November 9, 2017
Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn
Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper
FROM IVAN the TERRIBLE to STALIN See page 7 & 11
Around the
Community
50
A Look at What Led to the Russian Revolution 100 Years Ago pg 82
Hundreds Gather at Inwood Mikvah Groundbreaking
Overflow Crowd at Madraigos Parenting Program
46
61 Senator Kaminsky Judges Local Model Congress
The Family Jewels pg
Are You a Guardian of Yerushalayim? Page 71
– See page 3
SEASONS LAWRENCE
330 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559
76
pg
80
2
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association proudly recognizes St. John's as the recipient of the Stroke GOLD PLUS Achievement Award
Thank you for applying the most up-to-date evidence based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and the outcomes in the community you serve.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
This
Fall
leave it to Seasons to bring
Warmth
to your family!
t Us Online a i s i V t
SeasonsKosher.com for T asty Fall Recipes!
en!
Op w o N
the
family
BALTIMORE • CLIFTON • LAKEWOOD • LAWRENCE • QUEENS • SCARSDALE • MANHATTAN •
COMING SOON!!
CLEVELAND, AND
LAWRENCE
CEDARHURST
SHOP 24/6 SEASONSKOSHER.COM • INFO@SEASONSKOSHER.COM
3
4
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Spring Registrati on NOW OPEN NEW LOCATION... RIGHT HERE IN THE FIVE TOWNS!
EXCEPTIONALLY...
AFFORDABLE CONVENIENT RESPECTED
ACCELERATED DEGREES… B.A. SOCIAL SCIENCES BSW – SOCIAL WORK – New M.S. IN EDUCATION/SPECIAL EDUCATION DEGREES OFFERED THROUGH CONCORDIA COLLEGE-NY
CHECK OUT OUR EXTENSIVE LIST OF ONLINE DEGREES THROUGH SARA SCHENIRER ANYWHERE
For more information or to schedule a private consultation PLEASE CONTACT MRS. SHOSHANNA JAEGER (718) 633-8557 EXT 13 OR SJAEGER@SARASCH.COM · WWW.SARASCH.COM
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
877.PMT.ABA1 8
7
7 . 7
6
8 . 2
2
2
1
5
6
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Dear Readers,
S
Hearing accounts of what went on during those times makes history clear and more well-rounded. My husband reminded me of his great-grandfather who was a mohel in Russia. He was forced to be on the run for eight years in a society that stamped out any G-dliness in its pursuit of the Party. A guest of ours spoke recently about his grandparents. They grew up in Russia, and he mentioned that his great-grandmother was very bright. She was chosen to march in a parade for Stalin. In those days it was a privilege – and a privilege not to be denied. The uniform, though, that she was forced to wear was not of the standards that she generally upheld. She wanted to back out of marching but her family was scared of retribution and so she went. But in middle of the parade she came home. She told her terrified parents that she couldn’t, wouldn’t, march in a parade where she was forced to glorify Stalin. The only Being she would glorify is the One Above, she said. It’s been one hundred years since the workers “united.” Their “unity” led to the deaths of tens of millions. It brought pain and suffering. And it was all in the name of the Party. Anything was acceptable as long as it furthered the communist agenda. There are many lessons to be learned from that time. One salient message is that we need to uphold our values and hold them dear, regardless of how strong our allegiance is to our personal “party” – whether it’s a party of politics or power or our purse.
oviet Russia seems so far removed from us. We live in the United States, where we enjoy our freedoms and no one is asking us to pledge our dying allegiance to their party or to turn on our neighbors for doing things against the State. But Stalin and his cohorts lived not so long ago. A few months ago I met a Russian woman and her daughter at my parents’ house. The woman lived in Russia during Stalin’s time. She told us that she always viewed Stalin as her savior, her protector. That was what they all thought, she said. All her friends and neighbors saw Stalin as the leader who brought victory to the USSR, who made Russia a world power. It’s true, he did that, but he did so many other things – and many of them not very innocent. After leaving Russia and moving to Israel this woman finally saw the whole picture – and it was a very ugly portrayal of her beloved leader. She learned of the gulags, and the mass executions, and the persecution. She learned that Russia was not as advanced as she was told; she saw the propaganda that pervaded Russia society in a new light. She was a new person. In Russia, she couldn’t have known that the way she lived was so backward and so archaic. In Israel, she saw the real Soviet Russia and what it really stood for. When we’re in high school we learn about the Russian Revolution and what happened a hundred years ago. In a lesson or two we’re taught about the Romanov dynasty, Karl Marx, and Lenin. But then, in a flash, we onto perestroika, and Gorbachev, and “tear down this wall!” Wow, so much history, so much tension and upheaval, distilled into a few tidy lessons.
Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana
Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER
publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR
ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Shoshana Soroka EDITOR
editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com
Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classifieds: Deadline Mondays 5PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
Shabbos Zemanim
Weekly Weather | November 10 – November 16
Friday, November 10 Parshas Chayei Sara 10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Partly Cloudy/Wind
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Cloudy
Rain
AM Clouds/ PM Sun
Mostly Sunny
AM Clouds/ PM Sun
37° 25°
42° 35°
52° 47°
54° 45°
53° 40°
53° 44°
54° 43°
Candle Lighting: 4:23 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:24 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 5:53 pm
Sponsored by
eretzhachaim.org
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
7
8
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8
COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll Community Happenings
8 36
NEWS
114
Global
11
National
19
Odd-but-True Stories
32
ISRAEL Israel News
16
Guardians of Yerushalayim by Rabbi Moshe Rabinowitz
80
Bobker on Balfour, Part II
90
My Israel Home
95
PEOPLE From Ivan the Terrible to Stalin, a Look at what Led to the Russian Revolution 82 Brilliant Maneuvers in the Sky by Avi Heiligman
118
PARSHA Rabbi Wein
70
Blood, Sweat, and Tears by Rav Moshe Weinberger
72
JEWISH THOUGHT What Shidduch Crisis? by Eytan Kobre
74
The Family Jewels by Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe
76
World Serious by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
78
HEALTH & FITNESS Some Truths about being Vulnerable by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn
100
Childhood Obesity by Cindy Weinberger
102
MS, RD, CDN
102
Sleep Training and Babies by Dr. Hylton I Lightman 104
FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Strawberry Bread Pudding
106
LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW
96
Are You Taking a Workplace Lonely? by Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff
114
An A+ Application by Chaim Homnick
116
Your Money
124
There’s Always an Udder Way by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 125 HUMOR Centerfold
68
POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes
108
CLASSIFIEDS
120
Dear Editor, I appreciate the sensitivity with which you presented the situation with the chareidi draft in Israel. It boggles my mind how many frum news outlets, especially on the internet, report about every shameful chillul Hashem that a few rabble rousers make. What is the purpose of showing those videos? Why do we have to see it? All it does is make all chareidim look bad. But it shouldn’t because it is usually a small group of bums that make a lot of noise. We would all be better off if we ignored them. We should not give them the attention they so desperately desire. I hope that cooler heads prevail and these shameful acts stop. And, just know, I respect your ability to provide information and entertainment without highlighting chillul Hashems. Chaya L. Dear Editor, Although you may deny it, it is very evident that your publication is overwhelmingly pro-Trump. It annoys the daylights out of me because he is a complete opportunist who took advantage of the many dumb and uneducated people in this country. But you have a right to support him if you wish. Now, though, you are all going to pay for it... with your wallets! Trump’s supposed “tax cuts” are actually being paid for by people in New York who are actually going to get a tax hike. It’s a classic transfer of wealth, the same type that conservatives always moan about. The only difference is that instead of transferring money from the rich to the poor, Trump is transferring money from people in Blue states to the people in the Red states. It’s punishment by a vindictive and petulant narcissistic, not a Reagan-esqe tax cut. Although people are dug into their political positions and will likely not
Do you have a fireplace in your home that you use during the year?
see things clearly, they should at least protest against this tax hike for New Yorkers. People should contact their congressional representatives and vehemently object to this tax plan. Rep. Steven King is pretty close to Trump and his office should be bombarded with calls, perhaps he has sway. Now is the time to act before it’s too late because it is going to cost you thousands of dollars a year. Sincerely, David Blishweig Dear Editor, Joe Bobker’s article, “Bobker on Balfour,” was spot-on. Leave it to Joe to give his readers an amazing background and insight into the Torah world during this time. Chaim Weber Dear Editor, When I saw that you were putting in an article on the Balfour Declaration, I knew I would read it because I am interested in all stories about Israel. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the article was extremely informative with details that I don’t think I would find in any other publication on the 100th anniversary of the Declaration. Who would have known that there was so much controversy over working with the Zionists; who would have known the stance of different gedolim in those tumultuous times? I also found it extremely sad that so many Jews lost their lives as they were unaware of the absolute devastation they would be facing in a few years’ time. History, sometimes, can be read like a tale. There are ups and downs, challenges and theories, intrigue and design. It is knowing that real people were involved, real decisions were made, and real consequences resulted that makes it even more chilling in this case. Shaindy Berman
17% 83% YES
NO
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
9
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Yeshiva Madraigas Haadam
Chai
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ITS
Dinner Celebration
10
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Honorees
Mr. & Mrs. Henry and Sara Gerson Machzikei Torah Award
HoRav Avraham Yitzchok Berman t�yhka, Menahel
Mr. & Mrs. Simkha and Nayomi Fazylov Oskim B'tzorchei Tzibbur Award
Kesser Torah Award
DINNER CO-CHAIRMEN
6:30 pm — Gala Buffet Dinner 8:00 pm — Program 8:45 pm — Dessert COUVERT: $500 PER COUPLE
Rabbi Binyomin Grossman Rabbi Gilboa Merdinger
AT THE
Electric Building
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
158-11 JEWEL AVENUE KEW GARDENS HILLS, NY 11365
Mr. Avi Faskowitz, ESQ HoRav Moshe Faskowitz t�yhka Rosh HaYeshiva
HoRav Avraham Yitzchok Berman Menahel
t�yhka
(CORNER JEWEL AVE. & PARSONS BLVD.) VALET PARKING ON PARSONS BLVD.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
The Week In News
What Happened in Saudi Arabia?
Last weekend major change swept through Saudi Arabia. True, the people of Saudi Arabia are used to the major reforms that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been undertaking. But the weekend’s major sweeps were swift and momentous. The kingdom’s newly formed anti-corruption committee arrested at least 17 princes and top officials. The list includes Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the billionaire businessman who owns 95% of Kingdom Holding, which holds stakes in global companies such as Citigroup, Twitter, Apple and News Corp. At least 38 former, current, and deputy ministers were arrested on accusations of corruption. Among those arrested in the sweep were formal head of the royal court Khaled Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi media mogul Waleed Al-Ibrahim, and Prince Turki bin Nasser. In addition, three ministers – Economy and Planning Minister Adel bin Mohammed Faqih, National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and Naval Forces Commander Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan – were removed from their positions, and tens of former ministers were detained as part of the new anti-corruption campaign initiated by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The king ordered the new anti-corruption initiative as part of an “active reform agenda aimed at tackling a persistent problem that
has hindered development efforts in the Kingdom in recent decades,” a press release from the Saudi Ministry of Communications said. The royal decree said the committee was needed “due to the propensity of some people for abuse, putting their personal interest above public interest, and stealing public funds” and will “trace and combat corruption at all levels.” The committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has the authority to investigate, arrest, issue travel bans and freeze the assets of those it finds corrupt. The crown prince has been behind many recent initiatives. Just recently, some restrictions on women have been eased and just last month Mohammed bin Salman vowed to destroy “extremist ideologies” in a bid to return to “a more moderate Islam.” The three ousted ministers were replaced with Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al Muqren becoming National Guard minister, Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri becoming the Economy and Planning Minister, and Vice Admiral Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghifaili taking on the role of Naval Forces Commander. Among the others who were arrested were two sons of the late King Abdullah (Prince Miteb and Prince Turki); Saleh Kamel, a billionaire who headed one of the largest business conglomerates in the Middle East; Ibrahim al-Assaf, who served 20 years as the kingdom’s minister of finance until 2016; Amr al-Dabbagh, who as governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority between 2004 and 2012 led drives to increase foreign investment into the country; Khalid al-Tuwayjri, the enormously influential “gatekeeper” to King Abdullah’s Royal Court; Waleed al-Ibrahim, head of the MBC media empire and a brother-in-law of the late King Fahd; and Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi BinLadin Group and older half-brother of the terrorist al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Shocking Resignation of Lebanon’s PM The prime minister of Lebanon resigned from his post over the weekend. Saad Hariri plunged
11
12
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
the nation into a state of uncertainty, accusing Hezbollah of taking the country hostage. In his resignation speech, Hariri went into an inflamed tirade against Iran and Hezbollah, who he called Iran’s “proxy.”
“The evil that Iran spreads in the region will backfire on it,” Hariri warned, accusing Tehran of spreading chaos, strife and destruction throughout the region. He went on to say that “Iran’s arms in the region will be cut off.” Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, headed a 30-member coalition government since he was appointed prime minister in 2016. The coalition included members of the Shiite militant Hezbollah terrorist group. The President
of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, is a close ally of Hezbollah. The resignation was a surprise not because it happened; it was shocking because of the timing. Hariri could not have been happy presiding over a government under the thumb of Hezbollah, who has been accused of killing his father, Rafik, in 2005. But there did not seem to be any obvious triggers to warrant Hariri’s sudden departure this week. His close aides and ministers seemed to have been shocked by the resignation. The government was set to hold parliamentary elections early next year; it is not known if those will be taking place. Hariri had found himself under pressure from the United States and Saudi Arabia to distance himself from Hezbollah and their growing influence. The terrorist group recently sent thousands of troops to neighboring Syria to help President Bashar Assad. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hariri’s resignation and comments “are a wake-up call to the international community to take action against the Iranian aggression that is trying to turn Syria into Lebanon 2.” He added that “this aggression endangers not only Israel but the
entire Middle East. The international community needs to come together and stand against this aggression.” Hariri made his announcement on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday he left for Abu Dhabi to meet with United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
Most ProBusiness Countries
Each year the World Bank releases a list of countries that are easy to do business with. In this year’s
Ease of Doing Business report, New Zealand took the crown, or rather retained it – last year they ranked number one as well. Singapore came in at number two. Despite Brexit, the U.K. remained in the top ten alongside Germany and France as the best countries to do business with in the world. The United States took the sixth spot. Researchers used eleven indicators to measure many aspects of business regulation across 190 countries worldwide. Of the top 20 economies in the list, 14 are high-income and belong to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The top 12 world economies for ease of doing business are: 1. New Zealand 2. Singapore 3. Denmark 4. Korea 5. Hong Kong 6. U.S. 7. U.K. 8. Norway 9. Georgia 10. Sweden 11. Macedonia 12. Estonia
י בה ד ר כ ששי מרנ רבי אברהמ יפה‘נאזיצ‘‘תנ ‘‘ע ל
Yeshiva of Far Rockaway
THIS WEEK
MESIVTA OPEN HOUSE For Parents and 8th Grade Talmidim Monday, november 13, 2016 | | כ"ד חשון תשע"ז
7:30 pm
802 Hicksville Road, Far Rockaway, New York
Rabbi Yechiel Perr Rosh Hayeshiva
For more information please contact our office at: (718) 327-7600 | info@yofr.org
Rabbi Mordechai Miller Associate Menahel
Rabbi Eli Goldgrab General Studies Principal
Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Metz Rabbi Avi Weller 10th Grade Rebbi 9th Grade Rebbi
Rabbi Aharon Perr 11th Grade Rebbi
Rabbi Yehoshua Kalish 11th Grade Rebbi
Rabbi Moshe Perr 12th Grade Rebbi
Rabbi Yoel Genuth 12th Grade Rebbi
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
W O M E N ’ S
C O H O R T
Explore the exciting field of
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DUAL B.S./M.S. DEGREE
Come discover
...the OPPORTUNITIES. ...the POSSIBILITIES. ...your POTENTIAL. DC DESIGN / 732.901.4784
Our graduates have a well-earned reputation for excellence, with a 100% pass rate on the NBCOT.and 100% employment at graduation.
please join us for an informative
OnTHouse
Op e
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29 6:30PM
AT THE NEW SEMINARY
1492 East 12th Street Brooklyn, NY
The New Seminary & Long Island University invite you to
come & meet
Dr. Holly Wasserman Ed.D OTR/L PROGRAM DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Professor Dale Coffin M.S. OTR/L
EVENING/WEEKEND PROGRAM COORDINATOR & ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY-BROOKLYN CAMPUS
AN EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM OF
THE New
Seminary
APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN FOR
FALL 2018
FINANCIAL AID AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE N E W YO R K : 1492 EAST 12TH STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11230 718.769.8160 f: 718.769.8640
asjv rbhnx Rebbetzin Sora F. Bulka
MENAHELES
N E W J E R S E Y: 139 OCEAN AVENUE, LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701 732.366.3500 f: 732.367.8640
Rabbi Yeshaya Levy
Department of Occupational Therapy School of Health Professions
MENAHEL
email: INFO@THENEWSEMINARY.ORG online: W W W.T H E N E WS E M I N A RY.O RG
13
14
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Tax Evasion Havens Exposed
SPEAKING EVENT SERIES
THE
TACKLING TUITION CRISIS COMING TO THE 5 TOWNS SHABBOS TOLDOS, NOVEMBER 18
Young Israel of Woodmere
The Irving Place Minyan
Maury Litwack
Annie Watman
TEANECK, NJ Beth Aaron / Young Israel of Teaneck
Upcoming
October 22
Teach NYS Director of Grassroots Engagement
BROOKLYN, NY Beth Torah, December 9 CHERRY HILL, NJ
QUEENS, NY
January 7
Young Israel of Kew
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Garden Hills December 3, 8:00 PM
January 14
BottomLineMG.com
Past
Executive Director of Teach NYS
After Musaf
Upcoming
After Musaf
FLORIDA Date TBD
TO LEARN MORE CONTACT TALIA FADIS: 212.613.8227 ■ fadist@ou.org TeachAdvocacy.org/TuitionSeries
Project of
Many of the world’s biggest business leaders, heads of state, and political figures had their secret tax havens exposed this week in what is being called the Paradise Papers. The Papers are a leak of 13.4 million files that show how the super-wealthy protect their money from being tax liable. The documents show that many of the ways the wealthy protect themselves from paying taxes are very complex and seemingly artificial. The material came from two offshore service providers and the country registries of 19 tax havens. It was obtained by a German newspaper and shared online. Some of the findings include the fact that the queen of England’s private estate is invested in the Cayman Islands. Twitter and Facebook were also discovered to have received hundreds of millions of dollars in investments that seem to come from Russian state financial institutions. The documents also shed light on aggressive tax avoidance by multinational companies including Apple and Nike. They show that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chief moneyman manages the Cayman Islands Trust which helped many of the superrich avoid paying taxes. The law firm representing many offsets in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey is called Appleby. Appleby has said that all allegations have been investigated and that “there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients.” They added, “We are a law firm which advises clients on legitimate and lawful ways to conduct their business. We do not tolerate illegal behavior.”
Saudi Prince Killed in Crash Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, the deputy governor of Asir province,
was killed this week. The news channel Al-Ekhbariya announced the death of the Saudi prince who was killed when his helicopter crashed near the kingdom’s southern border with war-torn Yemen. The cause of the crash has not been detailed however the circumstances surrounding the accident are suspicious.
Just the day before the incident, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh’s international airport after it was fired from Yemen, an illustration of the mounting tension of the kingdom’s war against Iran-backed Huthis rebels. This was the first physical attack. Since 2015 Saudi Arabia has had a military in Yemen after intervening in internal conflicts in 2015. Saudi Arabia led the intervention to support the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Huthis forced him into exile. Initially it was a short-term plan, but the quick victory never happened. Saudi Arabia has yet to remove the Huthis from the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
Ties between Iran & al-Qaeda
The CIA has released a trove of documents from those that they seized during the 2011 raid in which al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed. The files the intelligence agency obtained appear to support the United States’ claims that Iran supported the extremist group leading up to the terror attacks of September 11th. For a long time, U.S. intelligence officials have said that Iran formed a bond with al-Qaeda in 1991. A 19-
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
15
page al-Qaeda report that was written in Arabic makes reference to such ties. It was one of the 47,000 documents released by the CIA last week. Iran has always denied any such links with al-Qaeda and other terror groups. As such, the Iranian government tweeted this in response: “A record low for the reach of petrodollars: CIA & FDD fake news w/ selective AlQaeda docs re: Iran can’t whitewash role of US allies in 9/11.” The report released shows that bin Laden felt he could get whatever support he needed from Iran at any time. “Anyone who wants to strike America, Iran is ready to support him and help him with their frank and clear rhetoric,” the report reads. It goes on to say that Iran offered al-Qaeda fighters “money and arms and everything they need, and offered them training in Hezbollah camps in Lebanon, in return for striking American interests in Saudi Arabia.” After the terror attacks of 9/11, the U.S. government put out a Commission in which they outlined Iran’s relationship with al-Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission shows that in 1991 Iranian officials met with al-Qaeda leaders in Sudan. There is also evidence that Iran and Hezbollah were backing al-Qaeda when bin Laden carried out the car bombings against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. The release of these documents comes as President Trump has refused to recertify the Iran nuclear deal with other world powers, citing its ties to terror as just one of myriad reasons to be wary of the Obama deal.
Report: Alberto Nisman was Murdered
Argentina’s border police have released the results of their inves-
tigation into the death of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Nisman was discovered dead on January 18, 2015 in his hotel room. His body was found the night before he was set to testify in front of Congress that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was involved in covering up Iran’s involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish Community Center. The original autopsy was inconclusive as to whether Nisman’s
death was a suicide. The new investigation has concluded that Nisman was indeed murdered. The report shows that Nisman was beaten by two people, drugged, and shot in the head with the gun placed to look like a suicide. Nisman was found with a broken nasal septum, a severely bruised hip, and Ketamine in his blood system. The bombing of the AMIA center killed 85 people. It has been suggested for many years that Iran was be-
hind the attack, though no one was ever brought to trial and Iran has refused to extradite any suspects. In 2013, Fernandez de Kirchner struck a deal with Iran to jointly investigate the bombing. Nisman surmised that the president had struck the deal so she could cover up Iran’s involvement in exchange for oil. How his killers were able to get around the security team that was protecting Nisman is also under investigation.
16
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Ferrari Fury at the Kotel
An internal inquiry was held by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation’s management this week after Ferrari used the Kotel for an advertising campaign. The Foundation called the incident a “grave, unfortunate error” and said they plan on introducing more stringent rules regarding the use of the Kotel’s space. The incident involved 20 Ferrari vehicles driving up to the Western Wall plaza. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who is rabbi of the Western Wall, and Holy Sites and Heritage Foundation’s CEO Mordechai Eilav accepted full responsibility for the incident. Ferrari had contacted the Foundation for permission to park a a few cars in the plaza as part of their tour of Jerusalem. The rabbi rejected the request but when it was made again to one of the Foundation’s junior officials, it was mistakenly granted. “There was a lack of coordination. I accept full responsibility for it and will not be shifting blame to anyone else. It was a serious error, an unfortunate error, and we’re obliged to learn from it so that it doesn’t happen again,” Rabbi Rabinovitch said during the inquiry. “We won’t even allow a can of Coke to be sold here. We’re rejecting requests left and right to place beverage vending machines on the site, despite the heat and people’s thirst, and end up with a spectacle of 20 sparkling Ferraris? Out of the question,” said the rabbi. Rabbi Rabinovitch then announced that going forward the Foundation’s ceremony committee would take a harsher approach towards any advertising attempts being made at the wall. “We won’t be taking the lenient approach of the School of Hillel, but the stricter approach of the School of Shammai. Any request, no matter how big or
how small, will be dissected punctiliously,” the rabbi demanded. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation blamed Ferrari for misleading them. A source said that “they presented it as a specific request for assistance for several businesspeople visiting the Old City and wishing to park their vehicles while the site is mostly empty anyway, and ended up placing dozens of ostentatious luxury vehicles and streamed it live on Facebook for the entire world. They attempted to gain something illicit under the guise of mere parking space. We were filled with good intentions and ended up falling victims to their guile.”
Bibi Plays Hardball with Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is pushing hard for the return of the bodies of those killed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This week he took a hard stance against the terror group by saying that “the government has two roles: to protect the country and to build it. We have a simple rule: whoever wants to attack us, we attack them.” The remarks made by the prime minister were in reference to the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were killed during the 2014 Gaza War and whose bodies have not yet been returned to Israel for a proper burial. The Jewish State is now in possession of the bodies of five Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists that were killed in an explosion at a terror tunnel last week. Israel has reportedly made an offer to Hamas to return the bodies of the dead terrorists in exchange for the bodies of Shaul and Goldin. But Hamas has not agreed to the conditions set forth by the prime minister. In response, Bibi made it clear that “there is no such thing as a free gifts. We will bring our boys home, but I repeat: there are no free gifts.”
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
17
18
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
British PM Stands Up for Israel
Theresa May, the prime minister of Great Britain, has declared that she will “absolutely not” make any apologies for the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The Declaration set in motion the establishment of the “most extraordinary” State of Israel, said May. She also noted that the document’s vision of a Jewish-Arab coexistence is still “unfinished business.” May spoke at a ceremony celebrating the centenary of the declaration. She described Israel as a “true
start-up nation” and “a symbol of openness, as a thriving democracy, and a beacon to the world.” She also came out strongly against the BDS movement. She called such boycotts a “new and pernicious form of anti-Semitism.” On November 2, 1917, the UK’s foreign secretary Arthur James Balfour signed a declaration saying that the British government intended to establish “a national home for the Jewish people” in the Land of Israel. The Zionist movement saw the letter as its first backing from a major political power. Recently, Palestinian movements have set up protests to demand the British government apologize for the document and recognize a Palestinian state. May ended her speech by saying, “So let me be clear. Criticizing the actions of Israel is never – and can never be – an excuse for questioning Israel’s right to exist, any more than criticizing the actions of Britain could be an excuse for questioning our right to exist,” she said. “So I am clear that we will always support Israel’s right to defend itself,” she asserted.
Palestinians Protest in UK
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London to protest the creation of the state of Israel on the 100th year since the Balfour Declaration. The marchers held signs that read “Free Palestine,” “Justice for Palestine,” and “Occupation No More.” President Benjamin Netanyahu visited the country to celebrate the declaration’s big anniversary. Many of the protesters called for the destruction of the Jewish State. Some of those in the crowd chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The protest spurred a counter-protest of several hundred pro-Israel supporters waving Israeli flags. Netanyahu called for the Palestin-
T H E
H E B R E W
ians to come to terms with the existence of Israel. He said that a Palestinian acknowledgment of Israel’s right to exist would be a big starting point for the possibility of peace. “A hundred years ago, the Balfour Declaration helped pave the way for the reestablishment of an independent state for the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland,” Netanyahu told British Prime Minister Theresa May. He called the declaration a “great” event in world history. May said it was a “great pleasure” to host Netanyahu at 10 Downing Street to commemorate the Balfour Declaration. “The United Kingdom is proud of the role that we played in the establishment of the State of Israel and we’re approaching this commemoration with respect and honor,” she said. “I obviously, as we commemorate the Balfour Declaration, recognize the sensitivities that this raises. We, obviously, want to see a resolution of the issue for the Israelis and Palestinians. And we remain committed to a twostate solution.” Britain’s opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the government should mark the Balfour Centenary by unilaterally recognizing Palestine.
A C A D E M Y
O F
L O N G
B E A C H
LEV CHANA EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
OPEN HOUSE Great Things Are Happening At HALB!
Wednesday November 15th 7:30 pm 2 9 1
M e a d o w v i e w A v e n u e , H e w l e t t B a y P a r k
#WeAreHALB
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
3 Million and Counting
On Tuesday, Israel’s three millionth tourist stepped onto holy soil. The event was a new all-time record for incoming tourism in Israel. Ioana Isac from Romania, accompanied by her friend, Mihai Georgescu, who was tourist number 3,000,001, was welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. “This is a special day and a historic milestone as we break the 3-million-tourist barrier and set a new all-time record. We are set to end the year with an amazing achievement, the likes of which have never been reached since the establishment of the State,” Levin said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised Isac and Georgescu at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem later in the day and showed them some of the city sites.
Church Massacre Rocks Nation
“I don’t understand, but I know my G-d does,” Pastor Frank Pomeroy said at an emotional press conference on Monday. It was a day after he lost 26 members of his church – one of them his 14-year-old daughter,
Annabelle – in a horrific massacre perpetrated by Devin Patrick Kelley. Kelley burst into the small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday dressed in black and wearing tactical gear. He was armed with an assault rifle, 15 loaded magazines, a dark, burning hatred, and a thirst for blood. Kelley fired 450 rounds during the attack. In the deadliest shooting in Texas history 26 people lost their lives, ranging in age from 17 months to 77-years-old. Many others sustained injuries from the attack; there was almost no one who escaped the scene unharmed. The building is beyond repair. Police are still trying to piece together the motivation behind the attack. It is known that Kelley had a record of violence and was dishonorably discharged from the air force. He had had ongoing feuds with his former mother-in-law, texting her threateningly, even hours before the shooting. She prayed at the church, although she was not in attendance that morning. His ex-wife’s grandmother, Lulu White, was at the church that morning. She was killed in the massacre. Kelley had served at the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010, but was discharged in 2014. After being court-martialed in 2012 for assault on his spouse and child, he served a year in military prison and received a bad conduct discharge, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. Kelley was involved in “multiple occasions of domestic abuse” against his ex-wife and stepson. He had shook the child so hard that he suffered fractures and a subdural hematoma, in which there’s bleeding between the skull and the brain. Kelley had a fascination with mass shootings and was vocal about atheism. He posted a photo of an assault rifle on his Facebook page recently. He had also been arrested for choking a dog. Sutherland Springs is a small town. The 26 people who lost their lives represented four percent of the town’s population. Bryan Holcombe was the church’s visiting pastor while Pastor Pomeroy was away. Holcombe was killed in the attack. In all, eight members of the Holcombe family spanning three generations, including a pregnant woman and three of her children, were killed. One member of the family, Noah, was just 17-months-old when he was slaughtered. Continued on page 22
An Open Invitation to High School Seniors and their mothers to join us at the
BAIS YAAKOV SEMINAR
OPEN HOUSE
FIVE TOWNS Monday November 20 Jaeger Family 804 Bolton Road Far Rockaway 7:30 p.m.
Bais Yaakov Seminar
INSIGHTFUL. INCOMPARABLE. IMPRESSIVE. Bais Yaakov Seminar is geared to the top Bais Yaakov girl who is looking for a strictly Torahdige environment, combined with a very high academic level, broad ranged curriculum, and an exclusive group of inspired, growing Bais Yaakov girls from around the world.
For more info 347-762-6030
info@byseminar.com
19
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Y
R EA
RB
TZ
AS ER D
O
&
N
AK YA
V
TORAH
HEARTFELT CHINUCH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE
H ARAV
Avi Weinstock Campaign Chairman
HA
S
O
FOR TY
20
RE
BBE
T Z I N BRY
NA
BE
Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz National Chairman
The Aviator B R O O K LY N , N E W YO R K
ישיבה דרכי תורה
Yeshiva Darchei Torah 257 Beach 17th Street 718.868.2300 ext. 237 darchei.org/dinner
Far Rockaway, NY 11691 dinner@darchei.org
SUNDAY EVENING
אור לכ׳׳ח טבת תשע׳׳חJANUARY 14, 2018
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Who could have ever dreamed ...
Dear Friends Who could have ever dreamed all those years ago that the newly hired rebbi would have such an impact? But Rabbi Bender cared. As a rebbi, he cared to see each and every child develop to his potential; he cared to see educators live without worry. Later, as Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Bender cared to see a respectable Makom Torah where its students can thrive as Talmidei Chachomim and find an anchor to Torah life once they've left its hallowed halls. The time has come to show our heartfelt appreciation to Rabbi Bender and his Rebbetzin. Please join me.
AVI WEINSTOCK, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MERIDIAN CAPITAL GROUP Campaign Chairman
21
22
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Elegance Where
meets
affordable
offering full catering services and party planning elegantly set tables that include flower arrangements and décor
starting at $20.00 per person aufrufs, sheva brachas, bar mitzvahs... and for all reasons to celebrate!
For our Full menu please call 516-837-3766
Richard and Theresa Rodriguez were also killed in the attack. They had been married for eleven years. Robert and Shani Corrigan were married in 1985 right after graduation. They too were murdered on Sunday. Robert had served in the Air Force for 30 years. He was a track star in high school and valedictorian of his class. Their son, Forrest, had died last year. The attack was stopped by a quick-thinking neighbor, Stephen Willeford, who ran out of his house barefoot with his gun. “I kept hearing the shots, one after another, very rapid shots — just ‘pop pop pop pop’ and I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they weren’t just random shots,” Willeford said. Willeford has insisted he is not a hero. He said he was “scared to death” during the encounter. “I think my G-d, my L-rd, protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done,” Willeford, a former National Rifle Association instructor, said. His daughter had alerted him about the massacre. He then took out his rifle from his safe and ran out of the house. Kelley was shot twice by Willeford. He then fled in a car. Willeford saw Johnnie Langendroff in a pickup truck, explained the situation, and the two of them set off to chase down the killer. The car crashed, and when Willeford approached the killer’s vehicle with his gun he saw that Kelley was dead. Now, Sutherland Springs will have to pick up the pieces. They will have to wrestle with the evil that burst into their sanctuary on Sunday morning. Hopefully, they will find peace and comfort after the darkness.
Rand Paul Attacked
560a central avenue | cedarhurst nY, 11516 516-837-3766 | inFo@heimishoncentral.com Under the
va a d
of
the
five
sUpervision towns
and
of
rabbi
forst
Amid growing political party tensions in the U.S., a senator was attacked on his own property last
week, sparking a political uproar. Rand Paul, a Republican representing Kentucky, was attacked by his neighbor and was left with five broken ribs. Rene Boucher, 59, was arrested Friday evening for pummeling Paul and charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He was released from the Warren County Detention Center Saturday after posting $7,500 bond. Paul posted on his Twitter account on Sunday that he and his wife were grateful for the support “after Friday’s unfortunate incident.” Paul lives in Bowling Green, an upper-class gated community on Rivergreen Lane. Boucher, 59, is a practicing anesthesiologist and an inventor who created a device called the “Therm-a-Vest” to alleviate back pain, available on QVC. He is a registered Democrat. It is unclear if it was a politically motivated attack, although officials are investigating. Paul was wearing headphones and mowing his lawn on Friday when he was tackled by his longtime neighbor. Neighbors have said that the two, neighbors for 17 years, were involved in a heated quarrel regarding leaves and grass clippings recently. They do not believe the scuffle was politically motivated. Boucher released a statement via his lawyer explaining he hoped Paul was recovering and that the fight was not over politics but a “regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial.”
American Woman Wins NYC Marathon An American winning the NYC Marathon is not a likely occurrence. This year, though, New Yorkers were delighted when Shalane Flanagan, 36, ripped through the tape at the end of the 26.2 mile, five borough race. Shalane Flanagan, 36, became the first American woman to win the NYC Marathon since 1977. The last American woman to win New York was Miki Gorman, who took consecutive titles in 1976-77. The four-time Olympian said she is considering ending on a high note and making this her final race. Flanagan beat out Meb Keflezighi,
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
42, the 2009 American winner. This race, his 26th, was his last. Keflezighi finished 11th, about five minutes behind 24-year-old winner Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya.
“It’s been a tough week for New Yorkers, and a tough week for our nation,” Flanagan said. “I thought of, ‘What a better gift than to make Americans smile today?’” The race, which was New York’s 47 th, was watched by around 2 million fans and went on mostly without incident. At one point, firetrucks interrupted and were forced to cross the course for an emergency that organizers said was unrelated to the race. The track was briefly closed around Mile 18 to let the trucks pass
but that was after the top runners had finished. Finishing in 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 53 seconds, Flanagan interrupted Mary Keitany of Kenya’s winning streak; she had won the past three NYC races. Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia came in third place. “It’s indescribable,” Flanagan exclaimed. “It’s a moment I’m trying to soak up and savor.” The NYC Marathon is an annual event that spans the five boroughs. It is the largest marathon in the world, with 98,247 applicants for the 2017 race.
Donna Brazile Keeps Talking Donna Brazile started talking last week and she hasn’t stopped. The Democrats, who long considered her one of them, are praying for her to close her mouth. But Brazile just can’t seem to hold anything back. Her insights are, well, insightful. According to Brazile, the Democratic Party was “leeched it of its vitality” by former President Barack Obama and others in the lead-up to
NCSY’s Annual Gala #NCSYGALA
the 2016 election campaign. Brazile was the former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee.
“We had three Democratic parties: The party of Barack Obama, the party of Hillary Clinton, and this weak little vestige of a party led by [Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz] that was doing a very poor job getting people who were not president elected,” Brazile writes in her new book Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, released Tuesday. Many of the revelations in Brazile’s book revolve around the deep debt the Democratic Party was facing at the end of Obama’s presidency and the lengths it had to go to survive a national presidential race. Obama’s
Mordechai Shapiro
use of party funds for private pollsters and focus groups drained the party, she says, and Wasserman Schultz’s leadership as party chairman failed to address the problem. Clinton then bailed out the party in order to gain control of it. “She liked the power and perks of being a chair but not the responsibilities,” Brazile said. Obama “used the party to provide for political expenses like gifts to donors, and political travel.” Because he “also cared deeply about his image,” he used DNC funds to for “his pollster and focus groups” late into his second term, even though he couldn’t run for president. Because Hillary bailed out the DNC, the Committee was beholden to her; most decisions had to be run by Clinton’s Brooklyn, NY, headquarters, “the high command of Brooklyn,” Brazile says. Brazile, who took over as interim chair of the DNC after Wasserman Schultz stepped down in scandal just before the Democratic National Convention in 2016, has been criticized for turning against her own in recent months. “As I saw it, these three titanic egos – Barack, Hillary, and Debbie – had stripped the party to a
S UNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM GARDEN CITY, NY
immediately following the
BEN ZAKKAI 23RD ANNUAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION CEREMONY
Special Performance By
♦ HONOR I NG ♦
SERENA & R ABBI MOSHE BENOVITZ
SHARONA & JEFFREY WEINBERG
ESTI & BENYAMIN K AMINETZKY
JULIA & JOE M ACY Z”L
Donate Today or Learn More at ncsy.org/gala
Dinner Chairs Gila & Dovid Weinstein ▪ Laurie & Lewis Barbanel ▪ Bernice & Seme Joszef Executive Leadership Moishe Bane, President, OU ▪ Allen Fagin, Executive Vice President, OU Avi Katz, Chairman, NCSY ▪ Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director, NCSY
23
NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU
24
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Avi & Shneur Faskowitz
P o 2018 present
Exquisite new location
with
by
W e s t i n B e ac h R e s o rt & S pa F o rt L au d e r da l e , f lo r i da
718-969-9100 Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn at GVR this passover
shell for their own purposes,” Brazile wrote. Her insights into these undercurrents are not just the only revelations coming from her book. In fact, she tells that after Hillary had her infamous fainting collapse on September 11, 2016, Brazile set out to replace the nominees. She settled on Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.), the duo she felt most certain would win over enough working-class voters to defeat Republi-
info@majesticpassover.com www.majesticpassover.com
can Donald Trump. But then, she writes, “I thought of Hillary, and all the women in the country who were so proud of and excited about her. I could not do this to them.” But putting Hillary in as the party’s nominee was not the best decision. Brazile paints a scathing portrait of Clinton as a well-intentioned, historic candidate whose campaign was badly mismanaged, took minority constituencies for granted, and made blunders with “stiff” and
16 Our
Year
Aliza Nugiel Designs 917.273.0392
hen
GVR , n e va da derson
gourmet cuisine
“stupid” messages. The campaign was so lacking in passion for the candidate, she writes, that its New York headquarters felt like a sterile hospital ward where “someone had died.” She said that top aides consistently disrespected her and put the DNC on a “starvation diet,” depriving it of funding for voter turnout operations. Former Clinton campaign officials have come out strongly against Brazile and have disparaged her
memoir as salacious gossip designed to sell books. “We were shocked to learn the news that Donna Brazile actively considered overturning the will of the Democratic voters by attempting to replace Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine as the Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees,” a letter penned by them began. “It is particularly troubling and puzzling that she would seemingly buy into false Russian-fueled propaganda, spread by both the Russians and our opponent, about our candidate’s health.” Brazile also wrote how she is “haunted” by the still-unsolved murder of DNC data staffer Seth Rich and added that she feared for her own life, shutting blinds to her office window to prevent “snipers” from seeing her and installing surveillance cameras at her home. She wondered whether Russians had placed a listening device in plants in the DNC executive suite. The Russians obviously were a big concern for the DNC, although she said that top officials told her not to talk about it. Attending a birthday party for Obama at the White House, though, Brazile said that she was taken aside by both Eric H. Holder, Jr. and Susan E. Rice who both told her separately to take the Russian hacking of the DNC seriously. The WikiLeaks releases of DNC emails included an email in which Brazile, a paid CNN contributor at the time, shared potential topics and questions for a CNN town hall in advance with the Clinton campaign. She claims in her book that she did not recall sending the email and could not find it in her computer archives. Nevertheless, she eventually admitted publicly to sending it, believing her reputation would have suffered regardless. Brazile writes about the time after Hillary’s loss. “I never heard from Hillary,” she said. “I knew what I wanted to say to her and it was: I have nothing but respect for you being so brave and classy considering everything that went on. But in the weeks after the loss, every time I checked my phone thinking I might have missed her call, it wasn’t her.” Finally, in February 2017, Clinton called. “This was chitchat, like I was talking to someone I didn’t know,” Brazile writes. “I know Hillary. I know she was being as sincere as possible, but I wanted something more from her.”
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
eadline! Don’t Miss the DO U RN A L J BO O K YO U R V AT IO N S ! A D & RES E R A.ORG W W W.O H E LG
48th
AL
Guests of Honor
Annual Gala
A New Chapter Begins... OHEL IS HOME
Irving & Miriam Langer Celebrating the Dedication of the
Irving & Miriam Langer Center for Developmental Disabilities
Honoring
The New Jaffa Family Campus
An Expansion of Services • Now Under one Roof Joe & Deena Eisenberger
Community Leadership Award
Pinky & Miri Friedman Sign of Strength Award
Will YOU help us write new chapters?
Shalom & Zahava Hurwitz Foster Family of the Year
S u n d a y
November 19, 2017
1 Kislev
NEW YORK MARRIOTT MARQUIS 1535 BROADWAY • NEW YORK CITY Seated Buffet Dinner 5:00 pm | Gala Program 6:30 pm Dessert to follow program
David Brecher Gala Chairman
Book your seat & journal ad today: www.ohelgala.org | 718.972.9338
25
26
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
JOIN THE
MSH
FAMILY!
D O Y O U K N O W W H AT
S TA N D S F O R ? A. MENTORING GROWTH SELF-CONFIDENCE HARNESSING TALENT B. MIDRESHET SHALHEVET HIGH SCHOOL C. ALL OF THIS... AND MORE !
MISSED THE
OPEN HOUSE? Set up a private tour & see what we are all about Contact: 516.224.0240 or admissions@midreshetshalhevet.org
Who is Jerome H. Powell?
President Donald Trump’s pick for the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve is Jerome H. Powell. Powell, 64, has a very long and impressive resume. He has worked in investment banking, law, and in the government as the undersecretary in the Treasury Department. He would be the first Fed head in more than 40 years that does not have an economics degree. Powell studied politics at Princeton University and earned his law degree from Georgetown, where he was the editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. After working as a lawyer for a few years, he entered the world of investment banking working for Dillon, Read and Company in New York. In 1990, Powell served as the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for finance. The Treasury secretary, Nicholas F. Brady, had been chairman of Dillon Read. When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, Mr. Powell entered the world of finance. In 1997 he became a partner at the Carlyle Group, an asset management firm. In 2016, his financial disclosure form showed that he had $55 million in assets. Powell’s recent comments and economic trends have been almost identical to those of current Fed chairwoman, Janet Yellen. He has been known to reach across the aisle when it comes to public policy, a trait that led to the Obama administration initially nominating him to fill an unexpired term on the Fed’s Board of Governors and the Senate having confirmed him the following May. Two years later, he was nominated again and sworn to a full term.
@midreshetshalhevet midreshetshalhevethsg Midreshet Shalhevet
Holy Guacamole Have you noticed that the price on Haas avocados has been increas-
ing? There’s a reason for that – and it doesn’t just have to do with the weather or the season. Some say that the Mexican drug cartels are the reason for price hikes. The exotic fruit (did you know it’s a single-seeded berry?) gets exported to the U.S. by the ton but Mexican farmers have been suffering from years of weak harvest. To add insult to injury, the country’s attorney general said that farmers have been targeted by drug cartels. Ruthless organized crime cells obtain agriculture ministry records of avocado producers in the early 1990s and use the data to track down farmers. They then approach them and force them to pay a percentage of their earnings or risk kidnapping or death. Cartels charge upwards of $100 per hectare and 10 cents per pounds of avocado sold, forcing farmers to sell their produce at a higher price to make ends meet.
“This was a system of intelligence that involved reviewing records from the agriculture ministry to know who the farmers with ample avocado production were, where their orchards were located, and how much they reported their sales by export,” the attorney general’s report said. It noted, “The avocado producers were imposed a quota and those that resisted, or the families of those, were kidnapped or murdered as pressure until they ceded.” In the meantime, Americans went gaga for avocado, perhaps due to recent health campaigns. Last year, Americans ate 1.9 billion avocados, up 57% from five years ago, according to the Hass Avocado Board, an industry trade group. Mexico supplies approximately 82% of the avocados consumed in the U.S. The rest is grown by domestic producers in California. The USDA reported that Mexican avocado exports have gone up 400 percent since 2005, resulting in more than $2.2 billion in profits last year. The average price of avocados in September rose to $1.56, up from 89 cents at the beginning of the year.
27
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
A KKL & NBN JOINT ALIYAH INITIATIVE
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO MAKE ALIYAH TO ISRAEL’S NORTH, SOUTH AND JERUSALEM.
Aliyah Grants up to $20,000 Subsidized Pilot Trips Enhanced Career Counseling & Resources Personalized Education & Community Guidance Six months of Rental Assistance AND MORE!
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael & Nefesh B’Nefesh have joined forces to help new Olim tap into the amazing opportunities offered in Jerusalem and beyond Israel’s center. By investing in both infrastructure and people, we are providing enhanced Aliyah packages and increasing the services available to new Olim. These benefits are in addition to the full range of Nefesh B’Nefesh pre & post-Aliyah services. Nefesh B’Nefesh is here for you every step of the way.
ARE YOU READY TO GO BEYOND? WWW.NBN.ORG.IL/GO-BEYOND
TUESDAY
NOV.14 7:00PM
Beyond the Start-Up Nation
JOIN US FOR A BUFFET DINNER AND TO HEAR FROM KEY PLAYERS IN ISRAELI HI-TECH ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE START-UP NATION. THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE, 36 BATTERY PLACE, NYC
ADMISSION FREE • WWW.NBN.ORG.IL/START-UP
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A STRONGER ISRAEL THROUGH ALIYAH
*CONDITIONS APPLY
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SPECIAL ALIYAH BENEFITS* PACKAGES
28
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
ney Eugene Fidell. According to Bergdahl’s defense team, he had undiagnosed mental illness and “should not have been in the Army.” According to Dr. Charles Morgan, a forensic psychiatrist and professor at the University of New Haven and Yale University who testified for the defense, Bergdahl suffered from several mental illnesses, including schizotypal personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
If your company spends millions of dollars each year, accruing millions of credit card points, where does that get you?
NOWHERE... PEYD FOR INDIVIDUALS:
PEYD FOR BUSINESSES: PEYD CORPORATE PAYMENT
TURN POINTS INTO CASH Our points-to-dollar
REVIEW
exchange rate is outstanding—which means that you get the greatest monetary benefit out of every
Are you spending hard-earned revenue on everyday expenses that could be paid for with
point.
miles? Is your business using the credit cards
PAY YOUR BILLS Use your existing miles & points
that will earn 2x, 3x or even 5x rewards on
to pay for tuition, camp, vacations, hotel programs,
every dollar spent? Are you wasting thousands
bills, and more! In one seamless transaction, we
of dollars each year in unnecessary or
calculate the points required, swap them for dollar
exorbitant credit card processing fees?
value—and mail the check to the destination of your choice.
LET PEYD’S TEAM OF EXPERTS TAKE A HARD LOOK
BOOK A FLIGHT We maintain a comprehensive
AT YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS,
database of exclusive travel packages & marked-
EXPENSES, AND REWARDS.
down flights. We’ll assess your points, apply their
We leverage our relationships with leading
cash value, and comb our inventory to get you the
financial institutions to offer you exclusive
cheapest ticket that maximizes each point.
payment products that boost your bottom line.
FULL-SERVICE CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT BY PEYD360 ° specifications, and predefined budgets. Our corporate travel specialists will handle your team’s entire trip—airline, hotel, and car reservations—while ensuring company policy compliance and effortlessly accommodating eleventh-hour changes & cancellations.
FLIGHTS, HOTELS & CAR RENTALS all within your company’s purchase policy.
J
Business travel is complex, with multiple itineraries, intricate
We’ll build your customized itinerary.
YOU’LL GET ACCESS TO: Deeply discounted, unpublished fares | Slashed lastminute ticket prices | Luxury travel accommodations | Clear, customizable expense reports | A wholly indulgent VIP travel experience
CALL TODAY! 888.404.PEYD(7393) | WWW.PEYD360.COM | INFO@GETPEYD.COM
No Prison for Bergdahl This story began in 2009 on June 20th when Bowe Bergdahl abandoned his post in Afghanistan. He was then captured by the Taliban and held captive through May 2014. He was released as part of a prisoner exchange for five Taliban members who were being held at the U.S.
detention center at Guantanamo Bay. The nation was divided over the exchange. Some pitied Bergdahl, claiming he suffered enough in the hands of terrorists, while others felt it was unreasonable to free five suspected terrorists for a man who abandoned his post. Ultimately, the decision of Bergdahl’s punishment for desertion was left to a military judge as opposed to a jury. After pleading guilty last month,
Bergdahl received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Army, but will avoid prison time for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The judge ordered that Bergdahl’s rank be reduced from sergeant to private. Furthermore, Bergdahl will be required to pay a $1,000 fine from his salary for the next 10 months. The sentence is effective immediately, except for the dishonorable discharge, which Bergdahl is appealing, according to his civil attor-
But government prosecutors argued that Bergdahl was aware of the risks when he deserted his post and put his comrades in danger. Several of those involved in the search for Bergdahl were called to testify. One witness, Capt. John Billings, was Bergdahl’s platoon leader in Afghanistan. Billings said the platoon searched for the then-private first class for 19 days, going without food or water. Retired Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer James Hatch testified that he and his dog were shot. He was shot in the leg, and his K-9 partner, Remco, was shot in the face and killed. Since then Hatch has undergone 18 surgeries and walks with a heavy limp. Hatch said that at the time he was concerned because there was no time to strategize and it was understood that he had intentionally walked away. When asked why he would go searching for Bergdahl, Hatch said, “He is an American.” “He had a mom,” he added. Bergdahl tearfully apologized last week to the service members who searched for him. “My words can’t take away what people have been through,” he said. “I am admitting I made a horrible mistake.” Many were extremely upset by the light sentence handed down by the judge, especially the nation’s commander-in-chief. In classic Trump fashion, shortly after the proceedings he tweeted that the decision was a “complete and total
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
disgrace to our Country and to our Military.” During the campaign, Trump called Bergdahl a “dirty, rotten traitor” and said he “should be shot” for deserting his post. “In the good old days, he would have been executed,” Trump said.
The Facts about Tax
Russian DNC Hackers Identified
Several Russian hackers who were able to penetrate the Democratic National Committee’s computers have been identified by federal investigators. The hackers were able to extract private information from the DNC prior to the presidential election and released it online. Prosecutors and the FBI have been working on how and when to bring charges against those who committed the online break-in. The investigation is still in the gathering-evidence stage, which seems to be a very difficult task, according to those familiar with the investigation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that his government played any role in the hacking of the 2016 American presidential election. Last year, the FBI had zeroed in on five or six individuals that they believed hacked the DNC while working for GRU, a Russian military spy agency. A report released by the United States intelligence community in January stated that GRU “probably began cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election by March 2016.” It also concluded that “the GRU operations resulted in the compromise of the personal email accounts of Democratic Party officials and political figures. By May, the GRU had infiltrated large volumes of data from the DNC.” The FBI has put many of its field offices on the hacking case, including San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Washington.
On Thursday, House Republicans unveiled their tax reform bill. The new plan will eliminate some state deductions and leave current 401 (k) retirement plans as is, despite earlier reports that they would be affected. Another major talking point of the reform is the proposed corporate tax cut. The corporate tax rate would be lowered between 20-35%. The child tax credit was increased by $600 from $1,000, although the $4,050 per child exemption would be eliminated. The goal of the proposal is to allow Americans to keep more money in their pockets and to simplify the tax filing process. Supporters of the reform claim that the new system would allow the average person to complete their taxes on a 15 line postcard. Currently the tax code is divided into seven brackets. The new plan will have just three or four, with respective tax rates of 12%, 25%, 35%, and a category still to be determined. Just to give perspective consider this: a married couple with a household income of $90,000 would fall into the 25% category and those with $260,000 would be in the 35% slot. The top 33% of income earners will face higher taxes. Individuals making $500,000 and couples earning $1 million or more will be hit with a 39.6% tax rate. The plan also proposes eliminating state and local tax deductions. Property taxes will be able to be deducted up to $10,000. Mortgage deductions, though, will be reduced. Homeowners will only be able to deduct mortgage debt up to $500,000 – down from $1 million. The student loan interest tax deduction would be eliminated. President Trump expressed his approval for the plan but said “there is much work left to do.”
29
30
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Nation Goes Blue
Last year, when Americans headed to the polls, they decidedly voted against the Democrats in office. This year, though, the nation had blue on their minds as they voted for many Democrats who were running this year. The governor race in Virginia was bitter and divisive. By the end of the day on Tuesday Democrat Ralph Northam received the majority of the state’s votes, 53%. Northam was the state’s lieutenant governor and overcame a barrage of attack ads by his challenger, Republican Ed Gillespie. Trump had endorsed Gillespie, but did not campaign with him. After the blow on Tuesday, the president distanced himself from the loser, tweeting, “Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I
stand for,” Trump tweeted. “With the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!” At his victory party, Northam crowed, “Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we will not condone hatred and bigotry, and to end the politics that have torn this country apart,” Northam said. The Virginia race highlighted a slate of state and local elections that also included a governor’s race in New Jersey, where Democrat Phil Murphy, a former investment banker and ambassador to Germany, defeated Republican Kim Guadagno for the right to succeed Republican Chris Christie. Murphy had promised to be a check on Trump in Democratic-leaning New Jersey. Guadagno, the lieutenant governor, was hampered by her association with the unpopular Christie. Tuesday’s elections brought much-needed wins for Democrats who lost four special congressional elections earlier this year. On a local level, in Nassau County, Democrat Laura Curran won by a narrow margin over her opponent, Jack Martins, for county executive.
Skewers will be open every Friday at 10 am with an open buffet of food for Shabbat
She earned 51% of the vote; Martins was able to garner only 48%. County comptroller went to Democrat Jack Schnirman. Maureen O’Connell, a Republican, held onto her seat for county clerk. Laura Gillen, a Democrat, snatched the seat for supervisor of Town of Hempstead from incumbent Anthony Santino. Denise Ford, a Republican, held onto her seat as county legislator for the 4th District; Republican Howard Kopel also earned enough votes to stay in his position of legislator in the 7th District.
In Prison for a Tweet?
Freedom of speech is a right that we, as Americans, take for granted.
Martha O’Donovan, 25, found herself in a foreign prison last week. The NYU graduate has been accused of rebellion in Zimbabwe for allegedly insulting the country’s president. O’Donovan called President Robert Mugabe a “sick man” in a Twitter post that included a photo illustration of Mugabe with a catheter. O’Donovan denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and malicious.” Zimbabwe authorities tracked tweets to O’Donovan’s IP address. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the group representing O’Donovan, says in recent years it has represented close to 200 people charged for insulting Mugabe. O’Donovan’s lawyer, Rose Hanzi, told the court that a subversion charge against O’Donovan was illegal because police did not inform the woman of it when she was taken from her home in the capital, Harare, on Friday morning. The court disagreed and ruled that O’Donovan will remain in custody over the weekend. The American journalist was living in Zimbabwe and had been working with a local social media outlet,
Delivery
Homemade Borekas / homemade salads M o r o c c a n f i s h / R eg u l a r a n d M o r o c c a n c h u l e n t Assorted kugels and entrees
Falafel
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
31
32
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Affordable Kosher Cruises
Unbeatable Prices
Luxury Costa Cruise Line
Norwegian Fjords
Caribbean 10 nights
Western Mediterranean
7 Nights June 10-19 May 28 $1790 Early Rates 4 Glatt Kosher Meals Daily *Cholov Yisrael *Daily Minyanim Ask about Alaska, Canadian Rockies and other Summer Trips Jan. 13 & Feb. 12
Plus: Pesach in the Catskills at Honors Haven Resort and Spa Destinations613@yahoo.com
Yossi: 845-794-6000/ IL 0587934937
MS in CLINICAL COUNSELING Next program begins January 14, 2018 Registration now underway
Bellevue University - YIEP is the only Orthodox sensitive program accredited by CACREP. Our graduates are already employed. Graduates of this program, after passing the national exam, and completing post-graduate experience, are eligible for licensure as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) in New York State, as well as every other state!
SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS:
Under the Sea
Next undergraduate programs begin Feb. 2018
*Fully accredited graduate degree *Online program, accessible anywhere *For Men & Women *Program sensitive to Yeshiva & Chassidish students *Yeshiva degrees accepted as undergraduate degree *Reasonable tuition *Federal student loans available
YESHIVA INITIATIVES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Magamba TV, which describes itself as producing “satirical comedy sensations.” She said she was a manager for Magamba TV and a “media activist.” Last month, Mugabe appointed a cybersecurity minister to watch out for comments like these, and this was the first arrest. Last year, Mugabe’s 35 year long tenure in power was threatened by the biggest anti-government protests in a decade. The once prosperous southern African nation is dealing with a collapsed economy and not much hope. Mugabe is already gearing up for his re-election. Mugabe, 93 is the world’s oldest head of state. “This arrest marks the start of a sinister new chapter in the Zimbabwean government’s clampdown on freedom of speech, and the new battleground is social media,” said Amnesty International’s deputy regional director Muleya Mwananyanda. In recent months, rumors have been swirling that Mugabe’s health is declining and that his wife Grace will take over the presidency if he dies. Zimbabwe’s first lady is not well-liked due to her lavish spending habits and outrage at being criticized.
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
WWW.THEYIEP.COM
TheYIEP@gmail.com | 917-209-8204 | www.theYIEP.com
Egypt. Called “Under,” the restaurant will stand on the seabed five meters below the surface, its thick walls designed to withstand the most variable sea conditions. “One of the benefits of this building is how it links nature and land, and how you can come safe from the land and in a very dramatic way go down through this concrete tube to the nature at sea level, and experience what normally is not experienced,” explained Rune Grasdal, lead architect on the project. Eager to dine with marine life? Visitors can expect three levels and a capacity of up to 100 people. Below the entrance and the cloakroom there will be a champagne bar to mark the transition between shoreline and ocean. Further down there will be a dining room, with two long tables and several smaller ones positioned in front of a large acrylic window, which will be 13-feet tall. Grasdal, who likened the building to a periscope, said it’s important people feel secure and not claustrophobic. As such, the design team used natural elements like oak in the program and good lighting in the building. When the restaurant is not open for diners, marine biology researchers will be able to study the behavior of marine life through shifting seasons at the center. I’m hearing the words of Sebastian the lobster echoing in my ears: “Under the sea, Under the sea, Darling it’s better, Down where it’s wetter, Take it from me.”
A Disco Ball in a Cup
Europeans will soon be eating with the fishes in Norway. According to Norwegian architects, a plan is underway for Europe’s first underwater restaurant, set to open in 2019. Construction is slated to begin in February 2018; the structure is expected to feature a 36-foot wide panoramic window and will be designed to become part of the marine environment. The restaurant has been designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, known for its work on the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in
Is your coffee kind of dull? Is it just brown and liquidy? Well, customers at Coffee by Di Bella in Mumbai, India, have been having a party when they sip their warm brew. The café’s signature espresso drink is called the Diamond and Gold Cappuccino. Sounds sparkly? It is. The glistening beverage is made just like a regular cappuccino with steamed milk and brewed espresso beans but
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
בס”ד
Here is your chance to get
‘A Taste of Meohr’ ’
A Taste of the Chinuch: Hear Rabbi Z. Greenwald ATaste of the Atmosphere: Ask our Talmidos ATaste of the Spirit: Hear from our Alumni of 18 years
שליט”א
Open House for 12th graders and their mothers
Monsey
Sunday, Nov 19th/ ר”ח כסלו- 11:30 AM Kotler Family, 509 Carey Sunday, Nov 19th/ ר”ח כסלו- 7:30 PM Green Family, 6 Ash Street (off S. Parker and Cortland)
Brooklyn
Monday, Nov 20th/ ב‘ כסלו- 7:30 PM Kollel Bnei Yeshivos, 2402 Ave P.
Baltimore
Tuesday, Nov 21st/ ג‘ כסלו- 7:30 PM Ambush Family, 3402 Labyrinth Road
Can’t make it in person? Watch it on Meohr.com from Sunday, November 26th
Alumni Reminder:
Melave Malka מוצאי שבת פרשת תולדותNovember 18th Ohr Naava Ballroom 2201 East 23rd Street
klynedesign.com
Lakewood
Refreshments will be served
33
34
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
it also has a heaping serving of edible glitter to give it the “diamond” effect. According to one customer, “The coffee tastes like a regular cappuccino, but has a lot more bling.” Another patron noted that aside from great coffee, she also gets an extra layer of sparkling lip gloss on after sipping her cup. The U.S. FDA has approved some non-toxic edible glitters for consumption. Hopefully the café is using something that’s safe to drink. One cup of sparkling coffee will only set you back 200 Indian rupees – which is around $3. Hey, for that price, let’s throw a party and invite the neighbors.
Last week Donna Byrne was found riding her horse down a busy highway in Lakeland, Florida. She appeared confused, and when officers approached she reeked of alcohol. Sure enough, after a sobriety test it was confirmed that she had twice the legal limit of alcohol in her system. Byrne was charged with DUI and animal neglect. There is no word on if the officers rode her horse back to the station. There is a lesson to be learned here. If you drink do not drive – whether it’s a car, a van, a boat or a horse. That’s what Uber is for.
Bathing in Chicken Soup
DUI on a Horse
She got a DUI, but maybe it should have been a RUI.
If you’re making a list of what not to buy for your wife this Chanukah,
I would say that this will definitely make it to your top five. On October 31, KFC Japan announced that it is partnering with a Japanese retailer to produce fried chicken-scented bath bombs. The bath bombs, which dissolve in the bathwater, will come shaped like drumsticks and will be crafted with “eleven secret herbs and spices,” allowing you to soak in deep-fried scented glory. Essentially, you better really love chicken soup, because you’ll be bathing in it. KFC Japan is not making it easy for customers to get their hands on the chicken bath items. To be eligible for the steamy soupy scent one must follow the company on twitter and then retweet the post. Only 100 lucky individuals will receive the chicken bath bomb, along with a KFC box and a coupon for real chicken at the restaurant. Oh, and you have to live in Japan to get the prize. KFC is not new to making weird products with their chicken. In the past, the company released chicken-inspired nail polish and chicken-flavored chocolate truffles. In the United States, since we’re not eligible for the chicken bath bombs, we can delight in taking a
bath and coming out smelling, well, really clean.
Weighing in at the Airport
There’s no need to go to the nutritionist when you fly Finnair. Instead of having to weigh-in once a week at your favorite dietician, the airline will do it for you. Finnair has just begun a new program where it weighs passengers before take-off. It says the new initiative is to help them collect more accurate data about weights on its flights. Paivyt Tallqvist, director for media relations at Finnair, said that the weigh-ins are voluntary and anonymous. So far about 180 people volun-
MACHON BASYA ROCHEL SEMINARY Under the direction of Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner, Menaheles
MACHON BASYA ROCHEL’S QUALITY PROGRAM OFFERS THE SERIOUS BAS YISRAEL.
Focus on the complete person Stimulating and challenging courses that speak to the heart and mind Warm atmosphere with expert Mechanchim and Mechanchos Seminary Credits accepted in major universities Extracurricular Programs under the direction of Mrs. Yocheved Shonek Dormitory program in a beautiful new setting
COME TO AN OPEN HOUSE BROOKLYN
Tuesday, November 21st 8:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. at the home of Mrs. Hinde Lefkowitz 1026 E. 23rd Street (b/w J&K) Hosted by Mrs. Rachel Fishman & Mrs. Miriam Racer
FIVE TOWNS/FAR ROCKAWAY
Dormito ry option
available Option fo r transp from Bro ortation oklyn Half or F ull Day P rogram
Sunday, December 4th 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. at Machon Basya Rochel Seminary 137 Lawrence Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559 (across for LIRR Lawrence station)
Applications currently being accepted for the 2018-2019/ תשע”ט- תשע”חschool year Applications for early registration discount due by January 17, 2018
Mrs. Debra Green, Mechaneches PO BOX 329, Lawrence, NY 11559 | 137 Lawrence Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559 516.362.5000 | mbrseminary@gmail.com | www.mbrseminary.org
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
teered, which is more than expected. “No one is forced on the scale,” she assured. The airline launched the program, which will run intermittently into 2018, to get a more accurate picture of the average weights of the men, women and children that fly with the airline. Their carry-on baggage is also being taken into consideration and passengers must carry it onto the scale with them. It’s normal for airlines for calibrate weights within planes. But Finnair said it wanted more up-to-date, relevant data to help plan its flights. “The weight of the aircraft impacts on so many things,” including fuel levels and the speed and balance of the aircraft, said Tallqvist. “We just want to verify that the data we are using is as accurate as possible.” Finnair is hoping to get a total of about 2,000 weigh-ins from men, women and children. It will conduct the study over the winter and spring, since carry-on baggage and coats tend to be heavier in the winter versus the spring. The last time the airline conducted a similar study was in the 1980s. And I weighed a lot less then.
Whiskey Scam
35
WHAT THE BEST DRESSED BABIES IN JERUSALEM ARE WEARING. In 2016, more mothers chose to give birth at Shaare Zedek Medical Center than anywhere in the world — 22,400 babies, in all. With the hospital’s clinical reputation and focus on compassionate patient care, women know that their concerns and comfort will receive the attention and respect they deserve. Founded in 1902, Shaare Zedek has spent more than a century helping patients heal through exceptional caregiving and cutting-edge treatments. Now Jerusalem’s preeminent hospital, Shaare Zedek does not receive any funding from the Israeli government and therefore relies on the generosity of donors from around the world.
Sometimes when something is too good to be true, well, it just may not be true. Chinese tourist Zhang Wei, 36, recently spent the night at the Waldhaus Hotel in St. Moritz. While there, he paid $10,000 for a single shot of whiskey from an unopened bottle of Macallan 1878. And that’s when things started to unravel. The bottle was officially worth $300,000. But Sandro Bernasconi, whose father bought the bottle 25 years ago when he was the manager of the hotel, sent the whiskey off to Oxford University to confirm its authenticity. Somebody, according to Oxford, was swindled by the swill. Carbon dating showed the booze to be a near-worthless blended Scotch dated no earlier than 1970 – a hundred years younger than it was
www.acsz.org | national@acsz.org | 212.764.8116
claimed. The label was also riddled with mistakes, while the cork looked too new and the bottle was made of modern glass. Bernasconi quickly flew to China to refund Zhang Wei’s money and to apologize to the tourist. The hotelier said: “When it comes to selling our customers some of the world’s rarest and oldest whiskeys, we felt it was our duty to ensure that our stock is 100 percent authentic and the real deal.” They added, “That’s why we
called in the investigators RW101 [one of the world’s leading authorities on rare whiskey]. The result has been a big shock to the system and we are delighted to have repaid our customer in full as a gesture of goodwill.” The label on the whiskey bottle claimed to be “guaranteed absolutely pure by Roderick Kemp, proprietor, Macallan and Talisker Distilleries Ltd.” But experts said the glass used for the bottle was similar
to ones made in 2002 and “Kemp” apparently didn’t own Macallan and Talisker at the same time. There is no trace of a company called “Macallan and Talisker Distilleries Ltd” in the whiskey industry records. The whiskey, composed of 60 percent malt and 40 percent gin, was most likely made between 1970 and 1972. I have one question for Zhang Wei: did the whiskey taste any better when he thought it was worth $10,000 a shot?
36
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the
Community Rav Dovid Morgenstern, menahel of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Upper Elementary School, with the winners of the V’shinantom Mishnayos program
YCQ Open House
Y
eshiva of Central Queens (YCQ), a local yeshiva in Queens serving students in pre-school through grade 8, will be welcoming new families at its annual Open House on Sunday, November 12, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at 147-37 70th Road, Kew Gardens Hills. From its inception as the first Yeshiva in the borough of Queens, YCQ has expanded exponentially in size, academic successes, and especially in its offering of a well-rounded education in both Judaic and secular studies. The students “travel” through history as they study Torah in a comfortable Jewish setting in which they
can learn, socialize and grow as well as usher in the future as they partake in the STEM program with a focus on integrating technology into the curriculum. At YCQ the students and families will find quality academics, caring teachers, a specialized Judaic and secular curriculum, and a host of other qualities that make the setting the right fit for each child and family. YCQ’s innovative curriculum, beginning in pre-school, fosters creativity and helps children master the skills they will need for a successful future and as leaders in the Jewish community.
YCQ doesn’t stop at simply teaching its students, it creates a comfortable and safe environment that encourages chessed through the JHS Chesed Program; strengthens social and problem-solving skills by offering a wide array of team sports and extra-curricular clubs and activities; and instills a love of Torah learning through the weekly Sunday Morning Parent-Child Learning program and after-school learning groups. YCQ seeks to encourage the parents to engage in their child’s education. This is enhanced by the active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that welcomes parents and teach-
ers to volunteer for school activities, fundraising events that supplement class trips and events, in addition to a chance to have a say in their child’s education Rabbi Mark Landsman, principal, looks ahead with high expectations for the Yeshiva. “We are looking forward to new students and families joining our growing YCQ family and sharing in our goal to be a model of Yeshiva education in Queens and its surrounding communities, and a strong supporter and advocate for Israel and the entire Jewish community. We look forward to greeting you on November 12 at our Open House.”
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
37
Around the Community
Team OHEL Wins for OHEL’s Children in NYC Marathon
F
or many Sunday, November 5 was a cold and damp day to stay indoors. But for Team OHEL’s dedicated NYC Marathon runners, who braved the rainy weather to raise funds and awareness for OHEL Children’s Home & Family Services, it was a day of endurance and victory! Thousands of people cheered from sidewalks and windows as over 50,000 runners pushed through 26.2 miles of the world’s largest marathon. Team OHEL had some exceptional members as part of our cheering squad near mile six, including friends and relatives of team members and men from one of OHEL Bais Ezra’s many residences throughout New York. Team OHEL runners were regaled with high fives, air horns, megaphones, pompoms, flags, and handcrafted posters made by individuals from the local OHEL Bais Ezra residence. Team OHEL had some especially talented runners this year including Solly Elmann (3:41:43), Rebecca Schwartz (3:52:32), and Stanley Mayerfeld (3:53:24). OHEL’s runners come from all over – New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles, and Canada – and they all have personal stories inspiring them to run, whether it is for health, social, or charitable reasons. “I got to a point in life where I had to quit smoking. I decided to try running as an outlet. I ran one block and was absolutely winded,” says Stanley Mayerfeld of Team OHEL. “I gradually increased my running
Team OHEL going the extra mile at the NYC Marathon
distance and felt so accomplished when I reached a half mile. I never thought I would run a marathon. Well, it’s been seven years since I last had a cigarette.” Team OHEL would just be a brand name without the continued help of our many supporters. “We are so thankful to our amazing runners who go far beyond the norm in their fundraising, running, and support of OHEL’s children and families,” said Meital Cafri, event coordinator for OHEL. Alan Secter, OHEL’s Chief Devel-
MAY Annual Blood Drive a Huge Success
L
ast Wednesday, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov once again hosted an incredibly successful blood drive. The drive, benefiting Bikur Cholim of Maimonides Hospital, was organized by senior Shabi Koppel whose outstanding efforts to encourage donations really made the event a success. The faculty and talmidim of the Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedola got the collection
started, after which many people from the community participated, excited to donate and assist in this worthy cause. When the pints were finally tallied, the closing count was just under 40 pints. The Mesivta thanks its student organizers, Bikur Cholim, and all those who participated. This blood drive brings the total blood contributed in the past three years to over 350 pints! Yasher ko’ach!
opment Officer, adds, “Team OHEL’s contributions inspire countless others to join them in opening new doors of support and opportunity from the most vulnerable in our community, to everyday individuals and families facing significant life challenges.” OHEL’s generous fundraisers were led by Linda Isaacson Markovitch, Ernest Isaacson, and Jonathan Glaubach. OHEL has collaborated with the TCS New York City Marathon since 2009 and the United Airlines New
York City Half Marathon for the last two years. Up next for Team OHEL are the Jerusalem Winners Marathon (March 9), United Airlines NYC Half (March 18), Five Boro Bike Tour (May 6), and the OHEL Xtreme Challenge Classic on (May 27). Now’s the time to hit the ground running. If you’re interested in joining Team OHEL as a runner, biker or fundraising supporter, please contact Meital Cafri at 718-686-3217 or meital_cafri@ ohelfamily.org.
38
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
39
Worldwide Siyum PHOTO CREDIT: IVAN H NORMAN
Rabbi Tzvi Flaum
Rabbi Shmuel Lichtenstein of Kollel Avrechim was mesayem Maseches Sanhedran
Rabbi Moshe Brown
Rabbi Eliyohu Bamberger of Agudath Israel of America-Daf Yomi Commission; Rabbi Moshe Brown; and Rabbi Meir Braunstein
H
undreds joined together on Sunday night, November 5, 17 Cheshvan, at Agudath Israel of Long Island for the worldwide siyum on Maseches Sanhedrin as Agudath Israel of America’s Daf Yomi program continues its march towards the 13th Siyum Hashas taking place in January 2020. The siyum was hosted by the Daf Yomi Chaburos of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway which has daily shiurim given in 35 different shuls. A project of the Agudah’s Daf Yomi Commission, the event included a
shiur together with divrei chizuk v’hisorerus from Rabbi Moshe Brown, Rav of Agudath Israel of West Lawrence and a Magid Shiur at the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. The Hadran was delivered by Rabbi Shmuel Lichtenstein and the Haschalas Maseches Makkos was presented by Rabbi Tzvi Flaum, both Maggidei Shiur Daf HaYomi in the community. Rabbi Meir Braunstein, Rav of Agudath Israel of Long Island, offered warm divrei bracha to the mesayamim. The siyum was viewed via live broadcast by thousands all across the globe.
“Three titanic egos – Barack, Hillary, and Debbie – had stripped the party to a shell for their own purposes.” Page 108
40
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
FROM
Bring a gadol to your Shabbos table NEW!
In Hashem We Trust: It’s called Bitachon. NEW!
by Rabbi Sholom Smith
by Rabbi Yitzchak Dwek
Short thoughts on the weekly Torah Reading
Stories and insights — connecting with Hashem through faith and trust
Rav Pam’s brief divrei Torah, perfect for your Shabbos table — and your life. Rav Avraham Pam, master mechanech and beloved rebbe, was famous for his Friday morning shmuessen on the parashah. In this new collection, Rabbi Sholom Smith, a talmid muvhak of Rav Pam, shares his rebbe’s brief “vertlach” on each parashah. They are easy to read, relatable, and very, very wise! Also in this series: Rav Pam on Chumash Rav Pam on the Festivals Rav Pam on Pirkei Avos Shabbos with Rav Pam A Vort from Rav Pam
More than 240 short divrei Torah to share with the family!
Bitachon means counting on Hashem and knowing that He will come through for us. It’s as easy as that. Yet as we navigate life’s twists and turns, we wonder: why are things so hard? If Hashem loves me, why doesn’t He give me a good job / a fine spouse / nice kids / success and happiness, and all the other things that I want / need / deserve. As we will see through the stories and lessons of A Life of Bitachon, those who incorporate iron-clad bitachon into their lives are guaranteed — that’s right, guaranteed! —lives free of worry, anxiety, and anger. That’s the “bitachon guarantee.” Try it!
An elegant, full-color book that captures the pure beauty of your Shabbos candles!
NEW!
by Rabbi Dov Weller Foreword by
Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa and founder of The Shabbos Project
Short, inspirational insights and true stories to enhance Shabbos and Yom Tov Selected laws and customs Unique 5”x9” size lets you keep the book open next to your candlesticks Full text of the blessings of candle lighting, as well as additional prayers, in Hebrew and in English translation and transliteration Full text of Tefillas Chanah in Hebrew and in English translation
The following ArtScroll sefarim are available for your daily learning programs:
The Schottenstein Edition Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi; Yad Avraham Mishnah Series; Schottenstein Edition Mishnah Elucidated; Ryzman Edition Hebrew Mishnah; Kleinman Edition Kitzur Shulchan Aruch; Kleinman Edition Daily Dose of Torah.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
"THE WORLD IS ARTSCROLL'S CLASSROOM" Available at your local Hebrew bookseller or at www.artscroll.com • 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724)
This life-changing series continues NEW!
The segulah of Zera Shimshon Understand the segulah!
It’s about creating delicious food for the life you live. C OMING! SOON
Download the introduction for FREE at www.artscroll.com
NEW!
Over 80 true stories! by Rabbi David Ashear
by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer
by Miriam Pascal
The Living Emunah series has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people.
Rabbi Nachman Seltzer has translated and adapted selections from Sefer Zera Shimshon, written by the 18th-century Italian talmid chacham, Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani. The selections on each parashah are followed by a true story, told in Nachman Seltzer’s inimitable style. Rav Nachmani promises great blessings to those who learn his work — and in the past decades, we’ve seen that promise come true!
Family-friendly recipes for every day and special occasions
Its short and wise daily readings have become a vital part of our lives. They show us how emunah can change our response to something as small as a traffic jam on a busy day, or as great as a major life challenge. The Living Emunah series has become the premier resource for those — and there are so, so many of us — who have embarked on the wonderful journey to emunah.
OVER 100,000 COPIES IN PRINT!
“… and [by learning this sefer] you will see children, and children’s children, like olive shoots around your tables, wise and discerning, and homes filled with everything good, and wealth and honor .…” — From the introduction to Sefer Zera Shimshon by R’ Shimshon Chaim Nachmani
In Real Life Kosher Cooking, Miriam Pascal shows us that you don’t need hard-to-find ingredients or pricey equipment to make interesting food; all you need is a touch of passion, a dash of caring, and a hearty helping of creativity. Over 160 doable recipes you’ll make again and again Mouthwatering photo for every dish Accessible, easy-to-find ingredients Easy-to-follow instructions Menu suggestions for family and special occasions “Plan Ahead” and/or freezer tips for each recipe Pesach substitutions guide Comprehensive Index
This Shabbos, Cheshvan 22: Daf Yomi Bavli – Makkos 6 / Daf Yomi Yerushalmi – Bava Kamma 30 Mishnah Yomi – Beitzah 5:5-6 / Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yomi – 16:1-5
41
42
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
A Seeing Eye Dog at HALB
T
he fifth grade class at HALB had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Lee (a friend of staff member Mrs. Meshenberg) and her four legged friend Iggy. Mrs. Lee was diagnosed with a congenital eye disease that has become worse over time. Like many, Mrs. Lee depends on her dog for guidance throughout the day. Iggy is responsible to cross the street safely, guide Mrs. Lee on and off the city bus, navigate the supermarket, and various other dayto-day tasks. Iggy has been trained to act as Mrs. Lee’s eyes and understands the importance of her job. The
children were impressed to see how obedient and loyal Iggy was toward her partner. Many excellent questions were asked. The children were
curious about how Mrs. Lee handles her cooking, dressing and using her phone. Mrs. Lee provided answers to the children and told the class that
she does everything a “typical” person does with the exception of driving. It was a pleasure meeting Mrs. Lee and Iggy!
Annual DRS West Hempstead Shabbaton
L
ast Shabbos, DRS held its annual West Hempstead Tisch. About 160 boys, nearly half the school’s student population, spent Shabbos by their friends in West Hempstead to join in this great annual tradition. Many rabbeim joined the
students as well for a rocking tisch at the home of Rabbi Schwalb, parent of DRS senior Avramie Schwalb. Full of incredible singing, great divrei Torah, and of course, chulent and kugel, the tisch also included many eighth graders who lived in the West
Hempstead neighborhood, and the DRS students were excited to introduce them to the amazing spirit and ruach that DRS is so famous for. A shalosh seudos also took place at the home of senior Moshe Strauss and freshman Mordechai Strauss. We
look forward to many more exciting tisches in the future. DRS extends a tremendous hakaras hatov to Rabbi and Mrs. Schwalb as well as Mr. and Mrs. Strauss for their incredible hospitality.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
SHUVU C H A Z O N AV R O H O M
Five Towns SHABBOS OF CHIZUK
Join
DAYAN YONASON ABRAHAM, SHLITA נשיא שובו
FRIDAY
SHABBOS
NOVEMBER 17TH
NOVEMBER 18TH
AFTERNOON
MINCHA KABOLAS SHABBOS & MAARIV
SHACHARIS
MINCHA & SHOLOSH SEUDOS
8:30 AM
4:05 PM
MINYAN
4:25 PM BAIS MEDRASH OF HARBORVIEW BAIS PINCHAS
9:00 AM MINYAN
RABBI YEHOSHUA KALISH
CONG SHAARAY TEFILAH
214 HARBORVIEW S LAWRENCE, NY
RABBI URI ORLIAN
SHABBOS
BEIS MEDRASH HEICHAL DOVID "W" SHUL
RABBI MORDECHAI STERN 215 CENTRAL AVENUE LAWRENCE, NY
25 CENTRAL AVENUE LAWRENCE, NY
BENJAMIN AND RENA HOCH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO A
B REAKFAST R ECEPTION WITH
DAYAN YONASON ABRAHAM, SHLITA TO BENEFIT THE
Children of Shuvu
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH • 9:30AM
at their home 121 Lawrence Avenue • Lawrence, NY Call 718-692-3434 Fax 718-977-5634 E-mail info@shuvuusa.org Mail 5218 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204
43
44
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Learn & Live
T
he SWAT team showed up at Learn & Live this past Sunday for the melacha of shochait and hamafshait. R’ Feivish Rotbard showed the boys many different ways
not to do shochait on Shabbos, like by swatting a fly. Learn & Live would like to thank Mr. Yavna and the staff of Visionville for loaning us some very interesting tools. Some boys even got
a chance to “whack a mole.” Yossi Keilson gave Yehuda Jawitz his prize for being the first winner of the L&L hotline question of week. This coming Sunday will iy”H be
“Tickle me a Pickle.” For more information regarding L&L please email us at learnandlivefr@gmail.com or call our all-new L&L hotline at 641715-3800, pin 932191#.
Record Crowd at HANC HS Open House
O
n Sunday, November 5, HANC High School welcomed eighth grade prospective students and parents to its annual Open House. The program showcased the HANC High School experience, emphasizing the theme of this year’s Open House: We are HANC. After a sumptuous breakfast, the program began with opening remarks from HANC Menahel Rabbi Shlomo Adelman who, along with current HANC students, described the three main components that define this outstanding yeshiva: Character, Commitment, and Community. Freshman Atara Klein began with a meaningful d’var Torah, followed by sophomore Stephanie Hoch, junior Jack Hamer, and senior Daniel Hayimov, each of whom described their individual experiences relating to one of these cultural components. The opening session concluded with an exciting new music video which can be viewed on hanc. org. Parents and students then proceeded to classrooms, where they attended mini-lessons given by our esteemed
athletics, and a student panel. The program concluded with an activities fair, where students learned about athletics and the incredible array of extracurricular clubs available to HANC students. Guests left with a picture magnet, HANC sweatpants, and an appreciation of the rigorous, warm, and individualized program offered at HANC High School.
faculty members in both limudei kodesh and general studies. Following the lessons, students and parents participated in a number of informational showcases. Parents met with Associate Principal Mrs. Marie Palaia and College Guidance Director Ms. Karen Sheff, who gave an overview of the general studies program. Parents also participated in an Academic Fair meeting with directors and chairs of
various departments who gave presentations and were on-hand to answer questions. Prospective parents then had the opportunity to ask questions to a panel consisting of current parents, students, and HANC alum. Simultaneously, prospective students participated in two electives of their choosing within the Student Expo. This showcase featured engineering, coding, art,
Is there simply a shidduch crisis, or is there an underlying values crisis? Page 74
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
45
46
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Overflow Crowd at Madraigos Parenting Event
T
his past Monday evening, Madraigos, the organization that tirelessly works to meet the needs of the community, presented “Be the Parent Your Child Craves,” an initiative of its Parenting Matters program. The event was held at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence and was attended by more than 450 mothers, fathers, therapists, and educators from the Five Towns and Queens who came to gain insight and support from Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein, founder and director of Ohr Naava Women’s Center, and Brad Reedy, Ph.D., world-renowned parenting expert and author of The Journey of the Heroic Parent. Mr. Eli Perlman, LCSW, Clinical Director, Madraigos, opened the program by welcoming the standing room only crowd of attendees and thanking the many people who helped bring the program to fruition. He shared the brief history and incredible growth of the Parenting Matters program, specifically the parenting groups.
Rivki Rosenwald receiving her award
The first speaker, Rabbi Wallerstein, addressed the topic of “conscious parenting.” In his passionate, heartfelt style, he spoke about the vital importance of making time for one’s children. He strongly urged parents to shower their children with love and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they are the most important part of the parent’s life. He stressed the importance of the quality of the father-daughter and mother-son relationships which strongly influences
Rena Kutner receiving her award
the child. Rabbi’s Wallerstein’s words were inspiring and moving while offering concrete suggestions, advice and direction to each and every one in the room – each on his/her own individual level. The event continued with a special award ceremony to recognize the independent efforts of Mrs. Rena Kutner, MFT and Mrs. Rivki Rosenwald, Esq., MFT, CLC as facilitators of the Madraigos’ ongoing weekly parenting groups. Eli Perlman first presented an award to Mrs. Kutner, praising her unusual deep sensitivity for the challenges that parents face and her sincere desire to help strengthen all family relationships. Mr. Perlman then presented an award to Mrs. Rosenwald, commending her enthusiasm for helping others to grow, and her insatiable thirst for knowledge. The final speaker, Dr. Reedy, spoke about parents needing to look inward and examine their own lives to enable them to effectively parent their children. He said that the more in touch a parent is with his or her self the more tolerance and understanding he/she will have for their child. After the speeches, the evening drew to a close with parents enjoying sushi and a beautiful dessert buffet. As the crowd lingered a bit longer, the conversations all centered on the uplifting content of the speakers. Sara, a parent, remarked, “It was very enlightening. I am walking out with a feeling of hope and with some practical tools on how to deal with my children. Thank you!” Madragios extends sincere hakaros hatov to Harborview, proud sponsor of this Parenting Matters event. Event sponsors also include close friends and family of Rivki Rosenwald and Rena Kutner who wanted to personally express their apprecia-
Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein speaking
tion and admiration for their valuable work. Key sponsor of the evening and Chairman of the Board of Madraigos, Mr. Ephraim Kutner, of Harborview, commented, “I applaud the clinical department for putting together a truly incredible event. I am very proud of my wife, Rena, for her accomplishments and I am thrilled that she and the entire Madraigos team are making such a meaningful impact on our community.” Corporate sponsors include Gourmet Glatt, Seasons, Andrew Lock Menswear, Pro Health, Pip Printing, Jerusalem Florist, JK Designs, Paper Place, Doma Restaurant, Secret Me, and Debbie’s Flowers. Annelis Marketing is also recognized for their outstanding marketing efforts and exceptional graphic design. “We are honored to provide programming for the community that supports, educates, and empowers families,” said Rabbi Dov Silver, founder and executive vice president of Madraigos. “I am grateful to
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
47
Around the Community Ephraim Kutner of Harborview and the other event sponsors who generously supported this event.” Mr. Eli Perlman said, “The parenting event was not only well attended and well received, it was a clear indication that the community wants to continue the dialogue about parenting. We are excited and prepared to present the community with more events about effective parenting.” Madraigos has profound gratitude to Mindi Werblowsky, assistant clinical director, social work interns, and volunteers who took an active role in taking care of all necessary logistics for the event. Overall, the feeling at this Parenting Matters event was growth and empowerment for parents of all ages. Strength and hope was in the air not only because of the valuable insights shared by the wonderful speakers, but also because of the message expressed by the sheer number of attendees. Sitting in a room filled to capacity meant to the attendees, I am not alone. We are all in it together, building our homes, our relation-
ships, ourselves. Madraigos plans on launching new parenting resources for the community in the near future. Parents are urged to register for the next parenting group scheduled to start November 13th. To register or learn more about upcoming Parenting Matters initiatives, please
contact Eli Perlman at 516-371-3250 ext. 111 or eperlman@madraigos. org. For sponsorship opportunities please contact Rivka Lock, Director of Development, at 516-371-3250 ext. 102 or rlock@madraigos.org. Madraigos, a 501c-3 not-forprofit organization, offers a wide
array of innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults overcome life’s everyday challenges one step at a time. Our goal is to provide all of our members with the necessary tools and skills to empower them to live a healthy lifestyle and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Sephardic Congregation of Hewlett Celebrates One Year
T
he 8th day of Cheshvan was the one year anniversary of the Sephardic Congregation of Hewlett. Under the leadership of Rabbi Rafael Ribacoff one year has passed since the minyan was formed. On Shabbat parshat Lech-Lecha, the congregation, rather a growing community that calls itself family, sat together in song, recollecting the memories formed along the journey of this new but thriving Sephardic community. As always, the rabbi prepared a plethora of information tailored around the weekly parsha and how it related to us in our daily lives. The rabbi recalled how he was approached by the founding members and their eager plan to open up a minyan in a trailer along the side of a private house. As plans moved forward, one unfortunate circumstance after another proved that the time, effort, and thousands of dollars may have been all wasted as the trailer was not approved for congregational use. The idea of the minyan seemed unattainable. The rabbi continued by reminding us that when you reach rock-bottom, you can only move up and improve. With the help of Hashem and the warm hearts of the Ko-
ren family, the minyan was saved. The Korens opened their doors to house the minyan for as long as necessary. In the beginning months gathering the 10 necessary congregants was not easy. But almost always there was enough people for a minyan. With time, people heard of the warmth and strict Sephardic minhag of the new growing congregation which hosted over 100 people over the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays. Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews alike from all backgrounds spoke about the deep and meaningful experience they had for the High Holidays which was truly a family event for Jews of all backgrounds united together in front of Hashem. On November 19, the Sephardic Congregation of Hewlett is proud to announce their first annual formal dinner event. The Congregation is officially announcing the building fund and its commitment to the growing community within Hewlett and neighboring areas. If you know someone who is looking to become a part of this growing community or you want to participate in the building fund, please call (516) 531-7212 for more information.
Srulie Ehrenberg and Dr. Ernie Isaacson of Cumberland Place in Lawrence ran the NYC Marathon last Sunday
Dr. Isaacson raised $2,700 for Ohel
48
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
One Israel Fund Celebrates a Miracle on November 19 /miracle/ a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences. To search for the definition of “miracle” you would look in a dictionary. To witness the manifestation of a miracle you would look to Israel. One of the greatest modern miracles for those who care to acknowledge it, Israel continues to be an amazing miracle every day, indeed, every hour. Many of the residents of Israel, especially those who are instrumental in maintaining this great miracle, acknowledge that it is only due to its ongoing divine protection that the country is able to thrive. In fact, the late Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion was quoted as saying, “In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.” If the lifeblood of a person lies in his heart, then the lifeblood of a people lies in its heartland. In Israel, that heartland is Judea and Samaria - YESHA. The history of our people, our birth and our roots, began within these kilometers of ancient land. Our greatest leaders, Yehoshua, David HaMelech and even the Avot themselves, spent much of their storied lives treading upon these worn stones. YESHA also represents our eternal and non-negotiable claim to the entirety of Israel. This is where it all began, this is where it flourished, and this is where it will
Steven and Susan Orlow
Martin and Zena Cohen
continue forever. In 1967, when the courageous soldiers of the IDF recaptured Judea and Samaria, the area was a skeleton of its former self. Once beautiful towns were decimated by centuries of Arab rule. Now, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reclamation of YESHA and it can only be described as a miracle. People said it wasn’t possible to overcome the intense international pressure against the so-called “settlements.” The “enlightened world” said that it was impossible to build cohesive communities. They also claimed that no one in their right mind would want to live in such far-flung towns within a stone’s throw from Arab villages. The naysayers had much to say, but the visionaries forged ahead. Who could have dreamed that within two generations the Jewish population would explode from a mere 20,000 in 1968 to nearly 450,000 in 2017? Who could have dreamed of the vibrant towns that dot the
landscape of YESHA? From Itamar and Elon Moreh in the north to Hevron and Sussya in the south, one encounters a special air of strength and vitality when entering these pioneering communities. One Israel Fund was founded 23 years ago as an antidote to the Oslo Accords. At the time, a few heroic people set out to form a grassroots effort to provide these communities the humanitarian aid which was necessary to remain safe and secure while also providing a quality of life similar to that throughout the remainder of the country. It was a bold plan which seemed impossible at the time, but decades later it has proven to be a brilliant strategy. Even the original planners could not have dreamed of what YESHA has become. We now proudly mark the 50th year since reclamation and celebrate the miracle that is YESHA. We specifically share this momentous occasion with the thousands of people who generously supported this cause. We ignored the opposition and
The guardians of Yerushalayim are the many Jewish communities, wherever they may be, who never stop davening for Yerushalayim. Page 80
Bentzy and Rena Chill
those who claimed that our mission could not be successful. Instead, with vision and foresight, we built community centers, playgrounds, schools and synagogues for fledgling villages, security cameras and vehicles for new yishuvim, and a host of other essential resources so that the barren hilltops could once again be teeming with Jewish life. As we continue the celebration of this yovel (50th anniversary), there is no couple more deserving of recognition than Steven and Susan Orlow. For the past 23 years, the Orlows have stood as two of the most stalwart supporters of everything Israel. As our founding president, Steve has been a veritable ambassador of Judea and Samaria. Through myriad efforts, he and Susan have made an incredible, unforgettable, and eternal impact on the future of Israel. In fact, in the 23 years of One Israel Fund’s existence, there is not a single project which was not directly or indirectly impacted by the Orlows. The incredible growth of YESHA is due, in no small part, to Steve and Susan Orlow and we are proud to honor them at this year’s momentous dinner. Two additional couples will be recognized this year for their efforts on behalf of One Israel Fund and YESHA as well. In a very short time, Martin and Zena Cohen of Manhattan and Atlantic
Beach have quickly become indispensable for their support of numerous projects. Today, there is a new playground in Mitzpe Dani and a soon-to-be completed mikveh in Na’ale thanks to the efforts of Marty and Zena. Marty and Zena will accept the Bonei Yisrael (Builders of Israel) Award at the upcoming dinner. Our Manhigut Tze’erim (Young Leadership) Awardees are Bentzy and Rena Chill of North Woodmere. Everyone involved in the young leadership events know the Chills as a powerhouse couple who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the next generation of support for One Israel Fund. At this year’s dinner, we will host a special Sefer Torah Inscription Ceremony in memory of Yaakov, Chaya and Elad Salomon. The Salamons were brutally murdered by Arab terrorists as they sat at their Shabbat table in Neve Tzuf celebrating the birth of a new boy in the family. The Torah, generously dedicated by anonymous friends of One Israel Fund, will be presented to the town of Neve Tzuf where it will serve as a fitting memorial to the Salomons. We are honored to take part in this poignant project and share it with all those at the dinner. Everyone in attendance will be given an opportunity to write a letter, time permitting. Please join us as we Celebrate the Miracle on November 19th at Terrace on the Park in Queens, NY. If you cannot attend, demonstrate your support in the commemorative dinner journal. It is a most meaningful and effective way to make your own impact on Israel’s future. To register or place an ad, please visit www.oneisraelfund.org/dinner or call 516.239.9202 x19.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
49
50
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Hundreds Gather at Inwood Mikvah Groundbreaking
“N
either snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom…” From day one, this has been the motto not just of U.S. postal workers, but of those involved in the Inwood Community Mikvah; the community activists who have wholeheartedly devoted themselves to this cause with complete strength and determination. The event this past Sunday, November 5, was no exception. The groundbreaking event marked the beginning of the building stage of this project. While the weather was downcast, the atmosphere was anything but. The rainy morning did nothing to dampen the mood or turnout for the groundbreaking, which attracted over 300 individuals, including askanim, roshei yeshiva, politicians, and residents from the Inwood and the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community at large. Somewhere over the railroad, the Inwood community began to flourish about ten years ago as an attractive option for young, Orthodox couples looking for an out-of-town atmosphere close to home. A few years in, the need was identified for a local mikvah, a cause that was undertaken by Inwood residents Yehuda Michaeli and Simcha Stoll. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and residents of the Inwood community as well as the Five Towns community at large
were quick to contribute their time, money, resources and, most importantly, their words of encouragement for the project. A property was bought, permits obtained, plans finalized, and finances raised. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of board members Dovy Brazil, Yossi Fisch-
ler, Nesonel Goldman, Leon Lantsman, Yehuda Michaeli, Simcha Stoll and Yehuda Zachter, the project has raised $980K to date out of its projected budget of $1.3 million. Collaboration with architect Lawrence Schreiber and Mikvah Rav, Rabbi Trieger, has resulted in a complete
set of plans for full men’s, women’s, and keilim mikvahs. The plans are designed to accommodate not only the Inwood community but also surrounding areas. Mikvah Sara Laya Binyan Liba is dedicated in memory of two exceptional women in Klal Yisroel. Mrs. Marion Berkowitz, grandmother of Inwood residents and brothers Reb Yanky Brazil and Dovy Brazil, dedicated the Mikvah in honor of her late daughter Sara Laya, first wife of Reb Shmuel Brazil. Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland, a close friend of the Brazil family, spoke about Rebbetzin Sara Laya at the groundbreaking. He highlighted her tremendous tzinius and ahavas Yisroel and shared personal memories of the Rebbetzin. Reb Yanky spoke about his mother as well, expressing his deep hakaras hatov to his grandmother for generously providing the entire extended family the opportunity to carry on their mother’s memory through the mitzvah of mikvah. Warren Stoll, father of community member Simcha Stoll, is credited with being the one to mention the need for a mikvah to Rabbi Pinchas Weinberger. Mr. Stoll dedicated the building of the mikvah in memory
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
51
Around the Community Gourmet Glatt, 718-Insurance, Dr. Mendel Warshawsky, Seasons, Elite Caterers, CNSLT Real Estate Group, Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, and Goldman Roofing. The generosity of these sponsors has facilitated a beautiful welcome of the Inwood Mikvah Project into the building stages. The Board would like to thank the entire community for participating in this event. The constant words of encouragement, from those inside and outside the immediate Inwood community, are appreciated by all of those working on this project. To those who came without giving, to those who gave without coming, to those who gave and came and encouraged others to do one of the same, and to all those who stepped up to the plate in whatever capacity they were able, we extend much appreciation and tremendous admiration. of his grandmother Liba Sokol. As Simcha spoke about on Sunday, Liba was a Russian immigrant who dedicated her life to her husband’s Torah learning. She prioritized Torah and mitzvos above all else, fleeing the pogroms of Russia for the tenements of Brooklyn so that her husband could learn Torah peacefully. Rabbi Pinchas Weinberger, Rav of Bais Tefillah of Inwood, expressed his admiration and gratitude towards the board and the groundbreaking committee: Gud Meir Adler, Shmuel Flaum, Louis Greenspan, Rabbi Eli Katz, Shlomo Salamon, Meir Shuvalsky and Nussi Tempelman. Rav Weinberger spoke about the mikvah as the source of the perseverance of the Jewish nation and expounded on the fundamental role that it plays in the halacha and hashkafa of Judaism. Rabbi Weinberger also spoke about the koach that the mikvah has to actualize potential that people may be unaware that they possess. On that note, the board would like to extend a tremendous amount of appreciation to all those who gave of themselves, of their energy, of their finances, and of their resources in order to convert this project from potential to reality. From those who gave of their time even though their days are full, to those who gave of their money even though they had little to spare, there are countless individuals who stretched themselves to the limit in order to contribute in any way that they could. As Rabbi
Pinchas Weinberger mentioned in his speech on Sunday, “Yehuda Michaeli reached into pockets people did not even know that they had.” The master of ceremonies of the event was Yehuda Zachter. He and his wife, Mindy, are pillars of the community, who play a pivotal role in this project and the development of Inwood at large. Zachter spoke about the power of the mikvah as a vehicle of rebirth and renewal for the Jewish nation. He expressed his hope that the mikvah’s power of transformation will serve to propel the blossoming Inwood community into further stages of Torah growth and development. Attendees of the event were treated not only to food for thought from the aforementioned speakers, but also to a hot buffet generously sponsored by Elite Caterers of the Katz Family and Seasons of Lawrence. The Katzs have been facilitators of the growth of the Inwood community since its inception. Their involvement includes hosting the young shul in its commissary on Doughty Boulevard as well as catering many community events over the years, aside from the Katz children and grandchildren that live in Inwood. Seasons provided a lavish spread of cakes, fruit, and beverages to complement the hot buffet. The large crowd of participants at the event went home both physically and spiritually nourished. The Inwood Mikvah would like
to especially thank the corporate sponsors of the Groundbreaking event. Thank you to Camp Areivim, Vintage Pharmacy, MAS Travel,
For more information, or to donate to the Inwood Mikvah, please visit the project’s website: www.inwoodmikvah.org.
52
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Shabbos Project in HANC Middle School By Yaira Goldress and Abigail Mottahedeh
H
ANC Middle School had the opportunity to join a very meaningful initiative called the Shabbat Project. All through the week leading up to the Shabbos of Lech Lecha we had many special programs each day. The seventh and eighth grade girls had a wonderful time baking challah with world renowned kosher chef Naomi Ross. The students learned the beauty and meaning of baking challah. The gym was set up beautifully, with all the supplies needed to make our delicious challah. First, Naomi Ross demonstrated how to make challah. She explained to us what each ingredient represented relating to the Jewish people. The girls were not only able to make the dough themselves but also have a detailed demo on braiding the challahs they made. The Jewish people first became obli-
gated from the mitzvah of hafrashat challah when they entered the land of Israel. After the challah rose, one girl from each group said Hafrashat Challah out loud and all the girls answered with a strong “Amen.” Afterwards, Naomi Ross demonstrated how to make a six-braided challah. The girls each braided two challot for their Shabbat table. The entire program was truly a special and meaningful experience for everyone and it would not have been possible without the extensive planning from Rabbi Hecht and Morah Hakimian. We had the privilege to listen to Mrs. Gottesman and her inspiring words about the amazing Rebbetzin Fendel. She talked about Rebbetzin Fendel’s love for our illustrious yeshiva, HANC. She explained what a true friend is and how lucky she was to have Rebbetzin Fendel as her true friend. While the girls were baking challah the boys had a cholent cook off.
5 Towns Flag Football League
U
nder the leadership of Rabbi Eli Brazil and Larry Gross the 5 Towns Flag Football League has just finished their third season. Congratulations to the champions in each division .The season and playoffs were beyond amazing as many of the games were decided in the final seconds. The league, which is open to first-eighth grade boys in the 5 Towns and surrounding areas, had five divisions with over 30 teams. The ability to play competitive flag football in a
structured environment makes this league such a great success. Plans are underway for next season, which will hopefully begin in the beginning of March. We would like to thank the league sponsors Gourmet Glatt, S. Adelsberg & Co. Certified Public Accountants, and Oppenheimer Orthodontics. To view more pictures and for more information go to www.5townsflagfootball.com.
The seventh grade boys made their cholent with Rabbi Harris, while the eighth grade boys made their cholent with Rabbi Olshan. They let the cholent cook, and Friday, the next day, the whole middle school came together and got to try our very own seventh and eighth grade boys’ cholent. As we were eating cholent we got to watch videos created by the students about
what Shabbos means to them and their favorite part of Shabbos. We also got to hear a wonderful story about Shabbat from our very own and illustrious Rabbi Hecht. Along with the cholent, videos, story, and challah bake we got to have a meaningful kumzitz where everyone sang songs and got to enjoy the spiritual ruach before Shabbat.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
53
54
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
MSH Open House
I
magine if you can: a small school by design that does not fit any specific mold, a school incredibly adept at customizing for each and every student. A school that is warm, nurturing, and inspires individual growth, encouraging girls to pursue any profession they choose while adhering to a Torah framework. A school that teaches girls not to be intimidated by the secular world, but to be prepared for it. Imagine no longer! That school is MSH - Midreshet Shalhevet. Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman articulated MSH’s mission on Sunday, November 5, at the annual Open House for prospective students and parents. Midreshet Shalhevet High School, sister school to Rambam Mesivta, a National Blue Ribbon School, welcomed young ladies from 17 different elementary schools around Long Island, Queens, and
Brooklyn, who came to see for themselves just what MSH stands for and what an amazing gem it truly is. After lunch, over 200 people gathered in the packed auditorium to hear from MSH students and administration. Ninth grader Emily Weintraub of Brooklyn began by portraying her love of Midreshet Shalhevet after only a few months. Emily shared, “Many of you may think the most important thing when deciding on a high school is following your friends, but really
it’s finding the right school with the right opportunities for you.” Freshman Leah Cohen of Far Rockaway added, “I feel that having only been in MSH for such a short time, and being ‘only’ a ninth grader, I have more opportunities than I would have imagined possible.” She shared how confident she was in her decision to make MSH her high school home, and went on to say, “I can promise you, this might turn out to be the best decision you make in your high school journey! Just remember when you choose Midreshet you ‘shall have it’ all.” Assistant Principal Shaindy Lisker spoke about what a true Midreshet Shalhevet girl really is: exemplifying their middot, chessed, and ahavat Yisroel. Students are taught to be proactive, to stand up for what they believe in, and let their voices be heard. Girls are integrated into the MSH school culture from the
start. Extracurricular options are open to students in all grades, student government has representation from all four grades, and lead roles in the play and choir are given out based on merit not class rank. “If you want to get involved and make a difference, MSH is the place for you,” she concluded. Midreshet Shalhevet is a school that prides itself on Israel activism – not just in theory, but in practice. The Committee for Israel Activism girls plan and participate in rallies
multiple times each year, they bring in speakers, plan and execute programs, and educate the students on what has and is happening in Israel and around the world to be able to answer tough questions. “In Midreshet Shalhevet, we are constantly being challenged, whether it be in limudei kodesh or general studies. There are so many electives and AP courses to choose from,” commented senior Sarah Austin. “By the time I graduate, I will have taken seven AP courses.” Menahelet Esther Eisenman then concluded the speeches by expressing how remarkable all of the girls in Midreshet Shalhevet are – from their impressive SAT and AP scores, to the top notch colleges and seminaries that they are accepted to afterwards, and their true love for Am Yisroel. Teachers were highlighted as the backbone of the school, challenging each student and providing interesting and stimulating classes. Mrs. Eisenman also read statements from alumnae in Israel who expressed their thanks to Midreshet Shalhevet for preparing them fully for life after high school, as well as statements from seminary and college deans highlighting our students as open-minded, who love an intellectual challenge. She again highlighted MSH’s educational approach, critical inquiry. Questions in class are not only welcomed, they are encouraged. Teachers guide students to evaluate and analyze the material, to search for solutions and achieve a lasting understanding, rather than mere memorization. The attention to each individual that
permeates the entire school and of course the classrooms is really what sets Midreshet Shalhevet apart. No one gets overlooked; everyone matters. “We are a smaller school by design, with big school opportunities both academic and extracurricular,” she concluded. Following the speeches, the parents and students took part in mini class lessons, followed by a dessert reception, raffle drawing, and Rita’s of Lawrence! Congratulations to Michali Moskowitz of Cedarhurst on winning the Apple Watch. If you missed out on this wonderful experience, you are invited to join us at the school any day for a personal tour of our wonderful classes. Please contact Shani Seewald, Director of Communications, at 516-224-0240 x204 or admissions@midreshetshalhevet.org for more details.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
55
Around the Community
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic recently met with Dr. Moshe Sokol, Dean of Lander College for Men. Assemblywoman Rozic and Dr. Sokol talked about the college and how it interacts with the local community. After their conversation, Dean Sokol led Rozic on a tour of the campus.
Ohr Leah Visits the Library Far Rockaway and Five Towns residents were recent graduates at the school for the New York State Chaplain Task Force. Among the graduates were Cantor Samuel Schwartz, Aaron S Schwartz, Akiva Homnick, Elishah S Aryeh, Randy Reuvin Guttman, Eli Klein, Rabbi Joel Yehuda Freedman, Perish Brunner, Elnatan D Pinchasov, and Isaac Stern. Reuven Guttman is pictured here receiving his award. He is flanked by Reverend Felder, Reverend Marcos Miranda, Rabbi Yechiel Malik, and Head Chaplain Nathan Szpilzinger.
A
Yeshiva Noam Hatorah in action
s a culmination of our unit on the book Caps for Sale, which was the book of the month for October, Ohr Leah Academy took a trip to the library. The weather was beautiful so we walked to the Hewlett-Woodmere public library enjoying the fall scenery! At the library we were treated to a viewing of “Caps for Sale” on the big screen in the children’s section. During October, we had many fun activities as part of this unit. We acted out the story with puppets. We also acted it out ourselves with real caps. There were coloring pages to color in counting out the correct number of each color cap! With several copies of the book in our room including an oversized reader, we sat and listened to the story on CD as we followed along turning the pages. We also used the
story to learn important life lessons about middos tovos. We talked about body language, as the monkeys did not understand the peddler but copied his movements. We also talked about not getting angry when someone does not understand what we are saying. Instead, we should find a way to communicate what we want or need. We are grateful to the library for being so accommodating, and showing us the film. At Ohr Leah, learning is experiential, hands-on and fun! If you are interested in learning more about our school, please join us for an open house on Sunday, November 12 at 10 AM at 111 Irving Place, Woodmere. For more information please contact Suzanne Burger at 347794-4940
56
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, teaching the kindergarten talmidim during his weekly lesson on the alef-beis
Yachad Long Island in Full Swing
Y
achad Long Island has been buzzing with activity as their programs and services for individuals with disabilities continues to expand in the Five Towns Jewish community. This past Sunday, a brand new learning program, Torah4Teens, started with parents and children ages 8-15 enjoying davening, breakfast and learning, led by the experienced and beloved educator Rabbi Matis Friedman. The Sunday morning
learning program is open to all boys ages 8-16 in local yeshivot, public schools and special education pro-
grams. On alternating Tuesdays, Pizza and Parsha meets at Pizzaeleh on Central Ave. with over 35 local high school students leading divrei Torah and parsha trivia with Yachad members and staff. The Pizza and Parsha program has been thus far very successful and they look forward to more inclusive and youth-led programs. The next Pizza and Parsha will meet on Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30 PM. Many high school students take active roles in Yachad, promoting the inclusion of individuals with disabilities through local chapters and boards in their local high schools. Two weeks ago the school presidents of the Yachad chapters joined over
350 Yachad members and high school students for a weekend together at the Crowne Plaza in Stamford, Connecticut, for the 15th annual High School Leadership Shabbaton, where they learned about leadership and how they can promote inclusion in their own communities. In addition to the local programming and parent support, Yachad has a vocational and day program, as well as their elementary school IVDU, all of which is located in their new center at Ohr Torah, in North Woodmere. For more information and to get involved, please email Sametm@ ou.org or call 516-730-9255/516-6650043.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
57
Around the Community
Hachnosas Orchim at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam The preschool classes in Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam put the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim that we learn from Avraham Avinu into practice. They invited their parallel class over for Shabbos party on Friday and took great care of their guests. The girls had such a great time!
Tnuva’s New Deli Cut Cheeses Now Available in Light Version
Ramat Givat Zeev Real Estate Event in Manhattan
S
pecial prices for Ramat Givat Zeev’s much sought after apartments and homes will be featured at a unique sales event this coming Sunday, November 12, 11AM-7PM at Lincoln Square Synagogue (180 Amsterdam Avenue) in Manhattan. “This is once in a lifetime
N
ow you can indulge your “cheesy cravings” without worrying about your waistline by making scrumptious dishes with Tnuva’s new line of Deli Cut Light Cheeses. Tnuva’s Edam, Swiss and Muenster Deli Cut Light cheeses are featured in convenient 6 ounce packaging, which includes a re-sealable zipper to lock in freshness after usage. These cheeses can be used for a variety of culinary offerings ‘roundthe-clock, including breakfast toasts, sandwiches for lunch, or dinner casseroles. The Deli Cut line of cheeses feature 67% less fat and 40% less calories than regular cheeses and contain zero trans-fat and zero carbohydrates. “Who says you can’t enjoy a
premium Mehadrin Cholov Yisroel dairy product without counting the calories? Our consumers are becoming more health conscious but they are not willing to compromise on taste, texture or quality when it comes to eating well. The new line of Deli Cut Light Cheeses answers the needs of consumers who want enjoy a healthy lifestyle but also want to enjoy high-quality products,” said Yoram Behiri, President & CEO of Tnuva in the USA. Tnuva’s Deli Cut Light, Edam, Swiss and Muenster cheeses are Cholov Yisroel and kosher for yearround usage (including Passover) and highlights the Vaad Mehadrin, Chug Chasam Sofer Bnei Brak and OU-D (Orthodox Union) kashrus standards.
opportunity to ‘have it all,’ living in the lap of luxury amidst the pastoral beauty of the Jerusalem hills. It’s not by accident that many buyers from the metro New York area have made their Aliyah dreams come true in a unique setting,” said a Chish Nofei Israel sales representative.
58
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
St. John’s Strikes Gold St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Awarded With Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
O
n Friday, August 25, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital has received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus. The award recognizes hospitals who achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With the Guidelines- Stroke standards for two or more consecutive years, in addition to achieving 75 percent or higher compliance with five out of eight quality measures. As part of the Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus group, St. John’s met quality measures to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and getting treated with the clot-busting drug, tPA, which treats ischemic strokes. The drug, which is the only one of its kind to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, assists in reducing death and disability for stroke patients. “The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognize St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s commitment to stroke care,” said Paul Heidenreich, M.D., national chair-
man of the Get With the Guidelines Steering Committee and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. “Research has shown there are benefits to patients who are treated at hospitals that have adopted the Get With the Guidelines program.” According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and leading cause of adult disability in the United States. Nearly 800,000 people suffer from strokes each year, with someone dying of a stroke every four minutes, on
average. “We are extremely proud of our Emergency Department staff for doing their part to reduce the devastating effects of strokes on our patients, “said St. John’s CEO, Gerard Walsh. “We are looking forward to continuing to provide top-notch treatment.” Congratulations to all who helped St. John’s maintain this standard! St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is the only hospital providing emergency and ambulatory care to the densely
populated, culturally and economically diverse, and medically underserved populations of the Rockaways and Five Towns in southern Queens County and southwestern Nassau County, New York. St. John’s is a New York State Designated Stroke Center, a recipient of the Gold-Plus Get with the Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, and is a certified emergency heart care station.
St. John’s Collects Gifts of Life St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Hosts Community Blood Drive
O
on Wednesday, November 8, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital hosted a community blood drive on Friday, November 3rd in the hospital’s BOCES Training Center. The hospital’s blood bank partnered with Community Blood Center, an organization that works with healthcare centers around the country to supply patients in need with lifesaving blood. St. John’s had not hosted a blood drive since 2010, when 49 units of blood were collected from donors. The hospital’s blood bank decided to host one now due to the recent natural disasters across the country which have caused an increase in the need for blood transfusions, as well as the
yearly shortage of blood donations that occurs during the holiday season due to winter illnesses and people’s unusually busy schedules. “When a person donates blood, they get the amazing benefit of knowing that they have saved the life of an infant, child, injured person, or cancer patient,” said Bridget Sheahan, Manager of St. John's Blood Bank. “During times of distress, people like to feel as if they’ve done something to help. Donating blood not only helps, but saves lives.” The staff at St. John's is looking forward to hosting additional blood drives in the future, and is proud to declare this event a success!
Pictured L-R: Errol McKenzie, Bridget Sheahan, Harsh Patel
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is the only hospital providing emergency and ambulatory care to the densely populated, culturally and economically diverse, and medically underserved populations of the Rockaways and Five Towns in southern Queens County and south-
western Nassau County, New York. St. John’s is a New York State Designated Stroke Center, a recipient of the Gold-Plus Get with the Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.
59
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
weekly
speci
ls
11/12/17 - 11/17/17
Order by Email: orders@Frankelskosher.com or Online: www.FrankelsKosher.com
Store Hours:
ww
1913 Cornaga Avenue • Far Rockaway • T. 718.471.7555 F. 718.471.9102 E. orders@Frankelskosher.com
2000
@
•Quick And Easy Online Shopping •Get Frankel’s Everyday Low Prices In Addition To Frankel’s Amazing Special Prices •Quick Delivery Service… You Choose Your Time •Download The Mobile App
at
Frankelskosher.com
And On Frankelskosher.com We Still Offer
Free Delivery!!
Coke Assorted
Chef Tzaliyz
Leben 12pk
0.99
2.22 Lb
Gefilte Fish
8.99
$
$
Glatt Kosher
File Steak
5.99 Lb
6.99 Lb
$
Bonless Flanken
7.99
$
Lb
9.99 Lb
$
5.19
$
Chicken Thighs Sandwich Steaks
Family Pack Rib Steaks
2.99
$
9.49
Lb
$
11.49
Lb
$
2.99
Rosemarie Chocolate Cake
Liebers
64z
Assorted 1.5 Ltr
200ml
Fruit Punch Box Drink
2/ 4.00
2/$3.00
Best Health
Alpha Bits 12 Oz
2/$5.00
Post
Golden Crisp 14.75 Oz
2/$5.00
Rice Cakes With Dark Chocolate 3.10 Oz
2/$3.00
Liebers
Honey Braided Pretzels 9.5 Oz
2/$3.00
Sabra
Assorted 5z
$
$
2/$1.99
$
Sabra
Tuv Taam
Tofutti
Eggo
Shredded Cheeses
7 Oz
8 Oz
3.29
Tuv Taam Eggplant Babaganoush
1.99
Assorted 10z
1.99
Better Than Cream Cheese
2.79
$
Hummus
8 Oz
6 Oz
Sabra Salsa Assorted
Chocolatey Chip Waffles 10 Ct
2.59
$
2.69
$
$
Lenders
Macabee
Bagels
Pizza Bagels
Assorted 6pk
18 Ct
1.69
7.99
$
Milk
$
Quaker
Waffle Crisp
12.5 Oz
Life
Origanal Or Cinamon 13 Oz
11.5 Oz
2/$5.00
2/$5.00
3.49
$
Fresh Salmon Fresh Tilapia Fillet Fillet
4/ 5.00
$
Greek Yogurts
Kedem
Original Or Light 0.5z
Assorted
3/$1.00
2.99
2.99
Best In Town
0.65
$
2.79
$
$
2 Fresh Pizza Pies
Mehadrin
Chocolate Leben 12 Pk
$
10.99
7.99
Lb
$
21.99
Lb
11.99
$
$
2.99
Labone
Gefen
12.25 Oz
Chicken Or Vegitable Flavor 3z
White Quinoa
Ramen Noodles
2.99
$
$
Mikee
Jason
2.79
$
2.99
Cup Of Soup Chicken Flavor 12Pk
$
$
Glicks
Osem
5/ 3.00 $
1.99
Tradition
Hunts
Origanal Only 8z
$
Crunchy Kosher Dill Gherkins
2/$1.00
Sesame Bread Crumbs Tomato Or Flavored Teriyaki Sauce Origanal Sauce 24 Oz Origanal Or Seedless 20 Oz
B&G
1.99
Flour
All Purpose Or High Gluten
2/ 5.00 $
Israeli Couscous 17.6 Oz
1.39
$
Household
Kitov
Corn Pops
HATOV/GIVAT /FRESH TASTY
Yogolite
$
10z
Post
HATOV/GIVAT /FRESH TASTY
Rye Bread
Givat
Cream Cheese
Gevina
Stuffed Manzanilla Olives Honey Comb
Cholov Yisroel
2/$5.00
Liebers
Post
Cholov Yisroel
Cottage Cheese
Cholov Yisroel
Grocery
2/$1.00
Cookies - Snacks Liebers
Hatov / Fresh & Healthy
Sliced Mozzerella Cheese
Seltzer
Cereal Post
Yummy
Taste Yogurt
3.99
Prigat
2/ 5.00
Normans
$
Apple & Eve
$
0.89 Lb
$
Dairy - Frozen
French Almond Cookies
Beverages $
2.99
$
1.99
Juice Drink
Cello
Schreiber's Famous
$
100% Apple Juice
Carrots
$
3.99
$
Pineapple
ALWAYS ON SALE
Sprinkle Or Chocoalte Chip Cooikes
0.99
Sweet Potatoes
Southland Butternut Squash
Schreiber's Famous
Large Oranges
3/$3.00
Birdseye
Bakery Ackermans
Lb
Onion
$
14 Oz
Lb
0.99
$
Cello
0.65
10.99 Lb
$
Extra Clean Chicken Cutlets $
First Cut Brisket
3.99
$
$
Top Quality Meat & Poultry
Rib Eye Steak
Avocados
2lb Bag
0.89 Lb
0.69 Lb
$
Clementines
$
$
2.99
$
Meat Department Turkey Breast Roast
0.99 Lb
3.49
Mehadrin
Plus tax and deposit 2ltr
Golden Delicious Apples
$
Always Fresh
Whole Turkey
Cortland Apples
Green Giant Yukon Potatoes
Major Deals
THUR 11 PM
W E O P E SDAYS N U N TI L
Produce
Frankelskosher.com
Join Us In Celebrating With Chaim Goldman Who Is Our 2000Th Online Customer
Su: 7-7 Mon: 7-8 Tu: 7-8 We: 7-9 Th: 7-11 Fri: 7-4
Tea Biscuits
2/$1.00
Sano
Perfection
2pk
100 Ct
Cleaning Spoonges
2/$3.00
9 Inch Plastic Plates
4.99
$
7 Oz Plastic Cups ` 100 Ct
0.99
$
60
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Hands-On Alef Beis at YOSS ECC
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic recently met with Mrs. CB Neugroschl, Yeshiva University High School for Girls’ (Central) Head of School. Assemblywoman Rozic and Mrs. Neugroschl discussed the importance of implementing a civics curriculum as well as other opportunities for Central to expand their current educational offerings. Following the meeting, they toured the school building and met with students.
T
he talmidim at Yeshiva of South Shore’s Hollander ECC are getting their hands on the Alef Beis. The kindergaten teachers attended a workshop this summer, given by Chaya Schapiro at the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools, on new ways to teach the Hebrew let-
ters. The results were amazing and exciting. As the children play with the letters, they are learning Hebrew and enjoying the activities that each letter brings. The boys applied their new lesson by building a giant “gadol” Gimmel with geometric blocks and then playing at their gelidah store.
Students at Gesher learning about elections
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
61
Around the Community
HAFTR Model Congress with State Senator Kaminsky
Pictured L-R: HAFTR Model Congress participants, HAFTR High School principal Naomi Lippman, Senator Todd Kaminsky, Model Congress supervisor Alex Libkind, and executive director Ruby Marton
O
n November 1, Senator Todd Kaminsky participated as a judge at HAFTR’s Model Congress. The event was hosted by HAFTR. DRS SAR, Ezra Academy,
and Yeshiva of Flatbush were the fellow participating schools. The tournament was highly successful and enjoyed by the teachers and students. Elliott Ottensosser of HAFTR won
first place. Jacob Barry, DRS; Eli Aghajani, Ezra; and Benjy Gottesman won second place. Miriam Kopyto of HAFTR won third place. The finalist were Zack Goldberg (DRS), Yonatan
Shiller (DRS), Michael Oved (Flatbush), Robert Adler (Flatbush), Eytan Libkind (HAFTR), and Ben Klestzick (SAR).
Empower Yourself at Achiezer’s Jewish HealthCare Conference & Expo
W
e are considering inviting my wheelchair-bound father to move in with us. How can we make our home more accessible for him? I would like to write a halachically and legally acceptable will. What do I need to know? Our special-needs son will be graduating school this year. Now what? Your questions have answers – and you’ll find them all at the Jewish HealthCare Conference & Expo on Sunday, December 3, 2017. This event is the ultimate resource for every caregiver, parent and mature adult, bringing together resources to inform and support you, whether you are caring for a parent, spouse, special-needs child or adult, or even yourself. Achiezer’s initial ElderCare Conference in 2011 brought together important resources for caregivers of the elderly. The program was enthusiastically received by professionals and caregivers alike. On the heels of that success, Achiezer expanded to host a similar SpecialCare Conference addressing the special-needs community. Over the years, these confer-
ences hosted hundreds of vendors and thousands of attendees. Achiezer’s trademark modus operandi is opening its eyes and ears to what is lacking in the community and responding by filling the void in the best way possible. Over time, they gathered feedback from their ElderCare/SpecialCare events, as wells as fielded numerous calls to their offices seeking assistance in these areas and beyond. In addition to questions concerning the senior and special-needs populations, they encountered much confusion regarding preventative medicine and screenings and longterm planning for mature adults. With the upcoming HealthCare Conference & Expo, Achiezer is acting on that firsthand information. The beauty of this year’s brand-new comprehensive event is that the types of vendors including invited speakers and topics featured are all targeted at addressing questions and concerns actually posed by the community. The Jewish HealthCare Conference & Expo truly promises to be a one-stop event for any and every need in the categories of Elder Care, Special-Needs Care and Preventative Medicine. The event is being held
in conjunction with premium event sponsor Northwell Health, operators of 21 hospital facilities. Lecture and vendor categories will include the following topics: accessibility, advocacy, day habilitation, dementia, elder law, emotional support, estate/financial planning, guardianship, health screenings, housing alternatives, preventative medicine, rehabilitation, social services, special education, stroke care and prevention and more. Aside from the all-encompassing nature of the program, there is a lot more that sets it apart from any previous or similar functions. Every session, lecture and expo exhibit has been carefully selected to address the topics that are most important to our community. Furthermore, Achiezer has literally spent months contacting and gathering leading authorities in their fields – whether medical, halachic, social, legal or psychological – for an all-star line-up of featured lecturers. For example, venerated posek Harav Dovid Cohen, shlita, will be addressing a session on special needs in halacha. This year’s event will be held in the beautiful, state-of-the-art Citi Field Stadium, which offers wonderful
amenities and a very comfortable environment for all guests. In addition, the expansiveness of the Expo Floor allows for a greater variety of vendors and easier mobility. The Expo has already attracted a very wide and comprehensive group of facilities and companies from locations across the tristate area, including Brooklyn, Monsey, Lakewood and more. In response to overwhelming demand, the facility will be easy to access, with ample and free parking, as well as bussing offered from various neighborhoods. The entrance fee is only $25 for advance registration ($36 at the door). Please note that advance ticket purchase will allow for easier access to the Expo upon arrival. Don’t be left out! Join us for the Jewish HealthCare Conference & Expo on Sunday, December 3, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Citi Field Stadium in Queens, NY. Look out for additional exciting details to be announced in the coming weeks. For further information about the Conference & Expo or to register please contact mkeilson@achiezer.org or (516) 791-4444 ext. 113.
62
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
CAHAL Classes Learn Sefer Bereishis
A
Cahal at YKLI
fter celebrating the wonderful yomim tovim, the CAHAL classes were back in full swing, concentrating on learning Sefer Bereishis. Rabbi Feivish Rotbard’s second grade class in Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island spent the past two weeks on Parshiot Lech Lecha and Vayeira. The small class broke up into two groups to allow for more individualized attention in order to make sure that the boys learned all
Students at Cahal’s class in TAG preparing for Rachel Imeinu’s yahrtzeit
about Avraham and Sara’s trials and triumphs through various Chumash games. Rabbi Rotbard’s and Rabbi Moshe Salhanick’s unique styles of teaching proved to be educational and a lot of fun for the boys. The first grade girls’ class in Torah Academy for Girls learned about Rachel Imeinu in honor of her yahrtzeit. They listened to special songs and created a 3-dimensional project in her memory.
MSH Students Lobby Congress By Nava Yastrab, MSH ‘19
T
he Schusterman AIPAC High School Summit took place in Washington, D.C., last week. Seniors Aviva Marmer and Sarah Austin and juniors Sarah Spielman and Nava Yastrab were accompanied by faculty advisor Coach Ilona Diamond. The girls spent three days learning about Israel’s relationship with the U.S. and how Israel needs people to stand up for it. They were given tools on how to stand against issues such as Hezbollah, Iran, and BDS on campus or publicly. The girls heard stories from peers and advisors about why they’re passionate about Israel and why it’s important to stand up against hate. After, they lobbied at Congresswoman Kathleen Rice’s office and spoke to a representative about these issues accompanied by
other schools and programs. The students even had the opportunity to tour around D.C. and see sights such as the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, and even the White House. The High School Summit taught these MSH students about Israel and how to defend our Jewish state. Sarah Spielman shared, “I felt like I was really informed about the American-Israel Relationship and I learned a lot that I hadn’t known before.” Coach said, “It was rewarding to watch how my students enjoyed and learned so much from this experience.” Sarah Austin remarked that “lobbying Congress was such a unique experience and I’m so thankful AIPAC gave me this experience and tools that I can use later in life.”
CAHAL, the local yeshiva-based and sponsored community program for children with learning challenges, now in its 26th year, provides smaller, more individualized classes in the local yeshivas catering to children’s unique learning styles. All the students attend mainstream activities daily, including lunch, recess, specials, assemblies, trips and more. When ready, children attend mainstream academic classes as well,
with support from CAHAL to ensure success. The experienced and caring CAHAL teachers make it all happen. CAHAL opened this year with the largest enrollment and most classes in its 26 year history. To consider CAHAL for your child and to get more information about this wonderful community program, check www.cahal.org, or contact CAHAL at cahal@cahal.org, or call (516) 295-3666.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Is it a stroke? Think F.A.S.T. F = Face: Is one side of the face drooping down? A = Arm: Can the person raise both arms, or is one arm weak? S = Speech: Is speech slurred or confusing? T = Time: Time is critical! Call 911 immediately!
*
The right hospital makes all the difference when it comes to stroke care. As a certified Primary Stroke Center, South Nassau is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take care of stroke patients with: • Renowned neurosurgeons and neurologists • State-of-the-art technology for diagnosis and treatment • A multidisciplinary team specially trained in stroke care • Comprehensive care using the most up-to-date stroke guidelines • Stroke support groups/community education If you or someone you know is experiencing stroke symptoms, call 911 and get to the South Nassau Stroke Center.
One Healthy Way at Merrick Road in Oceanside. Call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU or visit southnassau.org. *The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognizes this hospital for achieving 85% or higher compliance with all Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Achievement Measures and 75% or higher compliance with five or more Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Measures for two or more consecutive years, and achieving Thrombolytic Therapy ≤ 60 minutes 75% and ≤ 45 minutes 50% or more applicable acute ischemic stroke patients to improve quality of patient care and outcomes.
63
64
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
MAY Open House Draws Record Attendance
I
t was standing room only at the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Open House this past Sunday, as the Yeshiva hosted over 150 prospective students, along with their parents, all eager to learn about what Ateres Yaakov has to offer. Held in the yeshiva’s beautiful facilities, and with the rabbeim, faculty and Hanhalah present to answer questions, the day’s program was an opportunity to educate parents and students about the Yeshiva’s unique mission, objectives, and resources.
It was a busy, exciting and educational experience that included informative panels, video displays, passionate presentations, engaging dialogue, Torah brain teasers, raffles, a gala luncheon, prizes, an elaborate Student Fair, slushies, competitions, and more. Visitors gawked at the new, expansive, nearly-completed gymnasium. Upon arrival, attendees were warmly greeted by the MAY Hanhalah, its talented and dedicated faculty, and scores of student and
parent volunteers. Guests were ushered into the elaborate Student Fair, where a multitude of booths, manned by current Ateres Yaakov talmidim, described the school’s myriad extracurricular programs and activities. Following the Student Fair, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, addressed the enormous crowd in the Mesivta’s expansive Bais Medrash. He explained that “the goal in our Mesivta extends far beyond the high school years” and
that “the ultimate purpose is to build better husbands, fathers and ovdei Hashem. Therefore, literally everything that occurs within the yeshiva is aimed at facilitating that goal.” Rabbi Yaffe concluded his remarks by clearly explaining each phrase of the Mesivta’s slogan “Rabbeim for Life. Education for Life. Torah for Life.” Rabbi Yaffe’s address was followed by an emotionally charged, informative video presentation that immersed the guests virtually into the Mesivta experience. Following the video presentation, the students then enjoyed a mad science presentation with two of MAY’s master science teachers, Mr. Pinchas Fiber and Mr. Effie Allman, stimulating brain-teasing shiurim delivered by ninth grade rebbe Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield and S’gan
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Around the Community
Menahel Rabbi Yossi Bennett, and a Q & A About MAY. The afternoon concluded with a delicious Chinese buffet and Yonatan Roman winning the grand raffle! Parents attended panel discussions focusing on limudei kodesh, general studies, MAY parents, and MAY alumni. Prospective parents asked current parents and panelists a variety of questions and received enthusiastic responses. These included: • Are the rabbeim really involved in the lives of the talmidim even “after” graduation? Alumni talked about their many experiences receiving weekly calls in Israel from multiple members of the faculty, about daily conversations and weekly chaburos or Shabbos meals with rabbeim, about rabbeim helping them with challenges after marriage, about rabbeim making their shidduchim, and more. Mark Gold, president of MAY, noted, “Our talmidim are often shocked to find that their Israel yeshiva peers do not have the kinds of close relationships with, and ready access to, their Mesivta rabbeim, that they take for granted.” • How does MAY challenge their Honors level students? A parent panelist noted that “MAY has adapted the curriculum to assign frequent essays and other writing assignments to build advanced writing and communication skills and to provide constructive criticism to facilitate revision.” Parents learnt “A Few Current Facts about General Studies at MAY” which included that the average Regents scores in Honors classes were 88%-95% in 2017, that MAY has produced 4 National Merit Scholarship finalists, semifinalists or commended students in the past 3 years, and that 75% of MAY’s Gen-
eral Studies instructors hold Master’s Degrees or beyond. How does MAY compare to the other yeshivos in our community? A member of the hanhalah responded that “There are many excellent local options. Each school has its own emphasis and areas in which it excels. MAY is uniquely outstanding in that it excels in limudei kodesh, limudei chol, and in extracurricular activities, and its relatively small size facilitates the extra attention and long-lasting relationships that help students of all capabilities succeed.” One parent noted that “it’s clear that the rabbeim, faculty members, and hanhalah I spoke with have a very strong emotional connection with their talmidim and truly care about their success.” The yeshiva’s talmidim really made the event a success. Visitors challenged Ateres Yaakov talmidim in Ping-Pong, air hockey and arcade basketball while being cheered on by friends. The Mesivta’s numerous Chessed opportunities were represented by blood drive coordinators, JEP and Ohel Bais Ezra volunteers and many other student representatives. Attendees picked up the Mesivta’s Chesed Directory, listing the ample opportunity for different chassadim available to its talmidim. The Mesivta Publications booth was represented by the MAY student’s showcasing the Ateres Star newsletter, the popular, weekly Torah publication, Ateres HaShavua, and the Mesivta’s creative writing journal, Vision. Athletics and Competitions were represented by various members of the Mesivta’s football, basketball, softball and Torah bowl teams who were happy to show off the school’s many championship trophies! The ample Torah L’shma opportunities were represented by regulars of the Pre-Shacharis Cocoa Club, Post Shacharis Mishnayos Shiur, 12th grade Advanced Bikiyus and Night Sedarim, Shnayim Mikrah Program, Shakla v’Tarya Ba’al Peh Club, Bein Hazmanim Learning Program, and voluntary Monday and Tuesday Night Sedarim. Applications for the 2018-2019 z’man are now being accepted. For more information contact the Mesivta at (516) 374-6465 or visit their website at www.ateresyaakov.com.
Become Job-ready
for today’s most
in-demand tech jobs
in 12 weeks Join us for a special Technology bootcamp informational session
n Learn why bootcamps are becoming a credible path to top tech jobs n Hear about General Assembly’s innovative approach with proven results n Find out about extensive job placement support and career coaching n Learn about the admissions requirements and course work n Hear directly from General Assembly alumni in our community Open to all post high school students, parents, men and women
Wednesday, November 15 7:30pm
at MESIVTA ATERES YAAKOV
131 WASHINGTON AVE, LAWRENCE, NY 11559 D LIMITEIT Y C A PAC
Register toDAY to
reserve Your seat www.wayfindcareers.com
General Assembly’s bootcamps are 12-week in-person full-time training programs, now separate for men and women, available through WayFind.
CAREERS | EDUCATION | SUPPORT
WayFind specializes in helping members of the Frum community choose career paths that best suit their interests, skills, strengths and values.
65
66
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
YOSS Remembers Rebbetzin Tzirel Kamenetzky Rebbetzin Tzirel bas Rav Pinchus Eliyahu, a”h
T
o mark the second yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Tzirel Kamenentzky, on Tuesday, 18 Marcheshvan, the talmidim of grades 1-4 at Yeshiva of South Shore held a meaningful program l’Ilui nishmasah. The boys made brachos over apple juice, potato chips and cookies and they answered amen to each other. It was a beautiful sight to behold! Rabbi Yehuda Baruch Kamenetzky, the Rebbetzin’s grandson and the Director of Student Services and Guidance at YOSS, spoke about how she cared about her family and the boys in the Yeshiva and how she davened for them.
Nefesh B’Nefesh and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Launch “Go Beyond” Initiative
N
efesh B’Nefesh and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) recently announced the launch of a new joint initiative titled “Go Beyond,” www.nbn.org.il/go-beyond. The two organizations have been working together successfully since 2012 to develop Israel’s periphery and recently decided to boost their efforts resulting in the establishment of the “Go Beyond” initiative. The project aims to assist new Olim in maximizing the countless opportunities offered in the country’s northern and southern frontiers, as well as Jerusalem, by investing in its infrastructure and people. Since the organization’s establishment in 2002, over 15% of Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim have chosen to establish their homes in Israel’s North and South. The noticeable growth in the number of Olim moving to the periphery is partially due to the success of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s “Go North” and “Go South” programs, which aim to energize these communities with talented and innovative Olim. Now, individuals who make Aliyah through “Go Beyond” will be offered additional enhanced benefits. With “Go North” and “Go South,” Olim have enjoyed employment mentoring and placement, social pro-
gramming, community advisement, educational resources, and close contact with regional staff. “Go Beyond” additional benefits will include: • Grants up to $20,000 • Pilot trip grants: hotel stay, rental car and subsidized flight • Special 2017 pilot trip planning incentives: personalized meetings with municipal contacts, community volunteers, realtors etc. • Regional Aliyah guidance: community research, employment opportunities and education options • Assistance with Aliyah documentation expenses • Online Ulpan vouchers • Assistance with college loans The first “Go Beyond” event will take place in New York City hosted by Daniel Atar, KKL-JNF World Chairman, entitled “Beyond the Start Up Nation.” The event will highlight the latest developments and new opportunities emerging from Israel’s evolving hi-tech hotspots throughout the country. The speakers will feature three key players in hi-tech from the North, South and Jerusalem: Noa Yaar, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Israel Ini-
tiative 2020 (ii2020); Hanan Brand, Co-Founder of Cornerstone Venture Partners and Founder and Chairman of Made in Jerusalem; and Michael Kalantarov, Co-Founder & COO at Visual Estate, and the Community Relations Manager at Tech7 in Be’er Sheva. “Throughout the years, the Zionist movement has encouraged and supported making Aliyah to Israel, settlement in Israel, agriculture and development of the land. Even in the year 2017, 70 years after the state of Israel was established, each new Oleh helps in the development and advancement of the state of Israel,” said KKL-JNF World Chairman Mr. Daniel Atar. “This ongoing strategic cooperation between KKL-JNF and Nefesh B’Nefesh is meant to assist and support in new Olim interested in migrating to Israel and call it their home, especially considering the many Olim who choose to plant their roots in the north and south, and help develop and strengthen these important regions. Our shared goal is to bring 500,000 new residents to the Galilee and one million new residents to the Negev, and there is where our main efforts reside. KKLJNF is proud and excited to help in this initiative to encourage Aliyah
and support new Olim, and I am sure that throughout their lives here in Israel, they will come across KKL-JNF many times – through educational programs, development of settlements and natural landscapes.” “It is an incredible privilege to be part of the ongoing development of Israel’s Northern and Southern regions as well as Jerusalem,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Today’s Olim are infusing a vibrancy and energy into these areas of the country – socially, demographically and economically. These modern-day pioneers are not only fulfilling their personal dreams, but the dreams of the Jewish nation.” Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel and JNFUSA, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh to its over 50,000 newcomers has ensured that 90% of its Olim have remained in Israel.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
With Gratitude to Hashem we request the honor of your presence at the
MOTZEI SHABBOS, NOVEMBER 11 140 BACHURIM , . MOST OF THESE TALMIDIM WILL HAVE TAKEN A WRITTEN BECHINA OF 120 ON THE ENTIRE . ALL PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SPECTACULAR EVENT. ALTHOUGH YOUR SON MAY NOT HAVE YET COMPLETED THE , EVERY BACHUR LEARNED AND SHTEIGED
Come and Shep Nachas! Program
UNTIL 8:00 7:15-8:15
Beach 17th street
8:15
The March
8:45
9:15-11:15
in the Diamond Auditorium
67
OCTOBER 29, NOVEMBER 9,2015 2017||The TheJewish JewishHome Home
TJH
Centerfold
Learn Chinese
Start by matching these Chinese names with their English translations
NAME
L. Wai Yu Sing
C. He’s cleaning his car
A. Hu Yu Hai Ding
M. Ai No Pei
D. See me A.S.A.P.
N. I got this for free
B. Kum Hia Nao
N. Wai Hang Mi
O. Your price is too high!
C. Tai Ni Po Ni
O. Wai Go Nao?
E. I bumped into a coffee table
D. No Bai Ting
P. Wai Yu Kum Nao
E. Wai Yu So Tan
Q. Hia Dei Kum
F. Ai Bang Mai Ni
R. Lei Lo
G. Chin Tu Fat
S. Wa Shing Ka
H. Wai So Dim?
F. It’s very dark in here G. Sorry I am late H. They have arrived I. Thought you were on a diet
fugitive?
P. I am not guilty Q. Did you go to the beach? R. Jay Leno S. Please, stay a while longer.
J. Stay out of sight
Mah Cheng
K. This is a tow away zone.
A-M, B-D, C-A, D-O, E-Q, F-E, G-R, H-F, I-G, J-I, K-K, L-L, M-N, N-P, O-S, P-B, Q-H, R-J, S-C
I. Hao Long Wei Ting?
TRANSLATION
J. Wai Yu Mun Ching?
A. Small Horse
L. Please stop singing
K. No Pah King
B. You are early
M. Are you harboring a
Riddle me this? A Japanese ship was sailing in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese captain of the ship put his diamond chain down on a table and took a walk around the deck. When he returned 5 minutes later, it was gone. He frantically called the four crew members of the ship together to interrogate them. A Chinese man was the cook of the ship. The captain asked him: “Where were you the last ten minutes?” The cook answered, “I was in the cold storage room to select the meat for lunch.” A Sri Lankan was in charge of housekeeping. The captain repeated his question to him, and learnt that the Sri Lankan was at the top of the ship correcting the flag which had been put upside down. An Indian guy was the engineer maintaining the ship. He was asked the same question, and the Indian told the captain that he was in the generator room checking the generator. A Frenchman also served on the housekeeping crew. He was asked the same question, and the Frenchman told the captain that he was sleeping after the night shift. Within ten seconds the smart captain caught the thief. Who was the thief? And how did the captain find him? See answer to the right
The Sri Lankan was the crook. The captain knew because the Japanese flag is just a red circle on a white background; it is the same upside down.
26 68
TheJewish JewishHome Home||NOVEMBER OCTOBER 29, The 9, 2015 2017
Asia TRIVIA 1. Which country shares the longest continuous border with China? a. Mongolia b. North Korea c. Russia d. Pakistan 2. How many countries are there in Asia? a. 7 b. 12 c. 21 d. 48 3. Which of the following is considered a compliment in Japan? a. When you spit at your host after a meal b. When you slurp while
eating soup c. When you give a tip d. When you burp loudly after a meal 4. What percentage of the world’s population lives in Asia? a. 30% b. 60% c. 70% d. 85% 5. Which of these countries is not in Asia? a. Egypt b. Israel c. Saudi Arabia d. Russia 6. What is another name for the Thailand’s capitol city of
Bangkok? a. City of a Thousand Suns b. Khon Kaen c. The Majestic Thai d. Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit
Scorecard
Answers
5-6 correct: President Trump, good job prepping for your trip to Asia! 3-4 correct: You may not speak “Asian,” but not bad. 0-2 correct: They say that a way to sharpen your brain is to pronounce the full name of Bangkok really slowly ten times, backwards and forwards. See answer D of question 6 and read slowly in both directions. Hopefully you’ll be getting better grades in no time.
4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3.
A D B – To slurp is a compliment; tipping is actually considered rude. If this prompted you to say, “Wow! Maybe I should move there!” I hope I don’t know you. B A D – Don’t try pronouncing it.
You gotta be kidding
A Jewish man is taking a walking tour of Chinatown when he sees “Moishe Katz’s
Cleaners.” He walks in to have a chat with the owner of the cleaners, who he assumes must be an interesting man. Upon entering he sees an elderly Chinese man behind the counter. “Excuse me,” he says, “I’d like to speak to Moishe Katz.” The Chinese man replies, “That’s me.” The Jewish man is incredulous. “Can you explain how you got a name like ‘Moishe Katz’?” “It’s simple,” said the old man. “Many, many year ago I came to this country. I was standing in line at Ellis Island behind a Jewish man. They asked the Jewish man what his name was and he said, ‘Moishe Katz.’ Then they asked me what my name was and I said, ‘Sam Ting.’”
CLE AN
ERS
27 69
70
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Torah Thought
Parshas Chayei Sara By Rabbi Berel Wein
A
vraham and Sarah have a loyal and devoted trustworthy servant named Eliezer. His abilities and nobility of character enable him to be entrusted with the most personal and sensitive of assignments and missions. His name has been used by Jewish families for thousands of years as an honorable name for their sons. In fact, our great teacher Moshe named his younger son Eliezer as a remembrance of G-d’s saving him from the vengeance of Pharaoh. Yet this original Eliezer who occupies such a significant role in this week’s Torah reading somehow disappears into the mist of history. What was the future of this great disciple of Avraham? What of his family and progeny? Is he part of our continuing story or is he like Lot and Lavan, side characters who eventually depart the scene of Jewish eternity? Neither Torah nor tradition informs us as to these matters. Eliezer’s end – like his beginning –remains a complete mystery to us. But his name is preserved in the
Jewish world regularly and eternally and that is no small matter of importance. It is interesting to note that this is the way of the Torah regarding many great personalities in Jewish history who are mentioned in Scripture but remain basically unknown. Their names are remem-
generations. In a comment to a later narrative that appears in the Torah, Ramban points out that G-d, so speak, uses unknown or “ordinary” people to propel forward great historical and spiritual processes. Eliezer is no ordinary person but his personal story, whatever it truly was, is not essential
The Torah, like life itself, is often enigmatic, concentrating on the forest and not dwelling on the individual trees.
bered and referenced throughout the generations but their lives and experiences remain hidden to us. To a certain extent they are like the “unknown soldier,” the one who sacrifices all for the cause but whose own story remains a mystery to later
to the message of continuity of the generations that created the Jewish people. He, like all humans, had a purpose and mission in life. He was to further and spread the faith and ideas of Abraham in a disinterested
pagan world. He did his part by loyally fulfilling the instructions of Abraham in finding the proper mate for Isaac. He may not have realized how eternally important that mission and task really was, but the Torah devotes much space and detail to the matter, proving its importance. He accomplished the goal set before him by history and circumstance. His name was and is preserved throughout all later Jewish generations though his personal biography itself remains shrouded in silence and secrecy. The Torah, like life itself, is often enigmatic, concentrating on the forest and not dwelling on the individual trees. Appreciating this basic fact will go a long way in allowing us to have a proper understanding of Torah and its message to us in all times and ages. The Torah, which is very detailed at times, nevertheless presents us with the broad and timeless view of people and events. We should always remember this for we are all participants in the drama of the Jewish people and its wondrous story. Shabbat shalom.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
71
72
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
From the Fire
Parshas Chayei Sara Blood, Sweat, and Tears By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf
I
t is very difficult to understand why Avraham insisted on paying so much to buy Me’aras Hamachpela, the cave of Machpela, in which to bury Sara. Efron had offered to give it to him as a gift (Bereishis 23:11). The people even called him a “prince of G-d” (ibid. 6). Why not accept their gift? Hashem had already told him (ibid. 15:7) that he would inherit Eretz Yisroel. Avraham knew that Me’aras Hamachpela would ultimately be his in any case. While it is true that “One who hates gifts will live” (Mishlei 15:27), since Me’aras Hamachpela had already been promised to Avraham, it was not truly Efron’s to give. It is especially difficult to understand according to the Gemara (Bava Metzia 87a) which explains that the 400 shekalim paid by Avraham Avinu were not ordinary shekalim. They were large shekalim worth about 100 times the value of regular shekalim. According to this, Avraham paid the equivalent
of 40,000 shekalim. Why was this necessary? Perhaps we can understand Avraham’s motivation based on a teaching by Rav Aharon Soloveitchik, zt”l. Rav Aharon quotes the Mishna (Bava Metzia 38a): “If one deposits his produce with his friend [to guard], even if they will be lost, he may not touch them.” In other words, the Mishna teaches that if someone is guarding another person’s produce, and that produce begins to rot, he may not sell the produce in order to give the proceeds to the owner, nor may he exchange the produce for a fresher replacement in order to return non-rotten produce to the owner. Why is this? Rav Kahana, in the Gemara, explains: “A person wants one portion of his own [property] more than nine portions of his friend’s [property].” Rashi explains that one wants his own portion more than another’s because “it is more precious to him
because he toiled for it. He wants the one portion that remains from it [that did not become rotten] more than nine portions of others that would have been purchased with the proceeds of his produce which would have been sold [before they became rotten].” What does Rashi’s comment add to Rav Kahana’s explanation of the Mishna? Rav Aharon Soloveitchik explains that Rashi was bothered by the following question: Even if the guardian had exchanged the produce for money or for fresher produce, it would still be his, not another person’s! Whatever produce or money one receives in exchange for his own produce still belongs to him. It would not be considered part of the “nine portions of his friend’s.” Rav Aharon therefore explains that Rashi answers this question by showing that there are two types of ownership: (i) legal title and (ii) emotional ownership. In the first type of ownership,
legal title, it makes no difference whether one has the produce he grew himself, money obtained in exchange for that produce, or fresher produce. It all belongs to the person and is considered “his own portion.” If one assumes that Rav Kahana is discussing this type of ownership, it would be very difficult to understand why a person would distinguish between the produce one grew himself or money/produce one obtained in exchange for such produce. But Rashi’s explanation of Rav Kahana makes it clear that Rav Kahana was discussing the second type: emotional/spiritual/psychological ownership. This is created when one toils to earn something. After a person has invested months preparing the ground, plowing his soil, planting, watering, and harvesting his crop, the produce he obtains is precious to him became he poured his blood, sweat, and tears into it. A small portion someone worked for with his own
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
effort is worth more to him that nine portions grown by someone else even if he has legal title to it. That is why Avraham Avinu insisted on purchasing Me’aras Hamachpela himself even though he already had legal title to it. He longed to have a portion in Eretz Yisroel to which he had emotional title, not just legal title. He wanted to ensure that the land of Israel would always be so precious to him, his children, and his grandchildren that they would never be willing to relinquish it. This is reflected in the double meanings of the two words for money: damim and kesef. Damim means money, but it also means blood. A person pours his blood, his very lifeforce, into earning a living, so when he spends that money on something, it is very precious to him. He has emotional title to it. And in addition to meaning “money,” kesef means “longing.” A person feels a stronger longing and connection to the money he worked to earn and those things he has purchased with that money than things which are much more valuable that he never purchased himself. Avraham wanted to spend his hard-earned money to acquire Me’aras Hamachpela so that the Jewish people would have an everlasting bond with Eretz Yisroel that is emotional and spiritual, not simply economic. The Kedushas Levi, zy”a, teaches this same concept in remarkable way, commenting on the pasuk (Bereishis 21:10), “G-d, Elokim, has made joy for me.” He asks why Sara used the name of G-d which implies strict justice, Elokim, when she said that Hashem gave her joy with the birth of Yitzchak after so many years. She should have said that Hashem (using the four letter name of G-d which implies His attribute of kindness) gave her joy! The Kedushas Levi answers that normally, when young people have children immediately after marriage, they feel a moderate level of joy. But when a person prays and cries for children year after year and then Hashem finally gives him or her children, the joy is immeasurable. Sara was saying that G-d’s attribute of strict justice, which caused her to wait many years to have children, ul-
timately caused her to have tremendous joy which she never would have felt if Hashem had originally exhib-
become Rebbe. At that time, he was still the rosh yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Leibish was recognized by every-
A person values and rejoices in that which he acquired through great toil, effort, and tears – much more than anything he obtained easily.
ited His attribute of kindness and given her children at a young age. A person values and rejoices in that which he acquired through great toil, effort, and tears – much more than anything he obtained easily. When someone has davened for something for years, his stake in it is so much greater. That is why Chana’s prayers for her son Shmuel Hanavi were so powerful. The Gemara (Brachos 31b) teaches that Shmuel became ill because he had shown some level of disrespect to Eli, the Kohein Gadol, by teaching halacha in Eli’s presence. While Shmuel was at death’s door, Chana pled with Eli Hakohein to intervene in the Upper Worlds to save her son. He told her there was nothing he could do but pray that G-d grant her another child after Shmuel’s death. But she refused to hear of this. She told him (Shmuel I 1:27), “I prayed for this child.” Chana had invested years of prayer and tears into Shmuel Hanavi’s birth. No other child could have possibly acted as a substitute. Chana’s love, prayer, and insistence allowed Eli Hakohein to draw down salvation from Above, and Shmuel lived. We know Shmuel grew up to anoint Dovid Hamelech as king. So in the end, Moshiach, great-grandson of Dovid Hamelech, will ultimately come into the world in the merit of the prayers and tears of Shmuel’s mother Chana.
A MOTHER NEEDS TO CRY A young Gerrer chassidic man named Leibish from New York went to study in the Gerer yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel before the Pnei Menachem, zt”l, the previous Gerer Rebbe, had
one as the top boy in the yeshiva. He had exemplary character traits, and he was the brightest and most diligent student, a pride to his parents and the yeshiva. At one point in the year, his parents went to visit the yeshiva and Leibish’s father went to speak to the rosh yeshiva, the Pnei Menachem, looking forward to the praises he would surely hear about his son. When he met the Pnei Menachem, he introduced himself, but the rosh yeshiva simply acknowledged his greeting and said that it was good to meet him. Thinking perhaps that the rosh yeshiva had not realized who his son was, he added that his son was Leibish. The Pnei Menachem responded, “Yes, I know. Very good to meet you.” Brokenhearted, this father was at a loss. He knew how great his son was. Why was the rosh yeshiva not singing Leibish’s praises to him?! He therefore asked the rosh yeshiva, “Rebbe, please tell me if there is some problem with Leibish. I do not want you to protect me from any negative news. If there are any issues, please tell me what they are and I am happy to speak with Leibish about it.” But the Pnei Menachem answered: “No, do not worry. There are no problems. He is doing very well. But let me tell you a story: I have a stepbrother (the Pnei Manachem’s father, the Imrei Emes, zy”a, was widowed several times, so the Pnei Menachem had a number of stepbrothers). At one point, he received notice that he would be drafted into the Polish army. This was horrible news, so his mother, my father the
73
Imrei Emes’s Rebbetzin, approached her husband to ask him to intercede on behalf of her son, my stepbrother. But the Rebbe simply said, ‘Nu, what can we do? Hopefully G-d will help.’ Dumbfounded, the Rebbetzin left, wondering why the Rebbe would not help her son from the horrible fate that surely awaited him in the Polish army. “The next day, her mother, the Imrei Emes’s mother-in-law, came to the Rebbe determined not to take ‘no’ for an answer. When she approached the Rebbe, he told her, ‘Do not worry. Your grandson will not be drafted.’ Confused by the difference between what the Rebbe had told her daughter and what she had just heard, she asked, ‘But why did the Rebbe not tell my daughter the good news yesterday?’ The Rebbe answered, ‘A mother needs to cry.’ He did not want to give her too much hope the day before because it was her tears after she spoke with the Imrei Emes that brought down her son’s salvation from Heaven.” When the Pnei Menachem finished telling this story to Leibish’s father, he concluded: “Why do you think your son is so successful in everything he does in yeshiva? It is because of your and your wife’s tears and davening for his success. If I told you how well he was doing, you would stop worrying and stop davening. A mother needs to cry. Leibish needs your davening in order to continue succeeding.” Our people are still crying, suffering, davening, and dying in order to acquire Me’aras Hamachpela and Chevron. May all of the tears and davening of all of the generations finally constitute full payment for Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalayim. May Hashem clear away all of the filth so that every street, every alleyway, of Yerushalayim will be ours and ours alone in which we will be able to fully reveal the honor of Heaven with the coming of Moshiach, may he come very soon in our days.
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.
74
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Between the Lines
What Shidduch Crisis? By Eytan Kobre
Choose a wife rather by your ear than your eye. -Thomas Fuller
T
here once was a young Catholic woman who desired to marry a certain non-Catholic fellow. For both the girl and her mother, naturally, marrying a non-Catholic was completely out of the question. So the young woman set out to persuade the man to become a practicing Catholic. She spent hours teaching and guiding him in the ways of Catholicism. Before long, the man had made excellent progress, and the couple was engaged to be married. Shortly before the appointed day, however, the young woman telephoned her mother in a panic. “The wedding is off!” she cried. “I taught him to be Catholic, and now he wants to become a priest!” Eliezer’s search for Yitzchok’s wife tells us what is important in seeking out a spouse: character. Avraham directed Eliezer even to non-believers because they nonetheless were of good character (Kli Ya-
kar and Rabbeinu Bachaye, Bereishis 24:3). In Rivka, of course, he found such character in ample supply (Bereishis 24:18-25). So “Yitzchak brought her into the tent of Sara” – that is, “he saw that her deeds were as righteous as those of Sara” (Onkelos, Bereishis 24:67). And that’s when he decided to marry her. Some are accustomed to read this Torah portion to a groom prior to his wedding (Rabbeinu Bachya, Bereishis 24:1; Ritva, Yoma 70a; Abudraham, “Weddings”), for it reminds the groom of all the reasons – hopefully the right ones – he chose this woman to be his wife. Indeed, Eliezer’s search for Yitzchok’s wife is described in far greater detail than most of the Torah’s commandments (Rashi, Bereishis 24:42; Bereishis Rabba 60:11). These days, however, too many of us are focused on all the wrong things: money, power, appearances, social standing. Those lacking these “qualities” seem to be the ones affected most acutely by the shidduch crisis. “One who marries for monetary benefit will have children who act improperly,” and one who marries a woman who is not suitable for him
transgresses five prohibitions and is deemed to have made the world deaf and mute (Avos d’Rebbi Nosson 26; Kiddushin 70a). One should not look for beauty, financial gain, power, or influence because such things easily can dissipate or “grow wings and fly heavenward like an eagle” (Rabbeinu Bachaye, Bereishis 24:3; Meiri, Mishlei 14:1). This is common sense: “Any love that is dependent upon on a [transient] thing vanishes with the passing of that thing; any love that is not dependent upon a [transient] thing, will never cease” (Avos 5:19). Undeniably true. Yet shallow and fleeting attributes are in higher-than-ever demand. Even such high-minded characteristics as “intelligence” and “yechus” have become mere proxies for superficiality. It is not necessarily our demographics but our values that have changed – and not for the better. Perhaps there is not only a shidduch crisis but a values crisis as well. A father once asked R’ Shmuel Rozovsky about a boy in the Ponovezh Yeshiva as a potential match for his daughter. “Is he the smartest boy in his shiur and highly-regarded by the other boys?”
“Yes,” R’ Shmuel responded, “but wouldn’t you also like to know if he is a mensch? How does he behave in the dining room? What does he do when the pitcher on the table is empty – does he wait for someone else to fill it up or does he fill it up himself? Does he occasionally go into the kitchen to thank the staff for preparing the food? Will your daughter respect him despite his lack of manners just because he knows every Ketzos?” Today’s values crisis forms an atmosphere where young men and women are nixed as prospective mates for the most trifling of reasons. Her sister married a guy who works. They daven in the wrong shul. She has a brother who is sick. He’s too popular. She’s not popular enough. We’ve reached the nadir of superficiality. So what do we expect? Of course there’s a shidduch crisis. The precise blend of desirable traits is a matter of personal preference, best left to the parties themselves. One should seek a spouse from an upstanding family, not because it will impress friends and neighbors but because character traits are heritable and often are developed and reinforced by family
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
(Tosfos Yom Tov, Taanis 4:8; Bava Basra 110a; Pesachim 49a-b; Meiri, Kiddushin 70a). A refined character is of paramount importance (Meiri, Yevamos 63a; Menoras HaMaor 2:6:3); the Tchebiner Rov advised young men to seek three things in a prospective match: middos, middos, middos. But, whatever the specific recipe, pursue qualities that have real meaning. This is what the “Daughters of Jerusalem” conveyed to potential suitors on the happiest of days – the Fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur – when they dressed in borrowed white clothing and danced in the vineyards, declaring, “Young man, consider who you choose” (Taanis 4:8). It wasn’t an exercise in pageantry; it was a call to consider the qualities in a potential spouse that truly matter. The Sanzer Rebbe (Divrei Chaim) was a brilliant Torah scholar and the patriarch of great chassidic dynasties. While the most esteemed families sought to have one of their own
marry him, he possessed a physical flaw that prospective matches did not dismiss as cavalierly as did their parents: one of his legs was shorter than the other, resulting in a pronounced limp. One day, his parents told him of yet another young lady who had declined a match with him on account
“Before I was born,” he explained, “my soul asked to see my future wife. Seeing you, my soul was overjoyed because you were perfect in all but one respect – a pronounced limp. I was devastated that you would have to live with this impediment, so I begged G-d to afflict me with this imperfection in your stead. I have a
Perhaps there is not only a shidduch crisis but a values crisis as well. of his condition. But, this time, the young man was undeterred, and he insisted on meeting the girl. The Sanzer Rebbe described to the young lady how, forty days before a child’s creation, a Heavenly voice announces, the daughter of so-andso will marry so-and-so (Sota 2a; Mo’ed Katan 18b).
limp today, so that you would not.” The young woman left the room abruptly and changed her mind a short while later.
*
*
*
Don’t get me wrong: one should
75
not marry an unintelligent person or marry without attraction. On the contrary, one is not permitted to marry without seeing and approving of his/her match (Kiddushin 41a). But superficial attributes should not be the only or even the most important considerations. Because “a person is paired up according to his deeds” (Sota 2a; see Kiddushin 2b), the qualities we seek in a spouse speak volumes about who we are. So why are so many still unmarried? Is there simply a shidduch crisis, or is there an underlying values crisis? Until we realize and own up to the fact that it’s probably a bit of both – until we confront some harsh realities about who we are and what we value – it seems unlikely that much will change. Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@ outlook.com.
76
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Rabbinical Reflecti ns
The Family Jewels By Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe
T
his past week, I was troubled by a story I heard from a young woman who recently began training in a professional program. After spending her entire educational life in the insular environment we have created for our children, she is experiencing her first real exposure to a wider population. There are a number of frum women in her program and they tend to drift together as a group. While she hasn’t wanted to appear standoffish to the other frum girls, sometimes she is downright embarrassed by behavior she views as pervasive self-entitlement and being obtuse to how others around them view them. She was mortified to witness the following incident: one very fortunate classmate recently became a kallah, and when a non-Jewish classmate commented on her engagement ring and the magnitude of her stone, she proceeded to inform her that it really wasn’t such a big deal. She had already received a bracelet, which would soon be followed by a necklace, earrings and a watch. Approximate total value? Thirty thousand dollars! Now I don’t know if in today’s market that’s considered making a killing or not, but I do know that this kallah was oblivious to the likelihood that someone from outside our community, and probably within as well (if I can include myself as well), would view such prenuptial rituals as pretty outlandish. Another classmate tried to mitigate the situation by explaining that there is some divergence in this practice, but in all likelihood, the damage was done and this outsider was left with a lasting, negative impression. It’s certainly not unreasonable to assume that this characterization will become generalized to Jews beyond this specific group. To what extent are we responsi-
ble for the impressions that others have about us? We have been living in golus for a pretty long time now and, across our history, it has seemed that our host civilizations eventually turn against us. I don’t claim to know whether this can be overcome or not, but it just seems self-evident that at the very least we shouldn’t be providing them with the fuel of justification. Contrast this with the imagery of Avraham Avinu seeking out a burial plot for his beloved Sarah. Avraham is the “Ivri,” the stranger, the maverick who opposes the values of the entire existing civilization. And yet, he is held in the highest esteem by those around him as they declare that he is the “Nasi Elokim” and that no one would consider not giving him whatever place he deemed fit for
does not necessarily require isolation. I believe that as parents and educators we need to continually emphasize how crucial it is to consider how we may be viewed by others and evaluate whether we are, in fact, exhibiting traits that are not correct or appropriate. Consider the following incident that occurred recently. Unfortunately, in today’s climate, there is a need for security in our yeshivas and shuls. In our yeshiva, we have a rotation of security guards posted at the entrance, and they get a front row view of how our talmidim behave. One of our regular guards is a very pleasant fellow originally from Nigeria. One day he approached me and asked me if he could ask me a question, which in such situations, often doesn’t portend well. After assuring him that it
To what extent are we responsible for the impressions that others have about us?
this sublime task. One of the aspects of Avraham’s greatness was always portraying himself as the “Prince of G-d” while simultaneously not making anyone else feel somehow less and denigrated. The esteem that the Bnai Cheis demonstrated to Avraham in his hour of need was clearly a manifestation of longstanding relationships honed and nurtured over time. No one is suggesting that we compromise in the necessary social buffers designed to ensure the spiritual levels that we are obligated to maintain. After all, it is Avraham himself who sends away Yishmael in order to protect the integrity of Yitzchak Avinu’s growth. However, insulation
would be my pleasure, he asked me if a non-Jew was permitted to pray in our “church.” With the image already flashing before my eyes, I responded that as long as one was praying to the One, True G-d, there would be no issue but lightly added that the Hebrew might present some challenge. Thinking we were finished, I turned to leave, but he continued, “I’m asking you because I noticed something unusual here. I have done security in all types of schools, and I noticed that your boys here always treat each other with respect, treat me with respect, and are always refined.” Feeling very proud of our talmidim, I thanked him for such kind words and, yet again,
was prepared to continue along my way. However, it appeared that he had more to say and, in retrospect, I’m really glad I stayed. He continued, “I began to think about what it was that made these boys so special. What distinguished them from other teenagers? And I came to the conclusion that it must be because they were Jewish!” As thrilled as I was about this kiddush Hashem, nothing prepared me for what came next. “So I was thinking,” he exclaimed, “that maybe I should become Jewish!” Somewhat dumbfounded, I told him that there is an old Jewish joke that begins with the words, “You don’t have to be Jewish…” and explained that in our belief system, one can serve G-d exactly as He made him and that no conversion is necessary to enter into His embrace. We are told from our earliest ages that as Jews we are special, as was Avraham Avinu. What’s often not equally inculcated into our children and ourselves is that being the “Ivri” means to serve as the exemplars for human behavior, to be the ambassadors for Hashem everywhere we go and with everyone we interact. Ultimately, we should be flashing our diamonds at everyone around us. It’s just that we must be those diamonds, and we must sparkle as we fulfill our roles, which the Navi describes as “l’or goyim!” Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe is the Rosh HaYeshiva of Ateres Yaakov, a local Mesivta (MAY) and Yeshiva Gedolah, with over 220 talmidim and the Rav of Kehillah Ateres Yaakov. Besides his decades as an experienced mechanech, Rabbi Yaffe holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is licensed to practice in the State of New York. Any topics of interest, questions or comments can be sent to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com.
REGISTER YOUR BOOTH TODAY!
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
. . 12 03 17 SUNDAY 11 AM-5 PM
The ultimate resource for the caregiver, parent & senior
Citi Field NY Premium Event Sponsor:
Event Sponsors:
EXCEPTIONAL HOME CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
Corporate Sponsor:
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
R A S
COMBINING SPECIAL-NEEDS CARE, ELDERCARE & PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE
RONALD A. SPIRN, PC E L D E R
L A W
F I R M
REHABILITATION & NURSING CENTER
Premium Exhibits:
LECTURE TOPICS & VENDOR CATEGORIES
Vintage PHARMA GENERICS DISTRIBUTION
Your Trusted Source For Drugs www.vintagepharma.com
Exhibits:
ACCESSIBILITY
ADVOCACY
CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AGENCY
ACH ^
131 C
CHILD/ ADULT SPECIAL NEEDS
DEMENTIA
ELDER LAW
HEALTH SCREENINGS
HOUSING ALTERNATIVES
306 C
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
ESTATE/FINANCIAL GUARDIANSHIP PLANNING
PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE
SOCIAL SERVICES
SPECIAL EDUCATION
STROKE CARE & PREVENTION
DAY HABILITATION
950 Remsen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11236 T. 718 927 1111 F. 718 927 1433
950 Remsen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11236 T. 718 927 1111 F. 718 927 1433
WOMEN’S LEAGUE COMMUNITY RESIDENCES
LIST IN FORMATION
ACHIEZER.ORG/EXPO ATTENDEE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for registration & more information T 516.791.4444 x 113 E healthcareexpo@achiezer.org w achiezer.org/expo
lunch buffet generously sponsored by
event coordination in conjunction with
77
78
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Observant Jew
World Serious By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
I
’ve heard it said that women are born with their husband’s minhagim/customs, but they don’t know what they are until they marry. Now, I don’t know how that works for people who get divorced, remarried, or never marry, rachmana litzlan, but I had a similar experience when I married. You see, when I got married, I found out which sports teams I was a “fan” of. Growing up in Connecticut I sort of followed the New England Patriots, but they were really from Boston so it felt rather distant. Moving to New Orleans the year the New Orleans Saints lost fifteen games and their only victory was in a blizzard against the New York Jets, I was hard-pressed to become a fan in my new locale. As it turned out, I wasn’t much of a sports fanatic and didn’t really follow any team. Then I got married, and my wife was a fan. Her father often apologized for making his kids into NY Jets and Mets fans. By default, I had to root for those teams, but at least I didn’t have to go full-fledged into it. My interest in sports is usually limited to what’s going on during the actual game, and football interests me more than baseball because that’s what we played during recess at school as a kid in Louisiana. I happened to hear it was the World Series during game three or four out of seven, and a few days later, when a fellow showed up to shul for Mincha in a circa 1980’s Houston Astros jersey the day after they’d won, I was inspired to write this article. You see, there was an interesting twist to this story which had been covered in many news outlets. It seems that in 2014, Sports Illustrated, the pre-eminent sports maga-
zine in the country (I imagine), published a cover predicting that in 2017 the Houston Astros would win the World Series. People were shocked at such a prediction since the Astros had such a bad team in those days. Now, when they’d done it, the newscasters were amazed that the prediction had come true. I had to know more. Finally, it was explained that having been losing for so long, the Astros management had decided to put money into building a championship team even though it might take a few years. Therefore, 2017 was the year of the prediction. When I heard that, I realized it
ing with those rules in mind is likely to help you achieve your goals. That would have been enough, but in researching this topic diligently, I tracked down the original article from 2014. I managed to slog through it, skimming over most of the true fanatic-sportsy-statistical-tech-ese, and found a couple of interesting things. The first is that it wasn’t really a prediction that the Astros would be the World Series champs in 2017. What the cover actually said is that the team was using unconventional means to build a team that would be the 2017 champions. Not that it would happen,
“When you’re in 2017, you don’t really care that much about whether you lost 98 or 107 in 2012. You care about how close we are to winning a championship in 2017.”
wasn’t such a farfetched prediction at all. In fact, it’s a Gemara. In Meseches Megilla (6b) R’ Yitzchak says, “If someone tells you ‘I tried but didn’t succeed,’ or ‘I didn’t try and succeeded’ don’t believe him. If he says, ‘I tried and I succeeded,’ believe him.” In other words, if you make the true, proper effort you are most likely going to find success. Even though the Gemara clarifies that this only applies to Torah and that other things are Siyata D’Shmaya, Divine Assistance, since Hashem mostly runs the world through the laws of Nature He established, work-
but that they were doing it. The 2017 number was taken from a quote from the Houston General Manager Jeff Luhnow who said, “When you’re in 2017, you don’t really care that much about whether you lost 98 or 107 in 2012. You care about how close we are to winning a championship in 2017.” Not winners, but how close. The second was that the way they approached it was by following strict mathematical and statistical probabilities. One of the heads of this analysis was a former blackjack dealer at a casino. He explained that when you have 16 showing against the dealer’s 7 (the
goal being to get closest to 21 without going over) the right thing to do is to hit and take another card. Sometimes though, that might not seem the safest or best way to bet according to the human brain. The choice the Astros made was to follow the statistics 100% of the time – and it worked. Reading this made me think about the Torah. Hashem already gave us all the rules of the game. He told us what to do and what not to do, where, and when. Sometimes, it may seem to us, looking through our human perspective, that it’s a losing proposition like taking another card and risking going bust. However, by dogged determination and commitment to doing it right, regardless of their “feeling” of what was right, the Astros achieved the pinnacle of their sport in a very short timeframe. Astros means “of the stars.” Klal Yisrael is compared to the stars. Perhaps the final message from all of this is that by working towards a better future and thinking about where we will be and what we will be, combined with following the guidance of Hashem even when we don’t fully understand it, we, too, can be world champions – and we won’t need a magazine cover to amaze people. 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 | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
79
80
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Israel Today
Guardians of Yerushalayim By Rabbi Moshe Rabinowitz
I
n the year 1837 a massive earthquake rocked the city of Tzefas in northern Eretz Yisroel. The city was destroyed and hundreds of Jews perished, among them many great tzaddikim. When news reached the town of Pressburg the townspeople gathered to hear a hesped, a eulogy, from the great Chasam Sofer regarding the terrible calamity that had befallen Klal Yisroel. The Chasam Sofer was the Gadol Hador, the greatest sage of his generation; he also had a tremendous love for Eretz Yisroel. Everyone wondered what he would speak about as he stood up to address the crowd, though none could have anticipated the lesson he would relay. The Chasam Sofer said in his hesped that the earthquake was caused by Kinas Yerushalayim, the jealousy of Yerushalayim. He explained that for the past hundred years Jews had been returning to Eretz Yisroel, however, they ignored Yerushalayim and instead settled in Tzefas and other northern cities. They left Yerushalayim desolate and this, the Chasam Sofer said, was Yerushalayim’s way of demanding its honor. Let us pose the following question: If Yerushalayim has the ability to avenge its honor, so to speak, how is it that calamity can befall Klal Yisroel within its very confines in our days? How do our enemies, both spiritual and physical, continue to attack us and defile our holy city and yet Yerushalayim doesn’t defend itself? Perhaps, upon analyzing a pasuk in Sefer Yeshayahu, we can gain in-
sight into this matter. The pasuk in Yeshayahu says as follows: “Al chomosaich, Yerushalayim, hifkaditi shomrim kol hayom vichol halaylah, Upon your walls, O Yerushalayim, have I posted guardians; all the day and all the night…” Which guardians of Yerushalayim is the pasuk referring to? The commentaries give various explanations; we will focus on the view of the Radak and Ibin Ezra. They explain that the guardians of Yerushalayim are the many Jewish communities, wherever they may be, who never
fillah asks: which city we are referring to when we daven three times a day for Hashem to rebuild Yerushalayim? To the physical city or to the spirituality of the city? He explains that Chazal are referring to the city of Yerushalayim that will be built of precious stones, a city that will be built miraculously, surrounded by a wall of fire. Who will build this wondrous city? He explains that every time we daven for Yerushalayim, every time we yearn for its rebuilding, another brick is formed. As we daven and
Yerushalayim gets her power from her defenders.
stop davening for Yerushalayim. Guardians come in many forms, some diligent and vigilant, others disinterested and negligent. To answer our question we must ask ourselves which type of defender we are. Do we focus on the many times a day we mention our holy city or do we breeze right through these words? Do we weep over Yerushalayim’s state or are we indifferent? Yerushalayim gets her power from her defenders. The tragedies befalling Yerushalayim and her citizens should lead us to question and then strengthen our commitment as her guardians. Rav Schwab in his sefer Iyun Te-
yearn, year after year the materials for this spiritual city are being gathered. There is another aspect to yearning for Yerushalayim, the Talmud in Bava Basra tells us, lebasimah loK miyalahsureY la zocheh vi’roeh binechemoso, all who mourn over the destruction of Yerushalayim will merit to see her consolation. Why is it that only those who mourn over Yerushalayim merit to see its solace? The Maharal in Netzach Yisrael (Perek 23) explains that if someone feels that there is a spiritual void in the world because of the Churban and he mourns because of this lacking in the world he deserves to see
Yerushalayim rebuilt. However, if a person doesn’t deem its absence as a deficiency he shows that he has no desire for its rebuilding and therefore will not merit to see its consolation. There are so many tragedies occurring in our holy city – both physical and spiritual – and many of us don’t know how help. We think that there is nothing we can do to protect our precious city and its spirituality. We may assume that even if we can do something it is so insignificant that our aid becomes irrelevant. Yeshayahu Hanavi thought differently; he referred to each and every one of us as the Guardians of Yerushalayim, tasking all of us to do our part in defending our beloved city. If we each take the time to focus on Yerushalayim, feel her pain and beseech Hashem for her rebuilding we will serve as the Guardians of Yerushalayim and, as Yeshayahu said later in his prophesies, “Klal Yisroel should not desist from davening for Yerushalayim until Hashem rebuilds her.” If we persistently keep Yerushalayim on our minds then not only will it be defended, but we will be actively supporting her rebirth hurrying the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, bimhayroh biyamaynu, Amen. Rabbi Moshe Rabinowitz lives in Bayswater where he is the Rosh Kollel and Learning Initiative Programs Director in The YIWB Shaar Hashomayim. He also created and runs the popular shidduch dating spot website Pegishaplace. He can be contacted via email at beyondmaariv@gmail.com.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
81
82 62
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
FROM IVAN THE TERRIBLE TO STALIN, A LOOK AT WHAT LED TO THE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION By Susan Schwamm
N
ovember 7, 1917. A century ago the people of Russia took to the streets and created a new entity, a brandnew country in a land rich with history and culture. They were unhappy, they were hungry, they were hankering for freedom. No longer did they want to serve the tsars in their lavish castles. The workers were united in their self-determination. The Russian Revolution was not a solitary explosion that crashed onto the pages of history one day. The Revolution was a culmination of years of serfdom, decades of tsars, periods of famine, and multitudes yearning for freedom. In order to understand what exactly happened 100 years ago, we need to look to the years before and what led the Russian people to want such drastic change.
Ivan the Teñible
Tsarist Russia began hundreds of years before the Revolution, with the reign of the rst tsar, Ivan IV. He ascended his throne in 1533. Ivan the
Terrible was the grandson of Ivan the Great. Life under Ivan the Terrible was, well, pretty terrible. He was prone to ts of anger and it’s possible that in the 21st century Ivan would have found his home in an insane asylum. Ivan IV’s father died when he was three-years-old. The leadership was passed on to his mother, who died when he was eight. During her rule, though, many of the nobility argued over the legitimacy of her power. As such, during his younger years Ivan IV was exposed to the manipulation, danger and intrigue that plagued the court. Some say that’s what led to Ivan IV’s ruthless and suspicious nature. As a young boy it is said that he tortured young animals, and yet, he was taught and developed a taste for literature and music – a dichotomy of sorts. In 1547, Ivan IV was crowned tsar of Muscovy. Two years later he appointed a council of advisors, a consensus-building assembly that helped institute his reforms. During what is considered the constructive period of his reign, he introduced self-government in rural regions, reformed tax collection, and instituted statutory law and church reform. In
1556, he instituted regulations on the obligations of the boyar class in service of the crown. In foreign policy, Ivan IV had two main goals: to resist the Mongol Golden Horde and to gain access to the Baltic Sea. Ultimately, he aimed to conquer all remaining independent regions and to create a larger, more centralized Russia. During his time, he did, indeed, expand Russia’s borders, although his efforts were stymied when he attempted to annex Lithuania. In his desire to crush dissent and amass wealth, Ivan IV seized private lands and redistributed them among his supporters. He created a police force dressed all in black, riding astride black horses, that existed more to squash those who dared to oppose him than to keep the peace. Thusly, Ivan was not a popular leader, and his unpopularity would continue to grow over the next several years. Soon his behavior became more erratic. Ivan IV began to suspect the boyars in his wife’s death. In paranoia, he left Moscow and threatened to abdicate the throne. Muscovites pleaded for his return. He
agreed, but on the condition that he be granted absolute power of the region surrounding Moscow, known as the oprichnina. He also demanded the authority to punish traitors and lawbreakers with execution and conscation of property. That, perhaps, was the green light that Ivan IV needed to afict mass terror upon the nation. Over the next 24 years, Ivan IV conducted a reign of terror, displacing and destroying the major boyar families in the region and earning the moniker by which he’s now best known. (He’s also known by the nickname “Grozny,” which roughly translates as “formidable or sparking terror or fear.”) It was during this period that Ivan beat his pregnant daughter-in-law, causing a miscarriage, killed his son in a subsequent t of rage, and blinded the architect of St. Basil’s Cathedral. It was also during this time that he created the Oprichniki, the rst ofcial secret Russian police force. In 1584, with his health failing, Ivan the Terrible became obsessed with death, calling upon witches and soothsayers to sustain him, but to no avail. The end came on March 18, 1584, when Ivan died of an apparent
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
stroke. He willed the kingdom to his unt son, Feodor. Ivan IV’s death left the country swirling in chaos, hurting from deep political and social scars. It was only with the ascent of Peter the Great to the throne, more than a century later, that the country would nally feel soothed. The number of tsars following Ivan IV who occupied the royal seat in Russia was varied and numerous. With the death of Feodor, Russia fell into a succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles. Feodor had left no male heirs and so his brother-inlaw, Boris Godunov, was elected tsar by parliament. But the country was starving and anarchy reigned. And then a series of impostors, known as the False Dmitriys, claimed to be Feodor’s younger brother. One of them ruled. A distant cousin took the throne for some time. Eventually, in 1613, Michael Romanov ascended the throne. With him began the Romanov dynasty, the line that would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution in 1917 both as tsars and then as emperors. Peter the Great, who reigned during the years 1682-1725, was a grandson of Michael Romanov.
Peter the Great
If life under Ivan the Terrible was pretty terrible, then life under Peter the Great was pretty great. Peter inherited a nation underdeveloped and isolated from its neighbors. While the Renaissance and the Reformation swept through Europe, Russia rejected westernization and remained isolated from modernization. Peter the Great set out to change that stance. He focused on the development of science and recruited several experts to educate his people about technological advancements. He concentrated on developing commerce and industry and created a gentried bourgeoisie population. Mirroring Western culture, he modernized the Russian alphabet, introduced the Julian calendar, and established the rst Russian newspaper. Some of Peter’s changes included abolishing Russia’s old form of
government and replacing it with a viable Senate, which regulated all branches of administration, as well as making groundbreaking accomplishments in Russia’s foreign policy. He expanded the borders, acquiring territory in Estonia, Latvia and Finland, and through several wars with Turkey in the south, he secured access to the Black Sea. In 1709, he defeated the Swedish army by purposely directing their troops to the city of Poltva in the midst of an unbearable Russian winter. In 1712, Peter established the city of St. Petersburg on the Neva River and moved the capital there from its former location in Moscow. Shortly after, St. Petersburg was deemed Russia’s “window to Europe.” Under Peter, Russia, like him, became great. He proclaimed Russia an empire in 1721 and was accorded the title of Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland, and “the Great.” Despite all the strides and achievements made under Peter, he was also known to be cruel and tyrannical. The high taxes that often accompanied his various reforms led to revolts among citizens, which were immediately suppressed by the imposing ruler. He was also known to be a man who drank like a sh and harbored violent tendencies. Peter had his eldest son, Alexis, convicted of high treason, and Alexis was secretly executed in 1718. After Peter the Great’s demise the throne passed to Anna, a niece of Peter the Great. A series of emperors tossed the throne back and forth for a few decades. One of them, Peter, was so hated that he was assassinated within six months of receiving the title of emperor in a coup orchestrated by his wife.
timid. He preferred spending time with his family, feeling ill at ease at formal events. He appreciated physical exercise more than intellectual pursuits. He was extremely devoted to Alexandra and that’s perhaps why she held so much sway while he was in power. It was Alexandra’s urging that brought Nicholas II to consult with spiritualists and faith healers, such as Rasputin, to solve his problems. Nicholas II viewed his role simply: it was his duty to preserve the power of the throne and he derived his authority from G-d Himself. It was this outlook that squashed any liberal leanings in his subjects; when self-governing local assemblies asked to share in the work of government, he declared their aspirations to be “senseless dreams.” He met unrest strongly, with repression ,and called those who opposed him conspirators. Keep in mind that during the reign of the Russian tsars around 80% of people in Russia were either serfs or peasants. The tsars, sitting on their high thrones draped in jewels and furs, did not want to end the feudal system. Talk of change was, for them, a tremor that would develop into an earthquake, swallowing them whole. Nicholas II was determined to hold onto power at all costs. That approach, though, cost him his life. On what is known as Bloody Sunday or Red Sunday, on January 22, 1905, a group of workers led by
The Last Tsar
Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia. As a leader he was inept and inconsistent, dominated by his wife Alexandra and a slew of corrupt ministers. The “mad” monk Rasputin had the ear of Alexandra – she believed he could heal her son, Alexei, who had hemophilia – and would constantly manipulate the throne. Nicholas II was charming, yet
Tsar Nicholas II and his family, circa 1913
83 63
the priest Georgy Apollonovich Gapon marched unarmed to the tsar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to make their demands. Although the tsar was not in the Winter Palace at the time, imperial forces opened re on the demonstrators, killing and wounding hundreds. Strikes and riots broke out throughout the country in outraged response to the massacre. In all, more than 4,000 workers participated in the strikes outside of St. Petersburg in cities like Moscow, Riga, Warsaw, Vilna, Kovno, Tiis, Baku, Batum, and in the Baltic region. The massacre that took place that Sunday – and the ensuing riots – are said to be the rst active strike of the Revolution. Indeed, the attitude of the people had shifted. No longer did they see the tsar as their champion. The lower classes generally placed their faith in their ruler. But the events on Bloody Sunday smashed their former mindset. They held the tsar responsible for their pitiful plight. The people of Russia were not happy, and eventually, with tensions simmering, Nicholas II had to give in to their desires. On March 3, 1905, he reluctantly agreed to create a national representative assembly, or Duma, with consultative powers, and by the Manifesto of October 30 he promised a constitutional regime under which no law was to take effect without the Duma’s consent, as well as a democratic franchise and civil liberties.
64 84
OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Promises, though, seemed to mean nothing to Nicholas II. He strove to regain his former powers and ensured that in the new Fundamental Laws, made in May 1906, he was still designated an autocrat. He furthermore patronized an extremist right-wing organization, the Union of the Russian People, which sanctioned terrorist methods and disseminated anti-Semitic propaganda. Prime Minister Sergey Yulyevich Witte, whom he blamed for the October Manifesto, was soon dismissed, and the rst two Dumas were prematurely dissolved as “insubordinate.” In Witte’s vacant spot Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin became prime minister. He dissolved the second Duma and was loyal to the dynasty. But Nicholas II, ever-paranoid, distrusted the capable statesman. Stolypin was one of the few who spoke out against Rasputin’s hold on the royals. Stolypin, in turn, received the full blast of Alexandra’s wrath. The outbreak of World War I in July 1914 temporarily strengthened the monarchy but eventually the gulf between those in the royal palace and the Russians on the streets widened. Alexandra encouraged Nicholas II to dismiss his commander-in-chief, and Nicholas II himself took over as supreme commander. But the emperor had no war experience. And even though his ministers protested him taking the position, he dismissed them and became the head of the Russian army.
Lenin at the Second Congress
Truthfully, Nicholas II did not do too much harm in his role as leader of the military forces. It was his absence in the palace, though, that created the bigger problem. With him gone, power essentially fell into Alexandra’s hands, which meant that Rasputin was able to rule almost carte blanche. Competent ministers and ofcials were dismissed and replaced by worthless nominees of the monk. Quickly, the desire for a new dynasty arose. Some plotted to depose Nicholas II to save the monarchy. In December 1916 a group of nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov, the
he needed. When riots broke out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) over food shortages on March 8, 1917, Nicholas instructed the city commandant to take rm measures and sent troops to restore order. (The events of the day are known as the February Revolution because of the use of the Julian calendar in Russia at the time.) But it was too late. The people were tired; they were starving. The war had shown them that their troops were shockingly ill-equipped to take on the formidable Germans, and Russian casualties far exceeded other nation’s losses in the war. 90,000 men and women took to the
“A lie told often enough becomes the truth.” –Vladimir Lenin
Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich and Vladimir Purishkevich assassinated Rasputin. According to Yusupov, he invited Rasputin to his home and fed him poisoned cake and wine laced with cyanide. When Rasputin did not die, he attempted to shoot him. Even after being shot, Rasputin remained alive, and, according to Yusupov, ran out of the house and was eventually shot again – this time in the head – by Yusupov. News of Rasputin’s death did not give Nicholas II the wakeup call
streets. By March 10, the workers of Petrograd joined in the protests, destroying police stations. Several factories elected deputies to the Petrograd Soviet (“council”) of workers, following the model devised during the Revolution of 1905. The army was called to squash the protests. In some encounters regiments opened re on demonstrators but troops began to waver. Nicholas II, in a desperate, irrational attempt to hold onto power, once again dissolved the Duma. By then, the army, frustrated with their ruler, sided with the protestors. The government resigned, and the Duma, supported by the army, called on the emperor to abdicate the throne. On March 15, Nicholas II nally renounced the throne, passing it on to his brother Michael, who refused the crown. After the royal family left the palace, they were sent to Western Siberia. In April 1918 they were taken to Yekaterinburg in the Urals. There they met their fate. When anti-Bolshevik “White” Russian forces approached Yekaterinburg, the local authorities were ordered to prevent a rescue. In the early hours of July 17, 1918, the prisoners, Nicholas II, his wife, children
and four servants, were all slaughtered in the cellar of the house where they had been conned. The bodies were burned, cast into an abandoned mine shaft, and then hastily buried elsewhere. A team of Russian scientists located the remains in 1976 but kept the discovery secret until after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks
One cannot talk of the Russian Revolution without mentioning these three names: Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky. Indeed, it was their thoughts, their ideas and their persuasion that compelled the Russians to overthrow Nicholas II and all he represented. With them in power, Russia was reborn into a new nation. Lenin was the founder of the Russian Communist Party, the leader of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the architect and builder of the Soviet Union. He was born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov in Simbirsk in 1870 to a well-educated family. He excelled at school and loved to read. His parents instilled within him and his ve siblings a love of learning. Lenin was particularly moved when his older brother, Aleksandr, was executed for being part of a group planning to assassinate Emperor Alexander III in 1887. That year he enrolled in university but was expelled after one year when he took part in a student demonstration. Lenin moved in with his sister, Anna, and would devour books about revolutionary ideas and those written by Karl Marx. In 1889 he declared himself a Marxist. He completed his law degree in 1891 and became a professional revolutionary when he moved to St. Petersburg. But being part of a revolutionary group did not earn him accolades. Instead, Lenin and several other Marxist leaders were arrested in 1895. Lenin was sent to Siberia for three years. Returning to St. Petersburg after his stint in Siberia and a short stay in Munich, in 1903 a forceful Lenin argued for a streamlined party leadership community, one that would lead
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
85
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
86
65
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Lenin during the Russian Revolution, 1917
a network of lower party organizations and their workers, at the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. “Give us an organization of revolutionaries,” Lenin thundered, “and we will overturn Russia!” Likeminded Russians heard Lenin’s cries. They took to the streets on Bloody Sunday, only to be squashed by the Tsar’s forces. Lenin wanted more. He yearned for a revolution to fully seize control of Russia. Lenin insisted that power needed to be held and led by the workers, the country’s proletariat. His vision put him at odds with the Mensheviks, a group of Marxists that thought that Lenin’s approach would pave way for a one-man dictatorship in Russia. Eventually, in 1912, at a party conference in Prague, Lenin formally split from the Mensheviks, creating two separate groups with Lenin leading his Bolshevik party. In 1907 Lenin was forced to ee Russia, and he spent the next few years in Stockholm, Berlin and Geneva. He used World War I to call on the proletariat in the army to turn their guns on the capitalist leaders who sent them to their fate. When the February Revolution broke out German authorities allowed Lenin to cross Germany to Sweden to make his way back to Russia. The Germans thought, correctly, that Lenin and his cohorts would help sow further unrest in a country teetering on disaster. Lenin called for the overthrow of the provisional government, which had been assembled by a group of leaders of the bourgeois liberal par-
Leon Trotsky was set to succeed Lenin. Stalin, though, had other ideas
ties, and was forced to ee. But his call for “peace, land and bread” resonated with tired, hungry Russians and the Bolsheviks won a majority in the Petrograd Soviet. In October, Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd, and on November 7, known as the October Revolution, the Bolshevik-led Red Guards deposed the Provisional Government and proclaimed Soviet rule. Constituent Assembly elections were held on November 12. The Bolsheviks won 175 seats in the 715-seat legislative body; the Socialist Revo-
Red Terror, Lenin and his forces systemically wiped out any dissent. The period of terror ofcially began as retribution for the assassination of Cheka leader Moisei Uritsky and for the attempted assassination of Lenin. While recovering, Lenin urged, “It is necessary – secretly and urgently to prepare the terror.” And even before the assassination attempt, Lenin sent telegrams with these chilling words: “Comrades! The kulak [afuent peasants] uprising in your ve districts must be crushed without pity ... You must make exam-
“A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” –Joseph Stalin
lutionary Party garnered 370 slots. On its rst and only day in session, in January 1918, the Constituent Assembly came into conict with the Soviets, and it rejected Soviet decrees on peace and land, resulting in the Constituent Assembly being dissolved the next day by order of the Congress of Soviets. The ensuing years saw the Russian Civil War, 1917-1922, and the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922. Lenin proved to be a vicious and cruel leader. Facing three years of war with anti-Soviet forces, Lenin was determined to hold on at all costs. In what became known as the
ple of these people. (1) Hang (I mean hang publicly, so that people see it) at least 100 kulaks, rich [people], and known bloodsuckers. (2) Publish their names. (3) Seize all their grain. (4) Single out the hostages per my instructions in yesterday’s telegram. Do all this so that for miles around people see it all, understand it, tremble, and tell themselves that we are killing the bloodthirsty kulaks and that we will continue to do so ... Yours, Lenin. P.S. Find tougher people.” Tens of thousands were murdered and sent to concentration camps in Lenin’s insatiable thirst to consolidate power. People weren’t just
killed – which would have been bad enough – they were tortured, tied to planks and slowly fed into furnaces or boiling vats of water. Massacres took places in prison cellars, courtyards or in town. In one town one leader killed all the people in the hospital “for lack of a better idea.” Machine guns mowed down hundreds; a bullet to the back of the head forced many to tumble lifeless into the execution rooms that littered the Soviet Union. Slowly, by principle or by power, Lenin won over the people. By proclaiming the rights of the people to self-determination, including the right to secession, Lenin eventually won the sympathy of non-Russian nationalities within Russia. This policy ensured that Soviet Russia would remain a huge multinational state. And by making the industrial workers the new privileged class, favored in the distribution of rations, housing, and political power, he retained the loyalty of the proletariat. His championing of the peasants’ demand that they take all the land from the gentry, church, and crown without compensation won over the peasants, without whose support the government could not survive. Interestingly, some of Lenin’s policies initially helped him – until they didn’t. Because the economy was in such dire straits, Lenin instituted a system of requisitioning grain surpluses without compensation. He needed to feed the army and the towns but he didn’t have the funds or goods with which to pay. Understandably, many peasants balked at this
66
OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
new system. But then they changed their minds when they saw what the Whites, the anti-Soviets, were doing to their neighbors. In the territories that the Whites won, they restored land property to the previous owners and savagely punished the peasants who had dared seize the land. Despite the peasants’ dislike of the Soviet’s grain requisitioning, when forced to choose between Reds and Whites, the peasants chose the Reds. When the Whites were ultimately defeated, the peasants once again balked at the system. Threatened by mass peasant rebellion, Lenin called a retreat. In March 1921 the government introduced the New Economic Policy, which ended the system of grain requisitioning and permitted the peasant to sell his harvest on an open market. This constituted a partial retreat to capitalism. Lenin had two objectives when it came to international relations. He wished to prevent the formation of any imperialist united front against Soviet Russia and he wanted to stimulate similar proletarian revolutions abroad. By the time he died he saw world recognition from all the major world powers except for the United States. In December 1922 Lenin wrote his “Testament,” in which he proposed changes to the structure of the party’s Central Committee. He also criticized Stalin, whom he had appointed General Secretary earlier in the year. A series of strokes forced Lenin to retired to his dacha, where Stalin became a frequent visitor. Lenin was in such severe pain
Stalin visiting Lenin at his dacha
that he, at one point, begged Stalin to administer poison to him to end his suffering. He specically asked for Stalin; no one else would have the ice in their veins to kill Lenin. Stalin said he wouldn’t do it. Some surmise, though, that the seizures that plagued Lenin before his death
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
the “mecca” of communism; it is still there to this day. Thanks to Stalin, Lenin’s statues pervade Russia. In every town, statues were erected after his death; his word was taken as gospel and unquestioned – the cult of Lenin had begun. Interestingly, Lenin himself
“Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.” –Joseph Stalin
and the strokes he endured may have been the result of a poisoning by Stalin, so sadistic and scheming was he. Lenin died in January 1924 at the age of 53. He lay in state for four days; almost a million people paid their respects. Stalin stood there in mourning. Trotsky was absent, having been told by Stalin the wrong date for the funeral. Lenin’s brain was removed and kept in formaldehyde for two years before being sliced into 30,963 wafer-thin slices to be studied and examined in minute detail to study how the brain of a genius worked. His corpse was embalmed and placed in a wooden mausoleum in Moscow’s Red Square. In October 1930, he was placed in the marble and granite mausoleum that for 60 years became
would not have approved of this hero worship, once stating, “Wherever you look, they are writing about me. I consider this un-Marxist emphasis on the individual extremely harmful.” By creating this idea of Lenin, so great and so absolute, Stalin equated himself with the famed leader. And so, if questioning Lenin was verboten, Stalin would, too, receive absolute devotion. The era of Vladimir Lenin was rolling to a close; the supremacy of Joseph Stalin was about to begin. It was to last almost thirty years.
Stalin’s Teñor
If you thought that the streets of Russia were slick with blood when
Protesting in the streets
87
Lenin was leader, during Stalin’s reign there were rivers of crimson coating Russian towns. During his youth, though, Stalin was a frail child. Born to a cobbler and a washerwoman, Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili contracted smallpox when he was 7, leaving scars on his face. He was injured in a carriage accident, which left his left arm slightly deformed. He was treated cruelly by village children. Stalin’s mother wanted her son to be a priest and enrolled him a religious school. He did well and excelled in the seminary. But he soon came in contact with Messame Dassy, a secret organization that supported Georgian independence from Russia. Some of the members were socialists who introduced him to the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Stalin joined the group in 1898. Stalin eventually left the religious school and devoted his time to the revolutionary movement. In 1902, he was arrested for coordinating a labor strike and exiled to Siberia, the rst of his many arrests and exiles in the edgling years of the Russian Revolution. It was during this time that Joseph adopted the name “Stalin,” meaning steel in Russian. Lenin was known for his speeches and Leon Trotsky was known for his intellect; Stalin was able to put together operations – calling meetings, publishing leaets, and organizing strikes. He raised money through robberies, kidnappings and extortion. In fact, he gained infamy by being associated with the 1907 Tiis bank
88
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
robbery, which resulted in several deaths and 250,000 rubles stolen. After the Revolution, when Stalin was appointed General Secretary, he shrewdly appointed friends to party seats, building his base. Nearly all of the central command had allegiance to Stalin. Even Lenin, ill at the time, was unable to wrestle control of the party from him. Lenin’s death gave Stalin even more control. First he had people removed from power through bureaucratic shufing and denunciations. Many were exiled abroad to Europe and the Americas, including presumed Lenin successor Leon Trotsky. But playing chess with people wasn’t satisfying to Stalin; he wanted their heads. Soon he conducted a reign of terror, arresting people in middle of the night, putting on show trials. Potential rivals were accused of aligning with capitalist nations, convicted of being “enemies of the people,” and summarily executed. The purges eventually extended beyond the party elite to local ofcials suspected of counterrevolutionary activities. The subsequent years under Stalin meant forced labor or starvation
67
for millions. His infamous gulags forced workers to work up to 14 hours a day, digging into frozen soil or felling trees with axes. Some mined copper or coal by hand; many died of starvation in the camps. The value of a human being became equal to the dust on the oor. When one died, another prisoner was shipped in. Stalin eventually died in 1953. He left a legacy of death and terror, even as he turned Soviet Russia into a world power. He was eventually denounced by his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, in 1956.
T
he fall of the Soviet Union took place on December 26, 1991. Today, Lenin’s statues still stand in squares in Russia. The people enjoy far greater freedom than under the tsars or under Stalin. But sometimes news out of Russia today whispers back to a time when people were terried that the secret police would pound on their door. True, there are no more gulags, but Mr. Putin still brings chills to many people’s spines. Perhaps, even in 2017 - 100 years after the Revolution - there are still some of Lenin’s admirers lurking in the Russian government.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
89
90 66
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
BOBKER ON
BALFOUR PART II
years ago a Christian nation (the British Empire) took away the Holy Land from a Muslim nation (the Ottoman Turks) and offered it to the Jewish nation via a letter dated November 2, 1917, personally delivered to 148 Piccadilly, London, home of Lord Walter Rothschild of the banking dynasty (“His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people...”). No, this was not a Chelm fairy tale. This was the real McCoy of geo-politics in the midst of a catastrophic World War I. Thus was modern Christian Zionism born. Lord Balfour was a religious Christian who read the Bible every day. 31 years later, a sovereign Third Jewish Commonwealth came into being in May 1948, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of Treblinka, a sight unseen in Judea since the ancient times of the Roman occupiers. But not so fast! Yes, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the British Empire for their support but remember: this is also the country that cruelly reversed itself in 1939, the year the Holocaust began, with its callous, duplicitous missive (the “MacDonald Paper”) that placated Arab states by restricting Jewish immigration to Palestine to 15,000 a year for the next 5 years. To put this in perspective, 12,000 Jews were incinerated daily at Auschwitz. The Brits had sealed off the only escape route from Europe and signed the death warrant for millions. A fact: the first shots the Brits fired in World War II was not against Nazi Germans but against German Jews fleeing oppression and trying to find shelter in the Holy Land.
The double-dealing came as no surprise. After dangling all of their ancestral 3,000-year-old land, the Brits cowardly capitulated to appeasement and chopped off nearly 80 percent to “invent” a new Kingdom for the Arabs. We know it as “Jordan.” The “leftovers” went to the Jews. As the Talmud says, “A gentile usually makes himself heard!” And from London’s Government House came several roars. A rabid anti-Semite, Haj Amin al-Husseini, was appointed Jerusalem’s grand mufti. This sick individual promoted pogroms in the Yishuv, cuddled up to Adolf in Berlin, and lobbied Hitler to import his genocide law of the jungle into Palestine. Lord Robert Peel presented a 400page Royal Commission on July 7, 1937, four years after Hitler ascended his powerful throne in Berlin, that recommended a Solomonian slice-it-in-half approach to the problem. (On the other hand, they did a spectacular job of rescuing 10,000 Jewish children from (mainly) Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia on the Kindertransports in 1938-39. Go figure!) The Balfour Declaration was unprecedented but we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. Jews got a Jewish state not because of anything the gentiles did but because of sustained deliberate Jewish action. Balfour did not change gentile thinking or actions. But it did have an extraordinary effect on the Jews in the Diaspora whose collective thought process was jolted overnight into the real possibility of embryonic national self-rule. The laser-like focus on independence by beleaguered Jews in exile was stunning. Even a foothold was worth fighting for after 1,900 years. However, in the Orthodox bloc, especially among the rabbinic hierarchy of the nascent Agudas Yisrael political movement formed in 1912, the idea of publicly forgoing
parts of the Promised Land as part of negotiations with foreign powers caused further strain and disunity among brothers. The problem was not just geo-political; it was spiritual. The idea that Jews could participate in molding their own fate as active players on the world stage was near-blasphemy for a faithful folk who were waiting patiently for Messianic redemption.
T
he Peel report was déjà vu for the startled Agudas Yisrael, a sharp reminder that the reality of a Jewish homeland was creeping closer by the hour. And again they faced a thorny dilemma: how to seek a working relationship with the emerging Jewish state? In short: how to support Zion but not Zionists? And this time it was different. England had forced the question of “Whose land is it?” to the forefront of practical discussion as never before. Three months after the Peel shocker Aguda held its Third Kenesiya ha’Gedola in Marienbad, a resort in the Czech Republic. The British edict threatened to dismantle the fragile Jewish unity that had (somewhat) coalesced in the face of the emerging Nazi fury. Sensing a public display of sinas chinom several Admorim begged the delegates and speakers to be careful not to express bitterness or display hostility to other Jews as they expressed their opinions. When Rabbi Menachem Ziemba, a senior spokesman of Polish Jewry and member of the influential Warsaw rabbinate, was tasked with presenting both sides of the argument, R’ Chaim Yitzchok Eizik Yeruchim, the Alstater Rav, demanded (unsuccessfully) that the Peel issue not even be raised because of the “three oaths” in the Talmud that discuss
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Glass Pitcher / Vase Reg. $20.00
onSale
$7. 99
T
UPSCALE CLOSEOUTS
Crystal Border Mirror Tray Available in Round or Rectangle
UPSCALE
C
THE LOSEOU CONNECTION CC 8 Piece, 39” Bed Linen All New Designs 200 Thread Count
Reg. $30.00
$12. 99$19. 99
732.364.8822 516.218.2211 718.854.2595 1344518 Washington 13th AveAve. CEDARHUST, BROOKLYN, NYNY 11516 1091River Ave (Rt 9) Next door to CVS, in the TODD PLAZA Gourmet Glatt parking lot
Reg. $120.00
$79. 99
Glass Candle Holders
STORE STORE HOURS: HOURS: M.-W. M.-Th.10:00-8:00 10:00-9:00 M.-Th. 10:00-9:00 Th. 10:00-9:00 10:00-3:00 10:00-4:00 FF.. 10:00-3:00 F . 10:00-3:00 S. 10:00-7:00 S. 10:00-7:00 10:00-7:00 M.S.Sh. 8 PM -11 PM
2 Sizes
Visit us at our other locations 4518 13th Ave. Brooklyn, Visit us atNY 718.854.2595 our other locations
Reg. $15.00
$7. 99$9. 99
Hardcover Books
Yom Tov Velvet Art
Childrens
10 Designs
Uncle Yossi
$4. 99
1344518 Washington 13th Ave. Ave. 50 Court St. Cedarhurst, Brooklyn, NYNY 11516 Brooklyn, NY 516.218.2211 718.854.2595 718.625.6677 50 Court St. 134Brooklyn, Washington NY Ave. Cedarhurst, NY 11516 718.625.6677 516.218.2211 1091 River Ave. Lakewood, NJ 732.364.8822
Reg. $10.00
$1. 99
3.5% SALES TAX
Quantities may vary according to store location • No rainchecks • Not responsible for typographical errors
91
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
92
67
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
the prohibition of rising in force to occupy the Holy Land, a position that the Satmar Rav, R’ Yoel Teitelbaum, built his anti-Zionist case around after the war. Although Rav Ziemba tried to keep his opinion to himself it was obvious: “Only the same wicked people who rip pieces off the Torah could agree to rip pieces off Eretz Yisrael!” (Rav Ziemba, 60, was shot to death with his 5-year-old grandson, Yankele Ber, during the ghetto uprising over Pesach 1943.) In agreement was the elderly Gerer Rebbe, R’ Avraham Mordechai Alter, and the Litvishe hierarchy led by brothers-in-law R’ Elchanon Wasserman and R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky (who had stayed in Vilna because of his deteriorating medical condition) who strongly opposed any partition. “From the River Egypt unto the great river of Euphrates” belonged only to the people of Israel, the Gerer Rebbe reminded all, a promise from G-d repeated multiple times to our forefathers that created a contract in perpetuity – and nothing Robert Peel did or said changed that fact. The German rabbis disagreed: Britain’s position was not a halachic issue per se but a political one since the Führer could not have been less ambiguous as to what he intended to do to the Jews of Europe. They favored a quick split of the Holy Land’s real estate in order to provide an immediate safe haven for the millions of anxious Jews desperately wanting to get out of Europe. They were supported by the prominent Rabbi Yitzhak Unna, av bes din of Mannheim, southwest Germany, and by R’ Moshe Perlow of Stolin, son of the famous R’ Yisrael (Yenuka), Admor of Stolin-Karlin, who made a passionate plea for flexibility and political pragmatism. Rav Perlow urged the Moetzei Gedolei HaTorah to immediately accept the Partition proposal. He was convinced it would prompt thousands of Aguda members to leave and be spared the fate he (correctly) feared. He argued that the Peel Commission should not be viewed through the ideological lens of anti-Zionism nor as a waiver of Jewish rights of ownership but as a rare window of opportunity of pikuach nefesh (saving Jews). Rav Perlow was prescient. Out of six brothers, only two survived; he was murdered at Stolin, Belarus, in 1942, age 47, with his wife, Dvora Lea, and son, Nachum Solomon. Lord Peel was not the only spoiler in the convention hall. Floating menacingly above the 720 prestigious delegates and 2,000 spectators was Adolf Hitler. His was a suffocating “presence.” His was the
“
Aguda poster: “It is a mitzvah to vote in the elections” The Satmar Rav: “You mean it’s a mitzvah like matza?” The Gerer Rebbe: “No, it’s a mitzvah like maror [bitter herbs]” -A (not necessarily true) anecdote
background noise of Jewish blood already drip, drip, dripping in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, that drowned out all the rejectionists. And all present knew Poland was next. The reality was this: rabbinic absolutism was a non sequitur in a hall crowded with fear, anxiety, uncertainty. With the (SS) writing clearly spreading on the blood-stained walls of Europe, very few present were prepared to automatically jump aboard a blame-the-Zionists wagon. Even less were willing to label as “heresy” the idea of a Jewish state. This lenient bloc included Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo Friedman, the Boyaner Rebbe, R’ Avraham Yaakov Friedman, the Sadigora Rebbe, R’ Yehuda Leib Tzirelson, the elderly chief rabbi of Bessarabia who had been an Aguda leader since its inception, the brilliant Rabbi Aaron Levin, head of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and a member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), R’ Zalman Sorotzkin, the famous “Lutzker Rav,” and others. But some wouldn’t waver. Rabbi Elchanon Wasserman, the deeply respected saintly rosh yeshiva of Baranowicz, addressed the delegates and called the Zionist leadership “Amalekim,” defined “[secular Zionist Jews] as rodfim [persecutors, deserving of death],” the Mizrahi movement as an “avodah zorah mixed with Yiddishkeit,” and as evil as the dreaded Yevsektsia in Stalinist Russia, a group of Russian Communist Jews who were destroying traditional Jewish life and persecuting and killing community rabbis. Dealing with them was a waste of time because, Rav Wasserman argued, the land of Israel would inevitably “vomit them out,” a Biblical term for idolaters. As Polish delegates shifted uncomfortably in their seats, the rabbis of Hungary and Czechoslovakia supported Rav Wasserman’s call to “cast out” the enemies of Torah. Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg, the Rav of Antwerp, Belgium, and father of Recha Sternbuch, the rescue activist housewife from Switzerland, teamed up with R’ Aharon Kotler, the young and fiery rosh yeshiva from Kletzk, Poland, and rejected any type of Jewish state “even if it were a religious Torah state [yesodos hadas, because] it would still be a chillul Hashem because it was built al yesodos hakefirah, venimtza shem Shomayim mischalell [on the foundations of heresy] and showed a lack of faith, kefirah b’emunas bias haMoshiach [the coming of the Messiah].” This type of talk incensed Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, the fiercely independent-minded Rav and rosh yeshiva from
Ponevezh, who rebuked anyone who dared suggest that the Jewish state would fail because of its secular underpinnings. Instead he waxed poetic (and accurately) about a future Torah renaissance in Palestine. When the time came to vote, the majority of Lithuanian rabbis agreed to support a Jewish state but after a rare and uncharacteristic public rebuke from Jerusalem-based R’ Avraham Yeshaye Karelitz (Chazon Ish), the Litvisher bloc reversed their consent. From Brisk, Rabbi Yitzhak Ze’ev Soloveitchik brushed aside the votes of his Lithuanian colleagues with a Talmudic adage, Kesher reshaim eina min haminyan (“The opinion of the wicked does not count”). This public scolding caused so much tumult that the Brisker Rav quickly softened his tone and reassured the Lithuanian delegates that they were not “wicked” and clarified his position to mean that the very subject (secular Zionism) of discussion was so evil that it tainted all who came near it. Rav Kotler then announced that since Rav Soloveitchik’s opinion was greater than the (combined) votes of all the other attendees, all future decisions would no longer be based on a majority vote.
T
he Aguda convention in Marienbad ended with shattered nerves all around. It was to be the last gathering on European soil. The subject of Zion and the Zionists remained Aguda’s Achilles heel as an overwhelming majority of their one-million strong (worldwide) members were simply not willing to automatically reject a potential sanctuary in Palestine. For millions of Orthodox Jews in Central and Eastern Europe the road to Zion was much more appealing than the roads being paved by the Gestapo with vandalized Jewish tombstones leading towards their total extinction. The hard line at Marienbad was unsustainable as the barbarians and their collaborators began circling Jewish communities. Few of the rank-and-file members were concerned about Mizrahi-Aguda differences in politics and hashkofas (“ideology”) in the aftermath of the mass arson of synagogues (Kristallnacht) in November 1938 followed by families in Germany receiving envelopes of ashes of their loved ones from Dachau. The giant flapping red-and-black swastikas were blocking out the sun for both Orthodox camps. The once elusive search for Judaic unity and cooperation was now motivated not by love but fear of the Third Reich’s stated intent to pillage, plunder,
68
OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Lord William Peel (above) leaving the King David Hotel, c. 1936
torture, rape, and murder European Jewry. The entire agenda of “Zion vs. Zionists” became moot erev Shabbos, September 1, 1939. The Holocaust began. The endless debates ended. The majority of delegates from Marienbad, most in a state of shock, having focused on the wrong enemy, were on the run. Most perished with their families, friends, and communities. There were soon more Agudas Yisrael rabbis in Palestine than in all of Poland. The center of the movement shifted to Jerusalem the moment the Gerer Rebe, the chassidic head of Agudas Yisrael, escaped to Palestine in early 1940. It was obvious to all sides that a united front be presented to the United Nations as the war raged out of control. With the Third Reich busy depleting the Jews of Europe, the Jewish underground actively fighting the British occupiers of Palestine, the United States about to enter the war, and political pressures mounting at the United Nations, the Aguda hierarchy was faced with fast-moving events that precluded any wavering. The time was critical. Relationships with secular Jewish leaders could no longer be ignored. The probability of a secular state was looking more and more realistic.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Rabbi Elchanon Wasserman, the saintly rosh yeshiva of Baranowicz, considered the Zionist leadership “Amalekim” and was convinced that the land of Israel would inevitably “vomit them all out,” a Biblical term for idolaters (above, from L-R: Rav Wasserman, R’ Moshe Blau, and R’ Aharon Kotler, Mariendad, 1937)
The difficult task to make shalom fell to a selfless illui (“genius”) from Zachrina, Lithuania. Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin, alumnus of Volozhin and Slabodka and the Rav of Lutsk, Ukraine, had escaped from Vilna with his wife, Sarah Miri, daughter of R’ Eliezer Gordon, the Telzer Rav and rosh yeshiva, and family, at the beginning of the war; his daughter, son-in-law, and their children were murdered by the Germans. Rav Sorotzkin was a multi-faceted scholar blessed with an energetic stellar personality. Respected by all, his was a historic mission: to frame a post-Auschwitz Aguda position on Zionism in the face of a pending non-Torah Jewish state. And yet, even with his formidable skills, Rav Sorotzkin found his assignment much more difficult than he ever imagined. Even calling for a meeting took superhuman patience. Consider: Rav Kahaneman, the Ponevezher Rav, would only attend if it was held at the Chazon Ish’s house. R’ Zalmen Yankelewitz wanted to invite as few people as possible in order to be productive “[because of the many] differences of opinion.” Others wanted a full-fledged attendance with a public statement released afterwards. R’ Re-
93
With the tacit approval of his powerful father-in-law, the Gerer Rebbe, and in a de facto recognition of “the enemy from within,” R’ Yitzchak Meir Levin, the popular head of Aguda in Poland and Israel, signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, side-by-side with 36 “heretic, non-believers. (above, Rav Levine at the microphone, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sfas Emes yeshiva, Jerusalem, 1925; R’ Yisrael Alter [Beis Yisrael] is seated to his left)
faul Katzenellenbogen thought “Torah sages” should not be invited because “they have enough difficulties already and don’t need political problems.” R’ Avrohom Yaakov Friedman, the Sadigora Rebbe, rebuked his colleagues for “shirking involvement in matters that concern all Israel.” When they finally met the most senior rav present was Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, 77, chairman of the Council of Torah Sages and dayan of all Litvishe roshei yeshivas. Rav Meltzer was blunt. He told his colleagues the time had come to unite and support the creation of a Jewish state. He was supported by R’ Friedman, R’ Klein, R’ Kahaneman, R’ Moshe Blau, R’ Meir Karelitz, brother of the Chazon Ish, and R’ Dr. Yitzchak Breuer, R’ Samson Raphael Hirsch’s grandson and spiritual heir, who added a caveat that he would only recognize Israel “de facto, not de jure!” In opposition was Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda (“Reb Laizer Yudel”) Finkel, the 77-year-old head of Mir in both Poland and Jerusalem, Harry Goodman, the London-based vice-president of the Agudas Yisrael World Organization, and R’ Yaakov Rosenheim, the American-based long-serving presi-
dent of Aguda, who argued that since Israel would not be run according to Jewish law it was better to remain under British rule as long as Orthodox Jews had religious freedom. Rav Sorotzkin also sought the opinions of those who were not present. But R’ Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (Chazon Ish) begged off and said he needed more time to think about the issues. R’ Akiva Sofer, the great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer and head of the local Pressburg yeshiva, was also cautious and wanted to stay “off the radar.” R’ Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloveitchik, the 62-year-old powerful Brisker Rav and a non-Aguda member, didn’t want to get entangled in anything political; he had even refused to sign entry documents when fleeing into Palestine because they were from the Sochnut, the secular Jewish Agency. Rav Dushinsky, 81, head of the Edah HaChareidis, didn’t want his opinion publicized. Many were simply turned off “politics.” Consider R’ Yisroel Zev Gustman, the rosh yeshiva from Grodno and Vilna. “After all my zeideh witnessed in the Holocaust,” his grandson, R’ Avrohom Berniker, reflects, “he wasn’t capable of rejecting another Jew. It cured him of being a ‘party-man’ and,
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
94
69
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
miraculously, even in the polarized climate of Eretz Yisrael, he succeeded in remaining above factional politics. His friend, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, would often comment how ‘jealous’ he was of my zeideh’s ability to remain completely apolitical.” Rav Yankelewitz had been correct. The first round of meetings was unproductive. However, with the tacit approval of his powerful fatherin-law, the Gerer Rebbe, and in a de facto recognition, R’ Yitzchak Meir (“Reb Itche”) Levin, the popular head of Aguda in Poland and Israel, went ahead and signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, side-by-side with 36 “heretic, non-believers.” Had Chelm made its way to the Mid-East? The once fiercely anti-Zionist bloc had thrown their lot in with a secular Zionist government in a move that would have been considered treasonous by the founding fathers at Kattowicze in 1912, and even only a few years earlier. On November 5, Rav Levin articu-
lated his position. Just as one cannot support the state in full conscience, one cannot oppose it either, because this would lead to sacrilege, for which we [Aguda] would be held fully responsible, with hareidi Jews perceived as a hindrance and an impediment… [Thus we have decided] not to do anything to oppose the Jewish state or to block achievement of a two-third [majority] in the United Nations to establish a Jewish state. This announcement was an ideological earthquake. The tremor was felt everywhere. For the first time, the senior hierarchy of Agudas Yisrael had announced a willingness to work together with the secular (and previously loathed) Jewish Agency (Sochnut) of David Ben-Gurion, the biggest rasha of them all. The new Aguda position spread like wildfire. Rav Soloveitchik begged his colleagues (unsuccessfully) to desist in all diplomatic activities (“Even if the prophets say it
will happen anyway, it is forbidden for us to help!”). But it was too late. “After 2,000 years of exile and servitude, we are given part of the land of Israel to establish a Jewish state with the assent of all nations of the world. There is no doubt that this is supernatural Divine Providence,” read the statement from Rabbi Aaron Katzenellbogen and R’ Yaakov Chanoch Sankowitz on behalf of the World Agudas Yisrael Executive Committee on erev Shabbos, May 14, 1948, (5 Iyar 5708). This position was unthinkable only weeks earlier. For the first time since their formation in 1912, Agudas Yisrael was now officially willing to work together with assimilated secular Jews, in this case to establish a secular Jewish state. High-ranking Aguda leaders, activists and members, were stunned that Jewish history had taken this turn, seemingly against the Torah and against the wishes of practically the entire pre-war chassidish and Litvish European rabbinate. But facts were facts.
Herr Hitler’s Holocaust had not only radically changed the geography and demography of the Jewish folk, it had also altered the behavior and thought pattern of thousands of Orthodox leaders and hundreds and thousands of their followers not only in the Holy Land but throughout the Diaspora. Aguda, keenly aware of their limitations at that time and place, had decided that only through patience and participation from within the Israeli electoral process could they preserve the minimum standards of a Torah lifestyle while gradually trying to change attitudes. The final word goes to Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, rosh yeshiva of Ponevezh. When asked why he recognized a Jewish state by voting in Israeli elections, he replied, “With facts you don’t argue.” Joe Bobker is the author of the popular series on “Torah With a Twist of Humor” and the 18-volumes on the Historiography of Orthodox Jews and the Holocaust. He can be reached at jbobker@gmail.com.
Low Cost Quality Insurance
Our Specialty Free Consultation
Free Policy Evaluation
Ask the Rabbi !!?? The Rabbi loves a bargain (a metzia) Let the Rabbi help you save money (up to 50%)
¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾
Large Commercial Insurance Policies Life Insurance Disability Insurance Self Employed Health Insurance Long Term Care insurance Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC
Licensed Independent Broker for All Types of Insurance
Call: 917‐543‐0497 – Leave a message
Mail: Rabbi S. M. Leiner, CLTC P.O. Box # 7655 600 Franklin Ave Garden City, NY 11530
Premier clients receive a copy of my book (sefer) “Sweeter Than Honey” as a gift
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
95
My Israel Home
Pedestrian Scramble A Glimpse into King George Street By Gedaliah Borvick
Opening day of King George Street, December 9, 1924
K
ing George Street, located in the heart of downtown Jerusalem, was created in 1924 during the British Mandate period and named in honor of Britain’s then-reigning King George V. Twenty-five years later, after the State of Israel was created, there was a movement to change its name to King David Street. Israel’s president Yitzhak Ben-Tzvi successfully campaigned to retain the original name, reminding government officials that King George had always been a good friend of the Jews and was England’s monarch when the Balfour Declaration – a crucial document in which the British government favored the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people – was written in 1917. King George Street is famous for a lot of firsts: 24 King George Street was the address of the first Knesset building. The Knesset was housed in the three-story Froumine House from 1950 until 1966. Interestingly, the original plans were for a six-story building but only three levels had
been completed when construction was suspended during Israel’s War of Independence. After the Knesset moved to its permanent Givat Ram campus, the building continued to house various government agencies until 2015, at which time work began to renovate the property and
Jerusalem’s first department store, Hamashbir, was built on King George Street above the Ben Yehuda promenade. Parenthetically, across the street from Hamashbir is my favorite falafel joint, Maoz. I was introduced to this establishment back in 1983 and it was love at first bite.
Soak up its rich history by reading the many interesting plaques affixed to these fascinating preserved buildings .
create the Museum of the Knesset. King George Street was the Fifth Avenue of pre-state Jerusalem. Accordingly, it was only appropriate that this fashionable street would be home to the first elevatored building in Jerusalem, a Bauhaus-styled building called Hama’alot House.
Back in the 1950s, the first traffic light in Jerusalem was installed at the intersection of King George and Jaffa, which was the hub of commerce in the city. King George Street was also the home of Jerusalem’s first pedestrian scramble, which existed for many years at the same Jaffa Road intersec-
tion where the first traffic light was installed. A pedestrian scramble, also known as an “x-crossing” in England and a “diagonal crossing” in the U.S., is an intersection where car traffic halts so that pedestrians can cross in all directions, including diagonally, at the same time. The scramble was removed when the light-rail was established along Jaffa Road, which eliminated cars from that street. There are many landmarked buildings lining this bustling street, including The Great Synagogue, Heichal Shlomo, the Jewish Agency Building and Beit Avi Chai. If you ever find yourself in central Jerusalem with some time on your hands, I recommend that you take a stroll down King George Street and soak up its rich history by reading the many interesting plaques affixed to these fascinating preserved buildings. Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.
96 50
NOVEMBER 2017| The | TheJewish JewishHome Home OCTOBER 29,9,2015
Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Our daughter has been on a track to get engaged in the near future. Her future chosson seemed all right, though my husband and I were never totally smitten with him but figured we weren’t the ones marrying him and if our daughter was so happy with him we would go along, though cautiously and with a bit of hesitancy.
Recently, I got a call from someone I know only casually. She sounded very nervous and almost reluctant to talk to me, but felt that she had an obligation to share something with me that she knew about the young man our daughter is dating. She said that her daughter was now divorced with two small children and wishes that someone had come clean with her about certain details that definitely would have shut down any chance of her daughter marrying the man she ultimately divorced. Without going into detail, the information she shared with me was definitely of great concern to us, and I thanked her for making the hard call. I discussed it with my husband and we both felt that we had to share this information with our daughter as soon as possible so that she could walk away from this relationship that was getting more serious by the minute. When we shared what we knew with our daughter, who just turned 20 and, honestly, isn’t the most mature 20-year-old, she basically told us she didn’t care, that she was in love and was going to get engaged to him and get married – whether or not we were on board with her. She’s always been strong-willed and sometimes impetuous, but we were shocked by her reaction. We figured maybe she needed a few days to let it sink in. But she just kept digging in her heels over her determination to marry this man, with no thought or care about his past. She had an excuse for everything and basically told us that if we refused to be excited for her and refuse to make her a wedding, his family would make a wedding for them. Our guess is that his parents are so desperate for him to get married that they’ll do whatever they can to seal the deal. Where do we go from here? Do we support our daughter, even though we feel in our hearts that she’s walking into a horrible marriage that will probably end badly? Do we tell her that we don’t support her and won’t attend any wedding with this man? What is our best recourse at this point?
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
97
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
98
51
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Panel The Rebbetzin
The Mother
The Shadchan
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ou need help now that your daughter is not even considering the information you shared with her (hopefully after you checked it out). Get your team together to work on communication and reducing the tension. That’s the short term goal. You don’t have to break a plate yet. As you said, she is on track to getting engaged. She is not there yet. Who are the team members? Her mentors and teachers, your rabbi, a therapist, his mentors and teachers, and his family’s rabbi. They will help the parties move from a standoff situation to a process. It’s going to take time and it’s going to take a lot of self-control but by jumping the gun you will only make it worse. Make sure that your team has a leader, someone whom you know for a long time as smart, understanding, and skilled. Don’t bounce from person to person seeking reassurance and trying out the advice on the others. You will soon see who the leader will be by his/her skillful understanding and articulation of the issues and suggestions for thought and responses on your part. Be smart and don’t make any strong statements to your daughter about attending a wedding or anything serious. She is trying to push you into acquiescence with threats. Be wise and be circumspect with her in your communication. Temper the situation with self-control and advice. Good luck!
Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. or those of you keeping track, this sort of “deal-breaking” information is not new to our panel. My answer is now, as it has been in the past, you can’t stand idly by and watch your daughter jump off a treacherous cliff. Or, as my mother used to tsk, “You don’t lay a healthy head into a sick bed.” The big problem here is not the chosson or his past. The real issue is your daughter – immature, impetuous, strong-willed, and only twenty. If I had to guess, she’s gotten away with eating candy for breakfast (i.e., spoiled behavior) most of her life. Even if she was engaged to a real mensch she would probably mess up. After all, few husbands would tolerate the tantrums and door-matting you have come to accept and enable. If she goes ahead with the nuptials, the prognosis is grim. Moreover, as in your friend’s case, the ramifications of a divorce are lifelong and bruising. What to do? If you daughter was, chas v’shalom, OTD, you would seek professional help and show her unconditional love and support. This situation is just as critical; the solution is the same. Run, do not walk, to the best counselor you can find – one with a specialty in dealing with difficult adult children. Your daughter may continue to demonstrate irrational behavior; she may continue to make poor, impetuous choices. In the meantime, you and your husband must acquire the tools and confidence to interact with her and parent her in a loving, yet more effective, manner.
Michelle Mond ith such few details, it is hard for me to guide you properly through this very complex situation. Questions I have are the following: Have you confirmed the information which you received from this acquaintance to be true? If so, have you spoken to people directly who were involved with his growth process afterwards and how he got to where he is today? How serious are these allegations from the acquaintance? Is it something from his past that he could have actually genuinely moved on from which is why your daughter is not worried about it? Like the caller mentioned, her daughter got divorced based on hidden information and she felt compelled to tell you some information about this boy so your daughter can make her own decision. This woman’s daughter is not your daughter and it seems that this information is not news to your daughter, and, furthermore, she sees no reason to forgo the relationship. As a panelist who has almost no information and knows no details, it would not be appropriate to give such advice on whether to try and stop this wedding from happening. However, one suggestion would be to speak to someone who knows of the alarming information you received – a maven in the issue – and to speak with your daughter about how it can affect a marriage. For example, if the information you were told is that this guy went through a period of time where he used to drink, you may want to get a therapist involved to speak to your daughter
Y
F
Do we support our daughter, even though we feel in our hearts that she’s walking into a horrible marriage that will probably end badly?
W
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions.
about the effects of marrying a man who once had a drinking addiction. All you can do is work with the information you were given. Since your daughter is a grown woman, communicate the issues to her the best you can, get people involved who can advise her on this particular issue, and be there for her in the decision she makes.
The Single Tova Wein
I
t sounds as though your daughter has always had a mind of her own and not someone who can easily be “managed.” Sometimes it’s a matter of her being spoiled and led to believe that she can do anything she wants without consequences. Other times it’s a reflection of a personality type that
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.
52
OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
one is born with which makes raising such an individual really challenging, if not at times, almost impossible. Whatever the reason that you can’t control her and this situation – and I’m assuming that you’ve done some due diligence to ensure that this story was more than just heresy and also that the issue involved is something meaningful – here you and your husband are feeling as though your hands are tied and you have no options left. Actually, you have two options.
One is figuring out whether there is someone meaningful in your daughter’s life whom she can trust and listen to without her usual knee-jerk rebellious response. If such a person exists, see if you can engage her or him to talk to your daughter. Perhaps someone who is not a parent might have a better chance of talking some sense into your daughter. Otherwise, you can try negotiating with her. It would look like this. Explain to her that you understand she
Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Y
ou don’t mention the specific, hair-raising information brought to your attention by this well-meaning caller. I have to imagine that it is of a very serious nature: history or current use of drugs or alcohol, mental illness, risk-taking behaviors, possible personality disorder, and the like. Some email submissions leave me more hesitant to give clear direction than others, and yours is one of them. I am not privy to the following information which I need in order to give you a suggestion of any kind: 1. What exactly is the issue at hand? 2. Is there a history of being critical of your daughter or your daughter’s choices, or of being intrusive and lacking boundaries? 3. Does your daughter have a history of making poor choices, mental illness, cognitive deficits? Does your daughter have friends? In other words, what did her personal life look like before this boy came around? 4. Was the information you received confirmed? 5. Who put her on this “track” to get married? Was it her idea? Was it your idea? Was it agreed upon? 6. If you agreed to it in any way,
shape or form, knowing she is immature and somewhat defiant, what is your understanding of your reasoning? (If this is true, get into therapy ASAP to help you have a really clear understanding of the situation at hand and how to break the cyclical, negative dynamics between you and your daughter. There may be some enabling at play.) The answers to these questions are critical. Without it, I’m afraid I can’t be of much help to you. I have to assume too much, and I don’t want to speak irresponsibly. This is time sensitive as your daughter is moving forward full steam ahead. I suggest you speak with someone sooner rather than later, be it a trusted rav and/or therapist experienced with parenting adult children. I say the following speaking to the general issue at hand and not to your specific situation. If a young adult child has always been levelheaded, has been overall respectful (including the expected and normal teenage attitude and drama) and has made age-appropriate informed decisions, and then suddenly acts out (atypical behavior, “out of the blue”), there is cause for
has very strong feelings for this young man and understand that she believes that he would make an excellent husband for her but that you have reservations. Therefore, create a contract with her that if she agrees to be in therapy for six months, half the time alone and the other half (should she still be fighting for this marriage) with the young man in question and they get the support of a therapist that this is a viable relationship you’ll agree to make a beautiful wedding for them and have a
concern and good reason to get involved. The hope is that the parents have leverage and their involvement will help the situation. If such an adult child were to suddenly find herself in a relationship with a troubled young guy, my general leaning would be to influence parents to encourage her to exit the relationship. We would discuss gentle and collaborative yet firm strategies to help the child out of the risky relationship. However, if the adult child has always been a “handful,” i.e., defiant, engaging in unhealthy risk-taking behaviors, refusing suggestion or help of any kind, etc., the strategy to attempt to remove a child from an unhealthy adult relationship looks different. This child has never listened to you before, so to think she will listen currently (when she is emboldened by her new relationship) is futile. Fighting or arguing with such a young adult is pointless. Generally speaking (though the strategy is different for every situation) you profess your love, you express your concern, you tell them you will not fight about it, you make it clear the choice is theirs, and tell them what consequences will follow (you as the parents choose your consequences. That is often the most confusing part for parents). Children need love. The defiant, distant, troubled ones need it the most. Children need boundaries. The defiant, distant, troubled ones need
99
The goal is to keep your child out of the relationship and to keep her in your life. smile on your face for the entire affair!
it the most. This is the truth. Our job as parents is to hold these two somewhat paradoxical truths. The goal is to keep your child out of the relationship and to keep her in your life. What’s the big fear every parent with a defiant adult child has? In a nutshell, I’ll lose her forever. Many risk-taking, defiant children are capable of cutting out their parents. Parents have to look that fear in the eye and make the very personal decision: Will I go along with her program so I can have her in my life? Or, Can I no longer watch her ruin her life and prepare myself to possibly lose her? This is one of the hardest decisions a parent could ever make. Back to you, Mom. Seek counsel now. Your daughter is in trouble and you need counsel. Be sure to discuss questions 1-6 to help inform your next move. Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for a wonderful outcome, Jennifer Mann 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.
100
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Dr. Deb
Some Truths about being Vulnerable By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
T
he first truth about being vulnerable is that you get hurt. Or you can. Which is why most people have put up all sorts of walls around themselves. The second truth about being vulnerable is that you’re not alive if you aren’t vulnerable. All of which presents some problems: 1. We want to protect ourselves –
naturally – so we make a point of not being vulnerable. 2. We aren’t completely living if we are covered with plaster and concrete. The “protection” keeps us so mummified that we aren’t experiencing life. But don’t take my word for any of this. Let’s explore each of these points.
PROTECTION Little Joey’s ear is pressed to the door. He realizes the risk he’s taking. One or the other of his parents could unexpectedly stop arguing and open that door. Oh, boy. Then he’d be in some serious trouble. But on the other hand, it seems to him that the risk of not listening is worse. His friend Sammy’s parents just got divorced, and Sammy told him that it all started with the arguing. In their room. If he could just catch some of what they were saying, he would know for sure whether his life would crumble around him or go back to normal. True, normal wasn’t very nice for his parents. He could imagine they must not be too happy if they were having such heated conflicts. But that was grown-up stuff and all he wanted to know was whether he would wake up in the morning and Daddy and his things would be gone. That’s what happened to Sammy. And Sammy hasn’t been the same. Oh, he puts on a great front. He’s the class clown. But Joey knows the truth because Sammy tells him. Only Joey is allowed to see Sammy cry. Sammy said that even his parents don’t see him cry. He can’t possibly let them because they seem to him like they’re falling apart already. They walk around in a daze in their separate, lonely apartments, and Sammy told Joey that he catches his mom crying. He brings her a cup of coffee. He’s proud of him-
self because, at seven, he knows how to make coffee in the microwave. He said he thinks it helps, but he isn’t sure. His mom smiles at him and tells him what a sweet boy he is. So how could he possibly let her see him cry? (For more on this, see Judith S. Wallerstein, Julia M. Lewis, and Sandra Blakeslee, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: The 25-Year Landmark Study, 2000.) We learn to protect ourselves – and those we love sometimes as well – really early. I remember someone telling me that his father would beat him so it became his challenge to not cry out in pain. That way he “won.” I wasn’t sure what he won and that was part of our work together. But as a teenager, hiding his physical and emotional pain became very important. I once took a voluntary post-grad internship in a program for people with what was then called Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder). Before my eyes, a sweet, shy woman “switched” to a cop-like toughie. Her posture, her words, her attitude, even her voice changed. The shy one needed the toughie to protect her. That’s an extreme version. But most of us do this to some extent without needing to lose our personalities. We pretty much know who we are. Or do we? If we did, then why is it that after I’ll ask someone sitting in front of me to explain why they did or felt whatever it was, they will often say, “I didn’t realize I felt that way”? We all have layers of protection and very
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
often we are protecting ourselves from ourselves. See, if we walk around feeling like we are pretending for the world, that’s not very comfortable. It feels fake; we experience what is called cognitive dissonance. But if we pretend so well that we didn’t realize the feelings we had underneath, then we come across as consistent, even to ourselves. We’re all onions with many layers hiding many layers.
both to ourselves and to the world. We even have the ability, when we are fully functioning, to feel the feelings of others. That’s empathy. To better understand this, think
monotonous trance-like state. It feels good. Of course, it opens up the possibility of feeling pain, something we instinctively want to avoid. But the re-
at a time. So, as painful as that close feeling is, it is a good feeling, too. When you’re no longer in pain, you won’t be as close to the memories, either.” If we can extract a positive experience from the intensity of grief, then imagine how wonderful it would be to feel true joy. To be open to feeling one, we have to be open to feeling the other. And that is the rub. And that is only half the story. We’re not just talking about the delight in a light drizzle with a rainbow appearing across the sky. The real joy comes from connecting deeply with another human being. And that requires the openness to feeling whatever the vast array of feelings you might have – and being willing to express all that. That’s vulnerability. Yes, it is scary. It’s also profound and beautiful.
We all have layers of protection and very often we are protecting ourselves from ourselves.
BEING ALIVE G-d gave us feelings and we are meant to use them, not hide them. We are supposed to enjoy and learn through our five senses – there are brachos or traditions for all of them. He also created emotions, and we are supposed to feel those as well. When we feel our feelings, both sensory and emotional, we open up a channel of knowing. We learn about the world around us and within us. In other words, we are connected
of the greatest disconnect short of death: depression. The depressed person may very well feel his own feelings of sadness but that is all he can feel. He is unable to grasp the feelings of others; he doesn’t enjoy his food; he doesn’t sleep well (or he sleeps too much for escape). The more detached from his feelings he is, the less alive he is. Feeling feelings deeply feels alive ---as opposed to walking around in a
ality is that sometimes pain feels good, too. A woman many years ago came to me in Florida because she could not stop grieving over the loss of her son. I told her, “You feel intense pain because you still feel the strong connection to your son. When people say ‘time heals,’ it’s not that time actually does something. Rather, life happens and we get busy with so many other things that we start to forget. Eventually, we literally may not think of our loss at all for days
Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@ drdeb.com.
OWN YOUR DREAM FLORIDA VACATION HOME
UNIQUE HOME on a huge lot in the heart of
Boca Raton
101
4-6 Bedrooms • 5 Baths Jacuzzi Tubs • Double Sided Fireplaces & More!
3,400 SQ FT UNDER AIR 4,400 SQ FT TOTAL
Totally unique home on huge lot, within the Eruv and directly across from the yeshiva and community shul in the heart of the new heimishe East Boca Community. Only a two-minute walk from Kosher eateries, and a ten-minute walk from the Florida Intracoastal. and local beaches. .
SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY
7 18.288.8434
102
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Health & F tness
Childhood Obesity By Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN
I
t is well-known that the obesity epidemic is on the rise – for adults as well as children. Just exactly how bad is it? In the United States, nearly 40% of adults and 19% of our youth is obese. However, this trend is not just among Americans; it’s global as well. Globally, in 2016 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 41 million. Even more, “Over 40 years we have gone from about 11 million to a more than tenfold increase to over 120 million obese children and adolescents throughout the world,” lead author Majid Ezzati of Imperial’s School of
Public Health, said. Additionally, 213 million children aged 5-19 were overweight last year – they just didn’t make the “obese” threshold. These may just sound like numbers and mere statistics but unfortunately for many this hits close to home. Childhood obesity is a real problem in our society and something must be done. The dangers of childhood obesity is that it puts these individuals at a greater risk of developing Type II diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and other chronic diseases as an adult. What could be potentially worse than all that is the quality of life for obese children. Being overweight or obese puts children at risk for bullying and low self-esteem. This problem can escalate to depression and a series of harmful consequences. Being that it can be very difficult and stressful, weight loss is a very sensitive topic for
ly active. The summer is obviously a better time to encourage outdoor play, sports, biking, hiking, and swimming. However, take advantage now before the weather really starts to get cold. Additionally, there are many extracurricular activities that involve physical activity that
Encourage your child to be more physically active.
parents of overweight children and definitely for the children themselves. With that said, what is the right approach to weight loss for children? First and foremost, never tell a child that they are fat or heavy. Never put a poor body image into their minds. Never use the term weight loss around your overweight child. Instead, use the terms “healthier” and, perhaps, “more fit.” Encourage your child to be more physical-
are offered all year-round and are great for social interaction as well. Some of these indoor examples are basketball, ice hockey, ice skating, swimming, dance lessons, and gymnastics. If extracurricular activities are not an option for you, try to get your child as active as possible at home. Limit TV and iPad time to reduce sedentary time. The next step is diet. Nutrition for kids is based on the same principles as nutrition for adults.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
103
Early Intervention Services For children birth - 3 years with special needs
Everyone needs the same types of nutrients — such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein and fat. These nutrient-dense foods are important for all kids (and adults): • P rotein. Choose fish, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans, peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds. It can be tricky getting your child to eat fish. Try more kid-friendly fish options such as tuna fish, fish sticks, breaded fish, or even kani sticks. Eggs are a great meal for kids. They are packed with protein and are also rich with iron which is important in the diet since iron deficiency anemia is very prevalent in kids. Give your child egg salad, hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets, or however they like it. Involving your child in the preparation and cooking process also excites them. • Fruits. Encourage your child to eat a variety of fresh, canned, frozen or dried fruits. Try to limit the fruit juice. If your child drinks juice, try to dilute it as much as possible and cut down on the cups of juice he/ she is allotted per day. • Vegetables. Serve a variety of fresh, canned, or frozen vegetables. Aim to provide a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange vegetables, beans and peas, starchy and others, each week. • Grains. Choose whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread,
whole wheat pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, popcorn, and quinoa. Try to limit white bread, white pasta, and, of course, cake and cookies. • Dairy. Encourage your child to eat and drink fat-free or lowfat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. • Limit junk food. Start slowly. First substitute one snack a day for a healthy snack. Healthy snack can be fruits, vegetables, yogurt, a smoothie, non-sugary cereal, or a granola bar. Again, don’t tell your child that he/she is on a diet. Rather explain to them that you are trying to give them healthier foods. Don’t ban any foods. If they request certain foods, or insist on their favorite junk foods, try to convince them to try other healthier options instead or limit the amount of times they can have that food but never completely reject it. Keep in mind that these changes will be hard, and it can be a very sensitive time your child. Hold his/her hand every step of the way and provide constant support and encouragement.
Cindy Weinberger MS, RD, CDN, is a Master’s level Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist. She graduated CUNY Brooklyn College receiving a Bachelor’s in Science and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences. She is currently a dietitian at Boro Park Center and a private nutrition consultant. She can be reached at CindyWeinberger1@gmail.com.
Services Provided l
Evaluations
l
Feeding Therapy
l
Special Education
l
Nutrition Counseling
l
Service Coordination
l
Family Support/Counseling
l
Speech/Language Therapy
l
Physical & Occupational Therapy
l
ABA Program – Center & Home Services
Routines Based Interventions & Collaborative Coaching
ING
SERV
FAR AY KAW ROC
TO REFER YOUR CHILD TO THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM CALL 311. This Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a public program for children under the age of three who are either suspected of having or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. EIP is funded by NYS and NYC. All EIP services are provided at no cost to parents. Health insurance may be used for approved services. A child’s eligibility for the program can be determined only by state-approved evaluators under contract, and all services must be authorized by the NYC Early Intervention Program.
For more information about CHALLENGE: T. 718.851.3300 W. challenge-ei.com
104
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Health & F tness
Sleep Training and Babies By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH, FAAP
G
etting babies to sleep through the night is one of the questions most often addressed to pediatricians. For some parents, it’s a nonissue. For others, it’s a barrage of negative emotions. Here are nine points for babies up to 12 months of age based on my 30+ years as a pediatrician, father and grandfather. 1. Make sleep a priority. Why should you be concerned about your baby’s sleep? All human brains – including yours and your baby’s – run on sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has linked babies’ frequent night wakings to many things, including postpartum depression in moms to future obesity and behavior problems in kids. Children who don’t get enough consolidated REM sleep have shorter attention spans, so they don’t learn as well. These babies also release more of the stress hormone cortisol, setting them up for frequent night wakings and stunted naps.
2. L et’s define “sleeping through the night” according to scientific terms. When physicians speak about sleeping through the night, they mean that the baby sleeps 5-8 hours straight by the time he’s 6-months-old. Please ignore the “but my baby is sleeping 12 hours straight” comments. I highly doubt that’s the case as babies typically don’t drop a night feed until they’re between 5 to 12 months of age. 3. Make sure your baby is ready for sleep training. Speak to your pediatrician to discuss issues you or your child might have that will affect sleep. If your baby, for example, has colic or acid reflux, their sleep will be disturbed. Likewise,
sleep will be impacted if there were complications with the birth. Your pediatrician should guide you for how often your baby should be sleeping or eating during a 24-hour period. Eating solids is an important foundation to sleeping longer stretches. Make sure your baby has the 5 signs of self-soothing: (1) sucking on hands and fingers; (2) bringing hands to midline; (3) burrowing into a parent’s armpit to turn off stimulation; (4) developing a whiny, self-soothing cry; and (5)
during the night for as long as you thought. Five minutes of fussing can feel like 50 minutes when it’s 2 a.m. 5. Create a routine. Fifteen minutes is all you need to create a quiet, soothing time filled with Krias Shema, lullabies and other quiet singing, reading books, and cuddling to reassure your baby that you love him. Keep anything stimulating (i.e., an iPad or television) out of the picture. If your baby is
Sleep training successfully is a team effort.
rolling on his side or tummy. Once these milestones are met, sleep training becomes an option. Also, is your spouse on board? Sleep training successfully is a team effort. 4. Log your baby’s sleep. A log will help you notice patterns. It’s hard to remember how many times your baby woke up last night, let alone recall what happened last week. Track his sleeping patterns – both day and night – over one week. Then you’ll have objective information to start figuring out a bedtime. You might notice, “Oh, he’s always fussy at 7 p.m. – that’s probably when I should be putting him down, and I’m missing the window.” A log will also let you see that your baby may not have cried
over 6-months-old, you may give him a blanket or stuffed animal. 6. Pick a start time. Yes, there’s no time like the present but let’s be smart about this. It will take several nights and possibly up to two weeks. Make sure your calendar is clear so you can focus on the process. Some parents choose a Thursday night and then use the weekend for follow up. No one yet has told me they used vacation days for this purpose. 7. Create the right environment. The crib should be a completely flat surface with a tightly fitted sheet. No bumpers or toys please in the crib. Make sure the room is cool (no more than 70 degrees) and dark. You might want to install room
darkening shades. A nightlight is a good idea. 8. Put them baby in the crib drowsy but still awake. Run through your routine – Krias Shema, lullabies, stories, etc. Then when you baby is drowsy, put him in the crib before he’s fully asleep. Expect some tears, especially if he’s accustomed to going to sleep in your arms. Wait outside the room in increments of 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes before going back, talking reassuredly to him without patting him on the back or picking him up. You may give him the pacifier. Note: this step may have to be repeated several times. 9. Be consistent. Regression is normal even when you think you’re over the hump of sleep training. Accept it and be consistent in getting your baby back on track to sleeping longer stretches at night. Has traveling or yom tov wreaked havoc with your baby’s sleeping? Is your baby teething? These can cause sleep interruptions. Stay calm and just get back on track right away. Good habits begin when your baby is little and will lay the foundation for other good habits. Don’t listen to everyone else – follow your own G-d-given intuition. Every child is unique. Sleep well. Dr. Hylton Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at #dr.lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
105
R
O
EL
LDES 'S O T
SE G U LA RAH
TO
EI
TH
TEHPILoLwIeMr
H
KLAL YI S
בס"ד
P
EC
BN
E
R
IO
US
TEH
O ILLIM, EMPL
YE
D
BY
TEHILLIM KOLLEL MEMBERSHIP LANDS A GREAT JOB
R
ochel was always a happy child. Now, at 22, her natural spirit has been dampened by the trials of life. For over a year, she has been seeking a job in her profession. While we live in Toronto, Canada, Rochel wanted a job in NY, where she felt she would have also have a greater chance of finding a shidduch. But no job, no shidduch… no happiness. I watched Rochel become more sad and despairing each day. It broke my heart. I couldn’t watch her suffer anymore. I davened to Hashem for help, and he placed this random idea in my head. I flipped through the newspapers all the time, glanced at those Tehillim Kollel stories, but never put too much thought into what they had to offer. But now, it seemed like a message from Hashem: “Call! Their honest and dedicated Tefillos are what you need!” So I signed up my Rochel. And 10 days later, I repeat, 10 days later, she got a job! A great job, a job in NY, exactly what she was looking for. And over the next couple of days, I watched my Rochel bloom and transform back into the Rochel I knew, happy and contented. We daven that the next step should be a good shidduch and that we continue to watch our Rochel grow and thrive!
15
DA I LY
OPERATIONS A R O U N D T H E WO R L D !
WILLIAMSBURG | ביהמ״ד דינובMONROE ציון הרה״ק | מסאטמאר זצ״לMIRON | ציון הרשב״י במירוןYERUSHULAYIM | קבר שמעון הצדיקAMUKA | ציון רבי יונתן בן עוזיאלBEIT SHEMESH | קבר ָדּן בן יעקבTZFAS (1) | ציון האר”י הקדוש TZFAS (2) | ציון רבי לייב בעל יסוריםTZFAS (3) ציון רבי שלמה | אלקבץTEVARYA (1) | ציון של״ה הקדושTEVARYA (2) ציון | רבי מאיר בעל הנסEIN ZEITIM ציון רבי יהודה בר אלעאי | ENGLAND | ציון הרה״ק משאץ זי״עBELGIUM ציון הרה״ק רבי | איציקל ורבי יענקלע זצ״לMONSEY ציון הרה״ק מריבניץ זצ״ל
CONTACT TEHILLIM KOLLEL TODAY:
718.705.7174
info@TehillimKollel.org | www.TehillimKollel.org
106
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
In The K
tchen
Strawberry Bread and Butter Pudding By Naomi Nachman I always have leftover challah after Shabbat and I hate throwing it out. The typical use for leftover challah is to make French toast or homemade bread crumbs. My mum in Sydney, Australia, makes a delicious version of a bread and butter pudding using her leftover challah. This is my twist on her recipe by adding in pre-sliced strawberries.
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.
Ingredients 2 large challahs, sliced 1 box sliced frozen strawberries, defrosted according to directions 2-3 sticks unsalted butter, softened and divided 3 ½ cup whole milk 1 ½ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 6 large eggs Pinch salt 1 tablespoon cinnamon/sugar mixture
Preparation Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter each slice of bread on both sides, reserving 2 tablespoons of butter to grease a 9x13-inch pan. Place the buttered bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Grease a 9x13 pan with remaining butter. Place a layer of the sliced challah in the buttered dish. Then spread a layer of strawberries across the bread. Add another layer of bread followed by strawberries and repeat layers till bread and strawberries are done. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, cream, vanilla, eggs, sugar, and salt. Whisk until well combined. Pour the creamy egg mixture over the buttered bread in the pan. Press the bread down just slightly and make sure the bread is well-coated. Cover in saran wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour (or even overnight). Lower oven to 350°F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Unwrap bread pudding and place in the oven to bake until toasted, puffed and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store remaining bread pudding covered in the refrigerator. Yields 12
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Suit Central
456 Central Ave, Cedarhurst NY 11516 516.791.1925
Sunday 11-6, Mon-Thurs 11-7 Friday 10:30-2:30
Home of the Famous Non-Iron Shirt
Winter Merchandise is Here! Scarves, Gloves and Earmuffs at Low Prices!
Boys Coats
Mens Coats
Full, 3/4 and Half Length
Full, 3/4 and Half Length
$109-$179
$119-$199
Now carrying 180s earmuffs! BALTIMORE • BROOKLYN • CEDARHURST • CHICAGO • LAKEWOOD • MONSEY • TORONTO Must mention this ad. Not valid with any other offer, special or discount. We are not responsible for typos. All prices are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.
107
108 22
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
Three titanic egos – Barack, Hillary, and Debbie – had stripped the party to a shell for their own purposes. - Donna Brazile, who took over the Democratic National Committee in middle of the 2016 campaign because of a scandal involving the former head, describing in her new book what a mess the party was behind the scenes
The Winter Olympics are just 100 days away! That means you have just 100 days to pretend you understand curling. - Jimmy Fallon
I’m no hero. I think my L-rd protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done. And I wish I could’ve gotten there faster, but I didn’t know what was happening. - Stephen Willeford, talking about shooting the Texas church killer
It’s disappointing, it’s sad, and this is what you’ll get from the far secular left. People who do not have faith don’t understand faith, I guess I’d have to say. - Speaker of the House Paul Ryan responding to those that mocked his statement that his “thoughts and prayers” are with the people injured and killed in the Texas church
This is the moment I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. - Shalane Flanagan, the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon in 40 years
Under FEC law, an individual can contribute a maximum of $2,700 directly to a presidential campaign. But the limits are much higher for contributions to state parties and a party’s national committee. Individuals who had maxed out their $2,700 contribution limit to the campaign could write an additional check for $353,400 to the Hillary Victory Fund – that figure represented $10,000 to each of the 32 states’ parties who were part of the Victory Fund agreement – $320,000 – and $33,400 to the DNC. The money would be deposited in the states first, and transferred to the DNC shortly after that. Money in the battleground states usually stayed in that state, but all the other states funneled that money directly to the DNC, which quickly transferred the money to Brooklyn [Clinton headquarters]. - Ibid., explaining how Hillary gamed the system and skirted campaign finance laws
It is particularly troubling and puzzling that she would seemingly buy into false Russian-fueled propaganda, spread by both the Russians and our opponent, about our candidate’s health. - From an open letter by former Hillary Clinton staffers responding to Donna Brazile disclosing that she considered replacing Hillary on the ballot due to health issues that came to light after Hillary collapsed at a 9/11 ceremony
MORE QUOTES
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Celebrating
25 YEARS & COUNTING
BOTTOMLINEMG.COM / 718.377.4567
A LOOK BACK... Shevy Wigs
Runway Event, 2016
Torah Academy of Boca Raton Relationship Presentation Brochure, 2011
Noach Dear for Civil Court
Targeted MultiChannel Marketing Campaign, 2007
109
110
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
I always liked Rush [Limbaugh]. When I went to Palm Beach I would always meet with Rush and we’d go play golf. But you know, who was that right-wing guy, [Mark] Levin? He went really crazy right and got a big audience, and he dragged [Sean] Hannity to the dark side. He dragged Rush to the dark side. And these guys—I used to talk to them all the time. And suddenly they’re beating the living [daylights] out of me. I had a conversation with Hannity, probably about the beginning of 2015. I called him and said, “Listen, you’re nuts.” We had this really blunt conversation. Things were better for a few months, and then it got back to being the same-old, sameold. Because I wasn’t going to be a right-wing idiot. - Former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), in an interview with Politico
John were you sober when you said this? That conversation never happened. I’m sorry you are bitter and u failed! - Tweet by Sean Hannity in response
I’m happy with my iPhone 8 – which is the same as the iPhone 7 - Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on why he’s holding off on the iPhone X
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
23
I want to say congratulations to the Houston Astros, who won the World Series last night! What a great week for our guest tonight, Jose Altuve. He’s the shortest player in Major League Baseball. First, he wins the World Series, then he found out he’s going to Disney World, then he heard he’s tall enough to ride almost all the roller coasters. - Jimmy Fallon
He did not react this way when a white person shot dozens of people in Las Vegas. He did not come and say, “Well, we have to do an immediate policy change, we have to give this guy the death penalty.”
- Pundit Eli Stokols on MSNBC arguing that President Trump is biased because he called for the death penalty for the Islamic terrorist who carried out the terrorist attack in New York last week (who is in custody) but didn’t call for the death penalty for the Las Vegas shooter (who was killed at the scene)
I totally get what he did. It’s in response to Muslims dying every day as a result of this ongoing conflict. Why doesn’t the media cover that? The U.S. needs to get out and let us run our own affairs. But as long as they meddle and interfere, these terrorist attacks will continue to happen. - Abu Mohammad, who lives in Paterson, NJ, and who prays at the same mosque as the Islamic terrorist that carried out the attack in New York City, talking to the DailyMail.com about his fellow mosque member and what he did
The NFL has hurt us. We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this.
- John Schnatter, CEO of Papa John’s, which is a sponsor of the NFL, expressing his disappointment on a conference call last week about the NFL’s ongoing player protests during the national anthem
MORE QUOTES
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
37
111
th
AnnuAl DinnER
over three decades of true torah chinuch
e h t e v a S ate! D
WEdnEsday, January 10, 2018 כ"ג טבת תשע"ח
ThE sands aTlanTic BEach 1 3 9 5 B e e c h S t r e e t, Atl Antic BeAch nY 11509 h
o
n
o
r
i
n
g
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Gross GuEsTs oF honor
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Elisha Horowitz
Rabbi & Mrs. dovid Plotkin
G r a n d pa r E n Ts o F T h E y E a r
pa r E n Ts o F T h E y E a r
d i n n E r c h a i r m E n Henry Schachar w A l e x E de l ma n Journal chairmEn Yitzy Halpern w Yoni kutner w Yitzchok Feder
siachyitzchok.org/dinner
F o r d i n n E r r E s E rvaT i o n s o r To p l a c E a n a d p l E a s E c o n Ta c T: emAil
dinner@siachyitzchok.org
Phone
718-327-6247
fAx
718-471-0925
112 24
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
The Arabic chant Allahu akbar, G-d is great — sometimes said under the most beautiful of circumstances and too often we hear of it being said in moments like this. - CNN’s Jake Tapper shortly after the Islamic terrorist attack in New York
All of these liberals talk about how “Allahu akbar” is a peaceful term. Try this— walk into a restaurant in Manhattan and scream, “Allahu akbar.” Watch how quickly all of the liberals dive under the tables. - Mark Steyn
There’s a new study that says most Americans think right now is the lowest point in U.S. history. Not because of Trump – because we have seven TV shows about decorating cakes. - Jimmy Fallon
MORE QUOTES
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
113 25
It was a letter that is all the more remarkable when you consider its length, its context and its sensitivity. First, it was exceptionally concise – just 67 words and one single sentence. In my experience such brevity is not typically a feature of letters from the Foreign Office! – Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May at a dinner celebrating 100 years since the Balfour Declaration
It’s the best thing we could ever possibly do. The Astros inspired the city. We’re thrilled to give this money back to excited customers. We bleed orange out here.
These people, they come to the country and they hurt us. I just think that vetting should be a lot more difficult to allow these people who come into the country, especially a single man. You get these radicals, and my son is the victim.
- Jim McIngvale, aka “Mattress Mack,” who said he’d refund customers of his Gallery Furniture store who spent $3,000 on mattresses if the Houston team took the World Series and now has to return $10 million to customers, in an interview with the Houston Chronicle
- James Drake, whose 32-year-old son Darren was killed in the New York terrorist attack last week carried out by a radical Islamist who immigrated to the U.S.
114
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
A Fulfilled L fe
Are You Taking a Workplace Lonely? By Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff
F
or millions of people worldwide, the act of taking selfies has become an integral part of the social media experience. Selfies are internationally pervasive and evoke strong reactions from those that encounter them. In a hysterical clip about selfies, comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hits hard on selfie takers. In his words, the act of taking a selfie should be called “taking a lonely.” “Do you know how alone you have to be,” he asks, “to take a picture of yourself?” As funny as Maniscalco’s rant is, there is a deep element of scientific truth in it. For many, selfie taking is, in fact, the product of being alone. Lead researcher Dr Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol, of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Bangkok, said: “Not only do individuals who become obsessed with taking selfies tend to feel that their personal lives and psychological well-being are damaged, but they may feel that relationship qualities with others are also impaired.” NIDA researchers also found that
a vast majority of those studied spent more than 50 percent of their spare time on either their mobile phone or scouring the internet. Moreover, experts believe that both men and women who have lonely personalities tend to take more selfies for approval from other people.
socially acquainted, making friends, deepening relationships, etc.), the truth is that it plays a significant role in the workplace as well. Workplace loneliness is often measured by how many people surround and interact with you while at work. Some argue that the loneliest profes-
“Do you know how alone you have to be to take a picture of yourself?” (Such people also use selfies to control their image. In the words of Dr. Charoensukmongkol, “Taking selfies allows individuals to control what other people see in the photos; it is not surprising that those who exhibit these narcissistic characteristics tend to like selfies because it helps them achieve this personal goal.”) While we often think of loneliness as something that afflicts people when in “social mode” (becoming
sionals in the world are those who toil in isolation, with limited opportunity for interpersonal communication. These include writers, poets, and scientific researchers working in remote outposts. Yet there are others who weigh loneliness not by the frequency or infrequency of their interactions with others but rather with the quality of such exchanges. Therapists, for example, often feel lonely, despite the many deep conversations that they
have on an average day. Because they tend to spend so much of their time listening and giving to others, they do not benefit from the balanced conversation and idea exchange that meets their own social needs. The same could be said for teachers. I once read a book that posited that classroom teaching was the world’s loneliest position. The author argued that teachers were required to go into independent classrooms each day and spend many hours alone with students, hardly a satisfying set of social partners. They often had little time to chat with peers and even less time engaging in meaningful learning and problem solving activities with colleagues. As a former classroom teacher, I know that it can feel lonely at times to occupy your day communicating with others who are not your peers and cannot relate to your experiences and passions. Still, I suggest that the loneliest job may very well be that of a leader, whether it’s the leader of the free world, a school principal, or a CEO. Most employees have others in the workplace that they can turn to for
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
advice, feedback and/or companionship. They can ask questions on how to get things done and work through tough times with their peers without unreasonable concern that they will be unnecessarily or unfavorably judged (or worse). They can share a joke in the office, fill their March Madness brackets, and comfortably discuss what’s going on in their personal lives. They can also “hang” with their associates after work, as a natural extension of their time together in the office. Leaders, on the other hand, have fewer people to turn to when things get tough. Who in the organization, after all, has had to sign off on the types of decisions that they must make each day? It can certainly be difficult to confide in and bare their souls to direct reports. And those who sit above them in the corporate or organizational food chain (such as the chairman of the board) are also not the ones to whom they want to display weakness or vulnerability. Furthermore, it can be awkward and inappropriate for bosses to try to chum up with their coworkers. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with occasional out-of-work interaction. Many times it can be both fun and healthy and offers all parties the chance to see each other in a different light. But at the end of the day the boss is the boss, and that still spells social isolation for the guy calling the shots. For these reasons I strongly advocate leader participation in peer learning/advisory groups. Not only do such settings provide leaders with meaningful learning opportunities to strengthen their skills and augment their toolkits, but they also offer safe havens for leaders to open up about problems to others who can relate to their struggles and provide concrete suggestions if not solutions. Oftentimes, these business convenings also develop into social relationships that add balance to the lives of these high-powered execs. Leaders should also make time to attend classes and trainings with members of their executive team and board of directors. Learning together and sharing ideas in a “neutral” setting can open up pathways towards deeper bonding that may not otherwise occur. Of course, there are other ways to reduce feelings of loneliness, such as by having a strong network of family and friends to turn to outside the office. Hiring a coach or therapist can also help fill a social void (besides for
the other benefits that they offer), as can networking events, dinner parties, social clubs, religious congregations, and volunteering in the community. In the words of Dorothy Day, “We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community.” Collect inspirational quotes for when you need them. Read thought-provoking books about leadership as well as personal accounts of triumph and success. Many authors
possess the gift of connecting with their words and building community through the printed or digital page. Lastly, learn to distinguish between loneliness and solitude. Paul Tillich once said, “Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.” Being alone is only a problem when we need others to fill the void of silence. Leaders who can dig deep within themselves for insight and self-encouragement will find the iso-
115
lated time of solitude to be the most clarifying, purifying, and rewarding time that they have in their busy, hectic schedules.
Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is President of Impactful Coaching and Consulting. He can be reached at (212) 470-6139 or at nhoff@impactfulcoaching.com. Buy his new leadership book, “Becoming the New Boss,” on Amazon or at BecomingtheNewBoss.com/order.
116
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Studying Sm
rt
An A+ Application How to Dominate Admissions By Chaim Homnick, MA, MBA
T
he application process for college admissions can be an arduous, draining experience. Putting one’s entire life on paper, deciphering byzantine application instructions, and compiling all of the requisite personal information to satisfy the administrative bureaucrats in the Admissions Department can be challenging and time-consuming. To help simplify the experience, below is a broad overview of the college application process (taking into account both undergraduate and graduate admissions when possible). Several sections below may also be relevant to yeshiva, seminary or job applications. Here are some of the factors that play a key role in a student’s college application:
THE BASICS (GRADES) Colleges want intelligent, well-rounded students. For high schoolers, making the right first impression begins with earning good grades. As simple as it sounds, a student’s grades are the first metric he or she will be judged by. Admissions offices receive thousands of applications and, fair or not, GPAs let them
distill each applicant down to a single number that they can compare to the rest of the stack of applications. The same is true for current college students. Graduate programs are competitive and a student’s college GPA and score on tests like the LSAT or MCAT are crucial in determining their options. Admissions for programs within the medical field, for example, are extremely competitive and an elite GPA is almost required to even be considered. For undergraduate programs, most regular colleges want to see an average of at least an 85 to admit a student. For honors programs or scholarships, a 95 or higher is likely necessary in order to receive consideration.
RESEARCH When it comes to advanced preparation, you can never be too well-informed. The application process begins with students working with their parents or advisors to determine which schools or programs they intend to apply to, what the deadlines are, and what the requirements are. Having career goals in mind and matching them to specific
programs or scholarship offers helps make the effort and time spent applying more focused. A student has to know which schools they can apply to using the Common App or CUNY Portal and which schools tack on extra requirements. Additionally, it is imperative that students are cognizant of different schools’ deadlines and don’t miss them or find themselves scrambling at the last second to piece together different components of their applications.
STANDARDIZED TESTS Similar to GPAs, standardized test scores play a significant role in admissions departments. At the undergraduate level, SATs or ACTs are often the first factor in admissions, and in some schools, GPAs and SATs are the only factors they consider for regular admissions. An SAT score of 1100 (ACT equivalent is a 24) is generally the minimum target for acceptance, while a score in the 1300-1400 range puts a student in prime position for scholarships and honors programs. At the graduate level, the LSAT, MCAT, DAT, or GRE scores are crucial metrics in determining what
programs a student is likely to gain admittance to. A student must know which test or tests they may need for their college goals and it is critical that he or she study sufficiently for it. A student shouldn’t spend years in college planning on attending law school without investing time early on researching the LSAT and ensuring that the test fits within their skillset and abilities.
PERSONAL STATEMENTS Many colleges require applicants to write a personal statement. Some colleges replace that with a specific essay prompt, while others require both a personal statement and additional essays in response to a topic. For graduate programs, personal statements and supplemental essays become even more standard. A prior “Studying Smart” column discussed how to write a personal statement that is polished and compelling. The primary goal is to fulfill the mandate of “show, don’t tell.” A student should utilize narrative form to show information about themselves rather than to didactically tell the reader facts about themselves.
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION These letters are an important component of a well-rounded application package. Nonetheless, the majority of students do not get to read what their chosen professors or bosses write about them. That makes selecting the right people extremely important. Colleges expect to read positive reviews as the student selects their own recommenders, so a student should seek recommenders who have a relationship with them and who will write something more personal and effusive than just basic, boilerplate platitudes that could have been written about any of their students.
RÉSUMÉ/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS Most applications ask for a résumé or at least provide a place to list awards, job experience, and community service experience. This provides a more thorough oppor-
tunity for an applicant to delineate their interests and accomplishments than in the personal statement that focuses on a specific episode or experience that reveals their character.
nearly all yeshivas and seminaries utilize interviews to find prospective candidates. All the common-sense tips that apply to job interviews apply here as well. Be
It is critical that students invest the time into researching their options and the particulars of different programs they are interested in.
It is important to be comprehensive and provide a clear, cohesive list of accomplishments that demonstrates that the student is well-rounded.
INTERVIEWS Many graduate school programs conduct interviews. Some undergraduate programs do as well and
well-prepared, dress appropriately, and be articulate and polite. Some people are naturals; others have to invest time practicing mock interviews. Either way, an applicant has to ensure that they put their best foot forward during their interviews! Ultimately, the application pro-
117
cess is comprised of many variables and nuances. Each school can request different information or have a unique process. It is critical that students invest the time into researching their options and the particulars of different programs they are interested in. A well-rounded application package is the first step towards a satisfying stack of acceptance letters and the freedom to determine your own fate! Chaim Homnick is the College Advisor at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Lawrence and also teaches 5 periods of Honors/AP English Literature. Chaim is the owner of Five Towns Tutoring (fivetownstutoring. com). He scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and the LSAT and tutors both extensively along with most Regents exams. He has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and an MBA. For questions, comments, previous articles or tutoring, he can be reached directly at chomnick@gmail. com or 305-321-3342.
FIVE TOWNS
TUTORING SAT/Act groups by chaim homnick
It is never too early to start preparing for the new SAT or the ACT. Sign up now for one of our courses taught by someone who scored in the 99th percentile, has an exclusive booklet of tips and techniques for each section, and can help your child gain the requisite skills for success on ALL SAT/ACT subjects and sections. Don’t hire a tutor who doesn’t know the entire test or who didn’t score in the top percentile. • • • • •
Weekly courses start now!
10 and 20 hour courses available, customized to your schedule. Girls groups given by SAT expert Mrs. Aviva Dennis. Groups available for 10th-12th graders. All materials provided, including an exclusive booklet of tips and techniques for each section. Join a group or make your own--We can come to you!
Other services we offer: LSAT, Regents, Career/College Advisement, Personal Statement/Resume Writing
SAT/ACT Group Prices (for groups of 4+): 10-hour course -- $400 per student *Groups of 2 or 3 students cost $1500 total for 10 hours. **Individual sessions available. Time slots are limited. **
FIVE TOWNS JEWISH HOME SPECIAL: Create a group yourself and save!
Make a 10-hour group of… 4 students and receive $100 off for your child 5 students--$200 off for your child 6+ students--Your child goes free!
For more information or to register contact
Chaim Homnick
305-321-3342
chomnick@gmail.com
Visit us online
fivetownstutoring.com
118
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Forgotten Her es
Brilliant Maneuvers in the Sky By Avi Heiligman
A
ir force pilots and aircrew are a breed of their own. Smart, quick-thinking and daring, these pilots fly the best airplanes manufacturers have to offer. Many times these planes are built for a specific task so the pilots have to adjust to correctly fly the plane. Here are a few stories and missions of some of the best planes the U.S. Air Force has in its arsenal. Qualifying to fly a SR-71 Blackbird seemed almost impossible to a pilot with a background story of Major Brian Shul (who is not Jewish despite his last name). His AT-28 Trojan attack plane was shot down near Cambodia during the Vietnam War. He made a crash landing in the jungle and was badly burnt when the plane went up in a fireball. Air Force Pararescue teams made a daring rescue operation avoiding enemy patrols that were actively searching for Shul. Shul was in the hospital for two months, and fifteen operations later he was told that he would never fly again. After intensive physical therapy he passed flight training and became an instructor. Wanting to fly in the Mach 3+ (mach is the speed of sound) SR-71 Blackbird, he was told that he would have to pass essentially what was astronaut training. Blackbird pilots wear spacesuits because they are flying at really high altitudes. Shul was told that they couldn’t flunk him even though the air force tried to have him excluded from the program because of his injuries. For the next four years Shul flew
Brian Shul flying in the SR-71 Blackbird
in the Blackbird and as an amateur photographer took some amazing pictures of the plane in flight. The plane performed beautifully, and Shul took his to max that it would go. Over Libya he flew his fastest time, which was something in the range of 35 miles a minute. Then he recorded the slowest speed that the plane was ever recorded at flying. The plane was returning from a mission over Europe to its home base in England when Shul and his backseater, Walt Watson, received a radio message to do a flyby over a small RAF base. However, they had problems finding the base due to the fact they were looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Their reference point was a tower among the trees, and to find it Shul slowed from 325 MPH to 275 MPH. Still, there was no airfield through the fog and haze, and the plane went slower. Suddenly he looked at the speedometer and realized to his shock that he was flying at about 180 MPH –near stall speed. Shul put on the afterburners to gain speed just as the plane came into full view of the spectators at the airbase. They were in for a show that few SR71 observers had ever seen as it flew past spitting out flames at it gained the speed for which it is famous. The Blackbird was retired in 1999 and became known as the best spy plane in the world. Just one hazy morning over England, however, it became one of legend. Aerial gunnery on bombers became an art form during World War
II. Many of the American long range bombers did not have fighter escorts and to protect themselves had several gunner strategically placed around the aircraft. During the Vietnam War, the communists were flying the best Russian-built planes. Since the American Air Force was focused on destroying ground forces and there weren’t a huge number of enemy planes in the sky, aerial gunners were mainly an afterthought. B-52 Stratofortress gunner Sgt. Albert Moore changed that perception on December 24, 1972. His B-52D, nicknamed the “Diamond Lil,” was taking part in Operation Linebacker II in which over 200 B-52s and 2,000 other aircraft would severely damage Vietnamese infrastructure. Several American planes were lost but only three were shot down by enemy planes. Only 100 or so Vietnamese planes contested the bombing campaign but they were led by the famed MiG-21. Moore was his bomber’s tail gunner when “I observed a target in my radar scope 8:30 o’clock, low at eight miles. I immediately notified the crew, and the ‘bogie’ started closing rapidly. It stabilized at 4,000 yards, 6:30 o’clock. I called the pilot for evasive action and the [electronic warfare officer] for chaff and flares. When the target got to 2,000 yards, I notified the crew that I was firing. I fired at the bandit until it ballooned to three times in intensity, then suddenly disappeared from my radar scope at approximately 1,200 yards, 6:30 low. I expended 800 rounds in
three bursts.” Moore scored the kill and had the last confirmed kill from a bomber using machine guns. Certain aircraft just aren’t built to knock off enemy planes but that’s just what one EF-111A Raven did during the Gulf War in 1991. The Raven is an electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures aircraft that was cheap to build and can go as fast as Mach 2.2. Like the Blackbird, its main defense was its speed but its service ceiling was only half of the Blackbird’s capabilities. Instead of missiles and weapons the Raven was filled with sophisticated gear designed to jam enemy radar and search and tracking equipment that the enemy may employ. Since it was so devastating to the Iraqi defenses, Iraqi commanders had Mirages and MiGs ready to strike at any Raven lurking around. Captain James Denton and Captain Brent Brandon found themselves being chased by an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 while escorting a nighttime bombing mission. This was the first night of the air war, and two F-111As were leading twenty-two F-15 Strike Eagles on a mission to bomb enemy airfields in western Iraq. Two air-to-air missiles barely missed the Raven who, besides performing evasive maneuvers, was able to release “chaff” to fool the enemy missiles. An F-15 now joined the fight and had the Mirage locked onto its radar. Denton then flew the Raven close to the desert floor with
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
the Mirage closely pursuing its prey. Using its sophisticated radar, Denton navigated the rocky terrain and suddenly yanked the throttle sending the Raven skyward with its powerful engines. The Mirage pilot had lost situational awareness and crashed his plane into smithereens on the desert floor. An unarmed plane had managed to chalk up an unofficial kill against a powerful enemy. Flying a military plane is an accomplishment without having flown in combat. The pilots and aircrew described in this article went above and beyond normal expectations. Sometimes the given mission runs into unexpected complications, and it is up to the wit and daring of the aircrews to get them and their plane back to base safely. 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.
The Diamond Lil participated in Operation Linebacker II
• FREE Pickup and Delivery always! • Wash & Fold Laundry Service • Expert Tailoring, Same Day Work Available • Special Discounts for Rabbis. Teachers. Hatzolah and Chaverim • Shomer Shabbos Owned and Operated
Call (718)887-9886
o ys to d a w t n nie conve cleaning. 3 w o at N ry op off r d your d d n up a y pick home. l k e e W pickup your d n a off e drop ervice. d i s b r Cu es In stor
or call/text (917) 612-2300 email otmdrycleaners@gmail.com for the next scheduled pickup. Sign up FCC- Fr now for our equ Club an ent Cleaner d ge with ea t savings ch orde r
68-26 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11367
119
120
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Classifieds SERVICES Alternative Solutions Geriatric Care Management staff will assist you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242 LEAH'S BEAUTY CONCEPTS BY: LEAH SPERBER Experienced Electrolysis & Laser Hair Removal. Professional Makeup Applications & Lessons. Relaxing Deep Cleansing Facials For All Skin Types. Full line Of Ilike Organic & Hypoallergenic Skincare , Natural & Long Lasting Makeup. Call Leah 917-771-7329 Flexible Appointments. SAFE ~ PERMANENT ~ DISCRETE Struggling with Shalom Bayis? The Shalom Bayis Hotline 732-523-1112. Caring rabbanim answering your questions for free. So far very positive results BS’D! HAIR COURSE Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009 SHALOM HANDYMAN Plumbing, heating, boiler, installation, sewer, locks, dryer vent cleaning and more… CALL 917-217-3676 Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/women Group/private sessions Gift Cards Available www. Peacefulpresence.com 516 -371 -3715 GERBER MOVING FULL SERVICE MOVING Packing Moving Supplies Local Long Distance Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422
HOUSES FOR SALE CEDARHURST: 3 FAMILY HOME 5BR, 3.5BA 2 Car Garage, Great Investment, Close To All…$699K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HOUSES FOR SALE Don’t Get Stuck With a Two Story House Ya Know, It’s One Story Before You Buy It But a Second Story After You Own It! Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com
Can’t afford your property taxes? Mortgage? Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!
WOODMERE: CHOICE PROPERTIES • 316 Longacre Ave. $999,999 Location, Location, Location. Low Taxes • 1075 Cedar Lane $449,999 Best Value in town. 4BR • 302 Longacre A3 $118,000 Jr. 4, First Floor, Walk all locations C. Slansky BROKER 516-655-3636 HEWLETT: 3BR, 2.5BA Exp-Cape In SD#14, Den W/Sliders To Florida Rm, Formal DR, Kitchen W/Granite Counter Tops, Full Fin Basement W/Half Bath, Deck & Terrace, Near All…$525K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com LAWRENCE: NEW LISTING Very Large Split Level Home, Prime Location, 9BR, 5 Full Baths, Lot Size 103 x 118, Eik, Formal DR, Den W/Fplc & Sauna…$1.199M Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com WOODMERE: NEW LISTING Lots of Potential!!! 5BR, 3 Full Bath Exp-Ranch, Oversized Rooms, Formal DR, Prime Location, Great Sun Porch Overlooking Large Property, Huge Finished Basement, SD#14…$975K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
COMMERCIAL RE 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
COMMERCIAL RE
COMMERCIAL RE
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
FAR ROCKAWAY: 8,600SF DayCare/School Available, Various Classrooms, Offices, MultiPurpose Room, Kitchenette & Bathrooms, Ready to Go!!! For Lease …Call For More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
CEDARHURST: 3,300 +/- SF Retail Space with Basement, Municipal Parking Lot in Rear & Street Parking, Corner Building, Prime Location, Very High Ceilings & Lots of Windows, For Lease… Call Ian for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com EAST ROCKAWAY: 1,500+/-SF Office Space in Professional Elevator Bldg W/Full Bsmt & Ample Parking, 3 Private Offices, Conference Rm, Bullpen & Reception Area, For Lease… Call for More Details Broker (516) 792-6698
ISLAND PARK: 1,400+/-SF Storefront with Office Space and Kitchenette in Rear, 3 Parking Spots + Municipal Parking, Great Location, For Lease … Call Sean for More Details (516) 2953000 www.pugatch.com INWOOD 10,000 SQ FT BRICK BUILDING. OFFICES AND WAREHOUSE. High ceilings. Asking $18/foot. Owner: 516-206-1100 mark@mbequitygroup.com
Life CAPTURE
I M A G E S LTD PHOTOGRAPHY I VIDEO
GABRIEL SOLOMON
GABE@LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM 516.499.9620 WWW.LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM TJH Classifieds Post your Real Estate, Help Wanted, Services, Miscellaneous Ads here. Weekly Classifed Ads Up to 5 lines and/or 25 words 1 week ................ $20 $10 2 weeks .............. $35 $17.50 4 weeks .............. $60 $30 Email ads to: classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com Include valid credit card info
Deadline Monday 5:00pm
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
121
Legal 3 Family, 5BR, Spacious 2BR, 2BA, Eik, 3BR Cape, Fin Bsmt, 5BR Exp-Ranch, Fin Bsmt, Great Investment..$699K 1st Flr, Parking..$2,650/mo SD#14,Near All..$525K Large Ppty,SD#14..$975K
HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
New From Ground Up, Very Lg Split Level, 9BR, 2BR,Near All..$1,950/mo Lot Size 103x118..$1.199M
Veterans Day Nov. 11 – Lets Remember To Honor All Of Our Veteran Heroes For Their Service!!!
Email Carol at cbraunstein@pugatch.com for any special announcements or events.
Carol Braunstein
Susan Pugatch
(516) 592-2206
295-3000
Call or Text
cbraunstein@pugatch.com
(516)
www.pugatch.com
spugatch@pugatch.com
H E W L E T T: 59 Prospect Ave (12-1:30)$599K NORTH WOODMERE: 728 Turf Rd (12-1:30)$699K WOODMERE: 40 Neptune Ave (2-3:30)$975K WOODSBURGH: 850 Ivy Hill Rd (12:30-2:30)$1.175M
1,600 & 3,900SF Office Suites B e a u t i f u l El e v a t o r Bu i l d i n g Excellent On-Site Parking
4,600+/- SF Store + Bsmt Triple Mint Condition!!! Very Reasonable Rent
122
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Classifieds classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com / text 443-929-4003 COMMERCIAL RE
CO-OP FOR SALE
APT FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
VALLEY STREAM: 1,200+/-SF Office Space, 2nd Floor Walk-Up, features Kitchenette, 3 Small Offices, Conference Room and 2 Bathrooms, Great Location, For Lease … Call Paul for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
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
CEDARHURST: NEW LISTING 2BR, 2BA In 2 Family House, Eik, LR, DR, Washer/Dryer, Very Close To All, Great Location...$2,500/mo Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
REAL ESTATE MANAGER R.E. Management Co. in Bklyn seeking capable & hard working individual . NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Pls email resume to REALTY@CGMAIL.NET (Pls enter resume in subject) or fax to 718-851-3511
WOODMERE: 2,400+/-SF Retail Space with Basement Available, Former Beauty Salon, Great Location, Close to Public Transportation, For Lease…Call Arthur for More Details (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com 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 VALLEY STREAM 2800 SQ. FT. Bright and recently renovated office space available for rent, 7 Private offices, large conference room, beautiful break area with kitchenette. Rent plus one month security required. For lease by owner $3000 per month Call - 516-791-1800 ext. 110
CEDARHURST
2br 1.5bth completely renovated duplex. Use of yard and driveway included. Call Miri 646-515-8813 $2450/month
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
APT FOR RENT PROPERTY OFFER BRAND NEW 1 BEDROOM APT FOR RENT IN FAR ROCKAWAY For Rent By Owner, No Brokerage Involved. Brand new 1 bedroom apartment for rent in Far Rockaway. Brand new construction - new bathroom, new kitchen, new flooring, new walls, washer/dryer hookup. Central location near White Shul/Reads Lane. Asking $1250 - includes utilities. Please call 917-860-5762 for more information.
LAWRENCE
Gut-renovated colonial w/ 4bdms on 1 level. New EIK, hardwood floors. Large yard with deck. Call Bryna (516)322-4831 $729K
NORTH WOODMERE
WOODMERE
New exclusive! Diamnd cond fully rnvtd 4br 3.5bth spl. New kit, bths, floors. Located in heart of N. Wdmre. Call Bryna (516)322-4831 $899K
4/5 br ranch, updated kosher kitchen. Mid block, lrg yard, low taxes. Close to all. Call Chana (516)449-9692 $749K
WOODMERE
LAWRENCE
New to market! Wide line 4br renovated exp ranch in mint condition. All new systems. Low taxes. Call Avigail (516)316-3452 $839K
CEDARHURST
Bright, spacious 3br 2.5bth hi ranch w/ beautiful yard. Fantastic location, close to park, shopping, train. Miri (646)515-8813. $3500/month
Rental Exclusive! 4br 3bth colonial. $3,200/m
WOODMERE
3br 2.5bth colonial with large EIK, den, finished basement. Call Bryna (516)322-4831 $799K
CEDARHURST: Fabulous & Very Spacious 2BR, 2Fbth, Storage Units, Close To All...$2,650/mo Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com FAR ROCKAWAY: Bungalow – New From The Ground Up, Roof, Siding, Eik, 2BR, Near All…$1,950/mo. Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com
HELP WANTED LANDER COLLEGE FOR MEN, A DIVISION OF TOURO COLLEGE IN KEW GARDENS HILLS, IS SEEKING AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. Must have a Bachelor’s Degree and 2 years administrative experience, be well organized and have MS Office expertise. Please fill out an application and send your cover letter and resume through the following link. http:// touro.peopleadmin.com/postings/1895
SECRETARY Real Estate Management office in Boro Pk is seeking a F/T Secretary with gd phone manner, able to multi task & have computer knowledge. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Pls email resume to REALTY@CGMAIL.NET (Pls enter resume in subject) or fax to 718-851-3511 Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, Woodmere, NY seeks a FT Middle School Language Arts Teacher for immediate hire. Resumes to ulubetski@halb.org The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach is seeking Limudei Kodesh and Secular Studies substitute teachers for grades 1-8. Email resume and cover letter to hweiselberg@halb.org
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Classifieds HELP WANTED 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. 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 F/T & P/T REGISTERED NURSE openings to work with adults who have developmental disabilities within residential settings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Long Island. Current NYS RN, min 2 years hospital experience. OHEL: 855-OHEL JOB, www.ohelfamily.org/careers
123
classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003
HELP WANTED 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
MISC
HELP WANTED YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND is looking for a dynamic, positive and professional afternoon assistant for a general studies first or second grade position. Please fax resume to 516-368-9199 or email to office@ykli.org
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
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
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
Brand New Modern Offices for Rent In Heart of Cedarhurst
FOR RENT
➢ Features:
➢ 1,700 Sq. Ft ➢ 2 Bathrooms ➢ 3-4 offices/areas ➢ Office/Retail Space ➢ Beautiful & Sleek Design ➢ Adjacent to Municipal Parking
Great for one or multiple offices of any type!
Rabbi Dovid Fleischmann Certified Mohel
WWW.BABYSMOHEL.COM
Baby-Friendly Care For more information please call:
Sam @ 516-855-8548
Personalized Attention
Expert Skill and Dedicated Service you Deserve
516-314-3236 babysmohel@gmail.com
124
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
Your
Money
Talk About “Prime” Real Estate! By Allan Rolnick, CPA
F
ormer President Jimmy Carter once called our tax code “a disgrace to the human race,” and there’s really not a lot to like about it. There’s at least some consolation, though, in the fact that we’re all stuck with the same maddening rules. If you and your spouse file jointly, and your ordinary taxable income is $100,000, you’ll pay the same amount as any other joint filers reporting the same $100,000 in ordinary taxable income. That’s not always the case with state and local taxes, though. If you’re big enough, and you’re willing to flex a little muscle, you can find someplace willing to court you like royalty. Most cities are more than happy to trade away a bit of property tax on a corporate headquarters in exchange for the payroll taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes they can levy on the people who work there, along with the economic development that comes with new jobs. Other places are willing to offer
flat-out bribes in the form of tax credits. And that brings us to this week’s story.... Amazon. com started life in 1994 as an online bookseller. Since then, though, it’s grown to become the largest online retailer in the world. For four glorious hours this July 29, founder Jeff Bezos was the richest man on the planet. (The company reported
In September, Amazon announced plans to drop $5 billion on a second headquarters equal to their current home in Seattle, codenamed HQ2. They want to locate the new facility in a metropolitan area of at least a million people, within 45 minutes of an international airport, with a highly educated workforce. The lucky winner will get
values up an estimated 2%. They’ll need places to eat, drink, and shop. Amazon reports that every dollar they currently invest in their current headquarters generates $1.40 for Seattle’s economy overall. Naturally, every city in America wants in. By October 18, 238 municipalities had submitted their bribes bids, from 54
Seriously, winning HQ2 is the closest thing any city will ever come to winning the Powerball.
disappointing earnings at the end of that day’s trading, and Bezos’s stock tanked $6 billion overnight. Must have been nice while it lasted!) If you’re reading these words, you’ve bought something from Amazon, and you’re probably one of its 80+ million Prime members.
up to 8 million square feet of new space and up to 50,000 new jobs paying an average of $100,000 per year. But the benefit of the new headquarters will ripple throughout the winning town’s economy. Those 50,000 employees will all need places to live — pushing property
states, provinces, districts, and territories across North America. Seriously, winning HQ2 is the closest thing any city will ever come to winning the Powerball. New Jersey has offered $7 billion in tax rebates if Amazon picks Newark. Pennsylvania has offered up
to $1 billion in breaks, with Philadelphia throwing in $2 billion more over the next 10 years. (That’s a lot of cheesesteaks!) Several cities went even further to stand out from the crowd. Tucson, AZ, sent a 21-foot-tall cactus. The Mayor of Charlotte, NC, declared October 18 to be “#CLTisPrimeDay.” And the town of Stonecrest, Georgia, offered to rename itself Amazon. We realize you don’t have enough muscle to negotiate your own tax rate. The good news is, you may not have to. Remember that tax code that Jimmy Carter called a disgrace to the human race? It’s got 70,000 pages full of deductions, credits, loopholes, and strategies that you can use to pay less. So call us for a plan, and see how much we can deliver! 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 | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
125
Life C ach
There’s Always an Udder Way to Look at It By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
M
ilking cows, feeding chickens, or trying to catch the poaching fox – that used to keep people pretty busy first thing in the AM. Today, it’s battling traffic, waiting in the cold for the school bus, or navigating the ins and outs of the neighborhood during carpool. I’m not sure which early morning activity strikes a more dreadful note. Be that as it may, it’s the fact that evenings come on in full force, as well. You’re either working late, dealing with kids’ homework and sports, carpooling, or battling traffic again! Take your pick! The question is: where’s the downtime – and who wants it anyway? The minute you have too much free time on your hands you’re in trouble! You start exploring the meaning of existence or cleaning out a closet. Both are dangerous pursuits. The process of each has no end in sight. Striking a balance seems to be
the challenge of life. Overly busy or under-booked – neither feels comfortable. Too much on your plate is anxiety provoking. And too little is anxiety provoking as well. No one likes too much to do. And no one’s happy with too little to do. Farm life actually starts to look good from that vantage point. If you were bored you could like...deliver a
worth. But what you define and enjoy as work must be respected too. It can be a job, of course. Or volunteering, running your household, helping someone else ... the idea is for it to deliver self-worth. For those who are not busy enough, keep looking, don’t give up! And for those who are over-
If you were bored you could like...deliver a calf. No long medical training needed.
calf. No long medical training needed. But then again, if you suddenly wanted to get away from working, all your crops might die! There must always be an option to do some kind of work for everyone. It gives a person self-
worked: recognize it’s important for everyone to find ways to have downtime. Even when you feel, I absolutely cannot. Try to change that thinking. Often a sudden outside event certainly does make you restructure your time. Therefore, reg-
ister that if you had to, you would change things up; and so, figure out how to create a break – on your terms! You won’t be a victim of circumstances if you believe. Believe things can change. Believe it can be different. Believe it’s always worth trying. Don’t look back, look forward! Have faith that you can make it better. Don’t live in fear of the future. Address today’s dilemma with optimism. Be less hard on yourself and the people around you. Be not one of little faith because, after all, realize that things have changed. We are all getting milk at the supermarket now and not at the udder. So be udderly optimistic; there is always hope!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds. com
126
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home
The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 9, 2017
127
128
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 | The Jewish Home