November 11, 2011 - The Jewish Star by The Jewish Star

Honoring local Jewish cops Page 2 The Obama-Sarkozy gaffe on Israel Pages 4, 5 A seminary for Orthodox actresses Page 7 The best of this year’s Kosherfest Page 12

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VOL 10, NO 43 ■ NOVEMBER 11, 2011 / 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 WWW.THEJEWISHSTAR.COM

Gourmet Glatt recovering from fire, Seasons pitches in to help

Political stars speak on security at Agudah breakfast

By Jeff Bessen At 4:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Mayer Gold, the owner of Seasons kosher supermarket in Cedarhurst, received a call from Moshe Ratner, the general manager of Gourmet Glatt Emporium, informing him of a fire at Gourmet Glatt, with deliveries that needed a place to go. Without hesitation Gold jumped in to help. Glatt’s deliveries went to Seasons and nearly 20 Gourmet Glatt employees are currently working at Seasons, alongside Seasons’ employees and Seasons will remain open to midnight Thursday to accommodate shoppers. “Though we are competition, we are Continued on page 3

Photo courtesy of The Freidlander Group

Senator Chuck Schumer addresses the Agudath Israel leadership and fellow elected ofﬁcials at the annual legislative breakfast. This year’s topic focuses on anti-terrorism and security concerns. By Sergey Kadinsky

Photo by Sergey Kadinsky

The shelves sit empty. Everything will be new when Gourmet Glatt reopens.

In the latest example of its sophistication and political influence, Agudath Israel hosted a dozen local elected officials at its second annual legislative breakfast near Wall Street. This year’s theme addresses security concerns, speakers included elected officials, U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, and Jarrod Bernstein, who was recently appointed as President Obama’s liaison to the Jewish community. “We’ve realized an unprecedented level of military cooperation with the state of Israel,” said Bernstein. “The administra-

tion requested $2.775 billion specifically for assistance for military cooperation with Israel. That’s the largest request in U.S. history.” Bernstein added that American economic sanctions on Iran are creating economic instability, something that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acknowledged before his parliament. “That’s not something you hear every day in Tehran,” said Bernstein. Prior to assuming his current position, Bernstein served as an official at Homeland Security, which according to Agudah Exec. Vice President Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, made the mitzvah of lulav possible this

year. “Lulavim from Egypt, 200,000 sets, were being held up three days before Yom Kippur,” said Rabbi Zwiebel. “We reached out to Jarrod and within a few hours the lulavim were released.” Speaking on the changing tactics of Al Qaeda, Lynch spoke her office’s cooperation with federal and local law enforcement agencies in preventing acts of terrorism. “Our primary focus is the prevention of terrorist attacks before they occur,” Lynch said. “The nature of the threat has shifted. The mobilization of the lone wolf terrorist,

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By Karen Green There was no safer place to be on this crisp Fall Sunday morning than Great Neck Synagogue. Top police brass from Nassau County Police Department, police union leadership, elected officials, and ‘everything law enforcement ‘came out in droves to honor the Nassau County Shomrim Society’s Man of the Year, Detective Lieutenant Gary Shapiro, at their annual breakfast. A twenty-five year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department and a 1999 graduate of the FBI National Academy of Police, Det. Lt Shapiro currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Community Affairs Office, and oversees the Police Activity League (PAL). The past president of the National Conference of Shomrim Societies, as well as the local Nassau Chapter, Shapiro is the Department’s Bias Crimes Coordinator and is responsible for producing the widely acclaimed 2009 video, “Hate – Crossing the Line”. The video, which has won numerous film awards, has been distributed to every Junior and Senior High School in Nassau County and is in constant demand across the U.S., Canada, and as far away as Australia. The Shomrim Society was founded in 1937 to promote the religious spirit of Jewisho fficers, as well as to develop good will in the community. On this Sunday before Election Day, despite a campaign year when utterances of police precinct closures have been bantered about countywide, the mood in the room was uplifting and consistent with Shomrim’s mission, the importance of community service was tantamount. Following the presentation of a silver shofar by Shomrim president Lt. Saul Roth, Shapiro addressed the packed room. “It’s an honor to be a Nassau County Police Officer.“ He added that his role as a police officer is further enhanced by his ability to represent the Jewish faith while serving all communities. He spoke proudly of his father, an Army veteran and his sister, Julie, who was a captain in the Air Force and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. The Five Towns was well represented as Fourth Precinct Auxiliary Captain Danny Gluck, Auxiliary Sergeant David Spier, Retired Fourth Precinct Det. Lt Larry Feffer, P.O. and Shomrim Board member Shevy Berkowitz, Shomrim Board member and Woodmere native Sam Livingston and NCPD Chaplain Rabbi Dov Schwartz, a resident of North Woodmere, was in attendance to pay homage to Shapiro. Gluck noted that of the 38 Auxiliary units within Nassau County, the Fourth Precinct is the largest. He estimates his membership to be 85 percent Jewish, specifically Orthodox. Shomrim Society President Lt. Saul Roth, assigned to the Fourth Precinct, expressed that membership in Shomrim has special significance to him. Growing up without formal Jewish affiliation, Roth said that the Shomrim Society affords him a sense of connection to Yiddishkeit. He is looking forward to his first trip to Israel in April, together with colleagues from the NYPD Shomrim.

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Crime fighter Gary Shapiro honored by local Jewish cop group

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November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

Photo by Susan Grieco

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray addressed the crowd after her win.

Clean sweep for GOP in Five Towns

Kopel beats Moser in 7th Legislative District By Jeff Bessen and Ann E. Friedman Incumbent County Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) defeated Democrat Adam Moser of Hewlett in the race for the 7th Legislative District seat on Tuesday. The unofficial vote count was 6,229 to 4,205. “I’m glad that the people were able to see through the nastiness and disinformation,” said Kopel, who described the campaign as “ugly” and added that it was full of “lies and half-truths.” In his next term, Kopel said, he looks forward to continuing to help his constituents by improving the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, getting the Nassau Expressway completed to improve emergency evacuation and reducing traffic on Rockaway Turnpike. As of press time late Election Night, it appeared that the Republicans in the Town of Hempstead would retain power for the next few years, as the incumbents — Supervisor Kate Murray, Clerk Mark Bonilla and Receiver of Taxes Donald X. Clavin — were leading their respective races. Murray, running for her fifth two-year term, led her Democratic challenger, Gary Port, by more than a 2-to-1 margin as of midnight. Hewlett’s Steve Anchin, who ran on the Democratic line, was losing to Bonilla by nearly 2-to-1. Bonilla was also running for his fifth two-year term. Clavin, too, had more than twice the votes of his challenger, Democrat Wilton Robinson. The tax receiver was seeking his third full four-term. He has served in the post since 2001.

Howard Kopel retained his seat representing the 7th L.D. Incumbent Republican Councilman James Darcy retained his 3rd District seat, winning another four-year term by defeating Democrat Owen Rumelt of West Hempstead. The unofficial vote total was 11,902 to 5,459. The campaign theme for local Republicans was that Hempstead was in excellent financial shape, bolstered by high Wall Street credit ratings, debt on its loans that had been reduced by $6.3 million in the past three years and a tax-freeze budget. “It is an acknowledgement of my constituents that I am doing a job that needs to be done,” Darcy said. “I like to think I have a good reputation with helping people with their problems.” His priorities are keeping the town’s finances strong and taxes down, he added.

Continued from page 1 coached by the larger group but acting alone. Another shift is the rise of the home-grown terrorist.” Lynch listed off a list of recently thwarted terrorist attacks, noting that some 400 individuals have been prosecuted over the past decade for attempting to organize attacks. These individuals received Al Qaeda’s message through strategic marketing via the internet and a magazine. Lynch added that two of Al Qaeda’s American-born propagandists were recently terminated by air strikes. Senator Chuck Schumer, the state’s most visible Democrat, reiterated his party’s support for Israel, with key talking points on the flaws of the proposed Palestinian state. “They believe in a Palestinian state and one state with a law of return for someone who has third cousins twice removed, on the west side of the UN partition line to get their land back,” said Schumer. “I have not found a single Palestinian leader, even among the so-called moderates, who say they would believe in a Jewish state.” Schumer added that the Palestinian platform to expel all Jews from the West Bank is also troubling, considering that in the Jewish state, Arab residents have full citizenship. Reprising his appearance at last year’s Legislative Breakfast, Senator Charles Schumer reiterated Congress’ firm support for the security of Israel, specifically with regard to planned attempts to further cut off Iran’s banking powers and to fully fund Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system. Turning to the domestic front, Schumer stated that “Agudath Israel does an amazing job caring for people in need with its social services,” and he asserted that – particularly with regard to education and job training programs – “we must cut our budgets carefully” so as not to endanger these vital services. “I have obtained many grants for the security of the community’s shuls and yeshivas,” the senator concluded, reaffirming his continuing close relationship with Agudath Israel. The large audience – which included such dignitaries as NYC Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano, NY State Senator Daniel Squadron, NY State Assemblymen Alec Brook-Krasny and Rory Lancman, and New York City Councilmen Lew Fidler and Brad Lander – heard important remarks from several members of Congress with close ties to the Jewish community. Newly elected Congressman Robert (Bob) Turner spoke about his appointments to the crucial Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees, and criticized both the United Nations and Iran for their anti-Israel stances.

“We have to work hard to get regime change in Iran,” Turner declared. Avowing Congress’ strong backing of Israel, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney recalled the unusually enthusiastic response from the entire membership of Congress when it was addressed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Commenting on the dismal economy, Congressman Jerrold Nadler spoke against the idea of massive spending cuts by the government, noting that “the community needs housing and food assistance now more than ever.” Separately, Nadler called on President Obama to criticize Palestinian President Abbas for refusing to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and insisted that “there is no greater danger in the world today than Iran” due to its nuclear intentions, Nadler concluded. The audience also heard from community activist Abe Eisner, who read a message of support for Agudath Israel from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer; New York City Controller John Liu; and Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, Agudath Israel’s Vice President for Community Services, who highlighted the organization’s many valuable social programs. “Agudath Israel of America sponsors a broad range of communal social services affecting the lives of young and old throughout the New York City metropolitan area,” he explained. “Agudath Israel of America’s projects include job placement, vocational training and counseling services, housing and neighborhood preservation initiatives, as well as a host of senior citizen and children’s welfare projects - including a variety of initiatives specifically directed toward enhancing security and safety.” The Legislative Breakfast was chaired by Joseph Zelmanovitz, Esq, Partner in Stahl and Zelmanovitz, and was graciously sponsored by Health Plus, and Med Review and coordinated by the Friedlander group. Many participants expressed positive sentiments on the very high level of discussion and the broad range of issues the various speakers broached. A venerable Who’s Who of influential legislative leaders made the effort on an early Monday morning to affirm the prominent role and political position the Orthodox Jewish community and Agudath Israel holds in the halls of government. One respected community leader seemed to sum up the feelings of those in attendance. “It is important to interact and dialogue with our government officials. That they clearly recognize and admire the importance of our community and Agudath Israel’s wide reach is even more impressive.”

Gourmet Glatt prepares to reopen next week Continued from page 1 friends,” said Gold, who added that Gourmet Glatt did the same thing earlier this year when a day before Gold’s Queens store was to open in April, it too had a fire which investigators deemed as arson, and Gourmet Glatt assisted in taking in food from Seasons. Having the purple-shirted Seasons employees working side-by-side with the greenshirted Glatt staffers is a sight to see, Gold noted. “We are very happy to help, they are good people,” he said, referring to Gourmet Glatt’s owners, managers and employees. Only a competitor in the same industry could understand what you go through, said Joel Steinberg, a general manager at Gourmet Glatt, who added that Seasons help is

greatly appreciated. “It brings great merit to both, it’s an inspiration, he said, noting that there are Gourmet Glatt shopping carts at Seasons in addition to the visiting employees. The early morning fire caused extensive damage to the basement of Gourmet Glatt, at 137 Spruce Street, according to LawrenceCedarhurst Fire Department Chief Joseph Sperber. The fire was declared under control withi a half hour, Sperber said. The fire began between a food preparation area and a refrigeration unit in the store’s basement, said Sperber, who noted that the store’s sprinkler system was also activated by the fire. Two employees at work at the time suffered smoke inhalation, but were treated at the scene.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal deemed the fire not suspicious and accidental. The cause is still under investigation, but preliminary indications point to an electrical fire. The damage is expected to keep Gourmet Glatt closed for “an extended period of time,” Sperber said. Cedarhurst store owner Nita Klinkowitz thinks the impact of losing Gourmet Glatt for any amount of time will impact the community. “The question is can Seasons and Brach’s pick up the slack,” said Klinkowitz, who owns the Banim gift shop in Cedarhurst, noting that the community is large enough to support three kosher supermarkets, and those stores, especially Gourmet Glatt, where she shops, is counted on for an array of food,

including fresh fish. There is also a smaller store, Kosher World, in Far Rockaway. The short-term goal, Gold said, was to ensure everyone in the community could get their Shabbos food shopping done. “We need to make sure the people have food for Shabbos and we’ll work on the details later, he said. It’s about ensuring that the community can purchase the goods it need, said Steinberg. “We are a staple of the community and we always look to serve the community,” he said. We just like to be back doing what we do.” Steinberg said that the tentative opening date is on the afternoon of Tues. Nov. 15, but urged shoppers to check on the store’s website and Facebook page for updates.

THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

Pols speak before Agudah

November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

Opinion Editorial

Let’s dedicate ourselves to making our president happy

Obama and Sarkozy in yichud

t appears that as hard as President Barack Obama struggles to preserve his image as a supporter of Israel, the truth continues to leak out. Following his defense of Israel at the United Nations, the boost Obama received in the polls among Jews, was jeopardized by Vice President Joe Biden’s harsh dismissal of clemency appeals for convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. Nonetheless, the president values the support of the Jewish community, and recently appointed likeable Long Island native Jarrod Bernstein as his liaison to the Jewish community. How ironic that on the same day that Bernstein was defending his boss before an Agudath Israel of America legislative breakfast in Manhattan on Monday, Obama was nodding in apparent agreement with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in a private room at the G20 Summit. “Netanyahu, I can’t stand him. He’s a liar,” Sarkozy said. To which Obama replied, “You are sick of him, but I have to work with him every day.” Sarkozy’s record on Israel is the best for a French leader since pre-1967, and Obama’s record $2.775 billion military aid package for Israel demonstrate that personal opinions aside, he is willing to put his money where his mouth isn’t. Obama is not alone among American presidents in badmouthing Israel or its leaders in private while continuing to public praise and public money on the embattled democracy that remains America’s staunchest ally in the middle east. The diaries of Harry S. Truman, the president who recognized newborn Israel over the objections of his State Department and Defense Department advisors, privately described the Jews as “very selfish,” with a capability for cruelty exceeding that of Hitler and Stalin. Likewise, Richard M. Nixon, who delivered planeloads of military supplies to Israel in the Yom Kippur War, was recorded on his infamous tapes disparaging

Jews. “The Jews are just a very aggressive and abrasive and obnoxious personality.” In the battle for public opinion, however, the gaffe strengthens the resolve of Israel’s critics. On his blog, columnist Juan Cole writes “What is embarrassing is that Sarkozy clearly feels able to defy Netanyahu, but because of too much Big Money in US politics and because of the US lobby system… Obama has ‘to work with him.’” The notion that the only reason the United States continues to support Israel is because of Jewish financing and lobbying is troubling. Somehow the concept of Israel being a fellow democracy, ally in the Cold War and the struggle against terrorism, an inspiration to most religious Americans, does not seem to register for critics of Israel. More importantly, does it register with the president?

Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, zt’’l On Tuesday, a giant of Torah scholarship passed on, the American-born Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, 68, head of the famed Mir Yeshiva. International reporters witnessed 100,000 mourners crowding the streets and rooftops of Jerusalem. It was a sight unseen in decades. Under his leadership the yeshiva expanded into a global institution. His achievement is all the more remarkable in light of his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. His dedication — he refused medication that would have given him relief at the cost of his memory — was an inspiration to all with disabilities, proving that Torah greatness is accessible to all, regardless of physical health. A figure of Jewish unity, Rabbi Finkel delivered the yeshiva’s mussar approach to modern Orthodox and haredi audiences, in English and Yiddish. This week’s parsha has the Akedat Yitzchak, a lesson in commitment. Rabbi Finkel’s self-sacrifice provided tools for learning to so many. Yehi zichron baruch.

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ome of my friends criticize me because they believe I am too hard on President Barack Obama. They say they can’t believe that there is not one of his policies which I support wholeheartedly. Even a broken clock is right two times a day they say, isn’t there one policy where you can say, “Lets help Obama on this one?” And I would reach down to the bottom of my soul and really try to come up with something, but I always failed. Until today. I have finally found something we should all help Obama implement. If he doesn’t like talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu every day, all of America should be behind our President insuring that he doesn’t have to talk to Bibi every day. During the G20 Cannes Summit, President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were caught speaking by a microphone that was accidentally left on. POLITICO The conversation began with President TO GO Obama criticizing Sarkozy for not having warned him that France would be voting in favor of the Palestinian membership bid in UNESCO despite Washington’s strong objection to the move. But then the two got personal: “I cannot bear Netanyahu, he’s a liar,” Sarkozy told Obama. The president replied: “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!” Nothing leads to good political pundit material like pair of catty politicians accidently speaking in front of an open mike. In true Los Angeles Times fashion the “journalists” in the room Jeff Dunetz agreed not to report the comments (remember during the 2008 campaign the Los Angeles Times withheld a potentially damaging video tape of Barack Obama toasting his friend and former PLO press spokesman Rashid Khalidi) Then all of the reporters in the room signed a pledge to withhold the damaging information What happened next is what usually happens in cases like this. The people who were in the room kept to the pledge and didn’t report it, but they told just about everyone they knew. In less than a week it was the talk of the town. The news was so widespread that one of the signatories French website Arret sur Images decided everybody knew about it anyway so they to the cattiness out of the bag and reported the conversation. Their report was backed up by Reuters “journalist” who was also there. There is no surprise that the story was kept under wraps. In the US press everything a politician says is “on the record” except when they are asked not to write about it, in Europe reporters generally keep things “off the record” unless they are told the material was for public sharing. The President’s comments explained much about previous incidents with Netanyahu. He doesn’t like dealing with the guy. Then again this President has a history of issues with people who do not submit to his wishes. We now know what was behind that incident where the President left the PM and his party stewing in a White House conference room for few hours while he went upstairs to have dinner with Michelle and the girls, truth is Michelle and the girls were in NYC at the time. From now on when Obama introduces his “Good Friend Benjamin Netanyahu” we know he is really introducing “the guy I hate dealing with, Benjamin Netanyahu.” I feel bad for the President, stuck dealing every day with a guy he doesn’t like . Dear Readers I promise to work every day from now until election day 2012 to make sure Barack Obama doesn’t have to deal with Bibi Netanyahu every day. Of course that means that we would have to elect someone else as President, but that is a very small price to pay for the happiness of our leader (and our economy). Jeff Dunetz is the Editor/Publisher of the political blog “The Lid” (www.jeffdunetz.com). Jeff lives on Long Island.

5 THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

Opinion High holidays across the time zones By Phyllis Koegel Special to The Jewish Star

food and ingredient manufacturers from all over the world seeking distribution for their products. Many were already OU clients, and we were happy to meet with them to make sure their kosher program was running smoothly. But there were many manufacturers interested in meeting with us to discuss obtaining the OU symbol for their products. As always, companies are looking to expand their market share, and what better way to do so, than by having the world’s most recognized and accepted kosher symbol proudly displayed on their product! Our advanced technology, OU Direct, allows companies to access everything they need online 24/7. Demonstrating this software was most effective in helping the companies realize their goals of ensuring an efficient kosher program and having the world’s leading kosher symbol to enhance the marketability of their products. After three days in Germany, exhausted, but productive I was on to my final destination for Sukkot in Israel. My flight left Cologne at 10 p.m. and I arrived tired but happy in Tel Aviv at 2:30 a.m. I spent my three-and-a-half hours dozing in a chair waiting for my next flight. I had to change terminals to catch my 6 a.m. flight to Eilat, where I was meeting my relatives to celebrate the first days of the chag. Disoriented,

weary and hungry, I took a cab from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 to meet my family and flight. Paradise does not even begin to describe my stay in Eilat, in yet a third hotel on my trip thus far. The first night, I woke up abruptly at 1 a.m. and thought I was at home and that it was time to go to work. I jumped up and looked around realizing it was Sukkot and I was in Eilat and that I could happily go back to sleep. This is what happens when you are sleep deprived and time zone challenged. The sun, the sea, the stars at night, I was truly in heaven after my busy week in Germany. From Eilat I traveled to Jerusalem on Chol Hamoed for the last leg of my threeweek journey. What can I say, there is truly no place on earth like Jerusalem. The last days of Sukkot were spent with family and friends enjoying the spirituality of celebrating the chag at the Kotel and in Jerusalem. I’m finally back home in my own bed, missing Israel, but enjoying the peace and tranquility of being home, happy not to be living out of a suitcase anymore, and waking up knowing exactly where I am, I’m home… until my next trip. Phyllis Koegel is the Marketing Director of OU Kosher. She resides in Cedarhurst.

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ave you ever woken up in a panic wondering where you are and what day it is? You wake up and frantically look around at your surroundings trying to remember where you are and what you’re doing there – as if you should really be somewhere else! That’s how I experienced last month on my travels. I know that the High Holidays can be stressful and a blur for many people, but compound that with traveling, both for business and pleasure, and you can find yourself completely disoriented. I should be thankful for my job as Marketing Director at OU Kosher, which gives me the opportunity to travel for work, attending national and international food shows to meet potential clients, but indulge me as I share with you my whirlwind month-long travel adventure. I began by emptying my entire closet on my bed for every possible situation, including weather changes, holidays, work and leisure. My first stop would be Miami for Rosh Hashana, where I would visit with my children and grandchildren. In New York it was a beautiful 70 degrees so I packed my light Yom Tov clothes. Wouldn’t you know it, the weather in Miami was a 90 degrees

steam bath for all three days. Thank goodness I brought two summer outfits, but who wants to arrive in shul on Rosh Hashana looking like a wet rag. I was grateful for the beginning of the New Year, but I was even more grateful for air conditioning. From Miami, I flew home to New York for two days, giving me enough time to finish packing for my next trip to Belgium. I would be spending Yom Kippur in Antwerp as my business meetings were scheduled for the following day in Cologne, Germany. Belgium in October was gray, cloudy and rainy. I arrived early in the morning the day before Erev Yom Kippur giving me just enough time to adjust to the time difference and scurrying to find a warmer coat than the one I’d brought from home. Everyone told me to layer clothing, but sometimes you just need a coat to keep you warm. I know what you’re thinking, any excuse to shop, but honestly, I was cold! Yom Kippur was rainy and gray, but the famous Chazzan Miller of the Van der Ness shul, was extremely inspiring and moving. Sunday arrived way too fast, and I was off to Germany, with my colleague, Rabbi Yisroel Hollander, who is based in Antwerp. We spent three days walking miles and miles of the world’s largest specialty food show, Anuga. This show was comprised of

November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

Parshat Vayera

Hebrew only please!

Prayer’s purpose

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.

he prophet Malachi presents a scenario when the G-d-fearing public presents its goodness to G-d, in contrast to the wicked who felt it was worthless to serve G-d. “At that time, the God-fearing people spoke to one another. G-d listened and heard, and a scroll of remembrance was written at His command concerning those who fear God and those who meditate on His Name.” (Malachi 3:16) Oddly enough, though the prophet records that a conversation took place, he does not record the conversation. The Talmud (Brachot 6a) uses this passage as a foundaRabbi Avi Billet tion for the idea that two people who sit and share words of Torah merit to have the Divine Shechinah in their midst. The Gemara asks the question, “Why does the verse add the seemingly superfluous phrase regarding those who ‘meditate on His name’? Is it not enough to speak of those who fear G-d?” Rav Ashi clarifies, “If a person thought to do a mitzvah and was prevented from doing so, he is given credit for having done the mitzvah.” Therein lies the answer. In his “Darash Moshe,” Rabbi Moshe Feinstein asks why G-d found the need to tell Avraham about S’dom. Even if Avraham would pray, G-d also knew that Avraham’s prayer would have no effect. S’dom was doomed, and not even Avraham could save it. True, his nephew Lot could be saved in Avraham’s merit, but this was apparently going to happen even without Avraham’s intervention. Rav Moshe answers that G-d wanted Avraham’s prayers anyway. Avraham’s prayers were powerful and needed to be brought to the earth for a purpose – a purpose and design other than to save the doomed city. To bring a similar example from the Talmud (Sanhedrin 44b), we are told that when Avraham prayed near the city of Ai (Bereshit 12:8), his prayers prevented Yehoshua’s army from being routed in the Battle of Ai (Yehoshua 7:5). They lived generations apart. We simply do not know what our prayers do, what merit they serve to advocate for in our

world. When Nachshon Wachsman hy”d, the Israeli soldier kidnapped and killed in 1994 (his yarzeit was this past Monday, 10 Cheshvan), his family taught a very powerful lesson regarding prayer. “God always listens, but sometimes His answer is ‘No.’” In essence, prayers are needed, but we don’t always merit to see what purpose our prayers serve. A few years ago, I was informed of a project taken on by a shul in New Jersey. Different members of the community wrote essays about what prayer means to them, and shared them with the membership. Though seemingly obvious, it turns out that every person brings their own personal experiences into how they view, understand, and relate to the act of “tefillah” – prayer. A colleague shared one of the essays with me, in which the mother of a childdiagnosed-with-cancer had some very poignant insights. She said, “You don’t know what prayer is until you find out your child will not outlive you.” Most helpful, she said, was when a person who had gone through a similar trial confided in her saying, “There are times when you will be angry at G-d. You will not be able to pray. Don’t worry. The rest of us will be praying for you.” These are powerful thoughts. It’s not just that every individual has the ability to move mountains. It’s that we are all in this together, looking out for one another, making a prayer-contribution because somewhere, somehow, it helps all of us. Perhaps in ways we could not even consider or imagine. Let us remember that not every day is the best of days – we don’t always feel right, and we don’t always feel it – but others are praying for us. And, of course, sometimes G-d’s answer is “No.” In the back of his mind Avraham may have known that S’dom was doomed. Those we pray for are millions of times better than the people of S’dom. And we never have any right to think things are hopeless. And in the event that our prayers seem to go unanswered, if we can only imagine that our prayers helped someone, somewhere, at some point in time, and in a way unbeknownst to us, our tefillah experiences will be exponentially more powerful and carry meaning beyond our wildest imagination!

Yitzhak Rabin and Rachel’s Tomb

By Rabbi Noam Himelstein

This week’s story is from 1994, when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was planning to hand over the holy site to the Palestinians. A passionate outcry from Knesset Member Rabbi Menachem Porush averted the decision. This week marks the yartzeit of both Rabin and Rachel Imeinu. Rabbi Himelstein teaches at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem. He may be reached at RavNoam@orayta.org

Check us out online at www.thejewishstar.com News, photo galleries, calendar events and more. Plus sign up as a user and add your own photos, events and comment on stories.

By Sara Trappler Spielman For Orthodox girls seeking to inspire through song and arts, options appear limited by modesty guidelines, limited to singing and dancing before other women. Last month, the Tzohar Seminary for Chassidus and the Arts opened in Pittsburgh, directed by Amy Gordon Guterson, seeking to hone the talents of young Orthodox women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tzohar Seminary, like a window, will let in the light of creativity into the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives,â&#x20AC;? said Guterson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Together with learning chassidus and their sense of purpose, the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; G-d given talents will shine out the beauty of Torah to the world in a new way.â&#x20AC;? Among the first to sign up is Rivka Eilfort, 18, a guitar-playing songwriter and daughter of Chabad shlichim serving San Diego, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rivka was always attracted to music,â&#x20AC;? said her mother Nechama Eilfort. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She composed on the piano and guitar from a young ageâ&#x20AC;Ś she breathed music.â&#x20AC;? Eilfort seeks to pursue a professional music career, recording and performing before Jewish girls. Tzohar Seminaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first class comprises of 11 young women, who are singing, dancing, painting, writing, performing and filming. For Eilfort, turning her talent into a profession translates to classes in reading music, videography, music theory, and voice lessons given by a professional opera singer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girls are dying to play music,â&#x20AC;? said Eilfort. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They should be living it. The schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to take the talent. They can still be Chassidic, creative and modest.â&#x20AC;? Guterson, a HAFTR alum, named the school Tzohar after the window that let light into Noachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ark and also a precious stone that emitted light. Gutersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background in acting began at Stern College for Women, where she majored in

Photo courtesy of Amy Guterson

Music and art ďŹ&#x201A;ourish alongside Torah learning in the Tzohar womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seminary. theater followed by a graduate degree in acting from The New Actors Workshop. In her acting career, Guterson initially struggled between her passion for acting and her observance, which limited her from performing on Shabbat and before mixed audiences. Leaving the off-Broadway career, she developed her Orthodox acting reputation through the award-winning film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Becoming Rachelâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kol Isha,â&#x20AC;? the all-woman theater group that explores topics related to womanhood and Jewish unity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The limitations of not being able to act in the theater world on Shabbat made me create my own opportunities and become a writer, director and producer as well,â&#x20AC;? said Guterson. Moving to Pittsburgh, Guterson took an active role in the local Chabad, using her talent to educate local artists and actresses, who

now teach at Tzohar. Other local talents that contribute to the school include Leibel Cohen, creator of the popular â&#x20AC;&#x153;Agent Emesâ&#x20AC;? DVD series for Jewish children, who is teaching filmmaking. Shais Taub, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Map of Tanyaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soul Maps,â&#x20AC;? is teaching â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chassidus and Creativity.â&#x20AC;? The principal of the three-semester program is Rabbi Aaron Herman, who spent 13 years as Chabad rabbi in Raleigh, North Carolina, before returning to direct Tzohar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mudei kodesh [Judaic] classes we hope to be an inspiration for the arts classes,â&#x20AC;? said Rabbi Herman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Students can take a new idea that they learn and apply it. It shows an integration of an idea if you can express it in a different manner.â&#x20AC;? As an example, students can take a case of Jewish law and act it out in class.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our hopes in creating the Tzohar Seminary are to show girls they can find a place within their world to use their talents and that they are meant to use it both to create art that will communicate Torah and Chassidus to a greater audience, where creativity is used for the service of G-d,â&#x20AC;? said Guterson. In recent years, the community of frum female artists has grown, especially in the world of film and theater. Many affiliate with ATARA, the Arts and Torah Association for Religious Artists, founded four years ago by Miriam Leah Droz. Through emails and lists, the organization connects religious artistic women to opportunities such as its annual convention in New York, classes, workshops and performances for women. Guterson sits on the board for ATARA and has taught master acting and play development classes at its conferences. She plans to take her students on a trip to the three day event in New York this coming March, where they will meet other frum women in performance and media arts. Tzohar is holding its own women-only benefit concert on Nov. 15 in Pittsburgh featuring Israeli musician Tziona Achishena, and visual artist Sheva Chaya. Backing the seminary is Rabbi Yisroel and Blumie Rosenfeld, head Chabad emissaries for Western Pennsylvania, who serve as the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spiritual mentors. Witnessing Gutersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success with many projects for the school, Rebbetzin Rosenfeld admired her concept for a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arts seminary. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The girls feel they need to use their talents to express themselves and Amy is giving them a chance to use if for holiness,â&#x20AC;? said Rosenfeld. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can have a profound impact on their lives and on future generations.â&#x20AC;?

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THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

Woodmere actress opens womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art school in Pittsburgh

Chocolate lovers rejoiced at the huge selection of offerings last week. The number of kosher options in the industry was evident at the World Chocolate Expo.

Kosher finds at Chocolate Expo By Dara Lifschutz

Photo by Dara Lifschutz

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November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

This past Sunday I was fortunate to experience an obvious case of Divine Providence: Chocolate! This was a result of my meeting Marvin Baum, director of Baum Image Group, a company dealing with high-tech digital imaging systems, which I encounter in my line of work as a radiologist. More than just a chocolate show, this year’s World Chocolate Expo in White Plains features over 65 local vendors, about 10 of which are kosher, and a handful from Long Island. Alongside his business, Baum runs food promotion events around the state to benefit good causes, that have been remarkably successful for mainstream and kosher consumers alike. There was a positive vibe throughout the exhibit hall Chocolate as foodies made World Expo their way from table to table, some December 4 carrying grid sheets Meadowlands and pencils to mark Expo Center their selections, For more others carrying information visit bags with early holwww.chocolate iday gifts. Here are worldexpo.com a few selections for the kosher chocaholic: Screme Gelato Bar is a natural, wish ingredients that avoid oil, preservatives, or food coloring. Which was surprising given their beautiful, richly colored, creative display. The strawberries and ‘screme was garnished with whole strawberries and tasted better than any premium strawberry frozen dessert I’d ever had. The Cap’n Crunch was an unexpectedly flavorful, buttery, sweet/ salty delight. Fretzels, besides its incredibly cute name, boasts the most unusual and fun chocolate covered pretzel creations I’ve ever seen. I tried the sugar plum, with lavender colored chocolate covered in lavender sugar crystals, unexpectedly fruity and blending well with the salty pretzel; caramel apple, pumpkin, and espresso bark; and of course, the fractured pretzels, with every assorted topping one could imagine on a pretzel, broken and thrown into one large basket. Fifth Avenue Chocolatier impresses with the most decadent, rich chocolate truffle I had ever tasted. Known as their signature truffle, it comes in cute little wooden boxes and is served right from the freezer. I wanted to savor the intense flavor and texture for at least half a minute. Rogue Confections specializes in decorative chocolate, with intricate patterns made of edible paper, either pre-made or created by the customers with their own photos or images. Rescue Chocolate, with its unique mission of donating 100 percent of profits to animal rescue organizations, features all vegan and kosher parve flavors highlighting a different rescue issue, i.e. ‘foster-iffic pepContinued on page 14

THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

512297

Mensch on the street

By Ariel Rosenbloom

How do you handle a rumor? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do nothing and it will all work out.â&#x20AC;?

DANIEL HOCHMAN Software product developer Far Rockaway â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go over to that person and say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not true.â&#x20AC;?

TAMMY GOLDNER Fifth grade student Torah Academy for Girls Lawrence

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deny it. I would ďŹ nd that person and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;discussâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; it with him and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ask him why he would start such a rumor.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you heard it from me or saw it in writing from me, than you can accept it. Otherwise, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably not true.â&#x20AC;?

AVI TSADOK Assistant manager â&#x20AC;&#x153;Central Electronic Boutiqueâ&#x20AC;? Cedarhurst

RABBI SHNEUR ZALMAN WOLOWIK â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chabad of the Five Townsâ&#x20AC;? Cedarhurst

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be royally pissed.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I confront them.â&#x20AC;?

IZZY HEFTER Accountant Woodmere

SEGAL ROTHMAN Accountant Woodmere

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November 11, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

We cannot ignore

here are very few feelings in life that leave us more challenged, hurt, and insecure, than the feeling we get from being ignored. Part of this may stem from the fact that we need to feel we have what to contribute, to give back to society and the world. Indeed our ability to be in touch with what we have to give is the essence of connecting with our purpose in this world. So when FROM THE HEART someone completely OF JERUSALEM ignores us, perhaps we wonder whether we really have as much to offer as we think we do. One would think that the more important someone is, and the more special they are to us, the less chance there is that we would ever ignore them. Everyone has that special list of a select few friends and Rabbi Binny family members who’s Freedman call they take no matter how busy they are. And yet, so often, it is the people we should care about the most that we often tend to ignore. And of course, the closer someone is, the more painful it must be when we ignore them.

The greatest lessons, of course, are learned from the most painful of mistakes. I recall once visiting our daughter’s nursery class, for a Shabbat party. Our daughter, aged four at the time, was the Shabbat queen that Friday, so she got to wear the crown, light the candles for all the children, and I wanted to surprise her by showing up with a guitar. There are certain moments that are beyond description, so it is impossible to accurately describe the look on my daughter’s face when I showed up and offered to sing and tell stories; her beaming face still warms my heart years later. Assuming, therefore, that she was already in heaven, and on top of the world, and not wanting to appear to play favorites, I was calling on all the other children to answer the questions that emanated from the story. Only the teacher’s gesture alerted me to the tears starting to stream down my daughter’s face because I wasn’t asking her a question. It didn’t matter that the whole reason I was there to begin with was because of her; one moment ‘s perception that I was ignoring her; that I wasn’t seeing her, was more painful than the joy of the whole morning put together. Eli Wiesel once said: “ A Jew can affirm G-d, or he can deny Him, but he cannot ignore Him.” But is this true? Don’t we ignore G-d all the time? Many of us may have come to the

conclusion that Hashem, exists. In fact, surveys suggest that over 75 percent of Americans believe in G-d. Yet, we seem to ignore this all the time. After all, if I truly accept the concept of a loving, giving, G-d, could I ever be rude? Could I ever cheat on my income tax? Could I ever speak ill of another human being, created in the image of that very same G-d? This week’s portion of Vayera begins with G-d ‘appearing’ to Abraham. A little background may be in order. Tradition tells us G-d is actually visiting Abraham who is recovering from circumcision (the end of last week’s portion…) at the ripe old age of 99! And so G-d visits Abraham as he sits in front of his tent, on a hot summer’s day in Elonei Mamrei. In the midst of their discussion, and G-d’s visit, Abraham looks up and sees three strangers coming towards him, hot and tired from the desert sun. Although the verse (Genesis 18: 1-2) clearly states they are headed his way, he nonetheless jumps up and runs to these strangers, whom he has never met, in order to usher them into the hospitality of his home. Imagine. Abraham is in the middle of speaking with G-d, and without so much as a by-your-leave, indeed without any explanation, no ‘excuse me’, ‘pardon me’ or apology of any sort, he just runs off! Can you imagine, in the middle of a conversation with, say the President or the Lubavitcher Rebbe, visiting you on your front porch, you’re running off in mid-sentence without any explanation? How could Abraham behave in such an

apparently horrible fashion before G-d? Who were these three fellows? Jewish tradition suggests they were pagan idolaters. So Abraham interrupts a conversation with G-d to help three pagans, already coming his way? Perhaps there is a very deep message here. You see, for Abraham, running to help three strangers in the desert, pagan idolaters though they might be, was not an interruption of his relationship with G-d, it was an expression of it. Ever wonder why Abraham was the first Jew, and not Noah? Perhaps it is because Noah got into the ark without rescuing others, but Abraham refused to accept the imminent destruction of Sodom, arguing with G-d to save even the most wicked cities on earth. Every time I ignore my fellow human being, in however small a way, then a part of me isn’t there either. Because the only place the Torah ever tells us we can find G-d is inside every human being. And if I don’t see Him in the person standing next to me, then I’ll never really find Him anywhere else. May we all be blessed to see; really see, everyone around us. And if this small thought causes one person, somewhere, to pay a little more attention to the people sitting right in front of him, then we have brought the world a little bit closer to where it needs to be. Rav Binny Freedman, Rosh Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem’s Old City is a Company Commander in the IDF reserves, and lives in Efrat with his wife Doreet and their four children. His weekly Internet ‘Parsha Bytes’ can be found at www.orayta.org

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THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

Opinion

November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

Nov. 12 Israel Bonds reception YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE-CEDARHURST, located at 8 Spruce Street in Cedarhurst, welcomes Israeli journalist and author Yossi Klein Halevi, who will be speaking on at the motzei Shabbat dessert reception on behalf of Israel Bonds. The event is cosponsored by nine other Five Towns community synagogues. The event begins at 8 p.m. For sponsorships and more details, contact 516-569-3324.

ON THE

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

Sanitation Town Hall meeting

YOUNG ISRAEL OF HILLCREST, located at 169-07 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.

Friendship Circle for special needs CHABAD OF THE FIVE TOWNS, located at 74 Maple Avenue, welcomes families with special-needs children every Sunday afrom 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The events comprise of music, crafts, and other team activities. Family members are welcome to participate. The cost is $10 per child. For more information, contact Batsheva at 516-295-2478 ext. 13.

CHAZAQ is holding an evening of two renowned lecturers, Rabbi Label Lam and Rabbi Jonathon Rietti at Congregation Beth Gavriel, located at 66-35 108 Street in Forest Hills. The event is cosponsored by Queens Jewish Community Council. Refreshments will be served at this free public event, which begins at 8 p.m. Fro more information and sponsorships, contact 718-285-9132.

Nov. 15

Jews in the Civil War

Nov. 13

Double lecture evening

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.

On Oct. 30, six students from Shalhevet High School for Girls attended a conference by NCSY’s Project JUMP, which promotes chesed, kiruv and Israel advocacy by high school students. For its project, Shalhevet is twinning itself with the Jewish community of Hebron, by raising funds to buy clothes and toys for its children and warm clothes for the soldiers serving in Hebron.

Young Israel centennial 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.

Nov. 19 Israeli Film Festival CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM, located at 290 Broadway in Lawrence, is holding an Israeli film festival at 8 p.m. The films presented are “The Orthodox Way,” a comedy about Orthodox dating; “Willingly,” about Orthodox divorce; and “Shabbos Mother,” about a divided family meeting for Shabbat. The cost is $20 per person if paid by Nov. 11, and $25 at the door. For more information, contact Michael Novick at 516-569-3600 ext. 22

Kosherfest 2011 samples from Peru to Thailand I

love Kosherfest, and this year record crowds packed the sold-out Meadowlands venue. The aisles were quite literally choked with people and vendors were feeling edgy because of the people who were “over sampling” and stealing products right off of tables. If you are fortunate enough to get into Kosherfest, please behave yourself. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us. After being shoved one too many times I managed to finally get THE KOSHER to the best and newest CRITIC products at Kosherfest 2011. Here are a few: ■ The Gelato Shoppe: One of Boca Raton’s most popular kosher destinations is branching out. Its Peanut Butter Gelato personally floored me, with a smooth, creamy and flavorful appeal. The Gelato Shoppe also makes a number of mind-blowing parve Zechariah Mehler items as well as Kosher for Passover products. All of them are truly wonderful. ■ California Delight Hot Sriracha Sauce: Sriracha is an Asian chili based hot sauce originating from Thailand, and is to the Thai and Vietnamese what ketchup is to Americans. This was quite a doozy of a Sriracha. This was not a product for the weak of taste buds. Smoking hot! The flavor however was solid and really highlighted the subtle

fruitiness of the chili. ■ Michel Cluizel Chocolates: Let no one ever cast aspersions on parve chocolates. Gourmet Chocolatier Michel Cluizel has one of the best products I have seen in years. Their high-end chocolates were simply fantastic and I liked their parve chocolate product more than many of the dairy chocolate offerings at other Kosherfest booths. This company is based on Fifth avenue and 47th street. It definitely merits a closer look. ■ Oxygen Imports Lychee Preserve: Every year I find a jam or a preserve that stands out. This year the unquestionable best was Oxygen Imports Lychee Jam. I am mostly predisposed to love anything that is flavored like lychees but regardless of that this preserve was truly stellar. The lychee flavor was fresh and crisp like eating actual lychees. I would have loved to pair it on some fresh bread and brie. Oxygen also had a variety of really amazing sauces like Fig Barbecue Sauce and Spicy Chipotle. In fact almost everything they showed was fantastic. I can’t help but wonder why their products are not more available in the kosher world? ■ Ecoandino Dried Incan Berries: Ecoandino is a Peruvian company that brings fresh organic ingredients from Peru to lucky consumers worldwide. Their dried fruits, alternative flours and treats like cacao nibs are like nothing I had ever tasted before. Of all the really wonderful things I had at their booth my favorite was the Dried Incan Berries. With the texture of dried figs and the appearance of large orange raisins these berries are not to be believed. They are tart,

Photo by Zechariah Mehler

California Delight Hot Sriracha Sauce brings a popular Southest Asian condiment to American tables, with its smoking hot and fruity. sweet and delicious in a very inexplicable way. I always like finding things like this at Kosherfest because let’s face it there is no way I would have otherwise stumbled on something like Incan Berries. Day two of Kosherfest features a cook-off between two of my favorite chefs. Unfortunately day two was also the day they let the

majority of the bloggers in and I am simply not armed well enough to get past that group so I decided not to go. Hopefully next year Kosherfest will either be at a larger venue or the unwashed masses will lose interest. Zechariah Mehler is a widely published food writer and expert in social marketing. Follow him on Twitter @thekoshercritic

A new appreciation of the teachings of our prophets Resuscitation of Halachah: An Animated Discussion,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Reichman engages us in an extended teaching as to the impact that Jewish law has upon some of the most sensitive areas in medical practice, namely cardiopulmonary resuscitation, coronary bypass, artificial heart transplantation, corneal transplantation, and posthumous insemination. Two other topics are dealt with, briefly, that being the issue of a kohen becoming an organ recipient, and the ethical and halachic implications in the selling of human organs. All of the above are brought together in the context of the narrative of this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Haftarah of Vayeira and the story of the resuscitation of the son of the Shunamite woman by the prophet Elisha. A careful reading of the Haftarah text is suggested before reading Dr. Reichmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teaching. Dr. Reichmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scholarly writings envelope a whole range of historical, legal, midrashic, aggadic as well as contemporary halachic responsa teachings together with some pretty hefty footnoting that will bring to you some of the most relevant learning ever put together on these topics as they relate to the relevant ancient prophetic texts. Among the relevant contemporary rabbinic responsa cited are those from the works of the Chasam Sofer, Rav Isser Yehudah Unterman, Rav Yechiel Weinberg, Rav Eliezer Waldenberg, Rav Moshe Feinstein, and Rav Chaim Regensberg, all of blessed memory; as well as the works of Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, Rav J. David Bleich, and Dr. Fred Rosner of Far Rockaway. Also noted prominently is the brief essay

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of Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rav Regensbergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and responsa by Rabbi Dr. Don Well of Cedarhurst. Taken together with Dr. Reichmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal scholarship and mastery of both halachah and the relevant medical questions, this essay gives us a deep appreciation not only of the superficial aspects of a prophetic reading but of the depth of learning that one can assimilate both from the religious as well as secular aspects that go into the development of the sensitive human interactions that are represented in the Biblical plots and subplots presented to us in this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Haftarah readings. Among some of these names of rabbinic scholars familiar to our many readers are: Rabbis Hershel Schachter, Saul Berman, Daniel Feldman, David Fohrman, Shmuel Hain, Menachem Leibtag,

Michael Rosensweig, Meir Soloveichik, Mordechai Willig, and my dear long time friends, Rabbi Dr. Hershel Fried and Dr. Yaakov Elman. Hopefully this work will help to inspire the popular teaching of the haftarot in both our schools and in the shiurim in our shuls. In addition, maybe the divrei Torah delivered weekly from the pulpit will increasingly encompass the texts and teachings of the haftarot and thus help encourage a deeper appreciation of these texts by our people, both young and old. Among other excellent resources for the teaching and learning of the haftarot can be found in the websites for Yeshivat Har Etzion, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, Rabbi Mordechai Silverstein and especially Rav Moshe Lichtensteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive series that can be found at www. vbm-torah.org/archive/ haftara/04haftara.htm

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am happy to note and bring to your attention the latest volume in the Mitoch HaOhel series of essays by the staff of Yeshiva University, â&#x20AC;&#x153;From Within the Tent: The Haftarot,â&#x20AC;? published by Maggid / Koren Books. This comprehensive 700-page work contains a series of scholarly essays on every haftarah on the Jewish calendar, written exclusively by a distinguished group of rabbis and professors from Yeshiva University. What makes this particular work most relevant to our community is an essay written by Woodmere resident Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, dealing with some unique medical aspects relating to this coming weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alan Jay Gerber haftarah for Parshat Vayeira. Rabbi Reichman, one of our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier Jewish medical ethicists is an associate professor of emergency medicine and bio-ethics at YUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a musmach of Yeshia University. This unique background has enabled Dr. Reichman to truly better synthesize our religious teachings with the latest in scientific and medical knowledge for the benefit of our entire Jewish community, both here and nationwide. The essay under review this week further proves this point. In his essay for haftarah Yavera, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The

THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

The Kosher Bookworm

Ask Aviva

When spouse refuses marriage therapy Dear Aviva, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been married 3 months and have been trying to get my husband to come with me to therapy since we got engaged. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very private person and refuses to talk to anyone about anything private in his life. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a few disagreements in the past and they always blow up into huge arguments. I really think therapy would help us figure out how to communicate better, but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to get him to agree to go to one. Any ideas? Thanks. -Befuddled Bride

Dear Befuddled Bride, First of all, Mazel Tov! The first year of marriage is an enormous adjustment and many, many couples see their disagreements skidding off track before they knew what hit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that you made a mistake. It simply means that you are normal. Seeing as your marriage is only 3 months old, it may be that you do not need actual therapy. There are a number of accessible resources that can help you before ever needing to sit yourselves down on the therapistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s couch. It may be that you two just need to learn how to communicate better. While your attraction and love for each other likely came naturally, communicating properly is really a skill set that needs to be learned and practiced before you two can sail smoothly through conflict and discord. The first thing I would recommend is to go on Amazon and fill up your shopping cart with any of the following books: Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John M. Gottman, Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage, also by Dr. Gottman, and Hold Me Tight, by Dr. Susan Johnson. These books are all research-based, easy to read and chock full of exercises that you and your spouse can do in the privacy of your own home, without having to let a third party in on your mar-

riage. If that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cut it for you, your husband may be more comfortable going to a marriage enrichment class, which is an educational class about effective communication for healthy couples. These couple that are overall happy, come together to hear from expert presenters how to improve communication, conflict resolution, budgeting and the like. There are exercises to do for the couples, but it is done in a private fashion where each couple works privately and does not share with the others or with the presenter. Most of these programs are very affordable as well. One such program, which has gotten rave reviews, is The SHALOM Workshop (you can check them out at www.Shalomworkshop.org). If you feel like you are in need of more individualized attention, your husband may feel more comfortable going to a rabbi who deals with couples, than a coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s therapist. A rabbi has much less stigma attached and is also bound by confidentiality. Just keep in mind that not all rabbonim are academically trained in the mental health field. If the above is not doing it for you, then it may be time to go for therapy. Be sure to find a therapist who has a lot of training and experience in couples. Couples therapy is a very different sort of therapy than individual work. Then, sit your husband down. Tell him how much this would mean to you for him to just try it for one or two sessions. Tell him how you are concerned that if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out your small bumps now, they will grow to become too hard to smooth out. And remember that if you are not crazy about the therapist, no matter how highly recommended he/she is, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that therapy is not for you. It just means that you need to find a new therapist whom you both mesh with. Many men interpret â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing a therapistâ&#x20AC;? as â&#x20AC;&#x153;This means that we have ma-

Kosher options growing at chocolate expo Continued from page 8 permintâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mission feral fig.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I decided to sample the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fakinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bacon, the mock bacon bits adding a smoky bite to the rich dark chocolate. Relieved that I had something to bring back to my cholov yisroel observant relatives, this made one of several gift purchases. Gnosis Chocolate, billed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthiest chocolate,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; specializes in organic, raw, vegan chocolate and carries bars boasting 16 flavors with names like sacred feminine, Mayan heat and dazzling darkness, packed with superfoods and medicinal herbs. I tasted the pomegranate acai, which was another intense experience, the tart and tangy

pomegranate being more effective than a 20 ounce Starbucks venti. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m exaggerating, but you get the point. Gnosis also makes hot chocolate, truffles, nutritional supplements, and body care products Returning to my host for the event, I was impressed with Baumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humility and commitment in providing high quality products to the general public and the kosher community. Given World Chocolate Expoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rapid growth in only three years, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that Baum has plans for expansion. He would like to see more kosher vendors as well as an additional venue on Long Island. I second his motion.

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

jor problems and will need to divorceâ&#x20AC;?. This is most definitely not the case. When I see a young couple come in who are flexible without decades of resentment, willing to work out their minor kinks, I think to myself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Phew! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so happy they came in for their booster-shot against divorce!â&#x20AC;?

-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 11, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

15 THE JEWISH STAR November 11, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 14 CHESHVAN, 5772

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EDITOR WANTED The Jewish Star is seeking a new editor to lead our team. The Star reaches more than 10,000 Orthodox Jewish households in the Five Towns, Great Neck and Brooklyn, with breaking news, feature stories, personality proďŹ les and in-depth coverage of the community's yeshivas and shuls. You can check out our website at www.TheJewishStar.com. As editor, you will seek out story ideas, write and assign pieces, edit others' work, and oversee the website and the weekly layout and production of the paper. You should be familiar with the Five Towns and Brooklyn Orthodox communities, and have an understanding of Torah Judaism and issues and currents within the larger Orthodox world. The Star staff is a small and autonomous operation within a larger company. Richner Communications is a family-owned publisher of 28 weekly community newspapers and shopping guides. We offer a friendly informal environment in our stateof-the-art ofďŹ ces in Garden City, salary, paid time off, excellent health plan and 401(k). Please send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to: JewishStarSearch@ aol.com. 499526

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November 11, 2011 • 14 CHESHVAN, 5772 THE JEWISH STAR

16 Effie Wagner of Woodmere, NY learns on NCSY’s Summer Kollel. Kollel combines high-quality learning, world-class sports and a full schedule of great trips.

How to inspire your teenage son in 42 days or less Stuart and Terri Wagner of Woodmere, NY reflect on their sons’ experience on NCSY Kollel e did not actually choose to send our sons Eli and Effie to NCSY Kollel. We told them that we wanted them to have a productive summer. Baruch Hashem they both chose Kollel to fulfill this and what a wonderful decision it turned out to be. They returned from NCSY Kollel with a deeper commitment to Torah, Am Yisroel and Eretz Yisroel. They developed meaningful relationships with rebbeim and madrichim and solid friendships with fellow participants. We can honestly say that the experience was great for each of our sons. Eli went in high school and returned as a madrich for two additional summers. Effie went following his sophomore year and is

considering going back as a junior madrich this summer. In Kollel, each of our sons grew a tremendous amount in their learning and appreciation for Torah. The experience of learning with such Roshei Yeshiva as Rav Hershel Schachter shlita, Rav Mayer Twersky shlita and Rav Zvi Sobolofsky shlita makes an impression on young men that stays with them throughout their lives. In addition to the learning, NCSY Kollel also has a full sports program that includes basketball and hockey leagues. One of the great things about these activities is that they convey the message that one can sit and learn for many hours and still be involved in sports and other activities. There is no conflict.

What is most impressive is the ratio of staff to NCSYers. For every two and a half participants there is one staff member. This enables all the teens to build very close relationships with mentors who they can relate to and who can help guide them through their teenage years. Both of our sons have extremely close relationships with Kollel staff members who continue to play an active and vital role in their development. Through its various summer programs, NCSY has found the perfect formula for today’s high school students. NCSY’s programs provide our children with the confidence to reach new heights in all their endeavors. Our family, and indeed the entire Jewish community, benefits so much from NCSY.

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