Cleveland Kesher, Fall 2021

Walter Stinson Community Park

SUNDAY OCT. 10

Up Close with Ruchi

After the yamim tovim

Ruchi Koval

If not now, when? – Hillel

Everyone knows that brisk walking is good for you. The question, though, is, how fast exactly does the walk need to be to qualify as brisk? I Googled this once (that’s who I am) and it turns out that there is a specific number on the treadmill that constitutes brisk walking. That number is 3 to 3.5 miles per hour.

Now of course that number is an estimate, biased as usual against people with short legs, but there’s another handy way to know if you’re walking fast enough, especially if you’re walking outside and not on a treadmill. If you can carry on a conversation, but are too breathless to sing a song, you’re there.

There are a few spots throughout the Jewish calendar that are so brisk and intense, that I feel like I can talk but not sing. Everything that is non-urgent and non-essential waits till after they’re over. Making a Simcha, by the way, falls in this category, too.

For most of us, “after Pesach” is a common refrain. “Making Pesach,” a uniquely frum grammatical quirk, is an activity that is akin to briskly walking. I can talk, but I can’t sing. Dinners may or may not appear on the table. Grocery shopping for the usual stuff is relegated to third or fourth priority. Any extra hobbies or commitments get paused.

And then there’s the Rosh Hashanah-Yom Kippur-Sukkos marathon. “After Sukkos” is code for “anything non-essential ain’t happening right now.” I mean, let’s pause for a moment to give ourselves a collective pat on the back.

We cooked and ate a total of at least 16 elaborate meals (you might claim that eating it is the easy part, but by the end I’m not sure I’d say so), obtained all the specific foods like apples and honey and pomegranate, davened a boat load of tefillos, perhaps hosted numerous guests, fasted twice, perhaps traveled, with or without young kids (packing clothes for all four seasons just in case), confessed our hearts out, maybe had difficult conversations with others around forgiveness and apology, built a Sukkah, and stayed up past our bedtimes celebrating our rich

and beautiful Jewish life cycle. It’s like 4.5 on the treadmill. Of course, we couldn’t do anything else.

And now here we are. After Sukkos. And now it is time. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

What were you planning on doing “after Sukkos?” Exercising? Start seeing a therapist (again)? Finding a new job? Start volunteering for Bikur Cholim or the Chevra Kaddisha? Parenting classes? If not now, when?

My yetzer hara is very smart. It never tells me not to do something good. Instead, it whispers, Do it later. It knows that’s the only way to get me. Telling me not to do something worthy is a plan that’s dead in the water. Telling me to do it later has a fighting chance.

In a sense, this time of year is even more fraught than the rush of the yamim tovim. When the adrenaline is pumping, we know exactly what to do. It’s easy to prioritize; what has to happen will happen.

This time of year is harder. We’re off the treadmill. The heart rate gradually slows to normal. Back to work. Back to school. More time to think. Now what? What of all the good intentions, resolutions, regrets?

Who are we when we have the time to be who we are? Dovid Hamelech asked Hashem, “Teach me to count my days, so I might have a heart of wisdom.” That count starts now.

Everyone has different anxieties when they wake in the middle of the night and all is quiet. Mine is about making my days count. There’s a whisper in my head that asks me, Are you using your days wisely? Your minutes and hours? Are you proud of what you have to show for yourself? The nature of these anxieties is that they are not correlated with reality, so at 4 a.m., the answer always seems to be NO!

But in the light of day I usually realize that the answer is “mostly,” and that hopefully that’s a good enough answer for most of us flawed humans.

Up Close with Ruchi

I’m grateful for these annual punctuation marks. It’s good for me to have the rush and pause of my annual workouts which force me to reckon, not just who I am and what I’m doing, but if I’m actually putting that reckoning into my practical life. Strategic planning is all the rage, but it’s the living it that really matters.

Vladimir Lenin said, “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll show you who you are,” and I think that’s true, but I’d also say, “Show me your daily calendar, and I’ll show you who you are.” What do you do when you have the time to do it? Who are you minute-to-minute? If the past month was like a company retreat to strategize, inspire, and plan, today is the day we get to go back to work and prove to our boss it was worth it.

If you think about relationships, they are

rarely defined by the occasional grand gestures for birthdays or anniversaries. I mean, those are fun, but they’re not an accurate reflection of the health of the bond. The small, constant, day-today behaviors are much more telling.

Who am I in this Jewish relationship? And what has this past month meant to me? That will be evidenced by today. The rest of my life, starting now. Off the treadmill and into my life. Are we ready?

Ruchi Koval is the co-founder and director of the Jewish Family Experience. She is a certified parenting coach, educator, author, musician and motivational speaker. She lives in University Heights with her husband and children.

Hebrew Academy of Cleveland unveils dazzling new facility

By: Ariel Lawton

Since opening its doors in 1943, Beis Chinuch Horav Dessler / Hebrew Academy of Cleveland has been one of the crown jewels of the Cleveland Jewish community. In an ever-changing world, it has been a constant, a pillar of familiarity for generations of students as well as families. However, rapid growth often requires rapid change.

Due to the rapidly increasing uptake of enrollment in recent years, the Academy undertook a major expansion at its Oakwood campus to accommodate a greater number of students. The state-of-the-art educational complex on the site of the former Oakwood Country Club in Cleveland Heights is the new home of the early childhood and boys’ elementary divisions.

Over the course of the last few years, the site has been housing the kindergarten, junior high school, high school, the Academy’s school-based Kollel Ateres Nochum Zev and finance offices. The building now includes newly designed offices and classroom wings to accommodate staff and students. Additional features also include a new auditorium, beis midrash, courtyard garden, gymnasium, cafeterias, intervention center, innovation lab, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, ball fields and a lake. But the amenities don’t end there. The expansion to this new campus will allow for the school to enhance the girls’ elementary division which is housed at the South Taylor Road location.

With these new improvements, the school hopes to welcome even more families into the Academy family. The new campus will allow for expanded innovation and increased numbers in both the boy’s divisions as well as the girls’ divisions, while increasing educational opportunities for students.

“While we are fully committed to maintaining the lofty goals and priorities of our founding Roshei Yeshiva, we are also deeply committed to maintaining a sense of

professionalism and to embracing cutting edge concepts, three trademarks synonymous with the Academy” said Rabbi Simcha Dessler, Menahel of the Academy. “A sound chinuch is best transmitted in a physical setting, aesthetically appealing and conducive to excellence in education.”

He said not only will the expansion allow for a greater student body, but, more importantly, the hope is to enhance the learning experiences of students and increase educational opportunities.

Dessler said the Academy does not view the expansion solely as the creation of the new, but rather, it incorporates the conservation

Overbeke Driving School, a state licensed Driving School, provides driver’s education to students of all ages.

• We have lessons at Laurel School and all areas throughout Northeast Ohio.

• We accept students beginning at age 15.5 months.

• We pick up and drop off for the behind the wheel lessons and work with adults as well.

• We are open for business 7 days a week with refresher courses for teens and adults alike.

• We offer refresher courses in snow and maneuverability as needed by the student.

• We provide the vehicle, so you don’t have to.

• We are the only licensed driving school in Ohio to educate students and parents of students in driving with ADHD/ADD.

• Our main goal is to educate the students in safe driving practices while also helping them obtain their driver’s licenses.

Community News

and improvement of what already exists. As an institution dedicated to Jewish growth, the school was created with the core values of Torah, mesorah, midos tovos and yiraas Shomayim. In the almost eight decades of its existence, the school is recognized as a national leader in Torah chinuch and always returns to these values.

Ariel Lawton is a Beachwood High School graduate and resides in Beachwood. This year she is attending Midreshet Tehillah seminary in Israel and will be attending Touro College the following year.

“Walking my daughter down the aisle in the presence of loved ones wouldn’t have been possible had we not been vaccinated.

Join me in taking the shot –let’s keep each other safe.”

– Bryan Farkas, University Heights

We know there is never enough time to squeeze in another thing around the High Holidays – but we’re making it worth your while. Through a 5-week raffle, 5 Jewish-affiliated residents in the Greater Cleveland area ages 18 and older will receive a $2,000 cash prize upon proof of vaccination and eligibility. Weekly drawings will occur September 9 through October 4, 2021.

See Contest Rules for eligibility.

Questions? Contact Us. vaccines@bikurcholimcleveland.org

Community News

The Shabbos Project plans are moving ahead

By: Sarah Rudolph

Since its beginnings in South Africa in 2013 and around the world in 2014, The Shabbos Project has had one goal with many manifestations: unity through Shabbos.

Participants have varied widely – spanning denominations and degrees of observance as well as ages and locations – and so have the activities in which they have participated. Organizations have hosted Shabbos programming or events surrounding Shabbos, such as Havdalah concerts; individuals have hosted Shabbos meals; many have committed to increasing their Shabbos observance in some way, just that one time or perhaps afterward as well.

One of the most ubiquitous Shabbos Project events, and the annual mainstay in Cleveland since its inception, is the Challah Bake. A primary goal of the Challah Bake has been to create a judgment-free space to interact across the different segments of our community, through an activity that connects us. Past years have seen hundreds and then even thousands of local women gathering to bake challah, along with – depending on the vision of each year’s committee – music (and even dancing), speeches, or just the chance to be together.

With COVID-19 still among us, and especially with increased concern about the delta variant, finding a safe way to recreate that togetherness for the next Shabbos Project, coming up Oct. 22-23, has been a challenge. Rabbi Doovie Jacoby moved to University Heights from Portland, Ore., a year ago and jumped into a position at Partners in Torah that includes spearheading local Shabbos Project planning.

He said he hopes to build on the outreachoriented momentum established in previous years through the Challah Bake as well as other initiatives. Rabbi Jacoby said he remains undaunted by the challenges presented by the pandemic. Last year’s Challah Bake was fully virtual, with limited attendance. This year,

Rabbi Jacoby said he had hoped the vaccine would allow for an in-person event, but uncertainty regarding the delta variant has kept planning fluid.

A survey was sent in July to explore interest in a variety of possibilities for how and where and with how many people this year’s Shabbos Project challahs might be baked. Between the responses to that survey and official guidance regarding the ever-changing situation on the ground, it was determined the Challah Bake would likely be held as a joint in-person and virtual program as of Sept. 10.

In this iteration, slated for Oct. 21, participants will be invited to register as a host or guest and gather to bake in small groups at host homes, with the guidance of a facilitator. The groups will also join together over Zoom for some words of inspiration, with the Zoom open to those not baking in a group as well.

What makes this setup different from a group of friends simply getting together on a Thursday night? Rabbi Jacoby acknowledged that essentially, that may be what it is, but how often does that happen otherwise?

“People getting together, to bake challah together – there’s some beauty to that, to doing something out of the ordinary. It’s different from just baking challah at home by yourself,” he said.

While the original Shabbos Project in South Africa aimed at full observance of a Shabbos, as the program expanded internationally, it has become geared toward exactly that: uniting people in spirit even when not in person to do something more, bringing some extra element of the beauty of Shabbos into that week that may not be part of one’s regular routine.

Rabbi Jacoby said the plan is to hold a Shabbaton this year as well, hosted by Jewish Family Experience in partnership with other institutions. While details are being finalized, the goal is to hold a full Shabbos program, with all the meals, classes, a guest speaker, Havdalah, and more – COVID 19-permitting.

Despite the challenges of planning events, especially those aimed at fostering unity, under current circumstances, Rabbi Jacoby remains positive and optimistic.

“COVID has brought about a lot of innovations in the frum world,” he said. “We wanted to continue our service to Hashem and were forced to do that in new ways.”

He said as we have all had to do things di erently over the past year-and-a-half, some innovations have arisen out of necessity that may be here to stay. The Shabbos Project will certainly o er wonderful opportunities for connection whatever it looks like, and perhaps the experience this year will open new doors in years to come.

For up-to-date information on the Challah Bake on Oct. 21 and Shabbos Project on Oct. 22-23, visit theshabbosproject.org.

Sarah Rudolph is a Jewish educator and freelance writer. She lives in University Heights with her husband and four children.

Community News

Mt. Sinai Foundation, Bikur Cholim, Cleveland Foundation launch vaccination ra e

he Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, Bikur Cholim of Cleveland and the Cleveland Foundation launched a “VAX-A-NATION CLE” vaccination ra e campaign in an e ort to encourage Northeast Ohio Jews to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

TWeekly drawings began Sept. 9 and continue through Oct. 4. Winners are awarded a cash prize of $2,000 through the Cleveland Foundation and an anonymous donor.

The ra e takes an approach similar to the statewide Ohio COVID-19 vaccination campaign that began May 17 and concluded June 21.

A letter, signed by Dr. Michael Pollack, president of Bikur Cholim of Cleveland, and Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel and rabbinic adviser of Bikur Cholim of Cleveland, posted on the VAXA-NATION CLE website explained the organization’s stance on vaccination.

“With COVID-19 case numbers on the rise again, we feel compelled, as members of the Bikur Cholim leadership team, to reach out and share our thoughts regarding the current situation,” the letter reads. “Jewish Cleveland can and should take an active role in preserving the health of our community. ... We see the vaccines as one of the strongest deterrents we have to curb the current spike in cases and to

reduce hospitalizations and loss of life. Acting now may also help prevent the development of future variants and additional su ering.”

The letter added that the COVID-19 vaccines were developed using “accepted scientific methods and have been endorsed by the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)” and have “been proven safe and e ective.”

“Halachah obligates us to embrace established scientific practices that contribute to the well-being of all,” the letter said. “It is considered a mitzvah to get vaccinated. This is supported by gedolim and rabbonim who guide Bikur Cholim in their activities.”

Eligibility requirements include being a member of the Cleveland-area Jewish community; being at least 18 years old; not vaccinated as of Sept. 2 and having received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before Oct. 3.

Five winners are being named across the fiveweek-long ra e. Winners are asked to present proof of vaccination.

More information, including a complete list of rules and regulations and a form to enter the ra e, can be found at vaxanationcle.org.

A Dose of Inspiration

Achieving personal dveiykus with Hashem

Rabbi Benyamin Blau

e have recently celebrated Simchas Torah and have renewed our cycle of Krias Hatorah. While Sefer Breishis has many powerful events deserving of our focus, I would like to turn out attention to the story of Avraham Aveinu, the patriarch of Am Yisrael. When we first meet Avraham, he is already an adult, but the midrash, quoted by Rashi, describes how as a child tending to his father’s idol shop he realized that there must be a ribbono shel olam.

Surprisingly, the Rambam notes a different process for Avraham’s discovery of Hashem. He depicts an elaborate search that Avraham engaged in for many years until finally, at age 40, he came to the conclusion that there must be Hakadosh Baruch Hu controlling our world. The Ra’avad, on the spot, critiques the Ramabm and asks that we know from the midrash that Avraham had this epiphany when he was three years old so how can the Rambam claim that the discovery occurred so much later. Without weighing in on the disagreement, the very fact that there is a machlokes is extremely puzzling: How can there be two versions of when this critical event happened? Avraham is the sole individual to believe in Hashem while surrounded by a world of idolators and we don’t know how he came to this realization? Moreover, why doesn’t the Torah tell us exactly what transpired; why is

this story absent from the parsha?

The answer, I believe, is twofold: The first point is that what really matters is not how Avraham came to this realization but rather what is important are his activities once he established a relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. His willingness to serve Hashem faithfully and with total devotion is the lesson for all of us to emulate and that is what the Torah focuses on.

The second complementary point is that the Torah deliberately did not outline his process of discovery because it did not want us to think that everyone must follow his exact path. While we all start with the same building blocks of Torah and Mitzvos, ultimately the relationship we forge with Hakadsoh Baruch Hu is unique to each individual member of Klal Yisrael.

For some, it is through limud Torah, for others it is through performing acts of chesed, and for others still it is through the experience of davening. We must strive to achieve personal dveiykus with Hashem and then, having done so, serve Him faithfully and with total commitment.

Rabbi Benyamin Blau is Rav of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood.

Home Corner

Child won’t sleep? Follow these easy tips

Submitted by: Sabrina Stempel

Sleepless nights are not just for babies. Do you have a toddler or school-age child who just can’t fall asleep? Here are some easy tips to explore and get your child back on track.

Schedule

Take a birds-eye view on your child’s daily schedule. Is your child getting enough sleep? Getting enough nap time, if applicable, starting bedtime routine at a reasonable time? Is there a lack of routine? Too many extracurricular activities in the evening? Sometimes making small adjustments to their schedule can make a big di erence in their ability to unwind at night. Keep in mind that while children need lots of brain stimulation to get tired, too much stimulation can cause insomnia. Don’t overwhelm your child with too many after-school activities.

For toddlers, napping too long or at the wrong time for their age can cause di culty falling asleep, middle-of-the-night waking, early morning waking, or all of the above. Creating a daily routine will help your child feel confident and help to give a signal to the brain when it’s time to rest.

Nutrition

Is your child a picky eater or a junk-food lover? The chemicals found in artificial food coloring and artificial flavors, as well as high sugar and high carb foods negatively a ect a person’s (of any age) ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. If your child is a very picky eater, then encourage healthier choices in the second half of the day. Foods containing tryptophan, an amino acid which helps stimulate melatonin (the sleepy hormone) production are a great option for dinner. Some examples are poultry, fish, legumes, red meat and eggs. If your child complains of tummy aches at night, then it would also be a good idea to avoid hard to digest foods like coniferous food and corn. Lastly, avoid ca einated foods and drinks like chocolate, sodas and bottled iced teas.

Screens

Any kind of screen (smartphones, computers, tablets, TV) gives o blue light. When the eyes absorb blue light, the brain is fooled into thinking it needs to keep the body awake and inhibits serotonin and melatonin production. Children (and adults) should avoid screen exposure for about an hour before going to sleep. You can also dim the lights in the house an hour or so before bedtime to set the tone of relaxation in the home and help boost melatonin production. Melatonin is only produced in the dark. Melatonin supplements should be avoided unless directed by a physician.

Change

Any new changes in the family such as a new babysitter, new school, pregnancy or recent birth of a sibling, divorce, parent’s new job, etc., can have a negative impact on a child’s sleep. Usually, these changes are unavoidable and therefore cannot be undone. Therefore, it’s important to have a discussion with your child about the upcoming or recent change at an age-appropriate level.

Listen to your child’s response and questions, read their facial expressions and body language. Prepare the child as best as you can for the upcoming change. For children who are old enough to read and write, have them journal their thoughts while in bed. For younger children you can have them color journal by encouraging them to draw a picture of what they are feeling or about how their day was. Preparation, explanation, and a listening ear will reduce anxiety-driven thoughts and worries at bedtime.

Sabrina Stempel is a certified pediatric sleep consultant. She helps parents internationally to solve their children’s sleep issues. For more information and for personalized help contact Sabrina at sabrina@babysleeptrain.com. Visit babysleeptrain.com for more information and follow @babysleeptrain on Instagram.

INTERN A T IONA L Jewish B ook and Film Festivals at The J

Cleveland Jewish FilmFest

Oct 14 - 24, 2021

Opening Night Film

Golden Voices

Oct 14 • 7 pm

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Cleveland Jewish Book Festival

Nov 4, 2021 – Mar 20, 2022

Keynote Opening

Ticking Clock by Ira Rosen

Nov 4 • 7:30 pm

Mandel JCC

COMEDY CONNECTION

Special to Cleveland Kesher

Submitted by: Irv Tavshilin

Schools are back in full swing, which means we can all breathe a sigh of relief that we have survived yet another year of shopping for those dreaded –school supplies. Sounds harmless, right?

It even sounds fun! “Oh, let’s go shopping for school supplies! What fun!” said no sane adult, like, ever, ever, ever. And here’s why: One might think that this “list” would be short and simple. A couple of writing utensils, maybe a notebook or two, scissors and, depending on the age of the child, a change of clothes. Aha! One might think that. But that one person would be wrong. Very wrong.

You see, last year, on the first day of school, we got a frantic call from the school secretary that our second grader never showed up. In a panic, we ran to the bus stop and found him lying flat on his back, arms flailing, like an overturned turtle on his shell. He was weighed down by the nearly 400 pounds of school supplies and couldn’t stand up! So, this year we got smart and rented a moving truck to deliver all our children’s supplies to school.

“This is crazy, Irv!” you might say.

Well, not really. Let’s examine the following. If you’re currently perusing your eighth-grade daughter’s “list” of supplies, I’ll ask you to turn your attention to Page 12, Section D, Paragraph 4a, where you’ll find items such as: A corrosion resistant compass and protractor set. Wait, what? I imagine this was something that say, Christopher Columbus, had on his supplies list as he set sail to discover the New World.

But on a school supply list in 2021? Does anyone, adult or child, even know how to use that thing? Or how about the Texas Instruments 30Xa Scientific Calculator that your seventh-grade son needs to bring to

school? Many boys his age can’t figure out how to pair up matching socks from the laundry, yet here we are giving them calculators with 417 buttons that, from the looks of it, if he were to randomly punch in a series of numbers and codes, he might (unbeknownst to him) launch a nuclear attack on Russia, all from his desk in Mr. Weeblewunker’s Algebra class.

Let’s not forget your third grader who’s required to bring in six boxes of tissues. Six boxes? Really? Do the kids have a class in nose blowing 101? Or how about four dozen No. 2 pencils for my fifth grader? Four dozen pencils! Unless he plans on writing a historical novel detailing the adventures of a Jewish time traveler from the Middle Ages until the present day, I can’t see how he’ll go through that many pencils. Anyway, I’d love to chat more about this but I gotta go. My daughter just called me. Her teacher told her she needs to bring in a 16-pack, chisel tip, dry erase, white board marker by tomorrow morning.

Irv Tavshilin is a Northeast Ohio historian who has an irrational fear of checking o boxes with tra c lights. His favorite food is steaming hot constables with catsup. Connect with him at irvtavshilin@gmail.com.

A Jewish Funeral Home You can AFFORD to Trust

The Cleveland Jewish Funerals story is not about us, it is about you. Our story is about the families who trust us, the caregivers who call us in the middle of the night, and the rabbis who recommend us to their congregation. Our philosophy is to treat your family as if it were our own. We value service like you do. We have experienced staff to take care of your family with the utmost integrity. We will ensure you and your loved ones are provided the best care possible.

As a lifelong Clevelander, I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to serve the Jewish Community of Cleveland which has meant so much to me throughout my life. This is truly where my heart is!

- David Pearl, Community Liaison

Funerals

Spotlight on Marketing

Online reviews: 5 reasons to respond to them all

Submitted by: Nachum “Nooch” Langsner

Did you know 87% of customers read online reviews and nearly 80% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends or family, according to Forbes?

In this COVID-19 world, online reviews are more important than ever for a brand’s reputation.

While most businesses understand its importance and employ e orts to receive as many as possible, most businesses fail to respond to them.

When 89% of respondents say they read the businesses’ responses, this is a serious mistake.

Here are five reasons why you should respond to online reviews, both positive and negative.

SHOW YOU CARE

Customers want you to hear them. Responding to a review lets them know you’re doing that. Their feedback matters and they’re leaving it because they care. Even negative feedback is there to help.

When you respond to these reviews, you’re making your customers feel valued and heard. Valued customers will become returning customers. Showing your business is open to listening can only make you stronger.

ENCOURAGE POSITIVITY

A case study by Modern Comment found while over 90% of people rely on online reviews to make a purchasing decision, only 6% bother to take the time to leave one themselves.

By responding to a positive review, you’re reinforcing their decision to provide feedback.

It takes time out of their day to leave a review. Acknowledge that e ort.

Getting a response will go a long way in a customer’s mind and encourage them to leave more feedback in the future.

CONVERT CUSTOMERS

The only way to deal with a negative review is head-on, so always respond to bad reviews.

Studies show that if a problem is fixed quickly, 95% of unhappy customers will become repeat customers. This is the kind of retention opportunity that you can’t a ord to miss. Burying your head in the sand won’t help, but being proactive will.

If you can deal with a customer’s issues, many customers will delete their review. Some may even update their review, turning a negative into a positive.

PROSPECTS READ REVIEWS

Google reviews have a larger reach than most of your marketing.

Your online reviews will be the first thing that many potential customers see when looking at your business. With this reach, it is important that you treat reviews as part of your marketing and sales process.

Make sure you pay attention and engage with reviews as soon as possible. This will help you to head o any potential public relations disasters and encourage more good reviews.

Furthermore, how you respond speaks volumes about you as a business. Responding to reviews is an opportunity to win people over as potential customers.

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IMPROVE YOUR LOCAL SEO

Responding to reviews also helps improve your online visibility.

Google tracks metrics for every business in the search engine. It uses this to rank their credibility and to place them in search results accordingly.

One of these metrics is engagement.

Google encourages businesses to respond to Google reviews. This shows Google that you are willing to actively engage with customers, whether they are happy or not.

Google My Business signals are about 33% and reviews are 16% of your ability to rank in the local 3 pack of a Google search results page.

Combined, this translates to nearly 50% of your ability to rank well in a local search.

CONCLUSION: RESPONDING TO ONLINE REVIEWS IS GOOD BUSINESS

Responding to your reviews is important.

Respond to negative reviews to deal with problems and manage your online reputation. Responding to positive reviews encourages more happy customers to speak out.

Either way, responding to all your reviews is just good business.

Nachum ‘Nooch’ Langsner is co-founder and chief marketing guru at LocalBizGuru. He can be reached at nachum@localbizguru.com, localbizguru.com, 855-970-GURU (4878), ext 701, 216-202-3386, ext 701 or (cell) 412-559-9467.

Time for School CHAVIVA HIGH SCHOOL

The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”

Vince Lombardi’s quote about achieving success reminds us that great accomplishments don’t happen without hard work and perseverance. Chaviva’s Annual Girls Only 5k is a cornerstone of our program because it instills within our students the importance of grit and determination. Taly Landis shares her experience completing her first 5k as a ninth grader at Chaviva last year.

“Chaviva’s Annual Girls Only 5k is an exhilarating run and a chance for students to learn how setting small goals leads to big accomplishments, both in the classroom and beyond,” she said.

“As students, we spent months preparing, training and learning how to push ourselves to reach our goals. At the start of the school year, we began with interval training, walking for short periods of time and running for 30 seconds in between. At first, it felt useless, but over time the walking periods got shorter, and

the running got more intense. Each week, we got closer to achieving success, and we began to notice our improvement and our confidence increased.

“I had never done any organized run before and the feeling of crossing that finish line is indescribable.

“You might think that this kind of school event would become a breeding ground for competition, but our 5k is not a race against each other, it’s a race against yourself. It’s about accomplishing something great so the next time you face a challenge, you can tell yourself, ‘I got this. I can do hard things.’

“The 5k was an awesome experience because in addition to the physical accomplishment, I can also apply the lessons I learned to other areas in my life.

“I’m definitely looking forward to running the 5k again!”

Chaviva’s fourth Annual Girls Only 5k will take place Sunday, Nov. 14.

Time for School feature submitted by: Chaviva High School

Time for School Fuchs Mizrachi School

We are excited to be kicking off the Fuchs Mizrachi 2021-22 school year!

This summer, we had a blast with our brand new Machane Mizrachi summer camp for Early Childhood students. The theme of our programming was “Thank you Hashem,” and our campers had a full range of activities in art, water play and music. It was a blast!

We have been working over the summer preparing for the school year. The building is being cleaned and arranged to best suit the needs of our students. We are thrilled to welcome 35 new families to the Fuchs Mizrachi community!

Our faculty is looking forward to a robust in-service week of professional development working on curriculum development, gradelevel assessments, safety and security training, and more. That is all gearing up for the first day of school on Aug. 23. Each division will host a Back to School Night for parents to hear more about what the upcoming year will look like in each division and grade.

Some highlights for the year include:

• Our Genshaft Early Childhood program can’t wait to explore Shmittah. The learning will be incorporated into many different areas including cooking and gardening!

• Our Lower School is looking forward to the Shoresh Bowl once again! Last year, our students had a blast learning their shorashim and can’t wait for this year!

• The Junior High is looking forward to training our team of Junior High advisers in group facilitation, counseling skills and assisting our students in cultivating and honing their interpersonal and academic habits and skills.

• The Stark High School is kicking off the year with a Freshman Orientation to help acclimate our students to the High School. The High School Ambassadors (11th and 12th graders) will run a special session for the incoming 9th graders to welcome them to the High School community.

Can’t wait for an amazing school year at the Fuchs Mizrachi School!

Time for School Yeshiva Derech H a Torah

Yeshiva Derech Hatorah is off to another great school year. The students are really thriving in the three newly renovated buildings and it’s our fervent wish that they have a productive year of learning and development enriched through their studies.

Time for School content provided by Yeshiva Derech HaTorah