August 15, 2014

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VOL 13, NO 32 Q AUGUST 15, 2014 / 19 AV 5774

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L’chaim to Dr. Brown, most enduring kosher soft drink By Lonnie Ostrow

If Dr. Brown were alive today, he would take great pride in the multigenerational success of his ďŹ zzy drugstore creation. It’s 145 years after Dr. Brown’s Celery Tonic was introduced on the streets of Williamsburg, and the nostalgic brand continues to be consumed by New Yorkers and soda lovers across North America. His original celery recipe from 1869 — and his cream, ginger ale, black cherry, and root beer varieties — are staples on Passover tables and in supermarkets, kosher restaurants and delis, even immortalized in pop culture. Continued on page 2

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Dr. Brown, a kosher pioneer, is still on a roll… Continued from page 1 Three years after John Pemberton invented Coca Cola in Atlanta, and 50 years before Coke was certified as kosher, the Dr. Browns legend began with a homeopathic myth and a stalk of celery (or so we are told). From the mid-1800s through the early 1930s, celery was considered a “superfood,” a fact confirmed by an article published in the Los Angeles Herald in 1905. This “medicinal herb” was promoted as a “weight-loss aid” and “a cure to headaches and indigestion.” It was said to possess “properties as a relaxant.” As the carbonated folktale goes, Dr. Brown, a New York City physician (whose first name has been lost to history), concoct-

ed his “celery tonic” in 1869 for immigrant children on the Lower East Side and across the river in Williamsburg. The “tonic” consisted of crushed celery seeds, sugar and carbonated water, dispersed by the spoonful at pharmacies. Although no medicinal benefits could be proven, the sweet tonic was a hit with children and adults alike. The instant popularity of this refreshing mixture led the enterprising Dr. Brown to seek the assistance of “a friend at a bottling company to market the drink as a celery tonic,” according to Dennis Berberich, former president of the Canada Dry company, in a 1984 interview with the NY Times. Soon thereafter, the sweet, unusual beverage was being produced in glass bottles, sold at ko-

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sher delicatessens and by soda salesman who went door-to-door on the Lower East Side. A second Dr. Brown’s flavor, Sarsaparilla (ginger ale) was developed a few years later. The earliest documentation for the Dr. Brown’s brand goes back to 1886 when a bottling company called Schoneberger & Noble was producing the pair of sodas from a red-brick building at 672 Water St. in lower Manhattan. Although the building no longer exists, a large white syrup cauldron from the original factory has been preserved and is on display at the Museum of the City of New York. Other important surviving clues to the early history of Dr. Brown’s are its ads and product labels. Ads from 1910 by Schoneberger & Noble endorse Dr. Brown’s Celery Tonic as “a pure beverage for the nerves that strengthens the appetite and aids digestion.” Another trumpets the inclusion of vitamin D. In his 2004 book, New York City Food, author and radio personality Arthur Schwartz writes that “in the early years, Cel-Ray was considered a real health drink.” In the 1890s and the early 1900s, numerous competing brands came and went, including “Dr. Carpenter’s Celery & Phosphate” from San Francisco, and “Sedgwick & Smith Celery Tonic” from Iowa. As for the taste, Schwartz writes that “it really isn’t as bizarre as it sounds. It’s incredibly refreshing and thirst quenching and became the perfect foil to the Jewish delicatessen, which tends to be salty.” By the 1930s, Dr. Brown’s Celery Tonic became known as “The Jewish Champagne.” It was the drink of choice at weddings, barmitzvahs and sweet-sixteen parties. Celebrities of the day, including Ethel Merman and Guy Lombardo, were said to have “sworn by it,” according to a 2011 article in the New York Times. A newspaper ad from 1910 lists this “delicious, thirst quenching, healthful beverage” at the price of $1 for a dozen bottles (with a rebate on the empties). Schoneberger & Noble gradually added new flavors to the Dr. Brown’s line. A 1923 filing with the US trademark office shows that they had registered: NONALCOHOLIC, NONCEREAL, MALTLESS BEVERAGES SOLD AS SOFTDRINKS — NAMELY GINGER ALE (SARSAPARILLA) CELEREY LEMON SODA AND CREAM SODA. In 1923, they became the first soft drink certified as kosher by the OU. Their success around New York was booming, but outside of the tri-state area they were hardly known. In 1928, Schoneberger and Noble merged with the Carl Schultz Corp. and Brownie Corp. (makers of the Brownie chocolate drink) to form The American Beverage Corp. The plan was to unify their collective efforts and market their brands nationwide. The bottling facility on Water Street was closed and relocated to Greenpoint in Brooklyn. The 1930s saw the launch of an aggressive advertising campaign for the Dr. Brown’s brand. Print ads in regional Jewish newspapers, and on radio shows, continued to extol the health benefits of the Celery Tonic. The tagline for most advertisements was “The One And Only Dr. Brown’s.” These continued throughout the 1940s and early 50s, until the federal government intervened. In 1953, the US Food & Drug Administration questioned the use of the word “tonic” in the title of the Celery Tonic beverage, given its lack of proven health. They also took issue with the use of the word “celery” in the product name (although it was undoubtedly celery-flavored, it contained only a minimal amount of celery extract). The dispute was resolved when American Beverage Company agreed to change the name to “Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray Soda,” the title by which it remains known today. One theory as to the Dr. Brown’s name is

based on the health benefit marketing myth perpetrated on the public from 1886 to 1953. Some suspect that the use of a common doctor’s name in conjunction with the soft drink brand was a clever way to legitimize the apparent health-related boasts. Yet another national soda brand built a similar reputation on being associated with a licensed medical professional. In 1885, Dr. Pepper was first marketed in Waco, Texas, as a “brain tonic and energizing pick-me-up.” Today, of course, it remains of one of the world’s most popular soft drink brands. In the 1950s, Dr. Brown’s added black cherry to its flavor arsenal, using New York grown Mount Morency Cherries to achieve the perfect blend. They would later add root beer and orange soda as new varieties in an effort to compete with the likes of Hoffman, Kirsch and Hammer, who were making inroads with Jewish communities across the US. It was during this decade that cream soda and black cherry surpassed Cel-Ray as Dr. Brown’s bestselling flavors. Diet versions of cream, black cherry and Cel-Ray were introduced in the late 1960s to enable Dr. Brown’s to compete with the sugar-free offerings by Kirsch, Diet Rite, Fresca, and Tab. One of the most significant marketing elements of the Dr. Brown’s brand is the distincContinued on page 14

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West Hempstead BBQ raises cash for One Israeli By Emily BelďŹ ore There’s no better way to get people together than a barbeque, which is what Alan Schulman did last Wednesday in his West Hempstead home. This barbeque, however, had a higher purpose: to help raise money and awareness for One Israel Fund, an organization dedicated to providing aid and assistance to the Israeli people of Judea and Samaria. “We need to make sure that all communities that exist in Israel continue to grow, thrive and remain safe,â€? said Scott Feltman, One Israel Fund’s Executive Vice President. “It’s extremely important to be able to give the families living there the tools they need to live normal and safe lives.â€? According to Feltman, the night was noth-

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ing less than a success. “It was phenomenal. There were over 150 people and we raised over $22,000,� he said. Shulman, a longtime supporter and donor of One Israel Fund, had the idea to host the barbeque fundraiser while having sushi with some friends. He and his friends advertised the event on social media expecting to only have a couple of friends attend. “He was so touched by the outpouring of support,� said Feltman, “to have over 150 people there was way beyond his wildest dreams.� People gathered in Shulman’s backyard and enjoyed an upscale barbeque with food donated by Mauzone’s Catering, which is coowned by Schulman. “This was a night where everyone could

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come out and enjoy themselves with a purpose,� said Feltman. One of the event’s guest speakers, Mickey Zivan, was a former roommate of Eyal Yifrach Hy’d, one of the three Israeli boys that was kidnapped and killed in June. Zivan spoke about Eyal Yifrach Hy’d and his experiences with him at Yeshiva Shaavei Hebron in Israel. After Zivan spoke, a short informative video about what is going on in Israel was shown. The video was followed by a speech by Feltman, which included a brief description about One Israel Fund and its various goals and projects. What makes One Israel Fund unique, according to Feltman, is that it concentrates its efforts completely on the communities along

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the Gaza border. “We focus on getting the civilian security teams additional security equipment and medical equipment to be able to deal with the current crisis in Israel and the potential crises that may occur,� he said. Thanks to everyone’s generous donations, the organization was able to buy every item on its list, including thermal surveillance camera systems, emergency medical equipment, high-powered lighting systems and communication equipment. “People who are not regular donors are contacting us and saying ‘we want to do something, tell us what we can do,’� said Feltman. For more information about the One Israel Fund, visit oneisraelfund.org

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Achiezer Tisha B’Av program inspires hundreds From Achiezer An immense crowd of men, women and children gathered at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway on Tisha B’Av for a special Kinos program produced by the Yeshiva in conjunction with the Achiezer Community Resource Center. The program included the recitation of

the traditional Kinos interspersed with inspirational addresses from talmidei chachomim and speakers of international renown. Sitting on the oor and mourning the destruction of the Beis Hamikash nearly two thousand years ago, the assembled were treated to thought-provoking messages of self-improvement and understanding the

current challenges facing the Jewish people in the larger context of the bitter galus (exile). The speakers were, in order of their appearance: Rabbi Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva of Darchei Torah’s Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid; Rabbi Noach Orlowek, Mash-

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giach Ruchani of Yeshiva Torah Ore, Jerusalem; Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, acclaimed author and lecturer; Rabbi Zevi Trenk, Menahel of Darchei Torah’s Mesivta Chaim Shlomo; and Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, Rav of Khal Bnai Yitzchak in Brooklyn, New York. For audio of the speeches, send an email to eweiss@achiezer.org

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Hearing, listening, internalizing, approaching G-d “Hear O’ Israel, Hashem is our G-d; Hashem is One.” (ibid. 6:4) For thousands of years this statement has been the ultimate source of faith; indeed, countless martyred Jews over the ages died with the words of the Shema on their lips. So why is our faith all about listening? Moshe asks (in last week’s portion) to cross over and see the land of Israel; so what is the relationship between seeing, and listening? When we were given the Torah at Mount Sinai, the entire mountain was enshrouded in a cloud (Exodus 19:9) suggesting that we needed to hear G-d when He spoke to us. Yet, at Sinai, it appears the Jewish people somehow saw sound!? (ibid. 20:15) and after all, as everyone knows, seeing is believing, right? Ancient idolatry and pagan worship was all about the worship of nature; they saw beauty and cruelty, power and majesty in the world around them, and they worshipped these forces of nature. In ancient Greece and Rome, which so glorified the body through art and sculpture, worship was visual. Judaism came into the world and suggested that it was not enough to see the world, because seeing is really not believing; we had to hear the voice of G-d hidden in Nature. Avraham’s original premise, for which he was so challenged, was that G-d cannot be seen; He must be experienced, and felt. Hence we are forbidden to fashion idols and make graven images.

Even more, if we are listening to the word of Hashem (G-d), Judaism believes we can communicate and thus develop a relationship with Hashem. That is something certainly lacking in the majestic awe of the beauty and power of the forces of nature, which are to be perceived, but are far from personal. Today, in the world of the Internet and the iPhone, images flash across our screens so quickly and so constantly, we seem to have lost the capacity to fully understand them, much less develop a meaningful and full relationship with their sources. It is no wonder so many have such difficulty relating to an unseen omnipotent G-d, viewing Him as a force they cannot see. Judaism suggests we need to learn to listen. Hashem is so much more than an invisible force; Hashem is very much the ultimate, and even only, audible reality. So what does it mean to listen? hile certainly we physically hear sound (as in Genesis 3:10, when Adam and Eve somehow hear G-d in the garden) hearing in the Torah means so much more. It means to contemplate, and internalize and even to decide to act. When G-d tells Avraham (Genesis 21:12) to listen to Sarah (regarding her concerns about Yishmael) clearly the intent is much more than just hearing her audible voice; he is meant to take her words to heart, to internalize them, and even to do as she says. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in an article a

In Torah, ‘hearing’ means more than sound; it is taking words to heart to internalize them.

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number of years ago on the Shema, points out that there is no Biblical word for obedience; indeed, the closest word in the Torah that means to obey is actually to listen! This is nothing short of incredible, especially given that the Torah is a book of commandments (mitzvoth). Suggests Rabbi Sacks, perhaps this is because Judaism was never meant to be a religion of blind obedience; we are meant to try and understand, and even develop a relationship with the word of G-d. (Though this does not mean our actions are dependent on such understandings; but rather that we are missing a critical piece of Judaism if we do not make such attempts.) Interestingly, Moshe’s story begins with sight; he is born and his mother sees that he is good (Exodus 2:2) and then later saved by the daughter of Pharaoh who sees his basket on the Nile River. In fact, the Torah tells us she sees that the child is crying (ibid.2:6); one would have expected her to hear the baby’s cries. Ancient Egypt also, was all about the pagan preoccupation with seeing the Gods of nature. Later, Moshe will begin his Divine journey by seeing the burning bush (ibid. 3:2-4) and G-d will teach him that redemption is not about seeing; it is about learning to listen and speak. Despite describing himself as ‘not being a man of words’ (ibid. 4:10), he will become the ultimate communicator. In our Western, visual society, we speak of understanding with terms like insight, hindsight and foresight. But the terminology of the rabbis in the Talmud speaks of listening: “Ta Shma” (Come and listen) meaning to study and understand and “Shma Mina,” Continued on page 14

Lawrence Public Schools Town Hall Meeting Public Forum for Positive Discourse on Community Issues Topic: Transportation School officials and local politicians will be on hand to address concerns

Welcome Back

Monday, August, 18th at 7:30 pm Lawrence Middle School Lunchroom 195 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559

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iscerning between innocent and perpetrator requires the ability to hear the larger story. Silence — total and absolute silence. No one moves. Eight soldiers in the middle of the night, actively listening, straining for the slightest sound that might signify something out of the ordinary; a Velcro patch; a clink of metal, the sound of a body moving on earth, an AK47 machine gun slowly being cocked or, worst FROM THE HEART of all, the pin of a greOF JERUSALEM nade being pulled. That was how ambushes always began. Israeli soldiers are trained to work, especially at night, in silence, learning to pick up the sounds one often might take for granted; sounds which, if heard, can make all the difference between life and death. Rabbi Binny How many thouFreedman sands of soldiers, in how many trenches, back alleys and abandoned houses in Aza had to stop to listen these past weeks? And in this war civilians, too, were on the front lines, ever listening for the wail of a siren signaling incoming rockets, giving them scant seconds to make it to shelter. This week, Ekev begins (Deut. 7:12) with the promise that all will be well, if we will but listen. Which of course follows last week’s portion (of Va’etchanan) containing the ultimate injunction to listen: the Shema.

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The circus came to camp last week. Fourth through seventh grade campers at Hillel Day camp were taught the finer points of circus acts by professionals from the National Circus Project. They learned to juggle, spin plates, walk on stilts, the intricacies of a Chinese yo-yo, and more. The youngsters, intrigued by the acts and eager to learn how to do the right moves, worked hard all

week to master these skills leading up to our troupe’s two stellar performances. The first performance, for parents and family members on Thursday evening, was a sight to behold. Younger campers enjoyed a Friday morning encore. Little ones watched in awe as their older siblings and their friends performed daring moves and seemingly magical tricks.

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The Jewish community mourned the loss of actor and comedian Robin Williams, who passed away at the age of 63 at his home in northern California on Monday. The Jewish Federations of North America posted a photo of Williams on their Facebook page along with the caption, “We mourn the loss of the great actor, comedian Robin Williams, z”l.” Williams, who was born Episcopalian, was wellknown for incorporating the use of Yiddish and Jewish humor into his comedy, and has played several Jewish characters on film, including 1999’s “Jakob the Liar,” where he portrayed a Jewish shopkeeper in Holocaust-era Poland, as well as in the 1986 film “Seize the Day” alongside Jewish-American actor Jerry Stiller, and Armand Goldman in 1996’s “The Birdcage.” Jewish-American comedian and actor Billy Crystal, a close friend of Williams who appeared alongside him and Whoopi Goldberg in the “Comic Relief” specials from 1986 to 2006, simply tweeted “No words,” in response to William’s sudden death. Last February, while on set for his short-lived TV show “The Crazy Ones,” Williams tweeted a picture of himself wearing a kippa and saying “Too late for a career change? Rabbi Robin?” There is also the famous scene from 1993’s “Mrs. Doubtfire,” where Williams, along with JewishAmerican actor Harvey Fierstein, sing a rendition of “Matchmaker” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The Marin County Sheriff’s department said in a statement that they suspect Williams’s death was a suicide due to asphyxiation, but that a complete investigation is still needed to determine the exact cause of death. William’s publicist Mara Buxbaum said that he had been battling severe depression recently. —JNS.org

THE JEWISH STAR August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774

Jews mourn Robin Williams

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August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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Anti-Zionist Jews? Not in our name I

recently journeyed to Columbus Circle in Manhattan to savor the atmosphere at two rival demonstrations over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. On one side, by the entrance to Central Park, and adjacent to the hot dog stands and “I Love NYCâ€? souvenir outlets, I found about 60 or so proIsrael demonstrators. The sky was gray and leaden, the humidity threatened Ben Cohen, JNS a thunderstorm, and the news coming out of Israel was pretty bleak, but their mood veered in the joyous direction. They danced and sang, they recited prayers for the IDF’s fallen soldiers, and they held signs that were—dare I say it—almost kumbaya-like in their tone. There was no anger and no hate, but rather a series of appeals to behave rationally and with humanity. “For Real Peace, Gaza Needs Good Education, Not Bombs,â€? read one message. “Israel Left Gaza For Peace,â€? declared another, almost imploringly. As I read these and similar signs, I imagined the response these demonstrators would encounter outside the 59th St. subway station, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators were now gathering. The word “naiveâ€? would be the least of it, I reected. As if on cue, a car whizzed around Columbus Circle, with one of the passengers brandishing a Palestinian ag out of the window. Over the din of the trafďŹ c and the songs and chants of the pro-Israel demonstrators, I heard a voice from inside the car boom in our direction, “F**k YOU!â€? As the afternoon wore into the evening, I crossed the street to see what was happening on the Palestinian side. The turnout was smaller than I’d expected—600 at most—but there was a tangible feeling of anger. Someone was yelling “Allahu Akhbar!â€? into a megaphone and plenty of banners with slogans like “End Aid to the RACIST State of Israelâ€? and “Israel is an Apartheid Stateâ€? were on display. For a few minutes, I spoke to a man holding a sign reading, “Zionism threatens us all.â€? He was polite and cordial but predictable, his remarks to me peppered with catchphrases like “wealthy Jewsâ€? and claims such as “9/11 was chiey an attack on U.S. support for Israel.â€? I surveyed this crowd and saw Arab and south Asian Muslims, solemn-looking Quakers, and younger hipsters wearing what can only be described as terror chic—faces covered with kefďŹ yehs and t-shirts emblazoned with ultra-radical declarations. But most of all I saw my own people. The Jews.

VIEWPOINT

These Jews, I hasten to add, were “goodâ€? Jews, unlike me and probably you. That was apparent from their Jewish Voice for Peace stickers and from their signs such as “No war on Palestinians, NOT IN OUR NAME.â€? In terms of age, they were much older than I’d expected, baby boomers still nostalgic for the days of hippiedom. Once they had Vietnam, I thought to myself. Now they have “Palestine.â€? Now, although I’ve been writing about Jewish anti-Zionism for years, there is always something disturbing about encountering it in the esh. Palestine differs from Vietnam, in the sense that it’s an issue these folks feel a connection to by dint of rejecting the Jewish state as Jews. Indeed, they’ve built an identity around it—their Judaism is expressed in a manner in which they separate themselves from other Jews, like when they say, “NOT IN OUR NAME.â€? It’s also important to understand that these demonstrators are not afďŹ liated with J Street or with American Friends of Peace Now or similar groups. Many of them would probably ďŹ nd Peter Beinart, the American Jewish columnist who has reinvented himself as (he thinks) the voice of the decent Jewish conscience, a little too vanilla. What they have embraced is the non-violent (they think) route to ridding the world of its only Jewish state: boycotts, Passover seders dedicated to the Palestinian struggle, endless rhetorical condemnations of Zionism. It is, one might argue, a little like a cult. And like many of the cults that come and eventually go, this one is apparently in a growth phase. At least that’s what Rebecca Vilkomerson,

the head of Jewish Voice for Peace, told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz in a recent interview. The same report noted that J Street members disillusioned with that organization’s craving of mainstream acceptance are ďŹ nding a new political home further to the left. Should this exodus continue, we may ďŹ nd that the “pro-Israel, pro-peaceâ€? Jewish left, which was all the rage ďŹ ve years ago, is eclipsed and rendered irrelevant. More American Jews are understanding that every time Israel is compelled to defend its own citizens, the cries of “genocide!â€? will surely follow—and that is a cry they reject decisively. Equally, a smaller but still visible number will continue to organize themselves as the Jewish section of the movement to abolish the Jewish state. Any debate over how to regard these organizations shouldn’t encourage comparisons with J Street. For all my strong disagreements with J Street, I believe they are committed to a twostate solution. I cannot say the same about Jewish Voice for Peace and those of the same ilk. They are, quite simply, the enemy, and we must guard against them. They have embraced antiZionist eliminationism in the name of Judaism. For that reason, while I still—just about—believe that peace between Israel and the Palestinians is possible, I cannot envisage making peace with the Jewish haters of Israel. Why do I say that? Because betrayal by a brother always hurts more than the venom of a declared enemy. Whenever they shout “NOT IN OUR NAME,â€? we should remind them that their name is not our name. Not anymore.

What do you really know about ISIS? A

s The Islamic State, — aka ISIS — is spreading radical Islam from Iraq to Lebanon, Americans need to understand this organization. ISIS can be described as more Sopranos than Al Qaeda. Self-funding their operations through bank heists and major crimes, this Sunni army now has control of a signiďŹ cant part of Syria and Iraq. Their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has declared Rick Jensen Iraq and Syria the new caliphate, an Islamic state in which nonbelievers are ďŹ ned, mutilated and/or murdered. This was part of the goal of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network: to create a caliphate from North Africa as far as they could conquer, including the centuries-old ambition of reclaiming Spain for a radical Islamic government. On the ďŹ rst day of the holy month of Ramadan this year, Baghdadi’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, declared, “The legality of all emirates,

OPINION

groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the caliph’s authority and the arrival of its troops to their areas. Listen to your caliph and obey him. Support your state, which grows every day.â€? Or die. ISIS has ordered all girls and women ages 11 to 46 to submit to female genital mutilation, putting 4 million women and children under the caliph’s knife in order to suppress their sexual desires. Under Islamic law, men don’t have to worry so much about their immoral behavior. Oh, sure, there are penalties, but under Sharia law, men aren’t stoned to death for the crime of being kidnapped and gang raped. Only women are. Christians are heretics. InďŹ dels. Unworthy of life. The London Independent reports Canon Andrew White, vicar of the Anglican Church in Iraq, is desperately appealing for help as the ISIS Islamic militants knock on doors and collar people in the streets with the decree that Christians must convert to Islam or die. U.S. liberals may scoff at such a notion, shrugging at the idea that the Moors are again on the rise, but “the Bishop of Baghdadâ€? says, “Things are desperate, our people are disappearing. We have had people massacred, their heads chopped off.â€? About half a million Christians currently live in

Iraq. There are an estimated million Catholics in Lebanon, part of the estimated 1.6 million Lebanese Christians. The timing couldn’t be better for ISIS as the world’s attention is on Israel and Hamas. How many Americans are aware that ISIS has stolen enough uranium to create more than one “dirty bomb?â€? Reuters reports: “Nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of uranium compounds were kept at Mosul University,â€? “Terrorist groups have seized control of nuclear material at the sites that came out of the control of the state,â€? Alhakim wrote, adding that such materials “can be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.â€? Recently, Former CIA Director Michael Morell told “CBS This Morningâ€? that ISIS’ ďŹ rst goal has been “to set up that caliphate and it’s not just in Iraq and in Syria.â€? “Their second goal then is to use that as a safe haven to attack the United States.â€? Here’s another serious problem. Reuters also reports a “U.S. ofďŹ cial familiar with security matters said he was unaware of this development raising any alarm among U.S. authorities.â€? Nothing to worry about. Sleep well, America, while President Obama works hard every day to become a scratch golfer.

THE JEWISH STAR August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774

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August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774 THE JEWISH STAR

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Bye-bye American comfort, hello Zionist challenge, IDF By Malka Eisenberg Nefesh B’Nefesh transported 338 olim from North America to Israel this week, continuing its 12 year run of facilitating the return of Jews to their homeland. The olim — including 108 IDF soldiers, a six week old infant, a 93 year old great-grandmother, 37 families, 107 children and two sets of twins — left from JFK in New York with great fanfare at midday on Monday and were welcomed by dignitaries at Ben-Gurion Airport with warmth and admiration on Tuesday morning. The Jewish Star accompanied the olim on their life-changing journey. At a departing ceremony near the JFK synagogue, Israel Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman, himself a former NBN oleh with his family from Baltimore, said that Jews are no longer eeing, broken, to Israel, but are going upright, fulďŹ lling prophecies. Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, a Nefesh founder, cited the miracle that “our grandparents couldn’t imagine this day — returning to Israel as if dreaming.â€? Despite the conict over Gaza, no olim had withdrawn; others wanted to advance their aliyah but there was no room on the ight, he said. Israel’s Ambassador to the

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UN Ron Prosor said that Israel is “worth ďŹ ghting for and living for,â€? noting that there have been more olim to Israel this summer than rockets against Israel. As the passengers settled onto the plane, buckled their seat belts and prepared for take off, Rabbi Fass said over the loudspeaker, “There’s no turning back, the doors are closed now, nesiyah tova

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and have a wonderful journey back home.â€? The pilot welcomed the olim on board and said that El Al is the “airline of the Jewish people, bringing you home with a plane with a Jewish star on the tail.â€? Staff on board processed passports and other documents and during the ight as passengers gathered in the aisles, talking, reinforcing friendships, in an atmosphere of a family gathering rather than an international ight, with people scrambling for seats when the seatbelt sign went on for turbulence. The soldiers changed into olive green T-shirts near the end of the ight and disembarked ďŹ rst, sitting in a group on the tarmac by the side of the plane. The olim were greeted after disembarking at Ben Gurion by Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin; Jewish Agency executive Natan Sharansky; and leaders of the Jewish National Fund and other groups. Some passengers dropped to the tarmac to kiss the pavement, many posed for photographers. They boarded buses to the old terminal for speeches, cookies emblazoned with the Israeli ag and IDF insignia, a live band playing Israeli songs, and an enthusiastic ag-waving crowd of soldiers and friends and family. Aboard his bus, former HAFTR rebbe Rabbi Yitzi Klapper led passengers in a rousing rendition of vshavu banim ligvulum (the sons will return to their borders). Sharansky told The Jewish Star that even in this “time of war, 3,415 Jews made Aliyah in the past four weeks,â€? including Jews from the U.S., Russia and France. He told the gathering that there is “no such thing as lonely soldiers and no more wandering Jews, but one Jewish family.â€? Rabbi Fass told the crowd that it has been a “very difďŹ cult last few weeks and it feels good to have a reason to dance and celebrate.â€? He thanked the group for giving Israel a reason to celebrate and wished everyone a life of peace.

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While she said her Zionism is a product of her parents and education, “once I went, I fell in love with the place, especially coming [after visiting] Poland, where the Jews lost everything.â€? Grob will be with her Garin Tzabar group in Beerot Yitzchak, a religious kibbutz near Yehud, and noted that she loved the people in her garin even before coming to Israel. “I know how in danger Israel is; it’s scary but it not going to stop me,â€? she said. “I knew what I was getting myself into.â€? With the battle against Hamas an “existential threat,â€? she said she “wouldn’t feel like a true Israeli if I did not goâ€? through army service. “I’m very, very excited,â€? she said. Doni Cohen, living in Cedarhurst prior to his aliyah, hails from BergenďŹ eld, New Jersey, where he studied at the Torah Academy of Bergen County. This summer, he attended Camp Dora Golding and the Beit Midrash Program of Camp Moshava in Pennsylvania. He will begin Hesder at Yeshivat HaKotel and will do army service in the military Rabbinate. Cohen described his motivation for aliyah and enlistment in the IDF in terms of Jewish history and the imperatives of fulďŹ lling of Biblical prophecies which Torah described both exile and redemption. He recounts Mark Twain’s description of the desolation of Israel in the 1850s and Ezekiel’s promise of the renewal of the land and its blossoming only upon the return of the Jews. “After understanding that all these nevuot (prophecies) are coming true in our days, the question is not why should I make aliya — The question is why haven’t I made aliyah already. Why am I living in galut (exile),â€? he said. To young people, Cohen said: “You are in the most unattached period of your life. You can always say that I’m going to make aliyah later; however, life changes — maybe after college you’ll realize that your profession of choice might not be able to work in Israel; maybe you got married and your wife doesn’t want to go; maybe you have already had children, and you don’t want to pull them away from your friends. The older you get, the harder it gets to make aliyah.â€? The best thing to do is just to start having the conversation with a Nefesh B’Nefesh representative,â€? he said. “Just do it. It’s worth it.â€?

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By Malka Eisenberg They’ve come from across North America, young men and women on their own to meet destiny and be part of the ingathering of a people who continue to rebuild a land long desolate and abandoned, now growing and thriving. Among 338 olim on this week’s Nefesh B’Nefesh ight from New York to Tel Aviv were 108 young men and women who will enter Israel’s army soon after their arrival. The Jewish Star spoke with four Long Islanders about their new commitment. Ben Zlicha, 18, of Wantagh, who went to public schools and sport camps, wants to join the Israeli navy. “I was always thinking about it since eighth grade,â€? said Zlicha, whose parents are from Bnei Brak. “I couldn’t see myself [just] going to college, I knew I wanted to do something more meaningful.â€? He said he is “proud to be Jewishâ€? and “proud to be part of something great.â€? Gal Wand, 18, of Great Neck, often visited family in Israel (her parents are from Israel) and attended non-religious Jewishoriented camps. She will be based on Kibbutz Kinneret (Israel’s folksinger Naomi Shemer’s kibbutz) where a Garin Tzabar [lone solder integration] program is located. “I felt it was something I should do right after high school — I can always go to university after the army,â€? she said. “Tzahal will help me ďŹ gure out what to do with my life. I think it will help me grow as an individual.â€? Israel is strong but “needs helpâ€? and it’s “important to contribute,â€? Wand said. “There is only one Israel and more than 22 Moslem countries. There is only one place where the Jewish people can be guaranteed a safe place to live when not being attacked.â€? Dana Grob, 21, of Lawrence, went to HAFTR elementary school, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School and Binghamton University (where she earned a degree in English and Creative Writing). Her ďŹ rst trip to Israel was a March of the Living expedition in 12th grade; she subsequently spent a summer as a Sarel volunteer on an army base in Israel and working on an archeological dig, a semester at Hebrew University, a month at Shaarim seminary in Har Nof at Jerusalem, and a second month volunteering at the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center in Jerusalem.

THE JEWISH STAR August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774

Leaving Long Island for new homes in Israel

Hot town, suburban summer: Dive in, it’s yummy! B

we ďŹ nd the trusty one-piece version. Staying away from the shiny metallic, neon or cut out versions, I always try on the size or two larger than I think I need. This way if it ďŹ ts, I’m done and I can save on future therapy sessions. I’d like to know who designs those ďŹ tting rooms? Or shall I call it “the torture chamberâ€?? You’d think at this point someone would have thought to have dim lighting and those circus mirrors that make everyone appear tall and thin. They do want to sell the bathing suits, don’t they? Hey, a ďŹ tting room is bad on a good day, so imagine when you’re trying on a bathing suit; you’re still pale and missed the last month on the stair master. They should offer mixed drinks, you know, just to take the edge off. And for heaven’s sake, get rid of the 20-year-old size 0 sales girl that thinks everything you try is “stunning.â€? The good news is that swimming helps reduce stress and burns about 650 calories an hour. So get into the pool, with your “perfectâ€? suit and enjoy yourself! And for those of you who would rather not venture out in a bathing suit, dive into this cake.

Swimming pool cake •2 ten inch round cake layers of your choice ďŹ lled with any ďŹ lling you desire •2 eight ounce containers of non-dairy whipped cream, whipped •1 ten ounce container Wilton’s piping gel blue food coloring •6 small “life saverâ€? looking kosher jelly snack candies (I usually buy them Pesach time and save them) If you can’t ďŹ nd them, buy sugar covered gummy like candies that

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are higher and just cut the bottom off, and then cut a hole in the center so that the “babyâ€? can ďŹ t into the “lifesaver tubeâ€? •6 small plastic babies (usually found in the cake decorating section in stores like Michael’s, or on line •4 .81 ounce Laffy Taffy sticks in different avors (for the lounge chairs) •2 tropical drink umbrella picks •1/4 Lieber’s cinnamon graham cracker for the diving board (they are perforated) •12 thin stick pretzels for the ladder (I added extra for breakage) •6 ounces chocolate coating (or choc chips) to coat ladder •Silver dust (can be purchased at Michael’s) to coat the chocolate on the ladder (optional) •1 gum ball (beach ball) edible pen to draw lines on the ball (optional) •16 ounce box of dark brown sugar

Leaving 1 inch for the border of the cake cut out the center about 1/2 inch for the water in the pool. Cover the entire cake with a thin coating of the whipped cream. Apply brown sugar to the 1 inch top portion of the cake for the dirt/ground around the pool, and around the sides of the cake all the way down to the bottom. Next, color half the container of piping gel till you get the desired blue of pool water. Fill in the “waterâ€? into the cut out area of the pool. Place a dab of melted chocolate on the back of the cracker and attach to the “dirtâ€? as the diving board. Place three babies into the tubes, place one more near the diving board. Cut three half inch pieces from each laffy taffy, press together, alternating colors for back and bottom of each oat; they should stick by just pressing together. Place a baby on each oat and stick an umbrella in each one. Place three tubes on the dirt on one side of the pool and then place two sour belts as towels on another side. Color in the lines on the gumball and place it in the “pool.â€? Hopefully no one will notice the “beach ballâ€? is three times the size of the babies. Lastly, put a small amount of whip cream on each bread stick and place them around the perimeter of the cake and tie a ribbon around it until you are ready to serve the cake. Make sure to give those guests, who look too good in their bathing suits extra pieces! judy.soiree@gmail.com

WE CAN HELP!

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Directions

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Trying to have a baby?

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Judy has the week off. This is one of her favorite previously published columns. BQ’s, picnics, going to the beach, swimming in your backyard or attending baseball games, there are so many things to love about summer. Everything, that is, except for shopping for a new bathing suit. I can hear the collective groan as all you women read this article. There’s an actuWHO’S IN THE al study from Flinder’s KITCHEN University in Australia, that found “that trying on swimsuits makes women feel anxious and depressed.â€? You think? I love those articles that tell us how to ďŹ nd the perfect suit. My fave is when they suggest you accessorize, with a chunky necklace or dangling earrings. I Judy Joszef think a deep-sea mask and ippers would do the trick a lot better. Who’d be concentrating on your aws then? I do believe there is no such thing as a perfect swimsuit unless you happen to be a bathing suit model. Wonder what they wear on casual Fridays. Come on, you all know what I’m talking about — the fear in your heart, lump in your throat, dreaded swimsuit shopping expedition. First we weed through the tiny twopiece bikini’s (which I wouldn’t even have ďŹ t into in ďŹ rst grade) then pass the section that has the skirt added to the bottom of the suit along with some rufes that our grandmothers would vote down as too frumpy. Finally

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11 THE JEWISH STAR August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774

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Pick a Jewish Star

Jewish Star Awards

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Nominee’s name Nominee’s job, school, etc. Nominee’s contact info

WHERE’S In what town does nominee live or work? THE STAR? What has nominee done to merit this honor?

WHY THIS STAR? Optionally, you may attach additional information

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Mail your entry to: The Jewish Star, 2 Endo Blvd, Garden City NY 11530 Or email info to: EWeintrob@TheJewishStar.com. Put “Pick a Star” in the subject line.

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his week’s parasha, the third from the book of Devorim, is Ekev, where we learn of the sole Biblical source for the mitzva to recite Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals. The recent publication of an exKOSHER tensive analytical comBOOKWORM mentary on this ritual prompts this review. Written by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, this commentary, “Halacha from the Sources: Birkat HaMazon and Zemirot Shabbat,” was published by the Halacha Education Center. The third prayer within this Grace service is the heartfelt Alan Jay Gerber tefillah for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. According to tradition, this prayer was written by King David, asking for G-d’s compassion toward the people and land, with King Solomon adding a segment on behalf of the

Temple. Rabbi Rimon deals extensively with theme with the following observation: “At a deeper level, one can explain that this central paragraph, explaining its content as well as the purpose for its recitation in the link to the Temple also elevates our eating spiritually. Drawing on what is otherwise a prayer the connection between one’s of thanks for just food: consumption and G-d and the “An analysis of this beTemple creates a self-awareness racha reveals that it is conthat is reflected in our conduct. structed of two parts. The This is demonstrated by the first is a general request to Torah’s description of ma’aser protect the nation and the sheni, which must be eaten in city of Jerusalem, whereas Jerusalem before G-d. The Tothe second is a personal rah states that the reason for request that G-d supply us this requirement is to require with everything we need, so people to come and eat before that we do not need to rely G-d in Jerusalem. on other people.” “Eating before G-d takes a Rabbi Rimon continues: physical action and makes it “The Torah describes susinto a spiritual one. By mentiontenance as emanating from ing Jerusalem each time we eat, the Temple, teaching us that Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon we recognize that our physical whenever we eat, we should view our actions as connected with G-d’s existence is not the essence, but rather the home in Jerusalem. Even when we eat out- means by which we can work to better G-d’s side of Jerusalem, we mention Jerusalem in world. Each individual who eats focuses on the national goals of Jerusalem and spreadour blessing.” Rabbi Rimon continues further on this ing the name of G-d in the world. This sen-

Parshat Ekev: Removing illnesses from Israel T

he promises the Torah gives to the Jewish people for following the ways of G-d are idyllic: If the Nation would merely observes Torah’s commandments without sin, nothing bad would ever happen to it. PARSHA OF But we are human, THE WEEK and make mistakes. While I shun saying that lack of observance is the cause for calamity (an absurd thought!), Torah does suggest that the imperfection of Jews leads to imperfections in the existence of the Jewish People. The inverse, of course, is true as well. Rabbi Avi Billet When you fulfill G-d’s will and follow His ways, “You’ll be blessed above all nations. There will not be an infertile male or female among you or your animals. G-d will remove from you all illness, and all the maladies you had in Egypt He will not place upon you, but He will place them on your enemies.” (7:14-15) With so much pain and suffering in the world, one wonders what this means. Haven’t there been so many tzadikkim (righteous people) who have suffered? Can’t we all think of individuals who didn’t deserve

the illness that they suffered through for so many years, or the illness that ultimately stole their lives away? One answer is that even the greatest tzaddik or tzadeket will call himself or herself a sinner, and probably cry more on Yom Kippur than the rest of us. Humans can work to become amazing people. But perfect, with no flaws whatsoever, meriting this blessing from G-d? It seems to be impossible. Which leaves me with two questions. How can this promise be made, if our end of the deal is impossible to uphold? And, is there another way to understand G-d’s promise of “removing all illness?” The commentators raise a few suggestions as to what “all illness” means. Baal Haturim notes how kol choli (all illnesses) has a numerical value of 98 — suggesting that “G-d will remove 98 curses from upon you.” This turns the promise into a code that does not actually assure the eradication of all illnesses. Seforno suggests that illnesses that are inflicted upon enemies will not be contagious — while enemies fall from illness, the Israelites won’t be affected. (This notion has been fuel for many a pogrom in Europe during the Middle Ages.) The Ktav V’Hakabbalah jumps on Seforno’s tail and says that when you face your enemy in battle, G-d will take the illness

which plagues you and place it on your enemy who will have to contend with this illness as battles wage, while you maintain your health. The Talmud Yerushalmi (Shabbat 14:3) interprets the removal of illness by listing a number of calamities that will be defeated through this proper connection to G-d. One of them, said in the name of Rav Avon, is the destruction of the yetzer hara, the evil inclination, whose front is sweet, but whose rear (or “end”) is bitter. The Torah Temimah explains this interpretation through a translation of the word choli as meaning sweet (see Shimshon’s riddle Shoftim 14:18 and the Aramaic translation, and Shmot Rabba 43:3 explaining Moshe’s prayer as trying to turn the bitter into sweetness). This latter approach suggests that if you follow G-d’s ways, the “sweetness” of that which the Yetzer Hara tries to get you to do will be removed. You won’t appreciate the “joy of sin” or the pleasure of sin anymore, and all you’ll want to do is G-d’s will, for its sake. Using these interpretations, it is much easier to see how our task is not impossible. We’re not looking for independence from illness (though that would be nice). We’re seeing how we can benefit from doing G-d’s will

If we find a solution to hatred, wouldn’t that be a true miracle?

as best we can, or from being part of and identifying with Jewish peoplehood. In these days when anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head, we must tap into what makes the Jewish people unique, and why people who don’t know Jews and have nothing to do with Jews hate us with a passion that doesn’t exert itself anywhere else in their lives. We pray this illness choli ends. We pray that this sweet-hatred choli (it must be sweet to those who harbor it, because they get such a rush out of it) becomes bitter and disgusting to them, so hatred will cease in the world. When I watch Israel make a field hospital near Gaza to treat those who are sick or wounded, all I can say is, “G-d, you have removed all choli from us. You helped us understand that people who need help, need help regardless of ethnicity, skin color, and their being part of a group. We must truly ask, mi k’amkha Yisrael (who is like Your nation of Israel?)” Finally, being “blessed above all nations” may be a reference to Jewish innovation. It is well known that Jews hold an out of proportion ratio of Nobel Prizes. Israeli medical innovation is of the most-cutting edge in the world. Maybe the promise means that it will be Jews who will discover the cures for the worst diseases known to mankind. (I personally don’t care who discovers a cure for these illnesses — I pray for the end of the suffering of those in pain, and that it should be soon, with a positive recovery.)

After leaving Gaza, journalists rip Hamas terror Following Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza, foreign journalists who have left the area are reporting on Hamas tactics they could not reveal while stationed there. “We saw the Hamas men,” a Spanish reporter said, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. “But had we dared point the cameras at them, they would have opened fire at us and killed us.” Indian reporter Sreenivasan Jain revealed that Hamas terrorists were launching rockets just outside of his hotel in Gaza. “There’s a conspiracy of silence rooted in fear—no one wants to report in real-time,” he said. Jain, working in Gaza for the Hindi-lan-

guage news channel NDTV, also said it is “important to report on how Hamas places those very civilians at risk by firing rockets deep from the heart of civilian zones.” Italian journalist Gabriele Barbati tweeted after leaving Gaza, “Out of #Gaza far from #Hamasretaliation: misfired rocket killed children yday (yesterday) in Shati (refugee camp). Witness: militants rushed and cleared debris.” He also tweeted, “@IDFSpokesperson said truth in communique released yesterday about Shati camp massacre. It was not #Israel behind it.” The Washington Post’s Sudarsan Raghavan photograph a bombed mosque, a scene

he called clearly “prepared.” The Foreign Press Association in Israel (FPA) has condemned Hamas for curtailing journalistic freedom in the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge. “The FPA protests in the strongest terms the blatant, incessant, forceful and unorthodox methods employed by the Hamas authorities and their representatives against visiting international journalists in Gaza over the past month,” a statement by the FPA said. “In several cases, foreign reporters working in Gaza have been harassed, threatened or questioned over stories or information they have reported through their news me-

dia or by means of social media. We are also aware that Hamas is trying to put in place a ‘vetting’ procedure that would, in effect, allow for the blacklisting of specific journalists. Such a procedure is vehemently opposed by the FPA,” the statement continued. “It is obvious to you that reporting from Gaza was not objective, due to the circumstances described in the condemnatory press release. When the reporters left Gaza, however, a smattering of objective reports began to leak out. No journalist wants to appear on a blacklist that could prevent him from entering Gaza during the next operation or war,” the sources said. —JNS.org

13 THE JEWISH STAR August 15, 2014 • 19 AV 5774

Birkat HaMazon and Jerusalem

sitizes us to the fact that even our mundane actions are steps in our quest to ‘Rebuild the holy city of Jerusalem hastily in our time’.” Given the events in Israel today, Rabbi Rimon’s teachings are even more relevant for all of us. Consider these words: “G-d’s watchfulness over the land of Israel is unique: G-d is only directly involved in the occurrences of the land of Israel. Therefore, the food one receives in Israel is more directly connected to G-d than the food one receives outside of Israel. This direct connection requires a specific blessing upon the land in the context of consumption, in recognition of the unique connection with G-d symbolized by the food of the land.” Thus, we learn from these teachings of the primacy of both Israel and Jerusalem in our theological teachings, as well as of our national aspirations. Any divide in these aspirations is false teachings that lead directly to a misrepresentation of our religion and of our G-d. This is the lesson that must be reaffirmed each day as we sit down to eat and bless G-d for our bounty. Both the land of Israel and Jerusalem at its center are to be foremost in our thoughts at all times. Let us all be mindful of this sacred teaching as we daily follow and demonstrate our continuing concern for our brethren in Israel.

and missile storage facility. This cannot be done simply by seeing the picture; it requires the ability to hear the larger story. In normal combat (if combat can ever be called “normal�) things are much simpler: us vs. them, friend vs. foe, black and white. But in places like Beit Chanun and Beit Lahiya, Jebalya and Sajeiyah in the Gaza Strip, it is much more complicated, and Israeli soldiers are expected not to just hear and obey their orders, but to understand and be responsible for their implications as well. Three thousand years ago, the Jewish people came to teach the world that it is not enough to see the suffering widows and orphans, one must hear their pain and thus be motivated to act for change. And it is not enough to see the light of creation; one must hear the voice of G-d as its creator. And whatever the word may think and say, we should consider ourselves truly blessed to live in a generation that has produced a Jewish army that does not just shoot on sight, but hears the pain even of those who would seek to destroy us. Wishing us all, truly, a Shabbat Shalom.

Kosher Dr. Brown... Continued from page 2 tive packaging. In the late 1970’s American Beverage enlisted the talents of legendary graphic designer Herb Lubalin to give their 100 year-old product a facelift. The result: Each of Dr. Brown’s six avors was provided a unique new look in cans and bottles that reect its “old New Yorkâ€? origins. Cream soda was coupled with a vignette of the Statue of Liberty; Cel-Ray was assigned the Brooklyn Bridge; Black Cherry was matched up with the Central Park Carousel; Ginger ale was allocated the old Astor Hotel, while root beer was paired with an ice cream shop circa 1900. New slogans were also assigned to the brand including “Imported From The Old Neighborhooâ€? and “Taste Of The Town.â€? These nostalgic designs, along with a thicker, semi-circular logo, continue to adorn all Dr. Brown’s product to this day. Major changes to the Dr. Brown’s business strategy began in 1982. That’s when the Canada Dry bottling company purchased the brand from American Beverage. Up until this point, Dr. Brown’s had been primarily sold at kosher delis and restaurants on the east coast. By 1984, Canada Dry had packaged the three most popular avors in 2-liter bottles and began distributing them through supermarket chains across America. The longtime regional, ethnic brand suddenly enjoyed a national following. This success persuaded Canada Dry to discontinue the brands of Kirsch, Hoffman and Hammer, which they had acquired in the previous decade. Dr. Brown’s became the sole survivor of the original New York soda brands. Dr. Brown’s has made its mark on more than just the palates of soda drinkers over the past 145 years. It has turned up in numerous pop culture references in recent decades. The character of Billy Rose, played by actor James Caan in the 1975 ďŹ lm “Funny Lady,â€? was often seen drinking Cel-Ray soda as an alternative to alcohol. Cel-Ray was mentioned by singer Frank Zappa on his 1971 album, “The Mothers At The Fillmore.â€? The green and white can also appeared in the 1973 Al Pacino ďŹ lm, “Serpico.â€? And on TV, it has made its way

into the refrigerator of the Gilmore Girls, and most famously a 1997 episode of Seinfeld. In a comical sequence of events, Jerry explains to his girlfriend that he is unable to kiss her because “I bruised my lip; I was drinking a Cel-Ray and I brought it up too fast.â€? Today, the ownership of the Dr. Brown’s brand is divided. The Canada Dry/Pepsi bottling company produces the cans in College Point, Queens, while the glass bottle rights are owned by J&R bottling company of southern California. The original recipe for each avor remains exactly the same. According to 2014 company statistics, provided by Antoinette “Toniâ€? Hayes from the vice president’s ofďŹ ce, the current bestselling avors are: 1) Diet Cream 2) Diet Black Cherry 3) Black Cherry 4) Cream 5) Root beer 6) Cel-Ray 7) Ginger Ale As for the elusive Dr. Brown, it sadly appears that any proof of his actual existence has been obscured by time. Perhaps the best explanation of his fabled presence comes from Harry Gold, a former longtime marketing director for the brand. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times back in 1986, he said: “From Generation to generation, we’ve been told that there was a man by that name who invented Cel-Ray tonic, and the cream soda. But we have no records to tell us anything about the good doctor. It’s like a biblical story. We accept it on faith.â€? A clever quote attributed to Dr. Brown in a 1985 magazine ad seems to sum up the mysterious man and the brand perfectly: “I will not capitulate to mediocrity; Dr. Brown’s soda will always be a beverage of an elite minority.â€? Lonnie Ostrow, a public relations, marketing, and web design professional, is in-house marketing director, editor and ofďŹ ce manager for bestselling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford. With his wife Simona and their two daughters, he is a member of Merrick’s Congregation Ohav Sholom.

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Continued from page 4 meaning to conclude; all about hearing and listening. This war we are ďŹ ghting here in Israel, whose recent battleground has been the Gaza Strip, is very much about the difference between sight and sound, seeing and hearing. Hamas wants the world to believe what they see: painful images, ashed across laptop screens of terrible scenes full of dead and wounded, innocent civilians, and bombed schools and medical clinics. But to arrive at the truth, one has to hear a much broader story, of civilians used as human shields, unprovoked and indiscriminate missile ďŹ re, and slaughtered Israeli teenagers. And these opposing armies, too, have completely different rules of engagement. Hamas’ mission is to strike fear into the hearts of the most innocent and pure, with images of masked terrorists emerging from tunnels armed to the teeth, in search of civilians in kindergartens and synagogues, plastered across the Internet, whilst Israeli soldiers are focused on the near impossible task of discerning, in the midst of urban warfare, the difference between friend and foe, innocent and perpetrator, schoolyard

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By Yitzchak Carroll, Junior at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva HS for Boys in Woodmere When I signed up for the National Council of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) Kollel summer program in Israel last fall, little did I know that armed fighting would break out between the Jewish state and the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. I had no idea that I would have to dash into a bomb shelter at any given moment. But I thought I would have the summer of a lifetime, a learning experience that would strengthen me and give me a greater appreciation for the Jewish homeland. Shortly after we arrived on Kollel’s campus in Beit Meir, a cooperative settlement near Jerusalem, on July 8, we had a security orientation, where we were instructed what to do should an air raid siren sound. That night we went to the Wailing Wall from the second temple to pray. We were preparing to leave the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem when a siren sounded. As instructed, everybody calmly filed into a nearby store. Two days later, a siren sounded in Beit Meir, and once again we gathered in the nearest bomb shelter as a missile was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. Some Kollel participants actually witnessed a missile intercept. “I saw a small streak in the sky flying through the air,” said Yehuda Alter, 16, of Denver. “I then saw a small flash as the Iron Dome intercepted the missile.” The conflict between Israel and Hamas has complicated life throughout the country, and Kollel is no exception. Due to the danger, Kollel, and several other NCSY summer programs relocated to northern Israel for several weeks. Kollel moved to Hispin, in the Golan Heights in northeastern Israel, before returning to Beit Meir on July 31. Since our return, no further sirens have sounded, although several Israeli fighter jets have flown overhead, a reminder that the conflict has not cooled. In Hispin, Kollel had a schedule full of Torah study, sports and trips in the Golan Heights. We visited Safed and Tiberias, two of the four traditionally holy cities of Israel. We went zip-lining, toured a chocolate factory, went on hikes and biked in the beautiful Golan region. We also helped out Israeli troops by making packages full of

Kollel program participants took part in Kumzitz at the Kotel at the Wailing Wall during Tisha B’Av. Courtesy NCSY

goods to be shipped down to Gaza, and by tying tzitzit, knotted ritual tassels, for the soldiers stationed there. As we did on the first night of Kollel, on the day of our return to Beit Meir, we visited the Wailing Wall to pray. “Being here is that much sweeter when your enemies are trying to keep you away,” said Yitzy Scheinman, 18, of Woodmere. Extra police officers and soldiers were stationed there, and we stayed together as a group to ensure our safety. Moving back to Beit Meir allowed Kollel to hold its annual Kumzitz at the Kotel (the Wailing Wall) event. During the late afternoon of Tisha B’Av — a holiday that marks the destruction of the two ancient temples, and other tragedies in Jewish history — more than 200 Kollel participants and staff members joined hundreds of Jews from different backgrounds. In a circle, we sang in unison, mourning the

destruction of the two holy temples and praying for the coming of the messiah and the rebuilding of the third holy temple. “It was an inspiring afternoon of heartfelt song and prayer,” said Michael Weiner, 17, of Philadelphia. “I was personally moved to see Jews from diverse backgrounds come together in unity and closeness.” Despite the circumstances, I had the summer of a lifetime on Kollel, gaining a greater appreciation for what Israeli citizens deal with on a daily basis. Many Israelis, just a few years older than me and my Kollel peers, put their lives on the line to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. We attended the shiva of one of those young soldiers, 20-year-old Staff Sgt. Evyatar Turgeman, of Beit She’an, who was killed in a firefight with terrorists in Gaza. We learned of his devotion to Israel and the Torah from family members. It is the commitment of soldiers such as Turgeman that allows people from around the world to visit Israel safely. “Being in Israel at this time has taught me how important it is to be loyal to my homeland,” said Woodmere resident Aharon Goldblatt, 16, “and to not let challenging experiences affect my summer of both fun and personal growth.” Having to head for shelter periodically gave us a greater appreciation of what the residents of the communities of Sderot and Ashkelon go through every day, having a mere 15 seconds from the time a siren sounds to get to safety in a bomb shelter. Asher Willner, 15, of Los Angeles, said he learned the importance of national unity from his experience. “This summer taught me that a nation can only stand strong if it stands together,” he said. “The way we helped the soldiers, prayed and got together as one shows the strength of a nation that stands together.” Several other summer programs canceled their trips to Israel due to safety and logistical concerns, but Kollel did not. Sometimes the most valuable experiences in life come under less than ideal circumstances. While this summer certainly had its challenges, I had an experience of a lifetime, one that gave me an even greater appreciation for Israel. This article first appeared in this week’s Nassau Herald.

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W’mere teen visits Israel in a time of conflict

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