VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.THEBJH.COM Vol. 11 Issue #36 | November 6-12, 2025 | כ״א חשון תשפ״ו- ט״ו
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Miriam’s Library To Close On Milford Mill Property, Marking Major Milestone
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Ma Zaro B’Chayim: The Eternal Light Of My Rebbe Rav Ezra Neuberger, ZT’L
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Dr. Gabby Wild's Wild Life
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Hearing G-d’s Message in a Hurricane
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When The Days Get Short
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Contents
Dear Readers,
COMMUNITY Around the Community
6
Greater Washington Minyanim
16
Community Calendar
36
Baltimore Minyanim Guide
37
JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman
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Torah Sparks
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Living Kiddush Hashem
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PEOPLE 613 Seconds - Jerry Wolasky
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEATURE Dr. Gabby Wild's Wild Life
38
Hearing G-d’s Message in a Hurricane
44
HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT To Raise a Laugh
46
Centerfold
52
Notable Quotes
54
Kids Coloring Contest
68
LIFESTYLES A Fulfilled Life
42
Israel Today
48
Dating
58
Health & Fitness
62
Mental Health Corner
64
Parenting Pearls
66
In The Kitchen
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It’s hard to shake the uneasy feeling these days. All around us, the world feels a little less safe and a lot more confused. The kind of hatred that once lived far away seems to be creeping closer, gaining respectability in places we never imagined. This week, when Zohran Mamdani was elected Mayor of New York City, it felt like a punch to the gut. Here’s a man who’s been open about his hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people, elected to lead the very city that once stood as a symbol of resilience after 9/11. Less than twenty-five years later, the same city that suffered from extremist violence has chosen to hand power to someone who sympathizes with those same ideologies. It’s hard to make sense of that. In this week’s Parsha we meet Yishmael, the son of Avraham and Hagar, whose story feels strangely relevant right now. His very name means “Hashem will hear.” He was born through prayer, saved through prayer, and his descendants became known for their devotion to prayer. There’s something admirable in that – and yet, as history has shown, that spiritual energy often takes a darker turn. The Rambam wrote about the suffering caused by the children of Yishmael in his time, describing how they stirred up strife even when we sought peace. Reading those words today feels almost eerie. The Rambam also reminds us that things like this don’t happen by chance. Politics and hate are part of it, but there’s always something deeper at play.
The Midrash says Yishmael’s name hints to the future, to a time when Hashem will once again “hear” the cries of His people. Maybe we’re living through that chapter right now. It’s a scary world, but also a world that reminds us to listen – to history, to our purpose, and to each other. Because even when everything feels uncertain, Hashem still hears. He always has. Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos
Aaron M. Friedman
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The Zohar explains that Yishmael’s descendants were given temporary power over Eretz Yisroel in the merit of their bris milah. But it’s an incomplete covenant. Ours, as children of Yitzchok, runs deeper, as it binds us to a life of faith and kindness. The Radak explains that to truly “know Hashem” means to live with justice and compassion. And when we see people praying to Hashem while committing acts of hatred and murder, we know they’ve missed that part entirely.
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Maybe that’s the part that’s hardest to sit with. We like to think we can fix things with better policies or louder advocacy, but the truth is that our strength as a people has never come from those places. It comes from knowing Who really runs the world. Yaakov prepared for his encounter with Eisav not only with strategy but with tefillah. That balance, between doing what we can and remembering Who’s in charge, still feels like the Jewish formula for survival.
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The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. All opinions expressed by the journalists, contributors and/or advertisers printed and/or quoted herein are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, Internet or another medium. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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Around the Community
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Miriam’s Library To Close On Milford Mill Property, Marking Major Milestone
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new chapter in Baltimore’s Jewish community is unfolding as the building at 201 Milford Mill Road is scheduled to close for $2.3 million on December 3rd. The 14,000-square-foot property—already well known as the home of TAG—will soon become the future home of Miriam’s Library, a major new community center dedicated to education and family life. The project, first announced at the first yahrzeit of Miriam Mintz, a”h, aims to transform the entire building into a hub for children and families, featuring a library, tutoring center,
With most of the funding already secured, a brief crowdfunding cam-
paign is being planned to help cross the finish line before closing. “This milestone means so much to everyone who loved Miriam and believed in her vision,” said Mendel Mintz, who has led the project. “It’s a historic moment—we’re really heading to closing.”
Excitement continues to build as 201 Milford Mill prepares for its next chapter, evolving into a vibrant center that will serve children, families, and the wider Baltimore Jewish community for years to come.
Elevate’s Fourth Annual Event Inspires An Evening Of Gratitude And Growth By: BJLife Newsroom | Photos: Arielle Strum Photography
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ver 250 women gathered at Ohel Moshe for Elevate’s fourth Annual Night of Inspiration. The décor featured stunning floral arrangements and impressive uplighting creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that set the stage for an evening of connection, inspiration, and growth. Guests enjoyed a decadent dairy buffet, featuring a made-to-order crepe and Belgian waffle dessert bar that added a sweet touch to the night. The highlight of the evening was an uplifting speech by Charlene
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and after-school programs. Organizers emphasize that it will be “much more than a library”—a place where learning, creativity, and connection come together under one roof.
Aminoff, world-renowned speaker and the first to grace Ohel Moshe’s newly renovated building. Charlene spoke about the ultimate key to success: gratitude. Through powerful stories and practical insights, she illustrated how recognizing yad Hashem in every aspect of life and expressing genuine gratitude can bring bracha and positivity into one’s life. She also emphasized the importance of avoiding complaints and challenged attendees to choose one middah to improve throughout the month leading up to Chanukah. Following Charlene’s heartfelt mes-
sage, participants watched an inspiring video presentation highlighting Elevate’s profound impact, featuring stories from some of its dedicated mentors.
ing Torah, the event emphasized the transformative influence of joining an Elevate chaburah on a woman’s personal and family life.
Founded in 2021, Elevate provides meaningful learning opportunities for married women in their 20s through 40s. Through weekly chaburahs, monthly shiurim, and virtual bursts of inspiration, Elevate empowers women to continue their Torah learning amidst the busy demands of daily life. Acknowledging the unique challenges and sacrifices women in this stage of life face in dedicating time to learn-
Participants were also introduced to the fourteen different chaburahs being offered this winter and were encouraged to register for the one that resonated most with them. The event concluded with an opportunity to meet Elevate mentors in person. Each woman left with a beautifully branded Elevate bag—and, more importantly, a heart filled with inspiration, gratitude, and renewed purpose.
Aleph Institute’s Compass Workshop Presented To TA Seniors
R
abbi Yaakov Goldstein presented The Compass Workshop, an Aleph Institute initiative, to the 12th-grade talmidim of Talmudical Academy. The program focused on yashrus in business and financial decision-making.
Students were lively, focused, and deeply engaged throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions and offering insightful responses that reflected real depth. Faculty noted how well the boys connected to the workshop’s message, expressing pride in the maturity and sincerity shown by the class
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JCFL 2025: The Playoff Picture Tightens as the Season Comes Down to the Wire
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ith only one game remaining in the regular season, the 2025 JCFL by King David Nursing and Rehab is coming down to a thrilling finish. The final matchups this Sunday, November 9th, at the YL Waitering Fields (Pikesville Middle School) will determine which four teams punch their ticket to the TYH Roofing Postseason—and in what order. If you like drama, grit, and gridiron glory, this is the week to come watch! Doctor Auto 36 – Tripping Kosher 6 Doctor Auto put on a clinic this week, cruising past Tripping Kosher with a dominant 36–6 victory fueled by precision offense and a defense that didn’t give an inch. Quarterback Moshe Lichtman was in full command, tossing 3 touchdowns and running in 2 more. The offensive line, anchored by Hillel Stutman and Ozzie Marizan, gave him all the time he needed to pick apart the defense. Avi Goldstein dazzled with a highlight-reel one-handed catch for a two-point conversion, while Mordechai Schiermeyer made a clutch TD grab on 4th and goal. Menachem Blackman added a touchdown of his own (and had another called back), while Baruch Dollman owned the middle of the field with bigtime catches. The defense was even more ruthless. Chaim Pleeter and Nate Smith harassed the quarterback all game, each notching a sack. The secondary was a ball-hawking nightmare—Goldstein grabbed three interceptions, with Blackman and Schiermeyer adding one each. With strong coverage from Dollman and Avi Safren, Doctor Auto delivered their most complete performance of the season. Evergreen Benefits Group 52 – Tidy Up 18 Evergreen Benefits Group proved why they’re the talk of the league, dismantling Tidy Up in a commanding 52–18 victory that showcased both finesse and ferocity. “Super-sub” Yoni Gugenheim set the tone early with an interception, followed by a pair of electric TD catches from Akiva Stutman, who
juked defenders left and right. Quarterback and captain Chaim Finkelstein connected with his brother Yoni for a TD, while Gershon Vegh added an interception and a 25-yard touchdown grab that helped push the score to 26–0 in the blink of an eye. The highlight of the day belonged to Avi Stein, who caught the first two touchdowns of his career! His second—off a tipped pass—was so spectacular that even the referees decided they’d seen enough, ending the game early under the mercy rule. Defensively, Evergreen was relentless, with five interceptions and a picksix by Stutman. Despite the loss, Mitch Gross of Tidy Up was a bright spot, scoring all three of his team’s touchdowns. With one game to go, Evergreen remains the heavy favorite heading into the postseason—at least according to former “unnamed NBA sources.” Yaakov Schmell – Allstate Insurance 40 – ActualEyes 14 As they saying goes, “Big girls don’t cry.” And apparently, neither does Avner Shotz. Just a week after being (anonymously) blasted in the media as “softer than a box of tissues,” Shotz fired back—literally. He strapped on his flags and delivered a statement game for the ages. When you take shots at Shotz, sometimes Shotz fires back shots—and he doesn’t miss. Avner played shutdown defense, caught a long touchdown, and pancaked two defenders to spring Dany Donaty on a highlight catch-and-run that might’ve gone the distance—if Dany hadn’t briefly taken a page from David Moinzadeh’s book and run the width of the field instead of the length. After falling behind 8–0 early, Schmell-Allstate flipped the switch and outscored ActualEyes 40–7 the rest of the way. Zack Lerner hauled in a touchdown, Aaron Hoffman snagged two, and Chaim Goldman added one through the air and returned one of his two interceptions for a pick-six. Even Neil Gerstman joined the party, recording a flag pull as Schmell-Allstate blasted past ActualEyes in a statement win that could echo into the playoffs.
Tiger Heating & Air 20 – Y&L Landscaping 19 Week 6 started with Tiger Heating licking its wounds from a seemingly lost season. But after an angelic visit from three touchdowns, likely the result of Shimon Kanter retrieving the other team’s ball in a display of achdut, Tiger was given miraculous news that it could still secure a playoff berth. Tiger’s first drive looked less than promising. Yoffi Storch turned a short pass into a long gain with a 360 around-the-back lateral that resembled a kaparah. But it was called an illegal forward pass. The fan watching was upset with the blown call. However, a deep strike from QB Dudi May to Josh Zaslow put Tiger on the board. Y&L came charging back, going up 13-6 at half and tacking on another score to put the game at 19-6 with 11 minutes to play. As usual, Tiger’s defense kept them in the game with big sacks from Ezra “Menachem” Bregin and a crucial interception from Noam Sonnenberg, who also recorded 40 tack-
les. A QB scramble from May turned into a long TD-run thanks to good blocking and some missed tackles. With a minute left in the game, a short throw to Zaslow turned into a touchdown, tying the game at 19-19. In what all of Pikesville is calling “Operation Rising Lion,” Izzy Aryeh snagged the game-winning extra point conversion. Tiger’s defense locked down and turned week 7 into a playin game for 4th place. Up Next: The Final Countdown With one regular season game left, every down counts. Will Evergreen continue its dominance? Can Tripping Kosher break their losing streak and clinch a spot in the playoffs? Will Allstate ride Avner Shotz’s redemption arc all the way to glory? And can Tiger Heating’s miracle run continue? Find out this Sunday morning (Nov. 9) at Pikesville Middle School—where community, competition, and camaraderie make the JCFL the highlight of Baltimore’s fall season.
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Torah Institute Hosts Joint Professional Day For Special Education Staff
T
orah Institute hosted a professional development day for the SHINE program staff, under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchok Turk, and their counterparts from Toras Simcha, focusing on excellence in special education.
a delicious lunch and left inspired to bring new tools and ideas back to their classrooms, strengthening support for every student’s unique needs.
The event, held in Kol Torah, began with words of Chizzuk from the Cheder’s CEO Rabbi Raphael Schochet, and featured educational expert Rabbi Avraham Cohen from the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, who shared innovative strategies for individualized learning and classroom success. Sponsored by the Crane Foundation, the program provided valuable collaboration and growth opportunities for all participants. Attendees enjoyed
Torah Institute 5th Grade Haschalas Gemara
T
he excitement on the faces of the Cheder’s more than 90 fifth grade Talmidim was palpable at their Haschalas Gemara. Mothers, fathers, grandparents (and in some cases, great-grandparents!), over 300 attendees were all Zoche to celebrate this momentous occasion together. The inspiring speeches, including their keynote speaker Rav Yosef Berger, the boys receiving their first Gemaras, and then embarking on their learning journey with their Rebbeim, fathers and grandfathers, will surely be something that they remember forever. B’ezras Hashem, we should be Zoche to see each and every boy in our community continue to grow as a true Ben Torah!
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Ma Zaro B’Chayim: The Eternal Light Of My Rebbe Rav Ezra Neuberger, ZT’L By: BJL/Zecharya Michelsohn
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hen I knocked on the door of his office. Like so many times before, I waited impatiently for his invitation to enter, but today was different. I didn’t have a question about shiur, nor was I seeking his unparalleled clarity of thought to unravel a personal crisis. We had just been blessed with our first child, and I was eager to share the news with my Rebbe. “Come in,” came the familiar voice. I turned the doorknob and stepped into the office of Mori V’rabi Harav Ezra Neuberger, zt”l. Rav Ezra’s office was an oasis of calm and tranquility. The walls were lined with a few bookcases of seforim. A couple of chairs sat in the dim light facing the clean desk that held neither a computer nor a phone. I saw him sitting behind the desk, looking at me with undivided attention. Typically, he would give me an appointment – “come back at 1:35.” This time, I had news to share. “My wife had a boy!” I can still picture his face breaking into a radiant smile as he responded warmly, “You’re shining like a father!” My connection with Rav Ezra, zt”l, began when I was 20. A young bochur, I entered his shiur and became instantly captivated by his style. There were no fireworks, no layers of chakiros and artful swatches of pilpul. Instead, he offered a structured path, or several, into the minds of the Amoraim and the Rishonim, teaching us how to understand their precious words with care, clarity, and depth. I became so attached that I chose to remain in his shiur the following year. At the beginning of a new z’man, the maarei mekomos he prescribed were often a list of pesukim in Chumash, reflecting his strong sense of the
structure of Torah: Torah Sheb’al Peh is built on Torah Shebichsav. As much as I gained from his shiur, even more impactful for me were the ideas he shared at his Oneg Shabbos. Sitting among the tens of talmidim squished around his dining room table and overflowing into the living room, I tried to soak in his words like the treasures they were. I can’t call them novel ideas – Rebbe would not approve. He always shared “devarim p’shutim” that were, at least to us, the epitome of devarim mechudashim. But one of his oft-quoted refrains were the words of the Ramchal, that devarim p’shutim are often forgotten מרוב פשיטותם. His broad and profound lessons on Torah Shebichsav and Toras Ha’Odom did much more than educate us – they transformed us. Rebbe made sure the forest was never lost for the trees. I never heard him say even a simple vort that wasn’t yesodosdik. He taught us how to look at Chumash through the lens of תולדות אדם, of מעשה אבות סימן לבנים. What were the worlds of Gan Eden and the teiva? What were the roles of Adam, Noach, the Avos, the Shivtei Kah? What were the struggles between the bnei hagviros and bnei hashefachos; the twin roles of Yehuda and Yosef; the bechira of Esav? Which ten of the “Dibros” constitute the “Aseres Hadevarim”? He spoke about the language of Mikra versus the language of Chazal; the different orders in which the Torah names the shevatim throughout Chumash and why; the relationship between Malchuyos, Zichronos, and Shofaros and why they are at the core of the mo’ed of Rosh Hashana. And so much more. I’ll never forget his creative understanding of מזה ומזה הם כתוביםbased on a play-doh experiment.
Guest Speaker At Yeshivas Toras Simcha
R
av Nosson Newman, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash D’Owings Mills, graced the older bochurim of Yeshivas Toras Simcha with a fiery Shmooze on the messages learnt from Parshas Lech Licha.meet
Elevate mentors in person. Each woman left with a beautifully branded Elevate bag—and, more importantly, a heart filled with inspiration, gratitude, and renewed purpose.
Toras Ha’Odom was the title he used for his lessons on life – fundamental ideas that were simple yet profound: who we are, what our mission is in life; what is bechira. He encouraged us to think for ourselves, to think about ourselves, and to get to know ourselves. Rebbe tried to instill in us his love of questions and would speak passionately about their magnificence. “A question is breathtaking, a teretz is stifling” was one of his refrains. As a maggid shiur, he was certainly rare but perhaps not unique. In the way he taught us about life and hashkafas haTorah, he may have been unique. But as a baal eitzah, I don’t think I have ever met anyone with such wisdom and clarity. I reserved my most confusing personal questions for Rav Ezra. I would visit his office full of uncertainty. Rebbe would listen quietly and then process my question with the same respect and methodology with which he learned a Tosfos. He boiled the question down to its core and left me with profound clarity.
Rav Ezra taught us that in our present tekufah, beginning with Bayis Sheini, we live in a world of חכם עדיף מנביא, where a chacham is greater than a navi. He, with his profound wisdom, was the ultimate חכם עדיף מנביא. Rebbe, I wish you were here. I miss you. I miss your Torah, your chochma, and your loving smile. But I will seek comfort in the lessons you taught us. Yaakov Avinu lo meis, I can hear you quoting. Makish zaro lo; ma zaro b’chayim, af hu b’chayim. As long as Yaakov’s children are living, he lives on. We are your children, banecha eilu talmidecha. We will carry on your fealty to Torah and the mesorah, and we will continue living from the glimpses of chochma you gave us. We will always draw inspiration from your love, humility, and greatness, and, with Hashem’s help, try to become the elevated אדם השלםyou taught us to be. Ma zaro b’chayim, af hu b’chayim.
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ultimately comes from Hashem. While hard work is vital, so is faith—especially during challenges. I remember a time when I was unemployed, and it taught me humility and gratitude. It’s important to recognize that every success and setback is part of a bigger plan. BJH: You’ve built a successful business. Can you share more about Healthsource Distributors? BJH: Tell us about your roots.
JW: After spending 20 years working for national wholesale pharmaceutical companies, I launched Healthsource Distributors in 2002. We distribute prescription products to pharmacies of all types—independent, chain, mail order, long-term care, and even dental offices. Today, we employ about 150 people across the country, many of them right here in the local community.
BJH: How did your journey to religious observance begin?
BJH: What professional advice would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
JW: Although I had a yeshiva high school background and my wife came from a conservative Jewish home, our path to observance was gradual. When we got married, we decided to attend synagogue on Shabbos, but we were not observant. While living in Virginia, we joined an Orthodox shul, which helped us grow tremendously. Rabbi Shlomo Goder, our rabbi in Norfolk, who was a Talmid of Rabbi Berel Wein, ZT”L, played a particularly meaningful role in that spiritual journey.
JW: Start with a self-evaluation. Figure out what you know best and where your expertise lies. Most people have a unique area of knowledge that can give them a business edge. When you combine passion with that expertise, success tends to follow naturally.
BJH: How has faith influenced your professional journey? JW: I’ve learned that everything
BJH: Who has been most inspirational in your life? JW: Rabbi Moshe Hauer ZT”L had a profound impact on our family, and on countless others in our community. His leadership and integrity inspired people to strengthen their connection to Torah, Judaism, and Israel. Even after leaving Bnai
BJH: What inspired your connection to Israel? JW: When my wife and I got married, we chose to spend our honeymoon in Israel instead of a typical vacation spot. We instantly fell in love with the land and its people. Rabbi Hauer deepened that connection for us by introducing us to organizations like One Israel Fund and helping us understand how much our support matters. BJH: Tell us about your involvement with One Israel Fund. JW: One Israel Fund supports communities throughout Yehuda and Shomron—the biblical heartland of Israel. They provide over 200 projects annually in the areas of preventive civilian security and emergency medical equipment and services as well as recreational, educational and communal infrastructure. After October 7th, their work became exponentially more critical. Their flagship project is the building of a state-of-the-art medical center in Sha’ar Binyamin to provide outstanding medical care in an area currently devoid of such services. I’m honored to serve on the Board of Directors, and to support this organization. BJH: Why did you accept the Keter Shem Tov Award for the upcoming 31st Anniversary Gala? JW: My wife and I felt that accepting this honor was a way to shine a light on
One Israel Fund’s incredible work. Many people in Baltimore aren’t fully aware of what they do. If our involvement helps spread awareness and inspire more support, that’s the greatest reward. BJH: What keeps you motivated? JW: I’m motivated by the opportunity to share success and help others. Whether it’s through business, community, or charitable work, I try to use what I’ve been given to make a difference. BJH: How can readers participate in the Gala or show their support? JW: The One Israel Fund 31st Anniversary Gala will take place Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in New York City. It’s going to be an incredible evening featuring a concert with Zusha and Aryeh Kunstler, and appearances by Sid Rosenberg, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, and Nathaniel Buzolic. You can learn more about the event on page 3 of this edition. Anyone who wants to place an ad, make a contribution, or reserve their spot can visit OneIsraelFund. org/Rise. Every show of support helps strengthen Israel’s communities and protect those living in our homeland’s heartland. BJH: Any final thoughts you’d like to share? JW: I’m deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to causes like One Israel Fund. Their mission—to support and protect Israeli communities in our homeland’s heartland—is one we should all feel connected to. It’s a privilege to be part of that effort.
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Jerry Wolasky: I was born and raised in the Bronx, specifically in the Riverdale section. My wife is also a New Yorker, from New Rochelle. We met while attending the State University at Albany and started our married life in New York before moving through several cities and ultimately settling in Baltimore in 1992.
Jacob Shaarei Zion to join the Orthodox Union, his influence continued to shape lives.
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The Week In News
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The Week In News
Typhoon Hits Philippines
When Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed central Philippines this week, people sheltered on rooftops as streets flooded. At least three people were killed. Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes from the raging waters and winds. The typhoon, locally named Tino, weakened since making landfall early on Tuesday but continued to bring winds of
shacharis
Philippines, with Cebu bearing the brunt of the damage. Dozens were killed or injured in the quake.
Iran Celebrates 1979 U.S. Embassy Takeover
It’s been 30 years since a mob of Iranian students overran security guards at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran while diplomats endeavored to hide from the armed pack. Dozens of hostages were seized on November 4, 1979. Sixty-six Americans were taken captive by the Iranian mob. Fifty-two of them were held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981, when the Algiers Accords between the Iranian and American governments was signed. This week, on Tuesday, Iranians celebrated the takeover of the embassy. In what is a yearly commemoration, thousands of people returned to the spot in downtown Tehran chanting “Death to U.S.” and “Death to Israel.” Some hanged effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and set fire to American and Israeli flags. State media said similar gatherings took place in other Iranian cities and towns. Mock-ups of Iranian missiles were on display on the sideline of the rallies, some inscribed with the words “Death to America.” Replicas of centrifuge machines used in uranium enrichment were also on display. On Monday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed during a meeting with students that there would be no move toward normalizing ties with Washington soon — a message echoed on banners at Tuesday’s rallies. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was the key speaker at the rally in Tehran. He accused U.S. and Israel of killing Iranian scientists during this summer’s 12-day war because the West “opposes an independent, integrated, and powerful Iran.” He also criticized the former U.S. embassy, calling it a “den of spies.” The two nations have had no diplomatic relations since militant students seized the embassy in 1979.
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
M-F
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
T, W, F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
T, W, F
8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent)
S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
S S
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation
M-F
7:05 am Kesher Israel
M, Th
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
M, T
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue
M, Th
Chabad of Silver Spring
M-F
Kesher Israel
T, W, F
8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville 8:15 am Ohr Hatorah
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY
M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue
M-F
S
YGW
M, Th
Ohr Hatorah
S
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah
M, Th
6:40 am YGW
S, T, W, F
Chabad of Potomac
M-F
Chabad of Potomac
S
M-Th
JROC
M-F
S
S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue
T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue
M, Th
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Ohr Hatorah
T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
S
JROC Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Silver Spring Jewish Center
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
M, Th
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)
M-F
YGW (Summer Only)
S-F
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
M, Th
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only)
S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center
M-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation
S
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring
S
Kemp Mill Synagogue
S
Magen David Sephardic Congregation 6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
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more than 80mph. It is forecast to move across the Visayas islands region and out over the South China Sea by Wednesday. “The situation in Cebu [an island] is really unprecedented,” provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro said in a Facebook post. “We were expecting the winds to be the dangerous part, but... the water is what’s truly putting our people at risk. The floodwaters are just devastating.” A rescue helicopter went down near Agusan del Sur on Mindanao island, prompting a search and rescue mission to locate the chopper and the people onboard. In total, almost 400,000 people were moved from the typhoon’s path, Rafaelito Alejandro, deputy administrator at the Office of Civil Defence, said. The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year. Super Typhoon Ragasa, known locally as Nando, struck in late September, followed swiftly by Typhoon Bualoi, known locally as Opong. The country was slammed by another natural disaster in September when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck central
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
M-F
7:30 am Chabad of DC
Kemp Mill Synagogue Kesher Israel Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY
S S S
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
For edits or additions email ads@baltimorejewishhome.com
M, Th S
Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville
S, T, W, F
Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy
S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center
M-F S
8:30 am Chabad of DC
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
8:15 pm OSTT (OLNEY) 8:45 pm YGW 9:30 pm YGW Silver Spring Jewish Center 9:45 pm Ohr Hatorah 10:00 pm YGW
2:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center 2:20 pm YGW
S-F
2:45 pm YGW
M-Th
3:00 pm YGW Middle School
School Days
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 [Ashk + S] 1132 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902
M, T, W
S-Th School Days S-Th Spring/Summer M-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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The Week In News Hurricane Melissa Hits the Caribbean Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica last Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, carrying winds of up to 185 mph. Early Wednesday, it slammed eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. The hurricane also impacted Haiti, Bermuda, and other countries in the Caribbean.
On Wednesday, Jamaica’s main international airport reopened, and emergency relief crews landed in the country, distributing basic necessities such as food and water. In southwest Jamaica, at least four people were found dead, according to authorities. As of late last week, 77% of the island was without power, and over 25,000 people were staying in shelters in western Jamaica. According to Andrew Holness, the prime minister of Jamaica, the storm decimated around 90% of roofs in Black
River, a southwest coastal town. In Haiti, the hurricane caused at least 25 casualties, 20 or more of whom were killed in Petit-Goâve, according to the country’s Civil Protection Agency. Ten children were among those killed. Meanwhile, 18 people were reported missing. Over 11,600 people were staying in shelters in Haiti, according to officials. According to the agency, the hurricane caused damage to over 160 homes and decimated 80 more.
In Cuba, the army helped rescue people. Over 735,000 people were evacuated by the Civil Defense in eastern Cuba, after which no casualties were reported. The storm knocked out power, internet, and telephone service in many areas of Cuba. On Thursday, the hurricane was expected to pass Bermuda. On Thursday morning, it became a Category 2 storm, traveling north-northeast at 21 mph and carrying winds of up to 105 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.
A Prince No More Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, will be stripped of his royal title. The punishment is almost unheard-of for those in the modern British family. The removal of Anderw’s title is due to his connection to Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on Thursday, the Palace said it had begun a formal process to remove the “style, titles and honors of Prince Andrew.” The prince, it said, “will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” the family name of members of the House of Windsor. Andrew, 65, is also set to be evicted from his sprawling residence, Royal Lodge, and move to a private house. The announcement came in just a three-paragraph statement. Andrew has vociferously denied any wrongdoing. Still, his connection to Epstein has made the royal family uncomfortable.
Epstein died in 2019 while in jail awaiting trial on federal charges. Last week, Andrew announced he would give up the use of his other most prominent title, the Duke of York. His status as a prince, the palace said at the time, was based on his being the son of a monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Not since King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936 over his proposed marriage to a divorced American woman, Wallis Simpson, has the royal family experienced such an abrupt and visible downgrade of one its most senior members. Palace officials also said Andrew would move to a residence on the grounds of Sandringham, a royal residence in Norfolk, northeast of London, which is owned personally by Charles. The king, they said, would support Andrew through his private funds. Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who had lived with him at Royal Lodge, will receive no further support from the family, officials said.
Who Will Lead WZO? Current Chief Yaakov Hagoel may reclaim his leadership position in the World Zionist Organization as per a new deal reportedly reached Friday. The previous agreement collapsed after it was suddenly announced that Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s controversial oldest son, would be nominated to lead the WZO’s Diaspora and Information Department — a position that includes an office, car, and pay that is comparable to a government minister’s salary. That announcement upset many and led the opposition Yesh Atid party to pull out of the deal. The agreement collapsed on Wednesday night. The prime minister’s son will not assume any leadership roles in the WZO, as per the new deal, which isn’t yet finalized. It is unclear who will lead the Diaspora and Information Department. If the deal is approved, Rabbi Doron Perez would serve as chair of the WZO until halfway through his five-year term, when Hagoel will reassume
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The Week In News the position. Originally, a Yesh Atid party representative was supposed to succeed Rabbi Perez. Rabbi Perez is the chairman of the religious Zionist World Mizrachi Movement and the father of Cpt. Daniel Perez, whose remains were held in Gaza for two years after he was murdered on October 7. The previous deal’s details regarding the Jewish National Fund-KKL’s leadership is expected to remain unchanged. Yesh Atid MK Meir Cohen is expected to retire from the Knesset after serving for 12 years and become the Jewish National Fund-KKL’s next chairman. In the Knesset, a Likud representative would replace him in the middle of his term.
A Bit of Closure for Nir Oz
On Thursday, the remains of hostages Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch were brought home from Gaza. Now, all 76 of those kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, including nine whose bodies were abducted, have been returned home.
The kibbutz, which saw a fourth of its members killed or kidnapped, announced that “755 days after the massacre, there are no more hostages from Nir Oz in captivity in Gaza.” “On October 7, in hours of debacle, 76 people were snatched from Nir Oz, and our home became a locus of disaster,” the kibbutz said. “Since then, the Nir Oz community has lived that horrible day and struggled for the return of all the hostages.”
It continued, “Now, with the return of the final hostage from the kibbutz, we can start processing, recuperating and grieving our 65 loved ones who will not return, 14 of whom were abducted alive and murdered in captivity. Alongside our painful closure, there are still 11 families waiting for their loved ones.”
The kibbutz added that it would continue working “to bring everyone home, until the last hostage.” The youngest hostage, Kfir Bibas, who was one years old and was kidnapped and murdered along with his mother Shiri and four-year-old brother Ariel, was from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His father, Yarden Bibas, was freed in February during a ceasefire that was struck at the beginning of this year. The kibbutz was invaded by over 500 terrorists. Of Nir Oz’s 100 homes, only six were not entered by terrorists during the massacre. All the others were set ablaze and damaged during the Hamas-led October 7 attack. Amiram Cooper, 84, was kidnapped alive from his home in Nir Oz. He was killed while in Gaza in February 2024, the IDF confirmed in June 2024. At his funeral on Sunday, President Herzog said, “I stand here today with my head bowed to ask of you, Amiram, forgiveness. I’m sorry, Amiram, that we didn’t manage to rescue you in time from the jaws of captivity. Sorry that it took us far too long to bring you back to the landscape of your homeland. Sorry that
you were captured while still alive, and that you return to us only to be buried in the ground.” He also apologized to the community of Nir Oz that the country failed to protect them on October 7. “I’m sorry that we weren’t here in a time of danger, sorry that in the face of human monsters, you stood with bare hands to protect yourselves and your home,” he said. Sahar Baruch was 25 years old when he was taken into captivity on October 7. He was buried in Kibbutz Be’eri on Sunday alongside his brother, Edan Baruch, 20, an off-duty IDF soldier who was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023, massacre. Eulogizing her son, Sahar’s mother, Tami, said that the “terrible trauma” of October 7 “will always be etched in our hearts.” She lamented that after two years of captivity in Gaza, being a hostage became part of her son’s identity. “Before that, you had many other identities, such as a traveler, chess player, kayaker, scholar, nerd, steel mechanic, and much more,” she said. “I had hoped for you that there would
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The Week In News be new identities, like the electrical engineer you wanted to be, a boyfriend, a father, and so much more, but that will no longer happen,” she lamented. “We have many memories, but not enough memories together.” Sahar studied engineering at BenGurion University. He hid with his brother, Edan, in their home’s safe room on October 7, but the two fled the house after Hamas terrorists set it on fire. Sahar was kidnapped while searching for his brother’s inhaler, while Edan was fatally shot after exiting the safe room. Their grandmother, Geula, was killed separately in Be’eri during the massacre.
Bringing Them Home On Sunday evening, Hamas released the remains of three more hostages: Col. Asaf Hamami, Cpt. Omer Neutra, and Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, all of whom were soldiers whose bodies were taken to Gaza after they were killed while fighting terrorists during the October 7 massacre. Israel verified the three soldiers’
identities on Monday morning. On Sunday night, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the remains of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier from Plainview, New York, had been recovered.
“The Government of Israel shares in the profound grief of the Hamami, Neutra, and Daniel families, and of all the families of the fallen hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated, adding that the Jewish state is “determined, committed and working tirelessly” to bring home the bodies of the remaining eight hostages. Hamami, a 40-year-old commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, was from Kiryat Ono and was murdered while defending Kibbutz Nirim was invading Hamas terrorists. The morning of October 7, 2023, Hamami was observing Shabbos with his 5-year-old son at the Gaza Division base near the southern border. Before battling the terrorists, he had other
soldiers bring his son to a safe place. Eight weeks after his body was taken captive, his death was confirmed by the Israeli military and the chief rabbi. Hamami leaves behind his wife Saphir, their three children, and his parents, Clara and Ilan. His family and friends remembered him as funny and selfless. Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old tank platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, was a lone soldier from New York. He was killed during the massacre after Hamas hit his tank with RPG fire and explosives. The attack killed Neutra and his fellow soldiers Daniel and Sgt. Shaked Dahan. Hamas kidnapped their bodies to Gaza. Nimrod Cohen, another soldier who was in the tank, was abducted alive and was among the final 20 living hostages to be released on October 13. Video showed Palestinians dragging Cohen out of the burning tank and celebrating the attack. Omer’s death was confirmed in December 2024. He leaves behind his mother and father, Orna and Ronen, and his younger siblings, Daniel, Keren, Or, and Leah.
Omer’s father, in a statement, quoted a verse from Yirmiyahu, “There is hope for your future, declares the L-rd, and your children shall return to their own land. “Our Omer is on Israeli soil,” Omer’s father said. “Finally — so much pain and so much relief!” According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Omer was a “warm, funny, and optimistic person,” who loved “every person and the country with all his heart.” Daniel, a 19-year-old soldier from the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, was killed alongside Neutra. He was from Kfar Saba. According to his family, Hamas shot Daniel dead after he attempted to grab a grenade from one of the terrorists. He was stationed at an IDF post between Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kibbutz Nirim. His death was confirmed in February 2024, and his family held a funeral for him on the 26th of that month and sat shiva. Since they did not have a body to bury, his family buried a blood-soaked uniform and stretcher. He leaves behind his parents, Merav and Amir, and Hadar, his twin sister.
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The Week In News Daniel was a talented guitarist who learned to play when he was in third grade. He loved music and “believed in the power of music to change the world,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. He was remembered as a “funny, moral guy who loved life, who always wore a huge smile” and was “everyone’s best friend,” according to the forum.
30 Years Since Rabin’s Murder Tuesday, November 4, marked the 30th anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination. Around 150,000 people gathered for a memorial rally in Tel Aviv where speakers praised Rabin’s legacy, called for the release of the remaining deceased hostages, and blasted right-wing leaders such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, the leader of the center-left Yesh Atid party, spoke at the rally. He declared that “it’s our job to make sure the idea [of Rabin] is still alive.” He also said right-wing parties in the current government were
“distorting what the very idea of Judaism is. They are again turning Judaism into violence, murderousness, internal hatred, a thing that tears us apart,” turning it “into politics of hate.”
“Yigal Amir [Rabin’s killer] is not Judaism. The violent racism of Itamar ben Gvir is not Judaism,” Lapid declared. At the rally, Democrats leader Yair Golan decried ongoing Israeli “incitement and extremist nationalism,” adding that “the echoes of those three shots have not faded.” “They still resonate today in every act of this government that works against its own people,” Golan said. “Every time patriots are called traitors, every time demonstrators fulfilling their civic duty are beaten, every time the media is silenced and the judiciary is trampled — those same shots still echo.” Golan lauded Rabin as an honest man who prioritized the good of the nation
over his own interests. Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff who recently founded his own party as a centrist MK, spoke at the rally and called for a state commission of inquiry into the failures that led to the October 7 massacre and for a “universal conscription law.” Gadi Mozes, a former hostage who was released after over a year in captivity, also spoke at the rally, declaring that Rabin “would not have given up on us, the hostages, for two years… He would not have slept until everyone was brought home.” Rabin, a Labor Party leader, served as Israel’s prime minister from 1974 to 1977, and again from 1992 until his 1995 assassination. A Jewish extremist named Yigal Amir murdered Rabin, justifying the assassination with the halachic concept as din rodef. Because Rabin, in 1993, signed the Oslo Accords, an agreement that would have given territories in Judea and Samaria to the Palestinians, Amir reasoned that the prime minister was liable for death. Now, Amir is serving a life sentence in prison. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former prime minister Naftali
Bennett, Netanyahu’s chief rival, did not attend the rally, nor did centrist lawmaker Benny Gantz, who, according to reports, was not invited. A video of Rabin welcoming “a chance for peace” was played at the beginning of the rally. At the end, tens of thousands of people sang “A Song for Peace,” a song that Rabin sang soon before he was murdered.
Leaker Arrested Authorities arrested former military advocate general Maj. Gen. Yifat TomerYerushalmi and former IDF chief prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh on Sunday night for their involvement in a leak that publicized footage of Israeli soldiers treating a Palestinian prisoner harshly at the Sde Teiman detention camp. Tomer-Yerushalmi and Solomosh’s detention was extended by Judge Shelley Kutin until Wednesday, after police expressed concerns that they would interfere with the investigation. TomerYerushalmi’s lawyer attempted to file an appeal against her detention, but it was rejected on Monday morning. On Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi
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stepped down from her role. In a resignation letter, she admitted that she leaked the footage. She may be charged with fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and unlawful disclosure of material. Solomosh allegedly knew that TomerYerushalmi leaked the video and helped cover up her crime. However, Solomosh’s attorney, Nati Simchoni, claimed that his client wasn’t aware of the scope of TomerYerushalmi’s involvement in the leak. Simchoni said that Solomosh said he’d be willing to undergo a lie-detector test. Tomer-Yerushalmi’s lawyer, Dori Klagsbald, said his client’s detention shouldn’t be extended on grounds of obstruction, as the police investigation is already underway and includes testimony for five suspects. “In these circumstances it is hard to imagine how exactly one would obstruct the investigation,” given “a massive amount of investigative material,” Klagsbald said. “There is no reason to assume that someone who did not obstruct the investigation from the moment it began would have reason to obstruct it now.” On Sunday, Tomer-Yerushalmi might have faked a suicide attempt. Police suspect she left a fake “suicide note” at her home in Hatzuk Beach. She was found alive at a beach in Herzliya at around 10 p.m. and went through a physical and mental check up from around 1:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. At 6:30 a.m., she was put in Neve Tirza prison following an interrogation. According to reports, police suspect that TomerYerushalmi faked a brief disappearance in order to throw out a phone that might have had incriminating information. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the Israel Prison Service chief to put cameras in TomerYerushalmi’s cell to prevent an obstruction into the investigation and a potential suicide attempt.
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Keep On Walking Doctors suggest that people at heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease take daily walks to prevent certain symptoms. A new study recently revealed that people with early, presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease who walked 3,000
to 5,000 steps per day delayed their cognitive decline by three years in comparison to those who walked less. People who walked 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day delayed their decline by seven years, on average. For most people, a mile requires 2,000 steps. “If you’re sedentary, even modest activity could help slow down that process,” noted Wai-Ying Wendy Yau, the lead author of the study and a cognitive neurologist at Mass General Brigham. The study included close to 300 older adults, some of whom had brain scans that indicated they were at higher risk of Alzheimer’s due to the buildup of amyloid beta. The researchers followed participants for an average of nine years and found that those who took relatively more steps had a slower build-up of tau, another type of protein that can tangle and disrupt the communication between brain cells. Yau points out that the findings were associative and not cause-and-effect. Still, the study’s findings suggest regular physical activity may help slow the progression of early, presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. “Exercise is a hard habit to build but I like to tell my patients every little bit helps,” Yau said. “Every step you take in the right direction helps with brain health.” The paper, which was published in Nature Medicine, is part of the Harvard Aging Brain Study.
Record Shutdown The government shutdown has reached at least 35 days, tying the record for the longest-ever shutdown in Washington. Sen. Susan Collins, the Senate’s top GOP spending leader, has been involved in a flurry of conversations in recent days to end the impasse by funding both parties’ priorities in bipartisan year-long funding bills. “I do believe that we are finally making progress. It’s too soon to declare that this nightmare of a shutdown is over, but I’m very cautiously hopeful that it will be resolved by the end of this week,” the Republican from Maine said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Monday he is “optimistic” but not necessarily “confident” bipartisan senators will reach a deal to fund the government by week’s end.
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The Week In News “Based on sort of my gut of how things operate, I think we’re getting close to an off ramp,” Thune said, but he cautioned: “This is unlike any other government shutdown.” Democrats will soon be faced with a key question: What will they accept from Republicans after their month-long push to extend expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies? Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said that Republicans need to sit down and negotiate and signaled that her party would not cave just because the shutdown effects were getting more painful. “He thinks he can use hungry children as a bargaining chip against Democrats, saying, in effect, that it’s only Democrats who care whether or not kids go hungry,” the Massachusetts Democrat said. “Well, it is Democrats who care, and it’s Americans who care. Republicans should come to the table and negotiate.” Democrat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote in an op-ed over the weekend, warning the party not to cave to President Donald Trump on the shutdown, “This may be the most consequential moment in American history since the Civil War,” he wrote.
VP Dicky Cheney Dies Former Vice President Dick Cheney, America’s most powerful modern vice president, died this week at the age of 84. Cheney served alongside President George W. Bush for two terms. Bush described Cheney in a statement on Tuesday as a “decent, honorable man.” “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position,” Bush said. Recently, Cheney drew ire from many people in his party over his criticism of President Donald Trump, whom he branded a “coward” and the greatest-ever threat to the republic. He cast his final vote in a presidential election in 2024 for a liberal Democrat and fellow member of the vice president’s club, Kamala Harris, in a reflection of how the populist GOP had turned against his traditional conservatism. Cheney was in the White House, with President Bush out of town, on that
fateful day of September 11, 2001. “At that moment, you knew this was a deliberate act. This was a terrorist act,” he recalled of that day in an interview with CNN’s John King in 2002. Cheney reflected in later years on how the attacks left him with an overwhelming sense of responsibility to ensure such an assault on the homeland never happened again. Many saw Cheney as the force behind the U.S.’s War on Terror. On 9/11, Cheney, in a bunker below the White House, gave the extraordinary order to authorize the shooting down of any more hijacked airliners in the event they were headed to the White House or the U.S. Capitol building. For many, his frequent departures to “undisclosed” locations outside Washington to preserve the presidential chain of succession reinforced his image as an omnipotent figure waging covert war from the shadows. The U.S. waged its War on Terror to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan. At the time, al Qaeda was holed up in the country. Osama bin Laden managed to elude U.S. forces at the time. But then, the war spread to Iraq and its leader, Saddam Hussein. Cheney’s warnings about Iraq’s
weapons of mass destruction programs played a huge role in the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. But later reports showed that the intelligence was faulty and Iraq did not have those weapons. One of Cheney’s most infamous claims, that the chief 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta, met Iraqi intelligence officials in Prague, was never substantiated, including by the independent commission into the September 11 attacks. In 2005, Cheney said that he and other top officials were acting on “the best available intelligence” at the time. While admitting that the flaws in the intelligence were plain in hindsight, he insisted that any claim that the data was “distorted, hyped, or fabricated” was “utterly false.” Of the Iraq war, he told CNN in 2015, “It was the right thing to do then. I believed it then and I believe it now.”
Marathon Moments After 26.2 miles and more than two hours of fierce competition, Benson
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A Word That’s Not a Word Dictionary.com’s word of the year is not even a word. The viral term “6-7” that has kids and teens repeating non-stop and adults rolling their eyes has made it to the top of the word list. The word — if you can call it that — exploded in popularity over the summer. It’s more of an inside joke with an unclear meaning, driven by social media. Dictionary.com says its annual selection is a linguistic time capsule reflecting social trends and events. But the site admitted it too is a bit confused by “6-7.” “Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the site said in its announcement this week. So where did the hype all come from?
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The term seems to have emerged from a rap song, which then began to appear on TikTok videos with basketball players, including the NBA’s LaMelo Ball who stands 6-foot-7. Then a boy, now known as “The 6-7 Kid,” shouted the ubiquitous phrase while another kid next to him juggled his hands in a video that went viral this year. That’s all it took for it to go viral. What does the “word” mean? Well, no one really knows. According to Dictionary.com, the phrase could mean “so-so,” or “maybe this, maybe that” when combined with the juggling hands gesture. Merriam-Webster calls it a “a nonsensical expression used especially by teens and tweens.” Dictionary.com added, “It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical. In other words, it has all the hallmarks of brainrot. Still, it remains meaningful to the people who use it because of the connection it fosters.” It added, “The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year.” Doesn’t sound like we’ve grown in any substantial way.
Bu
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and Lokedi were matching each other stride for stride when Obiri made one final surge, pumping her arms as she separated herself from Lokedi. Obiri finished in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 51 seconds to obliterate Margaret Okayo’s course record from 2003 by over two minutes. Lokedi was 16 seconds behind Obiri, and Sheila Chepkirui, who had been hoping to defend her title from last year, placed third. Obiri, who also won in 2023, recalled her feelings in Central Park: “I say, ‘This is my time, Sharon, let me make a move.’” For Kipruto — who has now won world marathon majors in Tokyo, Chicago, Boston and New York — his win was the narrowest margin of victory in the New York race’s history. In 2005, Paul Tergat edged Hendrick Ramaala by one second. “I think there’s no secret in winning and finishing on the podium,” said Kipruto, who finished in 2:08:09. “Just believe in yourself and have patience and believe in training, what you are doing. I think that’s kept me running.” (© The New York Times)
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Kipruto of Kenya was so confident that he was about to win the New York City Marathon on Sunday that he raised his arms in triumph just ahead of the finish line, and it nearly cost him. Kipruto appeared unaware that Alexander Mutiso Munyao, his countryman, had closed the small gap that had opened up between them and was charging hard in the race’s final meters. Kipruto still narrowly prevailed — by three hundredths of a second. It was the closest finish in race history. It was a thrilling finish on a recordsetting day, as more than 50,000 athletes — runners and wheelchair racers, elites and hobby joggers — packed the streets of the five boroughs under sunny skies and amid perfect conditions for fast times. Some things felt familiar, however, as Kenyans reasserted their distancerunning dominance by sweeping the medal podiums in both the men’s and women’s professional races. Kipruto made his New York debut one to remember, and Hellen Obiri became a two-time champion by pulling away from Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 winner, to punctuate a thrilling duel in Central Park. With a half-mile remaining, Obiri
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By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
I
have just returned from our community’s evening of ‘Chizuk and Tefillah’ in response to the call from our beloved Vaad HaRabbonim to gather and reflect on the many tragedies our community has suffered in just these past few weeks. We have been overwhelmed by a storm of disbelief, pain, and grief, and desperately seeking to restore a sense of stability and direction to our lives.
Avraham nevertheless plows forward with determination, and only when the water level reaches his neck, does he finally turn to G-d and declare, — באו מים the waters have reached, — עד נפשuntil the soul, appealing for help. G-d accedes to his request and rescues him. ()מדרש תנחומא וירא כב In each of the above citations we ask for G-d’s intervention by presenting ourselves as facing a flood of water that has reached until the soul.
of a phenomenon of nature that emphasizes G-d’s mastery of the world on this anniversary of creation, Rosh HaShana. ()תורת העולה ח"ג פנ"ו
When G-d sees this yearning He responds in kind in by not allowing the forces of nature, in this case the Satan in the guise of water, to overwhelm Avraham.
The normal forces of the ocean and other bodies of water are so great that they should naturally overtake the shoreline. Yet, G-d set the sand as the boundary which the water may not impinge.
When man emulates this ‘quality’ of water, then G-d maintains the balance of nature for man’s benefit as well.
The prophet Yirmiyahu conveys G-d’s words to His people. Will you not tremble at My presence? — אשר שמתיWho has placed, — חולthe sand, — גבול ליםfor the boundary of the sea. ()ירמיהו ה כב, Why did G-d implement this dichotomy within nature, of overpowering waves that must be tempered by the sand on the shore?
This morning, the last day in the series of reciting the Selichos of Behab, we began to read in the very first Selicha of the day, the following words.
Is this merely an exclamation of hopelessness that we are going under and therefore G-d must intercede?
— אפפונו מיםWaters encompass us, — עד נפשto our very soul, — גלי יםthe roaring waves of the sea, — עברו עלינו poured over us.
Could that be an appropriate expectation on our part, that even bereft of any merit, G-d is compelled to save us simply because we are drowning?
You rule the grandeur of the sea; — בשוא גליוwhen it raises its waves, — אתה תשבחםYou calm them. ()תהלים פט י
This imagery of stormy seas serving as a metaphor of our being inundated with challenges, echoes a verse in Tehillim (69).
Or is there perhaps a deeper significance to this depiction of standing in water ‘up till our nostrils’?
The word used for ‘calm’, תשבחם, has an alternative meaning. The root of this word ח-ב-ש, can mean ‘praise’ as well.
— הושיעני אלקיםSave me, O G-d, כי באו — for have reached, — מיםthe waters, — עד נפשuntil the soul. I entered the depths of the water, and a rushing current sweeps me away.
Our custom of going to a body of water on the first day of Rosh HaShana to recite the Tashlich prayer is to commemorate this incident with Avraham and the Satan, that took place in the days leading up to the Akeidah. ()המהרי"ל
The raging sea that quests to attain its full potential and power is never discouraged. Despite its constantly being quashed in its efforts by the shoreline, the waves continue to forever crest with hope. This quality within nature teaches us that G-d admires those who are ceaseless in their attempt to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. (:)זוהר נח סט
This week we will recount the episode of the Akeidah , a time when Avraham Avinu was almost inundated by the powerful forces of water. In the Prayer for Rain that we recently recited on Shemini Atzeres, we appealed to G-d. זכור אב, remember the Patriarch [Avraham], נמשך אחריך, who was drawn behind You, — כמיםlike water. גננתו הצלתו, You shielded him, You rescued him, מאש וממים — from fire and water. G-d first delivered him from the fiery furnace of Nimrod and then saved him later from the surge of water the Satan transformed himself into, prior to the Akeidah, in an attempt to discourage Avraham from his noble mission.
The Akeidah is an event we commemorate on Rosh Hashana when we blow the Shofar of the Ram, the animal that replaced Yitzchok as the sacrifice. There are opinions that the Akeidah actually transpired on Rosh Hashana as well. Why is this aspect in the story of the Akeidah so significant that it warrants special note? What do we mean when we say in the Prayer for Rain that Avraham “was drawn behind You like water”? What facet of water is being espoused here in defining the sterling character of Avraham? The Great Rav Moshe Isserles, popularly known as the Rama, writes that when we stand at the edge of the water by Tashlich we are reiterating an awareness
The Holy Zohar reveals for us the vital lesson that lies within this enigma.
When it raises its waves, אתה תשבחם — You ‘praise’ them! The pieces within our puzzle begin to fall into place and present for us a most magnificent portrait. The sentiment regarding Avraham Avinu, who was ‘drawn after You like water’, accentuates his incessant striving that could never be calmed, no matter the number of barriers placed in his path. The assertion of the waters having reached, — עד נפשuntil the soul, is not a frantic plea for help, but rather an expression of such an intense desire for closeness to G-d that nothing can stand in its way.
No one can claim why calamities happen. Each person must take stock of one’s own life by figuring out how one can improve, impacting the world around by our actions. How easily are we discouraged when we face challenges? How often do we have a surge of enthusiasm to add to our learning, to intensify our prayers, to increase our sensitivity towards others and then allow the waves to crash emptily on the beachhead of disillusionment? Despite our having crashed, do we continue to swell in our thirst to grow and recommit our efforts once again, or do we float away with the receding sea of diminished enthusiasm? When it raises its waves, You ‘praise’ them! This must become the motto we live by. We must persist and never be disheartened. Even if we have failed we must bear on, renewing our efforts. As Avraham forged forward even as he faced the storming waters of the Satan, only turning to G-d once the water reached his soul, so too must we emulate Avraham in maintaining our focus and direction, not allowing for the barriers of comfort and ease, to break our mighty waves of inspiration and dedication. If we succeed, then G-d will in turn direct his agents, ()תהלים קד ד...עושה מלאכיו רוחות, He makes His messengers the winds..., the forces of nature, to blow in our favor. May we storm the heavens with renewed commitment in all aspects of our Avodas Hashem, עד נפש, until it penetrates to the depth of our souls, and in that merit may G-d provide us with joy and success in our lives.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
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Avraham Avinu, despite having just gone through a Bris Milah, goes outside and invites three guests into his home. The angels promise Avraham/Sara that they will have a son. Sedom and Amorah are destroyed; Lot and his family (except his wife) are saved. Avimelech captures Sarah and then returns her. Yitzchak is born. Hagar and Yishmael are kicked out. Avraham is tested with his final and biggest test: the Akeida.
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Parshas Vayeira
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“To build a society of freedom, you have to let go of hate.”
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GEMATRIA
After stepping on the edge of his specialty-built capsule, suspended thousands of feet up high in the stratosphere, Baumgartner looked down at Earth below him, and with genuine humility, he said some of the most powerful words you’ll ever hear: “I wish you could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are. I’m coming home now.” And he jumped. Greatness and humility are built upon each other; they are two sides of the same coin. There is no such thing as a truly great person that is not humble, nor is there such thing as a truly humble person that is not great. Great people see themselves as “small” simply because they see that their greatness comes from a Higher Being, i.e., Hashem. This is the “Jewish approach” to understanding humility. In Parshas Vayeira, we find that Avraham Avinu referred to himself as – עפר ואפרdirt and ashes – which symbolizes his trait of humility. But we also find that Avraham Avinu viewed himself as great, as important, as an אדם חשוב. Rashi says: שאין אדם חשוב רשאי לצאת לדרך בלא ב' אנשים – the reason why Avraham took two people with him is because “an important person is not allowed to travel alone.” If you think about it, the mere fact that Avraham Avinu kept this Halacha and took two people with him when he traveled is the greatest proof that he viewed himself as an אדם חשוב, a great and important person! So yes, Avraham Avinu viewed himself as a great person, but that did not in any way detract from his viewing of himself also as עפר ואפר.
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of “Ready. Set. Grow.” “Dove Tales,” and “Karpas: The Big Dipper.” His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He may be reached at 443-938-0822 or rabbistrumo@gmail.com
Sfas Emes in Parshas Vayeira says the following: וכן צריך כל אדם להתבונן כי מעשיו נוגעין לדורי דורות- Each person must understand and think about the fact that his actions reach and impact generations to come! If we’d really think about this and realize that our current actions create a CURRENT that will influence generations to come, we’d live with more passion and care!
Did You Know?! R’ Chaim Pallagi points out that Avraham Avinu accepted his guests with a סבר פנים יפות, a happy countenance. He didn’t just “fulfill” the mitzvah, he filled the mitzvah! He did it in full, in its totality. Despite his personal pain at the time, he did this amazing chesed!
Points to Ponder The big test of Avraham Avinu was the Akeida. If we stop and think about it, the word עקידהmeans “bound,” referring to the moment when Yitzchak was bound on the Altar. Why, though, is that the name given for the entire Nisayon? Why, for generations, do we refer to it as the Akeida? That was one detail of the story, wasn’t it?!
Even more, perhaps it was because of his greatness that he saw how small he was. Sometimes a person has to be up really high and realize his immense greatness and חשיבותto truly know just how small he is in the grand scheme of life.
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The Torah points out that Avraham saw two times, ויראand then again, וירא. He did a double take. If you add the two ’ויראs, it equals 434, which is the same as the gematria for דלת, a door. Avraham Avinu sat by the entrance of his home; he so-to-speak kept his door open, in order to be able to see that which was outside. We learn a valuable lesson of positioning ourselves for greatness. Open your eyes. Open your doors. Open your souls!
On October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner, an Austrianborn aerobatic flyer, broke multiple world records. He became the first person to break the sound barrier in a freefall reaching a top-speed of 846 mph (or 1,357.6 kph) without the use of any heavy machinery. At the time, this was the highest freefall parachute jump from 24.2 miles above Earth’s surface, which comes out to about 128,000 feet. That’s pretty high up, by the way.
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Over 100 Physicians Attend MedEx Australia Events as Israel Expands Global Effort to Recruit Medical Professionals Photo Credit: Scott Ehler
Sydney (October 28, 2025) – In a landmark step to address Israel’s critical shortage of physicians, Nefesh B’Nefesh in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, in cooperation with The Jewish Agency for Israel, hosted the first-ever MedEx events in Australia, welcoming over 100 Jewish doctors in Sydney and Melbourne. This event is part of the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), an initiative to streamline the professional integration process for doctors making Aliyah. These events provide a simplified, one-stop-shop experience that includes credential recognition, job interviews with Israel’s leading healthcare institutions, and guidance on grants, licensing, and relocation - all under one roof. At the events in Sydney and Melbourne, participants had the unique opportunity to virtually interview with representatives from Israel’s leading hospitals such as Ichilov, Hadassah, Galilee Medical Center, Rambam, Kaplan, and others, as well as all four health maintenance organizations (HMOs). These opportunities allow participants to navigate the professional and bureaucratic process of Aliyah in a single day, greatly reducing barriers to entry for doctors considering immigration to Israel. Following successful MedEx events in Paris, London, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, MedEx Australia marked the program’s first expansion into the Pacific region. This milestone reinforced Israel’s commitment to recruiting 2,000 new physicians over the next five years, with a focus on strengthening healthcare in the Negev and Galilee, bolstered by key partners including the Marcus Foundation, the Gottesman Fund, Jewish Federations of North America, the Azrieli Foundation and Arison Foundation. “We continue to expand the activities of the International Medical Aliyah Program, and I’m pleased to take part in these events in Australia and grateful for the opportunity to meet with the local Jewish community. Unfortunately, as in other countries, the Jewish community in Australia is facing a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents. We expect the government and law enforcement authorities to act decisively and show zero tolerance toward this phenomenon,” said Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration, MK Ofir Sofer. “We are working to encourage Jewish people, especially now, to make Aliyah, be a part of Israel’s growth and success, and contribute to its future. The reforms we’ve implemented in the Ministry and
the progress of our many initiatives are already being felt within the Australian community as well. I sincerely hope to hear of more families and young people taking this courageous step and fulfilling the Zionist vision.” “MedEx events are more than informational sessions, they are bridges between professional aspiration and national need,” said Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, Tony Gelbart. “For doctors in Australia, MedEx provided a unique opportunity to begin their licensing and career journeys in their own hometowns. The physicians we met in Sydney and Melbourne are not only exceptional professionals, but also deeply motivated by a sense of purpose and connection to Israel. Their contributions will make a meaningful difference to the future of healthcare in Israel.” “Today, more than ever, the State of Israel needs skilled doctors in Tzfat, Kiryat Shmona, Be’er Sheva, and Dimona. The Ministry for the Negev and Galilee is proud to be a partner and supporter of this important initiative, which turns Zionism into action by bringing outstanding medical professionals to strengthen hospitals and communities in the Negev, the Galilee, and the Gaza border region,” said Minister for the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf. “This is another step in reinforcing our national resilience, not only in security, but also in health.” “Bringing Jewish doctors to Israel is a profound expression of modern Zionism, a Zionism of responsibility, mission, and tikkun olam. Every Oleh who chooses to make Aliyah demonstrates full trust and courage in the State of Israel, even in its most challenging times. This initiative is
a living testament to mutual solidarity and the deep connection between Israel and world Jewry, a connection that continues to bring tremendous contributions to Israeli society,” said Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, Doron Almog, Major General (Res.). “Immigration is a driver of national growth, and integrating new Olim into the medical field and other areas is an essential part of building and restoring the State of Israel. The Jewish Agency, together with Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, will continue to support Olim and doctors on their new journey, ensuring they feel at home and can fully participate in shaping the future of the Jewish people in their land”. With the successful completion of MedEx Australia, the IMAP initiative continues to expand its reach. Since the beginning of 2024, approximately 650 doctors from around the world have immigrated to Israel, and since the start of 2025, over 700 doctors have already made Aliyah. Upcoming MedEx events worldwide are expected to further bolster Israel’s healthcare system.
About Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il) Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh is dedicated to addressing the evolving national needs of the State of Israel through four key pillars: Aliyah and Integration, National Service, National Development, and Zionist Education. Each of these pillars is strengthened by expanded services designed to benefit the broader community. In partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and JNF-USA, Nefesh B’Nefesh’s comprehensive support and social services have successfully empowered over 90,000 North American Olim to integrate into Israeli society, achieving an impressive 90% retention rate. This ensures their long-term commitment to building meaningful lives in Israel and contributing to the nation’s growth.
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Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide
Shacharis Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES
M-F S, T, W, F T, W, F S T, W, F T, W, F S S T, W, F M-F S, T, W, F S, M, TH T, W, F M-F T, W, F M-F
7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) 7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael Kol Torah
M, TH S S
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M, TH M-F M-F M, TH M, TH
7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Chabad of Park Heights Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Darchei Tzedek Kedushas Yisrael Khal Bais Nosson Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation
S S, T, W, F S S-F S-F S S S S S-F S S-F S S-F S, T, W, F T, W, F
7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Talmudical Academy Darchei Tzedek Mesivta Kesser Torah Mesivta Shaarei Chaim 7:50 AM Derech Chaim Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe
M-F S-F M-F S-F S-F S S M-F
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
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 Kol Torah 8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim 8:25 AM Ohr Chadash Academy (School Days Only) 8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Chabad Israeli Center Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Ohel Moshe Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh 9:00 AM Aish Kodesh Agudath Israel of Baltimore Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Beth Tfiloh Congregation Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
S S S-F S-F S-F S S-F S S S-F S S S-F S S S S S-F S-F
Mincha
Mincha Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Gedolah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek 12:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 Kol Torah 1:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)
10045 Red Run Blvd Suite 295 Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD 1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim 1:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) 1:45 PM Ohel Moshe Wealcatch Insurance 1:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor (M-Th) 2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room Kol Torah (Sunday) Market Maven Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor 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 Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building) Shearith Israel Congregation 2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th) 3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael 3:15 PM Hat Box 3:22 PM Ohr Chadash Academy (School Days Only, Call to Confirm) 3:30PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center 14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah
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), 5:15pm 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 6:00 PM, 6:15 PM, 6:30 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:15 PM, 7:30 PM, 7:45 PM, 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 5:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM
Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudath Israel of Baltimore Derech Chaim
8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)
Maariv continued 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 Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
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 Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek 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 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 - 3702 Fords Ln 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 Chadash Academy - 7310 Park Heights Avenue 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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7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) Agudath Israel of Baltimore Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Kol Torah Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel
7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Beth Tfiloh Congregation Kol Torah Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation
Mincha continued
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F Ohel Yakov 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 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 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 The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F Beth Abraham T, W, F Kol Torah M, TH Neitz
S, T, W, F S-F T, W, F S S S M-F
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M-F: 6:15 AM, S-F: Neitz, 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
Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Ner Israel Rabbinical College Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel Tzeirei Anash
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
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Dr. Gabby Wild's
Wild Life By Malkie SchulMan
D
r. Gabby Zonenshine, better known to the public as Dr. Gabby Wild, DVM, MPH, CVA, has aspired to be a vet for as long as she can remember. “I was always crazy about anything to do with animals. I’ve been riding horses since I was four years old and owned all kinds of pets throughout my childhood,” she shares. From a young age, Gabby maintained an animal-related blog. When explaining how she acquired the nickname “Wild,” which isn’t her actual last name, Gabby says, “My friends called me ‘Gabby Wild.’ Later, when I established an animal-related charity, I used that name. National Geographic featured the charity, and that’s how it stuck.”
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Early Animal Bonding From Florida to Paris to Thailand Gabby was born in Florida but moved temporarily to Paris when she was very young, attended school in Europe, and then returned to Florida for her high school years. “My father was an infectious disease doctor, specializing in treating Aids, so he traveled around the world a lot,” shares Gabby, “especially treating patients in poverty-stricken third-world countries. Since he was away much of the time, my grandfather raised me to a great extent. I was always badgering him to let me have a pigeon nursery, then a cat and a dog.” When Gabby was 16, she was sent as a student ambassador from the U.S. with a group of other schoolmates to Japan. “I sent my mom a picture of me taken with a deer resting its head on my lap under a bonsai tree,” Gabby recalls. “Animals read your energy and feed off it. I always had a sensitivity and respect for animals and they feel it.” Gabby’s parents were always very supportive of her love of all things animal, so in the summer of that same year, they agreed to let her fly to Thailand to work at the Royal Elephant Stables. Although she was still a young teenag-
er – and a female one at that – Gabby managed to gain the trust of the king’s vets, and they taught her a lot about elephant behavior, allowing her to assist with their care. Gabby offers her patients, however, she is firm in her “Every summer afbelief that it is unwise to ever let your guard down when around them. They’re still wild animals, and you can ter that, I came back never trust a wild animal not to harm you. Even if you’ve hand-raised a lion from birth, their natural behaviors can to work with them. I gained a lot of experikick in and kill a person. Even their way of showing love ence that way,” says Gabby. can be physically harmful to a human. This experience proved invaluable when, at 21, while “And there are no wild animals that are not potentially finishing college, Gabby once again visited Thailand. It was dangerous,” she warns. “A tiny owl can tear someone’s eyes during this visit that she met Khun Chai, a baby elephant out, elephants can beat someone to death or gore someone in distress. He had been separated from his mother at an with their tusks, and giraffes can kick.” early age and lost his surrogate elephant mom when she died in a mudslide. He was depressed and wouldn’t eat. The staff was hoping Gabby would be able to help him. Wild at Heart Given her knowledge of elephant behavior, Today, Gabby is married with three young chilGabby realized Khun Chai didn’t want overt dren. Her family also includes a little dog attention named Pixie and a horse named Buceph“So when I went into his enclosure, alus, after Alexander the Great’s horse. I just sat there quietly. And when I Gabby’s love for living beings looked at him, it was just out of the doesn’t come as a surprise. “I get it corner of my eye,” she explains. from my dad,” she says. “He was a “About 30 minutes later, he came remarkable human being who lived up and tapped me with his trunk. to help others and his work was He realized that I was the only perinspirational to me. I just don’t do people. My sister is a ‘human’ doctor. son who didn’t give him too much Yuck,” she adds with a laugh. “My soul attention. From that moment, we always gravitated to helping animals.” were inseparable. Khun Chai became Her love for all animals, notwithmy baby. He followed me around everywhere.” standing, Gabby claims her real passion Taking care of feathered friends For all the TLC (tender loving care) has always been wild animals.
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“After graduation, I went to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and became close with the Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin there who’ve become like second parents to me. Little by little, I took on Shabbat observance, kashrut and tziniut and other Jewish laws. I even took off time to go attend Mayanot seminary in Israel.” Being halachically observant in the field, claims Gabby, is not as hard as you might imagine. You just need to think creatively at times. “For example,” Gabby says, “the developing nations like Asia, where there are many Muslims, are very respectful of men and women not touching each other so that’s not something I have to worry about when I travel there. In Western countries, where they aren’t as understanding, I will try to make a small bow in the way of greeting.” Regarding neutering an animal, Gabby explains that there are different halachic perspectives. The most stringent view holds that unless an animal is sick, it can’t be
Performing surgery on a leopard
neutered. A more lenient stance allows neutering by a student for the sake of learning. “For me, it turned into a non-issue since I embraced full observance midway through vet school,” Gabby shares. By then, she had performed the procedure numerous times. When her professors requested it again, she presented them with a letter from her rabbi, which clarified that Jewish law only permits neutering if medically necessary. She also highlighted her proven competence in this area from her years prior to becoming fully observant. Thankfully, the professors accommodated her by waiving the requirement. In the field, if neutering is necessary, Gabby ensures a non-Jew performs it. Nonetheless, she emphasizes that this issue is typically irrelevant as her primary role is to preserve species, not diminish them. In accordance with her Sephardi husband’s wishes, Gabby wears head scarves instead of wigs, a practice that poses no problem in the jungle. Alongside this, however, she wears safari pants, long sleeves, and high socks, a practical attire she deems necessary. This outfit not only facilitates quick movement should she need to make a hasty exit, but it also ensures complete coverage against bites from malaria-carrying insects. So as not to run into any problems with Shabbos, Gabby’s work schedule precludes traveling on Fridays. She even avoids Saturday night traveling because it gets too stressful. Her creativity is put to the test when finding kosher food to eat. “People will often say to me, ‘Oh, so you go vegetarian when you’re traveling.’ Unfortunately,” Gabby explains, there’s often no clean water in the developing countries I visit so unless I want to get a disease (which I don’t), I can’t eat the fruits and vegetables.” Instead, Gabby travels with lots of canned tuna fish, peanut butter and power bars. “One time,” Gabby recalls, my friend caught a fish in Lake Victoria in Uganda and offered to split it with me. So, I went to the store, bought a pan, toiveled it and was able to share the fresh fish with him. Or there are times when I will buy a pot and cook up some rice to eat.” Since the rice comes straight from the rice paddies, she doesn’t have to worry about non-kosher additives.
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“We were not a religious family, but we were very Jewish,” Gabby shares about her childhood. Gabby’s first real exposure to authentic Judaism began at age 15 when her older sister, 13 years her senior, embraced religion. “She served as a role model to me after I became religious,” Gabby says. However, it was at 18, during the “March of the Living” sponsored by her synagogue, when Gabby truly felt inspired to delve deeper into her faith. Accompanied by
"I would go to synagogue on Saturday and then go horseback riding. Why didn't I know what these kids knew? "
A routine checkup on an elephant
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Doing it the Kosher Way
her mother of Syrian descent, who wished to better understand what her husband’s European family had endured during the Holocaust, Gabby had a profound realization. She was struck by the depth of knowledge that her religious peers on the trip had about their heritage, information she felt she lacked. “I remember asking my mother why I didn’t know any of the songs these kids were singing. I would go to synagogue on Saturday and then go horseback riding. Why didn’t I know what these kids knew?” This experience marked the beginning of Gabby’s journey towards observant Judaism.
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“I want to have a larger impact in the world,” she shares. “Not only in a zoo setting, but in a global setting, to keep all species of animals flourishing in the wild.” In that role, Gabby has traveled the world as a wildlife vet. She’s tended to almost every type of wild animal from hyenas to rhinos to giraffes to shoe-billed storks and tigers and many more. Her professional duties include everything from dental work to labor and delivery to surgery. When she’s not traveling, Gabby works at Turtleback Zoo in New Jersey and the rest of the week she runs a non-profit organization (NPO) called The Gabby Wild Foundation, Inc. in Manhattan. “Our primary goal,” Gabby explains, “is to reinforce the rain forests in the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo.” Every day presents a new adventure for Gabby, even when she’s not operating in the wild. “Just yesterday, I was caring for a sick owl at the zoo,” she shares. “The little fellow was taking his time waking up from the anesthesia I’d administered. Like a baby, I kept him warm and cozy, gently rocking him to consciousness. My teammates were laughing because I played baby ballet music to help him wake up. It worked wonders, though because I’m happy to report he’s now back to his old curmudgeon self—which, in his case, means he’s doing just fine.” Gabby describes one of her scariest encounters with a wild animal. “Often, I see tooth and gum decay in big cats that live in zoos because they don’t get enough necessary nutrients. One time,” Gabby recalls, “I was performing a root canal on a jaguar named Pirate in Belize, Central America when a lightning storm struck and the power went out.” Gabby wasn’t concerned because she knew the zoo had two backup generators. Midway through the procedure, however, the first generator blew. “I still didn’t lose my cool even though I had my fingers in the jaguar’s mouth,” Gabby continues, “because I knew there was a second generator.” Then with Gabby’s hand still in the jaguar’s mouth and with less than two minutes before the anesthesia would wear off, the second generator stopped! As fast as she could, making sure Pirate was OK, Gabby finished her work and helped get him back to his enclosure. She had barely gotten out of the cage when he woke up with a mighty roar. Although Gabby continues to travel the world in a professional capacity, her trips have been seriously curtailed due to the arrival of her children. “I used to be on the road all the time. Now I travel every few months for 2-3 weeks at a time.” Of course, all her traveling to remote parts of the world for weeks at a time begs the question – how is it possible as an Orthodox Jewish woman to make it work?
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Championing Worldwide Wildlife Protection In addition to being an observant Jew with all that entails, Gabby is also, atypical for a wildlife vet, a female. This was a challenge, she admits, when she first started working in the developing nations. In Thailand, the “mahouts” – the elephant trainers – were reluctant to collaborate with her until the Thai vets vouched for her training and skills, stating, “We trained her, she attended Cornell, and she’s good.” After witnessing her resolve problems they had been facing with their elephants for years, they finally relented. “Now, I have a reputation, so they request me,” she shares. “The truth is, I’m not here to change cultural perspectives. Nevertheless, I find it gratifying that they can now view a female veterinarian as equal to a male one.” Your typical vet in New York City, say, usually will see house pets like dogs, cats, rabbits and maybe an exotic bird. Gabby’s typical patients include animals such as the hellbender, an aquatic giant salamander, the largest amphibian in North America which usually provides for a lot more excitement on the job. For example, one time over 100 hellbenders came down with a disease at the zoo. Each amphibian needed its own container to prevent it from spreading the disease further. Additionally, some of the hellbenders had gotten into territorial fights with other hellbenders and were also scraped up. Gabby and her team had to care for their open wounds. Naturally, these animals had no understanding that they were being helped so they did what they could to escape treatment. “Except for one hellbender,” shares Gabby. “It was like this little guy knew we were there to help him. He’d always remain perfectly still while we treated him, even when we gave him his shot. I called him my little buddy.” If you think calming human patients down is hard before a procedure, then I don’t suggest you work with wild animals. Gabby deals daily with issues like “My patient has a slipped disc. How do I manage care with him when all he wants to do is eat me?” Or sometimes she needs to draw blood. Wild animals, however, are not typically cool with that so Gabby will have to first anesthetize them. “Either I use a tranquilizing gun or a blow dart to anesthetize the animal. Some animals will permit a hand syringe,” she explains. Through Gabby’s patients in the wild, she meets the indigenous cultures living there. “I find the lives of the people and the animals are completely intertwined,” says Gabby. “We have to work with the villagers so they can understand why the animals are causing conflict. With that understanding, we can work towards a solution.” For example, in South America, the jaguars were eating the farmers’ goats. Gabby and her team taught the farmers how to protect their goats without having to kill the jaguars. The same occurs with the elephants destroying farms in Africa and Asia. “We must all work together,” Gabby maintains, “because all animals are necessary to the ecosystem.” This is why Gabby’s rainforest preservation organization is so dear to her heart. The rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo, she explains, are bio-diverse places that are even older than the Amazon. They include many different species of animals all of whom need their natural habitat in which to live. The Sumatran rainforest, for example,
hosts, among many others, orangutans, rhinos, and its own species of tiger and elephant. “Our organization is doing the vital work of keeping them alive.” To that end, she shares her concern for human behavior that harms animals on a global level. “There’s nothing wrong with the fact that our human population is growing,” Gabby says, “but how we take care of our land and nature to facilitate its growth does make a difference. I feel honored to enable animals to live their lives. “For example, one problem at hand is that humans are over-farming, and in the process, they’re taking over the animals’ territory. The destruction of the animals’ natural habitat (the rainforests, for example) causes the animals to get secluded in small pockets
"One time, I was performing a root canal on a jaguar named Pirate in Belize, Central America when a lightning storm struck and the power went out." of forests thus separating them from other gene pools of their kind. The animals don’t travel to other pockets of rainforests and so reproduction of the species is halted. Also, many species need to move and migrate. They die out if they only have a small area to live in.” Human carelessness has accelerated the release of “greenhouse” gases into the environment, which has led to significant changes in the biosphere. These changes have affected the survival of various species, limiting their access to natural resources like water and increasing their susceptibility to infectious diseases such as chytridiomy-
Examining a Sumatran elephant
Gabby with her husband and children
cosis in frogs. An example of this is the drought in Kenya, which raises the question of who should get access to limited water resources: farmers or animals? Of course, farmers get priority, but desperately thirsty elephants are aware of this and will raid the farms to obtain water. Poaching is another problem. Every species is vital to the existence of other species. Poaching reduces their numbers. “The problem is that everything is being done in excess,” says Gabby, like overfishing and over-farming. “Everything can be done, just in moderation.” Gabby has strong convictions about the work she does and its source in the Torah. “Hashem begins the Torah with the creation of His beautiful world. Man is enjoined to take charge of Hashem’s world and not mess it up. We’re only here for a short period of time. Hashem wants us to choose to do what’s good, even when it’s not easy. The garbage is piling up in our oceans. People are consuming way too much. Every action has an effect on our world.” She queries, “Why do you think the Torah talks about the animals in the Ark? It should just talk about the people if that’s all that counts. Instead, the Torah delineates each species and that’s because G-d wants us to view the world holistically and act accordingly. In other words, taking care of the environment matters.” At a fundraising party she hosted to raise funds for the elephants her organization protects, Gabby spoke to the women about this concept. “What did G-d require of Avraham to tell Eliezer to find in a wife for his son?” she asked. “Did He say, ‘Look for a woman who helps the orphan and the widow?’ No, he said, ‘Look for the woman who helps the animal – who’s there in the small detail – who cares even about the camels. This will show her level of chessed (kindness).” As she travels the world, Gabby is acutely aware of her role as a representative of the Jewish people. “I recognize how people look at me, as a Jew. As my father would always say, ‘You may forget you’re a Jew, but the world never will.’ We are a priestly nation, and our mission is to serve all the nations as representatives of G-d in His world. And that includes the animal kingdom.”
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A Fulfilled L fe Are You Really Listening?
Bridging the Generational Communication Divide A Comedy of Errors and Understanding By Miryam Werdyger and Sarah Ziet
T
he gap between generations can feel as challenging as trying to jump across the Grand Canyon, particularly when it comes to communication. In this fast-paced world, technology is changing more quickly than a breaking news story can be fact-checked and corrected. The way we connect and share is always on the move. While it’s exciting, it sometimes feels like we’ve got a big ol’ chasm between the young and the wise. But hey, bridging that gap isn’t just about sending clear texts; it’s about building respect, deepening relationships, and creating communities that feel like a warm hug or at least a friendly fist bump!
ten! Active listening isn’t just waiting for your turn to speak; it’s about tuning in and soaking up those life stories. Ask open-ended questions that invite sharing, and you might just unlock a treasure chest of memories and insights. “What was your biggest career win?” or “What was a life challenge you had as a young adult?” can open the door to a fascinating tale!
The Shared Benefit of Bridging the Divide
The Digital Jungle: Navigating Communication Styles
Five Fun Pillars of Intergenerational Communication
Let’s talk about the younger generation, those so-called digital natives. They’ve been texting, emoji-ing, and video calling since they could crawl. For them, communication is like a fast-food drive-thru – quick, flashy, and full of hashtags! On the flip side, many of our beloved older adults grew up in a time when communication was more like a fine dining experience –slow, deliberate, and full of detail. They’re the kings and queens of letter-writing and phone calls, where every word counts! This difference can lead to some serious “Huh?” moments. A young person might think a long email is like watching paint dry, while an older person might see a two-word text as a sign of disrespect, like sending a birthday card with just a stamp! To fix this, both sides need to step it up, especially the younger ones. They’re the ones who can navigate the wild world of modern communication like pros, so they can adapt to meet the seniors halfway.
So how do we make those intergenerational relationships more meaningful? Let’s break it down with five pillars that prioritize understanding over speed, kind of like taking the scenic route instead of the express lane! 1. Empathy and PerspectiveTaking At the heart of it all is empathy. The younger generation needs to remember that how someone communicates is shaped by their life experiences. If an older adult takes a while to respond, it’s not because they’re stuck in slow-mo; they might just prefer a good old-fashioned conversation! So, maybe take a moment to write out a complete sentence instead of “LOL” and pick up the phone for those deep chats. It’s like giving a high-five to their preferred style! 2. Challenging Stereotypes Stereotypes are like those annoying flies at a picnic, always buzzing around and ruining the fun! We often think old-
er adults don’t get tech or only reminisce about the good old days. But let’s get real; many seniors are tech-savvy and have stories that could put Netflix to shame! Ask them about their lives, and you might just uncover a hidden treasure trove of wisdom. 3. Mindful Technology Use Technology is just a tool! Use it wisely. Before you hit send on that text, think about whether it’s really the right way to communicate. Sometimes, a phone call or even a face-to-face chat can convey warmth and clarity that a text just can’t. It’s all about prioritizing connection over convenience, like choosing a hug over a handshake! 4. Seek Out Intergenerational Connection Let’s break down those walls! We need to create opportunities for younger and seniors to hang out and collaborate. Whether it’s mentoring, volunteering, or just grabbing coffee together, these interactions help bridge the divide and turn those age stereotypes into relatable stories. 5. Listen Actively We’ve got to listen – like really lis-
In the end, effective intergenerational communication is like a two-way street filled with mutual respect and a dash of humor. When the younger generation adapts and listens, and the older generation stays open to new ideas, everyone wins! The young gain wisdom and emotional intelligence, while the older generation gets a taste of tech-savvy fun and fresh perspectives. Let’s embrace our differences, break down those stereotypes, and create connections that make our communities stronger. Remember, the generational divide is not a permanent fixture; it’s a communication challenge we can tackle together – preferably with a smile and a good joke! Check in from time to time and ask yourself, “Are you really listening?” Have something to share? We’d love to hear from you!
Miryam Werdyger and Sarah Ziet are Certified Life Coaches and mentors specializing in Effective Communication Skills for individuals, couples, parents, groups and singles navigating the dating world. They can be reached at coachmiryam@icloud.com or via WhatsApp/text at 516-924-7695.
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Hearing G-d’s Message in a Hurricane TJH Speaks with Rabbi Yaakov Raskin of Montego Bay, Jamaica Jamaica has experienced many hurricanes over the years. What happened last week when you heard that Hurricane Melissa was on its way? I was here in 2024 with Hurricane Beryl, and we prepared for that one when it was a Category 4. I feel like we had a bit more notice for that one. Here, everybody was told it’s a tropical storm. When Shabbos arrived, it was already a Category 1. Then, by Sunday, it was a Category 3. By Monday, it turned into a Category 5. By Sunday, the airports were already closed, so we were dealing with a huge storm. By Hurricane Beryl, I had 100 cases of water prepared. Here, thank God, even though it was supposed to be a tropical storm, I made sure my generator was working because I was expecting some sort of electrical outage. My father convinced me to get another 3,000 gallons of water, and we did, thank God. So we had 5,000 gallons of water at Chabad. But to protect the building, we literally had no time. It’s miraculous that we made it through. We tried to protect it as much as we could but didn’t have much warning. What was the damage that you endured? We were bunkered upstairs in a room with two tiny
windows that we closed up very well, and the wind actually did not take off those windows. But to that door is my baby’s nursery, which is a totally glass room with curtains. We covered that up very well. As the hurricane started coming, we heard all the wood being wiped off – I saw it on my cameras as long as I had electricity. All the wood we used for protection was just blown off. And then I heard the glass shatter in that room, so that whole room was compromised. All the baby’s clothes, tiles, all destroyed. The Chabad House is a five-story house. We’re on a mountain, so not every floor is the same size. Our bedrooms are on the top floor. We weren’t worried about the roof coming off. But we have solar panels on the roof that a donor kindly blessed us with because electricity is crazy expensive here. The solar panels were completely blown off. Everything on the roof – the panels, hot water heater…all blown off. We also had a nice, beautiful area around the top of the roof with lighting made out of concrete and wood so people could sit up there and enjoy. That was all wiped off. I was hearing the hurricane shattering windows. I heard the windows being shattered in the living room. I
ran and grabbed my bed – my bedframe is made out of really strong wood. I put my mattress and my wife’s mattress at the windows with the wooden bedframe behind it and one couch and then another couch behind it. And then, for four hours, I was physically pushing, holding it back, playing a tug-of-war with Hurricane Melissa to protect the house. I must say, it was frightening. I could have just ran to the safe room, but the flood and the rain with the winds were so much. If I would not have been standing there, we would have had ten feet of flooding. Even with me holding things back, we had two feet of flooding in the house. So, that was miracle. At a certain point, when the glass came off from the room we were in, my wife and kids hid in the bathroom, which is a room without any windows. Five children in a tiny bathroom. I have a five-month-old baby. My oldest is going to be 11. How did she keep them calm? We prepared the kids well. We downloaded videos from Toveedo before the storm. We got some coloring, snacks. For them, we made it like – I don’t know if you want to call it that – but we made it a “hurricane party”
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How many Jews are in Jamaica? There are about 360 Jews – around 200 of them live here full time. Nobody comes down here for Yiddishkeit but once they’re here, they’re starting to connect. Some of them are here for many generations. Since the time of Columbus, Jews were here. There are 21 Jewish cemeteries in Jamaica. Jamaica has a very rich Jewish history. There are a lot of Jewish businesspeople who came down here to do business.
this opportunity by giving them food, giving them a hug.” Jewish but she’s related to one of the Jewish people here came to us from one of the most devastated areas. She cried during the Shabbos meal and said h she didn’t eat for two days. She lost her whole house. There’s something beautiful we can appreciate about Yidden. This is a general statement, but there are some people who are so desperate they’re not sharing what they have and perhaps they’re being selfish. But as Jews, we’re here on the ground and we’re helping people with whatever we have to give. You’re helping Jews and non- Jews alike. Yes, everybody alike. It’s very funny. We had neighbors we never knew of who just came by to charge their phone, and we filled them up a bucket of water. What’s the reaction from those people who never really connected with you before and now are seeing that you’re so generous and thoughtful? They see that there’s that human care for each other, you know? I see that from my neighbors, too. Everybody came out of their houses and saw the devastation, and they said, “What can I do for you?” This guy needs a chainsaw; here’s a chainsaw. You need water, you need a charger… It’s a new friendship that I haven’t seen living in that community for six, seven years. Generally, people keep to themselves, living on large properties so you don’t even see each other. But now, all the trees between the properties are gone.
Do you have a lot of tourism coming from the frum community? About 4 million tourists come to Jamaica each year. So, let’s say that out of that, maybe 1% is Jewish. In the winter, we have a lot of people coming here. Is it considered safe generally? Yes, especially in the tourist areas. When you first came, did you experience any antisemitism or questions about who you are? No. We got a lot of love, and on the contrary, when they would hear you’re Jewish, they are like, wow. They’re very Bible people. So they’re like, “Wow, you’re from the chosen nation. Wow.” Is everybody singing Bob Marley songs all the time? Yeah. We actually met Ziggy Marley last year, and we’re in touch. His wife is Jewish, and we send his family matzah before yom tov and we wish each other a happy holiday before yom tov. They live in California. The Rebbe always said: a Jew never gets into a situation; you make a situation. That’s the message we’ve learned from this. G-d brought us a hurricane – that was the situation. I always wanted to bring the message of Hashem to every person in Jamaica, and now, we have to use this opportunity by giving them food, giving them a hug. Just like this parsha says – that Avraham Avinu called Hashem wherever he went. That’s our job: to continue to bring Hashem’s message to every single human being. And each one of us can do that.
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After everything calmed down, you immediately mobilized to help the community. Tell me a little bit about that. Even after the big winds calmed down, there were still frightening winds and rain. Right away, we realized we had no way to call anybody. Miraculously, we found my wife’s phone had two bars connecting to T-Mobile, which was literally a miracle because everybody was davening for us and wanted to make sure we were okay. Actually, right before we lost service, there were two tourists who reached out to us because they were afraid. I told them that I would come to see them after it calmed down. But as soon as it calmed down, I went to the car to go to them and realized that I couldn’t get into the car and drive to them. The gates couldn’t move. There were things everywhere. The next morning, I got a driver who took me around, and we went house by house to check on the local Jews in the area, to make sure they’re okay, to give them a hug, to put tefillin on with them. And actually, we found a new Jew we never knew of living in Montego Bay. It was very, very special. Now, we’re waiting for two planes to arrive from Cayman Islands with generators that we’re going to give to our fellow Yidden over here, so they should have a little normalcy. It was so kind of the Chabad in Cayman Islands to have arranged this donation.
“Now, we have to use
What will it take to rebuild? Some cities might take a full year, if they get all the recovery they need. For Montego Bay, I hear some people say December 15, which would be a miracle, in my humble opinion. Other places really got much hit much harder – like Treasure Beach, Black River, they got hit twice. By Beryl, they got wiped out, and now they got really wiped out. So it’s going to be a long time for recovery and to see if they can get insurance payouts. Life is going to be a lot different in the next couple of months. For us, we have volunteers who are coming down to help us. We are overwhelmed by the love from Klal Yisrael of big companies and foundations reaching out to help us. Some are sending containers of food, generators, canned food, that we can use to help not just our community but also everyone here. We started a fund, JewishJamaica.com/melissa, to help with this campaign and also to recover our own losses, which is close to a million dollars. Last year, we had a big Chanukah concert; the Maccabeats came. This year, we were planning on bringing in Alex Clare – everyone loves him. We’ll know in a week or two if we can put on the concert. I don’t want to cancel it. I think we’re going to continue to do it, and it’s going to be like a comfort Chanukah show for everybody – Jewish and non-Jews. Our main income is from visitors, so right now, that’s compromised for us as well. We have a restaurant, we have kosher catering, we have a shul, a mikvah, everything a Jew needs. But tourists aren’t here now.
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How many hours were you and your children in the house dealing with the ordeal? Four and a half hours.
When you came with your wife to Jamaica in 2014, what was your vision? You knew you were coming to a country with Jews but not necessarily people who were aware of their heritage and of Yiddishkeit. Our vision was to be there for every single Jew, no matter what his affiliation. Every single Jewish tourist should know that they have a home where they can go to shul, have a kosher meal, and in times of crisis, a relief aid, a listening ear, a brother, sister here on the island. That’s what we created 11 years ago. When we came to Jamaica, there was no mikveh here, there was no shul, there was no, as we say, full Aishel. Aishel is roshei teivos for achilah, shisiyah, linah – eating, drinking, sleeping. We have locals who live very far. When it comes to yom tov or Shabbos, some of them sleep by us at the Chabad House. Right now, actually, every night, we have had other locals who want to be with us at night because we have a generator. On Friday night, a woman who is not
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for them. We tried to keep them distracted. But a lot of times they got scared when they started hearing all the noise. At times, the building was shaking. You felt like even the hurricane-proof windows were just shaking back and forth. Wherever water could seep into the building, on all floors, water came in. Our shul lost a huge window. Those windows are very solid. We bring them in from Miami, and they cost $5,000-$10,000. The Chabad House is on a big property, about an acre and a half. Almost every tree is down. The solar panels and trees and glass fell on my car. And so, the entire place is one big churban. Montego Bay is on an island, and you spend a lot of time outside. We have a gazebo; there’s a lot of outside infrastructure. But it’s all gone. We live in a gated community, but we have a 14-foot gate around the Chabad House. It was blown down. Yesterday, I hired four guys to put it up so we can secure the area. But they couldn’t pick it up. That’s how strong this wind was. You have these huge, big pots for flowers that you need five guys to move. They were all just cracked to the floor by the winds.
7.18.2024
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To Raise a Laugh
By Mordechai Schmutter
Rules For Riding The Elevator
W
hen you get into an elevator, you must immediately turn around and face the door. This is non-negotiable.
knows that more people are waiting, it comes faster. It starts skipping stops to get to you.
-If an elevator has doors on either side, you have to guess which way to face. Or everyone can just stand sideways.
-Walking into a crowded elevator is awkward, because everyone is six inches away, facing you. It’s like a little surprise party when the doors open, because you have no idea who’s going to be there. (“Hey, it’s all the neighbors! And my mother-in-law!”) Maybe give everyone party hats and have them yell, “Surprise!” every time the doors open.
-If everyone unanimously chooses not to face the door, that’s fine, as long as they’re all looking in the same direction. Never under any circumstances should people be facing random directions in a crowded elevator, you awkwardly confrontational weirdo. -The buttons in an elevator are in numerical order. You don’t have to take ten minutes to pick one. -The only exceptions are the buttons that say random letters, like L, LL, UL, B, M, M2, R, PB, UB, and LR. Those are just there to confuse you. They’re all secretly the same floor. - In the old days, there was something called elevator operators, whose job was to get you to your floor, tell you what “Upper Basement” meant, and initiate small talk. (“What’s the weather like? I have no windows.”) This was before elevators had buttons, so you needed a professional who would know when to stop the elevator. (“NOW! Okay, we missed it. We’re going to have to come back.”) -If there are a lot of people and you’re the one near the buttons, you’re the Button Master. No one will thank you, though. It’s not like the days of elevator operators. And you don’t get to make suggestions either. (“Three, please.” “I hear the basement’s nice.”) -When the Button Master leaves or is assassinated, the person standing next to him assumes the role. -If you get to the elevator and someone has already pushed the button to summon it, you should push the button too, in case he didn’t do it right the first time. If the elevator
-Let people off before you get on. Unless they’re facing away from the door and have no idea you’re standing there.
-If you’re trying to get into an elevator when there’s no room, you can look around, make three attempts, and then apologize. (“Sorry for wasting everyone’s time.”) -If you’re getting on with, let’s say, a couch, and there’s only room for either you or the couch, don’t just get on and have the couch wait for you. Put the couch on and then run up the stairs and hope the elevator doesn’t stop on any floor in between. -If the elevator stops and you get off and you realize that it’s not your floor, don’t automatically get on so that everyone can scoff at you. “Hey, look who’s back. How was the wrong floor?” Just pretend you got off for a reason and wait for the next elevator. And pray that it doesn’t have anyone on it who was there when you got off. (“Yeah, I went up by mistake.” “Oh. I got off to check something.”) -This isn’t the subway. Don’t fall asleep and miss your stop.
and no windows and you have absolutely no idea how it works. You’re guessing ropes are probably involved. -If you need a conversation topic, talk about the weather. An elevator is a great place to talk about the weather because you can say whatever you want, and there are no windows, so no one’s gonna argue. You can say, “It’s snowing outside,” and they’ll go, “Really?” And you’ll go, “Yup! In July!” And you know what? Who cares if you’re wrong? You’re never gonna see these people again. But for those two minutes, you’ll be a hero. You’ll have steered the conversation. And if you do run into these people again on future elevator rides, there’s your second conversation. -Some safe topics to talk about are things that everyone can agree on, like how you’re getting closer to the weekend. Non-safe topics are divisive issues that might lead to arguments in an enclosed space that may stop dead at any moment and leave you stuck there together for hours to hash it out, like politics, or whether or not the baby that just got on is cute. -If you don’t like awkward elevator conversations, the entire medical community suggests that you take the stairs instead. -The “weight capacity” is just there for decoration. Don’t think about it too much, especially on a crowded elevator. It’s definitely not an approved topic of conversation. -If the elevator stops, don’t panic. It’s not like there’s anywhere to run. Also, don’t suddenly read the “weight capacity” out loud and start pointing fingers.
-The elevator phone is for emergencies only. For example, you can use it to call your rav during Sefirah to find out what you’re supposed to do about the elevator music. (The answer is that you should sound the alarm, which will overshadow it.)
-The good news about the elevator stopping is that by the time you get off you can tell the people you’re with, “Well it was snowing when we got on yesterday.”
-Talking in an elevator is okay -- and even recommended -- because it distracts you from the fact that you’ve put your life and your kids’ lives in a box with one exit
er and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writ-
MSchmutter@gmail.com.
47 _˷̇ͅ˓˓ Å˷ͣʹǸ˷ʹ˓ζ
́̇ʹɤȿζ˰ζͣɤ˓ʅռɆ̇˰
Ęʧʅɤ Å˷ͣͅǸ˷Ɇɤ
Aͣʧ˷ɤͣͣ ̻̇ͅ Ŷ̇˓ʧɆʧɤͣ
Å˷ɒʧΤʧɒǸ˓ Ǹ˷ɒ Ǹ˰ʧ˓ζ Tɤ˷ʹǸ˓ Å˷ͣͅǸ˷Ɇɤ
TʧͣǸȿʧ˓ʧʹζ Å˷ͣͅǸ˷Ɇɤ
ƙͅǸΤɤ˓ ģɤɒʧɆǸ˓ Å˷ͣͅǸ˷Ɇɤ
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Israel Today
75 Days of Reserve Duty Seven Lessons From the Gaza Border
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
By Aron Schoenfeld
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Y
esterday marked my 60th day of miluim after 15 days of basic training. That’s 75 days helping Israel defend itself against those trying to destroy us. It also means 60 days away from family, 60 days on the Gaza border with constant threats, and 60 days running supplies in and out of Gaza. And I had it easy. Many soldiers on my base have served 500, 600, even 700 days since the war started. They go long stretches before seeing their families, never knowing when they’ll return home. After 75 days, I’ve learned things I couldn’t have understood before putting on the uniform. Here are seven lessons from reserve duty that changed how I see everything.
Service is a Privilege, Not a Burden Every Israeli male at 18 is required
to draft. Women can volunteer. But requirement doesn’t mean it’s routine. Kids in Israel train for years trying to get into specialty units. Getting into these units and wearing the uniform is a privilege. If you don’t honor it and serve correctly, you’ll be asked to leave. I’ve watched people who thought they were doing the army a favor get shown the door. You don’t fully understand this until the first time you sing Hatikva in uniform, until the first mission you’re assigned. These moments carry weight that goes beyond obligation.
The Real Heroes Are at Home Being in the army was easy for me. I wasn’t in a combat role, but even so: three meals a day, same comfortable clothing every day, downtime with friends. The routine is simple. No errands. No kids to manage. No work calls to answer.
The wives at home, or in some cases the dads acting as both parents, face the harder battle. Every carpool, shopping trip, and meal needs to be planned and executed by one person with no help. They didn’t sign up for this. They don’t want this. But without these people holding down the fort at home, soldiers can’t function with a clear mind.
Our Soldiers Won’t Stop Until the Job Is Done Many keep going with miluim because the job isn’t complete. They won’t rest until all hostages are freed. They keep joining other units when released, helping bring remaining bodies home, ensuring Israel’s long-term security. Many work during downtime on base, pulling long hours to make sure both the army and home are taken care of. They focus on the mission. They put themselves in harm’s way day after day, ready
to make the ultimate sacrifice if needed. The public speakers and influencers aren’t the heroes. The people on the ground are.
The Whiplash Between Two Lives Going back and forth between civilian and military life creates chaos. You’re never fully present anywhere. Projects at home sit unfinished. Even when you’re home, you’re always ready to leave. A few weeks ago on Sukkos, we were driving to a family trip when I got called back to base within three hours. We turned around. Cancelled everything. I grabbed my gear and ran back, not knowing when I’d return. This creates havoc with schedules, planning, and expectations. The mentality is hard to break, creating real problems for soldiers when they try to slip back into normal life.
49 Every Role Matters
Donors Became Part of the IDF
But the entire time, others came asking if they could go in to get them. Fighting for approval. Fighting for the opportunity to help. That mentality, one for all, overrides all the bureaucracy. It’s what allows us to succeed.
People, Not Bureaucracy, Win Wars
After 75 days, I understand something most people will never grasp from the outside: every soldier serving today is holding the line not just with their
The army is full of bureaucracy. Everything requires multiple levels of ap-
What This Really Means
Going back and forth between civilian and military life creates chaos.
proval. Things move slowly. But despite all that, the people are what make the army go. When a truck with five guys from my unit broke down in Gaza, it took six hours to get approval to extract them.
body, but with their family’s sacrifice. Every wife managing alone. Every kid missing their parent. Every business left behind. The reserve soldiers serving 500, 600, 700 days aren’t superhuman.
mere, enlisted in the IDF this year at age 44 and serves in a logistics unit supporting operations near Gaza. To support reserve soldiers and their families, visit SmilesforChayalim.com
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They’re ordinary people who understand that walking away means leaving their brothers and sisters exposed. They’re fathers who know their kids need them home but also know those same kids need a country to grow up in. This war changed how the army operates because survival demanded it. When you support a miluim family or donate equipment, you’re not giving charity. You’re shouldering part of the burden so that a soldier can keep going. You become part of the chain that lets them focus on the mission. The job isn’t done. The hostages aren’t all home. So the soldiers keep going. When a father serves in the IDF, his entire family serves alongside him. And when we support them, we all serve together.
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
This war has fundamentally changed how the army works with donors. The army’s policy used to be simple: no donations, no people on bases. During wartime, the army opened its doors. Food deliveries and BBQs happen almost daily. Donors tour war-torn areas and visit bases. Units accept equipment from private donors. Every unit set up a wish list. Every soldier reached out to
family abroad. Hundreds of thousands of bags of gear arrived: boots, helmets, ceramic plates, vests, scopes, winter gear. The IDF views this as part of procurement now. This will be here to stay. Donors are part of the IDF, whether they know it or not.
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
Whether you’re 18, a 27-year-old who just made aliyah, or 45 and never served before, the army needs you. You never hear people saying they want to be a chef in the army or deliver supplies. But the army needs these people just as much as combat soldiers. Fixing tanks and armored vehicles. Delivering gear and supplies to bases. Base rabbi. Communications. Logistics. Fitness instructors. These roles matter just as much and are needed for the army to function. Out of every eight soldiers, one serves in combat and seven provide support. The army finds a role and place for everyone.
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
50
Living Kiddush Hashem When a Lock Declares ‘Hashem Hu HaElokim’
By Rabbi Shraga Freedman
R
av Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l visited America to raise funds for his yeshivah in the 1930s. At that time, America was a land rife with spiritual challenges, and many Jews succumbed to the unbearable pressure to work on Shabbos. Most Jews who maintained their allegiance to the Shabbos quickly found themselves bereft of any means of supporting their families. Once, Rav Boruch Ber noticed a Jewish-owned store that was locked on Shabbos. He approached it and reverently kissed the lock, exclaiming, “Holy lock! This lock proclaims that Hashem is our G-d and we are His servants!” On another occasion, when a Jew informed him that he had
closed his business on Shabbos, Rav Boruch Ber exclaimed excitedly, “If you put your ear next to the lock on your store, you will hear it screaming, ‘Hashem Hu Ha’Elokim!’” The Jews who successfully passed the test of Shabbos observance proclaimed to the world that there was no authority greater than Hashem; nothing could compel them to violate Hashem’s sacred Shabbos. (This story appeared in Shaah Tovah magazine.) In a sefer Torah, the letter ayin in the word shema and the letter daled in the word echad are written larger than the other letters. The Baal Haturim (Devarim 6:4) explains that these two letters combine to form the word “eid,” witness, as in the pasuk
The converse is also true. The Zohar writes that the concept of chillul Hashem is related to the word chalal, an empty space. When a person commits an aveirah, he essentially broadcasts the message that the world, Heaven forbid, is “empty,” devoid of a Higher Authority.
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.
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Centerfold
Words of Wisdom Match the quote with the person who said it 1.
If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.
A. Milton Berle
2. The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.
B. John F. Kennedy
3. If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert,
C. Mark Twain
in five years, there’d be a shortage of sand.
D. Will Rogers
4. Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.
E. Ronald Reagan
5. I bet after seeing us, George Washington would sue us for calling him “father.”
F.
6. You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.
G. Bill Clinton
7.
Being president is like running a cemetery: you’ve got a lot of people under you
H. Milton Friedman
and nobody’s listening.
I.
Harry S. Truman
J.
George Washington
8. I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if
Thomas Paine
Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress. 9. You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think. 10. The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.
Answer Key: 1-C; 2-F; 3-H; 4-B; 5-D; 6-I; 7-G; 8-E; 9-A; 10-J
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
52
You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She
is technically correct, but I have no idea what
shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised
to make of your information, and I’m still lost.
a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know
Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.”
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where I am.” The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, “You’re
The man smiled and responded, “You must be a Democrat.”
in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above a ground
“I am,” replied the woman. “But how did you know?”
elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are 31 degrees,
“Well,” said the man, “you don’t know where you are or
14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes
where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to
west longitude.”
a large quantity of hot air. You’ve made a promise that you
She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Republican.”
have no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve
“I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?”
your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me
in before we met, but somehow, now, it’s my fault.”
53
1. Which branch of government still gets paid during a shutdown? a. Executive b. Judicial c. Legislative (Congress) d. Anyone with a relative in HR
3. The federal budget in 1965 was $121.5 billion. What is the 2025 federal budget? a. $408.6 billion b. $1.2 trillion c. $3.8 trillion d. $7.1 trillion 4. According to recent data, the average private sector salary is $100,465. What is the average federal employee’s salary? a. $36,732 b. $45,388 c. $83,679 d. $106,462
7. One of the tragedies of the government shutdown is that federal museums are closed. Want to guess how many times I went to the National Air and Space Museum as a child? a. Every trip to Washington, D.C. as a child consisted of gawking at the White House and running around in circles at the Air & Space Museum. So, I would say at least 10+ times. b. A is the only option to this question. Sorry...sometimes even the Centerfold Commissioner needs to vent. (Phew, I feel free right now!) Answers: 1) C - Duh! 2) C- The first-ever government shutdown took place in 1976, during the Ford administration. There were
Wisdom Key: 5-7 correct: If you are a private sector employee, you are probably expecting me to say, “Congratulations, nice work.” To you, I say that. If you are a federal employee, you are probably expecting a massive bonus for knowing all these answers. Sorry, the government is shut down, I can’t submit the bonus form. 3-4 correct: You are not bad, but you definitely don’t have a future on Mount Rushmore. 0-2 correct: Sometimes, the loser is the winner—some things you are better off not knowing.
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5. A federal employee, let’s call him Michael, is furloughed because of this shutdown. Since he is off from work, he books a flight and goes to the Bahamas. He spends 10 days drinking martinis and having a blast. It happens to be that on his generous federal vacation package he just got back from a two-week trip in Aruba. But, since he can’t go into work, he might as well enjoy the sun a little more in a nice tropical climate. Plus, this trip won’t cost him any vacation days because he is “furloughed.” Is he being paid for the
6. Mount Rushmore National Memorial features sculptures of which four of the following presidents? a. George Washington b. Thomas Jefferson c. John Adams d. James Madison e. Abraham Lincoln f. Theodore Roosevelt g. Franklin D. Roosevelt h. John F. Kennedy i. Jimmy Carter (ha…ha...ha)
six shutdowns during Jimmy Carter’s four years; eight during Ronald Reagan’s eight years; one for George H.W. Bush; and two for Bill Clinton. There was one for Barack Obama and three during Donald Trump’s tenure. 3) D- Total 2025 revenue is expected to be $5.23 trillion. Thus, the budget deficit will be $1.78 trillion. (And you thought that YOU overspend?) 4) D-According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average federal salary is $106,462. 5) B- Sorry, Michael, that we can’t pay for your martinis. Despite their inability to agree on much, Republicans, Democrats and President Obama all agreed to legislation that all furloughed federal employees will be paid for their time out of work. 6) A, B, E, F-Mount Rushmore features 60-foot sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington (1732– 1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743– 1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). 7) By the way, the bathroom toilet flushers are pedals (to mimic airplanes, I guess). I think all I did all day in the museum was run to the bathroom so I could push the pedal.
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
2. Since 1976, there have been 21 government shutdowns. During whose presidency was there the most shutdowns? a. Bill Clinton b. Jimmy Carter c. Ronald Reagan d. George W. Bush
time spent in the Bahamas? a. Yes, but it will count towards his vacation days b. Yes, but he will have to pay for his own martinis c. No, of course, he is not being paid! Even though it’s not his fault that the government shut down, why in the world should taxpayers have to pay him for sipping martinis in Bermuda?!
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Government Shutdown Trivia
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. They are gonna be like dead. – Pres. Trump
Narco states are getting a taste of gun-boat diplomacy. – Jesse Watters, Fox News
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): [Trump is] just a vile creature. The worst thing on the
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face of the Earth. CNN’s ELEX MICHAELSON: You think he’s the worst thing on the face of the Earth? PELOSI: I do, yeah. I do
I don’t know of a greater criminal in history. - Actor Harrison Ford, talking about Pres. Trump, in an interview with The Guardian
Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means. - Dictionary.com about its word of the year “6-7”
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- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) in an interview with MSNBC Nicole Wallace
I don’t think any Democrat has. - Wallace in response
After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impost a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC. - Tweet by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
I don’t miss playing the game. I don’t. There hasn’t been a day since I retired where I’ve missed playing the game. But if I could wake up and play in the World Series, I’d do it.
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
I’m not suggesting, I haven’t suggested Donald Trump is Hitler.
– Yankee great Derek Jeter on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”
- Arnold Schwarzenegger schooling CNN’s Jake Tapper, who suggested that the Republican party “is starting” the practice of gerrymandering
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No, Jake. There has been gerrymandering going on for 200 years. There is such extreme gerrymandering going on that in a state like Massachusetts, it has like 40% of the people voting for Trump, they have zero representatives. The Republican Party has zero representatives sent to the House. Think about that. In New Mexico, 45% of the people voted for Trump and vote Republican, and zero is sent to the House, zero representatives from the Republican Party.
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
There’s a doomsday view of climate change that goes like this: In a few decades, cataclysmic climate change will decimate civilization. The evidence is all around us—just look at all the heat waves and storms caused by rising global temperatures. Nothing matters more than limiting the rise in temperature. Fortunately for all of us, this view is wrong. Although climate change will have serious consequences—particularly for people in the poorest countries—it will not lead to humanity’s demise. People will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future. - Bill Gates, in a new editorial which is a reversal of his long-held view on global warming
The logic of the tarifflationistas sounded straightforward. They claim that if you raise tariffs on imported goods, consumers would pay more for everything. But new data from the Harvard Tariff Price Tracker tell a very different story. A year after the tracking began, prices do not show signs of tariff-induced increases. What’s more, the only meaningful price growth lately has come from goods completely untouched by tariffs. - John Carney, Breitbart
We were all too aware that as a first black couple, we couldn’t afford any missteps. And that as a black woman, I was under a particularly white hot glare. - Michelle Obama, in her new memoir
We didn’t get the grace that I think some other families have gotten. - Ibid.
At this time, neither Congress nor the over 300 million Americans who actually own the White House are aware of what you have done to safeguard the objects in the East Wing that hold cultural and historic significance to the country. We are especially troubled because you have a history of demolishing historic property without notice or consent.
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- From a letter –which was addressed to “What Remains of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500” –sent to Pres. Trump by 60 members of Congress with Ballroom Derangement Syndrome
Republicans Donate $50 million to Kamala 2028 Campaign - The Babylon Bee headline
Tragic: Dick Cheney Dies Before Getting To See World War III - ibid.
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
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( N OT A N Y M O R E )
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Board with what’s being served?
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
58
Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If…
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Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I love your column and appreciate each one of your perspectives. I am writing about a guy I’m dating and hoping you could help me. I’m 33. I enjoy life but have been through the ringer with dating. I’ve joined a few apps
as well recently. Through the apps, I’ve been getting suggestions which is more than I can say than with shadchanim. I got a date with a guy who seemed normal, so I decided to give it a shot. He took me to a nice restaurant, and things were going well, or so I thought. After the date, I didn’t hear from him. So after two days, I texted him asking if he was still interested. He said he wasn’t interested and that he just wants to let me know that it was off-putting how much I ordered on our date and that it was insensitive. He said he told me because he “wants to let me know in case it will help in the future.” For transparency, I ordered a few appetizers and a main dish , drinks, and dessert. He shouldn’t have taken me to a restaurant if he didn’t want me to order.
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I’m so upset by this and really don’t think I’m in the wrong. Was it wrong of me to order exactly what I wanted on the date? Do I have to stifle my wants in order to be accepted? Thanks for your time, Leah*
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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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 Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ou are asking a specific question about choosing dishes on a restaurant menu on a date. Go ahead and order what you want. If you are hungry, eat.
Y
This fellow is not a mensch. If expense is a real issue, he should not be taking you to a restaurant beyond his means on a first date. He was obviously trying to impress you and is responding on the offense afterwards. However, it is valuable to notice what another person is ordering whenever you go out with a friend, colleague or date
Don’t let one
and to use your observation and judgment accordingly.
misguided comment make
The Shadchan
you doubt
Michelle Mond t was nice for the man you dated to take you out to a restaurant on a first date, as most don’t do that. Taking a young woman out to eat is certainly not all or nothing. As long as both singles are respectful, the restaurant dynamic can be a great way for a couple to get to know each other. When dating, both the man and woman must conduct themselves like a gracious guest. It is important to brush up on social skills and understand the most socially appropriate ways to navigate things like this. As a dating coach, this is part of how I help singles navigate
your worth
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or your behavior. their shidduchim. When a guy takes a young woman out, he should give her the freedom to choose what she is interested in ordering. A guy should not take her out if he simply cannot afford an entree and then dictate what she can and cannot get. This comes across as stingy and socially off. On the flip side, it is very important that a young woman learn to read the room, so to speak. For a young woman
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Pulling It All Together
The Singles’ Perspective Ahuva Plotzker hank you for your honesty and for sharing your experience. It’s completely valid to feel upset about this. First and foremost, you were not in the wrong. Ordering what you want on a date is a normal, reasonable thing to do. A date, especially one at a restaurant, is meant to enjoy each other’s company and share a meal, not to restrict yourself to what someone else thinks is “acceptable.” It sounds like this guy’s reaction says more about his own expectations and limitations than it does about you. A partner should appreciate who you are including your appetite and your choices without making you feel guilty for expressing them. You absolutely should not have to change your wants or modify your behavior in order to be accepted. Dating can be frustrating when people try to impose their own standards, but the
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Your elaborate and expensive order made you seem like someone who is inconsiderate of your date’s wallet.
right person will celebrate your authenticity, not criticize it. Keep being yourself, and don’t let one misguided comment make you doubt your worth or your behavior! * * * Ayelet Schottenstein ear Leah, I’m certainly no expert on dating, but I do know one thing— it’s ridiculously expensive, especially for guys. It’s not unusual for a boy to spend anywhere upwards of $50 per date (depending on the activity). While it was his choice to take you to a nice restaurant, it’s very inconsiderate to “splurge” with someone else’s money, especially on a first date! I would have taken my cues from the guy by casually asking him what he plans to order and following suit. If I were you, I would simply cut your losses and move on, having learned a valuable lesson for the future.
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Dr. Jeffrey Galler o, you went on a restaurant date, and the guy gave you some unappetizing feedback. You wrote that you’re upset about this whole experience. I get that. But fair warning: my response may give you an even stronger case of indigestion. You’ve been dating for a while, Leah. By now, you should realize that first dates are mostly about perceptions and impressions. You ordered appetizers (plural?), drinks (plural?), a main dish, and dessert. So, please ask yourself, what kind of impression did you make? Perhaps you thought that your menu choices showed that you’re a fun, uninhibited girl, who’s ready to have a good time. But major red flag: your elaborate and expensive order made you seem like someone who is inconsiderate of your date’s wallet. Most guys tend to avoid long-term relationships with high maintenance women. In the future, when you’re on a date and someone else is paying, take your cues from what they order. You don’t order an expensive cut of steak when they’re getting a simple fish or chicken dish, and you don’t order appetizers and drinks, unless your
date also does so. It’s basic courtesy. You think that his post-date analysis was tasteless. Perhaps you should appreciate that he had the guts to be honest with you. Please don’t be discouraged. When you connect with the right guy, he’ll enjoy sharing dessert with you and appreciate that you have excellent taste.
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to independently order a few appetizers, multiple drinks, and dessert when the guy only ordered an entree and dessert would be universally viewed as a social faux pas and socially inappropriate. Take the guy’s lead and order in a similar pattern to how he orders. If he gets an entree, an appetizer to share, and a drink, you should order an entree and a drink. Nobody would actually still be hungry after that. To order two more appetizers for the table and dessert for yourself when he does not offer may satisfy your craving to feel like you have free rein over this guy’s wallet but won’t be a good look for you. It’s just not menschlich. I would tell you to ask yourself, what is the underlying reason you feel compelled to order so much food? Are you testing this young man to see his reaction? Were you limited as a kid and feel the need to test him? Or do you just not have a social gauge to navigate these social situations? I highly recommend you work with a dating coach for a few sessions to discuss a realm of social situations to gear yourself up for success on future dates. I provide this service for many singles and can attest that it helps tremendously. Hatzlacha!
The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
ear Leah, Let’s approach this with warmth and a little perspective. People date differently, and absolutes are hard to pin down. What feels natural and comfortable to one person might strike another as “too much” or “too little.” You were simply being yourself and enjoying the evening,
and it’s under s t a ndable that his comment stung, especially when you were coming from a place of ease and openness. Now, slipping on my coaching hat for a moment, there’s a gentle layer we
opportunity to consider how we can be sensitive to a date’s comfort level. Sometimes, the most uncomfortable feedback can give us a chance to reflect and grow, even if the delivery wasn’t perfect. In the end, trust that the right person will appreciate you for who you are, and it’s all about finding someone whose values align with yours. You’ve got this. Warmly, Jennifer Mann, LCSW
Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
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can explore. Sometimes, ordering a lot on a first date might come across as not being fully sensitive to whether the other person can comfortably afford it. It’s not about doing anything wrong; it’s just about being mindful and aware of the dynamic. And you have every right to want someone who’s generous or who shares your approach to dining out. That’s absolutely your prerogative. So, let’s hold both truths: you didn’t do anything wrong, and this is also an
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Health & F tness
When the Days Get Short How Seasonal Affective Disorder Affects Your Mood By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC
E
ver notice how you start feeling sluggish, moody, or just plain “off” when the days get shorter? You are not imagining it. For millions, winter brings more than cold weather; it brings Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Think of it as your brain reacting to the calendar. The symptoms are real, predictable, and totally treatable. Here’s what you need to know to survive the dark months and maybe even thrive.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Most people experience symptoms beginning in late fall or early winter, which then fade in spring or summer. In rare cases, some people experience the opposite pattern, where symptoms worsen in summer and ease up when it gets cooler, but winter SAD is far more common. For example, a teacher named Rachel in upstate New York starts feeling the shift every November. Her energy plummets, she finds it hard to get out of
bed, and she loses interest in the hobbies she loves during the summer. When spring arrives, she slowly feels like herself again. That yearly cycle is classic for SAD. Common symptoms include: • Persistent sadness or irritability • Low energy, even after sleeping enough • Sleeping more than usual or feeling constantly drowsy • Increased appetite, especially cravings for sweets or carbs • Difficulty concentrating or staying motivated • Withdrawing from friends or family • Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities At its core, SAD is a form of depression, but what sets it apart is the predictable timing—the same season each year brings the symptoms back.
Why Does It Happen? Scientists do not know the full story, but there are several strong theories about why seasonal depression occurs. 1. Reduced Sunlight
The simplest explanation has to do with light. In fall and winter, shorter days mean less sunlight exposure. Sunlight helps regulate the body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which influences sleep, mood, and hormones. When that rhythm gets disrupted, mood can dip sharply. Think about how you feel after a few gray, cloudy days in a row—drained, heavy, less motivated. Now imagine that feeling lasting for months. That is what people with SAD experience. 2. Serotonin Levels Sunlight helps the brain produce serotonin, the chemical that stabilizes mood. When daylight drops, serotonin production may fall too, leading to sadness and fatigue. Research has found that people with SAD often have lower serotonin levels during winter months. 3. Melatonin and Sleep When it gets darker earlier, the brain releases more melatonin—the hormone that helps us sleep. For people with SAD, that increase can lead to feeling sluggish or wanting to sleep far more than usual. It is as if the body thinks it should hibernate.
4. Vitamin D Deficiency Sunlight also helps the body make vitamin D, which supports serotonin function. People who spend little time outdoors in winter can develop low vitamin D, which may worsen symptoms of depression. 5. Biological Sensitivity Some people are simply more sensitive to seasonal changes. If depression or bipolar disorder runs in the family, or if someone is already prone to mood fluctuations, they may be more likely to experience SAD.
Who Gets SAD— and Why Some People Don’t SAD affects about five percent of adults in the United States each year, though milder versions may affect many more. Women are diagnosed more often than men, and younger adults seem more susceptible than older ones. Geography plays a major role. Someone living in Minnesota, where the sun sets before 5 p.m. in winter, is at higher risk than someone in Florida, where daylight lasts longer. For instance, Daniel, who moved from California to Boston
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How It’s Diagnosed There is no blood test or brain scan for SAD, but clinicians follow specific guidelines. To be diagnosed, a person must experience major depressive episodes that occur during the same season for at least two consecutive years, with symptoms improving during the rest of the year. A healthcare provider will also rule out other conditions that could mimic SAD, such as thyroid disorders, anemia, or non-seasonal depression. Sometimes, a mood diary can help track when symptoms begin and fade.
How It’s Treated
Summer-Onset SAD Though rare, some people experience depression during summer. Symptoms can include anxiety, poor appetite, and trouble sleeping. In these cases, the triggers might be excessive heat, too much daylight, or disrupted routines.
Preventing SAD Before It Starts
A Light at the End of Winter
For people who know SAD returns each year, prevention can be powerful. Starting light therapy or medication in early autumn can reduce the severity of symptoms. Keeping routines, planning winter activities, and maintaining social connections can all help build emotional resilience. Some even plan “light vacations,” short getaways to sunny destinations mid-winter to recharge. Others take early morning walks before work to get a few extra minutes of daylight exposure.
The most reassuring thing about Seasonal Affective Disorder is that it is predictable and treatable. The seasons will always change, but your emotional health does not have to shift with them. With awareness, support, and the right tools, it is possible to feel balanced and even thrive during the darker months. Just as nature cycles through periods of dormancy and renewal, our own rhythms are tied to light and change. But remember this: the light always returns. And so can your energy, hope, and joy.
When to Seek Help Feeling tired or less motivated in winter is common, but if sadness, hopelessness, or lack of energy lasts more than two weeks, it is time to seek professional help. Therapists, psychiatrists, and primary care providers can all screen for SAD and guide treatment. If dark thoughts or feelings of worth-
Rivka Kramer is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a member of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 516-945-9443.
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The encouraging news is that SAD responds well to treatment. With the right combination of approaches, most people can see dramatic improvement. 1. Light Therapy Light therapy is often the first-line treatment. It involves sitting in front of a specially designed light box that mimics natural daylight. Most people use it for about 20 to 30 minutes each morning. For example, Rachel, the teacher from New York, started using a light box on her kitchen table while eating breakfast. Within two weeks, her energy noticeably improved, and she felt more awake during the day. It is important to use a device made for this purpose – 10,000 lux is the standard – and to follow guidance from
lessness arise, it is essential to reach out immediately, to a trusted person or to a helpline such as 988 in the United States. You do not have to wait until it gets unbearable.
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For those who experience it, SAD is not just a seasonal inconvenience. It can feel like the world loses its color. The hobbies that once felt exciting now seem like effort. Social plans become exhausting rather than fun. Some describe it as moving through molasses; everything feels slow and heavy. That self-awareness is powerful. SAD is not a weakness or a lack of willpower; it is a biological condition influenced by environmental changes.
Treatment is similar, though instead of seeking light, people with summer SAD may focus on staying cool, using blackout curtains, and keeping sleep consistent.
Ruby Lasker Designs
The Human Side of SAD
a healthcare provider about timing and distance. 2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Talk therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can be highly effective. CBT helps people challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with more realistic ones. A version called CBT-SAD specifically focuses on identifying the mental habits that worsen seasonal depression and building coping strategies. One therapist might ask clients to schedule daily activities they enjoy, even small ones like walking the dog or calling a friend, to help retrain the brain to seek pleasure again. 3. Medication Antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help balance mood for those with moderate or severe SAD. Sometimes, doctors prescribe bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) starting in early fall to prevent symptoms before they begin. Medication is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but it can be life-changing for people who struggle year after year. 4. Vitamin D If blood work shows low vitamin D levels, supplementation may help. Although not a cure by itself, restoring vitamin D can support better energy and mood. 5. Lifestyle Adjustments Small changes can make a big impact: • Get outside daily. Even brief exposure to daylight can help reset your body clock. • Move your body. Exercise releases endorphins that lift mood and reduce stress. • Eat well. Whole foods, lean proteins, and colorful produce help stabilize blood sugar and energy. • Stay connected. Regular contact with friends, family, or coworkers helps counter isolation. • Keep a schedule. Going to bed and waking up at consistent times helps regulate sleep patterns. For example, Michael began scheduling a short lunchtime walk every day, even in freezing temperatures. He found that just fifteen minutes outdoors improved his mood noticeably.
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for college, was caught off guard by how tired and down he felt his first New England winter. His doctor later diagnosed him with SAD, something he had never experienced before. Not everyone in darker climates develops SAD, though. Some people may feel a temporary slump but still function well. The difference lies in the intensity and duration of symptoms. When sadness and fatigue persist for weeks and begin to interfere with life, it is more than just the winter blues.
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Mental Health Corner By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman There is no shortage of in-law jokes, and for those who have wonderful relationships with their in-laws none of these jokes bear any resemblance to reality. However, there are many people who do not have the best relationship with their in-laws. As is clear from the Mishna in Maseches Yevamos (15:4), this is not a new phenomenon. The Mishna there relates that if a man disappears and we do not know if he is alive, his moth-
er is not believed to testify that he passed away since she might be intentionally lying in order to sabotage her daughter-in-law. Why is it so hard to be a friendly in-law? Why can’t we all just get along? Of course, we have the popular adage that the role of parents of married children is to open your wallet and close your mouth. However, closing your mouth will not guarantee that you are properly exe-
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cuting your responsibilities as an in-law, since this does not preclude passive-aggressive behavior that can be just as damaging as overtly aggressive behavior. Before we begin, a note to the readership. If you are an in-law reading this article and you have a strained relationship with your child-in-law, you might disagree with the information in this article. That might be due to the fact that our behaviors are controlled by subconscious forces that we often have a hard time recognizing, especially when we are dealing with our own behaviors. Protecting the Child from Danger One subconscious force that can be at play is the innate drive to be a protective parent. Parents, especially mothers, are hardwired to protect their child from any and all of the dangers that are out there. As with all instincts, its purpose serves a vital role, but its subconscious nature allows it to become activated in situations that resemble a danger, but are not really a danger at all.
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In-Laws
Therefore, if a child marries someone who the parents do not wholeheartedly approve of, their natural instinct to protect their child from all perceived harm will immediately label their child-in-law as a predator who is trying to destroy their child. This will lead to all kinds of negative behaviors from the in-laws that will range from passive aggressive to downright aggressive.
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Attacking the Baby Snatcher Another cause for negative behavior from an in-law is the perceived loss of their child. When their child was single and living at home, the child spent a lot of time with his or her parents and was a part of their life on a daily basis. Now that their child is married, there is a dramatic decrease in the attention that the child will give to his or her parents. This is not done with malicious intent, rather the practicalities of not living in the same house and sharing a life with a new spouse will by definition translate into a drastic change in the focus of the child’s attention. Sometimes, a parent will subconsciously view this as if someone stole their child. In essence, once again, the child-in-law is the sinister predator, and this time it is committing the crime of baby snatching. This subconscious perspective may lead to friction between parents and their child’s spouse. Therefore, even if the parents realize that their child’s spouse is a wonderful person and is a fantastic match for their child, it may still be difficult to avoid the feeling of having something robbed from them.
Due to the subconscious nature of one’s negative feelings towards their child-inlaw, the expression of these feelings may be very subtle. Thus, the child-in-law may feel hurt and the parent-in-law might not know why. This cycle of negativity may become entrenched and become very hard to break out of. Here are some of the subtle ways that a parent-in-law might cause friction with their child-in-law. No Boundaries: A parent who refuses to recognize that their child is now in a committed relationship with their spouse and that their relationship comes first will have a very difficult time respecting their boundaries and their right to privacy. They might ask nosy questions, pop in unannounced at the most inconvenient times, provide advice in an intrusive manner, etc. Such behavior is not just annoying, it is also sending a message that you do not recognize their right to exist as an autonomous entity. Oversharing: Sometimes a parent inlaw will overshare with their child-in-law. This includes both gossip about other members of the family and private information that should not be shared. This might sound somewhat “gracious” as the parent-in-law feels so close to their child-in-law that they are willing to share secrets with them. However, in reality this is interfering with the child-in-law’s ability to be happy in their new family by pulling them into situations that they are better off not being part of. Overly Sensitive: In many areas of our lives, if we allow things to bother us, we end up in a bad mood, which can escalate into interpersonal issues. With a child-in-law, this is especially true. A child-in-law is often in their early twenties and might not be mature enough to always be politically correct with his or her in-laws. If the parent-in-law is sensitive and reacts negatively (either overtly or covertly), there is a high risk of escalation into a full-blown conflict. A wise man once said, “Don’t be right. Be smart!” With your child-in-law, this is especially true. If you focus on what is the smart and pragmatic thing to do and not who is right and who is wrong, you and your entire family will benefit. 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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Parenting Pearls
It’s All in the Follow-Through By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
P
arents sometimes wonder why their child doesn’t respond when they speak. Perhaps they give a consequence to stress the seriousness of the matter, yet their child isn’t impressed. There are many reasons for this alltoo-common phenomenon. While I can never stress enough the role the parent-child bond plays in all interactions, consistent follow-through is still crucial. Following through demonstrates that you are serious when you speak and that your child needs to take note. In this article, “follow through” is referring to doing what a parent has said they will do when they said they will do it. This refers to both the positive and the negative. An example of the positive is, “After you finish your job, you can get a few extra minutes to play outside before bed.” An example of a negative statement would be, “I will need to call you in early to do your job if you don’t finish it before going out.” In one situation, we have “promised” (without promising) to reward them for a positive behavior. In the negative scenario, we set up a consequence for not doing their required action. While there are pros
and cons to each way of phrasing, that will not be the topic of this discussion; rather, the focus will be on the need to follow up on whatever we’ve said. Our children need to know they can take us at our word and trust what we say before they can take us seriously. If we throw out statements without planning to follow through, then we’ve taught them to ignore what we say. Conversely, if they know we will follow through, then they know to take our words seriously. Follow-through isn’t complicated, but it’s still an area in which I see parents continuously struggle. They may start off strong, but then life gets busy or they forget. Perhaps they think whatever they had said wasn’t really important, or maybe they assume their child already forgot the interaction. Whatever the reason, a child slowly begins to realize they can’t take us at our word.
For the Good A distant relative visited when my children were young. She enjoyed seeing the kids, and they had a great time with her. I don’t know whether she offered, or
the kids asked, but at some point, during the visit they discussed something special that would happen the next time they met. We don’t see her often, and it would be more than a year before the next visit. I can’t describe her shock when the moment she walked in they asked her about the something special she had previously mentioned. Knowing my kids, I wasn’t that surprised – but she certainly was. I don’t know if she even remembered, but they didn’t forget! It often happens that parents will offer a prize, reward or some other incentive to a child. It may be offered as a deal or simply stated as “this will happen” – whatever it is. Maybe it’s a new toy, a trip somewhere special or a special privilege. It doesn’t have to be phrased as a formal, “you will get.” Even a casual, “oh, we could do this,” can sound like a deep promise to a youngster. The rule is that we need to follow through on all positive agreements we make. If we say they will get something, go somewhere or do anything, then we need to make sure it happens. We may not want to, but we’ve said we would. It
may not be important to us, but it’s important to them. It can be frustrating to everyone when the children assume we “promised” them something that we certainly never did. For this reason, it’s important to be careful how we phrase things, making sure we don’t inadvertently mislead them. Parents should never agree to anything they can’t completely fulfill with all relevant details. We need to carefully watch what we say and not exaggerate or speak based on hopeful wishes.
For the Bad Consistency is a cornerstone of discipline. If I say it and I do it, then my kids understand I mean it. If I speak and don’t follow through, then I show I’m not serious or relevant. It’s my own actions that tell my children whether or not they need to pay attention. When a parent says, “If you keep running around the store then we need to leave,” they are now obligated to step out if the chaotic behavior continues. A parent who leaves the store is quietly, but strongly, saying, “I said something,
67 This is disregarding how hard it will be to find a chosson/kallah for a grounded child. “You’re going to need to pay a million dollars for a new house if you damage this one.” While common for parents to do, it’s not advisable to throw around meaningless threats. Parents intend to say, “I’m very serious – you need to listen.” What children hear is, “You’re
thought before speaking but either spoke in error or circumstances changed. This applies in both the negative and positive scenarios. Using the examples above, parents should not ground their child until the chuppah, nor attempt to charge them thousands of dollars. Parents also can’t give a child a dollar per toy they clean up if the kid was given the
If we say they will get something, go somewhere or do anything, then we need to make sure it happens.
The Exceptions Parents should never follow through on an agreement or consequence that is unreasonable, unfair or unhealthy to a child. This is where we should have
job of sweeping a Lego explosion. That could easily run into hundreds of dollars. Even if you have a couple of spare hundred-dollar bills laying around the house, it’s not emotionally healthy to pour money like that onto a child. Children don’t easily understand that circumstances can change. If we said it, then we’re expected to fulfill it. They often lack the ability to see beyond,
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.
Moishy Storch (Lakewood) & Shaindel Chaya Gross (Baltimore) Shmuli Scherman (Lakewood) & Esther Katz (Baltimore) Asher Meir Pines & Avigial Albert Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
Yehuda & Batsheva Lichtenstein on the birth of a daughter Yoni & Aviva Hendry 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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not serious – I can ignore you.” They know you can’t follow through, and they learn to not consider their adult relevant.
“but you said we would.” “Yesterday, you said we’d go to the ballgame today.” The fact that it’s raining with fury, lightning throughout the sky and the game was canceled is irrelevant to an excited child. We need to be very careful when we speak. What if they forgot that we “promised” something? Follow through anyway. Especially when it’s a positive follow-through, we are being gifted with the opportunity to show our children they can rely on us. It makes a serious impact on a child when we come over and say, “I don’t know if you remember, but I had said you would get this prize for helping out over yom tov. Here it is.” Parenting requires thought and wisdom every step of the way. Thinking before we speak, using our words wisely, and following through afterwards demonstrates to our children that we are someone whose words they can trust and depend on.
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gave you a choice, and now I’m holding you to it.” We don’t need to yell or do anything else because our actions speak loud enough. It may take another trip or two of repeating the follow-through, but they will remember. When they next hear, “If you run, then we need to leave,” they will quiet down. Alternatively, if you continue shopping, they learn they can disregard what you say. This simple step applies consistently throughout discipline. Children begin to understand their behavior can lead to an undesirable consequence. They will then make decisions based on this awareness. It’s important to note that every rule has its exceptions. Some children will lack self-control, be too young or for any other reason be unable to regulate their behavior despite parental consistency or warnings. A two-year-old means to do what they say – “yes, Mommy, I’ll clean my toys after I finish my snack” – but they are developmentally incapable of following through. Punishing them or expecting them to remember what they said is useless and unfair. It’s tempting to exaggerate to stress how serious we are. “If you don’t listen, I’m grounding you until your chuppah.”
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NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Kids Coloring Win $10 Corner
o wi n n
k•
ev
er
ers
Tw
Download extra coloring sheets from thebjh.com
•
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to The Candy Store
y w ee
Take a picture with your artwork and submit it to
thebjh.com/kids to enter a raffle for a chance to win $10 to The Candy Store! See your picture in print the following week! Submissions due Monday, November 10
69
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
Eliam Hakimi, 4.5
Shana, 8
Daniella Weinhouse, 4
Chaim Gross, 9
Leah Seidel, 7
Yehuda Katibian
Leora Wolf, 9
Gaga Friedman, almost 5!
Gali Haber, 5
Meira Robinson, 6
Avigayil Jakob, 9
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
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Zevy Seidel, 5
WWW.THEBJH.COM
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
70
Sara Schwartz, 10
Ruti Tuchman, 5
Aviel Hakimi, 6
Zoey Freedman, 7
Tamar, 9 & Eitan, 8 Goldstein
CS & MS, 10
Railey Rosenbluth, 3
Zehava, 4
Avigayil Robinson
Azi Sperling, 5
Aliza Ezzatpour, 4
Miri, 10 & Dovi, 6 Zaslow
Sruli Tuchman, 3
Ariella Shuman, 5
Adiel Shemuel Souri, 7
Tehila Robinson, 3
Szendro
Sarah W., 6
Rafi Weinberger, 5
Mordechai Ickovitz, 4
Kayla Kovacs, 4
Elisheva Sandell, 9
Eliezer, 5
Binyamin Katzenstein, 3
P.G., 8
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
71
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
In The K tchen
Chicken Dumpling Soup Meat / Yields 8 servings
NOVEMBER 6-NOVEMBER 12, 2025
By Naomi Nachman
This is a one-pot wonder. Super quick and easy to make, it has everything you need to fill a kid’s tu mmy quickly, especially after a long and cold bus ride home from school in the winter.
Ingredients
◦ 2 Tablespoons canola oil
Preparation 1.
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion;
◦ 1 large carrot, diced
sauté 3-4 minutes.
◦ 3 stalks celery, diced
2.
◦ 1 medium onion, diced
salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover; boil for 15 minutes.
◦ 4 cloves garlic, minced
3. Add dumplings; cover and boil 6-8 minutes. Stir in shredded cooked chicken and
◦ 8 cups chicken broth 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
spinach; cook until heated through and the spinach has wilted, about 2 minutes.
Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds longer. Stir in chicken broth, Italian seasoning,
◦ Freshly ground black pepper, to taste ◦ 1 package frozen dumplings ◦ 2-3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken from soup ◦ 3 cups fresh baby spinach or kale Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.
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◦ Kosher salt, to taste
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