The Jewish Star March 11, 2011

Yeshiva Science Olympiad Page 3 Mensch on the street Page 9 Jerusalem Post Crossword Page 14 David’s Harp: Depart-mental diplomacy Page 4

THE JEWISH

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VOL 10, NO 10 ■ MARCH 11, 2011 / 5 ADAR II, 5771

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Agudath tell Skelos of priority

Special needs, needs special budget

By Sergey Kadinsky With significant state budget cuts looming ahead, local Agudath Israel leaders met with State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) to discuss how the cuts will affect the Orthodox community. “Skelos is one of the top three individuals making the decision on the budget,” Rabbi Yonah Feinstein said. “Our concern is the yeshivas and community organizations and these are all constitutionally approved services.” Rabbi Feinstein of Agudat Israel organized a March 6 community breakfast for Skelos.

“There is transportation, Title One programs, tax credits, all in relation to secular studies such as math and reading,” the Agudath Israel government affairs director Yehiel Kalish said.

The breakfast, held at the Lawrence home of Asher and Tova Schonkopf had a feeling of urgency, as the state struggles to close a $10 billion budget deficit. The cuts include the elimination of $12 million in tuition funding for special education programs in private schools. “Generous government support provides vital services to growing families,” Yeshiva Shoar Yashuv board chairman Moshe Feuer said. “The new budget will determine the fiscal health of our communities.”

Currently, if a parent of a special needs student wishes to opt out of public school, but still receive tuition reimbursement, the burden of proof that the public school does not meet the child’s needs falls on the school.

But in a proposal announced by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, the burden of proof would be shifted onto the parents who would have to sue for state funding for tuition reimbursement. “State law requires New York City taxpayers to send some special education students to private schools and Continued on page 2

Photo by Rachel Dynkin

Dr. Paul Brody (2nd row, left) with his North Shore Hebrew Academy Middle School students and principal, Rabbi Jeffrey Kobrin. (The Megillah shown was presented to Dr. Brody by Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, known as the “Disco Rabbi,” in appreciation of Dr. Brody’s dedication to the Migdal Ohr Institutions in the Galil.)

Gantze Megillah

A new generation for Purim

By David F. Nesenoff Observing the mitzvah of reading Megillat Esther is usually fulfilled by following along in a text while one specific reader sings aloud. For 22 boys, of the North Shore Hebrew Academy of Great Neck, the obligation of reading the Purim scroll is pursued with great prepara-

tion and personal participation.

The 7th and 8th grade classes of the NSHA Middle School will be chanting the Megillah this Purim for their fellow students, parents and faculty thanks to Dr. Paul Brody, a dermatologist. During the past 10 years, Dr. Brody has taught the melody and cantillation of Megillat Esther to approximately 130 students, a

plan initiated by the past principal Rabbi Dr. Michael Reichel and continued with the assistance of the current principal Rabbi Jeffrey Kobrin. The dean, Rabbi Yeshayahu Greenfeld approves and is delighted with this special program.

Both Ashkenazic and Sephardic students read using the melody of their own

Shabbat Candlelighting: 5:39 p.m. Shabbat ends 6:42 p.m. 72 minute zman 7:10 p.m. Torah Reading Parshat Vayikra

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ATTENTION: Next week, in honor of Purim, the entire edition of The Jewish Star will be taken over

by The Jewish SHUSHAN SHTAR. You’ve been warned.

Inside

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Photo by Sergey Kadinsky

Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetsky with State Senator Skelos at the Agudath breakfast.

Special needs for budget Continued from page 1 pay their full tuition, even if their parents refuse to consider city schools that provide special education services,” Bloomberg said at a February 7 testimony before the State Senate. “We can provide services to those students at a fraction of that cost.”

With a sizable portion of his student body receiving public funding, Cahal vice president Richard Altabe argued that if the formula changes, it may spell the end for his school. “There is no way that we as a community alone could support all these children. The mayor is playing a zero sum game pitting public schools against Cahal,” Altabe said.

Bloomberg defended the proposal, arguing that it will save the state money and preserve jobs. “We’re going to be laying off teachers in our public schools so we can pay $100 million to private schools. It’s time the taxpayers stop sending kids to schools we just can’t afford,” Bloomberg said.

Far Rockaway resident Rabbi Dovid Libman, a parent of a 14-year-old son, said that Cahal made a difference in his son’s life, because it was more in tune with his personal growth. Initially attending the nonsectarian School for Language and Communication Development in Glen Cove, Libman successfully fought to transfer his son to Cahal. “He outgrew that school and Cahal fits his needs more specifically. He now speaks fluently.

The tuition that I pay for Kahal is a quarter of what I would be paying at SLCD,” Libman said.

Alongside tuition reimbursements, many special education programs are also funded through member item grants, where a local lawmaker decides which organizations to fund. “It’s very difficult for nonprofits to receive public funding for what they have to do,” Labor & Industry For Education (LIFE) Executive Director Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz said. His Cedarhurst-based organization provides recreational and academic programs for special-needs youth.

In the 2009 state budget, LIFE received $15,000 in member item funding from Skelos, but last year there were no member items allocated in the budget. This year the budget will again omit member items. Many of those who attended told Skelos about their organizations, arguing that the funding serves its purpose. “If the problems are not addressed early, they will be more costly for the state,” Woodmere speech pathologist Elaine BaumSimon said. “These are not babysitters, they help our kids succeed in life.”

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March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

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Continued from page 1 tradition. Ben Nitzani, an 8th grader, who is reading for the second year with the Sephardic nusach, said, “The privilege of being able to learn how to read the Megillah has changed my Purim experience forever!” Marc Aryeh, an 8th grader of Persian background, chooses to read in an Ashkenazi style. “I am following in the tradition of my brothers and my cousins who all learned how to read the Megillah from Dr. Brody,” Aryeh said. Aryeh’s portion includes changing his voice to sound like Queen Esther and later like King Achashverosh. “It is really cool to read the Megillah,” Aryeh said. “It gives us great pride to see our students each chanting according to his family’s traditions, all together in one forum,” Rabbi Kobrin said.

The students meet with Dr. Brody on a rotating basis to practice their newly learned skills while balancing their other academic and extra-curricular responsibilities. Although it is Dr. Brody’s 39th year of reciting the Megillah, he vividly recalls the first time he read the Megillah at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills where he grew up. “I remember being most grateful that I didn’t have to fast that day since this initial reading fell on a Saturday evening, just as Purim will be this year,” Dr. Brody said. “I’ll be, G-d willing, reading this year at my shul, the Great Neck Synagogue; it will be Chai, the 18th consecutive year there.”

In 1985, Dr. Brody, despite great peril, read the Megillah illegally at the Great Syna-

gogue in Leningrad during a mission where he smuggled in Judaica and met with many Jewish refuseniks. “I was warned that some of the gabboim were actually members of the KGB,” Dr. Brody said. “And as far as I was concerned, it was better ‘read’ than dead!”

Dr. Brody is exuberant that so many young people are interested in mastering the art of Megillah reading especially since he explained that there has been a dearth of qualified readers until recently. “This ensures the continuation of our unbreakable chain, M’Dor L’Dor,” Dr. Brody said. Several alumni of his program have started to read independently at various locations, including Craig Resmovits, now a student at Queens College, is slated to read at one of the morning minyanim at the Great Neck Synagogue and has read at nursing homes and hospitals.

Seniors Elie Flatow of NSHA High School and Russel Mendelson of Ramaz, along with Ramaz sophomore Eli Mendelson, are sharing the reading responsibilities at one of the evening minyanim there as well. Josh Mogilner, a senior at NSHA, has split the Megillah reading with his father, Dr. Alon Mogilner.

In coordination with Rabbi Daniel Coleman, the Chaplain of the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Dr. Brody often helps to arrange the readings for patients and their visitors. Dr. Brody said, “I truly shep nachas along with the boys’ parents, the faculty and the community when I realize that so many young men are now capable of reading the gantze Megillah!”

HAFTR plus math fair equals four medals Four HAFTR High School students were awarded medals for their research at the Long Island Math Fair held at Hofstra University on March 4. The students, Hillel Friedman, Gabrielle Lovett, Wade Miller, and Rebecca Slochowsky, will compete for gold medals at the Final Round of the Long Island Math Fair, which will be held on April 29.

Outstanding recognition went to Hillel Friedman for his work on the enigmatic nature of prime numbers. Gabrielle Lovett was awarded for her research on Euclidean and Hyperbolic geometry. Rebecca Slochowsky attained outstanding recognition for her cat-

egorization of infinite sets, and Wade Miller conducted research on Gaussian integers.

All four students worked with their mentor, Mr. Neil Bernstein, chairman of the mathematics department at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School.

From left to right in the photo: Ms. Naomi Lippman, General Studies Principal, Gabrielle Lovett, Rebecca Slochowsky, Neil Bernstein, Math Chairman, Hillel Friedman, Wade Miller and Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, Judaic Studies Principal

NSHA towering designs

Yeshiva Science Olympiad at Touro’s Lander College

By Sergey Kadinsky They raised questions, hypothesized, tested and made winning designs, earning prizes at the Yeshiva Science Olympiad on March 6.

This year’s venue was Touro College’s Lander College for Men, welcoming students into its lab classrooms.

“It’s important for the Orthodox community to contribute to science for the betterment of the world. We welcome these talented young men and women on our campus,” said Dean Dr. Moshe Sokol.

Comprising of 12 events, the contest covers a wide aspect of science including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, and applications of engineering and technology.

Local participating yeshivas include DRS Yeshiva High School of Boys; North Shore Hebrew Academy High School; SKA High School for Girls; YU High School for Girls; and Yeshivah of Flatbush.

Carefully lifting their balsa wood, participants in the Towers Competition tested how much weight their models would hold using a bucket of sand. “The appearance of the tower is up to them. We measure the efficiency in holding the weight,” said engineer Allen Krieger who was judging the contest. As the National Science Olympiad is held on a Saturday, local yeshivas have their own contest on the following day. “It’s a lot of nights up until two in the morning. We learned trigonometry with the angles, but it’s also trial and error,” 11th grader Gabby Segal said, who attends the YU High School for Girls.

She poured on the sand as her partner Emily Kaye held the bucket.

The winning tower came from NSHA, designed by Arielle Fisher and Jake Mor, who also spent long nights perfecting the design.

Ecology contest winners, NSHA students Amanda Goldstein and Brad Garczynski are awarded medals by Dean Dr. Moshe Sokol of Lander College for Men. Right, NSHA students Arielle Fisher and Jake Mor with their first place winning tower design.

“We didn’t expect it to hold 15 kilograms.

You’re not just memorizing things, you’re learning by doing,” Fisher said.

The school with the most wins, Torah Academy of Bergen County had parents and staff on hand to cheer the students. NSHA came up second with the Riverdale-based SAR coming in third. TABC parent Judy Hochsztein noted that the contest was more than physical experiments. “In the ‘Write It Do It’ category, it’s pen and paper. Half of the team describes an object and the other half builds it. It’s scientific notation, observations and measurements,” Hochsztein said.

The event focuses beyond winning, and rather tries to form effective partnerships.

“One of the central components of the Olympiad is that teamwork is a requirement for almost all of the events, as it is in most scientific careers today,” Yeshiva Science Olympiad director Linda Pawda said.

For some of the winners, the contest represents an early step towards a career in the sciences. “I enjoy learning how ecology works. I care about the environment and I’m a vegetarian,” NSHA 11th grader Amanda Goldstein said, who won first place in the ecology category with partner Brad Garczynski.

“We are dedicated and our entire department is here,” NSHA physics teacher Dr. Jacob Lubert said. “The importance is the enthusiasm of the students. Winning is good

but this is also good practice.”

Created in 1985, the National Science Olympiad was designed to gauge the level of science education in high schools. It presently hosts some 6,000 high school teams nationwide. The yeshiva competition had 10 local schools competing.

“I almost wish I were younger so I could compete. There’s real excitement to watch buggies race and the weight of your construction,” said Dr. Martin Schloss of the Jewish Education Project, which co-sponsored the event. “The Olympiad recognizes and rewards the best of our budding scientists who will undoubtedly have a profound impact on our world of tomorrow.”

THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

Gantze Megillah lessons

March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

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Opinion Editorial

Intuition for special needs tuition

A

s the budget talks continue in Albany, our community looks to the painful budget cuts not only as taxpayers but also as parents. Much attention has been paid to the possibility of New York City public school teachers facing layoffs as a result of the budget. But hidden inside the dramatic testimonials is an even more costly proposition, which would greatly impact the viability of special education programs in the Jewish community.

Currently, parents seeking to enroll their special-needs child in a private school, while receiving tuition reimbursement from the state, must appear before a special hearing officer testifying that the public school does not fit their child’s specific needs. The burden of proof is on the schools to demonstrate otherwise.

Seeking to plug the $10 billion gap in the state budget, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposes for the state shift the burden of proof to the parents, forcing their special-needs children to attend public school before demanding that the child be transferred to private school. To avoid this, parents would have to engage in costly

lawsuits so that their children would receive the reimbursements in private school.

The alternative would be to pay full private special-needs tuition, a prospect that is difficult enough in a community where many families have existing multiple tuitions.

The special education programs provided by yeshivot and community organizations have been proven to be cost-effective and attentive to their own specific needs, in conjunction with the secular studies and therapy programs.

Unable to afford full tuition of private schools, many parents of Orthodox specialneeds children will be forced to choose which of their children will have the privilege to learn in a Torah environment. Additionally, it will limit the parents’ spending power and will erode the quality of education in Orthodox special education programs.

Bloomberg’s advice to run government along the lines of a corporation will keep the budget balanced in the short term, but forcing some New York State Orthodox special-needs children into public school may be much more costly for the long term cohesion of our community.

Happy anniversary Obamacare, not

T

hey screamed, they begged and cajoled trying to point out the truth, but everyone called them liars. When people pointed out that the $500 billion dollars cut from MediPOLITICO care was being double counted TO GO into the cost estimates, the progressives pushing the president’s signature plan eviscerated them. Almost one year after Obamacare was signed into law, we are finally finding out the truth; the savings were indeed double counted and the health care plan will be adding a half of a trillion dollars to our already bloated national debt.

Last week, the House EnJeff Dunetz ergy, Commerce, and Health Subcommittee heard testimony from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen

Sebelius. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) asked about double counting the $500 billion of savings which seemed to still help the bottom line of Medicare and, at the very same time, contribute to the funding of Obamacare.

“There is an issue here on the budget because your own actuary has said you can’t double-count,” said Shimkus. “You can’t count — they’re attacking Medicare on the CR when their bill, your law, cut $500 billion from Medicare. Then you’re also using the same $500 billion to what? Say you’re funding health care. Your own actuary says you can’t do both. […] What’s the $500 billion in cuts for? Preserving Medicare or funding the health-care law?”

Shimkus said he said he was “shocked” to learn about the double counting. “We knew the health care law’s actual cost was much greater than originally told to the public,” he said. “And now, the truth is slowly coming out in administration reports and tesContinued on page 11

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Depart-mental diplomacy

“H

ello is this the U.S. Department of State?” the voice whispers. “We like to call ourselves the Department of Diplomacy in Action,” the friendly voice on the phone answers. There is a moment of silence and then the whispering voice continues. “I’m on an international flight and there is DAVID’S HARP a terrorist on board.”

The friendly voice says, “We don’t call them terrorists, in fact, there are no terrorists.

Sometimes there are disgruntled workers who have an agenda, but that’s only afDavid F. Nesenoff ter we’ve had a complete investigation to evaluate the situation.”

“What are you talking about?” his whispering level becomes elevated.

“There is a man on this plane yelling ‘allah akbar’ and running up and down the aisles.” Again there is silence for just a moment and then the cheery voice replies, “The Muslim call to prayer is one of the prettiest sounds on earth.” The whisper is now a shout. “I’m not on earth, I’m on a plane and…” He starts whispering again. “There’s a guy with what appears to be explosives strapped to his chest, he’s got a semi automatic weapon in one hand and a box cutter in the other hand with which he

just stabbed a stewardess.” Now the friendly voice becomes upset. “I must warn you that the term is not ‘stewardess’ it is ‘flight attendant’ although ‘air hostess’ is acceptable as well but male flight attendants do not appreciate the title ‘air host’ and prefer to be called a ‘crew member’ or a ‘cabin attendant.’ You should also note that the term ‘steward’ actually applies to one who works on a ship.”

The man on the plane is incensed.

“While you’re doing nothing the terrorist just pushed a disabled man in a wheel chair right out of the plane.” The State Department voice on the phone warns. “Please I’ve already told you that there are no such things as terrorists and you should know that this call is being recorded and just documented that you said the words ‘a disabled man in a wheel chair.’ The man is ‘differently-abled’ and ‘wheel chair bound.’ There is no need to degrade him.”

The man on the plane replies, “Degrade him? He’s free falling as we speak somewhere over the Orient.” Shooting can be heard in the background. “I’m afraid I just wont stand for that kind of language,” the governmental worker warns. “You should have said, ‘He is free falling over Asia’ not the Orient.”

The sound of shooting continues.

The man on the plane screams, “Oh my god, oh my god, he’s killing passengers!” The voice of the State Department says, “You just said “god,” and due to the separation of church and state, I am going to have to discontinue this conversation. Thank you for calling the U.S. Department of Diplomacy in Action.”

Yankie & Luzer Kadafi is killing his people in a civil war.

What happens during an uncivil war?

5

A Jewish newspaper should have a Hebrew column. So here it is. We will try to maintain a level of vocabulary so that it will be easy enough for students to read and interesting enough for those more fluent to enjoy. If you would like to write a story in Hebrew, please submit to: newsroom@thejewishstar.com

We won, let’s eat...

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.

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THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

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The Kosher Bookworm

Two commentaries for Esther Perhaps the two most popular literary works on the Jewish calendar are the Megillah and the Haggadah. This year has witnessed two very unusual and timely commentaries that pull together ancient pshat and drash in a modern lingo that should help further enrich an already crowed field of Megillah publications.

The first is titled “The Kol Menachem Megillah: The Book of Esther,” with commentary and insights based upon the works of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe complied and edited by Rabbi Chaim Miller. The format is similar to that of the previous volumes in this distinguished and well received series, that being the famed Gutnick Chumash.

This well annotated work presents to us an eloquent foreword containing valuable, Alan Jay Gerber historical and bibliographic data on both the Megillah texts and Targumin, including many famous commentaries, unique information concerning the role of the previous Rebbe in helping to enhance the serious nature of the themes of Purim and the role that the Rebbe’s Farbrengens played in generating a more spirited and informed holiday observance of Purim. The commentary itself references both the Rebbe’s works as well as

those from the many classical rabbinic texts.

The one major feature that is the citation of the Nusach Ari’s custom concerning the limitation in the number of times that people are to bang at the mention of Haman’s name.

This fact alone makes this particular work most unique.

According to Rabbi Miller, “The custom of banging only at certain places when Haman is mentioned is not uniquely Chabad.

It is mentioned in the work ‘Itim LeBinah’ [Warsaw, 1886,page 119], that is practiced in Lithuania and other areas. It seems to be a partial concession to those authorities

who maintain that no banging at all should take place, since it causes a disruption in the shul. Throughout the rabbinic literature there are many other different variants of this custom mentioned such as: banging only when Haman’s wickedness is mentioned [Sefer Haminhag]; banging up until Haman’s sons hanging [Makor Chaim]; and banging only when Haman’s downfall is mentioned.

[Emek Bracha]” This edition of the Megillah highlights, in bright red letters, the name of Haman where the author deems it to be banged in accordance with his observed tradition, and there

aren’t too many times that this occurs.

The next work, brought to my attention by my former Boro Park neighbor Dovid Hertz of Judaica Plus in Cedarhurst, is a narrative written by our Five Towns neighbor Rabbi David Fohrman of Woodmere.

“The Queen You Thought You Knew: Unmasking Esther’s Hidden Story” [OU Press / HFBS Publishing, 2011] Rabbi Fohrman, in a breezy and seemingly light hearted style writes a serious analysis of the actions, behaviors and motivations behind the Megillah narrative.

Rabbi Fohrman parses each major player’s personal quirks and attempts to go behind their seemingly superficial behavior in an attempt to ascertain the true spiritual, as well as human, motivations contained both within and without the printed text.

“When you really stop to think about it, Purim was deadly serious,” Rabbi Fohrman explains. “The Jews faced the very real prospect of genocide. Long before the world ever heard of concentration camps, we were almost wiped out on a single, terrifying day.

The story is real – and it is harrowing. We owe it to ourselves to look at the story’s narrative as adults and ask what it really means to us.”

Fohrman’s work deserves attention. It will most certainly help enhance one’s appreciation of the Megillah’s narrative, a new and refreshing take about Queen Esther and her actions, and offer a better understanding as to the true, serious and spiritual meaning of Purim.

Rebates for the season. Savings all year long.

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March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

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7 THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

Passover Cabana Club cocktails

Not your grandfather’s gin I

the tongue building with juniper flavor but then is reined in by strong citrus and spice with just a bit of bay leaf. The sweetness and citrus make the No. 209 gin a prime spirit for traditional cocktails like a Tom Collins, a Gimlet or even James Bond’s signature Vesper. Distillery No. 209 also has a list of cocktails created by friends of the distillery that pair well with their brand of gin.

My favorite way to drink this gin is on the rocks with a twist of lemon, but I also experimented with cocktails and offer the following recipe.

■ 2 oz. No. 209 Passover Gin ■ ½ oz. lychee liqueur ■ 1 oz. pomegranate desert wine ■ ½ oz. fig syrup ■ 1 oz. fresh squeezed grapefruit juice Combine all ingredients in martini shaker with ice, mix and strain.

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The cocktail is a refreshing and earthy mix of sweet and tart that would be as perfect poolside as it would be at an upscale Manhattan party. I call this drink the Cabana Club after the group of my grandparents’ friends who would gather around his pool in the summer to drink and socialize.

I am reminded that though my grandfather was not an overly religious man in his observance, he would give up drinking for Passover.

He was discontent to drink plumb brandy and potato vodka and so eight days of alcoholic abstinence was his personal sacrifice to the holiday. I am saddened that he didn’t live to see the creation of excellent Passover spirits.

I am excited that this year thanks to Distillery No. 209 I will be able to both observe Passover and enjoy some of my grandfather’s favorite drink.

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learned to drink from my grandfather.

I watched the class and panache with which he drank and understood that he enjoyed it, deserved it and its what men of his era did. And the bottle he reached for was always one containing gin, a spirit that I have since had a tremendous soft spot for in my heart.

As I walked through the aisles of the Kosher Food and Wine Experience a few weeks ago I came across a booth run by Distillery THE KOSHER No. 209, a San FranCRITIC cisco based company that makes a kosher for Passover gin distilled from sugarcane.

Aside from my predisposition to like gin what really caused their booth to catch my attention was t h a t Zechariah Mehler they had distilled down the different flavors contained in their gin into essences. By inhaling those essences anyone sampling their gin could better understand the subtle nuances of what they were tasting. This behavior is very representative of Distillery No. 209’s attitude about their product. They understand that many in my generation have turned to scotch and vodka after finding gin to be too medicinal tasting, so they help customers to understand that not only can gin be every bit as flavorful and complex as scotch or as versatile as vodka, in many instances it can even be even better than both.

Distillery No. 209 has a very rich juniper scent that hints at a bit of sweetness.

The flavor begins sweet on

March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

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Photo of the Week

Opinion Making miracles

HALB 4th graders and their rebbe Dovid Libman are greeted by Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim to celebrate their Siyum Mishnayos, having completed the tractate of Sukka.

Each student received an individual bracha from Rabbi Finkel with a sweet treat in honor of the occasion.

If you have a photograph with a description, from local or afar, please submit to: newsroom@thejewishstar.com

Mazel tov to Binyamin Hirtz Siman tov u’mazel tov on the birth of Binyamin,son of Aron Hirtz, owner of Aron’s Kissena Farms, along with the proud mother Aliza and the grandparents Rabbi and Mrs. Yonasan Hirtz and the Honorable and Mrs. Noach Dear.

“Come on, be a little real!” I told my friend. He had just shared his story of divine intervention with me. Here’s how it went: For two hours he sat in his seat in the Beit Midrash and learned Talmud. As he finished his individual study and joined the whole Yeshiva for a shiur, he was deeply satisfied by his technical and intellectual accomplishments but still thirsted for the promised reFROM THE HEART ligious experience.

OF JERUSALEM As the teacher began class, he was really more than thirsty. He was frustrated and distracted. He had studied Talmud for years and over the last few months had been particularly immersed. He was trying to find G-d and was failing. He decided to play that classic game everyone feels ridiculous playing Samuel Fisher but nonetheless cannot resist: G-d, if you exist, give me a sign. Or else I won’t believe in you. He told G-d to make the air-conditioner suddenly turn off or make the window suddenly fly open. He waited patiently. When, as he expected, nothing happened, there was still the tinge of disappointment. He was left feeling rather hopeless. As his thoughts calmed down, he suddenly zoned-in on what the Rabbi was teaching, “You don’t need to ask G-d for signs. He’s all around you.”

My friend was excited when he told me this story. Precisely at the moment when he was waiting for G-d to give him a sign, out of nowhere he heard the Rabbi speaking on the very subject, describing the world itself

as the sign he sought. This to him was G-d finally answering his plea for a sign.

It’s perfectly explainable, on a scientific level, how this happened. My friend was thinking intensely about “signs” so when he heard the word, his mind grabbed at it and brought him back into the lecture. And it is not so unusual for a Rabbi to be discussing matters of faith. So it was really not such a special scenario at all. Nonetheless, my friend saw this story as miraculous, the hand of G-d. My friend really does understand that such a coincidence is actually rather ordinary, and I have no doubt that one year ago he would have immediately dismissed such an event as just that.

So what was going on? I saw that my friend was consciously suspending rationality. No one had fooled him; he was making a choice—a choice to attribute spirituality to the workings of his life. This was a choice that infused his experiences with meaning, regardless of whether this meaning was objectively real or not. The religious experience may be irrational, but that does not make it invalid.

So then we’re left with the burden of perceiving G-d in the natural and the normal. One might say it’s unfair. In Egypt G-d showed the Jews ten miraculous plagues to affirm their faith. We, on the other hand, are expected to believe without ever witnessing supernatural phenomena.

This question bothered me. But when I posed it to a friend, Steven Fine, he gave me an eye-opening answer. First, let’s assume that anyone who undeniably witnesses G-d’s omnipotence would have unwavering faith in Him. Therefore any witness to the ten plagues would unhesitatingly follow G-d’s every instruction, right? Actually, as Steven pointed out to me, a Midrash teaches that four out of five Jews did not leave Egypt in the Exodus and did not follow G-d into the desert. This suggests that four out of five Jews who were in Egypt and saw the plagues never experienced revelation—the plagues themselves were not apparently divine. Even then, G-d was only visible to the visionary.

Rambam explains that all of God’s miracles conform to the laws of nature. Any miracle can quite easily be brushed off as coincidence—but that is a choice. With Rosh Chodesh Adar II upon us, it’s time for us to start seeing and celebrating the “hidden miracles” of Purim. Ultimately, it’s up to the beholder to make them miracles.

Samuel Fisher grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and graduated from Maimonides School in 2010. He is spending the year studying in Yeshivat Orayta in the Old City of Jerusalem after which he will attend Harvard College.

The Jewish Star newspaper (Long Island, NY)

9

By Ariel Rosenbloom

On a desert island, what three things would you bring?

“I want to have my family and a chaise lounge; what else do you need?”

“An I-touch with Wi-Fi, a kosher 7-11, and an ATV.”

“A copy of the Jewish Star, Diet Coke, and a computer.”

BOB LESHANSKY Owner of Max’s Appetizing and Kosher Delicatessen, Woodmere

BINYAMIN MILES Student at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, 14 years old

TOBY KLINGSBERG Associate Broker of Jan Kalman Realty, Woodmere

“An acoustic guitar, an Artscroll Shas, and Beatles anthology.”

“Allen, my significant other, and endless supply of wine, and a library full of books.”

RAYE KLAUSNER Owner of Uccelli (women’s clothing store) in Cedarhurst

“Books, my needlepoint, and my grandaughter.

I’m not taking food; I have to lose weight.”

ALEX MEHL Queens College student, Woodmere,

ETIA COHEN HAFTR Kindergarten teacher, Lawrence

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THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

Mensch on the street

For All Your Lighting Needs

Aloha sacrifices The book and parsha of Vayikra contain the specific essentials with regard to the laws and practices of the korbanot, the sacrificial offerings. And although we do not bring korbanot without a Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the Torah views the bringing of korbanot as an important ingredient in one’s lifelong goal of getting close to G-d.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that the word “korban” comes from the word “karev,” which literally means to draw closer.

The goal of korbanot is therefore a positive attainment, a realization of a more noble existence and should not be viewed, as animal rights people might view it, as destructive.

More importantly, the korban was meant to serve the needs of the one bringing it as opposed to the One receiving it. The verse in Tehillim 73:28 says “For me, G-d’s nearness Rabbi Avi Billet is good for me.”

Other elements of Vayikra serve to indicate what a person is like if he does not seek out G-d or attempt to have a closer relationship with Him. Hirsch writes, “In G-d’s sanctuary a man will understand that closeness to G-d is the sole criterion for shaping his outlook on life and for evaluating true hap-

piness.”

According to Hirsch, in order to get close to G-d requires dedication, rule of law and learning through body and spirit. Catherine Rampell recently published an article in the New York Times entitled, “Discovered: The Happiest Man in America.”

She describes the summary reached by a Gallup poll as to what are the most common criteria of people who claim to be happy.

Gallup said the happiest person is a tall Asian-American man, an observant Jew, at least 65, married, with children, runs his own business, a household income of more than $120,000 a year and lives in Hawaii.

Apparently there is a man living in Honolulu who fits the description.

It is most interesting that the description of the happiest person, from over a million surveyed, is an observant Jew. Even without korbanot, we sacrifice a lot for our faith, for our dedication and for the sake of our children. We do it on account of our love for G-d and our eternal effort to get close to him. We can’t eat in every restaurant, our tuition rates are higher, people look at us funny when we leave work early on Friday and schools are petitioned to accommodate the scheduling of weekend exams.

This is our life. We embrace it; we love it.

We seek that relationship with G-d. And with G-d’s help we’ll endeavor to reach the attainable elements of the Gallop poll to achieve true happiness. And, maybe one day, we’ll at least visit Hawaii.

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11

timony.”

The Congressman must have a poor memory because two months earlier, in late January, the Chief Medicare Actuary, Richard Foster testified before Congress and was asked about the double counting. Foster’s answer was that the plan robs Peter to pay Paul.

“My answer is a definitive yes and no,” Foster said when asked if Obama’s health law double-counted. “The funds go from the Medicare trust fund to the Treasury general fund, and then can be used to pay for Medicaid. But at some point, the trust fund will need the money it lent out, perhaps when it comes time to pay recipients out of the fund.

[A] Hundred dollars can’t be spent as $100 toward health-care reform and as $100 toward health-care expenditures. That takes $200,” Foster said. “The key thing is when you go back to pay that $100, the Treasury has to find that $100 some other place.”

In other words we have been lied to.

Barack Obama’s signature Health Care plan will be adding at least an additional half a trillion dollars to the deficit. But that’s not all. Foster exposed some other lies we have been told about Obamacare.

Remember when President Obama said that everyone would be able to keep his or her present coverage? Foster explained the plan was devised so that people in private Medicare Advantage plans will have to find

other coverage. He predicted that about 7 million of plan-holders would have to change providers because Obamacare gradually cuts generous government payments to the Advantage plans, so insurers are expected to raise premiums or even drop out.

Last April Foster’s office issued a report that predicted Obamacare will drive doctors away from accepting Medicare because it adds an estimated 34 million people to the Medicare rolls, creating a high demand for doctors’ services by low-reimbursement Medicare patients.

Just before the health care bill was passed, then Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy.”

She was correct, almost a year after its passage, we are finding out that the president and those in congress, who voted for the bill, lied to us when they said the bill would not add to the national debt and would not necessitate changes for those who already have insurance.

Jeff Dunetz is the Editor/Publisher of the political blog “The Lid” (www.jeffdunetz.com).

Jeff contributes to some of the largest political sites on the internet including American Thinker, Big Government, Big Journalism, NewsReal and Pajama’s Media, and has been a guest on national radio shows including G. Gordon Liddy, Tammy Bruce and Glenn Beck. Jeff lives in Long Island.

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THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

Opinion

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Calendar

Rebbetzin Jungreis at CHAZAQ CONGREGATION BETH GAVRIEL, located at 66-35 108 Street in Forest Hills will be hosting renowned author and lecturer Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis who will be speaking on “Women can bring Mashiach” with a performance by female vocalist Kineret. The women-only event sponsored by CHAZAQ begins at 7:30 p.m. For For more information call 646-996-0822, or emial Info@Chazaq.org

ment, financial issues, empowerment and support. Please join us on Thursday mornings at 10:15 a.m. at Temple Israel, 140 Central Ave, Lawrence until January 20th. This group is part of Connect to Care, an initiative funded by UJAFederation of NY. For further information and to pre-register, please contact Talia Rapps, L.M.S.W. at 516-569-6733 x213.

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

Deadline is Wednesday of the week prior to publication.

Movement class for special needs THE JCC OF THE GREATER FIVE TOWNS offers “Movement with Mary Moshos,” a class for children with special needs ages 5 and up, designed to enhance interaction with the environment through work with music, bubbles, and various textures. Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30pm at the JCC, 207 Grove Avenue, Cedarhurst. 12 sessions/$240. Please call Sharona Arbeit at 516569-6733 x218 for more information.

March 14 Matzah baking with YILC YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE-CEDARHURST will be holding a matzah baking event at Chareidim Matzoh Bakery, located at 4312 New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park. The event will begin at 3 p.m.

For more information call 516-569-3324

Parkinson’s Support Group

March 17-18 Purim Cuisine Sale KULANU is holding a Purim cuisine sale with holiday-related food at the home of Shira Perl, located at 56 Willow Road in Woodsburgh. Items include appetizers, salads, challah, kugels, cakes, and desserts. Proceeeds from the sale will benefit Kulanu’s programs for special-needs children. The event will be held on March 17 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and March 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call Chana Bienstock 516-569-4077 or Eta Bienenstock 917-330-5375

March 20 Purim at the African Jungle CHABAD OF MERRICK-BELLMORE-WANTAGH will be holding an African safari-themed Purim party at the Merrick Park Golf Course, located at 2550 Clubhouse Road in Merrick. The event is part of the annual “Purim Around the World” series, following last year’s Mexican-themed Purim. Megilla reading will begin at at 12 p.m. followed by the program at 12:30 p.m. The event costs $15 for adults, and $10 for The maximum cost per family is $50. Reservations must be accepted by March

e l a S

TAG students Gila Klein and Yedida Spinner add meaning to their Bat mitzvahs by hosting a shalach manot packaging event at Kulanu. Proceeds from the sales generated by this chesed project will benefit local children with special needs. Orders can be obtained through www.kulanukids.org 15. For more information call Rabbi Rabbi Shimon and Chanie Kramer 516-833-3057.

Ongoing Honor Grandparent with Surprise Award CHABAD OF MINEOLA is holding a contest to honor grandparents at the Pesach Seder. The 250-word essay contest is open to all students ages 10 to 18. Contestants must submit an essay describing why their grandparent(s) is deserving of the award, along with a photo of themselves with the grandparent(s). Prizes include $500 for first place and a raffle for an iPad2. The deadline for this contest is April 8. There will be eight categories of awards: 2 grandmothers, 2 grandfathers, 2 couples, and 2 winners for “In Memoriam.” Ceremony honoring the recipient will be held on Sunday June 5 at 2p.m. at the

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Renee & Jan Burman Chabad Center for The Arts. For more inofrmaiton, contact Rabbi Anchelle Perl 516-739-3636.

Calling all Senior Song Birds THE JCC OF THE GREATER FIVE TOWNS, located at 270 Grove Avenue in Cedarhurst, hosts a choir for seniors every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. for a joyful hour of singing with choir master Zvi Klein.

We sing songs in all languages and we perform for local venues. There is a $5.00 optional contribution requested per session. For information please call Sheryl at 516-569-6733 x222.

Support group THE JCC OF THE GREATER FIVE TOWNS will sponsor a new support group for the economically challenged as a result of the economic downturn. Key themes will include unemploy-

THE JCC OF THE GREATER FIVE TOWNS, located at 207 Grove Avenue in Cedarhurst, hosts every Tuesday a Parkinson’s Support Group from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The purpose of this group is to bring together Parkinsonians, spouses and their families in order to help them better understand the nature of the condition, gain confidence and join in community activities. For further information, please contact Cathy Byrne at 516-569-6733 x220.

Membership Drive THE SUBURBAN PARK JEWISH CENTER, located at 400 Old Westbury in East Meadow, is conducting a membership drive. The Jewish Center has the lowest membership dues in the area and membership includes free Hebrew School tuition and free High Holy Days tickets. There is no building fund and special discounts are offered to new members. For more information, call the synagogue at 516-796-8833.

Sex offender registry PARENTS FOR MEGAN’S LAW will actively email residents each time Suffolk and Nassau County Police departments release sex offender notifications for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 sex offenders. The newly updated website allows users to register for alerts within specific zip codes throughout the entire state and maps the location of restraints. Call the helpline at 631-689-2672 for more information or register by logging on to www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

Contact the helpline to schedule a sexual abuse and abduction prevention workshop.

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Flirting with her imagination Dear Aviva, My husband just switched to a new job.

At this current job there is a female co-worker who he has become friendly with. She is frum like us. My husband keeps talking about her and it’s making me nervous. He said that she is unattractive (at least to him) and they are merely work colleagues, but I get uncomfortable every time he brings up her name, and my imagination starts to get the better of me. He’s never proven untrustworthy before. How do I calm my fears and trust my husband?

-Dubious Wife

Dear Dubious Wife, Ok, first and foremost, relax. This doesn’t sound so bad. It actually sounds pretty good.

It sounds to me like your husband values sharing his day with you. It happens to be that he spends most of his day with his coworker, so naturally her name will come up often.

There is some research that shows that if a spouse is open about a relationship he has with someone (like in your case), there is not likely to be anything fishy going on.

However, according to some informal anecdotal evidence, this is not always the case.

Sometimes a spouse will openly talk about his/her extra-curricular buddy in an (ostensibly) innocuous way.

So I would say that you have to gauge your relationship. How is your marriage in general? Is it rocky? Just be on alert. Or, do

you two like to spend time together? Do you laugh together? These are signs of a healthy marriage. Another sign of a healthy couple is if one spouse can turn to the other and say, “Sometimes so-and-so flirts with me.” Now, there is a disagreement in how to handle things when you notice someone flirting with your spouse. Some say not to mention it because it will perk up the flirtee’s interest and look forward to the opportunity to be flirted with. I am of the general school of thought that says, “Communicate Openly!” If there was even one drop of a reason for a wife not to trust her husband, she would most likely end up resembling some screeching shrewwitch. And this would be the perfect self-fulfilling prophecy to push her husband closer to the sane female in his life.

Since you don’t know if this lady flirts or not, you can gently ask, “Does she ever flirt with you? If there really are some unsavory work conditions, (business trips with her or working late alone in the office with her), you can and should say, “I’m not so comfortable with this. Is there anything that can be done differently?”

Don’t forget to be proactive—make sure that the two of you are not stuffy, professional colleagues administering your home. Flirt and giggle before you clock out and run off to your day job.

-Aviva Aviva Rizel is a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice who can be reached at AvivaRizel.MFT@gmail.com.

Israel raps on campus tour

By Sergey Kadinsky In America, the common image of rap artists is to challenge authority, but for the Israeli Consulate in New York, the presence of popular Israeli rap band Hadag Hahash underscores the country’s message to the world.

“It’s very important to remember that there is life in Israel and this is a celebration of life,” said Yuli Edelstein, the Israeli Minister for Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs.

The Israeli band, whose name translates as “Snakefish” has six widely selling albums to date and has toured U.S. College campuses in an effort to promote Israeli good will and the contemporary society of the Jewish state.

The music is a blend of western pop meets Middle East. On stage, instruments include a turntable, trombones and drums alongside fast-paced Hebrew lyrics. Song subjects in-

clude political and social commentary.

“We address issues concerning Israel and most of my songs have criticism in them,” said vocalist Shaanan Streett. Alongside the Hadag Nashash, Israeli television presenter Becky Griffin spoke about her travels around American college campuses.

“We made Jewish students more connected to their roots and we also met Arab students. One Lebanese student contacted us because she did not just want the Palestinian side of the story,” Griffin said.

Consul General Ido Aharoni added that the March 6 concert at Baruch College was part of a larger effort to promote a nonpartisan image of Israel to college audiences.

“You build relationships by showing your culture. Israel is a pluralistic society and tonight’s music shows it to the world,” Aharoni said.

Wish your family, friends and customers a Shana Tova, a Happy Chanukah and a Chag Kasher V’Sameach,

all at once.

with HOLIDAY GREETINGS in

Place one order for our three annual greeting issues and save 10% — and that means good wishes for you too!

(Rates are for black & white; add $75 for color)) Passover greetings issue April 15, 2011 / Deadline April 11, 2012, 11AM. Holiday greetings should contain holiday messages, the name of your business and contact information.

To Purchase your Holiday Greeting please call (516) 569-4000 x291.

Or Email: dnesenoff@thejewishstar.com

455351

Greeting Rates: Small (1/16 page): $55 Standard (1/8 page): $90 Medium (1/4 page): $160 Large (1/2 page): $300

THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

Ask Aviva

The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle Across

1. Posture problem 6. “May the Lord bless and keep the ___... far away from us!”

10. Affix a mezuzah 14. One-up 15. Prominent voice in the Talmud 16. Writer Ferber (“So Big”) 17. Bury 18. Couple 19. Rabbi alternative 20. 20th century political philosopher and Zionist 22. “What’s the next thing I say in the script?”

23. Voice actor Blanc 24. Blood libel time of year, often 26. Tooth concern 29. King David’s father 31. Industrial city south of Tel Aviv 32. Beit ___ (Holy Temple)

Last week’s answers

36. Baruch ___ 37. They meet in the middle 38. ___ Hu (seder song) 39. Luckless guy 41. Taxidermist’s materials 42. Bedouin, perhaps 43. Lee and Getz 44. Windows have them 47. Cause of inflation?

48. Gaza Strip, e.g.

49. Historian Richard (“The Paranoid Style in American Politics”) 56. Richly adorn 57. Heed a commandment 58. Chutzpah 59. Repeat 60. “Abie’s Irish ___” 61. Shine 62. One way from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv 63. Hatchling’s home 64. Supreme Court Justice Kagan

Down

1. Earth 2. Fix a lyre 3. Anne Frank’s father 4. Lofty lines 5. Israeli-American actress Natalie (“Closer”) 6. Eichmann’s was famous 7. ___ Mare (whence Satmar Hasidism) 8. Greetings for Josephus 9. Yul Brynner played him in “The Ten Commandments” 10. Singer-songwriter whose last name means “charity” 11. Accept, as to Yeshiva University 12. Loony 13. Worse, as excuses go 21. “Cuando El ___ Nimrod” (Ladino song) 25. Perform the Four Questions

44. He’Brew, e.g.

45. Violinist Morini 46. Indian metropolis 47. So far 50. Woodwind 51. Come clean, with “up” 52. Computer entrepreneur Michael 53. JNF item 54. ___ and Jaron (Jewish pop duo) 55. Ashkenazi encoder of Jewish law

Answers will appear next week

THE BRANDEIS SCHOOL

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PURIM 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

26. “___ protest too much” 27. Airline since 1948 28. High Priest 29. World-weary 30. Holocaust philosopher Fackenheim 31. Possesses 32. Yemenite singer Ofra 33. “The Essential Talmud” author Steinsaltz 34. Worships false gods, e.g.

35. Mins. and mins.

37. Shofar 40. “Brainiest guy in baseball” Berg 41. Like Rod Serling tales, often 43. ___ shiva (mourn)

• • • • • • • •

New state-of-the-art science lab Innovative dual curriculum Small student/teacher ratio Differentiated instruction to meet individual needs Experienced and nurturing staff of certified professionals Advanced technology integrated into each classroom Multi-faceted art and music programs School wide and community programs that reinforce values of Tzedakah, Chesed, and Tikun Olam

We look forward to greeting you!

Building A Jewish Future...One Student At A Time.

25 FROST LANE • LAWRENCE, NY 11559 (516) 371-4747 ex. 304 • FAX (516) 371-1572 www.thebrandeisschool.org

454383

By David Benkof

453632

March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

14

15 THE JEWISH STAR March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771

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ADVERTISING SALES The Jewish Star is looking for an advertising sales representative to cover multiple territories.

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Israel Is Under Attack In The Court Of World Opinion

You support Israel with your prayers.

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There are anti-Semitic, anti-Israel groups working overtime to isolate and delegitimize the state of Israel.

They are misinforming people on campuses, in the workplace, in the media, in libraries, in films.

People of all ages are hard-pressed to make Israel’s case, yet, now more than ever, we are called upon to do just that. To make Israel’s case, we need facts. We need people willing to educate others on behalf of Israel. You can help create an army of educators by learning more. Become a partner for Israel through StandWithUs.

Learn more, so that you can teach more.

The

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lf Hitler mee

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StandWithUs is a nonprofit, international Israel education organization that ensures that Israel’s story is told on campuses and in communities, libraries, religious institutions, schools, and the media. Our programs are both proactive and also serve to respond to the anti-Israel misinformation being promoted today. We educate and empower people around the world through speakers, training conferences, special programs, Internet resources, missions to Israel, as well as colorful and effective educational materials on a full variety of topics.

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March 11, 2011 5 Adar II, 5771 THE JEWISH STAR

16