Issue 478

Fine English Cheese

Latkes, Lights, and Lovely British Cheese

This Chanukah, celebrate with the finest of England’s cheeses. From Light to English Cheddar, our artisanal selections pair perfectly with latkes, sufganiyot, and every golden moment.

Double Gloucester

Red Leicester

Mild Cheddar

Mature Cheddar

Oak-Smoked Cheddar

English Gouda

30% Less Fat Light Cheese

CHAIM GETS STUCK ON TASKS completes his

Chaim learned to focus, develop organizational skills, prioritize tasks, and minimize distractions. CHANGE

Get the right support to help your child develop the skills they need to succeed. Our CFTSS program provides your child with a dedicated DSS to guide, build, and strengthen essential skills, including social skills, emotional skills, relationship skills, communication skills, and other skills.

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CHANUKAH @ ROCKLAND

CHANUKAH

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8 nights of heavy oily foods and sugary doughnuts—nothing will be more appreciated than a fresh vibrant and bright salad!

Fun takes shape

All that crunch packed into playful pretzel shapes. It's not a miracle—it's Shufra.

Fun shapes

Who Has Time to Go to The Doctor?

Taste is king! The Fiesta tastes exactly as good as it looks–and better.

Turn your Chanukah feast into a Fiesta

There’s a new dessert on the block and it’s bound to turn your party into a festive celebration. It’s beautiful, it’s delicious and it’s fit to be served at your feast. Available at our Sprinkles store and at your local Supermarket.

Boro Park: Men’s Collection Enod Royal Clothiers

Williamsburg: Gift Him The

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Monroe: Men’s Corner Drive Goods

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A R chosi ayosi

A new Hachnosas Kallah fund to a melaveh malka

M� �i�t�r, �y�f�i�n�

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WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

ALWAYS THE SAME, SAME, SAME OLD.

Skip the café lines and enjoy something refreshing anytime.Finally, change things up with Minute Mix’s At-Home small serving size Boba. Add it to any drink or smoothie, sip with a straw, or top off desserts.

Shelf-Stable Until Opened Refrigerate After Opening

Strain the Syrup & Add Boba to the desired drink or food

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Strawberry Blueberry Passion Fruit

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I WENT OUT FOR A SECOND (REALLY!) TO CHECK ON THE SUPPER, AND THE BATHTUB OVERFLOWED WITH GENEROSITY. CAN U PLEASE SUGGEST A FLOOR GUY IN MONSEY?

JUST STRESS? CAN YOU SUGGEST SOMEONE IN KJ TO CHECK? A ROOFER, HANDYMAN, A LIFE COACH?

HELP! THE WATER IN MY HOUSE TURNED FRRREEZING, & I HAVE A PACK OF KIDS NEEDING BATHS TONIGHT! I NEED A PLUMBER IN AIRMONT BEFORE IT STARTS DISCHARGING ICE CUBES!

ROCKLAND COUNTY MATZILEI AISH

1 Place the Menorah on a stable surface covered with silver foil.

2 Place the Menorah away from the wall.

3 Window shades should always open and away from the candles.

4 Kids should only light the Menorah with adult supervision.

5 Kids should never be around the Menorah without supervision.

6 Only use fire resistant Menorah’s, Menorah’s made in cheder and schools aren’t meant to be used.

7 Never leave candles unattended.

8 lighter or matches out of the reach of kids.

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This Chanukah, by donating to Kupath Rabbi Meir Baal Haness-Kollel Polin, you have the opportunity to be the miracle for someone else— and, in turn, merit your own yeshua.

“It is appropriate and fitting for every person in Klal Yisrael to donate on Chanukah, and specifically on תבט ח”ר, to the Kupah of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness.” — Rav Chaim Palagi ZT”L, Sefer Moed Le’Kol Chai

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PACKAGE #1

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✓ Sesame Chicken

✓ Brisket roll ups

✓ Choice of side dish

✓ Choice of Salad

Cole sloe, cucumber salad, pasta salad

Sour pickles

15 Kids

Chicken nuggets & french fries

30 Adults, 30 Kids

✓ Sesame Chicken

✓ Brisket roll ups

✓ Wrap platter

✓ Choice of side vegetable

✓ Choice of 2 side dishes

✓ Chicken nuggets & french fries PACKAGE #2

PACKAGE #3

$1,499 for 40 Adults, 45 Kids

✓ Latkes

✓ Wrap Platter

✓ Sesame Chicken

✓ Brisket roll ups

Choice of side vegetable

Choice of 2 side dishes

Cole slow & pickles

Chicken nuggets & french fries

Setup & Tablecloths

Paper Goods

Soda, Water & Drinks

Nash & Chips + $175

Beef Sq Cut Flanken (Boneless)........$165.00

Pulled Beef..................................................$149.00

Beef Chuck Eye........................................$125.00

Beef Boneless Spare Rib......................$110.00

Beef Steamed Brisket (Bbq)..............$120.00

Beef Honey Mustard Brisket............$120.00

Beef Pepper Steak.................................$105.00

Beef Brisket Rollups..............................$110.00

Beef Mock Tongue...................................$99.00

Beef Steamed Pastrami.........................$110.00

Corned Beef Rollups..............................$110.00

Pulled Beef Gnocchi...............................$100.00

Beef Kielbasa.............................................$85.00

Beef Kielbasa Bites.................................$85.00

Grilled Baby Chicken.............................$80.00

Grilled Chicken Strips...........................$80.00

Chicken Schwarma.................................$95.00

Dark Sesame Nuggets...........................$95.00

Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets......$75.00

Chicken & Broccoli...................................$75.00

Crisp Rice Chicken Fingers..................$85.00

Sauteed Chicken Liver.............................$75.00

Mini Shawarma Pita.................................$75.00

Chicken Lomain.........................................$75.00

Chicken Pepper Steak...........................$75.00

Chicken Roast............................................$70.00

Sesame Nuggets.......................................$75.00

Chicken Nuggets.......................................$75.00

Mini Stuffed Cabbage Beef.................$70.00

Mini Stuffed Cabbage Chicken..........$70.00

Meatballs Beef..........................................$65.00

Meatballs Chicken...................................$65.00

Buffalo Wings.............................................$55.00

Chicken Fried Drumettes.....................$49.00

Beef Chulent......Rstr...$160 9X13......$60.00

Chicken Chulent...Rstr...$150 9X13...$60.00

Grilled Vegetables....................................$55.00

Franks & Blanks........................................$60.00

Mini Veg Egg Rolls...................................$50.00

Stir Fry Vegetables..................................$50.00

Vegetable Lomain....................................$50.00

Mini Potato Knishes...............................$55.00

Baked Rice...................................................$45.00

Sesame Green Beans.............................$45.00

Roasted Potatoes.....................................$40.00

Noodles & Cabbage................................$45.00

Shlishkes..................................................$45.00

Orzo..........................................................$40.00

Ferfel.........................................................$35.00

Breaded Eggplant.....................................$45.00

Mashed Potatos........................................$40.00

Noodles & Crumbs..................................$35.00

Potato Chips...............................................$30.00

Breaded Broccoli.....................................$45.00

French Fries................................................$30.00

Breaded Cauliflower................................$45.00

Onion Rings.................................................$30.00

Red Roasted Potatoes..........................$45.00

Three Color Roasted Potatoes.......$45.00

Beef Pastrami Egg Roll...........................$89.00

Pulled Beef Cigars.................................$100.00

Mini Deli Roll Bites...................................$60.00

Mashed Beans...........................................$40.00

Boneless Beef Square Cut Flanken.....$25.00

Beef Club Steak........................................$20.00

Beef Brisket.................................................$18.00

Cured Fish Platter...........................................$179 Side Of Salmon Grilled/Baked.................$119

Gefilte Fish Platter..........................................$40

Assorted Chicken Platter........................$99 Wrap Platter.......................................................$65 Mini Sandwich Platter.................................$49

Meat Board Small...........................................$89 Meat Board Medium...................................$169 Meat Board Large........................................$249 Meat Board Custom..................................$499+ Cold Cut Platter 14"...............$85 16".........$120

MOTZEI SHABBOS 7:30 PM - 12 AM SUNDAY 11 AM - 6 PM

SHABBOS 7:30 PM - 12 AM SUNDAY 11 AM - 6 PM

INBOX // Talk of Town

NOTE FROM FOOD EDITOR:

Regarding the cake recipes that call for separated eggs, the egg yolks should be added to the batter along with the other wet ingredients. Thank you to our loyal readership and creative cooks for the opportunity to clarify.

Miriam Pessy

Wercberger

CAN’T GET ENOUGH

(Re: Give or Take, Issue 477)

Chany Spira’s serial is fantastic. I love her unusual characters, and how she doesn’t shy away from exploring things that may be out of our comfort zone. But the most amazing thing is how she gets us into the heads of the characters in such a complete way. Even when the characters are at odds with each other, we can completely relate to and understand the thought process of each. Thank you for an unbelievable serial from an incredibly gifted writer. I can’t get enough of it.

BEDTIME OR BEDLAM

(Re: Bedtime Is for Everyone, Inbox, Issue 476)

In response to the letter from the young mother who describes the strict bedtime she was subject to until she graduated high school, I would like to comment that usually children who are controlled to that extent have one of the following outcomes: Either they become resentful and rebel, or they pass on the hurt by controlling others. For that reason, the three parenting experts interviewed did not recommend such an approach for teenagers. Obviously, there’s always an exception to the rule. I’m sure your parents had good intentions, and baruch Hashem, it worked out well for them and you. But be aware that the interviewees took the approach that works for most people. I hope this helps people make wise decisions about their parenting.

Another Parent

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Shabbos

Candle Lighting Starts Here

USING THOSE YOLKS

(Re: An Eggcellent Question, Inbox, Issue 475)

In response to the letter-writer asking what to do with extra yolks, below is a recipe, slightly modified, from the original Nitra cookbook. The original recipe is for Linzer tart cookies, but it’s also delicious when made into balls, flattened, and dipped into sprinkles prior to baking.

Ingredients:

1 lb. margarine

7–8 cups flour

8 egg yolks

1¼ cups sugar

2 tsp. vanilla sugar

1 cup orange juice

2 tsp. baking powder

Directions: If using as Linzer cookies, roll to ¼-inch thickness. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes.

Thank you for the opportunity to share.

Name Withheld

WORK ON YOURSELF

(Re: Making It Work When Your Husband Works, Inbox, Issue 472)

The discussion about having your husband’s help seems to revolve around the morning rush and bedtime. But if you pay attention, you’ll see that your spouse helps out way more than that. Become aware of it and appreciate it! Also, if you stop discussing how much your husband helps or doesn’t help compared with how much other people’s spouses help or don’t help (including random strangers writing in a magazine), that might be the greatest help for you in many ways. Everyone has different circumstances and personalities, and different things work for different people. Constant judgement of yourself and your spouse will probably just disturb your equilibrium and ruin an otherwise great day.

Name Withheld

TO ELEVATE SHABBOS

(Re: A Sweet Solution, Inbox, Issue 472)

Let’s not stop the discussion on making nosh and candy wrappers Shabbosfriendly. As a klal, we can make this happen together. If every individual reached out to the large candy manufacturers and hechsherim, we could make a difference. We can’t afford the weekly unintentional chillul Shabbos, chalilah. B.B.

YOUR SAY

SIMCHAS WITH SIMCHA

The best part of this magazine is that it’s free, totally kosher and everyone reads it. So I can’t imagine a better forum to share this message.

It seems to me that proper etiquette is no longer being widely practiced, especially etiquette around simchas

There were several incidents I observed that prompted me to start this conversation. First: a large group of teens showed up at a vort held in a small hall. They were friends of the chasan’s sister. The hall was uncomfortably crowded.

Is it appropriate for the chasan’s sister to invite a crowd of her friends to her brother’s vort, which is hosted by the kallah’s parents? If such friends attend, should they linger, or stay only briefly?

Second: I heard a woman sharing with her friend that someone they both knew was getting married that evening. It was the second marriage for the kallah, who had lost her first husband. On the spot, the woman called her husband and relayed the good news to him. They began discussing going over to say mazel tov, as her husband had been a chavrusa of the father of the kallah some years ago. Is it proper etiquette to “pop in to say mazel tov” at such a wedding? Should you only attend if you are invited?

Finally, at weddings, I often see young children (ages 5–7) running around the hall and the lobby. I’ve seen older children (ages 8–10) making “trains” and snaking through the dance floor, weaving in and out of circles. I’ve also seen this age group playing harmless games in the restroom, while guests wait for the restroom to become available.

Should parents bring children in these age groups to weddings? Can we teach our children, and the parents who bring them, proper simcha etiquette?

May we continue to make many simchos! May we share in each other’s simchos! But in order to enhance and not detract from the simcha, can we learn more?

Sincerely,

Chanukkah 2024

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WHAT’S A SUPER SIMPLE BALABUSTA HACK YOU LEARNED THAT PROVED TO BE A GAME-CHANGER?

PART II: KITCHEN & LIFEWORKS

KITCHEN HACKS

Filling cupcake liners with batter used to create the mess of the century on my countertops. Then I learned this trick from a neighbor: Pour the batter into a gallonsize Ziploc bag, cut a hole in one corner, and presto! A neat, disposable cupcake dispenser that makes a ladle completely unnecessary. – N.E.

Use an oven liner instead of a cookie sheet when baking pizza. It offers a much larger surface area than a regularsized pan, which means the dough can be rolled out even more thinly. – H.S.

When freezing items in baking pans (such as kugels), I freeze them in the pan first and then remove the frozen kugel from the pan to save space in my freezer. – A Reader

Don’t spend time and headspace on dinners. Select one of these two formats for a literally mindless dinner operation.

Option 1: Sundays call for Shabbos leftovers, Mondays make doubles for Tuesday, Wednesday is dairy, and Thursday is fresh Shabbos food.

Option 2: If you have your Sundays free, prepare the week’s dinners then. Make three mains and a few sides to be rewarmed every day. With picky eaters, you’ll get an extra bonus: They’ll all get what they like every day, and you’ll be free from the kitchen throughout the week! – A Reader

Wash your dishes as you bake/cook. Someone told this to me fifteen years ago, and I still do so today. It saves so much time, energy and — believe it or not — mental anguish! – A Reader

Instead of standing and chopping and crying through the process, run a peeled onion through a blender for three seconds for speedy diced onions! – M.R.

Use goggles when chopping onions so your eyes don’t tear. Also, use a chopper and dice a bunch of onions. Store one onion per Ziploc bag (with a sprinkle of salt) and freeze so you don’t have to chop onions every time you need some in a recipe. – T.C.

Use a bag for mixing sauces or breading cutlets instead of dirtying a bowl and spoon. – A Reader

When a recipe calls for shredded carrots (carrot cake, muffins), I chop a bag of baby carrots in the food processor, and then mix all the ingredients right there in the processor bowl. No peeling bags of carrots, and no extra bowl to wash! (I know shredded carrots from Bodek exist, but baked goods usually call for finer shredded carrots. The processor makes it just right for baking.) – A Reader

Chop onions against the grain to save time. Slice the onion in half from head to head, lay flat side down, and cut a grid of slices vertically and horizontally. It will separate into perfectly chopped cubes. – A Reader I started adding a piece of squash to my potato kugel recipe. It keeps the kugel white, and you don’t even taste it. – A Reader

The pump dispenser for oil is perfect for dispensing small amounts with no mess. – A Reader

When I make a salad, I put all ingredients into a Ziploc bag and add the dressing to the bag so it gets all over the salad and doesn’t stay in one spot. Only then do I put it in a nice salad bowl. – A Reader

Whenever I have extra cutlets in a package, I bread them and freeze them individually in Ziploc bags. This way, they defrost really quickly, and I can pull them out of the freezer and plunk them in the Betty Crocker for those last-minute emergency suppers. – Chana L.

I use a fleishig ice cream scooper to make perfect meatballs without any mess. – A Reader

I freeze cake in slices, so if I want a single piece anytime, I can take one out without having to defrost the whole chunk. Also, it is usually ready to eat within three minutes.

– Chana L.

Mashing eggs for the Shabbos seudah used to take so long and become a messy process. Now I put the eggs in a tall container and chop them using two knives running back and forth. In no time, we have mashed eggs. – A Reader

When I make sesame chicken or poppers or any kind of chicken nuggets, I fry whole pieces of chicken, and then I just cut them into pieces and pour the sauce over them. It is so much easier than cutting chicken into pieces and then frying all those little pieces. – A Reader

I put a bit of vitamin C powder in my potato kugel to keep it white. It’s magic! – A Reader

I bake around ten rolls of gefilte fish at a time and freeze each roll individually in a storage bag without any liquid. The taste is perfect, I never make a pot dirty for it, and I think about gefilte fish literally once in two months! – Etty

There’s a cake recipe in Dinner Done that can be mixed by hand (using gloves) directly in the pan. This means a fresh cake l’kavod Shabbos in less than ten minutes — with no utensils to wash. – A Reader

I stopped peeling the Yukon potatoes used for potato kugel, and it looks and tastes the same! I can’t tell you how many hours of peeling this has saved me. (If someone is brave enough to try it with unpeeled Idaho potatoes, please let us know what the results are...) – C.S.S.

Wet your counter when rolling dough between two parchment paper for a smooth, easy roll. – E.B.

After cooking eggs, put them right under a cold stream of water for five minutes. It makes the peels slip right off. Throwing a couple of ice cubes into the pot also helps. – A Reader

I used to struggle with getting parchment paper to stay put in the pan until I poured cake/kugel batter into it. Then I read that if you scrunch up the parchment paper under running water and then unroll it, it will take the shape of the pan. I found it to be a game-changer! Then I discovered the new pre-cut parchment paper in many sizes. Between the two, using parchment paper became a breeze. – A Reader

Bake gefilte fish instead of cooking it. Put two rolls of gefilte fish with all other ingredients and water into an extra-deep 9x13-inch pan. Bake on 350° for two hours. When cool, cut the rolls into slices, and freeze in portions with some sauce in a container. Also, whenever you freeze food, always double wrap it!

– A Reader

Cook noodles and pasta in a pan. When finished cooking, simply put the pan into the sink, and with the tip of a knife, make small cuts on the bottom of the pan to help the water drain. Rinse with cold water and enjoy. Never use a pot and pasta strainer again!

– A Reader

To divide my soups or compotes from a large stock pot into containers, I use my two-quart pot instead of my regular small soup ladle. Try it, and you won’t take out your soup ladle again. – A Reader

I make farfel in the oven using the recipe I’d do in a pot, but in a disposable baking pan. – A Reader

I warm my food on Yom Tov in the wire baskets caterers have. (You can’t do this Pesach; the Sterno cans are not kosher for Pesach.) – A Reader

How to cook perfect pasta without having to babysit it: Bring water to a full boil in a pot. Put in the pasta, cover the pot, and shut the flame. Set a timer for 25 minutes, then drain. – M.S.

When making a milchig supper and pasta (lasagna, ziti, gnocchi) is on the menu, don’t cook it in water. Cook it in milk. You can’t compare the taste! – Miriam

A hack I love in my kitchen — one-gallon storage bags. I use them to neatly toss salads, coat chicken and mix crumble. I once mixed a dumpling mixture in a bag, snipped off the corner, and squeezed out nice little dumplings into the pot. It’s cheap, it’s handy and it saves so much mess! – R.B.

I line plastic containers with a food storage bag when freezing soup so there is no need to wash or throw out the container. – A Reader

Best hack ever:

Use baby carrots in your chicken soup instead of peeling and slicing all those carrots. – A Reader

The easiest way to saute onions is in the Betty Crocker. I put in diced onions with oil, plug it in for exactly five minutes, unplug it, and keep it closed for ten minutes or until ready to use. A total cooking gamechanger! – A Reader

When baking biscotti, I usually triple the recipe and freeze a few loaves raw. Any time I want some fresh cookies, I just pull a loaf out of the freezer and bake it. I do the same for potato knishes. I make, fill and brush many at a time. I then freeze them raw and take out a few to bake for supper. – A Reader

When you need to wash your food processor, put water and dish detergent into the machine, and turn it on for a few seconds. Watch it wash itself!

– A Reader

Dried minced garlic can be used in place of chopped fresh garlic in so many recipes! As soon as the garlic flakes become moist, they give off an excellent garlicky flavor. – A Reader

I don’t have a big freezer (no space for it in my apartment), and freezing food is always a struggle. I’m forever grateful to my friend who told me about rectangular containers. The Containers Galore is a lifesaver for me. Instead of having to freeze soups in tall, round containers, I am now able to push in five square 32-ounce containers in the place of two round ones. – A Reader

My mother, who was a Holocaust survivor, worked in the American Joint Distribution at a soup kitchen to feed those who came home from the camps after the war. One important thing she taught me is to clean as you cook. If I am finished using an item, I put it away. Even when I cook for a large crowd, my kitchen stays neat. Dirty dishes either go into the dishwasher or are washed right away. – A Reader

Instead of counter savers, I buy the cheapest box of plastic tablecloths and never think twice before using one. The best part is that when I discard it, the kitchen looks like nothing ever happened there.

– A Reader

When I use the Betty Crocker (which is too often), I make sure to line it well on the bottom. If I use oil, I put in two papers, and then add one to the top too. It makes cleanup a breeze. – A Reader

Saute onions faster! Place onions in a pot without oil, and wait until the moisture of the onions evaporate before adding oil. The science is that when the liquid of the onions mix with the oil, it takes much longer to turn golden. Since I started using this method, the sauteing time is much shorter. – Miriam

Transform a a new jar of mayonnaise into a neat dispenser. Instead of digging in with a spoon and making a mess, I simply cut an “x” in the foil cover with a knife. This turns the mayonnaise jar into a squeeze bottle, making it easy to dispense without any fuss. It’s a simple hack that’s truly a game-changer! – A Reader

I like serving all the traditional Shabbos food l’kavod Shabbos. Farfel is one food that I used to cook every week, and most of it ended up in the trash. Now I put a drop of farfel into a mesh bag and add it to my bubbling soup for ten minutes. – A Reader

Dice and cube tomatoes and cucumbers at the beginning of the week and put in separate containers in the refrigerator. Whenever you want Israeli salad, you’ll have it within seconds! – A Reader

Before assembling baking utensils and ingredients for baking, cover both the counters and your mixer with disposable plastics. A shopping bag fits nicely over the mixer base (with a hole punched through for bowl placement), and a plastic table covering cut according to your baking needs is perfect for the counters. When it’s time for cleanup, all you’ll need to do is gather the plastic wrap, pop it into yet another shopping bag, and into the trash it goes. – A Reader

Keeping a recipe book open to the correct page while baking or cooking can be a hassle. Plus, it’s no fun to have your pristine recipe books spattered by oil and whatnot. Copy the recipe (by machine or hand), tape it above the area you’re using, and toss it when you’re done. – A Reader

This may sound simple, but I always struggled with cooling soup for kids until I heard of the idea to put in an ice cube to cool it off. – A Reader

My cleaning help spends an hour a week peeling and chopping vegetables and storing it in the fridge. I find that making myself a healthy salad is so much easier when all components are neatly stored and ready to mix. – M. Mendelowitz

We make egg salad in a large Ziploc bag by putting all peeled and washed eggs into the bag, zipping it up, and kneading and mashing it using hands — from the outside! When it’s done, I add some oil (or mayo) and salt, mix, and then pour the whole thing into a bowl. Mess-free and dish-free! I do the same thing for tuna salad. I learned this from my yeshiva bochurim, obviously. – R.A.

I freeze cookie dough in logs in parchment paper. Any morning that I want to send fresh cookies with my kids to school, I just remove a log from the freezer, slice and bake. I make huge batches of these — I even need to take challah with a bracha. – R.P.

My vegetable chopper is the most worthwhile kitchen investment I have made. It chops everything from fruits and vegetables to onions and potatoes in minutes. – D.F.

GENERAL LIFE AND PARENTING HACKS

I write my kids mitzvah notes at night. Otherwise, it gets too hectic in the morning. – A Reader

Use hooks instead of hangers in the coat closet for the kids. They’re 500 times more likely to hang their coats on hooks than on a hanger. – A Reader

I put on comfortable clothes and strip myself of all jewelry as soon as I walk through my door. It makes everything I do faster and much easier! – Chana L.

I leave ironing, peeling, laundry and other mindless tasks for when I’m schmoozing on the phone in the evening. I don’t get on the phone without having a mindless task to do. I get so much done without even realizing it! – N. Perlstein

Lists! – A Reader

Every Sunday morning, I plan my supper menu for the week and do my grocery shopping for the ingredients and basics I need. No more going to the grocery the entire week! – A Reader

Keep a whiteboard on the refrigerator, and add items you need to buy whenever you notice that you’re running short. There you have your grocery list. – A Reader

Always close a necklace before putting it away; it prevents it from tangling. – A Reader

Hang hooks on every wall and door to make sure there’s no excuse for things landing on the floor. – A Reader

I put my babies straight on the floor from day one — no seats, bouncers or swings — and ka”h, from a young age, my children have excellent motor skills, spatial awareness and play pretty independently. I also put them directly in the bathtub with an inch or two of water — no dealing with bath seats. – D.L.G.

Next question: WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE MOST IN A NEIGHBOR?

Please submit your answer by Tuesday night, December 24, for a chance to see it in print!

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PARSHAS VAYEISHEV

A Preplanned Chain of Events

Y. Levenstein

When Yosef interpreted the dream of the Sar Hamashkim, he said, “In three days’ time… Pharaoh will restore you to your position. You will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you served him drinks.” Then he added, “So if you keep me in mind… please do me the kindness of mentioning me to Pharaoh, and thus get me out of this prison” (Bereishis 40:13–14).

There is repetition in his statement. If the royal cupbearer is restored to his position, obviously he’ll be serving Pharaoh drinks again. Why did Yosef repeat himself and say, “You will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand”?

Additionally, why did Yosef ask the Sar Hamashkim to put in a good word for him? How could it be that Yosef Hatzaddik relied on a human being? After all, the pasuk says (Yirmiyahu 17:5), “Arur hagever asher yivtach b’adam.”

IN THE MIDST OF HIS TRAVELS, the Baal Shem Tov arrived at a small town and knocked at the door of a well-to-do resident, Shimon, and asked if he could stay at his home. The Baal Shem Tov asked Shimon to prepare a hearty meal for himself and his shammas. Shimon rushed to fulfill the tzaddik’s command.

But rather than sitting down to eat, the Baal Shem Tov made another request. “While on my way, I lost a valuable tabak box in the forest. Please come with me in my wagon, and together we’ll go look for it.”

Shimon could not refuse his holy visitor’s bidding and immediately agreed. He donned his heavy coat and joined the Baal Shem Tov. They rode to the forest.

Suddenly, Shimon heard faint cries. He looked around, try-

ing to discover the source. From a distance, he noticed a Polish prince, mired in the mud. It appeared he had been there for a while and was unable to extract himself. He looked weak and was shivering from the cold, and he seemed to be fighting for his life.

Shimon jumped off his wagon. Mustering all of his strength, he managed to pull the prince out of the mud. He brought him home and gave him fresh clothes, and warmed his frostbitten body until the prince felt like a human being again.

“Serve him the meal you prepared earlier,” the Baal Shem Tov commanded. Then the Rebbe pulled Shimon aside and whispered to him that he should not accept any payment from the prince in exchange for saving his life.

When the prince finally prepared to leave, he indeed offered Shimon a large sum of money, but Shimon followed the instructions he had been given. “It’s enough that I had the honor to save your life,” he demurred.

Decades later, a catastrophe befell Shimon. His non-Jewish neighbor accused him of killing another non-Jew. There was not an ounce of truth to the allegations; the neighbor just wanted Shimon to be arrested or executed so he could enjoy his fortune. Shimon stood no chance in face of his non-Jewish neighbor’s testimony. He was thrown into prison, and a date was set for his trial. The judge, who was no Jew-lover himself, sentenced him to death.

There was one last hope for Shimon: The death penalty needed to be confirmed by the king. If Shimon could convince the king that he had been framed, he could go free. But why should the king believe him?

The prison wardens smirked when Shimon asked to speak with the king, but they granted his request. When Shimon was brought before the king, Shimon immediately recognized him — and the king recognized Shimon, too. He was the very prince, now grown, whose life Shimon had saved decades ago.

“There’s no doubt this is all a false accusation,” the king

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Yosef understood that the only reason the fly flew into the cup in the first place was to trigger this chain of events so Yosef’s name would eventually be exposed to Pharaoh

proclaimed. “This Jew saved my life many years ago, and he wouldn’t even take a penny for it. It’s preposterous to think that such an upstanding individual, who wouldn’t accept money when he deserved it, would take someone’s life just for the sake of some money!”

The king insisted on further investigation, and the truth came to light. Shimon was exonerated.

Only then did Shimon understand the logic behind the Baal Shem Tov’s strange instructions. The tzaddik had brought Shimon to the forest so he could save the prince, and even asked him to prepare a meal in advance so there would be ready food to serve the prince immediately, and then had Shimon refuse payment — all so the king would have proof that he was an honest man.

Shimon immediately traveled to Mezibuzh. He wanted to thank the Baal Shem Tov for the great miracle that happened in his zechus

The Baal Shem Tov explained, “You should know that sometimes a non-Jew is faced with troubles just so a Yid will merit a yeshuah — even years later. You might think that you saved the prince who was stuck in the mud, but in truth, the opposite is true. The prince only sank into the mud so you should be able to save him, and bring about your ultimate yeshuah!”

Rav Akiva Eiger explains that while sitting in prison, it is only natural for a person to contemplate the offense that brought him there, and to staunchly commit to staying far away from it when he will eventually be released.

The Sar Hamashkim was imprisoned because a fly was found in Pharaoh’s cup. During his entire imprisonment, he was preoccupied with thoughts of the day when he would be released from jail, and how he would be extra careful not to allow any fly to come near Pharaoh’s cup.

With his repetitive phrasing, Yosef calmed him down. “You’ll go back to your position, and you should continue doing just as you did before — without worrying that this will happen again.”

Yosef understood that the only reason the fly flew into the cup in the first place was to trigger this chain of events so Yosef’s name would eventually be exposed to Pharaoh. The fact that Yosef asked to be remembered was actually part of the dream and its interpretation. It was not that Yosef decided to rely on a human being; rather, he was explaining that such a mishap would not take place again, since the only reason it happened was to bring about his yeshuah!

KJ Filing / The Fiscal Group, trusted expert accountants and tax professionals, have been saving clients’ tax dollars for the past fifty years. Starting out as a small, home-based business with four employees in Monroe, they now have a staff of approximately thirty professionals, and offer services in forming corporations, tax returns, payroll, sales tax, and bookkeeping. The Fiscal Group serves clients throughout the United States and internationally. Last year marked the launch of their dedicated Monsey offices, and next year the chain will expand to New Square.

In honor of The Fiscal Group’s fiftieth year in business, Mr. Yida Klein, owner, shares his passion with The Monsey View.

Our passion is to help people EXPERIENCE HAS NO SUBSTITUTE.

What does the Fiscal Group specialize in?

Our specialty is in saving our clients’ money on taxes. Our knowledge and experience in this field is legendary, because over 50 years, we’ve built up a genuine expertise. With a large team including expert researchers, we combine that experience with up-to-date competence, giving our all to maximize tax efficiency for each client to the fullest extent possible. For example, a client who came to us recently used to file his own personal taxes, but sensed that he could be getting more substantial refunds. The first year that we filed for him, he regained $18,000 more than usual. When we demanded the reimbursement for the past two tax years, our client was refunded almost $40,000 in total.

Two years ago, our company split into two divisions: The KJ Filing department services individual clients, while The Fiscal Group services business accounts. While we do tax returns of any size, our main clientele is owners of mediumsized businesses. Since many other CPAs prefer to focus on larger businesses, we sensed a void in this sector, which in-

cludes so many Yidden. Customer service is our pride: with customized service, efficient communication, and a dedicated client portal for every customer, no Fiscal client ever has to bemoan the difficulty of reaching his accountant. Many people are drawn to us through wordof-mouth referrals, such as, for example, a new client from Pennsylvania who had heard about our service and expertise from friends in New York.

What is the passion that drives your business?

That’s easy: our passion is to help

BIG ENOUGH TO LEAD,

people. My philosophy is all about helping other Yidden, especially by saving money on taxes, but also in other areas such as astute financial advice and planning, and our whole team is on the same page.

Can you share one tax-saving secret you use to your clients’ benefit?

Sure. One secret is that in order for us to work for a client’s benefit, we need to know the whole picture. We work thoroughly and leave no stone unturned to save on taxes, and we can do this best when we understand the client’s financial history and financial situation 100%. I tell all my clients: If you think your accountant should know some information, tell him, don’t hold back! Tell us before you act, not after, so that we can advise you and improve your tax efficiency.

One of our clients made a large profit when he sold a property. He was due to pay around 500K in taxes, but with hours of The Fiscal Group’s hard work, our effort and expertise saved him around 400K.

Moses Neuman Founder

Yida Zev Klein CEO

How is it possible for you to deal with thousands of clients in an individual and personalized manner?

Our system is that every client has his own team; an accountant, assistant accountant, and secretary who run his file. He calls and emails them directly. This way, you get the benefits of the efficiency and up-to-date practices of a large company, but the service remains individualized. We focus on each client fully, building a personal relationship of trust.

In addition to providing accounting services, bookkeeping and sales tax services, The Fiscal Group offers business advice, and their professionals are often able to refer clients to other experts if needed. I have directed clients to insurance and investment experts, retirement fund experts, wealth management, estate planning, legal assistance insurance, and even life and business coaches, who have helped them and their financial standing thrive.

Fifty years is a long time! Besides opening new branches, have there been any milestone events?

Last year, we held a gala “Money Matters” event in Monsey’s Crowne Plaza. Despite unusually heavy rains, the event attracted hundreds. It offered free expert advice in fundamental finance and tax management. Inspired by this success, and realizing the communal need, The Fiscal Group continues to provide free useful financial advice via biweekly emails. We are passionate about helping Yidden financially, and our emails offer information about savvy budgeting, tax advice, tax returns, issues with social services, and business planning.

We’re here for you, and we can help you.

Menashe Horowitz Operations Manager

Lipa Neuman Lead Accountant

Herman Freund Accountant

Yossi Broder Accountant

Hershy Schwartz Accountant

Shlome Cohen Accountant

Volvy Glanz Accountant

Mrs. Neuman Accountant

GREAT CHANUKAH GIFT

Weeks of Drone Sightings Spark Unease

Federal officials have been trying to downplay numerous drone sightings that have been reported in recent weeks, but their reassurances seem to be falling on deaf ears.

The drones were originally sighted flying over New Jersey’s Raritan River, with multiple reports received since midNovember. Later sightings reported drones over the Picatinny Arsenal military research and manufacturing facility in Wharton, and then over the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. Drones were spotted at numerous other locations in the Garden State as well, with more than a dozen reported to have been following a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and the nearby Island Beach State Park.

The mysterious drone activity hasn’t been limited to New Jersey. According to The New York Times, sightings have come in from Staten Island, the Bronx, and Queens’ LaGuardia Airport. Drones were also spotted above Rockland County, near the New Jersey border, on December 12, the same day that National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that investigators have been unable to corroborate reports of unauthorized drones, and that those that have been spotted were likely “manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.” Just over 24 hours later, Newburgh’s Stewart International Airport shut down its runways for nearly an hour because of drones in its airspace.

Elected officials have been quick to demand action, with Rockland County Executive Ed Day firing off a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to have the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation look into the mystery drones, even as he called on area residents to remain calm. Still, Day didn’t hesitate to share his criticism of the way the drone sightings have been handled.

“The fact that this issue has persisted for weeks without

clear answers is completely unacceptable, not just to the people of Rockland County, but to communities across the nation,” said Day. “It’s time for the federal government to step up, take responsibility and provide the answers we all deserve.”

Drone usage is regulated by the FAA, and with federal laws giving states little latitude in dealing with drones, both New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul called on Washington last week to step up its efforts on multiple fronts.

In a letter written to Biden, Murphy noted that FBI officials had told members of a congressional subcommittee that the federal government is unable to address drone-related issues on its own, and that events of the past few weeks have raised “more questions than answers.” A statement released by Hochul said that the drone situation has “gone too far,” and she called on Congress to pass a bill strengthening FAA oversight of drones, while also giving certain state and local law enforcement agencies greater authority to deal with drones.

A day later, a second statement released by Hochul announced that Washington had responded to her calls for additional resources by deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York, calling it a good start to solving the problem.

“We are grateful to the Biden administration for their support, but ultimately, we need further assistance from Congress. Passing the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act will give New York and our peers the authority and resources required to respond to circumstances like we face today,” said Hochul.

“Extending these powers to New York State and our peers is essential,” said Hochul. “Until those powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden administration must step in by directing additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”

Stay Tuned for Refund Checks, Says Hochul

New Yorkers could be getting a gift from Governor Kathy Hochul next fall, with a preview of her upcoming State of the State address sharing word of her plan for an inflation refund that would benefit 8.6 million residents.

Individuals earning up to $150,000 per year could be seeing $300 checks, and couples who file jointly and earn up to $300,000 could be receiving $500 checks. The $3 billion plan is slated for inclusion in Hochul’s upcoming budget, which needs to be finalized by the Legislature this spring.

In an op-ed released on December 11, Hochul said

that the inflation refund comes in response to the rising cost of living that started during Covid and has yet to fade away.

“In just the last four years, the price of something as basic as a dozen eggs has more than doubled nationally,” wrote Hochul. “Milk costs a dollar more per gallon, hamburger is up nearly two dollars per pound, and diapers are up by seven dollars a pack.”

Recalling how she shopped at discount stores and couldn’t wait till the day that her children no longer needed diapers or baby formula, Hochul said that affordability has always been her top priority. With state residents struggling to cover the cost of basic necessities, the governor said that the extra sales tax revenue collected on today’s higher prices will be used to fund the inflation refund.

“Personally, I don’t think this extra revenue should be spent by the state,” said Hochul. “After all, it’s your money. Instead, it should be heading one place and one place only — back into your pocket.”

Hochul is expected to run for re-election in 2026. Representative Ritchie Torres, who has been considering a gubernatorial run of his own, took Hochul to task, blaming her for New York’s double-digit inflation.

“For three years, the Governor has ignored millions of New York families crippled by the crushing cost of groceries and gasoline,” said Torres. “The Governor has deceptively reframed the cost of congestion pricing as a ‘cost-savings.’ Is the congestion fee part of her ‘inflation refund’ for New Yorkers? New York has a Governor who gives with one hand while taking with the other.”

The concept of inflation refund checks also fell flat for Representative Nicole Malliotakis, who criticized Hochul for “treating New Yorkers like bottomless ATM machines by hammering them with new tolls and taxes.”

“If she’d allow her constituents to keep more of their hardearned money from the start, there would be no need for these ‘inflation refund’ checks to begin with,” said Malliotakis.

New Square Awarded $26.5M Grant for Electric School Buses

money will be used to cover the cost of the necessary infrastructure, workforce development and training, and project implementation.

“EPA’s investments in clean heavy-duty vehicles prove that protecting public health and supporting economic growth can, and do, go hand in hand,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “By transitioning to zero-emission buses and trucks, we’re not only improving air quality for New York communities, but also creating sustainable jobs in manufacturing, maintenance and infrastructure development.”

New Square children can expect to be riding those environmentally friendly buses to school within two to three years.

After 50 Years, Landmark Breslov Shul To Be Replaced With New Building

The davening was anything but routine on the morning of December 15, as mispallelim at the Bresolv shul uttered the last tefillos to be offered at one of Monsey’s first shuls, which is being replaced by a larger structure.

Rockland Daily reported that some of those who gathered for the final Shacharis at the decades-old Main Street shul erupted in spontaneous dancing as the davening was completed, while others began to pack away seforim before demolition begins.

Cleaner air is on its way to New Square, with 48 diesel school buses to be replaced with electric models under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Grant program.

New York school districts were awarded a total of $125.1 million to purchase 263 zero-emissions buses to ferry kids back and forth from their schools. The Haverstraw-Stony Point Central School District will also be replacing fifteen of its school buses under the program, using $7,450,380 awarded under the grant. Nationwide, $735 million was allocated to 70 applicants in 27 states, three tribal nations and one territory, with 2,400 heavy-duty vehicles slated for replacement, 70% of which is earmarked for school buses.

In addition to the purchase of the actual buses, the grant

The kehillah will continue davening at a rented location on Elyon Road as a new state-of-the-art shul is built on the same location to accommodate Monsey’s growing Breslov community.

Tesla Charging Station Coming to Spring Valley Marketplace

Tesla drivers will now find it easier to charge their vehicles, with an all new supercharger station coming to the Spring Valley Marketplace.

The charging station will feature high-capacity 250kW chargers, and is part of Tesla’s ongoing efforts to grow its network of charging stations.

Recap: Kaily remembers traveling with her ex-husband. Perela is resentful at her siblings, which makes her want to join Tziri on her purchasing trip to China.

This meeting was no less than a miracle. Kaily, Eli, Yiddy and Perela had all made it to the hospital more or less on time.

“That’s what Zoom is for,” Yiddy had said.

“I have to make sure Chuni is still in camp,” Eli had said with a sigh.

“My kids are between school and camp. My house is a virtual zoo,” Perela had grumbled.

It might have required cartwheels on all ends, but now they were all sitting around the small conference table, waiting for their mother’s doctor to start talking. Yiddy, Eli and Perela sat on chairs; Kaily pulled up a stool from the corner and sat down.

“I can bring you a chair,” Eli volunteered.

“I’m good,” Kaily said.

Dr. Sarkos had requested this conference. He felt that having everyone around the table is always best for the patient.

“I spoke to some of you,” he started. “I told you I suspect a neurological disease.” He fiddled with his pen and dropped his gaze for a minute.

“You’re lucky your mother fell,” he continued. His eyes swept the small audience. “Because I suspect she didn’t fall from her primary disease. But that’ll happen,” he predicted darkly.

Kaily wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard Yiddy mutter, lucky, lucky When nobody asked the obvious questions (Then why did she fall? Or, what is her pri-

mary disease?), the doctor continued, “She fell because she can’t see well. That can happen from the Parkinson’s too. Later. But for now, she has cataracts.”

So it was Parkinson’s. She’d known that was what the doctor suspected, but to hear him say it so nonchalantly about her mother—!

Kaily swallowed hard and kept her eyes trained on the doctor’s face, afraid of her siblings’ reactions.

Why did it take so long for you to figure this out, Kaily? Why did she have to fracture her hip in the process?

“Parkinson’s?” Perela was the first to break the silence. Kaily forced herself to look at her little sister. Her face was white and her fists clenched.

“That’s… terrible.” Perela shook her head. “I mean, she’ll need full-time care.”

Kaily’s pity for Perela drained instantly. That’s what she was worried about? The work? It was their mother

She shifted her gaze to Eli. Their eyes met and he just shook his head sadly. Yiddy fiddled with his tablet, likely googling Parkinson’s symptoms or cataracts

“Cataracts?” Yiddy said, looking up. “That’s easy to fix, no?”

Sure. For him, everything was about easy fixes.

“Not a walk in the park, but easy enough. Though you’d have to see an ophthalmologist for that.”

“PARKINSON’S?” PERELA WAS THE FIRST TO BREAK THE SILENCE. KAILY FORCED HERSELF TO LOOK AT HER LITTLE SISTER. HER FACE WAS WHITE AND HER FISTS CLENCHED

CHANIE SPIRA

“We’re in a hospital,” he muttered. Kaily kicked him under the table.

“She was seen by the hospital’s ophthalmologist already. He was the one to determine that it is indeed cataracts. You’ll have to schedule an appointment for surgery, the sooner the better. Poor eyesight and poor balance is a dangerous combination.”

Her brothers nodded. Only she and Perela seemed to have lost their ability to move.

“Parkinson’s disease is a diagnosis of elimination,” Dr. Sarkos continued. “It’s done through lots of testing and neurological examinations. And based on all your mother’s records, testing and results, it seems to be the case here. In fact, I would say she’s been suffering from this disease for at least a year — or two — by now.”

Kaily sat frozen. She was the guilty one. She was the one who saw her mother up close every single day. And she’d allowed her mother’s platitudes to calm her.

“Two years?” Yiddy exploded.

“It’s normal,” the doctor soothed. “The symptoms are very subtle at first. And she’s not young, so these symptoms are often chalked up to age.”

“What’s our next step?” Kaily asked woodenly. Her mouth moved with concentrated effort, and she felt like she was under the effects of hypnosis again.

“There are some really effective medications targeted to treat the symptoms. It’ll slow the progress and maybe reverse some damage, but it can also cause side effects.”

“Like what?” Perela asked timidly.

“We don’t have to talk about that now,” the doctor said, his tone softening. “What we do have to speak about is exercise. Exercise has proven to be extremely effective in slowing Parkinson’s progress. It raises the dopamine level — which is the neurotransmitter in short supply in Parkinson’s patients. Exercise naturally moves those rigid muscles around and slows the progression of the disease.”

Kaily quickly jotted exercise and dopamine onto her little pad, so she would remember these words later.

“I spoke to your mother for a while. She’s a feisty lady. She can do it. It’s up to her… and all of you. The

more she exercises, the better she’ll feel.” He scanned the little room.

Yiddy spoke first. “We can hire someone to help her with it,” he said. Like this was a SolarKing project. Hire a team of workers to install solar panels and… bingo. Job done.

Kaily exploded. Yiddy was all about fixing, hiring, paying. Anything to get out of doing. “Hire? She’s not an invalid!”

“You’re both right,” the doctor said soothingly. “She’s not an invalid, but it’s a lot of work.”

Yiddy looked at her triumphantly. Kaily stared back defiantly. She would not be cowed by her younger brother.

Dr. Sarkos coughed. “I understand she’s a widow.”

Yiddy broke eye contact long enough to nod gravely.

“But I live with her,” Kaily quickly said. “She’s never alone.”

“That’s good. That’s good.”

“And I work from home, usually,” Kaily added, trying not to think about what her boss would say if he could hear her now. He allowed her to work from home sometimes. And she had a very strong suspicion that he was livid over her poor performance these past few weeks.

“I got it!” Yiddy stood up. “You know all those ads? Offering family members to be caregivers? Kaily, you can give up your job and get paid as a caregiver!”

* * * * *

The patient transporter opened the door and wheeled Roiza into the physical therapy room.

“You’re good?” he asked.

Roiza nodded and thanked him.

For a moment she wondered what it was like to be a transporter. It couldn’t be very rewarding to wheel old, cranky patients like her from place to place without knowing anything about the patient, without connecting in any way.

Oh well. At least he could walk.

While she sat like a useless, helpless scarecrow. She hadn’t looked into a mirror since Mira had painted her up, and Eli had done the night shift, not the best candidate to dress her up for her first physical therapy session.

“Hi! I’m Diana.” A blond-streaked

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ROIZA HESITATED. HER GOALS? TO CONTINUE MOTHERING HER CHILDREN. TO MAKE SAUTÉED EGGPLANT WITH THINLY DICED VEGETABLES SO ELI HAD WHERE TO CRASH AFTER AN ARDUOUS DAY

woman came up to her. “Are you Rose Handler?”

Roiza nodded. The therapist seemed nice enough, about Perela’s age, she estimated.

“Do you want to tell me a bit about yourself and your goals for physical therapy?”

Roiza hesitated. Her goals? To continue mothering her children. To make sautéed eggplant with thinly diced vegetables so Eli had where to crash after an arduous day and, of course, for Kaily.

“To care for my children,” she said slowly. Her eyes filled as she looked at her hospital gown. Who was she kidding? Her hip throbbed, and they considered her fracture “minor.”

“You still have young children?” Diana asked, surprised.

“They’re all grown,” Roiza said, “but I still care for them. They’ve all got families of their own…” her voice became wistful, “but they still need me.”

“You’re never too old to need a mother,” Diana said sweetly. “So let’s see how quickly we can meet that goal.”

She wheeled Roiza to a set of bars. “So, you’ll hold the two rails at either side, and I’ll walk in front of you in case you need me. And the most important thing,” Diana said, “is to remember your goal. It’s going to be tough, but remember, your kids need you.”

Roiza bit her lip tightly as Diana helped her stand up. Her hip screeched in pain, and she wobbled as her feet touched solid ground. She hadn’t stood since the fall, and the hard floor felt strange.

Her eyes filled, and she couldn’t even wipe her tears because she was gripping the bars so tightly.

“Good!” Diana crowed.

Roiza’s tears blurred her already blurry vision as she labored to move her right leg, which was officially her “good” side.

“I can’t,” she whispered frantically as her grip slackened. Diana ran over to support her weight.

“Let’s try again,” she said. “I’ll hold your left side, and you’ll hold the bar to the right.”

Roiza dragged her right foot a few inches. Her entire body quivered from the strain, and she closed her eyes. You want to be a mother to your kids. A mother to your kids. She pictured herself on her couch at home, serving the chasan a cup of coffee.

She dragged her foot another bit, and Diana carefully moved her left foot. The pain was unbearable, but she kept whispering, a mother to my kids… a mother to my kids.

After the third step though, she could not move another inch. “I’m dd-done,” she said tiredly.

Was she stuttering? Slurring? No!

“One more step. Okay? The quicker you’re back on your feet, the quicker you’ll get to go back home.”

Roiza shook her head. Something within her broke. “T-t-tell me the truth, Diana. Am I slurring?”

“I don’t think so,” Diana said quickly. “You’re just exhausted, and that’s what’s causing it. I see it all the time.”

Roiza looked into Diana’s eyes. She was lying. “Please. Let me sit.”

Diana didn’t protest again and helped Roiza into her wheelchair.

“I-I don’t think I’ll reach my goal.” Roiza averted her gaze.

Diana held her palms and said, “You will, Mrs. Handler. It takes time, but you don’t know how many patients walk out of here on their two feet.”

Roiza looked at her hopefully.

“And meanwhile, Rose, there are many ways to be a good mother. Even while sitting down.”

Roiza shook her head.

So this was it. She was going to become a burden on her kids.

TO BE CONTINUED…

YAAKOV ASTOR

Chapter 23

Recap: The Russians drive out the Nazis. Rachel visits Majdanek concentration camp. The Russians send Stephan to Siberia.

Rachel did not want to hear what Mrs. Roluk was about to say. She continued folding clothes.

“Child, please stop folding and look at me.”

Rachel put down the laundry and slowly turned around.

“My child, you are a wonderful girl. And you will make a fine wife one day. But your future is not with us. Your future is not with me. Your future is with your people.”

Rachel tried to hold back tears.

“Yes,” Mrs. Roluk continued, “it is with your people. I can fake it. You can fake it. We can all fake it. But you have a people. And you are part of them. You must leave here and find yourself, find your future with them.”

Rachel began to cry. Mrs. Roluk put her arm around her.

“You must leave tomorrow. There is a rumor that the Russians will close the border, and then you will be stuck here forever. You must leave tomorrow and head to Poland. I don’t know where you will go and whom you will meet on the way, but if your G-d has let you live and come this far, then He will surely have mercy on you and bring

you to the place you need to be. I’ll prepare a sack of food and some clothes, and tomorrow I’ll walk you to the train station. There are a lot of people streaming west, including Jews. I’m sure you will find your way.”

Rachel put her head on Mrs. Roluk’s shoulder and sobbed. Mrs. Roluk patted Rachel on the head and comforted her. “Shhh. It will be alright. It will be alright.”

Then Mrs. Roluk walked away. Once she was out of sight, Rachel broke down and cried a thousand tears — six million tears. They simply poured down her cheeks.

Silently, out of sight, Mrs. Roluk cried too.

* * * * *

The next day, Mrs. Roluk walked Rachel all the way to the railroad station. Then she said goodbye and walked away. That was it.

Rachel felt like crumbling. She wanted to run after Mrs. Roluk. But she knew she could not.

CANDELABRA CONSOLE

Rachel felt like crumbling. She wanted to run after Mrs. Roluk. But she knew she could not

She was so afraid.

So alone.

She stood at the tracks with some others. There were a few dozen others. More were walking down the road toward the train station. Rachel looked into their faces, hoping to see a familiar face. Hoping to see a friendly face. But they all looked like strangers.

Suddenly, she heard her name. “Rachel?”

She turned, but there was a sea of faces, none recognizable.

“Rachel Blum!” the same voice called. Then, through the crowd, a woman stepped forward. “It is Rachel Blum,” she said.

Rachel rubbed her eyes. “Rivka?”

“Yes!”

“Rivka Wax?”

“Yes.”

They hugged.

In the distance, they heard the horn blast of a train.

A young man emerged from the crowd and came to stand next to Rivka. “This is my brother, Yonah,” Rivka told Rachel. Then, addressing Yonah, she explained, “This is Rachel Blum. We met in the ghetto.”

Yonah nodded. “Where are you going?” he asked Rachel.

“Away from here,” Rachel replied.

“So am I,” Yonah answered.

Epilogue

The story of Rachel Blum’s life after the war merits an entire book unto itself. When Mrs. Roluk pushed her to join her people, that propelled Rachel in a direction that sparked an entire new set of circumstances and miracles that would lead Rachel to marriage and a family of her own.

She married Yonah Szakamer, brother of Rivka Wax, in one of the Displaced Persons (DP) camps in which Holocaust survivors typically found themselves after the war. They had a daughter there, and eventually received permission to go to the United States in 1951 (where they changed their name to Schatzkamer). There

they had two more children, including the wife of the author of this story. There were many people whose stories had intertwined with hers, and Rachel only found out how some of those stories ended. Some of them were happy endings. Kayla, who had been Rachel’s friend in the ghetto for years, managed to join the partisans in the forest, and she found a place with them. She cooked for them, cleaned for them, stood guard duty — anything to make herself useful. In this way, she managed to survive the war. Rachel and Kayla met again after the war and stayed in touch for a while.

Rachel’s sister Chana, on the other hand, did not survive the war. She had been staying in the Ludmir ghetto with a family, helping them care for their five-year-old son and newborn baby. On the day of the liquidation, the family entered their hiding place. But the baby was making noise, so the mother took the baby and left the hiding place. When the murderers entered the apartment, they killed her and the baby. But they did not discover her husband, their five-year-old and Chana. This mother knowingly gave up her life and her newborn’s life to save the life of the other three.

The three of them escaped the ghetto and found temporary shelter on a farm owned by non-Jews. A Ukrainian farmer informed on them, and they, too, were murdered. Rachel only found out this information because the Ukrainian farmer — proud of the absolution his priest had given him — had boasted about this to a friend of the Roluks, who shared the story with Rachel.

Rachel never made contact with Maria or any of the Roluks after the war. She does not know if Stephan was ever freed or reunited with his parents.

Rachel lived to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren before she passed away on June 20, 2013. (Ironically, she never knew her birthday. She believed she was born in 1929, making her 84 years old at the time of her passing, but she did not know for

She was even an inspiration to strangers. Whether it was the gardener, mailman, handyman or doctor, complete strangers were at ease with her almost instantly

sure.) She was a tower of strength to her family and friends and an inspiration to all those she came in contact with.

She was even an inspiration to strangers. Whether it was the gardener, mailman, handyman or doctor, complete strangers were at ease with her almost instantly. She had a quality that is hard to define, but is captured in the word “chein.” Often translated as “favor” or “grace,” the word is best understood as “a connection that is not visible.” Rachel possessed chein. She had a way of creating an invisible connection. People were drawn to her cheerful, upbeat and positive attitude — even those who did not know of her Holocaust experiences, which certainly would have won her their sympathy. Consciously or not, the people she met absorbed her amazing attitude toward life.

* * * * *

I knew Rachel Schatzkamer for 28 years. She was my mother-in-law. But, in a sense, I only got to know her during the last five years of her life.

I had known that she had lived through the Holocaust. I knew that she had lost her entire family and was alone in the world against the Nazis. I knew that she had experienced a living nightmare more frightening than any bad dream. I knew enough about her life even in my first year of marriage to know that there was something incongruent about a phrase we all heard her repeat regularly: “Nothing bad ever happened to me.”

The first time I heard her say it, I had to do a double take. Did I hear her correctly?

The more I got to know her, though, the more I realized that it was not just a cliché. She not only said this statement; she lived up to it. Somehow, she was always the one raising the spirits of others. There was no one who was more upbeat and active than her.

I knew it from the early years of my marriage, when our family regularly

visited her apartment in Brooklyn. And I knew it from seeing her almost daily during the last decade of her life, when she lived near us. I knew it, her entire family knew it, her friends knew it, and even the elderly women in the assisted living home she moved into knew it. Even the governor of New York, George Pataki, knew it when he awarded her a prize for her outstanding communal work.

My mother-in-law was the most active, upbeat person imaginable. Her greatness was not merely that she said, “Nothing bad ever happened to me,” but that she lived it.

However, until the last five years of her life I never really knew what she went through. My wife and her siblings knew nothing about their mother’s Holocaust experiences. This was the norm for many Holocaust survivors. It was as if there was an unwritten contract to keep their silence.

Then, in 2008, something happened. I asked her if she could repeat a Holocaust story I once heard her say (the story of how she made the Roluks swear on their Bible that when they find Jews after the war, they should tell those Jews to rebury her in a Jewish cemetery), and I asked her if I could record it. She agreed. Once she began telling it to me, she began telling me other stories. And more stories. They just poured out of her and didn’t stop.

I believe I was a distant enough — yet safe enough — family member for her to tell me things she would never tell her biological children or a non-related interviewer. (I asked her several times if she wanted to be interviewed by an official Holocaust organization; she always strongly refused.) In short, she opened up to me like to no one else. After that first time, we continued almost daily for several weeks until I collected hours and hours of recordings.

I stood in awe as each part of her story slowly came into sharp focus. And it needed to happen slowly because she told her experiences from

to the Tomatis Method, Chaim learned how to process what he was hearingand that enabled him to listen to what his rebbi said.

One day, as I was rather numbly listening to her segue into a story about a train, I suddenly interrupted her and asked, “Wait a second, Bubby. Did I just hear you right?”

the inside out, not necessarily chronologically, and often segueing from one story to the next without warning or explanation. Furthermore, she often assumed that I knew the background of what she was talking about, whether it was the background regarding her personal history or the history of the Holocaust. (By that time, I had written one book on the Holocaust, but still had a lot to learn about what went on in the Ukraine.) I often had to hear her repeat a story or part of it several times over several sessions before I fully grasped what she was saying.

One day, as I was rather numbly listening to her segue into a story about a train, I suddenly interrupted her and asked, “Wait a second, Bubby. Did I just hear you right? Did you just tell me that you killed a thousand Nazi SS soldiers?”

“Yeah,” she said matter-of-factly. “What a life,” she added with her signature chuckle.

Another time, after another delay in my comprehension, I suddenly stopped her and asked, “Wait, Bubby, stop. Did you just say that you were in Majdanek [the first concentration/ death camp liberated by the Allies] just after it was liberated?”

“Yeah.” Chuckle, chuckle. “What a life.”

After hours and hours of interviews, an incredible story emerged. Absolutely incredible. From growing up in poverty-stricken Poland during the 1930s to witnessing war, getting locked in a brutal Nazi ghetto, smuggling food for herself and her family, hiding in an attic to escape a liquidation that took some 18,000 lives, being taken in by a non-Jewish couple whose son worked for the SS, being confronted by an SS General and partaking in an incredibly dangerous scheme to escape a train filled with Nazis, her real-life drama is a case of truth being stranger than fiction, and one packed

with non-stop action.

In retelling the story, I took some liberties to flesh it out, such as putting dialogue into the mouths of people. The people and situations are real, and even the gist of their communications are authentic, but I have at times created or expanded upon a conversation. Wherever I could, I have researched the historical background both to verify for myself and understand better the stories she was sharing.

The end result is a real-life dramatic account of one girl’s struggle to survive in a world desperately trying to exterminate her; the true story of an adolescent who managed to answer desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope. Hers is a story that represents the starkest contrast between two extremes: the weakest and most helpless, a girl alone, versus the strongest and cruelest, the Nazi state.

Although she emerges the victor, she was not initially the tower of strength she became. Her courage and determination evolved through her experiences. From an isolated, frightened girl, her selfless concern for others not only enabled her to make it through alive, but left her with an unbelievably positive outlook on life, one that to her dying day drew others to her like a magnet. She lost everything yet felt she lacked nothing — to the point where she could genuinely say, “Nothing bad ever happened to me.”

If there is any merit to my efforts in writing this story, it is in making my mother-in-law’s life an inspiration to others to see the world as she did, a place filled with hope, good, abundance and blessing, no matter how it looks on the outside. In that merit, may her memory be a blessing.

Yaakov

Astor

THE END

A version of this story is available under the title Nothing Bad Ever Happens, published by Menucha Publishers.

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THERE’S SOMETHING SO MAGICAL ABOUT CHANUKAH.

Chanukah is light and festivity against a backdrop of dark afternoons. Chanukah is candles in vivid colors to offset the monochrome of wintertime. Chanukah is when we turn the lights on, the heat on, and draw warmth from our homes and families.

This is an opportune time to invite the children to tap into the joy of Yom Tov and to participate in the preparations and celebrations.

I’ll confess: I love serving up festive meals, setting the table in new and different ways, and conspiring with the children weeks in advance as they eagerly look out for new acquisitions for our decor.

But standing in the kitchen for hours on end and toiling over multi-step dishes? Not so much.

The menu here reflects that. Presented in these pages is the kind of meal you can shop for and prepare for all in one day, and there are a lot of details you can get away with in terms of actual food prep.

THE TABLE

CANDLES AND COLOR

It was so much fun to work with the basic mood of Chanukah. Once we had colored candles and a menorah centerpiece, we didn’t need much else — just some fun colored bowls and glasses sprinkled about on muted tones of gray.

A TOUCH OF WARMTH

There are so many beautiful and inexpensive decorative menorahs out there that can serve as a pretty centerpiece. They can be timeless and contemporary all at once. An oversized knit throw or bedspread in lieu of a tablecloth creates a cozy touch, and it can be pretty kind to the pocket, too. The cable knit provides that perfect winter backdrop for the ignited candles.

OFF CENTER

Wanting to veer away a bit from something too traditional, a napkin off to the side and asymmetrically layered dishes lend the table a bit of an artsy feel.

GETTING CRAFTY

If you can’t find what you’re dreaming of, perhaps you can create it! My boys loved stitching a multicolored embroidery thread through these simple, cheap hemstitched napkins, giving them just the right amount of color we needed. And when it came to flowers, I was set on using billy balls in little ribbed bud vases to bring together the winter and colored vibes; the fact that Craspedia is a yellow flower wasn’t going to deter us! My children loved that project too, painting bunches of dried billy balls in all different colors.

THAT FINE LINE

While I didn’t want to overwhelm the table with a contrasting runner, it needed some kind of separation to avoid a visual mess. In the end, a few strands of embroidery thread served as that fine line between the center and settings. You can accomplish this with a ribbon as well, having fun with colors as you create a narrow strip of separation.

THE PARTY STATION

While we tried to keep the tablescape more staid, we unleashed our love for color in the kids’ corner.

The treat bags for the game are stashed out of reach so that curious little hands don’t make their way in prematurely.

These cereal dispensers make great candy and party favor dispensers. (Make sure they are designed to hold the weight of their contents.) Until the meal is over, these are displayed without their stands so no one tries to fiddle with the knobs, because these are so tempting for little (and big) fingers.

gifts wrapped in exciting colors are fun to look at until the lucky recipients open them.

There are so many pretty colored drinks available with which you can create your own rainbow of favorites. Check the supermarket shelves and the refrigerator as well. You may be surprised at the large variety of naturally colored drinks on the market.

Chanukah

DECONSTRUCTED PASTRAMI SANDWICHES

Many are makpid to wash for Hamotzi each night of Chanukah. These deconstructed pastrami sandwiches incorporate bread and dreidels, and can include just about anything. Best of all, they serve as just a taster, so the kids don’t load up on carbs.

COMPONENTS

French baguette slices

Pastrami, cut into dreidel shapes (save the ends for the soup)

Mini gherkins

Sliced onions

Ketchup, mustard or dressings of your choice (You can prepare them in mini bottles or pipettes, or pass around fullsize squeeze bottles)

THE MENU

LOADED INSTANT NOODLE SOUP

Veggies, protein and good-for-you noodles add nutrition and flavor to the dish that no one can say no to, especially when they get to choose exactly what goes into their bowl. The foods should be steeped in the soup for about two minutes for optimal flavor and texture.

SOUP

Yield: 6 portions

The soup is simply some spices dissolved in boiling water, and then served steaming in bowls so the rest of the components can be added. Alternatively, it can be brought to the table in a tureen and ladled into the bowls once they are filled with the desired soup components.

INGREDIENTS

12 cups water

¾ cup consommé

1½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. black pepper

¾ tsp. garlic powder

¾ tsp. onion powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring water to a boil. (You can also use ready boiling water.)

2. Add spices, and cook until fully dissolved.

COMPONENTS

Prepare your family’s favorite add-ins, and arrange them on a tray.

Instant noodles: Crush a mix of ramen and instant soup noodles. They cook faster in pieces.

Vermicelli rice: Soak rice for about twenty minutes before adding to the tray. This gives the noodles a great texture once it cooks in hot water for a minute.

Zoodles: I bought them prepared, but you can spiralize zucchini on your own, too.

Roasted cauliflower, broccoli and vegetable mix: Since these vegetables get steeped in hot water, it’s good to undercook them slightly beforehand. Place a half bag of each of the vegetables arranged in a thin layer on a lined baking pan. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt (the

cauliflower can also get a sprinkling of curry). Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, and then broil on high for 4 minutes. Set the timer!

Roasted mushrooms: Peel and clean large white cello mushrooms. Slice and lay a thin layer onto a lined baking pan. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Fried pastrami: Coat the bottom of a frying pan with oil. Heat. Add cut pieces of pastrami or deli of your choice (all the dreidel ends from the appetizer go in here) to the pan, and fry for about 5 minutes on medium-high, stirring throughout.

Pulled beef: If you ask really nicely, you can convince most guys at the deli counter to sell you a container of pulled beef. Or you can make your own delicious version by referring to the recipe featured in last week’s food section.

TANGY STEAK, HOMEMADE FRIES AND RAINBOW CORN SALAD

Timeless classics are the best crowd-pleasers.

TANGY SLICED STEAK

Yield: 6 portions

Serving a standard piece of steak sliced up really changes its presentation. Wait until it cools off to do so, and be ready for some breakage.

You can also use this recipe for minute or club steak. Use steaks that are well marbleized, because otherwise it will separate when sliced where there’s a lot of fat.

INGREDIENTS

6 thick slices Swiss steak

GARLIC RUB

6 T. oil

6 garlic cubes

1½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

TANGY SAUCE

¾ cup honey

3 oz. ketchup

3 T. teriyaki sauce

1 T. deli mustard

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 300°.

2. Lay steaks in a 10x16” baking pan.

3. Rub the garlic rub ingredients onto both sides of all steaks.

4. Combine sauce ingredients, and pour over the steaks.

5. Cover tightly, and bake for 3 hours and 30 minutes.

6. Use sauce to moisten steak when reheating and serving.

Optional: Garnish with crushed roasted pistachios.

HOMEMADE FRIES

Yield: 6 portions

If you ask me, it’s not a legit Chanukah party without some homemade deep-fried French fries, especially since it is the one week in the year when there’s just no guilt in using up a half a bottle of oil for a single recipe.

A mesh pot insert is great for deep frying, but a large slotted spoon works well too.

INGREDIENTS

6 potatoes

Oil

Salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill a 4-quart pot two-thirds with oil.

2. Set flame to medium-high.

3. While the oil heats up (about 15 minutes), peel three potatoes and cut into fries.

4. If using an insert, add it to the pot.

5. First, add one piece of potato to test the oil. If it begins to bubble immediately, your oil is ready. If it bubbles rapidly, lower the heat before adding more. Add just a few fries at a time, allow to heat up, and then add more, until all the fries are inside.

6. Allow to cook in bubbling oil until golden brown, about 25 minutes. If the oil is rolling too much, lower the heat.

7. Prepare a second batch of three potatoes to be ready when the first batch comes out.

8. Line a baking pan with a paper towel or napkins. Remove fries with a slotted spoon or the insert, and pour into the pan. Using additional paper towels, gently pat fries to remove excess oil. Sprinkle with salt.

9. Carefully add the second batch of potatoes, just a few pieces at a time, making sure the oil is bubbling, but not too rapidly, and repeat above directions.

THE MENU

LEMON GARLIC DIP

Yield: 6 portions

The kids might ask for ketchup for their fries, but the adults will probably love this one.

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup mayonnaise

2 T. honey

2 T. lemon juice

2 frozen garlic cubes

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. parsley flakes

DIRECTIONS

Mix and serve.

My family has always enjoyed corn salad. Working with dazzling colors only makes it more flavorful!

COMPONENTS

Roasted corn

Diced red pepper

Diced half-sour pickles

Shredded carrots

Pickled onions (You can purchase it readymade or refer to the recipe in last week’s food section)

Purple chips (beet or blue potato)

RAINBOW CORN SALAD

ICE CREAM AND DOUGHNUT TOWER

Pick your favorite ice cream and mini doughnuts, smear some custard on a plate, and create a happy ending to your meal.

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PARTY TIME!

LIKE A KID IN A…

Candy store! These party participants are finally doing what they’ve been waiting for all night — filling a container with prizes and sweets (Mommy decides on the permitted quantity).

COLOR-CODED REWARDS

TO PREPARE THIS SIMPLE AND REWARDING GAME:

• We painted each side of wooden dreidels a different color: red, blue, yellow and white.

• I selected some fun prizes from Toys4U that the kids would appreciate, plus a Toys4U gift card, and picked up some treats at the grocery store.

TO PLAY:

• At their turn, each player spins two dreidels. They then check to see on which colors the dreidels landed, and get to choose a surprise treat bag based on the color combination. (Some of the kids might learn how to mix colors for the first time, and that’s exactly the point.)

So if one dreidel lands on red and the other on yellow, they’ll pick an orange bag. If both land on blue, they get a blue bag. The white serves as a blank, so if the dreidels land on yellow and white, for example, the child picks a yellow bag.

• Once the child chooses a bag, they open it to reveal some surprise that is fun to unveil and even funner to receive.

Chanukah with

Text and Styling by

Clix Dreidel

The Clix Dreidel is the perfect activity and treat rolled into one! Using delicious Clix cookies and colorful melted chocolate, you can create an eyecatching dreidel-shaped dessert display that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

You will need

∙ Clix Cookies (any flavors)

∙ 2 Lieber’s Colored Chocolate (any colors)

∙ Large tray

Directions

1 Melt the colored chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals.

2 Dip the tops of the cookies in chocolate (37 of one color and 9 of the other).

3 Arrange cookies in a dreidel shape pattern.

Marshmallow Paint

Turn cookie decorating into a fun and interactive activity with marshmallow paint! This creative twist uses melted marshmallows as a paint-like medium, allowing you to transform sugar cookies into edible works of art.

You will need

∙ 1 bag Lieber’s Large Marshmallows

∙ ½ cup water

∙ 6 Tbsp Corn Syrup

∙ Food Color Gel

Tip: You can make the paint 1-2 days in advance.

Microwave for 5 seconds at a time if it needs to be softened.

Directions

1 1.Place a full bag of marshmallows in a microwave safe dish and microwave marshmallows for one minute.

2 2.Mix marshmallows, add water and microwave an additional 30 seconds.

3 3.Mix again and place in microwave an additional 30 seconds.

4 4.Use a hand blender to make the mixture smooth.

5 5.Add the corn syrup and mix again.

6 6.Divide the paint into small containers and add the food coloring.

You will need

∙ Carmit Chocolate Bar

∙ Skewer

∙ Confectioner’s sugar

∙ Sprinkles (optional)

Tip: You can trace cookies cutters and use rulers to help make straight lines.

Chalkboard Chocolate Etching

Directions

1 1.Use the skewer to etch a design or words into the chocolate.

2 2. Rub a little bit confectioner’s sugar across the chocolate so that it fills the grooves.

Take your chocolate to the next level with this fun and innovative chalkboard chocolate etching concept! Whether you decorate an entire chocolate bar or just part, this idea is perfect for adding a personal and artistic touch. You can also use it to create unique seating cards for a party or event. Fun, versatile, and completely edible, this project is as enjoyable to make as it is to share. Get ready to impress with this sweet and creative idea!

3 3. Use a paper towel to clean off the extra confectioners’ sugar.

4 4. Dip the sides of the chocolate into melted chocolate and then into sprinkles (optional)

For the seating cards, cut the bar into three parts. To make them stand, use some melted chocolate to attach a chocolate square to the back of the chocolate.

Chanukah 2024

Week 3 of 4

Revisiting the timeless recipes of our beloved food columnist, Leah Stern, a”h

DOUGHNUTS + FILLINGS

When it comes to doughnuts, the choices are endless. And while every food establishment in town boasts its specialty, nothing beats a homemade one.

The authentic experience of frying them on your stovetop is an exclusive Chanukah opportunity. Treat your family to this hands-on experience, and while you’re at it, whip up one of the featured fillings for a super treat.

THE ULTIMATE DOUGHNUT

Yields 32 doughnuts

I used to search for a new doughnut recipe each Chanukah, until I tried this one. This dough has a perfect consistency and doesn’t form air pockets, which most doughnuts have, and the results are delicious, time and again.

I like to put some wine into any doughnut recipe, as it helps them retain freshness. You may use water only if you have no wine at hand.

INGREDIENTS

7 cups Wondermills flour

3 T. dry yeast

2¼ cups warm water

½ cup white wine

½ cup sugar

½ tsp. kosher salt

½ cup oil

2 T. vanilla sugar Oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. Knead all ingredients into a smooth dough. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.

2. Divide dough in four.

3. Divide each quarter in four.

4. Cut each piece in two. You should now have 32 uniform pieces of dough.

5. Roll each piece into a smooth ball.

6. Place on a lightly floured parchment paper, cover with dish towel, and allow to rise for an additional half-hour.

7. Fry in hot oil, covered, for 2 minutes. Turn over and cook until done.

Caution: Never leave flame unattended.

FRYING TIPS:

1. Place one 9x13” pan into another for a sturdy makeshift pot. Fill halfway with oil, and allow to heat before frying.

2. Place a peeled carrot into the pan to prevent smoking and to keep oil clean.

FILLING TIPS:

Doughnuts can be filled with a syringe or a pastry bag fitted with a small, round tip. In a pinch, even a sturdy Ziploc bag with a mediumsize hole will do the job.

Around the Kitchen Table, by Leah Stern, a”h, is available at your local Judaica store.

PEANUT BLISS FILLING

INGREDIENTS

1 container (16 oz.) whip

6 T. instant vanilla pudding

¾ cup creamy peanut butter

DIRECTIONS

Beat whip until stiff. Add pudding and peanut butter, and beat until well combined.

DAIRY CUSTARD

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup Wondermills flour

½ cup sugar

2 T. vanilla sugar

1½ cups whole milk

2 T. butter

4 egg yolks

Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour and sugars. Pour in milk slowly, and stir to obtain a smooth consistency. Add butter, and cook until mixture begins to thicken.

2. Add egg yolk and salt, mixing vigorously to prevent curdling. Cook until thick and creamy.

3. Transfer custard to a bowl. Cover with saran wrap and cool in the fridge for a halfhour.

CHOCOLATECHEESE FILLING

INGREDIENTS

8 oz. whipped cream cheese

3 oz. bar smooth milk chocolate (either color)

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

2 T. vanilla sugar

2 T. whole milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring cream cheese to room temperature

2. Melt chocolate bar, and mix into cream cheese together with remaining ingredients.

With a built-in mesh strainer all you need is a light tap or quick twist for perfectly coated confections.

There’s more than one way to sugarcoat ıt

A Freilichen Chanukah!

Dairy Donut Edition

LOTUS FILLING

7 oz Bakers Choice

Lotus Cream

6 oz whipped cream cheese

Mix the lotus cream and whipped cream cheese until smooth. Fill the donuts with the filling. To garnish spread a layer of lotus cream, sprinkle with Bakers Choice Lotus Crunchies and use extra filling to pipe lines on top.

Use store brought empty donuts, make your favorite recipe, or use the sourdough donut recipe on the side panel.

OREO FILLING

7 oz Bakers Choice

Vanilla Custard

6 oz whipped cream cheese

� cup Bakers Choice

Chocolate Crunchies

Mix the vanilla custard and whipped cream cheese until smooth. Reserve ¼ cup of the filling for garnish. Stir the chocolate crunchies into the filling and fill the donuts. Garnish the donut with a layer of the reserved filling and sprinkle with chocolate crunchies.

NOUGAT FILLING

¾ cup Bakers Choice

White Chocolate Cream

¾ cup Bakers Choice

Dairy Nougat Cream

Mix the white chocolate cream and nougat cream together until smooth. Reserve about ½ cup for garnish and fill the donut with the rest. Spread a layer of the reserved filling on top, roll the donut in Bakers Choice Hazelnut Brittle, and drizzle with white chocolate cream.

JELLY FILLING

9 oz Bakers Choice

Donut Jelly

7 oz whipped cream cheese

Mix the donut jelly and whipped cream cheese until smooth. Reserve about ⅓ cup filling for garnish and fill donuts with the rest. For garnish, spread a layer of filling, sprinkle Bakers Choice

Vanilla Cookie Crumbs on top, and drizzle extra donut jelly and Bakers Choice

White Chocolate Cream.

Sourdough Donuts

STARTER:

50g active sourdough starter

DOUGH:

253g all-purpose flour

253g high-gluten flour

163g eggs (about 3 large eggs)

101g unsalted butter, room temp.

DIRECTIONS:

100g all-purpose flour

100g water

85g sugar

8g salt

203g sourdough starter (from above)

Oil (for deep frying)

9 AM In a bowl, combine starter ingredients and mix well. Cover the bowl loosely and allow to rest in a warm place (around 75-78°F) for 4-6 hours, until it has more than doubled in size. Remove butter from fridge, cut it into cubes, and set aside.

2 PM In a stand mixer, mix together all dough ingredients except butter. Cover the bowl and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. After the rest, add the softened butter and mix until fully incorporated and smooth.

Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover with a towel, and let it sit in a warm place to rise. Perform 6 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals: stretch the dough on one side and fold it over to the opposite side, rotating the dough and repeating on all sides. After the last set, let the dough rest for an additional 2 hours.

8 PM Place the bowl in a sealed bag and refrigerate for 12-16 hours.

9 AM (NEXT DAY) Divide the dough into 18 equal portions, about 65g. Shape each portion into a tight round. Fold the edges to the center and pinch them together to seal the dough. Roll the dough between your hands or on the counter to form a smooth and tight round.

Place each donut on a separate piece of parchment paper. Liberally dust flour on two baking sheets and arrange 9 donuts per sheet. Cover the baking sheets with a plastic garbage bag or plastic wrap and let the donuts proof in a warm place for about 6 hours or until they have doubled in size. If you're frying them the next day, you can proof the donuts for 3 hours, then refrigerate overnight and continue proofing the following day.

4 PM Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 360-370°F. Carefully invert the parchment paper with the donuts into the hot oil, frying the top side first for 30 seconds. Flip the donuts and fry for 2.5 minutes, then flip again and fry for another 2 minutes, ensuring even golden-brown color. Transfer the donuts to a wire rack to drain excess oil.

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MOTTY ILOWITZ ON THE RHYME AND RHYTHM OF THE YIDDISHE EXPERIENCE

If music pulls at the heartstring, lyrics tug at the soul.

Motty Ilowitz may be known for his masterful grasp of composition and songwriting, but the true secret of his skills lies in the beauty he finds in the tiniest encounters.

From the piety of a simple tailor to the sacrifice of a young widow, Motty’s lyrical songs have gifted the world with glimpses of greatness in the smallest, biggest people: the simple Yid.

Putting Pashut on the Playlist

If someone were to study the selection of songs featured on Motty Ilowitz’s albums, they’d find a pattern in the stories featured.

“These stories were all chosen because everyday people can relate to them,” Motty says. “This is intentional. I want every individual out there to know that there’s greatness right here, among us regular people. Every person has value, has potential.”

Take Zundel. Take Berel. Take Yakel. Or pretend today is your last day, and see what you could make of it.

“The song ‘Letzte Tug’ is a great example of this,” Motty adds. “I didn’t say that if it’s your last day, you’ll sit in the beis midrash and learn from morning until night. The song mentions not speaking lashon hora, being generous with compliments, generous with chizuk, thanking your parents, being kind to your spouse, warm to your children — all those little things that make regular people into good people.”

And this is how Motty’s albums unlock the hearts of his fellow Yidden and make them aspire for greatness.

Foibles of Humanity

Motty’s albums are full of stories, legends and themes related to frum life. When it comes to themes that lean toward the abstract, the big question is: Where do these ideas come from? How does an artist grab hold of those gossamer threads that make up the human experience, and craft them into words with such skill, it’s like the lyrics are talking directly to every Yossi, Yanky and Yehudis out there?

“Songs on abstract concepts are the most difficult to piece together,” Motty agrees. “Other than siyata d’Shmaya, there’s no explaining where ideas come from. I open my eyes, see how people operate, and then I make connections. Somehow, I see the little things differently.”

These observations resulted in the string of Yiddishe taavos listed in the song that goes by the same name, in the pithy misconceptions that appear in the song “Gemeint,” and in the choices made in “Letzte Tug.”

Does his family or partners in the music industry help him spot these idiosyncrasies, habits or choice of priorities in the people around them?

“No,” says Motty. “These are all my own ideas. I have scores of half-developed concepts sitting around, some raw, some half-planned; that’s how I operate. In fact, ‘Yiddishe Taavos’ took years to produce for this reason. The ideas all had to come together, and then I had to pick and choose which ones to use.”

Some taavos were tossed aside simply because they didn’t manage to fit the rhythm or rhyme, and others were nixed for other reasons.

“No one wants to admit that there might be this taavah of hearing that a welloff rosh hakahal lost his money, or that there’s this urge to drive your car into the puddle at the corner so the water soaks whatever (and whoever!) might be standing there. So many ideas were dropped along the way. Even at the last minute, while recording the song, I was still making changes.”

Whether they’re taavos, hasuges or machshuves, once these ideas are robust enough to stand on their own, that’s when Motty can start breaking them down into words in a way that everyone is going to understand the idea and connect with it.

“My goal is using these skills to inspire people, being mechazek people. For me, it’s a calling.” He pauses. “It’s a chov, really.”

ON POETRY

When rhyme and rhythm alone take the cake

Sometimes inspiration strikes in a different way — namely, as poetry.

Every year, before Rosh Hashanah, Motty posts a four- or five-minute message, all delivered in rhyme. It usually discusses the events of the previous year along with observations — a commentary of sorts — and the point is to amuse his listeners and to get people to notice the little things.

“I can take my ideas into the studio and create a professional track,” says Motty, “but I don’t. Because my point is simply to create mind-awakening poetry. This is not about producing professional music.”

In the summer, Motty shared a poem he wrote about his memories of how the world was when he was growing up.

“The poem went viral,” Motty shares. “I totally didn’t expect that to happen. But it was genuine, and people connected to it in a profound way.”

In the poem, the colors and textures of those sweet years come to life. From red towers built with Coca-Cola crates to teeth-pulling Choo-Choo candies, and from the necessity of camp calling cards to the brow-raising use of Bluetooth, those little nuggets of memory were enjoyed with much amusement by those who grew up in the 80s and 90s.

“Some people,” Motty comments, “after hearing a poem, ask me what the tune is. But poems have no tune; they’re complete as they are. They were never meant to be songs.”

Before this year’s election drama, Motty released another poem that took the world by storm. In this candid video, America’s hot issues like the border wall, the economy, the climate and tariffs are all brought to the fore in rhyme so good, politics has never been this much fun to listen to.

The punchline, however, makes any ehrliche Yid sit up straight. Because at the very end, Motty shares that this poem was in fact written eight years ago, and that elections is a wheel that turns… with the same heat and drama being regurgitated each election cycle anew. That leaves us with some food for thought.

A Storied People

Motty’s albums contain many stories told in song. Where do these stories come from? How were they developed? And are they all true?

“Other than stories that are obviously legends, every single story is true. In fact, when I was working on the stories in Hasuges, I verified all details by speaking with the individuals involved,” Motty says. “I’d put out a message saying that I was seeking true stories of greatness, and I was inundated with responses.”

In the same album, there’s a Zundel who doesn’t interrupt his davening, even though he was forfeiting a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity, and a Yakel, who was informed of a huge monetary loss and continued teaching his cheder class as usual. Is this theme of bitachon as it relates to money an especially meaningful one?

“I never made the connection,” remarks Motty. “To me, they’re two different themes. First there’s Zundel, who is full of temimus — davening is davening. Then there’s Yakel, who understands that he’s been confronted by a nisayon and gathers the strength to overcome it.”

However the stories are interpreted, their intent is the same: to inspire people to be the very best versions of themselves.

A Place for the Poignant

On any given album, listeners will find a balance of both slow and quick tempos. And even on an album like Hasuges, which contains stories told in song rather than traditional hora or kumzitz-style numbers, one will find more upbeat tracks and slower tracks. But what is the purpose of truly heartbreaking tales? What is their tafkid ?

“Some songs may tell sad stories,” says Motty, “but the songs themselves aren’t sad. Take the song ‘Mochel,’ for instance. If you listen to it, you’ll find that the track isn’t depressing — davka because the point was inspiring people to see what wonderful Yidden there out there. Look at the kochos of our people!”

The other tafkid of these songs is obvious when reflecting on the feedback they generate.

“Many people in certain situations find these songs so meaningful,” Motty says. “The songs help them make peace with their reality.”

In one example, an older girl who is wheelchair-bound called Motty to tell him about an incident that occurred to her the night Hasuges debuted.

“That night, at a family simcha, she underwent horrific tormenting — at the hands of girls, also guests at the simcha, who should have known better. They teased her, threw things at her, grabbed hold of her wheelchair and spun her around and around — and the girl had no way of stopping them. She yelled for help, but the music was louder than her cries.

“She went home that night,” Motty continues, “went straight into bed, and cried bitter tears.”

Hasuges debuted that night, and the girl’s mother brought the album into her daughter’s room so she could hear it. Eventually, she reached the song “Mochel.”

Motty continues the story. “After hearing that song, she thought, ‘If that father could be mochel the driver who killed his child, then I can be mochel those girls.’ She opened a Tehillim, told Hashem that she forgave them, and, in her words, ‘I felt like a new person.’”

So, yes, when it comes to feedback like this story, we know that the potential inspiration overweighs the question of including tragic stories on an album.

The song “Durechgang” also generated a rush of feedback. Many people in unfortunate situations were so grateful for the lines of genuine empathy that finally gave them permission to cry.

“‘Ich gei dir nisht zugen az di zulst nisht zein tzibruchen…’” Motty intones. “So many people connected to this song.”

FARSHTEIN

I didn’t know why I was there. Until I understood.

Motty was once in Eretz Yisroel to sing at an event, and after hearing about a choleh who loves his music, he adjusted his schedule to accommodate a visit to the hospital.

“In the hallway, outside of the patient’s room,” Motty says, “I met the yungerman’s father. While we were waiting for a doctor to leave his son’s room, he asked me if I’d mind listening to a song that his son drew a lot of chizuk from. He wanted me to sing this song for his son.”

Of course, Motty agreed.

“I don’t even know where the song comes from,” the patient’s father said, pulling out his phone. He played a clip of a man being wheeled into brain surgery, all the while singing the lyrics of “Durechgang.” “Even so, I listen to this song every day, and my son does too. I don’t even have the original version.”

“I know the song very well,” Motty replied, awed. “In fact, I’m the one who wrote it.”

The man couldn’t believe his ears. He and his son listened to this song every single day, without knowing its source, and here was its original composer!

“Go into my son’s room,” he told Motty, “and please, sing him this song.”

Motty complied, of course, and after singing for this patient, he left the hospital. That’s when his day took an even stranger twist.

“I’ve never shared this story,” Motty admits. “I was afraid people wouldn’t believe me. But this is what happened.”

Upon leaving the hospital, Motty took a wrong turn, and soon he found himself completely lost. The day was unbearably hot, and Motty walked around, unable to get his bearings.

“Suddenly, a car pulled to a short stop next to me,” Motty says, “and a yungerman jumped out from the driver’s seat. He looked extremely agitated and said, ‘Are you Motty Ilowitz? From America?’

“‘Yes,’ I told him. ‘What’s going on?’”

The yungerman pulled Motty to the side and said that he wouldn’t believe

what just happened. He was a mashgiach in a local yeshiva, and in his car was a bochur who was struggling with Yiddishkeit.

“I try to be him mechazek,” the mashgiach told Motty, “and I take him out often. Just now, this bochur tells me that he wants a siman that there’s a Bashefer. ‘Oh, yes?’ I asked him. ‘What would the siman be?’

“‘I want Motty Ilowitz to show up here,’ the bochur told me.

“Obviously,” the mashgiach added, “he takes tremendous chizuk from your songs. And then, a moment later, we noticed you walking by!”

Motty glanced into the yungerman’s car and saw a bochur in the front passenger seat. He was bawling his heart out.

“It’s all min haShamayim,” Motty told the yungerman. “It took a schedule change and a couple of wrong turns, but here I am.”

Motty took the bochur’s number, and they still keep in touch.

That encounter was a turning point in the young boy’s life. On that sweltering afternoon, this bochur learned that there’s a Bashefer Who loves him so much that He bothered pulling strings to make the right person appear at the right place at the right time — especially for him.

DIAMONDS

Art in an Album

When it comes down to it, how does pen come to paper? Do the words flow from start to finish? Or does the middle ripen first, and only then does the song come together?

“There’s no formula,” Motty says. “Songs that tell a story generally get written in the order, even though it takes a lot of time to find the starting point and build it up from there. But songs that are based on ideas can go either way. ‘Brive’le’, for instance, which I wrote for Motty Steinmetz, had its chorus before the first line was written.”

All of Motty’s songs are his own compositions. While both, individually, are bound to touch the heart, which comes first, the lyrics or the melody?

“It all happens at the same time,” Motty says. “I start writing with a little melody in my head, and once the lyrics are fleshed out and perfected, the melody will also be tweaked so they can work together.”

This is the point where the mood of a song gets established. When the idea behind the song “Letzte Tug” was conceived, for instance, Motty immediately knew that he wanted this to be a quick song, not a mournful dirge.

“When I thought about the maamar Chazal, I knew that I wanted the song to be positive and encouraging. The idea is that if someone dies tomorrow, they’ll be glad to have chosen to be the best person they could possibly be. The point isn’t to be depressed because there’s a chance they might die tomorrow. That’s why the tempo is fast and geshmak.”

Rhymes, too, get developed without a strict formula.

“I don’t intentionally choose one rhyme scheme over the other,” says Motty. “I look at the concept, start to build the lyrics, and it takes off from there.”

Sometimes the inspiration results in a back-and-forth ABAB rhyme scheme, or the easy-to-follow AABB, and other times, the song will come together in snappy stanzas, rich with internal rhyme and the AABCCB rhyme scheme that bounces back onto itself.

With all the precision these songs contain, many take years to complete. The lyrics might be developed, and then put aside for a while so Motty could return to it at a later point with fresh eyes. In one case, however, a song practically wrote itself.

“Motzei Shabbos, right after the Mumbai attack — sixteen years ago this week — I sat down to write ‘Har Hamoriah’, which is about places throughout history where Yidden were killed al kiddush Hashem The final place mentioned is Mumbai, of course — especially relevant now after the recent attack in the United Arab Emirates.

“That Shabbos, sixteen years ago, the entire Yiddishe world was on tenterhooks, waiting to hear the sad ending of the attack on the Beis Chabad. Motzei Shabbos, when the news came in, I remembered the concept of the Beis Hamikdash being built on the spot where the akeidah took place, and the song was completed so quickly, it shocked even me. Usually these songs take me a very long time to write.”

Interlude: The Depth of Silence

Some songs feature brief interludes, or a pause in the singing, and instead of nearly empty space, a flute playing a lone row of notes will bring the listener to rapt attention. Same with the sound of a train chugging down the tracks — or even the surprise of sudden silence.

What role do these interludes play? What stories do they tell?

“I usually know what we need to hear,” Motty says. “Sometimes I’ll tell the arranger, I need a pause here — or the sound of a train, or an alarm clock. In the song ‘Kleine Mentchen’, for instance, I wanted the silence that follows a bomb that obliterates everything. The song was ready, and we added the sound of birds flying away, which was reminiscent of a field being left completely empty.”

Other times, a song might be delivering a concept so huge, or so heavy, that the listeners need a break so the message could sink in.

“That’s when we’ll have a guitar or other instrument playing some notes,” Motty says. “In one especially heavy song, the interlude features a guitar that seems to be crying. The effect is so powerful.”

Other times, it’s silence that does the talking. The song “Di Mama’s Oigen,’ which tells the story of a mother who gave up her own vision so her daughter could see, is so heartrending that Motty felt like all the song needed was to be built up to a startling finish — and then stop. Listeners can sense the tug of the story and follow that crashing crescendo, where both the story and song simply end.

GEMEINT

I thought I knew why I named him Yakel Samet

The story behind “Yakel Samet” is one that’s been told by Reb Meilich Biderman, shlit”a Even though it had already been told in the past, Motty chose it as one of the tales featured on the Hasuges album.

In the story, Yakel, a melamed, hears midmorning that he’s lost a significant sum of money, and then he returns to class and continues teaching as if nothing has happened. When the mehanel later asked him how this was possible, Yakel said that he was taught by his rosh yeshiva, Reb God’l Eisner, zt”l, that sometimes one is confronted by a nisayon that serves as the singular reason this person was sent down to This World.

“This song has an interesting postscript,” says Motty. “The album was released the week before selichos, and alef selichos, I received a phone call from a Gerrer yungerman living in Yerushalayim.”

This yungerman told Motty that when he heard the song, as well as the mention of Reb God’l Eisner, zt”l, he knew that “Yakel” must be a Gerrer chassid. Because Reb God’l was a rosh yeshivah in Ger, and the concept of “the one nisayon that matters” was one he taught.

The next time he met up with his fellow Gerrer yungeleit, said the caller, they discussed this — that “Reb Yakel” must be someone they knew. Finally, one person said, yes, he remembers that this story happened to an older Gerrer chassid by the name of Zeidman.

Alef selichos found this Gerrer yungerman in the overcrowded beis midrash, which was filled with chassidim who’d come to their Rebbe for the Yomim Nora’im. After selichos, he noticed an American chassid and his sons pushing their way through the row behind him, until they stopped at an elderly chassid

“We’d like a bracha from a voile Yid l’kavod di heilige teig,” said the father.

The elderly Yid bentched him and his children, and when he was done, the father of the boys said, “May I ask your name?”

“Yisroel Zeidman,” the elderly Yid replied.

When this yungerman sitting one row away heard this, he spun around.

“Were you once a melamed ?” he asked Reb Zeidman.

“Yes,” said Reb Zeidman. “Do I know you?”

“No,” said the Gerrer yungerman who later called Motty, “but I think there was just a song released about you.” He repeated the story, and Reb Zeidman confirmed that he was indeed the melamed in the story.

“When I tracked down the people to get the details for this story firsthand,” says Motty now, “I spoke to other people who verified the details for me. I didn’t even know who Yakel himself was. And now this Gerrer yungerman found him. Personally, what struck me about this encounter was that I named the melamed Yakel Samet. Samet means satin, or zeiden… And Yakel, or Yaakov? That’s essentially the name Yisroel…”

Communication Skills

The Secret to Healthy Relationships

The Joy of Spreading Light

According to Motty, the greatest joy of delivering a night of music is leaving his listeners feeling uplifted by his performance. Whether it’s a fifteen-minute Mekimi visit done as a chesed, or a mitzvah tantz honoring a slew of grandparents, when he sees a face in the audience light up because he sang the right song, or chose the right word, he’ll feel the tremendous gratification of a job well done.

“It might be a baal teshuvah watching his first mitzvah tantz and who gets called up in English, or a bochur who needed that extra word of chizuk. Whatever it is, it’s that one line or word that makes the entire night worthwhile.

“Hashem gave me a gift: the ability to bring meaningful music to people,” Motty continues. “No matter the setting, no matter the audience — using my music to bring joy to people is priceless.”

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WHAT’S IS HALLEL?

Rav Avigdor Miller explains that the word hallel means more than just “praise.” It comes from the word holel, which means “wild.” Dovid Hamelech said, “Amarti laholelim al taholu” — I said to those who are jovial and wild, ‘Don’t be wild’ (Tehillim 75:5). The word holel comes from ho, “to shout.” When drunken revelers are dancing and singing they shout “Ho! Ho!” — that’s holelus

Rav Miller says, “A Yid’s job in this world is to shout — shout in happiness. But to whom should you shout? Not like those drunken revelers who shout over nothing. Our shout is not holelus, but hallelu Kah — praise of Hashem! Shout out in wild simchah to Hashem! He’s the Author of our happiness. He is the One — the only One. Therefore, shout out in happiness and gratitude to Him, and only to Him.”

When they first brought the aron of Hashem to Yerushalayim (Shmuel II 6:16), Dovid Hamelech danced in the street, jumping up and down wildly, among the common people. This image should be burned into our minds. Dovid’s love for Hashem was unmatched, and that’s why we use his words to express our feelings toward Hashem. Dovid Hamelech set ahavas Hashem aflame in our hearts forever and ever.

“Hallelukah, hallelu avdei Hashem, hallelu es shem Hashem” — You servants of Hashem, be wild over Him (Tehillim 113:1). Whom do we praise? Hashem. And who praises Him? Avdei Hashem That’s our job in this world — to thank Hashem.

Thank him for what? For everything.

Dovid Hamelech said, “Kol ha’neshamah t’hallel Kah” — every soul, praise Hashem (Tehillim 150:6). The Midrash says that the word neshamah can be read as “neshimah,” breath, rendering the pasuk, “Kol ha’neshimah t’hallel Kah” — Praise Hashem for every breath.

The purpose of life is to say Hallel with every breath we take. Hallel should be said with great enthusiasm; we are the Chosen People performing our highest mission — to praise Hashem.

YAAKOV ASTOR

THE SERVANT CANDLE

Rabbi Berel Wein tells a powerful story that took place on the final night of Chanukah in 1934, in the heart of Brno, Czechoslovakia. The city’s Jewish community was filled with anticipation. The president of the country, Thomas Masaryk, was coming to visit their shul. Masaryk, already advanced in years, had been traveling across the country, bidding farewell to the nation he had led with wisdom and compassion.

The atmosphere inside the shul was electric. The menorah stood tall in front of the aron kodesh, its golden arms illuminated with the full glory of the lit candles and the humble shamash standing off to the side.

Masaryk walked slowly, taking in the beauty of the room, his eyes lingering on the menorah. He turned to the rabbi. “Tell me,” he asked, “why is one candle separated from the others?”

The rabbi explained that the shamash is the “servant candle.” Its sole

purpose is to kindle the others.

Masaryk fell silent. The weight of the rabbi’s words seemed to press on him. Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with emotion. “This servant candle reminds me of your people. The Jewish people have brought the world the greatest light — faith in one G-d, morality and justice. And yet, you are pushed aside, forgotten, unacknowledged for the light you’ve given to the nations. You are treated as outsiders.”

Tension filled the air. Masaryk’s words, spoken with

THE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE THE SHUL WAS ELECTRIC. THE MENORAH STOOD TALL IN FRONT OF THE ARON KODESH, ITS GOLDEN ARMS ILLUMINATED WITH THE FULL GLORY OF THE LIT CANDLES

kindness, carried a warning. He saw what was on the horizon. Hitler was already in power, and Masaryk feared for the safety of the Jewish community.

Yet his metaphor hit the mark. This is the mission of the Yidden: to be avdei Hashem, loyal servants of Hashem, to shine the light of His greatness even in the darkest of times and places. The menorah’s shamash, the servant candle, captures this beautifully. It doesn’t take center stage in the mitzvah, yet its role is essential: It kindles the other flames and ensures they burn brightly.

We are tasked with illuminating the world with the light of Torah and emunah, serving as a reminder of Hashem’s presence even when the world seems at its darkest. And in our role as the shamash, we do it not with quiet resignation, but with hallel — a joyful and unrestrained gratitude to Hashem.

THE 60/40 RULE

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein shares the following story (originally published in Powerful Moments by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger).

Usher had several daughters over the age of 28 and was struggling to marry them off. This preoccupation took up much of his time and weighed heavily on him. Usher also had a chavrusah whose daughter had recently become engaged. To secure an apartment for her in Yerushalayim, he needed a cosigner. Out of kindness, Usher agreed to be the guarantor.

However, when his friend couldn’t keep up with the payments, the responsibility fell on Usher, who couldn’t afford it either. Subsequently, the bank repossessed Usher’s home. Now, not only did he have unmarried daughters, but he was also homeless. A friend suggested he go see the Gerer Rebbe, the Beis Yisroel, for advice.

THE CONVERSATION ENDED, AND USHER WAS LEFT FEELING CONFUSED. HE HAD BEEN DAVENING FOR HELP, BUT HAD HE EVER REALLY THANKED HASHEM FOR WHAT HE ALREADY HAD?

During their conversation, the Rebbe asked, “Usher, do you daven?”

Usher was taken aback. “Rebbe, of course I daven! Every day, I ask Hashem to help me marry off my daughters and resolve my debts.”

The Rebbe pressed further, “Yes, but do you daven?”

Usher, feeling puzzled, replied, “Yes — I daven every day.”

The Rebbe then clarified: “Davening isn’t just asking Hashem for what you need. Davening is also thanking Hashem for what you have. Do you thank Hashem for all the blessings He has given you?”

The conversation ended, and Usher was left feeling confused. He had been davening for help, but had he ever really thanked Hashem for what he already had? Thinking further, he asked himself with a sense of despondency: I’ve lost my house, I have unmarried daughters; what do I have already?

He shared this encounter with a friend, who pointed out, “You have clothing, health, a beating heart, functioning lungs. You can see, hear, talk and think. Every day, trillions of processes in your body work perfectly. There are many people who can’t say that.”

Usher realized there were countless blessings in his life that he had taken for granted. He made a list of the things he was grateful for and began to see how much he truly had.

Rabbi Glatstein explains that the Rebbe had shared a secret with Usher: the key to davening is a balance of hakaras hatov and bakasha, gratitude and requests.

How much? Usher noticed something hinted

at in Hallel, which we recite every day of Chanukah. We ask Hashem to save us and give us success — “Ana Hashem hoshia na,” and “Ana Hashem hatzlicha na” — four times. But we thank Hashem with the words “Hodu LaShem ki tov” six times. Out of ten pesukim, six express gratitude, while four are requests — a 60/40 ratio.

This 60/40 balance reminds us that while it’s important to ask Hashem for what we need, the foundation of our tefillos — and our lives — must always be gratitude for the countless blessings we already have.

A LIGHT IN THE DUNGEON

Chanukah is our expression of gratitude for how Hashem saved the Yidden and how He stands with us today even in the darkest of times, showing us that His light is eternal.

Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin shares a powerful story about experiencing Chanukah in prison. He begins by explaining that, during his time in prison, he faced many challenges, one of which was not being allowed bail because he was deemed a “dual citizen” solely due to his Jewish identity.

As Chanukah approached, he desperately wanted to perform the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. He reached out to the Aleph Institute, hoping they could secure permission for him to light an oil menorah. Incredibly, they succeeded, but there was one condition: He had to light it in a fireproof room, which was deep within the old wing of the prison. It was a dark, dungeon-like room, with cold stone walls and minimal furniture — a place far removed from the warmth of a home.

out asking for further permission, led Rabbi Rubashkin to a smaller, private room. Rabbi Rubashkin couldn’t believe it. “It was like a miracle straight from Hashem,” he recalls.

Once inside the new room, he felt closer to achieving a true Chanukah experience. But there was still one more challenge. The prison had given him only 30 minutes to light the menorah, yet according to his custom, he wanted the candles to burn for at least 50 minutes. Nervously, he asked the guard, “Could I please have a little more time? At home, I let it burn as long as possible, sometimes even two and a half hours.”

The guard was clearly puzzled by this additional request, but after a pause, he said, “All right. You can light it here just as you would at home.”

THE GUARD WAS CLEARLY PUZZLED BY THIS ADDITIONAL REQUEST, BUT AFTER A PAUSE, HE SAID, “ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN LIGHT IT HERE JUST AS YOU WOULD AT HOME”

The officers escorted a handcuffed Rabbi Rubashkin to this room, though with permission to remove his cuffs just for the mitzvah. He felt a surge of joy. “A mitzvah is a connection with Hashem,” he thought.

As he prepared to light the menorah, he noticed an Lshaped partition in the corner, behind which was a lone, grimy toilet. This troubled him deeply. “How can I make a bracha here?” he wondered, horrified at the thought of saying Hashem’s name in such a place. Summoning his courage, he turned to the guard. “I can’t light here,” he said firmly.

“Why not?” the guard asked, taken aback.

Rabbi Rubashkin explained: “I’m speaking to G-d. I’m blessing Him by name. It isn’t right to do that next to a toilet.”

To his surprise, the guard understood. After a moment of consideration, the guard signaled to his colleague, and with-

Rabbi Rubashkin related that he felt Hashem’s presence so powerfully in that moment. For each of the eight days of Chanukah, he was allowed to light his menorah and sit alone in that little room, watching the flames flicker and feeling, even in the cold and isolation of prison, the warmth and light of freedom and connection to Hashem.

Fittingly, his Chanukah miracle came full circle. Hashem granted him the ultimate gift: freedom. And it happened on Zos Chanukah 5778, the final day of Chanukah that year.

In those days, in this time. Just like during the time of the Yevanim, miracles can happen even in the darkest of times and places.

PINK

CANDLES

Rabbi Fischel Schachter tells a powerful Chanukah story, which further illustrates this idea.

One cold night in Vienna, a dedicated teacher returned home after a long day, ready to light the Chanukah candles. As he prepared to set them up, his three-year-old daughter burst into tears. She had wanted pink candles, but her father had only brought blue ones. Despite the cold outdoors, and his wife urging him to stay in, he insisted on going back out to find some pink candles, because, as he said, “Chanukah comes only once a year.”

After much effort, he found the shamash of the shul, and even though the shamash initially refused, the father finally convinced him to get him some pink candles. He returned home, and his daughter was delighted.

Years later, during the Holocaust, this man’s life took a tragic turn. His wife was killed, and he was left running with his daughter from place to place, trying to stay alive. They ended up at a farmhouse, where the farmer, who recognized the man from his time as a teacher, agreed to shelter the little

THE MENORAH’S FLAMES TELL THAT STORY, AND HALLEL GIVES US THE WORDS TO EXPRESS IT

girl, whose blonde hair and blue eyes allowed her to pass as an Aryan. However, he warned the father to leave immediately, as the Germans would kill him if they caught him harboring a Jew.

The father didn’t want to leave his daughter, but the farmer insisted, eventually forcing them apart. The separation was agonizing, and the father fled. Miraculously, he survived the war. After many years, he returned to the farmhouse, desperately searching for his daughter. When he knocked on the door, a teenage girl with long braids answered. She didn’t look Jewish, and when he told her, “I’m your father,” she ran inside, frightened, and told her mother there was a crazy man outside. The mother, realizing what was happening, called for her husband, who came out with a shotgun, threatening the father.

As he stared at the barrel of the gun, the father knew he had only one chance to save his daughter. In desperation, he shouted, “The pink candles! Do you remember the pink candles?”

The girl froze. Memories flooded back. She ran toward him, crying, “Father, father!”

The farmer and his wife knew then that they couldn’t keep her. All those years later, the pink Chanukah candles spawned another Chanukah miracle.

ILLUMINATING THE DARKNESS

The menorah’s flames proclaim Hashem’s miracles in a world that often tries to extinguish them. They teach that the victory of the Chashmonaim wasn’t just military; it was spiritual. Against all odds, the Yidden rekindled the flame of Torah and mitzvos, a flame that continues to burn in every Jewish home.

Chanukah isn’t just a celebration of an ancient miracle; it’s an annual reminder of how Hashem stands with us in the darkest times. The menorah’s flames tell that story, and Hallel gives us the words to express it.

As we light the menorah, we’re not just making a statement about the past, but also about the present and the future. Each flicker of the flame declares that Hashem is with us in every generation, and every word of Hallel reminds us to thank Him for the miracles we’ve seen, as well as the ones yet to come. Hallelu Kah!

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Can you write a good limerick?

It’s a poem with a bit of a trick

Read the ones we gave

And vote for your fave

Can’t wait to see the poem you will pick! ILLUSTRATIONS

THE MONSEY VIEW’S VOTE-TO-WIN POETRY CONTEST

Frum life is full of meaning… and very unique. In honor of Chanukah, we present eight limericks that celebrate the fun, funny and unique things we do (usually for no good reason).

Email your response to comments@themonseyview.com, or fax it to 845-600-8483, by Tuesday, December 31, 2024, for a chance to WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE? LET US KNOW!

To up the stakes, the winning entry will also receive a $75 gift card at Bais Hasforim!

Name:

Phone:

Title of my favorite poem:

Read, vote and enter to win!

EISHES CHAYIL

Hadassah Steinman

Wig sporting neither stripe nor curl A once-upon flighty young girl

Many balls midair Clown skills disappear

Worth exceeds a mountain of pearl

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Sarah Moeses

They say, “Sleep while the baby is sleeping”

Like it’s the simplest rule to be keeping

Also mop when he mops

And shop when he shops

And you’ll weep while the baby is weeping

IN THE MOMENT

Sandy Eller

Peeling, frying, grating, chopping

Kids all home, the house is hopping

Relax and pause

Enjoy — because

Soon we’ll all be Pesach shopping!

PUT TOGETHER

You matched up the sock to the shoe

The hair bow and yarmulke too They wore it – you blinked You washed it – it shrinked

And now there’s more shopping to do

If they deny there are piles — not true

LAUNDRY LIES

Mindy Perl

They’re in the same situation as you It may be folded just fine

For a moment in time

Before the piles start sprouting anew

Simcha Kahn

IN SEASON

Perl

The wind blows and the snow is heaped high

But spring shopping season is nigh

Just why is it the norm

That we’re bundled up warm

To buy rompers for far-off July?

FOOD FIGHT

Esther King

All morning you bake cakes and sweets

Afternoon it’s chicken and meat

You fill pantry and fridge

But it helps not a smidge

The kids claim there’s nothing to eat

THE SHTREIMEL

Shevy Hollander

To my wedding how I counted down

To at last don that regal fur crown

But my pride grew smaller

As shtreimlach grew taller

And mine is now the flattest in town

Mindy

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Bringing together old and new, this fritlach board brings the warmth of tradition and presents it in a fresh, fun and interactive way. A party on a board!

The heirloom fritlach recipe below is all about tradition and technique. For perfect, crispy results, roll the dough quite thin (but not paper thin), and make sure the oil is sizzling hot throughout, but not yet smoking.

Special thanks to Mrs. Greenfeld for sharing this original, traditional recipe.

MIRIAM PESSY WERCBERGER AND CHANA N. GLUCK

As she shares the special techniques used when preparing fritlach with us, Mrs. (Babby) Greenfeld remembers the culinary efforts of women in the previous generation.

“A brownie cake was a project that took half a day! My mother would prepare a certain cake for Shabbos when afternoons were long, and her hand would tremble as she served it.”

Babby’s fritlach are drenched in personal mesorah as well. “I know that most people serve it on Chanukah, but I make it for the first night of Sukkos, because that’s what my mother did. And I only make them then, because foods that are not served often have chashivus.”

Fritlach today bring a wistful reminiscence of that long ago time where there were no readymade doughs in the freezer section of the supermarket, and no one had heard of “hacks.”

There was just the simple wholesome goodness of a Yiddishe mamme lovingly and painstakingly rolling, cutting and frying her fritlach just so, like her mother did, l’kavod Chanukah.

THE HEIRLOOM RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

3 cups Wondermills flour

2 eggs plus 1 egg white

2 T. oil

3 T. sugar

1 T. vinegar

¼ cup white wine or white cooking wine

½ cup seltzer

DIRECTIONS

1. Place all the ingredients into the bowl of a mixer, and knead to form a smooth dough.

2. Cover, and allow the dough to rest for a half hour.

3. Divide the dough into three evenly sized balls.

4. On a well-floured surface, roll one-third of the dough into a large rectangle of approximately ⅛” thickness.

5. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut into small rectangles measuring approximately 1½ x 2½ inches.

6. Cut a diagonal slit into the center of each rectangle.

7. Take one corner, twist it into the slit, and gently pull it out to form a shape resembling a bow.

8. Heat a few inches of oil in a frying pan set over medium heat until very hot, but not smoking.

9. Place a few fritlach into the hot oil and fry in batches, taking care to maintain the oil temperature at a constant, but not frenzied, sizzle.

10. Fry until fully and deeply golden on each side. Remove and place on a cooling rack to drain. Before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar by letting the sugar fall through a sifter held over the fritlach.

In addition to doughnuts and latkes, fritlach are another delicious way to commemorate the neis of Chanukah. Unlike fritters, their universally known counterpart, which are any small, fried food and often include a main ingredient surrounded by batter, fritlach are simple goodness: strips of deepfried batter dusted in powdered sugar.

Food Sponsor:

DREIDEL FRITLACH

Have your dreidel and eat it too with these adorable and delicious fritlach dreidels!

On a well-floured surface, roll the dough into approximately ⅛” thickness. Carefully cut shapes with a dreidel mold. Cut a diagonal slit in the center to prevent the dreidlach from puffing up while frying.

FRITLACH WRAPS

The easiest, crunchiest addition to your fritlach board. Try them and you’ll be hooked.

Cut up wraps into desired shapes, and deep fry for a few seconds on each side until golden. Drain.

DIPS ‘N SAUCES

This board is all about the dips and sauces. Here we’ve got five times the fun and five times the flavor with enough variety for all.

DOUGHNUT JELLY

Put juice of one lemon into a container of Baker’s Choice Doughnut Jam, and blend with a hand blender until smooth.

CHEESECAKE DIP

8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 T. milk

Mix cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until combined. Add vanilla and milk and mix until smooth.

DULCHE DE LECHE

Mix Baker’s Choice Dulce de Leche Caramel Cream with a bit of milk until a smooth, dippable consistency is reached.

LIQUID MARBLE

This is as easy as opening a can of ready, melted, luxurious Baker’s Choice Liquid Marble.

RAZZLE MIX

And then, to hit a home run, dip it all into Baker’s Choice Razzle Mix.

HEAT CONTROL

When frying, the temperature of the oil is key. Oil that is too hot will cause food to smoke and burn while the inside remains raw. Oil that is not hot enough will penetrate the food and make it soggy. Preheat your oil over medium heat for a few minutes, and maintain a strong and steady sizzle throughout.

Small and sweet as they are, fritlach are mesorah pastries that have been privileged to grace rebbishe tischen. Fritlach carry nostalgia into modern times by conjuring up di bubbe’s kitchen, and the loving toil inherent in each dish of that time.

For

please don't hesitate to contact our community liaison, and your concern will be resolved in the most e ective manner.

Mr. Yossi Margareten

CHAPTER 3 OF 6

We

use the first session to establish Moshe’s baseline. Moshe is surprised at how challenging working out can be.

On the way to Moshe’s place for his second session, I couldn’t shake the memory of our session the previous week. I knew Moshe wasn’t fully sold on this whole exercise thing, and today felt like a crucial point.

Moshe opened the door, and for a second, I thought he might be in a better mood than usual. But as he led me in, I could see that his usual impatience was still there.

“I don’t know what you did to me last week, but for about three days, my legs were killing me.” He rubbed the back of his legs. “Every time I had to go up the stairs, I felt like I was learning how to walk again.”

“That’s totally normal,” I said, setting up a twelve-inch step box on the floor. “How do you feel about that?”

Moshe shrugged. “On one hand, it was so annoying. You know... I don’t want to be limping around like an old man,” he said, exaggerating a limp. “On the other hand, it was... I don’t know, I felt like I accomplished something.”

Before I could respond, Moshe pointed at the twelve-inch box with his foot, almost kicking it. “What is this? Some kind of booster seat for spices? My wife has something like this in the kitchen.”

“This?” I said, laughing lightly. “We’re going to use it for step-ups. Let me show you. You’re going to step up on the box and then step down. Simple.”

“You just want me to step up and down?” Moshe asked, looking at me like I was wasting his time.

“Exactly. Let’s get going.”

Moshe rolled his eyes but got going. He put his right foot on the box, stepped up, then stepped back down with a sigh. “Do I need to switch legs or what?”

“For this warm-up, it doesn’t matter,” I said. “The

goal is to get your blood flowing and prep you for what’s next.”

“I was thinking,” Moshe said, after about 30 seconds of stepping, “if I do this more often, I assume my body will just get used to it, right? No more limping around like an old man?”

“Good question,” I said. “We’ll discuss it in ten seconds. Let’s finish this set first.”

Moshe smirked but nodded, finishing his last couple of step-ups. His breathing was slightly heavier, but he tried not to let me see that.

“All right,” I said, “next up is a toe touch. Bend forward as far as you can, reach for your toes, and come back up. But don’t rush it; control the movement.” I demonstrated the exercise.

Moshe bent forward, his shoulders shrugging toward his ear like he was bracing for a swim. His back curved awkwardly.

“Hold on,” I said, walking over. “When you bend, let your arms slide down your legs, and keep your shoulders pulled down towards your hips. Otherwise, your back will do all the work.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Moshe muttered, adjusting. He tried again, his back looking a bit better, though his shoulders still wanted to creep up. I let it go — for now.

“So, to answer your question,” I said as he straightened up, “you’re right. Exercising regularly will reduce soreness. Would you consider doing more on your own?”

“WHAT IS THIS? SOME KIND OF BOOSTER SEAT FOR SPICES? MY WIFE HAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE KITCHEN”

“Even though my legs were sore, I felt more energized for a day or two.” He looked like it was hard for him to admit it. “But if you’re telling me I won’t feel like I’ve been hit by a truck every time, I might consider it.”

“Good. Let’s do three more reps,” I said, coaching him through the movement. “Pull your shoulders down as you bend.”

As Moshe worked through the reps, I decided to push a bit. “You know, there are ways to ensure it happens. When you’re ready to go for it, we should discuss it.”

Moshe grunted. “Just tell me.”

I shook my head. “Only if you’re serious about implementing it.”

“How can I tell you if I will or won’t if I don’t know what it is?” Moshe shot back.

“Fair point,” I said. “But for now, let’s get into a plank.”

Moshe glared, but he dropped into a push-up position as I instructed. “Five seconds holding, five seconds with your knees down. Let’s go.”

After a minute, Moshe stood up, slightly out of breath but still trying to hide it. “This is good,” he admitted. “What’s next?”

“We’ll do a few more rounds of this, then move into strengthening,” I said, pleased with his effort. “But first, back to the step-up for some active recovery.”

“Fine,” Moshe muttered, catching his breath. “I’ll implement it.”

“You sure?” I asked, locking eyes with him.

“Yep.”

“Okay. When it comes to exercise,” I began, “you need to

start small and build up. The goal isn’t to dive into 45-minute sessions right away. Let me ask you: What are you more likely to commit to — a 45-minute workout or a five-minute one?”

Moshe looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Five minutes? What is five minutes going to do for me?”

“Aha,” I said, tapping my head. “This is where mindset comes in. Right now, you think five minutes is a waste of time, right?”

“It is a waste of time.”

“But the goal isn’t to do five minutes forever,” I explained. “The goal is to build the habit of exercising. Once the habit’s there, you can increase the time. Tie it to something you already do — like after shul or learning. Keep it easy to stick to.”

Moshe’s expression shifted slightly, the wheels turning in his head. “That actually makes sense.”

“Now let’s finish with those lunges.”

When we were done, Moshe wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Phew, this session was tougher than last time.”

I nodded. “Yep. So, are you going to do five minutes or 45?”

Moshe smirked. “All right, five minutes.”

“And when can you fit it in?”

“Probably when I get home from shul.”

“Great. I look forward to hearing how it goes next week.”

I knew it was premature to celebrate, but I couldn’t help grinning as the door closed behind me. Moshe was starting to get it.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Tzviki Smith is the owner of Smith System, which helps busy Jewish business owners bring fitness into their lives with personalized training at their home or office. He can be reached at 845-671-9945.

WEEK 3: BEND

The bending movement is super important because we do it all the time — whether it’s tying our shoes or picking something up. The muscles used for bending are similar to the ones used in squats, but the main difference is that when you bend, your body leans forward, while in a squat, your body stays upright.

To improve bending, start by practicing reaching for your toes. Once you feel strong, you can try bending while holding something for an extra challenge.

Here’s how to do the bend exercise:

1. Stand with your feet hip- or shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward.

2. Start to bend forward from your hips, keeping your back mostly straight.

3. As your body lowers to where it’s almost parallel to the floor, let your back bend a little more as you go down further.

4. Once you reach the point where you can’t go any further, hold for a moment.

5. Slowly and while maintaining control, come back up to a standing position. Do this ten to fifteen times. Once you feel strong and in control, you can try it with some weight to make it more challenging.

WHAT AN EXHAUSTING JOURNEY THAT WAS. TRAVELING BY SEA, THEN THE TRAIN…

IT’S NOT MY FAULT. PIETRO TOOK HIS HAPPY TIME PACKING UP HIS BOMBS.

BUT SOON I’LL SEE TATTY, MISHA, LEIB AND ESTERINA! I MISS THEM SO MUCH.

IF THE BOOM-BOOMS AREN’T PACKED PROPERLY, THEY’LL MAKE A SERIOUS BOOMBOOM ON THE TRAIN!

I DON’T CARE! NOW WE’LL HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH PARAGUAY. HURRY!

FINALLY! I MADE IT HERE!

I JUST NEED TO FIND A RIDE TO MONIGOTES. LET’S GO!

LET’S GO, LAZYHEADS! COME ON! YOU MADE US MISS THE TRAIN, AND NOW THE RUBINOVS ARE A STEP AHEAD OF US!

WE’LL CATCH THOSE PESKY RUBINOVS IN SURINAME AND SHOW THEM WHO WE ARE.

ONE TRAIN LEAVES; ANOTHER ONE ARRIVES.

OFF CLIMBS…

RECAP: ABUELO JOSÉ MORENO SUGGESTS THAT THE RUBINOVS TRAVEL TO FIND THE TREASURE AND USE THE MONEY TO HELP THE RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS. BEHIND THE DOOR, PEDRO HEARS THE PLANS AND DECIDES TO FOLLOW THEM AND GRAB THE TREASURE FIRST.

THEY’RE HARDLY GONE, AND ALREADY I MISS THEM.

UH… NOTHING. I JUST THOUGHT I SAW ZUSHA FOR A MOMENT. BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. RIGHT?

WHAT IS IT, SONNY?

IT’S MAKING ME THINK OF ZUSHA.

ON THE TRAIN, A FEW HOURS LATER:

I WISH ZUSHA WERE HERE.

BITS OF WITS

SHEVY HOLLANDER

A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE WONDER

Teeth are the only body parts that cannot heal themselves.

Though the phrase “poisonous snake” is engraved in our collective consciousness, it’s not technically correct. Most dangerous snakes are venomous. The word poisonous is used for something noxious that is consumed, and venomous is used for something noxious that bites a person.

FLOWER POWER

Use the following letters to list 5 words, each using 7 letters and up. Only the center letter must be used, and letters can be repeated. Bonus points for pangrams (words that use all seven letters).

TANACH TEASER

WHO IN THE TORAH HAD A NAME THAT WAS HALF OF HIS GRANDFATHER’S

NAME?

MARK THE SPOT SNAPSHOTS OF THE WORLD’S BEAUTY

These cube houses in Rotterman, Netherlands, were designed for the way it maximizes interior space, even though from the outside they don’t look liveable at all. These, built in 1970, were the first of its kind, but cube houses can be found in several countries by now.

N C I F T E V

THINK OF THE LINK

Find a common factor for this group of four words

1. compass

2. pine tree

3. sewing kit

4. porcupine

TEASE YOUR MIND LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

THINK OF THE LINK

Find a common factor for this group of four words:

1. cabinet

2. board

3. panel

4. council

These are all groups of advisors.

PANGRAMS: hometown townhome

OTHER WORDS: memento monotone tenement

WHAT IS 3/7 CHICKEN, 2/3 CAT, AND 2/4 GOAT?

Answer: Chicago

TANACH TEASER

Parshas Vayeitzei has a total of 148 pesukim, which is the gematria of its last word:

ADD TO DICTIONARY

WORDS YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT SAY THINGS IN A WHOLE NEW WAY

Peripeteia ( per-eh-peh-TEE-eh) is a sudden unexpected turn of events or change in circumstances, especially in literary work.

Serial writers use peripeteias to keep us on our toes.

WHICH SANDWICH DOES THE WITCH WISH FOR? SAY IT WITH A TWIST

Do you find box drinks frustrating because the kids inevitably spill the sticky contents just by squeezing it while holding it when it’s full? The box drink is actually designed to avoid that. Pull out the two triangular flaps at the top, and teach kids to hold it that way. You’re welcome!

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

THE WORLD’S LARGEST MENORAH IS 32 FEET TALL, WEIGHS 4,000 POUNDS AND GETS LIT EACH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH IN MANHATTAN AT FIFTH AVENUE AND 59TH STREET NEAR CENTRAL PARK. ISRAELI ARTIST YAACOV AGAM SAID ITS DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY A HAND DRAWING BY THE RAMBAM OF THE MENORAH IN THE BEIS HAMIKDASH.

We welcome town trivia, historical facts and photos, and Torah-themed riddle submissions. We’d also love to hear if you have additional answers to our puzzles! Email comments@themonseyview.com to add your very own bits of wits. Please include your name and contact information.

BOGGLE TOURNAMENT

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Gather round the table to play a family game of Boggle, using this Boggle board.

2. Once you have a winner, fill out the form below in its entirety

3. Email the form to comments@ themonseyview.com or fax to 845600-8483 by Sunday at midnight.

4. Two winners will be drawn each week, each of whom will win a pastrami sandwich and a can of soda!

PLAYING RULES:

Find words on the board containing four letters or more. Letters of a word must be connected in a chain (each letter should be adjacent to the next either vertically, horizontally or diagonally), and each letter can only be used once in a given word.

The following are not allowed in Boggle: Adding “s” to a word • Proper nouns • Abbreviations • Contractions • Acronyms

POINTS

4-letter words: 2 points | 5-letter words: 3 points | 6-letter words: 5 points | 7-letter words: 7 points | 8-letter words: 9 points | 9+ letters: 12 points

HINT

Each Boggle board hides a word of nine letters or more!

F P I S U O C R H D

A V U S A B O N E Z

M I Y T R

Family name:

Full mailing address:

Full name of winner:

Amount of points:

Full names of competing players:

List some words only the winner found:

WINNER 1

FAMILY NAME: Levin, 845-xxx-3344

NAME OF WINNER: Rachelli

AMOUNT OF POINTS: 87

NAMES OF COMPETING PLAYERS: Totty

WINNER 2

FAMILY NAME: Weiss, 845-xxx-8692

NAME OF WINNER: Mommy

AMOUNT

NAMES

COLOR ME PRETTY

Filling in lines with shades of color is an age-old activity that is as soothing as it is enjoyable. Grab a pack of color pencils or gel pens to find out why coloring isn’t only for children!

Talent Show

Vincent Neighbors

Meir Stern

Sruly Herhkowitz, 4

Ruchy Friedlander

Shea Friedman, 8

Hindy Dancziger, 6

Margaretten

Ruchie Friedlander

Laufer Family

Shiala Feder, 8

Motty Samuel, 4

Mendy Teitelbaum

Moishe Weiss

Rivy Feder

Raizy Eger

Shloimy Breuer

Shia Barzeski

Naftuli Gruenstein, 5

Motty & Eli Beur

Shiala, 8

Classifieds

FOR SALE

DOONA STROLLER

Doona Stroller, multiple colors avail.cll/txt 1-201-6144045

NEOCATE/BABY FORMULA

Neocate $46.99 per can. Kendamil Similac L’Mehadrin in stock!! We buy off any formula for a good price and trade as well. Call for other types of formulas. New! Option of shipping case of 6 Kendamil directly to you from England. Formula Trade 347.369.4886

BEBE ORGANIC SET

Looking to sell a natural color bebe organic set, size 3 mths, with matching bonnet and blanket, beautiful for vachnacht. Please call 347 382 0905

CANON CAMERAS

2nd hand cameras call 347871-2330 shipping 10 dollars beautiful g16 in stock

HUGE INDOOR

GARAGE SALE

Beautiful furniture, housewares, home décor, games, books all in brand new condition and very discounted prices! 1 Emes Lane every day 12-5pm 845371-6063

MEN’S CHANUKA GIFT

Gorgeous תרוטקה םוטיפ on klaf in genuine leather/ cowhide cover. $550. Very limited quantity. Perfect for husband/father/chosson. Call/text 845-533-2796

REAL ESTATE

APT/OFFICES FOR RENT

2 rooms plus kitchenette for rent, also an option for an office (Wifi Included). Jill area. Reasonable rent. Call 845-826-6076

FURNISHED APT

Beautiful 1 bedroom Fully Furnished Apartment on Old Nyack. Walking distance to Evergreen. Please call 347512-6561

APARTMENT FOR RENT

Brand New two bedroom apartment for rent in the Chestnut Ridge/ Dexter Park area. Call or text 845- 5870461

MAIN ST.

1 bedroom furnished apartment - 845-263-2300

ELM ST.

4 bedroom Apartment With Playroom, 2.5 baths – 845263-2300

2 BEDROOM APT

Very nice 2 bedroom apartment avail on Bates Dr. 845-746-7251

FURNISHED APT

Brand new furnished 1 BDRM, D/R and Kitchen available for rent at Calvert Sandspoint area. Please email rcmanageoffice@ gmail.com or text 845-8286781

FOR RENT

Beautiful furnished studio apartment available for rent on Route 306. For more information call/text: (845) 545-4500

FOR RENT

Beautiful 1 bedroom apartment available for rent on Sunrise. For more information call/text: (845) 545-4500

APT FOR RENT

Spacious 4 Bedroom apt plus playroom and Pesach Kitchen for rent. Call/text 917-586-9462

WEST PALM BEACH

APT. FOR SALE

Century Village-Golf Edge, 1 ½ bedroom apt. 2 baths, Brand new appliances, Ready to move in now. Price $200K or best offer. Call: 845.325.0500

FOR RENT

Large basement available for rent in Chestnut Ridge area. Great for storage and offices. Private entrance. separate bathroom included. Approximately 1400 sq. ft. 845-587-0406

WEST PALM BEACH

FLORIDA

Very nice clean 2 bedroom apartment for rent in Century Village, West Palm Beach Florida. Please call 845-216-6793/ 845-425-7773

HERITAGE LN

Brand New Walk-in 2 bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Laundry room, 9’ ceiling, central AC, call/text 347-3082683

NEW LISTING!

Chesnut ridge/Scotland Hill area - brand new modern with 6 bedrooms plus large finished basement. Adir properties 347-884-7309

SPACE AVAILABLE

Commercial space available for rent in basement within a property located on Main Street, New City. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact ari@ triangleus.net

2 BEDROOM APT

2

Walkin ,Quartz Countertop, Soundproofed

845-262-0532

SUMMER RENTAL WANTED

Looking to rent a big house for the summer in the Monsey, Monroe, area or Catskills. It should have place for at least 35 people. Please call 347.623.0891

Classifieds

MIAMI APARTMENT

Spacious 2 bdrm, 2 bathroom apt for rent. newly furnished, brand new appliances. 36th Street corner Collins Ave. Available for Jan, and Feb. Please call or text 646-3457817

SPRING VALLEY/UNION

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms for rent. Call 347-403-9933 leave message.

OFFICE FOR RENT

Newly renovated offices for rent on LENORE AVE. please call 845 533 2427

HAVERSTRAW

1000 SF ground floor space + 15 parking spots available for rent call/Text 845.203.1120

RETAIL BUILDING FOR SALE

RETAIL BUILDING IN HAVERSTRAW ON RT 9W

4,000 SF, ASKING $999K, GREAT LOCATION, TEXT OR CALL 845.203.1120

STORAGE/PARKING

Storage and or parking located in a professional building in Airmont. 347693-4315

FOR RENT

Office Cubicles for women to rent on Francis. Internet and WIFI included. Only $100 a month! For more information call/text: (845) 232-0676

WEST PALM BEACH

For the best Real Estate deals, Call: Mrs. Debby Schwartz 203.667.2785

LAKEHOUSE VILLA

Luxurious 3 bedroom lake house villa in Case Grande Arizona. Private pool fully stocked kosher kitchen. 520.251.4459

WEST PALM BEACH FOR SALE

Wellington M, 2 Bedroom apt. Ground Floor FOR SALE. Call: 347.760.0639

MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA

Carriage Club North, beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bath, ground floor, for rent. Call: 347.499.0031

FLORIDA RENTAL

Beautiful 3 bedroom 3 bath

villa with inground heated pool and hot tub available in North Miami, Price per night $389. Pictures available. Call/ Text 845-327-7153

SHORT TERM RENTAL

Airmont, NY - Furnished 6 bedroom house, 20+ beds. Across Lorna Park. Weekday, Shabbos, or Short Term. Call 347-451-9432

MONSEY VACATION/ SIMCHA RENTAL

Beautiful fully furnished

Shabbos equipped 6 bedroom 4 bath house Highview/ College. Call/ whatsapp 718541-0292

FURNISHED RENTAL

2 Bedroom furnished apt on Adar Ct. Great for mechutanim or family Simchas. Please call 845-2137732

HOLLYWOOD FLORIDA

Beautiful private villa. 4 Master suites with kosher kitchen, huge living area, pool. Walking distance to Shul/ Kosher shopping. Call/ WhatsApp 718-541-0292

OFFICE FOR RENT

Located in Upper Saddle River NJ. - Covered parking - On-site Ownership and Management - Conveniently located on Rt. 17 - Easy access to Route 202, Interstate 287 & Garden State Parkway

- Small Suite OpportunityFlexible Lease Terms! - Rare Opportunity. Call/Text: 908783-2230

MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA

Collins Ave. Beautiful ocean view. 1 bedroom apt. for rent. 347.760.0570

BEAUTIFUL VILLA RENTAL

Beautiful villa in serene area outside Monroe. 9 couple rooms, teen room 8 beds and many kids mattresses. Huge private pool with stunning grounds. New!!! Jacuzzi Hot tub. Pictures at hotelfifteen. com .still avail for sukkas 845 837 5662

VILLA IN CASA

GRANDE ARIZONA

Gorgeous upgraded villa available. 14 comfortable beds, 3 baths, kosher kitchen. Beautiful private backyard with heated pool. Near Shul & Grocery. Call/text 929-592-0368 / 929-441-5709 Arizonakoshervilla.net. Villa in Tuscon also available.

NORTH MIAMI FL.

· Couples Only· Kosher Vacation House, · Private Heated Pool· Warm, Relaxing, Dreamy, · Beautiful Patio· 5 Min walk to a Shul. Contact chany for more details @ 845274-7610

SHORT TERM RENTALS

Luxurious vacation properties some with pools available for short-term rentals in the Monsey area, perfect for accommodating 20 to 150 guests. Designed for large families, Shabbatons, etc. conveniently located. Great Minds 845-520-3250.

HELP WANTED

BOOKKEEPER

Seeking an Bookkeeper with collections experience parttime. $40+/hr TopCareerNY@ gmail.com

HELP WANTED

Construction office looking to hire a full-time secretary and project manager. Preferable knowledge of QuickBooks. Please email your resume to officejobs4832@gmail.com

OUTSIDE SALESPERSON

Busy construction office looking to hire a outside salesperson, Great growth opportunities for the right candidate. Please send your resume to dmb5082@gmail. com

Optometrist

$140k-$170k Monsey

Mechanical Maintenance

Manager

$80k-$100k Monsey, NY

Salesperson (Exp Required)

$60k-$80k + Commissions NJ

Email: Yisroel@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

CFO (Non Profit)

$150k-$250k Monsey

Level 3 IT Tech

$150k+ Monroe

Department ManagerHealthcare (Female Environment)

$50k-$100k Monroe

Director Of Operations

$50k-$75k Monsey

Coordination Supervisor F/T

$50k+ Monroe

Saleslady P/T (Women’s Fashion)

$28-$30/Hourly Monroe

Seamstress

$20/Hourly Monroe

Life Insurance Agent

Commission Base NY/NJ

Email ChanaF@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

COO (Healthcare/Nursing Home)

$200k-$300k Hybrid

Current Career Opportunities in Monsey/Monroe & Surrounding Areas

Nurse Practitioner (Homecare)

$150k-$190k Monsey, NY

Email: AdinaS@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Sales Rep/Outside Sales

$80k-$100k+ Commissions Wood-Ridge NJ

Salesman (Construction)

$1000/ Weekly + Commissions Tri State

Email: Rivka@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Director Of Marketing & Business Development (Home Healthcare)

$150k-$220k Travel

Licensed Teacher (Preschool UPK)

$68k Manhattan, NY

Inside/Outside Sales (Trucking)

$1000/Weekly +Commissions NY

Email: Sophia@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Architect

$100k-$150k Monroe

Tax Accountant

$80k-$150k Monsey/Monroe

Social Media Manager

$75k-$150k Wayne, NJ

Email: RickyR@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Director Of Operations/ office Manager

$70k+ Great Neck NY

Bookkeeper (Exp Required)

$65k-$70k Linden/ Hybrid

Loan Processor

Pay BOE Monsey/Monroe

Executive Assistant (RE)

$30+/Hourly Monsey

Loan Processor (Entry Level)

$23-$25/Hourly Monsey/ Linden

Email: Peri@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Salesman

$50k + Commissions Remote

Email: Hindy@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Homecare RN

$140k-$150k Manhattan

Sales Manager ( Flooring)

$125k-$150k Wayne NJ

Product Developer (Manufacturing and Distribution/ Flooring)

$85k-$135k Wayne, NJ

Email: ChanaG@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Coordination Supervisor

$80-$95k Monsey, NY

Email: ChayaL@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com

Classifieds help wanted N

JOBS AVAILABLE

Part-time & Full-time jobs available. Email TopPartTimeJobs@ gmail.com

SALES/OFFICE MANAGER

Seeking an experienced female sales/office Manager with a successful track record. Will paid + solid bonuses structure. GreatMonseyJob@Gmail.com

150+ JOB OPENINGS!

Stop wasting your time going through all the jobs classifieds. Simply email your resume to Info@ SwiftStaffingGroup.com to explore your options & maximize your career. Or Call/Text/ WhatsApp 732-800-7633 Strictly confidential & completely free.

BCBA POSITION

ABA Riders is looking to hire a BCBA. Well-paid, flexible hours. Contact Rikki 347930-9736/info@abariders. com.

DORM COUNSELOR

A Yeshiva in Riverdale (Bronx) is seeking a dorm counselor to supervise high school boys. 4 nights per week, for the hours of 9pm- 8am. Great Pay. Meals provided. Call 718.432.2600. Ex 104

WORK FROM HOME

Great opportunity to manage your own business from home. No experience needed, no computer necessary. Huge potential to grow big. Call: 438.529.1216

LADIES!

Create a successful business by working only 1-2 hours a day! Huge potential and full support! Call/text 845-3245182

CHESS TEACHERS

Hiring dynamic, responsible chess teachers. Weekday late afternoon availability needed. Earn up to $80/hr, based on experience. Apply at ChessChevra.com

ADMIN ASSISTANT

Accounting firm in Suffern seeking an admin assistant. All women’s office. Willing to train. Great environment! Option for FT or PT. Send resume to ckohn@ bernathandrosenberg.com

RECRUITERS

Seeking additional experienced recruiters, earn up to 75% commission + paid vacation 3 times a year. Email ProRecruiterNY@gmail.com

DREAM JOB!

Easy fun enjoyable job in comfort of your home your availability huge potential!call/text 8452742728 for more info.

CREATIVE LEADER

Join a local Amazon company as the head of our Creative Team! We’re looking for a Creative leader with strong managerial skills. Amazon experience is a plus. — Great heimish office environment. Bring your creativity and leadership to our team—apply today! Email: monseyjob123@ gmail.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Are you in need of extra income with not a lot of time? Then this is for you! Create a successful retail business in the comfort of your home. Full training and support. No risk. To hear more call 605-313-4101 then 6036621# then ref 1#. For more info call 347-756-2666

BAAL KORAY

Seeking Baal Koray to lein each Shabbos or when available. 45min walk south of Chestnut Ridge. Good pay. Contact: 201.749.2890

SEEKING WRITERS

Organization seeking writers as volunteers to write articles, poems, etc to inspire girls in shidduchim. Email singlesinspire@gmail.com

SUBSTITUTE

Playgroup in Chestnut Ridge is looking for a substitute Morah for February and March. Please call 845-2905039

LICENSED CLINICIANS

Seeking clinicians licensed as LMSW, LCSW, LMHC for Intake Evaluations, Treatment Planning, Supervision, and Individual Therapy. Email resume to recruiting@elevateny.org

LADIES!

Work from home part time. Risk free. No boss. Lots of potential and support! No computer needed. Call/text 3474096070

DIRECTOR OF HR

Lead HR strategies & operations. Recruiting, employee relations, compliance, training, & team management. Email resume aklaver@aylondon.com

DOCUMENTATION SUPPORT

Behavioral Health program seeking FT individual with exceptional writing skills to assist Mentors with their written work. Fluency in Yiddish required. Email resume recruiting@ elevateny.org

FEMALE SERVICE COORDINATOR

Behavioral Health program seeking FT experienced admin to support clients and staff, ensure compliance with documentation and oversee scheduling. Yiddish speaking required. Email resume recruiting@elevateny.org

Looking paRtnERs &

• CFO, 5+ years forecasting and budgeting experience, knowledge of grant management and compliance for notfor-profit organization, CPA degree required, 225k+, Monsey

• In-house Attorney, National Real Estate company seeking an experienced In-House Attorney w/ 5+ years expertise in contract and employment law, Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, 150k – 200k, Monsey [remote/hybrid]

• Controller for established private school, manage the financial operations, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Proven success in budgeting, and cost control principles w/ analytical and problem-solving skills, 200k, Monsey

• Director of Finance & Payroll Compliance, 3+ yrs. experience in finance, accounting, payroll tax compliance and managing multi-state payroll tax filings, 175k - 225k, Monroe

• Construction Site Manager, oversee ground-up commercial and residential projects. Full ownership of project management, with a focus on cost savings, efficiency, and strong relationship-building. 5+ years’ experience managing new construction projects required, 175k - 225k, Monroe

• Real Estate Asset Manager, 3+ yrs. experience required, construction experience a plus, driving distance to Monsey, 150k+, Monsey

• Real Estate Asset Manager, 3+ yrs. experience required, construction experience a plus, travel required, 150k+, Monsey

• Accountant, 2+ yrs. nursing home industry experience required w/ bank reporting and dealing with lenders, 150k, Monsey

strong knowledge of PM methodologies, communication, problem-solving and leadership skills, 90k – 120k, Monsey

• CAD Documentation Specialist, full-time position, be detailoriented professional with a focus on CAD documentation accuracy and efficiency in supporting cross-functional engineering and production teams, 100k, Newark, NJ

• Buyer, 2+ yrs. experience w/ kitchen equipment supplies, negotiate prices, strong communication, analytical and procurement skills, 100k, Monsey

• Payroll Administrator for Real Estate office, 2+ yrs. relevant experience, 100k + full benefits, Monsey

• Warehouse Manager, oversee daily warehouse operations, manage a team of 40+ associates responsible for receiving, packing, and picking orders. Be highly organized and process-driven leader with excellent communication / implementation skills, relevant experience required, 95k115k, Newark NJ

• E-Catalog Content Manager, experience in catalog management, product data processing, or similar roles, 85k - 110k, Newark

• Hands-On Property Manager, overseeing daily operations of commercial/residential properties located in Bronx, NYC area. Manage maintenance, repairs, coordinate w/ vendors, handling tenant relations. 75k – 100k, office based in Monsey

• Senior Bookkeeper, Multi-Family Real Estate office, ensures the smooth and accurate management of financial operations for multiple entities. Be detail-oriented and organized. 85k - 100k, Monsey

• HR Associate, onboarding, recruiting experience a plus, be tech-savvy, multi-task, 75k, Monsey

• COMHAB/Respite Team Leader, Full-time position, Female office, Supervisory experience required, 70k – 80k, Monsey

• Estimator for Commercial / Residential Real Estate company, read plans, write up estimates, present budgets, email proposals, be detailed, organized, enjoy working with numbers, experience in estimating a plus, 75k+, Monroe

• Store Manager for Hardware Store, 70k plus commissions, Passaic, NJ

• Paralegal, full-time position, 70k+, Monsey

• Junior Accountant, Real Estate Management company, hands-on experience working with general ledgers, journal entries, credits/debits, and P&L statements, Familiarity with tax returns and Financial Statements; experience with accounting software, 65k – 75k, Monsey

• Junior Bookkeeper, male office, be familiar w/ QuickBooks, tech-savvy, quick learner and a team-player, 65k- 75k, Monsey

• 1031 Exchange Officer, oversee and facilitate the process of 1031 exchanges, managing the 1031 docs, client communication etc., 65k – 75k, Monsey

• HR Director, manage Indeed accounts and staffing of Nursing home facilities, relevant experience required, 120k – 150k, Monsey

• Customer Service Operations Manager, proven leader, experience managing large teams in customer service or similar environments. Experience with data analysis, reporting, and process improvement. Enhance service quality and exceed KPI’s, 125k – 150k, Newark, NJ

• Manufacturing Equipment Repair Technician, Hands-on expertise with CNC and/or related equipment. inspect, troubleshoot, and repair CNC and other manufacturing machines, strong mechanical, electrical, and troubleshooting skills, 100k – 140k, Newark, NJ

• CPA, for large Real Estate Management company, Yardi experience required, 100k – 130k, Monsey

• NetSuite Administrator, be familiar with NetSuite settings, configurations, and customizations, as well as having the ability to integrate NetSuite with other systems, full-time, 120k+, Monsey, [Hybrid 1-2 days a week]

• Bookkeeper, Manufacturing / cost accounting experience required, transaction entries & bookkeeping, month-end Reporting & close, analyzing and reporting on inventory, labor, and material costs, 100k - 120k, Parsippany, NJ

• IT Project Manager, 2+ years IT - PM experience, lead technology projects from initiation to delivery, manage project scope, coordination, executing project plans have

• HCBS Intake Coordinator, 3+ years w/ HCBS program and compliance, 95k, Monsey

• Internal Communications and Marketing Specialist, 3+ yrs. experience in internal communications and marketing, Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, 80k - 90k, Monsey

• HCBS Quality Assurance Compliance Director, HCBS experience required, female office, 80k – 90k, Monsey

• Construction Project Manager, 2+ yrs. commercial construction experience required, travel to Tri-state area, 90k+, office based in Monsey

• Construction Project Manager, 2+ yrs. construction experience required, 70k - 90k+, Monroe

• E-commerce Catalog Listing Manager, maintain, optimize listing performance, running deals, etc. 70k – 90k, Montgomery NY

• Logistics Project Coordinator, logistics and freight management experience required, including working directly with shipping companies, 75k – 85k, Newark NJ

• Office Admin position for Article 16 OPWDD Clinic, 75k –85k, Monsey

• Financial tracker, for Nursing home facilities back-office, be attention to-detail, great communication skills and enjoy working w/ numbers, male office, 55k – 65k, Monsey

• Licensed Social Worker for local agency, male population, $65/hr. - $90/hr., based on experience, Monsey

• Behavior Therapist (LMSW, LCSW or MHC) $65/hr. per client session, Monsey

• Mental Health Therapists, Interns positions, salary based on experience, Monsey

• Nurse Practitioners, experience in Psychiatric medication management, Part time, Flexible hours, salary based on experience, Monsey

• Leading Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Brokerage firm, seeks motivated and ambitious individuals to join their team as Real Estate Finance Advisors, develop relationships with real estate owners and developers to arrange financing. Learn to analyze and underwrite deals, 40k plus commissions, Monsey

• Bookkeeper, 2+ yrs. experience required, $30 - $35/hr., Monsey

• QA Coordinator, Female office, Part-time - Friday required, Excellent reading/ writing skills required. $30/hr. Monsey

• Full-time Customer service positions available. $25 - $30/ hr. Monsey

• Fiscal Intermediary Coordinator, 6+ hours daily MondayThursday, Friday a must. Prior office experience required. $30-$35, Monsey

• Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Service Coordinator, relevant experience required, $35/hr.+, Monsey

• AP Rep, AR Liaison, Payroll Rep positions. $25 - $35/hr., Monsey

• Female Care Manager - BA or Equivalent degree required, relevant experience preferred, part-time or full-time $30/ hr.+, Monsey

• Assistant for Project Manager, multi-task, attention todetail, excellent computer skills, full-time position, $28/ hr. Monsey

• Secretary, Real Estate office, full-time position, be organized, multi-tasking, detail-oriented and Microsoft Office proficient, $25 - $30/hr., New City

• Cyber Security Analyst - must have completed basic cyber security coursework, $25 - $30/hr., room for growth, Monsey

• Real Estate Title Coordinator, 1+ yrs. experience required, 70k – 80k, Monsey

Front desk secretary, Part-time/Full-time, $25/hr., Monsey

Warehouse Inventory Quality Control/Packer, inspect items for damage or defects, verify items are accurate and match orders/pack items securely and ensure shipments, $20/

INSIDE SALES position, Energy rebate programs, 3+ years sales experienced required. Excellent communication skills, salary plus commissions based on experience, Monsey

Admin assistant, full-time position, excellent communication skills, basic computer skills required, graduates welcome! $20/hr.+, Monsey

Classifieds

CAD DRAFTER

Architect office in Monsey is looking for a AutoCAD drafter. Heimish Environment. Please email resume to office@deesignny. com

WORK FROM HOME

Great opportunity to manage your own business from home, no experience needed, no computer necessary (optional), huge potential to grow big. Call 347-765-3604

CARE MANAGER

Seeking Care Manager to oversee client caseload. Collaborate with caregivers, provide support, complete assessments, manage documentation, develop care plans, coordinate & monitor care services. BA required. Email resume aklaver@ aylondon.com

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Looking for a dynamic and rewarding job? Join our team

and make a positive impact! An amazing Home Care Agency is looking for a fulltime employee. We have a friendly and supportive work environment, competitive pay and benefits package. Send your resume to: hiring@hamaspikcare.org

COMPANION NEEDED

Looking for someone special to get together with a sweet single woman any days from Sundays-Thursdays and anytime during the hours of 5/6 pm to 8/9 pm. Activities include going out into the community for recreational activities, shopping and errands, etc. Car required, expenses paid. $18 - 22/hr DOE. Please call845.425.0887 ext.217

CHILDCARE

BABYSITTING

Very small group. warm and experienced babysitter with personal attention for your little one. Good hours. Jill/ Yale/Blueberry area. Call/ text 2483763552

SERVICES

HANDYMAN

Assembly of all types of furniture & Furniture Repairs -Installation of Blinds,Shades,Shelves,RodsServicing Monsey Area Chaim- 347 416 1027

PETTICOATS FOR RENT! Complete your look! Adult & kids petticoats for rent, Beautiful floral wreath & crown headpieces for rent, Adorable kids jewelry, and more! Call 845-5020153 leave msg or 845746-7248

MASSAGE THERAPY

--In The Comfort of Home-*Swedish *Deep Tissue *Lymph *Craniosacral Therapy Call Sarah: 845596-1373

EARPIERCING

12 years experience. Wide selection. Call/text: 845-5387986

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

- Proven experience in fundraising, development, or a related field preferred

- Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team

- Proficiency in fundraising software and donor management systems (a plus)

- Yiddish speaking a plus!!

Location: In-office, Monsey

Salary commensurate with experience

Hours: Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-12pm/1pm

Email your resume to: rocklandcountyjobs@gmail.com

Classifieds

NEW WEBSITE?

Get your Beautiful, Fast, SEO-Friendly Website done in 14 days, guaranteed. Email efraim@rapidquill.com

WIGS

New, Custom, & Repairs! Quality wigs at great prices. Call/Text: 845-787-9447

DEAD SEA CREAM

BS”D Powerful treatment at the source for knees, shoulders, back, arthritis, fibromyalgia. Dead Sea/ Essential oil creams, Yiddishe innovation. English/Yiddish 1(516)259-3169 (Israeli hours).

PHOTO EDITING

Sharpening, upscaling, lighting adjustments, add or remove a person etc. Do you have old scanned photos that you want to adjust and sharpen? Great prices! 845662-5012

LASER IN NYACK

Smooth results, unbeatable price! Full-body laser hair removal for just $350 at StarBeam Laser in Nyack, NY. Check our reviews to see why clients keep coming back! 929-490-7375 https:// starbeamlaser.com/

HAIRSTYLING&CUTS

Professional Hairstyling & Haircuts. 306 Location | Great Prices | Call to book 845-213-7649

DIET WITHOUT HUNGER?

It’s possible! Low Carb Diet (under Rabbi Meisels’ guidance) helps lose weight, increase energy, improve bloodwork. For women/girls. 845-352-7532 x201

CUSTOM PHOTO ALBUMS

We specialize in custom Photo Albums, Chosson, Wedding, etc. Also professional Photo Editing, many years of experience. Special rate for photographers. Call: 347.563.5153

GREAT NEWS!!

We now offer Haircube Synthetic Wigs for $149 including the cut!!! Many beautiful colors in stock! Wash and set!!! Specialising in synthetic wigs: crimps and defrizzing. Month of December: $40. Call/ text: 845-263-0943

GIFT WRAPPING

Gift Wrapping For All Occasions. Call/Text/ WhatsApp 845-521-5979

AYIN HORAH

The renowned Rebetzin Aidel Miller from Yerushalayim will remove Ayin Horah over the phone. Call till 5:00 PM: 718.689.1902 or 516.300.1490

COACHING= SUCCESS!!!

Smart & talented, BUT.. You Can’t take the first step? pressured? it seems impossible? 1 hour of coaching will break you through to success!! Call for appt 845-400-2202 #2 #1. Get Free 10 min of coaching. E. Danziger,ATC ,MC. Motivational & Relationship Coach

HAIRSTYLING BY ESTY

Hair styling and cutting in the Wesley Hills/New Hempstead area. Call Esty 845-354-7533

ATTENTION SCHOOLS NEW: keyboard/piano player now offering group sing along sessions in schools and other group settings. Please feel free to contact shira. 845-624-9865 *References Available*

FULL-TIME SECRETARY

Location:

Classifieds

WHOLESALE FISH

Buy by the case & save. Baby & Regular Salmon. Hashgucha Volove Rav. Free delivery to your home. Call Eli: 516-270-6755

ARROWSMITH

Is your child still in the same place after all that tutoring?Join Arrowsmith, a research based program that strengthens the brain and eliminates learning disabilities. Call Mrs Feuer 914-260-6449

! “ SOLUTIONS “ !

Win! Start “Living” ! Depressed? Stuttering? Beat it! Easily and Quickly. Avi Weinberg 845-558-4027. Under 18 parental consent

EXCLUSIVE OFFER!

You can now get a Haircube wig expertly cut & styled for only $100! Everything included! All colors now in stock. Noriko wigs on sale for only $349. Call Blimy Gelb 845-502-5360

STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY

Family. Portraits. Upsherin. Newborn. Book your session today! 845-540-1078 Special Upsherin package, call to inquire.

THE WII GAME IS NOW LIVE

Exciting New Activity for your family and friends! Enjoy hours of fun with life size games projected on your wall. Perfect for Chanukah vacation or your Chanukah party. To Rent: call or text 845587 - 0461

APPLY NOW!

Now Accepting Applications! Exciting news! Our new dormitory and night program for special needs young adults (18+) is now accepting applications for our Program. Contact us at (718) 637 7984 to learn more. Empowering special needs young adults to shine!

GLASS PAINTING

Attention: Principals & Curriculum Staff. Book Your Unique Glass-Painting Experience for Chanukah! Explore a variety of options secure your slot today. Limited availability! For information, call: 845-4457265

CUSTOM BED&BATH

Free Quote on All types of Wooden beds, Vanities & custom furniture, Text, WhatsApp 845-721-6392

MEGA CHANUKAH SALE!

Gift the latest Forever Living Products this Chanukah. 20% OFF! 1 WEEK ONLY! Don’t miss this chance. Ask about our gift packages. To order call/txt 845-637-6746 Free gift with mention of this ad.

GARTLECH

we fix knitted & crochet

Gartlech & make beautiful professional fringes. We also teach how to knit & crochet. call: 917-414-3281

GOWNS

SISTER OF THE BRIDE

Magnificent black designer gown size 4-6. 2 gorgeous off-white gown sizes 2 & 4 to sell/rent. Call leave message. 845-364-9634

MATERNITY GOWN RENTAL

Georgeous selection of maternity gowns affordable prices all sizes...New! Also accepting gowns on consignment. Please call/ text 8458622799

GOWNS FOR SALE

2 beautiful ivory gowns for the sister of the bride for sale. Size 0-2 and 2-4. Call 845425-4013 leave message.

WHITE MATERNITY GOWN

White maternity gown size large to sell for great price call 7183098716

MECHUTANESTA GOWN

Beautiful Taupe Gown for sale. size 16. 845.502.6491

GOWN FOR SALE

Kleinfeld bridal gown size 0-2. Also designer cream gown for sister of the bride size 2. call 917-843-5094

WHITE GOWN

Looking to sell a size 2-4 white gown for sister of the bride, please call 347 628 9586

GOWN FOR SALE

Beautiful white gown for married sister of bride, for sale. Size 2-4 845-200-4326

CHILDRENS WHITE GOWNS

2 white gowns to rent or sell childrens size 4 & 6 call 7189388597

SISTER OF BRIDE

Gorgeous gowns for sale: Olive Green size 2-4, Hunter Green size 0-2, Grey size 4-6, Blush size 4-6, Ivory size 4, Grey/

30 stitch heavy duty new metal 1 step buttonhole blind hem serging stretch and decorative patterns with case. Orig $499 now $269. Other

Classifieds

Taupe Winter size 12, Ivory kids size 12-14. 845.502.6491

ODDS & ENDS

CHESED OPPORTUNITY

BILINGUAL PSYCHOLOGIST EVALUATORS

Make a difference at HASC and join our collaborative team in our Monsey EI and Preschool Special Education Program. WE

YIDDISH PSYCHOLOGIST EVALUATORS FOR OUR GROWING PROGRAM. MUST BE NYS CERTIFIED. Warm, supportive & enjoyable work environment. Excellent pay.

Young woman with medical issues need an attorney to help her declare bankruptcy. If able to assist, please call: 845-596-3976

PRIVATE BESHOW ROOMS

Looking for a nice private place for a Beshow? A few locations available in the Monsey area. No charge. Call 845-426-5484 or 845-7467251

PECTUS GROUP

Is someone you know suffering from PECTUS EXCAVATUM I’m looking to share experience with others please contact me at pectusgroup1@gmail.com

FREE GIVEAWAYS

SECRETARY POSITION

Looking for a secretary for an office in Pomona. Flexible hours. Contact Rebeca 347930-9736/info@abariders. com.

GREAT NEWS!

Due to demand we are opening a younger age Kiddie group. 15-21 months. 845-828-0364

Transportation/ extended hours. (Ridge/Rt 59 area)

YOUR DREAM JOB

Woman, Looking for pocket money to become big money? Please call 347-638-4236

CHESTNUT RIDGE

HOME FOR RENT

•

• Say

in tehillim and repeat those 2 steps 18 times until you lit 18 candles.

• You say

• Daven for one

few boxes of Yiddish magazines such as ,

845641752

Used Neewer heavy duty Mic stand 8453762476 lv msg

Recently expired garden of life raw prenatal. 360 capsules. Call text 845-3277377

G&G SZ 16M boys all weather coat very good condition 347243-1143

yiddish reading material 3711765

Old seforim approx 1949 in good condition 3711765

Breakfront good condition call/text 845-323-2715

LATE ADS

SALESMAN

Looking to hire a dedicated, motivated, and energetic salesman for a growing Monsey company. Great pay and commissions. Call 845827-3528

5 bedroom, 2 bathroom private home on Wilshire Dr in Chestnut Ridge. This well maintained property features a large deck, gated above ground pool, one car garage. The home has been tastefully updated and is situated on a large lot offering plenty of privacy and space. Rent is $3,950/month. Available immediately. Call/ text 845-667-4959

FOR SALE

4 Room Walk In Apartment, Spacious, Stunning And Newly Built, High End Appliances, High Ceilings, Deck, No Steps- But Beautiful Views! Basement For Storage. Aom Realty Inc 845 7293284

BLEI GIESSEN ACCORDING TO MESORAH

With our mesorah, we clear the way, And bring you blessings that come to stay. Call 718-400AYIN, just $72/session, or $50 Monthly. we keep shpreching until it’s GONE!

FOR RENT

Near Mountain Ave- Off College Rd. Stunning Bright New Apartment, 2 Bedroom, Kitchen/Dining Room, 1 Bath, $ 2000. Aom Realty Inc 8457293284

ןימוחנת סוכ

This Chanukah

Be the most popular host!

The spirits are high! The kids are all over the Doughnuts already...

Even Esti who always manages to show up late is here.

But theres no stress in the kitchen this year, no angry Bubba shouting at all the Einiklach.

This year its different Chanukah became a time of actual joy!

Meats:

Swiss Steak

Spare Ribs

Baby Back Ribs

Finger Meat

On the menu Mains:

Chicken:

Sesame Chicken

Rice Crispies Chicken Fingers

Chicken Lo mein

Grilled Baby Chicken

Sides:

Potato Latkes

Pastrami Orzo

Fried Rice

Pastrami Vegetable Eggrolls

Cold Cut Knishes

DESSERTS:

Doughnuts

Fritlech

Apple Custard Puffs

Peanut Butter Mouse Cups

Strawberry Shortcake

Churros

SKVER REBBE’S SON VISITING THE ‘GOLDKLANG ARCHITECTURE’ BOOTH AT SKVER EXPO

Shapes

Yiddishkeit

"Sometimes, a small upgrade makes a world of difference."

PAY FAST AND SECURE.

THE NEW GOCAB TERMINAL. NO DRIVER INTERACTION

KEEP YOUR CARD SECURE

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

TRACK YOUR RIDES

FAST AND SIMPLE