This Rosh Hashana start the new year with a Mitzvah.
Receive a free shofar when you join a shofar-blowing training session led by Rabbi Ephraim Horowitz so you can do this important chesed for your community. Sessions are for bar mitzvah age and up.
4 Different Shofar-Blowing Training Sessions To Choose From:
Thursday, August 13, 2026 @ 6:00 PM* | Sunday, August 16, 2026 @ 11:30 AM
Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 6:00 PM | Sunday, August 30, 2026 @ 6:00 PM Only one session required.
Location: Ari Fuld, a"h, Building, behind Storch Home (3209 Fallstaff Rd.)
*This class is scheduled before the beginning of Elul zman to accomodate yeshiva bochurim, however, is still open to the community.
Please reserve your spot by signing up at tinyurl.com/shofartraining For any questions, email info@chesedfund.com or call 410-653-3333.
Dear Readers,
In this week’s parsha, Re’eh, Moshe Rabbeinu tells Klal Yisrael, “Re’eh,” see what is before you. Look carefully at the choices in front of you and recognize where they can lead. It is a fitting message as we prepare to enter the month of Elul. Rosh Hashanah is no longer somewhere off in the distance. A new year is approaching, and these weeks invite us to pause, take stock, and consider how we want to enter it. But before life shifts fully into school schedules, carpools, work routines, and Yom Tov preparations, there is another opportunity directly in front of us that is worth seeing. For many families, camp is ending, but school has not yet begun. The structure that kept everyone occupied is suddenly gone, and the children are back home with plenty of time and plenty of energy. As parents, it is easy to view these weeks with a bit of dread. We wonder how we will keep everyone busy, how we will manage our work, and how we will make it through the repeated question, “What are we doing today?” Yet perhaps we can look at this stretch of summer differently. Instead of simply trying to survive it, we can recognize it as a precious window of time with our children. The summer is not over. There is still time for a family trip, a short vacation, or even a simple afternoon outing. We can go to a park, take a hike, visit a museum, head to the pool, enjoy a picnic, or get ice cream together. It does not need to be elaborate or expensive. Children rarely measure an experience by how much it costs or how carefully
it was planned. What they remember is that we were there, that we laughed together, and that for a few hours they had our attention. Sometimes the simplest summer activity becomes the story they repeat for years.
Soon enough, the school year will begin and life will become hectic again. The alarm clocks will ring earlier, lunches will need to be packed, homework will return, and evenings will fill quickly. Before long, we may find ourselves wishing for one more unhurried afternoon with the children. These final days of summer give us a chance to create those moments now. Even if work still needs to be done and not every day can become an adventure, perhaps we can set aside a little time to be fully present, put away the phone, and simply enjoy being together.
Elul asks us to reflect on our relationship with Hashem and with the people in our lives. That includes our children. Preparing for a new year is not only about looking back at what we could have done better. It is also about recognizing the blessings that are right in front of us and choosing to appreciate them while we can. So when camp ends and the children come home asking what we are doing today, perhaps we can smile, embrace the opportunity, and make the most of these final summer days. The schedules will return soon enough. For now, let us enjoy the moments we have.
Have a peaceful Shabbos, Aaron M. Friedman
& photos, and mazal tovs to
in coming editions!
SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW THEM BIG ENOUGH TO PREPARE THEM
Preparing children begins with knowing who they are.
The Lev Hatorah environment enables teachers to truly know every student, tailoring instruction to their unique needs and as a result, raising sharp thinkers, confident learners, and kind, capable young people grounded in Torah values.
Around the Community
Making Summer Count: Educators Zoom In On Growth
While summer often brings a welcome chance to recharge, many educators across our community chose to spend part of their break investing in their professional growth through Jewish Educational Services’ new Zoom In This Summer series. The three-session virtual learning op-
portunity was designed to offer practical, relevant strategies that teachers could immediately bring back to their classrooms in the fall. Using data from past surveys, JES piloted a summer Zoom series to reduce some barriers that often prevent teachers from participating in professional development during the school year. The response
was clear - 50 teachers registered from 18 different schools, showcasing the need for this type of program.
The series began with B’More Inclusive: Tackle Teasing and Isolation, led by Yael Zelinger, who shared strategies for helping students navigate differences, build empathy, and create more inclusive classroom communities. Participants explored ways to have meaningful conversations about visible and invisible differences while fostering a culture of belonging.
In the second session, Sarah Ottensoser focused on Systems and Routines: High-Impact Classroom Structures that Build Student Independence. Educators learned how clear routines and intentional systems help students develop executive functioning skills, become more independent learners, and feel more confident in the classroom.
continually refining their craft. Even during summer break, our community of educators demonstrated that professional growth remains a priority.
JES also launched a new Lunch ‘N Learn professional development series this summer with Engaging All Learners: Techniques to Keep All Students Interested and Focused, facilitated by Chaya Tropper. The session explored what drives student engagement, how to increase active participation, and simple strategies for reaching diverse learners. The event brought together 18 educators in person and 8 more via Zoom, creating a lively learning community focused on sharing ideas and strengthening classroom practice.
The final session, The 3Rs of an Effective Classroom Environment: Rules, Rewards & Results, featured Chaya Tropper, who shared practical approaches for creating consistent classroom expectations and positive learning environments where students can thrive.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Educators appreciated the practical, classroom-ready ideas and the opportunity to learn from colleagues during the summer months. Several participants attended all three sessions, a testament both to the quality of the learning and to the commitment educators have to
The excitement doesn’t stop there. Beginning after the fall holidays, Lunch ‘N Learn with JES will be coming directly to schools, making it even easier for educators to access high-quality professional learning alongside their colleagues. More information will be shared in the coming months, and JES is looking forward to bringing these engaging sessions to school communities throughout the year.
Together, Zoom In This Summer and Lunch ‘N Learn reflect JES’s commitment to providing meaningful, accessible professional development that meets educators where they are. Whether joining from home on a summer afternoon or gathering with colleagues over lunch, participants left with new ideas, renewed energy, and practical strategies to support student success.
Around the Community
Hachnassas Sefer Torah Celebrated By The Iny Family
Family, friends, and members of the Baltimore community gathered Sunday afternoon to celebrate a joyous Hachnassas Sefer Torah hosted by the Iny family.
The new Sefer Torah was dedicated l’iluy nishmas Mr. Joe Iny a”h and Mr. David Iny a”h, honoring their memory through the writing and completion of a Torah that will continue to inspire generations.
The celebration began with the completion of the final letters at the family’s home on Olympia Avenue, followed by a festive procession to Congregation Beit Yaakov, where the Sefer Torah was welcomed with singing, dancing, and heartfelt hakafos.
The meaningful event brought together relatives, friends, and community members in a moving expression of kavod haTorah and remembrance, marking a day of gratitude to Hashem and a lasting legacy for the Iny family.
By: BJLife Newsroom
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Warmth, Connection, And Therapy: A Memorable Afternoon At L’Chaim Adult Day Center
The Participants at L’Chaim Adult Day Center were recently treated to a uniquely delightful and therapeutic experience when twelve gentle rabbits paid a special visit to the facility. The afternoon proved to be equal parts uplifting, exciting, and deeply relaxing, offering a rich multi-sensory experience that brought bright smiles and lively conversation to all in attendance.
Animal-assisted engagement has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits, promoting calm, reducing stress, and sparking fond memories. Holding and petting the gentle creatures provided a soothing, hands-on activity that was thoroughly enjoyed by the center’s participants.
A very special thank you to the Brody and Margolese families, whose
dedication transformed a simple visit into an unforgettable event. Beyond bringing the rabbits, the family members actively engaged with the participants, sharing their vibrant excitement, genuine warmth, and heartfelt friendship. The beautiful intergenerational connection added a rich layer of camaraderie and joy to the room.
The visit was provided through “Hoppy Bunnies,” a unique local initiative that makes gentle, friendly rabbits available for rental to various community organizations, senior centers, camps, and special events.
New Sephardic Selihot for the High Holy Days with English Translation
DEDICATED BY TANYA & MICHAEL FARAH
Selihot, the supplicatory prayers recited by Sephardic communities throughout the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, are among the most stirring and inspiring liturgies of the Jewish year. Yet their rich poetic language and intricate structure can make them challenging to understand. Created by a team of experts in Sephardic liturgy, this Selihot will enable you to understand and be uplifted by these sacred prayers.
• Hebrew text, English translation, laws and customs according to all Sephardic traditions.
• Commentary based on classic works
• Crystal clear, easy-to-follow English instructions
• Inspiring Overiew by Rabbi Nosson Scherman
• Specially designed typography and graphics indicate when there are differences in text between various communities.
• Shem Hashem with Kavanot
NEW GROUNDBREAKING SERIES
HAAS FAMILY EDITION
Among the treasured Midrashim, Tanna DeVei Eliyahu occupies a unique place as a compilation of the teachings of Eliyahu HaNavi. Throughout the generations, great Torah leaders have drawn from its wisdom, and many people have the custom of studying it each Motza’ei Shabbos. Tanna DeVei Eliyahu explores countless themes, including Torah study, repentance, suffering, spiritual growth, the final redemption, and the World to Come, and also contains many of the stirring prayers recited by Eliyahu HaNavi.
IN PREPARATION: VOLUME 2
New!
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BJH: You recently became the manager of Baltimore Business Loans. What has been one of your goals since stepping into the role?
Rus Yaffa Gottlieb: One of my biggest goals has been raising awareness about Baltimore Business Loans. It’s an incredible resource for Baltimore entrepreneurs, yet many current and aspiring business owners don’t realize it exists. I’m excited to help more people discover the organization and the opportunities it offers to help local businesses succeed.
BJH: For readers who may not be familiar with Baltimore Business Loans, can you tell us a little about it?
RYG: Founded in 2010, Baltimore Business Loans is a nonprofit that
provides interest-free business loans of up to $25,000 to entrepreneurs and business owners looking to launch or grow a business in Baltimore. Our mission is to strengthen Baltimore’s business community by making funding more accessible and empowering local entrepreneurs to succeed.
BJH: Can you share a few of the businesses you’ve had the privilege of supporting?
RYG: Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting more than 20 businesses throughout Baltimore, including The Therapy Spot, Lion Fitness, Delightfully Sweet, Aufschnitt Meats, AdinaB Salon, and One Above Driving Academy.
BJH: Who should consider applying for a Baltimore Business Loan?
BJH: Many people assume applying for a business loan is a long and complicated process. What does the application process actually look like?
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To learn more or apply for an interest-free business loan of up to $25,000, visit www.baltimorebusinessloans.com or email us at info@baltimorebusinessloans.com
The Week In News
The Week In News
Back on Earth
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts are back on Earth after spending eight months aboard the International Space Station, marking another milestone in the rare area of continued cooperation between the United States and Russia despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The three-man crew landed safely on July 26 in Kazakhstan after their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft parachuted into the steppes southeast of the city of Dzhez-
kazgan. The mission lasted 241 days in orbit and was the first spaceflight for Williams and cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev, while commander Sergei Kud-Sverchkov completed his second mission.
Following the landing, recovery crews helped the astronauts descend from the capsule before transporting them by helicopter to the city of Karaganda. From there, Williams was scheduled to return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while his Russian crewmates headed back to Star City, Russia, for post-flight rehabilitation.
During their 241 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, the crew circled Earth 3,856 times, traveled more than 102 million miles, and conducted a variety of scientific experiments designed to advance research benefiting life on Earth while preparing for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Williams also participated in two spacewalks during the expedition.
Before departing the station, Kud-Sverchkov officially handed command of the ISS to NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, marking the transition from Expedition 74 to Expedition 75.
The returning crew had already been replaced earlier this month by NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, who arrived at the ISS on July 14 for their own eight-month mission. They joined astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency, and Roscosmos already living aboard the station.
Although relations between Washington and Moscow remain strained over the war in Ukraine, the International Space Station continues to serve as one of the few major examples of sustained U.S.-Russian cooperation. NASA and Roscosmos still rely on one another to operate the orbiting laboratory, with astronauts and cosmonauts regularly flying aboard both American and Russian spacecraft.
World’s Best Passports
According to the Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries by the number of destinations their passports give free access to, the United States has
dropped to 10th place. The U.S.’s ranking has gradually fallen since 2016, when it was at 4th place, dropping from 5th in 2017, to 7th in 2020, to 9th in 2025.
In first place was Singapore, giving access to holders to 192 countries. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates were tied for second place, with access to 188 countries. Sweden was ranked third. Fourth place – access to 186 countries – was a tie between 11 nations: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. In fifth place were Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland, while Hungary, Poland, and the United Kingdom were ranked sixth. Eight countries were tied for seventh place: Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Croatia and Estonia were tied for eighth place, while Liechtenstein and Lithuania were at ninth. Finally, Iceland and the United States tied for 10th place.
The United States has fallen in the index because other countries have been aggressively strengthening their passports in recent years. Still, the U.S. has
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:20 am Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M, Th
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY T, W, F Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset YehoshuaS Silver Spring Jewish Center S
BETHESDA
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T, W, F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Ohr Hatorah S
7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F
Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S
Kemp Mill Synagogue S Kesher Israel S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEYS
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset YehoshuaS
Chabad of Upper Montgomery CountyS
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas TorahS
8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of PotomacS
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi)S
8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville M, Th
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville S, T, W, F
Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S
Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S
mincha
2:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center S-F
2:10 pm YGW M-Th School Days
2:45 pm YGW S-Th
3:00 pm YGW Middle School M-Th School Days
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)
New! Go online to purchase raffle tickets - drawn at the evening show!
limited seating available at the door - no credit cards for women and girls
The Week In News
one of the strongest passports in the world, with Americans having visa-free access to 180 destinations.
A country’s passport reflects its relationship with other nations, according to immigration attorney Richard T. Herman.
“The larger message is that global influence cannot be taken for granted,” Herman said. “A country that wants its citizens welcomed around the world must keep investing in diplomacy, alliances, and mutual openness.”
Iran Hijacks Casinos
Despite strict laws forbidding the practice, Iran has built one of the world’s largest illegal online gambling networks. A major investigation reveals that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hijacked over 2,000 betting websites to bypass international sanctions, successfully moving roughly $4 billion through a cryptocurrency operation based in the United Arab Emirates, even during wartime.
At the center of this financial web is Shelbit, an unlicensed crypto exchange that has operated since May 2024. Hidden behind the front of a Deira watch shop called “Velorix Watches Trading LLC,” the exchange is run by Siavash Kayvanpour, an Iranian expatriate. Shelbit serves as a bridge between sanctioned entities, the Central Bank of Iran, and global cryptocurrency markets. Blockchain analysts have traced massive sums moving through this pipeline, including $125 million directly from Iran’s central bank, $20 million from state-sanctioned Iranian Bitcoin mining operations, and over $676 million flowing to major exchanges like Binance.
To drive traffic to this network, the regime recruited high-profile social media influencers, notably Sasha Sobhani — the estranged son of a former Iranian diplomat — and Pooyan Mokhtari. Flaunting lavish lifestyles, they lured millions of Iranians to place bets on sites
seamlessly connected to Iran’s tightly controlled domestic payment infrastructure. Interestingly, Mokhtari, Sobhani, and Kayvanpour were already convicted in absentia by Iranian courts in 2023 for illegal gambling, which briefly led to Interpol red notices and their detention in Spain. Both influencers have denied any knowledge of IRGC involvement or money laundering, framing their operations as independent.
However, the digital casino is now facing a severe international crackdown. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) recently ordered Shelbit to cease all operations for flagrant violations of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws. Meanwhile, Mokhtari — who had been living in the UAE under the assumed identity of a Vanuatu citizen named “Patrick Philippe” — was arrested in Dubai earlier this year on terrorism financing charges. Mokhtari claims he was detained merely for sending $150,000 to friends in Iran. Ultimately, he was stripped of his assets, including his $5 million home, and expelled.
Following his expulsion, Mokhtari spent two months in a Hong Kong luxury hotel, taking to social media to reinvent his public image into a reformed, righteous figure. In July 2026, he announced his intention to return to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iran’s recently assassinated Supreme Leader. On July 8, Mokhtari posted a final selfie as he boarded an Iran-bound flight from Bangkok, leaving behind his lavish international lifestyle as global regulators close in on the IRGC’s crypto-laundering machine.
Massive Migration Surge in Spain
Around 69,000 migrants from Morocco flooded the Spanish territory of Ceuta’s borders on Thursday, triggering a massive humanitarian crisis in the city, which itself only has some 84,000 residents and barely spans 19 square kilometers. On Friday, tens of thousands of the migrants, many of whom swam miles and survived border patrols to reach Spain, voluntarily returned to Morocco.
The official death toll from the surge on the Spanish side of the border stands at 72, with 11 deaths on the
Moroccan side.
Moroccan migrants also tried entering Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa, and fought with police.
Spain’s Ceuta and Melilla sit on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast and periodically face attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
On Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez blasted the border breach as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity,” blaming the crisis on deceptive human smugglers.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, declared the situation “unacceptable.”
“We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules,” she declared on Friday. “Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.”
According to Sanchez, migrant smugglers might have misinterpreted a recent ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court, which bars migrants who came by sea from deportation.
Critics of the president, however, have blamed Sanchez’s socialist, pro-immigration policies for the crisis. A few months ago, Spain’s government expanded residency and working rights to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, with Sanchez claiming that the move could boost the economy.
The United States said the migration crisis constituted an “egregious violation of [the people of Spain’s] sovereignty and human rights,” with the State Department blaming “the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe.”
Sanchez’s government has denied that his policies led to the surge.
Following the crisis, Italy temporarily closed its open-border agreement with Spain, and France strengthened border checks.
Dozens of migrants died while attempting to reach Ceuta, with some drowning and others dying in a stampede.
Profits Surge for Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco reported a sharp increase in profits during the second quarter of the year, benefiting from soaring global oil prices despite significant disruptions caused by the conflict with Iran.
The state-owned oil giant posted a
profit of about $33 billion, roughly onethird higher than the same period last year. Although the company produced and sold fewer barrels of oil, the steep rise in crude prices more than offset the decline in exports.
Aramco said it would maintain its base dividend of approximately $21.9 billion, providing a financial boost to Saudi Arabia, which owns the vast majority of the company.
The kingdom also saw a significant increase in government oil revenue during the quarter. According to Saudi Arabia’s Finance Ministry, oil income rose 22%, generating nearly $50 billion between April and June. Combined with growing tax revenue from the country’s expanding non-oil economy, the increase helped reduce Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit to $9.1 billion, its smallest quarterly shortfall in nearly two years.
The improved finances come after several difficult years marked by lower oil prices and heavy government spending, including ambitious projects such as the futuristic city of Neom. Before the war, Saudi officials had already begun scaling back portions of the multitrillion-dollar development.
During the quarter, Aramco sold crude oil for an average price of about $108 per barrel, up more than 60% from roughly $67 a year earlier. However, total hydrocarbon production—including crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids—fell by about 25%.
One reason Aramco was able to continue exporting oil despite the conflict was its use of the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, which carries crude from eastern oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The route allowed the company to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping was severely disrupted during the war.
From Yanbu, oil was transported either through the Suez Canal to Europe or south through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait toward Asian markets.
Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said the conflict removed more than 2.6 billion barrels of oil from the
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The Week In News
global supply, though emergency reserves and alternative shipping routes reduced the overall impact.
The company also acknowledged recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants on facilities in Jizan and Yanbu but said the incidents caused no material damage to its operations, production, or cash flow. Despite the security threats, Aramco said its major projects and domestic fuel supplies continue to operate normally.
Iran Hangs 2 for “Spying”
On Monday, Iran executed two men convicted of spying for Israel, the judiciary said, the latest in a wave of hangings over alleged espionage.
Since the start of the war with Israel and the United States in February, Tehran has ramped up executions, with many of the convicts accused of spying for Israeli intelligence.
“Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were hanged this morning for trans-
mitting the coordinates of sensitive military and security sites to Mossad agents,” said Mizan, the media outlet for Iran’s judiciary, referring to Israel’s foreign intelligence service.
It added that they were convicted of “espionage and collaboration with the Zionist regime.”
“They helped the intelligence services achieve their objectives by providing them with information on military and security centers during the war,” Mizan added.
One of the executed individuals was accused of passing coordinates to the administrator of a Telegram channel that the IRGC charges was linked to Israel’s Mossad spy agency, according to Mizan.
The second person, described by Mizan as “one of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s soldiers,” was said to have sent information to the Mossad as well as to Iran International, a leading news outlet for dissidents in exile that Tehran accuses of also being an intelligence front.
Iran is the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, ac -
cording to rights groups including Amnesty International.
Tehran executed at least 1,639 people last year, a record high since 1989, according to Iran Human Rights, an NGO based in Norway, and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), which is headquartered in Paris.
Last Tuesday, Amnesty denounced what it said was the “escalation” in executions after Iran announced the hanging of two men found guilty of taking part in anti-government protests during the winter.
Hamas Disarmament?
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the Board of Peace secured a deal to disarm Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
The 15-point agreement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, was signed by the Board of Peace and Hamas negotiators. However, Israel has objected to the deal, declaring that it doesn’t satisfy the Jewish state’s demand that Hamas fully disarms. Still, Trump touted the agreement as “a critical step toward Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people. At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”
This is a major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Plan. The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases. As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors,” he declared, adding that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel and that the new Palestinian government would serve its people.
An Israeli official responded to Trump’s announcement by noting that the deal falls short of Jerusalem’s de -
mands and that the IDF will not withdraw until “Hamas is disarmed and the Strip is fully demilitarized.”
According to the deal, Hamas would gradually surrender its weapons to the Board of Peace’s National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) over eight months.
According to an Arab diplomat, Hamas agreed to the deal in order to “put the ball in Israel’s court,” knowing that the current Israeli government would likely reject the proposal, as it would force the IDF to withdraw from the Yellow Line immediately.
Record Israeli Emigration
According to a Tel Aviv University report, nearly 50,000 Israelis emigrated from Israel in 2025. The study considers an Israeli citizen to have emigrated if they leave for over 12 months.
The years 2023 and 2024 each saw around 49,000 Israelis leave, with the trend continuing into 2025. The report attributes record emigration to Israel’s military and political situations, with opposition leaders blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The 2025 figures include people who left in 2024 and are unofficial until 2027, when official data will be released.
W hen immigration and emigration numbers are considered for 2024 and 2025 together, there were 50,000 more emigrants than immigrants. Many attribute their decision to leave to political qualms.
“In 2025, we continue to see deeply concerning numbers of Israelis leaving the country for a significant period of time, adding to the exodus seen in 2023 and 2024,” lead study author Itai Ater said. “These figures on their own do not yet pose a threat to Israel’s resilience. However, looking ahead — and if there is no change — there is growing concern that emigration will escalate in a manner that endangers Israel’s security and economy.”
The issue doesn’t pose an immediate threat to the country but may be problematic in the future.
“Additional negative shocks — political, economic, or security-related
The Week In News
— could trigger feedback loops that lead to a further surge in emigration,” the report added. “Once migration exceeds a certain threshold, reversing the trend will be extremely difficult and carry severe macroeconomic consequences.”
Barnea’s New Job
Former Mossad chief David Barnea is joining Ondas Defense Ltd. as its global president and chairman, the NASDAQ-traded company announced on Monday.
The defense technology company said that Barnea will focus on “the Middle East, Europe and Asia, where governments are accelerating investment in autonomous defense, counter-UAS, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, resilient communications, precision-strike and ground robotic systems.”
Barnea, 61, said in the statement that “the nature of warfare is changing rapidly, as demonstrated by the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.”
He added that “operational advantage increasingly depends on the ability to combine intelligence, artificial intelligence, resilient communications, autonomous platforms and precision capabilities into one coordinated operational environment.”
Ondas says that its company mission is to provide “autonomous systems, robotics, and mission-critical technologies” to “government, defense, and commercial customers.”
In its press release announcing Barnea’s hire, Ondas stressed that the former Mossad chief “will not use or disclose classified, confidential or otherwise restricted government information” in his new role.
Barnea served as Mossad chief from 2021 to 2026, including during the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion, the subsequent wars against Hamas and Hezbollah, and the multiple Israeli bombing campaigns against Iran.
He was credited with major operational successes in the 2½ years since the Hamas massacre, including the exploding-beeper operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and operations during the 12-day war against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He also
played a major role in years of talks to release the hostages being held in Gaza.
Before assuming the position of Mossad chief, Barnea served in the spy agency for 25 years, including as a deputy to then-director Yossi Cohen from 2019 to 2021.
He served as a combat soldier in the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit and later received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the New York Institute of Technology and an MBA in finance from Pace University. He worked in investment banking until 1995, when he left the private sector to join the Mossad.
Katz to Replace General – Or Not
Defense Minister Israel Katz sought to defuse a growing public dispute with the military on Monday, saying that IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth “is performing his duties well” and has not been dismissed, a day after suggesting on live television that the general would be replaced.
Katz’s clarification came after his comments during a televised interview sparked confusion and drew a swift response from the Israel Defense Forces, which stated on Sunday night that Bluth would remain in his position. Under Israeli law, the defense minister cannot unilaterally remove a senior military commander.
“The minister emphasized that the IDF is acting in accordance with government policy, that Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth has not been dismissed, and that he supports and backs all IDF commanders and soldiers,” Katz’s office said following a meeting with leaders in Judea and Samaria.
Katz also insisted there was “no disagreement” between him and Bluth.
The controversy began after Katz criticized Bluth for reportedly seeking
to renew an administrative restraining order against a settler accused of involvement in a violent attack on a Palestinian village earlier this year. During a televised interview on Channel 14, Katz initially rejected a suggestion that Bluth should be fired but later appeared to announce that Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, would become the next Central Command chief.
The IDF quickly pushed back, saying no such appointment process had taken place.
According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was angered by Katz’s handling of the matter and demanded an explanation, with one report describing the prime minister as calling the episode “obscene behavior.” Both Katz’s office and the Prime Minister’s Office denied that such a conversation took place.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir also publicly backed Bluth, reportedly telling him during a General Staff meeting, “You have my full support. You’re not going anywhere.”
Bluth has commanded the IDF’s Central Command, which oversees military operations in Judea and Samaria, since July 2024. His tenure has drawn criticism from both ends of Israel’s political spectrum.
Despite the political storm, leaders of the Yesha Council, which represents Israeli settlements in the area, publicly praised Bluth’s leadership, calling him one of the most effective Central Command chiefs in recent years and crediting him with improving security in the region.
Katz has maintained that his remarks merely reflected his intention to eventually advance Bar Kalifa’s candidacy through the proper procedures, while the military continues to insist that no formal process to replace Bluth has been initiated.
Jewish MK to Run on Arab Slate
Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz is reportedly planning to run in the upcoming election on the electoral slate of Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am, becoming the party’s first Jewish candidate for Knesset.
The move would mark a landmark
shift for Ra’am, which has historically been an Arab Islamist party but has been pivoting recently to separate from its religious roots.
Segalovitz’s switch will also impact the ongoing debate over whether the bloc of Zionist parties opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should partner with Arab-led factions in its bid to oust the premier. Ra’am made history in 2021 when it joined an ideologically diverse coalition to briefly unseat Netanyahu, but some opposition politicians have ruled out including Arab parties in their coalition in the October 27 election.
Supposedly Segalovitz intends to take the No. 2 spot on Ra’am’s electoral list. That would make him very likely to return to the Knesset, given that the party consistently polls around five seats. He will also be the party’s preferred candidate to become the next national security minister should Ra’am join a governing coalition.
Earlier this year, Abbas announced that his Islamist party would become a broad-based party open to Jewish candidates, and this week told Haaretz that it was completing its process of separating from the religious council to which it is linked and establishing its own institutions.
The major shifts appear to be aimed at distancing the party from hardline Muslim organizations to boost its legitimacy among Zionist Israeli parties ahead of the October 27 election.
Segalovitz established the police Lahav 433 unit to fight serious crime and is a former commander of the police’s Investigations and Intelligence Division. As a Yesh Atid legislator, he served as deputy public security minister in the government that unseated Netanyahu from 2021-22. He won popularity among Israeli Arabs for his stewardship of a focused government task force that reduced violence in the community during his tenure.
Yesh Atid, Segalovitz’s current centrist party, has joined under the leadership of former prime minister Naftali Bennett to form the center-right “Together” slate.
Bennett has rejected Ra’am as a potential coalition partner, despite having led the 2021-2022 government that included it. He has said his next government would include only Zionist parties and that, following the
A GOOD DOSE OF FIBER
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Hamas-led October 7, 2023, invasion and massacre, Israel’s coalition should not depend on a non-Zionist party.
Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who polls show is Netanyahu’s chief competitor in the upcoming election, has said he would partner with any party that accepts three principles: Israel remaining a Jewish and democratic country, accepting the values of the Declaration of Independence, and supporting universal mandatory conscription or national service.
Tunnels in Lebanon
Destroyed
The Israeli military blew up a Hezbollah tunnel system beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon last week, using 700 tons of explosives to destroy the underground facility.
The demolition was planned for an earlier date but had been postponed due to the framework deal reached in June. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the destruction of the tunnel system was in response to Hezbollah’s “blatant” violation of the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, when it targeted an unmanned bulldozer with an explosive drone.
The tunnel, which journalists toured earlier this month, served as a “central part of the Hezbollah terror organization’s invasion plan against the Galilee communities,” the statement said.
“The State of Israel will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement. Any attempt by Hezbollah to harm IDF troops or Israeli civilians will be met with a severe and powerful response that will exact a heavy price from the terrorist organization,” Netanyahu and Katz said, adding that the IDF “will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and will continue to destroy all terror infrastructure to prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to restore its capabilities.”
The IDF in its own statement said it demolished “several key underground routes in the Beaufort Ridge area.”
“Over the past several weeks, IDF troops completed securing the Beaufort Ridge area, while taking control
of and clearing the underground infrastructure and preparing it for destruction,” the military said.
The military had already demolished a tunnel on July 13 that was part of the Beaufort Ridge area underground system. With the latest demolition, most of the tunnel network in the area has been destroyed.
The IDF is also still monitoring a massive Hezbollah tunnel system beneath the Ali Taher ridge, near Nabatieh, where dozens of terrorists are still believed to be holed up. However, because of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF has been prevented from capturing the underground passages beneath the ridge, though it has continued to operate in other parts of south Lebanon.
The June deal called for the Lebanese military to deploy in areas in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah had previously held a military presence and influence, paving the way for Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone it holds in the south. Technical teams from each side will meet from August 4 to 6 to focus on advancing the implementation of the framework agreement meant to lead to an eventual peace deal between Israel and Lebanon.
Deaths Linked to Cyclospora
Two people in Michigan have died after contracting cyclospora, marking the first confirmed U.S. deaths associated with the ongoing outbreak of the intestinal parasite, state health officials announced on Monday.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said both individuals had underlying medical conditions that may have been worsened by the illness and the severe dehydration it can cause. Officials did not release any additional information about the victims.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestines and causes an illness known as cyclosporiasis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
symptoms typically include prolonged watery diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. While the illness can be serious, especially for vulnerable individuals, deaths are considered extremely rare.
The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces. In past outbreaks, infections have often been traced to fresh fruits and vegetables irrigated with contaminated water. Cases are most common during the late spring and summer months.
The current outbreak has become one of the largest on record. Since May 1, the CDC has received reports of more than 4,100 confirmed cases and is investigating over 7,400 additional probable cases across 41 states. Health officials believe the true number of infections is likely much higher because many cases go unreported.
Investigators have linked nearly 2,000 illnesses to lettuce imported from Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants in nine states. As of late July, 1,947 cases had been connected to the contaminated lettuce, with at least 98 people requiring hospitalization.
The CDC cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional restaurants, retailers, food brands, or distribution channels could also be connected to the outbreak.
Although cyclosporiasis is less common than foodborne illnesses such as salmonella or E. coli, reported cases have increased significantly over the past decade. The previous record came in 2019, when approximately 4,700 cases were reported nationwide.
Health officials advise anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea lasting more than a few days to seek medical attention, particularly older adults and those with weakened immune systems or other underlying health conditions. Properly washing fresh produce and practicing good food safety can help reduce the risk of infection, though contaminated produce may not always be identifiable by appearance or taste.
NY Targets Kalshi
New York is accusing Kalshi of running an illegal gambling opera-
tion, becoming the latest state to file a lawsuit against the prediction market. According to its website, Kalshi is a federally regulated financial exchange that lets people trade on the outcomes of real-world future events
The complaint seeks to halt K alshi’s operations in New York, force it to pay restitution to consumers who made bets on the platform, forfeit its profits, and pay fines equal to three times the amount it has generated through its operations in the state.
In announcing the lawsuit, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James said Kalshi exposes state residents to financial and personal risk. The company, which is based in New York City, also allows people who are younger than the state’s legal gambling age of 21 to use its services, the suit notes.
“New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” James said in a statement. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, accusing Kalshi in a statement of ignoring the state’s gaming laws.
According to the lawsuit, the prediction market platform is not licensed with the New York State Gaming Commission “in any capacity.” The commission last fall ordered Kalshi to shut down what it called an “unlicensed mobile sports wagering platform” in the state.
Kalshi responded by suing the commission and its members in a legal action that remains pending.
In April, New York filed a similar lawsuit against prediction markets and cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase and Gemini, alleging that they facilitate illegal gambling.
The popularity of prediction markets has exploded since the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The combined monthly global trading volume on
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Kalshi and Polymarket has soared from less than $5 billion in September 2025 to about $24 billion as of April 2026, according to the Pew Research Center.
By comparison, Americans bet an average of $14 billion per month on legal sports betting sites.
Prediction markets say they differ from gambling operations because platform users trade against other consumers, similar to how stock markets work. Prices are based on trading, and platforms only take a fee from the trading, prediction markets say.
A Kalshi representative said that the company was recently in talks with New York officials about ways it could partner with the state.
“It’s sad to see this type of political theater from the leadership in our own state,” Kalshi spokeswoman Elisabeth Diana said in a statement. “States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange. This would also hurt New Yorkers, who would be driven offshore. We love New York, we love New Yorkers, and New Yorkers love our product.”
Fighter Jet Crashes
An F-35 fighter jet crashed at a military base in San Diego on July 31, authorities said, triggering a large emergency response.
The crash occurred at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and involved a F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, 1st Lt. Blake Starbuck, a spokesperson for the air base, said.
The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was later recovered, Starbuck said, adding that the pilot was “en route to a medical facility.” Later, the base said in a statement that the pilot was in stable condition and was being evaluated and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Starbuck described the crash as a “mishap” and said more information
will be released when available.
Videos from local television stations show plumes of smoke emanating from the jet as emergency responders arrived at the scene.
The F-35 is considered the most advanced warplane in the world. The Pentagon purchased jets in three styles: F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marines and F-35C for the Navy. The F-35B can take off and land vertically, similar to how a helicopter takes off and lands.
The crash was the latest involving an F-35 jet. In March, a U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed in Nevada; the pilot ejected safely and sustained only minor injuries. In July 2025, a pilot ejected after an F-35 crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California.
The F-35, manufactured by defense contractor Lockheed Martin, is the most expensive weapons system in the U.S. military arsenal. The Pentagon is projected to spend $1.7 trillion on nearly 2,500 F-35s, according to a G overnment Accountability Office report released in 2023. The program has been plagued by maintenance issues, delays and high costs.
DSA’s New Platform
On July 14, the Democratic Socialists of America unveiled a platform called “Workers Deserve More,” which includes economic policy proposals and a vision of overhauling the United States government.
“You have no debt. You don’t need health insurance,” the DSA website reads, listing proposals that include free healthcare and pre-K. “You don’t pay a mortgage or have a landlord, because comfortable housing is a human right.”
The platform has three parts: Thriving Working-Class Communities, Working-Class Foreign Policy, and Working-Class Democracy.
The third section, Working-Class Democracy, proposes voting rights for non-citizens (permanent residents) and convicted criminals. It also calls for statehood for Washington, D.C., and self-determination for U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam.
According to the platform’s vision, large corporations would become public, workers would be empowered to unionize, and “aggressive wealth taxes” would be implemented. Additionally, the platform proposes the abolition of the U.S. Senate, the expansion of the House of Representatives, and a transition from a two-party to “multi-party” system.
The DSA also says it wants to eliminate the Electoral College, give Congress the power to elect the president and Supreme Court, make all elections ranked-choice voting, and crack down on lobbyists and Super PACs.
The DSA, whose members include New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, has been slammed by members of the GOP as “communists” and crazies, with Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson referring to them as “barbarians.”
Roughly one-third of Democrats identify as democratic socialists.
Wildfires in Washington
Washington state is facing an oppressive wildfire season, which was triggered by extreme heat and drought. Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed, and 60,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources head, David Upthegrove, 15 major wildfires are raging across Washington.
“It’s not a normal season,” he said. “A confluence of weather conditions, a confluence of fires throughout the
west, are stretching our resources and challenging the individuals in this response.”
The northeastern city of Spokane has been hit by three fires – the Old Trails Fire, the Autumn Lane Fire, and the Fairview Fire – which triggered mass evacuations and rescue efforts, as 600 or more structures and more than 10,000 acres burned.
Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested on Monday afternoon in connection with the Old Trails Fire and is being held on a $1 million bond, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said. He was first seen by a witness on Saturday, kneeling near the site where the fire started, the sheriff said. Moments later, the witness saw smoke coming from the area and notified sheriff’s deputies. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter.
Last week, the National Weather Service declared a “particularly dangerous situation” red-flag alert for eastern Washington.
On Saturday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and requested assistance from the federal government. He also banned most burning in the state until the end of September.
“Our firefighters are already stretched thin across the state, and with more heat and wind expected this weekend and for the rest of the summer, any new spark on our tinder-dry landscapes can lead to another devastating wildfire,” Upthegrove said on Saturday.
This is Washington’s fourth consecutive statewide drought, according to Ferguson.
California Lettuce Harvest Skipped
Amid growing public concern over lettuce safety, farmers in California are skipping harvest, plowing some 300,000 pounds of the vegetable back
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into the ground or destroying the crops.
While lettuce is generally safe, the public has begun shying away from the crop, as cyclospora outbreaks pop up. One outbreak was linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell, leading the chain’s U.S. sales to fall by 25% late last month, according to Consumer Edge’s data. In late June to mid-July, fresh lettuce sales fell 8.7% in the U.S., which is a difference of over 7.6 million pounds, NielsenIQ reported.
One cyclospora outbreak stemmed from Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Usually, food-safety scares end within a few months. But some more serious cases, including the 2006 E. coli outbreak in spinach, could lower demand for years.
“The public health benefits of a diet grounded in fruits and vegetables are indisputable,” said Viraj Puri, the founder and chairman of the Brooklyn-based Gotham Greens. “I really hope consumers can get back to trust-
ing the fruits and vegetables they buy in stores, because they generally are safe.”
The lower demand for lettuce has also led to farm worker layoffs.
Pirro’s Pool Politics
President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing whether to remove Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after her office reversed course on a high-profile vandalism case involving the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
According to multiple reports,
Trump has privately expressed anger over his office’s decision to dismiss charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the recently renovated pool. Trump also publicly criticized Pirro during remarks in the Oval Office on Monday.
“Jeanine Pirro made a mistake. It was vandalism,” Trump asserted. “I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro… She folded like an umbrella. And people get away with things. It’s a disgrace.”
Trump reportedly told advisers he felt betrayed after Pirro’s office filed court documents on Friday stating that newly uncovered evidence showed the damage to the pool was caused by a faulty installation, not vandalism.
According to the filing, an inspection found damage throughout the reflecting pool, including areas that would have been difficult for a vandal to reach.
years. After serving as acting U.S. attorney, she was confirmed by the Senate and has overseen the nation’s largest U.S. attorney’s office.
Fatalities at In-N-Out
“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism,” prosecutors
The reflecting pool had been resurfaced as part of a $16 million renovation completed ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Soon after reopening, however, the new coating began peeling and algae blooms discolored the water, prompting questions about the quality of the
Trump has maintained for months that vandals were responsible for the damage, while acknowledging on Monday that he was “not 100% thrilled with the contractor,” who rushed to finish the project before
Pirro’s office had initially alleged there was “a violent effort to rip up the sealant from the bottom of the pool” and secured a felony indictment against Hearn, which carried a potential 10-year prison sentence. Three additional individuals were charged with misdemeanor offenses in con-
Following the new evidence, pros-
Pirro, a former judge and longtime Fox News host, has been one of Trump’s most loyal public allies for
At the newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, last Saturday afternoon, a 24-year-old man named Chad Williams entered with a gun in his hand and began shooting, killing three people and wounding seven others before killing himself. The assailant acted alone, according to the city’s police chief, Matthew Hicks.
A civilian and an off-duty state trooper worked to neutralize the attacker, returning fire. The civilian was identified as 35-year-old healthcare worker Jordan Salinas.
About them, Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said, “These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter and no doubt saved many lives.”
Salinas, a reported “healthcare worker, the full-time caregiver of his wheelchair-bound brother,” said that he took up gun training after a 2021 shooting – never even aiming a gun at an animal – saying he was able to “observe,” “orient” and “decide” that “OK, this is the guy,” he said before being resolute to “act.”
The gunman, he said, was shocked by the armed response.
“He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” said Salinas, whose girlfriend at the restaurant was stuck in Williams’ fire, adding he felt “no fear.”
“There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” he added, only standing down when he said police took over the scene, thinking, “OK, my part is done.”
The United States has seen 277 mass shootings this year, the Gun
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Violence Archive estimates. The archive considers an attack where four or more victims are shot to be a mass shooting.
One of the victims was Ashley Garibay, a 23-year-old In-N-Out employee, whose family launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for “laying her to rest in the most beautiful way.”
“Ashley was an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life. She was adventurous, outgoing, smart and driven, never letting obstacles get in her way,” her family said. “We are grateful for the In-N-Out Associates, first responders and those nearby who rushed to Ashley’s aid to comfort her in her final moments on earth.”
The names of the other victims have yet to be released “out of respect for their families,” local police said.
The assailant’s motives are unclear as of now, though investigators are reviewing evidence and working to determine the full picture. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Stop Drinking to Repair Your Brain
For some people, enjoying an alcoholic drink is part of social gatherings, celebrations, or winding down after a long day. But scientists say alcohol’s effects on the brain extend far beyond the temporary buzz, although the good news is that many of those changes may be reversible.
Researchers say alcohol alters the brain’s chemistry by triggering the release of endorphins, which activate the brain’s reward system and
create feelings of pleasure. At the same time, it slows brain activity, helping reduce stress and anxiety in the short term.
However, those effects don’t last.
“When the alcohol wears off, those stress systems come back with a vengeance,” noted George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Over time, repeated drinking can change both the structure and function of the brain. As tolerance develops, people often need more alcohol to achieve the same effect, while the brain’s reward system becomes less responsive.
“People stop drinking as much to feel good and start drinking more to feel less bad,” explained James MacKillop, an addiction researcher at McMaster University.
Studies have found that heavy alcohol use is associated with a loss of gray matter in regions responsible for memory, decision-making, emotions, and self-control. In severe, long-term cases, excessive drinking can contribute to alcohol-related dementia and permanent cognitive impairment.
Even moderate drinking appears to have an effect. Research involving more than 25,000 participants found that people consuming seven or more drinks per week tended to have smaller overall brain volume than lighter drinkers.
Fortunately, researchers say the brain has a remarkable ability to heal.
“The remarkable thing about the brain is that it is an incredibly plastic organ,” MacKillop said. “The brain is changed by alcohol, but it also can recover.”
A 2024 review found that people with alcohol use disorder who abstained from drinking experienced improvements in attention, memory, and executive functioning within six to 12 months. Brain imaging studies also showed increases in gray matter, with many of the most significant improvements occurring during the first month of sobriety.
Even cutting back—without eliminating alcohol entirely—has been linked to improvements in brain volume and overall cognitive health.
Sticking It Out
David Cifaldi set out before dawn on July 20 hoping to conquer Montana’s tallest peak. Instead, the experienced hiker ended up with a trekking pole driven through his body — and still managed to hike roughly 10 miles back to safety.
The 32-year-old wound care nurse was climbing Granite Peak with friends Jesse Ross and Brad Reich when he slipped on a rock about two to three miles from the 12,800-foot summit. At first, he thought he had simply lost one of his trekking poles.
“Then I rolled over,” Cifaldi recalled. “Oh. This thing is sticking out of me.”
The pole had pierced his left latissimus dorsi muscle beneath his armpit and exited through his back. Remarkably, he felt little pain, saw almost no bleeding, and was able to breathe normally.
Drawing on his medical training, Cifaldi quickly assessed the injury. One friend sent an SOS signal using a GPS communicator while the other photographed the wound so he could determine whether the pole had struck his lungs.
“I was pretty confident it was not in my chest or lung,” the intrepid hiker said.
Believing he could avoid a costly helicopter rescue, Cifaldi decided to hike out the mountain with his friends. Search-and-rescue crews remained on standby as the trio carefully descended the peak over the next six hours, navigating boulder fields and snow-covered sections of trail.
Despite the frightening situation, humor helped keep spirits high.
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“When we stopped halfway down for a snack, they started making shish kebab jokes,” Cifaldi said with a laugh. “By the end, they were calling me ‘Bob’ on the way out.”
By the time he reached medical care, the trekking pole had remained lodged inside him for about seven hours. After being transferred from a small local hospital to the Billings hospital where he works, doctors removed the pole under conscious sedation after imaging confirmed the extent of the injury.
“When I came back to, that was the first time I had pain,” he said.
Doctors ordered him to rest for a week before returning to work. Looking back, Cifaldi said the accident could easily have been fatal.
“Three centimeters further in and I’d be dead, or at least in grave peril,” he said.
His biggest lesson for fellow hikers is simple: always carry a reliable emergency communication device.
“I’m not an amateur hiker,” he said. “It was just a freak accident. Having a way to reach out to a search-and-rescue team made all the difference in the world.”
And make sure to walk softly and carry a big stick.
Hidden Treasure
A British couple renovating their centuries-old home got the surprise of a lifetime when a rusty paint can hidden beneath their cellar stairs turned out to contain more than £1,000 in cash.
Luisa and her husband, Dan, live in a home dating back to before 1900. While exploring their cellar, they discovered a bricked-up wall beneath the stairs and decided to investigate what might be hidden behind it.
Among piles of old coal and debris sat a corroded paint can that remained untouched for months because of its strong ammonia-like odor.
“We were nervous about opening it as it smelled like ammonia,” Luisa shared.
When the couple finally worked up the courage to pry the can open, they recorded the moment on TikTok. Instead of old paint or garbage, they found stacks of British banknotes dating back to the 1970s. The cash totaled more than £1,000 (about $1,300).
“None of us were expecting money inside,” Luisa said. “It was such a fantastic memory for the kids. They will remember it forever.”
The unexpected windfall came at the perfect time. Luisa, who was out of work, said the money helped the family catch up on bills and treat their children.
“It was nice to treat the kids a bit and catch up on any bills,” she said. “It took some stress off us for a few weeks.”
The TikTok video has attracted nearly 200,000 views, with viewers marveling at the discovery. Some joked that their own home renovations had uncovered far less exciting finds.
“And all we found in our new cellar were rat and squirrel skulls,” one commenter wrote.
Others pointed out that even older British banknotes featuring Queen Elizabeth II can often still be exchanged through the Bank of England, while some rare notes may be worth more than their face value to collectors.
The discovery is just the latest example of hidden treasures turning up in old homes. In another recent viral story, a woman searching the attic of her newly purchased house uncovered a carefully preserved vintage wedding dress. Unable to locate its original owner, she said she hopes to repurpose it as a reception dress or bridal robe for her own wedding.
You know what they say: one man’s trash is another one’s treasure.
Top Dog
Move over, K-9 officers, there’s a new four-legged hero in town.
A Southern California sheepdog is being celebrated as an honorary first responder after drone footage captured the hardworking pup helping police and firefighters during an emergency helicopter response in Laguna Beach.
The Laguna Beach Police Department shared video on Friday showing
emergency crews preparing a landing zone in the city’s foothills. While officers and firefighters handled the rescue operation, one unexpected volunteer decided to join the team: a fluffy white sheepdog with a clear sense of duty.
As a herd of goats wandered near the landing area, the sheepdog sprang into action, guiding the animals away from the helicopter’s path and up the hillside.
The drone footage shows the determined canine weaving behind the goats as they slowly moved to safety. Once the mission was complete, the pup trotted across the hillside with its tail wagging — looking every bit like a professional who had just finished a successful shift.
“The sheepdog stepped up and helped guide a group of goats out of the way so the units could work,” the Laguna Beach Police Department wrote on social media. “That’s a good boy.”
Officials did not release details about the emergency that required the helicopter response, but the sheepdog’s surprise contribution quickly became the highlight of the operation.
Social media users were quick to give the furry helper a promotion, jokingly naming him “Sgt. Sheepdog” and praising his calm handling of the situation.
Others pointed out that the pup had clearly been training for this moment all its life. After all, when the call came in, there was no hesitation — just a wagging tail, a herd to move, and a job to do.
The Laguna Beach Police Department seemed to agree with the internet’s verdict, offering the ultimate canine commendation: “That’s a good boy.”
Sometimes the best backup comes with four paws, a fluffy coat, and an instinct for keeping everyone moving in the right direction.
He’s clearly the top dog.
Surfing Dogs
Speaking of top dogs, these canines can really ride the waves.
On Saturday, dozens of dogs competed at the a nnual World Dog Surfing Championships as hundreds of spectators cheered – and barked – from the Northern California beach.
From small spaniels to large labs, the canine competitors were judged on factors including how long they could stay on their board, the size of the wave, and their confidence. In its 10th year, the contest in Pacifica, about 14 miles south of San Francisco, includes a pet adoption event and fundraising for local animal charities.
The dogs, sporting their colorful life vests, stood ready on their surfboards and were assisted by human participants, who spotted the best wave to carry the board to the beach.
Sophia Sadlowski first put her Miniature Pinscher, Rusty, on her surfboard to capture fun photos when he was just a puppy.
“And then ... he didn’t want to get off,” said Sadlowski, of Huntington Beach, California. “I walk over to the beach, and I put him on a wave, and he surfed it.”
Small-, medium- and large- sized dogs competed in heats and then the highest scoring dogs in each heat faced off for the top prize. The day also included tandem contests, where multiple dogs, as well as dogs and humans, shared the surfboard.
In first place for the small dog category was Bradley Cooper, who won a towel robe, a medal, and a placard. Iza won the medium category, while Rippin Rosie took home first place in the large and extra-large category.
The championship was cut short due to rough surfing conditions, with organizers deciding not to have the final “surf-off” round where winners of the size categories compete on the waves to win the ultimate, overall prize.
Nevertheless, the competition was “the most iconic event on the planet,” said U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose. “Fur” real.
Chasdei Lev’s
Sukkos Distribution Schedule 2026
Monsey
Sunday, August 30
Clover Stadium
1 Phil Tisi Way Pomona, NY 1:30pm – 6:00pm
Baltimore Sunday, August 30
Reisterstown Rd. Plaza (Behind Home Depot) 6564 Reisterstown Rd. Baltimore, MD 1:00pm - 4:00pm
3159 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 12:30pm - 5:00pm
Lakewood Tuesday, Sept. 1
First Energy Park (Blue Claws Stadium) 2 Stadium Way Lakewood, NJ 1:00pm – 6:00pm
South Florida Sunday, Sept. 6
Plantation High School
6901 NW 16th St. Plantation, FL 11:45am – 3:30pm
Far Rockaway Wednesday, Sept. 9
North Woodmere Park 750 Hungry Harbor Road Valley Stream, NY 5:00pm - 9:00pm
An Important Message From Wasserman & Lemberger: Soaring
Prices And Minimal Domestic Supply
Soaring beef prices and a shrinking domestic cattle herd are hitting the kosher beef market hard, and consumers expect to face shortages going into Yom Tov season.
Mr. Arie Benjamin, owner of Wasserman and Lemberger said his supplier just informed him that Salomon’s beef prices are going up 10 percent. That’s on top of a 30-percent hike during the past year and a half.
He said that other major brands have not yet said that they’ll be
raising prices, but they expect them to do as well.
There’s no American meat out there. There’s no cattle. This is going to be the hardest Yom Tov season for meat. People have to wake up early and have patience to get piece by piece, because there’s not going to be much American meat available.
The high price of beef, means that the treif companies are buying less as well. So kosher slaughterers can’t find enough treif companies to
purchase the (non- kosher) hindquarters from them.
Other major kosher meat companies right now are losing on every shechitah because they have to pay a premium on every cow slaughtered to cover the cost of the hindquarters, which they can’t sell.
While one might expect that rising cattle prices would incentivize breeders to raise more cattle, they say that in fact the opposite is true: When beef prices go up cattle breeders are content with making
the same income for less work and raising fewer cows.
Thank you for your understanding as we face these difficulties. Our strong suggestion to our customers to ensure availability , is to place your orders early and receive them as early as possible. The closer to Yom Tov the more difficult it will be to allow us to fill all orders with our usual top quality meats.
Doing means knocking on one more legislator’s door. Hearing “no.” And knocking again.
It means taking one more train to Albany. One more flight to Washington.
Walking one more hallway in City Hall.
It means standing before the podium, wondering if someone is listening. Speaking anyway, even when your voice shakes.
Doing means making one more case.
Placing one more phone call.
Crafting one more email.
Filing one more brief.
Reaching across the table.
Shaking one more hand.
Agreeing to disagree, with dignity. Doing means fighting battles most people will never know were fought.
Doing can be lonely. It can be exhausting. And honestly, lately, it feels like the work just keeps getting harder. The goalposts keep moving. The noise gets louder. The resistance gets stronger. But so does the need to keep doing.
Doing can be tough. It always has been. It may always be. But when the doing gets tough, the tough keep doing.
SEPTEMBER 7-8
Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide
Shacharis Mincha
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES
M-F: 6:15 AM, S-F: 6:30
AM, 9:45AM, 10:00AM
Neitz 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
6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH
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
Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor
Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln
Ner
Torah Thought
An Irresistible Love
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
The second tithe, ינש רשעמ — which we designate after first separating Terumah, which is given to a Kohen, as well as the first tithe ןושאר רשעמ, which is apportioned to a Levi — must either be consumed within the walls of sanctified Jerusalem or redeemed on coins that will used to purchase food to be eaten in Jerusalem.
The Torah in prohibiting it from being consumed outside of the sanctified city, uses a term that is not usually employed when stating a prohibition.
לכות אל — You ‘cannot’ eat the tithes… in all your settlements… only before G-d your Lord, in the place that G-d your Lord shall choose [Jerusalem].
Cannot?! Although we shouldn’t but as free-willed beings certainly we can!
Rashi quotes Rebbi Yehoshua Ben Korchah who famously taught התא לוכי — you can, but יאשר ךניא — you are not permitted.
The Sifrei adds that this intimation is found in the Book of Yehoshua where it describes how, ‘the Yevusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Yehuda, ולכי אל — could not drive them out’.
Evidently, as elucidated in Pirkei D’Rebbe Eliezer, Avraham when seeking to purchase Me’aras HaMachpela, he told the Yevusi — who were really Hittites, but were identified with the Yevusites, as the Hittites inhabited the city of Yevus [Yerushalayim] at that time — of his intention and they refused to sell it to him unless Avraham would make a pact with them never to drive them out of Jerusalem. Avraham agreed. It was only several hundreds of years later when King David acquired it from Aravnah the Yevusi, that it was fully repossessed into Jewish hands.
So, although in the days of Yehoshua they ‘could have’ physically
conquered it, nevertheless they were not permitted to. Thus, evidence for this term’s usage as indicating lacking permission rather than inability.
But why the need to utilize it if it doesn’t mean what it says?
Simply say they ‘should not’ rather than they ‘cannot’.
On the day the Torah was given, Moshe was summoned by G-d to the top of the mountain instructing him to, ‘descend, warn the people, lest they break through to G-d to see, and a multitude will fall.’
Moshe responds, לכוי אל — “The people ‘cannot’ ascend Mount Sinai, for you have warned us [three days prior] saying, ‘bound the mountain and sanctify it’.”
Once again, we are presented with the same dilemma, they ‘shouldn’t ascend’ — as they were formerly forewarned not to — but certainly if they choose to, they ‘could.’
Perhaps the intimation here is that there are moments of powerful revelation of G-d’s presence — such as on that day when they already heard the shofar, experiencing the thunder and lightning, viewing the heavy cloud, fire and smoke —that it simply precluded even the possibility of violating His will.
Moshe was rightfully stating ‘they couldn’t’!
Even when the Temple stood, although the sense of G-d’s presence was not as mightily on display as by Mount Sinai, the reality of His immanence to those who are mindful would inspire a sense of duty to His will that would make one unable to defy His word.
When the Torah summons one to Yerushalayim to pay tribute to G-d’s beneficence, in the form of one’s second tithe from his crops, with G-d’s
intention to inspire joyous service that inevitably results from spending time in the holy city of Jerusalem in proximity of enthused Kohanim and Levites — paradigms of ecstatic devotion to G-d, one simply ‘cannot’ even consider eating outside of Yerushalayim’s all-embracing walls. (.אכ בב"ב 'סות)
Avraham Avinu surprisingly acquiesced to the demands of the Hittites in promising them that in exchange for agreeing to sell him the Me’aras HaMachpela his descendants would not rout them of Yerushalayim without their consent.
When demanding that price, the Pirkei D’Rebbe Eliezer quotes them as having said to Avraham, “We know that the Holy One, blessed be He, will eventually give you and your descendants all of these lands. Swear to us that Israel will not take possession of the city of Yevus without the consent of the Yevusi.”
Clearly, Avraham understood that Yerushalayim can’t simply be had. One must earn the rights to its acquisition. It would take hundreds of years before the nation in their quest to discover and appreciate its exalted quality. They would undergo a process of purification making them worthy of walking on its hallowed ground. Only then will the nations of the world acquiesce that the Children of Israel are the true heirs of this invaluable piece of real estate, relinquishing it to them willingly, as indeed Aravnah the Yevusi agreed to transfer and sell it to King David.
Perhaps, Rashi by choosing to elaborate into the details of the pact between Avraham and the Hittites, in drawing us to the verse that says we ‘couldn’t’ conquer Jerusalem in the days of Yehoshua, was seeking to stimulate us to realize what we must do to regain it once again.
In our pining for the return of the Divine Presence in our midst — so that we may experience the glory of that intimate relationship with G-d — we must purify ourselves. It’s a love we simply ‘can’t’ expect unless we become worthy.
We are transitioning from the days and weeks of mourning we experienced in the months of Tammuz and Av, with the last imagery at the end of Kinnos,
that depicts us as ‘a הלותב — maiden girded in sackcloth [lamenting] for the husband of her youth’
A הלותב — a maiden, is one of the seventy names of Jerusalem.
The astrological sign for the month of Elul is a הלותב — a maiden.
A young maiden is suffused with purity and longing for genuine connection.
That is Yerushalayim. That is Elul.
G-d is nearby. We can access Yerushalayim and all its inspiration even as we reside in exile, during this special month.
But it takes effort and mindfulness.
We must display our loving devotion if we are to reunite with our ‘Suitor’.
I will never forget an image of this love I observed five years ago as I stood at the Kosel on Rosh Chodesh Elul.
As I was davening at the Kosel, I sat next to an elderly man who was disabled to a wheelchair. I noticed that despite his age and infirmity, he struggled on his own to stand up for kedusha, and when the Torah was brought in and out. He clearly was exempt, but evidently felt he must stand, nevertheless. I subsequently noticed that he was not just immobile without the wheelchair –– he only had one leg to stand on, the other was amputated at the knee without any prosthesis!
When you love someone so much, there are no impediments. It was not about obligation, only about a love so deep, where nothing ever stands in the way.
The yearning for that love must be so compelling that we simply ‘can’t’ hold back from repairing our errant ways and become worthy once again of that love.
If we succeed, no doubt G-d will reciprocate and take back His beloved maiden!
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
OVERVIEW PARSHA
In Moshe's second farewell address to the Jewish people, he begins by showing the people that they have a choice between a life of blessing and a life of curse, ch’v. Some of the highlights include: Mishkan Shiloh and the Bais HaMikdash, the holiness of the Jewish people, laws of forbidden foods, charity, holidays, and more.
Quotable Quote “ ”
“The sign of a great man is that the closer you get, the greater he seems.”
TSorahparks
Inspiration Everywhere
Parshas Re’eh
QUICK VORT
-Chofetz Chaim
GEMATRIA
T he numerical value of רשא םוקמה ר חבי (the place Hashem will choose), a phrase that appears many times in t he Parshah, is 913 ( ללוכה םע ). That i s the same value as the first word o f the Torah, תישארב . This connects b rilliantly with the first Rashi on the T orah, which tells us that if the n ations claim that we stole the land o f Israel, our response is “It belongs t o Hashem and He gave it to whom He desired!”
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of “Ready. Set. Grow.” “Dove Tales,” “Karpas: The Big Dipper,“ and “VEYIDGU: The Upstream Jew.”
His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He may be reached at rabbistrumo@gmail.com
W hat’s the problem with the Ra’ah bird? Why is it n ot Kosher? The Gemara in Chullin (63a) tells us:
– Rabbi Abbahu says. The Ra’ah is the Ayya, and w hy is it called the Ra’ah? Since it sees most v ividly.
T he commentaries explain (see for example M albim), the Ra’ah bird is קוחרמ
, it has keen e yesight and can see things from a great d istance. The Gemara tells us: האורו
, that it can stand in Bavel and s ee a carcass in Eretz Yisroel.
W e see two fascinating features about the Ra’ah b ird: it is רתויב האור (it sees what’s in the d istance) and it is הלבנ האור (it sees impurity).
P erhaps we can explain why this bird is not k osher. It’s true, the Ra’ah bird has a great power o f vision. However, it uses the power of האר , the p ower of vision, for negative/ra/impurity.
F irst of all, it sees what’s in the distance ( האור ר תויב ) – the Ra’ah bird takes notice on what’s out t here, failing to see what’s right here. He sees w hat’s ahead of him, instead of what’s in front of h im. He sees in the distance, not what’s up close. H e doesn’t live in the moment!
S econd of all, it sees impurity ( הלבנ האור ) – the R a’ah bird focuses on the לארשי ץראב הלבנ , on the c arcass in Eretz Yisroel. Imagine that! Think a bout the holiness of the Land. Think about the b eauty and grandeur of the Land. Think about t he Land that flows with milk and honey. Yet, the R a’ah bird only sees לארשי
, it sees a c arcass…
Pesukim - 126
Words - 1932 PARSHA STATS
Letters - 7442
Mitzvos - 55
ThoughtsChassidus in
The heiliga Bas Ayin teaches that a heretic (apikores) is someone that believes Hashem doesn’t dwell within him when he does the wrong thing!
The Torah tells us Banim Atem L’Hashem, we are children of Hashem. We paskin like the opinion of Rebbi Meir that “Bein Kach U’Bein Kach Nikrau Banim,” no matter what we do, we are still called children in the eyes of Hashem.
Remembering this can bring a person back on a path of Teshuva!
Did You
Know?!
The Parshah discusses the notion of VISION multiple times. The name of the Parshah is called Re’eh (האר), to see. The middle of the Parshah discusses the Ra’ah (האר) bird. The end of the Parshah says that we should not be SEEN (הארי) going up to the Bais HaMikdash empty handed.
PointsPonder to
L et us ensure we are living in the moment and s eeing goodness in others, the opposite of how t he Ra’ah bird lives!
The phrase רחבי רשא םוקמ is used in Parshas Re’eh 16 times. This “place of Hashems choosing” is referring to Yerushalayim. Why does Hashem not refer to this holy place, where the Bais HaMikdash was, by name? Why does the phrase appear 16 times?!
Scan the QR code to view Torah classes from R’ Ori Strum on Torah Anytime!
Delving into the Daf
Seizing the Spark Preserving Inspiration in Halacha and Life
By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow
In Maseches Chullin (95a), the Gemara transitions into a discussion regarding the prohibition against nichush (forbidden divination). The Gemara questions whether the Amora Rav engaged in an illicit form of divination when he suggested that an upcoming day would be auspicious simply because a ferry was immediately ready to transport him as soon as he reached the riverbank.
To clarify the boundaries of the prohibition, the Gemara identifies two classic Biblical archetypes of nichush:
-Eliezer, the servant of Avraham, when seeking a wife for Yitzchak. Eliezer declared that the girl chosen by Hashem would be the one who, when asked for water, would respond, “Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels.”
-Yonasan, son of King Shaul, when deciding whether to confront a Philistine outpost accompanied only by his armor-bearer (Shmuel I, Ch. 14). Yonasan declared that if the Philistines said, “Wait until we reach you,” they would stay put; but if they said, “Come up to us,” he would take it as a
divine sign to initiate the attack.
The Problem in the Pesukim
Tosfos raises an obvious question: If the Gemara classifies these two incidents as classic examples of forbidden divination, how could tzaddikim like Eliezer and Yonasan have relied on them?
Regarding Yonasan, Tosfos answers that Yonasan intended to attack regardless of the outcome. He established the sign solely to bolster the courage and confidence of his hesitant armor-bearer.
Regarding Eliezer, Tosfos initial explanation is that Eliezer was a Ben Noach, and non-Jews were not commanded against nichush. However, Tosfos notes an opinion in Sanhedrin maintaining that Bnei Noach are indeed prohibited from practicing divination. Therefore, Tosfos concludes that Eliezer could not have relied on the test as the sole determining factor in selecting Yitzchak’s bride.
Yet, this resolution seems to run counter to the plain text of the Torah. The pesukim state that Eliezer gave Rivka ex-
pensive bracelets before even inquiring about her lineage. How could he bestow these gifts without first verifying her family background, unless he relied entirely on his divination?
Tosfos answers that, in truth, Eliezer did ask Rivka who she was first to confirm her identity, giving her the bracelets only afterward. The Torah presents the events out of sequence due to the principle of ein mukdam u’meuchar baTorah (the Torah does not always relate events in strict chronological order).
This approach is directly supported later in the narrative: when Eliezer retells the story to Besuel and Lavan, he explicitly states that he asked for her identity before handing over the jewelry.
Unlocking Rashi: Preserving the Moment
Rashi in Chumash, however, takes a different path. He maintains that the events occurred exactly in the literal sequence written: Eliezer gave Rivka the bracelets immediately after she passed
the water test. The only reason Eliezer altered the order when speaking to Lavan and Besuel was out of diplomacy; he knew they would find it unbelievable that a stranger would bestow such valuable gifts before even asking for her family name.
While Rashi’s view does not necessarily contradict Tosfos, since Rashi may follow the opinion that Bnei Noach are permitted to practice nichush, it raises a powerful challenge articulated by the Gur Aryeh: Even if Eliezer was halachically permitted to rely on the sign, why didn’t he just ask Rivka who she was first to be entirely certain? Why hand over the bracelets immediately, only to be forced to change his story later to her family?
The Gur Aryeh explains that the bracelets carried deep spiritual symbolism (remez). Their total weight of ten shekels alluded to the Aseres Hadibros, and the two bracelets represented the two Luchos. Bestowing this gift was Eliezer’s personal tefillah that Rivka’s future descendants would merit receiving the Torah at Har Sinai.
At that moment, Eliezer was experiencing an extraordinary burst of spiritual elevation after witnessing clear hashgacha pratis. The Gur Aryeh reveals that Eliezer refused to pause and ask Rivka for her name because he did not want to disrupt that intense moment of inspiration. He wanted his tefillah and symbolic act to be executed while his spiritual clarity was at its absolute peak.
Reflecting on this, HaGaon HaRav Henoch Leibowitz, zt”l, observed how fleeting inspiration can be. Every passing moment carries the risk that enthusiasm will cool. Eliezer refused to wait even a few seconds, recognizing the imperative to strike while the spiritual iron was hot.
Preserving the Flame:
Lessons from Palti ben Layish
This poses a practical question for us: What should a person do if they cannot act upon a moment of inspiration immediately? How can spiritual enthusiasm be preserved over time?
A profound answer is found in Maseches Sanhedrin (19b–20a) in the story of Michal, daughter of Shaul HaMelech, and Palti ben Layish.
King Shaul had initially promised his daughter Michal to Dovid HaMelech in
exchange for defeating the Philistines. After Dovid fulfilled the condition, Shaul rescinded the offer due to an ongoing political and halachic dispute, giving Michal instead to Palti ben Layish. Although Shaul held that the marriage to Dovid was invalid, the halacha ultimately follows Dovid, meaning Michal remained Dovid’s lawful wife throughout.
Palti ben Layish found himself in an agonizing position. The king, who was
the utmost respect, warmth, and dignity expected of a husband, while maintaining absolute self-control regarding intimacy.
How did Palti sustain such heroic resolve day after day, year after year, without letting his initial conviction fade?
The Gemara reveals his secret: On the very first night Michal entered his home, Palti placed a sword between them to maintain a “partition,” declaring that
Every passing moment carries the risk that enthusiasm will cool.
also the gadol hador, insisted that Michal was Palti’s rightful wife and mandated that they dwell together in the same house. Yet, deep down, Palti knew she was halachically bound to Dovid.
For years, Palti had to maintain his moral conviction against immense pressure, authority, and internal temptation.
As the Maharsha notes, Palti did not resolve the tension by treating Michal with coldness or disdain; he treated her with
anyone who violated the sacred boundaries of marriage should be pierced by that blade.
By creating a clear, physical, and daily visual reminder of his initial boundary, Palti anchored his commitment. That tangible sign sustained his spiritual integrity through more than seven long years, until Michal was safely returned to Dovid and Palti’s righteousness was universally acclaimed.
Practical Application
The lessons of Eliezer and Palti ben Layish provide a dual roadmap for spiritual growth.
Act Immediately: When a spark of inspiration strikes, whether a desire to learn more Torah, give tzedakah, or improve a character trait, harness Eliezer’s agility and take an immediate concrete step before the feeling fades.
Anchor the Moment : When longterm endurance is required, follow Palti ben Layish’s strategy. When making a kabbalah during an elevated moment, set up a physical or structural reminder, a note on your desk, a daily phone alarm, or a visual signpost.
By anchoring our elevated moments into physical reality, we ensure that a single moment of inspiration can transform into a lifelong commitment.
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.
My Choice Tech Triumphs
As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
I’m a chilled girl in high school. Many of my friends have smartphones, and it would be normal for me to have one too. I definitely have a pull to get one and be on all the chats and share clips.
My parents are okay with me getting a smartphone, but the resistant one is me. I watch a lot of my friends and the adults around me, seemingly chained to their phones. When we hang out, many of my friends are constantly checking their phones, and it looks like they can’t control it.
I want to be present when I am with people I like to be around. My choice is to zone in and not zone out.
So, for the moment, I am sticking with a boring flip phone so I can be
my own person and not be controlled by my phone. We’ll see how long I can hold out. Wish me luck!
TECH TIPS:
In one home, there can be many different users of the family computer, all with different internet needs and safeguards. Both adults and children may be using the same desktop or laptop computer, but what children need to, and should be allowed to access, is generally much more limited than what the parents require for shopping or work-related tasks.
The filters recommended by TAG are highly customizable, and part of that customization is the ability to control what each user of the same
computer can access. A common setup is to have the laptop, when first turned on, open to the default user, such as the younger children in the house. You can set it so they can only access email, Google Photos, and Google Drive—just the things they may need for schoolwork or to share pictures with their friends. You can even set that default user to have no internet access at all, making the laptop safe for typing up a school assignment or playing a game that doesn’t require the internet.
Then, when the parents, or an older sibling taking college courses, go to use the laptop, they can sign into their own settings and have access to educational websites, shopping websites, or anything else they need.
On a Microsoft Windows PC, you can even set up multiple Windows user accounts so that when each person logs into their Windows account, their customized filter settings are automatically applied. This makes for a much smoother, more seamless experience with less confusion. It also eliminates the worry that you forgot to log out of your more open settings before handing the computer over to a child with stricter user settings.
With these customizations, families can confidently share a single computer while ensuring that every user has access only to what they need. It’s a practical way to make technology work for the whole family without compromising on safety.
Ihave always been fascinated by how different people view the same situation. Lately, however, I have been struggling with something that, after speaking with other parents, I realize I am far from alone in feeling.
To be clear, this is not meant as a complaint. I am genuinely trying to understand why things are structured the way they are.
Like many families today, my wife and I both work full-time—often more than 40 hours a week—not to fund lavish vacations or major home renovations but simply to keep up with the cost of living. We work through the summer as well. Yet increasingly, it feels as though our children are hardly ever in school, and we are constantly scrambling to find coverage, rearrange schedules, or take time off from work.
What I struggle to understand is how school calendars continue to operate as though most households have a stay-athome parent available. We pay substantial tuition—often between $15,000 and $30,000 per child annually—yet there seem to be endless days off, early dismissals, and irregular schedules that create
Voice N tes
The Working Parent’s Summer Dilemma
real challenges for working families.
The situation becomes even more difficult at the end of the school year. During June, older students often have exam schedules that leave them attending school for only brief periods each day, creating an environment that is neither particularly productive nor conducive to serious studying. At the same time, younger siblings are frequently dismissed for the summer weeks before camps begin.
Why does a three-year-old need to finish school in the middle of June? If camps do not start for another two weeks, what are working parents expected to do during that gap?
The challenges do not end there. September, particularly in years when the Yamim Tovim fall early, can be just as difficult. Families are paying full tuition for a month that is often fragmented by holidays, shortened schedules, and frequent days off. This coming year, many working parents are already looking ahead and wondering how they will manage. While the importance of yom tov is unquestionable, employers generally do not structure their schedules
around the Jewish calendar, leaving parents to once again juggle childcare, vacation days, and work obligations with little practical support.
I also question the registration system that many schools use. Families are often required to pay large registration fees months in advance. If the goal is simply to ensure that parents remain committed to returning the following year, why not apply those funds toward the final tuition payment of the current year, similar to how a security deposit is handled for a home or apartment? Such an approach would provide families with some much-needed breathing room during an already expensive time of year.
I recognize that schools face financial realities and operational challenges. However, I believe it is fair to ask whether the current system adequately reflects the realities facing today’s working families. If both parents are expected to work in order to afford tuition and household expenses, should school schedules not take those realities into greater consideration?
That is unfortunate, because respectful questions should not be mistaken for criticism. Parents and schools ultimately want the same thing: a strong educational environment for our children. Open discussion about the practical challenges facing working families should be welcomed as part of that partnership, not avoided because of fear of how it might be perceived.
I do not claim to have all the answers. I am simply asking a question that many parents seem to be asking: How can schools better support working families while maintaining their educational and religious priorities? Is there a better way?
Please feel free to email me at fivetownercomment@gmail.com.
One reason these conversations rarely happen openly is that many parents are reluctant to raise them. In closeknit school communities, there is often a concern that asking difficult questions may lead to being viewed as complainers or problem parents. Whether that concern is warranted or not, the result is the same: many families quietly share these frustrations among themselves but hesitate to voice them publicly.
To Raise a Laugh
I Sawed The Instructions
So I recently learned how to use a chainsaw. Who says you can’t learn new things as an adult?
I had to do it as an adult. This isn’t something they taught me in school. Though I guess other people go to different schools, so I don’t know what they learn. There might be some school somewhere where they give a bunch of teenage boys chainsaws. That’s Day One:
“What did you do to your desk?”
“Oops.”
“I haven’t even finished giving out the chainsaws!”
You’d think, “It’s a chainsaw. How much is there to learn? Just don’t juggle them.” Ours plugs in anyway, so it would be hard to juggle.
My wife is the one who bought it. It was her idea. She bought it because the bushes in front of our house have gotten too big, and we can’t see out the window anymore, and the branches are too thick to just trim.
So we discussed possibly cutting down the bushes and starting over, and the next thing I know, my wife came home with a chainsaw that is literally the scariest thing we have in our house.
I’m thinking of getting one for fleishigs.
She got the kind with a cord, so we can cut whatever we want that is six inches from an outlet. It’s a safety feature. Another safety feature is that you can never accidentally cut the cord, because it’s six inches long. At best, you can cut the extension cord.
Sure, we could have gotten a cordless saw, but we figured that corded is fine, because
1. It’s not like we’re running with it,
2. There’s no way we’re showing up at the gas station with a chainsaw, and
3. We keep losing our cordless phones.
There are actually a lot of safety features on this thing. I was initially scared to get a chainsaw, what with all the kids running around, but once we got one, I saw that they’re actually very safe. In fact, in the 23-page instruction manual, 16 pages are devoted to safety alone. That’s how safe they are. There are hand guards and sneeze guards and dead man’s switches, rachmanah litzlan, and even a little plastic sheath for the blade that you know will not do a thing if you turn it on by accident.
And in fact, the first thing my wife said when we opened it was that we both had to read the instructions. She was lucky that I hadn’t already cut the instructions in half
Who has time to sit around and read the manual? I want to get out and cut stuff.
“What kinds of stuff?”
“Fine, I’ll read the manual.”
Because that’s one difference between men and women when it comes to these things. My wife bought the chainsaw to cut something very specific, but once I was holding it, I was kind of like one of those guys who gets a new screwdriver and then walks around the entire house looking for things to tighten. My plan was to cut a garbage can in half. And maybe make a Tisha B’Av chair.
But then I realized that the last thing I wanted to do was try to cut something that would ruin the chain before we even got to cutting bushes. So I found the time to read the instructions. I ended up reading them in the waiting room of my kids’ dentist’s office, because who knew how long I was going to be there. Like the dentist’s office isn’t scary enough for these kids, there’s also a psycho reading a chainsaw manual.
But there’s also something to be said for learning by doing, although I don’t know if that statement was created for chainsaws. And what I learned by doing is that despite all the safety precautions, a chainsaw is a very scary device, and nothing can stand in its way except bushes. I say this because the bushes I was cutting kept making the chain get stuck.
By Mordechai Schmutter
So we’d spend about ten seconds cutting and then ten minutes pulling branches out of the chain. But to be fair, what we cut in ten seconds would have taken us ten minutes with the garden shears. So it evened out.
Another thing that I learned by doing (and this was not in the manual) is that because of the placement of the handles, it’s actually a righty’s chainsaw. Which doesn’t mean that I (as a lefty) can’t use it; it just means that I can’t use it accurately. But who cares? We’re getting rid of the whole set of bushes, right?
That’s another difference between men and women: When my wife used the saw that first time, she was delicately shaping the bush smaller and smaller. When I did it, I basically hacked large chunks off, trying to get through to the trunk.
“What are you doing? We decided we’re not cutting it down all the way!” she said, when I was done my turn.
“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t hear you over the chainsaw.”
So right now, thanks to our hacking, the bushes look like they just got a haircut for the Three Weeks.
For now, we’ve been keeping the chainsaw near our front door, I guess in case the bushes grow really big all of a sudden, seeking revenge. Though maybe we should keep it there all the time, for protection. You know how there’s all this controversy about whether you should have a gun in your house? I say that you should have a chainsaw. Keep it next to your bed. If someone breaks into your house and he hears you firing up a chainsaw, he is not coming back.
“Hey, where are you going! The chainsaw’s corded!”
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.
Israel Today
A Cornerstone Laid a Century Late
The Jewish Agency’s claim that “pluralistic Judaism”
was a
founding pillar of Zionism fails every test
— historical, religious, and institutional.
By Rabbi Pesach Lerner
At its recent Board of Governors gathering (June 2026), the Jewish Agency for Israel issued a statement declaring that “a diverse, pluralistic and tolerant Judaism has been and remains one of the cornerstones of Zionism.”
It is a pleasing sentiment. It is also untrue — provably so, from the movement’s own founding documents. The cornerstone of Zionism was never a theology. It was peoplehood. Theodor Herzl built the movement on a single premise, stated plainly in Der Judenstaat: “We are a people — one people.”
Precisely because the Jews of 1897 could not agree on Judaism, Herzl’s achievement was to set religion aside as the basis of the enterprise. Would the Jewish state be a theocracy? “No, indeed... We shall keep our priests within the confines of their temples in the same way as we shall keep our professional army within the confines of their bar -
racks.” Religion — in every form — was to be respected and contained, not enthroned as a founding value.
Herzl’s oft-quoted promise that “every man will be as free and undisturbed in his faith or his disbelief, as he is in his nationality” was a pledge of civic liberty extended to all future citizens, Jew and non-Jew alike. It was freedom of conscience — not a declaration that competing denominations constitute Zionism’s foundation. To read it otherwise is to confuse a civil right with a religious ideology.
History is even less kind to the Agency’s formulation. The movements that today carry the banner of “pluralistic Judaism” were not Zionism’s cornerstone; they were among its most determined opponents.
The Reform movement’s Pittsburgh Platform of 1885 declared: “We consider ourselves no longer a nation, but a religious community, and therefore expect neither a return to Palestine...”
In July 1897 — weeks before the First Zionist Congress convened in Basel — the Central Conference of American Rabbis resolved its total disapproval of any attempt to establish a Jewish state. In 1942, Reform rabbis founded the American Council for Judaism for the express purpose of fighting Zionism. The Reform movement entered the World Zionist Organization only in the late 1970s and fully reconciled with Zionism only in its 1997 Miami Platform. A cornerstone cannot be laid one hundred years after the foundation — least of all by those who opposed the construction.
The Conservative movement fares a little better, in this history — yet its record, too, refutes the Agency’s claim.
Solomon Schechter, the architect of American Conservative Judaism, endorsed Zionism in 1906 — but as a bulwark against assimilation and an ally of traditional Judaism, not as a war -
rant for pluralism. He did so over the public objections of his own seminary’s patrons, and his successor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Cyrus Adler, remained a committed non-Zionist. Institutionally, the movement joined the World Zionist Organization only with the founding of Mercaz in 1976. Where early Conservative Zionism existed, it was an argument from peoplehood and tradition — which is precisely our point.
The Jewish Agency’s statement also invoked the Kotel, the Western Wall. For the sake of historical integrity and honesty, we refer readers to the Memorandum on the Western Wall, submitted in 1930 to the Special Commission of the League of Nations on behalf of the Jewish Agency for Palestine — the direct precursor of today’s Jewish Agency for Israel, written by the same Cyrus Adler, Ph.D., D.H.L., then president of the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In the
section titled “Action Requested,” Adler wrote: “We now come to the request that we will make to your honorable body on behalf of the Jewish Agency: That you give recognition to the immemorial claim that the Kotel Maaravi is a Holy Place to the Jews; that they should have the right of access to it for prayers to be conducted in accordance with their ritual in a decent and dignified manner; that the regulation of such services shall be under the direction of the Rabbinate in Jerusalem, who shall assume responsibility therefor.”
Such is all that is requested now — that which the president of the Conservative movement’s own seminary, writing for the Jewish Agency itself, requested then.
What, then, was the movement’s actual founding arrangement on religion?
The Basel Program of 1897 contains not a single word of religious law. When
Congress in which Mizrachi and Poalei Zion (a movement of Marxist Zionist Jewish workers) sat together did not thereby declare all Judaisms equally valid; it declared the Jewish people indivisible. Herzl’s Altneuland preached civic tolerance — its villain is the demagogue who would deny others a share in the commonwealth — but tolerance among citizens is not “pluralistic Judaism” as a creed. Both partners to the founding compact, the secular majority and the religious Zionists, would have rejected such a creed. It would have shattered the coalition from either side.
Why does this matter? Because the Jewish Agency is a national institution, entrusted with the heritage of the entire Jewish people.
The Jewish Agency is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world, serving as the primary link between the State of Israel and Jewish
That foundation is broad enough for every Jew who ever prayed, in any accent, “Next year in Jerusalem.”
the question arose, the Second Zionist Congress in 1898 resolved that Zionism would undertake nothing contrary to the precepts of the Jewish religion — a pledge of deference to traditional Judaism, offered to keep Orthodox Jewry within the tent.
The paper trail settles the matter. Language about “mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people” entered the movement’s platform only in the 2004 Jerusalem Program. It appears nowhere in 1897, and nowhere in the 1951 revision. The Zionist movement’s own constitutional documents date the concept — and refute the words “has been.” And, let us be brutally honest, a politically (and financially) motivated phrase added to the World Zionist Organization Jerusalem Program, by a small group of delegates, does not redefine Zionism.
Some will object that Zionism was always a big tent, and that is true: the World Zionist Organization has housed secular, religious, socialist, and Revisionist factions for well over a century. But coalition politics is not theology. A
communities globally. It is responsible for facilitating Aliyah, managing global shlichut programs, and strengthening Jewish identity. The organization is funded by global philanthropic efforts, including the Jewish Federations of North America, KKL/JNF, Keren HaYesod, and the Israeli government.
When it converts a contested contemporary agenda into a founding principle, it does not honor history — it rewrites it. Religious pluralism is a position some hold; but they cannot smuggle it into Basel.
Zionism’s cornerstone was, and remains, Klal Yisrael — the unity of one people. That foundation is broad enough for every Jew who ever prayed, in any accent, “Next year in Jerusalem.” It requires no retroactive renovation.
Rabbi Pesach Lerner is Chairman of Eretz HaKodesh, a slate representing Torah Jewry in the World Zionist Congress/ Organization, and serves on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Camp On The Go: A Kiddush Hashem on the Road Living Kiddush Hashem
By Rabbi Shraga Freedman
This summer the boys of “Camp on the Go”, a Baltimore day camp led by Rabbi Yirmiyahu Lauer, were traveling through Virginia. As their van made its way down a busy road, dark storm clouds had already begun to leave their mark.
Suddenly, traffic came to a standstill.
Just a few cars ahead of them, a massive tree had crashed onto a vehicle. It appeared to have happened only moments earlier. Baruch Hashem, the occupants of the car were unharmed, but enormous branches now covered the roadway, making it completely impassable.
To make matters worse, a work van trying to maneuver around the fallen tree became stuck in the mud, blocking the road even further. Within minutes, dozens
of vehicles were trapped behind them, with no emergency crews yet in sight.
The seventh and eighth grade boys in Eli Lauer’s van looked at one another.
“We have to help.”
Without hesitation, they piled out of the van.
As it turned out, the stranded work van belonged to a contractor who had chainsaws in the back. While he began cutting through the heavy branches, the boys began dragging limb after limb off the roadway. They worked tirelessly, clearing the debris piece by piece until cars could finally begin moving again.
Drivers were incredibly appreciative, it could have been hours before crews came to clear the way.
Their actions even caught the attention of local television. A crew from WUSA 9 arrived and featured the story on their news report of the storm. During the interview, one of the eighth-grade boys was asked why they had jumped in to help.
His answer was simple.
“This is unity. This is achdus. We all just wanted to help.”
Rabbi Lauer shared with me another Kiddush Hashem story while the camp was visiting Fun Land in Virginia. Rabbi Lauer was approached by a non religious Jewish woman he had never met.
She introduced herself and told him that her 12-year-old son had been spending time around the Camp on the Go boys throughout the park. She had watched as they helped him out while waiting in line for the gokarts, and made sure he never felt left out.
“My son is having the best time with your boys,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Then she asked a question Rabbi Lauer never expected:
“Is there any way my son could come to your camp?”
Whether lifting heavy branches from a highway or extending a hand of friendship to another Jewish child, they demonstrated that achdus is not just a slogan. It is something we live—through kindness, responsibility, and caring for people we may have never met before.
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.
Forgotten Her es Clark’s Revolutionary War Expedition
By Avi Heiligman
While many of the pivotal battles during the Revolutionary War took place in the colonies, there were other military campaigns that were waged outside the thirteen colonies. Clashes with the British and Native Americans stretched to the Gulf Coast as well as through Tennessee, Mississippi, and further west. Most of these skirmishes were fought by frontiersmen trying to defend their homes and towns. However, the conflict also saw an official military expedition into the Northwest Territories to secure key strongholds from the British. The commanding officer of this daring western campaign was the older brother of William Clark, who, alongside Meriwether Lewis, would become famous on their historic journey across the continent that began in 1804.
The Clarks were a deeply patriotic family from Virginia with five of the six boys serving as officers in the Revolutionary War. William was too young to serve in the conflict but later joined the Kentucky and Louisiana militias as well as the regular army, eventually becoming the most famous of the brothers. The oldest in the family, Colonel Jonathan Clark, served with distinction during the revolution. However, it was the second-oldest brother, George Rogers Clark, who looked westward during the war and saw that British dominance outside of the colonies needed to be broken.
George Rogers Clark went to Kentucky in 1775, which at that point consisted of
only a few scattered frontier settlements. The British were using their Native American allies to attack the settlers, and in 1776, Clark was sent back to Virginia to convince Governor Patrick Henry to provide ammunition and support for self-defense. A year later, these raids escalated. The frontiersmen sent two spies to scout the British forts, and they reported that the garrisons at Kaskaskia and Vincennes in the Illinois Country could easily be taken. Clark knew that Washington could not spare any soldiers for the defense of Kentucky, so he decided to take action himself. With the permission of Governor Henry, Clark was given the tasks of defending Kentucky and to raise a unit to attack the enemy forts.
By the spring of 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark was only able to put together a force of about 150 men. They set out down the Ohio River from their staging area in Pennsylvania and reached Corn Island, near modern day Louisville, where Clark told his men of the upcoming mission. On June 24, they experienced a total solar eclipse as they continued down the Ohio River. They then undertook a grueling 120mile overland trek to reach the abandoned French post of Fort Massac in Illinois. This fort would later be rebuilt in 1794 and was used as a stopping point by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in late 1803.
George Rogers Clark had about 175 men when he marched on Kaskaskia. On July 4 –exactly two years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence – Clark’s men
captured the outpost in the dark without firing a single shot. The next day, Captain Joseph Bowman, Clark’s second-in-command, captured the fort at Cahokia without opposition. The local French population sided with the Americans upon learning of the new Franco-American alliance. Several other towns in the vicinity surrendered to Clark, including the garrison at Vincennes. Clark spent much of the remainder of the year negotiating peace agreements with local Native American tribes.
The British were not content with Clark capturing the area without a fight. In December 1778, Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton led a combined force of British regulars, Canadian volunteers, and Native American allies to retake Fort Sackville at Vincennes. Hamilton intended to launch a spring campaign to recapture the remaining outposts, but Clark preempted the plan. In February 1779, Clark led his men on an arduous winter march back to Vincennes and caught the British garrison by surprise. Instead of a direct assault, Clark besieged Fort Sackville until Hamilton surrendered on February 25. Hamilton’s capture provided a major boost to American morale and secured military control over the Northwest Territory that was formally recognized in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
Clark had other military successes during the Revolutionary War, including taking command of a local Virginia militia to fight against a detachment from turncoat Benedict Arnold’s force.
The success of Clark’s expedition hinged on getting resupplied and being financed throughout his journey. Bernard and Michael Gratz, two Jewish brothers from Philadelphia, had trading posts along the Ohio River and were vital in replenishing Clark with supplies, ammunition, and goods. Oliver Pollock, who was not Jewish, bankrolled Clark’s expedition and during this time was credited with inventing the U.S. dollar sign ($).The story goes that while using Spanish pesos to finance the American war effort, he abbreviated “pesos” as “ps.” As he wrote quickly, he ran the letters together, placing the “s” over the “p” until the loops of the “p” merged into a single vertical stroke. His ledgers were shared with top financial officials like Robert Morris, and the symbol eventually became an official part of American currency. While the main story of the Revolutionary War and its battles is well known, the smaller conflicts and the men who fought and supported them have been relegated to the back pages of history books. Clark’s expedition opened the Midwest for American expansion and was vital in driving the British out of the region. These Forgotten Heroes paved the way for future states to join the United States, leaving behind a legacy that deserves to be remembered.
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
Hamilton surrendering to Clark at Fort Sackville
On the final push to Vincennes to capture Fort Sackville, Clark and his men encountered a chest-high floodplain
George Rogers Clark
TJH Centerfold
National Park Trivia
1. Which national park is home to the Grand Canyon? (It’s the summer; we want to start you off light.)
a. Bryce Canyon
b. Canyonlands
c. Grand Canyon National Park
d. Scottsdale National Park
2. Which was the first national park in the United States?
a. Yosemite National Park
b. Yellowstone National Park
c. Grand Canyon National Park
d. Glacier National Park
3. Rising nearly a mile above the valley floor, Half Dome is one of the most famous rock formations in the world. In which U.S. national park can you find it?
a. Yosemite
b. Sequoia
c. Zion
d. Joshua Tree
4. Which national park receives the most visitors each year (approximately 12 million visitors per year)?
a. Yellowstone
b. Great Smoky Mountains
c. Grand Canyon
d. Yosemite
5. How many U.S. National Parks are there in the U.S.?
a. 14
b. 38
c. 63
d. 217
6. The world’s tallest tree, Hyperion, stands nearly 380 feet tall. In which U.S. national park can it be found?
a. Redwood National Park
b. Sequoia National Park
c. Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
d. Yellowstone National Park
7. El Capitan rises nearly 3,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, making it one of the tallest sheer granite cliffs in the world. Why did Alex Honnold make history when he climbed it in 2017?
a. He climbed it barefoot.
b. He became the first person to climb it without ropes or a safety harness.
c. He climbed it at night.
d. He climbed it in under three hours.
8. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park in Alaska is the largest national park in the United States. Approximately how large is it?
a. 520 thousand acres
b. 5 million acres
c. 8 million acres
d. 13 million acres
Answers:
Wisdom Key:
7-8 correct: You are the only frum person who actually has a moose’s head on your dining room wall. (Those poor dead eyes wishing it could attack the cholent!)
3-6 correct: Not exactly a park ranger, but not bad.
0-2 correct: You probably have never even been to Cedarhurst National Park.
Signs That You are Spending Too Much Time at National Parks
You judge traffic by how many bison are holding it up.
You wave at every park ranger like they’re family.
You think Wi-Fi is overrated but waterfalls aren’t.
You call a 10-mile hike “stretching your legs.”
You won’t stay anywhere with fewer than four stars...in the sky.
You refer to squirrels as “the little guys.”
You stop your car every time you see an interesting rock.
When you ask Waze for directions to a national park, it responds: “Seriously...again?”
Your camera has 3,000 photos… and somehow, they’re all trees.
You check for bears before taking out the garbage.
You refer to a 500-foot climb as “mostly flat.”
You think “crowded” means seeing six people on a trail.
You judge people’s hiking boots before saying hello.
You wonder why your neighborhood doesn’t have a visitor center.
You start referring to home as “base camp.”
Riddle Me This
What did the dad say after dropping his son off at Yellowstone National Park?
You Gotta Be Kidding Me!
I booked a trip to visit the Cherokee in Oklahoma this summer, but am having second thoughts...I’m having a reservation reservation reservation.
Answer to riddle: Bison!
Notable Quotes
“Say
What?!”
What happens is when governments start making mistakes and doing things that people don’t like and that hurt people’s prospects for getting ahead, upsetting society, they blame it on capitalism. They blame it on free markets. So they help wreck free markets and then say, “The victim is the cause of it.”
- Steve Forbes, Fox News
One thing that the left has learned is that you try to occupy the high moral ground. Even if you wreck people’s lives, kill millions of people under socialism, communism, your intentions were good.
- ibid.
Iran has avoided striking Israel during the most recent 10 days of combat as it fears the response of the Israeli Defense Forces. That is deterrence restored. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is afraid to strike the Jewish State.
- Hugh Hewitt, Fox News
The economy of Iran is in a shambles with the exchange rate of Iranian rials for U.S. dollars approaching 2 million to one.
- ibid.
I wasn’t going to let go of that kid. He was going to drown, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.
- 16-year-old rookie lifeguard Ryder Williams, who heroically fought off wild Pacific Ocean waves to save a drowning 10-yearold, talking about his heroic actions after being invited to the White House
Press is going wild with me.
- An entry from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s March 2020 diaries, reflecting on his newfound fame upon being the face of the U.S.’s covid response
Very flattering. The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable. It is not hyoperbole [sic] to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson [sic] in the world.
- ibid.
Countless profiles on me in multiple media. I cannot even read all the things that are written abuyt [sic] me since I am so busy….seriously. POTUS seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him. We are developing a very unique and interesting relationship.
- ibid.
Under the advice of counsel, I plead the 5th Amendment.
- What Dr. Fauci said 111 times last week when he finally appeared at Congressional Hearing about the fact that Covid originated in a Wuhan lab that his department funded, refusing to answer any questions even though he was already given a full pardon by Joe Biden in 2020
Money won’t matter in 2036.
- Elon Musk in an interview with The Economist
What do you want money for? You want money for goods and services, right? You want money for obviously food, housing, transport, entertainment. Well, if that is so abundant that the robots and AI are providing more goods and services than any human could possibly consume, what do you need money for?
- ibid.
I’m not voting for anyone who thinks the wrong side won the Cold War or cheers for the Intifada like it’s the World Cup. It’s so ironic, from the people who obsess about colonization. You know what’s being colonized now? The Democratic Party.
- Bill Maher declaring that for the first time ever he may vote for a Republican because of the communists taking over the Democrat Party
We did not start any war; there is no aggression on the part of Russia. We are responding to the actions of Ukraine, which has unleashed hostilities with the support of the West.
- Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin at a recent Kremlin meeting
I’ve been doxed. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Mayor Mamdani has decided to release a list of the 950,000 residences with addresses and names that might be eligible for his pied-à-terre tax.
- Left-wing political commentator and professor at NYU Scott Galloway on his podcast
He’s taken a legitimate source of tax revenue, and he’s turning it into a wanted poster.
- ibid.
The question I would have is, other than trying to identify and imply these people have done something wrong — and then, 18 months after a healthcare CEO was executed in the street, published the list — what is the upside here? Why is he doing this?
- ibid.
You say genocide, I say war. When you’re attacked, it’s what the army’s for. Does it get ugly? You bet it does. When I know you wanna kill, every last one of us.
- Opening lyrics of a new pro-Israel song released by British pop icon Boy George, titled “We will Dance Again”
But if you’re ever confused, I stand with the Jews. I don’t feel brave I just need to behave like a human.
- ibid.
Now, people say, “Well, you’re Christian and you’re conservative,” and I’m, like, “So what?” I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend ten minutes talking about it. We have our respective parties [Republicans and Democrats] out there in the audience, and they’re singing “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
- Jonathan Cain, keyboardist for Journey, on a recent podcast
And, Bruce [ Springsteen], I mean, what the heck? I used to like him, and now he’s just annoying. He’s an annoying, bitter old man.
- ibid.
I don’t know why I’m living so long. I’m just trying to take care of myself.
- 108-year-old Susan Young Browne of Delaware who still drives every day, in a recent interview
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Thanks so much for your thought-provoking column! My husband and I love reading it!
I’m really writing to make sense of a friend of mine. She is in her 30s and is a great catch. She’s beautiful, has a good job, and very often goes on nice vacations and seems to be really enjoying life. To me, though, it seems she’s constantly complaining about being single on social media. She says how badly she wants to get married, but when I have ideas for her, half the time she’s traveling with friends and simply doesn’t have time to meet the guys I work hard to try for her. I see her posts, about how she’s waiting for the right one to find her, and yet I’ve sent her countless suggestions she either ignored or said she will circle back to “when she has time” and never has.
To be honest, it’s a real waste of my time and energy to try ideas for someone like this. Do I continue trying to help her? Or is it okay if I just give up for now? (I’m leaning towards the latter.)
Thanks!
Tamar*
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.
BACK TO SCHOOL SALE
The Panel
Dear Readers,
We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion! Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition.
If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well.
Looking forward!
Michelle, the “Shadchan”
The Rebbetzin
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
Tamar, I believe it is smart to give yourself a break from making suggestions until you can sit down and have a calm conversation with your friend,
say after the chagim. Bring up that you want to help her, but you need a little guidance and input from her. Clearly say you don’t want to waste her time on people who are inappropriate but lately it feels like your suggestions didn’t go anywhere for whatever reason.
It’s fine to also say that you want to hear directly from her as her social media posts seem shrill or ___ (fill in the
blank) and you want to know what she is trying to communicate.
It may very well be that she is sounding off, and you will want to tell her that she sounds ____ (fill in the blank). She may not intend to give a certain impression and might want to edit her posts more carefully.
I think the main thing is to aim for a respectful conversation where you both are heard and reflect back what the other is saying so that you are clear with one another. Close with a warm comment and a hug.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
You’re an amazing friend, Tamar! The fact that you are actively setting peo -
ple up is a huge mitzvah. I’m sorry that your friend is unresponsive and ignores your thoughtful suggestions. This can easily make you jaded and resentful, leaving a bad taste in your mouth about making shidduchim in general.
In regard to your friend, we all know people whose lives in person look completely different from how they portray them on social media. It sounds like your friend may be one of those people. It is possible that family members and friends are pushing her toward the goal of marriage when that’s really not something she’s interested in right now. It seems she
may have found a solution. To either get people off her back or mislead those closest to her, she puts public posts out about how much she wants to get married. She posts on social media in a way that makes it seem like she’s actively looking when she actually may not be very interested. This can lead her followers to sympathize with her rather than question why she isn’t dating. It could also be that this part of her social media presence gets attention, and that attention somehow validates or fulfills her.
The bottom line I would like to make clear for our readers is this: Always remember that what you see on social media is not real life. As we can see from this one small example, reality can be drastically different from what people choose to put out into the world.
As for how you should move forward, please continue setting people up. The world needs people like you who are devoted to helping others. However, never try harder for someone than they are trying for themselves. Put your
time and energy into helping people who truly want to get married and are putting in the effort to make it happen.
Hashem should reward you for all of your efforts!
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
We all know people who talk endlessly about losing weight, learning a language, or cleaning out the garage. They sincerely want those things. Yet months, and sometimes years, go by without any meaningful progress.
Their words are genuine. Their actions simply tell a different story.
Your friend may genuinely want to get married. I don’t doubt that for a moment. But right now, her calendar seems to be speaking louder than her
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Dear Tamar,
Your letter made me smile because I know so many people have found themselves in your shoes.
Can I ask you a few questions?
If your friend stopped posting about wanting to get married altogether, would you still see her as someone who was actively looking? Or would you conclude that she’s simply enjoying a very full life?
When someone says they want something, but repeatedly doesn’t have time to pursue it, which do you believe: their words or their behavior?
And perhaps the hardest question:
are you try- ing harder to find her a husband than she is?
I don’t ask that critically. I ask it because it’s something I see all the time, not just in dating.
People can genuinely want something and still not be in a place where they’re willing to organize their life around it.
Maybe she’s scared.
Maybe she truly believes the right person will somehow find her.
Maybe she has built a life that she absolutely loves and isn’t yet willing to make the space that dating often requires.
social media posts.
My advice? Don’t work harder to find her a husband than she’s willing to work herself.
If she reaches out and specifically asks for your help, gladly offer it. But until then, don’t invest hours searching for suggestions that she has repeatedly shown she isn’t prepared to pursue.
You cannot want someone’s future more than they do.
Reader’s Response
Reuven Sokol
A humble single
Hi
Tamar
You’re being a great friend for always trying to set her up.
I don’t think that setting someone up should be a draining process.
If you have an idea that you think is good, the best thing to do is send her a text and say, “Here’s an idea. Here’s a few reasons why I think this would be good idea for you. Look it over and if you would like to hear more, call and I’d love to tell you more.”
That text takes less than a minute to
Maybe she’s simply not as ready as she believes she is.
Or maybe none of those are true.
The point is, we don’t know.
What we do know is that people tell us what matters to them in two ways: with their words and with their calendar.
I would also encourage you to notice what’s happening inside of you. Are you beginning to feel resentful? Unappreciated? Like your energy is being spent in a place where it isn’t being received? Those feelings matter, too.
Friendship isn’t measured by how many introductions you make.
I’d probably stop working harder than she is.
That doesn’t mean you stop caring. It doesn’t mean you never send another
Reality can be drastically different from what people choose to put out into the world.
write and should not drain your energy.
If she connects to the idea, she’ll reach out. And if not, she may say, “Thank you, but not for me,” or she may not respond at all.
The important thing is that you should not take it personally when she doesn’t go with your ideas.
You’re doing a big chessed and if you can continue doing so, with a smile on your face, that’s amazing.
If you don’t like the feeling of rejection, it’s totally fine to not spend so much time sending her ideas.
If she is hurt that you are sending less ideas, you will need to have an honest conversation with her about how you feel when she doesn’t respond.
Hatzlacha rabba.
suggestion. It simply means I’d wait until she reaches for your help rather than continuing to pull her toward something she doesn’t seem to be making room for.
One last thought.
Sometimes, we assume people have one goal because they say they do. But human beings are wonderfully complex. We can long for partnership and love the freedom of our current life. We can ache for children and be terrified of what marriage asks of us. We can want change while protecting the very life we’ve created.
Those contradictions don’t make someone insincere.
They make them human.
Sincerely, Jennifer
Jennifer Mann, LCSW, is a therapist and certified life coach in private practice in Cedarhurst, NY and via telehealth. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and is a part-time school social worker at Bnos Malka Academy. Her work centers on anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse. She integrates attachment-based therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, and relational work, grounded in the belief that healing and growth emerge through honest, attuned, and meaningful human connection. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512.
Mental Health Corner Getting Your Teen On Board
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
Teenagers are notorious for their apathy and resistance to change. Convincing them to take even the most basic actions, such as cleaning their dirty socks from the floor in their bedroom, can prove to be a difficult task. Furthermore, trying to instill in them a sense of personal responsibility and understanding of the importance of cleanliness can seem like an insurmountable challenge. This is the type of struggle that parents often face when attempting to persuade their teenage child to seek therapy.
Teenagers are in a delicate phase of development, straddling the line between childhood and adulthood. They possess the cognitive capacity to comprehend complex concepts, but lack the maturity to fully grasp the gravity of what they are personally experiencing. Additionally, they have reached an age where they no longer blindly follow their parents’ direc-
when it is attended under duress. Your teenager would be much better served if they willingly engage in the therapeutic process. There may be instances where some level of coercion is necessary to get your child into therapy, but that is a very complex topic that warrants further discussion. In this article, we will focus on the difficult, but ultimately worthwhile, task of getting your teen on board with the idea of attending therapy. How exactly is that accomplished?
To begin with, maintaining a positive relationship with your teenager is crucial. If you and your teenager don’t frequently engage in authentic conversations, even about trivial subjects, and your relationship is marked by negative interactions, it will be challenging to initiate a non-confrontational conversation and establish the kind of dialogue that is essential for planting seeds of understanding in
also might be afraid of being judged negatively by the therapist for their thoughts and feelings. Additionally, the vulnerability inherent in therapy can be daunting for teenagers.
There are also obstacles to therapy that are the result of being a teenager. These include their inadequate emotional intelligence that makes it difficult for them to comprehend that what they are suffering from is rooted in their emotions. Furthermore, teenagers are inclined towards short-term thinking, which prevents them from relating to the prolonged nature of therapy. Also, their limited life experience often leads to misconceptions about the therapeutic process.
With all of this in mind, here are some thoughts that you can share with your teenager during a casual chat that may help your teen relate better to therapy and alleviate some of his or her concerns.
find out. Furthermore, therapists are trained to understand the internal challenges of people’s lives and will not view you negatively due to your thoughts and feelings.
If your teen is still hesitant to initiate therapy, you might want to consider offering them the option of backing out after a predetermined number of sessions. If they know that after five sessions, for example, they can change their mind, they might be more comfortable getting started, and by the time the fifth session arrives, they will have hopefully seen the value of therapy.
One of the tenets of therapy is that it offers the client a unique opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on life. This can be achieved by re-examining one’s experiences and emotions from a different angle. For instance, consider the divergent perspectives of a soaring bird and a low-lying rabbit, or the self-awareness that arises from observing oneself in a mirror. Therapy serves a similar function as it broadens your understanding of the emotional realm and also gives you a deeper insight into yourself.
Therapy also serves as a workout for the emotions, much like a gym membership for the body. Building emotional stamina and endurance is not a one-time event, but rather a gradual process, akin to physical training. Regular therapy sessions, much like regular exercise, can help to strengthen one’s emotional well-being over time.
Therapists are also obligated to maintain confidentiality and therefore there is no concern that people will
Another effective approach is to empower your teenager with agency in the therapy process. As a parent, you can conduct research and present your child with a selection of therapists who are appropriate matches for your child, and then your child can choose one of them. By allowing your child to choose their preferred therapist, you increase the likelihood that they will fully engage in the therapy process as they feel it was their own personal decision. This fosters a sense of ownership and investment in the therapy experience, resulting in a more effective outcome.
As a parent, it is crucial to recognize that every teenager is unique and may have varying responses to the concept of therapy. The suggestions provided are starting points for you to consider. By utilizing your knowledge of your child, you can tailor your approach to best suit their specific needs. Then, as you guide your little caterpillar through the tumultuous process of metamorphosis into a butterfly, they will unfurl their wings and take to the skies, soaring to reach new heights and fulfilling their true destiny.
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
Health & F tness Why I Started Writing
By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC
Every so often, someone asks me the same question: “Why mental health and psychiatry?”
Out of everything I could have chosen to write about, why did I decide to dedicate my column to conversations about anxiety, depression, ADHD, medication, therapy, and emotional wellbeing?
The answer has never really changed, although I think I’ve become better at putting it into words over the years.
The truth is that I never started writing because I wanted to write about psychiatry. I started writing because I wanted to write about people.
Long before my first article appeared in The Jewish Home , I spent my days sitting across from patients whose stories were often very different but whose fears sounded remarkably alike. Again and again, I met kind, intelligent, accomplished people who weren’t just struggling with anxiety or depression. They were struggling with what they believed those diagnoses said about them. They had somehow come to believe that needing help meant they weren’t trying hard enough, that considering medication meant they had failed, or that if they simply had more willpower, more faith, or more resilience, they wouldn’t be sitting
in my office in the first place.
That was the part that stayed with me.
The shame.
I realized very quickly that the illness itself was often only half the battle. The other half was convincing people that there was nothing shameful about being sick.
When someone develops diabetes, they rarely apologize for needing insulin. When someone is diagnosed with asthma, they don’t whisper that they use an inhaler. If a person has high blood pressure, no one questions whether they should simply try harder before taking medication. We understand that sometimes the body needs help, and we don’t attach someone’s worth to the treatment they receive.
Somehow, though, we have treated the brain differently.
Somewhere along the way we created a completely different standard for mental health, one that quietly tells people they should be able to overcome depression through determination, anxiety through positive thinking, or obsessive thoughts through sheer willpower. I have never understood why we ask that of the brain when we would never ask it of the heart, the lungs, or the kidneys.
The Conversation We Were Not Having
That disconnect became the reason I started writing.
I realized that if we wanted to reduce stigma, we couldn’t wait until someone finally made an appointment with a psychiatrist. By then, many people had already spent years convincing themselves not to seek help. The conversation had to begin much earlier. It had to happen around the Shabbos table, in conversations between parents and children, between spouses, between friends, and within our community. If reading one article could make someone think differently about mental health, perhaps it would also make it easier for them to ask for help when they needed it.
That has always been my hope.
When Normal Becomes Disruptive
One of the biggest misconceptions I have tried to address over the years is the belief that psychiatrists want to medicate every difficult emotion. It is about the approach. One of the first things I explain to patients is that sadness is part of life. Worry is part of life. Grief, disappointment, uncertainty, heartbreak, and stress
are all part of the human experience. If we eliminated those emotions completely, we would lose part of what makes us human.
The real question has never been whether you feel sad or anxious. The real question is whether those emotions have become so overwhelming that they begin interfering with your ability to live the life you want to live.
The Goal Is Function and Quality of Life, Not Perfection
That distinction is one of the most important messages I hope readers take away from my writing because it changes the entire conversation. Psychiatry is not about creating happiness or eliminating every uncomfortable feeling. None of us should expect to move through life without sadness, disappointment, or worry. What we are trying to restore is something much more meaningful.
We are trying to help people get back to living their lives. We are trying to help them wake up with energy, enjoy their families, succeed at work, laugh naturally, pursue goals, and experience life instead of simply surviving it.
When I meet with patients, I am not asking whether they have ever been sad.
I am asking whether they are able to function and have a quality of life.
Changing the Medication Conversation
One of the first questions many patients ask me is whether medication is going to change who they are. I understand that fear because psychiatric medication has carried a stigma for decades that simply doesn’t exist with most other areas of medicine.
Ironically, after someone finds the right treatment, one sentence comes up again and again.
“I finally feel like myself again.”
To me, that says everything. Medication is not intended to change your personality. It is meant to quiet the anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, or mood symptoms that have been preventing your personality from shining through.
There is Never
Just One Answer
Of course, medication is never the entire story, and I have tried to emphasize that in nearly every article I have
matters. Purpose matters.
Good psychiatric care has never been about writing a prescription. It is about understanding the whole person and creating a treatment plan that allows them to thrive. For some people that includes medication. For others, it does not. Every story is different, and treatment should always reflect that.
therapists, physicians, and educators are working together in ways that continue to strengthen our understanding of emotional wellbeing.
We have come a long way.
But we still have work to do.
I still meet people who apologize for needing help. I still meet parents carrying unnecessary guilt because their child
treatment should never be driven by fear or stigma. It should be guided by thoughtful medical care, by functionality, and by quality of life.
If there is one message I hope has carried through every article I have written, it is this: taking care of your mental health is no different than taking care of your physical health. Needing treatment does not make you weak. Accepting help does not make you less capable. It simply means you value your health enough to care for it.
If these articles have encouraged even one person to seek help a little sooner, helped one family replace judgment with understanding, or reminded one reader that they are not alone, then every article has been worth writing.
I cannot think of a better reason to keep the conversation going.
Changing the Narrative
Over the years I have watched our community become far more willing to talk about mental health, and that gives me tremendous hope. Conversations that once happened only behind closed doors now take place in schools, homes, shuls,
needs treatment. I still meet adults who have spent years suffering because they believed medication somehow reflected a lack of strength.
Why I’ll Keep Writing
That is why I continue writing.
Not because I think everyone needs medication. Quite the opposite. I write because I want people to understand that
Rivka Kramer is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a member of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 917-905-3995.
Parenting Pearls When Big Feelings Take Over
A simple strategy and 5 simple phrases that will help your child communicate during
moments
By Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA
Does Your Child:
• Have strong reactions to small frustrations?
• Do better at home, but struggle in less predictable settings like stores or playgrounds?
• Escalate quickly when something doesn’t go as expected?
If so, you’re not alone.
Many children experience big feelings but may not yet have the tools to express those feelings in a way that works for them and the people around them.
Jonah was a bright, curious child who enjoyed playing, exploring, and being around others. But when things didn’t go his way, even in small moments, his reactions were big.
If a toy broke, Jonah might yell or throw it. If something didn’t go his way, he might cry or drop to the floor. If a routine changed, he might become overwhelmed very quickly.
When he was feeling heightened, Jonah used his body and his voice to express that he wanted something to change, but it wasn’t always clear what he needed or how to help.
Was he frustrated? Did he need help? Was he overwhelmed?
Think: What other ways could Jonah communicate these needs?
Functional Communication
Functional communication is when a person communicates a need, want, or feeling in a way that is understood by others.
This can include:
• words
• gestures
• sounds
• visuals
• short phrases
The goal of functional communication is to help the child communicate in a way that works .
Functional Communication Training (FCT) is a strategy that teaches children how to replace challenging behaviors with more effective ways of communicating.
Instead of focusing only on stopping a behavior, ask:
What is the child trying to communicate? How can we give them a better
way to say it?
This focus is especially effective for children with neurodivergent profiles, including ADHD and autism, because it meets them where they are. Here’s why it works:
1. It explores the “why” behind behavior. Behavior is communication. FCT helps identify what the child is trying to express.
2. It gives an immediate alternative. Instead of removing a behavior without a replacement, FCT provides a clear, usable option.
3. It reduces frustration. When children can express themselves more clearly, frustration often decreases.
4. It builds independence. Children begin to advocate for their needs in ways that others can understand and respond to.
5. It works in real-life situations. FCT strategies can be used at home, in school, and in the community.
Why “Use Your Words” Isn’t Enough
Many of us have said, “Use your
of
frustration
words.” But if those words aren’t easily accessible at the moment, that reminder can become frustrating for both the child and the adult. When emotions are high, language is often harder to access, not easier. That’s why FCT focuses on teaching simple, usable phrases that match the moment.
A Simple Strategy: Model Strong, Appropriate Reactions
Many approaches encourage calm, polite phrases like “Can I please…” or “Help me.” These are important skills. But real life includes moments of frustration, and even adults don’t always respond with calm, perfect language. Communication becomes more effective when we teach children that it’s okay to have a strong reaction, as long as it’s expressed in a socially appropriate way. Instead of eliminating strong reactions, we can shape them.
5 Simple Phrases You Can Start Using Today
You can begin by modeling short,
expressive phrases during everyday moments. Practice saying this phrase out loud, with an exclamation. Repeat it in frustrating situations.
FCT examples: Frustrating Situations:
• “Oh oh!” * There is a spill
• “Oh no!” * An item is lost
• “Whoa!” * Something doesn’t go as planned
• “Seriously?” * Something breaks
• “Oh man!” * A device stops working
These phrases are easy to say, natural in everyday life, and expressive without being inappropriate. You can also come up with your own phrase that suits your family and can be appropriately used by your child in school and in your community.
How to Practice
To build this skill:
• Model the phrases yourself during everyday situations
• Use them consistently.
• Pause and give your child a chance to try.
• Reinforce when they use the phrase
For example: If something spills, you might say, “Uh oh!” Then pause and look expectantly. Over time, your child may begin to use the phrase independently.
Why This Works
Exaggerated but appropriate reactions give children a ready-to-use substitute for more intense behaviors.
Instead of yelling, throwing, or shutting down, a child now has a clear and practiced way to respond.
Over time, you will start to see that these phrases will replace less effective behaviors, become automatic and help others understand what the child is experiencing
Building Real-Life Communication
Functional communication is not about making children sound perfect. It’s about helping them express what they need in a way that works.
One important thing to remember is that learning functional communication takes practice long before a child needs it. Just as we wouldn’t expect a child to learn to swim after falling into a pool, we can’t expect them to use a new communication strategy for the first time during a meltdown. The best time to teach these phrases is when your child is
calm, engaged, and able to learn. Look for everyday opportunities to practice together. If you accidentally drop a spoon while cooking, say, “Oh no!” If a tower of blocks falls over, try, “Whoa!” If your favorite pen stops working, model, “Seriously?”
These small moments become low-pressure opportunities for your child to hear, imitate, and eventually use these phrases independently. Remember that every successful attempt, even if it needs prompting, is progress. Some children may begin using these phrases quickly, while others will need many opportunities before they become part of their natural communication. That’s perfectly okay. The goal isn’t perfection or memorizing a specific list of words. The goal is helping your child discover that communication is effective – that expressing frustration appropriately can get their needs understood, help them receive support, and often change the outcome more successfully than yelling, crying, or shutting down. As these communication skills grow, children often become more confident because they experience the power of having their voice understood, even during life’s frustrating moments.
Functional communication is not about making children sound perfect. It’s about helping them express what they need in a way that works.
By giving children simple, natural phrases that match real-life situations, we help them move from escalation to communication.
Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA is the proud owner of 5 Minute ABA and developer of 5MinuteABA/ MadgeBadge Parenting App. She has spent over 20 years consulting with Directors of Special Education across New York, providing support and training to teachers, psychologists and principals regarding Behavior Plan and IEP Goal development, establishing aide-fading protocols, and increasing mainstreaming and inclusion opportunities. She conducts district-wide and individualized staff and parent trainings, and is the author of Raising a Child with Autism: A Guide to Applied Behavior Analysis for Parents and Encouraging Appropriate Behavior for Children on the Autism Spectrum: Frequently Asked Questions. For more parenting strategies and neurodiversity tips, or to contact Shira Richman, download mobile iOS App: 5MinuteABA/MadgeBadge Parenting App
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Gitty, Ruchy & Nachman Romanoff
Easy Broiled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri
By DAn IE ll E R EnOv
Easy to prepare, packed with flavor and can be served so many different ways. Think tacos, sliced over salads, added to rice bowls...mmmm.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
FOR THE STEAK
• 1 kilo (2.2 lb.) skirt steak
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp granulated onion
• 2 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp crushed chili flakes
FOR THE CHIMICHURRI
• 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, packed
• ½ cup cilantro leaves (or more parsley if you’re a purist)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 small shallot or 1/4 red onion
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• ½ lemon, juiced
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ¼ tsp crushed chili flakes
Preparation
Place the skirt steak in a bowl and add cold water and vinegar to cover. Set aside for 30 minutes.
Drain and pat the steak completely dry. This is the key to that crust.
Place steak in a zip top bag. Add olive oil and all the spices. Marinate at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, or in the refrigerator overnight. Meanwhile, make the chimichurri.
Add all chimichurri ingredients to a food processor.
Pulse until everything is finely chopped but not puréed, you still want little flecks of herbs. It should taste a little stronger than you think you want. It mellows once it hits the warm steak.
Place the oven rack about 12-15 cm (5-6 inches) from the heat source and set the oven to high broil.
Place the steak on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare, longer if the steak is thicker. If you want the steak more well done, move the oven rack lower and broil for a few extra minutes per side.
Transfer the steak to a plate, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 5–10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain.
Spoon chimichurri over the top or serve it on the side for dipping (or pouring, let’s be honest). Add roasted potatoes and/or grilled veggies and that’s a 10/10 dinner.
Grill option: Preheat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Cook the steak for 4 minutes per side until charred outside and still juicy inside. If you prefer it well done, preheat the pan over medium-high heat and cook for about 6-8 minutes per side.
Reprinted from Micro Peas - Quick Cooking Meat by Danielle Renov, with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.
Intentional healthcare choices strengthen the entire community.
HealthSharing is strongest when members take an active role in managing their healthcare.
With guidance from experienced case managers when needed, members can take advantage of self-pay pricing and other available discounts, or consider healthcare providers that offer the highquality care they need at a more reasonable price.
These decisions help reduce healthcare costs for their own families and strengthen the HealthSharing community as a whole.
