May 30, 2017
Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn
Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
Bobker on Shavuos................................................................. 53
Behind the Scenes at America’s Largest Yeshiva..... 78
The Power of Torah: How a Taste of Torah Brought
JWRP: A Momentous Movement Inspiring Mothers,
these Jews to Yiddishkeit..................................................... 73
Fathers and Families............................................................... 67
Divrei Torah................................................................................ 38
A Flair for Flowers.................................................................... 98
Aish Kodesh at 25: A Conversation with Rav Moshe Weinberger
pg
62
Summer Camp, No Longer a Luxury: Veteran Mechanchim Weigh in on this Vital Need pg92
Pages 9, 10 & 11
Page 39
Page 30
– See page 3
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
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The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers,
I
tions: a glint of I’ll-get him-next-time with a twinkle of I’m-so-proud-of-my-dad. You see, this father, a wounded veteran, had no legs. He was racing his son in a wheelchair. On that night, this father was giving his son a message of strength and courage: despite difficulties and challenges, I will race my heart out, I will soldier on, and I will win. As frum Jews we must hold the banner of Torah high. Sometimes it’s hard, as we live in a society that holds great influence over us. But we have to race to the finish line with strength and courage. We need to lead by example, and we have to guide our children in the path that we forge. Perhaps, at times, they’d like us to slow down, to bend to social mores. But if we preserve our tradition despite the pressures, if we keep our convictions and principles and hold them dear, we will be giving our children a strong message – a message of courage and strength in the face of challenges – and something of which they can be proud.
t’s fitting for me to have spent Memorial Day this year at my daughter’s school, where she received her first Chumash, just a few days before Shavuos. She had been singing the songs for her production for many weeks; each song came with motions and emotion as she sang her little heart out. There is something so pure, so innocent, about sevenyear-olds singing about the “heilige Torah” and receiving their first Chumashim with wide smiles. It makes me wistful; I only wish we can bottle that enthusiasm and present it to them years later, when life gets busier and when their passion may wane. I was taking an evening stroll on the boardwalk this week when I saw a boy of eight-years-old doing what so many children do: he was racing his father. As the proud mother stood by cheering him on, his father would not let up and maintained a 3-foot lead over his son during the race. When they were several feet from the finish line, I wondered, will Dr. Spock kick in, will he allow his son to win? But no, the father kept going with all his strength. When he touched the fence, he raised his arm, pumping his fist. The little boy stood nearby with mixed emo-
Wishing you a wonderful yom tov, Shoshana
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
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The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll
8
Community Happenings
13
Aish Kodesh at 25: A Conversation with Rav Moshe Weinberger
62
Summer Camp, No Longer a Luxury: Veteran Mechanchim Weigh in on this Vital Need 92 ISRAEL Tainted Flakes by Rafi Sackville
118
PEOPLE Sinai throughout History by Avi Heiligman
114
THOUGHTS ON YOM TOV Rabbi Wein
38
Pickled in Yiddishkeit by Rav Moshe Weinberger 40
90
Party to History by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
44
Deja New by Eytan Kobre
46
It’s Not Too Much After All by Rabbi YY Rubinstein
48
As One Man with One Heart by Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff
50
Bobker on Shavuos
53
THE POWER OF TORAH Story of Inspiration: Shema Yisroel
58
JWRP: A Momentous Movement Inspiring Mothers, Fathers and Families 67
48
The Power of Torah: How a Taste of Torah Brought these Jews to Yiddishkeit 73 Behind the Scenes at America’s Largest Yeshiva 78
HEALTH & FITNESS Reconnecting by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn
86
Shavuos Survival by Aliza Beer, MS RD
90
A Journey to a Peaceful Presence by Andrew Kahn
96
Dear Editor, I appreciated nutritionist Cindy Weinberger’s article this week on eating cheesecake on Shavuos. There is so much talk on never eating carbs or fats or sweets. Sometimes, though, a little indulgence is OK – and important – as long as you keep it “little” and on a very infrequent basis. I find that allowing myself a small piece of cake on Shabbos morning with my coffee adds to my week – and I don’t feel the need to eat that cake during the week since I know that Shabbos will soon be here. Have a great yom tov! Sherry K. Dear Editor, I read with interest the letter to your dating coaches from the young man who has been treated like a “prince” in his home and is now realizing that his mother insists that no one is good enough for him. My message to this young man: Move out. Man up. Start taking initiative. If you do not take things into your own hands when it comes to shidduchim, you will end up in the dating scene for a very, very long time. I have seen it numerous times – and not only when the boy is an only boy at home – when mothers see their sons as the greatest things since sliced bread. Believe me, they’re not. They are regular,
normal people like you and me. Each person comes with a package – good, bad, etc. – and they need to find the person who can appreciate them and their package for who they are. If mothers are out there insisting that their sons are so amazing, it’s guaranteed it will end in heartbreak. Their sons will develop overinflated egos, the mothers will nix wonderful girls – who could have been the ones who are compatible with their son’s “package” – and the sons will end up burnt out after too many years of dating. Trust me, it usually does not end very well. Sincerely, Effie Grunwald Dear Editor, I appreciated Dr. Deb’s article, “Doing Time,” in which she points out to her readers that we all have limited time in this world and should use that time to contemplate our goals and purpose. I have found, though, that it is extremely hard to take the time each day to fully concentrate on what our purpose is in this world. Between taking care of the children and my home and my spouse and going to work, I hardly have time to mumble a few prayers on the way out the door. The one time when I see that I can connect or actually slow down a bit is in the summer. My Continued on page 12
FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Ricotta Pancakes
102
LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW
82
A Flair for Flowers: TJH Speaks with Rivka Rabi of Boutique Liliane
98
Your Money
124
Make it Count by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
126
HUMOR Centerfold
36
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes
104
Why Middle East Peace Starts in Saudi Arabia by Charles Krauthammer
112
CLASSIFIEDS
119
Shavuos is here! Do you like cheesecake?
78
%
YES
22
%
NO
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Sale Dates: June 4th - 9th 2017
Weekly Filippo Berio Olive Oil
Poland Spring Water 24 Pack - 16.9 oz $ 99
Extra Virgin, Extra Light, Pure 25.3 oz
......................................................
.................................................
3
599
$
B&G Dill Gherkins Original Only - 32 oz
5
2/$
Green Giant Whole Kernal or Creamed Corn, Sweet Peas, Green Beans
Terra Stix 7.5 oz
349
$
14.5 oz/15.25 oz
3
3/$ .................................................
Cheerios - 12.25 oz Lieber’s Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies Honey Nut or 9 oz 13 oz Multigrain $ 49 2/$
Cap’n Crunch & Life Cereals Assorted - 11.5 oz - 14 oz
5
2/$
3
7
......................................................
.................................................
.................................................
Except Plus, Jumbo Shells, Manicotti, Lasagna, Gluten-Free - 16 oz
Assorted - 15 oz - 16.3 oz
100 Count
Barilla Pasta
Skippy Peanut Butter Flavor Ice - Ice Pops
5
599
2/$
5
4/$
......................................................
$
.................................................
Gatorade
Nabisco Chips Ahoy Cookies
Assorted - 32 oz
Assorted - 9.5 oz - 15 oz
99¢
299
Chobani Flips
.................................................
Gourmet Glatt Chocolate Almonds 9 oz
$
Fresh & Tasty Milk
Assorted - 5.3 oz
Gefen Hearts of Palm 14.1 oz
4
2/$
Daisy Sour Cream
Apple & Eve Brick Pack Juices
5
2/$
.................................................
.................................................
3.1 oz
Whole, Diced, Crushed, Sauce, Puree - 28 oz/29 oz
Lieber’s Chocolate Covered Rice Cakes
Hunt’s Tomatoes
3
$ 49
3/$
.................................................
.................................................
4 oz
2 Count - 8 Count
Char Crust Rubs
499
$
Ziploc Containers
5
2/$
Sabra Hummus with Pretzels
Califia Iced Coffee
10/$
Assorted Half Gallon
$ 99
$ 69
2/$
......................................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
Assorted 59 oz
Assorted - 7 oz
Assorted 8 oz
Assorted - 16 oz
10
1
1
Tropicana Orange Juice
Ha’olam Slims
Except Pepper Jack - 6 oz $ 99
2
Assorted 16 oz
.................................................
Except Organic - 8 Pack - 6.75 oz
1
399
$
.................................................
Mehadrin Low Fat Yogurts
5
4/$
369
$
Super Pretzels
McCain French Fries
Fresh & Frozen Gefilte Fish
Assorted - 13 oz
Assorted - 20 oz - 32 oz
299
2/$
$
20 oz
......................................................
.......................................
.......................................
Assorted - 15 oz $ 99
Assorted - 1 Pint
24 oz
5
Enlightened Ice Cream Bars
4
$
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
2
399
49
Pardes Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets
499
$
$
Assorted - 48 oz
4.56 oz
349
$
3
Oneg Shredded Cheese
Mehadrin Cottage Cheese
399
$
5
2/$
Kineret Onion Rings Ta’amti Vegetable 20 oz & Potato Cigars
299
$
14.4 oz
.......................................
.......................................
Original Only - 36 oz
Except Chocolate Chip Bites 14 oz - 16 oz
449
$
Mendelsohn’s Pizza Eggo Pancakes
7
$
99
299
$
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The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
Sale Dates: June 4th - 9th 2017
Specials
16
$
99
Untrimmed
1st CUT BRISKET
1st CUT VEAL CHOPS
9
$
lb.
99
CHICKEN LEGS
CHICKEN CUTLETS $ 99 lb.
lb.
269 lb.
3
$
Super Family Pack
Minute Steak
1299 lb.
Shoulder Lamb Chops
$
Family Pack ...................
Shoulder London Broil
................... Neck & Skirt
..................
499 lb. $ 99 8 lb.
Silver Tip Roast
12
Minute Roast
$
.................. Neck & Skirt
99
Dark Chicken Cutlets
599 lb.
lb.
Ground Chicken
Family . . . . . . . . . Pack ..........
Turkey Roast
$
White Meat
Yellow Bananas
Jumbo Green Peppers
Large Sweet Cantaloupe
59¢ lb.
89¢ lb.
Gala Apples
California Nectarines
99¢ lb.
seasoned ready to grill or bake!
$
Family Pack ...................
599 lb.
Fresh Beef Patties
12 Pack
Chicken Roast Stuffed $ 99 8 lb. with Veal or Kishka/ Pastrami
Family Pack ...................
End Cut Veal Chops $1499 lb.
$
Ground Beef
Family Pack ...................
Extra Lean Beef Stew $ 49 6 lb.
1199 lb.
$
...................
899 lb.
$
Super Family Pack
549 lb. $ 99 5 lb.
$
Seasoned Chicken or Beef Kabobs
$
Seasoned Beef & Chicken Patties
$
699 lb.
...................
649 lb.
Cello Carrots
Red Potatoes
$
4/$2
69¢ lb.
Green Cabbage
Spaghetti Squash
Sliced Mushrooms
$
39¢ lb.
79¢ lb.
2/$3
Bartlett Pears
Red Radishes
English Cucumbers
Romaine Lettuce
Sweet Potatoes
99¢ lb.
69¢ ea.
99¢ ea.
69¢ lb.
199 lb.
Head
24 VARIETIES!
4
12
Chicken Capon with 2 Side Dishes $ 99
Large Homemade Waffles Package $ 99
5
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4
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3
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999lb.
$
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1699& up
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$
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tuesday & wednesday only! Flounder Fillet $ 99 lb.
13
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12 $ 1699 $ 1999
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1
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Crunch Roll
550
$
Volcano Roll
$
Salmon Combo
$
1095
......................................................
595
free grilling tuesday & wednesday
1295
order your fish & salad platter for shalosh suda!
Diet Vegetable Kugel
Package of 4
699ea.
......................................................
Philadelphia Roll $
Sweet Onion Rolls Italian Bread
$
order your shabbos platters early! Healthy $ 95 495 Mom’s 7 Delight Roll
Mushroom $ Roll
1
$ 49 ea.
Fancy Rose Bouquets
2499& up
$
/gourmetglatt
largest variety of homemade dips! Mushroom Dip
2
$
99 ea.
Horseradish Dip
299ea.
$
Spinach Pasta
549ea.
$
399ea.
$
Potato Soup
399ea.
$
Creamed Spinach
749lb.
$
Kani Muffin new!
649lb.
$
We reserve the right to limit quantities. No rain checks. Not responsible for typographical errors.
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
with a wide brim. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. Wear sunscreen!! At least 30 SPF and water-resistant is preferable if you’re going to be outdoors and perspiring. Apply it at least 30 minutes before going outside. Even if it’s a cloudy day, the sun’s rays can still penetrate the clouds. Make sure to take care of your children’s sensitive skin as well and apply sunscreen religiously. This starts now – even before camp starts. Pay attention to their ears, the backs of their necks, their scalps – if they have a part. Their skin is so sensitive and can burn very easily. With the sun, an ounce of (sunscreen) prevention is worth pounds and pounds of cure. Be safe! Wishing everyone a wonderful summer, Chana Shneider
Look for the next issue of TJH in stores on June 8.
Continued from 8
children require less hands-on time – less homework, sleepaway camp for some, later wakeups, etc. – and the atmosphere at work is slower-paced as well. I am looking forward to making more of my days “count.” A Reader
Dear Editor, I always feel that it’s important for people to be reminded about sunscreen and the dangers of longterm exposure to the sun now that summer is starting. Years ago, no one knew about the dangers and people would sit with tanning oil and reflective mirrors to get a deeper tan. Now, when I see people who
have deep tans, I want to scream: don’t they realize the dangers?! Don’t they know there are 4 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States every year? This is a very serious issue and it is so easy to prevent. Stay out of the sun during peak hours (10am-4pm). Wear clothing that covers your body and a hat
Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home. Please send all correspondence to: editor @fivetowns jewishhome.com.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Around the
Community Bnos Bais Yaakov: Linking the Past to the Future
T
he Holocaust is not a topic usually included in an elementary school’s curriculum. And it is most definitely not on the agenda for the youngest grades. Yet, Mrs. Koenig and Morah Kurland, the general studies principals, felt that even a first grader can understand the concept of history and how it affects our lives. Working with that premise, and with the research-based curriculum developed by Dr. Golda Gross, BBY created a Holocaust museum in which
every single student in grades 1-8 participated. The museum was set up in the Ateres Nechaba Liba Simcha Hall, with each grade’s contributions dramatically arranged for maximum effect. The intention (which was magnificently realized) was to create a timeline of events for the girls and visitors to follow – engaging each grade at their appropriate level. For example, the 1st graders gained a sense of history by researching and writing about their family trees; the 4th graders
learned about various shuls and yeshivos extant in Europe at that time and then painted stunningly accurate pictures of those distinctive buildings; and the 8th graders made incredibly detailed 3-D representations of the sequence of events prior to, during, and after World War II. Before even entering the Simcha Hall, zeidies and bubbies, their children, and their eineklach crowded around a world map. Grandparents inserted push-pins into their areas of origin, giving the
younger generation a clearer idea of where they stemmed from. The ambience in the Simcha Hall was dramatic and awe-inspiring. The room lights were dimmed, while each exhibit was illuminated. The first exhibit that visitors saw the moment they entered was a memorial to the kedoshim. Hundreds of (electric) candles were “lit” in their memory, creating an otherworldly glow. And each exhibit thereafter, with its own carefully chosen props, added depth and meaning to the visitors’ hushed walk around the room. It was an emotional, intellectual, and creative exploration of the Holocaust which included each child in every grade. BBY did not work under the assumption, as is usually the case, that Holocaust studies are only for older children. It was felt that even the youngest students
could appreciate the aspects that were age-appropriate. Additionally, the learning experience utilized all types of modalities. Writing, painting, filming, using manipulatives, interior designing, etc., were all part of this extraordinarily effective experience. The museum was open for viewing on the afternoon of May 23rd and again that evening. The powerful impact that the exhibits made was evident by the request from many parents to extend the visiting hours – a request to which, of course, BBY readily acquiesced. For the 3rd showing, we had return visitors, their extended families, and even people from the community who have no BBY affiliation. May Klal Yisroel never experience anything like Churban Europa ever again. And may Moshiach come speedily, in our times, to end this galus forever.
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Haschalas Chumash Mesiba at Siach Yitzchak
By M. B. Smilowitz
I
t’s that time of year when the Siach Yitzchak classes have the opportunity to commemorate their many accomplishments. This past Sunday was a particularly special celebration as our Pre-1A boys celebrated their Haschalas Chumash Mesiba with each boy receiving their very first Chumash! The students’ incredibly beautiful performance was awe-inspiring and bound to leave the attending families with admiration for weeks to come.
Due to our Cheder’s incredible growth in recent years, we could not fit into our previous facilities and instead held our celebration in the gym at TAG Elementary School. By 10:15 on Sunday morning the gym was filled and all of the chairs were taken, as the boys, adorned with their crowns, made their way up to the three-tiered dais. A huge 35-footlong banner was spread across the back with beautiful pictures of Har Sinai and other items associated with the Mesiba. Rabbi Simcha Bunim Schachter,
shlit”a, one of the Pre1A rebbeim opened the event with a short speech of divrei shevach vehodaya, which was followed by the children’s performance – and what a performance it was! Each boy had a solo part. Some sang and some read pesukim in Chumash Vayikra. The boys sat in the order of their solo parts, passing along the microphone as they went. The children’s performance began by one child welcoming the parents and grandparents with a beautiful song that was then joined in and sung by all of the boys together. The reason for starting with Chumash Vayikra was explained to the audience. Afterward, the boys opened their Chumashim in unity and began to learn their first pasuk of Torah, thus officially beginning their lifelong journey on the derech haTorah. After all the pasukim were read by the boys, they all joined together in singing and wishing, “K’sheim shenichnas lamikra, ken yekaneis lmishna v’gmora ulmasim toyvim!” At the end of the performance, the boys who were Kohanim bentched the other boys. Then they again all sang together, this time singing l’shana haba b’Yerusholayim.
Rabbi Yosef Lovett, shlit”a, the other pre1A rebbe spoke at the end, praising Siach Yitzchak and its incredible staff. Our choshuva Menahel, Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlit”a, was beaming with pride as he distributed a Chumash Bereishis to each boy. Each boy also received a bag of treats from his proud rebbe. Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlit”a, still inspired by the boys’ performance, ended the mesiba with a brief address. He wished brachos to all the boys and their families. Later in the day, when Reb Dovid spoke to the rebbeim, he told them that he had actually prepared a d’var Torah and a much longer speech, but stated, “The event spoke for itself; speeches were unnecessary.” Reb Dovid carries the burden of the cheder all throughout the year, and when his hard work pays off and he can see the incredible middos and learning of his kinderlach, it gives him the koach to continue. May all rebbeim, morahs, and yeshivas continue to have the koach to imbibe our children with such beautiful Torah. May we all be zoche to bring a nachas ruach to Hanoysen Layeif Koach, Amen.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Awards at the Friendship Circle
T
he Friendship Circle of Chabad of the Five Towns just held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Award Ceremony and Carnival. “The Friendship Circle owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to our volunteers, families and supporters,” said Batsheva Borenstein, director of the Friendship Circle. “We know that the most important investment of our future as a community is to ensure our youth are given the opportunity to lead and make an impact, and to create a warm and accepting place for all individuals!” In addition to the award certificates and end of the year gifts, we invited our children and families to join for a fun and exciting carnival. The carnival featured inflatables, booths,
prizes, drum circle, food from Judds Memphis, therapy dog, crafts and more. It’s very rewarding to look back and reflect on our growth from this past year. Mrs. N. spoke to the volunteers about what the Friendship Circle means to her family. She said: “I have seen my daughter when she attends a Friendship Circle event. She
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is so in her element. You might see a very comfortable, happy, young lady. You might think that is how it always is. But it isn’t. You did not see that in another setting she was comfortable and ill-at-ease. The other setting was filled with stress. She might have felt judged, out-of-place, overwhelmed. To our daughter, Friendship Circle feels like home. Like family.”
To learn more about the Friendship Circle, to volunteer, join or support our program go to www. fc5towns.com. The Friendship Circle is a project of the Jean Fischman Chabad Center of the Five Towns. 516-295-2478*13.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Around the Community
Annual Green vs. White Game Raises Thousands for Chai Lifeline
L
ast Wednesday night, DRS held its annual Green vs. White Game, pitting the freshmen and senior Wildcats against the junior and sophomores. The game is an annual event in DRS and is used to raise money for Chai Lifeline. Chai Lifeline’s mission has been to restore the light of childhood to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening or lifelong illness. After a member of the DRS Hockey Team was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, Coach Larry Gross took it upon himself to create a fundraising event for Chai Lifeline every year, centered around an exciting and fun hockey game. This year, the team members raised $20,000, bringing the total of Green vs. White Game contributions to over $175,000!
Before the game, DRS Associate Principal Rabbi Elly Storch addressed the team members, applaud-
ing the tremendous chessed that they performed, as well as paying tribute to Coaches Larry Gross and Rabbi
Steven Genachowski, who always teach the kids on the team that sportsmanship and “playing like a mensch”
always comes before winning. Larry then addressed the players and thanked the players for their tremendous efforts throughout the season, and specifically for their efforts in raising money for this most unique and special event. Larry then turned his attention to the seniors, urging them to take the passion and spirit they used during the hockey season and imbue it into every area of their lives. Larry and the varsity captains presented the $20,000 check to Chai Lifeline at the event. Following the game, the Greenhouse hosted its alumni hockey all-stars in a first-ever alumni hockey game. We are so proud of all of our players and hope to see much continued success from them both on and off the court!
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Pheffer Amato Tours Torah Academy for Girls High School
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Pictured above, L to R: Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato; Dr. Shmuel Reisbaum, Executive Director, Torah Academy for Girls (TAG); and Rabbi Michoel Shepard, General Studies Principal, TAG High School
O
n Friday, April 21, 2017, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway) had the opportunity to tour Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) and see their program in action. “This high school is just a fantastic pillar of our commu-
nity, and has been for decades,” Pheffer Amato said. “It was a pleasure to take the tour, and I look forward to supporting the students and faculty of TAG as they grow to include ever-more-exciting programs for learning and community service.”
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nos Malka Academy fathers attended an evening of learning with their daughter in the 5th-7th grades this past week. In preparation for Shavuos, a shiur was given by Rabbi Isaac Rice, assistant rabbi at Anshei Chesed in Hewlett and a rebbi at SKA. Rabbi Michael Weichselbaum, menahel at Bnos Malka, was delighted to host the event. “It is always a pleasure to spend time with
the fathers of our school, but much more so when we gather to learn Torah. Baruch Hashem we had the special opportunity to have Rabbi Rice as our guest speaker.” The evening began with a light dinner, a dvar Torah and then fathers reviewing the maarei m’komos with their daughters prior to Rabbi Rice’s shiur.
“New friendships are created, school labels are removed, it’s a chance for children to forge new identities for themselves.” Page 92
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Around the Community
Yeshivat Kol Yaakov Lag B’Omer Programs By Shoshanna Friedman
Y
eshivat Kol Yaakov hosted an array of Lag B’Omer Programs this year. The festivities began with limudei kodesh principal Rabbi Kalati hosting the annual PTA sponsored Father Son Barbecue and Ballgame on Sunday. Fathers and sons gathered for lunch and a ballgame in the park where rebbeim, talmidim and Abbas all faced off against one another in an exciting baseball game. Activities took a more academic turn on Monday when Mrs. Jedda’s third grade class took their annual nature hike in King Point Park to survey the wild life, cocoons, chipmunks and budding trees. Younger Pre1A and second grade classes did a Lag B’Omer Science activity that focused on different states of matter. Mrs. Friedman, Kol Yaakov general studies principal, asked the boys about different states of matter and how that change occurred on the molecular level. Boys reimagined their fingers
as molecules in matter that either bonded together closely or loosely depending on temperature. She demonstrated the principle with water and then wondered if it might even be true with…chocolate? Students all agreed that it would be a much better experiment with chocolate than with
water – and certainly more fun to eat! So, Mrs. Friedman lit a Lag B’Omer “fire” and showed chocolate in its solid form, then liquefied it and finally even created chocolate “steam.” Boys understood the three states of matter quite clearly and also concurred that both solid and liquid were great states in which to eat chocolate but that chocolate “steam” or gas wasn’t much fun at all. They all understood why chocolate turned into a gas but enjoyed the melted chocolate in cups they got as take-aways far better! Older grades examined the difference between chemical and physical changes. After explaining both, Mrs. Friedman wondered if chocolate might be a good example of both kinds of changes as well. With their Lag B’Omer fire she showed
them melted chocolate that had undergone merely a physical change as opposed to chocolate with eggs and a flour added which, with the same amount of heat, underwent a chemical change. Boys clearly saw the difference between melted chocolate which changed back to solid chocolate when cooled as opposed to the chocolate “pancakes” they made when eggs and flour were added. First graders enjoyed a special popcorn science presentation where they learned about the inside of a popcorn seed and the little bit of water inside that turns to steam and causes the kernel to explode into popcorn when heated. They watched their pot of popcorn kernels on the fire and also watched a video of popcorn popping in ultra-slow motion so they could actually see the popcorn explosion. Their Lag B’Omer “fire” experiment was followed up by yummy popcorn eating. There was a sneaky math lesson added in as the popcorn was handed out when boys decided that they wanted 50 pieces and then had to tell Mrs. Friedman how many more she had to give them to equal 50. First grade teacher Mrs. Haironson told them to use estimation to help them calculate how much was missing. The boys did a quite accurate accounting of how many more pieces of popcorn they needed to be given to equal 50! Kol Yaakov boys loved their Lag B’Omer chocolate and popcorn experiments. Science is always best when it ends with something good to eat!
On Tuesday, May 23, the CHAZAQ organization was honored by the New York City Council for their Jewish American Heritage Month celebration. Celebrating the accomplishments and civic engagement of the diverse Jewish communities of New York City, the Jewish Caucus of the City Council, led by Councilman Mark Levine, presented CHAZAQ with a plaque recognizing their many accomplishments.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Around the Community
Commemorating an Historical Presidential Visit
H
empstead Town Supervisor Anthony J. Santino and Councilmen Bruce Blakeman and Anthony D’Esposito presented Temple Hillel Rabbi Steven Graber, President Kenneth Fink and Executive Vice President Norman Pernick with an “Historical Hemp-
stead” sign commemorating the 30th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s visit to the North Woodmere temple. It was the first time a sitting U.S. President visited a Jewish temple since George Washington went to Rhode Island’s Touro Synagogue in 1790.
Life Lessons for HANC’s Graduating Seniors
E
ach year, seniors are given the opportunity to choose between a professional internship and a week of dynamic seminars to culminate their high school experience. This year, we had a record number of seniors participating in the internship program. We also developed some new and innovative senior seminars in addition to inviting back some student favorites. Seniors who chose to intern did so in a variety of interesting settings. Several students worked with young entrepreneurs who run internet-based retail businesses, others shadowed lawyers of all kinds, while some were learning the ropes in medical offices. One student interned at State Senator Todd Kaminsky’s office while a handful of seniors worked in schools and early childhood centers. We even had a few students who secured coveted spots in the fashion industry! At the conclusion of their internship, students are required to submit an essay detailing their experience and how their newfound skills will help them in the future. Thank you to Assistant College
Director, Ms. Marisa Gelb, for spearheading the senior internship program and to Mrs. Merry Krauz, for her on-site visitations. For those students who chose to attend senior seminars, we ran two to three exciting programs each day designed to help students transition from high school to college, Israel, and beyond. Seminars addressed issues including college life and career planning, college safety, health issues, StandWithUS (supporting Israel on the college campus), Krav Mega, and a historical tour of the bucolic Old Westbury Gardens and House. Several sessions were Torah-based, which included Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, our very own Rabbi Tsvi Selengut, and noted artist, Mr. Stan Lebovic from Maryland. During each seminar, seniors were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about issues that truly resonate for them. All in all, both senior internships and senior seminars have been a rousing success. We look forward to concluding the seminar and internship program next week.
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Around the Community
Rav Eytan Feiner, Rav of the White Shul, addressed the talmidim of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov last week on the beauty and chashivus of Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalayim, particularly the Torah of Eretz Yisroel
Community Leader Myrna Zisman Shared “Lessons for Success” with Jewish Women Entrepreneurs By Rachel Segal
O
n May 23, the FTFR (Five Towns/ Far Rockaway) chapter of The JWE, The Jewish Woman Entrepreneur, hosted an event designed to help Jewish women entrepreneurs accelerate
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business growth and development by learning lessons from a woman in the community who has achieved success in business, politics and philanthropy. The event, entitled “Lessons from the Top,” featured keynote speaker Myrna Zisman, renowned
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community leader and Village Trustee. Drawing on decades of experience in the business and political realms, Myrna shared tips for achieving success in business. After graduating from the New York School of Interior Design, Parsons and Pratt Institute, Myrna launched and operated her own business for 30 years. She also co-founded the Shoshana Aleph Chapter of EMUNAH, an organization that provides vital social services and educational programs to children and families in Israel. Myrna shared how she balanced her passion for business and community involvement. She also discussed what she learned as she forayed into politics, serving on the New York State Commission on the status of
women and on the New York-Israel Cultural Exchange amongst other roles. Innovative women business owners and entrepreneurs from across the Five Towns and Far Rockaway attended the event held at the Honig Residence in Lawrence to learn how Myrna grew an international business while maintaining a steadfast commitment to tzedakah through philanthropy and politics. JWE events have attracted women entrepreneurs and professionals from diverse industries looking to sharpen their skills, network and enjoy the support of women who understand the challenges that accompany juggling entrepreneurship, faith and family.
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The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
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It’s Not Us. It’s Yerushalayim. the Shneller compound and entered the Merom Yerushalayim vicinity, we knew we were in for something breathtaking, something uniquely novel. The first thought that came to mind was that we were looking at a portrait of the perfect scene. To live in this coveted development, then, was to live in dreamland. Picture the scene. Surrounded by a stretch of gleaming white stone and lush greenery, in a secluded Jerusalem neighborhood right off the bustling streets of Geulah, stand a neat row of perfectly constructed, impeccably finished buildings. As you stand and marvel in awe at the sight that greets your eyes against the backdrop of an exquisite blue sky, you get to hear a rare sound in the city that’s always buzzing – the chirping of the birds. If this isn’t magical, we don’t know what is. There’s no other place like this in the world. Inside, our awe does not diminish. A team of highly skilled experts in every field, we learn, has come together to create the most exquisite project
here’s the report, live from the site.
By Shiffy Friedman
T
his summer, those fortunate to have secured a luxury apartment in Merom Yerushalayim’s Phase 1 development will enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Surrounded by lush greenery and Jerusalem’s sun-kissed stone, they will spend the evenings in the pleasant breeze, absorbing the magnificent view from their balconies. At this historic moment in time, now that occupancy of the project that culminates the past and future is in full swing, we had the privilege of visiting the site to get a real, inside view. You’ve seen the Merom Yerushalayim ads for months now. You’ve been tempted by the photos, excited by the details. A secluded oasis in the heart of Jerusalem that offers luxury living on the highest of standards, breathtaking views, and luscious grounds seemed like a fairy tale, no less. It was hard to believe that this ideal culmination was at all possible. But we’ve checked it out for you – and
From Dream to Reality For several years, the buzz has circulated that something big is happening in Yerushalayim. People knew to tell one another that in the most coveted neighborhood of the Holy City, a unique pastoral landmark setting would become home to a modern upscale development. “The dream project for every discerning homebuyer,” real estate experts told their clients of Merom Yerushalayim when it was still in its initial stages of development. “The standard of construction and design will be tenfold higher than what’s currently considered upscale. If you care for quality living in the place of your dreams, this is what you’ve been waiting for all these years.” Of course, we’ve been skeptical about all this sales talk. After all, glossy, appealing ads for Jerusalem projects abound. Why would Merom Yerushalayim be any different? But the moment we stepped foot into
Yerushalayim has ever seen. And 150 families already have the privilege of calling this project home. Only the Best Will Do Thanks to the combined input of the most experienced contractors, architects, landscaping experts, and designers, Merom Yerushalayim offers true quality of life to every resident. No stone was left unturned to ensure that every unit in every building be completed to perfection, down to the last detail. In order to ensure utmost comfort and convenience for the residents, the team invested itself in planning and executing an intricate underground parking lot, as well. Down to the last detail – the windows, electrical sockets, and lobby fixtures – every part of the project received its well-deserved consideration. Those who requested custom apartments to suit their family’s needs had their wishes met to the T – which, in one case, meant combining six apartments to create the buyer’s 6,000 square foot dream home. For
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ציון הלוי-לע''נ יצחק בן דוד למל הכהן ולע''נ יצחק בן דוד ויצחק בן בן
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Around the Community
this resident, the team expertly managed to bridge the gap between Manhattan and Jerusalem. As we leisurely stroll around the wide expanses of Merom Yerushalayim’s grounds, we get to meet some of the gratified residents who are more than eager to share how their new life has been for them since the blessed day of their recent move. Families from places like Zurich, Vienna, Antwerp and Golder’s Green, from Flatbush and Monsey, Boro Park and Williamsburg, from Tel Aviv and Los Angeles, from Toronto and Montreal, all express similar sentiments of absolute joy and gratitude for having made this incredible decision. From these residents, we get an inside view of the unique life they lead – a seamless tapestry of modern living right at the heart of the City that’s saturated with holiness, surrounded by Chassidic courts and yeshivos of all stripes. These are couples and families who didn’t want to give up on anything. They knew to choose Merom Yerushalayim. A Sparkle in His Eye At the site, we have the privilege of meeting Yossi Waldman of Toronto, the real estate developer renowned for his expertise in the international development field who, not surprisingly, stands at the helm of Merom Yerushalayim, as well. When Yossi speaks of this prized project, the sparkle in his eye – usually reserved for dreamers – conveys his excitement and appreciation for the impeccable results. “It’s not us,” says Yossi of the impressive development he’s been instrumental in establishing. “It’s Yerushalayim!” It’s evident that from the depths of his heart, Mr. Waldman possesses a profound appreciation for the Holy City, one that has undoubtedly played a prominent role in his dedication to this project and thus its incredible outcome. “I view every project I’m involved with,” shares Mr. Waldman, “like a world of its own, as if it has a heart and soul. We want to give its residents the ideal living experience, to ensure that they’re satisfied with every last detail. But especially when it comes to a development in Yerushalayim, it literally becomes a part of
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Come visit us for Shabbos! my life. I’m overwhelmed with emotion that I merited to be instrumental in a project that graces the heart of this Holy City. I knew this had to be perfect.” The Perfect Fusion When the final product impressed even the selective develop-
ers Yossi Waldman and Eric Rothner, and their team, they recruited the renowned Sun Chen Group for the marketing phase. Not surprisingly, the sales rate and volume were remarkable. At this point, only a few remaining apartments are still available for sale. As we make our way to the exit of
this exclusive enclave, we take one last look at the magnificent scene. Simply standing in the square and inhaling the pure Jerusalem air against the backdrop of the beautiful buildings is enough to make us realize that yes, sometimes, things in life are too good to be true – but they’re true nevertheless.
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Around the Community
NOT SURE WHERE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY FOR SUMMER BREAK?
All the yeladim in HANC ECC davened together, placed notes in the Kotel, and enjoyed blue and white cupcakes in honor of Yom Yerushalayim
Shavuos in Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel
T
he kol Torah resonates in Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel throughout the year and will be”H reach its pinnacle leil Shavuos, the yom tov of kabbalas haTorah. Led by Rav Daniel Glatstein, Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel will be offering a wide range of shiurim to the community throughout yom tov. Rav Glatstein will deliver a drasha the first night of yom tov on the topic of “The Crowns of Har Sinai, Where Did they Come From?” Drawing on a vast array of sources, a new perspective of the role of Klal Yisroel will emerge that will enhance our appreciation of being a member of the am hanivchar. The highlight of yom tov will surely be the Shavuos night learning program. From 12:15-2AM Rabbi Glatstein will give shiur on a sensational
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topic titled “Titanic.” It was one of the most catastrophic peacetime disasters in recent world history, not so wellknown are the halachic ramifications. Documenting the dozens of cases of agunos from the Titanic through the prism of the classic responsa on the subject of the Chasam Sofer and Rav Yitzchak Elchanan, this is a sub-
ject that will expand your horizons of Torah knowledge. There will also be shiurim throughout the night given by members of the shul. The grand finale of yom tov will be the n’eilas hachag with beautiful zemiros and divrei Torah. The Rav will, iy”H, will discuss the heartwrenching request of Rav Elazar ben Horkinus to learn
Torah. Please check the shul website for the full scheduling. The kehilla and rav warmly invites the entire community to participate in any of our shiurim, tefillos and programming over Shavuos or throughout the year. The shul is located at 568 Peninsula Blvd; entrance in the back.
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Mesivta Chaim Shlomo Welcomes New Assistant Principal
Rabbi Chaim Yosef Olshan has been appointed assistant principal of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
M
esivta Chaim Shlomo, the Maurice and Edith Lowinger Mesivta High School, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rabbi Chaim Yosef Olshan as assistant principal. Founded in 1995, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo has gained a deserved reputation as a makom Torah of the highest caliber, with an outstanding program in both limudei kodesh and general studies. Its nearly 300 talmidim are taught by a distinguished faculty of rabbeim, mashgichim, and teachers who care about each and every individual, providing them with an education that is second to none. The general studies curriculum, which includes the entire New York State Regents courses as well as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes and electives, is enhanced by the Mesivta’s state-of-the-art science and computer laboratories. Although primarily serving the Yeshiva Darchei Torah geographic region of Far Rockaway and the Five Towns, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo is also a magnet for hundreds of applicants from throughout the United States, of which only a handful tend to gain acceptance each year. Graduates of the Mesivta serve today in a multitude of fields, from rabbanus and chinuch to the law and finance. Whatever their professions, all Mesivta Chaim Shlomo alumni share the common traits of a thorough grounding in lomdus and bekius; a high school education that prepared them for any subsequent career or course of study; and a healthy disposition in middos – both
bein adam lachaveiro and bein adam lamakom. As assistant principal, Rabbi Olshan will be working daily under Rabbis Shimon Dachs and Menachem Gold, the principals of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo. Most importantly, he will be working one-on-one with the bachurim, helping each one to maximize his potential, and will be in constant communication with their parents. He will also participate in the interviews
with prospective parents and students, including those graduating from Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s middle school. Rabbi Olshan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Touro College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Bellevue University. He has spent his entire career in Jewish education, most recently at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) in Uniondale, NY, and at The Cheder in Brooklyn, NY – where
he served as general studies principal. “We are thrilled that a person of such enormous talent, devotion, and experience will be joining our hanhala,” says Rabbi Yaakov Bender, the Rosh HaYeshiva. “We are confident that Rabbi Olshan will further build on Mesivta Chaim Shlomo’s formidable track record in chinuch, enabling the next generation of bachurim to reach for the stars.”
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Take a Yeshiva University course this summer in the Five Towns! At the melava malka for the Spinka Rebbe in the home of Reuven and Esther Guttman in Lawrence
Town Hall Meeting
O Business and Jewish Law BLW 2500 (2 credits)
Instructor: Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman Dates: July 12-August 14, 2017 Mondays and Wednesdays ∙ 6 to 8:30 p.m. This course endeavors to convey and discuss the principle and practices of Jewish Law as they relate to business, both regarding the professional businessman as well as others in their interactions in a transactional environment. The course is heavily influenced by Rabbi Dr. Aaron Levine’s course, “Comparative Economic Systems” and will cite extensively from his many writings, in conjunction with other literature on the subject.
Sy Syms students on the Wilf and Beren campuses fulfill a core requirement by taking this course. SCW and YC students will receive elective credits.
Course is open to Students from all Universities Undergraduate Summer Tuition: $540 per credit OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY Tuition to audit this course: $250
For more information or to register for this course, please contact Rabbi Aryeh Czarka at aryeh.czarka@yu.edu or 212.960.5400 x6826.
n Tuesday, June 6 at 7PM, there will be a Town Hall meeting at the Hewlett-Woodmere Library with local Five Towns Legislators Howard Kopel and Denise Ford, as well as representatives from the Nassau County Police 4th Precinct and Town of Hempstead Public Works. This meeting will offer residents the opportunity to discuss the safety concerns, need for beautification, and traffic issues related
to West Broadway, a vital roadway running through Cedarhurst, Woodmere and Hewlett. We urge everyone to come and have your voice heard to our local elected officials to address the many issues related to West Broadway and its impact on the Five Towns residents. For further information and to get involved please email westbroadwaycommittee@gmail.com.
Shulamith Celebrates Yom Yerushalayim
S
hulamith Lower Division had a very busy week of celebratory events in honor of the 50th year since the reunification of Yerushalayim. A highlight was a visit from Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, chief of staff for David Friedman, who came to speak with grades 1-4. Rabbi Lightstone’s daughter, Shayna, is a student in the first grade. The students also played Yerushalayim Monopoly on a board drawn exquisitely by art teacher,
Mrs. Naomi Weintraub. They visited the Kotel, where they were given the opportunity to put tefillot down on paper and place them on the Wall. To cap off the festivities, everyone sang and danced along as Mordechai Shapiro rocked the house in our very own Shulamith auditorium. Thanks to Morah Penina Deutsch for coordinating all of the activities and to the Shulamith Women’s Organization for sponsoring the concert!
“Compassion means not just loving a child or living in the same house as the child, it means living the child.” Page 62
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Scenes from Sh’or Yoshuv 50th Anniversary Dinner
Celebrating the milestone 50th anniversary of Sh’or Yoshuv
PHOTO CREDIT: IRA THOMAS CREATIONS
Mr. and Mrs. Aryeh Freund - Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld Memorial Award
HoRav and Rebbitzen Naftali Jaeger - Guests of Honor
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Jacobs - Legacy Builder Award
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
TJH
Centerfold Riddle me
You gotta be kidding A man walks to the police station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before. “You’ll get your chance in court,” says the police officer guarding the burglar. “No, no, no!” says the man. “I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do that for years!”
this?
On May 15, Luke Robitaille, age 13, won the 2017 Raytheon Mathcounts National Champion, beating a field of 224 to take home the top prize. To win the grand prize at the competition, which was aired on TV, the contestants were asked the following riddle. Luke hit his buzzer in .9 seconds with the right answer. Let’s see how you do. Here’s the riddle: In a barn, 100 chicks sit peacefully in a circle. Suddenly, each chick randomly pecks the chick immediately to its left or right. What is the expected number of un-pecked chicks? See answer on next page
The Times They are a Changin’ Here are some of the headlines that we might see in 2035 “Jared and Ivanka get rabbinical permission to tour the moon on Shabbos.” “Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, California.” “English recognized as official third language of U.S.” “Former Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed to have had his reading glasses glued to the edge his nose while in the Senate.” “Authentic year 2000 ‘chad’ sells at Sotheby’s for $4.6 million.” “Hillary Clinton loses her seventh presidential elections…Democrats consider moving on.”
“Average height of NBA players now nine feet, seven inches.” “New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers and baseball bats must be registered by January 2036.” “Fidget spinner lodged in boy’s stomach since 2017 finally removed.” “Supreme Court rules that punishing criminals violates their civil rights.” “Princess Diana was still alive hours before she died.” “John McCain elected to his 28th term in the Senate.” “Major flying car traffic jams causing hour-long delays leaving Five Towns.” “Congressional panel set to investigate whether deceased former president Donald Trump might have colluded with the Russians in the 2016 elections.”
“George Z. Bush says he will run for president in 2036.”
“Teenager faints when friend talks to her in person rather than through text.”
“35 year study: diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.”
“Tom Brady set to retire after next season.”
“Texas executes last remaining citizen.”
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
Flower Trivia 1.Who was the first flower breeder in the United States? A. George Washington B. John Flowersmith C. Alexander Graham Bell D. René Barbier 2. How many flowers are there approximately in Dubai’s Miracle Garden 72,000 square foot attraction that opened in 2013? A. 4 million B. 17 million C. 24 million D. 45 million 3. What is the national flower of the
U.S.? A. Daisy B. Tulip C. Rose D. Violet 4. Which flower shares its name with a musical instrument? A. Drumflower B. Flute pedals C. Viola D. Harp flower 5. What was tulip mania? A. It’s a WWE wrestling match that takes place in a large city’s botanical gardens at the end of every summer.
B. It’s a disease in which a person is compelled to plant tulips in every free space of their garden. C. It is a tulip competition that takes place in England. The person who harvested the nicest tulips gets to plant the garden at Buckingham Palace. D. It was a craze that took place in the Netherlands in the 1630s when tulips were seen as a status symbol, causing them to become more valuable than gold. The market eventually collapsed and tulips became nearly worthless, leaving tulip speculators in financial ruin.
see answers below
Answer to Riddle
Answer to Flower Trivia Answer:
The expected number of unpecked chicks is 25. Here’s why: For any one chick, there are four possible outcomes: being pecked only by the chick to its left, being pecked only by the chick to its right, being pecked by both the chicks, or being pecked by neither of the chicks. Each of the four outcomes is equally probable, so there is a one in four chance of any chick being unpecked. Since there are 100 chicks in the circle we can expected, ¼ x 100 = 25 un-pecked.
1. A- Not only was he the first U.S. president, but George Washington was also the first American rose breeder. He had hundreds of bushes at his home and believed his ability to care for roses came from pruning cherry trees as a child. 2. D 3. C- On November 20, 1986, then president-Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation certifying the rose as the national flower in a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. 4. C 5. D
Wisdom key 4-5 correct: A scent of genius...flower power! 2-3 correct: You are a carnation…eh, nothing special! 0-1 correct: Were you knocked in the head during tulip mania?
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Torah Thought
Shavuos By Rabbi Berel Wein
A
lthough there is no really accurate way to measure the relative importance of the holidays of the Jewish calendar year, I think that we can all agree that the holiday of Shavuot appears to be the least dramatic of them all. The Torah describes it as an agricultural feast day commemorating the grain harvest and the greening of the first fruits of the season as an offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition and rabbinic sanction has emphasized and label the holiday as the anniversary of the granting of the Torah to the Jewish people by G-d at the revelation at Mount Sinai. With the absence of the Temple, the holiday has taken on this commemoration as the center point of its observance. Secular Zionism attempted to restore the primacy of its agricultural component in commemorating the holiday but was singularly unsuccessful. So, even today in the Land of Israel, once again fruitful and bountiful, this agricultural aspect of the holiday is still very secondary to its historical commemoration of the revelation at Sinai. And in this there is an important lesson that repeats itself throughout Jewish history. The great Gaon, Saadya, succinctly summed up this message when he stated: “Our nation – the Jewish people – is a nation only by virtue of its Torah.” All of the other facets of
our nationhood exist only because of this central historical moment – the granting of the Torah to the Jewish people by G-d through Moshe at the mountain of Sinai. This was and is the pivotal moment in all of Jewish history. Everything else that has occurred to us over these three and a half millennia has direct bearing and stems from that moment in Jewish and human history. Therefore it should be no won-
and are, in the main, no longer part of our people. Unlike Pesach and Succot, Shavuot carries with it no special ritual or commandments. It certainly is the least dramatic of all the holidays of the Jewish calendar. But, rather, it represents the every day in Jewish life – dominated by study and observance of Torah and its eternal values. The name of the holiday means “weeks” – units of time that measure
All of the other facets of our nationhood exist only because of this central historical moment – the granting of the Torah to the Jewish people by G-d through Moshe at the mountain of Sinai.
der as to why the holiday of Shavuot is the day of commemoration of the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Looking back over the long centuries of our existence, we can truly appreciate how we have been preserved, strengthened and enhanced in every way by our studied application of Torah in every facet of our personal and communal lives. Those who forsook the values and denied the divinity of Torah fell by the wayside of history
our progress on this earth. It is not only the seven weeks from Pesach to Shavuot that is being referred to, but rather we are reminded of all of the weeks of our lives that compose our stay in this world. Time has importance to us when we deem it to be meaningful and well spent. The purpose of Torah, so to speak, was and is to accomplish just that. And therefore the day of commemoration of the granting of the Torah to Israel
is very aptly named for it is the Torah that gives meaning to our days and weeks. The customs of the holiday also reference the scene at Mount Sinai on the day of revelation. Eating dairy foods, decorating the synagogue and the home with flowers and greens, and all night Torah study sessions have all become part of the commemoration of the holiday itself. They all relate to Sinai and the revelation. The Jewish people, through long experience and centuries of analysis, have transformed this seemingly physical agricultural holiday into the realm of spirituality and eternal history. On this day of festivity we are granted an insight into the past and the future at one and the same time. We are able to unlock the secrets of our survival and eternity as a nation and as the prime force in human civilization for these many millennia. So it is the holiday of Shavuot that grants true meaning and necessary legitimacy to all of the other holidays of the Jewish calendar year. Shavuot is the cornerstone of the entire year, for without it all the days of celebration and commemoration remain devoid of spirituality and eternity. It does not require for itself any special commandments or observances because it is the foundation of all commemorations throughout Jewish life and time. Chag sameach.
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
From the Fire
Shavuos Pickled in Yiddishkeit By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf
Why the Fireworks?
T
he Jewish calendar is filled with peaks and valleys. We have the joyful mountains of Pesach and Sukkos. And we have the valleys of Tisha B’Av and the Three Weeks. But there is one yom tov, regel, that stands alone, separate and different from all of the others. We are all familiar with the story (Shabbos 31a) of the potential convert who asked Shamai and Hillel, “Convert me on the condition that you teach me the entire Torah whiles standing on one foot, regel achas.” Because the words for yom tov and foot are the same – regel –, the seforim hakedoshim teach us that this Gemara hints to the yom tov of Shavuos, the one, singular Yom Tov of the year on which everything in Yiddishkeit stands. Everything else that happens
in the Jewish year revolves around, is unified by, and is elevated by the yom tov of Shavuos, the day we received the Torah. It is the day about which we say in the piyut on Rosh Hashana, “You were revealed in the cloud of Your glory over Your holy nation, to speak with them…” Ever since that day, nothing has been the same. Everything in Jewish life, both nationally and individually, is different since we stood at the foot of Har Sinai to receive the Torah. Everything took on a new meaning. Everything is deeper. Everything that has happened to us, whether revealed good or bad, has taken on a completely different meaning. Ever since that day, we have been “a kingdom of kohanim, a holy nation” (Shmos 19:6). We were irreversibly transformed into a new type of people, people with a special
role and responsibility in the world. Some people may kick and scream, “I do not want this responsibility! I am not part of this!” But nothing can change the fact that every Jew is part of something greater than himself. Every Jew is inexorably tied to our Jewish destiny, in which every aspect of life has a completely different meaning than it does to anyone else in the world. With that in mind, it is very difficult to understand what happened on the day Hashem revealed the Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments, on Har Sinai. Hashem communicated the Aseres Hadibros to us with clouds, thunder, and lightning. The whole mountain was covered with smoke when Hashem spoke. But what earthshattering words did He tell us? Aside from Shabbos, they were all things
which any moral and intelligent person would have known even without Hashem telling us. Do not kill. Do not kidnap. Do not commit adultery. When the monumental moment of the giving of the Torah finally came, when the day anticipated by creation over two thousand years earlier finally arrived, that was all G-d had to say? While some philosophers maintain that objective morality cannot exist without G-d, it is at least possible to say that these moral precepts would have existed even if Hashem had not given them to us on Har Sinai. They are not even unique to the Jewish people. While there are those that violate many of the Aseres Hadibros in the world, those that do so are not really considered part of civilized society even among the nations of the world. Why then do we need a Sinai experi-
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
ence to learn that we do not kidnap or murder? Did we really need all of the thunder, lightning, and fireworks to let us know that we cannot steal?
not strictly halachically prohibited, “it is not the way of Jewish girls to go?” We must explain that Naomi understood that Yiddishkeit is much
time by Reb Yeruchem was pickled. He became completely different. It was not one certain vort or a specific teaching that changed him. “The ex-
Naomi’s Lesson in Yiddishkeit In order to understand the foregoing question, let us learn a little bit about the acceptance of the Torah by the most famous giores, female convert, Rus. It is initially difficult to understand why we read the book of Rus on Shavuos. It contains no mitzvos and its connection to Shavuos is not immediately apparent. And while a number of different seforim explain the reason the book of Rus is read on Shavuos in different ways, Reb Tzadok Hakohein, zy”a, explains that whenever Chazal offer a variety of reasons to explain something, it means that while a certain practice is clearly obligatory, the reason for it is not clear. We must therefore come to a better understanding of the reason why the book of Rus is read on Shavuos. The Gemara (Yevamos 47a) teaches us that when a person wants to convert to Judaism, we must first teach them some of the weightier, more difficult mitzvos and some of the easier, less stringent mitzvos. Rus’s mother-in-law, Naomi, attempted to do this. When Rus made it clear to her that she was serious about becoming a Jew, Chazal tell us (Rus Raba 2:22) that Naomi began Rus’s introduction to what it means to be a Jew by saying, “My daughter, it is not the way of Jewish girls to go to the theaters and circuses of [the non-Jews].” Rus then responded (Rus 1:16), “Where you go, I will go.” In other words, Rus said that she did not know where Jewish people go, and that she would rely on Naomi’s expertise and she accepted upon herself only to go where Jewish people go. Naomi’s “Introduction to Judaism” course to Rus is very difficult to understand. The Gemara says that we teach a prospective ger some easy mitzvos and some difficult mitzvos. But Naomi began with a concept that, while it may be true, is not technically part of the mitzvos at all. Why did she not begin with Shabbos, forbidden relationships, kashrus, or the yomim tovim? Why did she begin by teaching Rus about the places to which, while
Every Jew is part of something greater than himself. more than simply a collection of a list of dos and don’ts. The totality of Yiddishkeit is so much more than the sum of the various mitzvos and halachos, which are indeed an important part of Judaism. It is an entirely different way of being. It means seeing the world through different eyes. That is why she began by teaching her something that was designed to begin to give Rus a feeling for how a Jew sees himself or herself. Naomi was trying to tell Rus: A Jewish woman walks with a Jewish walk. A Jewish woman laughs a Jewish laugh. A Jewish woman cries Jewish tears. Everything is different. And Rus accepted that sense of what a Jew does and does not do when she said, “Where you go I will go.” She was not merely accepting upon herself a list of Though Shalts and Thou Shalt Nots. She was accepting a way of life.
Pickled in Yiddishkeit My brother-in-law’s father, Reb Motel Rabinowitz, zt”l, was a talmid chacham and a student in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Europe, where the mashgiach was Reb Yeruchem Levovitz, zt”l. I once asked him to tell me what it was like by Reb Yeruchem. He answered, “Oh, you want to hear a “chassidisheh story” about the mashgiach? I told him that I simply wanted to hear what it was like to learn under Reb Yeruchem. He told me that it was impossible for me to understand. He then asked me if I knew what a pickle was. I answered that I certainly knew what a pickle was. He then asked if I knew what a cucumber was. Yes, I assured him, I knew what a cucumber was as well. “Well that was what it was like by Reb Yeruchem.” He often made such enigmatic statements, so I asked him to clarify. He told me that he could not explain it, but anyone who spent any
perience of sitting by Reb Yeruchem in that room changed us. We never looked at anything in the same way again. We saw everything with more seriousness. Everything had meaning.” Being a student in the Mir under Reb Yeruchem was much more than a learned set of customs or teachings. It meant being pickled in Reb Yeruchem’s essence. That was what Naomi was attempting to communicate to Rus. A Jew must have a sense for what it means to be Jewish. He must be pick-
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led in Yiddishkeit.
The Sinai Experience There are two aspects to what we received at Sinai. Hashem introduces the Aseres Hadibros by saying (Shmos 20:1), “And G-d spoke all of these words to say.” And then the next pasuk begins, “I am Hashem your G-d.” On one hand, we received “all of these words;” a collection of dos and don’ts, a variety of mitzvos and halachos. But on the other hand, we became intimately conscious of the reality that “I am Hashem your G-d.” We were no longer cucumbers. We were pickles. Hashem immersed us in a new reality in which we were soaked through an awareness that permeated everything, that “I am Hashem your G-d.” After that day, there was no comparison between the Jewish people’s “Thou shalt not murder” and the “Thou shalt not murder” of the nations of the world. Our morality does not come from human intellect. It is also more than one item in a list of “all of these words.”
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
For us, it is part of a transcendent “I am Hashem your G-d.” The unique thing about what we received on Har Sinai was not the content of the individual mitzvos received. It was not about the benefit which would accrue to us by fulfilling the mitzvos or the negative effects of transgressing the Torah’s prohibitions. We received a Jewish sense of what it means to hear G-d say, “I am Hashem your G-d.” We looked at everything in life differently after that. We therefore do not look only at the details of halacha to understand what Hashem wants of us, though that is obviously the starting point. We must have a sense of our place in Divine reality, a feeling for “it is not the way of Jewish girls...” For example, in the Aseres Hadibros, Hashem says, “Thou shalt not steal.” And while it would be wonderful if every Jew observed this commandment on its most simple level, for a Jew, this implies much more than simply not walking into a store and leaving with something that he did not pay for. Jews observe a principle that one may not “steal” someone’s sleep. This is called gezel sheina. We take this concept so seriously that the poskim discuss whether one may wake a friend up in the beis midrash Shavuos night if we know that he intended to stay up all night. Normally, a Jew always lets another sleep and does not wake him up. But we are concerned that maybe there would be a limited exception on Shavuos night when the person who fell asleep definitely intended to stay up throughout the night. The prohibition of gezel sheina is not a biblical prohibition and according to almost all poskim it is also not a rabbinic prohibition. But it is part of what it means to be a Jew. It is part of a meta-sensitivity that we have because “that’s what Jews do.” After Har Sinai, we were completely changed. We were acquired by G-d. In halacha, an acquisition is often completed by exchanging an object, which demonstrates the parties’ intent to transfer ownership of an object from one person to a different person. Even the book of Rus (4:7) notes that this form of transaction was used by Boaz. Hashem acquired us, completely exchanging and transforming the nature of our lives.
There is something different, something Jewish, about the way a Jew smiles, tells a (clean) joke, and talks to his children. But only those who have been pickled by immersing themselves with the children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov can understand this.
Cucumber Torah It is difficult to explain that Yiddishkeit is more than the sum of “all of these words” to Jews who, for whatever reason, were never pickled at some point in their lives. I know that when I begin speaking about the hazards of going to a hotel for Pesach, those who go to hotels begin to roll their eyes, “There goes Rabbi Weinberger again. Why can’t he accept that the war is over? The hotels have won!” But the issue goes much deeper than the fact
with these people’s ignorance when it comes to Shas and poskim, although their ignorance is indeed breathtaking. They believe that they are doing Yiddishkeit a favor by digging up an obscure responsa from the time of the Geonim using the Bar Ilan Responsa program to permit people to do whatever they wish to do. But they lack any sense for what Yiddishkeit is. How do we explain to them that Yiddishkeit is more than a collection of dos and don’ts? Poskim do so much more than simply comb through thousands of responsa to find those that suit their fancy. Yiddishkeit is a feeling for G-d. It is a recognition that “I am Hashem your G-d.” It is so much more than the sum of “all of these words.” Somehow these Jews were never pickled. How is a Jew immersed in Yiddishkeit? How does one get a sense that “it
Hashem immersed us in a new reality in which we were soaked through an awareness that permeated everything.
that the kashrus of many of the Pesach hotels is dubious, at best. Those who go to such places abandon the whole shape and form of Yiddishkeit. Where will their children ever experience the two weeks before Pesach in the kitchen with their mother cleaning, cooking, and preparing? When will they ever soak in the smells and jobs of a Jewish kitchen before Pesach? The perfunctory search for chometz the night before they leave for the hotel is no replacement for a true preparation for Pesach. And for every rationalization to explain how such people are not violating individual halachos, how do we explain that while they may not violate halacha by going to a hotel for Pesach, they are foregoing the essence of what it means to be a Jew and raising their children without a sense of “I am Hashem your G-d?” And there are Jews who self-identify as Orthodox but seek to make a variety of innovations in Judaism that have never been seen before in order to accommodate some people’s feelings. Again, the problem is not only
is not the way of Jewish girls…”? One way is how Jewish people talk. Without ever teaching it explicitly, children growing up in such homes receive the unspoken message that the mitzvos are not things we have to navigate past in order to engage in our true goals, the tasks and pleasures of physical life. Rather, children soak in their parents’ feeling that the details of life are only there to facilitate our performance of mitzvos. They are all part and parcel of our Yiddishkeit. My wife shared with me an article called “Remembering the Living” by Rabbi Nachum Muschel of Monsey. In this article from Jewish Action Magazine from 2007, Rabbi Muschel beautifully describes how a living, breathing Yiddishkeit is transmitted from one generation to the next. He writes: "Indeed such was the nature of those saintly communities. The education was all around you. The Torah training embraced you from all ends. Jewish life was the main concern. Everything else was secondary. The mothers did not send their children
to go to sleep. Instead they would say, “Gai lain Krias Shema.” (Go say Shema.) Members of the family were not invited to come to eat, but were reminded to “Gai vash dich.” (Go wash for hamotzi.) And when the youngsters seemed to have nothing to do, they weren’t sent to watch television. Their father or mother would say, “Why are you wasting your time? Take a sefer and look into it.” And your uncle who met you on the street didn’t ask you for the results of the ballgame. He inquired what you learned. He wanted to hear a posuk quoted. He gave you a brief test, and by the time you came home, your father had the results." This is exactly what it was like growing up in the 1960s with my parents and the members of their generation. And, in the tight, small kitchen of your home your mother didn’t just cook the food and the aroma didn’t just spread all over. But she taught halachos in how to take challah, how to salt meat, how to keep a house kosher, how to give tzedakah. I have worked to explain this to my children. But how do we explain to our children, when they say, “But everyone is doing it!” that even though we cannot point to a specific statement in the Mishna Berura demonstrating that something is forbidden, that it is pas nisht, is inappropriate, for a Jewish person. When people see Yiddishkeit as a merely list of dos and don’ts, it is difficult to tell them that Jews should or should not do something that is not explicitly written in a halacha sefer. How do we communicate “I am Hashem your G-d” to people who only see “all of these words”? This problem not only bothers me; it torments me. May we merit to imbibe the totality of what it means to be a Jew, may we merit to imbue our children with an understanding that Yiddishkeit changes everything and shapes how we view every aspect of life, and may we realize that the Torah is the key to living with the reality that “I am Hashem your Gd.” Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and has served as Mashpia in Yeshiva University since 2013.
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Observant Jew
Party to History By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
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hen Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States in 2009, roughly 1.8 million people attended his inauguration. That’s double how many attended his second inauguration in 2013, and about four times how many people showed up to the optimistically-named Million Man March (according to National Park Service estimates). So why were they there? For many, the election of the first black president was a milestone that made history. I won’t go into my personal feelings of voting for someone based on race or gender, though I think that’s the antithesis of what civ-
il rights activists stood for. The point is that this was something unique – a first! And they wanted to be part of it. When I visited Philadelphia in early 2017, someone at a museum told me about the crowds that had been there on election night. He told me the story of one woman who had come up from North Carolina to watch her candidate win the election in the shadow of Liberty Hall. She had been trying to get to the Javits Center but only made it most of the way. He described the sadness and tears as those gathered realized they would not be witness that evening to the first female presidential victor. I wondered: I couldn’t get far
enough away from the elections. I didn’t want any part of them. Why were people traveling hundreds of miles and spending thousands of dollars to be in the room with others celebrating a win with the risk of being subject to disappointment if it was a loss? I realized that just as the people who filled the Mall during the inauguration these people wanted to be able to say they were party to history; that they were there when such-andsuch happened. It gives one a sense of immortality to be connected to a moment in time that will live on in memory forever. I think that explains why it wasn’t so important to me. Maybe I didn’t stand on the Mall or in Trump Tower waving an American flag, and maybe I wasn’t there as a president took his oath of office. But I had something much better. I was a party to history with millions of people at a gathering bigger than any inauguration. I was there the “first” time G-d spoke to Mankind at Har Sinai and revealed Himself
and guard your lives exceedingly, lest your forget what your eyes saw, or remove from your hearts all your days; and you shall make it known to your children and grandchildren: The day you stood before Hashem your G-d at Chorev (Sinai) when Hashem said to me, ‘Gather to Me the nation that I will make them hear My voice so they may learn to fear Me all the days of their lives and teach this to their children.”’ Not only were we at the coronation, we were specifically invited, and we were part of the ceremony. We didn’t just witness it; we were a part of it. More than that, we are commanded to realize that it wasn’t just history. The purpose of remembering the day we stood before Hashem at Har Sinai, when we were chosen to receive the Torah and when we chose Hashem as our King, is to remind ourselves that we are here to make a difference in the world. We are here to be Hashem’s devoted children and servants, constantly seeking to improve our relationship with Him.
I was a party to history with millions of people at a gathering bigger than any inauguration.
as our Master. Standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Jews, I was part of the most momentous event in the history of the world – and so were you. Even the longest reigning earthly monarch only lasted for eightytwo years, and twenty-one of those he wasn’t acting ruler. On the day of Matan Torah, however, we crowned Hashem our King, One who is eternal and doesn’t need to be chosen again in four years. Over 3,300 years later, He is still our beloved King and, unlike politicians, He keeps His promises. We became part of a history that renews itself every day. One of the Shaish Zechiros, the six remembrances, refers to it in the most emphatic terms possible. In Devarim (4:9-10) we are warned: “Just be very careful
Shavuos is the day when we remember and reflect upon our good fortune and realize that we’re not just part of history, but an integral part of the future as well. ~ © 2017 – All Rights Reserved
Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/ RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @ RabbiJGewirtz. He also operates JewishSpeechWriter.com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion. Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Between the Lines
Deja New By Eytan Kobre
I can hardly wait for tomorrow, it means a new life for me each and every day. -Stanley Kunitz
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n 1812, self-crowned French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was sitting in the little town of Vitebsk, in what is now Belarus. He had just driven the Russian army out of the town and decided to camp there for the winter and continue his invasion of Russia in the spring. But after just a few days in the sleepy hamlet, Napoleon grew bored and decided to press forward, even as the deadly winter approached. So, advance he did. Together with his army of 600,000 men, he reached Moscow in September 1812. But the Russians never gave him the decisive battle he desired, preferring instead to burn their capital to the ground and move further east – winter, famine, and disease did the rest. Napoleon’s La Grand Armee left Russia later that year with less than 120,000 soldiers. It was the greatest military defeat in history until the German army made a similar blunder in World War II. One of his aides, Philippe-Paul de Segur, wrote that Napoleon’s fateful decision to immediately ad-
vance towards Moscow, despite the approaching winter, was the result of this rhetorical question Napoleon was heard repeating over and over again in Vitebsk: How can I bear the boredom of seven months of winter in this place? All good things grow tiresome after a while. And when we become bored, in any aspect of our lives – our jobs, our homes, our families – that sense of boredom creates a pain that we seek to escape. To combat the spiritual boredom that could result from blindly-ritualistic repetition, G-d stresses the need for renewal in all our endeavors, especially in how we regard the words of the Torah. “The words of the Torah should be like new to you, as though they were given today” (Rashi, Shemos 19:1). They “should not be in your eyes like a dated royal decree, to which no regard is given; rather, they should be like new [decrees], which everyone rushes to read” (Rashi and Sifri, Devarim 6:6; Rashi Devarim 27:9; Berachos 63b). Indeed, the blessing we say each day before we may learn Torah refers to G-d as “the giver of the Torah” – not “gave” the Torah in the past, but He who gave it and continues to give it each and every day (Onkelos, Devarim 5:19).
Shavuos, at its core, celebrate the ability to renew, and it challenges us to implement it in our own lives. It is rather striking that, while the Exodus from Egypt is commemorated through many commandments, our receiving of the Torah is not commemorated by a single one (but see Devarim 4:9-16; Ramban to Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvos, Prohibition No. 2). Nowhere does the Torah explicitly associate the holiday of Shavuos with the giving of the Torah (Vayikra 23:21), nor does the Torah even tell us the date on which we received the Torah, recording only that “in the third month of the Jewish people’s departure from the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the Sinai desert” (Shemos 19:1; Shabbos 86b). You see, commemorations are about past events. The Exodus is such an event, and its many commemorations are fitting. But the receiving of the Torah is fundamentally different. Nothing in the Torah commemorates this watershed historical event explicitly, not because the event isn’t worthy but because it isn’t historical – it is something we are to relive and experience anew each and every day. The Torah thus obscures the date upon which the Torah was given because celebrating the anniversary of
the receiving of the Torah as a single, specific, defined moment in history would miss the point entirely. It is a moment that must be recreated each and every day. In fact, the sacrifice brought on Shavuos is referred to as a “new offering” to remind us of the need to renew (Kli Yakar, Vayikra 23:16). In 1777, R’ Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk emigrated to Tiberias with many of his followers. Living in the Land of Israel raised hopes for the coming of Moshiach and the redemption of the Jewish people. Some months later, a prankster climbed the Mount of Olives and blew a shofar, signaling Moshiach’s arrival. Word spread quickly throughout the land. When the news reached Tiberias, R’ Menachem Mendel’s followers raced to their rebbe. “Rebbe!” they yelled. “The shofar was sounded on the Mount of Olives! Moshiach is finally here!” To their great surprise, however, the Rebbe rose slowly from his chair and walked to the window. Throwing open the wooden shutters, he stuck his head out the window and took in a long, deep breath. He quickly pulled his head back inside and closed the shutters. “My friends,” he said, turning to his followers, “I wish
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it were true. But, alas, Moshiach has not yet come, for I smelled nothing new – no freshness – in the air.” R’ Menachem Mendel understood that Moshiach could not possibly have arrived in a state of same-old, same-old because good isn’t found in the doldrums. Each day of Creation was described as “good” – except the second day, because that was the only day on which there was no new creation (Kli Yakar, Bereishis 1:8). Indeed, G-d Himself “renews, in His goodness, every day continuously the work of creation.” To conquer the human penchant for growing bored with repetition, there must be innovation while still remaining faithful to enduring tradition (Da’as Chochma U’Mussar, Vol. III, pg. 183; Michtav M’Eliyahu, Vol. I, pg. 224; Mishnas R’ Aharon, Vol. I). “It is not good to be old,” R’ Nachman of Breslov cautioned. “You must remain young, renewing yourself each day and making a fresh start” (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom, No. 51). The miracle of the Showbread
– which remained fresh from Shabbos to Shabbos (Chagiga 26b) – was showcased on Pesach, Sukkos, and Shavuos, when the Kohanim would lift the Showbread and declare, “Look how beloved you are before G-d”
By pointing to the Showbread, itself a symbol of renewal, the Kohanim reminded the departing people of the importance of maintaining the “freshness” and enthusiasm they had experienced during their pilgrimage.
To conquer the human penchant for growing bored with repetition, there must be innovation while still remaining faithful to enduring tradition
(Menachos 29a; Ritva, Yoma 21a). The Jewish people made pilgrimage to the Bais HaMikdash three times a year to renew and refresh their attachment to G-d. At the conclusion of these auspicious times, they were likely to grow disheartened knowing that they would soon return to the monotony of their daily routine.
Likewise, when the Jewish people returned home after their Pesach, Sukkos, and Shavuos pilgrimages, they would never leave by the gate through which they arrived (Yechezkel 46:9) because G-d wanted the Jewish people to constantly experience that renewal and freshness that comes along with making the great
pilgrimage to the Bais HaMikdash (R’ Yaakov Emden, Avos 1:4).
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The powers of good do not have a monopoly on renewal; the Evil Inclination also harnesses the same power and “renews” itself every day to create mayhem (Kiddushin 30b). But just as G-d created the Evil Inclination, He created the Torah as an antidote to it (Kiddushin 30b) – provided we are prepared to relive the giving of the Torah in our own lives. And it is precisely this ability to renew our commitment to the Torah – and to reinvigorate our connection to G-d and thus rejuvenate ourselves – that we commemorate on Shavuos.
Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, mediator, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.
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Another L
k
It’s Not Too Much After All By Rabbi YY Rubinstein
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here’s a very old joke, you remember, the one about the Jew who is shipwrecked on a desert island. Years pass and a ship comes by and rescues him. When the rescue party arrives on the shore they ask him how he survived all those years. The castaway is delighted to answer the question and escorts his rescuers to the part of the island where he lived. There he shows them four grass huts standing side by side. The Jewish fellow points to the first hut and exclaims, “This is my house!” The rescuers nod their understanding and one points questioningly to the next hut. “That,” exclaims the Jew. “Is a synagogue! That is where I pray during the week.” The same man asks, “And the hut next to the synagogue?” The castaway smiles indulgently and says, “That’s also a synagogue. That’s where I pray on the Sabbath!” The rescuer points to the fourth hut saying, “And that one?” The Jew frowns and turns away. “I don’t pray in that Synagogue!” Most jokes contain an element of truth and most of us will recognize what it is in this joke. We Jews are famously stubborn and between you me (and the rest of the readership of The Jewish Home), we are sometimes irascible and quarrelsome. That makes what happened at Mount Sinai completely baffling. After everything we had just witnessed and gone
through, how could we mess up so disastrously and build the Golden Calf? Rashi offers an answer, but given that old joke about the castaway, it still leaves me scratching my head. He says that Moshe announced that he was going to be gone for forty days and would bring back the Torah. He meant forty complete days and as the day he made this announcement had already begun and was not a complete day, it was not one of the forty. The clock only started ticking the next day! The Jewish people thought that the day he spoke to them was part of the forty and they set their alarm clocks
there even one “Jewish castaway” type, one irascible and quarrelsome Jew, among 600,000 who stood up and said, “Wait a minute! Calm down already. You are being foolish! You’ve all got it wrong. Moshe meant forty complete days. Trust me, he’ll be back tomorrow! Take a chill pill and go home to your tents.” The answer the Chovos HaLevovos supplies is upsetting. He writes that in their deepest sub-conscious, they intentionally miscalculated and misconstrued Moshe’s meaning! They wanted to get it wrong because they wanted to fail. Deep down, they sim-
He had been secretly hoping Hashem would send him a sign, but by the morning of his flight, none had appeared.
for thirty-nine days later. When their clocks buzzed, Moshe hadn’t returned and alarm bells started ringing. The Jewish people panicked, convinced themselves that Moshe had died, and made a magical calf to be his replacement. I am sure you understand Rashi’s explanation perfectly but my question is, “If you understand Rashi’s explanation…why didn’t they?” Why wasn’t
ply didn’t believe that they could do this thing called Kabbalos HaTorah. That was why not even one “castaway” spoke out against all the rest. The Jewish people, all of the Jewish people, even though they may have been totally unaware of it, simply did not believe in themselves enough. They were scared of Kabbalos HaTorah. It was all just too much.
I once spent time counseling a young man from a traditional home where Jewish observance was carried out respectfully but without commitment or passion. He was very different. He loved what he learned in his bar mitzvah lessons. He loved Yiddishkeit. That passion continued burning brightly after his bar mitzvah…for a while. The town his family lived in only had a few observant families. The rabbi used to have to phone congregants and plead with them to make up a minyan. With a lack of inspiration to feed his passion, the passion and his commitment started to fade. But the young man regretted this state of affairs and fanned his faltering flame back to life, only to watch it gutter and sputter over and over. When we met, he wanted to know how he could stop this vicious cycle of ups and downs. I was able to get him to see that if he were to go to a yeshiva (I suggested Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem) he would find the fire of his faith fed by the oxygen of Torah and taught by outstanding teachers so that it would never be extinguished. Then I told him a story of someone who had taken the exact same journey as him and an amazing thing that happened to him when he did. A young man from Philadelphia traveled for a two-week trip to Israel. He wasn’t religious but went to visit to the Kosel, which someone told him was a “must.” Somehow he ended up
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
in Aish HaTorah and stayed the whole summer. He enjoyed it so much he didn’t want to return but the Rosh Yeshiva encouraged him to return to complete his last year of college and come back the next year. Twelve months later, his passion had started to fade. Nevertheless, he booked his return ticket while still worrying if he was doing the right thing. He had been secretly hoping Hashem would send him a sign, but by the morning of his flight, none had appeared. But when he opened his mail he discovered a phone card he had sent for from AT&T to make it easy to keep in touch with his family. He took it from the envelope and glanced at it. There was his name, “Kevin M. Ross,” and underneath it, the card number, 613248365. There was something about that number that caught his attention and he read it again. Bells were ringing somewhere in his head but he wasn’t quite sure why. Then he noticed the number printed again at the bottom of the card, this time with spaces: 613 248 365. The bells turned into a lightbulb. 613 mitzvos; 248 positive ones; 365 negative ones. His eyebrows flew up and then they flew even higher as he noticed the name of the card printed in the top corner, “True Choice Calling Card.” I turned to the young man who was listening carefully as I completed my sales pitch, “Who knows?” I said with a smile of encouragement. “If you go to Jerusalem maybe something like that will happen to you!” I was sure I had clinched the deal. I was completely wrong. I had not succeeded in persuading and encouraging him to go and learn in Jerusalem; I had discouraged him from doing that very thing. The very prospect of having Hashem show Himself in his life so clearly overwhelmed and intimidated him. It was all just too much. It happened to more than just us, of course. The Midrash reports that Hashem offered the Torah to the non-Jewish nations too. Rather sensibly they asked to hear what was in it. Each nation nodded their acceptance of 612 mitzvos but each rebelled at a different 613th. The Romans rejected not killing. Yishmael rejected not stealing. The Scots rejected only getting drunk one day in the year (OK... I made that one up, but you get the idea).
& JY
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The Jewish people proudly declared, “We will have it…then we will hear what’s in it.” Suppose, though, we hadn’t. Suppose we too had asked what’s in it? Hashem would have told us all the mitzvos until we came to the one that bans speaking or listening to lashon hara. What would we have said then? What we understood at that moment,
Est. 2002 though, was that even if we can’t envisage how we could keep all the mitzvos, Hashem would not be offering them to us unless we could! That certainty and the subsequent belief in ourselves wavered a short time later when we worried that after all it was all too much. Arriving at Mount Sinai again this year that thought is something we
Commercial and Residential should cling to. Hashem would not be offering us the mitzvos unless we could keep them. It’s not too much for us after all, as long as we believe in ourselves with the same conviction and certainty that Hashem does. Rabbi Y Y Rubinstein is a writer and author who speaks all over the world. He lives in Inwood.
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As One Man with One Heart By Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff
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he importance of each individual is certainly something that we are all aware of. We saw at the outset of last week’s prasha (as well as countless other sources) that Hashem loves each of us, independently and collectively, and views our very existence as an opportunity to demonstrate that love. The L-rd spoke to Moshe…saying, “Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers’ houses; a head count of every male according to the number of their names.” (Bamidbar 1:1-2) Because they were dear to Him, He counted them often. When they left Egypt… when [many] fell because [of the sin] of the golden calf…when He came to cause His Divine Presence to rest among them on the first of Iyar, He counted them. (Rashi to verse 2) Sometimes, however, we get so bogged down by our own needs and
responsibilities that we forget that to be part of Hashem’s nation means to share His devotion, compassion and love with every Jew, particularly those who need it most. In that light Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky, shlita, once drew particular attention to the fact that kabbalas haTorah was experienced not by individuals, but by an entire nation, millions of people who stood around Har Sinai with a singular sense of purpose and destiny. They journeyed from Rephidim, and they arrived in the desert of Sinai, and they encamped in the desert, and Israel encamped there opposite the mountain. (Shemos 19:2) And Israel encamped there: [using the singular form, denoting that they encamped there] as one man with one heart. (Rashi ibid) Unity and communal connectivity are prerequisites for receiving the Torah. They speak directly to its fundamental status as a national guide,
a means through which we learn to better interact and appreciate one another. They also serve as the basis for our own personal acquisition of its wisdom. “The knowledge of the Torah can be acquired only in association with others.” (Berachos 63b) Perhaps this is why the period that directly precedes our receiving of the Torah has come to be identified with the central issue of bein adam l’chaveiro (interpersonal matters). As we know, one of the defining aspects of the sefirah period is the expression of mourning in commemoration of the death of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students during the early-second century CE. Yevamos 62b states that all of these great men died between Pesach and Shavuos because they did not treat each other with ample reverence. At first glance this punishment seems unusually severe. Certainly, it is of great importance to treat each individual respectfully. Still, where
do we ever find that weakness in this interpersonal regard is punishable by death? Further complicating matters is the parallel account of this event recorded in the Bereishis Rabbah 61:3. The midrash states that the reason behind their deaths was not due to a lack of respect, but rather the fact that they “looked grudgingly” at (i.e. were envious of) each other. This problem of envy would later become so clear to Rabbi Akiva that when he started teaching again with a small group of new students he first warned them, “My sons, the earlier ones died only because they begrudged each other (knowledge of the Torah). See to it that you do not act similarly.” Duly counseled, these new students, who included such future luminaries as Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yose, achieved such collective greatness that they “filled all of Israel with Torah.”
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The Ponevezher Rav, zt”l, explains that these two different explanations for the death of these 24,000 students are not in fact conflicting. Rather, they express two aspects of the same issue. The more visible component was the lack of respect between students. However, the basis for that disrespect was their inability to tolerate each oth-
er’s greatness, perceiving that somehow it took away from own their rightful status. Rabbeinu Yonah, writing in Shaarei Teshuva (3:160), explains that one can fulfill all of the mitzvos to the fullest degree and still be one who hates Hashem if he is bothered when he sees others serving Hashem as well. Such a person is not
serving their Maker out of a true desire to fulfill His will, but rather for the purpose of enhancing his own personal stature. This is what occurred with Rabbi Akiva’s students. The grudge that they held against each other was caused by jealousy, an inability to truly appreciate each other’s greatness. This, in turn, impacted their
willingness to treat each other with the requisite degree of respect. This is not to say that Judaism categorically frowns upon human envy. On the contrary, jealousy that inspires one to achieve greater heights, known as kin’as sofrim, is permitted and even encouraged. However, envy that fosters a feeling of resentment can only bring pain and destruction. The former looks up to his colleagues, continuously aspiring to reach their lofty levels.
Unity and communal connectivity are prerequisites for receiving the Torah.
The latter seeks to bring his friends down to his level, and belittles their accomplishments. These great students of Rabbi Akiva died because they made improper, selfish use of the Torah. “He who makes improper use of the crown of Torah passes away.” (Avos 4:5) They were punished specifically during the sefirah period because they failed to uphold the honor of the Torah during this period in which we ready ourselves to properly receive it. As z’man matan Toraseinu (the period of giving of the Torah) draws near, let us remember the important lesson shared by Rav Shmuel. The Torah was not given to a collection of individuals. Rather, it was bestowed upon a nation, a group that viewed each other as a central and crucial part of the process. Thinking in such terms will not only draw us nearer to one another but position us to receive the Torah on a more sublime and fulfilling level than otherwise possible.
Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is an executive coach and president of Impactful Coaching and Consulting. He can be reached at 212.470.6139 or at nhoff@impactfulcoaching.com.
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
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BOBKER ON SHAVUOS
Naomi, Next-of-Kin, and Estate Planning By Joe Bobker
M
egillas Ruth is the oldest of the five megillos that we read on separate yom tovim. The others are Pesach’s Shir Hashirim, Sukkos’s Koheles, Purim’s Megillas Esther, and Tisha b’Av’s Eicha. With the exception of Koheles, all are dedicated, allegorically, to Jewish women. But Megillas Ruth, read on the second day of Shavuos, is unique in that we get a rare glimpse in “real time” of the intricacies of marriage and inheritance in early Israelite society. It seems good estate planning has been around forever. As his father lay in bed dying from leprosy in his tent in the desert, his son Moishie goes to the local water well seeking a wife. He sees a beautiful woman, asks her to
marry him, and tells her he is about to inherit 20,000,000 diras worth of valuable seafront land on the Mediterranean coast. She goes home with him, and the next day becomes his stepmother. The Ruth drama takes place during the leadership period of the Judges who preceded the Kings. In the aftermath of a famine, Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, return to Beit Lechem – a Hebrew-Aramaic expression for “House of Bread” about six miles south of Jerusalem which was originally built as a fortress by King Rehoboam, grandson of David – with their Jewish mother-in-law following the deaths of their husbands, Machlon, a name for “sick,” and Chilion, which means “ailing,” to reflect the catastrophe they just experienced. Although Naomi discourages
Ruth from converting to Judaism, a tenacious Ruth becomes the earliest record of a sincere conversion in Jewish history. It is Ruth who pens the famous declaration that has now resonated and reverberated off the walls of Jewish history: “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d, my G-d; where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.” Ruth sacrifices her home, family, religion and burial among her own people to “walk in the ways” (vehalachta bidrachav) of the G-d of the Jews. In contrast to the proverbial precarious relationship between mother and daughter-in-law, Ruth’s kindness and modesty are on display as she clings to and cares for her aging mother-in-law. I was at a wedding recently and
I noticed a woman running through the front door. She was stopped by the doorman who asked her, “Are you a friend of the bride?” “Of course not,” she shot back. “I’m the groom’s mother!” But Naomi has a problem. Her sons have died. Because of her age she can no longer marry nor have children. In other words, the fact there will be no heir means the end of the lineage of her late husband, Elimelech. In Biblical society this is an awful fate for a family, worse perhaps than death itself. But she has Ruth. Chazal describes the Moabite maiden’s lure not in terms of beauty but her exemplary qualities of courage and determination, loyalty and faithfulness. Naomi sees another virtue: her daughter-in-law is youthful, energetic – and, as a potential surrogate, the solution to her terrible fate.
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Naomi now displays an uncanny ability to navigate through love and marriage, inheritance and destiny. Putting aside the issue of a Levirate marriage (from the Latin levir, “husband’s brother”) where the widow can preserve her husband’s legacy (and property) by marriage with her deceased husband’s brother (see a competent rav for explanation), Naomi understands the only way to prevent her status within the legal framework of Jewish law is to have land and children. Ruth can provide neither without marriage This is where Boaz, a prominent judge and leader of the nation, steps in. Naomi the shadchan makes sure that Ruth and Boaz “accidentally” meet in one of his fields where she asserts her Leviticus rights as one of the poor and needy to glean the leftovers of the barley harvest. (I think that’s how my wife and I “accidentally” met. I was at a party. I was surprised to see her there because I thought she was at home with the
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kids.) Anyway, Naomi’s plan works. Boaz is attracted. Ruth returns with “an efah of barley” (between 30 and 50 pounds). Marriage is in the air. If this union produces an heir, Naomi can breathe a sigh of relief. Her concerns will be alleviated.
rights because she is a woman. In short: No sons, no heirs! No heirs, no inheritance! No inheritance, no real estate! If her late husband’s land is redeemed by another it’s the end for Naomi At the time, before the Stock
As the great-grandmother of King David, and therefore ancestor of the Messianic lineage, Ruth’s role in Jewish destiny is more crucial than the others. But wait. There’s a serious obstacle. Apparently Boaz’s next-ofkin status is subordinate to another next-of-kin. His name is not important, which is why we’re not told his identity. This next-of-kin has the first right to redeem the parcel of land that belonged to her husband, Elimelech. Naomi has no ownership
Exchange and other “stuff,” real estate (i.e.: land) was a family’s greatest economic asset. It could only be passed down from father to son to son and so on. This was well-known in Jewish families. One day Sophie and Stevie were having a heated argument. “Come on, admit it,” she screams at her
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husband. “You only married me because my zeida left me $10 million, didn’t you?” “Don’t be ridiculous,” he screams back, “it made no difference to me who left it to you!” Remember: Where there’s a will – there’s a relative!
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f an inheritance was sold below value for hardship purposes the Torah allowed family members to redeem it so that it stayed in the family. Selling an ancestral inheritance was a big deal. Daughters were provided a dowry instead of an inheritance unless there were no sons. If they inherited they could only marry someone within the family so the inheritance wasn’t lost. This is why Naboth turns down a full offer from Ahab. For the unnamed next-of-kin to redeem the land he must also marry the widow. This was not a problem because Naomi could no longer have
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children. When he came forward to exercise his rights she tells him that it’s a “package deal” – but not with her. The land goes with Ruth whom he must marry even though her conversion status was being contested because of her Moabite background. Naomi knows she’s taking a big risk. She’s hoping the family member will balk and walk away. And more: the potential “buyer” already has children and further progeny will dilute their inheritance assets if Ruth has a son. Naomi holds her ground (pun intended). The next of kin “passes” on his rights. Boaz is back in the picture. He and Ruth get married. A child is born. And Naomi triumphs when the birth announcement is made. When reading out the ancestry guess whose name is mentioned? Elimelech? No. Ruth? No. “A son is born,” we are old, “to ... Naomi! [the bubba].” A child is born. And Naomi triumphs when the birth announcement is made. When reading out the ancestry guess whose name is mentioned? Elimelech? No. Ruth? No. “A son is born,” we are old, “to ... Naomi! [the bubba].” Ruth is rewarded with impeccable lineage. Her son, Oved, which means “one who worships,” later fathers Yishai who in turn becomes the father of King David, born seventy years later (on Shavuos) from whose descendants ultimately will emerge the Redeemer of Israel, Melech HaMashiach.
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hat does any of this have to do with Shavuos, the most unique of yom tovim because it has no specific Torah-derived halachic rituals nor a clearly defined date, anchored instead to the start of sefiras ha’Omer on Pesach, such that even as late as the final days of the Talmud it was still considered simply as a “closure” (atzeres) to Pesach, in much the same manner that Shemini Atzeres “closes” the festival of Sukkos. Perhaps it should be renamed Sssssh-vuos, the kept-quiet holiday? On Shavuos we can eat what, when, and where we want, in contrast to Pesach when we can’t eat what we want, Sukkos when we can’t
eat where we want, Rosh Hashana when we can’t eat when we want, and Yom Kippur when we can’t eat at all! The connection between Ruth and Shavuos? Let’s satisfy the gematria fans first. Ruth’s numerical
Orpah’s son, Goliath, meets Ruth’s great-grandson, David, in a final clash in the Valley of Elah between these two branches of the family). This is why in his farewell speech David, aware of the public unease
Ruth’s numerical value is 606, which equal the number of mitzvos given at Sinai (plus seven more for non-Jews; i.e.: the sheva mitzvot B’nei Noach) value is 606, which equal the number of mitzvos given at Sinai (plus seven more for non-Jews; i.e.: the sheva mitzvot B’nei Noach). But here’s (one of) the main reasons. The setting and acceptance of a pagan Moabite woman of the G-d of Israel is told against a background of the barley harvest, Chag Hakatzir, and parallels the yom tov’s theme of the Jewish people’s acceptance of Torah at Sinai. But the more interesting question is why Ruth? In the context of Jewish history, Ruth is but one of many proselytes so why is she selected for such prominence? A list of other converts is impressive: it would include Yisro, Moses’ Midianite father-in-law; Joseph’s wife Asenat (daughter of the Egyptian priest of On); David and Judah’s wives (Philistine and Canaanite); Rahab (one of the world’s four outstanding beauties, along with Sarah, Abigail and Esther), who not only married Joshua, but is also the ancestor of no less than eight priests and nine prophets (including Jeremiah and Hulda); and many more. Why Ruth? R’ Ze’ira posits, “In order to teach the great reward of those who perform acts of lovingkindness,” citing her devotion to her elderly mother-in-law and her people. Ruth is thus often compared to Rivka, the Torah’s prototype of compassion and benevolence. But it is more. As the great-grandmother of King David, and therefore ancestor of the Messianic lineage, Ruth’s role in Jewish destiny is more crucial than the others. (The Machlon name, Ruth’s late husband, survives through her; her brother-in-law’s name, Chilion disappears from Jewish history;
regarding his questionable genealogy, reminds the nation that all are “strangers” in front of G-d. “All” includes his great-grandmother even though she came from one of the nations (Moab) that the Torah explicitly excludes, “Lo yavo Amoni u’Moavi b’kahal Hashem, An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of G-d.” In order to permanently clear any
doubts of David’s genealogy – specifically that the illegality of a Moab converting to Judaism applies only to a male – which is listed at the end of Megillas Ruth, Shmuel – the first of the fire-and-brimstone Hebrew prophets, spiritual counsel to Saul and David, the first two Jewish kings, author of Shoftim, Ruth, and Shmuel, and the one who anointed David as king in the first place – ordered that her remarkable story be publicly read on Shavuos. !
Joe Bobker, alumnus of Yeshivas HaRav Kook in Jerusalem, is the former publisher and editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Jewish Times, author of the popular Torah With a Twist of Humor and the 18-volume “Historiography of Orthodox Jews and the Holocaust,” the first of which, “War Against the Rabbis: Hitler’s Assault Against Judaism,” will be published this year around Shavuos. Mr. Bobker can be reached at jbobker@ gmail.com.
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Stories of Inspiration
Shema Yisrael By Rabbi Eugene Labovitz z”l and Dr. Annette Labovitz
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uring the Yom Kippur War (1973), I fought in Sinai. The captain of my platoon was very religious,” mumbled Dan. “His name was Avner. As we fought, side by side, he chanted, ‘Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad...’” I was very annoyed with his chanting, because I was the typical secular, non-observant Jew. You see, I did not believe that there was a G-d. In fact, I had even raised my two children to believe that the concept of G-d is the biggest hoax and that the Jewish people are no more holy than any other people.
During the fighting, I was positioned behind Captain Avner. I heard his continuous, persistent chanting. As soon as he finished Echad, he began again with Shema. Raising his arm, motioning the soldiers to follow him into battle, he repeated over and over: “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad.” I think I was the only one in the platoon who was annoyed by his chanting. Can you imagine, day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, the sound of Shema Yisrael? I literally felt that the chanting would drive me out of my
mind. I could not endure his foolish praying. Finally, I could not contain myself any longer. At the top of my voice, I shrieked: “Why don’t you stop chanting Shema Yisrael? You are driving me crazy! You know that I don’t believe the way you do. Why can’t you lead this platoon with neutral words of encouragement like naylech (let’s go) or halah (forward)?!” Avner didn’t pay too much attention to my shrieking at first, but at last he said patiently, “Know that the two of us have different ways of fighting. You remember, of course,
King David’s message to Goliath the Philistine: “You come at me with a sword, but I come in the name of the L-rd, the G-d of Israel”? Do me a favor, you fight your way, and I’ll fight my way.” The fighting on the battlefield intensified. I never stopped pleading with Avner to stop chanting and he never changed his answer. You fight your way, and I’ll fight my way. The more the fighting intensified, the louder Avner chanted. It seemed that the rhythm of his chant kept pace with the exploding bombs in the distance.
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On the fourth day of the battle, I thought that Avner had finally heeded my plea to stop chanting. He had advanced a short distance ahead of me when I realized why his chanting had stopped. He was lying on the sand of the Sinai Desert, blood gushing from his mouth but still breathing. I ran forward
and felt his chest. His breathing was painfully difficult. He opened his eyes, and I grasped his hand in mine. Choking, I said, “Dearest friend, please forgive me for arguing with you, for insisting that your chanting was annoying me. I would do anything to retract those words.”
As the tears streamed down my cheeks, I saw that he was trying to speak. I asked him if there was anything I could do for him. I laid my ear close to his mouth. He asked me to swear that I would chant Shema Yisrael in his place! I swore to him that I would fight chanting Shema Yisrael. I don’t
know if he heard me, for he died a moment later. I lay beside him for a while, thinking about the holiness of the moment, realizing what Shema Yisrael really meant. It was as if he had bequeathed me his message from Heaven, a message that suddenly turned on a light in my head. I knew then that there is only One G-d. So, with as much energy as I had denied G-d, I took it upon myself to proclaim Him. That night as I lay under the stars, trying to sleep, for the battle had turned in favor of Israel, I thought about my children. I had neglected to teach them what every Jewish father is supposed to teach his children. As soon as the rays of days appeared in the desert sky, I ran toward the regiment commander. Breathlessly, I shouted: “I must go home for twenty-four hours. It’s a matter of life and death.” I was so agitated, the he did not even question me. He just nodded his head and waved his hand in the general direction of Israel’s border. All the way home, I chanted Captain Avner’s melody: Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad. I burst into my house, blurting out, “I want you to know children, Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad. There is One G-d. The Jewish people are a holy people.” The next day, I returned to my unit. The war ended with Israel’s victory. Since then, I have more than fulfilled my vow. My family and I slowly became observant. We started by placing mezuzot on our doorposts. Then we kashered our kitchen. We now observe Shabbat. We try to inspire others to follow our example. Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad!
Reproduced from: A Touch of Heaven: Spiritual and Kabbalistic Stories for Jewish Living by Rabbi Eugene Labovitz z”l and Dr. Annette Labovitz.
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AISH KODESH AT 25 A Conversation with Rav Moshe Weinberger BY NAFTALI HALPERN
It’s a sleepy Sunday morning in the Five Towns. Except for a few early morning coffee sippers, Central Avenue is pretty much empty as I drive towards Aish Kodesh for my meeting with Rav Moshe Weinberger. As I swing open the large imposing doors of Aish Kodesh, a whole new world comes into view, almost as if the curtains are drawn back and the opening act comes to life on stage. The whole building is bustling with activity. Minyanim, chaburos, chavrusos, people eating breakfast, shmuzing, laughing, living. If Aish Kodesh is an oasis of purity in a challenging world, Rav Weinberger’s office is an oasis within the oasis. With the smell of rich mahogany wood and well-used seforim permeating the room, we sit down to talk about…well, some would call it Yiddishkeit, some would call it chinuch, some would call it
How are you exporting Aish Kodesh’s mehalech to those outside of the immediate Woodmere community? At this point, there are two ways that contact is being made with people outside the immediate community. One is the shiurim, many of which are online. And now, the chevra is growing up, which means
Torah. I think that Rav Weinberger would call it “life.” It’s been twenty-five years since Aish Hakodesh began its journey in then-far out Woodmere. Although the times have changed, its core guiding principles remain the same. What started out as a small, warm shteibel where people of all types can come to grow in Yiddishkeit is now a large, warm shteibel where people of all types can grow in Yiddishkeit. Of course, growth comes with its challenges, and I notice some wistfulness in Rav Weinberger’s voice when he talks about “the old days” when the “chevra,” as he calls it, was small enough to form a small tightknit family. But there is also tremendous fire in his eyes when he talks about the future and how his “chevra” is harnessing their growing strength to influence others.
that not only do we have wonderful baalei batim but there are bachurim and yungerleit who are excited about what we’ve learned here and developed here together and they are anxious to get out into the world and share it with the world. Baruch Hashem, I have talmidim who grew up here who are giving shiurim and are trying to be mash-
pia based on what we have learned together. When you look at the frum world and some of the issues we face has it become harder to influence people? I’m by nature a very optimistic person. The vision that I live by is that of Rav Kook. In a famous
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ly, really caught up in many of the difficult things in our generation. And that really is what Rav Kook is talking about. The outside is horrible but the inside is exceptionally beautiful. There’s a fruit called the sabra; on the outside it’s tough but on the inside it’s delicious. For example, I have found that the kids who are labeled “off the derech” are some of the most exceptional kids I’ve ever met. They have been let down by different things but many of them are really searching for Hashem. Do you find that there is there is a common nekudah that reaches people? One hundred percent; it’s not complicated. It’s the same thing you have to tell your kids: “G-d loves you and I love you.” Whatever you think is horrible and terrible in your life does not change the reality that you are Hashem’s child and He adores you. That is the nekudah that gives life. ma’amer [essay] called, “H’Ador,” Rav Kook analyzed the generation that he lived in. The challenges were extremely great. There was communism, socialism and there was a huge shift from the shtetl to the city. The overall atmosphere at the time was extraordinarily pessimistic, and the Jewish people were split. So, in that ma’amer – which we studied here together – Rav Kook begins by describing, based on a teaching of Chazal and tikunei Zohar, that in the final generation – where we are now – things look extraordinary bleak and, in many ways, hopeless. But on the inside there’s a powerful energy and yearning for G-d. I’ve lived that, I’ve seen that. There are many things to be depressed about – the shallowness, the emptiness – but at the same time wherever I go I find that if I am able to take any person on the side and have a conversation with them I find that there is a broken Jewish heart, a great longing, a feeling of emptiness and a desire to change but not necessarily knowing how to. Many people are, unfortunate-
How does one work on that for themselves and for their children? Perek mem hay in Tanya speaks
what the child is going through. Just like I try to understand what is going on with me, I have to try to understand what is going with my child. Compassion means not just loving a child or living in the same house as the child, it means living the child. It means that I try to climb into that kid’s heart and brain and try to understand what it is that is hurting him. What does he want? Who is he? When I say love, it sounds very sweet, but at the end of day, to really help a child you have to have rachmanus for what he is going through. The world is very different now that it was 30-40 years ago. I find that many parents adore their children but they have no compassion. I find many rabbeim who adore the children, who are wonderful teachers, but where is the compassion? Where is the rachmanus? Compassion means being able to identify with your students; it means identifying with your children. That’s the highest middah. Is there a risk of slipping into self-pity when working on self-compassion? In order to have real selfcompassion, you need to have
“Whatever you think is horrible and terrible in your life does not change the reality that you are Hashem’s child and He adores you.”
about the middah of rachamim, compassion. The meaning on a deeper level means to feel compassionate for myself, explains the Baal HaTanya. When I look at what has happened to my neshama, how it has been forgotten, I have to have rachamim on myself. The middah of rachamim is higher than the middah of love. Of course that feeling of love must be there and the children have to know that. But compassion means something else. It means to try and understand
self-awareness. Learning to accept and recognize one’s shortcomings and one’s strengths is really about self-awareness. How does one gain that? I believe through penimiyus haTorah, and by that I mean mussar and chassidus. And I think it is essential to self-awareness to communicate with each other, to have real friends, rather than just social media. When I grew up friendship meant real relationships and you spoke about very real things together. That is a very important part of
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self-awareness. What is the glue that holds the chevra here together? Strong davening and strong learning and unbelievable siyata Dishmaya. I never hesitated to share with the chevra my own struggles. I talk about that all of the time – things that I’ve failed at; areas where I want to grow. The chevra lifts each other up constantly. Aish Kodesh has all types of people representing “all shades” of Judaism. How do you blend them all together into a cohesive chevra? Everyone shares stuff in common. Once you get past the surface and you get into the kishkas of things, I don’t see any difference. It’s narishkeit. We have here a whole chevra of chassidim that come to the shul from Williamsburg for shiurim. They are no different than anyone else here – they are here to grow and learn and so is everyone. How did you end up starting in Woodmere? Not so long before your grandfather [Reb Shlomo Freifeld zt”l] was niftar he called me up. He said, “Moshe, you don’t love me?” I said, “Of course I do.” He said, “How come you don’t come see me?” I said, “When?” He said, “Right now.” So, I went right over to his house. I walked in and he said, “I have an idea for you – I think you should start a shul in Woodmere.” I was taken aback and said, “What do I have to do with Woodmere?” and he said, “There are many wonderful people there and there’s a need for a chassidishe type of beis medrash for that type of learning and davening.” I said, “I don’t know how to do that.” With a big smile on his face, he said, “I didn’t tell you that I know how to do it, I just said that I think you should do it.” I never took action on it and one more time shortly before he was niftar I saw him and he said, “Nu, Moshe, what’s with Woodmere?” Anyway, two years after he was niftar there was a chevra that came
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to me and said that they were interested in starting a beis medrash and it developed and that’s how we started. In your interactions with young people today, are there many who have the right ingredients to become influential rabbanim? Absolutely. There are terrific young men who have tremendous kochos of hashpa’a, not only to speak and to teach but to really
show the tremendous compassion and love that we are talking about.
ty or shyness, don’t realize it. Not everyone who is teaching or
“Compassion means not just loving a child or living in the same house as the child, it means living the child.” Some feel the calling on their own. Some, because of their humili-
in rabbanus is meant to it. But there are so many who should be teaching and leading. Whether it is kiruv, rabbanus, a rebbe in the classroom – each one according to their kochos. There are many young men out there who have what it takes to excel in these areas. There is a very intense focus on material success in the world. Do you think that prevents young people from choosing careers in rabbanus? Look, without idealism you really can’t get too far in this. There are two things that I look for in a young man. There is talent and idealism. If there is a shortage in either of those areas it’s not going to work.
How does someone who is not necessarily idealistic become idealistic? Everything comes through Torah and tefilla. I believe that it comes primarily through chassidus and learning hisbodidus and being around Jews who are idealistic. Like I said earlier, I am very optimistic; I believe that if we can get through
some of the stuff on the outside and get to the kishkas of the Jew there is a strong light of idealism. It doesn’t mean that everyone should be out there teaching or doing kiruv and rabbanus. For example, there’s a tremendous need for askanim. That is also very important to have that idealism of wanting to help. How did they make Chaverim and Misaskim and Hatzalah? It was people who are idealistic and have a passion to help Jews. What is your hope for the next twenty-five years of Aish Kodesh? The first years were spent developing within and even though my experience of what I had been doing earlier was a lot of outreach I realized that in order to make an impact out of Aish Kodeh the fire had to be strong within. There had to be a strong fire. Years were spent building up this kehilla. Baruch Hashem there are people from all different backgrounds – modern, yeshivish, chassidish, baalei teshuva, geirim, Ashkenazim, Sefardim – and over the years that fire has grown stronger. That internal fire has grown. It is a confidence in learning in Yiras Shamayim, avodas Hashem, chassidus, etc. Iy”H I hope that continues to grow and reach people all over who have a great yearning for Yiddishkeit. As Rav Kook talks about in “Hador,” this generation has a deep yearning for Hashem and a desire for growth. And I hope that we can do our part to facilitate that growth and connection.
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A Momentous Movement Inspiring Mothers, Fathers and Families BY TAMMY MARK
“I
nspire a woman, you inspire a family. Inspire enough families, you inspire a community. Inspire enough communities, you can change the world.” This is the motto of The Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project and its founding director Lori Palatnik. What started as a women’s tour group to Israel has become an international movement, having reached thousands of women, hundreds of men and an immeasurable number of children to date. Since 2009, JWRP has been bringing unaffiliated Jewish women to Israel to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. JWRP’s flagship program is Momentum, an eight-day journey through the land of Israel. This highly subsidized trip is specifically designed for people who are not shomer Shabbat and have children at home under the
age of 18. JWRP runs multiple trips throughout the year, often several per month. Groups come to Israel with the help of partner organizations in cities across the U.S. and countries such as Australia, Spain and South Africa. The women come from all corners of the world eager to learn about the land of Israel and their Jewish roots and leave inspired and enthusiastic to learn more – with newfound friends and lifelong connections. A recent JWRP event in New York gathered trip leaders, alumni, families and newcomers for a presentation and an emotionally moving reunion. Held at the Lawrence home of Esti Stahler, a JWRP mentor and ardent advocate, the energy in the room was palpable and contagious. After Stahler’s warm introduction, Lori Palatnik took the podium, en-
gaging and joking with the crowd who hung on her every word. As a dynamic and seasoned leader, she has connected with and inspired so many women and men. Palatnik was thrilled to share that JWRP had celebrated the milestone of the 10,000th woman on a recent trip. Palatnik described the progression of growth from that pilot trip to Israel of 300 women in 2009. As numbers climbed quickly to 600 participants, then 900 and eventually reached over 1,000 women, it became clear that JWRP was making a measurable impact. In fact, in 2013 the Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs took notice and contacted Palatnik to discuss a partnership – based on the condition that she could expand the program even further. Palatnik went to Europe and doubled her enrollment numbers. When JWRP’s programs were assessed
PHOTO CREDIT: AVIRAM VALDMAN
JWRP
by the Ministry, they were able to secure a two year contract to bring another 7,000 women to visit Israel from across 26 countries. To keep up with the tremendous growth of the initiative, Palatnik currently works with four trip leaders and is very grateful to have a team. While she was previously organizing and running the trips singlehandedly, she admits it is no longer feasible to do it alone. “We’re trying to create a movement and a movement cannot be dependent on their leader. It is greater than its leaders,” she points out. The next groundbreaking phase of the movement was brought about by the women themselves, as participants were constantly asking for trips for their husbands. They wanted to be able to share with their loved ones what they were not able to fully
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At the naming ceremony in Israel this May
explain with words – “My husband has to see this!” being the common refrain. Palatnik began to explore the feasibility of establishing tours for the men, but found it was not so simple, as they were generally established as women’s organization. She had to work with the JWRP board and with their partner organizations – approximately 150 partner organizations across 26 countries – and soon enough these organizations were reaching out to her, saying they could use help in engaging the husbands and asking Palatnik if she could do something to help. Eventually Palatnik started hearing directly from the husbands. She recalls one gentleman from Atlanta’s plea, saying, “We are behind, in support of, our wives but we don’t understand, please do something for us.” Palatnik went back to her board and wrote up a proposal. She was
well-known speaker in the Jewish world, and was a tremendous success. Palatnik worked together with Harary to design the trip, dubbed “MoMENtum,” knowing it had to be different from women’s trip – with different food, specialized programming and a shorter itinerary. The two also worked hard to create elements to inspire the men – recognizing that they may not be as easily moved as the women. “Turns out, I’ve never seen guys so emotional in my life!” muses Palatnik. “Charlie creates a space where the guys feel very safe and then this brotherhood happens and they really open up.” While the women on the tour are initially more reticent to speak in front of the groups, the men line up more eagerly, grabbing the microphone to talk and share their personal stories. Palatnik tells how on the
“It makes you say, ‘Wow – you have this all the time? Why not embrace it more?’ Once you get home you’re on such a high.” given the green light – but only if she could raise money above their already large budget to fund it. Palatnik successfully raised the money and organized the very first JWRP men’s trip for 84 men in 2013. The trip was led by Charlie Harary, a lawyer, entrepreneur and
second night of that first men’s trip the mic was being passed around and a participant from Dallas took the opportunity to share a story from childhood. He explained that when he was a young boy about to turn 13, the local rabbi told his parents that he wouldn’t be able to have a bar
JWRP South Windsor Women group
mitzvah due to his dyslexia. Though he wasn’t religious, the man lamented about missing out on a social rite of passage. Palatnik and Harary immediately knew what had to be done and quickly coordinated and arranged to get a Torah. The very next morning, on the top of Masada, this grown man became a “bar mitzvah” with all of his new friends rejoicing and taking pictures as if it were their own celebration. Jamie Ezratty, a secular Jewish man from Long Island, witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime event. Ezratty proudly took to the podium at the Lawrence reunion event, bursting with enthusiasm as he recalled the emotional experience. “That night I was sitting with my friends that I just met the day before. We decided we had to get this guy a gift!” The men chose to purchase a tallit to mark the significance of their new friend’s bar mitzvah.
Ezratty says that the trip truly was a life-changing experience for him in all areas and explains the deep impact JWRP made on his life. “Before I went on the trip – honestly – I had a great amazing life, my wife, my kids, my home, my business; it was all good. But after the trip…the trip really taught me so much, besides spirituality and Judaism, that G-d wants us to be the best possible people that we can be. I think about that in my business, I think about that in my relationship with my wife and my kids, it really made a huge impact on me – tremendous. I can’t really say enough about it. It just made everything better.” Harary, who has gone on many trips since, explains why these trips are so transformative and have such a long lasting and profound affect. “The programs are so powerful because of the power of the land of Israel and Siyata D’shmaya – magic
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At a local JWRP Lawrence event
Lori Palatnick with JWRP participants
happens, we see it every time. That feeling that a Jew has when they step into Israel…they just touch the Kotel and they tear up.” He continues, “What the trip does is it forces us all, the rabbis and the leaders, to deepen our own spirituality, ruchniyus, and play at a higher level. All participants now have access to something they never had before –- the rabbis and participants all together. When you are able to live with that clarity of purpose, you experience something that you never do in your everyday life.” Harary is scheduled to go on the upcoming men’s trip in October and looks forward to returning to Israel each time. He appreciates the chance to meet the participants and be a part of the phenomenon. “We are part of the same team, same family, same people. You can change someone’s life.”
Palatnik feels so gratified when she gets to meet the husbands of the women she has gotten to know so well. She appreciates being able to infuse entire families with a newfound love of their unique heritage and a deeper connection to Judaism. JWRP has been playing a tremendous and necessary role for Jewish women across the U.S. While it is relatively easy to live a Jewish life in New York, explains Palatnik, it is not as easy in most communities across the country with limited resources and affiliations. Over half of the women they encounter through JWRP programs have never been to Israel, while the remainder haven’t visited since they were 17, with their lasting memories often consisting of nothing more than the young soldiers they saw at the time. Through the JWRP programs
these mothers become connected with religiously observant women and are given the opportunity to grow and develop as teachers and friends. When the women return back from Israel they continue to have the support and camaraderie that they experienced on the trip through the various JWRP affiliate groups – and the camaraderie between the women goes both ways. Andrea Portal joined the JWRP trip as a mentor in October 2015. She explains how surprisingly life-changing the experience was for her as an observant Jew. “It changes the leaders’ lives too. In the Orthodox world we take for granted what we have and are often just going through the motions, not remembering how special it all is. Then we see it through their eyes.” Portal recalls standing at the Kotel and watching the tears pour down their faces. The women are given siddurim and taught the Shema prayer and are asked for names of sick people for whom to pray. That’s when everyone begins to bond and become close. “It’s incredible realizing that Judaism is beautiful,” says Portal. “It makes you say, ‘Wow – you have this all the time? Why not embrace it more?’ Once you get home you’re on such a high.” Portal has formed deep connections with women from her trip as well as with participants from other JWRP trips through her ongoing involvement in JWRP affiliate group Jewish Journeys and Jinspire of Ber-
gen County. She now meets weekly with other leaders from the Teaneck, New Jersey, area to plan events for their new friends. The local boards plan events such as dinners, challah bakes and classes. Portal has hosted women for Shabbat dinner with and without their families and has even taught an Aleph-Bet class. She is witnessing the women grow closer to Judaism and becoming more religious. Palatnik wants these families to truly understand and take pride in their Jewish heritage, no matter where they live. She shares a memory about growing up watching her neighbors with a house full of Christmas decorations all lit up and shining brightly. She emphasizes how important it is that Jewish people know exactly how special the holiday of Chanukah actually is – and all Jewish holidays are – not just as compared to secular holidays. For example, in the story of Chanukah it was Yehudit who bravely brought strong wine and cheese into the general’s tent, feeding him until he fell drunk. This strengthened the Jewish men – they realized their enemy would be weakened and decided this was the time to attack. Palatnik also observes the strong contrast between Jewish heroines and female Disney characters being saved by their princes. She hopes for young girls to be instead enamored by the Jewish women who exemplify leadership – brave women like Yehudit and Yael and Rus who are the true roles models. Though there is a
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common misconception that Jewish women are subservient, there are numerous instances of women coming forward and having a transformative impact on Jewish history. Take Rus and Naomi, for example, who play a central role in the Shavuos yom tov. It was Rus who recognized her role and took the initiative in continuing the line of Boaz. The women who helped launch JWRP similarly sought to have an immediate and enduring impact on the Jewish people. While there were similar trips established for teenagers and young adults, they believed that the mothers were the ones who would really bring the messages home and make the most difference in their families’ lives. “The most important decisions the family will ever make are primarily in the hands of women – where you live, where your kids go to school, whom you socialize with – these are not small decisions, these
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reach the mother you get the whole family as the women are the light of the home. When the women come home from Israel, they have a hard time explaining to their husbands what they experienced. When the men return home, they come home to women who already understand and want them to be excited. Having the shared experience contributes to a shared viewpoint; it helps them make big decisions such as where to send their kids to college – together. “We are dealing with a demographic that gets it and understands what’s important, at a time of life where choices are important and heavier,” says Palatnik. “They are thirsty for wisdom and role models.” Even women who haven’t kept up with learning more or practicing Judaism share about how they and their families are impacted in multiple ways, albeit subtle. “Knowledge is power. On the trip we give a taste
“If you can impact the woman, then you can impact the whole family.” are decisions that will impact a family for generations. If you can impact the woman, then you can impact the whole family.” Before launching JWRP Lori was touring and speaking on college campuses. She realized, however, that if you reach a 21-year-old you only inspire him, whereas if you
of the Torah flame – the wisdom for life about realizing your potential and give you tools – wisdom to help you come back and have the greatest pleasure in every aspect of your life,” says Palatnik. The May 2017 Momentum trips had an exciting new element on the itinerary – participants had
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Charlie Harary, middle, at the Kotel with JWRP MoMENtum participants
the chance to have bestowed upon them a Hebrew name if they never received one as a child. Close to 50 women were named in the four separate ceremonies that took place throughout May at Eretz Bereshit, also known as Genesis Land, in the Judean Desert between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Among the women who received a Hebrew name is Nathalie Scipioni, an interior designer from Melbourne, Australia. “The Hebrew name I have chosen is Shirel. I selected this one for the qualities I hope to have; expressing my connection to G-d and singing his praise to the world,” said Scipioni. She never received a Hebrew name because her mother, a French Jew, was baptized by her parents after they lost family in Holocaust and wanted to protect her. “I was unaware of my origins until I was learning about the Holo-
caust at age 11, and then my mother finally told me. Getting a Hebrew name in Israel will take me one step closer to feeling complete in my Jewish identity.” “The ultimate destiny of the Jewish people will happen through women,” asserts Palatnik. Palatnik stresses that it is never too late, and while it’s easier to implement changes when the children are younger, there are plenty of stories where lives have been turned around and changed forever at every stage. “Your kids are listening and they are watching even when you’re talking through the back of their heads or through their bedroom door that they just slammed in your face. Do not be quiet about your values. Don’t preach them, but teach them.” Palatnik advises, “And the best way to teach them is by example.”
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The Power of Torah How a Taste of Torah Brought these Jews to Yiddishkeit BY MALKA EISENBERG
“Something
was always gnawing at me: what it is to be Jewish, who am I? I was always looking for a bigger purpose.” Yuriy Zelikovich, now 35 and living in Cleveland, Ohio, recounted his state of mind as a teenager. His breakthrough came after college in 2004 when he called the phone number to Partners in Torah that he had kept in his pocket for a few years. They put him in touch with first-time mentor Dr. Duvi Klein of Bayswater. The prospective student and mentor clicked and Duvi’s Torah-tether led Yuriy along the path to, as Yuriy likes to say, frumkeit. Shelly Dardik’s connection to Partners in Torah came via a phone call to her after she traveled to Israel with Birthright through the Orthodox Union. Hers is a more recent partnership with mentor Chaya Rosen. She also began with no knowledge of Judaism. “I used to say that I’m Jew-ish,” says Shelly. “I’m never saying that again.” Partners in Torah (PIT) was founded 24 years ago in Passaic, New Jersey. Its original goals, said Rabbi Yisroel Meyer Merkin, its current executive director, were to connect unaffiliat-
ed Jews with the Jewish community by pairing them with mentors who could guide them. More than 68,000, including both mentors and students, have participated in PIT to date. “It’s a two-way experience,” says Rabbi Merkin. “The mentor feels closer to Judaism and is learning and experiencing his own growth and the student learns more about him or herself and faith and connecting to the Jewish community at large.” He explains that the goal is not to transform and change the student but to teach Judaism in a warm and accepting environment and “let nature take its course.” Lessons run from the basics to more complex subjects and material depending on the level and interest of the student. He says that there are currently 5,000 participants in the program learning on a weekly basis. Rabbi Merkin notes that aside from being there for the “searching Jew” the organization provides follow-up. There is also a similar organization in Israel called Kesher Yehudi started by one woman in the Holy Land. “It’s grown and flourished,” says Rabbi Merkin. Yuriy was born in Minsk, Belarus, knowing that he was a Jew but growing up in a secular environment. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, some
Jewish programs were brought into the former Soviet Union, he says, noting that his father was involved in organizing a Jewish program but that it was secular. He says that some “frum Yidden” came to run a summer camp and ran Jewish activities for children. There was a Jewish choir in the State music school there but only 10% of the children in it were Jewish. “I’m tone deaf and my twin sister has perfect pitch,” he says, pointing out that she currently plays the violin in the Royal Orchestra of Holland and is “not yet” religious. He says the school didn’t want to split them up so he played the drums and lip-synced with the choir. Until then, Jewish and Hebrew education were not allowed, but at the fall of the Iron Curtain the government allowed outsiders in to connect Jews to their heritage. Now he says that there are some strong Jewish communities in the area, with some Jews even “frum from birth.” Yuriy’s uncle fled the USSR in 1989 with his family as refugees since he wanted to become religious. He was taken in by the Conservative Jewish community in Roanoke, Virginia; Yuriy’s grandparents followed in 1991 and Yuriy, then 15, and his family in 1996. He grew up in Virginia, attended public school and college there, earned a
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BS in commerce at the University of Virginia, and worked in project management. After he graduated he called the number he had received from a rabbi who introduced the community to Partners in Torah. “I remember that everything I knew was all wrong,” he said. “I had a million questions. We started with Chumash, at that time I wasn’t necessarily the right kli for it, but you always go on different tangents. You have to let the uncertainty and lack of knowledge out.” The pair moved on to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and then Gemara. “The hour was basically a shmuz,” he reflects. Yuriy stresses the need for a baal teshuva to be proactive so as not to feel “left at the chuppah” with a new community, new marriage “on an island of frumkeit by yourself” with their kiruv rabbis in Israel in yeshiva and seminary. It is one thing to get the Jews out of the USSR, but, he asks, who was getting them incorporated into Jewish life? Having a mentor in PIT living a religious lifestyle is a role model to give the baal teshuva direction. “If you don’t know where you are going you will end up somewhere else,” Yuriy says. “Duvi is a model we could follow – you know them on Tuesday not just Shabbos. We visited him and asked questions. He is a doctor so he never sleeps.” He is up early to daven, learn, and spend time with his family and work. Yuriy said Duvi’s wife is also “amazing.” Yuriy gradually became more religious under Duvi’s guidance: when working in Atlanta, Duvi found Yuriy a rabbi to spend Shabbos with and he started to keep kosher. When he left a job and was replaced, he questioned his purpose if he was so easily replaceable. Questioning his purpose led him to seek more answers and drew him to the Torah lifestyle. He went on a secular Birthright trip in 2006 and then in 2008 attended a kiruv camp in Lake George called Sinai Retreat where he learned half a day, enjoyed a half day of sports and had a religious mentor. A rabbi there discussed Jewish philosophy, one of Yuriy’s favorite topics, and Jewish marriage. He was inspired and wanted to learn more. After looking into a Talmud text for the first time – he said he thought it looked like Chinese to him – the rabbi there suggested that he go to yeshiva in Israel. He said that at first he thought it was another 12-day camp. “I’m doing this thing, putting on tefillin, eating kosher style, either I go all the way or I get squashed,” he recalls. “I had no choice. I’m just a normal American asking questions, not blissfully ignorant.” Yuriy went to Machon Shlomo in Har Nof, an American yeshiva. He said the yeshiva was geared to professionals to train them to be leaders in their community and to give enough foundation to love and enjoy Torah, to cling to it and continue on in Judaism from there. While there a shadchanit introduced him to his wife, Jessica, now Iska, also a baalat teshuva
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explains Yuriy, seeing it as a rejection of them or from fear of being proselytized. But Yuriy offers a fix: “Give them grandchildren. If you are a normal Yid, they will come around. Deal with them with kavod (respect). With grandchildren they will have plenty to talk about.” Yuriy continues to learn; practical philosophy in a Jewish framework, how to be a good husband, how to teach children. Yuriy and Iska have two now, a five-year-old and a three-year-old. Life has almost come full circle. Iska is now a PIT mentor as well and Yuriy found out that his grandmother, a”h, was also involved in PIT. Yuriy still learns with Duvi, and they visit often. “I shudder to think how my life would be without Partners in Torah. It has a big role – chasdei Hashem – to make it happen.” He says it was like getting out of Egypt. “It is a miracle.”
Yuriy Zelikovich and Duvi Klein
from Toronto who was learning in Neve Yerushalayim. In his folksy, comic, discursive way, Yuriy noted that they always tried to set him up with Russian girls but he protested that he is not Russian; he saw himself as American. “But when I met her I realized I am Russian,” he comments. He also quips, as an aside, “in the USSR we were always Jewish, in America we were Russian, and in Israel we were American.”
“I used to say that I’m Jew-ish,” says Shelly. “I’m never saying that again.”
While Yuriy was in yeshiva in Israel, Duvi called Yuriy every week to check in on him, calling him more than his family. “He called me religiously – no pun intended,” says Yuriy. Duvi guided him through the dating and engagement process, answering his questions and advising him. Yuriy visited Duvi every year as well, observing the family unit and relationships, knowing that that was what he wanted for himself. Both Yuriy and Iska have a strong connection with their kiruv families and visit them often. As for his parents, he has a good relationship with them, though some baalei teshuva might encounter difficulties when the parents see their newly frum children rejecting their secular lifestyle,
Dr. Duvi Klein, Yuriy’s mentor, echoes his story. Duvi grew up modern Orthodox, went to Yeshiva of Flatbush, learned in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, then Mirrer Yeshiva, Brooklyn College, and SUNY Downstate Medical School. He has been working as a pediatrician in Boro Park since 2003 and lives in Bayswater with his wife Sima and six children. Sima runs the Bayswater simcha gemach. Duvi read about Partners in Torah in a newspaper, thought about it and decided to call in 2004. They set him up with Yuriy and he says, “The rest is history.” They have been learning steadily ever since. It’s been an “amazing experience,” he shares. “It’s been very inspiring for me, very gratifying. We’ve come such a long way. We are friends, more like chavrusah” than student-mentor. “They came to visit on yom tov; it’s way beyond the didactic role that we had in the beginning.” He says their learning didn’t affect his schedule since they learn at night and now their wives are close and speak regularly. Duvi does tell others of his Partners in Torah experiences, but he doesn’t “preach”; he hopes they see how fulfilling and important it is. “We still learn. We began with the parsha every week; we learned many blatt of Gemara over the last few years. I enjoy learning with him. He’s extremely motivated, very bright and always working on himself and taking on further opportunities. He’s a ben aliyah – always striving to move upward.” Shelly Dardik’s experience with Partners in Torah has also been profound and rapid, albeit over a shorter period and thus in its early stages. Shelly was born in Venezuela and attended a secular Jewish school there with no Jewish education. She moved with her family to Florida at age 8. Now 25, she earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Central Florida, with a minor in music and an AS degree in sound recording from Valencia College in Orlando. During
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her college years and even after graduating she had no Jewish contact, noting that she didn’t have even “a single Jewish friend.” She had heard of Birthright and its free trip to Israel and went, extending the 10-day trip, adding two more weeks to participate in the Livnot Ulhibanot program in Tzfat. “It was amazing!” she recalls. “I loved it! I felt at home away from home; it’s crazy, it’s a foreign country, but it touched me in some way.” After her Israel visit Shelly returned to Orlando and her secular life, her job that she enjoyed, and her non-Jewish boyfriend. A few months later, Partners in Torah called her, having received her phone number from her Orthodox Union Birthright trip. “Would you like to learn once a week?” they asked. “Um, OK,” she responded. After an email exchange, Shelly and Chaya Rosen began to learn “very casually” once a week. With holidays coming up, Shelly wanted to focus on Chanukah. Chaya was able to send a chanukiah to Shelly visiting her sister in California with information on the holiday and how to light it; she reciprocated with a photo of herself lighting the chanukiah for the first time. Shelly said that Chaya was aware of Shelly’s “very non-Jewish” life but was very open and invited Shelly to come visit her in Monsey. At the time, Shelly was working at her college, managing the recording studios there, teaching and running the radio station and doubted that she could take off time to travel to New York. When she asked her boss he pointed out that unlike all the other schools, that week was spring break – the week of Purim – and so she went. Shelly stayed the week. She said the family and husband were “super nice,” a traditional Jewish family, very accepting in a very religious place. She met a rabbi while in town who encouraged her to move to a community where there were more Jewish families like New York or Miami. “In my head I was thinking, ‘I’d really like to go to Israel.’” She was in a room in the Rosen house thinking, “‘What if I drop everything and move to Israel?’ All of a sudden I hear an explosion. The kids in the family were jumping upstairs and the whole fixture broke on top of my head and shattered everywhere in a circle around me but not a single piece hit me – I would have had to go to the emergency room! I took it as a sign. Yay! I’m going to Israel! It was hashgacha pratis. I knew I wanted to learn.” Instead of returning directly to Orlando Shelly went to her family in South Florida. Her mom came with her, and she broke up with her boyfriend, packed up, and quit her job to go to Israel for a year. She went with her mom to dinner at a rabbi’s house and he guided her to choose a program in Israel. “I didn’t know what I was getting into but I knew I wanted to learn. It was very quick. I saw the family and the kids, how they learn, and saw that a Jewish family is the reality.”
“I definitely want to live in a Jewish community. I’m taking a year at a time for now. I want to marry someone Jewish and be able to pass down my education to my kids but I have to get a Jewish education first.” She adds, “I am so much more fulfilled and happier. I had it all but I wasn’t happy. I’m glad to have the opportunity to learn, happy PIT reached out to me, and I accepted it. It worked out, it all clicked. I’m grateful to be here and happy that I had an open mind and the Rosen family was so open to me.”
Shelly Dardik with her partner, Chaya Rosen, on Purim in Monsey
Since her visit to Chaya Rosen’s family, Shelly has been keeping kosher and Shabbat. “I am learning so much,” she says on the phone from Israel. She is currently studying in Neve Yerushalayim, learning Jewish history – “I didn’t even know who Avraham was” –learning what the Torah is, the Talmud, Hebrew, Ulpan, values, rela-
“I saw the family and the kids, how they learn, and saw that a Jewish family is the reality.”
tionships, the Jewish calendar. She is very happy in Israel; the only “sad thing,” she says, “is I lost my Partner in Torah” although they still communicate via WhatsApp. Chaya had her most recent child on Shelly’s Jewish birthday. Shelly credits Partners in Torah with her awakening to Judaism. “I started with Birthright, but it was Partners in Torah, being open to learn with somebody and Chaya and her family being so accepting. She showed me how nice it is to have a Jewish family. I told others about PIT; after I told my mom I found out that my mom has been donating for years to Partners In Torah.
Shelly’s mentor, Chaya Rosen, lists Mommy as her first job followed by graphic artist, lactation consultant, fitness and dance trainer, and also baalat teshuva via a kiruv seminar. She called Partners in Torah a while ago, wanting to be involved in kiruv while her children were at school. Chaya came to the U.S. from Venezuela 18 years ago and lives in Monsey with her husband and their seven children. When PIT contacted her seeking a Spanish-speaking mentor, her first two partners didn’t click but she jumped at the chance to mentor someone from her birth country and they hit it off. The pair began learning Sunday evenings; Chaya came to the realization that Shelly had no Jewish knowledge and was in a totally secular environment. Rather than taking Chaya’s preferred approach of teaching the truth behind the Torah, Shelly wanted to learn as in school, following the year and learning about the holidays. “Before every conversation I daven to Hashem to put the right words in my mouth,” says Chaya. She also studies the material she plans to teach. They tackled Chanukah first and Chaya taught the story, practical laws, the lesson behind it, what Hashem wants from us, and how she keeps Chanukah. “It’s not just a story,” says Chaya, “It’s real. She was so eager to learn that it was easy. I knew her neshama (soul) is special.” After sending Shelly a chanukiah for Chanukah, Chaya sent Shelly a basket of dried fruit for Tu B’Shvat. After discussing Purim, Chaya invited her to her house. Steve Savitsky paid for the ticket. “We talked a lot. She saw a frum household firsthand; she was ready to learn. And it is great for the children to see someone willing to grow and learn. I’m grateful for the opportunity to show my children. “I don’t have to be a big rebbitzen – I can do it from my house with a phone. You don’t need much, just a willingness to give. I have a Chabad friend and I told her that I was nervous. She said, ‘You know aleph? Teach aleph! You don’t need to know Shas!’ She gave me chizuk.” Says Rabbi Merkin, “You can see how much you can accomplish when you pick up the phone and connect with another Yid. A half hour a week is not that much; everybody can do it. People have to realize it.”
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Behind the Scenes at America’s Largest Yeshiva By Malky Lowinger
I
n 1943, Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, brought 13 students to a quiet town in Central New Jersey called Lakewood. His purpose was to establish a yeshiva far from the distractions of the big city. Back then, full-time Torah learning was virtually unheard of in America, and the general population was skeptical that the concept would last. Fast forward several decades, and Lakewood is today a bustling metropolis of Yiddishkeit, surrounded by the satellite cities of Jackson and Toms River. By some estimates,
over 60,000 Orthodox Jews currently live in Lakewood, where they daven in 150 shuls and send their children to one of 50 thriving yeshivos. Yet no matter how huge and diverse the community becomes, the nucleus of it all still remains Beth Medrash Govoha. Today, over 6,500 bochurim and yungeleit learn full-time in the yeshiva. That’s a staggering number and an incredible legacy to Rav Aharon’s foresight and vision. The yeshiva is currently located in several buildings that make up its four campuses, including dining areas,
libraries, and dorm facilities. At BMG, over 250 roshei chaburah lead the vibrant kol Torah that resonates and that is ultimately appreciated by the community at large. The elevated level of Torah learning at BMG is legendary. But who’s in charge of the “behind the scenes” operations? How do they ensure that everything run smoothly, that there are enough beds and shtenders and seforim and meals? Who handles the lighting, the air conditioning, and the coffee room? This week, in honor of Zman Matan Toraseinu, we pay tribute not only to the thou-
sands who dedicate their lives to Torah, but also to those behind the scenes who make it all happen.
A Huge Operation
“We have, boruch Hashem, a big operation,” says Rabbi Moshe Gleiberman, vice president of administration at BMG. That’s got to be the understatement of the year. According to his own unofficial count, the yeshiva currently houses 16 batei medrash, 9 fully stocked libraries with a total of a million seforim, and 300 dorm rooms. The yeshiva serves three meals a day –
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and that includes Shabbos and yom tov. There’s a large staff that tends to all these needs, as well as a long list of resources for yeshiva students which includes crisis management teams, a variety of discount packages for yungaleit, and counseling for those in shidduchim. The yeshiva has a system for everything. “Our team is very dedicated,” says Rabbi Gleiberman, “and focused on what they need to do.” There are certainly seasons that are busiest, such as the start of a new zman. But things can happen anytime, and the staff is ready for anything. Want to become a student at BMG? Interviews and bechinahs are scheduled by a team of administrative assistants, with special schedule consideration given to outof-towners and those who are still learning in Eretz Yisroel. There are separate divisions that handle tuition information, financial aid, and medical documents. Close to a thousand new talmidim enter the yeshiva each year, at the start of the winter and summer zman. (No new students are accepted in Elul.) Applications are processed through a precise computerized system, but much of the interview process has to be done in person, the good, old-fashioned way.
Maintenance
Shavuos is really special at BMG, with hundreds of visitors to Lakewood joining the talmidim for intensive Torah study all day and night. Lights and air conditioning will be
working 48 hours straight for the duration of yom tov, and coffee and refreshments will be available on a constant basis. The yeshiva’s lighting and air conditioning systems are computerized and can be switched on and off remotely. The temperature can be adjusted from the office to ensure the maximum comfort level of the talmidim. Rabbi Gleiberman
married talmidim who stayed for lunch would have a filling daytime meal. The yeshiva’s main dining room has room for a thousand diners but there’s never a shortage of seats as many married students opt to go home for their meals. The yeshiva’s chef, Rabbi Spilman, is attuned to the various special needs of the talmidim. He will provide sugar-free or glu-
According to his own unofficial count, the yeshiva currently houses 16 batei medrash, 9 fully stocked libraries with a total of a million seforim, and 300 dorm rooms.
points out that the yeshiva’s air conditioning system is customized for its unique needs. “When a large number of people are sitting in a room for long periods of time,” Rabbi Gleiberman explains, “that can create a humidity issue. So we developed a system that not only cools but also controls the humidity.” The BMG kitchen serves three meals a day, and it’s available to both bochurim and married students – that’s up to 6,000 meals served every day. It’s been a yeshiva tradition since its inception to serve fleishigs for lunch and pareve or milchigs for dinner. Presumably, this was initiated by Rav Aharon to ensure that
ten-free dishes for those who need it, and prepares meat with Beit Yosef shechitah for Sefardim. Coffee rooms in every beis medrash are open all day. At 3:00 AM, when most of Lakewood is fast asleep, the yeshiva’s cleaning crew begins their daily work in the beis medrash areas, washing down floors and staircases and scrubbing bathrooms in time for the morning’s vasikin minyanim. Once seder begins, they start to clean the dorms. Maintenance is a continuous process that never ends. After so much use, beds and chairs and shtenders inevitably need to be replaced, and
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a shipment is ordered twice a year from China with the necessary furniture. Major renovations and repairs are scheduled during bein hazmanim, when the yeshiva is relatively quiet. Just recently the yeshiva replaced over 4,000 (!) light fixtures with low-cost LED bulbs, hoping to save significantly on utilities expense.
The Libraries
The staff at BMG is especially proud of its massive collection of seforim. According to head librarian Rabbi Spiegel, this is the largest Orthodox collection of seforim in the world. “I have a passion for seforim,” he says, which explains how he oversees the yeshiva’s nine libraries as well as its seforim warehouse facilities, a job he’s been happy to do over the past 16 years. Each library is well-stocked with thousands of seforim related to the Masechta that is being studied at the time as well as at least 40 sets of Shas. Seforim that are not found in the libraries are stored in a huge warehouse, stockpiled on shelves that are 25 to 30 feet high. “You need a scissor lift to bring them down,” Speigel comments. All seforim are bound and catalogued with a specific bar code. They are also color-coded according to the library and building in which they belong. “There’s a tape on each sefer that corresponds with the color of its library,” says Spiegel. “We’re running out of colors,” he adds with a smile. An estimated 40,000 seforim
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are available for use in the Rosansky library, and another 25,000 in the Klein Research Library. These include lashon kodesh seforim only. Each library is also equipped with Otzar HaChochmah computer stations, the world’s largest Judaic digital library. The Klein Research library contains a collection of rare and antique seforim, some of which date back to the 1500s and 1600s. All of them are fitted with an alarm which will ring if anyone tries to walk out with them.
The Dorms
Bochurim entering the dorm for the first time can be sure that Rabbi Moshe Rockove and his staff are ready for them. According to Rabbi Rockove, there are currently 1,200 beds at the various dorm facilities, but that number keeps growing as the demand increases. “Eight years ago,” he says, “we added a floor to the Irv to accommodate the new students and just last year we added sixty beds to the Madison building.” There’s a lot of footwork involved in the process, with the maintenance team visiting every single room to
record the number of available beds. “A bochur will sometimes get married and we’re not notified,” Rabbi Rockove explains. “It’s the only way to know for sure what’s available for the next zman.” Requests for specific roommates are granted as often as possible. “We try to make them happy.” Occasionally there are special requests. “One
bochur insisted on being placed in the Klein dorm,” Rabbi Rockove says, “which is on the yeshiva’s original campus. He wanted to make sure he would never miss a minyan at yeshiva.” Then there are the “personal” requests, like the bochur who asked to be changed from his assigned room at the last minute. It turned out his
new roommate was starting to date his sister, and things were getting awkward. “We switched him right away,” says Rabbi Rockove. Rabbi Rockove’s work can be exhausting, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He deals with the bochurim on a personal level, and he is greatly impressed. “By and large,” he says, “they are serious and understanding. They’re back from Eretz Yisroel and have reached a new stage in life. Yes, they’ve entered an unfamiliar environment. But they get serious immediately, find chavrusas, and start to learn. “Sometimes they have to wait on line to speak with us, especially when the zman starts, and that could be annoying. But when we apologize to them, they are gracious and understanding. ‘We give you credit for working so hard,’ they say. ‘We really appreciate your efforts.’” It’s an honor and a privilege to be working behind the scenes at America’s largest yeshiva. So the appreciation of the bochurim is probably not necessary. But it’s nice to know it’s there.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
TALMIDIM COMPLETING MESECHTA KIDDUSHIN
Twenty Third Annual Siyum
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Yeshiva of Far Rockaway oinfdl dfa micakzn eppd join in the celebration of our daiyid icinlze ixed z` epzpeky ly xeavd lk z`e epzgnya szzydle `al dxezd zgny lbxl You are cordially invited to
Twenty Third Annual Siyum When 90 bochurim will complete Mesechta Kiddushin
oiyecw zkqn meiq daiyid icinlz i”r d”i` miiwzzy
Sunday, June 11, 2017 f“ryz oeiq f “i 12:00 PM 12:00 PM
Yeshiva of Far Rockaway 802 Hicksville Road Far Rockaway, NY 11691
d”r odkd dix` x”a sqei p”rl d”r xi`n ‘x za lxrt dkln p”rl MELOHN
RAV CONGREGATION KNESETH ISRAEL Rabbi Aaron Brafman
Rabbi Eli Braunstein
Rabbi Shayeh Kohen
Dovid Karp Zachary Kaufman Yair Kaziev Natan Kaziev Yitzchok Krasnow Aharon Krischer Chaim Yakov Landau Shmuel Lehman Gavriel Majeski Yaakov Mandel Daniel Menahemov Elchonon Messner Efraim Dov Metz Zalman Moeller Dovid Munk Yosef Dovid Musheyev Jonathan Nudman Gavriel Rosenbaum Binyomin Ross Refael Rubenstein Daniel Rubinov R’ Yaakov Ruvel Meir Salamon Gershon Salzberg Yonatan Samuels Yosef Sasson Shmuel Osher Schloss Gedalia Schwartz Eliyahu Boruch Shonek Yeshaya Shonek Shai Silverstein Yitzchok Sittner Yerachmiel Sittner Eli Slansky Tzachie Slansky Donny Sokel Yishai Steele Ami Stern Yitzi Stern Eli Warman Benzion Weinberg Yehuda Weinreb Dovid Werzberger Yehuda Wilamowsky Uri Zacharowicz Yisroel Zelmanovitch Dovid Zemel
TALMIDIM COMPLETING MESECHTA BAVA KAMA
Guest Speaker Rabbi Eytan Feiner
Rabbi Yechiel Perr
R’ Moshe Abramson Chaim Yosef Alcoby Dovid Applebaum Shlomo Ballabon Akiva Balter Aaron Birnbaum Eli Blachorsky Nechemya Bornstein Gavriel Braun Shlomo Zalman Braun Zev Braunschweig Dovid Braunschweig Leibel Diamond Dovy Feldhamer Shalom Ezekiel Simcha Flegmann Aharon Fox Daniel Fox Isaac Friedman Yitzchok From Yaakov Fuchs Isaac Fuksbrumer R’ Eli Gewirtz R’ Menachem Gewirtz Shlomo Gewirtz Yaakov Binyamin Gold Avrohom Goldgrab Moshe Goldgrab Zvi Goldstein R’ Dani Goodman Daniel Goodman Chaim Goodman Moshe Greer Menachem Greer Menachem Grumet Pesach Haas Aryeh Haller Meir Haller Moshe Hammer Moshe Harary Yehuda Hazane Yehuda Henesch Moshe Hershkovich Aaron Herzberg Yaakov Huttler Moishe Isaacson Naftali Jacobs
Rabbi Daniel Nekritz
Rosh Yeshiva Menahel S’gan Menahel Executive Director Mashgiach
Zvi Goldstein Chaim Goodman Daniel Goodman Dovid Karp Aharon Krischer Elchonon Messner
Efraim Metz Yosef Dovid Musheyev Yosef Sasson Yerachmiel Sittner Eliyahu Boruch Shonek Eli Slansky
Abaye said: “I deserve a reward because I see a young scholar finish a mesechta. I make a celebration for all Talmidim.” (Shabbos 118A)
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Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I come from a family of “foodies.” We all love good food! We all know how to cook, including my father, my siblings and me. We enjoy watching the Food Channel Network and trying out new recipes. We love going to new restaurants and will even drive to other boroughs to explore and experiment. I would say it’s a family hobby that we all enjoy and that brings us together in a very nice way. By the way, just to make sure you understand, we are not gluttons. None of us are overweight. We just enjoy the creative and exciting aspect to food.
Recently, I was at a wedding and spotted a woman who really drew me in. She was very attractive, but also had a dignified way about her and I was intrigued. It wasn’t hard to find out her name and to find a good number of people who knew her and had all the right things to say to me about her middos and lifestyle. I was able to find people who were willing and happy to set us up. But one thing came up that has become an issue for my parents and I’m also wondering whether it’s some sort of red flag. I was told that she’s a vegetarian and has been since she was a young teenager, so that tells me that she must be very committed to it. My father finds this choice of hers to be peculiar, and right off the cuff he is wary of her and thinks I should pass on going out with her. My mother is concerned for different reasons. She feels that she wouldn’t be able to participate in this part of our lives that give us all so much joy and something special to connect over. I don’t agree with my father that this makes her peculiar but I kind of hear what my mother has to say and worry whether this could become a serious issue. Is it common for people to reject women for being vegetarians? Especially when everything else about her checks out so well? Should I just forget that I ever saw her or open myself up to this difference in lifestyle and what it could mean?
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
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on’t overthink this. Date her and see where it goes. You have time to explore these issues later on if it gets serious. Be your own man and get to know the young woman for whom she is, not for her food choices. You don’t know why she is vegetarian and you don’t know why your mother is afraid that her culinary choices will break up the family. Obviously, most restaurants offer some veggie choices these days. Your father’s approach is labeling her as weird. Methinks that you should exercise some independence here while communicating with your parents. It’s good that all of you are talking but food choices are just food choices. They don’t define you or the young woman. Questions to ask yourself: Who are you? What’s your definition of you? Begin thinking about that and see where that process leads you. Do you have other interests beyond food? What are your hobbies and have you had a chance to pursue these on your own? What do you want and need in a spouse? Take the road to self-examination and maturity. It will be the best preparation for marriage.
The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A.
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agels and pizza and ice cream… OH MY!…Salads and summer fruits and cheeses...YUM, YUM!… Quiches and pastas and kugels… Uh, where was I? Yes, your query whether or not to date a vegetarian. Unless you eat hamburgers for breakfast, you’re very well aware kosher fare abounds with dairy and pareve delicacies – hence the term, fleishig-phobia. My point: the kosher food universe is a vegetari-
an gastronome’s wonderland. I’ve had vegetarians over for traditional Shabbos meals – they’ve always found plenty to eat. Several of my carnivorous friends are happily married to vegetarians. They often dine at the finest steakhouses and leave sated and happy. I am disappointed your parents can’t see past their forks; why do you ask them, anyway? Healthy marriages (some heart-healthier than others) have little to do with diet or food choices. Step back and review the “must-haves” on your shidduch menu: middos, looks, personality, brains, maturity, family background, religious values, among other attributes. If the young woman in question “checks out so well,” don’t eschew this shidduch for a sizzling sirloin.
The Shadchan Michelle Mond
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our question comes down to one of the most common questions when it comes to dating: Could I marry someone with different hobbies and interests as me? The general answer is a resounding “yes.” You could even seek proof by asking your married friends. In your case, you have not even gone on a date with her yet and you are thinking of disqualifying the idea. Imagine the scene: you just finished law school and have been looking for a job for a while. Suddenly an extremely appealing job offer comes through. Everything about it looks great, but there is one problem that is holding you back. The good news is, the job is offering you a month to try it out and evaluate the pros and cons for yourself. If you’re not interested, you can leave the job. Why can’t the same be said about dating this wonderful girl? You would be agreeing to go
out on a date to see how the two of you connect in person – vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Personally, I have been involved with cases such as this – where the girl is a vegetarian and the guy is the opposite – and they are happily married now. It was hard in the beginning for the guy to get used to the idea, but once they talked about it and he was able to evaluate his priorities, he realized he’d never want to let her go due to something so trivial in the long run. She agrees to cook the food he likes, and she’s happy to enjoy meals out with other people, she just orders different dishes on the menu. In your case, you haven’t even met her yet and are passing judgment! As a foodie would put it,
Perhaps go out with her and you’ll come back to us saying, “SAY! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them Sam I am!”
your current approach is similar to the book Green Eggs and Ham, i.e. passing it off before you’ve even ex-
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perienced it. Perhaps go out with her and you’ll come back to us saying, “SAY! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them Sam I am!”
The Single Tova Wein
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t sounds like you and your family are very passionate about your “foodie” status and no doubt take great satisfaction and maybe even a bit of pride in being so committed to this pursuit. The woman is question may be equally passionate
about her status of being a vegetarian, and perhaps takes equal pride and satisfaction in being able to live such a restrained and probably healthier lifestyle. And everyone is entitled to decide where to focus their energy and excitement. The issue here is really about respect, tolerance and the ability to go with the flow. This is more about personality type and character and less about food. Despite your differences when it comes to food selection, when people don’t take themselves all that seriously and can agree to disagree and still respect another person’s choices, then it all works out. I think you owe it to yourself to
Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
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ands down, without an iota of a doubt, I say with confidence that her being a vegetarian does not have to be an issue. The only way this will be an issue is if you make an issue out of it or your parents sabotage this potential match. Forgive me for the passionate response that is about to ensue (but it’s coming out and I can’t stop it!). I see firsthand how many singles and their families reject each other for reasons so absurd it makes my head hurts. And it usually boils down to an “us vs. them” mentality. Some people are very scared of what they don’t understand, and/or what others will think, so they reject, reject, reject. And … they suffer for it. While I can understand your concerns and wouldn’t call it “absurd,” I will say that you and your family need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself (yourselves), When did our family passion become a deal breaker? How
did we become so self-involved that we now consider excluding people who don’t share our interests? And, while we’re at it … where did you get the idea that there are no vegetarian foodies? While it is wonderful to share hobbies and interests with a spouse, it is also wonderful to have different hobbies and interests that you do not share. And the research supports this. Couples who spend reasonable amounts of time apart, pursuing their own interests, and then bring that passion back to the relationship (feeling invigorated, fulfilled, talking about the experience) tend to have solid marriages. And furthermore, let’s talk about the art of compromise. Even if this woman doesn’t like “foodie-ism” she may want to participate in it because it is your passion. And you may
ask this woman out on a date and get to know her. What is she like in general? And how does she define her vegetarianism? Is it something that she just happens to follow with “a live and let live” attitude? Or is she one of those people who glares at people eating red meat? And what about you? Do you frown on others who don’t share your passion over epicurean delights? Or can you view others who have a “take it or leave it” attitude toward food without curiosity and judgment? Husbands and wives are filled with differences on so many levels. As long as you can both put this difference on the backburner and fo-
want to take a vegetarian cooking class with her. The only potential “red flag” I can see is if either you or this woman are unyielding in your approaches to food. And, as long as we’re talking about unyieldingness, I have to wonder if you or your family struggle with flexibility. (Just wondering … the family may be very open.) If you or they are a bit rigid in your beliefs, values or ideals, please understand that your current question has nothing to do with being a foodie or her being a vegetarian and everything to do with working on your ability to compromise and see past the surface. Let me assure you that a shared passion for food is not what will sustain a marriage. Being flexible and accepting and compromising are what sustains a marriage. If you are reading this and thinking, “Gee, maybe I am a little rigid, or I don’t have the greatest track-record or modeling for compromise,” I urge you to talk about this with a professional before you begin dating anyone. This goes for you and all the single people reading (and marrieds too). If you struggle with flexibility now, go speak with
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Being flexible and accepting and compromising are what sustains a marriage.
cus on hopefully many other qualities that you connect over it could and should be a non-issue.
a professional. Inflexibility and stubbornness are destructive to marriages. These qualities isolate and denigrate spouses and set the stage for frustration, desperation and loneliness. Doing the work now will improve your chances of having a happier life. And if I read into things a little too much, and you are a “go with the flow” kind of guy, you will probably end up on a first date with this vegetarian lady. Take her to a beautiful milichig restaurant and don’t bring it up on the first two dates, unless she does. Spend this time getting to know her. Sincerely, Jennifer Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
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Dr. Deb
Reconnecting By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
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’ve done an informal survey of people coming to therapy to heal their marriages. The ones that are vaguely unhappy and can’t pinpoint it but lose hope in therapy when things don’t pop into place in a matter of weeks instead of months seem to be the ones who don’t really believe G-d is with them. They’re frum Jews; you couldn’t get them to say they don’t believe in G-d. Of course they do. But He or She or Whoever is in some distant galaxy far, far away, and far too busy with more important things than them. They know they’re not supposed to say that or even think that; it’s not part of our religion. But I’m their therapist and they generally want to tell me the truth about how they feel. They hope, I think, that I can change their mind because the thought that HaKadosh Baruch Hu really isn’t interested in them is awfully disheartening. When people really don’t think
Hashem is with them, you can imagine how badly it affects all their relationships: They don’t feel compunctions about wading into treacherous waters (you know what I’m referring to here, right?) because, Who cares? They don’t nec-
where they got hurt by life so it means nothing. What’s more, they bring ample proof from the tough life they’ve lived that their version of things is true. There’s a reason for that. It is called “negativity bias”: We
We need to force our minds to focus on the good in our lives.
essarily take care of themselves because they believe Someone Above is not taking care of them, and they certainly don’t feel motivated to take care of those they love. You can see the snowball effect. And you cannot argue with such people. Telling them that of course G-d does care doesn’t touch them
are programmed to notice the bad; it stands out for us in a way that good things generally don’t. Evolutionists explain this by saying that early man needed to be hardwired to be on the alert for danger. Spiritually-inclined Jews can explain it by saying the yetzer hara was put inside of us to challenge our grati-
tude to Hashem. This negativity bias is probably at the bottom of the stress and blues that we so often feel. But that is a big problem when you are celebrating Shavuos and your whole focus should be your happiness at connecting to G-d through His Torah. Many people manage to get around the problem by simply being glad they’re Jews or at least relieved they’re not something else and theoretically glad they have a Torah to follow. In other words, they go through the motions. That’s not living. So here is my “cure” for the problem – and it works well with having the same parve feelings about one’s family – become the giver and the appreciator that we were all meant to be. Being a Giver Using His Attribute of chessed, G-d created the world. Without chessed, the world would cease to
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exist. If you get anything out of living this life, this is it: Imitate G-d’s chessed including in how you think of G-d. Think of when a new baby comes into its parents’ life. The baby translates to loss of sleep, lots of work, the complete inability to get anything done – and somehow, through all that giving, loving parents feel very attached to their baby. When parents had poor attachment experiences to their own parents, this normal reaction might not happen. Parents who have trouble feeling the attachment are reliving their own fears of attaching as children to a parent that was either not emotionally available or was frightening. In therapy, talking about the problem won’t solve it; it requires tiptoeing into the dangerous waters of being vulnerable with one’s new family. Parents need to reach out to their children in a way they never were reached out to. And each time
they extend themselves for their child, they can also say words of validation to themselves. It works the same way with G-d. We were told to make brachas. Why? Does G-d need them? When we daven and when we thank Him for the good things in our lives through brachas, we’re giving back to Him. These acts compel us to think about what we have, Who gave them to us, and how much we appreciate them. They are small tokens, our tefillos and our brachas; when you think about the amount of time it all takes, you realize G-d is asking for less than the new baby demands. Nevertheless, this is Giving, and it brings us closer to G-d. Being an Appreciator In between time for davening, we need to counteract our negativity bias. We need to force our minds to focus on the good in our lives. It isn’t easy, especially if negativity
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has been a long-term habit. We need to stop ourselves when we start to think negative thoughts. That is a start but it is not enough. We then need to substitute positive thoughts. So for example, “I didn’t get the raise, but several top people commented positively on my project,” or “I got fired but the place I was in was a toxic environment,” and so forth. Search for the good in your life and then conclude by reminding yourself that Hashem is indeed watching out for you. The moment we appreciate what is good in our lives, we are “giving back” to Hashem. There’s a bit of wonderful neurology here: When we force ourselves to switch from lamenting over our negatives to focusing on the positives, something gets rewired in our brains. Suddenly the pathways to seeing positive, connecting with Hashem, and being happy get greased down; the flow of messages along these pathways
goes faster. In other words, that initial effort begets future results. Positive begets positive. Interestingly, I was speaking to an Israeli recently, trying to improve my broken Hebrew. I asked him how to say “positive” in modern Hebrew. “Chiuvi,” he replied. “But,” I said, a bit confused, “we use that term in halacha. It means ‘obligation.’” “That’s right,” he said, smiling. It dawned on me: We’re obligated to be positive. How dare we be anything else in this good world that we were gifted? Chag sameach.
Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com.
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Health & F tness
Shavuos Survival By Aliza Beer MS, RD
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havuos is a very pleasant holiday. It falls out at the cusp of summer, typically with beautiful weather, sans difficult preparations such as turning over the whole kitchen or building a sukkah. In terms of healthy eating and minimal weight gain, Shavuos is not as easy to navigate. The biggest obstacles are the carby/cheesy foods, and the cake to end all cakes, the cheesecake! In addition, this year the holiday falls out midweek, sandwiched between two Shabbosim, making it even harder to have a somewhat “normal” eating week. I’ve listed the most critical do’s and don’ts to help you survive this highly caloric yom tov. Diminish the Dairy: One cannot eat four meals of lasagna, pizza, eggplant parmesan, and mac ‘n’ cheese without a substantial weight gain. Cheese is typically a very high fat protein, so incorporating some poultry/lean meat meals into the schedule would be very helpful. I recommend eating two dairy and two chicken/lean meat meals. Eat Fish: Fish is a great dairy option. Pick your favorite fish, season and grill or bake it, but don’t bread or fry it! For those of you that don’t like fish, try having one omelet
meal. Eggs are a phenomenal protein and mixed with veggies can be healthy and filling! Say Cheese: For those intent on getting in at least some cheese, use only low-fat options, like lowfat cottage cheese and part-skim shredded mozzarella. Take small portions of these dishes, and use roasted veggies, salads, and soups
Drink Water: Drink one to two cups of water before every meal, and you will go into that meal not as hungry and eat a little less. The water also helps the stomach prepare itself to receive the food. Matzah: I’m well aware that it was just Pesach, but whole wheat or spelt matzah happen to be healthy carbs that you won’t overeat like the
A regular slice of full-fat cheesecake with a graham cracker crust can be close to 1,000 calories!
as fillers. How to Cheat: If you’re going to indulge yourself, at the very least please do it in the morning, not late at night! The timing of the cheat/ treat is almost as important as the actual food itself. We do not burn off the food we consume late at night the same way we do the calories we are taking in earlier in the day. Whatever we eat at night is essentially just sticking to us and being hoarded as fat.
challah. Designate at least two out of the four meals as matzah meals. Go for Walks: The weather will iy”H be beautiful; take advantage and walk off your meals. You will need some kind of cardio to burn off these many additional calories. Walk for at least 30 minutes a day. What Cheesecake? I buy fat-free frozen yogurt for our dairy dessert, and I recommend that to all my patients. Sorbet is another excellent option. If you are determined
to have your cheesecake, then either buy or make a low-fat option. I prefer the ones that are already pre-portioned for you, as this will inhibit overeating. If you are planning on making your own, then use nonfat Greek yogurt and low-fat cottage cheese and bake it in small muffin tins or cupcake holders, again for portion control. Please keep in mind that a regular slice of full-fat cheesecake with a graham cracker crust can be close to 1,000 calories! Shavuos is a wonderful, meaningful, and joyous yom tov. Focus on the spiritual, not the physical. Indulge in the holiday delights with restraint, and self-control. Too much of anything, even healthy foods, is simply too much. Healthy is not synonymous with bland or boring. Herbs and spices will add tremendous flavor to your food. Remember, Shavuos is a time to gain the Torah, not the weight! Wishing all of my readers a chag sameach! Aliza Beer is a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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MAY 30, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Summer Camp: No Longer a Luxury VETERAN MECHANCHIM WEIGH IN ON THIS VITAL NEED By: R. Schachnow
It’s an idyllic summer scene: a group of boys on their way to the park for a game of ball. When they finish their game of camaraderie and fun, they’ll wind up at one boy’s house to schmooze, have a glass of cold lemonade, and work on the clubhouse in the backyard.
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t’s also a fantasy, a wistful dream that does not exist anymore. Whereas in previous generations, summer was a time for kids to kick back, relax and make their own schedules and their own fun, in our generation, leaving healthy kids without structure and careful supervision is nothing short of dangerous. As Rabbi Gedalia Oppen, principal of Judaic Studies at HAFTR Elementary School, explains, “Camp is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Just like you have to eat – but you don’t have to have steak every day – you don’t have to choose the priciest, fanciest option. We have seen how quickly children who are not in a structured setting can and will get into trouble. Without the proper environment, these few weeks in the summer can literally destroy all the time, effort and money invested in our children’s chinuch the entire year!” Three years ago, Rabbi Yaakov Bender attended an Achiezer board meeting and shared the same sentiments, gleaned from his over forty years of experience in chinuch. Thus was born Achiezer’s Summer Camp Fund, which, in conjunction with the Davis Memorial Fund and the Leon Lief Fund, works to ensure that no neighborhood children are left at home this summer due to lack of funds. “If ever there was a communitywide initiative,” shares Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, president of Achiezer, “this is it. Last year we serviced 121 families from more than 45 different shuls and with children in virtually every local
e l e m e nt a r y and high school. These are people from every neighborhood, of every affiliation, who are turning to us for help with this vital need.” Those who apply are treated with the utmost dignity and each application is evaluated individually. Many children in question are from families with two working parents, for whom the expense of camp on top of yearround tuition obligations is overwhelming. However, leaving their children home alone is not an option. “We can only help as many people as funds that are contributed, and that’s where the community comes in,” shares Achiezer’s program coordinator, Aliza Wartelsky. “As Rabbi BB Bender explained, this is a program that is totally for the community, by the community.” Says Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, “Camp is expensive, but most of us are able to send our children to camp this summer. It’s worthwhile to take care of those families who are not able to do so. What goes around, comes around. By participating, you will surely reap the benefits.” *** Camp is more than just fun and games. It’s an investment for life. Several veteran mechanchim from our local schools and yeshivos share their perspectives.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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Our Panel
Rabbi Yaakov Bender Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Shore
What is so important about the camp experience?
benefits are crucial. If parents are not able to entertain and supervise their children for most of the day, it’s the only option. And even in circumstances where parents choose to entertain their children on their own, the children lose the social benefits of the camp experience. Rabbi Nosson Neuman: The [sleepaway] camp environment is a kind of utopia. The children are removed from every other distraction, really from the rest of the world, and it’s a chance for them to be uplifted
Rabbi Bender: Summer vacation lasts, unfortunately, for one-quarter of the year. It is not an option for children to be totally free, with no structure, for that amount of time. Camp is therefore not a luxury. It’s a necessity for every child to be in a structured environment so that all the work of the remaining three-quarters of the year does not go down the drain. There are also yechidim who are regrettably living in a dysfunctional environment, and they need to learn to interact with their peers and build relationships in a normal way. The camp environment offers them this opportunity. This is their one chance to be immersed in a regular setting and to be like everyone else. Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky: amps shelter our children from a hostile outside environment; they keep them safe and happy. Yes, luxurious camps are a luxury, but the concept of camp is not. There are good, solid camps out there that are filling this very crucial need. Rabbi Gedalia Oppen: Camp is an unforgettable experience. New friendships are created, school labels are removed, it’s a chance for children to forge new identities for themselves. In addition, children are occupied in a healthy way. When they are bored, they can get into trouble, and this challenge only gets worse as they get older. Camp is costly, but the
Rabbi Gedalia Oppen Principal of Judaic Studies, Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaways
er homes, Shabbos in a sleepaway camp is the only real Shabbos they’ll experience. There is also a certain camaraderie; children learn how to live with other people and interact in a healthy way. Rabbi Oppen: In school, the majority of the day is focused on academics, whereas in camp, there are so many other opportunities to shine. Children can explore who they are in a healthy, freer way. This helps them feel good about themselves and
“New friendships are created, school labels are removed, it’s a chance for children to forge new identities for themselves.” and come closer to the Ribbono Shel Olam. There is nothing like a camp Shabbos, with 300 or more children singing zemiros together. Camp is also a chance for children to tap into what excites them and makes them shine.
What are some of the specific benefits children can gain from camp? Rabbi Bender: Camp can strengthen their Yiddishkeit. For some children who come from weak-
can really rejuvenate them, even academically. Also, I find that, as kids get older, school friendships are often based on academic ability. Camp allows them to branch out and identify with other types of students and recognize what they have to offer. Rabbi Neuman: In camp there is no pressure to conform and achieve scholastically. Rather, there’s something for everyone to enjoy – whether it’s sports, arts and crafts, singing or drama. I actually meet with my staff several days into camp to see which kids need a little bit more and talk about how we can help them feel
Rabbi Nosson Neuman Menahel of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam; Director, Camp Chaviva
good and succeed. Four weeks of camp can do more than ten months of school for a child’s self-confidence.
Why is it detrimental for a child to spend the summer at home and not in a camp environment? Rabbi Bender: I took an informal survey in our school and found that in 75-80% of homes, both parents are working. That means that, if a child is home in the summer, he is often home the whole day by himself. This means he’s doing nothing – or worse, getting into trouble. On another note, we live in what is, by and large, an affluent community. But there are about 30% of families who do not fit this demographic, and for those children to be denied the chance to go to camp is not okay; they feel very deprived. Rabbi Kamenetzky: We are told, “Batalah meivi l’yedei shimum” – wasting time brings to desolation of the mind. When a child is not in a ruchniyusdik atmosphere, he can be filling his time and mind with terrible things. You can see the difference between a child who spends his summer in a Torah atmosphere and one who doesn’t. Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, “Shivti b’veis Hashem kol yemei chayei.” He doesn’t talk about a summer vacation. One needs to be in a beis Hashem – a Torah environment – in the summer as well. Now we have wonderful camps where
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children can learn be exposed to Yiddishe ideas, sheltering them from an environment which is hostile, particularly in the summer. Rabbi Oppen: We invest so much in our children’s chinuch: time, money and energy. If not utilized correctly, these summer months can destroy all of that. Even during the year it is too easy for children to get into trouble. In the summer, when things are a lot looser, it is a much bigger challenge. Together with all our tefillos, we have to do our hishtadlus by putting our children in a safe, positive environment. Rabbi Neuman: Boredom itself is dangerous. Nowadays, with one click of a button, children can be exposed to the worst to’eivos. They don’t even have to leave home to access this kind of material. Another important point is that children gain so much from being with other children outside of the school environment. They learn important social skills, how to get along
with and appreciate other children. Schools today are wonderful, but the school day doesn’t compare to being in a bunk with fifteen other children for seven hours a day, participating in activities together. The skills gained are skills for life.
What has changed in this regard in recent times? Rabbi Bender: The streets are so much worse today than in the past. In the old days, a child could safely sit at home and read a book or play
“Without the proper environment, these few weeks in the summer can literally destroy all the time, effort and money invested in our children’s chinuch the entire year!” I want to add that while it is a must to send kids to camp, parents should take advantage of the slower pace of the summer – no homework, longer days – to really spend time with their children and take an interest in their lives.
ball. It also used to be that there were fewer families in which both parents were working. But even when I was growing up, my mother ran a camp fund, so it was always prudent. Rabbi Kamenetzky: Children today don’t know how to occupy
themselves gainfully. What should a kid do when alone in the house that won’t get him into trouble? Rabbi Oppen: Society has changed, accessibility to what’s out there has changed. And self-entertainment for children really doesn’t exist anymore. Children today can get into trouble so quickly. This is not theory, but fact. Rabbi Neuman: The world that we live in has become a difficult place to raise children al taharas hakodesh. Nowadays, in the outside world there are no inhibitions. A child who stays home is open to seeing kol davar assur – just by walking in the street. Many children who get into trouble today start on a simple level that could have been avoided. *** Ensure that every child in our community will have a safe, positive, productive and happy summer. Contribute to Achiezer’s Camp Fund today at www.achiezer.org.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
summer means misery :( ...for some
With both parents working full time to make ends meet, their children cannot stay home alone all summer!
The end of the year fills Rachel, a widow with a low-income job, with dread, since she cannot afford camp for her kids.
School is hard for Yona with his reading disability, how can we tell him he can’t enjoy summer camp now?
The camp experience offers a nurturing environment away from the distractions and, for some, the hostile environment that boredom can lead to.
to make the difference! You Will your neighbor’s child have a
We need
summer of distress or a summer of joy? 100% OF YOUR DONATION GOES TO CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
DONATE NOW! Trustees: Rabbi Boruch B. Bender • Dr. Deborah Dienstag • Mr. Uri Dreifus • Mr. Alon Goldberger Rabbi Dovid Greenblatt • Mr. Lloyd Keilson • Mr. Adam Okun • Mr. Avi Weinstock
For more info: awartelsky@achiezer.org | To Donate: 516.791.4444 | Achiezer.org
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A Journey to a Peaceful Presence By Andrew Kahn
As Shavuos arrives, I am ready to renew my acceptance of G-d’s gift of Torah. I’m also grateful for this opportunity to make an introduction. Allow me to tell you more about me, yoga and The Peaceful Presence Studio.
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began my yoga practice at about 10-years-old with my mother as my teacher. I’d like to say that it has all been a smooth ride since then but that would be a lie. Perplexed by life without any religion or central guiding philosophy, I desperately needed answers in my youth and I reached the point where I would go almost anywhere to find them. For the first 25 years of my life it was comforting to know that I could turn to food whenever I needed to cope with anxiety, fear, doubt, insecurity, frustration, rejection, boredom, loneliness – or just for socialization, celebration and enjoyment. Food was truly my “idol” and I had no other G-d before it. I returned again and again to the refrigerator, the cabinets, and the markets and I would simply stuff my face... I wanted to find my way out but sadly could not. I was entrenched in the battle of life and the food was the “higher power” that I used to fill the many voids in my heart. My over-dependency left me empty, rather than gaining proficiency at securing the appropriate “ingredients” I needed in order to have a fulfilled life: stable and loving
relationships, a purpose to live for, and clear moral guidelines to develop contentment and inner peace. Eventually, it became clear to me that the strategy I was using was not working. Life too often felt like torture. How to gain self-control was a pressing question. I needed to keep my head above water. Nearing my wit’s end, I looked around for whatever was in reach that I might grab hold of as a life preserver. My mother introduced me to a spiritual recovery fellowship. My father spent hours talking with me about psychology and philosophy, and eventually he gave me a book about meditation. I decided to study psychology. It
in a 12 step program specifically for those suffering in their relationship with food. Finally, I deepened my connection to the tradition to which I was born but which had little understanding of: Judaism. With the help of compassionate teachers and role models, I embraced my faith. I found that the answers I had been seeking were within the teachings of Torah. This elevated my thinking, improved my clarity, and got me even more passionate about my purpose: to continue to come into greater alignment with the Loving Source of strength that I had learned to open up to. It became clear to me that my goal in
I found that the answers I had been seeking were within the teachings of Torah.
seemed like a logical place to find answers regarding mental health and also a means to earn an income. In 1990 I graduated, was president of the psychology club, and then began a Clinical Psychology PhD program at Fordham University. However, I found the answers to questions like “what is a healthy human being?” to be insufficient. Next I immersed myself in the study and practice of holistic health, yoga, and meditation in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. This was coupled with intensive involvement
life was to help others gain wellbeing and peace. I am a kohein who understands that he is set apart for a definite purpose. I am a part of the incredible 3,000-year-old struggle of the Jewish people. Connected to G-d and the light of others, I am now shining my own light. What is the most important thing I learned on my journey? G-d can and does provide guidance, support, strength and fulfillment more and more as I open up and let Him in. There are many disciplines I am in-
volved in toward this end. Since 2012 I have been learning Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s Torah teachings. In May 2016 I had my chance to travel to Jerusalem for a truly inspiring, bonding men’s trip with Aish HaTorah and then returned to Jerusalem with my wife and son in January of 2017. It really felt like a homecoming. We are not picking up and moving there right now but a seed has been planted, and time will tell how, when, and where it grows. My wife Lori and I named our son Aaron after Moshe’s brother, Aaron. We are trying to teach him about “loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them closer to the Torah.” It is too soon to say whether he will become a doctor like Lori and her father or take the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio to the next level. We will love him and G-d will determine his path and timing.
Yoga Each week another article praising yoga appears in a major newspaper. Doctors are recommending it, schools – including yeshivas – are teaching it, and major hospitals now incorporate it into their programming. Yoga stretches and strengthens the muscles, improves joint flexibility and overall circulation, helps focus the mind, calms the emotions, and leaves one with an experience of increased peace. One who practices yoga typically learns to breathe more deeply and develops a combination of flexibility with receptivity, and physical strength. Changes in diet (toward the natural) and lifestyle (more active) are also natural bi-products
The Jewish | MAY 29, 30, 2015 2017 The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
of a regular yoga practice. As our peace grows, it then, hopefully, spills over into other aspects of our lives and we find that we can maintain our inner peace even when our surroundings become chaotic. Our peace then affects others. Our Shomer Shabbos studio is right above Toddy’s Bagels. We have been serving the Five Towns community since 2005. Our certified staff are knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Women’s group classes are taught by and for women only. I teach the men’s group yoga classes, as well as private and semi-private classes. We offer restorative, easy flow yoga, and, more challenging, dynamic classes year-round. If you are new to yoga or prenatal, I recommend starting off with a restorative or easy flow class. Many of our local area doctors who regularly attend yoga classes at our studio will attest to the benefits that a regular yoga practice provides. I am also grateful to the many
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of Torah. Thus we can all bring peace and kindness back home and into our community. We are deeply grateful to the community that supports our presence and hope for the day when all people acknowledge that there is one G-d, work in harmony to fulfill His will, and strive toward the great ideals that can be found in the Torah. © Andrew Kahn, 2017
Andrew, Dr. Lori Cohen Kahn, and Aaron Kahn at Masada in January 2017
rabbis and rebbetzins who have helped shape the studio into the kosher yoga environment which it has become. Not every yoga studio meets these standards. In closing I’d like to open the Peaceful Presence Studio even more in service to the community. Feel free to call me and let me know how
we can help you. If the sign on our Central Avenue door says “OPEN” this spring and summer feel free to come in and say hello and have a cold cup of spring water. While visiting feel free to enjoy a quiet moment, deepen your feeling of peace, meditate, daven, do some yoga, take a short nap, and/or share some words
Andrew Kahn is the founder and owner of the Peaceful Presence Yoga & Massage Studio and also the author of How to be a Peaceful Presence: Finding Your Inner Peace. Visit www.peacefulpresence.com to see our class schedule and read more. Call/ text 516-371-3715 or email andrewkahn@peacefulpresence.com with any questions or for an appointment. The Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio is at 436 Central Avenue. For group classes use the back entrance and for private sessions or visits use our Central Avenue entrance.
OCTOBER 29,|2015 | The Jewish MAY 30, 2017 The Jewish HomeHome
FLORAL DESIGN BY BOUTIQUE LILIANE
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A Flair for Flowers TJH Speaks with Rivka Rabi of Boutique Liliane
The Jewish HomeHome | OCTOBER The Jewish | MAY 29, 30, 2015 2017
Rivka, I know things are busy around Shavuos time. Thank you for speaking with us. Tell us about Boutique Liliane and how you started. I recently moved to New York from Israel. I was an event planner and specialized in design for high-end American/European clientele there. I started Boutique Liliane last summer and we’re located in the Five Towns, servicing the tristate area. Our company services clients for engagements, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other events, and for weekly orders for Shabbos. From where do you get your passion for blooms? Growing up I always had a passion for design and decorating. When I was 19, I started planning engagement parties. People thought I was young but I pleasantly surprised them all. Did you have to go for formal training to be a floral designer? Where did you learn the tricks of the trade? I went, but at the end of the day the real learning comes from experience and hard
work. I watched how other designers worked and then I made it my own with my imagination and creativity. How long does it take you to set up an arrangement? It depends. The more flowers in an arrangement, the more time it takes to arrange. Do you go to the market to get your flowers or do you have them delivered daily? What’s your day like? I like going to the market and choosing all different types of flowers. This gives me a broader idea of different blooms that I would not have thought of to order. My day starts out very early – as early as 5AM! Wow! That is a long day! Shavuos is two days but I like my blooms to last for a while. How can I keep them fresh longer? Here are some tips for long-lasting blooms: Cut the stems on a diagonal. The water should be filled up to ¾ of the vase. Be sure to change the water every 1-2 days. Flower food is helpful as well. If you have an arrangement with
a sponge, keep adding water so it is always moist. What flowers are in season now? Does it make a difference if I use in-season flowers or not? Peonies in all shades of pink, white, and yellow are in season now. Roses are always in season! Lilacs, hydrangea, and Phalaenopsis, also known as the moth orchid, come in all colors. If flowers are not in season, they are harder to get. Some are imported from Holland but it’s harder to get – and so it’s more pricey. Speaking of prices, what flowers do you recommend for those on a budget? White hydrangeas with some green leaves. They are not too expensive and give a full, beautiful look. I am having a large crowd over Shavous. What bouquet/set up/arrangement do you recommend? I would do many small short vases across the table. When you have a tall, large arrangement it ends up being taken off the table. Like
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this, you can keep the arrangements on the table and enjoy the beauty of your blooms during your seudah.
Not necessarily but it should have some color coordination that will give the look a “pop.”
My color scheme is purple and pinks. What flowers will work for me? That’s a beautiful color scheme. I would recommend pink peonies, purple lavender, purple Phalaenopsis, and pink/purple hydrangea. It’ll look gorgeous.
What are some recent trends that you are seeing? Putting flowers into different “vases” such as pitchers, cookie jars, and empty wine bottles is very popular.
Do my flowers need to match my décor?
What’s your favorite flower? Peonies in all colors.
From where do you find inspiration for your arrangements? I love looking at magazines, and from nature itself. Even a cool painting can give me inspiration. To reach Rivka Rabi at Boutique Liliane, call 845-538-9019 or email her at sweetliliane.ny@gmail.com. Boutiqueliliane.com, Instagram: boutiqueliliane. Available for engagements, weddings, bar mitzvahs, events, and weekly orders for Shabbos.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE SUIT CENTRAL
456 Central Ave., Cedarhurst, NY 11516 | (516) 791-1925 Store hrs: Sun: 11-6, Mon-Thurs: 11-7, Fri: 10:30-2:30
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In The K
tchen
By Naomi Nachman
Ricotta Pancakes Dairy – Yields 1 Dozen – Freezer Friendly
Whenever we visit Australia, my mum makes ricotta pancakes (latkes) for our long flight back to America. I wanted to include the recipe in my book, so I created this “Perfect for Pesach” version. With Shavuot coming up these pancakes are also “Perfect for Shavuot.”
Ingredients 1½ cups ricotta cheese ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon imitation vanilla extract 2 eggs, separated ¼ cup sugar 1 cup almond flour ¼ cup potato starch 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch kosher salt Oil, for frying
Preparation Place ricotta, milk, vanilla, and egg yolks into a large bowl; mix well to combine. Stir in sugar, almond flour, potato starch, baking powder, and salt; mix gently until smooth. In a second bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold them into the cheese mixture. Heat oil in a 9-inch frying pan over low-medium heat. Drop ¼-cup scoops of batter into pan; fry for approximately 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
Cook’s Tip Make sure the oil doesn’t get too hot, because overheated oil will cause the pancakes to break apart and burn. Reproduced from Perfect for Pesach by Naomi Nachman with permission from the copyright holders ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, LTD.
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
It is not isolation and the building of walls that make us successful, but open societies. - German Chancellor Angel Merkel at a meeting of NATO leaders
The message that I would want to get over – and this is how the vast majority of people feel – this man was a terrorist, not a Muslim. - Manchester’s mayor in a radio interview, after a radical Islamic terrorist blew up 22 people – mostly children – and maimed dozens in the Manchester bombing
Think of the Trump presidency as a Wikipedia entry, a project of constant updating, correction and revision. Once people get used to Donald Trump as a wiki, with him as the main editor, things might calm down. For Congress and the legislative agenda, midcourse corrections would become the daily routine, rather than media melodramas. The goal is relative stability. - Daniel Henninger, The Wall Street Journal
If you run a bureaucracy, they’re in the weeds, they’re behind the desk, they’re whispering around the watercooler. You’ve got to nail them and get them…out of there. - Former CEO of GE Jack Welch on NBC’s Squawk Box, urging President Trump to purge the bureaucracy
Rapper A$AP Rocky had $1.5 million worth of jewelry stolen from his home in Los Angeles earlier this week. Well, here’s a free tip: Stop spelling your name with a dollar sign. That’s like having the license plate “I LUV COCAINE” and being surprised when the cops pull you over. – Seth Myers
I think poverty to a large extent is also a state of mind. You take somebody that has the right mindset, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they’ll be right back up there. And you take somebody with the wrong mindset, you can give them everything in the world, they’ll work their way right back down to the bottom. - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, who grew up in abject poverty and became the nation’s top neurosurgeon, in a radio interview, drawing backlash from the mainstream media
I’m often asked what the secret is … to having a real impact on government. Well, it’s recently changed. I used to say, either run for office or get a degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. With this White House I’d say: buy Rosetta Stone and learn Russian. - Former Secretary of State John Kerry trying his hand at humor during his commencement address at the Harvard Kennedy School
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We know that you love the spontaneous displays of emotion. - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, explaining the league’s decision to reverse its rule prohibiting celebrations of touchdowns in the end zone
A Girl Scout troop leader in Kentucky is on the run from police after she allegedly stole $15,000 worth of Girl Scout cookies. The suspect is now at large. And getting larger every minute. – James Corden
We also have to recognize particularly at this moment that…Islamophobia is not an opinion. Racism is not an opinion… Jingoism is not an opinion. – Hillary Clinton at a CARE Conference in Washington adding Jingoism (what they call extreme patriotism) to the litany of “isms” to avoid
Anyone who thinks Trump is going down or will be impeached is doing the same harm as those last summer who were SURE Hillary would win. STOP
This was a huge mistake. It was not done intentionally. It was a human error, but the buck stops with me. - Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley tearfully apologizing after his office inadvertently issued a birthday proclamation honoring a man who ambushed and killed a Cincinnati police officer in 2015 (The request for the proclamation was made by the killer’s son and was routinely granted before the mistake became apparent)
I think it’s time to dial back a little bit about because there are people around ... who are kind of binge drinking the anti-Trump Kool-Aid. And that is not going to work in journalism. Let the politicians have that binge drinking. - Veteran Watergate journalist Bob Woodward on MSNBC
- Tweet by uber-liberal Michael Moore
Meanwhile, Trump just released his new budget proposal. And Bernie Sanders said his cuts to Medicaid are “just cruel.” But Bernie will get his medicine the same way as always: finding an old pill in his suit pocket.
A new study found that more than half of American doctors are burnt out, exhausted, and losing their sense of purpose. So, if your doctor seems burnt out, exhausted, and losing their sense of purpose, ask if Zoloft might be right for them. - Jimmy Fallon
- Jimmy Fallon
To have a president say, if he did, to the director of the FBI, or the DNI, the Director of National Intelligence, or the NRA person that—um, uh, that they should not go forward, it raises questions that need to be answered in a facts and law way, and not hearsay. - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) apparently making the National Rifle Association – which she hates very much – into an intelligence organization
Halfway through the year I’m ballin’, the other half I’m not getting the ball. And you’re just like, “What’s going on?” It was like, “OK, I see what’s happening. They don’t want me here anymore.” A lot of people probably don’t know this. Let’s say I played well — was a 1,000-yard receiver last year — it would have been more difficult from a fan perspective to cut me. - Former NY Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz in a radio interview, after he signed with the Chicago Bears
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Well, first, I’m here not as a supporter of Donald Trump. I voted for Hillary Clinton very proudly. I’m here as a supporter for civil liberties and construing statutes narrowly as they were written. I just don’t see a crime here. I see perhaps some political wrongdoing. I see leaking information on both sides. But even if, for example, the [Trump] campaign coordinated – which there is no evidence of – but coordinated activities with Russia, and, even if Russia and the campaigns said, “Gee, wouldn’t it be better if Trump were elected?” that’s political wrongdoing, but it’s just not a crime. - Alan Dershowitz on Fox News stating that even if, hypothetically, the Trump campaign “colluded with the Russians,” it would not be a crime
I never asked, once, what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refuse to do that. – President Trump joking during his speech at the opening of the new NATO headquarters
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A princess in Japan is giving up her royal status so she can marry a commoner, which is something she’ll definitely bring up in every single fight she has with her husband. - Jimmy Fallon
Today is a day where we must also reassert historical truth: The historic connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem and the land of Israel did not begin in 1967. These profound ties to Jerusalem have existed for thousands of years. They can be traced back and have been reaffirmed through numerous archaeological excavations such as those in the City of David.
There’s another viral video of Melania Trump rejecting President Trump’s attempt to hold her hand. Now even Israelis and Palestinians are saying, “[Gosh], work it out, you two.” - Conan O’Brien
It is long past time that America do something it should have done two decades ago: move the American embassy to Jerusalem and formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal and undivided capital. – Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) on the Senate floor speaking in honor of Yom Yerushalayim
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Political Crossfire
Why Middle East Peace Starts in Saudi Arabia By Charles Krauthammer
“Whom the gods would destroy, they first tempt to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.” -Irving Kristol
T
he quixotic American pursuit of Middle East peace is a perennial. It invariably fails, yet every administration feels compelled to give it a try. The Trump administration is no different. It will fail as well. To be sure, no great harm has, as yet, come from President Trump’s enthusiasm for what would be “the ultimate deal.” It will, however, distract and detract from remarkable progress being made elsewhere in the Middle East. That progress began with Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, the first of his presidency – an unmistakable declaration of a radical reorientation of U.S. policy in the region. Message: The appeasement of Iran is over. Barack Obama’s tilt toward Iran in the great Muslim civil war between Shiite Iran and Sunni Arabs led by Saudi Arabia was his reach for Nixon-to-China glory. It ended ignominiously. The idea that the nuclear deal would make Iran more moderate has proved spectacularly wrong, as demonstrated by its defiant ballistic missile launches, its indispensable support for the genocidal Assad regime in Syria, its backing of the Houthi insurgency in Yemen, its worldwide support for terrorism, its relentless anti-Americanism, and commitment to the annihilation of Israel. These aggressions were supposed
to abate. They didn’t. On the contrary, the cash payments and the lifting of economic sanctions – Tehran’s reward for the nuclear deal – have only given its geopolitical thrusts more power and reach. The reversal has now begun. The first act was Trump’s Riyadh address to about 50 Muslim states (the overwhelming majority of them Sunni) signaling a wide Islamic alliance committed to resisting Iran and willing to cast its lot with the American side. That was objective No.1. The
Riyadh. After eight years of U.S. policy hovering between neglect and betrayal, the Sunni Arabs are relieved to have America back. A salutary side effect is the possibility of a detente with Israel. That would suggest an outside-in approach to Arab-Israeli peace: a rapprochement between the Sunni state and Israel (the outside) would put pressure on the Palestinians to come to terms (the inside). It’s a long-shot strategy but it’s better than all the others. Unfortunately, Trump
After eight years of U.S. policy hovering between neglect and betrayal, the Sunni Arabs are relieved to have America back.
other was to turn the Sunni powers against Sunni terrorism. The Islamic State is Sunni. Al-Qaeda is Sunni. Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. And the spread of Saudi-funded madrassas around the world has for decades inculcated a poisonous Wahhabism that has fueled Islamist terrorism. Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states publicly declaring war on their terrorist child is significant. As is their pledge not to tolerate any semiofficial support or private donations. And their opening during the summit of an anti-terrorism center in
muddied the waters a bit in Israel by at times reverting to the opposite strategy – the inside-out – by saying that an Israeli-Palestinian deal would “begin a process of peace all throughout the Middle East.” That is well-worn nonsense. Imagine if Israel disappeared tomorrow in an earthquake. Does that end the civil war in Syria? The instability in Iraq? The fighting in Yemen? Does it change anything of consequence amid the intra-Arab chaos? Of course not. And apart from being delusional, the inside-out strategy is at present
impossible. Palestinian leadership is both hopelessly weak and irredeemably rejectionist. Until it is prepared to accept the legitimacy of the Jewish state – which it has never done in the 100 years since the Balfour Declaration committed Britain to a Jewish homeland in Palestine – there will be no peace. It may come one day. But not now. Which is why making the Israel-Palestinian issue central, rather than peripheral, to the epic Sunni-Shiite war shaking the Middle East today is a serious tactical mistake. It subjects any now-possible reconciliation between Israel and the Arab states to a Palestinian veto. Ironically, the Iranian threat that grew under Obama offers a unique opportunity for U.S.-Arab and even Israeli-Arab cooperation. Over time, such cooperation could gradually acclimate Arab peoples to a nonbelligerent stance toward Israel. Which might in turn help persuade the Palestinians to make some concessions before their fellow Arabs finally tire of the Palestinians’ century of rejectionism. Perhaps that will require a peace process of sorts. No great harm, as long as we remember that any such Israeli-Palestinian talks are for show – until conditions are one day ripe for peace. In the meantime, the real action is on the anti-Iranian and anti-terror fronts. Don’t let Oslo-like mirages get in the way. (c) 2017, The Washington Post Writers Group
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Forgotten Her es
Sinai Throughout History By Avi Heiligman
Author’s note: In this article many of the conflicts are stated in just one or two paragraphs. It is not a full history on any given conflict or topic. There is one mountain that the nonJews claim is Har Sinai but Jewish historians dispute this claim. Have a gut Yom Tov!
I
n the years prior to the B’nei Yisroel crossing the Sinai Desert, the peninsula between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, which both flow into the Red Sea, had been known for its turquoise deposits. These had been mined for thousands of years until they became unprofitable. After the Jewish nation entered Eretz Yisroel, the desert passed through many hands and there have been quite a few conflicts in the region. Most of these wars took place between Isra-
el and Egypt starting in 1948 until the Camp David Accords in 1978. This is a brief history of the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptians had always been interested in the Sinai and the area has been occupied long before B’nei Yisroel spent 40 years wandering the desert. Historians argue as to which mountain is Har Sinai and there really is no way of knowing today which one the Torah was given to us. With the decline of the Egyptian Empire, the Persians under Darius II took over most of the peninsula. Soon the region fell to a Bedouin tribe named the Nabataeans. There are trade routes that span millennium and one of these roads was the site of a battle between the Nabataeans and the Romans 19 centuries ago (about 35 years after the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash). The Romans took over the region until their decline and for the next 18 centuries
(106-1906) the region was ruled by several kingdoms including the Byzantines and the Ottomans. There was a stint in that time when it was back under Egyptian rule. In 1906 the Ottomans transferred the land back to the Egyptians, who were controlled by none other than our favorite friends (meddlers more like it!) in the Middle East, the British. A long and hard-fought battle between the British Empire and the Ottoman Turks took place in the Sinai Peninsula during WWI. It started when the Ottomans tried to invade the Suez in 1915 and ended in 1918 with the British gaining control of the Ottoman Empire, including Eretz Yisroel. One of the battles that was fought in the desert was at Magdhaba. The Turks were entrenched and were attacked by light horse units from Australia and New Zealand. One of the most interesting units in the British Empire also fought
at the battle that saw the defeat of the Turks and their pullout from El-Arish. The famed Imperial Camel Corps made an appearance with the men dismounting to fight and the camels used to transport supplies and medical casualties. From the end of WWI until 1967 the Sinai was under Egyptian control. This didn’t mean that there was peace in the region. In fact, with the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the IDF made several incursions in the Sinai. A series of engagements was fought in the land south of Israel with a push to the northern coast at El-Arish in December 1948. With an armistice looming between the two countries the Israelis retreated from the Sinai. Seven years later the Israelis were back when the Egyptians blocked them from using the Suez Canal. Egyptian President Nasser had been behind several raids into
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Israel in the two years prior so to get him to stop the Israelis invaded when they had a good reason. Closing the Suez incensed certain other world powers and a plot was hatched to depose Nasser. Along with Great Britain and France, the Israelis achieved a big military victory but lost in the political arena. Israel occupied most of the Sinai within a few days. Heavy pressure came from both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. for the Israelis to leave the Sinai. Four months later they did, and the Egyptians had the political victory. This conflict resulted in UN peacekeepers to be deployed along the Israeli-Egyptian border. In an unprecedented move UN Secretary General U Thant removed all of the peacekeepers in the Sinai on a request by Nasser in 1967. A month later the Six Day War broke out, and Israel soon controlled the entire peninsula from Gaza to the Suez Canal. After destroying most of the Egyptian planes within the
first few hours of the war, the Israeli tanks pushed their way deep into the desert. Some of the largest tank battles since WWII took place in the Sinai. The War of Attrition (1967-1970) was a bloody time in the Sinai but ultimately neither side gained ground. The final conflict between the two countries in the Sinai occurred during the Yom Kippur War. Without warning, in 1973, the Egyptians crossed the canal over quickly-built pontoon bridges and attacked the barriers that the Israelis had erected. Large sand barriers were hosed
rect result security in the Sinai deteriorated. Several Islamist groups launched attacks from the Sinai into Israel. Current Egyptian President el-Sisi is more worried about trying to patrol the border with Gaza (stopping the flow of illegal contraband coming from Egypt in tunnels) than a conflict with Israel. The land for peace agreement is working and since the accords the two countries have had peace and diplomatic ties. For a desert, the Sinai has certainly seen its fair share of history and for the time being remains an attractive tourist destination due to the relative peace between Egypt and the Israelis.
down and vehicles were soon passing through the Bar-Lev Line. In an unexpected and daring move the Israelis sent a force to the south and cut off the entire Egyptian Army. The IDF crossed over the canal and were in Egypt until the ceasefire. The Camp David Accords in 1978 led to the peace agreement in 1979 between the once bitter enemies. Since then there has been testy moments in the region usually with the Egyptians fighting off terrorists. In 2011 Egyptian President Mubarak was toppled and as a di-
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.
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Israel Today
Tainted Flakes By Rafi Sackville
O
n average there are about 100 annual manufacturer-based recalls of food products in Israel. Since the beginning of 2014 the list has ranged from Listerine mouthwash, nail color and cosmetics, to meats, poultry and spreads. The Ministry of Health’s website is comprehensive, and they are quick to allay public fear on a plethora of issues. For example, in the middle of last summer the ministry published a report about a mysterious yellow stain at the Apollonia beach in Herzliya. What that stain was, whether it was alien or friendly, was never really mentioned. Then again, it wouldn’t take a public service announcement to keep me from dipping into a yellow stained surf. Last August there was a shortage of Materna Extra Care baby formula. This was caused by a production snafu. The problem was exacerbated due to a lack of information released by the factory. In turn this vacuum was filled with false reports of babies suffering from diarrhea and other health fears, all unsubstantiated. Reports concerning tainted food products are self-regulated. That is, companies are trusted to inform the ministry of any issues that might relate to food safety. That number does not include those products that are tainted but are not made public due to the diligence of the factories, who get rid of these products before they leave the floor. August 2016 was a very bad month for Unilever Israel, the manufacturer of Telma Cornflakes. The company regularly self-regulates, but somehow they weren’t stringent enough because an entire batch of the country’s favorite cereal slipped through their sup-
posedly vigilant fingers, which sent the country into a bout of summer madness of unprecedented proportions. There were no major reports of people falling ill after breakfasts. Nevertheless, when the news surfaced the offending cornflake boxes weren’t pulled from the shelves as much as torn and cast asunder. Telma’s Cornflake boxes are the most prominently displayed cereal in supermarkets. Going shopping and seeing those shelves empty was akin to feeling a personal loss. I don’t eat breakfast cereals. I’m a cracker topped with Vegemite (Australian yeast spread) and cheese type of guy. The empty shelves led to a lot of self-promoting by other cereal makers who claimed that customers could eat in peace without the taint of salmonella dripping off every tablespoon they shoveled into their mouths; one manufacturer’s misery is another manufacturer’s fortune. Critics were quick to point out the flaws in the system. One compared the self-regulatory freedom major food companies have to allowing underworld figures to regulate crime. The public outcry was such that even today, months after the cornflake saga is well and truly over and the shelves are once again filled with the iconic white, yellow and red boxes displaying photos of prominent Israeli sports stars, people have not forgotten. The taint of salmonella still lingers in wisps and threads of conversation. Three large boxes of Telma Cornflakes had been sitting above the cubbyholes in our teachers’ room for months. They were leftovers from a school trip we took in late September,
just before Rosh Hashana. Israelis like to nosh on lots more than sunflower seeds. During our 25 years of life here I have been bemused by the number of students and teachers who regularly fill small food bags full of cornflakes and nibble them throughout the morning. It wasn’t until late November when I noticed one of the boxes was no longer collecting dust on top of the shelves. I spied three teachers standing at the sink with their hands dipping in and out of the box. They looked like the human versions of toy birds that dip their beaks into a cup of water. It was exactly 10:03. I remember the time because they were standing directly in front of the clock and every time the teacher on the right leaned forward to stick her head into the box as it were, I noticed the time. I was fascinated. I couldn’t stop staring. For one, the brand name had yet to recover from the ignominious scandal. Secondly, and most importantly, those boxes dated from the time of the recall. At 10:05 three male math teachers walked in. They’re a homogenous and happy group, always together and always laughing. Like a living organism they act in unison. As they were passing the sink they stopped, looked at the noshing frenzy, and within seconds began discussing the chances of the three teachers catching salmonella or listeria. One of them, let’s call him Moshe, leaned in closely and checked the to-use-date on the box. Neither Moshe nor his friends bothered to address the eaters; they meandered to the far corner of the room where they began deliberating loudly on the finer
points of the salmonella and listeria and how they manifest themselves within a human torso. Moshe wandered back to recheck the date on the box. He casually glanced back at his two colleagues and said in a voice loud enough to catch everyone’s attention (as if everyone wasn’t already listening): “Absolutely within the realm of possibility that we’re going to need to find replacement teachers.” He stared long at the three teachers before soberly adding, “It’s a good thing you three are not in the math department. We’re overworked as it is.” There was a moment of hesitant silence, which was followed by nervous laughter. The effect on the cornflake munchers was akin to watching hapless hikers trapped by an animal, uncertain if they’re in danger or not. At this point the math crew broke out into fits of hysterical laughter. One of them laughed so hard he began to cry. They confessed to having been talking about the boxes of cornflakes for months and had devised a strategy to use on the first person they caught eating from them. Very funny, you may say. And it was. Hard questions remain, however. Have food companies in the country stopped self-regulating? Have they ceded this responsibility to impartial outsiders? Has the number of food recalls lowered since Telma Cornflakes became popular for all the wrong reasons? I’ll let you take a guess at the answer. Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.
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CEDARHURST: Center Hall Colonial on Quiet CulDe-Sac. Backing The Golf Course. 5 Bedrooms, 4 Full Bathrooms, Large Eat-in Kitchen, Den, Finished Basement, Attic, Heated In-Ground Pool, & Much More!!!...$1.3M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com HEWLETT: Well Maintained 4BR, 2BA Cape On Quiet Residential Street In Hewlett School District 14, Formal DR, Den, New Fence, 1 Year Old Boiler…$580K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com HEWLETT: Charming 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Colonial, Eat-in Kitchen, Master Bedroom W/ Jacuzzi & Steam Shower, New Roof, Anderson Windows, Alarm, Central Vac & Much More, 13,000 SF Lot… $599K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HOUSES FOR SALE INWOOD: NEW TO MARKET!!! 3BR, 2.5BA Split, Open Concept LR/DR/ Kitchen, Lg Great Rm W/High Ceilings & Fireplace, Spacious Backyard W/ Lovely Patio, Partial Fin Bsmt, SD#15, CAC…$589K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com NORTH WOODMERE: PRICE REDUCED Beautiful Updated 4BR, 2.5BA HiRanch, Skylight, Lg Den, Eik, Formal DR, 2 Car Attached Garage, Large Patio, SD#15, Low Taxes…$729K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: NEW TO MARKET Charming & Updated 3BR, 3 Full Bath Colonial, Finished Basement, Heated IG-Pool, Move in Ready on Lovely Tree Lined Street, Close To All…$610K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HOUSES FOR SALE Can’t afford your property taxes? Mortgage? Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!
COMMERCIAL RE ROCKVILLE CENTRE Warehouse With Office 6,000 ft. available. Ideal Location. Walk to LIRR - Double Loading dock. 917-822-0499 ROCKVILLE CENTRE: PRIME SUNRISE Hwy Location, 13000SF Lot with 10000SF Free Standing Bldg & 2 Partial Basements, Vacant Adjoining Lot Included, Retail/Office Use, For Sale …Call Lenny for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
Listed within Top 200 Brokerages in the U.S. OPEN HOUSES, SUNDAY, JUNE 4th
919 Park Ct. N. Woodmere 11-12:30pm ML# 2932220 $799,000
465 W. Fulton St. Long Beach 11-12:30pm ML# 2940368 $936,000
20 Thixton Dr. Hewlett Harbor 11-12:30pm ML# 2940368 $995,000
13 Vinton St. Long Beach 12-2pm ML# 2938045 $615,000
570 Lehigh Ln. Woodmere 1-2:30pm ML# 2935768 $799,000
99 Haig Rd. Valley Stream 2:30-4pm ML# 2938173 $527,777
Interested in a career in REAL ESTATE?
Contact Marsha Ander | 516-374-0100 x 100 | mander@coachrealtors.com
Serving Long Island for 60 Years | www.coachrealtors.com 1315 Broadway, Hewlett, NY 11557 | 516-374-0100 hewlett@coachrealtors.com
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
APT FOR RENT
INWOOD OFFICE SPACE LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! 500-7000 Square feet gorgeous office space with WATERVIEW in Inwood! Lots of options. Tons of parking. WIll divide and customize space for your needs! Call 516-567-0100
HEMPSTEAD: 1,600SF & 3,000SF Professional Office Spaces in Beautiful Elevator Building W/Excellent Parking, Great Location, For Lease…Call Lori For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
CEDARHURST 500-3,500 +/- SF Beautiful, newly renovated space for rent. Ideal for Retail or Executive offices. Prime location. Convenient Parking. Call Sam @516-612-2433 or 718-747-8080
Seeking to Rent your home or property with option to buy Good credit, on time payments 718-304-4348
5 TOWNS: LOOKING FOR: Orthotist, Podiatrist, Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, Dentist, or Obstetrician, Gynecologist. Professional Spaces Available in Hewlett, Lynbrook, Valley Stream area. For Lease... Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 CEDARHURST: Office Spaces, 3,400SF Ground Floor & 3,200SF Lower Level W/4 Bathrooms, Kitchenette, On-Site Parking, Can Be Combined, Great for Any Professional Use, For Lease... Call Randy for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com HEWLETT: 3,000 +/- SF Office Space in Beautiful End-Cap Suite with Plenty of On-Site Parking, For Lease…Call For More Details - Broker (516) 792-6698
LYNBROOK: 2,000 +/- SF Space in Medical Strip, 4 Assigned Parking Spots, 2 Exam Rooms, Consult Office, Waiting Rm, 3 Bathrooms & Much More, For Lease… Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698 WOODMERE: High Tech Executive Suites W/Parking & Storage, Various Sizes Available, All New!!! 24 Hour Access, All Utilities Included Plus Many Amenities, For Lease… Call Lori for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: Follow The Leader To Woodmere, Now Is The Time To Act!!! No Metered Parking, Various Retail/Office Spaces Available, For Sale/Lease...Call For More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
CO-OP FOR SALE FAR ROCKAWAY 833 Central , 1st floor, balcony, doorman. Completely renovated, near LIRR, 2BR/2 full bath, 2 DW/sinks, wood cabinets, granite counters $339 917-572-9644 WOODMERE: BEST BUY – NEW PRICE SMALL PETS OK: Beautiful Corner Unit In Elevator Bldg, 2BR, 5 Closets, All Large Rooms, Sunny & Spacious, Close To All...$165K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
APT FOR RENT LAWRENCE. LARGE ONE BEDROOM APT. Close to train, underground parking, spacious living room/dining area. Motivated seller $118,000. Call 917-299-8082
APARTMENT FOR RENT ON SEAGIRT AND BEACH 9TH. Two floors recently added private front entrance, central air. Perfect for young couple asking for $1750 a month includes heat. Please call 347 524 3864 HEWLETT- NO FEE Two - 1BR APT IN BLDG – RENOVATED 1BR Apt In The Heart Of Hewlett, SS Appliances, New Cabinetry, Recessed Lighting, Hard Wood Floors, Washer/Dryer In Bldg, Close to All, NO FEE...$1,995/mo Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
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Renovated 1BR Apt, Eik, 4BR,4BA Home,Formal DR, Lg Studio, Washer/Dryer, 7BR,5BA Contemporary, Close To All..$1,995/mo Eik, Near All..$4,000/mo Top Floor, Near All..$95K IG-Pool, SD#14..$POR
Magnificent 5BR, 3.5BA 5BR CH Colonial, Lg Eik, Split, Pool, SD#14..$899K Fin Bsmt, IG-Pool..$1.3M
Lovely 4BR Brick Colonial W/Add’l Piece Of Property On The Side, Eik, Formal DR, Prime Loct..$989K
Carol Braunstein
Susan Pugatch
Call or Text
(516) 592-2206
cbraunstein@pugatch.com
(516)
www.pugatch.com
295-3000
spugatch@pugatch.com
CEDARHURST: 574 Trysting Pl (12:30-2)$539K N. WOODMERE: 501 Hungry Harbor Rd (12-2)$729K
High Tech Executive Suites Various Sizes Available All New!!! Call Tod a y
1,100+/- SF Office Suite W/Ample On-Site Parking 6 Exam Rms - Great Location
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Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 SITUATION WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Driver/Personal Assistant/Companion Experienced male seeks parttime evening/weekends position performing the above duties at reasonable rates. Excellent references. Contact Arnold cancerman1961@gmail.com
Pugatch Realty Corp., in Woodmere, is looking to hire and train a select group of motivated Realtors. If you are looking to build a career in real estate, or looking to take your existing career to the next level, there is no better place to start that the #1 Real Estate Brokerage in the Five Towns‌ Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128. All calls kept confidential.
jobseekfr@yahoo.com
HELP WANTED TEACHING POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN BOYS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN QUEENS Boys kiruv school located in Kew Gardens seeks general studies teachers for upper elementary grades. Must be proficient in Common Core curriculum and comfortable with technology in the classroom in addition to receiving training in an award winning system. Competitive salary. Hours are Monday-Thursday 12:30-3:45 Please send resumes to jobseekfr@yahoo.com Sleeptight in Cedarhurst is Looking to hire a full time store manager for our Cedarhurst location, selling mattresses. Qualifications: personable, basic computer skills, Professional phone manners, Ability to multitask. Hours: sunday 11:30 - 6:30 mon tuesday thursday 11:00 - 6:00 Wed 11:00- 8:00pm. Please send resume to sleeptightjoboffer@gmail.com
Immediate openings for Middle School Language Arts Teacher and Limudei Kodesh Maternity substitute in Hebrew Academy of Long Beach - afternoons only. Resumes to ulubetski@halb.org SCHOOL SECRETARY POSITION AVAILABLE IN QUEENS Located in Kew Gardens, small boys kiruv school seeks secretary to run school office. Tasks include answering phones, daily attendance, creating flyers, helping with mailings, coordinating various programs such as busing, state testing, etc. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel and a strong computers background necessary, experience in schools a plus. Hours are MondayThursday 8:30-3:45, Friday 8:30-12:15, possibly adjustable. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resumes to
HELP WANTED
SIACH YITZCHOK - FAR ROCKAWAY seeks JH Math & ELA teachers candidateteacher@gmail.com We are a mesivta in the Far Rockaway/5 towns area, seeking experienced teachers only in ELA , Math, Chemistry and History for September 2017 for Grades 9 thru 12, afternoons only: We provide a professional, warm and supportive environment with an excellent salary. Please email resume to: 5tmesivta@gmail.com SEEKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT TEACHERS FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR. Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway. Please email resume to teachingpositions1@gmail.com Special Ed preschool looking for CB EI teacher for summer only Good pay and conditions 9AM-3PM ~ July 10-August 21 Please email scohen@onourwaylc.org Moonlight, a modern orthodox bung colony seeks experienced teens for male and female counselor positions and asst lifeguard positions. If you are
Hurt? Not Feeling Well?
looking to have a blast this summer, and love kids then bring a friend and come join us. We offer housing, meals, salary, tips and so much more. For more info or to apply please email moonlightsummer15@gmail.com Special Education Early Childhood Center looking for a Physical Therapist to conduct Early Intervention and CPSE evaluations (children 0-5). Flexible hours. Please email resume and sample evaluation to ewaldman@ onourwaylc.org Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com JOIN OUR TEAM! Established Travel Concierge specializing in Credit Card Rewards redemption is looking to hire Mileage Travel Agents for our 5 Towns office. Experience in mileage bookings required. Salary and Commission commensurate with experience. For more info, please contact admin@getpeyd.com
Dr. Eric Feintuch, D.C., C.C.S.P. Doctor of Chiropractic Chronic pain reduction Ease pain during pregnancy Migraines Chronic sinus infections Drug free pediatric care Chronic ear infections, colic Functional Nutritional Medicine Sports injuries Gentle techniques and trigger point therapy Patient advocacy and 2nd opinion services Late night after work and Sunday hours
1-800 GET WELL (1-800-438-9355) 636 Nutley Place, North Woodmere
Accepting most insurance plans.
25+ years Experience.
Effective Results.
Reach Your Target Market Classifieds
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
Classifieds HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
COMPUTER TEACHER, for elementary school, Sept 2017, email fivetownseducators@gmail.com
OVERNIGHT \WEEKEND COUNSELOR Responsible and exp’d staff to live in a beautiful group home & work 3 nights\ week 7pm - 9am. Staff are not req’d to remain awake after 11pm. Staff are req’d to work two weekends per month. Free rent & food. Stipend given as well. Great for college girl. For additional info contact Frayde Yudkowsky at 732.948.4636 or fyudkowsky@ evolvetreatment.com
FIVE TOWNS OFFICE LOOKING FOR immediate hire of several people…part time and full time…starting at $15 per hour. Need detail- oriented person to handle A/P, A/R, customer service, and ability to negotiate bids and contracts. Computer literate a must. Please email fabadi@egwaste.com TEACHER FOR BOYS HIGH SCHOOL, Sept 2017, Math, Science, Computers 12:45-3:00 email jobsatyeshiva@gmail.com Yeshiva Ketana of Queens Looking for Energetic & Inspiring Female GENERAL STUDIES TEACHERS 2017-2018. Grades 2-5 Email Resume Rlswia@aol.com 718-969-1000 EXT 105 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT COMPANY is looking for an experienced Investor Relation associate to raise capital for sponsor/investor relationships. Compensation will be offered thru partnership/commission. Contact info@zreny.com 718-285-0941 WARM, LOVING, HEIMISHE PLAYGROUP IN FAR ROCKAWAY – AGES 2 ½ TO 4 – IS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANTS AND SUBSTITUTES. PLEASE CALL 516-371-6848 CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Fax: (212) 480-3691 ~ Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com
MISC DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK, VAN, SUV AND HELP ILL CHILDREN Get $1200 in gift cards and $1500 tax deduction 718-974-9428 SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURES Tickets + Safari Valid any operating day $40 Parking passes $20 Call or text Shua @917-923-0011
SHIDDUCH DATING? NEED PLACES TO GO? Check out Pegishaplace.com WIG GEMACH Everyone in our community deserves to look great! Donate used wigs and make a world of a difference. For appointments to see wigs or to donate, call Deena 845-304-6668 RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH ALEPH Comfortable 1.5 bedroom vacation rental -- perfect for your next visit to Ramat Beit Shemesh. Elegantly furnished with luxurious orthopedic beds, spacious living/ dining area, modern bathroom with all the amenities. Ground-floor entrance, with room for parking -- five-minute stroll to the shopping area. Sleeps up to five. A/C, Wifi, washer/ dryer, kitchenette. Please contact us for daily and weekly rates. Mordechai +972-58-4804238 Email: mgreiver@outlook.com
Life CAPTURE
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GABE@LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM 516.499.9620 WWW.LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM
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Your
Money
Hitting a Tax Gapper By Allan Rolnick, CPA
S
ummer is almost here, and sports fans across America have a lot to look forward to. Basketball’s 13-month-long season is (finally) starting to heat up. Hockey playoffs are coming to a close. Baseball is in full swing, and NFLers are about to report to training camps. Stop at any bar or water cooler in the land, and you’ll hear talk of wins, losses, and plays that you just have to see. Fans and analysts have all sorts of statistics they can use to measure (and argue about) their teams’ performance. “Turf investors” have relied on The Daily Racing Form for over a century. Baseball is famed for legions of “sabermetricians,” who obsess over statistics like WAR (Wins Above Replacement), BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play), and LWCT (Largest Wad of Chewing Tobacco). Football and basketball too, even hockey, all lend themselves to measures far beyond the mere score at the end of the game. But there’s one more sports statistic we might need to evaluate our favorite team by, and that’s SITR (State Income Tax Rate).
Erik Hembre is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He’s just released a paper titled “Income
Taxes and Team Performance: Do They Matter?” (He’s also probably lined himself up a sweet gig with a
Yit = β0 + β1π it + β2Xit + εit So the winning percentage Yit for team i in year t is a function of . . . you know what, just the sight of those Greek letters probably makes your head hurt too, so let’s just skip it!
Stop at any bar or water cooler in the land, and you’ll hear talk of wins, losses, and plays that you just have to see.
struggling team somewhere if the whole “assistant professor” thing doesn’t work out.) Hembre started his analysis with win-loss records from the last 40 years of the “Big Four” professional sports. Next, he added data on state top marginal income tax rates. Finally, he regressed the tax rates through the win percentages to estimate their effect, using the following equation:
Here’s the final score: “state income tax rates significantly impact team performance.” In the NBA, where the tax effect is greatest, moving a team from high-tax Minnesota to tax-free Florida should yield 4.7 more wins per year. That’s the equivalent of swapping a mediocre benchwarmer for a 2015 version of Draymond Green. In baseball, where there’s no salary cap and the tax effect
is lowest, the same move would still add 1.6 Ws per year. And this effect is accelerating over time as free agents gain more mobility across teams. Why would state tax rates matter? Hembre speculates that low rates make it easier for teams to bid for players. State rates range from zero to 14%. But after players have paid agents, managers, and federal taxes, “the effective rate of state taxes may be more than twice as high as the nominal rate.” You may not think you have a lot in common with athletes weighing seven- and eight-figure contracts. But when they look at state income tax rates to compare offers, they’re doing tax planning. And you can do that same sort of planning yourself, even without those offers. Make sure you have a plan when you’re ready to play ball, and let’s see if you can hit a grand slam!
Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
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Life C ach
Make it Count By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
L
et’s talk about Matan Torah, the gift of the Torah. We counted 49 days from our exodus. Of course, that’s not what we did – we ran, we swam, we sang, and we thanked G-d. But day by day we went up a level from our spiritual low in Egypt. We climbed 49 levels in the desert to be worthy to receive the Torah. But since success is ultimately only in G-d’s hands, on day 50, G-d actually made it happen and – boom – we got the Torah. We were supposed to have reached the pinnacle and be at the top so much so that we earned this gift. But think, did we? We know 50 is usually only halfway to 100%. So what’s missing?! What hidden message is there in the gift of the Torah? Getting it was only 50% of the plan – living it is the other 50%! That is the only way we actually get to the top! If someone gives you a gift but
you hardly use it or clumsily use it have you actually benefited from it? Have you gotten the true rewards it has to offer? Have you given them the true pleasure and nachas of enriching your life? The Torah is a vichai ba’hem,
item to advertise on an infomercial. Those items can always cure everything, do everything, and reverse everything – and all for an amazing low low price. Well, appreciate this, this can really do it – and all for free! And you don’t even have to pay
This is the one gift that is truly meant to keep on giving!
made to live with. Don’t store it, shelve it, or appreciate it from afar. This is the one gift that is truly meant to keep on giving! You can’t use it up or wear it out! In fact, the more you interact with it the more it seems to have to offer. This would probably be a great
for shipping! We celebrate this gift on Shavuot, the holiday called “weeks.” I guess so we are not “weak” about recognizing it! Why call it weeks – why not give it a date like all other holidays? Because it’s those weeks after we left
Egypt that we had time to realize physical freedom isn’t enough without giving us some clue as to how to use our time productively. Shavuot is directly connected to Passover. It is the true completion of it so its time period is given to us as a number of weeks after Passover. So think about this: about now some of you have gotten your Mother’s Day gift, maybe this year’s birthday gift, perhaps even your afikomen gift (if you’re one of the lucky ones), but where are they and what have you done with them? Don’t let this gift go the way of many others or sit somewhere neglected. Shine it up, keep it front and center in your life, and it will keep you centered!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com
The Jewish Home | MAY 30, 2017
Beautiful Day it’s a
at
Margaret tietz!
Wishingan Everyone UPLIFTIN
and
G
G INSPIRIN S! SHAVUO
Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a voluntary, not-for-profit health care provider.
THE Premier REHAB CENTER FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
An integral part of the Jewish community for more than four decades, Margaret Tietz is proud to deliver unparalleled Subacute Rehabilitation, as well as Long-Term, Medically Complex and Hospice Care in a newly renovated, comfortable and completely Kosher setting.
Monday - Friday • 9am - 3pm
2016 164-11 Chapin Parkway, Jamaica Hills, NY 11432 • www.TietzJewish.com • (718) 298-7829 Centrally located near the Queens communities of Kew Gardens Hills, Hillcrest & Jamaica Estates. Only 20 minutes from Crown Heights, Manhattan & the Five Towns.
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