November 4, 2011

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Ariel Sharon’s son slams Bibi in new book Page 3 Palestine UNESCO seat dishonors history Page 4 Parsha: those hovering vultures Page 6 When soldiers steal, should you squeal? Page 13

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VOL 10, NO 42 ■ NOVEMBER 4, 2011 / 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

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Dead Sea Scrolls on display in Times Square By Sergey Kadinsky For the first time in their history, the priceless parchments uncovered in caves overlooking the Dead Sea, have arrived in America, making their premiere at Discovery Times Square exhibition center. “This unique new exhibit embodies the best that Discovery Times Square has to offer. Quality, historical stories that are brought to life right in front of visitors’ eyes,” said James Sanna, CEO of the center. Billing itself as “more than a museum,” the three-year old center, located in the basement of the former New York Times headquarters combines oversize screen displays, strategically directed lighting and actors alongside the artifacts, a walk-through show intended to capture the setting of ancient Israel. Upon descending into the basement, a dimly lit room has spotlights focusing on selected biblical quotations, opening up into a second room with six giant flat screens showing a panorama of the Dead Sea landscape. An employee dressed in the earthy uniform of an archeologist introduces the visitors to the allure of archeology in the Holy Land. The doors then open up into the self-guided exhibit, which includes the full historical spectrum of ancient Israel, from the Canaan-

Photo by Sergey Kadinsky

Rabbi Boruch Wolf stands next to photos of fellow kidney donors at the food and wine tasting benefit for Renewal, the nonprofit that coordinates kidney donations in the Jewish community.

Gourmet Glatt hosts first local kidney donation benefit By Sergey Kadinsky Gourmet Glatt, the popular Cedarhurst kosher supermarket was closed to shoppers on Tuesday night, with its aisles transformed into a catering hall. Candlelit tables offered chocolate samples as violists played. Between the tables, posters highlighted the cause of the evening. Renewal, the Borough Park-based

nonprofit that coordinates kidney donations in the Jewish community. “This is our first event in the Five Towns,” said Renewal founder Mendel Reiner. The effort began six years ago when Reiner’s friend Eli was diagnosed with kidney failure. “He needed a transplant and he needed it fast. 60 percent of dialysis patients don’t survive three years.” Reiner put an ad in Jewish Press, seek-

ing a Blood Type O donor for a father of five. “We received over 30 phone calls, more than we expected,” Reiner said, describing how Renewal began. Since then, it assisted in 126 transplants, with an average wait of only nine months for recipients, compared to the national average of seven years. Part of the success is spreading the

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Shabbat Candlelighting: 5:30 p.m. Shabbat ends 6:30 p.m. 72 minute zman 7:00 p.m. Torah Reading Parshat Lech Lecha Sunday move the clock back one hour Tuesday is Election Day

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Photo courtesy of Discovery Times Square

The Hebrew on the scrolls is nearly the same design as today’s letters.

On exhibit Dead Sea Scrolls Continued from page 1 ites to the Ottoman Turks. “The Israel Antiquities Authority sees this as an opportunity to allow the world to share in and learn from, indeed to experience, our connection with Ancient Israel, the place where much of our common heritage and civilization was formulated,� said Yeshive University undergraduate Vice-Provost Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, who was consulted on the design of the exhibit. This is the largest collection of artifacts and scrolls ever exhibited outside of Israel.� The rare finds include coins from the Hasmonean period and domestic altars from the kingdom of Israel. An interplay between religious tenets and the influence of the surrounding idolatry is told in the square stone altars, used in ancient homes for sacrificial offerings. While Jeroboam promoted their use in northern Israel, Hezekiah insisted on the supremacy of Jerusalem as a place of prayer and sacrifices. Like the Holy Temple altar, the domestic altars have horns on each of their corners, as prescribed in the Torah. Descending further into a sub-basement, the fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls are laid out on a rounded table in a rotunda, but they do not command the same amount of attention as they would in their permanent home, the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem. Surrounding the table is a wall paneled with Jerusalem stone tiles, highlighting the lavish Temple-centered life in Jerusalem in contrast to the monastic settlement at Qumran. Noticeably absent is any mention of modern Middle Eastern politics, with locations of the objects listed by their town or city, not mentioning whether Qumran is in Israel or the West Bank. While some mention of Christianity is given, for the most part, the exhibit, which runs until April 15, is a walk through the daily life and religious values of biblical times. One small, controversial piece is the Yeshua ben Yehoseph ossuary, a limestone box dating from the first century that contained the bones of a man who shared the same Hebrew name as Jesus, the Jewish rebel contemporary who inspired an offshoot religion. In contrast to their permanent home, where the scrolls command undivided attention, their New York premiere bills them as the culmination of the ancient Israeli timeline, which soon after ended with the defeat at Masada. The mysterious Essene Jewish community unwittingly made a time capsule, preserving a written record of their time, buried in a cave in an uninhabitable corner of the land. “The Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times� is on view through April 15 at Discovery Times Square at 226 West 44 Street in Manhattan. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on weekends. Last entry is an hour prior to closing. For ticket prices and reservations, visit www.discoverytsx.com.

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November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

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By Corey Adwar When Gilad Sharon recalls the eventful life of his father, it is not the memories of his dad’s political and military careers that he relishes the most, but rather the personal characteristics that defined him as a father and friend to those closest to him. In his newly released biography of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, titled Sharon: The Life of a Leader, he hopes to shed light on this lesser known side of the controversial Israeli statesman and IDF commander. “These are the parts that I like the most,” he said. Regarded as a strict military man, his sense of humor was revealed only to his closest companions. Speaking before the Conference of Presidents in Midorwn Manhattan on Oct. 26, Sharon shared a few anecdotes, such as his father’s competitive fishing outing in Africa with the leader of Zaire, and his reluctance to care for a purebred Arabian horse presented to him by Jordan’s King Abdullah. After Ariel Sharon’s debilitating stroke left him hospitalized in Jan. 2006, the family has rarely left his side. “We visit him each and every day. We haven’t missed once,” he said. Even in this condition, Sharon’s image is unchanged. “When he’s asleep he looks like the lord of the manor. Self-assured, strong.” But Sharon also spoke plenty about his father’s life in the IDF and in politics. He highlighted an incident on May 26, 1948 as a major turning point in his father’s military career. Then just a young platoon commander, he led a failed attack on Latrun which resulted in heavy casualties among his men. In his platoon, 31 out of 35 soldiers were killed or wounded in this attack. A wounded Ariel Sharon was left behind on the battlefield. Throughout the rest of his time in the IDF, he became personally resolved to never leave a soldier behind, no matter what the circumstances. For this reason, Sharon said that his

father would approve of the recent prisoner exchange deal that resulted in the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity. Consistently characterizing his father as a pragmatic, hardened politician unafraid to speak his mind, Sharon said that his fa-

ther was forced to make tough decisions for what he firmly believed was the benefit of Jews in both Israel and the diaspora. Sharon answered a number of questions about the scandal surrounding Time Magazine’s accusation that his father encouraged Christian forces to massacre Palestinians during the 1982 Lebanon War. Sharon dismissed the charges, comparing them to the centuries-old libel of the Jews crucifying Jesus. Sharon also stood by his father’s 2005 decision to unilaterally pull Jewish settlements from Gaza, arguing that the decision was backed up in the polls. “The public in Israel did not want to be in Gaza. It was proven time and again.” Sharon said, taking credit in pushing his father to support a unilateral withdrawal, which is explained further in his book. Sharon slammed current Prime Min-

ister Benjamin Netanyahu as a flip-flopper, charging that he also supported the withdrawal, before adding a provision for a public referendum on the matter. “This was a true manifestation of Netanyahu’s character,” Sharon writes in his book. “Not only was he subversive, but he was also a coward.” Nearly six years after his stroke, Ariel Sharon remains in a coma-like state. Gilad said that his father, who is 83, responds to some signs, such as moving his fingers and looking up at people.

Photo by Corey Adwar

Malcolm Hoenlein welcomed Gilad Sharon to speak on his new biography.

Gourmet Glatt hosts first local kidney benefit Continued from page 1 message that donating a kidney is relatively harmless, saving a life being the ultimate reward. “I heard of a father of twelve in New Jersey who donated his kidney through Renewal,” said Brooklyn resident Rabbi Boruch Wolf. “If he undertook it, then it’s not a high risk thing and I was not fazed by the surgery” Describing his procedure as painless, Rabbi Wolf recovered after a couple of days in the hospital. “A true sacrifice is something you are uncomfortable doing, but for me it was not a big deal.” The waiting list for Renewal totals nearly 150 people, including Dix Hills resident Irwin Doben, 67, who attended the event to thank the financial and physical donors. “I

found out about Renewal through my dialysis technician. The waiting list is endless and it is healthier to receive a live kidney,” Doben said. “It’s an amazing thing that people are doing this.” Through endorsements of leading rabbinical figures, the stigma associated with giving up an organ is dissipating, and the average wait for Renewal clients is only nine months, compared to seven years nationally. Chaim Alter Berger, a member Renewal’s board of directors and himself a donor

recalled asking Rabbi Binyomin Eisenberger about the procedure. “You should go to the mikvah and make sure to recite the parsha of the akeida three times,” he recalled his rabbi instructing. Speaking before the crowd, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Wolowik cited mention of the kidney in the Torah and Gemara. “The kidney enhances pleasure in food and in life,” Rabbi Wolowik said. “When one gives up a part of something we enjoy so much, it means the person is sacrificing himself.”

A true sacrifice is something you are uncomfortable doing, but for me it was not a big deal.

The annual budget for Renewal’s work is nearly $500,000, mainly related to matching donors, awareness campaigns, counseling, and paying for the donors’ expenses, such as lost wages during a surgery. “These donors submit themselves to months of tests, the daily routines and lives in disarray all in their quests to save a life,” Reiner said. “True chesed, that’s what Renewal’s donors are all about.” Those in need of a kidney transplant and suitable kidney donors and supporters may contact Renewal at 718-431-9831 or by logging on to www.Renewal.org. The public is also encouraged to daven for Renewal kidney recipient Yitzchok ben Kamera, who is undergoing surgery this week.

THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

Ariel Sharon’s son speaks on his legendary father

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November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

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Opinion Editorial

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Palestine’s UNESCO nod rewards desecrators

n the two decades since the Madrid Conference of 1991, the Palestinian Liberation Organization has gone from a terrorist organization to an apparent peace partner, and back to a pariah, as far as the Israeli government is concerned. But on the world stage, it appears to incrementally pick up the trappings of statehood. An anthem, a flag, diplomatic immunity, UN observer status, and this week, full membership in the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This move officially sanctions the denial of Jewish history by the Palestinian Authority on land that it claims for a state. In recent years, the government of Mahmoud Abbas has falsely labeled Rachel’s Tomb as the Bilal ibn Rabah Mosque. For centuries mainstream Islam held that Bilal, an early convert, was buried in either Damascus or outside Amman, but for the purpose of discrediting Israel, his body somehow took the place of Rachel. Last November, UNESCO accepted the Palestinian version of the story. On the site of the biblical Shekhem, the tomb of Joseph has been appropriated as the resting place of an obscure sheikh named Yusuf. The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron may contain the tomb of Abraham, but as a Muslim prophet, it would be offlimits to the nonbelievers. Crowning this litany of historical denials is the official assertion that the Holy Temple never existed. In erasing historical evidence, the Palestinians stand apart from their brethren. In Beirut, where only a couple dozen Jews remain, Hezbollah supports rebuilding the Maghen Abraham synagogue. In Egypt last year, the Maimonides Synagogue in Cairo was restored last year by the government. In Jordan, where no Jews reside, the Machaerus fortress from the First Jewish Revolt

is open to tourism. In Herat, Afghanistan, the Aga Khan Trust restored the unused Yu Aw synagogue in 2009. Even while denying legitimacy to Israel, these Muslim nations find value in preserving Jewish history as part of their national heritage. For the Palestinians, the opposite is true. The synagogues of Gush Katif were reduced to rubble, the tombs of Joshua and Caleb are covered in graffiti, and the cemetery atop the Mount of Olives is subject to sporadic vandalism. Is this any way for a UNESCO member state to behave? The international agency responsible for cultural and historical preservation has admitted Palestine on the flimsiest of qualifications, but as a member, it must adhere to international laws. The withholding of United States funding, which comprises 22 percent of the UNESCO budget, will ensure compliance. ■■■

Remember to vote

For the Jewish voters of Nassau County, the election for Hempstead Town seats and the Nassau County Legislature is a very visible contest. Almost as ubiquitous as winter holiday decorations, colorful campaign signs abound on vacant gas stations, traffic medians and residential lawns, practically every inch of unoccupied space. But an election is not a flag contest, and hopefully after Tuesday, win or lose, the candidates will clear up these visual distractions. It is all about your vote. With social media, it has never been easier to look up a candidate’s platform. With campaign finance laws, looking up a candidate’s true agenda is just as simple, based on who donates the most. Make the most of these tools.

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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 Assistant Editor Account Executives Contributors

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Sergey Kadinsky Helene Parsons Sandi Stanger Rabbi Avi Billet Jeff Dunetz Rabbi Binny Freedman Brigitte Fixler Rabbi Noam Himelstein Alan Jay Gerber Zechariah Mehler Aviva Rizel Ariel Rosenbloom Alyson Goodman Christina Daly

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Letters to the editor them coming! The Hebrew critic To the Editor: ADL defends its I truly believe that the one legacy left by the previous editor was the pledge introduction of a Hebrew column. I use it often to help improve both my understanding and use of the language. There are however two vexing points that must be brought to you attention. The first is the font used to print the column most weeks. Several people have commented to me and I join them in hating the font, which makes reading the column troublesome. I’ve also been told by a friend that he ignores the column completely because of the terrible print style being used. The second problem is somewhat more egregious. The Hebrew is hardly modern day usage and needs to be examined before printing. I’ll cite one glaring example. In the October 7 edition Rabbi Himelstein writes about the majority of Israelis going to “batei knesiot” to mourn those who fell in the Yom Kippur war. In modern Hebrew that would imply that they go to churches! For many generations, “knesia” means church...”batei knesset” is the correct wording and some proofreading should catch and correct such errors. I hope that you will bring these points to the attention of the new editor when s/he is hired. It will only improve an otherwise excellent feature of your paper. Murray Altman West Hempstead Editor’s note: We appreciate this letter. It demonstrates the passion of a reader for accuracy and clarity. Keep

To the Editor: There has been some distortion of our announcement of the ADLAJC “National Pledge for Unity on Israel.” The pledge is not intended to discourage raising questions about a candidate’s support for Israel or the policy decisions of the current administration regarding Israel. In fact, ADL has been outspoken in questioning and even criticizing U.S. policies and positions toward Israel during the last three years. We will continue to raise concerns about those policies and positions when we believe it is warranted, just as we will be supportive when we feel that is appropriate. In the best tradition of American political debate we strongly encourage measured and thoughtful expressions of different points of view regarding U.S. policy toward Israel. What prompted ADL and AJC to launch this initiative was a desire to ask participants in the political discourse to avoid harsh and personal rhetoric or tactics in the form of attacks on political opponents’ positions on Israel. Our principal concern in calling for the pledge is to put Israel ahead of politics to reinforce the broad-based support of the American people for Israel and to project it as bipartisan whenever possible. Abraham H. Foxman National Director Anti-Defamation League

The 14 nations that stood by Israel The following 14 nations voted on Oct. 31 against UNESCO membership for Palestine: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sweden, United States, and Vanuatu. The vote came down to 107 in support and 52 abstentions. “The righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come.” (Tosefta, Sanhedrin 13)

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What Bush understood about the Middle East and Obama still doesn’t get were trapped in their embassy in Egypt. Abdullah:The feeling I got from the Egyptian leadership is that if they stick [their] necks out, they will just get lambasted like [former president Hosni] Mubarak did. So I think they are playing safe by just keeping their heads down, which I think . . . sometimes allows things to get out of control. . . . Tantawi thinks there is too much pressure on him. Weymouth: From the streets? Abdullah: No, from the West. Weymouth: Do you and other leaders in this area believe you cannot rely on the U.S.? Abdullah:I think everybody is wary of dealing with the West. . . . Looking at how quickly people turned their backs on Mubarak, I would say that most people are going to try and go their own way. I think there is going to be less coordination with the West and therefore a chance of more misunderstandings. Egypt is trying to develop its own way of moving forward. Obama never bothered to learn how the Middle East worked; rather he tried to impose his own vision upon the region. This vision led him to abandon long-time ally Hosni Mubarak at the first sign of trouble, and to attack Libya without Congressional or public support. In the case of Egypt there is a strong

possibility Obama helped ease out a dictator in exchange for rule by the oppressive Muslim Brotherhood, and senior members of the new Libyan leadership find it acceptable to impose Islamic religious law. Obama sees the Jewish State a satellite nation of the United States, rather than as a strategic ally. Writing in the Los Angeles Times this week, Robert Blackwill, Deputy National Security Advisor under Bush; and Walter Slocombe, Undersecretary of Defense under Clinton, laid out the strategic importance of Israel to America. Today, Israeli contributions to U.S. national interests cover a broad spectrum. Through joint training, exercises and exchanges on military doctrine, the United States has benefited in the areas of counter-terrorism, intelligence and experience in urban warfare. Increasingly, U.S. homeland security and military agencies are turning to Israeli technology to solve some of their most vexing technical and strategic problems. This support includes advice and expertise on behavioral screening techniques for airport security and acquisition of an Israeliproduced tactical radar system to enhance force protection. Israel has been a world leader in the development of unmanned aer-

ial systems, both for intelligence collection and combat, and it has shared with the U.S. military the technology, the doctrine and its experience regarding these systems. Israel is also a global pacesetter in armored vehicle protection, defense against short-range rockets, and the techniques and procedures of robotics, all of which it has shared with the United States. Obama publically criticizes Israel, but when the Palestinian Authority failed to respond to Israel’s ten-month-long settlement building freeze, Obama was silent. Even last week when Mahmoud Abbas said I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I will never recognize the Jewishness of the state, or a ‘Jewish state,” Obama remains silent. Perhaps it’s time for Obama to change gears and reexamine how Bush would have handled the Middle East. 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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t was three years ago; America elected a president who was going to repair our relationship with the world, particularly the Muslim world, after eight years of that “cowboy” George W. POLITICO Bush. Regretfully, our TO GO “relationship repairerin-chief” has presided over an increased divide between with the Muslim nations, and managed to create a rift with Israel, our most reliable ally in the region. King Abdullah of Jordan, a long-time ally, told the Washington Post’s Lally WeyJeff Dunetz mouth that Obama has a lot to learn about being an ally, and seemed to indicate that the United States is no longer trusted by the Muslim states: Weymouth: It is astounding that Tantawi [head of Egypt’s military ruling council] did not take President Obama’s call for hours the night the Israelis

THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

Opinion

Parshat Lech Lecha

Beating the Vultures T

he first of the two significant covenants that were forged between Avraham and G-d was the Brit Bein Habtarim (Covenant Between the Pieces). In exchange for a promise that he’ll have children, that they’ll be enslaved for 400 years, but that they’ll ultimately inherit the land of Canaan, G-d asks of Avraham (still Avram at that time) to “Bring for Me a prime heifer, a prime goat, a prime ram, a dove and a young pigeon.� (15:9) The Torah describes what Avram did: “He brought all these for Him. He split them in half, and placed one half opposite the other. The birds, however, he did not split.� (15:10) Once he set up the halved animals and Rabbi Avi Billet the whole birds, he was faced with a real problem: “Vultures descended on the carcasses, but Avram drove them away.� (15:11) Between the vision of the stars in which this encounter began, and concluding with the trance that came upon Avram as the sun set (15:12), it seems that the Brit Bein Habtarim was minimally a 20-hour experience. What took so long? Perhaps the verse describing Avram’s encounter with the vultures may have taken a

lot more time than its press coverage might indicate. The rabbinic interpretation of the vultures’ descent paints a metaphor of Avraham’s descendants fighting against those who want to break apart our Covenant with G-d. But perhaps there is room to interpret the events more literally. In an interpretation that is difficult to understand literally, the Midrash Hagadol posits that when the vultures came, Avram put the split carcasses next to each other and they returned to life to frighten away their would-be attackers. More in line with the actual wording of the verse, Radak suggests that the vultures only descended on the dead birds (complete carcasses) and not on the animals that were split in half. Getting into the trenches with Avram, Chizkuni suggests that Avram was literally running back and forth to cover the animals with a sheet – protecting them from the hungry vultures – as he lay in wait for the divine presence to pass between the pieces so the covenant could be set in motion. There is no question that the vultures coming down were meant to serve as symbolism to Avram for the struggles his descendants would have to go through. The Artscroll Chumash includes a summary of three approaches of what the birds represent: King David, who will be driven away by G-d before Messiah comes, nations trying to destroy Israel, and nations trying to prevent Israel from serving G-d.

But I think that the literal interpretation, for a change, perhaps, carries the most profound lesson of all. When G-d gives you instructions which are easy enough to carry out, when you do your part it stands to reason that everything else will flow and fall into place. But you can’t just expect everything to be perfect. If the task is to cut animals in half, vultures will want to eat the animals before the Covenant is complete. If the task is to show our children how to daven in shul, someone will talk to you in shul, or the davening won’t be conducive to the education you want to provide. If the task is to learn Torah with our children or to set time to learn with a study partner, all kinds of obstacles and distractions will stand in the way of our doing that which we know we need to do. If the task is to dedicate time to a worthy cause, every excuse in the world will stand in the way of allowing us to participate in the way we might like.

If the task is to bring guests into our homes, maybe the plumbing will go and the heating or air conditioning will stop working, or they’ll overstay their welcome. No matter the task, everything comes with its own challenges. The lesson we learn from our forefather is one of patience. With perseverance and with the attitude that “If I could just see myself past this obstacle everything will be OK,� we can attain the goals we set for ourselves. Avraham needed to chase away hungry birds. And it may have taken him the better part of the day to get them to give up their attempts at the dead animals. But he stuck with it, received the covenantal promise, and his children did leave Egypt, to inherit the Torah and the Land of Israel. And we’re still here today. Was it worth the annoyance of vultures for a few hours? I am sure our forefather Avraham would respond with a resounding “Yes!�

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November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

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By Ariel Rosenbloom

What do you like to do when it snows? “Make a snowman with our friend Uri and have a snowball fight.�

“Get in my jeep, engage the 4-wheel drive and go for a ride.�

MEORA WEINGARTEN GABBY POPOVSKY Seniors S.K.A. High School Brooklyn

JEFF ZUCKERMAN Attorney Silver Spring, Md.

“Go sun bathing�

BARUCH HERSHKOWITZ Freshman Mesivta Yam Hatorah Kew Gardens Hills

Photos of the Week

“Chill with friends in the snow and clean driveways for money.�

On the day after the season’s first snowfall, the Sunday morning arts & crafts program at Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi in Cedarhurst, had over 20 girls design artwork atop their umbrellas. To sign up and support this program, contact Rocky Schechter at rockyschechter@yahoo.com.

SAMMY WAGMAN Freshman Rambam Mesivta Hewlett

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THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

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Heroism on the Bental

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By Rabbi Noam Himelstein

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This week’s story is from the Yom Kippur War of 1973, where unit of Israeli soldiers hid in a bunker on Mount Bental as the summit was overrun by the Syrians. A soldier saved his friend through great effort by leaning over him, smothering his groaning to avoid being heard. Rabbi Himelman teaches at Yeshiva Orayta in Jerusalem. He may be reached at RavNoam@orayta.org.

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pwards of one million students & adults have heard Marion share her story, and important universal messages of respect & tolerance towards one another, regardless of religious belief, color of the skin, or national origin. Marion is a New York Senate Woman of Distinction Awarded the Yavner Citizenship Award by the NY State Department of Education The 1 hour presentation is suitable for ages 10 years and older - No Charge Four Perfect Pebbles will be available for personalized inscription Book proceeds to benefit the YIH Emergency Fund. Info 516-295-2282 Saturday Night Live at YIH — Nov. 12 at 8PM. A night of live music, good food & inexpensive babysitting. For more info, e-mail: office@yihewlett.org

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THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

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Judge Knobel: The psychology of judging By Sergey Kadinsky This week, Gary F. Knobel, the Nassau County District Court judge and Oceanside resident, is seeking reelection for his bench, running on the Republican Working Families, and Independence tickets. We briefly chatted with Judge Knobel on his run and his work as a Hofstra Law School professor and acting county court judge to preside over psychiatric retention and treatment hearings.

SK: You’re a Republican, but you’ve also secured the nod of the Working Families Party. That’s quite a rarity. GFK: They looked at me more as an individual rather than as a Republican, judged for compassion and treating people fairly without a predisposed bias. I am pleased to receive their support. SK: As a law professor, how do you prepare your third year students for the working world? GFK: Every state has its own unique laws. Hofstra is a national school and like many schools, it focuses on federal cases and broad principles. I teach my students the New York civil procedure, which has a unique flavor in long-arm jurisdiction, concerning the internet, and lawsuits related to eBay. Law

Gary F. Knobel students often make mistakes in the service process, confusing personal delivery with personal service. In New York, it’s personal service. SK: Is there a Jewish inspiration behind your work? GFK: My son went to North Shore Hebrew Academy and I attend Young Israel of Oceanside and Great Neck Synagogue. My judicial philosophy is from Devarim, “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” There’s also the psalm recited on Tuesdays about pursuing justice. I wrestle with making the right decision all the time. SK: do you have an example of the difficulty in making the right choice? GFK: Sometimes you have to make a snap decision. At an arraignment, you see the suspect for the first time and you have to decide whether to set bail or release the person. It is a very quick decision with many factors to consider.

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Sergey Kadinsky: You were appointed to evaluate psychiatric hearings back in January, but you do not have a degree in psychology. How do you handle these cases? Gary F. Knobel: When a hospital wishes to retain or release a mentally ill individual, a psychiatrist testifies whether that person is a danger to himself and the community. When a patient refuses to take a medication, I hold the hearing on whether the decision was made rationally. The state has eight criteria to determine whether they need supervision. As a law clerk, I went to these hearings and assisted the judge on whether these individuals are safe for society.

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November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

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The Torah Revolution: Fourteen Truths That Changed the World will. The third category, “Society”, includes that human sovereignty is limited, that the priesthood is divorced from magic, that land and wealth are to be distributed equally, that slavery must be mitigated, that the needy must be cared for, and that there be a day of rest for all . As with most attempts to categorize and systemize religious regimen and belief, there will be differences in specific items and their broad category designations. Given the historic condition of Jewish belief down through the ages, this contention, I am certain will find its way in the review process, as well as study of the work herein under review Nevertheless, to this writer’s opinion, Dr. Hammer, a Conservative rabbi and founder of the non-Orthodox Masorti movement in Israel, has developed an interesting contribution to the core beliefs of our faith. He has given Jewish belief a fresh persona, especially in the areas of social polity and policy. Better known as,” bein adam lachavero”, these interpersonal truths reflect a new and fresh recognition of concerns that were previously either ignored, or just plain shunned within the corpus of religious belief. The tone of the depth of religious commitment of this work is set in the introduction whose very title, “Torat Moshe – The Teaching of Moses” demonstrates the author’s intent “ to discover and explore those core concepts on which the original religion of Israel was based, as expressed in the Torah.” The fourteen truths are enunciated in revolutionary terms inasmuch as when they were first brought forth they were indeed, and in

many instances, still are revolutionary. Such truths as the recognition of the uniqueness of the human being, both male and female, the oneness of G-d, the de-mythologizing of religious functionaries, as well as the concerns for the economic needs of the poor are recognized by Dr. Hammer as major contributions by Judaism and Jews to the world’s religious experience unlike that of any other religious belief prior to Moshe. This recognition of what constitutes “revolutionary” is what gives this work a quality that raises it far above the category of that of a fanatical reli-

gious tract or radical political polemic. Given the state of turmoil in the world’s condition today it is indeed refreshing to note that the revolutionary experience still has a positive side, absent the bloodshed and verbal bombast so common all around us today. As was revolution used for positive progress and change in the founding of the American republic, so too can it be applied to our faith’s founding as described so skillfully by Dr. Hammer in this, his most recent and most thoughtful work.

Author and scholar with a variety of topics on hand Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of Yeshiva University’s Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, will serve as visiting scholar this coming Shabbat at Congregation Beth Sholom, located at 390 Broadway in Lawrence. On Friday night at 8 p.m., Rabbi Soloveitchik will speak on “Margaret Thacher and Lord Jakobovits vs. The Church of England.” For Shabbat morning, following the musaf service, he will address the mameloshn with “Yiddish: Metaphysics of a Mameloshn. His Shabbat afternoon topic concerns the next scheduled federal holiday: “Adams and Jefferson on the Jews: A Thanksgiving Reflection.” This lecture will take place between the minchah and maariv services. The event is cosponsored by Yeshiva University. Rabbi Soloveichik is a summa cum laude graduate and musmach of Yeshiva University and its Beren Kollel Elyon. In 2010 he received

his doctorate in religion from Princeton University, and has lectured throughout the United States, Europe and in Israel to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences on topics relating to Jewish theology, bioethics, wartime ethics and Jewish-Christian relations. His essays on these subjects have appeared in Commentary, First Things, Azure, Tradition and the Torah U-Madda Journal. The mission of the Straus Center is to help develop Jewish thinkers and wisdomseeking Jews by deepening their education in the best of the Jewish tradition, by exposing them to the richness of human knowledge and insight from across the ages, and by confronting them with the great moral, philosophical and theological questions of our age. Learn more about the Straus Center at www. yu.edu/straus. For more information on this event contact Julie Schreier at Julie.Schreier@yu.edu.

Re-Elect

LEGISLATOR HOWARD J. KOPEL Howard Kopel isn’t a professional politician. He’s a local businessman who ran for the County Legislature two years ago, promising to make the tough decisions necessary to cut spending, reform Nassau’s assessment system, and reverse the habit of endless tax hikes that were making Nassau unaffordable for our working families and seniors. Here’s what Legislator Howard J. Kopel, our community advocate, has accomplished for us: Supported two consecutive no tax increase budgets Cut county spending over $170 million Turned a $134 million deficit inherited from the previous administration into a $26.6 million surplus in his first year in office. Worked to eliminate the unfair 2.5% tax on home energy and electricity Eliminated unnecessary patronage jobs and cut the size of the county workforce to its lowest levels since the 1950s Stopped annual reassessments and made it easier for residents to grieve unfair and incorrect property value assessments

Re-Elect Legislator Howard J. Kopel

Promises Made…Promises Kept Republican, Independence, Conservative, Tax Revolt www.howardkopel.com PAID FOR BY HOWARD KOPEL FOR LEGISLATURE

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eing an avid reader of Jerusalem Post for most of my adult life, I have come to both admire and anticipate the writings of Dr. Reuven Hammer. His take on religious affairs, especially his analysis of the Chumash, holiday laws and customs, as well as current events, are both well written and reflect a very sober and unique theological perspective. It should therefore come as no surprise to note this week my personal satisfaction with the news of the publication of yet another book by Dr.Hammer, The Torah Revolution: 14 Truths That Changed the World, by Jewish Lights Publishing, which deals with an examination of concepts and ideals that give both meaning Alan Jay Gerber and purpose, in modern terms, to the theology of our faith. These concepts are divided into three basic categories that divide , in a rational manner, the basic theme settings of these fourteen truths. The first category is titled, “Divinity” and include the truths, that G-d is unique, that no divine power of evil exists, that morality is Gd’s supreme demand, and that worship is for the benefit of humans. The second category, “Humanity”, includes the truths that human life is sacred, that all human beings are equal, that men and women are equal, and that human beings have free

THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

The Kosher Bookworm

Nov. 4-5

ON THE

Calendar

Beis din & secular courts

QUEENS JEWISH CENTER, located at 66-05 108 Street in Forest Hills, is hosting Franklyn Snitow, who will be speaking on the interplay between batei din and secular courts as the Shabbat lunch speaker. Snitow is a renowned attorney representing numerous Orthodox organizations and sits on the OU Board of Governors. For reservations and details, contact Adam Rudich at Adam Rudich at adamrudich@gmail.com

Submit your shul or organization’s events or shiurim to jscalendar@thejewishstar.com. Deadline is Wednesday of the week prior to publication.

Nov. 13

Young Israel centennial

Nov. 6

Martial arts for Kulanu

KULANU, the nonprofit serving special-needs children in the Five Towns community, is hosting a Punch and Kick-A-Thon fundraiser where children and adults may participate in an hour-long session of punches and kicks guided by Warren Levi Martial Arts and Fitness. The cost is $18 per person. The event begins at 11 a.m. at 620 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst. For more information, contact 516-569-3083.

Nov. 15

Sholom Bayis balance

CONGREGATION BAIS TEFILA, located at 409 Edward Avenue in Woodmere is hosting Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, who Following the keynote speaker, there will be separate workshops for men and women coordinated by Rabbi Shaya Richmond, lecturer Yaffa Jungreis, Shalom Task Force director Meir Rizel, and The Jewish Star advice columnist Aviva Rizel. The event begins at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Racheli at 516-239-1800.

British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University held a public conversation on Oct. 28, the second in a series “Great Conversations on Religion and Democracy.” Rabbi Soloveitchik will be in Lawrence this weekend as Congregation Beth Sholom’s scholar-in-residence. The British theme continues this Friday night at 8 p.m. with the topic “Margaret Thatcher and Lord Jakobovits vs. The Church of England.” event is sponsored by YU Student Medical Ethics Society, YU Center for the Jewish Future and the Fuld family. The event is held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register for the event, log on to yumedicalethics.com

Hachnosas Sefer Torah

HILI BEIS MEDRASH, located on the campus of Yeshiva Darchei Torah at 257 Beach 17 Street in Far Rockaway, is dedicating a new sefer Torah for the synagogue, which has its roots in Hebrew Institute of Long Island, the first Orthodox Day School in the community. The completion of the sefer will be at 1 p.m. followed by a procession on the campus. For dedications and details, contact Rabbi Dov Bressler at 718-327-8903.

Nov. 8

A home in Israel

MY ISRAEL HOME, a firm specializing in Israeli real estate, is holding a workshop discussion on legal and practical issues to consider when buying a home in Israel. Real estate broker and columnist Gedaliah Borvick and attorney Debbie Rosen-Solow will be speaking. The event will be at the home of Laura & Dov Hertz, located at 392 Felter Avenue in Hewlett. For more information, contact Gedaliah Borvick at 646-461-1380.

In the Public Eye

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, located at 500 W. 185 Street in Manhattan is holding a panel discussion on Jewish perspectives on public health, with renowned halachic authorities on health, and experts in the fields of preventative medicine, epidemiology, vaccines and circumcision. The

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Challah baking class

CHABAD CENTER OF JEWISH LIFE, is holding its Jewish Women’s Circle challah baking class, with a variety including whole wheat, spelt, regular and honey, with many recipes and braiding techniques to try. The women-only event begins at 7:45 p.m. at the Merrick Golf Course, located at 2550 Clubhouse Road in Merrick. For more information, contact 516-833-3057

YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE-CEDARHURST, located at 8 Spruce Street in Cedarhurst, welcomes retired Israeli diplomat and author Yehuda Avner, who will be speaking on the topic “Inside IsraelGreat men, epic moments.” Ambassador Avner is a veteran of the Israeli War of Independence, former ambassador to the U.S. and author of The Prime Ministers. For sponsorships and more details, contact 516-569-3324.

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Jewel Avenue in Hillcrest, is showing the film “Jewish soldiers in Blue & Gray” by the National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University. The film presents the stories of the 10,000 Jewish soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. The free event is cosponsored by State Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Queens Jewish Community Council. The free event begins at 8 p.m. For more information, contact 718-969-2990 or 718-544-9033.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL is holding its centennial celebration, honoring its founders, visionaries and activists, synagogues and commitment to Torah. The event will be at 4 p.m. at Terrace on the Park, located at 52-11 111 Street in Queens. The guest of honor is Yossi Peleg-Billig, with Hy (Chaim) Singer as the man of the year. Young Israel rabbis who have served for more than 30 years will also be honored. For sponsorships and journal ads, contact 212-929-1525 or register online at www.youngisrael.org/dinner.

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Jews in the Civil War

YOUNG ISRAEL OF HILLCREST, located at 169-07

Sanitation Town Hall meeting

VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE is holding a town hall discussion on sanitation services within the village at Lawrence Yacht & Country Club, at 101 Causeway, second floor meeting room. Officials from the Sanitation District will be presenting and residents are encouraged to attend and discuss any issues or questions on this topic. The event begins at 7 p.m. For more information, contact 516-239-4600.

Ongoing

Bat Mitzvah classes

DRISHA INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH EDUCATION is offering a Bat Mitzvah program at Congregation Beth Sholom, located at 390 Broadway in Lawrence. Titled “Our Mothers, Ourselves,” this five-week class for mothers and daughters ages 11-13 will explore different personalities of women in the Tanakh from both pshat and drash perspectives. The class will also discuss the significance of becoming a Bat Mitzvah and how it relates to these prominent women. The classes will take place on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. starting on Nov. 13. For more information, contact inquiry@drisha.org

Exploring Haftarah for women

CONGREGATION KNESETH ISRAEL, located at 728 Empire Avenue in Far Rockaway is hosting weekly haftarah lectures for women sponsored by Machon Basya Rochel Seminary, with Vivienne Chaya Frank. The classes take place every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the cost of $12 per class. For more information, contact 718-355-8900.

Thursday night learning

KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI, located at 391 Oakland Avenue in Cedarhurst has a Thursday night learning program with video lectures by noted lecturers Rabbi Eli Mansour at 9 p.m. and Rabbi Yissocher Frand at 10:30 p.m. Hot chulent will be served, concluding with maariv services at 11:15 p.m. For more information, call 516-374-9293.

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Expelling for good

S

ometimes, you can’t change the world, and in order to make sure the world doesn’t change you, difficult and often painful decisions are necessary. I still remember joining the Israeli army, full of motivation and inspired to make a difference, only to discover that the reality of army life often had its own set of rules. One of the most damaging norms in FROM THE HEART army life is how easy it OF JERUSALEM is, even for a relatively honest person, to become a thief. People justify it by differentiating between outright theft and mild pilfering, whether grabbing extra cookies from the kitchen, or swiping an extra pair of pants before inspection from a different tent because in the middle of the night someone swiped Rabbi Binny yours. Theft is theft, Freedman and it is a struggle to stay ‘clean’ all the way through training. Still, there are certain rules and codes you learn quickly, that most soldiers instinctively understand. No normal soldier steals weapons and you don’t ever take personal belong-

ings from anyone and especially from the guys in your own unit. It took me a few weeks of detective work and entrapment to catch the thief within my unit. I brought him up on charges and demanded his removal from our battalion, eventually settling for his transfer out of our company. Not only was he upset with me, but some of the good guys in the unit who were his buddies, tried convincing me that it wasn’t a big deal, and that ejecting him from the unit would seriously damage morale. It took me a lot longer to struggle with whether I was right or had just made a terrible error in judgment. After all, he was a good guy who you could count on to cover your back, and pilfering was almost an inevitable part of army life. Was it fair to put a blotch on his service record forever? How does one find the appropriate balance between “live and let live,� sweating the small stuff on the one hand, and refusing to compromise with evil and wrong-doing on the other? If you are standing in the supermarket and someone cuts the line in front (or even in back) of you, should you demand he leave the line, and call for store personnel to remove him from the store? This week’s parsha of Lech Lecha provides with the classic case in point. Apparently, Avraham and his nephew Lot had both acquired so much property there wasn’t

enough room for the both of them. Can you imagine? In Israel today there are over ten million people. And sitting in America with a map spread out on the table, one might imagine there is just no more room in this tiny country. But come to Israel and spend a day in the Galil, the Negev, or the Judean Mountains, and believe me, there is plenty of room. Endless vistas stretching as far as the eye can see of room. So how could there not have been enough room for two families 4,000 years ago? While the Torah is somewhat vague about the exact nature of the conflict between the shepherds, Rashi, quoting the Midrash, makes it very clear: Lot’s shepherds were stealing, and Avram’s shepherds were taking the moral high ground. More puzzling than the conflict however, is Avram’s inexplicable reaction to it: “And Avram said to Lot: ‘Let there not be a quarrel between you and I and between my shepherds and your shepherds. Behold all the land is before you; please separate (part) from me; if you go left I will go right, and if you go right, I will go left.� (12:8-9) “Separate from me�? This is Avram’s great solution to conflict? Bear in mind that this is not an argument with someone you never met who is in you parking space; this is Avram’s own nephew! The verse does not actually say Avram and Lot were arguing; it says the argument was between the shepherds. So why does Avram feel Lot should leave? How depressing to think that even the paradigm of loving-kind-

ness in this world can reach the point of no return in his relationship with his own nephew. Is this the blueprint for Jewish ethics? When the going gets a little tough, just go?! Equally disturbing is Lot’s response, especially as one might have expected better from someone who comes of age in the tents of Abraham. He actually left and relocated to Sodom, the most wicked and sinful place on earth! How could someone who grew up in what must have been the most ethical place on earth end up in Sodom? Perhaps Avram understands he cannot decide where Lot should be, Lot has to make that decision on his own. This does not, incidentally, mean Avram ever stops loving Lot and caring for him. After all, when hearing that Lot has been taken captive, Avram goes to war against five kings to save him. But they can no longer live together. Interestingly, if one looks closely at the story in the Biblical commentaries, it may well be that the straw that broke the camel’s back was not that the shepherds of Lot were stealing; it was that they didn’t see anything wrong with it. And if Lot’s shepherds think wrong is right, it can only mean their employer Lot is fine with that. Perhaps, what Abraham was teaching the world is that there is a line we cannot cross. While we dream of creating a world where all peoples live together in peace; our challenge is to make sure we are happy with that peaceful world we create. If you would like to subscribe to Rabbi Freedman’s weekly parsha insights, join the list at isralight@isralight.org.

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THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

Opinion

Ask Aviva

Fashionable and frum I’m not sure if I have a problem or not. My friends and a few random strangers are making me think that I do. I like to be different. So when I go to a simcha, I don’t want to blend in with the typical black dress. I like color and flair, and unique clothing and accessories. I like to be noticed. I always dress tzniusdik, but I know that I stand out. My husband has no problem with how I dress, but my friends make comments that I should dress softer, and I do see people whispering and looking at me sometimes. Do I have a problem? -Flamboyantly Fashionable

Dear Flamboyantly Fashionable,

It sounds to me like you don’t think this is a problem, you just feel that others may think it’s a problem. So you don’t really have a problem with yourself, you just are starting to notice that others notice you. If you like to be different and stand out, an occupational hazard may be that you get pointed at and whispered behind at times. If that suites your fancy, then continue dressing as you are dressing. But if you prefer your fashion statements to be rhetorical statements, then you may want to tone things down a bit. For example, to use my brothers’ rule of dress—that was not a typo, by the way. I said “brothers’” not “sisters’”. Something changed within the past ten years in my family. Now the brothers harp about socks, ties and pocket squares,

and the sisters are a bit tired of this sort of talk. Is this normal? Back to you. My brothers’ rule of dress goes something like this: two plains and a fancy. Which means, two out of three things you wear should be nondescript, with the third being more interesting. Now if you would feel too much like a conformist with that, play around with the ratio a little. But keep in mind the goal of toning down. If you want the bright lipstick, maybe the patterned tights and feathered earrings are too much. I find it interesting that you have two opposing sides influencing you. You put effort into covering up (you said you dress tzniusdik), and also put effort into standing out. What does each one mean to you? Why? Which one is more important to you? If you are dressing in a way that you are comfortable with and feel good about yourself (stylistically and halachically), then you’re doing great. The question is, why do you now think you may have a problem? Are you starting to change your preference? Or is it that you are starting to become aware that you make an impression on other people? Why does this suddenly matter to you? Speaking of what others think, it’s a good sign that your husband supports your style and I also think it’s great that you consider him in figuring out if this is a problem. Nice work on both of your parts! Another question that is worth asking is, if you found yourself at a wedding or a dinner looking very much like the plainclothes

ladies sitting next to you, would you feel uncomfortable? What would you have to stand on if not your look? What else is there to you that can make you stand out from a crowd? Is it tolerable if people around you seem to be talking to everyone but to you? Put yourself in this sort of situation to see how much you are relying on super big hair. Actually, I take that back. That would be like de-clawing a cat and sending her out in the wild to fend for herself. Maybe I would just send you to the CVS that you don’t usually patronize without your snakeskin platforms.

Try to extend yourself in different areas of your life to see if you still care to dress how you dress and care that others’ point to how you dress. Which may mean: Shopping Spree! Just make sure hubby is ok with this. -Aviva Aviva Rizel is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Lawrence. She can be reached at 347-292-8482 or AvivaRizel.MFT@gmail.com.

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November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

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15 THE JEWISH STAR November 4, 2011 7 CHESHVAN, 5772

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16

Tamar Goldberg plays with a young boy at an Ethiopian absorption center near Tzfat on NCSY’s Summer Program GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience)

How to inspire your teenage daughter in 42 days or less Roni and Yocheved Goldberg of Woodmere, NY

reflect on their daughter’s experience on NCSY GIVE ending our daughter, who has allergies, to Israel for the summer was not easy for us. On top of that, finding an all-girls program that would instill the Jewish values that we believed in only made it harder. Which is why, months later, we are so thankful that we found NCSY’s Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE). Before the summer, our daughter was nervous and scared about interacting with people in hospitals, orphanages and soup kitchens, many of whom had mental and physical disabilities. GIVE taught her that she could do it. And she enjoyed it. She enjoyed making people happy and she appreciated the opportunity to engage in all these different acts of chesed. The fact that she only had a few friends go-

ing with her didn’t prove to be a problem. In no time, she made tons of new friends from all over the country. This past Simchat Torah, three of those girls, all from out of town, joined us in our home. We were so impressed with the level of organization and communication from NCSY throughout the summer, especially from GIVE’s director Erin Cooper. We were always informed in advance about what our daughter would be up to and where she was going. Being 6,000 miles away from her, this was really important to us. NCSY GIVE isn’t just a summer investment. She still keeps in touch with the amazing madrichot (advisors) who literally, she tells us,

“made her summer.” Knowing that she now has young, relatable role models who can help guide her during the year means so much to us. We have a tremendous amount of hakarat hatov to NCSY because they are so in tune with what they’re doing and what they’re trying to accomplish. They know exactly how to combine a meaningful Jewish summer experience with lots of fun. For us, GIVE reinforced the Jewish values that our daughter learned at home and in school. We are so happy that we discovered GIVE and we look forward to sending another one of our children.

To find out more about GIVE and other NCSY Summer Programs, please visit www.ncsysummer.com or call 1-800-TOUR-4-YOU Registration for Summer 2012 is now open

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