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Dear Readers,

In the days leading up to Purim, many people found themselves reflecting on events unfolding thousands of miles away. In Yerushalayim, many young families and students turned to hear words of chizzuk from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits Shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah, who also serves as a Rosh Kollel and posek. Many of those listening were young married Americans learning in Eretz Yisrael, trying to process the dramatic news coming out of Iran. Rabbi Berkovits pointed out that it is almost impossible to ignore the striking similarities between the events described in Megillas Esther and what took place this past Shabbos in Iran. The parallels, he said, are eerie.

The Purim story unfolds in ancient Persia, in the city of Shushan, which sits in what is today modern day Iran. Haman rose to power as a chief minister and used the authority of the empire to promote a decree calling for the destruction of the Jewish people. His hatred was not political or territorial. It was ideological. It was the kind of hatred our mesorah identifies with Amalek, a desire to erase the Jewish people simply because they exist. For generations we have read that story as ancient history, something that happened long ago in a distant kingdom. Yet suddenly the location and the players feel much closer to home.

The similarities are difficult to overlook. Haman used the machinery of government to try to bring about Jewish destruction. In our time, the leadership of Iran spent decades calling for the destruction of Israel and funding forces that sought to harm Jews around the world. Haman’s plan was sweeping and systematic, targeting Jews across the empire. Iran’s ambitions included building nuclear capability and arming terror groups with the ability to cause devastation on a massive scale. Both figures represent the same pattern that Jewish history has seen more than once. A powerful leader rises with the belief that he will be the one to finally bring an end to the Jewish people.

Another striking parallel is what has happened to many of the leaders connected to that regime. In the Megillah,

Haman’s downfall was followed by the execution of his ten sons, symbolizing the collapse of his power and influence. In recent years we have watched something similar unfold with the network of Iranian backed proxies across the Middle East. One by one, major figures connected to that system have been eliminated. Leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian aligned forces have been killed in targeted operations, including senior figures such as Hassan Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. These developments have significantly weakened the leadership structure of Iran’s proxy network, creating the sense that the entire system that once threatened Israel so aggressively is beginning to unravel.

And yet the Megillah reminds us that history rarely unfolds the way its villains expect. What appeared to be a carefully constructed plan began to unravel through a chain of events that could easily be dismissed as coincidence. Esther becoming queen. Mordechai overhearing a plot. A sleepless king asking for the chronicles to be read. Each step seemed small and unrelated, but together they produced a dramatic reversal. Venahafoch hu. The story turned upside down. The man who built gallows for Mordechai was ultimately hung on them himself.

It is that sense of reversal that so many people are reflecting on this year as Purim concludes. When Rabbi Berkovits spoke about the current moment, he was not predicting outcomes or claiming to know what comes next. Rather he was reminding people that Jewish history often unfolds with the same patterns that appear in the Megillah. A threat emerges. The situation appears bleak. And then, sometimes in ways we could never predict, the story shifts. The Jewish people continue. These stories happen in each generation and it’s hard not to tie it to the geulah we’re craving for. Let’s hope that we’re watching the geulah unfold in real time.

Have a peaceful Shabbos,

Aaron M. Friedman

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Around the Community

Jewish Deaf Purim Party

The ability to hear has nothing to do with the ability to have fun celebrating Purim! The Baltimore Jewish Deaf Community hosted a hugely successful Purim party on Tuesday night, with about 30 people in attendance.

After a delicious Kosher buffet dinner, participants engaged in a variety of entertaining games and challenges, culminating in a costume contest. Participants of all ages, both Deaf and Hearing, enjoyed eating the delicious food and laughing through the series of activities. The Jewish Deaf Community can’t wait to see what this group will host next!

Mastering Challenging Conversations

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Opening remarks by Chaya Lasson, RN

Director, Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care, Bridging Life

Keynote presentation by Delia Chiaramonte, MD, MS, Integrative Palliative Care

Q&A session immediately following the program

CEU’s for social workers will be available

Dr. Delia Chiaramonte will provide practical tools to make conversations about serious illness less scary and more meaningful. You will learn skills to raise difficult topics, manage challenging emotions, and approach important conversations with connection and confidence.

This free program is due to the generosity of the Footlick Family in memory of Robert Footlick and is open to the community.

Around the Community

BCL By Columbia Group Continues Its Season Into Week 4!

Week 4 of The Baltimore Chesed League captured the excitement of Purim as the boys turned anticipation into action through an incredible array of chesed projects. Teams delivered mishloach manos to families

supported by Chai Lifeline and Friendship Circle and built special packages for families of lone soldiers through FIDF. Others organized storage for Bikur Cholim, cleaned up trash around the community with CHAI, and helped prepare and run

booths at the Shomrei Emunah Congregation Purim carnival.

The boys also delivered meals for new mothers through AIM and brought warmth and companionship during a visit to North Oaks

(Autumn Ridge). Through every delivery, cleanup, visit, and celebration, the boys demonstrated that when Purim is almost here, the greatest way to prepare is by showing up for others with joy, responsibility, and heart.

Pre-Purim Festivities At Yeshivas Toras Simcha

Yeshivas Toras Simcha students capped a week of pre-Purim festivities by dressing in costumes and performing in a talent show. The students demonstrated their talent for singing, magic, playing musical instruments, riding a unicycle, and more. A panel of judges chose winners for their talent and creativity.

Torah Institute Purim Mesibos

This past weekend, Torah Institute celebrated several Leibidig Purim Mesibos for all grades.

Filled with Simcha, music, and Geshmak dancing, the Talmidim enjoyed delicious treats and raffles to really get into the Ruach of Purim!

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The Week In News

The Week In News

Operation Epic Fury

The United States and Israel launched Operation Eric Fury on Saturday, striking Iran and killing its supreme leader of nearly four decades, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Initially, Iranian officials denied reports of Khamenei’s assassination but later confirmed the 86-yearold’s death, describing it as martyrdom.

More than 40 senior Iranian offi-

cials were reportedly killed in the strikes, along with members of Khamenei’s family, including his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Khamenei was reportedly killed in his office.

Khamenei, the Islamic Republic’s second supreme leader, ruled Iran for decades and played a central role in shaping its regional policies and alliances.

The operation followed a series of failed nuclear talks between the United States and Iran. After deliberation, President Donald Trump authorized the strikes, citing intelligence indicating that Iran was preparing a preemptive attack.

Iran retaliated, significantly escalating the conflict by striking Israel and targeting U.S. military bases and allied positions in the region. Since Saturday, Iranian strikes have killed four American soldiers, according to U.S. Gen. Dan Caine, with additional casualties expected.

As of Monday, U.S. and Israeli forces had struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran. Overnight Monday, Hezbollah entered the conflict in response to Khamenei’s killing, ending its ceasefire

with Israel. Israel subsequently launched strikes in Beirut.

Khamenei’s death leaves a power vacuum in Iran with no clear successor identified.

Iranian officials have vowed further retaliation against the United States and Israel. Trump has urged Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and state security forces to surrender and has indicated support for the Iranian people. He said he remains open to negotiations but suggested the operation could last four to five weeks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the campaign’s duration remains uncertain but would not be “endless” like the Iraq War.

On Sunday, an Iranian strike killed nine people in Beit Shemesh, and others were injured.

Iran has also launched strikes against several U.S.-allied Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as a British military base in Cyprus. Iran attacked U.S. bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq. The United Kingdom has since authorized the United States to use its military base there.

U.S. Consulate in Pakistan Attacked

At least 22 people are dead and more than 120 others are injured as violent clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi and in the country’s north on Sunday. Pro-Iran demonstrators attempted to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi.

In the north of the country, demonstrators also attacked U.N. and government offices.

The violence came after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his “profound sorrow over the martyr-

Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide

6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F

6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F

Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T

Chabad of Silver Spring M-F

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th

6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th

6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F

Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th

6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F

Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th

Ohr Hatorah T, W, F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th

6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F

6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F

7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S

Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T, W, F

7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th

7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F

Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F

Ohr Hatorah S

7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F

Chabad of Potomac M-F

JROC M-F

Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F

7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F

8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S

Kemp Mill Synagogue S

Kesher Israel S

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S

8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S

8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville M, Th

8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville S, T, W, F Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F

Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F

8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F

9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S

12:30 pm YGW S

1:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center S-F

2:10 pm YGW M, T, W

2:45 pm YGW S-Th

3:00 pm YGW Middle School School Days mincha

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

7:30

8:15

8:45

The Week In News

dom” of Khamenei and conveyed his condolences to Iran, according to his office. He said: “Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.”

Twelve people were killed and over 80 wounded in clashes with police in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region when thousands of Shiite protesters angered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran attacked the offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP).

According to government spokesman Shabir Mir, all staff working for those organizations were safe. Protesters repeatedly clashed with police at various places in the region, damaged the offices of a local charity, and set fire to police offices. Troops had been deployed and now the situation is under control, Mir said.

The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said in a post on X that it was monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional protests at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Peshawar.

In Karachi, which is the capital of southern Sindh province and Pakistan’s largest city, senior police official Irfan Baloch said that protesters briefly attacked the perimeter of the U.S. Consulate but were later dispersed. The building was not set on fire, although protesters burned a nearby police post and smashed the consulate’s windows. The protests surrounding the U.S. Consulate went on for hours, with dozens of Shiite youth throwing stones at law enforcement officers.

The clashes prompted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to issue an appeal for calm.

“Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran,” Naqvi said in a statement.

He described it as “a day of mourning for the Muslim Ummah and for the people of both Iran and Pakistan,” but urged people not to take the law into their own hands and to express their protests peacefully.

In Islamabad, police fired tear gas and swung batons as hundreds of Shiite protesters, angered by the killing of Khamenei, tried to march toward the U.S. Embassy. The clashes took place outside the Diplomatic Enclave, where the embassy is located and additional police had been deployed.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern city of Peshawar, authorities also used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of demonstrators attempting to approach the U.S. Consulate to hold a rally to denounce the killing of the Iranian leader, police said.

Shiites also held a peaceful rally in Multan, a city in Punjab province, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

Shiites also held a rally and clashes with police repeatedly near the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province, police said.

Shiites make up roughly 15% of Pakistan’s population of about 250 million and represent one of the largest Shiite communities in the world. They have frequently staged anti-Israel and anti-U. S. rallies in the past, though clashes of this scale are rare.

Oops – Kuwait Shoots U.S. Jets

On Monday, three United States fighter jets were “mistakenly” shot down over Kuwait.

Videos showed a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet spinning and spiraling downwards with its tail on fire and smoke trailing behind it. Another video showed two pilots ejecting. They were later seen alive on the ground being helped by locals.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), a U.S. combat command whose area of responsibility includes the Middle East, said three US F-15E Strike Eagles had “mistakenly been shot down” by Kuwaiti air defenses “during active combat”.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” a CENTCOM statement published on X said.

“The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information

will be released as it becomes available,” it added.

Kuwait has been drawn into the conflict, as Iran has been hitting U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Loud bangs and sirens were also heard in Kuwait early on Monday with a witness seeing smoke rising near the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City. Videos showed rescue crews working at the scene.

Kuwaiti authorities said drones had approached the capital. Air defenses intercepted a majority of them near the Rumaithiya and Salwa neighborhoods.

Iran has hit a range of civilian and commercial areas across Gulf cities, widening the conflict’s impact on key regional aviation and economic hubs. Tehran said it would target U.S. military assets in the region after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a third day.

The top U.S. general said from the Pentagon that it would take time for the US to achieve its military objectives.

“This is not a single overnight operation. The military objectives that CENTCOM and the joint force have been tasked with will take some time to achieve and in some cases will be difficult and gritty work,” U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted.

Four U.S. service members have been killed in the US operation against Iran.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week that military operations against Iran would not lead to an “endless war,” although he acknowledged that the operation would not be completed overnight. Hegseth said the aim was to destroy Tehran’s missiles, navy and other security infrastructure.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said.

E.U. Trade Deal With S. America

The European Union will test out a free-trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, four founding

members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur. The agreement is intended to expand trade between the two continents at a time of uncertainty surrounding Europe’s trading relationship with the United States.

The deal, which will be implemented on a provisional basis, was ratified on Thursday by Uruguay and Argentina, with Brazil and Paraguay expected to join as well, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

However, the deal still requires approval from the European Parliament, the E.U.’s legislative branch. The Mercosur agreement’s legality was called into question last month after lawmakers voted to have the E.U.’s judicial branch review the deal. Once the judicial review concludes, Parliament will be able to vote on the agreement. Industry bodies, including the German automotive industry association (VDA), celebrated the announcement. VDA chief Hildegard Mueller described the deal as “good news for the economy in Europe and for the German automotive industry.”

Still, the agreement has attracted opposition, particularly from the European agricultural sector. Agricultural businesses are concerned about competition from cheaper labor across the Atlantic. France — where farmers have protested the deal — opposes ratifying the agreement in its current form.

Economists at Dutch bank ING noted that changes to Europe’s trade flows would not be immediate.

“Most of the impact will probably materialize after 2026, as tariffs will be phased out gradually,” ING said. “For now, the symbolic value of strategic independence and the signaling effect outweigh trade benefits.”

Michelangelo’s Makeover

“The Last Judgment” is a masterpiece created by Michelangelo almost five hundred years ago. It hangs in the Vatican where viewers can gaze at the Renaissance piece of art. This week, the Vatican closed off the fresco for visitors, as the piece will undergo a cleaning operation.

The last time the masterpiece was

The Week In News

cleaned was three decades ago. Since then, the painting has accumulated a white film of salt, which needs to gently be removed. The cleaning process should be completed by April 1.

Almost 25,000 visitors pass through the Vatican museums each day. For now, the viewers will only see a reproduction of “The Last Judgment” superimposed on a screen that covers the scaffolding that was constructed for the cleaning.

“This salt is created because, above all, when we sweat, we emit lactic acid, and unfortunately lactic acid reacts with the calcium carbonate present on the wall,” said Fabio Moresi, in charge of the scientific research team at the Vatican Museums that is overseeing the cleaning.

Vatican Museums chief Barbara Jatta described the film as a “cataract” that is easy enough to remove: Restorers dip sheets of Japanese rice paper into distilled water and apply them to the fresco and carefully wipe away the salt film.

The Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV, an art patron who oversaw the construction of the main papal chapel in the 15th century. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the famous ceiling of the chapel between 1508 and 1512. A later pontiff, Pope Clement VII, commissioned Michelangelo in 1533 to return to paint “The Last Judgment.”

The other frescos of the Sistine Chapel undergo yearly cleaning with restorers working at night on cherry-pickers that can be removed each morning before the public arrives. That cleaning method doesn’t work for this particular piece since it’s located in an area raised on marble steps.

New Birth for Amazon Tribe

The Akuntsu people, a tiny tribe with just three members, were on the brink

of extinction. But in December, one of the tribe’s members unexpectedly gave birth to a baby boy, offering hope for the group’s continued survival.

Since 2017, when the tribe’s last male member died, the Akuntsu had consisted only of Pugapia and her daughters, Aiga and Babawru. Babawru, who is in her 40s, gave birth to the child.

“This child is not only a symbol of the resistance of the Akuntsu people, but also a source of hope for Indigenous peoples,” said Joenia Wapichana, head of Funai, Brazil’s Indigenous protection agency. “He represents why recognition, protection and proper management of this land are extremely necessary.”

In the 1980s, the Akuntsu were believed to number around 20 people. In 1995, after being attacked by Brazilian settlers, they were located by Funai officials, who found only seven surviving members. In 2006, Funai established the Rio Omere Indigenous Land to provide the Akuntsu with territorial protection. They share the land with the Kanoe people, a group that was once considered their enemy.

The child’s father is a Kanoe man. The Akuntsu women rely on Kanoe men for traditionally male roles, including hunting and clearing fields.

Initially, the Akuntsu women — traumatized by violence, discouraged by the disintegration of their community and without Akuntsu men — chose not to have children. That is why the recent birth came as such a surprise.

The birth is especially significant because the child is the first male born into the tribe since its last male member died in 2017.

Greek Spyware Case

Two Israelis and two Greeks were sentenced last week to eight years in prison for their involvement in a major spyware scandal in which prominent Greek politicians were hacked

and wiretapped.

The spyware, known as Predator, was supplied by Intellexa, a company founded by Tal Dilian, a former Israeli military officer. The software was used to target more than 90 individuals, including politicians, journalists and senior military officials. In 2024, thenU.S. President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on Intellexa, which were later lifted by President Donald Trump.

Dilian was among those sentenced, along with Sara Hamou and two former Greek executives from his company. The judge said the defendants — who were not present at the sentencing — were convicted of “breaching the confidentiality of telephone communications,” as well as “tampering with a personal-data filing system on a repeated basis” and “illegal access to an information system or data.”

The Predator software allows hackers to access messages and photos on targeted phones and remotely activate the device’s microphone and camera.

In 2022, Thanassis Koukakis, a Greek investigative journalist, discovered that Greece’s intelligence service (EYP) had wiretapped him and infected his phone with Predator. The scandal — dubbed “Greek Watergate” by local media — led to several resignations within the administration of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The controversy intensified in July 2022 after Nikos Androulakis, now leader of the socialist Pasok-Kinal party, revealed that his phone had also been tapped, prompting additional government resignations.

The four individuals will remain out of custody while their attorneys pursue an appeal.

U.S. Cracks Down on Cuba

As Cuba reels from a fuel blockade imposed by the United States, President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of the Caribbean nation, drawing comparisons to recent U.S. actions involving Venezuela.

“If we don’t see a tanker come into Havana sometime by mid-March, that’s what we call the zero hour. In other words, that’s it. There’s no inventory, there are no strategic reserves

— that’s it, they’re out of business,” said Jorge Piñon, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program at the University of Texas at Austin, noting that time is running out for Cuba’s government.

Last Wednesday, Trump allowed limited commercial and humanitarian fuel deliveries to Cuba, though experts say the shipments provide little relief. While the country requires roughly 22,000 barrels of fuel per day, the approved shipments total only about 150 barrels daily.

International groups have raised humanitarian concerns.

According to reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is holding negotiations with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Cuba’s 94-year-old de facto leader, Raúl Castro.

Rubio has not indicated that immediate regime change is the objective.

“Cuba needs to change. It needs to change. And it doesn’t have to change all at once,” Rubio said Wednesday. Previously, he stated that Cubans need “economic freedom.”

Some analysts speculate that the crackdown is intended to pressure Cuba to normalize relations with the United States and distance itself from Russia and China.

Cash Crash

On Friday afternoon, a cargo plane carrying $62 million worth of newly printed Bolivian currency crashed at an airport near the capital La Paz.

The Hercules C-130 aircraft was ferrying the money from the country’s central bank when it “landed and veered off the runway.”

At least 20 people were killed in the crash and more than a dozen were injured.

As the plane crashed, scores of people ran to the airport, attempting to pick up the bills that had billowed out of the plane when it crashed.

The Week In News

Authorities sprayed water and tear gas to fend off the mob of scavengers.

More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers were brought in to deal with the chaos.

“Our estimates suggest that at the peak of the conflict there were about 20,000 people” trying to collect the bank notes, Bolivia’s Vice Minister of Interior Order Hernan Paredes said. “There were vandal groups embedded, that’s why we detained 49 people.”

Police and military personnel burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, who said the bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” without clarifying what that meant.

Espinoza said the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad.

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries of Latin America, which is facing one of the highest bouts of inflation recorded at an increase of 25 percent last year.

U.S. Sinks Iranian Ship

On Wednesday, four days into the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, a United States attack submarine sank an Iranian naval ship off the coast of Sri Lanka with a torpedo.

“This was never meant to be a fair fight,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. “We are punching them while they are down, which is exactly the way it should be.”

It was the first time an American torpedo has sunk a ship since World War II. The attack left at least 101 people missing, one dead and 78 injured.

“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.”

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has said at least 80 people were killed in the attack. Search-and-rescue operations were underway in an effort to locate survivors.

Hegseth also claimed the U.S. hunted down and killed an Iranian inside Iran who had been involved in plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump. “Iran tried to kill President Trump and Trump got the last laugh,”

he said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said the U.S. strikes have already eroded Iran’s ability to send ballistic missiles against U.S. bases in the region. Iran’s total number of ballistic missiles fired in the region has gone down by 86% from the first day of fighting, Caine said. Iran’s launch rate of so-called kamikaze attack drones is down 73%.

Iran’s ballistic missile volleys have required the U.S. to use expensive defense equipment—such as Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems—to protect American bases and allies in the Middle East, raising concerns in Congress that the U.S. is further depleting its stocks of such anti-missile defenses. Those munitions stocks have already been depleted by weapons shipments to Ukraine to aid its defense against Russian strikes.

“Our stockpile of those, as well as Patriots, remain extremely strong,” Hegseth said. “Our air defenses and that of our allies have plenty of runway.”

Modi Visits the Knesset

The Week In News

ter Benjamin Netanyahu and vowed to combat Islamist terrorism.

“India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” Modi declared to Israel’s parliament.

Before Modi spoke, Netanyahu addressed the Knesset, touting the two countries’ “iron alliance … in the face of extremist Islam.” The Israeli prime minister also discussed the IMEC initiative, an in-progress transport project supported by the United States and developed by Israel and India. The project aims to connect India to Europe by sea and rail through the Middle East.

“This maritime-land corridor can exist and flourish only if it passes through stable and secure countries. And there are no stronger and more secure countries on this axis than India and Israel,” Netanyahu said.

During his remarks, Modi praised Israel as a “protective wall against barbarism.”

“The massacre of October 7 made it absolutely clear: either the jihadist axis of evil will break us, or we will break it,” Modi said, referring to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left 251 hostages in captivity. “And we are breaking it — and will break it.”

He added, “I carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7.”

Netanyahu expressed gratitude for Modi’s support following the October 7 attacks. He also described India as “a civilization where Jews were never persecuted by the state, only welcomed.”

Modi praised the U.S. Gaza peace plan, asserting that it “holds the promise of a just and durable peace for all the people of the region, including by addressing the Palestine issue.”

Modi first visited Israel in 2017, becoming the first Indian prime minister to do so. During that visit, his close friendship with Netanyahu was on display as the two leaders toured together and publicly emphasized their strong ties.

“Narendra, my dear friend, I am deeply, deeply moved by your visit here today,” Netanyahu said. “Because I have to be diplomatic, I will not rank

it. I’ll get into trouble. But I’ve never been more moved than by your visit here with us — a great friend of Israel, a great champion of the Indian-Israeli alliance, and a great leader on the world stage.”

Opposition members staged a walkout during Netanyahu’s speech in protest of High Court President Isaac Amit’s exclusion. They returned when Modi began speaking, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid shook the Indian leader’s hand, telling him the protest “had nothing to do with you.”

“The entire State of Israel is filled with admiration for your leadership, for your friendship, for the fact that you were here for us in our time of trouble, and for the alliance — the eternal alliance — between our two states,” Lapid said. “So thank you very much for being here. We are all, on both sides of the aisle, looking forward to hearing your speech.”

Operation Roaring Lion

In a video message delivered on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of Operation Roaring Lion, an ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that aims, in his words, “to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran.”

Netanyahu referenced multiple missile strikes and said the operation would continue for as long as necessary.

He sharply criticized the Iranian regime, stating that during its 47-year rule it has called for the destruction of Israel and the United States, suppressed its own people, invested heavily in nuclear weapons development and missile programs, and funded terrorist groups across the region.

“If anyone needed further proof of the murderous nature of the Ayatollah regime, they received it last month,” he said. “We all saw how this regime

of terror in Tehran carried out an unprecedented mass slaughter of Iran’s own citizens. It murdered thousands of children, adults and elderly people in cold blood. Tens of thousands were arrested, tortured and abused. And why? Simply because they sought lives of freedom and dignity.”

He described Iran’s negotiations with the United States as “futile and deceptive,” arguing that previous military actions failed to prevent Tehran from secretly rebuilding its nuclear and missile capabilities. As a result, he said, the United States and Israel launched a new campaign to “strike the terror regime hard and create conditions that will enable the brave Iranian people to cast off the yoke of this murderous regime.”

“As a people that cherishes life, we have no choice but to go to battle. But this time, we do so with the combined mighty power of the State of Israel and the United States of America,” Netanyahu said. “To the citizens of Iran: You, the people of Iran, and the honorable Iranian army are not our enemies, and we are not your enemies. We have a common enemy: the murderous clique of Ayatollahs that seized control of you through the oppressive forces of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij.”

Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to seize the moment, overthrow their government and “establish a new and free Iran.”

He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him “not only Israel’s greatest friend to sit in the White House” but also “a determined leader of the free world.” He also commended the Israeli military and security services.

Netanyahu concluded by drawing parallels to the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim.

“My brothers and sisters, in two days, we will celebrate the holiday of Purim,” he said. “Two and a half thousand years ago, in ancient Persia, a tyrant rose against us with the same goal: to destroy our people completely. But Mordechai the Jew and Queen Esther, through their courage and resourcefulness, saved our people. In those days of Purim, the lot fell, and the wicked Haman fell with it. Today as well, the lot has fallen, and the evil regime’s end will also come. The prophet Amos said: ‘The lion has roared — who will

not fear?’ In Operation Roaring Lion, we roar. Do not fear, Israel, for the lion’s cub has risen.”

Hezbollah Joins the Fight

On Monday, Israel said that it had killed Hussein Makled, chief of Hezbollah intelligence, in an overnight strike in Lebanon. Beirut said that it would ban the terror group’s military activities, hours after the Iran-backed organization fired rockets and drones at Israel, leading to major retaliatory strikes.

The Israeli military said Makled was responsible for “forming the intelligence picture using various intelligence collection tools to provide the Hezbollah terror organization with intelligence assessments regarding IDF troops and the State of Israel.”

“He also closely cooperated with senior commanders in Hezbollah who planned and advanced terror attacks against Israel and its citizens,” the military added.

The terror group’s overnight attacks — which it said were in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the opening minutes of the joint Israeli-US assault on Iran on Saturday — led to waves of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, including in Beirut, the capital.

In a statement after a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon rejected any military actions launched from its territory “outside the framework of its legitimate institutions and affirmed that the decision of war and peace is exclusively in its hands.”

This “necessitates the immediate prohibition of all Hezbollah’s security and military activities as being outside the law, and obliging it to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state,” he said.

Salam ordered the military and security agencies to take “immediate

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measures” to implement the cabinet decision and prevent “any military operation or the launching of missiles or drones from Lebanese territory.”

Lebanon has been seeking to disarm Hezbollah since the ceasefire with Israel went into effect in November 2024.

On Saturday, upon the beginning of Israeli and American operations in Iran and the subsequent retaliatory fire from Tehran, Salam had warned that Lebanon refused to be dragged into war. After Hezbollah on Sunday promised to take action against Israel and the U.S., President Joseph Aoun reiterated that “the decision of war and peace rests solely with the Lebanese state,” in a plea for the terror group to remain on the sidelines, as it had done during the previous 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025.

But the request fell on deaf ears as Hezbollah moved ahead with its attack, the first time that the Iranian proxy had fired at Israel since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

In the wake of the attack, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that Hezbollah’s chief Naim Qassem was now “a marked target for elimination.” He warned that Qassem would meet the same fate as Iran’s Khamenei.

9 Killed in Beit Shemesh Strike

Nine people were killed when a ballistic missile fired from Iran slammed into a residential neighborhood in Beit Shemesh on Sunday. More than forty people were injured when the missile destroyed a shul and caused extensive damage to a public bomb shelter beneath it, as well as surrounding homes.

The victims were three teenage siblings, a mother and her adult daughter, and a mother and her adult son, a 16-year-old boy, and a man.

It was the deadliest missile strike in Israel in the current conflict with Iran.

On Saturday, Philippine national Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera, 32, was killed in a missile strike in Tel Aviv.

The IDF said that the failure to intercept the missile that hit Beit Shemesh was under investigation by the Israeli Air Force. Air defense systems were activated in the area, but the interceptors failed to shoot down the missile for as-yet unclear reasons, resulting in the direct hit by the estimated 500-kilogram warhead.

Ronit Elimelech, Hy”d, 45, volunteered with the United Hatzalah emergency service. Paramedics called to the scene found her medical kit and vest amid the rubble. Her mother, Sara, was also killed in the attack.

Ronit and her three children had been at her parents’ home in Beit Shemesh and entered the public shelter underneath the shul once they heard sirens go off. First responders rescued two of Ronit’s children from the rubble and took them to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after they sustained light to moderate injuries in the strike.

The third child was apparently unharmed, and Sara’s husband was also found safe.

“Ronit joined United Hatzalah after her young son asked her to volunteer as his birthday gift. I met them personally, and they hold a very special place in our hearts,” Eli Beer, United Hatzalah’s president, wrote on X. Ronit volunteered after her son, Itamar, who is autistic, requested that she join on his 11th birthday.

“Itamar was so proud of his mother,” Beer wrote.

Siblings Yaakov Biton, 16, Avigail Biton, 15, and Sara Biton, 13, Hy”d, were also killed in the attack.

Oren Katz, Hy”d, was laid to rest on Monday and eulogized by his son.

“You were always a special person who cared for everyone, not only yourself,” said Yosef Katz. “Yesterday, you came home in the middle of the workday so we’d have something to eat for lunch. I’m glad I had the privilege to eat your food for the last time,” he said. “You told us we were your reason for living.”

16-year-old Gavriel Baruch Ravach was also killed in the strike. Baruch’s father had previously donated funds

to and been involved in the building of the shul destroyed in the same missile strike in which his son was killed.

Bruria Cohen, Hy”d, was killed alongside her adult son Yosef, Hy”d.

Tel Aviv Marathon

More than 50,000 people took part in the Tel Aviv Marathon on Friday, with over 3,000 running the full race — more than any other previous year.

The half-marathon also saw record participation, with more than 12,000 runners.

In the women’s full marathon, Baraki Gabriela of Ethiopia set a new record of 2:35.20, a 31-second improvement on Kenyan runner Margeret Njugana’s record-setting 2:35:5 in the race’s 2017 edition.

Among men, Nyakundi Dickson Simba of Kenya came in first with a time of 2:10.14, just seconds short of the record.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai spoke before the race. He expressed hope that it would signify a return to normalcy after more than two years of war.

“This is the largest marathon we’ve had, and I believe this marathon will be a symbol of a return to regular life in the State of Israel,” he said.

More than 70% of Vermonters report getting seven or more hours of sleep per night, and 12.9% say they consume two or more fruits and three or more vegetables daily — the highest rates in the country. Additionally, Vermont has 13.1 gyms per 100,000 residents, along with numerous walking and hiking routes. The state also has fewer fast-food restaurants than many others, and its adult smoking rate is 13.2%, nearly 3 percentage points below the national average. Vermont’s life expectancy stands at 78.4 years. Massachusetts ranked second, earning an 8.73 out of 10 due to relatively low obesity rates (27%, compared with the national average of 34%), low smoking rates (11.7%), and the highest aerobic activity rates nationwide.

Washington placed third, boasting the most walking, running and hiking routes, along with a high number of gyms. Colorado ranked fourth and, despite having the highest number of fastfood restaurants, has the lowest obesity rate in the country and one of the largest numbers of gyms.

Louisiana was ranked the least fit state, scoring 4.25. The state has relatively few gyms, an adult obesity rate of 39.2%, a smoking rate of 21%, and low activity levels. Mississippi and West Virginia were ranked the secondand third-least fit states, respectively, with high obesity, smoking and physical inactivity rates. Southern states overall received the lowest scores.

New York ranked 15th with a score of 7.75. New Jersey placed ninth with an 8.06, and California came in eighth with an 8.08.

Deadly Shootout on Cuba’s Coast

The Most Fit U.S. State

According to a new study by healthcare staffing platform Nursa, Vermont is the fittest state in the United States. The state received high marks for sleep, diet, physical activity and low smoking rates. The analysis gave Vermont a score of 8.97 out of 10.

Last week, a Florida-registered speedboat approached Cuba carrying weapons, leading to a deadly shootout in which Cuba’s coast guard killed four people onboard. According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the other six occupants were injured and detained.

All 10 occupants were Cuban nationals residing in the United States. The boat, which authorities say was stolen from one of the men’s employers, departed from Florida.

U.S. officials said that one of the

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four people killed was a U.S. citizen and that another American citizen was among those detained.

The Cuban government alleged that the passengers — who were carrying assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms — had been planning to carry out an attack. Each of the occupants had a “known history of criminal and violent activity,” the Interior Ministry claimed.

Cuban authorities said the speedboat opened fire on a border patrol vessel, prompting the exchange of gunfire.

U.S. officials said they had limited information about the incident and would investigate further.

The deceased were identified as Michael Ortega Casanova, Pavel Alling Peña, Ledián Padrón Guevara and Hector Duani Cruz Correa. The surviving occupants were Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Amijail Sánchez González and Roberto Álvarez Ávila.

Authorities also detained another Cuban national, Duniel Hernández Santos, on the island.

Casanova, an American citizen, had lived in the United States for more than 20 years and worked as a truck driver. His brother said he had an “obsessive and diabolical” mission to free Cuba from its communist regime.

“SuperAgers,” Super Brains

A new study led by Israeli and American researchers has found that so-called “SuperAgers” — adults over 80 with memory abilities comparable to people decades younger — may generate significantly more new brain cells than their peers.

The peer-reviewed research, published in Nature, was headed by Orly

Lazarov, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Medicine and director of its Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Training Program. Lazarov earned her doctorate at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Technology.

Adults 80 and older who can recall daily events and personal history as sharply as cognitively normal people in their 50s and 60s are classified as SuperAgers. Until now, scientists did not fully understand the biological basis for their remarkable memory retention.

“We’ve always said that SuperAgers show that the aging brain can be biologically active, adaptable, flexible, but we didn’t know why,” said Tamar Gefen, an associate professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a neuropsychologist at Northwestern’s Mesulam Institute. By analyzing postmortem hippocampus tissue from five groups — including healthy young adults, typical older adults, people with early cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s patients and SuperAgers — the team examined nearly 356,000 individual cell nuclei using advanced single-cell sequencing technology.

The findings were striking: SuperAgers produced roughly twice as many new neurons as other healthy older adults and two-and-a-half times more than individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers also identified a distinct “resilience signature” in the SuperAger hippocampus that appears to support the birth and survival of new neurons.

“SuperAgers had twice the neurogenesis of the other healthy older adults,” Lazarov said. “Something in their brains enables them to maintain a superior memory. I believe hippocampal neurogenesis is the secret ingredient, and the data support that.”

In contrast, brains from individuals in the earliest stages of cognitive decline showed minimal neuron growth, while those with Alzheimer’s

Old School

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generated almost none.

“This is biological proof that their brains are more plastic,” Gefen said, calling the discovery “a real breakthrough.”

Researchers say the findings could help guide new therapies aimed at promoting cognitive resilience, preventing Alzheimer’s disease and supporting healthier aging overall.

Austin Bar Shooting

Two people were killed and 14 were injured in a shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, early Sunday in front of a bar. Authorities are investigating if the shooting is connected to terrorism.

The shooter was also killed.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said a man armed with a pistol opened fire from his SUV and shot at people around 2 a.m. local time. The man then drove to another street, exited the vehicle with a rifle and started shooting at people walking by. Police officers fatally shot the shooter, 53-yearold Ndiaga Diagne, at an intersection.

Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Antonio, said it was too early to know the shooter’s motive. “There were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” he related.

Fourteen people were taken to hospitals where three remain in critical condition.

Davis said the shooter had driven around the block several times before putting on his flashers, rolling down his window and opening fire at the bar on West Sixth Street, a popular stretch of nightclubs several blocks west of the famed Sixth Street nightlife district. The area is usually packed with thousands of revelers and police on patrol.

6 U.S. Soldiers Killed

Six U.S. soldiers were killed on Sunday in Kuwait. They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. Iran responded to the attacks by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor was just days away from returning home to her husband and two children when a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait killed her and five other U.S. service members.

“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said from their home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota,. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts.”

Those killed also included Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. Two other soldiers were not yet identified.

“These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.

All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.

Coady had just told his father last week that he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously. He was one of the youngest people in his class but seemed to impress his instructors.

“He was very good at what he did,” his father Andrew recalled.

Coady trained as an information

technology specialist with the Army Reserves and was studying cybersecurity at Drake University in Des Moines. He was taking online classes while in Kuwait and wanted to become an officer.

Amor, 39, was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes in her garden with her son, a senior in high school. She also enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

A week before the drone attack, Amor was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, Joey Amor said.

“They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.

Khork was very patriotic and was drawn from a young age to serve the U.S. He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College’s ROTC program.

“That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,” said his mother, Donna Burhans, father, James Khork, and stepmother, Stacey Khork, in a statement.

His family described him as “the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”

Tietjens lived with his family in the Washington Terrace mobile home park in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue, Nebraska. He was married with a son. He earned a black belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and was “an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others,” the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance said in a Facebook post.

Talarico Defeats Crockett in TX

State Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas in the Texas Senate primary on Tuesday in a battle of two national Democratic rising stars.

Talarico will now face the Republi-

can candidate – either incumbent Sen. John Cornyn or embattled state Attorney General Ken Paxton – in the May 26 runoff.

Talarico, 36, is a Presbyterian seminarian and former elementary school teacher.

No Democrat has won a statewide race since 1994, although former Rep. Beto O’Rourke came within about 2.5 percentage points of Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.

While Crockett entered the race three months after Talarico, she was the favorite due to her star power and fundraising prowess. She had gained nationwide fame for her cutting comments about Republicans, such as slamming former House peer Marjorie Taylor Greene as a “beach blonde bad built butch body” for insulting her false eyelashes.

Talarico’s platform revolved around economic issues such as increasing wages and expanding access to affordable housing and childcare.

Talarico launched his campaign with a cinematic ad standing on the bed of a rusted pickup truck, sleeves rolled up, outside a church. “The biggest divide in our country is not left vs. right, it’s top vs. bottom,” Talarico said in the ad, previewing his campaign focused on economic inequality.

Japanese Mafioso Sentenced

A senior figure in Japan’s notorious underworld has been sentenced to two decades behind bars in a New York federal court for attempting to traffic nuclear material, narcot -

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ics and weapons, U.S. officials announced Tuesday.

Takeshi Ebisawa, 61, described by prosecutors as a leader in Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicate, was handed a 20-year prison term after pleading guilty earlier this year to six federal charges. He had been in custody since April 2022 following his arrest in Manhattan during a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sting.

According to the Justice Department, Ebisawa believed he was negotiating in 2021 and 2022 with an Iranian general seeking weapons and nuclear material. In reality, he was communicating with a confidential DEA source and an undercover associate posing as the general.

“After initially offering uranium, Ebisawa proposed to supply the General with ‘plutonium’ that would be even ‘better’ and more ‘powerful’ than uranium for Iran’s use,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Ebisawa boast -

ed in 2020 that he had access to significant quantities of nuclear material. To bolster his claims, he allegedly sent photographs showing rocky substances alongside Geiger counters registering radiation, asserting they contained uranium and thorium. U.S. authorities later obtained samples of the material, and a federal laboratory determined they included uranium, thorium and weapons-grade plutonium — meaning the isotope composition could be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon if refined in sufficient quantity.

Court filings allege the material originated from an unidentified leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar that had been mining uranium. Ebisawa purportedly sought to broker the sale to finance a weapons purchase, including surface-to-air missiles, for armed groups in the region.

In addition to the nuclear trafficking scheme, prosecutors said Ebisawa conspired to sell 500 kilograms

each of methamphetamine and heroin for distribution in New York and worked to launder $100,000 in drug proceeds.

“Takeshi Ebisawa has been held accountable for his crimes, including an attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and to flood New York with deadly narcotics,” said John Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security.

Crenshaw Loses Primary

Rep. Dan Crenshaw has become the first sitting House member to lose a primary in 2026, a stunning setback for the Texas Republican once seen as a rising force within the party.

State Rep. Steve Toth defeated Dan Crenshaw in Tuesday’s GOP primary, securing roughly 56% of the vote to Crenshaw’s 41% with nearly all ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. The district, located

outside Houston, had been redrawn ahead of the election.

Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost an eye in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan, rose to national prominence in 2018 after responding with humor to a mocking “Saturday Night Live” skit. But in recent years, his relationship with the MAGA wing of the party appeared to fray.

Though Crenshaw frequently defended his conservative credentials, he did not receive an endorsement from Donald Trump. He also declined to vote to overturn the 2020 election results and was outspoken in condemning the Jan. 6 Capitol events — positions that fueled criticism from some Trump allies.

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Toth branded himself a “true conservative” and won backing from Turning Point USA, the youth-focused conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk. Days before the primary, Sen. Ted Cruz publicly endorsed Toth, shortly after Crenshaw voted against Cruz’s ROTOR Act aviation safety bill.

Crenshaw also drew fire from prominent conservative voices, including Tucker Carlson, who once derided him as “eyepatch McCain,” questioning his ideological loyalty.

Elsewhere in Texas, several high-profile Republicans are headed to runoffs. Sen. John Cornyn will face Attorney General Ken Paxton in a costly and closely watched GOP Senate runoff, highlighting tensions between establishment conservatives and MAGA-aligned firebrands.

In another House race, Rep. Tony Gonzales advanced to a runoff against Brandon Herrera after neither candidate secured 50% of the vote. Gonzales faces a newly opened House Ethics

Committee investigation tied to allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former staffer.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Julie Johnson appears headed to a runoff with former Rep. Colin Allred.

For Crenshaw, the loss underscores the shifting dynamics within Texas GOP politics — and the continued power of Trump-aligned conservatives in primary contests.

Fly By Night

Last week, hundreds of people spent their night trapped on parked airplanes at Munich Airport.

Six flights, with around 600 passengers total, were unable to take off before the airport’s 1 a.m. curfew on Thursday due to the bad weather. There was no space left at the terminal due to all the cancellations, and so the plane stayed where they were.

Around 100 flights were canceled in Munich on Thursday, and temperatures dropped to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. There were long lines to de-ice planes, while runways were periodically closed at short notice to clear the heavy snowfall.

Munich, Europe’s 10th-busiest airport, typically shuts at midnight, but it received a permit that day to operate an hour later.

The passengers on the six flights couldn’t be transported to the terminal because “bus service was severely restricted” due to “the late hour and communication problems,” the airport said.

It took hours for the buses to come to pick up the passengers from the planes.

Five of the affected flights were operated by Germany’s Lufthansa Group, two of which were with its subsidiary, Air Dolomiti. The other plane belonged to Air Arabia, a budget airline based in the UAE.

“There was no food or drink for us. There were no blankets for us, either,” one passenger said.

He said passengers on the canceled flight to Copenhagen asked if they could enter the airport, but they were told it was forbidden and that all the bus drivers had gone home.

“We’re simply trapped here, along with the staff, too,” he added.

A Lufthansa spokesperson apologized for the snafu. “Together with our partners at Munich Airport, we are doing everything we can to ensure that such mistakes do not happen again,” he said.

Let’s not fly off the handle about this.

Hot Air Havoc

Two people were saved in a heart-stopping rescue after their hot air balloon collided with a cell tower

on Saturday morning, leaving them dangling nearly 1,000 feet above the ground.

Firefighters were called in to deal with the “high angle rescue” just before 9 a.m. They had received reports that a rainbow hot air balloon became snagged on a cell tower. The balloon was punctured and was left dangling almost 920 feet off the Texan ground.

Fourteen rescuers were involved in saving the duo. They had to scale the tower and finally reached the victims, who were in the basket of the hot air balloon, swaying in the wind.

First responders used multiple 300-foot ropes to safely remove the passengers from the hot air balloon basket. They lowered the shaken pair “rope by rope” until they were back on the ground.

“Overall, it was a pretty smooth operation, as much as it can be, with all the challenges here,” Longview Special Operations Lieutenant Stephen Winchell said.

“Climbing 1,000 feet up, 1,000 feet down, for some of them, with a bunch of heavy gear and rope, is a very physically taxing event. I’m thankful for their sweat-equity, and the L-rd being with us,” he added.

He described the situation as “the Super Bowl of rope rescues” simply due to the logistical challenges, including the exposure to the elements and the height of the tower.

Tower King II, a local construction company, will break down the remnants of the balloon piece by piece. Their first priority is lowering the basket and its remaining tank of propane back to the ground. After that, they’ll free the rest of the shredded balloon.

Like a pie in the sky.

Torah Thought Facing Reality

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

We are popularly known throughout our long history as a ‘stubborn people’. Indeed, that appellation was bestowed upon us by G-d Himself when in seeming frustration over observing the Sin of the Golden Calf He sought to eradicate us because we were an ףרוע

— a stiff-necked people. It wasn’t the idolatry that warranted His wrath but more significantly our stubbornness, we simply refused to get it.

Strangely though it is only in reference to this episode alone that the Torah accords us that ‘honorable’ title. It appears in this account four times in our portion with a fifth mention in the Book of Devarim when Moshe reviews this very incident during the last five weeks of his life.

Nowhere else in the entire written Torah is our nation labeled this way ever again. The prophets certainly refer to stiff-necked attitudes that got us into trouble and should be avoided, but the term ‘stiff-necked people’ is never conferred again.

Adding to this mystery is the fact that ףרוע the term that is translated as the ‘neck’ is inaccurate.

The ףרוע is more specifically the base of the skull. (See Chullin 19b)

Rashi when defining this attitude of

depicts it as follows:

— they turned the hardness of their

— backs of their skull, toward those who reproved them, and they refused to listen.

Clearly Rashi is not describing their inability to ‘turn’ their necks due to ‘stiffness’, but rather how they simply turned away and displayed the ‘hard’ part of their skulls to those who sought to reproach them.

What then is the significance of this ‘hardness’ of the back of the skull in

emphasizing their reluctance to listen?

The power of the metaphor is in their simply turning their backs to those who reprove them. What is this hardheadedness all about?

In a fascinating parallel the Arizal teaches that the knot of the Tefillin Shel Rosh, which according to Jewish law must be positioned on the ףרוע, base of the skull, rests upon the Luz bone which is the indestructible bone that remains even after man decomposes, that man will be resurrected from during that marvelous era of םיתמה תייחת — Resurrection of the Dead.

Rabbi Yehuda HaChosid says that the knot of the Tefillin Shel Rosh is shaped in the form of the fourth letter in the Hebrew aleph beis, ד, the daled, corresponding to the four times we are called ‘hard-necked’. G-d in response to Moshe’s request to understand G-d’s essence and ways and view His glory tells Moshe that He cannot reveal to him His face but rather only His back. The Talmud states that Moshe glimpsed the ‘knot of His Tefillin’. This ‘knot’ is the antidote to their negative attitude of stubbornness. (ז די 'יס םחנמ ירבד)

What are we to make of all this?

Why did they refuse to listen? Was stubbornness an ingrained trait they simply couldn’t shed?

After calling them a hardheaded people G-d tells Moshe, “Desist from Me. Let My anger flare up against them; and I shall annihilate them...”

From what was Moshe being requested to desist, he hadn’t taken any action yet? The Midrash says that G-d was intimating that he should pray on their behalf. Out of G-d’s love for His people he desired them to be saved.

The problem with the nation was they felt undeserving and unworthy. A person who feels he hasn’t lived up

to the expectations of others due to his inadequacy will often just turn the other way into dejection. Like a child who senses it has disappointed its parent will turn its back in despair, so too did they walk away dejectedly. G-d wanted to convey to them through Moshe how much He still awaits and hopes for their success and is still counting on them to reach their greatness. Through the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy that Moshe was taught and implemented not only would they realize how much G-d still believes in them, but they would learn that they too, even after failing miserably, can bond with that unconditional love and access that closeness as well.

That is the deeper meaning of the appeal Moshe makes later on to G-d, “Let my Lord go among us — for it is a hard necked people, and you shall forgive our iniquity and error, and make us your heritage.” (ז טל םש)

It is precisely because they tend to feel rejected due to their inadequacy that they need Your presence, Your understanding, Your encouragement. They need to sense that despite their failures You are not disappointed in them but simply are trying to prod them to their ultimate success and happiness.

The ‘hard’ back of our head, that Luz, the eternal connection to G-d and eternity, which previously was too overwhelming for us to accept and on the contrary brought us to a sense of despair is now the ever-present reality of G-d rooting for us.

We are taught that in the Tefillin of G-d the very first verse that is placed within it is: And who is like Your people Israel, one nation in the world, whom God went to redeem for Himself [as] a people, to make You a name of great and fearful things, to drive nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt! (אכ זי א י"הד)

The knot situated upon G-d’s head at the base of His skull, as it were, is an eternal message to us that even when our heads are faced away from Him, we realize that deep within our consciousness is the reality that He is always there, believing in us and prodding us on to greatness, and there is never any need to turn away in defeat.

The Midrash states that this ‘hardheadedness’ has become our praise, as Jews throughout the millennia, as distant from observance they may have found themselves, when push came to shove and they had to choose between life and their love for G-d, have always exclaimed with stubbornness, בולצ

וא — “Let me remain or Jew or I’d rather die!”

There is a piece within each one of us that stubbornly remains cognizant of that exquisite relationship we uniquely possess with the Almighty.

In a world bereft of a belief in a loving Father, who encourages us endlessly to discover Him, one is wont to wallow in despondent emptiness searching for distracted pleasure and indulgence. One who has lost that sense of nobility and purpose is doomed to live a life of wanton and mindless existence.

The masters of the secrets of Torah revealed that הערפ, Pharaoh, the leader of one of the most decadent of societies, has the same letters in his name as ףרעה — ‘the hard back of the skull’. Similarly, the depraved ideology of the idol רועפ — P’eor, whose worship consisted of defecating in its presence in a demented proclamation of a belief ‘that anything goes’; there is no rhyme or reason in life other than perversion and self-indulgent pleasure, its letters also spell out ףרוע — the ‘hardback of the skull’. These nations who refused to accept the notion of a benevolent G-d were doomed to turn their backs on any hope or enlightenment.

This week we read Parshas Parah, reviewing the laws of purity from the defilement of contact with the dead, is not merely done to commemorate the purification that took place among our people in preparation to bring the Paschal sacrifice to the Temple. It is a declaration of our ability to defy the limitations of mortality and achieve the reality of an eternal life absent of death.

May we rediscover our ‘Luz’, our connection to the eternity, our connection to the Eternal, the Almighty, and live lives of joyous allegiance to a loving Father who is never disappointed in us.

You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ohelmoshebaltimore.com

Jews have long been referred to as the “People of the Book.” Centuries ago, when only the upper class would be taught to read and write, we conducted ourselves differently, and even our young were taught to read and write. As a book lover myself, I take great pride in this appellation.

On Tisha B’Av, along with the kinnot mourning the destruction of Jerusalem, there is one kinah, #41, entitled, “Shali Srufa B’aish”— Seek (O Torah) Consumed by Fire. As explained in the ArtScroll Tisha B’Av Kinnot, in the year 1242, 24 cartloads of the Talmud and its commentaries were publicly burned. Please note that this happened two hundred years before the invention of the printing press. Each of those volumes had been handwritten, taking months, even years, of tedious labor and at huge expense. What a calamity this was, for we are the “People of the Book.”

What is amazing is that even under terribly difficult circumstances, this passion for our holy books, our sefarim, never waned. Despite the severe economic hardships, the harsh climate, and constant worry over family members in Europe, the refugee yeshiva students in Shanghai, China, spent the war years seriously engaged in their studies. They used sefarim that had been reprinted from those few carried along to Shang-

Jewish History

People of the Book

By Miriam Liebermann, MSW

hai from Poland, or sent to them by supporters, particularly Rabbi Kalmanowitz in New York. In an amazing instance of hashgacha pratis , Shanghai, hosting 25,000 Jews by the end of the war, actually became the center for the printing of Jewish books. While books being printed in Europe were done through typeset, a novel, more progressive form of printing had been introduced in Shanghai, offset printing, which proved to be a quicker and more economical process. In fact, survivors who made their way from Shanghai to America after the war reported that sefarim were printed in Shanghai to be shipped to America!

Ms. Fayga Brisman, Development Director of Amud Aish Memorial Museum, shared with me that her grandfather, Reb Shimon Brisman, had been a printer in Shanghai. A former student in Baranovitch and Grodno, he escaped together with the Mirrer Yeshiva bochurim to safety in the East. With a partner, another yeshiva student, Reb Berish Mandelbaum (who later became a librarian at Yeshiva University), they established a successful printing plant. Ms. Brisman points out that the depth of scholarship in Shanghai was quite remarkable. Each yeshiva had its own imprint and arranged for the printing of designated sefarim. Reb Brisman, a veritable scholar, eventually made his way to America and

became the chief librarian of the Judaica library at UCLA.

The Mirrer Yeshiva was based in the Bais Aharon Synagogue, built by Silas Hardoon, one of the wealthiest members of Shanghai’s Sephardic Jewish community. The existence of this shul was quite miraculous. Years earlier, Mr. Hardoon dreamt that he should build this edifice. The shul was completed in 1927 and remained empty, unused, until the Mirrer students arrived more than 10 years later and the glorious echoes of Torah learning reverberated through its very walls.

At the first siyum celebration held in Hongkew, Rav M. G. Kagan shared the following, “Jewry, despite its 2,000-year-old exile and martyrdom, notwithstanding the heavy suffering and hardships of its dreary life in exile, in spite of thousands of years of tragic wanderings, exists and lives, builds and creates! The Jewish spirit lives in every branch of life and the Jewish heart palpitates everywhere.”

Rav Yaakov Yosef Hakohein Zabare, zt”l, of Yerushalayim, passed away in the month of Tammuz. He was among the last of the “Alter Mirrers.” At his levaya, many referred to the 5½ years he had spent in Shanghai, together with several hundred Talmudic students. Rav Zabare used to point out that although many of the students became ill with typhoid

due to the oppressive heat and lack of proper nutrition and sanitation, not one succumbed to the illness. Their entire existence in Shanghai had been totally out of the norm, above nature. The humidity was so intense that they would cover the pages of their Talmud with plastic and wrap towels around their necks to prevent their sweat from dripping down and soaking the pages.

The learning was intense, passionate, occupying every waking hour. There was only one volume of the “Ketzos” available for the entire yeshiva. They would take turns studying from this holy sefer. Rav Zabare’s designated time slot was 3 a.m. Because of the curfew, he could not walk the streets at night, and so he would spend the entire night in the yeshiva, sitting over his beloved sefarim. This was the world of Shanghai, 1942-1947.

Fishburn Books, based today in Golders Green, England, in 2011 published a listing of sefarim that had been printed in Shanghai. It contains 102 items, including several that are very rare. Among the texts were volumes of the Talmud, Code of Jewish Law, Yore Deah of the Shulchan Aruch as well as rabbinic journals publishing the novella of the rabbinic students and works of mussar and chassidut. Several of these volumes have introductions that reflect on that particular historical era.

Students of the Lubavitch Yeshiva living in Shanghai were in touch with their Rebbe, Rav Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson, who was in New York then. A group of Lubavitcher chassidim established Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in Shanghai and in 1943 arranged for the printing of Derech haChaim, the Tanya, and Lekutei Devorim.

Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, established by Rav Meir Shapiro in pre-war Poland, also had a presence in Shanghai. They arranged to print the Sfas Emes along with Chidushei Mesechto M’Seder Kodshim, together with Mefitsei Or, in 1943.

An interesting footnote: Masechet Yevamot was not printed in Shanghai. According to Reb Moshe Lieb Weiser, the Mirrer Yeshiva was learning Yevamot at the time they fled from Europe and so they had their own copies. Among other volumes printed we find the Mesilas Yesharim, Chachmat Adam by Rav Avraham Danzig, Shitah MeKubetzes, Ketzot HaChoshen, Chidushei haRamban, Sefer Charedim, Gur Aryeh, Netivat Olam, Nefesh HaChaim, Tomer Devorah, and Chovot Halevavot along with many others.

It is quite remarkable to note that whilst so many of our brethren were be -

ing tragically slaughtered and tortured in Europe, the Talmudic students in Shanghai were strongly engrossed in their studies and printing these volumes to help spread further Torah scholarship. The yeshiva students and their rabbanim realized how awesome this was and gratefully acknowledged the hand of G-d that enabled them to continue to learn and

over 160 girls attending! The Bais Yaakov began as a Shabbos afternoon Bnos program that evolved into a full day school program. The girls were taught by noted mechanchos: Reb. Chana Gorfinkel, Reb. Basya Safran, Reb. Chaya Bluma Hellman, and Reb. Yenta Mannes, former students of the legendary Sarah Schenirer. These women were committed,

The humidity was so intense that they would cover the pages of their Talmud with plastic and wrap towels around their necks to prevent their sweat from dripping down and soaking the pages.

produce these sefarim in the middle of the Holocaust.

Besides Bais Ahron, accommodating the bais medrash students, there were also schools set up for the younger ones. There were two Jewish schools along with a Bais Yaakov that eventually had

passionate and took their responsibility very seriously. As was stated, “Everything created throughout so many generations is now in ruins and along with it the glorious Bais Yaakov movement. But will the work of our mother Sara Schenirer really come to nothing? We, a group of teachers

and friends of the Bais Yaakov movement, who were torn from our homes by the stormy waves of war and tossed to distant Shanghai, declare, No! We must establish Bais Yaakov schools here in the same pattern as the Bais Yaakovs in Poland…”

The Amshinover Rebbe, Rav Simon Shalom Kalisz, also played a major role in the yeshiva world that existed in Shanghai. He served as a wellspring of fortitude and spiritual strength for the refugees, especially for the chassidic students.

What a glorious people! Steadfast, proud, strong and unwavering in their beliefs and in their commitment to Torah.

The Amud Aish Memorial Museum is a Holocaust museum and archival center dedicated to preserving artifacts and original archival collections donated by frum survivors. We serve as a voice for the Kedoshim, enabling the next generation to connect to what mattered most to them—faith, spiritual resistance, and rebuilding Yiddishkeit after the war. To arrange a private tour of the Amud Aish Memorial Museum, please contact Mrs. Chavi Felsenberg at 917-494-8689.

Shacharis

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Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

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continued

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10045 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

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Maariv

continued

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nspiration Nation

IRabbi Ken Spiro

On False Messiahs, Christianity, and the Messianic Era

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

f you take a mindful stroll down Ben Yehuda Street, you’ll notice its pale Jerusalem stone ground, outdoor cafes, and bustling shops and restaurants. You’ll hear music from street performers. The sounds of a dozen languages. And the voices of soldiers, excited tourists, ordinary folks enjoying a coffee, children giggling, and families walking — all the sounds that make up the soundscape of the iconic Jerusalem pedestrian mall.

But then there are other sounds and visuals that are, let’s say, less ordinary. Imagine yourself there: You’re passing by a souvenir shop when suddenly you spot a woman dressed in a white robe, yelling words that make no sense, holding up a big sign with bold letters. You squint at the sign from afar.

“I AM THE MESSIAH!” it reads. “I don’t want to be the Messiah, and my donkey doesn’t want to be a donkey. But we can’t help it.”

In His Words…

Before you process what’s happening, your confused brain scans the area and very quickly concludes that this woman — this eccentric woman parading down Ben Yehuda Street — is mistaken. She’s neither the Messiah nor a donkey owner.

You might think this woman’s crazy, but she’s far from the only Messiah claimant waving signs and yelling on the streets of Yerushalayim. Spend enough time in the area, and you’ll likely meet people who suffer from what experts call Jerusalem syndrome, a condition wherein an individual is seized by sudden delusions upon arriving in the holy city, genuinely convinced that he or she is the savior.

Now, the vast majority of people wouldn’t take this woman seriously. Nor would they pay any mind to a disheveled-looking man yelling unintelligibly about the redemption on a street corner. But what happens when a Messiah claimant seems credible? When, rather than appear-

When it comes to Moshiach, the most important thing to focus on is that you don’t get the title until you complete the job.

Maimonides said, ‘The sages and prophets did not long for the Messianic era in order to rule the world or to subdue the nations, but to be free to pursue Torah and its wisdom. at that time, there would be no jealousy and no war, no hunger and no strife.’

Extremism is back, and the Jews are always going to be at the center of it because the way society treats us is the litmus test for where humanity’s holding.

ing to be crazy, they seem charismatic and brilliant, like a real-world miracle worker? What happens when this individual is so out-of-this-world that even the greatest rabbis are persuaded that he’s Moshiach? When his presence convinces most Jews that Moshiach has arrived?

In that case, Rabbi Ken Spiro explains, we’re dealing with three kinds of Messiah claimants. First, there’s potential Messiahs. Then, there are failed Messiahs — the sort of people who could have been Moshiach but didn’t fulfill the mission. And third (and most common), there are false Messiahs.

So how do we tell whether a Messiah claimant is the real deal? As Rabbi Spiro explains, it’s actually very simple. If you complete the job, you get the title.

* * *

Rabbi Ken Spiro, a top author, historian, and Aish HaTorah lecturer, was once teaching a class on the Messianic era. He explained that all religions would disappear once Moshiach comes. Christianity would be gone. Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and every other religion would suffer the same fate, with all gentiles recognizing Judaism as the one true faith.

“So then, what does the whole world become?” Rabbi Spiro asked his class.

In response, one guy hollered, “Slaves to the Jews!”

Well, no. Not quite, Rabbi Spiro says with a chuckle.

“Maimonides said, ‘The sages and prophets did not long for the Messianic era in order to rule the world or to subdue the nations, but to be free to pursue Torah and its wisdom. At that time, there would be no jealousy and no war, no hunger and no strife. The entire world will be entirely occupied with acquiring the knowledge of G-d, as it says: The world will be full of the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the sea.’ So, we’d just be connecting all of hu-

manity to G-d,” Rabbi Spiro shares. “The rest of the world becomes Noahides, and they keep the seven Noahide laws.”

That — making the entire world recognize G-d and the truth of Judaism — is perhaps the Messiah’s biggest task. But there’s more to the job.

“In a nutshell, the Messiah has to spiritually bring the entire Jewish nation back to Torah observance. That’s number one,” Rabbi Spiro says. “He has to physically bring all the Jews back to the land of Israel. He has to reconstitute a Jewish government with the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court of 71 judges, and a high priest and king, governing through a Jewish legal system with a Jewish code of laws. He has to rebuild the Temple, which is where the Dome of the Rock is. The Temple service, with animal sacrifices and the laws of ritual purity, has to be reinstated. And by the way, Moshiach also has to fight off all the people who try to stop us.”

According to Rabbi Spiro, we are currently in the Messianic Era, a transitional period that immediately precedes the redemption. We’re seeing the world breaking down. Conflicts are erupting constantly. Simultaneously, the baal teshuva movement has brought countless Jews home, and Jews are making Aliyah en masse from everywhere in the world (the only other country outside of Israel that still has a substantial Jewish population is the United States). The process is already beginning. Now, Rabbi Ken Spiro says, we just need the Messiah to finish the job.

“But the most important thing to focus on is that you don’t get the title until you complete the job,” Rabbi Spiro emphasizes. “Now, that doesn’t mean there can’t be potential Messiahs; Judaism has that concept. The Talmud explicitly says that Hezekiah — the 14th king after King David, who was an incredibly righteous

man — had the potential to do it, but for various reasons, he didn’t.

“We’ve also had failed Messiahs: maybe Shimon Bar Kochva, who led the Bar Kochva revolt and had the backing of one of the greatest rabbis in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva,” he adds. “We also have fake messiahs.”

And of course, the two most famous false messiah claimants in Jewish history are Shabbatai Tzvi and Yashka, both of whom garnered incredibly large followings.

Shabbatai Tzvi, a charming Turkish Jew who lived in the 17th century, is at the center of one of the most tragic stories in Jewish history. Somehow, he convinced much of the Jewish nation that he was Moshiach. A messianic fervor, a palpable sense of hope and excitement, surged through the nation. Convinced that their miserable galus was over, the masses rallied around Shabbatai Tzvi, declaring him the Messiah, selling all their possessions to make Aliyah, and, at his urging, eating lavish meals on fast days and disregarding several mitzvos. Great rabbis even backed him.

But then, one day, Shabbatai Tzvi got a little ahead of himself. He visited the Sultan.

“I’m the Messiah,” Shabbatai Tzvi declared. “Take off your crown and put it on my head.”

The Sultan very quickly declined, and he said something along these lines: “I don’t think so. But I’ll make you an offer: Become a Muslim or I’ll behead you.”

And just like that, the dream was over, the nation’s excitement came crashing down in the cruelest of ways, leaving in its wake an unspeakable despair — the kind one faces only when all hope is lost. Shabbatai Tzvi yielded to the Sultan’s threats, converting to Islam. *

While Shabbatai Tzvi is a well-documented historical figure, far less is known about Yashka, who is presumed to have lived some 2,000 years ago. Yashka is the central character of Christianity. Christians believe he’s the “son” of G-d — comprising a trinity wherein G-d is chas

v’shalom split into three components — and await his “second coming” as the messiah.

But though Christian scripture writes extensively on Yashka’s life, its accounts are not from eyewitnesses; they were written years after Yashka’s death. While people from the Tanach, like Avraham and Moshe, lived in prehistoric times, Yashka allegedly lived at a time when historians were recording history. And yet, there is virtually no firsthand historical information about Yashka.

“Roman historians talk about Yashka, but only in the framework of Christianity being based on this guy — not that ‘I hung out with him.’ There’s no Roman soldier saying, ‘Yeah, I was at the crucifixion, I got the robe,’ stuff like that. So interestingly, there aren’t eyewitnesses,” Rabbi Spiro shares. “But there’s one Jewish historian who actually comes after the Yashka narrative, but not that long after, whose name is Josephus.”

As Rabbi Spiro explains, Josephus wrote a book called “Jewish Antiquities,” where he gives an incredibly detailed account of Jewish history. He leaves virtually nothing out. So, the question is, “Does Josephus talk about Yashka?” And the answer is…kind of?

“There’s a one chapter reference to J—,” Rabbi Spiro shares. “I don’t remember the exact quote, but he says that there was a man called J—, who was a great worker of wonderful deeds, and he was the [Messiah]... And it’s like 10 sentences.

“First of all, think about it logically. If J— was who he was and did what he did, this would be a really big speech, like at least a chapter! We’re the people who brought the idea of the Messiah into the world. No one would be more excited about that than the Jewish people: redemption’s finally come, we’re free at last. But the mention is just stuck in the middle,” Rabbi Spiro continues. “So, all the people who really know Josephus well and study him agree that it’s what’s called an insertion.”

In other words, someone, at a later time, took Josephus’ work and edited it to include mentions of Yashka.

But there’s one other text that seemingly discusses Yashka: the Gemara.

In fact, there are several parts of the Talmud that mention a “Yeshu HaNotzri,” which many people assume is the Hebrew name for “J— of Nazareth” or “J— the Christian” (the latter translation is dubious, because while Notzri is the modern-day Hebrew word for Christian, in the days of the Talmud it referred to an offshoot heretical sect of Judaism, not a separate religion). But, as Rabbi Spiro explains, these mentions of Yeshu HaNotzri have nothing to do with Yashka. For one, there’s not one but two Yeshu HaNotris in the Gemara.

“One is an apostate, a heretical student of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Prachya, who lived in the second century before the common era. And one is the illegitimate son of the wife of a guy by the name of Papas ben Yehuda, who lived around the time of Rabbi Akiva in the second century CE,” Rabbi Spiro shares. “You have two different people, living about 300 years apart, not connected to each other in any way. They just happen to have the same name, at least in the Talmud. And the Talmud is often speaking encoded and polemically, so even taking the stories in the Talmud literally is an interesting discussion. But neither of them fit into the J— of Nazareth time of the early first century.”

So, we have no historical evidence for Yashka, but that hasn’t stopped the movement that was created in his name. Nor has it stopped antisemites from using his death as ammunition against the Jewish people. Much of modern-day antisemitism started with the Christian world’s accusation of deicide against the Jews (accusing the Jewish people of killing their “deity”).

By allegedly killing Yashka, the Jewish people became, in the eyes of antisemitic Christian sects, the devil. Just like the devil, the Jewish people, they say, are the root of all evil. They killed the world’s only hope for salvation. They murder Christian children to make blood matzah. They rob and desecrate churches. And of course, they started the Black Plague, the 14th-century pandemic that wiped out half of Europe (25-50 million people).

You can hear echoes of this rhetoric in modern-day antisemitic allegations,

including that the Jewish people control the media, government, and economy and use their power for evil. At the core of these antisemitic claims is the idea that the Jewish people are the reason why bad things happen.

“Today, there are millions of super supportive Christians. But historically, Christianity has been used to create the most toxic, violent form of hatred and rivalry,” Rabbi Spiro notes.

In this sense, the movements behind Yashka and Shabbatai Tzvi were quite similar. Both movements attracted skeptics. And in turn, those skeptics were chastised as evil and demonic. With regard to Shabbatai Tzvi, Chabad.org writes, “Strong, reasonable rabbinic opposition was swept aside in the frenzy, with those showing disbelief in the so-called Messiah hounded and reviled,” so much so that one rabbi was even exiled for doubting Shabbatai Tzvi’s claims. Likewise, critics of Yashka were and are frequently labeled heretics and followers of the devil.

What do those two Messianic movements have in common? They were cults. And, as in every cult, dissent is prohibited, questions are banned, and blind faith is mandatory. Even though there was no conclusive evidence that either man was Moshiach, no one was allowed to question their status or remain skeptical pending real proof. But the beautiful thing about Judaism is that blind faith plays no role in our religion. We are obligated to question everything. In that sense, there’s very little difference between Yashka, Shabbatai Tzvi, and the Messiah claimants on Ben Yehuda Street: they can claim they’re Moshiach, but it would be foolish to believe them until they prove it.

When the real Moshiach comes soon, Iy”H, we won’t be confused. There will be no need to accept what he says blindly or to worry about rejecting him hastily. As Rabbi Spiro says, Moshiach doesn’t earn his title until he finishes the job. And when he does, there will be no room for doubt. Our enemies will be defeated. We’ll be back in Eretz Yisrael, standing before the Beis HaMikdash. There will be peace. And we’ll be free, forever, to learn Torah and serve Hashem.

Think. Feel.Grow.

The Deeper Story of Adar

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

After an overwhelming week at work, Daniel decides to go on a nature hike to recharge. Without letting anyone know of his plans, he heads off into the mountains. As he is enjoying the view and the peaceful quiet around him, he suddenly slips and tumbles off the edge of a cliff. He plunges downwards but somehow manages to grasp onto a branch jutting out of the cliff face. He clings to the branch for dear life, trying not to look down at the ravine below.

As his life flashes before his eyes, he is struck by a disheartening thought: “I am alone. Nobody knows I am here, and I have no way of escaping. I am going to die.” He begins to take stock of his life, thinking about the good times he’s had and what he has managed to accomplish in his short existence. He thinks about his family and how much they are going to miss him.

Just then, a rope soars past his head, hanging directly in front of him. After a moment’s shock, he grabs the rope and holds on for dear life as someone on the other end begins to pull him up over the cliff edge.

As Daniel reaches the top, he is still gasping and amazed at the fact that he just survived. He immediately asks the man who saved him, “How did you know that I was hanging off the edge of the cliff and needed rescuing?”

The man stares back at him blankly and says, “I didn’t. This morning, I randomly decided to practice throwing ropes over cliffs.”

There are two reactions that Daniel can have to this series of events. He can recognize the miracle that just occurred, thanking G-d for sending him salvation when all hope seemed lost. Or he can laugh at the unlikely coincidence that this man decided to practice rope-throwing the same exact day that he fell over a cliff face, thankful that he happened to get lucky this time.

This is the exact decision we face in every moment and aspect of life, and this theme runs through the entire Purim story.

Haman and Our Battle Against Amalek

As we just experienced Purim and

our victory over Haman, let us delve deeper into the unique spiritual and existential battle that the Jewish People must continue to wage against the philosophy of Amalek.

As a descendant of Amalek, Haman continued their legacy of Jewish obliteration. As the Maharal explains, Amalek rejects Hashem’s connection to this world or any connection between the spiritual and the physical. Essentially, Amalek denies Hashem’s control of this world and the ability for man to uplift himself to the level of the spiritual. Torah is the epitome of both of these principles, and it provides the guidelines for how to achieve this spiritual elevation. It is based on the axiom of Hashem’s connection with this world, and it is the means for elevating ourselves and all of physicality to a higher purpose. Amalek stands in direct opposition to this, and when they saw that the Jewish People were ready to adopt the Torah way of life, they had no choice but to attack.

Amalek’s entire existence is predicated on a lack of connection between Hashem and this world, an acceptance of that principle would mean the cessation

of Amalek’s existence. Amalek therefore attacked the Jewish People in order to prevent Matan Torah — to stop the world from accepting Hashem’s Torah and the truth that lies within it.

Let us delve deeper into the spiritual nature of Haman in order to understand our battle against Amalek on an even deeper level.

“Ha’min Ha’eitz” — the Source of Haman

The essence of Haman, the person who most potently expressed the characteristics and mission of Amalek, is revealed in a very strange discussion in the Gemara (Chullin 139b). The Gemara asks, “Where is Haman found in the Torah?”

Before we discuss the Gemara’s answer, it is essential that we fully understand the nature of this question. After all, Haman was a man, not a halachic principle, so why is it important to find a source for Haman in the Torah?

Torah is not simply a guide to living a life of truth; it is the blueprint and DNA of this physical world. In other words, our physical world is a projection and emana-

tion of the deep spiritual reality described in the Torah. This is the meaning behind the famous Midrash that says, “Istakel b’Oraisa u’bara alma — [Hashem] looked into the Torah and used it to create the world” (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1). Torah is the blueprint of the world; the physical world is an emanation and expression of Torah, the spiritual root of existence.

To illustrate this concept, imagine a projector. The image that you see on the screen emanates from the film in the projector so that everything you see on the screen is simply an expression of what is contained within the film. So, too, every single thing that we see and experience in the physical world stems from the spiritual world — the transcendent dimension of Torah. This is what the Gemara means by “where is Haman found in the Torah?” Haman’s spiritual root as well must be found within the Torah, and by understanding this source, we can understand his spiritual nature and purpose.

The Gemara answers: “Ha’min ha’eitz.” Ha’min shares the letters as Haman. Right after Adam and Chavah sinned, they were embarrassed, so they hid behind a bush. Hashem then asks them, “Ha’min ha’eitz, did you eat from the tree?” (Bereishis 3:11). Let us try to understand the profound meaning of this Gemara. Before Adam sinned, he was on an angelic level, almost perfect. He saw reality through a crystal-clear lens; his body itself was transcendent, and he lived in the spiritual realm of Gan Eden. However, once Adam sinned, his entire existence, his body, and the world itself fell to a lower, incomparably more physical level. The physical no longer revealed the spiritual; it now hid it instead. Once he ate from the Eitz HaDaas, his spiritual vision became distorted and he became confused. At this point, he does the impossible: He hides from Hashem. The problem is obvious: How can Adam expect to hide from Hashem? He knows fully well that this is impossible, but he does so because he is confused. Evil and doubt have become mixed into his very self. While he knows this behavior is ridiculous, a small voice of doubt within him whispers, “Maybe it is possible to hide from Hashem.” In fact, it was the very shame and embarrassment of having eaten from the Eitz HaDaas that made him want to hide from Hashem. He was hiding from the truth — from the consequences of his actions.

However, deep down, Adam hoped that Hashem would come and tell him that everything will be OK, that Adam would be able to recreate the closeness to Hashem that he previously possessed, and that ev-

erything would go back to the way it was. This was the true pain of Hashem’s response: “Ayekah, where are you?” “Ha’min ha’eitz, [did you eat] from the tree?” The moment Adam acts as if Hashem can’t see him, i.e., the moment he relates to Hashem with doubt and uncertainty, Hashem responds in kind. This is because Hashem relates to us in exactly the way we relate to Him. As the pasuk says, “Hashem tzilcha, Hashem is your shadow (Tehillim 121:5).” However you relate to Hashem, He will

in the finite.

Amalek fights for a G-d-less reality, devoid of spirituality and meaning, a world of Haman, of doubt, where a gap exists between us and Hashem. Only when you look closer, deepening your gaze, do you see the deeper layer of reality, the transcendent root. Hashem is Echad – One –and our goal is to see the spiritual oneness inherent within every event and object in this world. Amalek seeks to hide the truth, to disconnect us from our Source, and thus

He was hiding from the truth — from the consequences of his actions.

mirror (Nefesh Hachaim 1:7).

Ayekah, a question of doubt and uncertainty, would become the foundation for all of history. Ayekah has the same letters as “Eichah,” the Megillah we read describing the destruction of the Jewish People’s connection with Hashem. Our destruction is the direct result of denying Hashem’s connection to the world, acting as if He does not see what occurs here. The question of “Ha’min ha’eitz” is the source of Haman, the source of Amalek, the source of all doubt and uncertainty in this world. Hashem asks, “Did you eat from the tree?” as if He does not know. It is this question itself that represents the gap between us and Hashem, a gap that Amalek battles to keep open, a gap that the Jewish People must forever strive to close.

A Timeless Battle

Megillas Esther is unique in that it is one of the only books in Tanach in which Hashem’s name is not mentioned. This is because Purim marks a transition in history, when our battle against Amalek manifested in a new form. Until Purim, history was permeated with consistent open miracles, nevuah was common, and Hashem was openly revealed in the world.

The second stage, ushered in by Purim, is characterized by hidden miracles. In our present world, Hashem is no longer openly manifest and clearly visible. In this stage, we must choose to see Hashem within the darkness — to peer past the façade of a meaningless world. It is in this stage that Amalek’s claims are all the more tempting to believe, as it is so easy to ignore Hashem’s involvement in this world. Our challenge is to see past the surface, to see the miraculous within the natural, the ethereal within the mundane, and the infinite with-

to strip all meaning from life. Only when we see past the surface, when we trace everything that happens in this world back to Hashem, our spiritual Source, will we ultimately defeat Amalek and all that they stand for.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is an international speaker, bestselling author, business coach,

the CEO of SMA, and a TED Talk Speaker. His online content reaches millions of people every month, and he lectures internationally on topics of Torah thought, psychology, leadership, and business – uniquely blending many areas of Torah and wisdom together. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Torah thought. After receiving his BA from Yeshiva University and Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, Rabbi Reichman received a Masters degree in Philosophy and Religion from the University of Chicago. As part of his Masters Degree at the University of Chicago, Rabbi Reichman received an Ivy Plus Scholarship to Harvard where he spent a year studying Religious Philosophy and Literature as an Ivy Scholar. Additionally, he received a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from Azrieli Graduate School and a Masters degree in Jewish Thought from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. As a business and leadership coach, Rabbi Reichman provides a unique 1-on-1 coaching program where he helps high-achievers, coaches, and business owners achieve their financial and personal goals. To learn more or to get in contact with Rabbi Reichman, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

Political Crossfire India Built the World’s Back Office. AI Is Starting to Shrink It

By Steven Lee Myers and Paul Mozur

In Gurugram, the sprawling tech suburb outside New Delhi, Krishna Khandelwal is using artificial intelligence to build an army of chatbots designed to eliminate the kind of jobs that once lifted India into the ranks of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Since last summer, his startup, Hunar.AI, has offered companies bespoke AI voice agents that steer job applicants through virtually every step of the hiring process, from resume screening to orientation.

“For onboarding,” he said in an interview in the company’s headquarters in a shared workspace, “you don’t need humans at all.”

For a quarter century, India has made itself the world’s back office, providing an educated, English-speaking workforce to do tasks more cheaply than in the United States or Europe. The industry today employs more than 6 million people and is worth nearly $300 billion, more than 7% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Now, AI threatens to do to India what its outsourcing model did to the rest of the world: replace hundreds of thousands of office workers.

Economies everywhere are bracing for an era in which AI tools automate entire categories of white-collar work, but the brunt could fall hardest on India, undermining two decades of effort to climb the value chain and establish a place in the global tech world.

“It’s a matter of time,” said Deedy Das, a partner at Menlo Ventures, an investment firm that closely tracks AI. “Markets are pretty efficient. If a tool exists that does a job cheaper, it will be adopted,” he said. “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened at a faster clip, but it will.”

The tremors are already being felt.

Tata Consultancy Services, one of India’s largest employers, has shrunk its workforce to 580,000, a decline of more than 20,000 from a peak in 2022, when it hired 100,000 new workers in one year alone.

Its main rival, Infosys, has also slowed hiring, while dozens of smaller startups laid off workers across the country in 2025, according to Inc42, a digital economy news outlet in India.

Graduates of the country’s universities and technical colleges are finding fewer openings, forcing them to scramble to “upskill,” an increasingly popular term in the context of learning the AI technology that is reshaping the industry.

Tech stocks in India were already slumping this year, but a speculative report on Feb. 22 by Citrini Research, an analytics company based in the United States, sent them spiraling, by painting a doomsday scenario about AI’s impact on India in particular.

“The entire model was built on one value proposition: Indian developers cost a fraction of their American counterparts,” the report said, imagining the world in the not-so-distant future of 2028. “But the marginal cost of an A.I. coding agent had collapsed to, essentially, the cost of electricity.”

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister since 2014, has recognized the challenge. Like many leaders, he has pledged to make

the country an AI power, including by overseeing international deals and urging the country’s own software engineers to develop new technologies and export them to the world.

“There have been certain turning points that have shaped entire countries,” Modi said during an international conference on AI in New Delhi last month, according to a translation of his remarks. “These turning points set the direction of civilization and transform the pace of development. Artificial intelligence is one such transformation in history.”

It is far from clear, however, whether India is positioned to make that transformation. While it has a highly educated workforce, it lacks the infrastructure and natural resources needed to power AI products.

At the AI conference in New Delhi, India’s largest outsourcing firms announced deals with U.S. companies including Anthropic and OpenAI to expand use of their products and to develop data center capacity to power them. The announcements, while welcomed as foreign investment in the economy, underscored how reliant the country remains on the United

States for everything from the microchips to the foundational models that are driving the AI boom.

Upheaval in the economy could undermine political support for Modi’s government, whose party lost seats in the last parliamentary elections in 2024. The country already faces labor unrest that further job losses could worsen. Unemployment among educated young people reached as high as 65% of the total unemployed in 2022, according to a report by the International Labor Organization.

While 6 million tech workers might not seem like a lot in a population of nearly 1.5 billion, they represent a politically vocal middle class concentrated in some of the country’s most dynamic cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune.

“If you’re a young engineer getting out of university, I’d be worried,” said Rajesh Nambiar, president of Nasscom, the tech industry association founded in 1988, when India’s tech boom was in its infancy. “It’s not going to be pretty out there.”

Nambiar and other industry leaders and experts are not exclusively gloomy. They point out that AI is already driving local startups in India that aspire to build products for global markets.

“This is the best place to be,” said Nikhil Gupta, a founder of LimeChat, an e-commerce company in Bengaluru. LimeChat designs chatbots for retailers on WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging app, which has more users in India than anywhere in the world.

Gupta grew up in Cupertino, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, but returned to India for high school and college and decided to build his startup there. India, he said, “has all the ingredients already to provide services for the world.”

For India’s outsourcing giants, deep relationships with multinationals and the ability to manage sprawling software systems mean that they will not disappear overnight. They have already expanded beyond call centers, offering services such

as human resources and accounting.

In recent years, hundreds of international companies, many of them American, have opened their own operations in India, known as global capability centers, rather than simply contracting out the work.

K. Krithivasan, the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services, said the company planned to remake itself as an AI powerhouse. On an earnings call in January, he said revenues for the company’s AI services had swelled in the past quarter to $1.8 billion, on an annualized basis. “We remain steadfast in our ambition to become the world’s largest AI-led technology services company,” he told investors.

On the ground, however, the prospects seem grim. In call centers and back-office operations, hiring has slowed to a crawl. AI is creating new kinds of jobs — including training AI chatbots by labeling data and teaching robots tasks like fold-

During the semester break in January, Complygate, a background-check company based in Birmingham, England, held a 10-day training course on campus for nearly 100 students. The course ended with a test. Only the top scorers — roughly 10 — received job offers.

“AI has changed the business model,” said one student, Tathagat, 23, who goes by one name.

A native of Bihar, a state bordering Nepal, Tathagat said the onus was on students to learn the skills that this new model demanded.

“It depends on us,” he said. “If you adapt with the times, it’s a great time to graduate.”

The college has had to scramble to keep its curriculum up-to-date with technology, which changes as quickly as semesters pass. “You have to move with the markets,” said Rakesh Sharma, the college’s president. Referring to the students, he added,

AI threatens to do to India what its outsourcing model did to the rest of the world: replace

hundreds of thousands of office workers.

ing clothes — but the jobs are repetitive, poorly paid and offer few paths upward.

Young graduates can now make more money making deliveries for the country’s booming e-commerce companies than they once could in entry-level tech, analysts and executives said. But for many, cultural expectations around careers have not caught up with the lowered prospects, said Siddharth Srivastava, a product leader at Instawork, a staffing platform based in San Francisco.

“They don’t have skills, but they have ambitions,” he said. “They can’t see their socioeconomic strata doing a blue-collar job.”

At the R.D. Engineering College in Ghaziabad, a gritty industrial city with an estimated 2.5 million people east of New Delhi, tech companies such as Tata and Infosys once came calling in search of recruits. Now the college has to seek the companies out, according to Mohd Vakil, the dean of academics.

Only a few years ago, 85% of graduates, on average, had jobs when they finished, Vakil said. In the past two years, it was 75%. With fewer companies hiring, competition has become fierce.

“We are making all efforts to make them employable.”

Hunar.AI offers a window into both the potential and the disruption.

Khandelwal, who is 38, began by creating a traditional job-recruiting company with 65 employees handling calls to prospective applicants, mostly in banking but also for local Starbucks franchises.

The company then fed more than 4 million minutes of recorded calls into a large language model using OpenAI’s products to train its chatbots to make and conduct the calls in a robotic but fairly convincing conversational tone.

Since launching last August, Hunar. AI has signed 70 clients and brought in $3 million in revenue. Its success illustrates the challenge facing India. Instead of 65 recruiters, the company now has 45. Khandelwal expects that number to dwindle to 25 or fewer, even as business grows.

He estimated that the company has already eliminated 1,000 jobs in human resources. By the end of the year, he said, “we’ll be doing the work of 10,000.”

Forgotten Her es World War II Aviation Innovators

By Avi Heiligman

After World War I, American aviation saw a shift from military operations to a more commercial mindset. While other countries focused on building their air forces and mass producing military planes, the Americans were barnstorming at air shows and using planes for transport. Many in the military saw planes strictly in support roles for the ground or naval forces. However, there were some pioneers who looked at the bigger picture and realized that aviation would fundamentally change how wars were fought. These innovators and their tactics evolved throughout the war, and their contributions ultimately transformed aircraft into a powerful weapon that turned the tide of the global conflict.

Paul “Pappy” Gunn enlisted in the Navy at the very end of World War I, becoming an aircraft machinist mate while learning to fly. In 1923, he joined the oldest fighter group in the Navy, known as the Tophatters. He served as an instructor until his retirement in 1939, when he started flying for Philippines Airlines. Two years later, the American garrison in the Philippines was attacked by Japanese forces. Gunn flew evacuation missions out of the country, determined to rescue his wife and four children who were taken captive by the Japanese. Soon, he was commissioned in the Army Air Forces. His hair-raising missions included being shot down by enemy planes and surviving the crash. For flying an unarmored plane into Bataan to deliver desperately needed medical sup -

plies, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the fall of the Philippines, Gunn flew to Australia where he started modifying aircraft firepower. He took 50-caliber machine guns salvaged from wrecked planes and placed them into the nose of an A-20 Havoc plane to increase its effectiveness on ground support operations.

Major General George Kenney heard of Gunn’s modifications and put him on his staff as the special projects officer. Another sixteen A-20s were modified by Gunn as well as several B-25 medium bombers.

These planes played a crucial part in the Allied victory at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Gunn continued augmenting the armament of aircraft. These planes devastated Japanese targets for the rest of the war. His family was released in early 1945 during the liberation of the Philippines, and Gunn reestablished Philippines Airline after the war.

Many of the top pilots in the American military innovated new ways to combat the enemy and achieve success in the sky.

F6F Hellcat pilot David McCampbell was the Navy’s highest scoring ace with 34 aerial victories to his record. Over the course of the war, he taught his squadron new and improved tactics to attack the enemy while gaining the upper hand in aerial combat.

McCampbell relied heavily on a tactic called the “Thach Weave” in which two planes fly in a weaving pattern instead of simply chasing an enemy plane in a dogfight. This maneuver avoids vulnerability

during a chase and traps the enemy into the sights of the wingman. Invented by Navy Lieutenant Commander John S. “Jimmy” Thach in 1941, it was first used successfully by Thach in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. McCampbell also taught his squadron to preserve ammunition and only fire in short bursts. This discipline allowed him to record an incredible nine aerial victories in a single mission. Additionally, he developed a clearer, shorter way of communicating over the radio which allowed him to maintain strict control over the squadron. Inexperienced pilots often got excited during the action and used the radio for unnecessary chatter which could cause important information to be missed. McCampbell curbed that chatter and pioneered concise code words, including using clock positions in regards to the location of the enemy.

The proximity fuze was introduced to combat situations toward the end of the war, helping to thwart last-ditch efforts by the Axis powers. Invented by British scientists alongside American physicists Merle Tuve and Richard Roberts, the fuze detonated an explosive shell once it came within a specific distance of its target. Before the proximity fuze, anti-aircraft shells required a direct hit or timers within the shell had to be preset to the estimated altitude of the target. These less reliable methods were replaced by the proximity fuze, which used a small radio transmitter and receiver that emitted radio waves to bounce off the approaching aircraft. Once

the target came into range, the explosive charge detonated automatically.

By late 1944, kamikaze attacks were creating major problems for American ships in the Pacific. With the introduction of the proximity fuze, the American forces were able to intercept hundreds of incoming suicide planes, significantly reducing the number of aircraft able to reach their targets.

American pilots also used rockets equipped with proximity fuzes. The rocket would “sense” the plane and detonate, allowing fighter pilots to pick off enemy aircraft at longer distances and use them to break up tight formations of bombers. This technological advantage was instrumental in helping the Allies achieve total air supremacy at the end of the war.

In a short period of time, aviation transformed from the early days of barnstorming to the total air supremacy reached at the end of the war in 1945. Pioneers like Pappy Gunn and David McCampbell, along with the development of the proximity fuze, changed aviation forever. Their contributions turned American air assets into military powerhouses, and their work remains a vital part of history to be remembered.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

To Raise a Laugh

How To Fix A Flat Tire In 3 Easy Steps (And 15 Hard Steps)

Today’s article is about how to change your tire. A lot of people are scared to change a tire, but in truth, it’s not much harder than changing a light bulb, if you had to jack up your house first and risk it maybe rolling down a hill.

1. Determine that your car has a flat. A good way to do this without getting out of the car is to ask yourself the following questions: 1. Am I in a rush? 2. Am I wearing nice clothes? 3. Is it raining? 4. Am I in a bad neighborhood? If the answer to two or more of these questions is “yes,” your tire is flat.

2. Get out of the car and figure out which tire it is. Sometimes the answer will be fairly obvious – for example, you’ll see a nail or screw sticking out of the tire. I drive over nails all the time – 3 nails in the past 2 years alone. I don’t know why the streets are just littered with nails and screws. Who’s doing construction on the street?

3. Once you determine that you have a flat, take care of it immediately. Continuing to drive might damage the rim. I don’t know how to change a rim, but I bet it’s a lot harder to do in your Shabbos pants at the side of a road.

4. Pull off onto the right shoulder of the highway. If it’s a driver’s side tire, pull off onto the left shoulder. Your other option is to climb under the car from the passenger side and try to change the tire that way.

5. Call Chaveirim. Chaveirim is a volunteer organization whose members are willing to get their pants dirty for total strangers. But be careful when you call them, because if your phone has lousy voice recognition, you might end up calling Chazeirim. And then you’ll have a whole bunch of pigs running around you at the side of the road, and they won’t be helpful at all. Also,

there might be other organizations called Chaveirim. You can accidentally call the kind of Chaveirim organization that consists of older Yekkes.

“But I called Chaveirim!”

“Yeah, that’s me. Hachover Schlowmow ben Hachover Yowsef Mowshe.”

(I can make jokes like this because I’m 1/3 Yekke. And even so, they still might come after me with ridiculously-clean pitchforks.)

6. Find your tire-changing tools. If you’ve never bought any tire-changing tools, you’re in luck. Most car manufacturers hide tools around the car because they know that flat tires will happen. It’s a huge metal vehicle held off the ground by rubber and air. They weren’t born yesterday.

7. If you don’t know where to find your tool kit, check the owner’s manual. The owner’s manual will show you where in the car everything is located, with the exception of the owner’s manual. You’re on your own for that. Usually it’s in the glove compartment, unless you left it on the side of the road somewhere.

8. Place the jack under the car and start cranking until the tire is completely off the ground. But remember that you’re lifting an entire vehicle on a point as small as your tiny jack, so if you do this in the wrong place, you might puncture a hole through the floor of your car. So maybe you should…

9. Position the jack perfectly. Experts recommend that you locate something called the “body flange,” which is the sturdiest part of the car and is clearly marked somewhere under the car in the dark. To find the flange, lie on your back and realize that you have no idea what’s going on down there.

10. Using your tire iron, remove your hubcap and loosen the lug nuts. The lug nuts may be a little snug, because they have them put on at the factory by an 800-lb. gorilla.

By Mordechai Schmutter

Make sure that you’re turning the nuts the right way and not making them even tighter. This might be hard to tell if nothing you’re doing is helping anyway.

11. If the wrench doesn’t turn, position it so you can stand on it and try to use your weight to loosen it. It helps to have a spare tire of your own.

12. If you still can’t get the tire off or are C”V not big and fat, you might want to get a passenger to stand on the wrench with you, or else flag down a stranger to do so. If you’re on your own, you can hold things as you stand up there, such as groceries, the gift for the wedding you’re trying to get to, or your actual spare tire.

13. Once you have the nuts off, the tire should pop right off.

14. Chase your tire down the hill.

15. Lift the spare tire and try to get it onto all five or six studs while bending. This isn’t easy. Tires are very heavy, considering they’re rubber tubes full of air. Next, put the lug nuts on but don’t tighten them. Lower the car, then tighten the lug nuts by standing on the tire iron with your new friends. Then use the old tire to slam the hubcap back on.

16. Drive to the mechanic immediately to fix or replace your tire. And ask him to put on the replacement. You clearly have no idea what you’re doing, and he’s already wearing work pants.

17. From now on, when you’re driving, keep your eyes peeled for screws you can’t see. And also for the instruction manual that you left on the side of the road somewhere in the dark. And the wedding present.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer 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 MSchmutter@gmail.com.

My Israel Home Few Streets for a Far-Reaching Rebbe

By Gedaliah Borvick

Drive through any Israeli city, and you’ll find streets named for rabbis and religious leaders, alongside politicians, biblical figures, poets, and friends of Israel – essentially anyone who has shaped the Jewish story. Only recently, however, have a handful of Israeli cities – including Rishon Lezion, Gedera, Dimona, Beitar Illit, and Kfar Saba – begun naming streets for one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the twentieth century: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l.

For decades, he guided Israeli leaders, inspired soldiers and citizens alike, and transformed Jewish identity around the world. His portrait hangs in gas stations, army bases, and tefillin stands across the country – symbols of a movement that has become part of Israel’s spiritual landscape. Yet it took years for the Rebbe’s name to appear on the nation’s street signs.

The delay is striking. Though the Rebbe never visited Israel, his influence reached its highest offices. Prime Min-

isters Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Benjamin Netanyahu all sought his counsel, as did Presidents Zalman Shazar and Ezer Weizman, along with a number of generals and senior army officers. They traveled to Brooklyn to meet him privately, emerging deeply affected by his clarity, confidence, and moral conviction. The Rebbe spoke not in slogans but in strategy – urging strength in defense, integrity in leadership, and faith in Israel’s divine mission.

Why, then, did it take so long for his name to reach the map?

Some suggest that municipal committees viewed his complex legacy as ideologically sensitive. Officials wary of his followers’ messianic beliefs or his principled distance from secular Zionism feared that honoring him might inflame debate. Another factor is geography: Rabbi Schneerson never lived in Israel, nor did he ever visit, which may have made cities hesitant to include him among figures with a more direct physical connection to the land.

Yet the reason may lie deeper. The

Rebbe’s influence in Israel has always defied categories. He was not a Zionist in the conventional sense, yet he was passionately devoted to the Jewish homeland. Though not a hawk, his vision of peace was grounded in realism: he spoke constantly about Israel’s need for strong security, urged Jews to settle the land, supported the IDF, and framed Israel’s defense as a matter of pikuach nefesh, protecting life. Thousands of Chabad chassidim serve proudly in the army – a striking contrast to much of the ultra-Orthodox world.

That same sense of commitment and responsibility defines Chabad’s presence across the country today. Its emissaries stand on street corners offering tefillin to passing citizens, deliver food to the needy, and open their doors to any Jew seeking comfort or connection. The movement’s credo of unconditional love – ahavas Yisrael – has softened the hearts of countless Israelis, religious and secular alike. Yet that same visibility also unsettles some who prefer faith to remain private,

and Chabad’s confidence can challenge a society still negotiating the role of religion in modern statehood.

The Rebbe wasn’t a politician but a spiritual architect whose reach transcended left and right, religious and secular. His influence is everywhere precisely because it resists being confined to plaques or titles.

Walk through Israel, and you’ll see it: the Chabad tefillin stand outside a mall, the soldier tying his straps before a mission, the Rebbe’s portrait smiling from a bus stop in Ofakim or Eilat. His name now appears on a few street signs, but his presence has long filled the landscape –a reminder that his message was never meant for a street sign but for the people on the street.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.

Vacation And Travel Living Kiddush Hashem

ABy Rabbi Shraga Freedman

group of bachurim were renting a cottage on a private beach where the rest of the residents were quiet, older non-Jewish couples. The boys made an effort to be polite and friendly toward their neighbors. One of the neighbors remarked to them, “Boys, I want to tell you something. Groups of teenagers have come up here for the summer in the past, but they were always wild

On another occasion, the man saw them learning Gemara and asked what they were doing. When they explained a bit about Gemara study, he commented, “This must be what makes you Jewish boys so refined and well-behaved.”

The following year, the boys decided to search for another cottage to rent for their summer vacation. This time, most of the vacation homes were

Figuring that they had nothing to lose, the boys did call back. To their surprise, the landlord agreed to rent it to them. “My house is in the city where you spent your vacation last summer,” he told them, “and I remember being impressed by the way you behaved. I know that I can trust you with my house.”

During regular times of year, we are

remain constantly sensitive to the people around us and the rules and protocol of each place we visit.

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 LivingK-

Join the BJL WhatsApp!

By Baltimoreans for Baltimoreans

Signs That You Had Too Much Mishloach Manos

When your wife asks you to measure something you pull out a Fruit By The Foot.

When you are playing ball and you need to hydrate yourself, you pull out a 12-ounce bottle of Kedem Grape Juice.

You know all 75 ways to eat a Presidor...and you are an expert at “skinning” them.

Your hamantash withdrawal is so bad that your doctor has given you a prescription for apricot jam.

You spend hours desperately searching for a local homemade chocolate chip cookie gemach.

You Gotta be kidding Me!

A guy walks into a bar with an apple pie on his head. The bartender is taken aback and asks, “Sir, why in the world are you wearing an apple pie on your head?”

The man replies, “It’s a family tradition. We always wear apple pies on our heads on Tuesday.”

The bartender responds, “But, sir, it’s Wednesday.”

Embarrassed, the guy says, “Gosh, I must look like a real fool.”

When you open something that you bought at the supermarket, you immediately look to see if it came with a poem.

When you go on the scale, it says: “Never mind, just come back after Pesach.”

You make sure that everything you eat is matching.

When you see little rocks, you pick them up to taste them.

Instead of putting on a scarf, you wrap yourself in cellophane.

Riddle Me This

You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside.  What are you eating?

Answer: Corn on the cob (sorry for being so silly…I mean corny.)

Yummy Candy Trivia

1. How long are standard size Twizzlers?

a. 5 inches

b. 6 inches

c. 8 ¼ inches

d. 12 inches

2. Who invented cotton candy?

a. A carnival clown

b. A candy store owner

c. An ice cream shop owner

d. A dentist

3. What is the most popular candy in the U.S.?

a. Hershey Kisses

b. Mike & Ikes

c. M&Ms

d. Twizzlers

4. How many quarts of popcorn are eaten annually in the U.S.?

a. 500 million

b. 2 billion

c. 4 billion

d. 16 billion

5. Ruth Wakefield of Massachusetts created the chocolate chip cookie in 1930. When her invention instantly gained popularity, she reached an agreement with Nestle Chocolate for her recipe to be written on its packaging. What did she get in return?

a. She was given a lifelong supply of Nestle Chocolate

b. She was paid 10% of the increase in net revenue that Nestle made after putting her recipes on its packaging

c. She was paid $5,000

d. She was paid $250,000

6. Place the following drinks in the correct order, according to their popularity in the U.S.:

a. Sprite

b. Diet Coke

c. Pepsi

d. Coca Cola

e. Dr. Pepper

f. Mountain Dew

3) C-340 million M&Ms are produced every day.

4) D

g. Potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs in 1853 by Chef George Crum.

7. Why did he create this crunchy treat?

a. He realized that packaged snacks were becoming popular so he invented chips.

b. He worked at an old age home, and he realized that they were a good alternative to cookies.

c. A frustrated customer thought his French fries were too thick and repeatedly requested that they be made thinner.

d. There was an excessive amount of potatoes at his diner, and he needed to figure out what to do with them.

Answers:

1) C- Standard size is 8 ¼ inches. (Now they have all of these different sizes, but “ven I vas a kid ve only had von size. Ve were not spoiled like de kids today!”)

2) D-William James Morrison, from  Nashville,  Tennessee, was also an avid inventor. He created the first cotton candy machine (which he called “Fairy Floss”) and introduced it at the 1904 World Fair in St. Louis.

5) A-In 1930, Ruth Wakefield was mixing a batch of cookies for her roadside inn guests when she discovered that she was out of baker’s chocolate. She substituted broken pieces of Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate, expecting them to be absorbed into the dough to create chocolate cookies. When she removed the pan from the oven, Wakefield realized that the chocolate did not spread to the rest of the cookie but stayed in chunks. Guests at the inn quickly gobbled up her “chocolate chip cookies.”

6) D, Coke; B, Diet Coke; C, Pepsi; F, Mountain Dew; E, Dr. Pepper; A, Sprite

7) C-Crum was a chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, NY. French fries were popular at the restaurant, and one day, a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. The customer, surprisingly enough, was happy – and potato chips were invented!

Wisdom Key:

5-7 correct: Congratulations! You have earned eight cavities! (Yeah, I know, you probably had them already.)

3-4 correct: You are on a Tootsie Roll—you’re good, but not great.

0-2 correct: Don’t worry—cucumbers are fun, too.

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

“I’m not going to give away the details of our tactical efforts, but the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now,” Rubio said before entering a briefing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the first of a series of meetings between administration officials and members of Congress this week.”

-Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday

“The world will be a safer place when we’re done with this operation.”

-Rubio said

“Now the playing field has been equalized.”

-Reza Pahlavi

Only now do Iranians feel they have a real chance to win, take back their streets, and ultimately seize control of the country.

They have hope.

“America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy,” he said. “Only the United States of America could lead this. Only us. But when you add the Israeli Defense Forces, a devastatingly capable force, the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries. They are toast, and they know it.”

The Pentagon chief said the operations had “only just begun” and that additional bombers and fighter jets were heading to the region.

“I hope all the folks watching understand what ‘uncontested airspace’ and ‘complete control’ means: It means we will fly all day, all night,” he said. “Iranian leaders looking up and seeing only U.S. and Israeli air power, every minute of every day until we decide it’s over — and Iran will be able to do nothing about it.”

- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Wednesday on C-SPAN

Watching real Iranians react right now — not armchair pundits. People inside Iran are celebrating, emotional, hopeful, scared, and hopeful all at once…

And that’s something you won’t see in headlines. Don’t confuse the people with the regime.

- unknown

“Consumers should prepare in case gasoline prices rise even further,” warned Jim Garrity, a director for AAA. “If the disruption to global oil supplies continues, we could see crude oil approach $100 per barrel, which would push local prices significantly higher.”

Political Crossfire

Trump and Netanyahu are Doing the Free World a Favor

By Bret Stephens

President Donald Trump is being criticized from many quarters for his decision to join Israel in a war to topple the Iranian regime, which Saturday yielded the killing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The reasons vary.

It’s “a betrayal of the American people,” says Elizabeth Warren, who warns that the intervention risks dragging “yet another generation into a forever war.” It’s a betrayal of MAGA principles, says Marjorie Taylor Greene, who denounced Trump for putting “America last.” It’s unconstitutional, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, because it’s being conducted without authorization from Congress. It’s unnecessary, according to writer Andrew Sullivan, who (quoting me, albeit misleadingly) thinks that Iran isn’t much of a threat and the war is being waged for Israel’s sake.

And so on. But one country where the United States and Israel are garnering broad support is the same country that’s being bombed.

“Everyone is joyful; it is one of the best days of probably 95% of Iranians’ lives,” one Iranian resident of the city of Karaj told The Wall Street Journal about Khamenei’s death. “We bolted outside and shouted from the top of our lungs and laughed and danced with our neighbors,” a woman in Tehran named Sara told The New York Times. A doctor who lost his son when Iran’s Revolutionary Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2020 wrote on social media, “We will endure the winter, spring is near.” In the city of Shiraz, videos showed people “joined together in a cheer that is typically reserved for weddings, symbolizing pure joy.”

It is also true that scores of civilians have been killed, and there was public

mourning for Khamenei. But those mourners didn’t have to emerge under the threat of the regime’s guns.

There was a time when American hearts could be moved by moments like these — when free nations, having endured years of provocations and attacks from tyrants, band together to administer justice and supply hope. We’re a different country now, less naive but considerably more pessimistic and cynical, and thus likelier to ask: What’s in it for us?

Let me try to answer that question.

First, it’s a mistake to say that Trump got America into war Saturday. What he did was respond to a war that Iran has been waging against the United States since 1979.

It waged war when it seized our embassy in 1979, murdered (via proxy) hundreds of our service members in Beirut in 1983 and supplied the IEDs, or roadside bombs, that killed or maimed more than 1,000 of our troops during the war in Iraq. It waged war when it sought to assassinate former senior U.S. officials, including John Bolton, Mike Pompeo and, according to a 2024 report in Politico, Trump himself. One reason Iran behaved as it did is because it drew the lesson that it would pay no great price. No more.

Second, Tehran had an opportunity to change course in June, after its 12-day pummeling by Israel and an overnight strike by the United States. Instead, it set out to begin reconstituting its nuclear capabilities while rapidly rebuilding the missile force that is now terrorizing civilians in Tel Aviv, Israel; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Manama, Bahrain; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and targeting U.S. military assets in the region.

Would the United States, the Arab

world or Israel have been safer if we had waited a year or two for Iran to build several thousand more missiles? Or after Russia had supplied the regime with thousands of advanced shoulder-fired air defense missiles, as The Financial Times reported last week that it had agreed to do?

Third, Iran does not exist in a geopolitical vacuum: With Russia and China, it is a core member of the axis of autocracies that threaten the democratic world broadly.

The same liberals who fault Trump for not vigorously opposing Vladimir Putin should at least consider that it’s Tehran that has given Russia the drones and drone technology that have destroyed so much of Ukraine. And the same conservatives who fault Trump for diverting military resources away from the Pacific for the war in Iran should also note that Iran covertly supplies China with much of its oil as part of a promised 25-year, $400 billion strategic partnership. If Tehran falls out of the axis, our remaining adversaries can only be weaker.

Fourth, it is impossible to imagine anything like Mideast peace without the end of this regime.

It isn’t simply that Iran has been the principal backer of the so-called axis of resistance that includes every terrorist group that sought to wipe Israel off the map. It’s also that no Israeli government will ever agree to a Palestinian state that could fall into Iran’s orbit. Paradoxically, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face a much tougher time fending off international pressure for Palestinian statehood if the Tehran regime falls and Saudi Arabia offers peace with Israel.

Fifth, even if the United States and Israel don’t force regime change in Iran, they

can achieve strategically significant goals.

The United States is stronger when anti-American dictators have solid reasons to fear our wrath: It restores deterrence and, in doing so, makes diplomacy more effective. Israel and the Arab world are safer when Iran is weaker: Notice that, at least so far, Hezbollah, fearing for its position in Lebanon, has not joined the war against Israel. Finally, even if the regime doesn’t fall, it will be under heavy internal pressure to modify its behavior as a pragmatic concession to reality, much as Venezuela has under Delcy Rodríguez, its (hopefully) interim president.

That may not be the optimal outcome. But it’s considerably better than what came before.

Finally, the United States and Israel have taken considerable military and political risks to do the right thing. And that’s no small thing.

They have rid the world of an odious tyrant and of several layers of his equally odious deputies. It’s odd that the same people who fault Trump for divorcing U.S. foreign policy from its democratic values now fault him for going to war for the sake of advancing democratic values. Still, millions of ordinary people around the world — not just in Tel Aviv or Tehran or Tehrangeles but also, perhaps, in Taipei and Tallinn — will notice that the United States, for its many warts, still stands for freedom.

My column has never been shy about denouncing either Trump or Netanyahu. It won’t be shy to criticize them in the future. But Saturday this much-maligned duo did the free world a courageous and historic favor. It will be remembered long after the petulant criticism dies down.

© The New York Times

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I have been reading your column since before I was even dating, so I love that I’m able to contribute to it now! Thank you for the opportunity.

I’m 21 years old and just began to date about a year ago. I have gone out with nine guys so far, and they all liked me. I’m pretty shocked because from what I have seen from my friends and read about, that’s not usually so common. I do feel lucky that I’m in this situation, but a drawback that I am experiencing is that I am pretty particular about who I say yes to now. For example, last week alone I said no to six guys that were sent to me by various matchmakers. I get the feeling that the matchmakers are getting upset with me based on their attitudes when I give a no. To clarify, these are really not bad guys; there’s nothing off putting about them other than they’re not the look I usually go for, which I am particular about.

I want to convey this in a way that the matchmakers don’t get upset. I don’t want to get a reputation as being picky, although I do know I am particular. Is there any way to get the message to these matchmakers in a way that they will actually understand and not be judgmental?

Thanks!

Temima *

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.

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.

Temima, telling matchmakers the look you go for is unlikely to be helpful. They are busy people and under a lot of pressure from hundreds of people who want their help and actively pursue them. They are unlikely to invest in trying to figure out your preferences in the looks department.

Tell your friends and family members what your dream young man looks like and is like. You might even want to compose a job description from your list.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Iam very happy to hear that you have many suggestions coming your way in quick succession. You are right that this is not the most common experience for most girls.

What you describe is similar to what I hear from the young men I set up. It is a difficulty that has been described as being lost in a forest vs. the difficulty of many young women feeling as if they are lost in a desert. One of the most important things you can do right now is to navigate your dating in a way that you don’t get burnt out. The best way to do this is to be assertive but at the same time be very grateful.

Like many things in life, it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it. When you are speaking to the shadchan, acknowledge

the time and effort they spent setting this up. Remember that even before the idea came to you, there were many steps the shadchan made on your behalf that required a lot of time and energy. If you receive a resume/picture, and within five seconds you respond with the words, “Sorry, but not for me,” what do you think the shadchan will think and feel? Do you think she will choose to volunteer to spend time and energy on someone who inherently seems quick to judge and un grateful? An alternative response could be along the lines of this instead. “Mrs. XYZ, thank you so, so much for thinking of me! He sounds like an amazing guy; he’s just not the right guy for me. If I think of anyone for him, I will definite ly let you know. I really appreciate your efforts!”

It might take you 30 more seconds to write, but it will be received by the shadchan in a more positive light.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Among my circle of friends back in our Brooklyn College days, there was one fellow who insisted that he would only date girls who were absolutely gorgeous. When we commented that “beauty is only skin deep,” he responded that he wasn’t interested in going any deeper.

Here are three thoughts to consider. Reflection #1: The quest

Every single person begins dating with a checklist of criteria they deem im portant. Those using the shidduch system should naturally seek a shadchan whose

client base matches their priorities. For example: professionals, serious learners, or business-oriented singles.

Accordingly, choose the right shadchan. Then, it would be perfectly appropriate to tell that shadchan that you hope to meet someone pursuing a certain profession, lifestyle, or hashkafa and that physical attraction is very important to you.

Your letter, however, indicates that a certain “look” may be the primary consideration in your decision-making.

There are shadchanim who specialize in professionals, or in serious learners, or in entrepreneurs. I do not think there are shadchanim who specialize in finding guys who are good-looking.

(As an aside, when my wife was dating, she sought someone who was very smart and very kind, and who would be a great husband and father. Naturally, she gravitated to me. As a bonus, I was also incredibly good-looking.)

Reflection #2: The consequences

You probably realize that you are very fortunate to have been deluged with so many dating opportunities.

Please do not be insulted by the following observation. Shadchanim are accustomed to dealing with, and trying to help, singles who are very “picky.” Picky is something shadchanim can work with. Matchmakers are usually very understanding and willing to work with folks who are very demanding or particular.

However, they may not be happy dealing with someone who comes across as being very shallow. Shallow is much harder for shadchanim to work with. You may

be coming across as someone who focuses mainly on externals, like appearance.

Unfortunately, a shadchan may naturally shift attention away from you and toward singles who are less rigid and less superficial. You might find that dating suggestions begin to dry up.

Reflection #3:

The recommendations

I do have two possible suggestions for you. I regret, in advance, that you may not be happy with my first suggestion and that some readers may not be happy with my second suggestion.

First, you are very young. You may wish to consider taking a short break

from active dating. Invest some time in developing your own career, or continuing your own education, and/or involving yourself in chessed or philanthropic projects.

After a short while, you may find that your world view has evolved and that you have a more pragmatic approach.

Second, you may wish to consider bypassing the shidduch system. Attend singles’ events, shul or community programs and check out the single guys. If you find someone who has the “look” that you seek, find out if he might be a suitable match. And, if so, ask someone to introduce you or boldly introduce yourself.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Thank you for writing. I always smile a little when someone says they’ve been reading the column since before they were dating and now find themselves writing in. It tells me you’ve been thinking about this process long before you entered it, which already says something about the way you approach things.

Let’s start with this: saying no to someone you don’t feel excited about is not a problem. Dating is not meant to be a numbers game where the goal is to say yes as often as possible. You’re allowed to notice what resonates with you and what doesn’t. Being thoughtful about who you meet is part of taking the process seriously.

At the same time, I hear another layer in your question. You’re sensing that the matchmakers may be reacting to the number of no’s, and you’re worried about being perceived as difficult or overly picky. That concern isn’t unreasonable. Matchmakers are putting time and effort into

thinking about suggestions, and when many ideas are turned down, they can begin to wonder whether their suggestions are being given a real chance. In the practical world of shidduchim, perception does sometimes affect how often someone continues to be set up.

So part of what you’re navigating is a balance: staying honest with yourself while also showing the people helping you that you are genuinely open to meeting someone.

You mentioned that many of your no’s are based on appearance. Attraction absolutely matters. But attraction is also more complicated than we sometimes think. It’s not only about whether someone fits the picture we have in our mind at first glance. The way a person moves, his scent, how he fidgets, a surprising dimple that emerges when he’s engaged in conversation and laughing, the way he treats the waiter, a shared glance… these are all

Please remember that physical attraction draws two people together. Inner beauty is what helps them build a life together.

Reader’s Response

Avital

Hey Temima,

Consider yourself lucky to be at the top of the dating pyramid. You’re young and fresh to the dating scene so you’re in the stage of shadchanim shooting darts at a board hoping one sticks. Because you’re in demand and there’s a large supply of men, you’re allowed to be pickier. Guys say no to girls all the time based off attraction alone, and no one looks down upon them. Attention shad-

These resumes seem both necessary and functional and detrimental and silly.

chanim: women have preferences, too. You should 100% not say yes to a man you find very unattractive. However, I’d stay away from using that language and instead tell the shadchan that you’re busy and will revisit the idea another time.

Best of luck!

things that have no way of being captured in a resume. I wish there was another way. These resumes seem both necessary and functional and detrimental and silly.

Sometimes, the emotional and psychological qualities of a person — their steadiness, their humor, their kindness, the way they listen or think — begin to register in a way that actually becomes physically attractive. In other words, the way someone is can change the way they look to us.

That doesn’t mean attraction always grows after meeting someone. Sometimes it doesn’t. But sometimes what initially feels neutral becomes surprisingly compelling once you encounter the person.

So it might be worth asking yourself a few gentle questions when a suggestion comes your way:

Am I saying no because something genuinely feels off to me, or simply because he doesn’t match the image I usually imagine?

Is there anything about this person that makes me curious to meet him for an hour?

Could I imagine enjoying a conversation with him, even if he isn’t my usual “type”?

Is my idea of attraction allowing room for surprise?

Matchmakers tend to feel much more comfortable continuing to suggest people when they sense that someone is open to meeting individuals who may not immediately fit a very specific mold.

You can also communicate that openness directly. A simple response such as, “I really appreciate you thinking of ideas for me. I try to stay open when something sounds promising, even if the person isn’t exactly my usual type” lets them know you value their effort and are engaging thoughtfully with the process.

And one final thought. The fact that the men you’ve gone out with have responded positively to you suggests that you likely bring warmth, presence, and genuine interest into your dates. Those qualities create connection. Staying curious about where connection might appear, even in places you didn’t initially expect, can make the process far richer.

Dating is less about selecting perfectly from a list and more about discovering what actually moves your heart.

Sincerely, Jennifer

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.

Mental Health Corner

Memoria Praeteritorum Bonorum

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Have you ever heard from older adults, perhaps your parents, that they never misbehaved in school? Did you ever hear older people saying that marriages used to be a lot more blissful than they are now? How about the people who claim that depression is a modern invention? You might want to tell them, “Memoria praeteritorum bonorum!” That is an ancient Latin phrase, dating back to the times of the Roman empire, that means that your past memories tend to focus on the blessings, filtering out the bad memories.

Accordingly, if your parents had a very rocky first year of marriage, they might have no memory of it at all. If a couple of your grandfather’s classmates in high school were absent for months at a time due to a mys-

terious illness (i.e. depression), he might not have any recollection of it. If your grandmother had a couple of close childhood friends who spent time in an orphanage because their mother had debilitating postpartum depression, she might not recall it. (In case you were wondering, orphanages in those times housed many children who were not technically orphans.)

All in all, members of a past generation may paint a picture of simpler times, when everyone was happy with what they had and life was idyllic and blissful. In reality, every generation has its ups and downs, and no one generation has a monopoly on utopianism or dystopianism.

This well-documented phenomenon can be explained by a combination

of two cognitive biases: rosy retrospection and the reminiscence bump. Let us explain each one separately.

Rosy retrospection is the tendency of people to view the past more positively than the present. When we recall memories from long ago, we tend to not focus on the nitty gritty details. Rather, we remember broad generalities about life in general. With that flexibility in our memory, we tend to be drawn to the positive memories which leads us to paint a picture in our mind of a rosy past. Whereas when we think of the present, we are acutely aware of all of the ups and downs and annoying details that constantly challenge our lives and aggravate us.

One area where this is very evident is in people’s perception of the crime rate. The crime rate in the United States started rising in the 1960s, peaked in the 1980s, and then went into a steep decline through the 1990s and on. For example, the annual murder rate in 1960 was 5.1 per 100,000 people, it peaked in 1980 at 10.2, and then declined to 5.0 in 2019. Robberies were 60.1 per 100,000 people in 1960, peaked at 272.7 in 1991, and in 2019 it was down to 81.6. This tendency is true for all categories of crime.

Consequently, you would think that people in the 1960s and 1970s would tell you that the crime rate is increasing and that people in the 1990s and 2000s would report that crime is decreasing. In reality, when researchers throughout the years have asked people about the crime rate, the answer invariably was that the crime rate is increasing, whether they were questioned in the 1980s or in the 2000s.

The reminiscence bump refers to the tendency for adults over the age of forty to have enhanced memories of events that occurred between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five. There are different theories that have been proposed to explain this fascinating quirk of human existence, ranging from changes in the brain during that

age to the types of experiences that happen during that part of our lives.

The relevance that this has to our discussion is that if you combine the rosy retrospection cognitive bias with the reminiscence bump, the outcome is that the positive memories that you selectively recall from your adolescence and early adulthood will be of such a vivid nature that your own brain ends up creating a completely false narrative of your late teenage and early adult years and possibly the early years of your marriage.

Many people over the age of forty who look at the teens and young adults are horrified by all of the shortcomings, imperfections, and faults of today’s generation, as if thirty years ago teenagers were always responsible and respectful and never bullied each other.

There definitely are areas in which today’s youth are deficient, but there are also areas where they really excel. Every generation has its challenges and the challenges of Generation Z are not those of the Baby Boomers, and the challenges of the Baby Boomers were not those of Generation Z. All in all, it is very hard to point to the younger generation and say that overall they are weaker or stronger than any generation that preceded them.

There is no doubt that today’s youth are very different from their predecessors, but the same is true of many of the generations that preceded them. Our energies should not be spent on bemoaning today’s youth, but rather we should help them capitalize on their strengths and work on their weaknesses so that they can face the unique challenges that only their generation will experience.

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

School of Thought

The Quiet Ways We Shape Teenagers’ Lives

By Etti Siegel

As educators and parents, we spend an enormous amount of time worrying about whether our teenagers are happy. We track stress levels, academic pressure, social dynamics, confidence, motivation, and resilience. We ask ourselves constantly: Are they OK? Are they enjoying life? Are they fulfilled?

But what if happiness, as we usually define it, isn’t the whole story?

New research published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being suggests that there is another dimension of a “good life” that may matter just as much, especially during adolescence. It’s called psychological richness, and one of its strongest predictors isn’t achievement, confidence, or optimism. It’s something far more internal, and far more contagious than we often realize: self-compassion.

The study, led by Yuening Liu and colleagues at Shaanxi Normal University in China, followed over 500 high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 across a four-month period. What they found offers both reassurance and a challenge to the adults raising and teaching teens today. The way young people learn to treat themselves becomes the lens through which they experience the world, and much of that learning happens by watching us.

For years, psychology described well-being in two ways. Hedonic well-being focuses on pleasure and satisfaction –feeling good and avoiding discomfort. Eudaimonic well-being centers on meaning and purpose – living a life aligned with values and contribution.

Psychological richness is different.

A psychologically rich life isn’t necessarily easy, comfortable, or consistently happy. It’s defined by variety, novelty, complexity, and experiences that shift perspective. It includes challenge, uncertainty, discomfort, and growth. In other words, a psychologically rich life isn’t smooth; it’s textured.

Adolescence is a prime time for developing this kind of richness. Teenagers are navigating academic pressure, social hierarchies, identity formation, independence, success, failure, belonging, and exclusion, all while their brains and emotional systems are still developing. The same challenge can either become a source of growth or a source of shutdown.

The researchers asked a simple but important question: What inner tools help adolescents turn challenge into richness rather than stress? Their answer was self-compassion. Self-compassion is often misunderstood. It isn’t self-

pity, weakness, or lowered standards. It’s treating yourself with the same care and understanding you would offer a close friend.

The researchers broke self-compassion into six components. The compassionate components – self-kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of common humanity – were linked to greater psychological richness over time. Teens who were kind to themselves after setbacks, who could sit with difficult emotions without spiraling, and who understood that struggle is part of being human were more likely to describe their lives as interesting, meaningful, and perspective-changing months later.

The way young people learn to treat themselves becomes the lens through which they experience the world.

The non-compassionate components – self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification –worked in the opposite direction. Harsh self-criticism and feeling alone narrowed teens’ willingness to engage with new experiences. Isolation, in particular, fed self-judgment, creating a negative cycle that shrank their inner world.

This wasn’t about personality. It was about the way they viewed the world around them.

Psychological richness doesn’t come from avoiding struggle. It comes from staying open in the presence of struggle. A teen who can be kind to themselves after failure is more likely to reflect, learn, and try again. A teen who can tolerate discomfort without being consumed by it can grow from it.

But teenagers do not learn these habits in a vacuum. They learn them by watching us.

If we are constantly judging others, criticizing ourselves, complaining about life, catastrophizing, or playing the victim, we are not just venting, we are teaching. We are teaching teenagers how to interpret discomfort, how to speak to themselves when things go wrong, and whether challenge is something to grow from or something to fear.

When a child hears:

“I’m such an idiot.”

“Nothing ever works out for me.”

“People are always against me.”

“This is just how my life is.”

They don’t just hear words, they absorb the worldview being shown.

And when that worldview becomes harsh, narrow, and judgmental, we rob teenagers of one of the greatest gifts we can give them: the ability to experience life with openness, nuance, and growth.

Our job isn’t to create perfect conditions for our children. It’s to help them develop the internal tools to engage with an imperfect world. A teenager doesn’t need a life free of stress to thrive. They need a life where stress doesn’t define them.

Self-compassion, especially self-kindness and mindfulness, creates that buffer. And the most powerful way teens learn it is through us.

Psychological richness isn’t taught in lectures. It’s transmitted in our tone, language, and daily moments. Let us be mindful of the messages we are sending our (almost and already) teens!

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds a MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. Etti is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, FACTS Education Solutions, Brienza Academic Advantage, Yeled V’Yalda; is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country; and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School Leaders and has a weekly column in The Jewish Home. She can be contacted for questions and comments at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

Health & F tness

Spice Up Your Health Natural Remedies in Your Pantry

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

Herbs and spices are plants used to flavor food, but they also provide important health benefits. For thousands of years, they have been used in traditional medicine to treat illnesses, improve digestion, and support overall health. Today, research shows that many herbs and spices contain natural compounds that act as antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system. Adding herbs and spices to meals is a simple way to improve both flavor and nutrition without adding extra calories, sugar, or salt.

Herbs and spices both come from plants, but they are taken from different parts. Herbs generally come from the leafy green portion of the plant and can be used fresh or dried. Common examples include basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, rosemary, and thyme. Spices, on the other hand, come from other plant parts such as roots, seeds, bark, or flowers and are typically used in dried form. Examples include turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and black pepper. Even though they come from different parts of plants, both herbs and spices contain natural plant compounds that provide important health benefits.

Common Herbs and Their Health Benefits

Many popular herbs provide important medicinal benefits:

• Basil is commonly used in pasta dishes, salads, and sauces. It contains antioxidants and antibacterial compounds that help protect the body from infections and may help reduce inflammation. Fresh basil works especially well on tomato-based dishes. For example, chopped basil can be added to marinara sauce, sprinkled over scrambled eggs, or placed on grilled salmon with olive oil and lemon.

• Parsley is rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants. It supports immune health and bone health and may help reduce inflammation and support kidney health. Fresh parsley can be added to chicken soup, mixed into rice, sprinkled over roasted vegetables, or used as a garnish on grilled chicken or fish.

• Mint is well known for helping digestion. It can reduce bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort. Mint is often used in teas and may help relieve nausea.

• Rosemary contains antioxidants that help protect brain cells and may help improve memory and concentration. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and supports immune health. Rosemary can be added to roasted potatoes with olive oil and garlic or used to season baked salmon or roasted chicken.

• Thyme has strong antimicrobial properties, meaning it helps fight bacteria. It has traditionally been used to support respiratory health and may help with cough and infections. Thyme works well in soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and poultry dishes. It is commonly used in chicken soup and roasted chicken.

• Cilantro contains antioxidants and may help remove certain toxins from the body. It also supports digestion and immune function. Fresh chopped cilantro is excellent on fish such as branzino. It can also be added to rice, soups, or salads to enhance flavor.

• Dill is rich in antioxidants and may support digestive health. It has calming properties and may help reduce bloating. Dill pairs especially well with fish, particularly salmon or branzino. It can also be added to yogurt-based sauces, cucumber salads, egg dishes, and chicken soup.

Common Spices and Their Medicinal Properties

Spices are especially powerful because they contain concentrated beneficial compounds.

• Turmeric is one of the most studied spices. It contains curcumin, which has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Turmeric may help reduce joint pain, support immune function, and protect against chronic disease. It can be added to rice, soups, roasted

vegetables, scrambled eggs, or chicken dishes. Turmeric works especially well in lentil soup or seasoned chicken.

• Cinnamon is commonly used in oatmeal, baked goods, and beverages. It can help regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity. Cinnamon can be sprinkled on oatmeal, yogurt, toast with nut butter, smoothies, baked apples, or coffee.

• Ginger supports digestive health and helps reduce nausea. It is commonly used to relieve motion sickness, pregnancy-related nausea, and stomach discomfort. Ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can be added fresh to tea, smoothies, stir-fries, soups, or rice.

• Garlic supports heart health. It may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Garlic also has antibacterial and antiviral properties, which help support the immune system. Garlic can be used in almost any savory dish, including chicken soup, roasted vegetables, pasta, fish, and sauces.

How Herbs and Spices Support Overall Health

Herbs and spices play an important role in supporting many systems in the body, including digestion, heart health, and immune function. Their natural plant compounds help the body function properly and protect against disease.

Many herbs and spices improve digestive health by helping the body break down and absorb food more efficiently. For example, ginger helps stimulate digestive movement and can reduce nausea, bloating, and stomach discomfort, while mint helps relax the muscles of the digestive tract, which can relieve gas and indigestion. Fennel is also known to reduce bloating and support comfortable digestion. Turmeric supports liver function, which is important for processing fats and removing waste from the body.

Herbs and spices also provide important benefits for heart health. Garlic is especially well known for supporting the cardiovascular system because it may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar levels and may also improve cholesterol levels, which helps protect the heart. Turmeric helps reduce inflammation in blood vessels, while herbs such as rosemary and oregano contain antioxidants that help protect blood vessel health. Using herbs and spices to flavor food instead of excess salt is another important way to support healthy blood pressure.

In addition, many herbs and spices strengthen the immune system and help the body defend against infections. Garlic contains natural antibacterial and antiviral compounds that help fight harmful microorganisms. Ginger and turmeric help reduce inflammation and support immune function. Herbs such as thyme and oregano also have antimicrobial properties that help protect the body from illness. Regularly including these herbs and spices in meals can help sup -

tiple body systems at the same time. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help protect cells, improve organ function, and promote long-term health.

Practical Ways to

Use Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices can be easily added to meals throughout the day. Here are some simple meal ideas that include multiple herbs and spices:

• Chicken soup: Use garlic, parsley, dill, thyme, and black pepper. These

• Roasted potatoes: Add rosemary, garlic, black pepper, and olive oil. This creates a flavorful and heart-healthy side dish.

• Grilled chicken: Season with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper. Sprinkle fresh parsley after cooking.

• Rice or quinoa: Add turmeric, garlic, parsley, or cilantro for added flavor and antioxidant benefits.

• Egg dishes: Add parsley, dill, black pepper, and turmeric to scrambled eggs or omelets.

Herbs and spices are safe when used in normal cooking amounts. However, very large amounts in supplement form may cause side effects or interact with medications. It is best to use herbs and spices as part of a balanced diet.

Their natural plant compounds help the body function properly and protect against disease.

herbs enhance flavor while supporting immune and digestive health.

• Roasted salmon or branzino: Season with garlic, lemon, dill, and fresh chopped cilantro. This combination

• Vegetable dishes: Season roasted vegetables with garlic, rosemary, thyme, or turmeric.

Using herbs and spices regularly is a simple way to make meals more enjoyable while reducing the need for excess salt and added sugar.

Herbs and spices provide many health benefits in addition to improving flavor. Common herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, and cilantro support immune health, digestion, and overall wellness. Popular spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and chili peppers help reduce inflammation, support heart health, and regulate blood sugar. Adding herbs and spices to meals is a simple and natural way to improve health and prevent disease while making food more enjoyable.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

Parenting Pearls Matching Expectations to Limitations

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

This article should have been written before Purim, but I only thought of the topic after other parents shared with me their Purim hesitations. I decided to write about it anyway since the issue is likely to arise with Pesach, vacations, summer plans – pretty much year round.

Purim is one day of too much activity. The families I spoke with were concerned about how to balance the many Purim festivities – ensuring everyone got what they wanted – while still maintaining adult sanity. The basic answer is that this is impossible. Article complete.

The bigger discussion is how to set realistic expectations and ensure that a special time is enjoyed by all. Setting boundaries for ourselves and our families helps protect our sanity while ensuring the most important things get done.

Many have the hope of “doing it all” and “getting it all.” This is a fallacy, albeit a popular one to hold onto. The truth is that everything we say “yes” to means we’re saying “no” to something

else. If I say “yes” to making a last-minute dessert before Shabbos, then I’m saying “no” to a clean kitchen or inner calm as I go into Shabbos. Does this mean I shouldn’t make that last-minute dessert? Not necessarily. It means I need to acknowledge the pros and cons, recognizing that I can’t have the dessert, a clean kitchen and last-minute calmness simultaneously. Once I accept that reality, then I can decide if the benefits of the dessert outweigh the potential negatives. If the dessert contains enough chocolate, then it may be worth it.

I want to stress that there is no right or wrong decision to this question. It’s simply a matter of recognizing our limitations and having a realistic idea of what we can do when making our decision.

The Problem

For Purim, trying to make everyone happy may look like insanity. Parents driving all day, stuck in traffic and annoyed, while kids scream about the

friends they need to visit. Each child considers their friends and teachers the most important – the only ones that actually matter, if we’re being honest. The kids complain about the traffic and how long it’s taking, even though they refuse to eliminate anyone from their list. In their humble opinion, their siblings take too long at each house. They’re hungry – again – even though they just finished three bags of chips, two packages of sour sticks and four hamantashen. Despite the parental reminders, wrappers and crumbs fly. Don’t worry – you’ll enjoy cleaning it up for Pesach. You will also spend the next three weeks trying to find where they stored a warehouse stock of snacks. In the end, nobody is happy, and parents check for additional white hairs.

For Pesach, trying to make everyone happy isn’t looking much better. Parents try to focus on getting rid of chometz, but, of course, they want to spring clean and make the house feel extra special. Each child has the foods they want

made, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily offering to peel vegetables or clean up afterwards. Each child has many beautiful divrei Torah they want to share at the Seder but doesn’t have the patience to listen to all their siblings. Naturally, they also each want to go first. The kids can’t understand why their parents won’t only go on the trips they want and insist on also doing things the other kids like. It’s painful, chaotic, and the hurt feelings last longer than the matzah.

While using the two closest yomim tovim as examples, the same issue can be applied to practically every event in a family’s life. It can apply to our personal schedules, and it can apply to our emotions and personal expectations.

A Solution

There are many ways to address the above problems, but they all involve being realistic about our expectations and then setting the appropriate boundaries. None of the solutions involve ignor -

Yitz Topper & Michali Simon

Eli Ottensoser & Nechama Lieder

Tzvi Eisen & Jayden Kupferman

Romi Diamond & Talia Moshman

Eli Steingroot & Tzippora Weiskopf

Dovid Cahan (Toms River) & Adena Baer (Baltimore)

Chaim Gibber & Rachel Lefkowitz

Itai Klotzman & Sarit Lewis

Aharon Morgan (Lakewood) & Chaviva Feinstein (Baltimore)

Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!

R’ Binyomin & Adina Turoff on the birth of a son

Ori & Arielle Strum on the birth of a daughter

Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!

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In The K tchen

Sweet and Salty Pecan Chicken Cutlets

Meat / Yields 4-6 servings

By Naomi Nachman

There’s something so comforting about a crispy chicken cutlet, and when you add the rich crunch of toasted pecans with just the right touch of sweetness, it becomes something truly special. These Sweet & Salty Pecan Chicken Cutlets are the perfect balance of savory, nutty, and lightly caramelized goodness in every bite.

The pecans create a golden, crisp coating that feels elegant enough for company, while the subtle sweetness from brown sugar and maple syrup makes the flavors pop without overpowering the dish. It’s the kind of recipe that looks impressive on the table but is simple enough to prepare for a relaxed Friday afternoon.

Whether you’re serving it for Shabbos, a Yom Tov meal, or just a cozy family dinner, this dish delivers beautiful presentation, incredible texture, and flavors everyone.

Ingredients

◦ 1½ lb chicken cutlets, cut into nugget or finger shapes

◦ ¼ cup potato starch

◦ 2 eggs

◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 1 Tablespoon maple syrup

◦ 2 cups finely chopped pecans (see Cook’s Tip, below)

◦ ¼ cup sugar

◦ 1½ teaspoons kosher salt

◦ Oil, for frying

Preparation

1. Place chicken pieces into a medium bowl; toss with potato starch until all chicken is coated.

2. Place eggs, salt and maple syrup into a second bowl; whisk to combine.

3. Combine pecans, sugar, and salt in a third bowl; stir to combine.

4. Dredge each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then in the pecan mixture.

5. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry each piece of chicken for a couple of minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.

Cook’s Tip:

1) If you can’t find maple syrup, use honey instead.

2) For best results, crush the pecans in the food processor or with a big knife. You want them to be finely chopped but still have some texture. Don’t chop until they are fine crumbs.

Prepare Ahead: You can freeze these after frying, but for best results, freeze them raw and fry just before serving.

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.