbs and eat them together to keep what the Torah says,

‘You shall eat it together with Matzah and Bitter Herbs.’ [Exodus 12:8].”

In his commentary on this statement, Dr. Joseph Tabory [JPS Commentary on the Haggadah, 2008] stated that “This statement is a paraphrase of the Talmudic statement made in this context [Pesachim 115a]. It seems that this statement is a note in the Haggadah, explaining why it was customary to eat this sandwich, even though one has already fulfilled the obligation of eating matzah and marror….

The rest of the text that explains Hillel’s custom, seems to have been instructional rather than as a text to be read as part of the Haggadah. However, the custom was to read the whole text out loud, and many also recited the additional instruction, ‘belo tibul uvelo bracha’.”

This coming Wednesday night, February 13th, at the Young Israel of Woodmere, there is going to be a lecture at 8:15 pm entitled, “Hillel and Shammai in the Days of Herod.”

This lecture is part of a Jewish history series sponsored by the shul and will be given by Rabbi Evan Hoffman.

In anticipation of this particular lecture, Rabbi Hoffman made note of the following, as an introduction to the upcoming lecture: “Hillel came from Babylonia to Eretz

Yisrael. His appointment as Nasi was a significant turning point in Jewish history. But what is its meaning? It does not mean that he was a patriarch of the entire Jewish people.

Far from it; he was the leader of the more progressive wing of the Pharisees, and a colleague and rival of Shammai.”

Further, according to Rabbi Hoffman, “Hillel revolutionized the study of Torah by expanding the oral law and establishing new methods of exegetical interpretation. Whereas, previously, the student was content to preserve the teachings of the earlier sages, in the generations following Hillel, the discourse in the house of study was dominated by chiddush, novel rulings.”

This lecture, as noted before, is part of an ongoing Jewish history series and is open to all the public; both men and women, as well as area students, are invited. There is no charge for admission.

FOR FURTHER STUDY To further help enhance your appreciation of this upcoming lecture, you might want to reference the following works, all published

by Maggid Books: “The Sages” by Rabbi Binyamin Lau, Volume 1 “Talmudic Images” by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz “The Essential Talmud” by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

Celebrating Our 25th Anniversary Serving the Five Towns & Surrounding Areas

WE DO REPAIRS

Lenny Koegel www.distinctivewindowfashions.com © 2012 Hunter Douglas ® Registered Trademark of Hunter Douglas

516-594-6010

609686

H

ave you ever thought of the many times you have come across the name Hillel?

How many people do you know whose name is Hillel? What about the college campus organization Hillel, or the Hillel Houses found on many Ivy League campuses ? And, what about the names of the many schools named Hillel? How about the number of temples and congregations named Hillel?

Have you ever heard of the sage named Hillel? And of several sages by that same name? And, what about the sandwich called Hillel? Yes, a sandwich with the name of a sage? Incredible, but true.

Have you ever wondered why? Well, here are a few reasons at least for the sandwich and do not be surprised to learn that despite its prominent yet strange name, there is not a single kosher food establishment that sells a sandwich by this Alan Jay Gerber august, yet humorous sounding name, Hillel sandwich.

According to the Brooklyn maggid, Yitzhak Buxbaum, in his excellent work, “The Life and Teachings of Hillel” [Rowman & Littlefield 2008] “Every Passover, Jews eat the ritual Seder meal and recite the Haggadah. At one point, the destroyed Temple is commemorated.

Some matzah and bitter herbs are first eat-

The Hillel legacy

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

The Kosher Bookworm

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

6

Parashat Mishpatim:

“I am Hashem Your G-d Who Heals You”

By Rabbi David Etengoff Dedicated to the sacred memories of my mother, Miriam Tovah bat Aharon Hakohen, father-in-law, Levi ben Yitzhak, sister-in-law, Ruchama Rivka Sondra, sister, Shulamit bat Menachem, Shifra bat Chaim Alter, and Yehonatan Binyamin ben Mordechai Meir Halevi, and the refuah shlaimah of Yosef Shmuel ben Miriam and Moshe Reuven ben Chaya.

And He said, If you hearken to the voice of the L-rd, your G-d, and you do what is proper in His eyes, and you listen closely to His commandments and observe all His statutes, all the sicknesses that I have visited upon Egypt I will not visit upon you, for I, the L-rd, heal you. (Sefer Shemot 15:26, this and all Tanach and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach) The above verse appears in Parashat Beshalach, immediately after the Shira (Song at the Sea of Reeds). It teaches us in no uncertain terms that it is Hashem, and no other, who heals us. Rashi (1040-1105) underscores this idea with his comments on the phrase, “I will not visit upon you”: I will not visit upon you: And if I do bring [sickness upon you], it is as if it has not been brought, “for I, the L-rd, heal you.” This is its midrashic interpretation (see Sanh. 101a, Mechilta). According to its simple meaning, [we explain:] “for I, the L-rd, am your Physician” and [I] teach you the Torah and the mitzvoth in order that you be saved from them [illnesses], like this physician who says to a person, “Do not eat things that will cause you to relapse into the grip of illness.” This [warning] refers to listening closely to the commandments … — [from Mechilta] Our parasha, in Sefer Shemot 21:19, also contains a reference to healing that is widely viewed by our Sages as the proof and permission-granting text for a physician to practice his or her arts: “If he gets up and walks about outside on his support, the assailant shall be cleared; he shall give only [payment] for his [enforced] idleness, and he shall provide for his cure (v’rapo yirapeh).” Rashi, cites Onkelos (Second Century Palestine) regarding the legitimacy of the physician’s role: “and

he shall provide for his cure: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: and he shall pay the physician’s fee.” When our two verses are taken in tandem, it becomes clear that it is the doctor’s role to act as G-d’s messenger in all acts of healing. Therefore, it is ultimately Hashem who is our rofeh ne’eman (true physician).

This is reminiscent of a sign I once saw in a religious physician’s office: “G-d heals, I take the fee.”

How should we conceptualize Hashem’s role as our physician? We are fortunate, indeed, that our Sages provided us with a roadmap for answering precisely this question, namely, the eighth bracha (blessing) of the Shemoneh Esrai: Heal us, O L-rd, and we will be healed; Help us and we will be saved; For You are our praise.

Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds; For You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer.

Blessed are You L-rd, who heals the sick of His people Israel. (http://www.chabad.org/library/article_ cdo/aid/867674/jewish/Translation.htm, formatting and underlining my own) A careful analysis of the literary structure of our bracha reveals the following: 1.There are three specific requests that we ask of G-d in reference to our health: “Heal us and we will be healed,” “help us and we will be saved,” and “grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds.”

2.There are two statements of praise (shevach) within the bracha, “for You are our praise” and “for You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer.”

3.The bracha concludes with the recognition of Hashem as our healer: “Blessed are You L-rd, who heals the sick of His people Israel.”

Let us now examine the constitutive elements of our bracha. The first two requests, and the first statement of shevach, are based upon a pasuk (verse) that appears in Sefer Yirmiyahu 17:14: “Heal me, O L-rd, then shall I be healed; help me, then I shall be helped, for You are my praise!” As a result, our blessing states: “Heal us and we will be

healed, help us and we will be saved,” and “for You are our praise.” It must be noted that the salvation requested in our bracha is not a general one such as is found in Sefer Tehillim 20:10: “O L-rd, save [us]; may the King answer us on the day we call.” Instead, we are asking Hashem to specifically alleviate any and all ailments and illnesses that we may have.

The second request regarding our well being, “Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds,” differs from the first in that it is not directly based upon any pasuk found in Tanach (the Jewish Canon of Scripture).

Moreover, it highlights the ideas of a “complete cure and healing” (“refuah shlaimah”) and specifies “our wounds.” Even with these additions, it would seem that this request simply restates the earlier entreaty of “Heal us and we will be healed,” since there, too, we surely are hoping for the complete restoration of our health. This problem was creatively analyzed by the Eitz Yosef (Rabbi Hanoch Zundel ben Rav Yosef, died, 1867) in the classic work, Otsar Hatefillot: “Heal us and we will be healed,” means that, at the beginning, our healing will come from You Hashem, and afterwards, we will complete the process and see it through to its final conclusion. This refers to spiritual/ psychological healing (refuat hanefesh). In regards to the restoration of our physical health (refuat haguf), however, that is solely in the “hands” of [the Holy One may] He be blessed, it states: “Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds” – from the onset to the conclusion. This is the case since, in reality, we are helpless regarding physical matters to effectuate a [positive change] without Your assistance. (Underlining and brackets my own) To summarize: “Heal us and we will be healed,” means that we are partners with Hashem in securing our own spiritual and psychological health. The Holy One blessed be He begins the curative process and it is up to us to ensure its effective completion. In contrast, “Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds,” refers to physical health – something that is the sole province of the Master of the universe. Thus, these two

phrases are not redundant since each refers to a different aspect of the human condition.

I believe that the two expressions of shevach, “For You are our praise,” and “For You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer,” were included by Chazal (our Sages of blessed memory) to underscore the singular role that our Creator plays in our spiritual and physical health. In short, we must ever be conscious that “… I shall raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help is from the L-rd, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Sefer Tehillim 121:1-2) Then, too, it is very possible that our Sages included these phrases to teach us the fundamental lesson that no matter how difficult a health crisis we may face, Hashem, our G-d, is the Almighty King and “a faithful and merciful healer.” These are comforting words that provide us with hope, solace, and a powerful sense that the future will be better.

Our bracha concludes: “Blessed are You L-rd, who heals the sick of His people Israel.”

May we be zocheh (merit) to always have refuah shlaimah, so that we may lead healthy and robust lives dedicated to the service of Hashem. V’chane yihi ratzon.

Shabbat Shalom Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email rdbe718@gmail.com. *** My audio shiurim for Women on “Tefilah: Haskafah and Analysis,” may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/8hsdpyd *** I have posted 164 of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. They are available here: http://tinyurl.com/82pgvfn. **Follow new postings on my Twitter accounts: @theRavZatzal and @Torahtech613. *** Interested in 21st Century Jewish Education? See my blog: http://21stcenturyjewish education.org

Goldfeder: NYC Sandy Assessment Relief Act passed Legislation Goldfeder sponsored would provide tax relief blyman Phil Goldfeder. “Nearly all of our homes and businesses were either significantly damaged or completely defor properties that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway/Howard stroyed and now we face the daunting tasks and high costs to rebuild and repair. This bill would provide Beach) announced the New York City Hurrimuch needed relief to families and property cane Sandy Assessment Relief Act legislation owners who are struggling to replace what that he not only sponsored, but strongly adthey once had.” vocated and defended on the Assembly floor, Moreover, the Hurricane Sandy Assesspassed today. This bill would help offset the ment Relief Act must be adopted by New costs many New York City property owners are York City. This law would apply to properties facing as they rebuild in the wake of Hurricane in New York City that were completely devSandy (A.39). This legislation if passed by the astated by Hurricane Sandy, having lost 50 Senate and signed by the Governor would be percent or more of their previously assessed sent to NYC to provide real property tax relief property value. Revised property tax values, to damaged homes and offer much needed asbased on the percentage of property value sistance to Southern Queens and the Rockaway lost, would be determined as follows: families and businesses who were significantly •a loss in value of between 50 percent and impacted by Hurricane Sandy. less than 60 percent would result in a 55 perAlmost 85 percent of Southern Queens and PHIL GOLDFEDER cent property tax reduction; the Rockaway was damaged or destroyed by •a loss in value of between 60 percent and flood or fire as a result this cataclysmic storm.

Assemblyman less than 70 percent would result in a 65 perProperty owners continue their efforts to recent property tax reduction; build; however, they are faced with unknown •a loss in value of between 70 percent and less than 80 factors that are slowing down the recovery, noted Goldfeder “Hurricane Sandy ravaged our community,” said Assem- percent would result in a 75 percent property tax reduction;

•a loss in value of between 80 percent but less than 90 percent would result in an 85 percent property tax reduction; •a loss in value of between 90 percent and less than 100 percent would result in a 95 percent property tax reduction; and •a 100 percent loss in property value would reduce property taxes to zero.

The percentage loss in value due to Hurricane Sandy would be determined by the New York City Department of Finance, subject to review by the New York City Tax Commission at the request of the taxpayer. To qualify, New York City property owners would have to submit a written request to the city’s Department of Finance within 90 days of the Hurricane Sandy Assessment Relief Act becoming law.

“It is unacceptable that home and business owners alike should have to pay taxes based on property assessments made prior to the storm,” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder said.

“I urge my colleagues in government and the City of New York to support this measure and provide relief to the property owners of Southern Queens and Rockaway as we begin to pick up the pieces of our lives and rebuild. I will not rest until I know I have done everything I can to ensure our community has the necessary tools to get our lives back together.”

Frozen hot chocolate J

ust as I was thawing out from the last cold spell of single digit temps, along with no heat due to frozen pipes, bam, we get hit with another bout of Arctic air and snow to go with it.

There was a time when I loved snow. We would listen to the radio with bated breath to hear the school closings. Yes, kids, we didn’t check the Internet the night before for updates, nor was there a hotline set up by the school. We would have to wait till the principal woke up, checked the weather and decided.

These days kids have their day off planned the day before. Too bad, you kids miss all the excitement and anticipation of waking up and waiting for the reporter to list the school closings in your area.

Once we got the Judy Joszef news, we would make plans with our friends, which usually involved meeting at a friend’s house or playing in the snow. Today, there are trips to the mall, movies, out for coffee (in my day, kids didn’t drink coffee and it certainly didn’t cost $5 a cup, nor did it have five names to describe it) or out for lunch.

In my day, we went out for lunch; nowadays everyone “does” lunch.

Back to the snow, so many memories....

Like the first time I wanted to go skiing. My parents asked if it was really necessary. No,

but all my friends were going and I wanted to go. So there I was with my wool jacket, jeans and wool gloves and hat. Who knew from ski jackets and pants. One of my favorite Jackie Mason routines is the one when he describes Jews going on a ski vacation. They shop for a month, pack all their designer ski wear and fly to Europe. Once on the mountain, they look down, turn around and hang out in the ski lodge. That would be me, sans the designer ski outfits.

Once my skis were on (which is an activity in itself) I made my way up the mountain to start my lesson. As luck would have it, it was 33 degrees and raining on and off all day. I was soaking wet, freezing and had rope burns on my ankles that drew blood because I snow plowed down each run. It was much easier than mastering the correct way to ski. Needless to say, when I walked into my house that night and my parents asked how it was...let’s just say, I deserved a little gold statue on the mantle for my performance of how enjoyable it was.

I didn’t venture onto a mountain many times after that first time. I decided skiing wasn’t for me. My husband did get me to try snow shoeing once--key word, once. There I was, in Vermont, trekking up a mountain and thinking, “What is the point of this sport?” I felt as if my car was stuck and I had to trudge uphill through the snow to get help. Only difference was, I was wearing metal contrap-

5PWGLE RM F?TC ? @?@W! We Can Help!

tions on the bottom of my bulky boots. I decided during that vacation I was more of a “sit on the deck of a cruise ship in the sun kind of gal.”

Little did I know back then that at about the same time, my future husband Jerry was at Grossinger’s honing in on his winter sports, as well. Seems our moms had the same knowledge of outerwear for winter sports. He and his brother were outfitted in wool dress pants, full length black wool “Shabbos” coat, black Russian Cossack hat and fine leather gloves. There were no worries about spotting them. The fact that they were dressed for shul didn’t hamper their efforts in winning the the Big “G” toboggan race. It took place during college break as dozens of college “jocks” vied for the prize. Not realizing they might be out of their league, Jerry’s mom entered the contest along with her sons. All 6 ft 18-22 year old strapping guys, in their designer ski wear, and then there was Mrs. Joszef with her bee hive hairdo (that added about five inches to her height), clad in an elegant dress coat adorned with a mink collar, leather gloves and dress boots. So there they were, Mrs. J, right out of the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music, and Jerry and his brother right out of Fiddler on the Roof, the boys in the front and their mom in the back of the toboggan. Jerry described it as two short but-

NO NEED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE!

Frozen Hot Chocolate (Adapted from Serendipity 3) ■ 11/4 cups of good quality chocolate of your choice (can be semi sweet, chocolate chips, milk chocolate, etc. I like to use Shmerling Noblesse semi sweet) ■ 5 teaspoons good quality store-bought hot chocolate mix ■ 4 tablespoons sugar ■ 4 cups milk, any fat content ■ 7 cups ice ■ Whipped cream ■ Chocolate shavings Place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until completely dissolved.

Remove from heat and slowly whisk in 2 cups of milk until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

In a blender, place the remaining milk, the chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Judy Joszef is a pastry and personal chef as well as a party planner. She spent 18 years as a pastry chef at Abigael’s, The Cedar Club, Centro and T42 in the Five Towns, before launching her current business, Soiree. She can be reached at judy.soiree@gmail.com

V

ARIETY

FRQQHFWLRQ

1 SHOPPING STOP

HOMER SHABBOS

Everything For Purim Except The Hamentashen!

Make Us Your First Stop For All Your Purim Needs • Ma M Makeup keup • Masks • Costumes • Crowns & Tiaras • Wands • Novelty Hats

At GENESIS, our mission is to help patients realize the dream of parenthood. We diagnose and treat all forms of infertility so couples can begin, or grow, their family.

In recognition of the needs of Torah-observant couples, GENESIS offers on-site rabbinical supervision that meets the most stringent criteria of contemporary poskim.

terballs and his five-foot tall mom; all built ergonomically perfect for bombing down the toboggan run. When they came in first place, reporters asked Mrs. J what her strategy was in beating all the college students. Her answer, “Eating non stop for the last few days.”

Though I don’t love winter sports, I do love hot cocoa on a cold day. Just so I’m not missing out on the snow, I’ll make myself some Frozen Hot Chocolate.

• Purim Bags • Curling Ribbon • Gift Labels • Clear & Colored Cellophane

$5oo OFF

#SGJBGLE '?KGJGCQ DMP :C?PQ

ANY PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE

Jewish Star Reader Special

>P[O JV\WVU ,_W 5V[ [V IL JVTIPULK ^P[O HU` V[OLY VMMLYZ ,_JS\KLZ ^PUKV^ [YLH[TLU[Z LSLJ[YPJHS HWWSPHUJLZ OV[ WSH[LZ HUK OV[ WV[Z 6UL JV\WVU WLY Z[VYL ]PZP[

Mention this ad for a FREE 15 minute Consultation 1175 W. Broadway, Ste. 24, Hewlett, NY 11557

)HUWLOLW\ 5HSURGXFWLYH 0HGLFLQH )HUWL )HUWLOLW WLOLW OLW\ OLW\ 5 5HSURGXF 5HS 5HSURGX URGXFWL URGXF G WLYH WLYH 0HGLF WLYH 0HGLF WLYH 0 G 0HGLFLQH GL LQH LQH

:KHUH /LIH %HJLQV :KHUH :KH UH /LI UH /LIHH % /LI H %HJL HJ QV

(516) 216-4220ÊUÊwww.genesisfertility.com

450 Central Avenue • Cedarhurst • (516) 374-9546 Sun. 10-5; Mon. & Tues. 9-6; Wed. & Thurs. 9-7; Fri. 9-4

610850

*(1(6,6 * (1(6,6

609685

*Limited availability/restrictions apply*

7 THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

Who’s in the kitchen

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

8

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

604169

9

Laughter benefits Emunah - Five Towns

By Karen C. Green Emunah, an American-based organization that provides vital social services and educational program to children and families throughout Israel, held its 2nd annual Five Towns Chapter Comedy night at the Backstage Nite Club in Woodmere.

The event which featured noted comedians Ophira Eisenberg, Barry Weintraub, and

Jon Fisch entertained the 150 guests in attendance, who also partook in an elaborate dairy buffet with decadent desserts. EMUNAH embraces every segment of Israeli Society operating five residential homes, 135 day care centers and after school programs servicing over 12,000 children, award-winning educational institutions, crisis counseling, parenting classes and services for senior citizens.

EMUNAH of America – Five Towns chapter held its second annual comedy night benefit. From left comedians Jon Fisch, Ophira Eisenberg and Barry Weintraub entertained the crowd at the Backstage Nite Club.

Photos by Donovan Berthoud

Myrna & Liebel Zisman

Karen & Michael Rosenbloom

Faye Kollander, Arielle Parkoff, Alisha Summers, Samara Papilsky

CAHAL 7+( &20081,7< :,'( 63(&,$/ ('8&$7,21 352*5$0 is offering beautifully designed and colored

PURIM David Shapiro, Julius Chabbott, Mark Zborowski, Edward Lifshitz

SHALOCH MANOS CARDS Pack of 10 cards: only $18.00 3 Packs (30 cards): only $50.00 Send PURIM greetings to family and friends while supporting this vital program for over 100 children with learning disabilities in the 5 -Towns, Far Rockaway, Queens and greater Nassau County

Pick-up your cards today at:

CAHAL 540-A Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 (entrance in municipal parking lot) Or to place an order, call (516) 295-3666, fax 516-295-2899 or e-mail: sheldon@cahal.org Karen Miller, Anne Fuchs, Miriam Katz, Debi Rudensky, Merav Chabbott

609684

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

10

Continued from page 1 vidual needs of the children.”

Some of the speakers at the meeting discussed their personal experiences as foster parents. Sara and Azriel Ganz have been foster parenting for 14 years. They ultimately adopted a foster child in their care four years ago. “She’s my daughter, just like the others,” said Azriel. Parents and OHEL staff noted that a foster parent has to care for the child’s physical and emotional well being and education, and work toward the goal of returning the child to the biological parents.

A foster parent has to be certified, they and the home environment are assessed and they have to go through training. Each placement has to be approved by OHEL and the foster parents and family.

The same qualities that make a good parent make a good foster parent, said one of the parents. “Patience, loving, caring,” she said. “The child has been through so much, the child is not a blank slate; they have suffered abuse and neglect. The parent has to build the child up, their confidence is at an all time low and they are coming from a difficult situation. But it is amazing, you get back, you get so much from it. I certainly recommend it.” Another parent said, “It’s an amazing experience, it’s challenging.

You bring life to the kids. There is nothing greater then that.” OHEL, they said, seeks the best match for the child, the parent that best meets the child’s needs.

OHEL and ACS cover the child’s financial needs: tuition, medical bills, therapy, board, clothing, but said Azriel, “if you are in it for the money you’re in the wrong business.”

OHEL was started 42 years ago as a foster care agency, Saker explained. At the time, he continued, Jewish children were removed from homes because of abuse and neglect and put in non-Jewish homes. An outcry from the Jewish community led to OHEL’s birth. The New York City Administration for Children’s Service (ACS) is ”responsible for the welfare of children.” If a child is abused, neglected or in danger, the police and ACS, a legal government body, is called in and if the child is determined to be Jewish then

Photo courtesy of OHEL

Kayla and Ben Jacobs of Hewlett with foster and then adopted child Eliana.

ACS contacts OHEL. “It’s important to have foster parents so that Jewish children can be placed with Jewish families,” stressed Saker.

There are no orphanages, he said; the children are placed in a “home like yours and mine. They are removed from their birth homes temporarily and placed in qualified foster homes throughout the communities” mostly in New York City. “Nassau families can become OHEL foster parents,” he pointed out. “We do have OHEL qualified foster families in Nassau County. While OHEL does not have any foster contract with local Nassau County social services, we have and do sometimes place kids from New York City in Nassau County homes.”

Over 2,500 foster children have been processed by OHEL and their stays in foster homes can range from one day to 18 years, depending on the decisions of the courts.

The “focus of foster care,” stressed Saker, is to “try to keep the biological child with the biological parents.” He explained that when a woman gives birth in a New York hospital she is given a drug test. If she tests positive, the child is removed from the mother and placed in foster care. If the child is Jewish,

Dunetz: Reject Hagel Continued from page 4 in disbelief about how bad Hagel was.

Just before the second round of questions, Hagel made a statement that launched a million face-palms: “A number of questions were asked of me today about specific programs, submarine programs, different areas of technology and acquisitions, and our superior technology. I’ve said I do not know enough about it. I don’t. There are a lot of things I don’t know about. If confirmed, I intend to know a lot more than I do. I will have to. But at the same time, I would never think that this, as I said earlier, is about me or I will be running anything. I will be the leader. I’ll be responsible. I will be accountable, but I’ve got to rely on the right teams, the right people to bring those people together. And again, it’s accountability and responsibility. I would stop there, if that gives you some sense of how I would intend to do this business.”

In other words, I don’t know stuff but I won’t be running stuff either.

Despite all the objections and beltway whispers about Hagel’s poor performance, there is very little to prevent his approval by the Senate. After all, despite his call for Israel to be tried for war crimes, despite his years of calling for the U.S. to do nothing about Ira-

nian nukes (he even objected to sanctions), Chuck Schumer has endorsed him publically and, via its silence, even AIPAC has endorsed him.

It is true that AIPAC has never taken a position on a Presidential nomination, however, Senators interpreted AIPAC’s silence as tacit support. As Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said during a debate on MSNBC last Friday: “You and I both know that if Chuck Hagel presented a threat to Israel, AIPAC would be swarming over the Hill.” In politics, perception is reality. AIPAC’s silence was a nod of agreement.

The endorsement of Chuck Schumer, despite his weak hearings and anti-Israel record, was a signal to other senators that Hagel was kosher. It should also be a signal to New York voters that Schumer puts his political standing in the Democratic Party before everything.

Remember that President Obama told Russian President Mevedev that he would have more flexibility on policy during a second term. Obama’s choice of Hagel is evidence of what that flexibility means in terms of his policy toward Israel, terrorism, and Iranian nukes. Sadly, AIPAC and NY Senator Schumer are allowing him to get away with it.

OHEL is immediately contacted. If the mother is in a rehabilitation program, the child is returned; if not, the child is put in extended foster care or adopted. “It has to be a safe and thriving environment for the child,” Saker emphasized. The court frees the child for adoption if there is a “total breakdown of the family,” or the parents don’t want the child.

Saker said that OHEL is a foster care agency not an adoption agency but the foster care sometimes evolves into adoption. He noted that although there are many types of foster parents they can be divided into two groups. He classified one group as a middle class family with their own children who see foster parenting as an opportunity for the family to understand how fortunate they are, said Saker. They very much want to help the foster child and want to expose their children to reality to see and take in children who lack, a home, and a mom and dad.

The second group, he said, is a childless couple who desperately want a child and take a foster child hoping that the child will be freed for adoption. “It can be an absolute roller coaster,” warned Saker. When a child is placed with a young couple with no children, they take care of the child, love the child and “six months later the court returns the child to the biological parents. Going in, they know it is temporary, but it is still painful. And for those who adopt, it is at once the most tragic and most joyous; tragic because of the severed relationship with the birth parents and joyous for the adoptivefoster parents who are ecstatic to provide a loving home for the child.”

There is a need for all types of Jewish families, all levels of religiosity, since children “come in all flavors and types.” Saker pointed out that he gets calls from Jewish communities from all over to be foster par-

ents, from smaller communities since the callers think “if I don’t do it, who will do it?”

In the larger tri-state area and nearby large Jewish communities, people “always feel that someone else will do it, there is a false sense of security that someone else will take care of it, that someone in the large, giving, caring community will step forward. Here in a huge thriving community, it is difficult to find people to step forward.” He also said that people are under a lot of stress, due to the economy and other factors and “can’t entertain the thought of foster parenting.”

He hopes that through the recruitment drive, more people may be interested “or not. The parent who says, ‘I see the need, but I’m not sure it is for me’ that’s the parent we want. They should do the training, go through the process, and then they might say ‘maybe it’s for me.’” Single parent families are also able to take in foster children.

“Families are motivated by different reasons,” Saker continued. “Some hear about it and want to help, some know a child who was in foster care or a family that was a foster parent, some don’t have children of their own and want to give a child a family.” If a family is interested but hesitant, “We would say that is normal and natural. It is a long process. It is not a decision that is necessitated overnight. The whole process of inquiry and even training to become a foster parent is an opportunity for parents to assess themselves whether this is in fact something they feel they can do. If a family is interested but hesitant, we encourage them to talk to us and explain what is making them feel hesitant so we can answer any questions that they have.”

One of the OHEL staff members recounted the story of one boy who left the foster care system after his bar mitzva and lived in a residential home. He eventually went to Israel, pulled himself together and worked training guard dogs. He got engaged and contacted his foster family, telling them all the things he was sending to his fiancé. They asked him where he learned that and he responded that, “I saw what you and Dad did.“ “You are showing them their first normal behavior they have ever seen,” said the staff member. “You teach by showing.”

“Boruch Hashem we have a happy home,” said Sara Ganz. “We wanted to share that and, for our own children, to show them chesed. Overall it’s positive. It’s a tremendous commitment, the hardest thing we’ve ever done, but there is nothing wrong with hard as long as it’s positive.”

For more information visit ohelfamily.org/child, askohel@ohelfamily.org or call Shulamis Marcus at OHEL Foster Care at 718-851 6300.

OHEL’s 43rd annual dinner will be held this Sunday evening, February 10th, at the New York Hilton.

Letters to the editor continued Continued from page 4 PM. With the size of this proposed facility, it will attract patients from the complete south shore of Long Island and Queens. We must remember that this is our residential area.

The plan to pave the ball fields with a parking lot is reminiscent of a song by Joni Mitchell. There is a special feeling that we get when we see the children of this community playing in our open green space.

The ball fields that we will lose will never be replaced. Keeping the small playground by Peninsula Boulevard will be meaningless as it is unlikely that children will be playing in the fog of automobile exhaust from the huge parking lot that this facility will require.

As a community we must defeat this proposed sale. The added tax revenue generated by this Medical center does not outweigh the decrease in our quality of life and property values should this sale go through. The defeat of this sale on March 20 will give us a chance to find a buyer that truly has the best interests of the community in mind. We should not count out a buyer like the JCC, who actually cares about our community, if the property goes back on the market again.

Rather that hold open forums, Mt Sinai and Simone Development should back out of their purchase of the Number Six School. It is the “heimische” thing to do.

Isaac Seinuk

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

OHEL seeks more homes for foster children

11

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

12

Feb 7

The Nachum Segal Network (NSN) and the Orthodox Union present “Battle of the Ages”: a ping-pong tournament LIVE on the air, 6 p.m. starring 11-year old shomeret shabbat table tennis phenom and West Hempstead native Estee Ackerman vs.

Eli Hagler, Assistant Director of Yachad and 1998 Sdei Chemed ping pong champion.

Extensive live network programming from 5pm-10pm ET LIVE from the Orthodox Union.

Coverage of the match will be provided by Stunt Show host Daniel Gordon.

Join us for five hours of fun and excitement on the NSN network at nachumsegal.com.

In addition, log on to http://www.ustream.tv/ channel/nachumsegalnet for full video real-time coverage of the event.

8672

ON THE

Calendar

Feb 12

Submit your shul or organization’s events or shiurim to jscalendar@thejewishstar.com.

Deadline is Wednesday of the week prior to publication.

Anew series on Biblical Themes given by Rabbi David Fohrman The Astonishing World of Birkat Hamazon Tuesday February 12, 8:15 pm Sponsored by the Young Israel of Woodmere in Conjunction with The Hoffberger Foundation for Torah Studies

Feb 12

Seeking Foster Parents A community appeal for foster parents There is an urgent need for loving foster homes in the Jewish community.

Join OHEL staff and current OHEL foster parents for community-wide informational meetings Home of Lazer and Chana Calderon 8 p.m.

1120 Waterview Street, Far Rockaway RSVP to ChayaSurie_Malek@ohelfamily.org 718 851-6300

Feb 8

West Hempstead Scholar-in-Residence The Clara Klein Adult Education Committee of the Young Israel of West Hempstead is pleased to announce that our next Joseph Reinstein Scholar-in-Residence will be Rabbi Meir Goldwicht. On Shabbos Parshat Mishpatim-Shekalim, Feb. 8-9, Rav Goldwicht will be joining our community. He will speak Friday night following kabbalat shabbat at ECC (mincha begins at 5:10 pm).

He will then speak at a Friday night oneg at the home of Meryl & Jeremy Strauss, 256 Maple St. at 8:15 pm,on the topic “The Home & the Family: Between Honoring Parents & Being Mechanech Your Kids”. Shabbos morning he will speak in the main shul and the Kiddush room minyanim. In the afternoon at 4:00 pm in the Kiddush room, he will speak on the topic: “The Galuy and the Nistar in Megillat Esther”. And he will also speak between mincha - maariv in the main shul on the topic: “Galut & Geulat Mitzrayim: How Does it Affect Our Daily Life?”. Men & women are invited to all the classes.

Feb 9

Trivia Evening benefitting Koby Mandell Foundation Hebrew Academy of Nassau County ( HANC) Students from the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Brookdale High School are always on the verge of helping their community. The student leaders, through NCSY’s Project JUMP Program will be organizing a fun and interactive trivia evening in the school’s auditorium. All funds raised will benefit the Koby Mandell Foundation, which provides free therapeutic programs to child victims of terror who have lost a family member to a terrorist attack in Israel. Program starts at 8:30 p.m.

Music by Azamra DJ To register for this event visit www.tinyurl. com/JUMPTRIVIA.

Young Israel of Woodmere Themes in Tanach

Photo by Mary Wynn Ball

NASSAU COUNTY SHOMRIM SOCIETY CONFERS AWARD , U-BET-!!!

(From left, Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas V. Dale, David Fox, and Shomrim President Det. Lt. Gary Shapiro.)

Great Neck Estates Mayor David Fox, owner of Fox’s U-Bet Chocolate Syrup was the recipient of the Dr. Janusz Korczak award , along with Scott Horowitz of Nassau Kosher Provisions Scott Horowitz who was named Shomrim Society’s 2012 Person of the Year. Fox, also serves as police commissioner for the village.

Based in Mineola, the Nassau County Shomrim Society was founded in 1962 to promote the religious spirit of police officer’s of the Jewish faith and their families. The group’s membership includes law enforcement officers from Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Feb 9

Long Beach Avraham Fried Concert Dedicated to our volunteers & benefactors during Hurricane Sandy Motzaei Shabbos, Parshas Mishpotim Concert & Melaveh Malkah 8:00 PM Young Israel of Long Beach Social Hall 120 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach Melaveh Malka is being catered & donated by Brach’s of Lawrence Sponsorships Available Guardian $1800 • Patron $500 • Donor $360 • Sponsor $180 Please make your donations to the YILB Charity Fund - Relief Effort for distribution to those in our community who are in need General Admission $25 per person

Feb 10

Manhattan Ohel 43rd Annual Dinner Honoring Saul N. Friedman, Corporate Guest of Honor David Brecher, Guest of Honor Robert and Hinda Mizrachi, Children’s Advocacy Award Joel Beritz, and Jason Curry, Community Award Recipients

For more information, email gala@ohelfamily. org or 718-972-9338

Feb 11

Manhattan Ohr Torah Stone 2012 Annual Dinner Celebrating a New Generation of Women Spiritual Leaders Guests of Honor Helene and Robert Rothenberg Raine and Stanley Silverstein Mindy and Michael Leventhal Reception 6:30 p.m.

Dinner 7:30 p.m.

Docent Tour of Museum Exhibits 5:30 p.m.

Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place New York City For More information, www.ots.org.il, 212-935-

Feb 13

The JCC of the Greater Five Towns will offer a new Cardio Kickboxing Fitness Class at our Cedarhurst location for people affected by life transitions. Whether you are a victim of Hurricane Sandy, experiencing financial hardship, job loss, or have challenging personal relationships, etc. you can use a stress buster to release extra pressure. It’s free, fun, and therapeutic. The class will begin on Wednesday, February 13th at 10:00 AM for a six week cycle and will be taught by Jaclyn Bieder, LMSW. To register please contact Jaclyn at 516-569-6733 ext. 213 or e-mail Jaclyn.Bieder@fivetownsjcc.org.

Feb 16

Atlantic Beach Kulanu Annual Scholarship Dinner Honoring Brenda and Stanley Goldstein, Founding Parents Award Raquel Bernstein and Adam Stieglitz, Kulanu Friendship Award 8:30 p.m.

The Sands of Atlantic Beach For more information email Dinner@kulanukids.org or 516- 569-3083 x 106

SPECIAL URGENT REQUEST A mother of one of our members at the White Shul is in urgent need of new kidney and time is of the essence. Anyone who is blood type A or O, healthy and able, is urged to contact Renewel, 718-431-9831 or email information@renewel.org for more information.

None of her children are a match and she needs Klal Yisrael’s help and tfillos.

Please daven for Aidel bas Tzivia bsoch shear Cholei Yisrael.

13

S

unday mornings for me, even twenty years later, still have a tinge of sadness. While Westerners most often view Sunday morning as the chance to sleep late, relax with the family, and catch up on the news, for most Israeli soldiers it is the most depressing moment of the week.

Every Sunday morning, all over the country, soldiers begin their long, weary trek back to their bases. The weekend is over, and FROM THE HEART with it, the freedom OF JERUSALEM to be master of one’s own time, if only for a while. The thought of heading back to the hellish reality of gray & olive green, yelling and running, patrols and battle-rations ruins many a Saturday night in Israel.

I still remember, in Officer’s course, when they decided to begin flying us down to base.

Rabbi Binny It costs an astroFreedman nomical amount to put a cadet through tank officer’s training, and the powers that be decided it was more efficient and economical to get us down to base faster rather than waste eight hours on buses deep into the Negev desert. As painful as Sunday mornings were, these flights took us to new depths of depression. Instead of having five or six hours on a long bus-ride to acclimate ourselves back to the reality of army life, we would arrive at the stark, gray, air force terminal, get on a plane at 10 AM, and by 11, we were already

working on the tanks.

There was one curious detail to these Sunday mornings. I don’t know how they managed it, especially considering the security clearance necessary to enter the military terminal, but every Sunday morning, without fail, there were always two Lubavitch (Chabad) Chassidim offering the guys a chance to put on tefillin.

I used to wonder what the value of such an action really was. Wouldn’t it have been more valuable, to explore the philosophyof the mitzvah, rather than simply ‘perform’ an action almost divested of any meaning?

On the other hand, someone wrapping tefillin on their arm does indeed fulfill the mitzvah of tefillin. So what is the relationship between what we do, and our need to understand the purpose of our actions?

This question of finding the balance between the doing and understanding seems to be very clearly resolved in an oft-quoted verse from this week’s portion, Mishpatim.

The Jewish response to Hashem’s desire to give us the Torah is two words: “Na’aseh Ve’Nishma” ‘We will do, and (then) we will listen.”

The Jewish people, presented with the opportunity to receive the Torah from G-d, rather than question its contents, or explore its values, simply respond that they are willing to accept it, sight unseen. “Just tell us what to do,” exclaim the Jews, “later you’ll let us know what it’s all about!”

Jewish tradition extols the virtue of this moment, describing it as an extraordinary leap of faith, which formed the basis for our relationship with Hashem and His Torah.

Indeed, the Talmud (Tractate Shabbat 88a) has G-d Himself proclaim, regarding this

statement:“Mi Gilah Le’Banai Raz Zeh…?”

“Who,” asks G-d, “revealed this secret, (used by the angels) to my children?”

This statement is so powerful; it is deemed positively angelic, resonating with the essence of angels who perform Hashem’s service, irrespective of the purpose behind their mission…

But is this really the ideal? Does Judaism encourage us to completely abrogate the allimportant faculty of intellect? Am I not supposed to question?

The Sefer HaChinuch (Book of Knowledge), written by an unknown but widely accepted medieval commentator, was one of the first works of its kind, exploring the philosophical underpinnings of the mitzvoth in the Torah. In his introduction, he suggests that there are those who will suggest that “Tzaddik Be’Emunato Yichyeh,” the truly righteous live by faith alone, implying that if one truly believes, there is no need for understanding. To them the Chinuch responds with the verse: “K’sil Ba’Choshech Ye’halech”; “A fool walks in darkness.” In essence, G-d gives us an intellect, and we are meant to use it!

In fact, one wonders how the Jewish people were meant to fulfill the Torah (the “Na’aseh”, or ‘doing’), without first exploring it! How could they know what Hashem wanted them to do, if they did not first study what the mitzvoth were all about?

This is precisely the question of Rabbeinu Yonah on the Mishnah in Ethics of the Fathers (3:9), which says that the main thing is not the study, but rather the action. Whereas the Mishna seems to be pointing out that the purpose of study must always be the ethical behavior it hopefully leads to, here, in our portion of Mishpatim, the implication

Parshat Mishpatim

To protect others from falling “I

f a person (‘man’ here is generic) opens a pit, or uncovers a pit, and leaves it uncovered (when not working on it), and an ox or donkey fall into it, the owner of the pit (e.g. the one who opened it) must pay money to the owner of the animal, and the [animal’s] carcass belongs to him.”

(21:33-34) Rashbam spells out the debate regarding to whom the carcass belongs – to “who” does “him” refer? The overall consensus seems to be that the owner is paid and keeps the carcass (Rashi and others). Chizkuni proposes that since the damager is paying in full, he gets to keep the carcass.

I am taking a homiletical leap off the page, because there is a deep lesson that can Rabbi Avi Billet be taken from the principle involved in this case. The pit is essentially a stumbling block before an unsuspecting being – in this case an animal unprepared to take a potentially dangerous fall – which renders the one responsible for creating the stumbling block as responsible for the ensuing damages which result from the carelessness. The debate over who keeps the carcass can be translated to reflect an idea that both people – the one who causes the stumble as well as the unsuspecting “owner” of the fallen entity (the ensuing

“sin”) - have ownership over the “carcass,” or the sin that wallows in its own negative state.

The Mishnah in Bava Kama 26a says “Adam Muad L’olam,” that a person is always responsible for one’s choices and actions. Generally, this refers to the financial obligations one has for damaging another’s property – willfully or accidentally. Even if I leave someone’s item on my night table and accidentally knock it over while I am sleeping, I am responsible. I should have left it in a safer place.

The exception to the rule is cases of “oness” – where I am blameless because I was behaving properly and someone else caused me to damage something. If I break something because someone throws me on it, or places it in front of my car as I am driving, or smashes against my property in a manner that is their own fault, I am blameless.

There are many stumbling blocks that we face on a regular basis – it is part of living in a real world. We are tempted with our eyes, we are tempted to gossip, we are tempted to break laws – including those we don’t like (taxes) and those that don’t make any sense (some traffic laws). We are tempted to have the greatest comeback lines, to hurt people with words, and even to hurt people physically.

How often do we hear public figures apologizing for things they have said, apologizing for having “misspoken,” or for saying things they didn’t really mean? (Think Chuck Hagel.)

When we are loud and obnoxious, we cause others to think ill of us, tempt them to

speak lashon hara about us, and may cause them to violate “Do not hate your brother in your heart” (Vayikra 19:17).

When we don’t take care of ourselves, in appearance (looking shlumpy) and being morbidly obese (excluding reasonable “overweight,” and real medical conditions), we cause others to stare, to talk about us, and to judge us. (See Ramban on Vayikra 19:2) When we are scrupulous (or not) about certain stringencies (cholov yisrael in America comes to mind), if we claim those who are not stringent are eating “non-kosher,” or say about those who are stringent that they are “totally crazy,” we are spreading slander and causing others to look askance at people who are doing nothing wrong.

When we dress provocatively, we invite others to have inappropriate thoughts about us, to look at things they should not be enticed to look at, and to possibly sin in their hearts and minds. People certainly make private choices about how to act upon the things they see – in billboards, in magazines, and on the Internet, etc. But that is between them and G-d. Certainly, if they take action involving another person, that becomes their own fault as well. But if we are at fault for causing the private behaviors on account of our choices, those of us who put others in this kind of spiritual harm’s way are to blame for the stumbling block, and must “pay” for enticing others to fall. Even if everyone dresses that way at the gym, beach or swimming pool.

We live in a world that is challenging enough. With social media, a camera on ev-

of “Na’aseh ve’Nishma” (“We will do, and (then) we will listen”) is that the action precedes the study, and is not dependant on it at all, which seems to be completely illogical!

And even more challenging: what does this say about our relationship with the giving of the Torah in the first place?

Imagine you are in the process of a business negotiation, and are about to sign on a new partner. So you prepare a long and complicated contract and get together to share it with him for his perusal. And imagine he walks in and says: “No problem! I don’t need to look at this,” signs the 200 page contract and runs off to his tennis game. You would begin to wonder whether you had the right partner! How intelligent is a person if he is presented with a complex contract and doesn’t even bother to look at it? Certainly one would wonder about the perspective and dedication of a person with such an attitude.

So how could the Jewish people, presented with the greatest book ever written, not want to peruse its contents? How could we just accept it on face value, without utilizing the intellect that Hashem gave us: the gift that ultimately elevates us above the animal?

Rav Avigdor Nevehnsal, in his Iyunim on Sefer Shemot, points out that everything depends on who the author is. Obviously, if I were about to sign a business contract, it would be foolish not to examine closely the contents of that contract. But what if the person giving me the contract is my father?

Well, then the idea of closely examining the contract is ridiculous. If my father, who loves me so deeply, who brought me into this world, and who wants only the best for me, were asking me to sign something, then why Continued on page 14 erything we own, and the ability to share thoughts and messages instantly and worldwide at the click of a button, we must not only be extra careful about what we share and how we share it, but extra careful about how we present ourselves and how others perceive us on account of those choices.

There are times when people “check themselves” in my presence, from language choices, or content-of-comment choices, saying things like, “Sorry, rabbi.” Why? Am I more obligated to curb my behavior than you are?

Am I judging you? Or does my title remind you that there’s a Higher Being to Whom we bow, so to speak, and before Whom we must answer one day for our choices?

Any real “Rabbi” will be the first to tell you that rabbis are flawed humans like everyone else, and have similar challenges in terms of stumbling blocks that we all face. Everyone “klops Al Cheit” on Yom Kippur. Some rabbis (as well as many devout Jews) take the reminder of the fallout – repercussions from bad choices – seriously, and choose to behave properly as much as possible.

But we all have an obligation to consider the repercussions of the things we say, how we speak, and the ways in which we present ourselves to others in language, dress and commitment to G-d, in our avoidance of placing pits before others, causing them to stumble.

The donkey and ox are not looking or wanting to step into a pit to injure themselves or die. And those who are exposed to the behaviors that cause them to “fall,” would usually prefer to not be tempted by those of us, particularly Torah-observant Jews, who should know better than to present such pitfalls before others who share similar responsibilities in our efforts to maintain a G-dly existence.

What are you going to do with the “carcass” of the sin you caused another to commit?

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

Finding the balance between faith and logic, na’aseh and nishmah

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

14

Hebrew only please!

Finding the balance between faith Ilan Ramon: an Israeli - and Jewish! – Hero and logic, na’aseh and nishmah

Ilan Ramon, z”l, the first Israeli astronaut, died ten years ago this week when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it was returning to Earth. Ilan was not just an Israeli hero, participating in the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981; fighting in the 1982 Lebanon War; and serving in many leadership roles in the Air Force before training as an astronaut. He was a proud Jew, taking with him into space a copy of a drawing by a Holocaust victim; a small Sefer Torah that survived Bergen Belsen; a coin from the Great Revolt; the words of Friday Night Kiddush; and many other items which carried Israeli - and Jewish - symbolism. Even those who aren`t observant, both in Israel and abroad, can - and should carry their Jewishness proudly!

By Rabbi Noam Himelstein

Rabbi Noam Himelstein studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion and served in the Tanks Corps of the IDF. He has taught in yeshiva high schools, post-high school women’s seminaries, and headed the Torah MiTzion Kollel in Melbourne, Australia. He currently teaches at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem, and lives with his wife and six children in Neve Daniel, Gush Etzion.

Continued from page 13 would I even waste the time looking at the document? In such a case, having not read or even seen the contract, the question is not: how could I sign? The question is: how could I not sign?

You see, everything begins with the relationship. If Hashem, who brought me into this world, is giving me something, how could it not be good? Judaism does not suggest that my relationship is based on the fact that Hashem created me. It is, rather, based on the idea that Hashem creates me all over again, every day. Indeed, this may well be the meaning behind Judaism’s focus on the Exodus from Egypt, of which we are continually reminded: When G-d took us out of Egypt, He demonstrated that He loves us. And at Sinai, Hashem introduced to the world the concept of a G-d who cares.

So the Jewish people at Sinai were not abandoning logic, they were actually employing the only logical response possible.

Every relationship, ultimately, begins with trust; the willingness to allow myself to be totally in someone else’s hands.

And this is one of the hardest aspects of any healthy relationship; to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and even dependent; to admit that ‘I need you.’ For so many people this is so hard, but there are very few things in this world as holy as the gift of showing someone else that you really need them.

And if love is all about giving, then trust is all about learning to receive. If I am do-

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE Notice is hereby given that I shall on the 19th day of February, 2013 through the 22nd day of February, 2013, beginning at 10:00 o’clock in the morning each day, in the Legislative Chambers, First Floor, Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York, sell at public auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 15th, 2013 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.

Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

As required by Section 5-44.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code, the County Treasurer shall charge a registration fee of $100.00 per day to each person who shall seek to bid at the public auction as defined above.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at http://www.nassaucountyny. gov/agencies/Treasurer/Annual_Tax_Lien_Sale/tax_sale_ listing.html

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or after February 14th, 2013.

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office.

Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats.

For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 Ext. 13715.

Dated: January 17th, 2013 T H E N A S S AU C O U N T Y TREASURER Mineola, New York TERMS OF SALE Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale

ing all the giving, and you’re not learning to love me back, then it may be loving-kindness (chesed), but it’s not a relationship. Relationships are about give and take, about trust.

That is the first step: “Na’aseh”; if you are asking me, then that is what I will do; it is really what I long to do…whatever you are giving I am ready to receive. And when I later find out what that trust was really based on, then my relationship grows even deeper.

And that is the second stage; Nishma… when I find out what it’s all about. Nishma is the desire, born of the depth of my relationship with Hashem, to discover what it is really all about…I so want to know what Hashem has given me, because I want to love Him even more. And ultimately, faith begins where reasoning ends, and that is the balance of Na’aseh and Nishma…

Love is a good example of the balance between faith and reason. You have to begin with logic, but for love to succeed, you have to take a leap beyond logic. And that’s when love grows.

Love’s greatest moments begin with the willingness to take that leap into the unknown. Yet, it is reason that calls faith to come and take its place at the table. Ultimately, we need to find the balance of Na’aseh and Nishma; to discover the relationship that allows us to take those leaps, and to come back to the meaning of those leaps, to allow the relationship to grow.

Shabbat Shalom, from Jerusalem

may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/ or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real p r o p e r t y u n d e r Fe d e r a l Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien.

The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal represen-

tation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.

The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect.

Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.

Dated: January 17, 2013 T H E N A S S AU C O U N T Y TREASURER Mineola, New York #608295E

15

NAMED THE

To Advertise In This Section, Call 516-632-5205

SELLING YOUR HOUSE?

1MWGIPPERISYW

EMPLOYMENT

SAVE ON CABLE TV-Internet-Digital Phone. Packages start at $89.99/mo (for 12 months.) Options from ALL major service providers. Call Acceller today to learn more! CALL 1-877-736-7087

HIRING? Run Your Ad in

Run Your Ad in

The Jewish Star

The Jewish Star

Just Call Our Classified Department at 516-632-5205

Just Call Our Classified Department at 516-632-5205

Satellite/TV Equipment *REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4Room All Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $24.99/mo. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1-800-699-7159

BROADWAY SHOW OF THE YEAR 608505

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Help Wanted

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Adoption A LOVING alternative to unplanned pregnancy. You choose the family for your child. Receive pictures/info of waiting/ approved couples. Living expense assistance. 1-866-236-7638

MERCHANDISE MART

HR PROFESSIONAL Richner Communications Seeks a HR Professional To Focus On All Aspects Of HR Including Benefit Administration, Recruitment, Employee Relations, Time Keeping And Compensation, Employee Documentation & Records, HR Policies And Other Functions As Needed Or Directed By Management. Position Is Part-Time With Flexible Schedule And Hours. Qualified Candidates Should Email Their Resume Along With Salary Requirements To hr@liherald.com.

Business/Opportunities

Credit Financial

production of

CREDIT CARD DEBT? LEGALLY HAVE IT REMOVED! Need a minimum $7,000 in debt to qualify. Utilize Consumer Protection Attorneys. Call now 1-866-652-7630 for help.

EVER CONSIDER A Reverse Mortgage?

At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective!

Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 866-967-9407

Miscellaneous For Sale

SERVICES

Careers/Training

Education AIRLINES ARE HIRING- Train for high paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified- Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (877)818-0783 ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available.

Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV authorized. Call 800-488-0386 www.CenturaOnline.com

Careers/Training

dd E K>> ' KE>/E &ZKD ,KD

PHOTO: MICHAEL BROSILOW

DISH NETWORK. STARTING at $19.99/month PLUS 30 Premium Movie Channels FREE for 3 Months! SAVE! & Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL 877-992-1237

MAKE UP TO $2,000.00+ Per Week! New Credit Card Ready Drink-Snack Vending Machines. Minimum $4K to $40K+ Investment Required. Locations Available. BBB Accredited Business. (800) 962-9189

OBOOTH THEATRE, 222 West 45th Street t BroadwaysBestShows.com VirginiaWoolfBroadway.com t Telecharge.com t 212-239-6200

Health & Fitness ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get FREE CPAP Replacement Supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 866-993-5043

ΎDĞĚŝĐĂů͕ Ύ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͕ Ύ ƌŝŵŝŶĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ͕ Ύ,ŽƐƉŝƚĂůŝƚLJ͘ :Žď ƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ͘ ŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŝĚ ŝĨ ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ͘ ^ , s ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝnjĞĚ͘

Ăůů ϴϬϬͲϰϴϴͲϬϯϴϲ ǁǁǁ͘ ĞŶƚƵƌĂKŶůŝŶĞ͘ĐŽŵ

609594

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE Autos Wanted CASH FOR CARS! Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing!

Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647

Legal Services

Legal Services

SELL YOUR CAR Just Call Our Classified Department at 516-632-5205

One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.

Did your job give you

Call the USA Classified Network today!

Lung Cancer?

Contact the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg today for a free and confidential consultation. We have won billions in verdicts and settlements, and it costs you nothing up front if we accept your case.

609835

If you suffer from Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer, and were exposed to asbestos on the job – even decades ago – you may be entitled to compensation (even if you were a smoker)!

1-800-231-6152

700 BROADWAY | NEW YORK, NY 10003

888-411-LAWS USE YOUR SMART PHONE TO SCAN THIS CODE FOR MORE

WWW.LUNGCANCERTRUSTS.COM

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Prior results do not guarantee a future outcome. If no recovery, no fees or costs are charged, unless prohibited by State Law or Rule.

606228

We’re with you – every step of the way!

THE JEWISH STAR February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773

CLASSIFIEDS

Liquor & Wine

WAREHOUSE y p p a H im!

Pur

F

WINE REE T Every FASTING riday K Plus Aosher Wines Wide A rray Of SPIRIT S

$ 00

$

00

$

00

5 OFF 10 OFF 20 OFF

Any Wine Purchase of $50 or more

Any Wine Purchase of $100 or more

Any Wine Purchase of $200 or more

LIQUOR & WINE WAREHOUSE

LIQUOR & WINE WAREHOUSE

LIQUOR & WINE WAREHOUSE

Must present coupon. 1 coupon per person/visit. No photocopies.

Excludes Bartenura. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

JS Offer expires 2/24/13.

Must present coupon. 1 coupon per person/visit. No photocopies.

Excludes Bartenura. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

JS Offer expires 2/24/13.

Must present coupon. 1 coupon per person/visit. No photocopies.

Excludes Bartenura. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

JS Offer expires 2/24/13.

Glengoyne

Glenlivet

Walders

10 Year

15 Year

Scotch & Coffee

$

$

27.99 750 ml

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

17.99

750 ml

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

750 ml

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

Barkan

Capcanes

Dalton

Classic Wines

Peraj Petit

Cabernet

$9.99 $

$

46.99

750 ml

8.99/bottle by the case

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

$17.99 $

750 ml

14.99/bottle by the case

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

$17.99 $

750 ml

15.99/bottle by the case

W/ Coupon. Exp 2/24/13. Not To Be Combined JS

New York’s Finest and Largest Selection of Kosher Wines & Spirits

343 Rockaway Tpke. • Lawrence, NY 11559 Tel: (516) 371-1133 Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-8pm • Thurs-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 12pm-7pm NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL OR PRICING ERRORS.

February 8, 2013 • 28 SHEVAT 5773 THE JEWISH STAR

16