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The Shopping Maven The Premier Shopping Guide for the Savvy Jewish Consumer Publisher’s Letter The Real Story of Chanukah

hile we know the familiar story of Chanukah, and are reminded of its virtues by our children who are re-learning the story every year, this Holiday has become best known for family gatherings, oily foods, and presents! Who doesn’t associate Chanukah with freshly made latkes and apportioning wrapped gifts over 8 nights of delight? We are celebratory for good reason, though the events leading up to the miracle of Chanukah were, of course, much more disconsolate, rooted in oppression like many stories of our history. Through our struggle as a Jewish people, there was perseverance; through destruction, there was hope. the Maccabees led a revolt in the name of Hashem to protect what He gave us (The name ‘Maccabee’ is actually an acronym for Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem, “who is Like You, O G-d”, which we say daily in prayer). Fighting for what you believe in is a battle cry we all embrace, and one that gave the Jews the ability to withstand the test of time and opposition. Our story of persecution back then, is not unparalleled to the horrible events happening in Israel, and in many other parts of the world today, where Jewish liberty is not an option, and membership alone is baked in vulnerability and danger. The perils our people face each day is a reminder of the real story of Chanukah - one that demands us to appreciate and protect our right to freedom, and celebrate not only the miracle of lights, but what that miracle stands for, the generational growth and success we have achieved and continually strive towards, and the individuals who come together to create our powerful nation. This Chanukah issue of The Shopping Maven celebrates the local heroes who ignite our people’s growth and inspire personal and unified perseverance, despite hardships. Our Cover Story features The Maccabeats, the Jewish a Capella group from YU that proudly boasts their heritage, marching along their journey towards international fame. Our ‘Business Focus’ touches upon inspiration from the ever-growing local business Vera & Nechama, situating new families into our community every day. Read our ‘Meet and Greet’ section, which proudly portrays the power of good deeds, and the wonders that Lillian Lee creates daily. This issue also reveals some of the miracles that Yachad performs for its Bergen County Special Needs community, in our ‘Mitzvah Moment’ portion. Find our powerful D’var Torah by Dr. Dovid Lieberman, who instructs on how to make miracles happen on an intra-personal level. Be captivated with this edition’s Charlie Harary column, while he unlocks the greatness of business owner Jason Gelber who embodies the power of belief. Catch our current Dear Rebbe column, which is being hosted by the ever-popular Rabbi Daniel Feldman, answering your burning Chanukah questions. With so much new content, make sure you check out our regular content that you keep asking for, including: • Our Exciting Featured Contest – Will you Win $500?! • Kids Korner - with an unbelievable Chanukah Crafting project (and Bonus Contest!!), display of local kids’ arts and crafts, and Famous Abba games page! • Recipe Section highlighting delectable creations by TV personality Jeanette Friedman, Joe Godin of Smokey Joe’s, and Teaneck’s Teen Chef Eitan Bernath • Health and Wellness features with Rebbetzin Beth Taubes, and Dr. Maty Youngewirth • D’v ”ART” Torah with words of wisdom on inspirational art by local artist Natalia Kadish Finally, we are thrilled to announce our spectacular upcoming TSM Exclusive Chanukah Bash! Come celebrate our heritage! Bring along the child in you, and all your children; gather ‘round, and get ready to MEET THE FAMOUS BOB McGRATH of SESAME STREET Sunday, December 6th – Join him for a live sing along, and get his signature! See page 9 for more details! We are very excited for this, and hope to see you all there! So, enjoy our riveting content, and of course, remember to support your local business partnerships, who create the infrastructure enabling our local community growth… Utilize the many coupons and discounts in this issue (over $2500 in savings exclusively in The Shopping Maven!) to brighten your holiday season, or just your mundane outings! ;) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving , Chanukah and holiday season - We are here to help inspire you to go out and make your own miracles, at a time when we all need it most! Enjoy, Save, and Prosper,

Very Truly Yours, Bergen County’s Local The Shopping Maven Team 6 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Table of Contents

9 14 17 20 60 24

Meet Bob McGrath! TSM’s Chanukah Bash! Charlie Harary: Chanukah and Believing in Yourself Win $500! See Contest Health & Wellness: The Dieter’s Dilemma, Rebbetzin Taubes

•

Dry Eyes, Dr. Maty Youngewirth •

TSM Meet and Greet: Lillian Lee does Wonders

Chanukah D’var Torah, Dr. Dovid Lieberman

Cover Story: Meet The Maccabeats!

40 41 42 45 50 54 55 56 64 70 74

KIDS SECTION: Chanukah Crafting Corner {& Bonus Contest!} •

Torah Fun with Famous Abba

• •

Kids Kosher Art Korner

Business Focus: Vera & Nechama Realty TSM Mitzvah Moment: Yachad! Chanukah Recipes: Jeanette Friedman of ABC’s The Chew and The Taste •

Joe Godin of Smokey Joe’s •

Teen Chef Eitan Bernath •

Dear Rebbe, Rabbi Feldman D’v”ART” Torah, Natalia Kadish Shabbos Times/Parsha Index of Advertisers

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Chanukah and The Power of Believing in Yourself renowned speaker Charlie Harary talks to the remarkable and successful startup business owner Jason Gelber Retold by Elyse Hansford Fhima

hanukah is an eternal story that out their business plan, the profit margins and return on on the surface celebrates land investment, yet everyone continually refused. independence, and a commem “We had a difficult time finding a place to rent. Many oration of Jews recapturing control of people do not want drug-addicted people coming to their their Holy City! On a deeper level, what office park. We even had a lease contract ready to go, but we all celebrate today, is a miracle of the landlord pulled out because he was scared of this type self-triumph. More than a fight with of population, people with addictions,” said Gelber. Charlie Harary the Greeks for Judea, the real war was Everyone they turned to for help had discouraged them. waged within the Jew himself. HelleThey did not have the necessary money, space, nor prior exnistic Jews under the intellectually apperience in their back pocket. However, what they did have pealing glare of Greek philosophy and was vision and self-confidence. “There are so many walls logic began doubting and even dismisson the way, so many obstacles to stop you, and if you start ing some mitzvot as barbaric. When doubting yourself, you’ll just turn around. If you’ve done applying only intellect, they could see your homework, and you feel this is where your futhe Greeks’ position, forgetting ture is, and how you can make a difference in Jason Gelber that Judaism is more than the world, the obstacles just don’t stop rational; rather it is supra-rational, at its you. You keep moving around them core. one by one. You don’t let the obsta“There are so Jason Gelber is the co-founder of cles affect you,” said Gelber. many walls on a network of therapeutic drug treat With leasing off the table, the way, so many ment centers in Maryland called BD the alternative solution was to Health Services. He received his purchase a property but that obstacles to stop degree in mental health and addicseemed enormous, “We adaptyou and if you tion, from Johns Hopkins University. ed and changed our model. But To complete the master’s program the problem was we still had no start doubting Gelber needed an internship in a money,” said Gelber. yourself, you’ll just drug-rehabilitation facility. During his It took a few years, but fiinternship, he noticed the way the facilnally they found a building perfectturn around” ities handled its patients’ recovery and bely suited to their needs. This property gan to feel there was a better, more effective was tucked away in a location that no course of treatment. In fact, he began dreaming one could claim as disruptive to business of actually putting it into fruition, to make it better. or residential neighborhoods - but there was one Armed with an idea and no money, Gelber, and his partcaveat, it was very expensive. “Besides building the businer sought out investors to bring this dream to a reality. Evness we also had to rehab the place, hire staff, doctors, and eryone they approached said no! They outlined their vision, nurses, it was no simple thing… Ultimately we had to mortdefined their program - making a case for the need and the gage our homes to buy it! We took out equity lines against community benefit, but the answer was still, no. They laid our homes and used that money to get started. Everyone 14 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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thought we were crazy,” said Gelber. Like the Maccabees, who were a few against the many - the weak against the strong - Gelber and his partner swam against the tide of naysayers. They overcame tremendous odds, launching a company and growing a successful business, using borrowed “seed” money. No doubt, it was daunting for the startup duo, and of course, only adding to that intensity was the fact that these two men did not have enough solid work or industry experience. “I went from being an intern to being the CEO/supervisor of all these doctors, nurses and counselors. I did have relationships and an open line to the other clinics. I would call people and ask questions, and they helped a lot,” Gelber said. Fearlessly, they signed papers, took out loans and went into personal debt for a business that no one believed in, but themselves. “When you have that inner drive to understand things, you learn it,” Gelber added. The feeling one gets when they lack the conviction to traverse uncharted territory, feeling they lack

confidence and expertise in a particular field, is the same sort of self-doubt that many Hellenistic Jews might have experienced. “I remember asking Moshe are we crazy? His answer, ‘this is our one chance, if it doesn’t work, at least we know we tried,” Gelber said. Like the Maccabees, Gelber and his partner spent their time fighting to help people reclaim their lives. The miraculous victory that changed it all for them, was sourcing the capital to launch this drug rehabilitation center, and thus winning back physical health for the souls who were lost to drug addiction. Even while greatly appreciating that loan, and the victory it represented, they still knew they had a long way to go. “Even after we moved in, we had challenges. But, after the first year we saw the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Gelber. Moving their goal from an idea, to something real, took them years to plan. This dynamic duo knew that if they could just get it built… people would come. “Nobody thought this would work but us. We researched and did our due diligence. Then, we

put it all on the line,” Gelber said. Now, BD Health Services hosts four facilities in Maryland, and they’re continuously building on their quality of services, and adding new services, all while striving to help re-build lives. Starting a new business of any kind is riddled with challenge and conflict, yet in reality, sometimes the source of the conflict is within. “Life teaches that the only thing holding us back is ourselves! Once we were able to change our paradigm, we were able to do anything, and then the sky is the limit. It’s a trait that I was able to build up in myself over time. After different successes, I began to believe more and more,” reveals Gelber. While the Maccabees fought because they believed in the Torah, and were unwilling to compromise their way of religious practice, Gelber, and his partner fought because they believed their holistic approach to drug rehabilitation was a better avenue to helping recovering addicts. They refused to give up on an idea that even the most successful and skilled individuals they encountered had easily dismissed as worthless. Valiantly, they waged a war against self-doubt, and fought the mammoth financial hurdles. “When we were signing loan documents, I was filled with hope and excitement for the future. I felt something good was going to come from this. When things got tough, I would return to that moment of positivity, that gut feeling that told me that things would work,” Gelber boldly stated. This eternal message of deep, supra-rational faith, that engulfs the Chanukah spirit, still flickers and burns in the hearts and minds of the individuals of Klal Yisrael, as evident in this miraculous depiction of events. Excerpt from Charlie Harary’s podcast series “Unlocking Greatness”; for more information and to hear the complete interview, please visit: CharlieHarary.com/UG-006 or itunes. apple.com/podcast/unlocking-greatnesscharlie/id985450952

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The Dieter’s Dilemma:

So Many to Choose From, So Little Success Beth S. Taubes RN,OCN,CBCN,CHC, Owner/Director Wellness Wisdom

he Yomim Tovim are long over, the leaves have turned from green to beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. There is a chill in the air, and in the morning there may even be a light frost on the windshield of your car. Everyone is well into the regular routines of school, work, carpools, meetings, doctors’ visits, etc. It is also the perfect time of year to dedicate some time to self-care. You too may feel that this is the right time to rid yourself of a few extra pounds, join a gym, get to bed earlier and not stress the “small stuff.” You wake up in the morning and get out of bed with the determination that today is the day that you will start your new health plan. To start, you will eat a healthy breakfast, perhaps a cereal that is fortified - fortified sounds good, right? - with some skim milk; it tastes like water that is colored white, but the container says no-fat, so it must be good for you. To top it off, you decide to add a banana; you heard that bananas are high in potassium - you are not sure why you need potassium, but why not. Then off to start the rest of your day. You stop by the gym on your way to work to find out about membership and classes. At 11:00, you look at your watch, but you cannot believe it is only 11:00 - you feel so hungry. Hang in there in another 90 minutes, then you can stop and eat lunch. You get a large cup of coffee to hold you over. Finally it is indeed lunch time; you are prepared with a salad that you made from home, a can of tuna in water, and a diet soda. Later, you have carrot sticks and popcorn for an afternoon snack. When you walk in the door at 5:30, you feel like you are starving; you are committed,

though, so it’s broiled chicken, broccoli and a small sweet potato for dinner. But you don’t feel quite satisfied. Your son did not finish his french-fries - you will have only a few; it would be a shame to waste them and you have barely eaten anything today anyhow. Your daughter didn’t finish her chicken, so you will eat the little bit that is left; chicken is a protein, and how bad can that be? You are cleaning up after dinner and a little voice in your head reminds you that you have some chocolate chip cookies in the freezer that are left over. You will eat only one; you deserve it after the stressful day you had at work and the aggravating phone call you received from your son’s teacher, and you are planning on exercising tomorrow morning. You don’t know how this happened, but instead of one cookie you ate the entire bag. You needed to finish them all because you don’t want to be tempted again tomorrow and if the cookies are gone you can’t eat them. Time for bed. You should watch that exercise video on YouTube that your friend sent you but you are so tired. A shower and bed sounds like a great idea, right after you quickly check a few emails and watch a funny video that your sister sent you. Where did the evening go? It is after midnight and you are still awake, what happened to your determination? A big sigh; you will try again tomorrow.

“Invest in yourself – you are worth it” Though the above scenario is fictitious, many people can relate to it. Many of us start the day with the best intentions but are unable to follow through. There are dozens of diet plans on the market and many of us have probably tried quite a number of them. After years of conscientiously attempting one diet after another, many of us are heavier now than when we went on our first diet. Losing weight is one of the most important things that a person can do to improve his or her overall health, but which diet really works? There are many ways to lose weight and improve health; it’s not a matter of the diet, but of your motivation and determination. I suggest first evaluating your personal motivations for wanting to lose weight. Is it for an upcoming occasion, e.g., a bar/bat mitzvah or a wedding? Weight loss motivated by an event is rarely long lasting because once the

20 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

event is over, so is the motivation. Long lasting weight loss success needs long lasting motivators like the desire to prevent chronic diseases or to be able to run and play with children and grandchildren – and of course to look your best.

“There are many ways to lose weight and improve health; it’s not a matter of the diet, but of your motivation and determination.” Next, analyze your own commitment to accomplishing your goal. If you don’t feel ready to start a health/weight loss program, then don’t start one; wait until you do feel ready. Until then, try instead to make a small change in your eating program, e.g., commit to eat breakfast every morning or increase your consumption of water. If you feel ready to get started on a health plan, spend some time exploring your options. Be wary of diets that promise miracles or excessive weight loss over a very short period of time. Many of the newer diet program concentrate on a metabolic plan and not on calorie counting. Become an educated consumer. If you have tried dieting on your own and have either not lost weight or gained it all back, you are not alone. Approximately 80% of all dieters will gain their weight back. This sobering statistic has been studied and a number of clinical trials have shown that the most successful approach to weight loss combined both a health nutrition plan with counseling and support. Seek out programs that work with your lifestyle and budget. If you are short on time and don’t want to cook or prepare food then one of the pre-packaged food plans may work for you. If you want to eat whole regular food, then seek out a program that will work with your personal likes and dislikes. Do not feel obligated to eat a green smoothie with flax seeds in the morning if you don’t enjoy it. There are many weight reducing health programs available to you – take time, find the right one for you, and start it when you are ready to commit. Invest in yourself – you are worth it!

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LILLIAN LEE DOES WONDERS! By Larry Bernstein

ave you ever driven past the Wigs by Lillian Lee/Lillian Lee Salon & Spa located on Teaneck Road? You probably thought it was just another place to get your hair done. In fact, amazing things are happening there. Lillian has been in the beauty industry for thirty years. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous prestigious awards for her styling and coloring abilities. She began her shop in a basement before moving to her current location back in 2005. Aliza Fischman, a wig specialist, has been working at Wigs by Lillian Lee for over three years. The former school teacher wears wigs herself and was a client of Lillian’s before she began working for her. “It’s been an absolutely fantastic change.” As a wig consultant, Fischman meets with clients in a private room. The level to which she assists customers depends on their level of experience with wigs. For the veteran wig wearers, Fischman simply guides the individual to find their next wig. If a customer is new to wigs, Fishman teaches the person how to wear the wig and care for it. Wigs by Lillian Lee serves a few populations. Those populations that make up the majority of Lillian’s customers are women who have generally thinning hair, the Orthodox Jewish community, the alopecia community, and the cancer community. Regardless of the population, “People really want wigs that look natural, feel comfortable on their head, and are flexible enough to do different things with the style,” said Aliza. Those who know wigs can usually spot them. So, a good wig is one that is most natural looking and won’t stand out in a crowd. Lillian and Aliza believe a woman’s hair is part of her self-identity, and it is their goal to make women look and feel their best. Lillian formed the “Do Wonders” charity to serve those who have lost their hair due to cancer. The charity provides wigs free of costs to those in need. “Once you find your direction in life, it gives you a different way to walk it,” she says. It all began because Lillian was brought up to not throw things away. When Lillian was running the salon in her basement, women would occasionally give her a wig when they were done with it. Following the childhood lesson, Lillian held onto the used wigs. A colleague of Lillian’s was diagnosed with cancer, and her hair fell out. She told Lillian that she missed her hair. Lillian picked out some of the wigs she had saved and refurbished them. She brought them to the hospital, and her friend found one that fit. The next time she was getting chemo, the other patients told her how great she looked. Ultimately, Lillian brought in the rest of the wigs she had saved and found 24 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

matches for the other patients. Lillian shared this story with a client. The client invited Lillian to her home with the plan of turning this deed into a charity. Do Wonders was incorporated in 2009, and in 2013, they received their 501c3 and became an official charity that can accept donations. Since obtaining official charity status, Aliza says they have provided wigs for hundreds of people. These days most of Do Wonders recipients are referred by doctors, hospitals, socials workers, and Sharsheret. There are a number of ways they go about meeting the needs of recipients. Do Wonders has had wig drives which have been supported by the Orthodox Jewish community. They also have fundraising campaigns and run events. The big event is the annual Night of Wonder, which will take place on Jaunary 3, 2016 at the Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck. Night of Wonder will have a Broadway theme and feature different performers who will sing and dance. (Check out the link below to buy tickets and or make a donation). Over the last couple of years, Lillian noticed more children coming in for wigs. One recipient was a 5-year-old who was losing her hair to cancer. While wigs can be resized, going from an adult sized to a child sized wig is not simple. So, Do Wonders uses the donations it receives to buy new wigs for children and teens. Lillian is grateful that she established this charity. “Women come to us with a terrible feeling. We give them love and make them feel special, and they leave with a smile. Making the recipients feel happy leaves me feeling excited.” For more information or to make a donation, visit: www.DoWondersCharity.org/how-can-i-help TO ADVERTISE: INFO@THESHOPPINGMAVEN.ORG or 973-658-MAVE

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How to Make a Miracle By Dovid Lieberman, Ph.D.

Dovid Lieberman, Ph.D., is a noted speaker and award-winning author with a renowned insight into the human condition. His 11 books, which have been translated into 26 languages and include two New York Times bestsellers, have sold more than three million copies worldwide. Blending the wisdom of Torah with the psychological process, Dr. Lieberman’s writings and lectures captivate both scholar and layman alike, and are enjoyed by people at all levels and from all backgrounds. Live and pre-recorded video and audio classes by Dr. Lieberman can be found on www.torahanytime.com.

y now everyone knows the story of Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes back in the 1950’s. The people I would love to talk to, though, are the five men who also broke the four-minute-mile barrier that year—after they knew it could actually be done! Before Roger Bannister, everyone said, “It’s impossible to break a four-minute mile. Human beings are not physically capable. We don’t have the endurance; we don’t have the speed.” Scientists even did studies that proved we could never run that fast! So people ran 4:03, 4:06, 4:04, but no one ever broke a four-minute mile. But then Roger Bannister ran the mile in three minutes, 56 seconds—and everything changed. Imagine what it was like to be one of those other five runners that year. They heard about (or maybe even saw) Bannister’s amazing feat, and then they said to themselves, “Well, if he can do it . . . ” And all of a sudden, the next time they, too, did the impossible—they manifested a miracle .They ran the mile in less than four minutes. The next year, dozens of other men did the same thing. The next year, maybe a hundred. And today, to qualify as a world-class runner, you have to break the four-minute mile barrier.

If we don’t believe in ourselves we “don’t stand a chance. We’ll end up sailing all over the ocean of our lives without direction.

”

So the question we have to ask you is “Why?” Why could five other people accomplish the impossible the same year as Roger Bannister? There weren’t any startling improvements in running shoes, pavement, or uniforms; and the law of wind resistance wasn’t’ repealed. So why did these five men succeed? Because a mental barrier was broken. What they thought had been impossible became possible because someone else had done it. This happens in sports all the time. Take figure skating, for example. It seems that every Olympics there’s some new jump or combination that’s never been done successfully in competition before. An Elvis Stoyko or Kristie Yamaguchi does a quadruple jump or combination triple-axel-triple-toe-loop-with-a-twist that amazes the judges. By the next Olympics, everyone is doing quadruples and combination triples, and there’s a new combination or jump that’s “never been done before.” Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors of the 19th century (completely deaf in his left ear, and 80-percent deaf in the other) dreamed up things based on what others had done before him. He saw electricity and he saw the gas lighting system of the time and thought, “What if I could produce an electric light bulb?” He looked

28 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

at the early efforts of people to create pictures that moved, and he came up with celluloid film and the first film projector. Edison patented over 1,000 different inventions, but they were all built on the discoveries of thousands of scientists before him. There is nothing that drives us more than belief in ourselves. And there is nothing that holds us back more than those very same beliefs. Remember Christopher Columbus? He believed he could reach “the Indies” from Europe by sailing west. Because his belief was so strong, he convinced the King and Queen of Spain to finance his voyage. At one point in the journey, the crew of his boat was ready to mutiny because they believed they were going to sail off the edge of the world. But Columbus held fast to his idea, his unshakable conviction that he could reach “the Indies” by sailing west. That’s an example of someone whose beliefs completely supported what he wanted to accomplish. If we don’t believe in ourselves we don’t stand a chance. We’ll end up sailing all over the ocean of our lives without direction. But when we have beliefs that help us stay on course, our chances of success are greatly enhanced. We may discover a “New World” of our own, filled with amazing things we had never even dreamed about. It may sound simplistic but you’ll find it’s true: Whatever you’re looking for, you’re going to find. Have you ever gone into a new relationship or a new business venture and been a little scared, or burned by a past bad experience? What’s a natural reaction when you’re fearful? You start looking for why your new relationship or business isn’t going to work. Because you’re scared or at least uncertain, the things that are working often get ignored, and what’s not great gets magnified. You find what you’re looking for, and often as a result the relationship or the business doesn’t succeed. We unconsciously look for proof all the time. The question is: are we looking for examples of failure or success? The Torah does not allow a person to count on a miracle, but it does require us to count on ourselves; and to believe in our G-d given potential. As Rav Noach Weinberg , ZT’L would say: “If you believe that G-d wants you to do something, then you have to believe that He is going to help you do it.” This Chanukah, set your sites high, believe in yourself, and trust in G-d—and you just might find that miracle that you’ve looking for. Copyright © 2015 by Dovid Lieberman. This article is based on Lieberman’s newest book, “How Free Will Works,” which is available at Jewish bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com and Feldheim.com.

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meet the maccabeats Join Us for Some Candlelight Insight: The Miraculous Feats of The Maccabeats By The Shopping Maven Team

A Ari Lewis with his wife Shira

h, The Maccabeats!! … They radiate passion, talent, and enthusiasm, as they light up the stage. The Maccabeats are currently an internationally acclaimed Jewish a cappella group that originated at YU, and since, has grown to become one of the most recognizable Jewish a cappella groups in the world! They have performed in concerts internationally, received over 20 million combined YouTube hits, have released 3 albums, have had numerous television appearances, and some of their tracks have been produced by the same people who worked on the popular movie Pitch Perfect and the successful television show, The Sing-Off. Famous for their spectacular hit songs such as Candlelight, the Maccabeats are also known for such gems as Book of Good Life, Dayeinu, Minyan Man featuring Shlock Rock, Burn, Brave, Miracle, One Day, All about that Neis, Purim Songs, Home, and their original song, Shine. The Shopping Maven caught up with one of the incredible original band members, Ari Lewis, who is currently a Bergen County native, living in Fair Lawn NJ, (and his wife is from Teaneck!) Ari shares about the group’s rise to fame, their international travels, and some more cool things you will love knowing about the group! Pssst... catch our chat with musical director Julian Horowitz right here as well. He’ll let you in on what they are up to as we speak!

Q: Take us back to the beginning - How did it all start? A: I’ll take you back to my year in Israel where I met my very good friend Buri. We are now both part of the group, yet at that time, we were just two roommates who realized that we both shared a true love for singing. I remember we used to gather a group of guys, and we’d just sing - like Thursday nights after our Seder (learning session) or during Shabbos; Our singing sessions would take us well into the night. We simply loved every second of it. We knew there was a culture of a cappella singing in colleges, and when we got to YU, we were hoping to find that there. When we found out about these audition calls at YU (this was even before the “Maccabeats” name had developed), we were so excited and

elated about the thought that we could continue our hobby in a more structured environment. Before we recorded our music, and produced videos, we were just a group of regular guys who got together and wanted to sing. Our musical director was responsible for our amazing musical arrangements. At the time we originated, there was no long-term vision for the group, other than to create beautiful music that we enjoyed singing. There was never even a thought of viral videos, or a concept of making money, nor touring the world! … It was just us, wanting to enjoy our shared hobby of singing together! Continued on next page

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Q: When was the moment you realized this was more than just an average a cappella group? A: A tremendous amount happened (rapidly) in the week following the release of Candlelight. Suddenly, we were all up early every morning at 5am doing interviews and TV appearances, and we all went to bed really late - for the same reasons. It was such a crazy week - just a blur. But, that was the turning point for us, and from there, things really began to take off for us as a group. We also began to realize that we really had something special going for us, when we released our first CD, Voices from the Heights. We did a concert in the auditorium at YU and we really didn’t know what to expect – we sent out fliers, we told our friends and family, and did some small publicity, but nothing major. However, when we had a turnout of over 1,000 people, we were nearly stunned to see that we had so much support! I vividly recall a moment from that night, when I got the group together and said, “Guys, we need to take a moment to take this all in, because it may be one of the greatest moments of our lives!” – In that moment, in our minds, we had reached the top. This was, of course, way before any of us were even married, had kids, or before any of our tours and travels had begun. We had the support from the student body, we had this CD out, and it was in that moment that we thought we had made it. Much to our surprise, we had only scratched the surface.

Q: Candlelight received a remarkable 2 Million hits on YouTube in the first 10 days of its release – What was the inspiration behind that song? A: Actually, the original inspiration for Candlelight came from one of our members; he was just driving in the car one day, and was listening to the English version on the radio. Chanukah was approaching, and the words just came to him: “I flip my latkes in the air sometimes”. He thought to himself, “We could have something here.” At that point, we hadn’t really dabbled in parodies, so we thought it would be a fun idea to put up a video on YouTube, and see how it went. Back then, a cappella videos were gaining popularity, so we thought to pick up on that, and ride the coattails of this particular (very popular) song, and release something created by us. Up until then, videos hadn’t really been part of our repertoire, as we only had one video, One Day. You can really see how much we’ve evolved since that first video. Candelight was a brand new direction for us, and in truth, a spark of inspiration to all of us! Q: Take us behind the scenes of making those outstanding music videos – They look so fun! A: They are a lot of fun!! …But they also eventually become exhausting, with long hours and very long days, but we all know the end result is well worth it. Honestly, it helps that we are all friends, and spend so much time together in general. Each video is a very different experience for us. For the Brave video, we all piled into the car early one Sunday morning, and we drove to Bear Mountain. We shot for 5 or 6 hours, and we brought a bagged lunch. Something like the Les Mis, video was much more of a production with all the costumes, the set, etc. We actually started filming our Les Mis video at 8:00pm, and we finished at 3:00 in the morning. It is a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of work. At times, it can become hard to stay focused for so long – and we can be easily distracted and amused by each 34 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

other, so it can sometimes be a challenge. Yet, we always make it happen, we have fun with it, and at the end of the (very long) day, it is really a blast! Q: Where are some of the fascinating places the group has traveled to perform? A: As a group, we’ve been to Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, London, and Mexico City, so we’ve really been all over the place!

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The Shopping Maven also caught up with Julian Horowitz, the group’s Musical Director, who gave us some insight into their next big thing… What’s coming up this season for the Maccabeats? We are releasing a Chanukah EP, a Holiday Album. Chanukah is truly a very special Holiday for the Maccabeats as a group, since it launched us on the international stage! Because Chanukah is our busiest time of year, it feels very special for us to put out an album to celebrate the Holiday!! A Maccabeats Chanukah will be available in stores everywhere and on iTunes by late November! Look out and grab your copy! Q: Tell us about your experience at the White House, singing for President Obama! A: One day, we got an email from someone who said they worked at the White House, and they’d love to have the Maccabeats come and grace them with a performance for their annual Jewish Leadership Month. So, we said we’d love to come to the White House, and they said great – just send us all of your Social Security numbers; we were like, “um, wait a minute, let’s find out if this is legitimate first”. So we did some research, and in fact, it was! So, we packed into a van, and we drove down to DC. We got a Motel for the night before. It was Sphirah time, and we actually all had the question of whether we should shave our beards, or not! The next day we drove to the White House in an unmarked white van, and security asked us what our business was there, and we weren’t really sure what to say. We’re the band! We brought all of our identification and they had a bomb-sniffing dog, and they checked our van thoroughly. Finally, we got through the gates of the White House, and we parked, and then they did another round of security check… and it began to become more and more real. Naturally, we weren’t really sure what to expect from all this, or even if this was really going to come to fruition in the end, or, if President Obama was actually going to be there. So, we ended up performing, and we were promised a picture with the President. We were sitting in a room, waiting for him to come, and discussing what to say, whether we should sing for him, and we were all just standing around, deciding who is going to speak. All of a sudden, we hear this voice from behind us, “Oh, this must be The Maccabeats!” We turn around, and President Obama just strolls in, like nothing. When he walked in… all of our jaws just dropped, and there was complete silence. Nobody knew what to say. No matter where you fall on the political line, President Obama is one of the coolest people you will ever meet. He is just a really down to earth guy, and really nice! Mr. President himself, gave us the time of day - the busiest man in the world, gave us 5 minutes of his time, and we sang for him and we got a picture with him (which is now hanging on my wall). It was just a surreal experience from start to finish. Our group had talked about whether or not we should make a Brachah (blessing) for seeing him; so we asked a Halachic Shailah about it, because after all, we were meeting the President of the United States. In truth, everything that we do, we try to incorporate aspects of Halacha (Jewish Law) into it. Q: What don’t we know about the Maccabeats? A: People wonder what our interpersonal relationships are like within the group, and in actuality we’re a true brotherhood, we’re really a family. All of our wives are friends, and we like to think our kids will be friends TO ADVERTISE: INFO@THESHOPPINGMAVEN.ORG or 973-658-MAVE

too! A good example of how close we are is that every year we try to get everyone of us (and all of our families included) together for a Shabbaton. We call it a “Maccatone”. This is much more than business for us. Q: What are you working on now? A: We’re working on a few projects now. We’re working on some new stuff that you haven’t seen from us before. Our big project is for this upcoming Chanukah season!! – Look on our website and Facebook page for more details! We hope that this will have a broad appeal to Jews everywhere, which has pretty much been our mission statement at all times. We’re really excited about it, and you should hear more about it soon!! Q: We know that you were personally involved with the music and lyrics for the Maccabeats’ original song Shine – Are all of you involved in the arrangements of your songs? Tell us a little bit about how that works for the Maccabeats? A: Each particular arrangement really depends on the song. However, for the most part the process works like this: First, we chose a song (as a group) that we would all like to sing – and the criteria for the song is the theme it encompasses. We need to make sure that all our songs are appropriate for our audience which, unfortunately, can exclude a lot of love songs that we are all fond of. From the start of the group, it felt important to us to only sing wholesome music that appealed to almost everybody. So, after we decide on what the group would like to sing, it needs to be arranged for a cappella into 4, 6, or 8-part harmonies. We have a few people internally who have the ability to arrange. Three of our members have actual legitimate musical backgrounds, and a couple others naturally have the ability to arrange. So, either we’ll arrange it internally for a cappella, or if not we sometimes hire someone to do it for us - which is standard procedure for any a cappella group. Once we have the arrangement in place, we get together to practice singing it. We perfect it in a live setting, and then either the song will be included in our concert repertoire, or we’ll go directly to the studio to record it. Afterwards, the song will go through the process of getting it ready for YouTube, or for an upcoming album. Q: Ari, we love you in Sukkot Style, tell us about this! A: Ha! I must confess that I did that video one day at 6:00 in the morning, so I wasn’t in a completely perfect state of mind, feeling extremely tired. Interestingly, I recall that video was filmed the day Hurricane Sandy hit New York. We filmed in the morning, had a gig in the afternoon, and the hurricane hit that evening. Q: It seems that all of you have this innate, in-born talent, which is not just something that you can pick up in training. That being the case, it is a true inspiration to watch all of you utilize your talents, and follow your dreams!

A: What brought us together from the start, was our passion and love for singing. Also, being Jewish, music is definitely a big part of our religion, which means it can be integrated into our lives in a huge way from that angle as well. We did not begin this a capella group, thinking it would be as integral a component to our lives as it has become, but we are so grateful every day, that it has. A few years ago, we sat down and said, “We need to have a plan for our future”. We wondered, “What is our longterm plan?” Since that point, things haven’t really slowed down for us. We had no idea that we’d still be as busy as we are, and as we grow older and have families, jobs, children and other responsibilities, making the Maccabeats a part of our lives can be a struggle, yet it is a reality, and a very happy reality for all of us. We would never be doing this if we didn’t love it. Hence, for that reason, this is all by choice. We love making music, we love each other, and we love doing it all together. Each and every one of us feels so blessed to have this opportunity! It comes with a lot of hard work, and we happily do the work, and see the reward. It gives us a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment, and we are very thankful for every moment we get to follow our dreams.

“Before we recorded our music, and produced videos, we were just a group of regular guys who got together and wanted to sing” Q: What is it like when you work with other celebrities? A: sIn our line of work, we’ve had the opportunity to meet some special people, which is really nice. We discovered that Mayim Bialik was a fan of ours and we were very excited about that. We reached out to her, and she was so accepting of us, she is just a genuinely nice person. When you think about it, we are talking about an Emmy-nominated actor who gives us the time of day!! – Also if you see what she writes on her Facebook page, and in her articles, and how she incorporates her Judaism into everything she does – She is a true role model. It’s really special to have various connections like that. The people that you see on tv, or listen to in music, you can naturally put them on a pedestal, but when you meet them in real life, they’re just regular people. We met Zach Braff when we were hired to sing at a Birthright concert. He was the MC for the night, so talked to him backstage… That was a really nice experience as well. We’re really thankful for all the enjoyable, extra perks that come along with being a part of the group. Q: We’ve looked at your upcoming Tour Date schedule and it looks pretty jam-packed – What does the future look like for the Maccabeats? A: It’s important for us to stay relevant and top-of-mind for our fans everywhere, and we show no signs of slowing down. It’s been full speed ahead for 4 years and we’re going to continue that path. Our booking director is non-stop working for us. The gig offers come in weekly, and we have gigs through 2016 now! It’s pretty busy. We’re going to keep working as long as people want to keep hearing us. This is 100% a group effort – There are 14 of us, and everyone has a say in what we do. We have an outstanding video director in Uri Westrich. There are a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but when you have so many people working together on a common goal, you have a lot of great ideas that produce really amazing content. We will continue to work hard every day to get our audience more and more content! Q: Thank you for sharing your story with us. A: It’s my pleasure – I love your magazine, Bergen County’s The Shopping Maven, and what it stands for.

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gematria

From which prophet do we read from for the Haftorah on Shabbat Chanukah? In 167 BCE, Antiochus Epiphanes of the Syrian-Greek Empire tried to force the Jews in his empire to practice his Greek religion. Antiochus desecrated The Bait Hamikdash, set up pagan idols, and gave the Jews the option of practicing Hellenism or facing death. Many Jews converted to Hellenism, but some refused to leave their Jewish faith. Antiochus also banned basic mitzvot such as: kashrut, shabbat, brit milah, and celebrating Rosh Chodesh and holidays. Matityahu the Kohen Gadol together with his sons, the Chashmonaim, fought back and, although greatly outnumbered, managed to miraculously defeat the Syrian-Greek army. The Maccabees did not gain complete freedom, but the Bait HaMikdash was reclaimed and Jews were able to practice their religion again. Upon entry to the Bait Hamikdash, the Chashmonaim found only one sealed cruse of pure olive oil. This oil, sufficient to burn for one day, miraculously burned for 8 days and nights. After almost a year later, the 2nd Bait Hamikdash was rededicated on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the date the Sages set to begin the celebration of Chanukah. Over the course of the 8 days of Chanukah we read from the Torah about the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the midbar and of the mitzvah instructed to Aharon to light the menorah daily. By reading these portions, we connect the rededication of the Mikdash to the bravery of the Maccabees, and the commandment given to their ancestor Aharon to light the menorah and dedicate the Mishkan.

‫מ‬ ÷‫ח‬

400 300 200 100 90

1 3 2 5 4 7 6 8

DOWN 1. ‫( דלת‬7:50) 3. ‫( כלים‬7:48) 5. ‫( לפני‬7:49) 7. ‫( זהב‬7:49) ACROSS 2. ‫( נחשת‬7:45) 4. ‫( בין‬7:46) 6. ‫( סירות‬7:45) 8. ‫( חמש‬7:49)

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spot the difference

MIRACLES

CANDLES

STRONG

PRIEST

TORAH

WICKED

blessings

When Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat Chanukah, put in order when the following things are recited during the Grace After the Meal:

___ Ya’ale v’yavo (Rosh Chodesh) ___ R’tzei (Shabbat) ___ Birchat Ha’aretz (Israel) ___ Al Hanisim (Chanukah)

WORD FIND

(Hint: The Menorah in the Bait HaMikdash - see Shemot/Exodus Chapter 25)

Complete the crossword by translating each Hebrew word into English. The reference is from the Haftorah in Kings 1, which is read when there is a 2nd Shabbat Chanukah.

‫מט‬ ÷‫ז‬

Which one is different? (Hint: al Hanisim on Chunukah)

(scramble) ABERSNCH OERFWL DONLAM OSNBK

CROSSWORD

‫ה‬ x‫ד‬

‫ת‬

̶ ‫ר‬

‫ז‬ ‫א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת‬

WORD CMRLESAB

ODGL ADMEEHRM

‫ח‬ +‫ב‬

Find the bold italic words on this sheet. The unused letters spell a secret message!

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Generating Inclusive Joy Helen Weiss Pincus

xuberance is never in short supply at Yachad events! … The totality of the accumulated mega-wattage, generated during an activity, sponsored by this Special Needs-Inclusion Organization, might be enough to qualify it as an alternative energy source! Yachad is an organization with a weighty mission. It is dedicated to ensuring that disabled Jews (ranging from children to adults) can be involved in all aspects of Jewish life and beyond. Yet, it seems apparent that all participants seem to be having so much fun, that any sense of burden or obligation is fully mitigated. Director of New Jersey Yachad, Chani Herrmann, has been involved in Yachad activities for over 15 years. Yachad’s outreach efforts were a formative influence in her life, including at the camp she attended as a child, and programs in her high school and college, where she majored in social work. Managing the wide ranging Yachad activities in New Jersey, in addition to leading a support group for mothers of disabled children, Chani (who is now clearly occupied full time), gives notable credit to her staff for a great deal of input into the potpourri of program offerings. Ideas are a team effort, Chani says. “We have a lot of talented people on staff and they are always brainstorming and coming up with new initiatives.” All the participants contribute to the energy rush. “We have a large contingent of high school students who volunteer,” Chani says. “They bring a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to all of our activities. I think it starts with the summer

50 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

programs (of which we have 25 different programs) – and they continue on throughout the year.” The Simchaton Simchat Torah experience at Keter Torah is a fabulous exemplification of the vitality Yachad creates. “The excitement they bring is incredible,” Chani says, of all participants. “Many people told me that having Yachad be part of Simchas Torah really enhances the experience for everyone!”

“It’s all about self–esteem, community integration, and helping someone be the best they can be. We need to be role models. It’s a growth opportunity for everyone” Teaneck resident Rebbetzin Bassie Taubes concurs. Her 20 year-old-son, Yosef, is on the autistic spectrum, she says. “If not for the Simchaton at Keter Torah, Yosef would have nothing to do on Simchat Torah, but be at our shul with his parents and some younger children [Bassie’s husband, Rabbi Michael Taubes is the moreh d’atrah of this township’s Cong. Zichron Mordechai.] However, thanks to the Yachad Simchaton, Yosef gets to be with his peers, like any typical 20-year-old. Yosef doesn’t want to hang out with his parents, or a bunch of small TO ADVERTISE: INFO@THESHOPPINGMAVEN.ORG or 973-658-MAVE

kids. It helps make the holiday much more meaningful, for him, and for us.” Yosef is in fact a very involved Yachad member… He started out by going to Shabbatonim, and then attended camps which had inclusion programs for children with special needs. Yosef is currently benefiting from Yachad’s new vocational training program. A focused art program is also part of his weekly routine. The annual family Yachad Shabbaton, which attracts families from all over the United States and Canada, is always a star on the Taubes family calendar.

The totality of the accumulated megawattage, generated during an activity, sponsored by this Special Needs-Inclusion Organization, might be enough to qualify it as an alternative energy source! “The entire idea of Yachad is inclusion amongst the community,” says Benny Berlin of Teaneck, who began working at a local adult transitional program, and residence for disabled young men, while he was in high school. Berlin currently helps run the Yachad Shabbatonim. He is a staunch advocate of Yachad goals! “Everyone belongs. It is very significant for people with special needs to be involved in the community, it is a very rewarding experience for all.” Berlin observes that positive energy goes all around, at every Yachad activity he has attended. There is also “a lot of love, and ruach (spirit) --- not just from the Yachad kids, but also from the counselors. It’s so nice, and so refreshing.” Berlin’s exposure to the differently-abled community, “really changed my life, which is why I decided to get a Master’s in Special Education.” Berlin has also almost completed his studies for a Rabbinical Degree. “It’s all about self–esteem, community integration, and helping someone be the best they can be. We need to be role models. It’s a growth opportunity for everyone.” At the Shabbatonim, each Yachad member is matched up with a volunteer advisor. The participants and advisors are hosted in homes within a community or college campus. Yachad members participate in the Shabbos service - receiving Aliyot and giving D’vrei Torah in front of the shul. As seen on the video at www.yachad.org, Rabbi Steven Weil, executive vice president of the OU, talked about the organization’s dynamism. “Not only does it affect the population that it serves; it transforms the greater community in terms of being responsible for others.” Aside from the emotional uplift that all Yachad participants experience, there are some additional unexpected side benefits… For example, “I ran the half-marathon in Miami! That was an amazing experience,” says Rebbetzin Bassie Taubes, who with her husband, Michael, were guests of honor, at the Annual Bergen County Breakfast Reception, this past October.

Marathon participants gather in Miami for a family Shabbaton before the run. “The weekend is inspirational,” Bassie says. “And the training -- you wind up in really good shape! At mile 11 the Yachad kids are manning the water station; they give everybody water and they are so excited. That is really the highlight of the run!” The Rebbetzin’s first run was in 2013, and she continued for the next two years and hopes to also get herself out on the course in 2016. “Once you raise your first dollar, you just want to raise more.” She encourages others to run, and not to worry about lack of prior physical fitness. She admits to not being very athletic when she began this fund-raising initiative. “When I started I could not run a block,” she says. “And I was over 50 when I started!” Another Yachad Marathon Shabbaton bonus for the Taubes family is spending time with other Yachad parents. “When you have a child with special needs you feel different than everyone else; it’s very isolating,” she says. “Through Yachad we meet other parents, people we might not otherwise have connected with. We have a common bond and Yachad creates a community for us.” The Yachad activities are helping hands throughout life, with an emphasis on enjoyment, and community involvement. Yachad also has monthly parent support groups, and SIBSHOPS. SIBSHOPS is a unique support group for children who have siblings with special needs. Yachad executes a lot of ‘just-for-fun’ programs, like their spectacular Pizza-Making event, hosted at EJ’s Pizzeria, earlier this year. “We get siblings to talk about both the challenges and the fun aspects of their experience with children with special needs,” says Chani Herrmann. She continued to admit that “this can be a bit of challenge itself, but it also becomes very fun, and is such an important factor to be explored.” Although Yachad is an agency of the OU, non-Orthodox individuals are of course always welcome, and involved. Herrman reveals that currently, Yachad is very proud to report that as per their adult population, the new Vocational Training and Job Placement Program (for 21+ year-olds), has really taken off, and expanded. And yet, there is always so much more, including, but certainly not limited to: Special Needs Yeshivas; Day programs; Israel Birthright trips for persons with mobility and/or special learning needs; Social Skills development Programs; High School and University Leadership Programs; and constant lobbying for Pro-Disability Legislation on the Local, State, and Federal levels. Despite the massive range of responsibilities, Chani Herrmann is always invigorated, and is by no means exhausted by her seemingly demanding job. Her inspirational thoughts really touch the heart as she confides, “Honestly, it is extremely rewarding to see participants become so involved. When I hear that children feel that they belong, it makes me so happy. I also know that families get respite while their children are involved and having a great time. There is no downside to the work I do. It can only keep going up from here.”

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A Spicy Twist On Chanukah

By Jeanette Friedman/photos by Jeanette Friedman

eanette Friedman has been a Political and Social Activist since 8th grade, and a journalist since freshman year of college. Jeanette dappled with TV as a guest panelist on everything from “People are Talking” to “The Taste” and “The Chew”. She authored “Why Should I Care” with David Gold, and worked for “Tiger Beat” and “Write On!”. She also had a stint as a disco diva! Friedman currently lives contentedly in a log cabin in the mountains with wild life for company.

Chanukah is just about here, and so is icy cold weather. Families will gather to bentch Chanukah lecht, and every day will be a cooking challenge. It’s often tough to come up with something new and unique that will excite your family. Here are three recipes that will take you to the edge… One way to stay warm is to serve hot, spicy fare, to keep a family’s innards cozy and warm. Hot and spicy vegetable chicken soup makes a nifty one-dish dinner, with latkes on the side if you like… But, then there’s a twist on a Chanukah entrée, the Jalapeño Latke Salmon Sandwich with Sour Cream and Salsa. Of course, we also need a fried dessert. Now you can offer a unique twist on egg rolls…chocolate, peanut butter and caramel fillings that will satisfy any sweet tooth and close any parve (substitute parve chocolate and other fillings) or dairy meal with delight.

Hot Chicken Soup for a Cold Chanukah Day

(Serves a small army…Use a 5-gallon pot, jar and freeze for later in the winter) • 1 whole roasted chicken • 4 cups chicken stock or drippings from roasted chickens, fat removed • 1 large vidalia onion carmelized • 1.5 cups of sauteed mushrooms • 3 stalks of celery chopped • dried dill or fresh dill sprigs to taste • 3 tablespoons adobe seasoning • 1 tablespoon of gravy master (optional, you can substitute an envelope of onion soup mix or osem soup base of your choice...mushroom, chicken, beef) • 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic • 2 ozs lentils • 2 ozs barley • 2 ozs yellow dried peas • 2 cans of peas, with liquid • 1 can of corn kernels, with liquid • 2 potatoes sliced or cubed • 2 whole pickled jalapeno peppers sliced thin with a teaspoon of the pickling liquid • salt and pepper to taste Throw everything into pot, cover with water or broth, bring to boil, stir, let simmer for 3/4 hours, until barley, lentils and potatoes are soft, & roasted chicken, full of flavor, falls off the bone. When soup is done, remove bones & skin, leaving chunks of easy-to-eat meat behind. Put the chunks of chicken into a soup bowl, cover with the thick soup - you have a complete meal in a bowl! (When cooking for myself, I added red pepper, but my significant other doesn’t like them, so you can top each serving with roasted red peppers, for those who love them.)

Salmon Sandwich on Spicy Latkes with Sour Cream and Salsa (Serves Four)

Everyone serves latkes as a nosh, or a side dish. This entrée, is from a recipe inspired by Steven Spielberg’s mother, years ago, when I visited her eatery in Fairfax, Los Angeles. The dish she brought me consisted of two huge golden-brown, jalapeño-flavored latkes, with tender, flakey salmon between them. Top with sour cream, homemade pico de gallo, or favorite salsa or guac!

Salmon • One very large fresh salmon steak was enough for four latke sandwiches. (Or defrost salmon before cooking) • 1 teaspoon of olive oil if using a frying pan to grill the salmon • Seasoned Salt or Adobo Seasoning to taste Season salmon on both sides with liberal sprinkling of seasoned salt or Adobo seasoning. Grill salmon on wrought iron griddle or heavy frying pan. No need to oil the griddle, but you should put 1 teaspoon of olive oil in frying pan, put fish in once oil is hot. Turn, as each side crisps & salmon is cooked through, tender and flaky, about 5-7 minutes on each side (for fresh, not frozen salmon). Remove to platter, remove skin & bones, flake the salmon, set aside. 54 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Latkes • 8 medium potatoes • 2 sweet onions • 2 eggs • At least ¼ cup of olive oil • Pickled jalepenos to taste…the hotter you want the latkes to be, the more jalepenos and their liquid you add to the mix. • Sea Salt to taste. Remember potatoes absorb lots of salt, so if you like your latkes salty, season accordingly or season them on your plate. Peel and cut potatoes and onions. Put them into food processor until they are coarsely ground. Yes, you can be authentic and grate them by hand, but last I heard, time is of value, and the food processer works just fine—and no one has to worry about skinned knuckles, either. There was a time, when you would then pour boiling oil over the potatoes to keep them white. But, there’s a better way. Spread grated potato/onion mix on clean dish towel, wring out liquid. Potatoes will stay white, latkes will be crispy & nicely dense. Scrape potato/onion mix into bowl; add 2 eggs, salt, coarse ground black pepper, jalapeños and a bit of their juice, to taste. If you feel mix is dry, add tablespoon of water, until you get the consistency you like - Don’t let it get too wet, or latkes won’t be so crispy. Heat olive oil in large frying pan, make four large latkes, put them in the pan when oil is very hot. (One way to test: stick handle of wooden spoon in oil. If tiny bubbles appear, oil is hot enough.) When both sides of latkes are golden-brown,& centers are tender, remove the 4 latkes to serving plates, where you can set up sandwiches. As next group of 4 latkes (your “sandwich” covers) are crisping in frying pan, spread flaked salmon on cooked latkes, have sour cream & pico de gallo ready. As soon as the next 4 latkes come out of the pan, place them gently on top of flaked salmon, top with dollop of sour cream, tablespoon of pico de gallo, and serve with refreshing beverage. Preferred beverage pairing: Pineapple rum cocktail, or marguerita.

Chocolate/Peanut/Caramel Egg Rolls

Chanukah requires fried dessert! Sufganyot are soo tired. Here’s something new: chocolately, caramely, creamy peanut butter egg rolls! (You can experiment with other chocolate fillings, but this is delicious)

Use: • Egg roll wrappers • Peanut Butter • Marshmallow Fluff • Peanut Oil • Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Squares • Cinnamon Sugar or Confectioner’s Sugar Heat oil to 350-375degrees in deep pot - These egg rolls fry up fast, you don’t want to get splashed. To make egg rolls: Turn egg roll wrapper so it resembles a diamond. Smear teaspoon of Fluff onto wrapper, toward corners (look at the packaging, it shows you how). Do same with peanut butter, break up 1 chocolate square, put on top of peanut butter, wrap the whole thing up (bring in all corners & roll it up.) Close flap with a touch of water, so it seals. Don’t fry more than 4 egg rolls at a time, you need to be in control - This is not something you walk away from. Drop them slowly into very hot oil, which will bubble, wrappers will begin to crisp up quickly. Flip each egg roll quickly so they brown evenly and remove after about 90 secs. Place on paper towel to drain, place on serving plates, dust with cinnamon sugar or confectioner’s sugar. If you really want to increase intensity, drizzle chocolate syrup or caramel sauce over the top. But, that might be just a bit too much— unless of course, you are a chocoholic. (Find kosher egg roll wrappers in produce section of supermarket, usually in “the Tofu section.” Nosoya’s has an OU. Pick up Ghiradelli milk chocolate caramel squares with Kof-K hechsher. Marshmallow Fluff has an OU, pick your favorite peanut butter.) TO ADVERTISE: INFO@THESHOPPINGMAVEN.ORG or 973-658-MAVE

Gluten Free Butternut & Scallion Latkes These latkes are my new favorites. They are light and gluten free, with a clean and naturally sweet flavor from the butternut squash. Honestly, I think I like these better than the traditional potato latkes. INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

• ½ Butternut squash (about 1.5 lb), peeled and shredded

• Using an electric processor or and old grater if you are brave, shred the butternut and onion.

• 1 Whole onion, shredded

• Beat the eggs and add in the salt, pepper and scallions. Mix.

• 6 eggs • 10 oz rice flour • 1 tsp pepper • 2 tsp salt • ½-1 cup scallions (depending on your preference) • Oil for frying

Makes about 12 latkes

• Combine the shredded butternut and onion with the eggs. Gently fold in the rice flour and let sit for 10 minutes. Using a colander, drain the latkas of excess water and egg. • In a heavy bottom skillet, dutch oven (or even a wok), preheat your oil to 350 degrees. • Using your hands, form the latkes into 2 ½” patties and fry for 2 minutes on each side. • Sprinkle with a little more salt and white pepper to taste.

If these latkes look good, but too much effort to make yourself, call Joe at 201-836-7427 and order as many as you like! TO ADVERTISE: INFO@THESHOPPINGMAVEN.ORG or 973-658-MAVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 –The Shopping Maven | 55

general tso’s chicken By Chef Eitan Bernath ingredients: • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes • 1 cup green onions, thinly sliced • Vegetable or canola oil, for frying

directions: Pour 3 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and heat to 350 degrees F. Mix cornstarch slurry in a large bowl. It will be VERY thick; almost paste like. Add chicken pieces to coat. Using a fork remove one chicken piece at a time and let the excess mixture drip off. Add Chicken to the hot oil and constarch slurry: fry until crispy. Cook about 8 pieces of chicken at a time until golden brown and • 1/2 cup soy sauce cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Over• 1/4 cup water crowding the pot will lower the tempera• 1 egg beaten ture of the oil. Remove cooked chicken • 1 1/2 cup cornstarch from pot and drain on paper towels. • 1 tbsp peanut powder Repeat until all chicken is fried. sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together • 1/4 cup cornstarch cornstarch, water, sugar, soy sauce, Sriracha, rice wine vinegar, and chicken broth. • 1/8 cup water Heat a wok or large saute pan over a • 1/4 cup sugar medium heat. Add sesame oil. When oil is • 1/4 cup soy sauce hot add garlic and ginger and saute for 30 • 1 TBSP Sriracha • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar seconds. Stir in sauce mixture, cook until slightly thickened. If it gets too thick, add • 1 cup chicken broth a little water. • 1 TBSP sesame oil Add chicken to sauce in wok, and • 2 cloves garlic, minced cook until hot and bubbly. The quicker • 1 tsp minced ginger this is done the crispier the chicken will be. Top with scallions. Cut it out and save it in your recipe box or binder!

I hope you my Shopping Maven readers enjoy making this classic take out dish in your own home kitchen! Send me a picture at chefeitanbernath@gmail.com or tag me on Instagram@chefeitanbernath.

t’s finally cold outside which means Chanukah is right around the corner. I love the food on Chanukah because it’s fried! I am a huge fan of fried food from funnel cake, to donuts, to deep fried snickers. A dish that I love to make on Chanukah which is fried is General Tso’s Chicken. I learned how to make the General Tso’s Chicken two summers ago at one of the cooking camps that I went to. Since it wasn’t a kosher camp I wasn’t able to taste the dish but just by the smell I knew it was going to be delicious. So that very night I rushed to the supermarket, with my mom, got all the ingredients and I made it for dinner. Ever since it has been a hit in my house and part of our Chanukah menu. Over the course of the past two years I have changed the recipe around to make it even better and tastier. One of the changes I made to the recipe was that I added peanut powder to the cornstarch slurry. It adds a nice nutty flavor to the chicken which I think makes it taste even better! But, for those of you that are allergic to peanuts, you don’t need to add the peanut powder at all. It won’t change the consistency of the coating and it will still taste delicious. I love this dish so much that I made it last year when I appeared on the Chabad Chanukah Telethon. It was so cool cooking in a studio kitchen! It was also awesome to be on live tv, which was so different than being on Chopped.

Eitan

Eitan Bernath, Teaneck’s own teen celebrity chef, is a busy 8th grader at Yavneh Academy and rising star in the culinary world. His appearance only one year ago on the Food Network Show “Chopped” quickly made Eitan a popular kosher culinary personality well known for his engaging and well attended cooking demos. Eitan has been profiled in many publications including The Forward, The Jewish Week, Mishpacha Magazine, AMI, on “Table for Two” on JM in the AM and The Shopping Maven. A prolific food blogger and photographer, Eitan shares his various culinary adventures with a larger group of followers. You can keep up on him at www.cookwithchefeitan.com or on Instagram @chefeitanbernath.

Teaneck’s Teen Chef, Eitan Bernath

Follow Chef Eitan @chefeitanbernath www.cookwithchefeitan.com. 56 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Dry Eyes?

t least once a day I have a patient who comes to me with complaints of blurry vision and often the diagnosis is ComDr. Maty Youngewirth puter Vision Syndrome (CVS). The patient is usually surprised as they have never heard of this and are a bit confused as they were sure all they really needed was “ a new pair of glasses” That is when I have the dry eye talk with them. CVS includes dry eyes as studies show that when we stare at a screen for any significant amount of time we blink less per minute. Our lubricating tears are evaporating at a quicker pace and are not being replenished by the blink this leads to transient blurred vision.

60 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Some things you can do to combat this process include: 1. Visual hygiene which means for every 20 minutes your on the computer take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away. This is the 20/20/20 rule. 2. Supplementing with artificial tears 2–3 times per day 3. Being conscious of blinking more while staring at a screen. 4. Purchase computer vision glasses that cut down glare and minimize blue rays, thereby reducing eye strain. If you have any further questions regarding CVS please be in touch with me I am here to help.

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DearRebbe

With Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman

abbi Daniel Z. Feldman is a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University, as well as an instructor in the Sy Syms School of Business and the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and serves as the Executive Editor of the RIETS initiative of YU Press. He is an alumnus of Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and received his ordination (Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin) from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he was a fellow of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon. Rabbi Feldman is the author of “The Right and The Good: Halakhah and Human Relations” (Jason Aronson, 1999; expanded edition, Yashar Books, 2005); “Divine Footsteps: Chesed and the Jewish Soul” (Yeshiva University Press, 2008); “False Facts and True Rumors: Lashon Hara in Contemporary Culture” (YU Press/Maggid Books, forthcoming); as well as three volumes of Talmudic essays entitled Binah BaSefarim, which have been published with the approbations of R. Avraham Schapira, R. Ovadiah Yosef, R. Natan Gestetner, R. Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg, R. Asher Weiss and others. Rabbi Feldman is the co-editor of more than ten volumes of Talmudic essays and Jewish Thought and serves on the editorial board of Tradition, and has also written for publications such as Jewish Action, The Orthodox Forum, and the Oxford Handbook of Judaism and Economics. He is a frequent lecturer in locations across America and abroad. Rabbi Feldman is the spiritual leader of Ohr Saadya of Teaneck, NJ, where he resides with his wife, Leah, and their children.

Dear Rebbe,

What happens if, after I light the Hanukkah candles, they blow out? While the issue is disputed in the Talmud, The conclusion as recorded by the Rambam and the Shulchan Arukh is that one does not have to relight the candles, even if they were only lit for a short time. Nonetheless, it is appropriate and praiseworthy to do so (without a new berachah). This is also assuming that there was sufficient oil or candle length to last the minimal time of a half hour. Many halakhic authorities rule that this would also be a relevant concern if there is enough oil or candles, but the menorah is placed in a location, such as in a very windy spot, where it is impossible that the candles will remain lit for a sufficient period of time. R. Asher Weiss notes that this consideration is one of many reasons why one should not light Hanukkah candles on an airplane. In addition to the danger and illegality involved, the inevitability of the candles being extinguished by the flight attendants means that there isn’t even the possibility of a mitzvah fulfillment. Similarly, R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach understood that one’s intentions are also included in these factors. Accordingly, he rules that even though one is not obligated to relight the candles even if he put them out himself and did so intentionally (an issue that was debated among other authorities) this is only true after the fact. However, if he lit the candles knowing he would immediately extinguish them, that does not constitute a fulfillment of the mitzvah.

Dear Rebbe, We recite, on Chanukkah, in the Neirot Halalu, that we are “without permission to use the candles”. Why is that?

There are a number of explanations for this rule that are found in the Rishonim. Rashi (Shabbat 21b) understands that there is a need for it 64 | The Shopping MaveN–NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

to be clear that the candle is for the sake of the mitzvah, as opposed to personal use. Similarly, the Rosh (Shabbat 2:6) wrote that we are concerned that an observer may think that the one using the candle lit it only for his own benefit. The Rashba wrote differently, noting that since the mitzvah is to commemorate a miracle that happened with the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash, The Rabbis established the modern menorah as prohibitive for personal benefits, just like that original menorah. This seems to be similar to the position of the Ba’al HaMaor, who wrote that the rabbis prohibited any benefit from the candles because they are a commemoration of the candles and the oil of the Beit HaMikdash. However, some have suggested a distinction between the two opinions, explaining that the Ba’al HaMaor was ascribing a status of kedushah to the candles, which would automatically prohibit personal benefit. The Rashba, by contrast, was saying something different, that the modern menorah is meant to evoke the classic menorah. The Ramban calls attention to the passage in the Talmud (Shabbos 22a) which implies the issue is a general one, one of disrespecting a mitzvah by using it for one’s personal purposes. This is possibly related to another concept invoked by other rishonim, the notion of “huktzeh l’mitzvato”, which prohibits the day version of a mitzvah for any other usage. In this case, however, the concept seems to be applied more stringently than it is to other mitzvot, in that the Shulchan Arukh, following some earlier sources (and against others), rules that one may not benefit from the oil even after the time of the mitzvah is over, and Hanukkah itself has finished. These various reasons are interesting from a theoretical perspective, but have many practical ramifications as well, among them the highly detailed discussions of exactly what kind of usage is prohibited, as well as who exactly is subject to the prohibition.

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Dear Rebbe,

With so many charities in need of support, how should I choose who to give to? Even the most devoted practitioners of chesed and charity are human and are restricted by the limitations of reality. Resources are finite; time, money, and emotional energy all require careful allocation. Since resources that are bestowed in one place cannot be bestowed elsewhere, the halakhah has formulated principles of prioritization to guide the maximal fulfillment of the crucial mitzvah of tzedakah. In general, the discussion is complicated by the fact that the expression of charity will generally allow for some measure of personal discretion. To calculate urgency of need, priority, proportionality, honesty of supplicants and countless other factors, and emerge with clear direction, is a daunting task. Nonetheless, discretion it remains; when all is said and done, individual judgment will steer the course. A frequent theme in Rabbinic responsa is that after carefully analyzing the pertinent halakhic aspects, it is up to the donor, administrator, or Rabbi to assess the application. The first priority incumbent on a donor is the support of his own needy relatives, with the closest relatives to be supported first. The next prioritized category in the distribution of charity is aniyei Eretz Yisrael, the poor of the Land of Israel. The increasing development of the “global village” has, through technological advances, both

diluted the significance of those in immediate geographic proximity, while enhancing the connection of faraway donors to those living in Israel. Perhaps the most famous principle of prioritization is that of “aniyei irkha kodmim,” indicating preference to those in closest proximity. The Meiri maintains that this is the overriding priority, and all other factors are evaluated only within this context. All preferences of proximity presume comparable need; if there is a disparity in this area, priority goes to those in greatest need. Thus, there are two distinct factors that compete for priority in charitable giving: severity of need and closeness in relationship. The halakhah also includes a merit-based priority system for distributing charity, placing the righteous and Torah scholars at the top and sinners on the bottom of the list, if at all. However, R. Avraham Yitzchak Ha-Kohen Kook questions the contemporary applicability of the latter category, assuming limited accountability for and intent towards forbidden behavior in a modern context, and recommends “compassion to all.” The needs of the larger world population, outside of the Jewish community, also merit a place on the list of causes supported by Jews. While the Talmud mandates assisting the poor of the world “together with the poor of Israel,” authorities have ruled, following the Ran, that this language is not meant to exclude situations in which no Jews are involved.

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D’v “ART” Torah by Natalia Kadish

Words of spiritual Torah inspirations extracted and expressed through heartwarming, beautiful, and one of a kind visual art. LET THE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH! Hashem created the world with these words, “Let There Be Light!” There are two main focal points in the accompanying artistic depiction of ‘Creation’. All of the letters have two separate perspectives. One perspective is that all the letters are going into one main source, as the tops of the letters give a three-dimensional illusion. Conversely, each letter has its own individual perspective, which is exactly how we are as human beings! We are all part of Hashem’s creation as a whole which started by evolving from one source, yet, we are each individuals existing with free will, and strongly connected back to the one source, thereby being a part of a much bigger, and cyclical plan... During this special time of year, with candles burning and illumination around us, may Hashem bless us all to fulfill our personal avoda (work) in this world by shinning our inner light - the true spark of Hashem’s inner will, which was His original purpose during the creation of our existence. Rabbi Tzvi Freeman quotes The Great Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson stating that “The mandate of the whole of creation is stated almost immediately: They translate it as, ‘Let there be light.’ But instead, read it as ‘It should become light.’ Meaning that the entire world - even the darkness - should become a source of light and wisdom!” Enjoy your festival of lights!! Wishing a very Happy Chanukah to all!

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Shabbos Times & Parsha of the Week

It is considered a great mitzvah and responsibility to honor the Sabbath by lighting candles 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening. This unique commandment, entrusted to the Jewish woman, is rich with meaning and purpose.

Shabbat, Torah Reading: Chayei Sarah Friday, November 6, 2015 Light Candles at: 4:29 PM Shabbat, November 7, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:28 PM Shabbat, Torah Reading: Toldot Friday, November 13, 2015 Light Candles at: 4:22 PM Shabbat, November 14, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:22 PM Shabbat, Torah Reading: Vayeitzei Friday, November 20, 2015 Light Candles at: 4:16 PM Shabbat, November 21, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:17 PM

Shabbat, Torah Reading: Vayeishev Friday, December 4, 2015 Light Candles at: 4:10 PM Shabbat, December 5, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:13 PM Shabbat, Torah Reading: Mikeitz Friday, December 11, 2015 Light Shabbat Candles at: 4:10 PM Shabbat, December 12, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:14 PM Shabbat, Torah Reading: Vayigash Friday, December 18, 2015 Light Candles at: 4:12 PM Shabbat, December 19, 2015 Shabbat Ends: 5:16 PM

Shabbat, Torah Reading: Vayechi Shabbat, Torah Reading: Vayishlach Friday, December 25, 2015 Friday, November 27, 2015 Light Candles at: Light Candles at: 4:15 PM 4:12 PM Shabbat, December 26, 2015 Shabbat, November 28, 2015 Shabbat Ends: Shabbat Ends: 5:20 PM 5:14 PM

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