November 15, 2013

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This week in Torah 4-5 Bookworm reconsiders JFK 11 Schools 8 Whitewater asparagus 10 Calendar 15

THE JEWISH VOL 12, NO 44 Q NOVEMBER 15, 2013 / 12 KISLEV 5774

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Rambam students demand: Throw Nazi out! Rambam Mesivta students rallied on Nov. 10 — the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht — outside the Jackson Heights home of Jakiw Palij, the last-known Nazi war criminal living in the metropolitan area. The protest took place as Jews around the world commemorated Kristallnacht, known as “The Night of Broken Glass” on Nov. 9–10, 1938, in Germany and portions of Austria, where Jewish businesses, homes and people were damaged and attacked. It is considered the day the Holocaust began. “We will not be silent,” Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HaMesivta at the Lawrence school, told the rally. Continued on page 14 7ZR +RORFDXVW VXUYLYRUV DUH LQWHUYLHZHG E\ 1< DV 5DPEDP VWXGHQWV DQG RWKHUV SURWHVW WKH FRQWLQXHG UHVLGHQFH RI D \HDU ROG 1D]L LQ -DFNVRQ +HLJKWV

By Malka Eisenberg Two men who risked their lives to save and insure the continuity of the State of Israel are the subject of a presentation this motzei Shabbat at the Young Israel of Hewlett, Congregation Ahavat Yisrael. “Most of the heroes we learn about died or were killed at a young age,” said Tuvia Book, a North Woodmere resident and author of “For the Sake of Zion,” who will present an audio-visual tribute to Eli Cohen and Avigdor Kahalani. Their stories, Book said, are “incredible and inspirational.” The free Nov. 16 program will begin at 8:30 pm, followed by The Skullcaps, the YIH Band; Israeli refreshments will be served. Cohen was a Mossad agent in Syria from 1962 until he was exposed and executed in 1965. He developed close ties with Syrian business, military and government leaders, touring strategic sites in the Golan Heights — then occupied by Syria, overlooking Israel — and transfer-

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ring the information he gleaned to Israel. Two years after he was hanged by the Syrians, the intelligence Cohen delivered to Israel assisted the Jewish state in capturing the seemingly impregnable Golan Heights in the Six Day War in just one day. Kahalani, a brigadier general, now 70, received the Medal of Valor, the highest Israeli military honor, for his heroic actions during the opening battles of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 on the northern front against Syria. Forty years ago, “he helped stem the tide in the first two days of the Yom Kippur War,” said Book. Kahalani was a 29-year-old lieutenant colonel and battalion commander in the 77th armored battalion on the Golan Heights which fought a fierce defensive battle “of 1,500 Syrian tanks against 280 Israeli tanks [and] had to hold the line for two days until reserves could come up [north], Book said. Continued on page 14

2 who were there recall Kindertransport Ellen Zilkha and Ellen Leiman, two women who, as children, were part of the Kindertransport rescue mission, spoke about their experiences and answered audience questions at Temple Hillel in North Woodmere on Nov. 10. Nine months before the outbreak of World War II, the United Kingdom took nearly 10,000 mainly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Free City of Danzig, placing them in foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. Most of them were the only members of their

families to survive the Holocaust. The first Kindertransport arrived in England on Dec. 2, 1938, Barely a month after Kristallnacht — the Night of Broken Glass — when Jewish homes and business were destroyed in Germany and parts of Austria Nov. 9-10. At least 91 Jews were killed and 30,000 were incarcerated. Pictured: Two women who were part of the Kindertransport rescue — Ellen Leiman (left) and Ellen Zilka (right), and moderator Barbara Spetalnick. Nassau Herald photo by Theresa Press.

Shabbat Candlelighting: 4:18 pm. Shabbat ends: 5:21 pm. 72 minute zman: 5:50 pm. This week’s Torah Reading: Vayishlach

From Jerusalem’s heart

Rav Binny visits to rejuvenate and recruit By Malka Eisenberg Rabbi Binny Freedman, The Jewish Star’s Israelibased inspirational columnist and Rosh Yeshiva and Dean of Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem’s Old City, is visiting the Five Towns this week to lead an alumni Shabbaton and recruit new students. More than half of Orayta’s 70 alumni on the east coast are expected to participate in this weekend’s Shabbaton, on the Kulanu 5DEEL %LQQ\ )UHHGPDQ campus in Cedarhurst. On Wednesday, he visited the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway to speak with students about his school. “I want the boy to fall in love with textual based learning of Gemarah, Chumash, Nach, to fall in love with Judaism and meet proud Jews, develop a comContinued on page 14

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Judaism is collecting doBy JNS.org nations for distribution to Jewish groups orgaaid groups working in the nized relief efforts folaffected areas. lowing Typhoon Haiyan “It’s hard to even imagin the Philippines, one ine the widespread devof the most powerful astation they’re experistorms ever recorded. encing in the Philippines. Authorities said it is Each disaster has its own possible that more than unique challenges and this 10,000 people died one will truly be a giant from the storm. undertaking,â€? B’nai B’rith “We immediately President Allan J. Jacobs activated our network said in a statement. of global partners and The relief efforts “are will leverage our previespecially poignant for us ous experience in the given the Philippines’s liferegion to provide immesaving actions during the diate, strategic relief to Second World War when survivors in their time 7\SKRRQ +DL\DQ RYHU WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV RQ the country offered safe of need,â€? Alan Gill, CEO NASA photo haven to more than 1,000 of the American Jewish 1RY Jewish refugees eeing Joint Distribution Comthe Nazi onslaught,â€? said JDC’s Gill. mittee (JDC), said in a statement. American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is Also collaborating with JDC is the Emergency Committee of the Jewish Federations also collecting disaster funds. “As Jews, we must act together to help of North America. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in need in the wake of the devastation the Filipino people suffering from this ter- wrought by Typhoon Haiyan,â€? Ruth Messrible storm’s unimaginable destruction,â€? said inger, president of AJWS, told JNS.org in an Cheryl Fishbein, chair of the federation com- email statement. “We are asking American Jews and othmittee. The American Jewish Committee and ers to donate funds so that we can provide B’nai B’rith International are both contribut- urgent aid to local groups in the Philippines ing to Israeli relief organization IsraAID for that understand their own communities and humanitarian efforts to assist the victims of what survivors need to recover from this Typhoon Haiyan, and the Union for Reform heartbreaking disaster.â€? she said.

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As Yaakov returns home, he faces questions of faith Y

aakov is on his return journey, homeward bound for the first time in either 22 or 36 years. His mother is dead (though he does not yet know that), and he is unsure of his status with his brother. Has he been forgiven? He sends one group of messengers to Eisav with a warm greeting, “I’ve been away for awhile. I have made a decent living. I’m coming home — I hope I’ve found favor in your eyes.” The response is that Eisav is approaching with 400 men. Not knowing his inPARSHA OF tent, Yaakov sends an THE WEEK appeasement gift to Eisav that includes “200 she-goats, 20 he-goats, 200 female sheep and 20 rams” (32:15). There were other animals as well, such as the 30 nursing camels that were either accompanied by their children (one each) or by their male counterparts (many comRabbi Avi Billet mentaries address the strange terminology in the verse), as well as 40 cows to 10 bulls, 20 she-donkeys and 10 he-donkeys. The verse about the she-goats etc. is unique, according to Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg (Maharam), because it is one of only two verses in the entire Torah in which all of the words end with a Final Mem. The other verse is in Parshat Pinchas,

Bamidbar 29:33, which describes a portion of the sacrifices of the seventh day of Sukkot. Maharam explains the parallel between these two unique verses. G-d had promised Yaakov not to fear Eisav nor any other human being. By sending this gift to Eisav, he is demonstrating a lack of faith in G-d to the tune of 550 animals. This waste of animals is going to be the source for a payment Yaakov’s descendants will have to make yearly to demonstrate their own faith in G-d. The verse in Bamidbar is right before the obligations of Shmini Atzeret, so the korbanot (sacrifices) of Shmini Atzeret do not count in the “payment.” How are there 550 korbanot? Two for every Shabbos (52) is 104 animals. Eleven for every Rosh Chodesh (12) is 132 animals. The animals for all of the holidays not including Shmini Atzeret account for the remaining 314 of the 550. There is another approach to counting the animals. There are two animal sacrifices every day of the year (which they count as 360 days based on 12 months of 30 days each) equaling 720 animals. The korbanot of Rosh Chodesh and the holidays add up to 440. All together there are 1160 communal sacrifices. Add up all the animals Yaakov sent – including the interpretation that there were in

fact 60 camels – the nursing mothers and either their sons or their mates – and you have 580 animals. Double that number and you have 1160. And so, according to the Maharam, Yaakov’s punishment for his lack of faith gesture of offering Eisav 580 animals was that his descendants had to pay double that as offerings to G-d on a yearly basis. As Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald of the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) famously explained in his Crash Course in Basic Judaism, the tenet of Belief is a little different than Knowledge. When a person knows something, there is no doubt in one’s mind. There is a fact, it can be proven, demonstrated, etc. But “Belief” in its very nature carries with it a snippet of doubt. I believe this very much. But … I might be wrong. I can’t prove it. One can argue Yaakov had no excuse. He was a prophet. G-d communicated directly to him. G-d told him everything would be all right. While we certainly teach that one should not rely on a miracle, and one should make one’s efforts, but Yaakov’s approach seemed to disregard a direct promise. Some even interpret his fight with the angel as meaning to remind him that he is not supposed to even prepare to run from Eisav because everything will be all right. Either his wound prevents him from fleeing, or his victory

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over an angel demonstrates that he can certainly defeat Eisav. We, on the other hand, don’t have the luxury of G-d speaking to us in dreams and making promises. The promises were made a long time ago, and we are certainly left with a choice. We can abandon everything and say it’s all nonsense. Or we can claim our faith, declare our beliefs, and recognize that while we all have difficult moments and may even question why we do what we do, we can always fall back on the notion that we are the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, who knew what they knew and lived the way they lived, so their descendants could one day experience Revelation and receive the Torah at Sinai. And, of course, we believe the promises for the future have yet to be fulfilled — but will be fulfilled! In the scheme of things, maybe our People got off easy with the punishment for Yaakov’s lapse of faith, double the amount of animals he wasted on Eisav as payment to G-d in the Temple. Can we afford the punishment for the lack of faith and belief that is so prevalent today? Can the blogging Apikores, and the self-hating Jews, and the online slanderers continue to only bring our People down? Of course they can. That is what they are best at doing. But the two Final-Mem verses remind us that events from long ago can have an impact on future generations, if all we do is exhibit a lack of faith in G-d. May we be blessed to seek G-d in our lives, and to find and see G-d in as many life experiences as He makes Himself apparent.

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had in the army. At the end of the month, on the last night of our reserve duty, the men got together for a party to celebrate the successful completion of our mission, and that all of the men were going home safe and sound. By the third week of the reserve duty, I had fallen into the custom of making Kiddush on Friday nights for the battalion, even offering a small thought of Torah on the weekly portion. But I was surprised when one of the guys in charge of the party told me the men had decided for the first time in the unit’s history to make sure the meat for the barbeque on the last night would be kosher, so that I could eat with them. It was an especially moving request, because to me, this was what having a Jewish army was all about. In the middle of the party, the music stopped, and the battalion master sergeant handed me a cup of wine, and asked me to make a Le’Chaim, and offer one last Torah thought before we all went home. It is difficult to describe how moving it was to be sitting amidst an entire battalion of combat soldiers who were fast becoming my close friends, sharing Torah as a commander after my first successful reserve duty. Images of the Maccabees filled my mind. Only against the backdrop of this moving feeling can I explain the deep disappoint-

ment I experienced a few moments later. As the evening wound down, a van pulled up and a couple of the men set up a movie screen and hooked a projector up to a generator inside. They had hired this fellow to come show a portable movie. (This was long before laptops and DVDs.) Everyone turned their chairs around to face the movie screen, and they began to show what turned out to be: a blue movie. My mouth fell open, but I doubt anyone noticed; they were all watching the screen. I walked away, not wanting to watch, but neither willing to say anything, having always felt the need to respect everyone’s right to live their life according to their own choosing. I still remember the feeling of sitting alone in my tent, my naiveté shattered, confronting the realization of how far away we still were from the dream of what a Jewish army could be. I have never and still do not believe in judging other people; everyone has a right to their perceptions and beliefs, and the idea of imposing religious beliefs and practices on anyone is not only anathema to me personally, I believe it is one of the single most destructive forces in Israel today. But the next morning, one of the guys would not let it alone, wanting to know why I

Jews have ‘forgotten’ the beauty of all that the Jewish tradition and the Torah have to offer … because the Judaism and Torah they see is lost in the dark.

hadn’t stayed at the party, resulting in a fascinating discussion on the topic. His conviction that the blue movie was actually a fulfillment of the dream of the Jewish people stays with me to this day: “After all,” he said, “we sing it in the Ha’Tikvah (the Israeli National Anthem): “Le’hiyot Am Chofshi Be’Artzeinu” (“To be a free people in our own land”). “And the fact that we are free to see and do as we like, after two thousand years of everyone else’s rules,” he said, “is what it’s all about!” s this really the Jewish dream? Is this what we have waited for, for so long? In this week’s portion, Vayishlach, after twenty-two years in exile in Babylon, Yaakov is finally on his way home to Israel. But he has one obstacle he must yet overcome: he must confront his brother Eisav, who is headed his way with four hundred fighting men. Eisav, in Jewish tradition, represents in many ways the antithesis of what the Jewish people should be. Where Yaakov is about monotheism and the objective, unimpeachable morality that is the direct result of a belief in one, higher authority, Eisav is about “might makes right,” and immersion in the physical world with all its appetites and lures. Indeed, in this existential struggle, Yaakov is a constant reminder to Eisav of a higher morality, and the idea that might does not necessarily make right. It is not accidental that Hitler, in Mein Kampf, articulates quite clearly the fact that his determination to destroy every last vestige of the Jewish people stems in no small part from his refusal to forgive us for introContinued on page 6

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ne of the most challenging experiences I had in the Israeli army had nothing to do with combat or being in the field, but transpired during a moment of relative calm, when things were looking pretty good. We were at the tail-end of a harrowing month of reserve duty in the Gaza strip in the midst of the intifada. It was my first stint as an officer in the reserves. I had started the month extremely nervous about how I would perform under pressure; the prospect of commanding men FROM THE HEART who had joined the OF JERUSALEM army back when for me it was a good year for milk had caused me no small amount of concern. But the fact that I happened to be one of the few religious men in the unit (whatever that means) was not an issue, especially after a good few years spent in the regular army under what I had assumed to Rabbi Binny be similar conditions. Freedman But reserve duty is an entirely different experience, and it took some of the men a while to get used to an officer who would not necessarily eat everything they did, and who had certain limitations, for example, on Shabbat. None of us had much time to discuss these issues, as the month, spent mostly in Jabalya, a refugee camp in the Gaza strip, proved to be one of the most intense experiences I ever

THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

Let’s not forget who we are and who we could be

November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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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 Published weekly by The Jewish Star LLC, 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: 516-622-7461 ■ Fax: 516-569-4942 News releases: Newsroom@TheJewishStar.com ■ Calendar listings: Calendar@TheJewishStar.com Letters for publication: Letters@TheJewishStar.com ■ Ads: Advertising@TheJewishStar.com Publisher Editor Account Executive Editorial Designers Photo Editor

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Let’s not forget who we are… Continued from page 5 ducing this idea of one G-d, and one objective morality to the world. Hitler’s desire to build a world based on a master race and survival of the fittest could only reign supreme when every last vestige of this morality, represented by the Jewish people, was excised from the world. Yaakov engages in a powerful struggle with some vestige of his evil brother, and when it appears Yaakov has won; the “other” (angel?) grabs Yaakov along his inner thigh, attacking his sciatic nerve, buckling Yaakov’s leg. In the end, despite the victory, Yaakov limps away from the battle, wounded. Torah concludes with a puzzling comment: “Therefore, the children of Israel will not eat of the sciatic nerve on the thigh until this day, for he touched the inner thigh of Yaakov in the sciatic nerve.” (Bereishit 32:32) Even today, says the Torah, we do not eat Gid HaNashe (the sciatic nerve) in memory of that day and that battle. What exactly are we meant to learn from this added detail in the story? At the end of his life, in the final song he sings to the Jewish people, (Shirat Ha’azinu) containing the essence of who and what we are meant to be as a people, Moshe exhorts: “Tzur Yladcha Teshi, Va’Tishkach E-l Me’cholelecha” (“You ignored the Rock (G-d) who bore you, and ultimately forgot the G-d who brought you forth” (Devarim 32:18). Rashi here explains this phenomenon being described by Moshe as the times in the Jewish people’s future when they would actively forget who they are and what their purpose in this world is all about. Teshi, then is to forget. And what Moshe was referring to in his dire warning to the Jewish people just prior to their entrance into the land of Israel, was the danger inherent in the Jewish people forgetting who they really are. How many Jews today in America have ever seriously explored the beauty of our Jewish tradition? And what is the antidote to this insidi-

ous forgetting? “Hishamer Lechah.” Guard it (the Torah and its values) well. Shmirah can mean to guard, implying that we must value this Torah. But it can also mean to cherish, like when you ask someone to watch over your child, in Israel, you say “Shmor Alav,” which means “take good care of him, because this boy is very valuable to you.” This is what the phrase Shmirat Shabbat means: the mitzvah to cherish and watch over Shabbat. And Shmirat Mitzvoth means to cherish and watch over the mitzvoth. We are living in a generation that has seen us as a people lose touch with what we are all about. We have allowed ourselves to forget who we really are, and who we could be. This, on a mystical level, was what the “angel” of Eisav injected into the equation when he attacked the Gid Ha’Nasheh of Yaakov. Hence, we do not eat the Gid, (nerve) infused as it is with this Shik’chah, this forgetfulness. Because although Yaakov does ultimately triumph, he limps with the aftermath of this Shik’chah, just as we were victorious in the great battle against evil in World War II, yet emerged from the battle limping from the struggle of relating to G-d in a post-Holocaust world… So many Jews have “forgotten” the beauty of all that the Jewish tradition and the Torah have to offer because the Judaism and Torah they see is lost in the dark. Indeed, the Judaism most Jews do not believe in, I don’t believe in either, because that perception of Judaism is lacking the light and the beauty that is what Judaism is all about. The real challenge we face today, as Chanukah fast approaches, is how to illuminate the darkness of Jewish ignorance and indifference with the light of Jewish pride and education. And how to transform the gloomy experience of rote and empty ritual, to the illuminating excitement of Jewish learning and living infused with Jewish meaning. Now that would make for a very bright Chanukah indeed. Shabbat Shalom, from Jerusalem. Rav Binny Freedman, Rosh Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem’s Old City.

How many Jews today in America have ever seriously explored the beauty of our Jewish tradition?

This was the week that Obama finally displayed his flexibility In March 2012, President Obama had a bit of an open mike gaffe. At a Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, he whispered to then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with controversial issues such as missile defense after the 2012 elections. At the time many wondered Jeff Dunetz if that would also apply to other issues, such as his dealings with Israel. In the past week we learned the answer. During his trip to the Middle East to revive the struggling peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to a joint interview with Israel’s Channel 2 and the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation. Aired Thursday, Kerry took a one-sided and threatening tone toward Israel, including some very undiplomatic words that could be used to incite new violence against the Jewish State. “Failure of the talks will increase Israel’s isolation in the world. The alternative to getting back to the talks is a potential of chaos. I mean, does Israel want a third intifada?,” Kerry said. “I believe that if we do not resolve the issues between Palestinians and Israelis; if we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel. There will be an increasing campaign of delegitimization of Israel that’s taking place on an international basis. That if we do not resolve the question of the settlements and who lives where and how and what rights they have; if we don’t end the presence of Israeli soldiers perpetually within the West Bank, then there will be an increasing feeling that if we cannot get peace with a leadership that is committed to nonviolence, you may wind up with leadership that is committed to violence.” There are many issues with Kerry’s words, not the least of which are that they appeared on the Palestinian TV run by a government which, as recently as the end of October, explained they glorify terrorists because terrorists are role models. Was Kerry trying to give the Palestinians an excuse to launch additional terrorist attacks? And what of the Palestinians, who as of this date have refused to consider territorial compromise, refused to recognize Israel as the Jewish State, and still believe all of Israel is occupied Palestine? Where was Kerry’s criticism of their “peace efforts?” Kerry left Israel and raced to the negotiation table for nuclear talks with Iran. What is well known is that the deal was scuttled because of French objections. What has not been broadly reported is the news from Haaretz, that the Obama Administration was not honest with Israel about the contents of the deal. POLITICS TO GO

Israeli officials say the U.S. misrepresented the concessions offered to Iran and the current direction of talks would undermine sanctions while allowing Iran to proceed with nuclear development. They were going to keep it all a secret until it was signed and Israel could do nothing about it. In the end, it was the British and the French who told Israel what was actually in the agreement. And the parts of the agreement to which the French had an objection were same parts Obama lied about to the Israelis. Originally, Israel was told the concessions made to Iran would consist of the freeing up of between $3 billion and $4 billion in Iranian assets frozen in foreign bank accounts. They were told that no other sanctions would be eased. But on Thursday morning, as Kerry was flying into Ben Gurion Airport, British and French officials were telling Israel more concessions were about to be added to the pot including an end to the ban on trading gold, petrochemical products and replacements parts for machinery and civilian airplanes. Haaretz reported that Strategic and Intelligence Affairs Ministers Yuval Steinitz spoke about the changing nature of the deal with Iran, at a cultural event in Bat Yam on Saturday morning. “The outline presented to Israel until several days ago, including during the strategic dialogue in Washington, looked substantially different from what is being discussed at this time,” he said. Steinitz’s comment was backed by a senior Israeli official involved in the Iranian issue. “On Wednesday, something more acceptable was presented that we also didn’t love but could live with,” the official said. “Suddenly it changed to something much worse that included a much more significant lifting of sanctions. The feeling was that the Americans are much more eager to reach an agreement than the Iranians.” This is why the scheduled joint press conference with Kerry and Netanyahu was canceled; Kerry did not want a public display of disagreement. It’s also why Netanyahu faced the press himself and went ballistic on the deal; not only was the deal bad for the security of Israel, but the Obama administration wasn’t telling him about the true nature of the deal. They were hoping that when Israel found out, the deal would be signed and it would be too late. Thank G-d for France (something I never thought I would say). In March 2012, President Obama’s had a bit of an open mike gaffe, telling the Russian President he would have more flexibly in a second term. In the past week we learned his promised flexibility includes inciting the Palestinians to commit more violence against Israel and lying to the Jewish State so he can craft a deal with Iran which would put Israel in grave danger. We now know the low regard President Obama has for the Jewish State. Jeff Dunetz is Publisher of the conservative political blog “The Lid.”

Was Kerry trying to give the Palestinians an excuse to launch additional terrorist attacks?

VOICE YOUR OPINION! E-mail your comments for publication to Letters@TheJewishStar.com

7 THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

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November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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Jewish Star Schools •For FREE publication in The Jewish Star, schools should email material to EWeintrob@TheJewishStar.com. •Include a phone number the Star can call for veriďŹ cation or more information. •Photos should be sent with captions that include as many names as possible. •Copy is subject to editing for style and space and will appear at the discretion of the editor.

Ruach and unity evident at 17th DRS Shabbaton gridiron for competitive ag football action. By Yitzchak Carroll, DRS “The best part of the Shabbaton was the footSports, food, music, and fun combined for ball tournament because it was very intense an enjoyable time at Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) and it was a good game to play with friends,â€? Yeshiva High School’s 17th annual Shabbaton, said sophomore Shmulik Roth. held at Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater last weekDuring Shabbat, students heard from inspiend. rational speaker and stand-up comedian Rabbi “The purpose of the Shabbaton is to provide Lawrence Hajioff, and took part in the “great an enjoyable, relaxing experience for the studebateâ€? and other activities designed to build dent body to spend time with each other, as well school spirit and imbue unity among students. as to promote school spirit and achdus (unity),â€? Rabbi Aryeh Cohen led inspirational musical said Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, principal of DRS hymns and students feasted on cholent (a tradiin Woodmere. “The Shabbaton also provides an tional Jewish stew) and kugel. “The Shabbaton opportunity for the Rebbeim and students to is a time when the entire DRS Yeshiva can come interact in an informal way and build relationtogether as one and spend a Shabbat together ships.â€? in a ruach (spirit)-ďŹ lled atmosphere,â€? said RabAfter a pizza dinner on Thursday, students bi Eli Brazil, Director of Student Activities. headed to the hotel, and had a trivia contest, After Shabbat, the hilarious senior video was Madden football video game and ping-pong shown, and students danced together in unity. tournaments, as well as a late night barbecue. “I got a tremendous feeling of achdus out of Students swam in the hotel pool, and worked the Shabbaton,â€? said junior Maury Rosenfeld. out in the ďŹ tness room. On Friday, excitement was in the air for the 7KH '56 6KDEEDWRQ LQFOXGHG VHYHUDO FRPSHWLWLYH DFWLYLWLHV VXFK DV D 0DGGHQ IRRWEDOO YLGHR “It was nice to see the school come together as one.â€? annual football tournament, as students hit the JDPH WRXUQDPHQW

Aryeh United special needs This week’s HAFTR news camp covers new ground 2001. Twelve years later, the idea, named in his uncle’s memory, has come to fruition. The 22 campers, 13 special needs campers with disabilities ranging from Asperger’s to mild mental retardation, and nine mainstreamed mentors, ew with the seven volunteer mentors for the ďŹ rst leg of the trip. The ďŹ rst few days of the program were spent in Tennessee for a hike in Smokey Mountains National Park, whitewater rafting, a magic show, horseback riding, tubing, and Zorb, a high-speed downhill ride in a giant orb. The next stop was Atlanta to Coca Cola World, the Georgia Aquarium, and Turner Field. The Jewish community in Savannah, Georgia hosted all of Aryeh United for Shabbat. The trip concluded with a visit to Orlando to a water park, the Orlando Mall, and two days at Universal Studios and Island of Adventure. Although some campers were already acquainted, campers and staff came to know and respect each other over the ten days of the trip. Campers made sure to include each other in all activities. Mentors took the initiative to sit next to special needs campers on the bus and socialize with them. This was particularly signiďŹ cant since many of the campers have had difďŹ cult experiences with bullying and exclusion in the past. The last night the group discussed experiences with bullying. Yoni explained to the campers that as bad as it felt to be bullied is how bad =DFKDU\ )UHQNHO VHDWHG OHIW ZLWK VXQJODVVHV ZLWK $U\HK 8QLWHG

By Zachary Frenkel A new Orthodox special needs travel camp that grew from the ashes of the World Trade Center debuted this year, forging strong bonds between the campers, mentors and counselors. The camp, Aryeh United, partly sponsored by Camp Lavi and headed by Yoni Glatt, aims to promote interaction and integration between Jewish teenage mentors and high functioning special-needs individuals throughout the course of a fully programmed ten-day trip. I was given the opportunity to be a counselor on this trip and I witnessed ďŹ rsthand the wonderful effect that this trip had on both the campers and staff. The idea for this teen-tour camp germinated originally between Yoni and his uncle Ari, who died in the World Trade Center in

By Lauren Pianko, HAFTR HAFTR High School’s College Bowl teams hosted the ďŹ rst Yeshiva League College Bowl meet of the year at Congregation Beth Sholom of Lawrence last Thursday. About 100 participants from HAFTR, Central, DRS, Rambam, Shalhevet, North Shore, HANC, and SKA engaged in games of academic trivia. All of the students enjoyed the competition, and each team attempted to win as many games as possible in order to make it to the playoffs in March. Both the junior varsity and varsity teams of HAFTR completed the day with a great start of 2-1, and we hope that by the end of the ten meets this year they will qualify for the playoffs. The following day, Mrs. Karen Wolf, Associate Director of College Guidance, escorted seniors to Baruch College as part of the CUNY “Baruch College for a Dayâ€? program for yeshiva high schools. Fourteen HAFTR students attended the trip, along

others feel when we bully them. Many of the mentors and the special needs campers confessed to being bullied, excluded, ostracized, and made fun of in some way, and how difďŹ cult it made their childhood. Aryeh United was designed to be a completely opposite experience. Some campers said they felt more comfortable on Aryeh United than on any other teen traveling program that they had been on in the past. The accepting attitude that permeated the trip made it so that even campers who have never been without their parents before were having fun. At the end of the trip, after experiencing how challenging it could be to care for special needs children for only ten days, I got a particularly moving insight into the lives of the parents of some of these children. One mother was so overjoyed to hear what a great

with students from other schools in the metropolitan area. Students were privileged to be able to observe sample lecture classes with actual Baruch professors, hear about academic programs and admission requirements from current students and admissions ofďŹ cers, and tour the campus. Many HAFTR seniors plan on applying to Baruch College, and this trip was the perfect experience for them in order to truly get a sense of what college life is really like. On Wednesday evening, many HAFTR 12th grade girls attended an informational Israel Night for all girls’ seminaries, hosted by HANC. It was a night for prospective students from yeshiva high schools on Long Island to gain an understanding of what the year in Israel would entail at each particular school. The night was an overall success, with HAFTR senior girls obtaining important information and learning about the year ahead of them.

time her son had on the trip that she had trouble holding back tears. She said that her son had a difďŹ cult time making friends as a child. Now he was high-ďŹ ving, hugging, and saying goodbye to over twenty new friends. It’s hard to decide whether the trip was a greater experience for the campers or for the staff. Special needs can be easy to ignore if it doesn’t immediately affect you. It only took ten days for the counselors to realize how much patience and effort it takes to parent a special needs child. We learned how difďŹ cult it can be for these children to grow up and are glad that we were able to give these great kids the trip of a lifetime and their parents a well deserved break. I hope I can continue to be a part of this program in years to come and to keep making a difference in these truly unique children’s lives.

THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

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Judy’s rafting terror results in … asparagus rafts and joined the other women in the bathroom to put it on. Oh, did I say put? I actually meant squeezed, or maybe shoved with all my might, into the wet suit. Then, the piece d’resistance … drum roll please … there is a flap that comes from the back to the front thru the legs, think diaper. So there we were with these one piece black rubber skin tight wet suits and black wool ski hats. We could have pulled the hats over our faces, cut out holes for the eyes and robbed a bank, which at that point I think I would have rather done. We were then given some instructions on what to expect and what to do if we fell out of the raft during a rapid. He was very clear. Do not fight the rapid just let it carry you down the river and we will come pick you up. I looked at my ex, and said “you owe me a mink coat for this!” We put our big lunch pail in with everyone’s lunch locked inside so it would stay waterproof and we were told to run with the raft into the water and then jump into the boat. About an hour into our adventure we hit a rock and guess who flew into the water along with the lunch pail into a raging rapid. I remembered to go along with the flow and not fight it. Weird, I didn’t remember the guide telling us as we went along with the flow every single part of our bodies would be scraped and bumped along the rocks in the river. After what seemed like forever I spotted another raft and they graciously plucked me out of the water. They assured me my raft would be by very soon to get me. I told them I wasn’t so sure I wanted to get back on my raft. About ten minutes later there was my raft

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to go home, shower and get into bed to nurse my sore body. Turns out we got home very quickly as Joel had to make a flight at JFK and it seemed as if he was driving faster than the speed of sound. I think he almost broke the sound barrier that day. Bet you thought there was no recipe for rafts! Think again, and enjoy!

Grilled Asparagus Rafts

with everyone intact and dry waving wildly and calling out my name. Just then I shouted to my husband — “sable, not mink, you’re getting me a sable!” Once back aboard we headed toward dry land for a break and Shimmy and his friends shared their lunches with us as ours was overboard somewhere in the Lehigh River. Little did I know, that one of the men who shared his lunch with us, would one day, years down the road, marry me. Thanks also to Steve Kollander as well. The day couldn’t end quickly enough and I was never so happy as I was when I was able to take off that wet suit. I couldn’t wait

Ingredients: • 24 asparagus spears, • 2 tbsp sesame oil • 1 tbsp soy sauce • 1 1/2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds • pepper to taste Cut off the woody part on the ends of the asparagus. Place four asparagus stalks next to each other. Place skewers crosswise in two places – right below the tips, and another an inch from the bottom of the asparagus spear. At this point it will resemble a raft. Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds and mix. Brush the mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a touch of salt and generous amount pepper. Grill the asparagus on a barbecue or in a griddle pan for 4-5 minutes per side, turning with tongs. Sprinkle with some extra sesame seeds after turning so the top of the raft has some extra seeds.

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s usual I was stumped for a topic for this week’s article. Upon awakening to snow on Monday, I remembered the time I was “forced” to go white water rafting. It was 1984 and our good friend Shimmy Stein put together a white water rafting expedition to Lehigh. He had his chevra from Forest Hills (us) and his friends from everywhere else. All my friends said it would be a great experience and that I had to try it at least once. The Webers and Maels were also going and talked me into it as well. WHO’S IN THE As we got close KITCHEN to our destination, I started to panic. I knew I was going to hate it. What was I thinking when I agreed. We had to fill out a form that had various health conditions listed on it, I was busy thinking of the ailments I’d be plagued with after my river adventure! When it was my turn, Judy Joszef I was asked what size wet suit I wanted. “Wet suit? No I don’t need one,” I said. It was then that it was explained to me that we all had to wear them as it was 32-33 degrees and it was very cold in the water. “I don’t plan to be in the water, no problem.” It was obvious I was a novice in this sport — and I wanted to keep it that way. “I can wait in the car,” I said. That wasn’t happening so I begrudgingly got my wet suit

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[Houghton Mifin Harcourt, 2010]. This work goes into great detail in describing the actions and grass roots efforts by such groups as the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry and personalities such as Jacob Birnbaum and Glenn Richter, whose tireless efforts were the catalysts to the success of this effort. But, there was more: the descriptive of failed efforts to get the Kennedy administration to get on board is detailed by the efforts of one Cleveland Jewish leader, Herb Caron, who attempted to get Kennedy to advocate for Soviet cooperation in permitting the baking of matzos in 1963 using the wheat our purchased that year by Soviet authorities from the United States. While this effort ultimately failed in its immediate goal due to the opposition of the Kennedy ofďŹ cials, it did serve to spur many to place Soviet Jewish interests onto a higher placement on the agenda of communal priorities. This episode warrants your literary attention as a classic lesson in effective communal activism. Another excellent work, “JFK Conservative,â€? authored by journalist Ira Stoll, formerly managing editor of the New York Sun, was recently published by the same publisher as the previously cited work. While it presents a rather unique take on the ideological predispositions of the Kennedy political legacy, there is a segment dealing with Soviet Jewry that I wish to focus upon to serve as the core of this review. The Kennedy relationship with the Jewish community had, throughout his career, been a warm one. In that, Stoll leaves no doubt whatsoever. However, as noted above, when it came to Soviet Jewry, and at times, the Middle East, things could have been better. Nevertheless, Stoll relates an episode that occurred on the cusp of the end of the Kennedy era that only leaves us with the impression of the feeling of “what could have been.â€? This is a saga related through Stoll by Lewis Weinstein, a Jewish leader, an attorney in a Boston law ďŹ rm and a ďŹ nancial supporter of Kennedy’s political efforts. Given the previous failures of the attempts to liberate Soviet Jewry, enters Weinstein, soon to assume the role of leadership of the Presidents’ Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations. The following is a direct quote from Stoll’s narrative. When read-

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ing, please make note of the dates: “By the fall of 1963, the deteriorating situation of the approximately three million Jews in Russia was beginning to attract broader international attention, particularly in the United States‌ “When American Jewish organizations tried the usual route of having friendly members of Congress contact the State Department, they were rebuffed. The assistant secretary of state for congressional relations, Frederick Dutton, sent Sen. Kenneth Keating of New York a long letter acknowledging that Russian synagogues had been closed and Jewish cemeteries desecrated as part of ‘the long-term Soviet campaign against religion generally,’ but fretting that the American government could not do much about it. ‘It is doubtful if further protestations would be helpful to the Jews in the Soviet Union,’ the letter concluded.â€? “Weinstein went to Robert Kennedy and succeeded in having a mention of the Soviet closing of synagogues included in Pres. Kennedy’s September 1963 speech to the UN General Assembly. Weinstein persuaded the President to have Averell Harriman, the former governor of New York who was undersecretary of state, raise the matter with Khrushchev during a negotiating mission

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to Moscow. In a White House meeting with President Kennedy in November [1963], Weinstein, who was soon to take over as chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, launched into a plea on the issue. ‘You know, it’s getting pretty bad,’ Weinstein said. ‘There are murder trials going on. They call them economic trials, but the defendant is always a Jew. He’s charged with black market [trading] or something like that, he’s always convicted and executed. They are murder trials, in which the defendant is murdered, not the murderer.â€? “Weinstein told Kennedy that Soviet authorities had slowed the ow of Jewish refugees to a trickle. And he said that no American president had intervened with Russian authorities on behalf of the Jews since Pres. Theodore Roosevelt protested to Tsar Nicholas II after the Kishinev massacre in 1903.â€? “Kennedy replied, ‘Well here’s one president who’s ready to do something.’ “He told Weinstein to organize a conference in Washington on the Soviet Jewry problem. The president told Weinstein to schedule the conference for a time soon after Kennedy returned from an upcoming political trip to Dallas.â€?

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t was a different era, a time that revered idealism yet tolerated a diversity that at times deďŹ ed reality. Nevertheless, with all that was tolerated, respect for diverse opinion was laced with respect, a respect that was saturated throughout society’s opinion makers’ creed. The legacy of the brief presidency of John F. Kennedy was highlighted by image, personality, ideology and most important of all KOSHER to this writer, the eleBOOKWORM ment of eloquence and elegance in both language and style. As Jews, we came to view the brief Kennedy rule in terms of the lack of substance over style, especially when contrasted in the years to follow of presidents who had to contend with wars abroad and contention at home, Alan Jay Gerber political agendas overďŹ lled with action. Of all the issues that affected the Jewish community in the early ’60s, perhaps the most neglected was that of the status of the Jews held captive under communist rule in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Empire. This brutal subjugation was to last for over a half century. Its ultimate demise had to be forced by a grass roots movement within the Jewish communal construct that was challenged time and again by forces from without its normal ďŹ nancially based power structure. Starting during the Kennedy years, agitation within the American Jewish community started to well up, coalescing into what came to be known as the Soviet Jewry movement. The goal of this movement was the total liberation of Jews from Communist rule, and to affect their emigration to the State of Israel. Hindering these efforts were communal and political indifference that bedeviled the very foundation of the effort to retrieve these Jews from Soviet servitude. Perhaps one of the best and most authoritative books on this subject is, “When They Come For Us We’ll be Gone: The Epic Struggle To Save Soviet Jewryâ€? by Gal Beckerman

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THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

The Kennedy Legacy: It’s been 50 years since 1963

November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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Federation’s Jerusalem meet a ‘global Jewish shuk’ By Judy Lash Balint, JNS.org JERUSALEM — Several halls of Jerusalem’s International Congress Center were ďŹ lled with booths representing the best of Israeli innovations as the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) held its General Assembly in Jerusalem for the third time since 2003. From 1998-2012, the Federations sent more than $4.5 billion to Israel, so it’s no wonder that Israeli organizations as diverse as the world-renowned Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to the edgling Hasdera social change organization were vying for the attention of the 1,500 North American delegates. Representatives of smaller organizations that can’t afford a booth wandered around the halls looking for opportunities to talk with potential donors and hand out a business card or brochure. The annual gathering of Federation leadership generally takes place in the U.S., but every ďŹ ve years the organization representing more than 400 North American communities convenes in Jerusalem. This year, the 1,500 North Americans were joined by an equal number of Israelis, representing the gamut of the country’s social services, commerce, and public institutions. The theme for the 2013 GA was “The Global Jewish Shuk: A Marketplace of Dialogue and Debate,â€? with 22 sessions packed into a one-and-a-half-day conference. An additional day was set aside for site visits in and around Jerusalem, culminating in a solidar-

ity walk from Jerusalem’s City Hall in Safra Square to the Western Wall. For many delegates, the GA was the culmination of a weeklong mission that combines visits to Federation-funded projects with visits to Israel’s best cultural events. At the opening plenary, headlined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the tone was set by the introductory speech given by GA co-chairs Michael and Susie Gelman. “We dream of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, pluralistic state,â€? stated Susie Gelman. One Israeli blogger present retorted: “You mean we’re NOT? That bus I took to this very conference ďŹ lled with an amalgam of Haredi, National Religious, white, black and Peruvian Jews was not a pluralistic environment? That election in which I voted earlier this year in which I had the privacy to choose whatever ballot I wished was not a democratic vote?â€? The gap in understanding between Israelis and Diaspora Jews concerns Member of Knesset Nachman Shai (Kadima), a former director of the Israel ofďŹ ce of JFNA, who organized two Federation general assemblies during his tenure. The recent Pew Research Center survey of American Jewry is indicative of “a continuing steady change in attitude that indicates [Americans Jews and Israelis are] in two worlds,â€? Shai told JNS.org. Israelis and Diaspora Jews “have to work harderâ€? to understand each other, Shai said, citing two committees he chairs “to strengthen the Jewish people.â€? One is a joint Jewish Agency for Israel-Knesset committee on Jew-

ish identity, and the other, convened by the Ruderman Family Foundation, aims to educate Knesset members about North American Jewry. Over and over, Israelis in various sessions spoke of the existential threat facing the Jewish state: El Al executive and former Israel Air Force head Eliezer Shkedy told a Monday plenary session, “We’re ďŹ ghting for our lives here.â€? Opposition Leader Shelly Yachimovich told delegates she agrees with Netanyahu that Iran “must be stopped from getting the bomb.â€? For GA delegates like Iantha Sidell of Seattle, however, the clear top priority item for Jewish Federations is the ďŹ ndings of the Pew survey of American Jews. “When that study was published, it changed the agenda,â€? Sidell explained. “The rates of intermarriage and the quest to ďŹ nd ways to engage young people in Jewish life are things we have to deal with now. We have to have content that interests them. I hope we can get some new ideas here,â€? she added. Back over at the Hasdera booth, an earnest young Israeli tried to explain in English to a slightly perplexed Federation leader from Miami how his social change organization helps promote public participation in Israeli social causes. In his address to the plenary on Sunday, Netanyahu tried to bridge the gap by laying out his assessment of the Iranian threat, telling the audience, “Coming to a theater near you. They need those ICBMs to reach North America.â€? He urged American Jews to “do

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something about it.� Netanyahu also mentioned the Israeli government’s new joint initiative with the Jewish Agency “to unite the Jewish people, to initiate programs to help reach the inner cords of identity of the Jewish people around the world, and then put forward programs to help solidify the core of the conviction and identity that is so central to securing our future.�

2 Israeli heros in Hewlett‌ Continued from page 1 Had they failed, “Israel would have been cut in half,â€? Book continued. “He helped inspire the men and won an Israeli medal for bravery.â€? Cohen and Kahalani show “how an individual could literally change the course, through devotion to the cause of Zionism and Jewish history,â€? Book said. Tuvia Book, born in London, grew up in the U.K. and South Africa and made aliya at age 17, “grew up in Bnei Akiva and was weaned on Israeli heroes. I was inspired by the Zionist role models, reading Chana Senesh’s diary and Yoni Netanyahu’s letters.â€? He joined the Israeli army and served in an elite combat unit. After college, he guided one of the ďŹ rst Birthright groups and has been working with them ever since, he said. As a shaliach for the Jewish Agency’s education department, he wrote “For the Sake of Zion: A Curriculum of Israel Studies,â€? a comprehensive sourcebook on the historic and religious connections of the Jews to the Land of Israel and its importance. “There was no curriculum so I wrote it,â€? he said. As a Jewish educational tour guide he said that he presents “inspirational storiesâ€? of Zionist ďŹ gures, as well as dates and facts, for students to see them as “role models to learn from and emulate if possible.â€? College students “need to be literate on Jewish heroes.â€?

The current “lack of knowledge in Jewish and Israeli history is shocking to me,� Book said. “Many Day School students don’t know the Balfour Declaration from the UN partition — it blows my mind. Most come out of yeshiva high school illiterate of Jewish history.� He noted that Rambam Mesivta, HAFTR and Yeshivah of Flatbush, are among the exceptions and have separate courses on Israel and Zionism. “When they get to college the students can’t talk without cringing, crying, apologizing or yelling; it’s mind-boggling.� Book, lives in North Woodmere and Modiin, Israel, with his wife Shira, a physician, and their four young children. He is writing his doctoral dissertation in Jewish education on Birthright. He currently teachs a course for high school seniors on Zionism and Israel advocacy at HAFTR. Book cautioned that “people take [the State of Israel] for granted. We have to realize how fortunate we are that we have a Jewish State, be proud of it and be knowledgeable and make the case for Israel.� Saturday night’s discussion is planned as the opening of a series. Future installments might include Chana Senesh, Ilan Ramon and his son Asaf, Yoni Netanyahu, Michael Levine, and Roi Klein, Book said. For information: tuviabook@gmail.com Young Israel of Hewlett, Congregation Ahavat Yisrael, 1 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett.

VOICE YOUR OPINION! E-mail your comments for publication to Letters@TheJewishStar.com

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Rambam: Throw Nazi out‌ Continued from page 1 “It is outrageous that the killers of our people are able to live freely within a 30-minute drive or less of the Jewish community.â€? Rambam students, who joined those from other schools as well as political and religious leaders in the protest, also wrote letters to elected ofďŹ cials stating their opposition to Palij’s residency. According to U.S. Justice Department records, Palij served as a Nazi Trawniki camp guard and was involved in the murder of more than 6,000 prisoners — men, women and children — in a 24-hour period on Nov. 3, 1943. Letters from members of Congress supporting Palij’s ouster were read at the rally.

Rambam senior Shai Yastrab read a letter from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola). “We must remember these painful events in order to prevent another Holocaust ever occurring again,� McCarthy wrote in part. Rambam sophomore Even Edelstein read from Rep. Gregory Meeks’ (D-St. Albans) letter. “I commend those who continue to shine the light of public awareness on Kristallnacht, on how the Holocaust was set in motion, and for their continuing commitment to never forget.� Palij, 91, has lived in New York for more than 50 years. Since his past was uncovered in 2003, efforts have been made to deport him. A version of this story appeared in the Nassau Herald.

13 THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

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Rav Freedman visits‌ Continued from page 1 prehensive understanding of what Judaism is all about and develop the tools to continue their journey into adult life,â€? Freedman told the Star. “We are looking to develop the next generation of Jewish leaders.â€? Orayta’s program is actually “a ďŹ ve-year course,â€? with alumni graduating to such schools as Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Binghamton, University of Texas, Cornell, he said. The goal is to “prepare for the experience on college campus,â€? he said. “Someone on campus will ask questions, ‘Why are you learning gemarah, why do you believe in G-d, what is G-d, how can you believe in G-d if you can’t understand what is G-d.’ He has no clue how to answer these questions.â€? Freedman said that there is a need for both serious learning and serious dialogue on essential topics of faith and understanding of Judaism. He pointed out that he received 180 applications for 65 spots in the yeshiva and wants to keep it that size, “large enough to offer the experience and yet maintain intimacy and healthy relationships with all the students.â€? “I don’t want a kid who is rebelling,â€? he explained. “There is a very signiďŹ cant pool of students who are not off the derech and not rebelling who slip under the radar. They go to minyan, are in a high shiur but have lots of good questions. [They] don’t want to give up serious learning, but want a deeper understanding of what Judaism is about. “That is the student he is looking to recruit. Rabbi Freedman lives in Efrat with his wife Doreet, who was the ďŹ rst employee of Nefesh Bnefesh, founded with Rabbi Joshua Fass and Tony Gelbart, where she is director of strategic partnership. Binny and Doreet have four children. Freedman was born in New York and grew up in Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side, where Riskin “inuenced me to go into chinuch (education). “ He also cited Rabbi Chaim Gold of Manhattan Day School as having a “powerful impactâ€? on him and Rabbi Yitzchok Adler’s “serious gemara learningâ€? as the “main reason that I went to Gush (Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel)â€? to learn after high school. Freedman was accepted into Columbia University and had planned to study pre-law but when he went to Gush in 1981 he stayed for a second year, and then entered the army in the Hesder program in tanks. As a foreign

student he left early to do the ofďŹ cer’s course and ďŹ nished the army in 1987, returning to Gush and the Herzog school to study education there. He said that learning with Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehuda Amital, zâ€?l, were “powerful experiencesâ€? and “had an enormous impactâ€? on him. He received smicha (rabbinic ordination) in 1991 from the Rabbanut in Israel and returned to the States in the summers to teach at Bnei Akiva’s Camp Moshava and Camp Stone. He currently does reserve duty in the infantry as a company commander. Freedman became involved with Isralight through Zacharia Baumel, a fellow student at Gush. Baumel, one of the Israeli soldiers still missing after the Battle of Sultan Yakub in Lebanon in 1982, was in the room next to Freedman’s in Gush, sat in front of him in the beit midrash, and “took me under his wing.â€? After Baumel’s capture, Freedman became active in helping the MIAs. Someone from the MIA organization then invited Freedman to peak at Isralight. Isralight is an educational program “dedicated to inspiring a worldwide Jewish renaissance through essential and innovative educational solutions that empower Jews to experience the relevance, wisdom, and joy of Jewish living,â€? according to its website. “There was a large cohort of students who had been through the yeshiva high school system and could tell you how to make tea on Shabbat but were missing something,â€? Freedman said. “They had never gotten answers to their questions on Judaism, they were looking for inspiration, meaning. They know how to wear TeďŹ llin not why.â€? Isralight tried to share content with post high school yeshivot in Israel but saw that it wasn’t going to work so they decided to open Orayta, he said.. Rabbis David Aaron, Moshe Kornblum and Binny Freedman founded Orayta in 2008 with 17 boys and now have 70 students from the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Most return to university in their birth countries and get involved in Jewish programs at their colleges. Freedman said that 15 alumni are either in or have gone through the Israeli army. The yeshiva is housed in a 900 year old Crusader building in the Old City of Jerusalem. Freedman said he is grateful to the Five Towns community for opening their homes to the students participating in this weekend’s Shabbaton.

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Wanted CASH FOR COINS! Buying ALL Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in New York 1-800-959-3419

AIRLINES ARE HIRING- Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualiďŹ edHousing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (877)818-0783

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SAVE $$$ ON AUTO INSURANCE from the major names you know and trust. No forms. No hassle. No obligation. Call READY FOR MY QUOTE now! CALL 1-877-890-6843

Autos Wanted CASH FOR CARS! Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647

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Help Wanted AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN here– Get FAA approved Aviation Maintenance Technician training. Financial aid for qualiďŹ ed students– Housing available. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-296-7093

AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN here– Get FAA approved Aviation Maintenance Technician training. Financial aid for qualiďŹ ed students– Housing available. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-296-7093 PRINT SHOP GENERAL HELP Print Shop Looking for General Help and Roll Tender/Jogger. Must Have Forklift, and or Clamp Truck Experience. All Shifts. Must Be Motivated. Please Call Lou 516 569-4000 ex. 256.

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•Submit events to JScalendar@TheJewishStar.com. •Put event DATE in subject line (include ALL dates if event repeats). • Deadline is Thursday 10 am, 7 days before cover date. •Include a price of admission or specify FREE •Include for publication an email address or phone number so readers can conďŹ rm your event. • Listings may be edited for style and space.

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/81&+ /($51 With Rabbi Shalom Axelrod of Young Israel of Woodmere. Traditions Restaurant, 302 Central Avenue, off Rockaway Blvd., Lawrence. 12:30-1:30 pm. Buy a $12 lunch, eat and learn. Alan Stern 516-398-3094.

1()(6+ %¡1()(6+ and the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, Jewish Agency, Jewish National Fund and KKL, presents “Think Israel,â€? a conference for students and young professionals to promote Aliyah to Israel, featuring Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor, and NBN Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Convene Conference Center, 730 Third Ave., Manhattan. For more infoL NBN.org.il/jnbncal/main/2/5609.

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Synagogue invites the community to meet its new rabbi and rebbetzin. 7:30 pm. No RSVP — just come. 1 Fairway Road, Lido Beach.

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of “For the Sake of Zion,� discusses two heroes of the State of Israel, at Young Israel of Hewlett. 8:30 pm, followed by music and refreshments. 1 Piermont Ave., Hewlett.

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0,.9$+ 0<7+6 “Ten Myths That Stand Between You and the Mikvah,â€? a discussion with Lisa Septimus, Five Towns Yoetzet Halacha. 8:30 pm in Social Hall of Congregation Beth Shalom, 390 Broadway, Lawrence. Ms. Septimus may be contacted conďŹ dentially at 516-900-2109 from 3–5 and 8:30–9:30 pm.

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&5& +2/,'$< 3$57< Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island event features “Four Artists Exploring Identity�— Stanley L. Covington Jr. (African-American), Paul Koker (Jewish), Lisbeh Herrera (Latino) and Manu Kaur Saluja (Sikh). $18 ($25 at door). 6:30– 8:30 pm. Chelsea Mansion, 34 Muttontown Lane, East Norwich. 516-677-1866, NewmanD @jcrcli.org.

658881

1$)7$/, %(11(77 ,1 :22'0(5( The Young Israel of Woodmere will be hosting live and in person Knesset Member and Minister Naftali Bennett. Mr. Bennet is head of the Bayit HaYehudi (Religious Zionist) political party, an MK, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor, Minister of Religious Services, and Minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs. Everyone is welcome to hear him address current issues and Israel’s future on the topic of “Not by the Sword Alone — Israel’s Security and Economy in a Changing Middle East.� 7:15 pm.

THE JEWISH STAR November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774

Jewish Star Calendar

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November 15, 2013 • 12 KISLEV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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