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VISIT US ON THE WEB! WWW.THEBJH.COM Vol. 12 Issue #24 | July 16 -29, 2026 | ‫ ט״ו אב תשפ״ו‬- ‫ב׳‬

The Power of One: An Afternoon of Connection And Inspiration

Chaverim Of Baltimore Honors Volunteers At Annual Member Appreciation BBQ

The Saddest Day in History: The Day of The Coming of Moshiach

A Real Home Entertainment System

More Than a Senator

Lindsey Graham’s Enduring Legacy Page 38

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A TISHA B’AV

OF MEANING AND HOPE THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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From Ruins to Redemption: Confronting Our Loss, Reclaiming Our Destiny 9:30 AM EDT

RABBI MOSHE HAUER, ‫זצ״ל‬: ARCHIVED KINOT PRESENTATIONS EXPLORING THE LIVES OF TORAH LEADERS WHO SHAPED OUR PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO THE TRIALS OF THEIR GENERATION.

FROM THE

NIEMAN-STORCH FAMILIES

he family of Lawrence Nieman extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Baltimore community for the T extraordinary love, concern and support shown throughout his ten-year illness and during the week of shiva. Your kindness brought us strength and comfort beyond words.

We also thank the community Rabbanim, Hatzalah, the Chevra Kadisha, Sol Levinson, Jeff Cohn & BJL and Chesed Fund & Project Ezra for their invaluable support.

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We are deeply grateful to the many physicians, nurses, aides, therapists, caregivers, and healthcare professionals who cared for our beloved husband, father, and grandfather with compassion, dignity, and exceptional dedication. Our sincere appreciation goes to the teams at Sinai Hospital’s ICU and StepDown Units; Levindale’s Burke 2 Unit; Dr. Jinaya Beatty; Dr. Menachem Cooper; Dr. Ethan Dubin; Dr. Sam Durso; Dr. Azra Hussaini; Dr. Gerald Insel; Dr. Nicholas Leone; Dr. Nicole Mahadi; Dr. Robert Marcus; Dr. Damions Martins; Dr. Ed Wolf; Leah Lando and the Maryland Neuro Rehab team; Rick Bernard of Accessible Transport; Rabbi Shmuel Leigh of The Golden Network; Mr. Akiva Shavrick; Rabbi Noah Shavrick; Ms. Olivene Cole and team; Ms. Elvia Nina De Riviera; Chaplain Rabbi Avi Sharffman, Yisroel Juskowicz; and to the Storch, Spetner, and Bregin-Gross Families.

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MANY THANKS

To our relatives, friends, speakers at the levaya, those who attended the levaya and shiva, participated in minyanim, brought meals or flowers, gave tzedakah, or offered words of comfort – and especially Y.D. – please know how deeply your kindness touched us. If we have inadvertently omitted anyone from these acknowledgments, please accept our sincere apologies.

May Hashem reward each of you for your kindness, and may we share only simchos in the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda Nieman, Danielle Sarah Storch, Aaron Nieman and Families (dstorch18@gmail.com)

As a zechus for the neshamah of our beloved husband and father, Yechiel ben Shimon Dovid, z’l, we invite you to participate in 40 Days To Forgiveness – a powerful program promoting shalom & achdus starting Rosh Chodesh Elul (August 13). To sign up by email or WhatsApp, visit 40forgive.com.

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40 Days To Forgiveness

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Dear Readers,

Contents COMMUNITY Around the Community

Greater Washington Minyanim

Community Calendar

Baltimore Minyanim Guide

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman

Living Kiddush Hashem

The Saddest Day In History: The Day Of The Coming Of Moshiach

PEOPLE 613 Seconds - Shefa Living

FEATURE More Than A Senator: Lindsey Graham’s Enduring Legacy

HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT To Raise A Laugh

Centerfold

Notable Quotes

Kids Coloring Contest

At the beginning of the Three Weeks, I shared two stories that left a profound impression on me. Both highlighted extraordinary examples of bein adam l’chaveiro, reminding us that greatness is often measured not by dramatic accomplishments, but by the way we treat another person, especially when it’s difficult. This week, I came across another story. It is almost impossible to comprehend. If the first two stories inspired me, this one challenged me. It made me wonder whether we truly appreciate what is possible when a person lives with deep emunah and chooses shalom over everything else. Eight-year-old Charlotte Herzberg was riding her bicycle in Monsey when she was tragically struck and killed by a car. The driver was not distracted, intoxicated, or speeding. It was a heartbreaking accident. He was a respected member of the community, a longtime Hatzalah volunteer, and one of Charlotte’s father’s closest friends and chavrusa. In an instant, one family lost a precious daughter, while another faced a lifetime of unimaginable anguish. It is the kind of tragedy that could have shattered friendships, divided a community, and left wounds that would never heal. Instead, at his daughter’s levayah, Charlotte’s father, Rabbi Yudi Herzberg, spoke about something almost unthinkable. He acknowledged how easily resentment and blame could take root, but publicly committed himself to choosing unity and shalom instead. The following evening, Harav Binyamin Eisenberger arrived to pay a shivah call. What he witnessed was almost beyond belief. In the kitchen stood Charlotte’s father and the driver, embracing each other, crying together, literally holding each other up. Nearby, Charlotte’s mother and the driver’s wife were doing the same. It was not

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Have a peaceful Shabbos and a meaningful fast, Aaron M. Friedman

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a scene of blame. It was a scene of shared heartbreak, profound emunah, and extraordinary compassion. This was not about overlooking wrongdoing. There was no wrongdoing to overlook. It was a tragic accident. But the Herzberg family understood that while human beings are responsible for the choices they make, not everything that happens is within human control. They chose not to live with anger or bitterness, but with acceptance of Hashem’s will, even while carrying unbearable pain. From that decision grew the “Shalom for Charlotte” initiative, encouraging people to repair strained relationships, make the phone call they’ve been avoiding, and replace lingering resentment with reconciliation. One of its messages is both simple and powerful: A grudge can last for years. A phone call can last five minutes. Choose the phone call. As we continue through the Three Weeks, perhaps that is a message all of us can carry. May we never face a test remotely resembling the one the Herzberg family endured. But we are regularly presented with far smaller opportunities to choose peace over pride, understanding over assumption, and reconciliation over silence. Maybe there is someone we’ve been meaning to call, a misunderstanding we’ve allowed to linger, or a relationship that simply needs one person to take the first step. We may not be capable of the greatness displayed by this remarkable family, but perhaps we can allow their example to move us just one step closer. Perhaps, that one small step is exactly where one relationship is rebuilt, ultimately helping rebuild the Beis Hamikdash itself.

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The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. All opinions expressed by the journalists, contributors and/or advertisers printed and/or quoted herein are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, Internet or another medium. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

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The Power of One: An Afternoon of Connection And Inspiration

early 120 women gathered for Let’s Connect’s Power of One event on June 7, creating an afternoon filled with warmth, laughter, inspiration, and meaningful connection. From the moment women arrived and enjoyed acai bowls together, there was a palpable sense of energy in the room and excitement for what the afternoon would bring. The program opened with welcoming remarks from Sara Helman, followed by a powerful video presentation, Changing the World, One Chesed at a Time, which related stories, some funny and some deeply moving, about the power of one woman and one chesed. Ahuvah Heyman shared thoughtful, heartfelt reflections that showed how just one action can have profound, rippling effects in the most unexpected ways. For the rest of the afternoon, participants explored a variety of interactive stations, each highlighting a different expression of the power one person possesses. At the Power of One Message station, participants shared words of wisdom and life lessons, creating a collection of advice that was wide-ranging, meaningful, and inspiring. The Power of One Letter station invited women to pause and put pen to

paper, writing heartfelt notes to someone who had made a difference in their lives or to families in Eretz Yisrael whose loved ones are serving in the IDF. Beautiful cards inscribed with “Kol Yisrael areivim ze lazeh” were available for women to write notes of encouragement to wives, mothers, and siblings of soldiers on active duty. Individual names were provided, allowing participants to connect personally and daven for those families as they wrote messages of support. The Power of One Minute station demonstrated how even sixty seconds can be meaningful. Women loved the small Tehillim booklets with 12 specially selected perakim that they could keep with them, enabling them to say a perek Tehillim even if they only had a few seconds of time. The Power of One Peeler station added plenty of fun and laughter to the afternoon as participants raced the clock to see how many carrots they could peel in a single minute. What seemed like a simple challenge quickly became a lively crowd favorite. At the Power of One Memory station, women created colorful memory keepsakes, weaving ribbons into personalized reminders of people, experiences, and moments they wanted to hold close.

The Power of One Shmooze station offered an opportunity to sit with other women, and share stories, renew acquaintances, and forge new friendships. The afternoon was a powerful reflection of what Let’s Connect is all about: creating opportunities for women to meet, connect, learn, share, and inspire one another. Participants left reminded that while no one person can do everything, each of us has the ability to do something meaningful. One act of kindness. One encouraging word. One prayer. One conversation. One person can truly make a difference. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make The Power of One such a memorable and uplifting event. A special thanks to event organizers, Cindy Ring, Sara Brejt, and Sara Helman, Sara Arno, and Chaya Dachs. The room was beautifully set up by Susie Turner, Faigie Green, Renee Kibel, Rivka Zehnwirth, Sue Herzog, Miriam Jacoby, Niomi Rosenberg, Rachael Strimber,

Chaya Sara Cohn, Leah Feldman, Andrea Wecker, and Eve Messing. We look forward to seeing each other over the summer at our Summer Connections program, which will include evenings as varied as a personal account of the shameful chapter in Israel’s early history known as the Yaldei Teiman affair, a ceramics painting night, an evening of situational awareness and emergency response training, a game night, an evening of music, an open mic night, and more. As Let’s Connect continues to grow, so does its calendar of opportunities for women to learn, connect, and enjoy one another’s company. We invite all women 50+ to join us for a diverse lineup of programs and look forward to welcoming many new faces in the months ahead.

Dynamic Elevate Gathering Fosters Connection And Torah Growth By: BJLife Newsroom

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ore than 100 women from across the Baltimore Jewish community gathered for an inspiring evening of connection, chizuk, and growth. The event, organized by Elevate and hosted at the new Ohel Moshe hall with the support of A Single Impact, The Amida Army, Elite Rise, and Let’s Connect, drew a diverse crowd representing a broad spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. The women in attendance reflected the unity and diversity that defines Baltimore’s Jewish community. Elevate, an organization dedicated to supporting young married women, fosters meaningful connection and Torah growth for women in the community. Through weekly chaburahs, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, shiurim, and special events, Elevate creates

opportunities for women to engage with Torah, build relationships with mentors, and form lasting friendships. The highlight of the evening was the powerful presentation given by Rabbi Zave and Rebbetzin Rachel Rudman, beloved mechanchim visiting from Eretz Yisroel. The Rudmans shared their deeply personal journey following Rabbi Rudman’s diagnosis with epilepsy, a challenge that significantly impacted their daily lives, including multiple daily seizures which necessitates stopping to drive.Their story highlighted how they navigated these difficulties while maintaining their Emunah and ability to see the yad Hashem throughout their journey. The Rudmans’ message to the crowd was the importance of leaning on Hashem and trusting that He provides

each individual with the tools needed to endure and grow through life’s challenges. Rebbetzin Rudman offered a poignant metaphor, comparing times of struggle to a tulip bulb hidden beneath the soil, unseen, yet quietly preparing to blossom. In time, she explained, the purpose behind our nisyonos becomes clearer, strengthening us in ways we could not have imagined. The Rudmans also highlighted the extraordinary sup-

port of the Jewish community during their journey, from meals and housing during treatment in America to occasional kumzitzes organized by family to uplift their spirits. The evening left attendees inspired, reminded of the power of Emunah, community, and resilience. Elevate is grateful to Mr. Klugman for the tech setup and for helping to ensure the evening ran smoothly.

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Cranes, Hard Hats, And A Promise Kept: Construction Begins At Miriam’s Library

ix months after 4,000 donors bought a building, the hard hats have arrived — and the goal is in sight: after-school programming for Baltimore’s children, beginning this coming school year. If you drove past 201 Milford Mill Road this month, you saw something that didn’t exist a year ago: a crane, a work crew, and a building mid-transformation. The hum of a generator where there used to be an empty lot of waiting. After months of paperwork, permits, and quiet preparation, Miriam’s Library and Learning Center has reached the milestone the community has been waiting for — construction has begun, with one clear target ahead: opening the doors to after-school programming for the coming school year. It is a long way from where this started: a tribute evening, a grieving husband, and a vision most people would have filed away as a beautiful idea. Instead, Mendel Mintz turned the memory of his late wife, Mrs. Miriam (Fink) Mintz a”h, a beloved special educator, into bricks, drawings, and now an active job site. Inside The Walls

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Step through the door of the Phase One suite today and you won’t find a library — not yet. You’ll find the honest, dusty middle of a renovation: ceiling tiles pulled, wiring exposed, old carpet rolled and stacked against the wall, ready to be hauled out. It is the least glamorous stage of any building project, and to the people who have followed this from the beginning, it may be the most beautiful. That 1,400-square-foot suite is the opening move in a much larger plan. Rather than wait years to renovate all 14,000 square feet at once, the organization chose to open a smaller space first — begin serving children sooner, learn what families actually need, and build the rest responsibly. Phase One is designed to begin small, learn quickly, and grow. The Community Shows Up — In Person The building has also become a destination for Maryland’s elected leadership. Through May, a striking roster

of officials toured the site and sat down to hear the plan: House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk, Senator Shelly Hettleman, Delegates Dana Stein, Cheryl Pasteur, Jon Cardin, and Samuel Rosenberg, Baltimore County Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka, and Jane Lichter, Chair of the Baltimore County Board of Education, among others. The visits weren’t only ceremonial. Baltimore County followed through with a $35,000 capital grant toward Phase One’s STEM lab and activity space — the organization’s first government award, and a signal to other funders that this project is real and moving.

Open For The New School Year The whole effort is pointed at a single date: this coming school year. When Phase One opens its doors, targeted for September 2026, it will begin with what the community needs most — after-school programming for local children. That means tutoring and homework support, digital learning and structured enrichment, and Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov programming, all in a space designed, from the floor up, around children. The aim is for students to walk in this fall to a consistent, welcoming place to learn and grow after the school day ends. The program is already being built

alongside the building. Mrs. Esther Ehrman has joined as Program Director, planning the schedule, instructors, and opening-year experience so that the moment the dust settles, the after-school program is ready to run — not months later, but for the school year now beginning. For a project born out of loss, the sound of construction carries a particular kind of meaning. Miriam Mintz spent her life making sure children who learned differently were never left behind. On Milford Mill Road this summer, that work is no longer a memory or a rendering. It is a building going up, one wall at a time.

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Inspiration And Chizuk At Kollel Tzadikim

ollel Tzadikim, a specialized Torah study program, recently hosted two exceptionally uplifting and memorable learning sessions. The Kollel was deeply honored to welcome two chashuv guests who brought immense energy and insight to the bais medrash. Rabbi Mordechai Bamberger, Director of the Baltimore Community Kollel, and Rabbi Naftoli Hexter, former principal of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore Middle School, both spent time addressing the program. Each delivered powerful words of inspiration and chizuk,

The atmosphere in the room was palpable with the simcha of limud hatorah. Every single attendee left the

sessions feeling uplifted, spiritually energized, and proud to be a member of Kollel Tzadikim.

Divrei Torah, followed by a moving video chronicling the boys’ years at the Cheder, including Divrei Bracha from the three Sgan Menahalim.

Rabbi Hirsch, together with Sgan Menahalim Rabbi Nosson Adlin and Rabbi Mendel Reischer, concluded the evening by presenting each graduate with a special gift, followed by dancing.

TI 8th Grade Mesibas Preida

arents, grandparents, Rebbeim, and friends gathered at Torah Institute’s annual Mesibas Preida to celebrate the graduating eighth-grade class and their years of growth and achievement. The uplifting evening featured heartfelt words of inspiration from Board Chairman Rabbi Hillel Tendler and Menahel Rabbi Shimon Hirsch, who encouraged the graduates as they prepare for the next stage of their Torah journey. A special highlight of the evening was the tribute to Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, beloved first-grade rebbe for more than 35 years, recognizing his decades of dedication to generations of talmidim.

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beautifully weaving together timeless lessons from the weekly Parsha, while sharing stories and practical encouragement for daily life.

Arranged by Sgan Menahel Rabbi Doniel Hexter, two first-grade boys performed a touching song in honor

of the graduates, symbolizing the beginning and culmination of their Torah Institute experience. Representatives from each of the three eighth-grade classes shared

The Torah Institute “Slushie Fund”: One Parent’s Cool Gesture Warms Hearts With A Kiddush Hashem By: BJLife Newsroom

t Torah Institute (TI), a simple but heartfelt act of kindness left a lasting impression. According to those in the area, an unidentified parent took the time to go around to the construction workers,

personally take everyone’s slushy order, and then drove to Royal Farms to purchase and deliver them.

ingful expression of appreciation for their dedication and hard work especially in today’s intense heat.

The thoughtful gesture was greatly appreciated by the crew, who have been working hard on the school’s construction project. It was a mean-

While the identity of the parent remains unknown, Torah Institute wanted to publicly express its gratitude.

“Whoever you are, thank you. We truly appreciate that you went out of your way—not only to buy the slushies, but to take everyone’s order and personally deliver them. It was a beautiful gesture that showed how much you appreciate all that these workers are doing for our school.”

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JUST ONE MORE TEAR by Rabbi Yechiel Spero

TOUCHED BY THEIR TEARS by Rabbi Yechiel Spero

LAWS OF DAILY LIVING FROM SORROW THE THREE WEEKS, TO CELEBRATION TISHAH B’AV AND OTHER FASTS by Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen

RAV CHAIM KANIEVSKY ON THE THREE WEEKS by Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Shteinman

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A MOST MEANINGFUL TISHAH B’AV

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From Aleph To Chumash: TI Pre-1A Talmidim Celebrate A Major Milestone

xcitement filled the air as Torah Institute’s Pre-1A talmidim celebrated their Chumash Siyum at Ateres Elka. Beautifully organized by Preschool Director Mrs. Fleurli Muller and her dedicated staff, the event marked a memorable milestone in the boys’ Torah learning. Menahel Rabbi Shimon Hirsch and Sgan Menahel Rabbi Doniel Hexter of Grades 1 & 2, proudly assisted each talmid as they read their individual pesukim before the audience. Hundreds of proud parents, grandparents, and family members gathered to share in the simchah, celebrating the boys’ achievements with spirited, leibedig dancing that brought the event to a joyous and unforgettable conclusion.

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layup in the final seconds as Diamond Auto Leasing scraped by a determined Orshan Legal Group Squad 52-50. Diamond Auto led for the vast majority of the game but Orshan Legal refused to go away, keeping the game within striking range and briefly taking the lead before tying it up in the game’s final minute, setting up Hariri’s game winner. Hariri had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win, while Ahron Schmell broke out with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Yoey Schacht added 9 points on 3-7 from behind the arc while Yitzy Hyatt hit a huge layup late as part of his 8 points.

Abie Hyatt scored 12 points in the win while Avner Shotz and Akiva Stutman chipped in 6 apiece. Advanced Security was led by 27 points from Heshey Green, who also snagged a dozen boards. Avi Yudkowsky scored 13 points and he and Noach Schwartz grabbed 8 rebounds apiece.

Orshan Legal was led by sub Jaim Magenzdo, who had 20 points and 8 rebounds while playing strong defense. Avromi Gartenhaus added 12 points in the loss while sub Peleg Ovadia chipped in 10.

Diamond Auto Leasing 54 Orshan Legal Group 52

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Nursing & Rehab their first loss of the season, 56-51. Diamond Auto also got strong performances from Eitan Hariri (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Yoey Schacht (7 points), and everyone on their squad played lockdown defense in the win. The game was close into the second half, with Diamond Auto holding a 4 point halftime lead. They stretched their lead to 51-38 with just over 7 minutes left, but from there went cold as King David went on a run, ultimately closing to within 2 points before Diamond Auto closed it out. King David was paced by 18 points from Menachem Blackman (along with 6 rebounds), while Yisroel Luchansky added 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Elazar Freedman added 9 points and 19 rebounds in the loss. Not much came easy for King David on offense, with most of their shots heavily contested thanks to the strong defense from Diamond Auto. Diamond moves to 3-1-1 while King David drops to 3-1. Orshan Legal Group 74 M&S Enterprise 61 Reches Leads Orshan Legal to First Win

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Chaverim Of Baltimore Honors Volunteers At Annual Member Appreciation BBQ

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By: BJLife Newsroom | Photos: AISH

haverim of Baltimore held its annual Member Appreciation BBQ at the Meadowood Park Pavilion. Volunteers and their families enjoyed a delicious BBQ, snow cones, and a custom cake. The event also featured a special awards presentation ceremony recognizing outstanding dedication. So far this year, Chaverim has responded to more than 2,700 calls, continuing to be an invaluable resource to the Baltimore community. While many of those calls involve roadside assistance—such as jump starts, tire changes, and car lockouts— Chaverim’s work extends far beyond that. Volunteers regularly assist with house lockouts, gas refills, generator and heater support, traffic control, and

A special thank-you goes to Pariser’s Bakery for generously sponsoring the cake, and to Market Maven and Wasserman & Lemberg for their assistance in providing the food that helped make the event such a success.

First Annual OHYP Backgammon Tournament A Huge Success!

he First Annual OHYP Backgammon Tournament brought together an incredible evening of friendly competition, great food, and community spirit, with players battling it out for bragging rights and a $500 gift card to Shlomo’s Meat Market. After an exciting night of matches, the tournament came down to four outstanding competitors: Baruch Laleh, Eliyahu Ramanfar, Itzik Golfeiz, and Armin Boutesahz.

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even vehicle pull-outs. Their ability to respond to such a wide variety of urgent needs makes Chaverim a trusted, friendly helping hand in times of need.

The semifinal round featured bestof-three matches. Itzik Golfeiz defeated Eliyahu Ramanfar, while Baruch Laleh earned a victory over Armin Boutesahz, setting up a highly anticipated championship showdown between two tournament heavyweights: Itzik “GRI” Golfeiz and Baruch “The Guru” Laleh. The best-of-five championship match delivered everything fans could have hoped for. After two intense games, the score was tied 1-1, with both finalists showcasing exceptional skill, strategy, and determination. The defining moment came in the third game. With the championship hanging in the balance, Baruch needed to roll any doubles on his final turn to score a gammon (worth two points)

and clinch the title. In a thrilling finish, he rolled double ones (snake eyes), winning the match 3 to 1 and sending the crowd into celebration. Baruch “The Guru” Laleh was crowned the First Annual OHYP Backgammon Tournament Champion, taking home the coveted title along with the $500 Shlomo’s Meat Market gift card. OHYP extends its sincere gratitude to all of the players, volunteers, and attendees who helped make the inaugural tournament such a memorable success. A special thank you goes to our generous corporate sponsors for making the evening possible: * Diamond Auto Leasing * Platinum Insurance Group * Shlomo’s Meat Market * Full Turns LLC * D.R. Contracting * Chana Lavi Event Designs Their generosity and commitment to the community helped create an unforgettable evening of competition, camaraderie, and fun. With a tremendous turnout and an exciting finish, the First Annual OHYP Backgammon Tournament has set the stage for what promises to become a cherished annual tradition.

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Around the Community

Orshan Legal Group Completes Historic Undefeated Season, Captures Premier Financial Trophy

he 2026 season of the JCSL by MDSC came to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday as the Ashley Custom Homes championship took place on the Friendship Circle fields. After weeks of regular season battles and playoff drama, two teams (Orshan Legal Group and Lazar Real Estate) remained with one goal in mind: taking home the Premier Financial Trophy. The matchup featured two talented teams that had earned their place on the biggest stage. Both squads arrived looking the part, sporting their dapper Stutman Chiropractic league jerseys as they prepared for battle. While the game itself featured plenty of intensity and competitive fire, the 2026 season ultimately ended on a tremendous note, celebrating the camaraderie and spirit that make the JCSL special. ______________________________ Orshan Legal Group finished the regular season with an impressive 7-0-1 record, but inside the dugout that accomplishment meant very little. This group had one message from Day 1: without a title, the regular season would have been worth about as much as a low-speed parking lot collision. Their goal was to become champions by trusting each other, sticking to the plan, and consistently doing the little things right.

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Top of the First: Danny Weissmann wasted no time setting the tone with a quick 1-2-3 inning. Bottom of the First: Orshan Legal Group (OLG) immediately went to work. Yehuda Pensak drew a walk, Meir Parry was intentionally walked, Eli Kelemer ripped a double, Meir Samberg lined a single, and Gedalia Gelb followed with another hit. Before anyone had settled into their seats, OLG had a 3-0 lead. Nobody tried to win the game with one swing. Every player simply passed the baton to the next. Top of the Second: Lazar Real Estate (LRE) threatened but couldn’t break through. Credit belongs to Walter Johnson who stepped in to pitch for LRE and gave them everything he had.

Bottom of the Second: OLG answered again. Tzvi Perlman opened the inning with a laser single, Pensak followed with another hit, Parry reached base again, Kelemer battled for a walk, and Gelb lined another RBI hit. It wasn’t flashy baseball—it was winning baseball. OLG extended the lead to 7-0. Top of the Third and Fourth: Championship games are never as easy as they look on paper. Behind captain Chaim Finkelstein and quality at-bats from Danny Donaty, Gershon Vegh, and Ben Blackman, LRE finally broke through and trimmed the lead to 7-2. OLG never flinched. The message never changed: make the next pitch, win the next at-bat, make the routine play, and trust the guy standing next to you. Bottom of the Fourth: Then came the answer. Meir Samberg launched a towering three-run homer, driving in Pensak and Parry. He then turned around and made several outstanding plays at third base. Aaron Lefky added a line-drive single, Moshe Treitel chipped in with a hit, and OLG answered adversity exactly the way they had all season. Score: OLG 10, LRE 2. Top of the Fifth: LRE made its biggest push of the afternoon. Hits from Adam Neuman, Szajowitz, Vegh, Johnson, and Finkelstein brought them back into the game. On the next play, Yaki Strauss crushed a drive to right but Gedalia Gelb fielded it cleanly and fired to Parry, who spun and threw a perfect strike home to Tzvi Perlman to cut down the runner at the plate. It was more than an out— it was a momentum-changing play created by three teammates doing their jobs perfectly. LRE scored four runs, but OLG still led 10-5. Bottom of the Fifth: With two outs, Gelb worked another walk, and Elazar Freedman hammered a triple into the right-center gap to score him. Score: OLG 11, LRE 5. Bottom of the Sixth: The game was still within reach, but OLG never let up. Tzvi “MVP” Perlman calmly worked a leadoff walk, Pensak hustled out another

hit, Parry reached base once again, and Eli Kelemer crushed what may have been the longest ball of the postseason, missing a home run by about one foot. OLG stretched the lead to 15-5. Top of the Seventh: LRE refused to quit. Elazar Freedman answered with a spectacular Jim Edmonds-style diving catch that probably would have required replay review. Walt ripped a two-run triple, Finkelstein reached, and another rally was brewing before Aaron Lefky ranged deep into the hole, backhanded a rocket, flipped to Parry, who fired a strike to Shlomo Rosenstein for an inning-ending double play. Score: OLG 15, LRE 7. Top of the Eighth: Danny Weismann slammed the door with another scoreless inning, pitching with the same intensity he showed in the first. Bottom of the Eighth: Danny “Shohei” Weissmann ripped a bullet down the line before Shlomo Rosenstein drove a triple into right field to add two more insurance runs. Score: OLG 17, LRE 7. Top of the Ninth: By now everyone knew the title was within reach. With two outs and an undefeated season one play away, the ball was lifted into the air toward Eli Kelemer. He squeezed it cleanly, gloves flew into the air, and the celebration was on. Even from Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Shmutterpely’s positive spirit and encouragement were felt by a team that truly believed they were all in it together.

All in all, it was a great season and a special group of players who took home the title. They never let success make them comfortable or adversity make them panic. They trusted the process, believed in one another, and proved that championships aren’t just won by spectacular plays but by teammates who do the right thing consistently. The 2026 JCSL by MDSC season was one to remember. From the opening games through the championship, players, families, and fans helped create another incredible year of community softball. A tremendous thank you goes out to everyone involved. Congratulations to Orshan Legal Group on a historic championship, and we look forward to seeing everyone back next season for more competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable softball

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Happens to be gluten-free™

Find your favorite gluten-free pastries in the freezer aisle at your local grocery.

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Warm regards from the freezer section

Around the Community

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Simcha Without Borders: A Place Where Joy Knows No Limits

omething extraordinary happened in Baltimore, something that reminds us of the incredible power of community, compassion, and joy. For four unforgettable days, Chai Lifeline brought its annual pop-up day camp, Simcha Without Borders, to its Mid-Atlantic region. Designed specifically for children receiving care through Chai Lifeline, along with their siblings, this unique program offers far more than just a camp experience. It creates a world where children facing illness, trauma, and ongoing challenges can simply be children. From the moment campers arrive each morning, the atmosphere is electric. They run through the “Tunnel of Love,” greeted by cheering staff and counselors whose energy and warmth set the tone for the day. Smiles spread instantly. Laughter fills the air. And for those few precious hours, worries are replaced with excitement, friendship, and belonging.

What makes Simcha Without Borders (SWOB) so special is not just the activities, though they are endless and engaging, but the intentional care behind every detail. The camp is structured to ensure each child receives individualized support, attention, and love. Every camper is seen. Every sibling is included. Every moment is designed to build confidence, connection, and joy. It is impossible not to be moved watching these children. Many of them live with circumstances most adults would struggle to carry, constant hospital visits, uncertainty, emotional strain, and the ripple effects those realities have on the entire family. Yet here, in this carefully created environment, they are surrounded by positivity, encouragement, and fun. The smiles are genuine. The energy is unmatched. Perhaps the strongest testimony to the camp’s impact came from the children themselves. Several campers

chose to skip their regular summer camps just to attend this four-day experience. One camper said simply, “I wait for this all year. I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.” In a world often filled with stress and division, Simcha Without Borders

offers something rare: a reminder that joy can heal, that community can uplift, and that even in the midst of struggle, there is always room for simcha. Baltimore was fortunate to witness it this week — and those who did will not soon forget it.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Join us for CHANA’s 8th annual fundraising and outreach event. LEAD CO-SPONSORS Lou Hyman, CLU In loving memory of Barbi Goldsmith Hyman

Scan the code to learn more and become a sponsor. chanabaltimore.org/voices-event-2026

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58% of incoming students said they chose Sara Schenirer because a friend recommended it.

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Friends Tell Their Friends About Sara Schenirer

Every incoming student is asked a simple question: Why did you choose Sara Schenirer? Year after year, the answer is remarkably consistent: it was recommended by a trusted friend who attended the program. Students who enjoy a positive experience let their friends know and encourage them to follow in their footsteps. Nothing speaks louder than a recommendation from a trusted friend.

Apply by July 29 for Fall Semester

apply.sarasch.com

718-633-8557 ext. 37 • information@sarasch.com

718-633-8557 ext. 50 • men@sarasch.com

Sara Schenirer is not a college or degree-granting institution. All degrees are conferred by our partner colleges.

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THE WOMEN’S DIVISION

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A New Community Taking Shape In The Blue Ridge Mountains Of North Carolina

BJH: Shefa Living started with a very different question than “let’s build a community.” What was the actual starting point for you?

BJH: So many people hear about a project like this and their first reaction is skepticism. Is Shefa Living actually happening? YG: The answer is an emphatic yes. All major infrastructure is already installed,

BJH: What makes the homes themselves different from what families would find in an established frum community? YG: We didn’t take houses built for a different lifestyle and try to adapt them. We designed homes around how Jewish families actually live, large dining rooms that can host Shabbos meals and guests, spacious bedrooms for children, layouts that support the rhythm of Yom Tov. And because we’re building the infrastructure ourselves, we’re able to avoid the “Jewish premium” that usually comes with housing in established communities. That’s how the homes end up priced below typical frum community markets. BJH: Education is usually the first question families ask when considering a move. What can you tell us about the yeshiva? YG: The Yeshiva of Glade Valley

will open together with the first group of families. It will be led by Rabbi Dovid Kossowsky and his wife, who are moving to the property this week to lead the program. A lot of parents feel that one of their children isn’t thriving in the environment they’re in. They’re looking for a place where their kids can grow at their own pace and feel successful. That’s really the heart of it, small multi-age classrooms, close relationships with rebbeim and moros, hands-on learning. The first weeks won’t jump straight into academics. We want families to acclimate, get to know the area and each other, with trips and activities before formal classes begin after Sukkos. BJH: Beyond housing and school, what does it take to build a fully functioning frum community from the ground up? YG: A central shul will be the heart of the neighborhood, where families come together for davening, learning, and gathering. A men’s and women’s mikvah will open together with the first wave of residents, and we’re also building a unique mikvah tahara integrated into Nesheema, a one of its kind community women’s center with a spa, gym, daycare, café, and shared workspaces where women can gather and connect. Kosher food is already available locally too. Once I approached a nearby supermarket, they added multiple aisles of kosher products, dairy, frozen, pantry staples, even before our first families arrived. BJH: What has the response been like from the local town?

YG: Genuinely warm and enthusiastic. It’s a small, welcoming area, and it has responded to this new Jewish community with real openness. People stop me on the street just to say they’re happy we’re coming. Local businesses have already started accommodating kosher needs. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area itself offers open skies, quiet roads, and sweeping views of forests and farmland, so for families looking for space and a slower pace of life, the setting is part of what draws them. BJH: What ties the families who are choosing Shefa Living together? YG: It’s not dress or labels. It’s a desire for a more intentional, grounded way of life. We’re guided by a hashkafa that has an emphasis on pnimiyus, avodas Hashem, and shared values over external uniformity. This isn’t for people running away from their communities. It’s for people running toward something they believe in. It is for mevakshim. It is for people who want to connect to their community, to their davening, to their Shabbos, to their families: to Hashem in a meaningful way. BJH: For families watching this unfold from a distance, what would you want them to know? YG: The infrastructure is complete, homes are under construction, leadership is in place, and families are preparing to move in. Shefa Living is entering its next stage. The question isn’t really what is Shefa Living anymore. It’s whether this might be where their next chapter begins.

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Yehuda Gross: I was working as a wealth manager and volunteering as a financial coach with Mesila, so I sat with families across the entire financial spectrum. What surprised me was that people making $10,000 a month and people making $30,000 a month were both under enormous pressure. Not because they were irresponsible, but because the structure of frum life has become extremely expensive. We talk about housing, tuition, food, and communal costs like they’re separate problems. They’re not. We don’t really have five different crises. We have one, the cost of living.

roads, electricity, wells, septic systems, fiber-optic internet. Engineering and soil testing are done. The first phase of homes is their final phases of construction right now we’re on schedule to have the first families move in around Elul, with more homes following in the months after. One family is already living on the property in an existing house while their permanent home is being built. Our Menahel, R’ Dovid Kossovsky and his wife are moving next week and my wife and I are already on the property. These aren’t theoretical plans anymore. Homes are being built and families are getting ready to move.

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613 Seconds with Yehuda (Yudi) Gross, Founder Of Shefa Living:

The Week In News

Surge of Nationalism Hits Iran A wave of nationalism sweeping Iran following last month’s war is making it increasingly difficult for the country’s leaders to negotiate with the Unit-

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shacharis

ability to negotiate a lasting agreement with Washington. One of the biggest sticking points remains the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Under a preliminary agreement reached with the Trump administration, Iran was expected to reopen the strategic waterway within 30 days. Instead, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued enforcing its claim of exclusive control over the strait, while attacks on commercial vessels have resumed. Over the weekend, efforts by U.S. officials and Qatari mediators to restart negotiations fell apart after the Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed once again. Mahmoud Nabavian, an Iranian lawmaker and former member of the country’s negotiating team, dismissed any discussion over the future administration of the waterway, calling such negotiations “an obvious and glaring weakness.” He insisted that the Revolutionary Guard would “fulfill the right of the Iranian nation over the Strait of Hormuz and exercise exclusive control... come what may.” Political analysts say the Revolutionary Guard sees the dispute as both a

strategic and domestic advantage. “They feel that as long as they can rule Hormuz, they will be calling the shots both with the U.S. and internally,” said geopolitical adviser Mustapha Pakzad. “Nationalism is a convenient temporary sentiment to cling to.” The hard-line rhetoric has spilled into public demonstrations. During Khamenei’s funeral, crowds chanted anti-American slogans and condemned moderates seeking negotiations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heckled by protesters, while state media has amplified calls for revenge against American, Israeli, and other Western leaders. Despite the nationalist momentum, many analysts believe the regime’s underlying challenges remain. Economic hardship and widespread dissatisfaction with clerical rule continue to simmer beneath the surface, even as patriotic sentiment has temporarily strengthened support for the government.

Former Qatar Ruler Dies Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who boosted Qatar’s role in diplomacy, media, and investment during his 18

Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide

6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

M-F

Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah

T, W, F

6:20 am Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY

M, Th

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac

T, W, F

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

S-F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac

S S

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

7:05 am Kesher Israel

M, Th

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)

6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation

M-F

7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue

M, Th

8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville

M, Th

Beit Halevi (Sfardi)

M, T

T, W, F

8:15 am Ohr Hatorah

Chabad of Silver Spring

M-F

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY

T, W, F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

YGW

M, Th

6:35 am Ohr Hatorah

M, Th

6:40 am YGW

S, T, W, F

Magen David Sephardic Congregation 6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi)

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ed States, according to the Wall Street Journal, as hard-line factions push back against any compromise they view as weakening Iran’s position. The Iranian government, which had faced widespread public discontent and anti-regime protests earlier this year, has embraced patriotic messaging since the conflict with Israel and the United States. That sentiment was further fueled during the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike during the opening days of the war and was laid to rest last week. Now, analysts say, the same nationalist fervor is limiting the government’s

M-Th S, T, W, F

Kemp Mill Synagogue

M, Th

Ohr Hatorah

T, W, F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

M, Th

6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah

M, Th

Silver Spring Jewish Center

M-F

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County

M-F

6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

T, W, F

7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue

T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center BETHESDA Magen David Sephardic Congregation [S] 11215 Woodglen Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852 GAITHERSBURG Chabad of Upper Montgomery County [Ari] 11520 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 OLNEY Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah (OSTT) 18320 Georgia Ave, Olney, MD 20832

Kesher Israel Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah 7:30 am Chabad of DC

M-F

Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville

S, T, W, F

Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy

S-F

Silver Spring Jewish Center

M-F

Chabad of Potomac

M-F

JROC

M-F

Kemp Mill Synagogue

T, W, F

8:30 am Chabad of DC

Chabad of Potomac

S S

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

JROC Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Silver Spring Jewish Center

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)

M-F

YGW (Summer Only)

S-F

7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only)

S-F

8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah

S-F

8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation

9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring

Kemp Mill Synagogue

Kesher Israel

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Chabad of Upper Montgomery County

Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah

POTOMAC Beth Sholom Congregation 11825 Seven Locks Rd. Potomac, MD 20854 Chabad of Potomac [Ari] 11621 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854 Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac 11618 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

ROCKVILLE Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy 13300 Arctic Ave, Rockville, MD 20853 JROC 11304 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville, MD 20852 Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville Ring House TV Room

For edits or additions email ads@baltimorejewishhome.com

mincha

S S

mincha/maariv

Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH Beit Halevi (Sfardi) Beth Sholom Congregation Chabad of Potomac Chabad of Silver Spring Chabad of Upper Montgomery County Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville (20 min before, S-F) JROC Kemp Mill Synagogue Kesher Israel Magen David Sephardic Congregation Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah Silver Spring Jewish Center Southeast Hebrew Congregation Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi)

maariv 8:45 pm YGW 9:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center 9:30 pm YGW 9:45 pm Ohr Hatorah 10:00 pm YGW

2:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center 2:10 pm YGW

S-F

2:45 pm YGW 3:00 pm YGW Middle School

S-Th

SILVER SPRING Beit Halevi [Sefardic] 1009 North Belgrade Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20902 Chabad of Silver Spring [Ari] 519 Lamberton Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Kemp Mill Synagogue 11910 Kemp Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Ohr Hatorah 1009 Kersey Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Silver Spring Jewish Center 1401 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Knesset Yehoshua 10900 Lockwood Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20901 Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah 9001 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Yeshiva Gedola of Greater Washington (YGW) 1216 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (YISE) [Ashk + S] 1132 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902

M-Th School Days M-Th School Days

S-Th S-Th S-Th S-Th S-Th

WASHINGTON Chabad of DC [Ari] 2110 Leroy Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20008 Kesher Israel 2801 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue 1600 Jonquil St NW, Washington, DC 20012

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The Week In News

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years as emir, passed away last week at the age of 74. In June 2013, he stepped down, having served since 1995, and handed the reins of leadership to his son. During the sheikh’s rule, Qatar gained power globally, mediating key conflicts. He also established Al Jazeera, a news outlet which Israel banned in 2024 for the network’s affiliation with Hamas Its reporting not only angered other Arab leaders, sometimes to the point of diplomatic rupture, it also riled Washington. Al Jazeera aired statements from the terror network al-Qaeda, even as Qatar hosted one of the key Pentagon logistical hubs following the September 11, 2001, attacks and the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Qatar’s rise under Sheikh Hamad rankled regional and Western allies with its independent-minded policymaking, including its close ties to Shiite center Iran, the Palestinian terror group Hamas, and Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Sheikh Hamad stepped down peace-

fully and voluntarily, although he came to power in 1995, when he ousted and exiled his father, Sheikh Khalifa, in a bloodless coup. Sheikh Hamad, a former defense minister and commander of Qatar’s armed forces, became crown prince in the late 1970s. Among his responsibilities was planning for the country’s vast oil and gas reserves. As emir, Sheikh Hamad boosted Qatar’s standing in the realm of sports. In 2022, the country hosted the FIFA World Cup. He also pushed Qatar Airways to expand into a major international carrier, trying to rival neighboring carrier Emirates. The country’s international airport in Doha, Qatar’s capital, which cost at least $15 billion to construct, bears his name. At the end of Sheikh Hamad’s reign, Qatar also established an office for the Taliban, the terror group that rules Afghanistan. Qatar, a peninsula half the size of New Jersey, is believed to have around 300,000 citizens.

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The Week In News Finally Honoring Dreyfus On Sunday, a statue honoring French army captain Alfred Dreyfus arrived at its new permanent home in Paris, 120 years after his sentence for treason was overturned. The 12-foot bronze sculpture of Dreyfus, wrongly convicted of treason in 1894 in a notorious act of antisemitism, now stands outside the Court of

Cassation in Paris. The court had overturned the Jewish army captain’s conviction on July 12, 1906. Its unveiling on July 12 coincided with France’s national day of commemoration for Dreyfus, established by President Emmanuel Macron last year. “We know that the old demons of antisemitism have never completely disappeared from our country,″ the French president said at Sunday’s ceremony, calling for constant vigilance to prevent acts that ″target people because of who they are.″ Dreyfus’ 99-year-old grandson

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Charles was among those in attendance. “I must sadly admit that I would not have imagined, at my age, seeing antisemitism resurface with such virulence in our country,″ Charles Dreyfus said. His disappointment, however, was tempered by what he called ″the deep joy″ at seeing his grandfather’s statue erected outside the Palace of Justice, depicting Dreyfus proudly wielding a broken sword. Created in 1985 by artist Louis Mitelberg, the statue was effectively hidden from the public for decades after proposed sites were repeatedly rejected. Dreyfus was convicted by a secret military court in 1894 after he was falsely accused of spying for Germany and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Prominent intellectuals at the time, including novelist Emile Zola, argued that Dreyfus had been made a scapegoat by the French military. Evidence later proved another officer was responsible, but the military concealed the discovery in an affair that divided France. After he was exonerated, Dreyfuss rejoined the French army and served in World War I. He died in 1935. Last year, France’s parliament approved a bill promoting Dreyfus posthumously to the rank of brigadier general.

Media Overhaul Bill With the coalition’s dissolution happening late this week, the government has been working to pass a number of bills, including a media overhaul bill proposed by Communications Minister Shlomo Kahri. Several parts of the bill were dropped at the last second. On Sunday, the coalition discarded a part of the bill that would establish a government media app with free public TV channels and sports coverage. The idea was rejected by the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties over concerns with the app broadcasting on Shabbos. “Idan Plus,” a service that hooks up to the television, allowing for free public TV (without sports coverage), remains in the bill. The bill also reportedly bans cable and satellite television providers Hot and Yes from broadcasting violent or inappropriate content, as per a demand by

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The Week In News MK Avi Maoz, from the one-man ultraconservative Noam party. Critics of the bill, including Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, claim that the legislation gives Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition the power to interfere in the media’s dealings. Kahri, however, says the bill would increase competition in the media market and lower costs for content consumers. Three petitions against the bill’s passage were filed last year, prompting the High Court of Justice to discuss the legislation on Monday. This is the first time a bill was discussed by the High Court before its passage. The bill will replace the Second Authority for Television and Radio and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council with the new Broadcast Media Authority and Council for the Regulation of Audio-Visual Content. The communications minister, according to the bill, will appoint four of the seven members of the latter, and the Communications Ministry’s director-general will appoint another member. The council will manage and regulate the registry for broadcast content and news content providers and may cancel a broadcast content provider’s registration for failing to comply.

Ahmadinejad a Spy? In early 2024, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Hungary under the pretense of holding a climate change conference at Ludovika University of Public Service. But in reality, according to a report published by the New York Times, he was in Budapest to secretly meet with Israeli intelligence operatives. According to recent reports, for years, Israel has tried cultivating Ahmadinejad as a spy, hoping to install him as Iran’s new leader once regime change is achieved. Among those who met with Ahmadinejad in Hungary in 2024 was then-Mossad director David Barnea. Once a sworn enemy of the Jewish state, a Holocaust denier, and the man behind Iran’s nuclear program, Ahmadinejad’s relationship with Israel has changed since he left office in 2013. He worked to fix his hardliner reputation, adopting a softer, more moderate tone, critical of Tehran’s draconian measures. He also changed his look, exchanging a

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The Week In News khaki windbreaker for a tailored suit and a messy beard for trimmed facial hair. In June 2025, shortly before Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, supposedly Ahmadinejad went to Budapest again to meet with Israeli intelligence operatives. Although Iranian officials have, for years, kept Ahmadinejad under strict surveillance, they’ve also given him a seat on the high-level council that advises the supreme leader. In February 2026, just days before the war started, he attended a council meeting. Over the past few years, Israel has secretly given Ahmadinejad money for housing and travel, according to U.S. officials. In February 2026, Israel tried to relocate Ahmadinejad, striking his compound with an airstrike. Then, Mossad agents picked him up in a car and drove him to a secret safe house in Iran. In the safe house, Ahmadinejad apparently lost hope that Israel would be able to topple the Iranian regime and install him as leader, and, for some reason, left the safe house. He wasn’t seen again in public until last Monday, at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral. According to Iranian officials, now that Iran knows about the former president’s dealings with Israel, Ahmadinejad is in the custody of the Is-

lamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence wing under house arrest. Ahmadinejad was disqualified thrice from running for president and reportedly grew resentful of Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian regime. He reportedly said that as leader, he would recognize Israel and have Iran sign the Abraham Accords, joining the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other Muslim countries in normalizing ties with the Jewish state. Ahmadinejad believed that he would be able to stabilize Iran after regime change. It is believed that Ahmadinejad first had contact with Israeli officials during a 2023 trip to Guatemala. At that point, he was almost blocked from leaving Iran by security forces, but in the end, he was able to go.

Torah Study is a Foundational Value After hours of heated debate, latenight speeches, and fierce political sparring, the Knesset voted 63-52 on Monday to approve a Basic Law de-

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claring Torah study a “foundational value” of both the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The legislation, which grants Torah study quasi-constitutional status, is already being hailed by its supporters as a historic recognition of Judaism’s spiritual backbone. Critics, however, argue that the measure is less about honoring Torah learning and more about protecting exemptions from military service for tens of thousands of yeshiva students during a time of war. The law comes two years after Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that blanket draft exemptions for yeshiva students could no longer continue without a legal framework. United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni called the vote “a historic step,” saying the law “will serve as the state’s moral compass” and recognizes that “Torah study is not merely the heritage of the past, but the foundation upon which rests the present and future of the Jewish people on their land.” Shas chairman Aryeh Deri described the legislation as “a historic achievement,” declaring, “For the first

time, the Jewish state recognized the supreme status of Torah study and of its students.” Opposition lawmakers fiercely rejected that characterization. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the coalition of prioritizing draft exemptions over soldiers serving on the front lines. “This is how you are ending your term,” Lapid charged. “By spitting in the face of IDF soldiers.” MK Chili Tropper echoed that criticism, saying, “The war is still here. Our soldiers are in Lebanon right now... and they see clearly that in this house, this week, draft dodgers are preferred to warriors.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the vote, drawing criticism from political rivals. The law is expected to be only the first in a series of measures advancing before the Knesset dissolves ahead of Israel’s October elections. Opposition parties and advocacy groups have already pledged to challenge the legislation in court, arguing that it attempts to constitutionally entrench military draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community.

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Last Iron Lung User Dies The last known U.S. person living with polio and relying on an iron lung died at the age of 78.

Martha Lillard, who contracted polio at age five and spent most of her life dependent on an iron lung machine that helped her breathe, died on June 26 in Oklahoma. Lillard slept inside the metal cylinder device that enclosed her body while changing air pressure within forced air in and out of her lungs. Despite that, she attended grade school for two hours daily before completing the rest of her education through tutoring. “They told her she wasn’t supposed

to live past 20 years old,” Cindy McVey, Lillard’s younger sister, said on Friday. “She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.” McVey said she believes the effects of a long-term case of Covid-19 contributed to her sister’s death. According to McVey, Lillard’s death certificate lists chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome as her causes of death. Lillard’s family made it possible for her to travel, taking road trips to Missouri in a custom trailer after her father contacted hotels to ensure their doors were wide enough to accommodate his daughter’s iron lung. Lillard was also able to drive for a period of time. McVey said her sister experienced all of that after she had been told “she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old.” In an interview with NBC News in 2013, Lillard described the first moment she was put into the iron lung machine as “a relief.” “It feels wonderful, actually, if you’re not breathing well,” she said. “It makes all the difference when you’re not breathing.” Lillard’s death comes two years after

the death of Paul Alexander, the Texas man who gained international attention while spending much of his life in an iron lung after contracting polio at age six.

Paralyzed from the neck down by the disease, Alexander became an inspirational figure, earning a law degree, writing a memoir and creating paintings using a brush held in his mouth. Alexander died aged 78 after being recognized by Guinness World Records as the organization’s “longest iron lung patient.” Before vaccines became widely available, polio was among the most feared diseases in the U.S., with yearly outbreaks leaving thousands of people paralyzed, most of them children. Iron lungs helped save thousands of lives during those epidemics, although they were intended only for short-term use.

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Shacharis

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES

M, TH

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M-F M, TH M-F M-F M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S Chabad of Park Heights S Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F Darchei Tzedek S Kedushas Yisrael S-F Khal Bais Nosson S Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F 7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Talmudical Academy Darchei Tzedek Mesivta Kesser Torah Mesivta Shaarei Chaim Yeshivas Torah Simcha (school days only) 7:50 AM Derech Chaim Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe 8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park Beth Abraham Chabad Israeli Center Darchei Tzedek Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Kehillas Meor HaTorah Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel Tzeirei Anash Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

M-F S-F M-F S-F S-F S-F S S M-F S-F S S M-F S S S S S S S-F S S S S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S Kol Torah S 8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F 8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F Chabad Israeli Center S Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F Ohel Moshe S Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S 9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S Beth Tfiloh Congregation S Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

Mincha

Mincha Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Gedolah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek 1:45 PM Ohel Moshe M-Th Yeshivas Torah Simcha (school days only) 1 South Street, 27th Floor. 1:50 PM Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor 2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Mincha/Maariv Plag

Ohel Yaakov Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah Aish Kodesh Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudah of Greenspring Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Beth Abraham Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Darchei Tzedek Derech Chaim Kehillas Meor HaTorah Kehilath B’nai Torah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s), 5:00pm Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, 8:30 PM, 8:45 PM, 9:00 PM, 9:15 PM, 9:30 PM, 9:45 PM, 10:00 PM, 10:15 PM, 10:30 PM, 10:45 PM, 11:00 PM, 11:15 PM, 11:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:10 PM 8:15 PM 8:30 PM 8:45 PM

Agudath Israel of Baltimore Kol Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek Agudath Israel of Baltimore Darchei Tzedek Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) Ohr Yisroel

8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building) 8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh 9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Arugas Habosem Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:15 PM Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva 9:20 PM Kol Torah 9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore Kedushas Yisrael

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] 9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries) Kollel of Greenspring Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Darchei Tzedek Kehilath B'nai Torah Kehillas Shaarei Avodah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Ohr Yisrael Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah 10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College 10:15 PM Derech Chaim Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore 11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Clarks Ln Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park- 6800 Sylvale Ct Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave Chabad Israeli Center - 7807 Seven Mile Ln Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln Derech Chaim - 6603 Pimlico Road Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave. Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva - 6700 Cross Country Blvd Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd Kollel of Greenspring - 6504 Greenspring Ave. Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 5415 Greenspring Ave Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave

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7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Tzeirei Anash 7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Beth Tfiloh Congregation Kol Torah Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Kol Torah Market Maven Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295 2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave 2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan Ner Israel Rabbinical College Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Community Kollel) Shearith Israel Congregation 2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th) 3:00 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael 3:15 PM Hat Box 3:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 4:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 6:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th) 6:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center 14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Maariv continued

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F Ohel Yakov S-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S-F 6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F 6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th 6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH M, TH 6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park M-F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH Pikesville Jewish Congregation M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH 6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F Chabad of Park Heights M-F Darchei Tzedek M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F Khal Bais Nosson M-F Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F Kol Torah T, W, F Ohr Yisroel M-F Pikesville Jewish Congregation T, W, F Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F 6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH Ohel Moshe M, TH 6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M-F 6:45 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, Th B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F Kehilas Bnei Yeshiva M-F Ner Tamid M-F Ohel Moshe T, W, F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F 6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH Derech Chaim M-F Kol Torah M-F Ohel Moshe S Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH 6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F Kol Torah M, TH The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F 7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) M-F Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S Kol Torah T, W, F Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F Tiferes Yisroel M-F Neitz

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More Than a Senator

Lindsey Graham’s Enduring Legacy By yaEL HErTz

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JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

here is an old saying in politics that every senator wants to be president. Lindsey Graham once ran for the White House, but history will remember him for something else entirely. He became one of Washington’s most recognizable warriors – not because he always won, and certainly not because everyone agreed with him, but because he refused to stop fighting for the causes he believed in. Friends admired his loyalty. Critics questioned his shifting political alliances. Yet even those who opposed him rarely doubted his passion. Whether standing on the Senate floor, walking through the rubble of war-torn cities overseas, advocating for Israel as America’s staunch ally, or speaking before cameras with his unmistakable South Carolina drawl, Graham projected the image of a man who believed America had both the privilege and the responsibility to lead. When news broke this weekend that Senator Lindsey Graham had died suddenly at the age of 71 after what his

office described as a “brief and sudden illness,” tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump mourned the loss of “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “beloved friend” whose commitment to Israel never wavered. Leaders who disagreed with him on nearly every domestic issue still acknowledged that they had lost one of the Senate’s defining personalities. In an age when politicians often become famous for carefully crafted talking points, Graham built his reputation by saying exactly what was on his mind. Sometimes, it earned applause. Sometimes, it earned headlines for all the wrong reasons. But it almost always commanded attention. His story, however, began far from the marble halls of Washington.

Small Town Upbringing Lindsey Olin Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in the small mill town of Central, South Carolina. His

Lindsey Graham and Arizona Senator John McCain could not have come from more different backgrounds, yet they shared an almost identical worldview. Both had worn the nation’s uniform. Both believed America’s military strength deterred wars more often than it caused them. Both worried that isolationism invited aggression. And both possessed a streak of independence that often irritated leaders within their own party. Along with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the trio became known around Washington simply as “the Three Amigos.” They traveled together to Iraq and Afghanistan, met with military commanders, visited troops stationed overseas, and developed a reputation

Friends joked that Graham seemed almost as comfortable in Jerusalem as he was in Washington.

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The Three Amigos

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What he possessed instead was something equally valuable in legislative politics: preparation. He read briefing books. He asked questions. He mastered policy. He became the kind of lawmaker colleagues sought out when they needed someone who actually understood the details. That reputation followed him to Washington after Republicans swept into power during the historic 1994 elections. At just 39 years old, Graham won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the so-called “Republican Revolution” led by Newt Gingrich. The timing could hardly have been better. The Republican Party was reinventing itself, embracing smaller government, a stronger military, and a more confrontational approach to Washington politics. Graham fit comfortably into that movement while also displaying an independent streak that occasionally frustrated both parties. It was during his years in the House that he first emerged as a serious voice on constitutional law and national security. As a lawyer, military officer, and member of the House Judiciary Committee, he developed a reputation for carefully weighing legal questions rather than simply chasing political headlines. Those qualities propelled him to the United States Senate in 2002, succeeding the legendary Strom Thurmond and beginning what would become nearly a quarter-century in the chamber often described as the world’s greatest deliberative body. The House rewards quick victories and partisan fervor. The Senate, with its slower pace and six-year terms, rewards relationships, institutional memory, and an understanding that today’s political rival may be tomorrow’s negotiating partner. Lindsey Graham arrived there in 2003 prepared not merely to occupy a seat but to become a player. Within a few years, he had. He gravitated toward the issues that had captivated him since his days as a military lawyer: national security, the armed forces, judicial appointments, and foreign affairs. While other senators sought the spotlight on domestic issues like taxes or healthcare, Graham found himself drawn to conflicts unfolding thousands of miles away: Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China. To him, America’s role on the world stage was not an abstract debate; it was the defining challenge of the twenty-first century. It also led him to form one of the most consequential friendships of his political career.

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parents, Florence and Millie Graham, owned a modest combination restaurant, bar, and liquor store known as the Sanitary Café. The name sounded more impressive than the establishment itself. It was the sort of family business where everyone worked because there was no other choice. Young Lindsey washed dishes, waited tables, swept floors, and learned early that if something needed to be done, nobody was coming to do it for you. The Grahams were not wealthy. They were hardworking people trying to keep a business afloat while raising two children. Lindsey often recalled that his parents believed deeply in responsibility, discipline, and self-reliance, values that would become cornerstones of his political philosophy decades later. When Lindsey was just 21 years old, both of his parents died within about fifteen months of one another after battles with illness. Suddenly, the young college student found himself responsible not only for his own future but also for raising his 13-year-old sister, Darline. Most people facing such circumstances would have understandably put their ambitions on hold. Graham did the opposite. He finished college while becoming his sister’s legal guardian. Years later, friends would observe that Graham never married and never had children of his own. When asked about it, he often pointed back to those formative years. Raising his younger sister became his first and perhaps most important calling. That sense of duty would become a recurring theme throughout his public life. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Graham earned his law degree before joining the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer. Military service suited him. It reinforced his appreciation for chain of command, national security, and America’s role in the world. Although many politicians speak reverently about the armed forces, Graham didn’t just talk the talk – he had worn the uniform himself. Even after entering politics, he continued serving in the Air Force Reserve and later the Air National Guard, eventually retiring as a colonel after more than three decades of military service. That military background shaped nearly every major position he would take for the rest of his career. Unlike lawmakers whose worldview centered primarily on domestic policy, Graham viewed nearly every international conflict through the lens of American security. To him, events unfolding thousands of miles away were rarely somebody else’s problem. Terrorism in the Middle East, Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, China’s growing influence in Asia, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions all represented pieces of the same puzzle. America, he believed, could not afford to retreat from the world. Those convictions would eventually make him one of Capitol Hill’s most outspoken foreign-policy hawks. In the early ‘90s, friends encouraged the young attorney to run for the South Carolina House of Representatives. Graham won, quickly earning a reputation as someone who studied every issue carefully before taking a position. Unlike many ambitious politicians, he wasn’t naturally charismatic in the traditional sense. He lacked Ronald Reagan’s effortless optimism and Bill Clinton’s magnetic charm.

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40 as some of the Senate’s most outspoken advocates for an assertive American foreign policy. The image became familiar: McCain leading the conversation, Graham dissecting military strategy, Lieberman providing the bipartisan bridge. Together, they became influential voices during the wars that defined post-9/11 America. Supporters praised their willingness to visit dangerous regions instead of relying solely on intelligence briefings in Washington. Critics accused them of being too eager to support military intervention. Graham rarely apologized for either. “I’d rather stop a war before it comes to my neighborhood,” he once remarked, summarizing a philosophy that would guide him throughout his career. That philosophy made him one of the Senate’s leading voices on defense spending, military readiness, and America’s alliances around the globe.

Some accused Graham of abandoning his principles. Others argued that he was simply adapting to political reality. Graham offered a simpler explanation. He believed conservative goals could only be accomplished by working with the president Republicans had elected. Personal disagreements, he argued, could not outweigh policy achievements. Whether one viewed that evolution as pragmatism or political calculation often depended on one’s opinion of Trump himself. There was no denying, however, that Graham became one of the administration’s most influential allies on Capitol Hill. He championed conservative judicial appointments. He defended Trump’s tax reforms. He played a central role in confirming Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, appointments that reshaped the ideological balance of the nation’s highest court for a generation.

A Voice That Couldn’t Be Ignored Whether speaking before a Senate committee or a bank of television cameras, Graham possessed an unusual ability to explain complex foreign policy in plain English. He wasn’t the Senate’s greatest orator. He wasn’t its most polished speaker. But he spoke with conviction, and conviction has a way of commanding attention. Cable news producers quickly realized Graham made for compelling television. He was willing to answer difficult questions, defend controversial positions, and engage in spirited debate without relying on carefully rehearsed talking points. His Southern humor also made him memorable. When discussions became too tense, Graham often defused the moment with a self-deprecating joke or witty remark. Reporters learned that even after a contentious hearing, Graham would frequently linger in the hallway, chatting casually with journalists long after many of his colleagues had disappeared behind closed doors.

Graham almost always returned to the same central theme: Peace is preserved through strength.

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The Trump Years Yet as Graham’s influence grew, so too did the political earthquake reshaping the Republican Party. For decades, the GOP had largely been defined by the philosophy of Ronald Reagan—free markets, strong national defense, traditional values, and an optimistic vision of American leadership abroad. Then came Donald Trump. When Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 to announce his presidential campaign, Graham was among his harshest Republican critics. He questioned Trump’s temperament. He criticized his rhetoric. He famously joked that if Republicans nominated Trump, “we will get destroyed... and we will deserve it.” The attacks became increasingly personal. Trump mocked Graham repeatedly at campaign rallies, ridiculing his poll numbers and dismissing him as irrelevant. Graham fired back with equal force. For a time, it appeared impossible to imagine the two men ever becoming allies. Politics, however, has a way of surprising even its closest observers. After Trump won the presidency in 2016, Graham gradually became one of his most trusted Senate confidants, particularly after the death of Senator McCain in 2018.

That conviction shaped nearly every vote he cast involving national security. It also explains why one relationship occupied such a unique place in his worldview. Among America’s allies, no nation occupied more of Graham’s time, energy, or affection than the Jewish state. For Graham, support for Israel was never simply another foreign policy position to be checked off on a legislative scorecard. It was personal. It was moral. And over the course of his career, it became one of the defining causes of his public life. He visited Israel repeatedly over the years – not merely for official meetings, but to understand its people, its security challenges, and its place in a volatile region. He often remarked that every trip deepened his admiration, and those who traveled with him observed that he approached Israel not as a distant observer but as someone who genuinely cared about its future. For many senators, Israel was an important ally. For Lindsey Graham, it became something far deeper. “Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following Graham’s passing. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.” Congressional delegations visit Israel every year. Most senators make a handful of trips during their careers. But Lindsey Graham kept coming back. He didn’t believe foreign policy could be understood from a briefing book in Washington. He wanted to walk the streets of Jerusalem, stand on Israel’s northern border overlooking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, visit the communities surrounding Gaza, and sit across the table from Israeli leaders making life-and-death decisions. Friends joked that Graham seemed almost as comfortable in Jerusalem as he was in Washington. Every visit reinforced what he already believed: Israel wasn’t merely America’s closest ally in the Middle East. It was America’s indispensable ally.

The Netanyahu Connection As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham presided over some of the most contentious confirmation hearings in modern American history. Supporters admired his willingness to defend conservative nominees despite relentless criticism. Opponents accused him of applying different standards depending on which party occupied the White House. Either way, few questioned his influence.

A Friend of the Jewish State If there was one issue that consistently transcended partisan politics for Graham, it was foreign policy. Long before Americans became deeply divided over questions of international engagement, Graham warned that America’s enemies were growing more coordinated. He viewed Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. He argued that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extended far beyond Ukraine. He warned repeatedly about China’s expanding military and economic influence. Whether speaking about North Korea’s missile program or the threat posed by ISIS, Graham almost always returned to the same central theme: Peace is preserved through strength.

More than any Israeli leader, Graham became identified with Benjamin Netanyahu. The two men first met years before either had reached the height of his political influence. Over time, they developed the kind of relationship that extended beyond formal diplomatic meetings. Both viewed Iran as the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East. Both believed that military strength prevented wars more often than diplomacy alone. Both argued that terrorism was not merely Israel’s problem but a threat to every free society. When Netanyahu addressed Congress – sometimes to the frustration of American administrations –Graham was among his strongest defenders. When Netanyahu warned the world about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Graham echoed those concerns on the Senate floor. And when Netanyahu faced criticism from abroad, Graham rarely hesitated to defend Israel’s elected government, even when doing so placed him at odds with fellow lawmakers. Their friendship endured through multiple Israeli elections, changing American presidents, and some of the most turbulent years in the history of the U.S.-Israel

Beyond Bibi

October 7 Changed Everything

Graham didn’t just see Israel as another country on the map. He understood the historical weight the country carried. He often reminded audiences that the modern State of Israel emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust – a people who, after centuries of persecution culminating in history’s greatest genocide, rebuilt their national homeland. He visited Yad Vashem on multiple occasions. He spoke movingly about Holocaust remembrance. He argued that “Never Again” could not remain merely a slogan; it required vigilance, strength, and allies willing to act. That philosophy shaped his view of Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. It also explained why Jewish organizations across the ideological spectrum frequently welcomed him. Whether addressing AIPAC, speaking before the Republican Jewish Coalition, or meeting privately with American Jewish leaders, Graham returned to the same theme: Israel was not asking America to fight its battles. It was asking America to stand with a fellow democracy confronting the very forces that threatened the free world. For Graham, Israel was more than a country. And that may explain why, when news of his passing reached Jerusalem, tributes came not only from political allies but from leaders across Israel’s government, all echoing the same sentiment: the Jewish state had lost one of its most loyal friends and supporters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him “one of Israel’s greatest friends.” President Isaac Herzog described him as a man of “moral clarity.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett praised his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. Ron Dermer, who worked closely with Graham over many years as Israel’s ambassador to Washington and later as minister of strategic affairs, remarked that few American lawmakers invested as much time in understanding Israel’s security challenges or defending them before skeptical audiences. For a nation accustomed to fighting for international support, Graham’s friendship carried unusual weight. His passing will undoubtably be felt in the halls of Congress and the Knesset and on the streets of Washington and Jerusalem – a patriot who served his country with distinction and who supported his nation’s ally with strong conviction.

Graham viewed nearly every international conflict through the lens of american security.

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If Graham’s support for Israel had long been strong, the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, elevated it to an even greater sense of urgency. Within days of the attack, he traveled to Israel. This was not a carefully choreographed diplomatic tour. He wanted to see the devastation himself. He visited communities near the Gaza border where entire families had been slaughtered in their homes. He met survivors still struggling to process the horrors they had witnessed. He sat with relatives of hostages, listening as they described the unbearable uncertainty of waiting for news from Gaza. Those meetings left a profound impression. Returning to Washington, Graham spoke less like a politician and more like an eyewitness. He described October 7 as an act of pure evil and rejected any attempt to excuse or contextualize Hamas’s actions.

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Although Graham was often associated with Netanyahu, his friendships extended well beyond a single Israeli government. He maintained warm relationships with President Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial role nevertheless made him one of Israel’s foremost ambassadors to the world. After Graham’s death, Herzog called him “a great American patriot, a true friend of Israel, and a dear friend of mine,” recalling their many meetings over the years and praising his “moral clarity” and unwavering support during Israel’s darkest moments. Whether Israel was led by Netanyahu, Bennett, or Yair Lapid, Graham’s support never appeared to fluctuate. He also cultivated close working relationships with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, strategic affairs adviser Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to Washington Michael Herzog, and countless current and former IDF officers. Graham often remarked that some of his most valuable conversations occurred not in formal conference rooms but around military maps, where Israeli commanders explained the realities they faced on the ground. His admiration for Ambassador Michael Herzog was especially evident; Graham once described him as “one of the most effective voices for the State of Israel I’ve ever known” and credited him with strengthening the alliance during one of Israel’s most difficult periods. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Graham was a “true friend.” “He loved Israel because he loved America and understood that the partnership between the U.S. and Israel was an incredible benefit to both nations and to freedom,” Huckabee wrote after his passing. “He often said that Israel’s enemies are America’s enemies. He was right.”

There could be debates, he acknowledged, about military tactics or diplomatic strategy. But there could be no debate about the massacre itself. His message became remarkably consistent: Israel had not chosen this war. Hamas had. And Israel, like any sovereign nation, had both the right and the obligation to ensure that such an atrocity could never happen again. When international pressure mounted for Israel to halt its military campaign before Hamas had been defeated, Graham pushed back forcefully. His view was clear and strong: If America had suffered an October 7, no one would expect it to leave the perpetrators in power. Why, he asked repeatedly, should Israel be expected to do so?

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relationship. Earlier this year, despite growing health concerns, Graham traveled once again to Jerusalem to meet privately with Bibi. Following the visit, he spoke enthusiastically about Israel’s technological innovation and proposed dramatically expanding joint American-Israeli defense cooperation, describing it as a potential “21st-century Manhattan Project.”

Torah Thought

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Kiss The Mezuzah!

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By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

ave you ever noticed that on the outer side of the Mezuzah parchment there appears three mystical words? ‫כוז"ו במוכס"ז כוז"ו‬ Each of these letters correspond to each one of the letters in the central phrase of Shma: ‫ה‬-‫ו‬-‫ה‬-‫ו י‬-‫נ‬-‫י‬-‫ה‬-‫ל‬-‫ה א‬-‫ו‬-‫ה‬-‫י‬ The letters on the external side of the Mezuzah are the letters that follow each of the letters of the Alef Bais of the corresponding letters written within the Mezuza. The ‫ כ‬follows the ‫י‬, the ‫ ו‬follows the ‫ה‬, the ‫ ז‬follows the ‫ו‬, and so on…

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The Megaleh Amukos reveals that the numerical value of the names of the last two enemies that we had to conquer before entering the land, as described in this week’s portion, ‫ סיחון‬and ‫ — עוג‬two brother giants and their peoples — is equivalent to the total value of the letters within these three mystical names, 213. The holy Bnei Yisasschar teaches that just as a Mezuzah serves as a protective force to preserve our holiness, opposite to that exists a ‫ — קליפה‬counterforce of impurity that must be negated. Sichon and Og were mercenaries hired by the other nations to situate themselves at the ‘doorway’ of Eretz Yisroel, our holy land, and ward off the forces of sanctity from entering. Each one of the seventy nations we must overcome represent various challenges, whether the lust for carnal indulgence; the murderous

exercises in the quest of power; the arrogant pursuit of human accomplishment that crushes any notion of a Divine directive, each nation, and its unique representation of human weakness. But what of these two? What is their credo that finds its antidote in the command of Mezuzah? Sichon’s weakness, the Talmud reveals, is indicated in his very name ‫סיחון‬, the root of which is ‫סיח‬, a young donkey, who is easily distracted and follows after ‫סיחה נאה‬ —pleasant talk, i.e., easily tempted to listen to its inclination. (:‫)בבא בתרא עח‬ Og is thus named because when he heard that Lot was taken captive he ran to Avraham Avinu to inform him of his nephew’s plight, encountering him on Pesach eve while he was baking ‫ — עוגות‬cakes of Matzah. (‫)מדרש שוחר טוב קלו יב‬ It seems strange that Og would be defined by this one coincidental circumstance, unrelated to his mission to save Lot. Rashi says that Moshe feared battling Og because of the merit he had in assisting Avraham, and it was only after G-d instructed Moshe, ‘Do not fear him’, that he acceded to the task. Elsewhere we are taught that Og had an ulterior motive in bringing this news to Avraham. He had hoped to lure Avraham into battle and die so that he, Og, would then take Avraham’s beautiful wife, Sarah. What possible ‘merit’ did Moshe fear that worried him?

Perhaps may I suggest that Og initially came with noble intentions to assist this giant of spirit, but he too was like a young foal who quickly saw a ‘pleasant’ opportunity, in now taking advantage of the situation, in hoping for Avraham’s convenient demise. The mindless inability to absorb the inspiration of doing a good deed, merely paying lip service and unable to be elevated by the moment, is a flaw that can lead one down the path of selfish instinct, quashing the inherent good that dwells within from flourishing. Have you ever wondered why we call this article of Mitzvah a Mezuzah? Literally the word simply refers to the ‫ — מזוזה‬the doorpost, it is affixed to. The great sage and grammarian, Rav Yaakov Zvi Mecklenberg, ponders why a doorpost is called a ‫מזוזה‬. He suggests it is rooted in the word ‫ — זיז‬constant movement. At the entrance and exit of our homes is the stationary post that observes a flurry of motion, dizzying comings and goings, that are a metaphor for our lives. The Torah sought to elevate the inner spirit within us to direct all our movements by its elevated striving, stifling our distractions, commanding us to place the banner of the Name of G-d at the forefront of our actions, infusing it with a firm allegiance to Him. The Rambam writes: A person must show great care in [the observance of the mitzvah of] Mezuzah, because it is an obligation which is constantly incumbent upon everyone.

[Through its observance,] whenever a person enters or leaves [the house], he will encounter the unity of the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and remember his love for Him. Thus, he will awake from his sleep and his obsession with the vanities of time and recognize that there is nothing which lasts for eternity except the knowledge of the Creator of the world. This will motivate him to regain full awareness and follow the paths of the upright. (‫)משנה תורה הלכות תפלין מזוזה ס"ת פ"ה ה"יג‬ There is a custom specifically during the Three Weeks to recite Tikkun Chatzos while sitting next to the Mezuzah. (‫)פלא יועץ אבילות‬ During these weeks, we diminish our pursuit of carnal pleasure by refraining from indulging in meat and wine from Rosh Chodesh Av. We hold back from wearing new or freshly washed clothing, reducing on some level personal dignity. We restrain the pursuit of business opportunities and its association with independence and power. These weeks are our yearly ‘kiss of the Mezuzah’, anchoring ourselves to the reality of where we truly ‘stand’ and need to head towards. To stop moving and silently contemplate all our challenges, coming to our senses, realizing that even in all the commotion of our life, Hashem is with us. We must reorient our ambition to be aligned with His will and never distracted from that goal. We must defeat Sichon and Og by mindfully kissing the Mezuzah so that we may finally enter our eternal home! You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com

Living Kiddush Hashem

By Rabbi Shraga Freedman

pointed to a bumper sticker bearing the appalling slogan “Dros kol dos—Run over every religious person.” “I have always despised religious Jews,” Oded said. “But you have changed my view of religious people. You were the only person who stopped to help me. You have restored my faith in your community.”

Oded offered to pay. Yehuda waved his hand dismissively. “You don’t owe me a penny,” he replied. “This is my opportunity to perform a mitzvah before Shabbos, and I have no intention of selling this good deed to anyone.”

The two men exchanged phone numbers and a friendship slowly blossomed between the two men. Just before Rosh Hashanah, Oded posed a question “how do you manage to keep Shabbos? How do you stay off your phone, and put aside all your weekday activities? I can’t imagine how it’s humanly possible.”

Oded was stunned and deeply moved. “I’d like to show you something,” he said. Leading Yehuda to the back of his car, he

Yehuda replied “I can’t possibly explain it. I’d have to show you how it works. You and your family are invited

Yehuda quickly called his rav (Rabbi Chaim Zaid). “When should I invite this secular family for Shabbos? The coming Shabbos will be Rosh Hashanah, and that will probably be too intense of an experience for them. What do you suggest?” “Why not invite them for Simchas Torah?” the rav replied. “That will be problematic because we won’t be home,” Yehuda said. “My family visits my father, who lives alone in Sderot, every year for Simchas Torah.” The rav said, “On the contrary, that makes it a perfect opportunity. Why don’t you invite your new friend and your father to your home for Simchas Torah? It will be a fantastic holiday for all of you!” Yehuda extended the invitation to Oded, who left his home in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel and traveled to Bnei Brak with his family. Yehuda’s father likewise left his home in Sderot and joined his son for Simchas Torah for the first time in years. Little did they know that all three families were thus saved from the catastrophe that unfolded in the south that day. On the morning of Simchas Torah, Oded’s empty home in Kibbutz Beeri was

attacked by the invading Hamas terrorists, as was the Sderot home of Yehuda’s father. Had Yehuda not invited Oded and his father to his home, it is very likely that both Oded’s family and Yehuda and his family, as well as his father, would have been attacked by the terrorists. And it all began with one act of kindness on the side of the road, which sparked an interest in Shabbos in the soul of a Jew estranged from his religion. (Heard from Rabbi Chaim Zaid)

Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush Hashem, and A Life Worth Living. Email LivingKiddushHashem@ gmail.com for a free sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.

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t was Friday afternoon in Israel in 2023 . Oded (name changed), his wife, and his two daughters were sitting in their car in frustration on the shoulder of a busy highway. They had run out of gas. After around an hour Yehuda (name changed), a religious man, finally pulled up alongside him and exclaimed. “Wait right here; there is a gas station about ten minutes away. I’ll be back with a container of gas as soon as I can.”

to visit us for Shabbos in Bnei Brak. You will experience it for yourself.”

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Connection Creates Protection

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The Saddest Day in History Th e Day o f Th e Com i ng of mosh iaCh By Rabbi Daniel glatstein

hat will that great day look like, what will it feel like? We would expect it to be the happiest, most joyous day in our history. A day of exhilaration, a day of euphoria. Yet, the Navi Zechariah says that at the coming of Moshiach, “On that day the mourning will become intense in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon [and the mourning] at the Valley of Megiddon. The land will mourn each of the families by itself” (Zechariah 12:11-12). The Navi is telling us that the day that Moshiach will finally come will in some way be the saddest and most painful day in history. Are we reading this correctly? Why are we going to be weeping when Moshiach arrives? When the long-awaited redemption is finally at hand, why will we be mourning? The arrival of the Final Redemption ought to be the cause of rejoicing and celebrating, and yet, we are told that more tears will be shed on this day than ever before. How can we possibly understand this?

A Nation That Endures Throughout our history, the Jewish people have suffered and have been persecuted more than any other

nation in the world. In Mitzrayim, we were brutalized. The Babylonians murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews. The Romans killed millions. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms, the Holocaust. No nation has been subjected to the atrocities and tribulations that we were. But we endure. How have we survived all these incredible challenges, these unspeakable horrors? The question is not how we could possibly survive in a mortal sense. Physically, we endure, as Yaakov Avinu said, “If Eisav comes to the one camp and strikes it down, then the remaining camp shall survive” (Bereishis 32:9). There has always been a she’eiris hapleitah, a surviving remnant. Hashem, in His infinite kindness, has always spared a small number of Jews who escaped; they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, rolled up their sleeves, and started anew. So no, I don’t refer to physical survival. I mean emotional, psychological survival. How did the survivors have the fortitude and mental stamina that enabled them not to collapse, not to be crushed emotionally? How could they possibly have emerged and remained not totally demoralized? Let’s analyze the life of the Rokeach as an example.

The Rokeach Rav Elazar of Worms was born in Germany in the

year 1176. He authored the famous sefer, HaRokeach, so named because the numerical value of Rokeach is equivalent to the numerical value of his name, Elazar. The Rokeach, as he is referred to, was a talmid of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid, who, together with the Rokeach’s father, taught Kabbalah to Rav Elazar. They provided him with the mystical meanings behind the tefillos we say, and they taught him the correct text of davening, the correct nusach hatefillah that dates back to the time of the Tannaim. Rav Elazar wrote a commentary to the Sefer HaYetzirah, as well as Sadei Razya, a Kabbalistic work on the siddur that remained in manuscript form. His other works include Shaarei Binah, Seder Hashem, and many other unpublished treatises on Kabbalah. In 1197, crusaders murdered Rav Elazar’s wife and slaughtered his two daughters before his very eyes. They then wounded him and his young son. The Rokeach survived. Yes, he lived. But how did he continue? Imagine living as he did, constantly haunted by the horrific images of the murders of his family. How could he continue? When such tragedy strikes, some may go so far as to ask, “Who’s better off, the people who were murdered al Kiddush Hashem, or the survivors who must relive that moment for the rest of their lives?” Let’s fast-forward to the fifteenth century.

Rabbi Avraham Saba

did they continue to live, haunted by the image of their brothers and sisters being burned alive? Plagued forever by the stench of the burning bodies? Allow me to quote the transcript of Rivka Voselowska’s testimony at the Eichmann trial, a testimony about which Chief Prosecutor Gideon Hausner reported, “… her story shattered the courtroom … loud sobbing was heard from the audience, and tears flowed freely from many eyes.” Her testimony reads as follows2: The Jewish Quarter was suddenly surrounded by hundreds of SS men, who, with shouts and whiplashes, ordered all the Jews out of their homes. They were chased like animals to the central square of the town, where they were kept until the next morning without food or water. I did not believe they would kill us; I hoped it would be just torture. Rivka Voselowska stood there clinging to her six-yearold daughter. Her parents, grandmother, and sister were all nearby. The SS officers started shooting the Jews one by one, firing point-blank into the back of each victim’s head, and then kicking the body into the open pits. Rivka Voselowska saw her father and mother disappear into the ditch. Then the Germans approached her grandmother, who

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz The following incident was often related by the Rosh Yeshivah of the Mirrer Yeshivah in Yerushalayim, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. Two children were brought to the train that was to carry them to the death camp. Their unfortunate mother stood helplessly by the steps of the train, begging the German soldier to give her children back to her. The Nazi told her that she could take one of her sons off the train. The mother took one of the boys, lowering him down and clutching him close to her chest. The second son jumped onto her back, weeping and begging, “Mama, Mama, why didn’t you choose me?” She put down the child she was holding and picked up the second, hugging him close. His brother burst out crying, “Mama, why are you leaving me?” Her heart was torn to pieces. The tragic end to the story was that both young boys remained on the train, and the distraught mother stayed behind. Yes, she was alive physically. But for what? What is the point of surviving? Of remaining alive physically? How can we survive emotionally? In the words of one Holocaust survivor: “The Jewish agencies would give us furniture if we needed it, but we needed a social worker and a psychiatrist, and there was no one to help.”3 Another survivor was more outspoken and described her early years in America as “a second holocaust; we needed emotional support and we did not get it.” Yet, somehow, someway, we were able to make it through and overcome. With tremendous resiliency and fortitude, we have always been able to start over and begin anew. How were we always able to do it?

A Heart of Stone Rav Simcha Wasserman, son of Rav Elchanan Wasserman, Hy”d, the talmid muvhak of the Chofetz Chaim, offers a very powerful thought. The Navi Yechezkel tells us, “I will give you a new heart

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We have suffered many episodes of terrible devastation, destruction, and attempts at annihilation during the course of our two-thousand-year galus. But this long history of persecution was possibly overshadowed and eclipsed by the events of the Holocaust. Between six and seven million Jews were slain by the Germans, yemach shemam v’zichram, a figure unprecedented in the twothousand-year Jewish exile. On a national level, it is impossible to comprehend the scope of this disaster. Every single isolated story is far too mindboggling to fathom. Daniel Goldhagen wrote a very important work, Hitler’s Willing Executioners,1 in which he quotes the words of a Death March survivor.

We will be crying thousands of years worth of pent-up tears, for centuries of unshed tears, for two thousand years of galus.

was holding two little girls in her arms. She was comforting them, pointing to the heavens, where they would soon meet their loved ones. In a moment, all three were shot. “As I stood there, paralyzed with horror,” Rivka Voselowska continued, “my little daughter, Malka, was grabbed from my arms and killed.” “From that moment on,” she said, “I felt nothing more.” The German who shot her missed, and the bullet grazed the side of her head. She felt a booted leg kicking her into the ditch, leaving her to bleed to death or to die of suffocation. Later, she regained consciousness. “I felt like I was choking to death and desperately needed air. I lifted myself up from among the bodies, many of which were still alive. Some were biting at me and pulling me down. By then, the shooting was over, and the Germans had gone.” She described having only the skies above her head and an endless grave under her feet. She survived. But she saw her father, mother, grandmother, sister, and daughter all executed right before her eyes. How did she go on? How did she get the strength and courage to continue?

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The Holocaust

One night [during a forced Death March from the Dora-Mittelbau Camp] we stopped near the town of Gardelegen. We lay down in a field, and several Germans went to consult about what they should do. They returned with a lot of young people from the Hitler Youth and with members of the police force from the town. They chased us all into a large barn. There were between five and six thousand of us, and the wall of the barn collapsed from the pressure of the mass of people. Many of us fled. The Germans poured out petrol and set the barn on fire. Several thousand people were burned alive. Those of us who had managed to escape lay down in the nearby woods and heard the heartrending screams of the victims. This was on April 13, 1945. One day later, the place was conquered by Eisenhower’s army. When the Americans got there, the bodies were still burning. So, yes, there were survivors of this incident. But how

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Rabbi Avraham Saba was an illustrious Torah scholar whose granddaughter married none other than Rav Yosef Caro, the mechaber of the Shulchan Aruch. Rav Avraham was born in the Kingdom of Castile in the closing decades of the fifteenth century. He was already an accomplished scholar at the time of the gerush Sepharad (expulsion from Spain), during the Spanish Inquisition. In 1492, he fled from Spain to Oporto, Portugal, where he hoped to find a safe haven for his family. Unfortunately, that was not to be. During his first few peaceful years in Portugal, Rabbi Avraham completed his commentaries on Chumash, on the five Megillos, and on Pirkei Avos. The Jews were subsequently expelled from Portugal, but not before King Emanuel revealed the terrible surprise that he had in store for them. He issued an edict that all Jewish children below the age of eighteen were to be snatched from their parents and forcibly converted by the church. Rabbi Avraham’s two younger sons were both kidnaped and forcibly baptized. He never saw them again. How could one go on after experiencing such suffering? Death seems better than the living nightmare of knowing that one’s children have been kidnaped and converted to Christianity. Death is paradise compared to this anguish. But this was not the end of Rav Saba’s torments. His entire library of precious, handwritten manuscripts was confiscated to be burned in a public square in Lisbon, together with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other sefarim. Left totally bereft, Rabbi Avraham fled with one consolation. He still had a secret personal treasure of the manuscripts of the sefarim he had written in Portugal. His commentary Tzror HaMor on Torah, his peirush on the Megillos, and his work on Pirkei Avos remained hidden in a corner of his home. One day, friends mentioned to him that his secret had been revealed, and that if he did not destroy his manuscripts, his life would be in danger. With a broken heart, he dug a grave and buried his precious manuscripts under an olive tree. He never saw these manuscripts, the few remnants of his labor, ever again, but later he was able to reconstruct the text. Somehow, he managed to move on, to move past these tremendous losses. Let’s turn our attention to a more recent tragedy, the Holocaust.

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will come, Hashem will remove our hearts of stone and provide us with new hearts: “V’nasati lachem lev chadash v’ruach chadasha etain b’kirbichem v’haseirosi es lev ha’even m’besarchem v’nasati lachem lev basar.” Hashem will give us a heart of flesh, at which point we will reflect on the tragedies we’ve endured; we will look back at the lives cut short, at the kidnappings, at the children stolen from our people, at the brutalities we have suffered, at the families that were torn apart, and at the thousands of children murdered in the Holocaust. The suffering and anguish that has piled up over the centuries will then hit us like a heavy load; it will pierce our raw hearts, and, after they have been somewhat numbed for over two thousand years, it will be a dagger to our hearts. We will cry and cry and cry.

Prayer are locked …. [However,] the Gates of Tears remain open.” Perhaps, if we can shed just one sincere tear, it will go straight up to the Ribbono Shel Olam, through the open Gates of Tears, and will be me’orer rachamim, awaken mercy before Avinu she’baShamayim, to bring the Geulah Sheleimah and the Third Beis HaMikdash.

Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1996, page 369.

“From Dusk to Dawn,” p. 82, by Rabbi Zechariah Fendel. Hashkafah Publications, 2003.

Redemption: A Time for Tears

3 After the Holocaust: the migration of Polish Jews and Christians to Pittsburgh, Barbara Stern Burstin, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1989, page 120.

On that great day, the mourning will be overwhelming in Yerushalayim. We will have so much crying to catch up on. We will be crying thousands of years’ worth of pent-up tears, for centuries of unshed tears, for two thousand years of galus. Throughout the year, we don’t feel it fully. We have a lev ha’even, a stone heart. But on one day a year, Hashem sensitizes our hearts just a bit, and we are able to feel the pain. Hopefully, we can offer at least one sincere tear. The Gemara tells us: “Rav Elazar says that from the day the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the Gates of

This article has been printed from The Darkness and the Dawn: A Journey through the Three Weeks, Tisha B’Av, and Beyond by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, published by Artscroll. Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime. com, podcast, his website rabbidg.com, and other venues.

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and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the stone heart from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Yechezkel 36:26). Rav Simcha Wasserman explains that while we are in galus, Hashem has given us a heart of stone, a lev ha’even. Why would He give us a heart of stone? Isn’t a soft, sensitive heart important in the service of Hashem and in our interactions with others? After all we have discussed, it should be self-evident. Hashem has given us a heart of stone to afford us the ability to emotionally survive the galus. Hashem has instilled in us a heart of stone for when wives and children are slaughtered in front of their husbands and fathers in the times of the Crusades. For when children are kidnaped and baptized by the Inquisition. For when families are burned or shot right before the eyes of their loved ones. Hashem provided us with a heart of stone so that in these horrific situations we don’t go mad. The stone heart is unfeeling, and some of the pain is not fully experienced. We are not completely sensitive to the raw and agonizing pain of the enormous tragedies that have befallen our people. Hashem has hardened and desensitized our hearts in order to preserve our sanity and to allow us to proceed with some semblance of normalcy. Truth be told, however, it is not all that good to have a heart of stone. We are supposed to be compassionate, sensitive people. We are supposed to be attuned to the needs of our friends. Having a heart of stone is not ideal — but it is necessary. But on that day, on that great day when Moshiach

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nspiration Nation

Omer Wenkert In the Darkness, But Never Alone By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

t was one of the highest points in 22-year-old Omer Wenkert’s life. Just weeks away from starting college, armed with dreams of restaurants and business, Omer was on cloud nine in the days before the October 7, 2023, enjoying the thrill of freedom. His whole life lay ahead of him, an array of youthful hopes and dreams. On the morning of October 7, he and his friend Kim attended the Nova music festival, an energizing party that, to him, represented the best parts of his life: the freedom, the excitement. He felt his aspirations pumping through his blood, beating to the rhythm of the

festival’s trance music. But it all ended so quickly. One minute, he was dancing. The next, running. One minute, he was breathing fresh southern Israeli air. The next, he was hiding in a bomb shelter beneath corpses. One minute, his heart thrummed to music. The next, it beat to the explosive sounds of machine guns, grenades, and fire consuming his shelter. And, of course, one minute, he was free, living the life in Israel. The next, he was a hostage, ready to die — his hands tied behind his back, his barely

In His Words… i say thank you for everything, because i believe that everything i have right now is from g-d. i was 197 days alone, but i didn’t feel alone for a

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second. i always felt that g-d believed in me. it was the moment that i realized that i’m not allowed to lose my hope, and that i need to fully believe that i’m going home. Because if i don’t believe it, what am i hoping for? i can’t hope for something i don’t believe is going to happen.

conscious body hurled into a truck and taken away to Gaza. *

When he arrived in his new destination — a dark Gaza tunnel — what was the first thought that popped into Omer’s head? “The first thing that came to my head was, ‘Omer, this is your life now,’” Omer Wenkert recalls. “‘You have nothing to do with the fact that you are being held by Hamas; it’s not under your control. You have nothing to do with it. Prepare for the worst, because your family is waiting for you at the end of the road — two months to 15 years.’ And that was the thought that stayed with me all through my captivity, because that was the moment I accepted my fate. I accepted it, and it gave me a lot of power. It gave me the strength to understand that I’m going to go home.” An hour later, the terrorists dragged another Israeli hostage into the tunnel. Liam Or, 18, was blindfolded and handcuffed, lying on the floor with a gunshot wound in his stomach. Of Omer’s 505 days in Gaza, those first three days in captivity were among the hardest. The beatings were nonstop. The terrorists kicked him and Liam, hitting their ribs and legs, stepping on Liam’s gunshot wound to make him bleed more. And then, after those first three days, some relief came. The terrorists brought Omer and Liam to a room in the tunnel, uncuffed them, and gave them a

break from their beatings. “They closed the door behind them, and it was the first time we were alone. I was lying on the ground and closing my eyes. I was not ready to handle the situation. I was denying it. But then, someone grabbed my hand, and I opened my eyes, and I saw Liam. He took my hand, and he told me, ‘Be strong, brother,’” Omer shares. “I sat up, still holding his hand, and I looked at him and said, ‘Don’t lose your hope. We’re gonna end up home.’ And it was our moment: it was the moment that we figured out that no matter what’s gonna come to us, we’re gonna handle it; we’re gonna survive as long as we’re together. “It was the moment when I realized that I’m not allowed to lose my hope, and that I need to fully believe that I’m going home. Because if I don’t believe it, what am I hoping for? I can’t hope for something I don’t believe is going to happen. So, I figured out that this is what I need to take with me until my last day in captivity, because this is what’s going to bring me home.” With the November 2023 ceasefire came Liam’s release, which simultaneously brought Omer genuine joy (not the slightest bit of jealousy) and panic. Because, as soon as the terrorists escorted Liam out, Omer looked around and realized he was all alone. He was effectively in solitary confinement. Omer was afraid of going insane. For two days, a full-blown panic seized him. But then, he figured he should make the best of it. At first, he tried keeping himself

Omer Wenkert was released on his 505th day of captivity after a humiliating Hamas ceremony. Standing alongside fellow hostages Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen, he left the tunnels for the first time since October 7. Omer Shem Tov stood to his right and Eliya, to his left. Suddenly, Eliya began reciting Shir LaMa’alos, and eventually, the others joined him. There, the three of them were in the middle of Gaza, loudly saying Shir LaMa’alos together, in the final hours of their captivity. After the ceremony, the Red Cross brought them to the IDF, which took them to a base in Re’im, where Omer was reunited with his parents for the

first time in over 500 days. “It was a moment that you just can’t explain in words, really. So many emotions went out of me, emotions that I’m sure there’s no real name for. It was amazing,” Omer Wenkert recalls. “That was the most powerful and exciting moment of my life. Then, they took us in a helicopter to Beilinson Hospital, and I met Ran and Maya, my brother and sister. And I was whole again. It was the moment that the five of us had been waiting for, for 505 days.” Omer lost 84 pounds, around 40% of his body weight. So, the hospital brought him lots of food. “I was afraid to fall asleep, because I feared waking up back in captivity. I really wanted to fall asleep, but then, when I came back to Beilinson Hospital, I had a whole pizza and three hamburgers. So even when I was tired and really wanted to fall asleep, my stomach was in so much pain! So, I really suffered that night, and I didn’t sleep for a second,” Omer says with a chuckle. “They tried to stop me from eating so much. But then, I fell asleep the next day, and it was a different kind of sleep. I felt safe again after 505 days that I hadn’t felt safe for a second. It was amazing.” Through it all, through his brutal 197 days of isolation, Omer says he never felt alone. From the moment he was captured to the moment he was home, he felt Hashem protecting him. “Today, I eat kosher, and I say a blessing before drinking water. And most of the time, I say thank you for everything. Because I believe that everything I have right now is from G-d,” Omer Wenkert declares. “I was 197 days alone, but I didn’t feel alone for a second. “I always felt that G-d believed in me.”

This article is based on a podcast, “Inspiration For the Nation,” hosted by Yaakov Langer. To catch more of this conversation, you can watch it on LivingLchaim. com or YouTube.com/LivingLchaim or listen wherever you listen to podcasts (just search for “Inspiration For The Nation”) or call our free hotline: 605-477-2100

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Until January 2, 2024, Omer’s living conditions were terrible but, in his words, “reasonable.” He lived off three or four pitas a day. Every four days or so, he’d get a brief break from isolation when a terrorist would sit with him. It was by no stretch of the imagination humane, but he was able to manage. But then, with the new year came new circumstances. Suddenly, his living conditions got downgraded. Hamas terrorists brought him from his room to another tunnel — this time, a dark, tiny space. He had barely any room to move around in his new 3-feet-wide by 26-feet-long home. And then, new terrorists replaced the old ones. If the claustrophobia wasn’t enough, his new captors told Omer: “Our goal is to make you crazy. This is what we’re here for.” Suddenly, the little things he had were taken from him. The food became less and less every day until it was vir-

points, starving, beaten, and disoriented from nearly 200 days of isolation. But suddenly, the door opened, and he looked up. Three hostages stood before him: Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Eviatar David, and Tal Shoham. The three were moving in with him. “The second that I figured out that I wasn’t going to be alone anymore, I jumped and started to yell because I was so excited,” Omer says. “I can’t say that I was happy, because there’s no happiness in captivity. But I was really excited because I wasn’t going to be alone anymore. I had someone to lean on, and it was my turning point.” The first thing Omer said to his new friends: “Listen, I don’t want to sound weird. But I’ve been alone for 197 days, and I need a hug. Please, hug me.” And that was the first thing the four hostages did together, before having a conversation, before spending time together: they hugged one another. From that moment on, they were, in Omer’s words… family.

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

tually non-existent. They didn’t speak to him at all. Days would go by without him hearing a sound. “Every time I opened my eyes, I got a panic attack because I felt like the walls were closing in on me,” he recalled. Still, he was grateful to be alive and desperately held on to hope, even as he felt his sanity slipping. “But then, at the beginning of May, one of my guards got really crazy because his father, a big Hamas general, died from an IDF bombing,” Omer recalls. “And then, for a month and a half, he started to starve me on purpose, humiliate me, abuse me, torture me mentally and physically, and he almost abandoned me. He gave me half a pita or one pita every day. It was full of bugs, completely green. And he put it on the floor, which was full of sand, hair, and bugs. He brought me water once every four days.” The guard would greet Omer by spitting on him. Every few days, the terrorist would spray Omer’s eyes, mouth, and body with bug spray. Two weeks later, on Omer’s 23rd birthday (May 22, 2024), his captor said he had a “birthday gift” for the hostage. The terrorist took out a huge iron stick and hit Omer’s head and then his shoulders, arms, and legs with it. He continued beating Omer with the iron stick for a week straight, four or five times a day. “In the intense month of June, I remember feeling like a broken vessel. Even if they were to teleport me to my family right now, to my house right now, I was never going to be a normal person again. It’s hard to say it, but I felt like they ripped out my soul. They succeeded,” Omer Wenkert remembers. “And I felt like nothing was left inside me anymore.” There he was at one of his lowest

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busy with physical activity: simple exercises like walking and weight training. But after that became unbearably boring, he searched for meaning within the confines of his mind. Omer couldn’t think about the past: that would be too painful and draining. And likewise, thinking about the present — his captivity — wouldn’t do him any good. So, he set his sights on the future. Sitting by himself, he started imagining his life post-captivity. What would he do after he’s free? What are his life plans? In Gaza, he clung tightly to his hopes and dreams. “I started to plan my life in a thousand scenarios, down to specific details. And this gave me a lot of strength,” he says. “So, for 197 days, for most of the day, I thought about my future.”

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JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

To Raise a Laugh War And Peace: A Camp Newsletter

ow! Yet another exciting week at Camp Agudas Eizov! How surprising! With the Nine Days fast approaching (ouch), we really tried to pack in the activities this week: Musically Inclined Early this week, we finally started teaching everyone the camp song! It was raining. Yes, Agudas Eizov has a song. There’s nothing like a song to bring the camp together in perfect harmony, at least until the next major war. Swimming in Lost Items For the time being, we will continue to swim at the Y, mostly due to our host school’s reluctance to put in a pool. As explained in another note that we gave your kid that never made it home because we gave it out before swimming, after we hit the world record on the first day of camp for most items lost in a single day, we decided that from now on we’re changing into our bathing suits in camp, before lunch. And then eating lunch in our bathing suits, which are waterproof anyway, so that’s great for spills. And Now for Sports!

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By Mordechai Schmutter

Teams W Ketchup 8 Mustard 5 Mayonnaise 5 Pickle Relish 6 BBQ Sauce 4 Corn 3

L 2 1 2 1 4 6

T 0 4 3 0 2 1

Pct 0.80 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.50 0.35

These are the stats going into the finals. We had a few exciting playoff games this week, culminating in one last championship game on Friday between the Ketchups and the Mustards to see, one last time, who’s better at Football / Baseball / Hockey / Soccer / Basketball / Punchball / Kickball / Slapball / Complaining About Whatever Sports We Picked. And the winner of that game was: The __________ ! Congratulations, ___________! We knew you could do it! (Please fill this in yourself, because we don’t

actually know who did it. We write this thing on Thursdays.) Old War Stories This week we had Color War, in the age-old camp tradition of people going to war over what color outfit everyone’s wearing. It’s like a wedding. We decided to do it during the first half of the summer, because whenever anything ever goes wrong in camp, everyone starts yelling, “Color War Breakout!” and it does not help the situation. So we wanted to get it out of the way. This war, as like many historical wars before it, was fought mainly through sports and swimming races. The Teams The teams were red and blue, of course, with Red representing Torah and Blue representing Tefillah. The way to remember is to tell yourself: - “I red the Torah.” - “The chazzan just blue through Shacharis.” We Put the Col in Color War! The first activity of Color War was a debate, expressed in repetitive chants, during which several good points were raised. Team Red gave the age-old argument that Red was hot and ready to roll. They kept expressing this point the entire week, sometimes just to fill the silences. Meanwhile, Blue gave the counterargument that B-LU-E would go “all the way to victory,” which is sound logic if we ever heard it. Relay Racism Tuesday was all about the traditional Color War races – running, hopping, walking in a pool with an egg balanced on a spoon – just like they did in the Hundred Years War! Colorful Skits Wednesday was a day of skits. Color War skits are a grand tradition, dating back to the American Revolution between England (red, Torah) and America (blue, Tefillah). We also had something called an “Achdus Play,” which is a major timesaver, in which staff from both teams act in one play that encompasses both themes. An Achdus Play! Like in the Civil War. The play, in the tradition of all camp plays,

was of course about a guy who becomes frum at the end. Also, there’s a king who has a son, and the son needs a job, and all he has is half a necklace. And someone has to learn how to daven Shemoneh Esrei without falling. A Bowl of Torah On Thursday morning, both teams competed in a Torah Bowl – a Torah-knowledge competition hosted by the rebbeim. This was exactly what they did in the Korean War, which, historians agree, was about 50% Torah Bowl. In the end, the Red Team won the Torah Bowl. But in retrospect, of course they did. They’re the team of Torah. Who did we think would win a Torah Bowl? That would be like calling the teams Aish and Mayim and then having a water fight. Color War Winner! Color War ended on Thursday amid cheers and excitement when Red beat Blue with a score of 2294 – 2189, just like in the War of 18121813, when 1813 won. At that point, red once again announced, in song, that they were ready to roll. Brick by Brick! This Tuesday, Bunks Alef and Beis will be going to LegoLand! Legoland is an indoor amusement park/play area featuring rides, a factory tour, a climbing area, and more Lego pieces than you’ve ever seen in your life! Wear shoes. There’s Another Session?! Session II of camp begins this Monday. So act accordingly, we guess. Take whatever steps you would take. We just thought you should know. Also, we’re going to be getting a few new boys in the camp! (Well, new to us.) So we’re very excited. If you signed your son up for only the first half of the summer, and you’re like, “Hey, you know what? He’s been having fun, and he hasn’t sustained any major injuries yet, despite all the waivers!” why not sign him up for a second half and press your luck! We’ll try not to break out any more wars. 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.

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52 1. *

TJH

Centerfold

Icecreamologist Quiz In honor of National Ice Cream month, Baskin-Robbins partnered with taste and smell expert Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, to associate personality traits that might correspond with its most popular flavors. Think you are an icecreamologist? See if you can match the flavors with the behaviors. 1. Vanilla

A. Scrupulous, conscientious, and a moral perfectionist

2. Chocolate

B. Generous, competent, and a go-getter

3. Very Berry Strawberry

C. Analytic, decisive, and a pessimistic

4. Mint Chocolate Chip

D. Impulsive, easily suggestible, and an idealist

5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

E. Tolerant, devoted, and an introvert

6. Coffee

F. Argumentative, frugal, and cautious

7. Chocolate Chip

G. Dramatic, lively, charming, and gullible

8. Rainbow Sherbet

H. Ambitious, competitive, and a visionary

9. Rocky Road

I. Aggressive, engaging, and a good listener

Answers: 1-D; 2-G; 3-E; 4-F; 5-H; 6-A; 7-B; 8-C; 9-I

Riddle Me This The five flavors in random order are Jamaica, nutty-chocolate, peppermint, walnut and orange. 1. The bottom flavor of the cone has 7 letters. 2. The walnut scoop is at between Jamaica and the nutty-chocolate scoop. 3. Walnut is above the orange scoop but below the nutty-chocolate scoop. 4. The top flavor will stain your shirt. Can you figure out the flavor of ice cream in order from top to bottom?

From top to bottom, the flavors are: Nutty-chocolate, Peppermint, Walnut, Orange, Jamaica

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David bought an ice cream cone with 5 different flavors.

It takes more than simply knowing how to get the perfect swirl to be an ice cream salesman or saleswoman. Frozen desserts come in many forms. Each of the following foods has its own definition, and many are standardized by federal regulations. You don’t want the Department of Justice to come after you for misrepresenting your delicious products to your customers, do you? So, brush up on your knowledge by matching the dairy frozen treat with the right description. 1. Ice Cream 2. Frozen Custard

4. Gelato 5. Sorbet 6. Quiescently Frozen

contain dairy ingredients. B. Characterized by an intense flavor and served in a semi-frozen state that is similar to “soft serve” ice cream. Italian-style is more dense than ice cream, since it has less air in the product. Typically, it has more milk than cream and also contains sweeteners, egg yolks and flavoring. C. A frozen novelty such as a water ice on a stick.

Confection

D. Must contain a minimum of 10% milkfat, as well as at least 1.4% egg yolk solids.

7. Novelties

E. Consists of a mixture of dairy ingredients. By federal law, it must contain at least

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3. Sherbet

A. Separately packaged single servings of a frozen dessert that may or may not

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So, You Wanna Be an Ice Cream Seller?

10% milkfat, before the addition of bulky ingredients, and must weigh a minimum of 4.5 pounds to the gallon. F. Similar to sherbets, but contains no dairy ingredients. G. Has a milkfat content of between 1% and 2%, and a slightly higher sweetener content than ice cream. Weighs a minimum of 6 pounds to the gallon and is flavored either with fruit or other characterizing ingredients.

Answers: 1- E; 2- D; 3-G; 4-B; 5-F; 6-B; 7-A The young man entered the ice cream shop at the amusement park and asked, “What kinds of ice cream do you have?” “Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry,” the girl wheezed as she spoke, patted her chest and seemed unable to continue. “Do you have laryngitis?” the young man asked sympathetically. “Nope,” she whispered, “just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.”

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You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I didn’t consider it initially, but as I got older it became a challenge, and I enjoyed it so much I just kept going. - Bryan Murray, 94, of New Zealand, upon winning the Guinness World Record title for the oldest water skier

I like the saying, “You don’t stop because you are too old; you get old because you stop being active.” -ibid.

It was a racist race. - Radical leftist Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) talking about the Texas Democrat senate primary race that she recently lost to Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico (D)

I’d say the trash took itself out. - Sen. John Fetterman after Graham Platner, the Democrat senate nominee from Maine who has a Nazi tattoo and is accused of crimes against women, withdrew from the senate race

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There are enough people that I hear who are lazy and reductive, and they’re going to end up where they’re supposed to end up—in a little cul-desac of their own making. The reality is that most of us were lied to by the media about President Trump. If you just go back to the source material, you should take away two things. One, he didn’t say half the things they said he said. Two, why did these other people just fabricate what they wanted to say so that they could essentially assassinate his character? I think that second thing is completely unacceptable in America, and there have still been no repercussions, really. - Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya on CNBC talking about how he got rid of his Trump Derangement Syndrome

-ibid.

This is the natural result of the corrupt system. Today, Egypt was playing Argentina… Very strange things happened in the match. The Argentina is an “Israeli team par excellence”; Benjamin Netanyahu is ‘”best friends” with President Milei; Yair Netanyahu brought Messi to play for Inter Miami. - Egyptian sports analyst Mohammad Nour, reacting to Egypt’s FIFA World Cup defeat to Argentina

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I took the time to learn about it. I admitted on the pod – which has millions of viewers – that I got it totally wrong, because I went and watched Charlottesville. The ﬁrst person to call me was President Trump. I got to know him, and when I put the phone down, I called my wife and said, “We got it totally, totally wrong. We were lied to.” Then I got to know him, and he is fantastic.

I’m number one on the kill list for Iran...but I don’t really care because I’m doing my job, and I’m doing it, I hope, better than anybody’s ever done it. I like being number one on TikTok better, but I’m number one on the list for killing. -

President Donald Trump

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56 You know what you have to do: carry on.

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- Argentinian flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo to his student midflight before unbuckling from his seat, removing his headset, opening the plane door and jumping out, leaving the student to have to land the plane alone with instructions from ground control

This should have been done 47 years ago. It shouldn’t have been allowed to start. Clinton and Bush let [Iran] go. Everybody let them go. Obama was the worst of all. Obama went to their side, you know, because he’s – well, let’s not say. Let’s leave that for another time. He was terrible. - Pres. Trump on Fox News

At the end of the day, like I said, we’re human, and the best way to understand somebody is to put yourself in their shoes. With the training and everything, that is what they tell us, try your best to understand that person, be empathic towards them, try to understand why they are there. The training emphasizes that, and also emphasizes that sometimes it’s not necessarily what you say but how you say it. - Hero NYPD officer Christian Yepes, who climbed the steel suspension cables of the Brooklyn Bridge to help a distressed woman who climbed up to the top of the tower and was threatening to jump

Do not count on there being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun; it will be a different broadcast. Far more powerful.

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- Prime Minister Netanyahu in a warning to Iran

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Dear Navidaters, I am writing to ask you what to do in this sensitive situation. My older sister has been dating for five years. Over the past two years, her dating has gotten more and more frustrating.

Recently, I was talking to my neighbor who tries setting her up often. She asked me in confidence if I could recommend that my sister stops getting lip filler. Apparently, the boys she sets her up with are getting a feel that she looks fake. I agree with this but never thought others are feeling the same way. Apparently, it is very off-putting to most. I am younger than her and married, so our relationship is already strained. Should I really talk to her about this? On the one hand, she is very independent and isn’t going to like being

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told what to do. On the other hand, wouldn’t she want to know that guys are put off by something she is putting so much money into? Thank you, Leah*

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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”

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. eah, kudos to you for your sensitivity to your sister’s feelings about her presentation and self-image. You are cognizant of the context of your relationship with an older unmarried sister which is already strained. If indeed her efforts are not yielding the attractiveness she seeks, in time she will figure it out. She has a mirror, and she knows what she looks like. She is an independent adult, and she may consult an aesthetician on her own. Personal grooming and beauty enhancement are personal choices. Sometimes, styles and looks change, too. I doubt that numerous men think she looks fake just from lip filler. I suspect that the neighbor is putting together one comment plus her own feelings on the subject. Maybe she feels frustrated that her efforts are not yielding the results she is looking for. Maybe she wants to be the one who finds the right guy for her and has a fixer complex. Beware of the neighbor and mixing in where you don’t belong.

Michelle Mond ear Leah, Wow. What a conundrum! I applaud you for wanting to help your sister in the proper way. I would like to let you know that as a shadchan, I have heard this same sentiment regarding lip filler

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler f your sister regularly reads this column (like most intelligent people), then your

postage stamp costs a lot less than a syringe of lip filler.

continue wondering why certain dates never seem to progress. More than one young man have remarked that your lip fillers create an overly artificial appearance. Whether or not you agree is entirely your decision, but you deserve to know that this may be affecting your dating opportunities. I wish you every success in finding your bashert.

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The Shadchan

more times than I can count. From what I have seen over the years, people simply do not feel comfortable dating someone who looks fake. You feel terrible for her that she is spending a ton of money on treatments that might actually be turning prospects away. What should you practically do? Instead of telling her this directly, talk to one of her close mentors. Confide in them that you were recently told by someone who sets her up often that her prospects are not interested in her for this reason. From what you describe in your letter, it does not seem to have been just one person, but rather several people she has dated have expressed this sentiment. This does not seem to be a matter of just one person’s opinion. Your sister needs to hear this feedback from someone she truly trusts. Once she hears this information from someone she confides in and trusts, the ability to make a change will be in her own hands. Based on the way you describe your relationship, it may be too painful for her to hear this from you directly. Obviously, at the end of the day, she will do what she wants to do. However, at least she will have this feedback in the back of her mind, and it might help her in the future. Iy”H, when the timing is right, she will meet the right one who will appreciate everything she has to offer!

A first-class

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The Rebbetzin

dilemma is already solved, because she will read your letter and realize that she may have a solvable problem. On the other hand, if she, for some unfathomable reason, doesn’t regularly read this column (a serious defect that is easily remedied), then you should certainly try to find a tactful way to help her. What should you do, without damaging your relationship? Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, often extolled the value of anonymous letters, and I think his advice is particularly applicable here. Type a letter to your sister, print it, and mail it from a different ZIP Code (please do not include your name and return address). Your letter can say something like: Dear..., I hope you’ll forgive this anonymous letter. I debated whether to write because I know this is a sensitive subject, but I thought you would rather know than

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The Panel

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JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Perhaps you can use this anonymous letter technique to try and help your sister. A first-class postage stamp costs a lot less than a syringe of lip filler. It may turn out to be the least expensive cosmetic treatment ever. And if it helps your sister find her bashert, it may also become one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for her.

Reader’s Response Rebbetzin Lisa Babich hank you for your thoughtful question. Two thoughts come to mind when responding. First, I’m curious whether numerous boys have felt this way or

if it was just one. Lip fillers may not be everyone’s taste, but if this is only one guy’s opinion, I’m not sure that’s enough to conclude that the fillers are a problem. On the other hand, if there is a broader consensus that her appearance is coming across as noticeably fake or unnatural, that’s a different situation. If it is the latter, I would suggest finding someone she trusts and has a good rapport with to speak to her. You mentioned that you are younger, married, and that your relationship with her is already in a sensitive place, so you may not be the best person to bring it up. Perhaps the neighbor could say, “I’ve received some honest feedback, and I wanted to pass it along to you,” or maybe a close friend or another sibling could have that conversation, depend-

always worthwhile to improve and be open to constructive criticism when it is offered thoughtfully and comes from a place of care. I wish her so much hatzlacha, and I hope you can all celebrate good news together very soon.

who has invested years trying to help your sister find her bashert. I don’t imagine she took pleasure in sharing it. In fact, it sounds like she wrestled with whether to say anything at all. The bigger question for me is whether you are the right messenger. You mentioned that you’re younger, married, and that your relationship is already strained. Even the most lovingly intended feedback can land as criticism when there’s already hurt or comparison in the relationship. If you do decide to say something, I wouldn’t repeat, “People think you look fake.” Those words are likely to wound far more than they help. Instead, you might say something like: “I debated whether to bring this up because I never want to hurt you, and you can completely disagree with it. Someone who has tried setting you up mentioned that a few of the men felt

your lip filler was more noticeable than you probably intended. I don’t know if that’s representative or just one person’s opinion, but I wondered if you’d want to know. I love you, and whatever you choose to do with that information is completely up to you.” Notice what that does. It offers information without shame. It leaves room for disagreement. And most importantly, it respects her autonomy. Whether she keeps getting filler or never gets another syringe isn’t really the point. She deserves the dignity of making that decision with all the information available to her. Sometimes, loving someone means protecting them from unnecessary criticism. Sometimes, loving someone means risking an uncomfortable conversation. Wisdom is knowing the difference. Sincerely, Jennifer

Finding one’s soulmate rarely comes down to one detail about someone’s hair or face.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

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ing on their relationship with her. Anything related to someone’s appearance is delicate. However, if it’s something she can change and there is genuine reason to believe the feedback is shared rather than just one person’s preference, it’s best for the message to come from someone she feels safe with and that she is least likely to perceive as threatening, critical, or insulting. I want to conclude by pointing out that, in my experience, finding one’s soulmate rarely comes down to one detail about someone’s hair or face. In other words, when people straighten their hair or get eyelash extensions, I don’t find that they suddenly meet their person sooner (of course, I’m not referring to a major physical change). Usually, a person finds their match when the timing is right, when they are ready, and when Hashem decides it is their bashert. That said, it’s

ear Leah, I found myself sitting with your question for a while because it really isn’t about lip filler. It’s about what we owe the people we love. There are times when staying silent protects someone’s feelings. There are other times when staying silent protects our own discomfort. The hard part is figuring out which one this is. If I discovered there was something I was doing that was unintentionally getting in the way of finding a partner, I would want someone who loves me enough to tell me. Not everyone would feel that way, but I would. The key is how it’s shared. That said, I’d be careful not to

overstate what you know. You don’t know that “men don’t like lip filler.” You know that one person, who has set your sister up on multiple occasions, has heard similar feedback from some of the men she’s matched her with. That’s a very different statement. Attraction is deeply subjective. Some people are drawn to a more natural look. Others aren’t. This isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about understanding how she’s being perceived by at least some of the people she’s meeting. What also stood out to me is that this isn’t a random opinion from someone passing judgment. This is someone

Jennifer Mann, LCSW, is a therapist and certified life coach in private practice in Cedarhurst, NY and via telehealth. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and is a part-time school social worker at Bnos Malka Academy. Her work centers on anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse. She integrates attachment-based therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, and relational work, grounded in the belief that healing and growth emerge through honest, attuned, and meaningful human connection. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512.

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Mental Health Corner

Forty-Five Minutes By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman After months of searching, you have finally found a therapist that has the experience that you need, livefs in your vicinity, and checks off all the boxes that you were looking for. Now you have to actually have to start therapy. As a newcomer to the therapy world, you were shocked to learn that each session will only be forty-five minutes long. What can be accomplished in only forty-five minutes? What if we are in the middle of something important? Will I be left hanging? First of all, let us discuss the basis for the industry standard of forty-five minutes for a therapy session. Therapy is more like exercise than a medical procedure. With a medical procedure, you administer anesthesia to the patient, and then during one surgical intervention you can make huge changes to the patient’s body, such as the removal and transplantation of an entire organ. Therapy does not work that way. Change happens slowly and over time. With each therapy session, the therapist attempts to take you a little further on your journey towards mental health, just as an exercise trainer will try to bring you one step closer to physical health during an exercise

session. Thus, the forty-five-minute session came into being, which is generally long enough to make progress, but not too much for the client to handle in one session. That being said, when the forty-five-minute mark arrives, you might be in the middle of something important and it might not be so therapeutic for you to stop on a dime and have your session abruptly terminated. If you are feeling vulnerable and exposed, it can even be unsafe to leave the session without the therapist helping you get grounded before leaving. This is a legitimate concern and is one that you should bring up with your therapist, and ask him or her how they manage their therapy session in order to avoid an untimely ending to a session. In order to give the reader some perspective, we will present a couple of common practices that therapists will employ in order to maintain the safety and comfort of their clients. First of all, many therapists schedule their clients every hour. This leaves a fifteen-minute break between sessions. If a session ends after forty-five minutes,

this provides the therapist some breathing room to pull themselves together before seeing their next client. This also allows them to go overtime with a client if the need arises in order to make sure that every session ends properly. Another strategy that therapists employ is that the therapist takes full responsibility for watching the clock and pacing the session to ensure that their client leaves the session with the tools that they need until the next session. Your therapist is your trusted navigator that you hired to be at the helm of your ship as you brave the treacherous waters of your inner life. As the session progresses, your therapist will guide you through the steps of closing out the session and tying up the loose ends before letting you leave. Just as a doctor would not let you leave the office with an open wound, your therapist should not let you leave the session without being fully prepared for the ending. Some therapists will even suggest that you schedule your session during a time of day when you can relax for a few minutes after the session ends. It can be very difficult to leave a difficult therapy session and be

flung right back into your hectic life without having some quiet time to process what just happened. Taking a few minutes to sit quietly, perhaps in your car, and reflect on the session can be an effective way to make the most of your therapy experience and be better prepared for your next session. Ultimately, every therapist is unique and they will employ different strategies to help a client end a session successfully. You have to be comfortable with your therapist’s approach, and if a proper ending of a session is a concern of yours, do not hesitate to ask your potential therapist how they manage the timing issue. This is because just like a well-crafted conclusion to a story can leave you feeling satisfied and fulfilled, a smooth ending to a therapy session can provide a sense of closure and a renewed sense of purpose. 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

Uriel Schwartz & Chanie Meiselman Dani Samet (Baltimore) & Gitty Schneider (Ramat Beit Shemesh) Zacky Lerner & Liel Gholian

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Erich & Tsiporah (Orshan) Kauffman on the birth of a son

Joel & Rachel Gedalius on the birth of a daughter Avraham & Malka Graber on the birth of a son Eliyahu & Chaya Wiener on the birth of a daughter Eli & Yaffa Atias on the birth of a son Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!

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Eli & Ahuva Englander on the birth of a daughter

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Health & F tness

Why Summer Does Not Always Feel Like Sunshine By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

or many of us, summer carries a feeling of possibility. It is the season we associate with holidays, family barbecues, beach days, and memories that seem to glow a little brighter than those made at other times of the year. We imagine ourselves slowing down, soaking up the sunshine, and feeling lighter simply because the days are longer and the skies are clearer. Yet, for countless people, summer arrives with an entirely different emotional landscape. Perhaps you have found yourself sitting outside on a beautiful afternoon, surrounded by everything that is supposed to make you happy, and still felt an unexpected heaviness. Maybe you have looked around at patios filled with friends, social media flooded with holiday photos, and neighborhoods buzzing with activity, only to wonder why everyone else seems to be enjoying a season that feels strangely overwhelming to you. It can be confusing when the world appears to be celebrating while your own emotions tell a different story. The truth is that our relationship with summer is far more complex than we often acknowledge. While sunshine and warmer weather can certainly lift our spirits, they can also magnify feelings that have been quietly sitting beneath the surface all along. Anxiety, loneliness, grief, exhaustion, and even self-doubt do not disappear simply because the temperature rises. If anything, they can become more noticeable against a backdrop of blue skies and smiling faces.

The Pressure Behind the Perfect Summer One of the reasons summer can feel emotionally complicated is because it comes wrapped in expectations. We rarely think about it, but from the moment the season begins, we are surrounded by messages telling us how we

Sometimes we assume we are becoming anxious or irritable when, in reality, our body is simply asking for rest.

When a Busy Summer Becomes Too Much

should be spending it. We are encouraged to travel, to be adventurous, to make unforgettable memories, to gather with friends, to enjoy every sunny day before it slips away. There is an unspoken belief that summer should be the happiest chapter of the year. That expectation can become surprisingly heavy. If your reality looks different, perhaps because work has not slowed down, money is tight, your family is going through a difficult season, or your mental health simply feels fragile, it is easy to wonder whether you are somehow doing summer wrong. The pressure to enjoy yourself can make it even harder to admit that you are struggling. Social media often adds another layer to that pressure. A quick scroll can leave you feeling as though everyone else is living inside a travel advertisement. There are sunsets over the ocean, perfectly arranged picnic blankets, smiling families on holiday, and groups of friends gathered around outdoor tables under strings of glowing lights. What we rarely see are the long drives home after an argument, the financial stress behind the holiday, the loneliness

someone feels after posting the photo, or the exhaustion that comes from trying to keep up appearances.

Why Summer Can Affect Our Mood Beyond expectations, there are genuine physical reasons our mood can shift during the summer months. As the days become longer, our routines naturally begin to change. We stay outside later because the sun has not yet set. We accept one more invitation because it feels like a shame to waste a beautiful evening. Children are home from school, holidays interrupt our normal schedules, and weekends quickly fill with events that seemed exciting when we first agreed to them. Sleep is often the first thing to suffer. It is harder to fall asleep when daylight lingers well into the evening, and warmer nights can leave us tossing and turning. A few late nights may not seem significant, but over time even a small amount of lost sleep can affect our mood in powerful ways. We become less patient, more emotionally reactive, and more likely to feel overwhelmed by situations that would normally feel manageable.

Then there is the busyness that summer quietly brings. While many people imagine the season as relaxing, it often becomes one of the busiest times of the year. Calendars fill with weddings, birthday celebrations, neighborhood gatherings, sporting events, family reunions, and last-minute plans that seem impossible to turn down. Even activities we genuinely enjoy require energy, and when every weekend is spoken for, there is very little space left to recharge. For those who naturally find social situations draining, this constant activity can feel exhausting. There is often an invisible pressure to say yes because everyone else appears to be making the most of the season. Declining an invitation can bring an uncomfortable fear that you are missing out or wasting precious summer days. Yet constantly saying yes can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself, moving from one event to the next without ever feeling rested. The healthiest summer is not necessarily the busiest one. More often, it is the one that leaves room to breathe.

Why Loneliness Can Feel Louder Loneliness is not simply about being alone. It is about feeling unseen, even in the middle of a crowd. Summer has a way of shining a light on the relationships we miss, the people we have lost, or the connections we wish we had. If you have recently experienced a breakup in a relationship, moved to a new city, lost someone close to you, or watched friendships naturally drift apart, the season can make those ab-

These memories stay with us because, for a brief moment, we were fully present.

forget to notice the one that is already happening. We chase the next weekend away, the next event, the next photograph-worthy sunset, believing that happiness is waiting just around the corner. Meanwhile, life continues to unfold in the quiet spaces between our plans. Perhaps the greatest gift summer offers is not endless happiness, but perspective. Nature never rushes through its seasons. The trees do not apologize

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titioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 917-905-3995.

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atric Nurse Practitioner. She has a psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a member of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Prac-

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l ity

stitched together by small sensory moments that somehow stayed with you. The taste of cold watermelon on a hot afternoon. The sound of birds humming as the sky turns golden. Running through the garden sprinkler as a child until your clothes clung to your skin. The smell of rain hitting warm pavement after a sudden afternoon storm. Watching fireflies appear one by one as daylight slowly gives way to evening.

when they lose their leaves, and the flowers do not bloom every day of the year. There are periods of growth, seasons of rest, moments of abundance, and times when everything feels quiet. We accept this rhythm in the natural world, yet we often struggle to extend that same understanding to ourselves. Life moves in seasons, too. The next time you find yourself watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of amber and pink, pause for a moment before reaching for your phone. Feel the warmth of the evening air on your skin. Listen to the birds settling into the trees and the distant laughter carried on the breeze. Notice the scent of freshly cut grass or blooming flowers, the familiar sounds of a neighborhood winding down for the night, and the quiet reminder that not every meaningful moment needs to be shared to matter.

Spending time outdoors, even for a short while, has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. It does not have to involve hiking mountains or planning elaborate adventures. Sometimes it is as simple as drinking your

These memories stay with us because, for a brief moment, we were fully present. We were not worrying about tomorrow or comparing ourselves with anyone else. We were simply living the moment as it unfolded. Perhaps that is something many of us lose as adults. We become so focused on creating the perfect summer that we

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Let Summer Be Simple

morning coffee on the porch while the world is still quiet, taking a walk beneath the shade of old trees, or sitting on a park bench and watching the breeze ripple through the leaves. Think about the summers you remember most fondly. Chances are they are not defined by a perfectly planned holiday or an expensive trip. They are

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sences feel especially noticeable. Yet there is another way to look at these moments. Sometimes loneliness is not only a reminder of what is missing. It is also a reminder that we are made for connection, and that longing itself speaks to something deeply human. That connection does not always have to begin with a large group of friends or a calendar packed with plans. More often, it begins in small, ordinary ways. A conversation with a neighbor while watering the garden. Meeting a friend for an early morning walk before the heat settles in. Calling someone you have been meaning to catch up with instead of waiting for the perfect time. We sometimes underestimate how much comfort can be found in simple moments of genuine connection. They may not make it onto social media, but they often become the moments we remember most.

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JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Parenting Pearls

A Real Home Entertainment System By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

hile I know we have pictures to remind them, I think my children really do remember these fond memories all on their own. In each photo, they are sitting in front of their creations, proudly displaying their projects. Their smiles today match those from years ago as they reminisced about the fun they had with that craft. What prompted this recollection of memories was a recent purchase of air-dry clay for my younger kids. I was excited to share the clay with my little ones but also curious to see how the older siblings would respond. It didn’t take long before the memories poured out. As a mother trying to be creative, it was rewarding to know that even something as simple as clay could have such an impact. The clay arrived on a rainy day when swimming was unsafe. I put down a plastic tablecloth and divided the clay between the children. They took to the projects with intention and care, thoughtfully putting each touch into the soft material. An hour later, I still saw some hands busy shaping and smoothing their clay. This summer, I had an unexpectedly high enrollment in Mommy Camp. I already knew all the campers very well, having taken care of them for their entire lives, but Mommy Camp brought in higher expectations. The kids wanted trips and entertainment, excitement and thrills. I wanted to provide a meaningful and enjoyable experience, while maintaining my sanity. While colloquially known as “Mommy Camp,” any adult can provide that at-home experience for a child. Thinking beyond the two months of summer, the same methods to entertain and captivate children can be used throughout the year to provide wholesome activities for youngsters. Having many options

tenance. It’s also a way to nourish our loved ones and show we care. For many kids dorming, having a home-cooked meal is one way to feel they have truly come back. While for many of us cooking may be a tedious but necessary chore, it can also be a means to relax and a form of creativity. When presented as an activity, cooking and baking can greatly interest children. Helping with the everyday cooking can be a fun activity but offering something beyond that can become a major event for a child. Sugar cookies can be made into fun designs of their choosing. Frosting and other add-ons can be used to decorate and create cupcake masterpieces. Pizza is a palette for a variety of creative toppings. available can help turn any weekend or rain day from boredom into enjoyment. Going beyond the need to entertain, children learn so much from play, and it’s often their main source of learning various life skills. They build fine motor skills as they continuously improve through trial-and-error. Physical activities develop gross motor skills as they improve their coordination. It’s often the more simple, basic – and often old fashioned – activities that provide the most learning for a child.

Crafts There is something so exciting about using your hands, being creative and making a terrible mess. Pull out the art supplies, and you will usually get a very positive response. Kids enjoy planning their projects and then executing their designs. Getting well deserved praise from their loving adult afterwards is no less enjoyable. With a little creativity, almost anything can be an arts and crafts project. Having a collection of basic supplies on

hand gives parents the flexibility to create a project idea out of nearly any item. Depending on the child’s age, items such as construction paper, crayons, markers, paint, scissors and glue can be pulled out when needed. Many kids will be happy to simply color. To add more creativity, you can give some further suggestions. For example, old magazines can be cut to create a collage or smaller pieces of colored paper can be glued to form a picture. You can demonstrate how to make paper airplanes or other origami. Anything from paper towel holders to empty tissue boxes are fair game. There are many prepackaged kits and other activities that parents can purchase. They include everything needed to make that specific project. Everything from 3-D wooden magnets and birdhouses to potholder looms can come as an all-in-one kit. They may cost a bit more, but many parents may find the convenience to be worth the price.

Kids in the Kitchen Food is more than just basic sus-

Preventing Disaster Arts and crafts are wholesome activities, but the mess can be overwhelming and make parents do anything to avoid suggesting the fun. There are many other activities parents would be happy to do with their precious youngsters, but the inevitable mess makes them hold back. Preparing the space in advance can keep the area clean and prevent future misery. I’ll discuss this topic mostly using arts and crafts as an example, but any activity can be prepared similarly. Clear the area and make sure there is nothing fragile or otherwise valuable in the vicinity. If the kids can access it, they will break it or decorate it with paint. If they can throw a ball at it, toss it in the air or look at it funny, they will destroy it. Never underestimate the talent of a child when it comes to ruining expensive or important items. The little artists should wear old t-shirts – preferably adult or oversized – or smocks. The area to be used (plus

Storytime

Out and About From early ages, kids are thrilled to “go bye-bye.” There is adventure and excitement in simply leaving the house. With very young children, any outing is a trip, and the grocery store is exhilarating. Parks are often an easy trip. Bring snacks and water, and the kids can run

Thinking beyond the two months of summer, the same methods to entertain and captivate children can be used throughout the year to provide wholesome activities for youngsters.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, holds a master’s de-

entertaining shows for kids. There is no screen to watch; the kids just sit back and listen to the story. There are many free hotlines with children’s stories, ones that can be purchased individually, as well as audio devices geared to frum families (such as Naki Radio).

and climb happily for hours. To adults, parks seem so basic that we may not appreciate how much enjoyment they bring children. Swings, slides and climbing in the fresh air is not only enjoyable, but it may help them sleep better that night.

Sara provides personalized parent mentoring services, addressing a variety of general and specific parenting concerns. She can be contacted at Sara.Rayvych@gmail.com with comments, questions or for private consultations.

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There are many “trip places” to take kids. Bowling, ceramics and indoor play areas are a few of the many options. Asking around and seeing what’s available can provide excellent suggestions. Trips can be overwhelming and exhausting. Parents can try to make it easier by choosing closer locations and ensuring the little ones are fed and well rested before leaving. Keep in mind that it’s not necessary to do major daily excursions. It can be once a week or whatever is considered manageable. If we build together with blocks, cuddle for a good read, or kick a soccer ball around with them, the activity is more fun, bonding and memorable. The most important part is to have fun and enjoy your precious child.

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Stories are fantastic. They are entertaining and often educational. Storytelling was historically a major way to pass on tradition. I have many fond memories of my grandmother sharing with me stories from the past, many about relatives I would never meet. For parents who are comfortable with oral storytelling, it’s a beautiful way to connect with a child. Many parents are not able to think of stories or tell over what they remember. Reading together is enjoyable and educational on multiple levels. Encouraging

children to read on their own is an underappreciated means of entertaining a child. Sometimes we’re so used to hightech that we can forget how much we can gain from a good book. My children have spent hours listening to audio stories. The frum community is fortunate to have many professional storytellers that create and record

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a generous space around it) should be covered with a disposable plastic tablecloth or other easily cleaned surface. Provide appropriate supervision, especially with scissors and similar items. Paint makes a fantastic mess when tracked along the carpets. Flour is hard to clean when spread on every surface. Balls and bats can break glass and chandeliers. While it’s helpful to keep basic art and baking supplies in the home, it’s often best to keep them out of a child’s reach. The same can be said for certain sports equipment and other items.

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Kids Coloring Win $10 Corner

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k•

ers

Download extra coloring sheets from thebjh.com

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to The Candy Store

y w ee

Take a picture with your artwork and submit it to

thebjh.com/kids to enter a raffle for a chance to win $10 to The Candy Store! See your picture in print the following week! Submissions due Monday, July 27

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Moshe Birnbaum, 4

Yehuda Zev Fogel, 5

Chaviva Moskowitz, 11

ER, 5

Racheli Hakakian, 4

Maya Palmer, 6

Michal Soskil, 7

Nechama Leah, 5

Aryeh Kushner, 10

Moey Kramer, 7

Eliana Yifrah, 6

Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!

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Aharon S., 5

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JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

Yehuda Reich, 3

M.S.

Zevi Hittman, 6

Azi Sperling, 5

Lily Brody, 7

Nati Coleman, 7

LC, 8

Zazi T., 9

M. Gross, 12

Yitzchok Kupfer, 6

Yehuda Sobel, 8

Rosie Shimanovich, 7

Shiffy Brody, 8

Aviva Paige, 7

Tehila T., 9

Bella Barer, 6

Chonon Tzvi, 8

Esther Bracha Stengel, 11

Asher Schapiro, 3

Gitty G. & Shloimy B.

Tehilla Greenfeld, 4

Rikki Brody, 10

Emuna Livingston

Batsheva G., 6

Dovie Rosenblatt, 6

Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!

Creamy, Cheesy Tuna Casserole Dairy / Yields 8 servings

By Naomi Nachman

cheesy, and ready before you know it. The secret to that rich, savory depth is Tuscanini’s Mushroom Alfredo sauce, which coats every noodle in any extra chopping or simmering on your part. Layer in tender egg noodles, flaky tuna, and plenty of melty cheddar, then finish with a crunchy

JULY 16-JULY 29, 2026

This is the ultimate throw-it-together weeknight dinner – comforting,

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In The K tchen

panko topping for the perfect contrast in every bite. This recipe doubles easily and freezes well and is perfect for a break the fast meal.

Ingredients

Preparation

• 1 (12-ounce) package egg noodles

• 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion

to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2. Preheat oven to 400°F.

• 1 jar 14.5 oz Tuscanini Mushroom Alfredo sauce • ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk • 1 cup panko crumbs or packaged crunchy fried onions, crushed

3. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together noodles, onion, 1 cup cheese, tuna, Mushroom Alredo sauce and milk. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with panko crumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese.

4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

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• 2 (6-ounce) cans tuna, drained

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8

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