THE JEWISH March 27, 2015 • 7 Nissan 5775
STAR
Tzav • Shabbos Hagadol • Published weekly since 2002 • 516-622-7461
Vol 14, No. 13 • TheJewishStar.com
THE NEWSPAPER OF LONG ISLAND’S ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES
Let’s make some friends! Rabbi Sacks calls ďŹ nding allies, especially among Indians, Chinese and Catholics, ‘biggest mitzvah’ By The Jewish Star Staff Five Towns Jews were charged this week with performing a new mitzvah: Making friends for Jews. Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggested that Jews should especially nurture relationships with people in India and China, and among Catholics. Rabbi Sacks, the former chief rabbi of Great Britain, spoke to a full house motzei Shabbat at Congregation Beth Shalom in Lawrence, having delivered a drasha earlier in the day at the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. His Saturday night talk, sponsored by Yeshiva University, was in conversation with attorney Ben Brafman. “We have ememies, but we also have good friends,â€? he said, citing good relations with the prime ministers of Germany, France and Canada, and with the people of Australia.
Pope Francis has said “nicer, more genuine and positive things about Jews than any Pope in hstory,� Rabbi Sacks observed. “The biggest mitzvah of the Jewish people right now is to go and make friends,� he said. With 1.2 billion Catholics, 1.2 billion Indians, 1.1 billion Chinese, “we win the battle with them alone.� China and India are both civilizations nearly as old as Judaism, with no history of anti-Semitism, he said, and India is threatened by an unstable, nuclear armed neighbor in Pakistan. With radical Islam on the verge of imposing “the complete elimination of Christians from the Middle East,� Christians are natural allies, as are the millions of Muslims who are also threatened by radical Islam. “The time has come to say exactly what this is, not to equivocate,� Rabbi Sacks said.
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Bialik and King of Iowa enter Jews-as-Dems fray
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By The Jewish Star Staff “Big Bangâ€? star Mayim Bialik and Tea Party-boosting Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa added their spin this week to an ongoing debate over the Democratic Party afďŹ liations of most American Jews. “I don’t understand how Jews in America can be Democrats ďŹ rst and Jews secondâ€? and support President Obama, given the President’s approach to Israel, King told Boston Herald Radio. Bialik, known for her intelligence (she’s a neuroscientist — and plays one on TV) and her Judaism, explained on Kveller.com why she’s a proud liberal, a Democratic, and a supporter of the State of Israel. “I was raised to believe that Jewish values — lifting up the fallen, supporting those in need, repairing the world with acts
of loving kindness — are consistent with the Democratic Party,â€? Bialik wrote. “But historically, Republicans are staunch supporters of Israel in a way Democrats just aren’t. Why is it so complicated?!â€? Bialik deďŹ ned herself a “a bleeding heart liberal when it comes to things like the death penalty, and while I tend to be socially conservative ‌ I believe in democratic principles and unions, helping the poor, and I generally believe that the skewed structure of our culture is the determining factor for people’s lack of ‘upward moblity’ rather than the inherent weakness or shotcoming some tend to see. That being said, Israel is a wild card.â€? King said anti-Semitism and “just plain liberalismâ€? drove opposition to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Congressional appearance.
For Pesach, warnings about keeping safe By Zeev Kashash, United Hatzalah of Israel Here are some important guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy chag. Cleaning for Pseach: In an earnest effort to thoroughly clean our homes in preparation for the holiday, please stay aware of harmful and strong cleaning substances. Burning chametz: Though a primary halacha prior to the start of the holiday, burning the chametz can be very dangerous. This activity takes place ceremoniously at
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community centers, shuls and even private homes, so be aware of using highly ammable materials when burning your chametz. Often these substances adhere to clothing and shoes, and can rapidly create ďŹ res. •Watch your children and ensure that there is more than sufďŹ cient supervision around ďŹ res. Keep an eye out to ensure that ďŹ res don’t spread and that local ďŹ re protection personnel are notiďŹ ed and on site. •At the sedurim: Two main issues: choking and allergies. Continued on page 8