VISIT US ON THE WEB! WWW.THEBJH.COM Vol. 12 Issue #33 | October 15-21, 2026 | י׳ חשון תשפ״ז-ד׳
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Excitement Grows In Baltimore As Miriam’s Library Launches New After-School Program
Olam Chesed Yibaneh: Building A World Of Chesed At YGW
40
When Your Daughter Gets Married: The Beautiful Ache of Letting Go
66
When Did An Egg Stop Being An Egg?
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SPECIAL CHALLAH BAKE/BRACHA JOINING Miriam Adani - Kever Rochel Fund and women in Israel for the worldwide challah bake on the yarzeit of Rochel Imeinu
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Dear Readers,
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Content COMMUNITY
Rabbi Zvi Teichman
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
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Torah Sparks
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Living Kiddush Hashem
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Daber Davar
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Around the Community
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Greater Washington Community News
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Greater Washington Minyanim
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Community Calendar
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Baltimore Minyanim Guide
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JEWISH THOUGHT
PEOPLE 613 Seconds - Bonai Olam
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FEATURE When Your Daughter Gets Married: The Beautiful Ache Of Letting Go
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HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT To Raise A Laugh
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Centerfold
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Notable Quotes
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Sukkah Contest Winner!
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Kids Coloring Contest
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The Torah describes Noach as “ish tzaddik tamim hayah b’dorosav,” a righteous and wholehearted man in his generation. The meforshim offer different ways to understand the words “in his generations,” but either way, Noach’s life was defined by his avodas Hashem. In a world that had turned away from Hashem, he remained faithful, walking with Him and carrying out His will with patience and constancy. His story is one of a person whose greatness was expressed not through public recognition, but through a life centered on devotion to Hashem. I thought about this as I reflected on the recent petirah of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Greenhaus zt”l. Rabbi Greenhaus was a giant of a man who lived quietly and humbly. A member of the Baltimore community for nearly forty years, he was a tremendous talmid chochom and masmid, meticulous in his shemiras hamitzvos, and a devoted eved Hashem. For many years, he served as a shochet and bodek at Empire. He was also a baal tefillah, leading the davening during the Yomim Noraim at Rabbi Vitsick’s shul. When he retired, he simply sat down and learned all day. I remember the Greenhaus family moving to Glengyle when I was a child. I got to know them through my classmate, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Greenhaus, and saw firsthand that Rabbi Greenhaus never sought attention for himself.
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He was always ready to help another Yid and especially enjoyed learning with someone who might have had difficulty finding a chavrusa. Some people’s lives are defined by the major events they experienced or the public roles they held. Rabbi Greenhaus’s story was Torah and avodah, lived faithfully day after day. His children have followed in his path of avodas Hashem and hasmadah, with sterling middos and little interest in material pursuits. Rabbi Greenhaus never sought the spotlight. At his shloshim, public hespedim were held at Machzikei Torah, with Harav Nesanel Kostelitz, Harav Dovid Heber, Rabbi Mordechai Bamberger, and some of his sons speaking. Such hespedim are generally held for rabbonim and community leaders. Their being held for Rabbi Greenhaus is a testament to the greatness people recognized in him. Noach’s example reminds us that greatness can be found in a life of quiet devotion: learning, davening, keeping mitzvos carefully, and helping another person without looking for accolades. Rabbi Greenhaus embodied that kind of avodah. His life tells a story of pure dedication to the Ribono Shel Olam, and the many who recognized his ehrlichkeit remind us how deeply such a life can touch a community. He was a tzaddik tamim in our generation. Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos, Aaron M. Friedman
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MIRIAM’S LIBRARY
After-school programming for 4th & 5th graders · Oct 25 – Dec 2
SUNDAYS
GIRLS CLASSES
WEEKDAYS
BOYS CLASSES
GUITAR FUNDAMENTALS
with Shira Perlman
with Adriel Borshansky
11:00 AM
Mon 4:45 PM
SCREEN PRINTING
MOSAIC ART
with Yehudis Oshry
with Aryeh Leib Mittleman
1:00 PM
Tue 4:45 PM
HAIRSTYLING & BRAIDING
3D PRINTING & DESIGN
with Shani Bennett
with Rabbi Hallel Newman
4:00 PM
Wed 4:45 PM
R E G I S T R AT I O N I S N O W O P E N
MiriamsLibrary.com Scan to reserve your child’s spot
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Financial assistance for families who need it
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BAKING & DECORATING
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
6 WEEKS · OCT 25 – DEC 2
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WILL YOUR CHILD BE THERE?
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Around the Community
Excitement Grows In Baltimore As Miriam’s Library Launches New After-School Program
E
xcitement is growing across Baltimore’s Jewish community as Miriam’s Library prepares to welcome children to its first after-school classes at its new Pikesville home. Registration is now open for the inaugural six-week session, beginning Sunday, October 25. Geared primarily toward fourth- and fifth-graders, the program is built around hands-on learning, giving children the chance to explore practical skills, discover new interests and express their creativity. The first lineup includes 3D Printing & Design, Guitar Fundamentals, Mosaic Art, Screen Printing, Baking & Decorating, and Hairstyling & Braiding. Rather than a conventional homework-focused after-school setting, students will have opportunities to create, experiment and learn directly from instructors working in each specialty. Girls’ classes will be held on Sundays, while boys’ classes will take place on weekday afternoons. Families with children outside the primary grade range can inquire about eligibility when registering. To make participation more accessible, Miriam’s Library has established an $18,000 scholarship fund
through the generosity of the Ben and Zelda Cohen Foundation. Families who need assistance can submit a scholarship request. Parents can also request transportation from school, with arrangements and costs to be confirmed individually. The program’s debut follows a Chol Hamoed concert featuring Joey Newcomb at Goucher College, which drew nearly 1,000 people and gave families an early look at the new offerings. Momentum continued on October 6 when U.S. Congressman Johnny Olszewski, a former special educator and Baltimore County Executive, toured Miriam’s Library at 201 Milford Mill Road. He reviewed the pilot space and future plans alongside Mendel Mintz, former Baltimore County Councilman Mel Mintz, and representatives of the Pikesville Improvement Corporation. Established in memory of Miriam Mintz (née Fink), a Baltimore special education teacher who devoted herself to helping children learn and succeed, Miriam’s Library is transforming a 14,000-square-foot building into a welcoming center for learning, creativity and inclusion. Its after-school classes are the first step in a larger plan for educational and community programming.
For Baltimore families, the long-awaited vision is becoming something tangible: children will soon be walking through the doors, trying new skills and discovering what they can accomplish.
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Launch Of This Year’s JewQ Learning Program
S
ylvia Rosenblatt Hebrew School, hosted by Anshe Emuna Hebrew Congregation, launched this year’s JewQ learning program. This year we have eighteen participants registered, learning topics such as Brachot, Chagim and Jewish Heroes, amongst others. The children are incredibly excited to be taking part in this program, which will include three quizzes with prizes awarded after each quiz. The program culminates in the CKids Shabbaton in Brooklyn, a trip awarded to particpants who received over 70% on each quiz. We wish our students much success and enjoyment in learning!
Registration and additional information are available at www.MiriamsLibrary.com.
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Around the Community
Mazel Tov To TA 1st Grade On Their Haschalas Chumash!
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Greater Washington: Around the Community
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OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Simchas Torah In Yeshiva-Ashreinu Mah Tov Chelkeinu By: Rabbi Dr. Avichai Pepper
T
here is something special about spending Simchas Torah in a Yeshiva. For those who call its Bais Medrash their makom Torah, it is almost like returning to Har Sinai, celebrating not only the Torah itself, but the individual cheilek in Torah that belongs to each and every one of us. Silver Spring, MD is no different. For our bachurim, Rabbeim, alumni, and the many community members who call Yeshiva of Greater Washington their makom Torah, the Yeshiva is the center of their Torah lives. On Simchas Torah that connection comes alive as generations join together, singing and dancing with the Torah that connects them all together. This year, it was one small interaction on Simchas Torah morning that gave me a different perspective of the joy of the continuity of the Torah, changing my Yom Tov. Following a beautiful night of dancing and singing that continued well past midnight, I arrived early the next morning to begin preparations for davening, Hakafos, Kiddush, and the seudah. While leaving the kitchen, I happened to meet our esteemed Rosh HaYeshiva, Harav Aharon Lopiansky, and somewhat absentmindedly held the kitchen door open for him.
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With a smile, the Rosh HaYeshiva pointed out that he had no reason to enter the kitchen, he was simply heading to the sink outside of the kitchen to wash his hands. After all, he joked, access to the kitchen is reserved for the “privileged.” As we walked together into the Bais Medrash, I responded that, in truth, this was the room reserved for those who are privileged. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu - How fortunate we are. How good is our portion. The conversation stayed somewhere in the back of my mind as davening began and the Bais Medrash slowly filled. A few hours later, sometime during the third or fourth Hakafah, we began singing those very words. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu. As I danced around with a Sefer Torah resting on my shoulder and my
son holding my hand at my side, I found myself overcome with emotion. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu - How fortunate we are. A memory this past January came to mind. Several inches of fresh snow covered the frozen ground at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Our seniors were on the Yeshivas annual 12th grade trip, traveling through Poland on their way to Eretz Yisrael. There, in a place that represents one of the darkest periods in the history of Klal Yisrael, our Rabbeim and talmidim joined hands and danced. The words we sang were the same words now filling our Bais Medrash, Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu - How fortunate we are. Standing in our Bais Medrash on Simchas Torah, the two moments suddenly came together. In Auschwitz, we danced in a place where an attempt had been made to bring an end to everything we represent. Yet there we were, Rabbeim and talmidim, dancing together and singing about how fortunate we are to have our cheilek in Torah. And now, months later, here we were again. This time, the dance was taking place in our own Bais Medrash. Bachurim danced with their
Rabbeim. Alumni returned to the Yeshiva in which they had learned. Fathers danced alongside their sons. Community members joined together in the Bais Medrash they call their makom Torah.
generation accepting its place in a chain that has continued throughout Jewish history.
The settings could hardly have been more different, but the message was the same. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu.
Sometimes we become so accustomed to these things that we forget just how privileged we really are. We are privileged to be part of that chain. We have the privilege to sing and dance in our Bais Medrsah and celebrate all of the Chalakim of Torah.
The dance in Auschwitz reminded us that the chain continues and the continuity of Torah lives on. The dance on Simchas Torah allowed us to celebrate what that continuation looks like, us learning Torah, another
The Rosh HaYeshiva was right. Some places really are reserved for the privileged. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu, u’mah na’im goraleinu. How fortunate we are. How good is our portion. How beautiful our lot is.
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Greater Washington: Around the Community
E
ach year, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Blate, Rosh Chaburah of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington Kollel, hosts a small but meaningful gathering in his sukkah. This Simchas Beis Hashoeva is unique in its style. Rather than the large crowds and energetic dancing that often characterize these celebrations, community members gather
and entering the new year with renewed hope, tefillah, and commitment.
aircraft was regained, and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The singing and beautiful harmonies are interwoven with words of chizuk from the Rosh Chaburah, creating an atmosphere of reflection, connection, and simcha. This year’s gathering carried a particularly meaningful message of recognizing the Yad Hashem around us
The Gemara in Rosh Hashanah 16b teaches that a year in which the shofar is not sounded at its beginning is one in which meri’in—there is reason to fear trouble ahead. When the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, as it did this year, the shofar remains silent.
What could have ended in unimaginable tragedy instead ended with 174 people returning home, to Eretz Yisrael.
This year, once again, the first day of Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos. On the third day of Chol Hamoed, 174 people boarded a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Midflight, a pilot seems to have stabbed the captain and attempted to hijack or crash the aircraft. What followed was an extraordinary series of events: passengers and crew managed to subdue the attacker, control of the
shacharis
We often call such things coincidences. But coincidences are simply miracles in which Hashem chooses to remain hidden. There is no doubt that this was the Yad of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Perhaps this is our reminder at the beginning of this year: the silence of the shofar should not leave us silent. Let us strengthen ourselves in our davening, our shmiras hamitzvos, and our avodas Hashem, and daven that what could have been tragedy continues instead to become revealed bracha. May we merit a year in which we recognize Hashem’s protection not through tragedy, but through endless bracha, yeshuos, and besuros tovos.
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
M-F
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
T, W, F
6:20 am Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY
M, Th
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
T, W, F
8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
S-F S
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
7:05 am Kesher Israel
M, Th
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation
M-F
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue
M, Th
8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville
M, Th
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
M, T
T, W, F
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah
S
Chabad of Silver Spring
M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY
T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
S
YGW
M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah
M, Th
6:40 am YGW
S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation 6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
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together for an intimate and inspirational kumzitz.
Three years ago, we experienced the same calendar. The first day of Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos, and just weeks later came the horrific massacre of October 7.
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OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Silence, The Sound Of Bracha! By: Rabbi Dr. Avichai Pepper
M-Th S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue
M, Th
Ohr Hatorah
T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
M, Th
Silver Spring Jewish Center
M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County
M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue
T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center BETHESDA Magen David Sephardic Congregation [S] 11215 Woodglen Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852 GAITHERSBURG Chabad of Upper Montgomery County [Ari] 11520 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 OLNEY Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah (OSTT) 18320 Georgia Ave, Olney, MD 20832
S
Kesher Israel Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah 7:30 am Chabad of DC
S
M-F
Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville
S, T, W, F
S
Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy
S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center
M-F
M-F
Chabad of Potomac
M-F
JROC
M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue
T, W, F
8:30 am Chabad of DC
S
Chabad of Potomac
S S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
S
JROC Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Silver Spring Jewish Center
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)
M-F
YGW (Summer Only)
S-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only)
S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation
S
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring
S
Kemp Mill Synagogue
S
Kemp Mill Synagogue
S
Kesher Israel
S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY
S
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Chabad of Upper Montgomery County
S
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
S
POTOMAC Beth Sholom Congregation 11825 Seven Locks Rd. Potomac, MD 20854 Chabad of Potomac [Ari] 11621 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854 Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac 11618 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
ROCKVILLE Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy 13300 Arctic Ave, Rockville, MD 20853 JROC 11304 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville, MD 20852 Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville Ring House TV Room
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mincha
S S
mincha/maariv
Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH Beit Halevi (Sfardi) Beth Sholom Congregation Chabad of Potomac Chabad of Silver Spring Chabad of Upper Montgomery County Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville (20 min before, S-F) JROC Kemp Mill Synagogue Kesher Israel Magen David Sephardic Congregation Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah Silver Spring Jewish Center Southeast Hebrew Congregation Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi)
maariv 8:45 pm YGW 9:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center 9:30 pm YGW 9:45 pm Ohr Hatorah 10:00 pm YGW
2:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center 2:10 pm YGW
S-F
2:45 pm YGW 3:00 pm YGW Middle School
S-Th
SILVER SPRING Beit Halevi [Sefardic] 1009 North Belgrade Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20902 Chabad of Silver Spring [Ari] 519 Lamberton Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Kemp Mill Synagogue 11910 Kemp Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Ohr Hatorah 1009 Kersey Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Silver Spring Jewish Center 1401 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902
Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Knesset Yehoshua 10900 Lockwood Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20901 Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah 9001 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Yeshiva Gedola of Greater Washington (YGW) 1216 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (YISE) [Ashk + S] 1132 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902
M-Th School Days M-Th School Days
S-Th S-Th S-Th S-Th S-Th
WASHINGTON Chabad of DC [Ari] 2110 Leroy Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20008 Kesher Israel 2801 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue 1600 Jonquil St NW, Washington, DC 20012
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American Friends of Koidenov Inc. welcomes
כ״ק מרן אדמו״ר מקוידינוב שליט״א
The Koidenover Rebbe
The Rebbe will be our honored guest Monday, October 19th - Tuesday, October 28TH The Rebbe will be staying at the home of our gracious hosts Dr. and Mrs. Yossi Scheller • 2501 Willow Glen Dr.
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
שבת קודש פרשת לך לך תׁשפ״ז
SHABBOS KODESH PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5787 OCTOBER 23RD-24TH
We look forward to sharing with the Rebbe an elevated Shabbos full of chizuk and inspiration Mincha and Kabbolas Shabbos 5:58 pm Derech Chaim (Rabbi Gross)
Tish 9:15 pm
MERCAZ TORAH UTEFILLAH (RABBI EICHENSTEIN)
Shacharis and Shiur 8:15 am
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
The Rebbe will be available by appointment at the home of his hosts Dr. and Mrs. Yossi Scheller • 2501 Willow Glen Dr. for private consultations and brochos.To schedule an appointment to meet with the Rebbe or for more information about other events please call/text Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin at 443-570-7598 or email office@koidenov.org
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Greater Washington: Around the Community
Olam Chesed Yibaneh: Building A World Of Chesed At YGW By: Rabbi Dr. Avichai Pepper OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Our boys are involved in countless acts of Chesed, both publicly and privately. Not because they have to, not because there is a reward waiting for them, but simply because Olam Chesed Yibaneh—the world is built through kindness.
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lam Chesed Yibaneh. It’s not just a beautiful catchphrase, it’s a responsibility, a personal and communal Acharyus. At the Yeshiva of Greater Washington Boys Division, we have embarked on a new mission. Truthfully, the mission itself is nothing new. Rather, our goal is to recognize, celebrate, and expand upon the incredible acts of Chesed that our talmidim are already performing throughout the community.
To celebrate these remarkable efforts and launch additional opportunities for Chesed, the Yeshiva hosted a beautiful breakfast recognizing the boys and their contributions to the community. Over the past month alone, our talmidim have packaged boxes of food for families in need and for those involved in Klei Kodesh, helped put up and take down nearly 200 sukkos throughout the community, assisted several shuls in preparing for the Yamim Noraim through Simchas Torah, setting up the Arba Minim sales in several locations, and participated in countless smaller acts of kindness that often go unnoticed. During the breakfast, Rabbi Abba Florans shared an important perspective on the power of Chesed. When a young man visits an elderly couple on Shabbos, the couple undoubtedly appreciates the company and attention. Yet perhaps even more importantly, the young man himself walks away with a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and purpose. Chesed does not simply benefit the recipient; it transforms the person performing it. This new initiative will allow the Yeshiva to better identify needs throughout the community, connect talmidim with meaningful opportunities, and recognize the tremendous amount of Chesed already taking place. Our boys regularly volunteer with organizations such as Imadi, Bikur Cholim, Chai Lifeline, Yad Yehuda, and the Kosher Pantry. Others dedicate their time to learning with younger students,
tutoring those who need additional support, and quietly helping individuals and families in countless ways.
who they already are while encouraging them to recognize how much more they can accomplish.
Perhaps the most beautiful part of this initiative is that we are not asking our boys to become something they are not. We are simply celebrating
We are incredibly proud of our talmidim and the difference they continue to make throughout the community. We look forward to watching
these opportunities grow, celebrating their continued accomplishments, and, most importantly, inspiring a lifelong commitment to Chesed. After all, Olam Chesed Yibaneh is not merely something we say. It is something we do.
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In Their Own Words - An Interview With Pin #0142 Pin # 0142: It makes ordinary moments incredibly painful. When I’m at family gatherings or neighborhood Tehillim groups, the conversation naturally flows to children. People talk about the challenges of waking up early for carpool, the high cost of shoes, or the stress of cooking for the Yom Tov. I just sit there, nodding and smiling, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. I want to tell them that I would give anything for a sleepless night caused by a teething baby. I want to explain that while I don’t have day camp expenses, our pharmacy bills and specialist fees are draining our life savings. But I choose to stay quiet. You become an expert at building a wall around your heart just to survive the day. You feel entirely isolated, even when surrounded by the people you love.
Pin # 0142: Thank you for having me. I wanted to do this because when you walk down the street in Baltimore, you see families everywhere. You see strollers, carpools, and busy mothers. I am the woman standing next to you at the grocery store, the one sitting across from you at a Simcha. On the outside, my life looks put together. I go to my job, I smile, I make small talk. But underneath that mask of normalcy, my husband and I are carrying an incredibly heavy, invisible burden.
Infertility is a very lonely world. You live with a constant, aching emptiness. Every month brings a fresh wave of grief, a quiet mourning for a child that hasn’t arrived yet. My heart yearns to experience the beautiful chaos of motherhood—to soothe a crying baby, to pack school lunches, to teach a child Torah. Instead, I go home to a completely silent house, trying to blink back tears so my husband won’t see how broken I am, while he does the exact same for me. BJH: The emotional toll is clearly immense. How does this affect your day-today interactions within the community?
BJH: This year’s Bonei Olam theme focuses on turning that “painful quiet into Simcha IY”H” How has the organization impacted your journey? Pin # 0142: For a long time, we reached a dead end because we simply could not afford the next medical steps. Our doctor recommended an advanced treatment plan, but the quote they gave us made our hearts sink. We felt entirely hopeless. That is when we reached out to Bonei Olam. When they called to tell us our funding was approved, it felt like a massive weight was lifted off our shoulders. Suddenly, a door that had been slammed shut was wide open. But it’s more than just the
BJH: What is your message to the Baltimore community as they prepare for the upcoming campaign? Pin # 0142: Every dollar given to Bonei Olam directly changes a life. You aren’t just funding medical procedures; you are buying hope for couples who are at their absolute breaking point. You are helping to build the future of Klal Yisroel right here in our neighborhood. To everyone who donates: you may never know my name or my face, but you are the reason we can keep praying and trying. Thank you for opening your hearts and for helping to transform our painful silence into the beautiful sounds of a home filled with children. BJH: Thank you for sharing your heart with us. Baltimore, you have the power to bring light into the darkest, quietest corners of our community. Support the Bonei Olam online campaign this Sunday and Monday, October 18th and 19th, at boneiolam.org/ baltimore. Let’s build families together.
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BJH: Thank you so much for courageously stepping forward to speak with us today. To start, can you give our readers a glimpse into your life?
financial check. Knowing that the funding comes from our own Baltimore neighbors gives us an unbelievable amount of chizuk. It means that even though our struggle is a secret, we aren’t fighting it alone. The community is standing right there with us, whispering, “We hear you, and we are holding you up.” It has turned our despair into real, tangible hope.
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613 Seconds with Bonei Olam:
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The Week In News diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent The Week In News toeconomy.
Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to transform itself into a global business and tourism destination are facing a major challenge as deadly missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels threaten the kingdom’s security and economic future. A series of strikes on Riyadh’s international airport over the weekend killed at least 13 people, wounded more than 300 and forced widespread flight cancellations, casting uncertainty over several high-profile international conferences scheduled for later this month. The attacks come as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to attract billions of dollars in foreign investment
Among the upcoming events is the Future Investment Initiative, often called “Davos in the Desert,” scheduled for October 26. Prominent executives, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, are expected to attend. Organizers insist the conference will proceed, promising extensive security measures at airports, hotels and meeting venues. However, concerns are already affecting attendance at other major events. Several leading energy executives, including the heads of ExxonMobil, Shell and BP, withdrew from the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh, while Italy’s energy minister opted to participate remotely. The escalating attacks highlight a difficult choice for Saudi leadership: intensify military operations against the Houthis in neighboring Yemen or pursue negotiations to restore stability. “The Houthis’ ability to retaliate asymmetrically, in a way that hurts, puts the Saudi leadership in a quandary,” said Michael Ratney, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis have increasingly targeted critical Saudi infrastructure, including oil refineries, pipelines and shipping routes, threatening the economic stability that the kingdom has worked to establish. Saudi Arabia has also sought additional American military assistance, but President Donald Trump has been reluctant to open another major military front as the United States continues its war with Iran. Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi airstrikes against Houthi targets but indicated that communication with the militia was continuing. Meanwhile, Iran has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, although Saudi officials remain skeptical of Tehran’s intentions, being that they are the sponsor of the terror group. For Mohammed bin Salman, the stakes extend far beyond the immediate conflict. His sweeping economic reforms depend on convincing international investors, businesses and tourists that Saudi Arabia is a safe, reliable destination. “You can’t do that when people can’t land in your country safely,” noted Kristen Smith Diwan, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute.
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Congo’s New Rebel Leader Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has been named the leader of a new rebel coalition seeking to oust the government. The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) said it aimed to coordinate “resistance forces” to end “tyranny” in Democratic Republic of Congo and would pursue the goal “by all means, including force.” Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia for treason in October 2025. He had previously denied having links to the M23 rebel group. This week’s announcement highlights his direct involvement in an armed movement. The coalition was announced at a press conference at Kabila’s residence in Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo, which has been under the control of the M23 since last year. M23 leader Sultani Makenga will serve as one of Kabila’s four deputies in the new movement. The other three also come from the AFC-M23 alliance which
last year seized much of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo. The announcement of the new group comes days after Kabila delivered an address in which he said he would set out how Congolese people should act to “rescue” their country. On Friday, Kabila accused President Félix Tshisekedi’s government of disregarding proposals he had put forward last year, including some aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Kabila also accused the government of undermining constitutional rule, mismanaging the economy, and failing to improve security. He further alleged arbitrary arrests of political opponents and military officers. Kabila, 55, ruled DR Congo from 2001 until January 2019, when Tshisekedi took office following a disputed election. More than 100 militia groups are active in eastern DR Congo amid ethnic tensions and fighting for political power and control of lucrative natural resources. Tshisekedi’s second term ends in 2028, but in May, he said that elections, which are due then, may not be held because of the conflict. He also hinted that he may seek re-election for a third term “if the people want.” The parliament has since passed a bill that could pave the way for a referendum that could remove the constitution’s two-term limit.
Nobel for AntiIsrael Jurist The decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has sparked sharp criticism from Jewish advocacy organizations, which accuse the South African jurist of longstanding anti-Israel bias and defending antisemitic remarks. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday that Pillay, 85, would receive the award for her work advancing international law and holding perpetrators of war crimes and genocide accountable. However, critics argue that her record investigating Israel raises serious questions about her impartiality. “We are shocked that the Nobel Committee honored Navi Pillay,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based watchdog UN Watch. “Her troubling record on antisemitism and gross breach of ethics in presiding over a notorious U.N. commission utterly dis-
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The Week In News qualifies her from such an award.” Pillay, who served as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, was appointed in 2021 to lead a U.N. commission investigating alleged Israeli violations in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In September 2025, the commission issued a report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, allegations that Israel strongly rejected as politically motivated. The report did not constitute a ruling by an international court. UN Watch pointed to Pillay’s previous public statements, including her support for a 2020 campaign urging sanctions against Israel, arguing that she had demonstrated bias before accepting the investigative position. Another controversy arose in 2022 when fellow commissioner Miloon Kothari made remarks referring to a “Jewish lobby” allegedly influencing criticism of the investigation and questioned Israel’s membership in the United Nations. Pillay defended Kothari, saying his comments had been taken out of context. Kothari subsequently apologized for his remarks. Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices, condemned the Nobel decision, accusing Pillay of using human rights institutions to undermine Israel. “This award stands as a testament to human wrongs,” Bayefsky said. During Pillay’s tenure as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council passed 39 resolutions slamming Israel. By comparison, North Korea was the target of six resolutions, and Iran was the target of just four. Other serial human rights abusers, including Cuba, China, Pakistan, Russia, Qatar, and Turkey, were not highlighted at all for their abuses. According to human rights lawyer Emma Reilly, who was on Pillay’s staff at the Human Rights Council, Pillay did not simply shield China from sanction but actively assisted in its crushing of dissidents. According to Reilly, Pillay and her staff passed the names of 50 dissidents to the Chinese authorities, many of whom were detained, tortured, and “killed in concentration camps.” Reilly argues that Pillay is personally “complicit” in the genocide of the Uyghur minority in northwestern China. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Pillay’s decades of work fighting discrimination and strengthening international legal institutions. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres congratu-
lated her, describing her as a champion of international law who had demonstrated that “the force of law must prevail over the law of force.” Born in South Africa during apartheid, Pillay became a pioneering judge and later served on international tribunals investigating atrocities in Rwanda and elsewhere.
11 Sailors Missing in Drone Attack
Eleven sailors were missing on Tuesday after a drone attack sank a cargo ship off the coast of Bulgaria, raising concerns about the growing threat to commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues. Bulgarian authorities said two cargo vessels were struck by drones overnight, with one sinking near the coastal village of Krapets. Five crew members were rescued from the sunken vessel, identified as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity, while search-and-rescue teams continued looking for 11 others. A second cargo ship, the Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, was struck by three drones. All 15 crew members, including seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis, were rescued without serious injuries. The attacks prompted Bulgaria to summon Russia’s ambassador, although Bulgarian officials stopped short of directly blaming Moscow. “This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev said in a televised address. Radev added that the consequences of the attacks “benefit the Russian Federation.” Russia has not publicly accepted responsibility for the incidents. Following a meeting with Bulgarian officials, Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova said she had received no information from Moscow’s Defense Ministry about attacks on commercial vessels and suggested that a third party might have been responsible.
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The Week In News The latest incident comes just one week after another cargo ship was sunk by drones in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, leaving nine Syrian sailors and one Egyptian missing. European leaders condemned the latest attacks, warning that the conflict is increasingly threatening international maritime trade. “The Black Sea has become another front of escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media. “Those responsible should be held accountable.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of deliberately endangering civilian lives and threatening global food supplies. “The Black Sea is a lifeline for global food security,” he said. Bulgaria has requested additional assistance from NATO and the European Union to strengthen surveillance of its airspace and coastal waters. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would continue adjusting its military presence along its eastern flank as necessary.
Fridges Hacked in France Hackers launched a sweeping cyberattack against French supermarkets on Sunday night, remotely forcing refrigerator temperatures to soar, and causing food losses and fires at hundreds of stores across the country. The Paris prosecutor’s office said Monday that the attack targeted connected refrigeration systems used by several major food retailers. In some cases, refrigerators were reportedly heated to as much as 50 degrees Celsius — 122 degrees Fahrenheit — for hours. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu directed the country’s national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, to investigate. Officials were also working with other European governments amid concerns that the attack may have extended beyond France. Les Mousquetaires, which owns the Intermarché supermarket chain, said approximately 150 of its stores were affected. Refrigerators at some locations
remained at dangerously high temperatures for roughly six hours, forcing the company to discard all potentially compromised food as a safety precaution. Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U, said his company’s supermarkets were also hit. “Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is of extreme gravity and is unprecedented,” Schelcher wrote on X. French media reported that E Leclerc, the country’s largest supermarket chain, was also affected, with hackers allegedly triggering forced defrosting systems remotely at numerous stores. Meanwhile, supermarket operator Ahold Delhaize said it was dealing with a separate “security issue” and had taken some systems offline. Its Albert Heijn stores in the Netherlands and Belgium remained open, but the company’s app and delivery systems were disrupted, while some electronic price displays showed incorrect information. Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg were also reportedly affected. It was not immediately clear whether the disruptions outside France were connected to the French attacks. According to a source close to Lecornu, ANSSI identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danish engineering company Danfoss as part of its investigation.
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UK: Iran Targeting Our Military Sites Iran is increasingly targeting military installations in Britain, with a suspected September plot against a U.S.-operated air base representing part of a broader campaign, the head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency warned on Tuesday. Ken McCallum, director-general of MI5, said Iranian operations in Britain have expanded beyond targeting opponents of Tehran’s government to include military facilities and other strategically important locations. Another “major shift this year has been Iranian ambitions to come at harder targets, like military sites,” McCallum said. He pointed to the September 27 security incident at RAF Fairford, a military base in western England used by
American bombers during this year’s war against Iran. The incident “is not unique. There have been other examples, not just in the UK but around the world,” McCallum warned. The suspected plot prompted a major security operation, with dozens of nearby residents evacuated as armed police and military bomb-disposal teams searched the area. Investigators discovered gasoline in three vans but found no explosives. Seven men in their 20s were arrested and subsequently released on bail while investigations continue. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that the suspected operation was “almost certainly” orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran has denied involvement, although Iranian officials have previously warned that military bases used to launch attacks against Iran are legitimate targets. The security scare prompted the United States to withdraw its bombers from RAF Fairford. McCallum also highlighted Iranian-linked arson and sabotage attacks against Jewish institutions in Britain, warning that Tehran and Moscow are intensifying their campaigns of covert operations and disruption. He said MI5’s work countering threats from foreign governments, particularly Iran, Russia and China, has quadrupled over the past decade. Beyond traditional security threats, McCallum raised concerns about artificial intelligence potentially helping terrorists develop biological weapons. He warned that AI could provide dangerous scientific information to extremists or even assist in creating previously unknown pathogens. “One risk is that AI could enable dangerous knowledge to get into the hands of people we would all rather didn’t have that knowledge,” he said. MI5 has established a new AI Threat Assessment Center to examine emerging dangers. Describing Britain’s security environment as a turning point comparable to the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, McCallum warned that rapidly advancing technology is creating unprecedented challenges for intelligence agencies. “Human history has given us no experience of facing an actor which is smarter than we are,” he said. “It is capable of outthinking us.”
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The Week In News
Tragedy on a School Trip
A school trip near Israel’s northern border turned into a scene of tragedy and heroism on Monday when an unexploded ordnance detonated, killing a 15-year-old boy and injuring several other students. As emergency responders rushed to the scene near the Lebanese border, the wounded teenagers sprang into action, using belts, socks and whatever materials they could find to create makeshift tourniquets and help their injured friends. The deadly blast occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, when the group from the ORT Ma’alot school were hiking the Naftali Mountains Forest scenic route in the Ramim Ridge area. The school hike – a 3-day trip along the Israel Trail – was approved by authorities, despite a sign posted by the KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund warning of “war damage,” and announcing an “absolute ban on entering forests and campsites.” One student, struck by shrapnel in his leg, called his father on video for instructions on how to stop the bleeding. “He called me right away, we scrambled the [Israel Defense Forces], and Magen David Adom [paramedics] and explained at the same time how to make a tourniquet,” his father, Dvir Klein, recounted. Among those who rushed to help was 15-year-old Yair Frankenthal, a youth volunteer with Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s emergency medical service. Despite being injured himself, Frankenthal began assessing his classmates and administering first aid. “After the big explosion I heard, I felt that I was injured too, but I immediately started checking who needed medical help,” he recalled. Frankenthal discovered one boy who was seriously wounded and had no pulse. He immediately began CPR, continuing
until paramedics arrived. Emergency personnel praised the students for their extraordinary composure. “Despite the difficult scenes and distress, the boys cooperated with me in an extraordinary way,” one MDA medic said. “Each one tried to help his friend as much as he could, some even making tourniquets to stop the bleeding.” Tamir Duadi, a member of the nearby Kibbutz Manara civil defense squad, became emotional when describing the scene. “They were sitting there, holding their friends, taking care of them, making them tourniquets,” he told Channel 12. “Awesome kids did great work with me, until MDA arrived.” The student killed in the explosion was identified as ninth-grader Elazar Yair Wilensky. According to classmates, Wilensky had spotted what appeared to be part of a missile in a wooded area off the hiking trail. Fascinated by military equipment, he reportedly approached the object and began examining it before it suddenly exploded. Friends described Wilensky as exceptionally bright, curious, and knowledgeable about weapons and military technology. “He was particularly interested in wars, in missiles and weapons,” they recalled, saying he could identify different types of equipment and explain their functions in remarkable detail. Wilensky, 13, was the youngest of five siblings – three sisters and a brother – and was “smart, wise and full of joy for life. A loving and good friend, whose whole life was ahead of him,” according to his family. Wilensky was a competitive fencer, considered among the best of his age group in Israel, according to the Ynet news site. In total as of Tuesday morning, five children were in serious condition as a result of the blast. During the recent war, Hezbollah launched several Grad rockets containing dozens of BRB1-type (also known as A-09) submunitions at northern Israel. The rockets spread the submunitions over wide areas, and they often do not explode on impact. Images from Monday indicated this was the type of ordnance encountered by the group. Authorities subsequently discovered additional explosive remnants in the area.
Kfar Saba Mayor Arrested On Monday, police arrested Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa’ar and his wife, along with 15 other suspects, on suspicion of receiving bribes from individuals, some of them criminals, in exchange for tenders in various fields within the local authority. According to the Kan public broadcaster, an over a year-long undercover investigation by the Lahav 433 special crimes unit determined that bribes worth millions of shekels were involved in the entire tender period, a year after Sa’ar was elected. The probe found that known criminal elements in central Israel were involved in handling the bribes in exchange for winning tenders, Israel Police said in a statement, adding that the criminals committed violent acts during the period. According to Kan, the mayor’s wife, Meital Sa’ar, was in direct contact with the various businessmen and individuals with financial interests, some of them criminals, in exchange for cash. Those involved knew that a give-and-take relationship with the mayor’s wife was key so that she would operate behind the scenes to ensure they were favored to win tenders, Kan reported. According to the police, the mayor and the head of a financial firm would act to ensure the granting of tenders to the bribers. The cash received was allegedly used by Meital Sa’ar for international trips and luxury items, Kan reported, noting that the mayor drove a Tesla, while his wife drove an Audi. Additionally, police reportedly discovered in their investigation that criminal elements helped Sa’ar get elected by vote buying and convincing other candidates to drop out. Police suspected that the suspects committed crimes including public corruption, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, tax offenses, and more. Police on Monday morning arrested 17 people, including the mayor and his wife and the head of the financial firm, who has yet to be identified. Seven others were detained for questioning. Searches of municipal offices and the couple’s home found organized collections of cash hidden in the home. Luxury watches and bags in the mayoral couple’s possession, and evidence of overseas flights and purchases were reportedly found by police. On their last interna-
tional trip, Meital Sa’ar was questioned by customs over NIS 20,000 ($6,500) of cash in her possession. In response to the allegations, Mayor Sa’ar said in a statement that he understood “the concern and the questions” and that he intended to cooperate with the investigation.
Abbas Delays Elections – Again Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has once again postponed Palestinian elections, pushing a long-awaited legislative vote nearly a year into the future and blaming Israel for the delay. In a decree issued Saturday, Abbas canceled parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28 and announced that both presidential and legislative elections would instead take place on September 11, 2027. The decision means Palestinians will continue waiting for elections after more than two decades without a national vote. Abbas, 90, was elected president in 2005 for a four-year term. His mandate expired in 2009, but he has remained in power ever since, governing by decree. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abbas cited “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” and said conditions were not suitable for “free, fair and inclusive elections.” The decree blamed Israeli military operations, settlement construction, violence by settlers and travel restrictions in the West Bank. It also pointed to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and alleged Israeli restrictions preventing election officials and international observers from entering certain areas. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply rejected the accusations, accusing Abbas of using Israel as an excuse to avoid facing voters. “Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian corrupt dictator, who has not held elections in over twenty years, has once again deceived the international community,” Sa’ar wrote on X. He called Abbas’s claims against Israel “yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability.” Abbas has repeatedly promised elections over the years, only to cancel or postpone them. The last Palestinian presidential election took place in 2005, while Hamas won the 2006 parliamentary elections.
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The Week In News The following year, Hamas seized control of Gaza, driving out forces loyal to Abbas’s Fatah party. Since then, the Palestinian political leadership has remained deeply divided, and Abbas’s popularity has declined amid widespread accusations of corruption and ineffective governance. Despite their rivalry with Fatah, both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad supported the latest postponement, arguing that more time was needed to resolve internal Palestinian divisions. The delay also comes despite international pressure for democratic reforms. France, which recognized a Palestinian state in 2025, had pressed Abbas to fulfill his commitment to holding elections. French officials reiterated last week that voting was essential to restoring legitimacy to the Palestinian leadership.
Code Global Trade Israel has revealed the name of the IDF’s emergency protocol for a civilian aircraft hijacking: Code Global Trade. The procedure was activated during the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai passenger plane on September 30.
Four F-16 fighter jets armed with airto-air missiles were scrambled over Israel after FlyDubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport, transmitted a distress signal. For several tense minutes, the Israeli Air Force prepared for the worst-case scenario: receiving an order to shoot down the passenger plane if it emerged that the hijacker intended to crash it into a populated area. The name of the military protocol, which was written in the wake of 9/11, was cleared for publication by Israeli military censors. The Israeli protocol addresses situations in which a civilian aircraft is turned from a means of transportation into a weapon against civilians. It includes procedures for scrambling fighter jets to escort the aircraft, attempting to establish contact with its crew, and, in the most extreme circumstances, intercepting and shooting it down while it is still airborne. The Israeli Air Force continuously monitors aircraft entering and leaving Israeli airspace and maintains contact with air traffic control towers in the region. Its assessments also incorporate intelligence information, including material provided by the Mossad and other intelligence agencies. If an aircraft is confirmed to
have been hijacked and there is a danger that it will be deliberately crashed into a populated area, fighter pilots may be ordered to intercept it.
Red Cross Could Have Saved Lives The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has acknowledged that stronger pressure during negotiations to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas could have saved additional lives. In an interview with The New York Times published Saturday, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric reflected on the prolonged efforts to secure the release of Israelis kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. “Pressure should have come earlier in the negotiations,” Spoljaric admitted. “We could have saved more lives.” Her remarks come after years of criticism directed at the Red Cross for failing to secure access to hostages held in Gaza, many of whom endured starvation, abuse and prolonged confinement underground. Spoljaric defended the organization’s
approach, explaining that gaining permission to visit hostages is often more difficult than negotiating their freedom. “Visiting hostages is much more complicated than bringing them back,” she said. She stressed that the captives should never have been used as bargaining chips. “They should have come back unconditionally as of Day 1. But that’s not the reality in which we operate, and so we have to work with the tools that we have.” Spoljaric revealed that she had conducted confidential discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was later killed by Israel. Her meeting with Haniyeh took place in Qatar. “These were tough discussions, and trust me, we are very frank in these meetings,” she said. The Red Cross faced intense scrutiny throughout the hostage crisis, particularly after declining to distribute medications intended for Israeli captives or verify that the supplies reached them. Former hostages have also publicly condemned the organization’s absence during their captivity. Addressing the United Nations Security Council in March 2025, former hostage Eli Sharabi questioned why interna-
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The Week In News tional humanitarian organizations had failed to intervene during his 491 days in Hamas captivity. “Where was the Red Cross when we needed them? Where was the United Nations?” he demanded, describing months of starvation and confinement in underground tunnels. That same month, former hostage Ohad Ben Ami told Germany’s parliament that he had not encountered a single Red Cross representative throughout his ordeal. “During the 491 days of my captivity, we didn’t see anyone [from the Red Cross],” he said.
Guilfoyle to Step Down The White House on Tuesday asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct and improper financial dealings.
“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said during her first briefing in the role. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.” Guilfoyle, 57, a former television personality and longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, has faced growing scrutiny over allegations involving her conduct before and during her diplomatic posting. She is also the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. The State Department’s inspector general has reportedly opened an investigation into Guilfoyle following reports that she sought financial favors and accepted luxury travel connected to wealthy Greek businessmen. Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing. Among the most serious allegations is a claim from Trump donor Eric Deters, who said Guilfoyle asked him to pay a $100,000 American Express bill shortly before her 2025 Senate confirmation hearing. Deters said Guilfoyle offered him access to senior Trump administration officials in return. “She was so desperate for that $100,000. It was a quid pro quo,” Deters said, adding that Guilfoyle told him he
could ask her for “anything and everything in Trump world.” Deters said he ultimately did not make the payment. Attorneys for Guilfoyle have disputed his account, saying the money was owed to her for previous speaking engagements. They have also rejected allegations that Guilfoyle improperly accepted luxury travel, maintaining that she sought State Department guidance and complied with department regulations. Trump initially struck a cautious tone when questioned about the controversy last week, saying Guilfoyle had “always [been] very nice.” By Monday, however, his comments had become more pointed. “We’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he was considering dismissing Guilfoyle. “We’re not happy.” Vice President JD Vance had urged caution before the White House decision, saying the allegations should not be tried “in the court of public opinion.” “Let’s actually see what the facts are,” Vance said, adding that if misconduct occurred, “people have to suffer consequences for it.”
Rover Sets New Record on Mars NASA’s Perseverance rover is going the extra mile — or, more accurately, the extra 28 miles. The six-wheeled robotic explorer has officially become the longest-traveling vehicle on another planet, logging 28.1 miles across the Martian surface since landing on the Red Planet in February 2021.
The milestone surpasses the previous record held by NASA’s Opportunity rover, which explored Mars from 2004 to 2018. Both vehicles have traveled farther than any rover sent to the moon. Perseverance reached the historic mark on Sunday while navigating terrain near the western rim of Jezero Crater, an ancient impact site that scientists believe once contained a lake many years ago.
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The Week In News And despite spending more than five years navigating the rocky Martian landscape, the rover is showing no signs of running out of gas — figuratively speaking. “Perseverance’s engineering hardware and instruments are in excellent shape with all redundant systems still available,” Steven Lee, a project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shared. Lee said recent evaluations indicate the rover could continue operating well into the 2030s, possibly even longer. Much of Perseverance’s remarkable journey has been accomplished without anyone behind the wheel. Its advanced autonomous navigation system, called AutoNav, handles approximately 90% of its driving, using cameras and three-dimensional maps to identify obstacles and chart safe routes. But Perseverance is doing considerably more than racking up mileage. The rover’s primary mission is to search for evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars, which scientists believe was once warmer and wetter than it is today. It has also collected rock and soil samples that could eventually be brought back to Earth for examination. Last year, NASA announced that Perseverance had discovered a possible sign of ancient microbial life in a reddish rock estimated to be many years old. Scientists have not confirmed that the finding represents evidence of life. Currently, Perseverance is exploring some of the oldest terrain encountered in the solar system. “The terrain we’re currently exploring may contain rocks older than any found on Earth,” Lee said. NASA has extended the rover’s mission through approximately 2028, allowing it to continue investigating ancient geological formations that may reveal whether Mars once supported life. Its original mission called for just 12.4 miles of driving. Having already more than doubled that distance, Perseverance is proving that, even on Mars, determination can take you a long way.
USS Lincoln Finally Home After nearly 11 months at sea, the USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego on Thursday, bringing home approximately 5,000 sailors following one of the longest aircraft carrier deployments in
modern U.S. Navy history. The 322-day mission, which included extensive combat operations during the ongoing war with Iran, was marked by food shortages, psychological strain, and prolonged separation from loved ones. Hundreds of family members gathered at the pier, waving American flags and holding welcome-home signs as the massive carrier entered San Diego Bay. For many, the emotional reunion followed months of anxiety and limited communication.
“It was nerve-racking when he went days and weeks without communication,” said Lashonda Jones, whose 20-year-old son served aboard the ship. Some sailors returned to families that had grown during their absence. Eduardo Morales, 21, was among those preparing to meet his 5-month-old son for the first time. The Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, before the war with Iran began in February. Its length of deployment came within five days of the 327-day record set by the USS Gerald R. Ford. Conditions aboard the carrier became increasingly difficult after Iranian attacks destroyed a major U.S. naval supply hub in Bahrain, forcing American forces to rely on supply routes thousands of miles away. Families reported that sailors received inadequate food portions and struggled with delayed or missing care packages. The extended deployment also took a toll on sailors’ mental health. Navy officials acknowledged that eight service members from the carrier strike group wanted to take their own lives during the mission. Despite those reports, military leaders defended the Navy’s handling of the deployment. “We never missed a mission. I also never missed a meal,” said Capt. Daniel J. Keeler, the carrier’s commanding officer, insisting that the ship maintained sufficient supplies to continue combat operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who joined the carrier for the final stretch of its voyage, praised the crew’s resilience and
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awarded it the Presidential Unit Citation. During the deployment, aircraft from the Lincoln launched more than 10,000 sorties and dropped over 1.5 million pounds of munitions in operations connected to the Iran war. “My son makes me very proud,” said Jason Tisdale, a retired Navy master chief, fighting back tears. “I’m glad him and the rest of the crew are home safe.”
Pumpkin Poundage
for largest pumpkin belongs to Ian Paton of England, whose 2,857-pound pumpkin claimed the title just a week earlier, on October 3. Wallace is awaiting official Guinness confirmation that his supersized squash has taken the crown.
“It’s truly massive; it was a pleasure to grow,” Wallace said. The veteran pumpkin grower took home $3,500 in prize money, although he could have earned significantly more elsewhere. Other competitions reportedly offered prizes as high as $70,000, but Wallace preferred to celebrate the milestone close to home. “I was just ecstatic – the place just exploded,” he recalled of the moment his pumpkin was weighed. Wallace credits his success partly to a new growing strategy: raising his pumpkins in a greenhouse for the first time. But
he insists the real secret ingredient is the generosity of fellow growers, who readily exchange advice about soil, watering, and growing techniques. “The only way you create a 3,000-pound pumpkin is a community working together,” he said. Meanwhile, across the country, another pumpkin heavyweight was enjoying his own moment in the spotlight. Minnesota horticulture teacher Travis Gienger won the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, for the fifth time. His massive pumpkin, appropriately named “Rocky,” weighed 2,389 pounds and earned him $21,501 in prize money. Gienger and his family drove 35 hours from Minnesota, transporting the pumpkin — roughly the size of a small car — across the country. The victory was particularly sweet after his pumpkin cracked while growing last year, forcing him to miss the competition. “Five-time champion, that’s what we came here to do,” Gienger declared. Unlike Wallace, Gienger grew his pumpkin outdoors, battling freezing temperatures that made his achievement even more remarkable. His winning
gourd will be displayed during a parade in Half Moon Bay this weekend. Life is gourd.
Cat Burglars Police in Vietnam have busted a massive cat-stealing operation, arresting 12 men accused of snatching approximately 2,700 felines from neighborhoods across Ho Chi Minh City and selling them for meat. The alleged cat burglars prowled residential streets under the cover of darkness, trapping pets and stray cats before transporting them to a facility where they were held for resale. Meow! According to Vietnamese state media, authorities identified 39-year-old Luu Thanh Binh as the fat cat who is the suspected ringleader of the operation. Investigators say Binh coordinated a network of suppliers who recruited motorcycle riders to scour neighborhoods between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., searching for unsuspecting cats. Each thief reportedly captured between four and 10 cats per night, which were then delivered to Binh’s facility in the northern part of the city. Look what the cat dragged in: police
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The Week In News raided the operation on July 8, discovering approximately 50 cats and dozens of traps used to capture the animals. The suspects reportedly admitted to stealing and selling roughly 2,700 cats, although authorities have not disclosed how long the operation had been running. Of the cats rescued during the raid, 13 have already been reunited with their owners. The remaining animals were placed in the care of a nonprofit animal welfare organization while authorities attempt to track down their families. Cat meat has traditionally been consumed in certain parts of Vietnam, particularly in northern regions and among older generations. Some people believe eating cat meat brings good fortune, although there is no scientific evidence supporting that belief. The practice, however, is increasingly falling out of favor as pet ownership grows and younger Vietnamese generations increasingly view cats and dogs as beloved companions rather than food. In a separate operation in June, police rescued more than 400 cats, at least 40 of which were eventually returned to their owners. Officers also discovered
dozens of dead cats packed in ice. Under Vietnamese law, cats and dogs are considered private property, and stealing them can result in criminal prosecution, generally when the value exceeds approximately $77. For the owners of the rescued felines, the latest police operation has brought some long-awaited relief. As for the alleged cat burglars, it appears that the cat is out of the bag.
Fat Bear Contest It’s official, although “bearly” believable: There’s a new heavyweight champion in Alaska, and he’s got plenty of weight to throw around. A massive brown bear named Backpack has been crowned the winner of Alaska’s annual Fat Bear Week, defeating 15 other supersized competitors in a contest where packing on the pounds is something to celebrate. The hefty champion, officially known as Bear 89, edged out runner-up Bear 910 in a nail-biting final round, collecting 103,334 votes to his opponent’s 98,253.
Talk about a grizzly competition. The annual event, held at Katmai National Park and Preserve, allows wildlife enthusiasts worldwide to vote for their favorite well-fed bears as the animals prepare for winter hibernation. And while most people are trying to shed a few pounds, these furry contestants are doing exactly the opposite. Backpack, a roughly 20-year-old gentle giant, has quite the family pedigree. His mother, Holly, is a former Fat Bear Week champion who introduced him to the Brooks River when he was just a cub in 2006. He earned his unusual nickname by hitching rides on his mother’s back as she swam across the river. Apparently, success runs in the family — and so does the extra padding. Unlike many large male bears, Backpack is known for his peaceful disposition. Rather than fighting other bears for prime fishing spots, he often sits quietly on a rock downstream, taking in the scenery. His official contestant profile praises his “quiet strength,” noting that he rarely displays aggression toward competitors. Backpack defeated Bear 910, herself the daughter of former champion
Beadnose, who had previously knocked out Bear 132 and her three cubs in the semifinals. The competition celebrates an essential part of bear survival. During the summer and fall, Alaska’s brown bears gorge themselves on salmon, sometimes devouring as many as 30 fish daily. Large males can balloon to more than 1,000 pounds before hibernation, when they survive for months without eating or drinking and may lose up to one-third of their body weight. It’s the ultimate feast-before-the-fast strategy – seudah hamafsekes on steroids. This year’s contest featured 16 bears, including five bear families, reflecting the unusually large number of mothers and cubs spotted along the Brooks River. For Backpack, the victory was particularly sweet. As a young bear, he suffered a serious leg injury but recovered and grew into one of the river’s most imposing residents. Now, with a championship under his belt and winter approaching, Backpack can finally take a well-deserved rest. After all, he’s earned the right to sleep in. And that’s one victory he can take to the bear bank.
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Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide
Shacharis
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES
M, TH
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M-F M, TH M-F M-F M-F M, TH
7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S Chabad of Park Heights S Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F Darchei Tzedek S Kedushas Yisrael S-F Khal Bais Nosson S Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F 7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Talmudical Academy Darchei Tzedek Mesivta Kesser Torah Mesivta Shaarei Chaim Yeshivas Torah Simcha (school days only) 7:50 AM Derech Chaim Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe 8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park Beth Abraham Chabad Israeli Center Darchei Tzedek Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Kehillas Meor HaTorah Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel Tzeirei Anash Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah
M-F S-F M-F S-F S-F S-F S S M-F S-F S S M-F S S S S S S S-F S S S S-F
8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S Kol Torah S 8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F 8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F Chabad Israeli Center S Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F Ohel Moshe S Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S 9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S Beth Tfiloh Congregation S Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F
Mincha
Mincha Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Gedolah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek 1:45 PM Ohel Moshe M-Th Yeshivas Torah Simcha (school days only) 1 South Street, 27th Floor. 1:50 PM Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor 2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room
Mincha/Maariv Plag
Ohel Yaakov Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah Aish Kodesh Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudah of Greenspring Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Beth Abraham Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Darchei Tzedek Derech Chaim Kehillas Meor HaTorah Kehilath B’nai Torah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s), 5:00pm Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel
Maariv Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, 8:30 PM, 8:45 PM, 9:00 PM, 9:15 PM, 9:30 PM, 9:45 PM, 10:00 PM, 10:15 PM, 10:30 PM, 10:45 PM, 11:00 PM, 11:15 PM, 11:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:10 PM 8:15 PM 8:30 PM 8:45 PM
Agudath Israel of Baltimore Kol Torah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek Agudath Israel of Baltimore Darchei Tzedek Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) Ohr Yisroel
8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building) 8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh 9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Arugas Habosem Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
9:15 PM Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva 9:20 PM Kol Torah 9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore Kedushas Yisrael
9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] 9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries) Kollel of Greenspring Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah
9:50 PM Aish Kodesh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Ohel Moshe
10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Darchei Tzedek Kehilath B'nai Torah Kehillas Shaarei Avodah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Ohr Yisrael Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation
10:05 PM Kol Torah 10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College 10:15 PM Derech Chaim Khal Bais Nosson
10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore 11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Clarks Ln Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park- 6800 Sylvale Ct Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave Chabad Israeli Center - 7807 Seven Mile Ln Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln Derech Chaim - 6603 Pimlico Road Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave. Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva - 6700 Cross Country Blvd Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd Kollel of Greenspring - 6504 Greenspring Ave. Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 5415 Greenspring Ave Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave
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7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)
Tzeirei Anash 7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Beth Tfiloh Congregation Kol Torah Ohel Moshe Shomrei Emunah Congregation
Kol Torah Market Maven Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295 2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave 2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan Ner Israel Rabbinical College Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Community Kollel) Shearith Israel Congregation 2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th) 3:00 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael 3:15 PM Hat Box 3:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 4:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 6:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th) 6:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center 14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah
Maariv continued
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F Ohel Yakov S-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S-F 6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F 6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th 6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH M, TH 6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park M-F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH Pikesville Jewish Congregation M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH 6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F Chabad of Park Heights M-F Darchei Tzedek M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F Khal Bais Nosson M-F Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F Kol Torah T, W, F Ohr Yisroel M-F Pikesville Jewish Congregation T, W, F Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F 6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH Ohel Moshe M, TH 6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M-F 6:45 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, Th B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva M-F Ner Tamid M-F Ohel Moshe T, W, F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F 6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH Derech Chaim M-F Kol Torah M-F Ohel Moshe S Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH 6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F Kol Torah M, TH The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F 7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) M-F Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S Kol Torah T, W, F Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F Tiferes Yisroel M-F Neitz
Mincha
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M-F: 6:15 AM, S-F: 6:30 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:00AM, 9:15AM, 9:30AM, 9:45AM, 10:00AM
7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S, T, W, F Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation S Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S
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OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
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Torah Thought
A True Jewish Princess By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
A
fter the debacle of the deluge, G-d sought to rebuild mankind through Noach and his descendants. However, after the misguided united effort to build the Tower of Babel in defiance of G-d’s dominion, once again G-d was forced to play His hand by dispersing the populace to the far corners of the globe, foiling their rebellion. The stage was now set for one man to establish a family that would lead the world back to its former hope and glory, by promoting the unadulterated truth of G-d’s oneness and absolute benevolence. Before Avraham Avinu sets out on that journey the Torah details the family of mankind, zeroing in on the objective of all creation, the descendants of Terach. It first details his three sons, Avram, Nachor and Haran, adding that Haran was the father of Lot. It then makes reference to Nimrod’s challenge to Haran, after his having observed Avram miraculously survive the fiery furnace, as to where he stands, where he affirms his allegiance to Avram, then being thrown into the fire becoming the very first person in history to sacrifice one’s life for G-d.
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The Torah then records a very puzzling verse: And Avram and Nachor took to themselves wives; the name of Avram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nachor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Yiscah ()בראשית ל יא Upon the superficial reading of this verse it would seem that Avram selected a wife by the name of Sarai, without any mention of her parentage, while Nachor took one of the daughters of the deceased Haran, Milcah, who also had a sister by the name of Yiscah. There is absolutely no evidence within the verse itself that Sarai and Yiscah are one and the same. Yet we are taught that indeed Sarai is Yiscah. Why all the confusion? Why does she go by the name Sarai if her father evidently called her Yiscah? Did Avram confer a new name for her upon taking her as his wife? What was wrong with her original one?
Rashi quoting the Talmud elucidates the deeper meaning behind her initial name. Firstly, we are told that יסכה, relates to her status as a prophetess, being able to, סוכה ברוח הקודש, see with divine inspiration. Rashi adds, without asserting as he often does that this is an alternative interpretation, that at the same time it also intimates שהכל סוכין ביפיה, that everyone gazed at her beauty. Tradition has it that Sarah was one of the four most beautiful women who ever lived. Based on these interpretations in identifying the qualities of Yiscah we certainly know that Yiscah was indeed the woman we know as Sarai. But why the name change? Rashi goes on to offer a novel idea, clearly his own, as it is not sourced anywhere in the Midrash or the Talmud. יסכה, he claims, is rooted in the notion of נסיכות, princedom, ‘similar to שרה, which is a language of שררה, dominion.’ Rashi seems to be addressing our question by explaining that by Avram calling her Sarai he was actually keeping within the spirit of her original name which extolled her regal and noble qualities, the very first Jewish ‘princess’. Perhaps Avram sought to downplay the implication of her beauty being gazed upon that is implicit in the name Yiscah and preferred to accent her majestic personality by calling her Sarai. Yet the question still begs as to why the Talmud interprets Yiscah as referring to her captivating beauty, is that a Jewish value? Furthermore, what was Haran’s intent in bestowing the name Yiscah upon his child, could he possibly have foreseen her role as a prophetess? Could he have known what stunning beauty she would possess as an adult to emphasize it at her birth? Even more intriguing is the Talmud’s assertion that her name is rooted in the word סוכה, implying gazing or seeing, since nowhere in all of Tanach is this word utilized in that context. In fact the word is Aramaic in origin and not even a Hebrew word. It is remarkable to observe that the
composite of the Jewish nation as fathered by our illustrious Patriarchs and Matriarchs all trace back to Avraham and Haran. Sarai was the daughter of Haran. Rivkah the wife of Yitzchok was the daughter of Besuel who was the child of Milcah, the daughter of Haran. Rachel, Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah, the wives of Yaakov, were all fathered by Lavan the brother of Rivkah, a son of Besuel, a grandson of Milcah and a great grandson of Haran. May I boldly suggest that Haran possessed greatness as evidenced in his forfeiting his life in G-d’s name. Although secondary to Avram, he sought greatness and truth hoping that from him would descend children of nobility who would foster morals and values for the betterment of mankind. He thus named his two daughters in that spirit, the first one Milcah rooted in the sentiment of מלכות, royalty, and his second daughter, Yiscah, a נסיכה, a princess. He sensed these special souls would instill a nobility within their progeny. Perhaps that is indeed the פשוטו של מקרא, the simplest meaning of the text, as Rashi so brilliantly suggested with nary a need for any source, for that is its obvious and self-evident interpretation. The root word סכה, in Hebrew alludes to a protective cover. Perhaps when the Talmud attests to Sarai being סוכה ברוח הקודש, it implies that she ‘clothed’ herself in the spirit of holiness, she found her definition not in the manner by which people perceived her but rather by the truths she lived by, uninfluenced by the forces of instinct and self-interest that surrounded her. Taking this a step further, might that also explain the other side of this coin, as Rashi presented it, הכל סוכין ביפיה, not that they gazed in reflexive admiration of her shallow physical beauty, but they felt ‘safe’ in the presence of her attractiveness. Her sterling inner and selfless confidence in her constant connection to G-d, the holy inspiration, stifled any taint of inappropriate attraction to those who observed her. Only one who promotes artificial value must fear the ‘gazing’ eyes of immorality. The result of her exalted stature conveyed a powerful and positive influence on all who entered her ‘holy realm’. The word נסיכות, princedom, is also rooted in that
same word סכהand its deeper meaning. True nobility radiates outwardly in encompassing all those who enter its domain to feel secure, elevated, and inspired by the persona of devoted greatness. This ‘regal’ quality of Haran filtered down through his son Lot as well. Wasn’t it the daughters of Lot who mothered those two children, Amon and Moav from whom stemmed Naamah, the wife of Shlomo HaMelech and mother of his heir Rechovam, and Rus, the wife of Boaz, the great-grandfather of Dovid HaMelech? Haran had two daughters, Milcah the elder one and Yiscah. Avram despite being the older brother to Charan and logically the one to be paired with the elder niece, Milcah, chose Sarai/Yiscah instead. Milcah/Malchus relates more to the goal of leadership in leading the people as the word מלךsourced in ֶלך, to ‘go’, with the king being the ֶמֶלך, the one that assures things move forward. Yiscah/Nesichah, focuses on the key to possessing that ability, to first reign over oneself, living inspired solely by the ‘holy inspiration’, becoming immune to outside influence. That healthy self-assuredness that needs not the admiration of outsiders that thrives on one’s sensing being embraced by G-d alone, creates the aura of royalty that inspires and exalts all who enter its atmosphere. One must first possess princedom before one can reign effectively. The lesson therein is not only for princesses but for princes as well. The very name of our nation ישראל, Israel, bestowed upon us when Yaakov conquered the angel and was told שרית, you have prevailed accentuates his becoming a שר, a master, a prince. The Rokeach HaGadol indeed says that it finds its source in Sarah, the first ‘princess’, who instilled the nobility that permits us to rule. May we each portray this noblesse in all our actions and in its merit bring about the rule of the Melech HaMoshiach speedily in our days.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ohelmoshebaltimore.com
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The people of the world become spiritually corrupt, so Hashem decides to restart and make a refresh. He brings a major flood which wipes out everyone except for Noach and his family who are saved on a Teiva. After 12 months, Noach and his family are permitted to leave the Ark and are commanded to populate the world. Hashem vows to never destroy the world with a flood again. People begin to degenerate again and build the Tower of Babel.
Quote
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When people ask me what not to do, I can tell them. But to know what they should do, that’s something they need to ask themselves. -Rebbe of Kotzk
GEMATRIA
Bas Ayin reveals that נחis gematria 58, the same as כבוד השם, because that was the essence of Noach; in a world that hid G-d’s glory, Noach found it and brought it to light!
Inspiration. Everywhere.
Parshas Noach
QUICK VORT Over the past decade, identity theft and fraud have been steadily increasing. In fact, researchers found that almost one third of Americans have been victim of identity theft, in some way, shape, or form. Every year, over 300,000 Americans fall victim to various forms of identity attacks, including phishing (fraudulent e-mails and websites), vishing (fraudulent phone calls), and smishing (fraudulent text messages). When identity theft occurs, of course, the victim is the one having his/her identity stolen. But from a figurative and more spiritual standpoint, the perpetrator is the one whose identity is actually being stolen. By involving himself in another person’s personal information and trying to pretend to be someone else, the identity thief is stealing his own personalistic essence and potential. Hashem created each person with a unique mission, providing him with his own set of strengths, weaknesses, and experiences. Given these individual decks of cards, each of us are meant to play with our own cards, and not look at someone else’s deck. Perhaps, the single greatest quality of Noach was that he produced himself! In a world that was filled with חמס, which the commentaries describe as theft, Noach found and connected with himself, hence, the Torah says: – אלה תולדות נח נחThese are the offspring of Noach, Noach. When one is busy stealing other people’s things, it shows a tremendous lack in the value and appreciation of the self. People who steal are not happy with what THEY have and with THEIR lot in life; as such, they need to try and acquire (by force) things from other people. In the short term, of course, it appears as if they are actually gaining something; however, in the long run, they are actually losing themselves much more than they are gaining. The object, person, or money that was stolen doesn’t make the thief worth more. On the contrary, it makes him worth less, or perhaps better stated, worthless.
Noach was an איש, a man. He was a צדיק, a righteous man. And he was a תמים, a completely righteous man. But his greatest attribute was that he was נח, he remained honest and committed to himself.
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of “Ready. Set. Grow.” “Dove Tales,” “Karpas: The Big Dipper,” and “Veyidgu: The Upstream Jew.” His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He may be reached at rabbistrumo@gmail.com
He valued his own personal mission and appreciated his unique set of strengths, talents, and experiences.
Rebbe Nachman (Sichos HaRan 287) said, “What does a person have to do in this world? Me bedarf mer nit nar davenin uhn lehrnen uhn davenin – All that is needed is to pray and study and pray.”
Did You Know?! Noach learned/kept the Torah, so how did he fulfill Sukkah aboard the Ark? It’s brought down that he put up schach by the Tzohar/window and had a Sukkah!
Points to Ponder There is a popular song called “Every Yid is a Big Tzadik” which begins with the words “Noach was a big Tzadik.” Is every yid really a Tzadik? Hint: yes (on some level!)
Scan the QR code to view Torah classes from R’ Ori Strum on Torah Anytime!
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Noach gives us hope, because despite living amongst an entire population that was plagued in a spiritual identity theft crisis, Noach remained true to himself.
Thoughts in Chassidus
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
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When Your Daughter Gets Married The Beautiful Ache of Letting Go BY CHAYee Blum
T
here are moments in a mother’s life that she knows are coming, yet somehow she is never quite prepared for them. Watching her daughter get married is one of those moments. For years, you raise your daughter with the hope that one day she will build a beautiful life of her own. You teach her, guide her, worry about her, celebrate her accomplishments, dry her tears, and stand beside her through every stage of growing up. And then, almost overnight, the little girl who once needed you for everything becomes a wife. You are so happy for her. You are proud. You are grateful. You are excited to welcome someone new into the family. And yet, underneath all that happiness is an ache that is difficult to explain. You cry. Sometimes, you cry because you are happy. Sometimes, because you are overwhelmed. Sometimes, because you suddenly realize that a chapter of your life has ended. And sometimes, you don’t even know exactly why you are crying. You just feel it. There is a strange emptiness that can settle into your heart after the wedding. The house may look exactly the same, but somehow it feels different. Her room is still there. Her things may still be in their
places. But something is missing. It is not simply that your daughter is no longer living under your roof. It is that the role you have played in her life has changed. For so many years, you were her first phone call. You knew where she was, what she was doing, what she was worried about, what made her happy, and what was bothering her. You could check in whenever you wanted. You could offer advice, ask questions, remind her of something, or simply hear her voice. Now you have to learn something completely new: how to love your daughter without reaching for her. Marriage changes the rules. There is a new person in her life who comes first. There are new routines, new decisions, new priorities, and a new home. As a mother, you may know all of this intellectually. You may even have prepared yourself for it. But knowing something in your head does not make it easy on your heart. You have to learn not to call just because you miss her. Not to text because you haven’t heard from her. Not to ask too many questions. Not to offer advice unless it is wanted. Not to assume that silence means something is wrong. And perhaps hardest of all, you have to learn to sit with your own feelings without
immediately bringing them to her. You may want to say, “I miss you.” But sometimes you stop yourself. You may want to ask, “Why haven’t you called?” But you remind yourself that she is building her own life. You may want to tell her how much you are hurting. But you realize that she shouldn’t have to carry the weight of your adjustment while she is adjusting to her new life too. So you follow the rules. You give her space. You wait for her to reach out. You smile when she tells you how happy she is, even when a tiny part of you wishes you were still the center of her world. And that is the quiet sacrifice of motherhood. Letting go does not mean loving less. In fact, sometimes it means loving more. It means understanding that your daughter needs room to become a wife without feeling that she is abandoning her role as your daughter. It means allowing her marriage to have its own space, its own privacy, and its own rhythm. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. There can be a hole in your heart that no one else quite understands. You may look at pictures from her wedding and cry. You may hear a song
that reminds you of her childhood and suddenly find yourself overwhelmed. You may pass something in a store that she would have loved and instinctively think, “I should get this for her,” before remembering that things have changed. And sometimes the hardest part is realizing that you are grieving something that was beautiful. You are not grieving your daughter. You haven’t lost her. You are grieving the version of motherhood you knew. The mother who was needed every day. The mother who could walk into her daughter’s room. The mother who could fix a problem with a hug, a conversation, or a late-night cup of tea. That mother is still there. But her job has changed. Now, instead of holding her hand, you watch her walk forward. Instead of making decisions for her, you trust the decisions she makes. Instead of protecting her from every disappointment, you trust that she has learned how to navigate life. And instead of constantly being present, you become the safe place she knows she can always return to. That may be one of the hardest transitions of all: learning that being a good mother sometimes means being quiet.
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42 It means not calling. Not asking. Not interfering. Not because you don’t care, but because you care enough to respect the life she is building. And perhaps, one day, she will understand just how much strength that took. Because behind every mother who says, “I’m fine,” there may be a thousand emotions she is quietly carrying. The tears. The loneliness. The pride. The memories. The ache. The joy. The hole in her heart. And through it all, gratitude. Gratitude that the little girl she once held in her arms has grown into a woman who is beginning a life of her own. So she cries when she needs to cry. She allows herself to miss her. She looks at the pictures. She remembers the little girl. And then she takes a breath and reminds herself: This is what I raised her for. Not to need me forever. But to be strong enough to build a life without me beside her every step of the way. And maybe letting go isn’t really letting go at all. Maybe it is learning to hold her differently. Not with your hands, but with your heart. Not by reaching for her, but by giving her the freedom to reach for you. And when she does, you will be there. Always. And none of this is about the new sonin-law. It is not about not accepting him. It is not about not loving him. In fact, you can genuinely love him, be grateful that he is the person your daughter chose, and feel completely at peace knowing that she has someone wonderful beside her. You can welcome him into the family with an open heart and truly believe that he is good for her. You can be happy to see the two of them building a life together. You can even look at them and think, This is exactly what I prayed for. And still, your heart can hurt. Because the ache isn’t about who she married. It is about what changed. It is about realizing that there is now another person who gets the everyday version of your daughter—the conversations, the little stories, the inside jokes, the ordinary moments that used to be part of your relationship with her. Someone else is now the person she turns to first, and that shift can be difficult for a mother to absorb, even when she genuinely likes and loves the person who has taken that place. There is no contradiction in being happy for your daughter and missing the
way things used to be. You can adore your new son-in-law and still have a hole in your heart. You can be thrilled that your daughter is married and still cry when you realize she doesn’t need you in quite the same way. You can welcome the new chapter with open arms while quietly mourning the closing of the one before it. The tears aren’t rejection. They aren’t resentment. And they aren’t a reflection of how you feel about him. They are simply the tears of a mother who loves her daughter deeply and is learning how to make room in her heart for a new kind of relationship.
The Adjustment Can Look Different in Every Family There is another factor that can make this transition feel very different from one family to another: the way married children remain connected to their parents. For a Chassidish family, there can be a built-in rhythm that makes the transition a little gentler. Married children may come to their parents for supper several times a week. They may stop in, spend time together, and remain a regular part of the family’s everyday life. The daughter who was just married may no longer live at home, but she isn’t suddenly absent from the home either. There is still that familiar knock on the door. There is still a seat at the table. There are still ordinary evenings together. That doesn’t mean a Chassidish mother doesn’t feel the loss. Of course, she does. Her daughter has still moved into a home of her own, and there is still an adjustment to sharing her with a husband and a new family. But the frequent contact can soften the abruptness of the change. The mother gets to see her daughter regularly, hear about her life, watch her settle into marriage, and maintain some of that familiar mother-daughter connection. For a Litvish family that does not have the same custom of married children coming for supper several times a week, the adjustment can sometimes feel more pronounced. Suddenly, the house can feel much quieter. The daughter who was once part of the daily routine is now living her own life. You may see her on Shabbos or at family occasions, speak on
the phone, and stay connected in many ways—but the casual, everyday presence is different. There isn’t necessarily a reason to stop by for supper on an ordinary Tuesday night. There may be fewer spontaneous visits and fewer opportunities for those little, seemingly insignificant moments that mothers don’t realize they will miss until they are gone. And that can make the empty space feel bigger. Neither way is better or worse. They are simply different family structures, and each comes with its own emotional reality. Some mothers may find the frequent contact comforting; others may need more space to establish a healthy new relationship with their married daughter. But for a mother who is used to having her daughter woven into the fabric of everyday life, the difference can be significant. It is one more reminder that the experience of marrying off a daughter is not simply about the wedding day. It is about what happens after the wedding— the first quiet week, the first yom tov, the first family gathering, the first time you realize she has plans with another family, and the first time you sit at the table and instinctively look toward the chair where she used to sit. The world has not changed dramatically. But your place in your daughter’s
world—and her place in yours—has. And every mother has to find her own way of adjusting to that new rhythm.
Learning to Share Your Daughter There is another adjustment that no one really prepares a mother for: learning to share her daughter. For years, she was yours in a very special way. You knew her stories, her habits, her likes and dislikes. You were there for the milestones, the struggles, the celebrations, and all the little moments in between. You knew the version of her that perhaps very few others knew. And then she gets married, and suddenly, she belongs to another family, too. You are now sharing your daughter with her husband, with his parents, with his siblings, and with an entire family who will develop their own relationship with her. They will have their own inside jokes, their own traditions, their own experiences with her. They will get to see her laugh, celebrate with her, make memories with her, and become part of the life that you spent so many years building with her. And even when you genuinely love and appreciate these people, there can still be a quiet ache. It is not jealousy. It is not that you don’t want them to love her. Quite the opposite—you are grateful that she has people who love her. You want her to feel welcomed, cherished, and embraced by her new family. But there can still be a moment when you realize, I have to share her now.
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44 There may be holidays when she is with her husband’s family. There may be family occasions you don’t experience together anymore. There will be stories and memories that you weren’t there to witness. There may even be times when someone from her new family knows something about your daughter that you don’t know. That can be surprisingly difficult. A mother has to learn to make room— not because her place has been taken, but because her daughter’s world has expanded. And perhaps that is one of the deepest lessons of marrying off a daughter: you are not losing your place in her life; you are learning to share the space you once occupied more exclusively. You have to trust that the years of love, connection, and memories cannot be replaced. Her husband’s family may become part of her life, but they cannot become her mother. They didn’t hold her hand through childhood, worry over her first day of school, sit beside her through disappointments, or watch her grow into the woman she has become. Your role has changed—but your place has not disappeared. Still, knowing that intellectually doesn’t always make it easy emotionally. Sometimes a mother simply has to allow herself to feel that little pang when her daughter is celebrating with another family, while reminding herself that this is what she prayed for: that her daughter would build a beautiful life filled with people who love her. The challenge is learning to bless that new circle of love without feeling that your own circle has become smaller. Because it hasn’t. It has simply become bigger.
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Every Family Has Its Own Story And ultimately, there is no one way to describe how a mother will cope with marrying off a daughter, because the dynamics of every family are different. Was she your first child? Did you wait years for her to be born? Was she the child who brought you into motherhood after years of hoping and praying? Was she one of two or three children, or is she one of ten? Was the house always full of children, noise, and activity, or did her presence fill a much larger portion of the home? All of these things matter. For a mother who waited years for her daughter, the emotional attachment may carry a different weight. Perhaps she re-
members every stage with extraordinary clarity because of how long she waited for the privilege of becoming her mother. Watching that daughter walk to the chuppah may bring not only the joy of seeing her married, but the overwhelming realization of just how quickly those precious years passed. And then there is the size of the family. When a mother has a large family and many children still at home, there may be less silence after one daughter gets married. There are still children asking for supper, homework to help with, laundry to fold, rides to arrange, and a house that continues to bustle. The unoccupied chair is there, but there are many other chairs still occupied. For a mother with a small family, the absence may be much more noticeable. If there are only a few children, one daughter leaving can change the entire feeling of the home. Her room may be
The daughter may be the first one to leave home or the fifth. She may be one of twelve children or one of three. Her mother may have waited years for her or welcomed her into an already bustling family. There may be children still at home or an almost-empty nest waiting in the wings. All of these details shape the experience. And perhaps that is why mothers need to give themselves permission to feel whatever they feel. There is no correct amount of sadness. No prescribed length of time for the adjustment. No rule that says, Your daughter is happily married, so you should be completely fine. You can be enormously grateful to Hashem and still feel a hole in your heart. You can love your son-in-law and genuinely welcome his family into
There is a strange emptiness that can settle into your heart after the wedding. quiet. Her voice may no longer be heard down the hallway. The family table may suddenly feel different. And sometimes, it isn’t even about the number of children. Perhaps she was the child who was especially close to her mother. Perhaps they shared a unique bond. Perhaps she was the one who was always around, the one who helped, talked, laughed, and filled the house with her personality. So when she gets married, the mother isn’t simply adjusting to an empty bedroom. She is adjusting to the absence of a person who occupied a very specific and irreplaceable place in her life. This is why it is so difficult to compare one mother’s experience to another’s. One woman may seem to move through the transition with relative ease, while another may struggle deeply. It doesn’t mean one is more attached to her daughter. It doesn’t mean the other is less grateful or less happy. It simply means that every mother is coming from a different starting point.
yours, while still missing the daughter who used to be yours in a different way. You can be thrilled that she is building her own home and still mourn the little pieces of the home she left behind. Because marrying off a daughter is not simply one emotion. It is joy and sadness. Pride and longing. Gratitude and loss. It is learning to let go while discovering that letting go does not mean loving less. It means learning to love her in a new way.
Who Prepares the Mother? We have kallah classes. We have classes for the yom ha’chuppah. There are books, lectures, mentors, and support systems to help a young woman prepare for marriage and for the life she is about to begin. And rightfully so. But what about the mother? Who prepares a mother for the day her daughter gets married?
Who tells her that she may be bursting with happiness and, at the very same time, feel as though someone has quietly taken a piece of her heart? Who explains that she may cry—not because she isn’t happy, not because she doesn’t love her new son-in-law, and certainly not because she isn’t ready to see her daughter married—but because a relationship that has existed for decades is suddenly changing? Who teaches her how to navigate the new rules? Perhaps there should be a “mother of the Kallah” class. A place where mothers could be told: You are allowed to miss her. You are allowed to cry. You are allowed to feel a hole in your heart. You are allowed to need time to adjust. But you also need to learn when to step back. You need to understand that giving your daughter space is not the same as losing her. That not calling doesn’t mean you don’t care. That not offering advice doesn’t mean you don’t have wisdom. And that waiting for her to reach out doesn’t mean you are any less important in her life. Most importantly, mothers need to hear that this isn’t about the new son-inlaw. You can love him. You can respect him. You can be grateful that he is the person your daughter chose. You can be genuinely happy that she has found someone to build a life with. The pain isn’t about him. The pain is about change. It is about moving from being the person your daughter automatically turned to, to becoming the mother who waits patiently for an invitation into this new chapter of her life. And perhaps that is something we don’t talk about enough. We spend so much time preparing a young woman to become a wife, but perhaps we also need to prepare her mother to become the mother of a married daughter. Because that is its own transition. It requires patience. It requires restraint. It requires trust. And, more than anything, it requires learning that sometimes the greatest expression of love is not reaching out—but knowing when not to. A mother shouldn’t have to figure all of that out alone. Maybe it’s time we created a space for her, too.
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Mental Health Corner The Fourth Partner By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman “There are three partners in the forming of a person: Hashem, his father and his mother” (Kiddushin 30b). These famous words of Chazal describe the three-way partnership in the formation of a person. A person’s life does not end with birth, and throughout one’s life there can be other
parties who will join this partnership. As a Bochur transitions into adulthood, he often finds that besides Hashem and his parents who are there to offer him support and guidance, an additional partner is required. A partner who can provide him with Daas Torah, so that he may navigate
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life’s challenges with clarity and direction, and to establish his life on a rock-solid Torah foundation. Many Bochurim turn to a beloved Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva to be that additional partner. Parents may feel sidelined by the intrusion of this new partner. Don’t they know their child better than a Rebbe who their son had five years ago when he was in Mesivta? Why does their son follow whatever his Rosh Yeshiva says even when his own parents feel differently? This column, which is devoted to providing an angle on life based on human psychology, will attempt to approach this question from two distinct, but complementary, angles: the parents’ relationship with their child and the parents’ relationship with their child’s Rebbe. A parent’s relationship with their child is a lot more complex than almost any other relationship out there. Parents must protect their child from harm, lead them on the right path, discipline them when necessary, and say “no” when it is in the child’s best interest. Parents also want their child to look up to them for guidance and sagely advice. Thus, parents face a daunting challenge in maintaining a healthy relationship with their child, as their parenting approach must strike the ideal balance between love and discipline. If this balance is not achieved, their relationship could easily become adversarial. In such circumstances, children may not confide in their parents or seek their guidance, rendering the parent-child relationship strained and unsatisfactory. If parents truly excel in this formidable task, they will undoubtedly cultivate a child who turns to their Rosh Yeshiva as a valuable addition to their parental guidance rather than a replacement. By fostering such a relationship, their child can reap the benefits of both relationships and grow exponentially. Instead of feeling threatened by the Rosh Yeshiva’s influence, the parents will embrace it and delight in the fact that their child has a trusted “auxiliary support staff” to help guide them towards success. Now let us delve into the relationship between the parents and the Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva. It is no secret that the bedrock of all communication is the relationship. If there is a well-established relationship, then the main work of establishing beneficial communication has been completed. Parents should therefore attempt to cultivate their own relationship with their
child’s Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva, even before their child has created his own. While this may not be the norm, we can assure you that your child’s Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva will appreciate and welcome your initiative. He also wants to be a partner with you and would appreciate knowing his Talmid’s family and understanding his Talmid as part of a broader context. The final partner in the parent’s upbringing of their child is the child. The Torah tells us that when Yaakov Avinu built a monument to signify peace with his father-in-law, Lavan, he told “his brothers” to gather stones and make a mound (Bereishis 31:46). Rashi clarifies that Yaakov was actually referring to his own children. The Torah’s message is clear - at a certain point, one’s children evolve into partners. As adult children mature, they acquire their own distinct outlooks and experiences, necessitating a new dynamic in the parent-child relationship. While parents continue to provide guidance and direction, their role as the sole authority figure subsides. Essentially, at this stage, parents and their offspring collaborate to propel the child’s growth and development further into adulthood. In the journey of life, we are all partners. We start with the partnership of Hashem, our father, and our mother in our formation, and as we mature, we encounter new partners who help us navigate the challenges of growing up. For Bochurim, a Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva often becomes that additional partner, providing guidance and support on a solid Torah foundation. But this partnership does not replace the parent-child relationship, which is vital for a child’s growth and development. If parents are successful in fostering a healthy relationship with their child, they will likely embrace their child’s partnership with their Rebbe, to the benefit of everybody involved. Ultimately, as children mature, they become partners themselves, collaborating with their parents to propel their growth into adulthood. Let us remember that life is a partnership, and with strong partnerships, we will have the tools to safely and successfully navigate this tumultuous journey. This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be contacted at 410-448-8356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp.org
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Tech
Triumphs
Orientation Wiggles As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
S
itting at my oldest daughter’s middle school orientation was an eye-opening experience. First, it was interesting to meet her teachers and see what her day is like, with so many different teachers.
Another really thought-provoking experience was seeing the other parents who sat with me in the classrooms. One of the mothers of another girl in the class was looking at her phone the entire
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time. She couldn’t pay attention to the teachers and was wiggling in her seat. I felt so bad for her. It’s possible she had some emergency that she was dealing with, but she just looked like she couldn’t sit still because she was so attached to her phone. Whatever the reason, it looked strange that she couldn’t take her eyes off her screen for long enough to look up at the teachers. It was an interesting evening. TECH TIPS: Tesla has had internet in its cars for a number of years now, including a browser right on the dashboard. Other car makers now offer the same thing, and a lot of newer cars have their own internet connection. Others can connect to any Wi-Fi network, including your phone’s
hotspot, a neighbor’s Wi-Fi, or free Wi-Fi at a store or restaurant. Either way, the filter on your phone doesn’t do anything to filter or block the internet in your car. It’s not just newer cars, either. Many replace their car radio or add a backup camera, and those units often come with a built-in browser. So a car that seems like a safe place, with no internet, may actually be wide open. The good news is there are solutions. TAG worked with Tesla and found a way to remotely disable the internet in the car, and it only takes about 15 minutes to sign up. There are options for a lot of other cars too. You can look up your make and model at cars.tag. org, or make an appointment with TAG Lakewood to have the internet in your car blocked or filtered.
Shlomo Fishkind & Devorah Amster
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50
To Raise a Laugh Practical Applications
I
t’s time once again to talk about the annual Ig Nobel Prizes – a spoof of the Nobel Prizes that celebrates people who are advanced in the scientific field of getting someone to fund ridiculous studies. And every year we laugh. But a lot of people ask, “What’s the point of these studies? Are there any practical applications?” Let’s see: The prize for Fluid Dynamics this year went to Jiwon Han from Korea, for studying the movements of a cup of coffee. We all have the same procedure for getting coffee: We pour it into a cup, and then we walk to our desks and gently set it down, and then we go back and get a paper towel and retrace our steps. Why does it always spill? What Han figured out was that it’s kind of like when you’re pushing kid on a swing. You can keep pushing again and again at exactly the same strength, but every time you push, he’ll go slightly higher, until he goes over the top bar and kicks you in the back of the head. And your cup is the same way. When you walk, you sway back and forth at basically a fixed pattern, and with every step, the coffee splashes higher.
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By Mordechai Schmutter
So Han figured out that to avoid spillage, you should try walking backwards. When you walk backwards, you don’t have a regular gait, because you’re constantly worried that you’re going to trip on something. You should totally try this at work! On the other hand, Han points out, you do have more of a chance of walking into someone else who’s carrying their coffee backwards. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Carrying chicken soup on a Friday night. Meanwhile, the prize for Medicine went to a team of scientists in France for studying the
reason some people are disgusted by cheese. It started when these scientists discovered that more people are disgusted by cheese than any other type of food. We don’t really notice that it’s so many people, because in our society, people usually express it as, “I don’t like milchigs.” And every time they say that, you can see a lone tear trickle down their spouse’s cheek. So they did a study in which they took 30 people and stuck them in an MRI machine (one at a time, obviously) and hit them with various food smells (also one at a time). They used six control foods, including cucumbers, mushrooms, and peanuts, and also six kinds of cheese, including gruyere, cheddar, and blue cheese. The MRI machine was so the subjects couldn’t run away. In the end, 37% of the subjects were disgusted by the cheese smell. (You would also be disgusted if you were trapped in an MRI machine with cheese.) Also, one guy had a severe reaction to the peanuts. What the researchers discovered was that for people who liked cheese, smelling the cheese lit up a reward center of their brains. And for the people who didn’t like cheese, their reward centers lit up even more. So apparently, people enjoy not liking certain foods, which I guess you kind of already knew.
Why not? They were already gambling that the tape would hold. Basically, they found that, quote, “people with pre-existing gambling problems bet larger amounts, as long as they weren’t presently in a negative mood.” It’s hard to imagine what could have put them in a negative mood. If someone says, “I don’t really want to hold a crocodile,” it’s not because they’re in a negative mood. I guess the next step is to figure out whether the subject will gamble even more if you increase the size of the crocodile. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Dreidel. Finally, the prize for Cognition went to a team of scientists who discovered that most identical twins cannot tell themselves apart. “Wait, is that me over there? Hang on…” And not just in situations where they don’t know they have a twin, but they each have half an amulet. Sure, when you ask them, they seem to know which is which, but that’s because they have inside information. They look around the room, and all they see is their sibling. That’s kind of cheating.
But how do you get people excited before gambling? You can say, “Hey, we’re going gambling!” but that’s not really exciting. People gamble because they have nothing else going on.
But it turns out that visually, they’re just as clueless as everyone else. The researchers showed a bunch of people photos and had them guess which twin they were looking at, and the actual twins didn’t get the answer right any more than anyone else. It turns out that if you’re a twin, your parents have a lot of tricks to tell you apart, like different color yarmulkes, or they buy just one of you glasses, but you never develop any tricks. Your parents decided early on that they need a way to tell you guys apart after they once accidentally fed the same baby twice.
So, this being Australia, they decided to hand these people live crocodiles.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Saving money on school pictures..
They basically plunked a small, three-foot crocodile – its mouth taped shut – into the arms of people about to gamble and watched what happened. What happened was that most of the avid gamblers decided to gamble more money than they otherwise would have.
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books anddoesstand-upcomedy.Youcancontacthimat MSchmutter@gmail.com.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: How to force people to smell foods you think may have gone bad. The prize for Economics this year went to two researchers in Australia for their attempts to prove their theory that casino-goers who are excited ahead of time will gamble more.
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Living Kiddush Hashem The Magnetic Pull Of Honesty
By Rabbi Shraga Freedman
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his Shmuel Goldberg (name changed) once needed to have an important package shipped from his home in Flatbush, and he failed to make it to the post office before it closed on Friday. On Sunday, when the post office is normally closed, he happened to drive past and noticed that the gates outside were open and a worker was loading packages onto a truck. Shmuel pulled up and asked the man if the office was open, but the worker told him that it wasn’t. “This is only for Amazon; they have a special arrangement for Sunday deliveries,” he explained. “Would it be possible for you to do me a favor and accept this package any-
way?” Shmuel asked politely. “It’s very important.” The worker looked at Shmuel, his gaze coming to rest on his yarmulke. To Shmuel’s surprise, the worker asked if he knew Reb Abish Brodt. “Of course,” Shmuel replied. “Everyone knows him!” “In that case, I will do you the favor,” the worker said. “I worked for Abish and his family for 17 years, and it was an incredible experience that I will never forget. They were the most honest and kind employers I ever had.” After praising Reb Abish effusively, the non-Jewish postal worker suddenly launched into a rendition of Reb Abish’s famous niggun for Modeh Ani, singing it with profound feeling.
The appreciation for honesty – and distaste for dishonesty – is built into the nature of every human being. When we deal honestly with others, we will gain a tremendous amount of respect. On the other hand, when we are dishonest, any other virtues we possess may lose their luster. Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky once expelled a bochur from his yeshiva for cheating on a state exam, and that young man was quickly accepted by another yeshiva. Years later, he was exposed as having committed a massive fraud, and his picture appeared on the front pages of dozens of newspapers. When that scandal came out, Rav Yaakov commented that the chillul Hashem was the responsibility of the yeshiva that had accepted him immediately, without allowing him to learn the lesson that even “small” acts of cheating can have negative consequences. The minor offenses of his youth paved the way for a descent into much worse criminal behavior later in his life.
The path to a life of honesty begins with learning at a young age to make small sacrifices for the sake of the truth. When a child is taught to do that, he will be ready to resist much greater temptations later in his life.
Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush Hashem, and A Life Worth Living. Email LivingKiddushHashem@ gmail.com for a free sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.
Rabbi Shaul Elchonon & Shoshana Sofer on the birth of a son Meir & Sara Strobel on the birth of a son Asher and Aliza Bortz on the birth of a son Zechariah & Dena Grauer on the birth of a son
Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
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Things People Say While Watching Football... And Why They’re So Annoying “They need a touchdown here.” Thank you. We thought they were trying to get closer to the end zone for the scenery. “That’s holding! THAT’S HOLDING!” You’ve called holding on 37 consecutive plays. Eventually you’re going to get one right. “GO! GO! GO! GO!!!” The runningback was actually planning to stop at the 30 until he heard you screaming from Cedarhurst.
“Why would they run it there?!” Because when they passed on the previous drive you screamed, “WHY ARE THEY THROWING IT?!” “He was WIDE OPEN!” Yes. We can also see that now that television has shown us the aerial replay three times.
“This game is over.” There are eleven minutes remaining. In the second quarter.
“How do you miss that kick?!” You missed the garbage can throwing out your paper plate from four feet away.
“I could’ve caught that.” You pulled a hamstring getting off the couch during halftime.
“Just watch. Pick-six right here.” Seven-yard completion. “Okay. Next play.”
“I knew they were going to run it.” Interesting that you waited until after they ran it to share this information.
“The refs want them to win!” Correct. The NFL’s multibillion-dollar conspiracy has finally been uncovered by a guy eating cholent on a La-Z-Boy.
Riddle Me This A man attends an NFL game. During the entire game, he never sees a touchdown, field goal, safety, extra point, or two-point conversion, yet when the game ends, the scoreboard reads: HOME 21 — VISITORS 17 The scoreboard is working perfectly, and the man was at the game from start to finish. How is that possible?
Answer to riddle: He is blind.
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“You gotta go for it!” It’s fourth-and-19 from their own six-yard line. Thankfully, you’re an accountant.
You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A football coach was heading off the field after a terrible loss and a reporter asked him, “How do you feel about your team’s execution?” He said, “I’m in favor of it.”
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2. How many pounds of ice must the home team provide in the visiting team’s locker room? a. 25 b. 100 c. 250 d. 500 3. How far apart are NFL goalposts? a. 15 feet b. 18.6 feet c. 20.5 feet d. 24.5 feet
5. Before an NFL game, how many prepared footballs must EACH team provide to the officials? a. 12 b. 24 c. 32 d. 40
7. How can you identify which players have NFL’s coach-toplayer communication systems in their helmet? a. Their jersey has a big C on it b. Their helmet has a yellow stripe c. Their helmet has a green dot d. The player whose hand is up during the huddle 8. When the visiting team is on offense, when must artificial crowd noise/music stop? a. When the quarterback enters the huddle or puts both hands up in the air b. When the play clock reaches 20 seconds or the offense reaches the line of scrimmage c. When the play clock reaches 5 seconds d. It doesn’t have to stop 9. Which of the following has actually interfered with NFL communications equipment during games? a. Airline pilots
b. A concert rehearsal c. A concession worker asking for more popcorn d. All of the above 10. How much error does the NFL allow when laying out most lines on the field? a. ¼ inch b. ½ inch c. 1 inch d. 2 inches Answers: 1-A 2-D 3-B 4-A 5-B 6-B 7- C 8-B 9-D 10-A Goalposts : 8-10 correct: You must be the guy who counts the footballs that are given to the teams. 4-7 correct: You are not bad but not great…about all the Jets and Giants can hope for this year. 0-3 correct: Your headset for someone to whisper…… C hCHCHCHCHCHCH … then answers into your ear …..CHCHCHCHCHCHC….. must be coming in and out……. CHCHCHCHCHCHC….copy?
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4. Which is the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise, first started in 1898 when it was part of another league? a. Arizona Cardinals b. Green Bay Packers c. Chicago Bears d. New York Giants
6. When does the quarterback’s radio communication from the sideline automatically shut off? a. When the team completes their huddle b. When there are 15 seconds left on the play clock c. Once he passes or hands off the ball d. It never shuts off
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
1. Approximately how many official footballs does Wilson provide NFL teams each season for games and practices? a. 25,000 b. 10,000 c. 5,000 d. 250 e.
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NFL Behind the Scenes Trivia
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OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
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A year has passed, and I’m still learning to live again. It still hurts, I’m still healing, but I’m fortunate to experience moments that once seemed like a distant dream, almost impossible to imagine ever coming true. Thank you for this first birthday. Thank you to the Creator of the world for life. – Social media post by former hostage Segev Kalfon, marking one year since his return home from captivity in Gaza
Look, AIPAC wouldn’t be, they wouldn’t come here, if … El-Sayed didn’t sleep in a bin Laden jersey. - Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), while campaigning alongside Republican candidate Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, talking about radical Muslim Abdul El Sayed who is the Democrat candidate in the Michigan senate race
Today the Nobel Committee shamed itself beyond repair and demeaned the once great Nobel Peace Prize by giving it to the UN’s Navi Pillay. Pillay is an unabashed hater of America and Israel.
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- Social media post shared by President Trump
In her position she celebrated terrorists and rewarded Hamas. She conducted a phony “investigation” claiming to find that Israel committed genocide and urging prosecution. She has no credibility in any normal sphere and has never done a thing to foster peace. Just the opposite. But what could be expected from a committee that previously gave the once coveted peace prize to Yasser Arafat? - ibid.
I’m going to find out how much your ticket was, and I’m sending it to Israel. - Comedian Jerry Seinfeld when he was heckled by a pro-Hamas demonstrator at his comedy show
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58 As an American journalist who enjoys the democratic right to the freedom of speech, you have now become an apologist for Adolf Hitler. - The Polish envoy to the U.S. in an open letter to Tucker Carlson, who recently said that Hitler had grounds to attack Poland
Gen Z is apparently having a growing feud with capitalism. Which is funny, considering they are fighting capitalism entirely using $1,200 iPhones and high-speed Wi-Fi paid for by their parents.
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- Greg Gutfeld
After prison officials botched the execution attempt, convicted murderer Kristin Pike is now conscious and talking. Doctors say her condition has been upgraded from brain dead to Jasmine Crockett. – Greg Gutfeld
The convicted murderer got a get-well card from the governor saying, “Get well soon, so we can try to kill you again.” - ibid.
The tech world is panicking over new AI watchdogs and government oversight panels. Politicians are terrified that AI is going to learn how to manipulate human emotion, lie to the public, and siphon money out of the economy. Relax, guys—AI isn’t taking over; it’s just trying to run for Congress.
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- Greg Gutfeld
Should the worst words a fifteen-year-old ever wrote decide the rest of his life? That is the question now before the Portland Trail Blazers. – Statement from the lawyer representing Braiden Bell who landed his dream job as the television play-by-play broadcaster for the Portland Trailblazers only to be fired hours later when several tweets from 15 years ago were uncovered in which he disparaged Asian people and used a derogatory word for females
Braiden is not asking anyone to excuse what he wrote. He has owned it, without excuses. What he is asking is whether a boy’s words from fourteen years ago should outweigh everything the man has done since. If that is the standard, hardly anyone in any organization in America could meet it. Accountability means owning what you did and showing who you have become. - ibid.
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Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Hi! Thanks for your amazing column (it’s the reason my family picks up the paper every week!). I don’t usually get to see it unless I’m home, which I was recently when I was home for bein hazmanim. I wanted to ask the panel’s advice on something that has
been weighing on my mind. I am in yeshiva in Lakewood, and my rebbi took me aside before bein hazmanim and told me it would be bad for shidduchim if I keep wearing my current hat. Apparently, since the brim is a bit wider than the current style (not the short, trendy brim), he claims it would put the girls off. Personally, I wouldn’t mind getting a new hat like that. Although we can definitely afford it and my current hat is relatively new, my parents are principled people. They feel that this comment was inappropriate, and also that the current trendiness of short-brimmed hats are more of a sense of style rather than anything ruchnius and totally defeats any purpose. To be
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honest, my father also thinks those hats look too small and quite ridiculous. My question is: do I follow what my rebbi has told me, or do I trust my parents on this? Thank you! Reuven*
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
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NEW!
The Panel
Dear Readers, We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion! Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition. If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well. Looking forward! Michelle, the “Shadchan”
The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Lisa Babich
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hank you so much for your question! I think the answer really depends on you. From an outsider’s perspective, it does seem a little silly to think someone would be less likely to marry you simply because the brim of your hat isn’t exactly the right size. There is a concept of hishtadlus—doing our part and making an effort—and I’m not sure how significant the brim size is in your circles. Does a larger brim make someone look sloppy or outdated? Or is it simply a matter of personal preference, with each person having their own affinity for a particular style? These are questions worth asking yourself. If you look neat and presentable in your hat, I don’t necessarily see a problem with it. I should also add that there is a concept in emunah that the more power we attribute to something, the more influence we may allow it to have over us. If you begin to feel that the brim of your hat is the determining factor in your shidduch prospects, rather than placing your trust in Hashem, you may be giving the hat more weight than it deserves. I would be curious to hear more about what your rebbi was specifically pointing out. Was it really just the brim size, or was there something more to it? Is your hat very outdated or in poor or
unkempt condition? If your hat is perfectly fine and this was simply a recommendation, perhaps the best thing to do is take a step back, consider how you feel about it, and trust your judgment. Hatzlacha!
Can we dare to dream of a day when the measure of a person’s worth isn’t dependent upon such trivial nonsense as the width of a hat brim?
look outwardly polished and put together, you will be absolutely fine. You mentioned in your letter that your hat is relatively new. This shows me that we are not talking about a situation where you are looking shlumpy or outdated. You simply got what you liked at the time you bought it. Hashem will not punish you for that. On the contrary, I bet when you go out with your future wife and tell her that story, after being quite amused, she will be pretty impressed with your level of integrity. As an aside, I hope this question helps many think twice about the trivial, nuanced details we as frum Yidden may focus on. Whether it be brim length, shoe styles, belt brands, or shtreimel heights, these things don’t hold a candle to what is actually important in real life! These things mean nothing about what a person is like on the inside. Things like being non-judgmental, being a good person, being kind to others, living al
kiddush Hashem, etc. – those are the impressive qualities that will truly set us apart.
The Shadchan
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Michelle Mond
B
efore I begin responding to your letter, I want to reassure our readership that this was indeed a real quandary from a real person. As I solicit and vet the questions every week, I make sure every question we get is a real-life scenario, because at first glance, this is quite unbelievable! The reality of this question, though, sheds light on the society in which we live. I think your question is even more important than anything else because of this. Even though we teach our boys the values of the Torah and try to impart messages of limiting gashmiyus, our generation truly has a ways to go in regard to practicing what we preach. In my opinion, your emunah and bitachon that Hakadosh Baruch Hu will grant you an amazing zivug despite your brim length will be a bigger zechus than spending an extra $300 on a trendier hat. For an even bigger zechus, take that $300 you would have spent on a smallbrimmed hat and give the money to a tzedaka of your choice. As long as you
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Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
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what that means. Do you actually like the shorter-brimmed hats? Do you feel that fitting in with the norms of your yeshiva community is important to you? Or are you mostly concerned that something as seemingly insignificant as a hat could somehow work against you in shidduchim? There’s nothing wrong with caring about how you present yourself or wanting to fit in. We all want to feel that
Yehudah A Bachur from Bayswater
You may be giving the hat more weight than it deserves.
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hat a deep question! Your parents aren’t telling you to do anything wrong, but your rebbi feels that you should be acting differently. By not stating your own opinion, I’m guessing that you don’t really care what hat is on your head; you just want to do what is right. There are three things to consider in responding to this question. First, don’t panic! Nothing can help or harm you unless it is decreed by Hashem. He can show your bashert a shiur on the importance of wide brims, make your hat go missing, forcing you to borrow small brim hat, or any of the other millions of options open to Him. The second thing is our responsibility of hishtadlus. This basically means to do what is normal. In this aspect, your reb-
we belong, especially in a community where so many of the people around us share similar expectations. And it can be frustrating when something that feels superficial to you is apparently meaningful to someone else. At the same time, I wouldn’t want you to make this decision out of fear. Your rebbi may be trying to help you navigate the world of shidduchim as he understands it. Your parents may be trying to protect you from feeling that you have to chase every trend. You can appreciate both perspectives without automatically adopting either one. Maybe take a little time to ask yourself what kind of person you want to be in these situations. How much do you want external expectations to influence your choices? When is adapting to your
bi is correct in advising you to get a cool hat. If it’s what everyone does, it could be proper for you. Third is our obligation to respect our parents. We don’t lose out from fulfilling this mitzvah. I would have a talk with your parents (perhaps with your rebbi) about your obligation of hishtadlus and fitting in. Even if a person has all of the ma’alos in the world, it could be that he won’t get a chance to be heard if he looks different. If your parents still feel b’shita that you should have a larger hat, you can confidently listen to them without worrying about missing your bashert.
community something that feels right to you, and when does it feel like you’re doing something just to avoid being judged? These aren’t easy questions, and you don’t have to have all the answers right now. Part of growing up is learning to hear the opinions of people you respect, take them seriously, and still develop the ability to make decisions for yourself. I hope you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. When the time comes, you want to meet someone who sees you as a whole person. Your hat might be part of how you present yourself, but it isn’t who you are. Sincerely, Jennifer
Jennifer Mann, LCSW, is a therapist and certified life coach in private practice in Cedarhurst, NY and via telehealth. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and is a part-time school social worker at Bnos Malka Academy. Her work centers on anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse. She integrates attachment-based therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, and relational work, grounded in the belief that healing and growth emerge through honest, attuned, and meaningful human connection. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512.
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ear Reuven, I think there’s something interesting happening here that has very little to do with the actual hat. You have a rebbie telling you one thing and parents telling you another. Both are people whose opinions matter to you, and now you’re left trying to figure out whose advice to follow. I wonder if the more important question is how you feel about it. You mentioned that you wouldn’t mind getting a new hat. I’m curious
Reader’s Response
OCTOBER 15-21, 2026
hen I read your letter, I started laughing hysterically. My wife wanted to know what was so funny. I explained that someone made up a phony Dating Dialogue question that was really, really funny. I really appreciated the creative sense of humor that went into this prank letter. My wife explained, sadly, “Uh, Jeffrey, I was just on the phone with your very yeshivish cousin, Chana Shaina, and this hat thing is a very real issue for them. I don’t think this letter is a hoax.” This was very deflating information. At a time when huge numbers of young, educated people in this country and around the world are turning against Am Yisreal and Medinat Yisrael, we are worried about the design of hat brims?! It made me think of Martin Luther
King’s famous speech, when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” If this letter is indicative of the values we consider important, can we dare to dream of a day when the measure of a person’s worth isn’t dependent upon such trivial nonsense as the width of a hat brim? I suspect that your rebbi’s advice may have less to do with your dating prospects and more to do with his desire to encourage uniformity and conformity among his students. My recommendation is for you to wear whatever hat that you, personally, like. Any young lady who judges your worth by the width of your hat brim tells you a lot about her worth as a potential life partner. You want to marry someone who understands that the hat is not nearly as important as what is under the hat.
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Parenting Pearls
Designing a Village By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
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aising a child is a gargantuan task. Many new parents have looked at their tiny, precious bundle and felt the word “overwhelmed” was an understatement. Fortunately, we’re not meant to raise children alone. There is an often-quoted phrase that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Perhaps we should amend that to “community” to acknowledge the important role the greater community plays in our family’s lives. It creates the environment we raise our child in and guides the behaviors they see as the standard to emulate. There are many people in a child’s life beyond the immediate family and community they live in. We have family and friends that help round out our lives and enhance our child’s world. While there are many definitions for “family,” the people in a child’s life extend far beyond that core nuclear group. This was even more pronounced as we saw the shift of people over the yomim tovim as many families spent the holidays with extended family and others they are close to. Beyond the fun and bonding of family, extended relatives play an important role in a child’s life. While I am mostly focusing on the role of biological relatives, the term “family” often encompasses many others that we are close to like family, even if we don’t share genetics. Throughout this article, readers should feel comfortable using this more extensive definition for family.
Needing a Village We each have different personalities and traits that are all our own, and each person in our life contributes something unique. Just as we each add something individual to the world, we do the same towards others in our lives. As adults, we enjoy a variety of friends and trusted people. Children are no different. There are many types of wonderful people we will encounter. Some will be outgoing, others quieter. There are introverts
and extroverts. We have people who specialize in bein adam l’chaveiro and those who excel in bein adam l’Makom. We learn and gain from all of them. Children always need to know how much their parents love them. This is undeniable and crucial to their emotional development, but they also benefit from knowing they are loved by others. Think of the warmth and good feelings a child experiences when they can list the many people who love them and care about them. They also benefit from having others they can go to when they need. While we hope our kids will come to us with any issue they have, the reality is that children may not feel comfortable sharing everything with us. Sometimes, an aunt or uncle feels like an older but responsible buddy. Perhaps a grandparent is that cozy spot they can go to. We want that they should always have someone to go to and be there for them.
send voice notes and share scans of drawings and nachas notes. The number of ways we can interact has greatly expanded. As children, we would call relatives over the old-fashioned landline, but it was still somewhat distant because we couldn’t see them. Additionally, the lack of visuals kept the connection very abstract for little children. Many of us can remember the confusion or outright fear young children had hearing a voice that claimed to be their grandparent. The little one would frequently turn over and check the sides of the phone trying to find out where the person was hiding.
Think of the warmth and good feelings a child experiences when they can list the many people who love them and care about them.
At times, kids are upset with their parents and need a safe person to discuss it with. Often, just having another responsible adult they can go to for advice helps them have a clearer and calmer way of speaking when they eventually are prepared to speak with their parents.
Building the Village One of the benefits of technology is that we have more options for communication than ever before. Children can call, text and video chat with loved ones. They can
Being able to see the person they are speaking with creates a more meaningful connection than audio alone. They can see facial features, as well as facial expressions and body language. While a digital connection shouldn’t replace in-person bonding, it’s incredibly helpful for when a loved one can’t be physically present. This works both ways, and relatives, especially those who are limited in their ability to travel, can enjoy building a relationship with our precious children. There are innumerable mutual benefits. For example,
grandparents can see how their grandchildren are growing from day to day. Loved ones can also see how their elderly relatives are doing, and they can better keep track of their health, recognizing the first sign of concerning changes.
Expanding the Village While we often discuss the benefits of extended family, not everyone has a gaggle of relatives prepared to swoop in to give love and assistance. Even those fortunate to have extended family may not have relatives living close enough to make as meaningful an impact. Our village isn’t limited to those who share DNA or years of experiences with us. We have neighbors and friends who can be those additional loving adults every child needs. We can have “adopted” aunts and uncles and families that our children can build meaningful connections with. As parents, we have the opportunity to decide who we want in our child’s life and from whom they can learn and grow in their middos and avodas Hashem. We can create a loving space that encompasses those beyond the beautiful home we ourselves provide for our children.
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, holds a master’s degree in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 15 years. Sara provides personalized parent mentoring services, addressing a variety of general and specific parenting concerns. She can be contacted at Sara.Rayvych@gmail.com with comments, questions or for private consultations.
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Health & F tness
When Did An Egg Stop Being An Egg?
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By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP
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atients are asking me about something they’ve been hearing about in the news. “Dr. Lightman, what’s going on with these fake eggs that don’t even come from chickens?” It’s a fair question. It certainly sounds strange. What we’re actually talking about isn’t a whole egg. It’s a specific egg-white protein produced in a laboratory setting using a technology called precision fermentation. The FDA reviewed the safety information submitted for these proteins and has essentially allowed them to be used as ingredients in certain foods. But the more I thought about the questions I was getting, the more I realized that the bigger conversation isn’t really about fake eggs. It’s about what we’re feeding our families and how far we’ve gotten from the source of our food. With all the things we can now do to food, are we sometimes forgetting how good food was to begin with?
Food Has Become Complicated Walking through a supermarket today is humbling because you almost need
a degree in microbiology to understand some of the packages. Everything seems to have been enhanced, fortified, reformulated, concentrated, flavored, substituted or engineered. There’s a new protein powder. A new “healthy” snack. A new drink promising better hydration. A bar promising enough protein to get your child through the day. A cereal with vitamins added back into it. Parents look at all of this and naturally wonder, “What am I actually supposed to feed my children?” My answer is usually not very exciting: Start with food. Protein should be first. Think chicken and fish. Then fruit. Vegetables. Eggs. Whole grains. Nuts and seeds when appropriate. Water. Meals made from ingredients you recognize. Your grandmother probably didn’t call this “whole-food nutrition.” She called it lunch.
Go Back to the Source We spend an enormous amount of time trying to figure out how to get more nutrition into our children’s diets. More protein. More vitamins. More fiber. Less sugar.
Those are important goals. But sometimes the easiest way to get better nutrition isn’t to find a product that has been designed to contain all those things. It’s to go back to the foods that contained them in the first place. Want vitamin C? An orange is a good place to start. Want fiber? Try fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Want protein? There are eggs, fish, chicken, beans, yogurt, nuts and many other familiar choices. An ordinary egg, for example, is already an incredibly useful food. It provides high-quality protein along with important nutrients, all wrapped up in a package that has worked quite well for a long time. We don’t always need to reinvent it.
The Front Of The Package is Advertising I encourage parents to turn the package around. The front is where companies talk to you. The back is where the food talks to you. “High protein.”
“Plant-based.” “Natural.” “Made with real fruit.” “Animal-free.” Those words may all be technically accurate, but none of them automatically makes something the best nutritional choice for your family. Look at the ingredients. Look at the added sugar. Look at what you’re actually buying. And most importantly, look at your child’s overall diet. A packaged snack isn’t going to ruin a healthy diet any more than eating one apple is going to fix an unhealthy one. It’s the pattern that matters. This also reminds me of how Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, so passionately taught us to appreciate Hashem’s incredible natural world. He could take something as simple as an apple or a potato and remind us to stop and appreciate the wisdom and goodness the Borei Olam put into His creations. We need to bring some of that wonder and appreciation back to the way we feed our families.
Perfection Isn’t the Goal I don’t want parents reading this and thinking they now have to bake bread
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For most families, I don’t think this needs to become the next great food controversy. New technology isn’t automatically dangerous simply because it’s new. But new also doesn’t automatically mean better.
Let Food Be Food I want children to know what an apple tastes like, not only apple-flavored snacks. I want them to recognize vegetables. I want them to understand that protein doesn’t only come in a wrapper with “20 GRAMS OF PROTEIN!” printed across the front.
With all the things we can now do to food, are we sometimes forgetting how good food was to begin with?
cian or allergist when they’re unsure. The FDA’s documentation specifically describes these fermentation-made proteins as egg-white proteins, including ovalbumin. For everyone else, I think the lesson is much simpler. We don’t have to be afraid of food science. We also don’t have to chase it.
I want families sitting down to meals as families whenever they can, in addition to Shabbos meals. And yes, sometimes I want an egg to simply be an egg. Not because everything “natural” is automatically better. That’s too simplistic. It’s because there’s tremendous value in building our diets around foods that
are nutritious, recognizable and familiar. Food technology will continue to change. There will be new ingredients, new processes and new products we haven’t even imagined yet. That’s fine. Our basic approach to feeding our families doesn’t have to change every time the food industry does. Go back to the source. Keep most of your family’s food simple. Read labels. Enjoy treats. Use convenience when you need it. Don’t panic about every unfamiliar ingredient, but don’t assume you need it either. Sometimes, good nutrition really can be that uncomplicated. As always, daven.
Dr. Hylton Lightman MD DCH(SA) FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician and the Medical Director of Suffolk Health Five Towns. He adores his patients and tolerates their parents. His life’s mission is to deliver quality health care to babies, children, teenagers and young adults so they bring their children and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) to him. He loves what he does.
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The Chickenless Egg Conundrum
One important caution. Animal-free does not mean allergy-free. Because these products can contain proteins corresponding to those found in egg white, people with egg allergies may still react to them. Families managing egg allergies should continue reading labels carefully and speak with their pediatri-
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every morning and grow tomatoes in the backyard. (If you do, kindly share with me.) We have jobs. We have carpools. We have homework. We have children who announce at 7:42 in the morning that today is the day they were supposed to bring 30 individually wrapped snacks to school. Convenience foods have a place. Frozen food has a place. Packaged snacks have a place. Dessert certainly has a place. The goal isn’t to create a perfect kitchen. The goal is to make real, recognizable food the foundation and let the other things fill in around it. If most of what your child eats resembles something you could identify without reading the package, you’re probably heading in a good direction.
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