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March 12, 2026

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Dear Readers,

his week, as I stepped outside early in the morning, I noticed something small but unmistakable: the grass is beginning to grow again. Tiny buds are beginning to pierce through the soil, and little crocuses are showing their purple heads. For months, the ground has looked dull and tired, winter leaving everything muted and still. The earth seemed to be a frozen tundra, buried beneath layers of snow. And then suddenly—almost quietly—tiny shoots of green begin to appear. Spring doesn’t arrive all at once with trumpets and fanfare. It begins with small signs: a patch of grass here, a budding tree there, a warmth in the air that hints at something new. We felt it this week – when the kids threw off their jackets and reveled in the sunlight that stayed out for longer than usual. Spring is the season of moving forward. Nature itself refuses to stay frozen. No matter how harsh the winter, the world slowly begins again. The earth renews itself, life pushes upward, and the cycle continues. Perhaps that’s why this time of year aligns so beautifully with the rhythm of the Jewish calendar. We move from the joy and color of Purim straight toward the freedom of Pesach. One celebration flows into the next, each reminding us of a different kind of redemption. Purim teaches us that even in hidden times, when Hashem’s presence is not obvious, He is guiding every step. Pesach reminds us that redemption can arrive in dramatic and miraculous ways. Judaism is a religion that is always moving forward. Our history is filled with challenges, uncertainty, and moments that seemed overwhelming. Yet the Jewish people have never been defined by the darkness of a moment, but by the direction in which we walk. We keep going. We build, we grow, we rebuild again.

Maybe that is one of the secrets to Jewish survival: we are always looking toward the next step. Even today, as we watch frightening events unfold in Eretz Yisrael and tensions rise with Iran, it would be easy to feel overwhelmed. The headlines are heavy, and the uncertainty is real. Our brothers and sisters are living through days that require tremendous strength and courage. But the Jewish response has always been the same: we move forward. As Jews, moving forward is about holding onto the rope of emunah that binds us to our past. It’s about following in the footsteps of our fathers and the directives of our Creator. And so, we add another tefillah. Another perek of Tehillim. Another act of chessed. We think of the other person and worry about their pain and their challenges. And we remember that Hashem, just as He prepares the earth for spring, is preparing our nation for the ultimate rebirth. We see His Hand in the headlines these days. The victories that could only come about through Him. The leaders of the world who are guided by His plan. The missiles that don’t go off and the strikes that land in empty fields. We see the seeds that He has planted, and we see the little buds of redemption that are beginning to peek through. Spring reminds us that renewal is always possible. That after every winter, growth begins again. And that even in uncertain times, we know where we are headed. Toward geulah, toward brighter days, and toward the moment when the world will finally recognize what we have always known: that Hashem has planted the seeds and is readying His garden for all the world to see. 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

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MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

54 NEWS

126

Global

National

That’s Odd

Iran’s Gulf Gambit

110

ISRAEL

Israel News

From Sirens to Seudah by Barbara Deutsch

104

Skiing for Israel – On One Leg

106

Recalling the 200 Days of Dread

108

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

Partners in Creation by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

100

Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

102

PEOPLE Rabbi Dovid Spiegel, zt”l: A Rebbe Whose Heart Uplifted and Carried His Kehilla

Inspiration Nation

114

Israeli Intelligence Units by Avi Heiligman

150

HEALTH & FITNESS School of Thought

124

Obsessive Thoughts by Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

126

FOOD & LEISURE More Pesach Secrets from Batya’s Kitchen

128

The Aussie Gourmet: Onion Brick Roast

132

LIFESTYLES

128

Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

116

Parenting Pearls

122

The World the Torah Was Arguing Against

Dear Editor, I don’t know if it’s just me noticing, but for the past couple years the music at many simchos have changed in both quality and standard. Of course, many of the standard songs are still played, but then the playlist starts to shift in a different direction. Maybe it’s the ignorance of the DJs or really the ignorance of the people, but it’s time to start seriously monitoring and reviewing what’s going to be played at your future simcha. I know it might be shocking to hear but Hebrew lyrics don’t necessarily mean Jewish music. Israel like any other country has a language and that language can be used to say all sorts of things. There are hundreds of secular Israeli artists that are singing anything but holiness, and when you come to a Jewish bar mitzvah and you hear certain things playing you wonder if you should even stay or not. Lyrics promoting all sorts of secular forbidden activity, not nice words, and often tunes/beats taken directly from non-Jewish music. Why are we playing this? Who is allowing such a thing? Doesn’t it feel awkward to have rabbanim come to your simcha when many of the songs playing came from Tel Aviv? All it takes is a little monitoring and reviewing of what they plan on playing and all this embarrassment can be avoided. I’m not a rabbi and if I’m noticing major problems with the content then anyone can sense it, too. We want our bar mitzvos and chasunas to start with the kedusha it requires for success! Benyamin Rivlin Dear Editor, Etti Siegel’s article this week was wonderful, as always. She writes about how teenagers learn how to treat themselves by role modeling themselves after the adults they see around them. Just days after I

read Etti’s column, I was in a clothing store. A woman was there with her teenage daughters. The salesperson showed the mother a dress. She told the mother, “You lost all your weight” (I’ll save my comment on that for another time). The mother responded, “Oh no! I’m so fat!” I was horrified. First off, who uses that term nowadays – “fat”? Secondly, even if you do feel that you’re overweight, why would you announce that in front of kids, making them think it’s OK to put yourself down – especially over weight? Now, if these teens come home and exclaim that they’re so “fat,” you can’t blame them. Their mother is modeling this denigrating behavior. It’s inevitable that they will perpetuate it. What about if the mother just told the salesperson, “I don’t think that dress is for me,” or “I’m looking for another style,” or “That color was never flattering on me”? Her teens would have seen another role model, one who is confident in who she is and is looking for an outfit that would flatter her figure. Mothers, you have a lot you can showcase to your daughters. Be kind to yourselves – and your children will learn to be kind to themselves, too. Rena Lustig Dear Editor, The only thing worse than a hypocritical politician is a politician who sees value in courting the antisemitic vote. California governor Gavin Newsom, speaking this week at an event promoting his new book, denounced Israel as “sort of an apartheid state,” accused Israel of dragging America into war, and declared that the U.S. should “reconsider” its military assistance to the Jewish state—at the very moment the Israelis are fighting for their lives against the terrorist regime in Iran. Continued on page 16

127

HUMOR Centerfold

Shmooze and Muse by Mordechai Schmutter

120

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

134

The Dangerous Rise of Decapitation Warfare

140

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

142

Trump’s Critics Have a Lot Riding On the Iran Conflict by Jonathan S. Tobin 144 CLASSIFIEDS

146

Do you prefer “shorter” or “longer” Fridays?

55 45 %

Longer

Shorter

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Continued from page 14

A new book and a new position against Israel are the latest indications that Newsom is preparing to run for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Newsom visited Israel less than two weeks after the October 7, 2023 massacres. He praised “the extraordinary people I just met today in Israel” and spoke “of the deep connections between my home state and this country.” He noted that Israel is “a country that has faced many dark times before, and certainly is in one now,” in its “present struggle against terrorists.” He said his “heart is heavy,” moved by his meetings with “young soldiers fresh from bomb shelters and battlefields.” Yet now Newsom says America shouldn’t give those young soldiers the weapons they need to fight on those battlefields, against those terrorists. Newsom appears to be gambling that there are more antisemitic and anti-Israel voters than there are decent and proIsrael voters. We’ll see about that. Dr. Rafael Medoff Dear Editor, Last Shabbos, I read a fascinating insight into how to overcome anger. It involves humility and recognizing the

greatness of other individuals. In terms of humility, one must recognize that they have weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Therefore, when a slight comes their way, there is room to overlook it and not respond. However, it is the second element— the greatness of man—that should close the door on anger. The sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh, compiled by Rav Levi Yitzchok Bender, zt”l, brings in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorki a parable that addresses this point. He says: imagine that G-d interrupts a woodchopper from his work. Would the woodchopper feel slighted by G-d? No—he would be ecstatic that G-d noticed him. Similarly, man has inherent greatness within him—a G-dly soul—and one should welcome another person’s words, even feeling gratitude, since he may be sharing insights that can help rectify one’s behavior. In a similar vein, Pesach is soon upon us, and we will be reciting Chad Gadya, a song that speaks to G-d’s control of the world. Based on this reality, it would do a person well to listen to someone’s words—even words that might seem offensive—as it may be G-d speaking to you directly. Steven Genack

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The Week In News

Iranian Soccer Players Get Asylum

Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team after the athletes sought asylum, fearing persecution for refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem during an Asian Cup match. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the decision on Tuesday, saying the players would be protected in Australia after authorities helped remove them from Iranian government handlers the previous day. “Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra. “They’re safe here, and they should feel at home here.” The players — Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Ghanbari, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh — are now staying at an undisclosed location under police protection, officials said. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the government had been holding secret discussions with the women for several days before granting the emergency visas. Burke acknowledged that leaving Iran was a difficult decision for the players. “Even though the offer continues to be there for other members of the team, it is quite possible and indeed likely that not every woman in the team will make a decision to take up the opportunity that Australia would offer,” he said. The situation unfolded during the Asian Cup tournament hosted in Australia. Concerns about the team’s safety grew after the players stood silently during Iran’s national anthem before their opening match against South Korea. Iranian state television later labeled them “wartime traitors,” and a commentator called their silence the “pinnacle of dishonor.”

Before their next match, which was against Australia, the team sang the anthem and saluted, raising fears among human rights groups that the athletes had been pressured by government officials accompanying the team. Iranian authorities have since called on the remaining players to return home “with peace and confidence,” according to Iranian media. Officials also said they had contacted the families of the five women who sought asylum. The episode drew international attention, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially criticized Australia on social media for allowing the players to return to Iran. After speaking with Albanese early Tuesday, however, Trump praised the Australian leader, saying he was “doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation.” Global soccer union FIFPRO said it remains concerned about the safety of the remaining players and their families in Iran. “The focus needs to remain on ensuring that all of the players have agency and are aware of their rights,” said Beau Busch, president of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania. Australia previously offered refuge to members of Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team after the Taliban banned women’s sports in 2021.

Haitian Drone Strikes Kills 1,200

Haitian security forces, with the support of Vectus Global, have been carrying out anti-gang operations using quadcopter drones strapped with explosives. Most of these strikes occur in densely populated parts of the capital Port-au-Prince. But it’s not just gang members who have been killed in these strikes. According to Human Rights Watch, the strikes have killed more than 1,200 people, including 43 adult civilians and 17 children. Vectus Global is a private U.S.-based military company led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince. HRW’s Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, said that the rights group had documented unlawful use of lethal force,

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saying Haiti’s partners should stop collaborating with its security forces until they implement safeguards to protect civilians. “Haitian authorities should urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die,” she said. Despite Kenyan, U.S. and U.N. support, armed gangs have expanded well beyond the capital. Security forces have yet to capture a major gang leader. The gangs have killed thousands of people, have displaced more than a million people, and have crippled the economy. HRW found that the drone strikes killed 1,243 people between last March and January 21 of this year. The strikes also injured 738 people, including 49 alleged civilians, it added, noting that from November to January there were nearly double the number of drone operations compared with the prior three months. Of the child victims, more than half were 3-to-12-year-olds killed last September in an attack on a sports center where a local gang was distributing gifts, HRW said. The U.N.’s human rights chief said last October that the drone strikes were disproportionate and likely unlawful.

Nepal’s Next PM

Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, secured a resounding victory in Nepal’s general election on Thursday, defeating former Prime Minister KP Oli. Now, Shah is expected to be Nepal’s next prime minister. According to official election results released Saturday, Shah won 68,348 votes, while Oli won 18,734. Shah’s victory was made possible thanks to Gen Z voters who have been frustrated with the establishment. Shah is a well-known rapper who also goes by the name Balen. One of his most popular songs is “Balidan,” which has millions of views on YouTube. Oli, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal, was prime minister until September 2025, when he resigned

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amidst intense protests against his decision to ban social media. Those protests left 77 people dead, with the BBC reporting that Nepal’s police chief ordered lethal fire against thousands of unarmed demonstrators. At that time, Shah emerged as a fierce critic of the incumbent administration, labeling Oli a “terrorist” and a traitor. In February, Shah’s party, the RSP, declared in its agenda that it would create 1.2 million jobs, crack down on forced migration, and address unemployment and low wages, in addition to increasing the country’s per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000, more than doubling Nepal’s economy to $100 billion GDP, and giving healthcare insurance to the population. Before campaigning against Oli, Shah was the mayor of Kathmandu. He resigned in January to join the race. This election saw some 800,000 new young voters.

Hungary Arrests 7 Ukrainians

On Friday, Hungary announced that it had arrested seven Ukrainian citizens suspected of money laundering. The detainees were carrying $82 million in cash in an armored vehicle, according to authorities, and were arrested by counter-terrorism forces under an order from the Hungarian Tax Authority. The incident marks a major escalation in tensions between Hungary and Ukraine. “The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering,” the Hungarian Tax Authority stated. “On March 5, 2026, it detained seven Ukrainian citizens, including a former Ukrainian intelligence service general, and two armored cash-in-transit vehicles that were transporting a total of $40 million, €35 million, and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine.” Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s foreign minister, demanded an explanation from Kyiv regarding the cash. Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesperson for the Hungarian government, added that the Ukrainians would be expelled from Hungary. However, he

did not specify what would happen to the confiscated money. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the detainees were employees of the Ukrainian savings bank Oschadbank and accused Hungary of kidnapping. “In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money,” Sybiha wrote on X. “This is state terrorism and racketeering.” Sybiha added that Ukraine had demanded the immediate release of its citizens and a “clear qualification of Hungary’s unlawful actions” from the European Union. Additionally, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry advised its citizens against traveling to Hungary due to the government’s “arbitrary actions.” Under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has emerged as one of the few E.U. countries opposed to aiding Ukraine in its war against Russia. Orban has also blocked E.U. sanctions on Russia and has campaigned heavily against providing assistance to Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia claim that Ukraine is intentionally postponing the restart of oil shipments through the damaged Druzhba pipeline for political reasons. Ukrainian officials reject the accusation, stating that repairs are still underway following damage to energy infrastructure caused by a Russian drone strike on January 27.

Iran Attacks the Gulf

In retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates with 1,400 ballistic missiles and fired hundreds more at other Arab Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In the UAE, at least three people were killed. Iran targeted U.S. military bases, critical infrastructure such as oil installations, and civilian areas. However, a week into the attacks, on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to the Arab countries. “I deem it necessary to apologize

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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to neighboring countries that were attacked,” he said, adding that Iran would stop striking the Gulf. Despite the apology, the strikes have yet to stop. Flights in Dubai were temporarily suspended after a drone exploded near the city’s airport. On Saturday, Saudi officials reported that a drone—likely from Iran—was launched at Saudi Aramco’s Berri oil field. Two ballistic missiles aimed at a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia were intercepted, in addition to four drones targeting the Shaybah oil field. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran also announced a drone attack on a U.S. base in the UAE. Senior Iranian officials issued statements contradicting Pezeshkian’s apology. Among them was Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who declared that peace with the region was impossible as long as the countries hosted U.S. bases. U.S. President Donald Trump said that Pezeshkian’s apology was a sign that Iran was losing, adding that Tehran’s strikes on Arab countries were the “biggest surprise” and could bring the Gulf states into the war.

A New Ayatollah

In a show of defiance against the United States, the Iranian regime appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to succeed his assassinated father, effectively turning the Islamic Republic into a dynasty. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously labeled the younger Khamenei an “unacceptable” choice. Despite U.S. opposition, Iran selected the son, who is expected to follow in his father’s brutal footsteps. Shortly after the announcement, while Iranian citizens faced a blackout, state media published a four-minute documentary touting the new Supreme Leader as the country’s rightful leader. In reality, however, he has little experience in administration or leadership and has

never held public office. Additionally, he was not qualified to be a vali-faqih (supreme jurisprudent) or a mujtahid due to his lack of scholarly depth. Still, the president, parliament, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps all pledged allegiance to the new Ayatollah. Mojtaba Khamenei was born in 1969. He received less religious training than his brothers, seemingly leaving him unqualified to become Supreme Leader. He is married to Zahra, whose father is former parliament speaker Gholam Haddad Adel. Despite his lack of publicity, Mojtaba is believed to have worked behind the scenes assisting his father and the IRGC. In 2019, the United States sanctioned him for allegedly working with a top IRGC commander to promote the then-Ayatollah’s “destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.” The strike that eliminated the elder Khamenei also killed the supreme leader’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-inlaw, and son-in-law. His wife later died from injuries sustained in the attack. In a Fox News interview, President Trump expressed that he is “not happy” with Iran’s selection of leader. “I don’t believe he can live in peace,” the U.S. Presi-

dent remarked. Before Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment, Trump maintained that the U.S. should have a role in determining the next leader of Iran, akin to previous U.S. involvement in Venezuela. “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump said.

7 Killed in Landfill Collapse

This week, rescuers frantically searched for survivors in Indonesia’s largest landfill after a massive garbage landslide led to the deaths of at least seven people. Heavy rainfall on Sunday triggered a

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

should serve as a warning to the Jakarta Provincial Government to immediately end open dumping, a waste disposal practice that continues to threaten the safety of residents and workers. The massive open dump, which handles most of the waste from the Jakarta metropolitan area, has long been an eyesore for residents and a challenge for successive governments. Bantargebang, one of the world’s largest open landfills, spans about 110120 hectares – roughly the size of more than 200 football fields – and receives between 6,500 and 8,000 tons of waste daily. The site holds up to 55 million tons of trash, with compacted garbage forming “mountains” that rise up to 50 meters high in some areas. A landfill in West Java claimed 143 lives in 2005 after an explosion triggered by methane gas and heavy rain.

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Nightclub Bombing in Peru

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MOTZEI SHABBAT MARCH 14 massive avalanche of garbage at the Bantargebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java, just outside Jakarta. Many workers were at Indonesia’s largest landfill site, and several trucks were unloading garbage when the collapse occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Other people are feared missing and a search and rescue operation has been launched, with more than 300 personnel using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to locate those still trapped under

the mound of waste, said Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of Jakarta’s Search and Rescue Office. Rescuers were working cautiously amid unstable heaps of waste and rain, she said. The victims included two garbage truck drivers and two food stall vendors who had been working or resting near the landfill. Four people managed to escape. “It was raining all day, even from Saturday evening, and the mountain of gar-

9PM

bage was unstable,” Bahari related. Indonesia’s environment minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the landfill is “the tip of the iceberg” of Jakarta’s failed waste management system, which has accumulated around 55 million tons of garbage over the past 37 years. “We must address the root of Jakarta’s waste problem so there are no more victims,” he said after he inspected the landslide site on Monday. He noted that the deadly incident

A bombing at a nightclub in Peru in the early morning on Saturday injured 33 people, including minors. The explosion occurred at the Dali nightclub in the province of Trujillo along Peru’s northern coast. It is a region that has recently been plagued by violence and crime. At least five of the injured were in serious condition, according to the executive director of the Trujillo Health Network, Gerardo Florián Gómez. Some of the victims suffered amputations and shrapnel wounds and were undergoing surgery. Among the injured are three minors: one 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds, Florián said. The explosion took place less than a month after another blast in the same city that damaged 25 homes but caused no injuries or fatalities. Extortion and illegal mining plague the La Libertad region, whose Andean portion is home to the largest gold-producing area in Peru. In 2025, the region experienced 286 explosions, 136 of which occurred in the city of Trujillo, according to official figures. In January 2025, an explosive device was detonated in a prosecutor’s office

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

building in Trujillo, while in August and September, two explosions damaged dozens of homes and left more than 20 people injured. Authorities have said such incidents are linked to an extortion scheme run by organized criminal gangs, including Los Pulpos, which has extended its criminal activities to Chile and other countries in the region.

Explosion at U.S. Embassy in Oslo

An explosion on Sunday morning at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, damaged the entrance to the embassy’s consular section. Now, Norwegian police are searching for the suspect caught on surveillance footage. “The investigation so far has shown that this was an improvised explosive de-

vice,” the Oslo police said in a statement, adding that the IED had caused a “powerful blast.” Images released by the police showed a hooded person, whose face was not visible, wearing dark clothes and carrying a bag or rucksack. Police said on Sunday that one hypothesis was that the incident was “an act of terrorism” but that other possible motives were also being explored. Among the possible leads was a 15-second video published on the U.S. embassy page on Google Maps around the time of the incident. The video shows Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leaving a room, with writings in Farsi, including the words “Where did he go?”, “he wanted to leave anyway” and “he’s gone.” Khamenei was killed in an air strike on February 28 at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Europe has been on alert for possible attacks amid U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran and Iranian drone and missile attacks on Israel and U.S. targets in the Middle East. On Monday, a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege was damaged by a blast that authorities called an antisemitic attack. It was not clear who was behind it.

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2 Killed in Iranian Strike

sized the danger faced by construction workers during missile attacks. “I came down and barely made it. I got the alert, waited for them to disconnect me from the load, closed up the crane and went down,” he told the news outlet. “It took a few minutes, and time was running out; by the time I started descending, the siren had already begun.”

Israel is 7thLargest Arms Exporter Rustam Gulomov and Amid Murtuzov, both in their 40s and residents of Petah Tikva, were killed on Monday morning in an Iranian cluster bomb missile strike. The submunitions from the cluster bomb warhead hit at least six locations across central Israel, including in the cities of Yehud, Or Yehuda, Holon, and Bat Yam. The two victims were working at a construction site in Yehud when one of the cluster bomb munitions from the ballistic missile struck the area. They were not in a bomb shelter or other protective space. Medics declared the death of one of the men at the scene and took the second to a hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The chief of the Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, said that dozens of other construction workers survived the attack after entering bomb shelters. “We had a difficult incident at this construction site, where several people were injured. At the same time, I want to say that there were dozens of workers whose lives were saved. Their lives were saved because they were in a protected space and followed the guidelines,” he said in a video published by the military. Another man was seriously wounded in Or Yehuda during the attack. He was also not in a bomb shelter when he was struck by one of the cluster munitions, first responders said. Iran has launched multiple ballistic missiles at Israel carrying cluster bomb warheads during the ongoing conflict, indiscriminately spreading dozens of small bombs over wide areas of the country. Speaking to the Haaretz newspaper, a crane operator who was at the Yehud building site at the time of impact empha-

Israel has climbed to seventh place among the world’s leading arms exporters, according to a new report released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report compares global arms trade between 2016-2020 and 2021-2025 and shows Israel’s share of worldwide weapons exports rising to 4.4%, up from 3.1% in the previous five-year period. The increase places Israel ahead of the United Kingdom for the first time, whose share now stands at 3.4%. The United States remains the world’s largest arms exporter, accounting for 42% of global weapons sales during the 2021–2025 period, up from 36% previously. Other top exporters include France (9.8%), Russia (6.8%), Germany (5.7%), China (5.6%) and Italy (5.1%), followed by Israel. At the same time, Israel ranks 14th among global arms importers. According to the report, about 68% of Israel’s imported weaponry comes from the United States, while 31% comes from Germany and roughly 1% from Italy. Globally, the arms trade grew by 9.2% between the two periods analyzed in the report. European countries significantly boosted their purchases, with imports more than tripling and making Europe the largest regional buyer of military equipment. The report highlights the continued dominance of the United States in the arms market. Saudi Arabia was the largest purchaser of American weapons, accounting for 12% of U.S. arms exports, followed by Ukraine with 9.4% and Japan

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2 Soldiers Killed by Hezbollah

with 8.9%. Israel ranked 12th among U.S. customers, receiving about 3.1% of American arms sales. SIPRI researchers said Israel’s growing share of exports was driven largely by international demand for its air defense systems. The increase comes despite public statements by some governments that they would avoid purchasing Israeli weapons because of the war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza. Several countries remain major buy-

ers of Israeli military technology. These include South Korea, Germany, Philippines, Singapore and Morocco, where Israeli systems account for roughly 24% of the country’s arms acquisitions. The report also noted that Israel continues to sell weapons to Britain despite political tensions and criticism in the U.K. over Israel’s war in Gaza. Among Israel’s largest export markets overall are India, which accounts for 56% of Israeli arms exports, followed by

Germany with 21% and the United States with 7.8%. Germany’s purchases from Israel largely involve the Arrow missile defense system, one of the biggest defense deals in Israeli history. The report also examined Iranian arms activity. Iran ranked 25th among global arms exporters, with most of its weapons shipments going to Russia, along with smaller exports to Venezuela and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

On Friday afternoon, Hezbollah targeted an Israeli military post in southern Lebanon with a missile attack, moderately injuring two Israeli soldiers. On Sunday, two IDF soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack. Since last Monday, Hezbollah has been striking Israel, prompting a renewed Israeli offensive. The IDF has carried out 600 strikes against Hezbollah targets, and the attacks have injured at least 13 Israeli soldiers. On Saturday, Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israeli towns, including Haifa and Kiryat Shmona, with sirens sounding in Safed, Tiberias, the Galilee, and the Golan Heights, though no injuries were reported. One rocket landed largely intact in the parking lot of Galilee Medical Center. The two injured soldiers from Friday’s attack are members of the Givati Brigade. IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin emphasized Israel’s goal of disarming Hezbollah: “We’re attacking many targets there, hunting Hezbollah terrorists, and destroying the terror command posts it established in the heart of the civilian population.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese government to fulfill its responsibility to disarm the terror group. Israeli authorities have said that northern towns will not be evacuated, though the IDF has issued urgent evacuation warnings for residents of southern Lebanon. Early Sunday morning, a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon killed two Israeli soldiers. One of the deceased was identified as Sgt. First Class Maher Khatar, a 38-yearold heavy machinery operator from Majdal Shams serving in the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division’s combat engineering unit. The second soldier was later identified as Staff Sgt. Or Demry, 20, from Liman, a heavy machinery operator in the 91st Division’s combat engineering unit. Another soldier was lightly wounded. The attack occurred near an IDF position across from Manara, an Israeli

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

mid-1990s, Israel has yet to recover his remains. During its expanded offensive in Lebanon, the IDF searched eastern Lebanon for Arad’s remains amid heavy airstrikes, but the mission was unsuccessful. “The operation carried out last night did not produce what we were looking for,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said. “But the commitment of Israel, and my personal commitment, to completing all missions concerning our prisoners and missing persons is absolute.”

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Arad’s widow, Tami, emphasized that the safety of soldiers must take priority: “Our desire to know what happened to Ron stops as soon as there is risk to IDF soldiers. The sanctity of life comes before the commitment to return the remains of a fighter for burial… We prefer to live with the painful possibility that Ron’s bones are in Lebanon rather than wake up to news that an IDF soldier was injured or, G-d forbid, killed.” Before his disappearance, Arad was likely held in the Nabi Chit area. Alongside Arad, the IDF considers Staff Sgt. Guy Hever and Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz as missing soldiers.

Israeli Hospitals Adapt to War

border community. The IDF suspects the soldiers were killed after Hezbollah launched an anti-tank missile or mortar at an Israeli D9 bulldozer deployed to repair a stalled tank. Since Hezbollah began attacks on Israel in retaliation for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel has launched 600 strikes in Lebanon, killing approximately 200 terrorists. Among them were 80 Radwan Force members and 70 artillery operatives. Sev-

eral high-ranking commanders were also killed, including Lebanon’s Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief. Hezbollah rockets have caused some damage in northern Israel, though no injuries have been reported. This escalation, sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Khamenei, marks the end of the ceasefire agreed on in November 2024.

Israel Attempts to Recover Remains of Ron Arad In October 1986, Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad was kidnapped in Lebanon by the Shiite Amal movement after his plane was shot down over southern Lebanon. Presumed dead since the

Israeli hospitals have implemented wartime measures learned after October 7, including pop-up clinics and converting underground parking lots into wards and fortified operating rooms. When the war began on February 28, the Health Ministry ordered hospitals to enter emergency mode, relocating intensive care patients to protected areas. Hospitals continue performing operations underground despite threats from Iranian missiles. “We’re now implementing everything

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we learned,” said Dr. Mir Maram, deputy director general at Clalit Health Services. “We learned exactly what kind of equipment, beds, and spacing we need, how to handle infection control, and which machines to bring.” Galilee Medical Center moved its operations underground in record time. “All surgical procedures, deliveries, and cardiac and neuro catheterizations are being conducted in fortified facilities,” said CEO Prof. Masad Barohum. Prof. Osnat Levtzion-Korach, director of Shamir Medical Center, described the temporary setup: “Having 200 patients in a parking lot is not ideal—there’s no privacy or infection control. It’s very safe but has many challenges. Thankfully, patients are cooperative and understanding.” She added with a touch of humor, “I’ll probably get invited to conferences to share how to handle earthquakes or other emergencies. There’s much to learn from us, and we’ll share our experience.”

U.S. Soldier Killed

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top officials joined the families of those troops at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware as the soldiers were brought home. That strike, which came without warning, occurred on a makeshift operations center at the civilian port of Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1. All six soldiers were assigned with the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit out of Iowa. The president told ABC on Sunday the meeting with the families of the six troops did not give him pause about the war. “The parents would be upset if I did that,” he said. “The parents said to me, every one of them, ‘Please sir, win this for my boy,’ and in one case a young woman, as you know. ‘Please, win this for my child.’” In Hardin County, Kentucky, flags are flying at half-staff at county government buildings, grounds and facilities in Pennington’s honor. Pennington “gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.” Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade on June 10, 2025. He received multiple awards over the course of his service and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

Watergate Exposer Dies A U.S. soldier died after sustaining injuries during an attack last week in Saudi Arabia, the military said, bringing the number of American troops killed in the war with Iran to seven. The military identified the service member this week as Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. Pennington, who was injured at Prince Sultan Air Base, was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, a unit within Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East,” US Central Command said Sunday on X. “The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1.” The news of the fallen service member came a day after the dignified transfer for the six soldiers who were killed last week in Kuwait. President Donald Trump and other

Alexander Butterfield, the former White House aide who revealed the existence of damaging recordings related to the break-in at the Watergate hotel in Washington, DC, died on Monday at the age of 99. During questioning by a Senate committee in 1973, Butterfield made the bombshell disclosure that then-President Richard Nixon had a recording system in the Oval Office. The revelation ultimately provided proof of Nixon’s role in the Watergate scandal, which led to Nixon’s resignation. Butterfield was chief of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

time and had previously served as White House deputy chief of staff. Watergate was one of the most notorious political scandals in US history. It centered around the cover-up of a breakin at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972. Five men with links to the White House attempted to bug the offices of Nixon’s Democratic opponent. Butterfield, an Air Force veteran, was responsible for White House security and had overseen the installation of an audio recording system in the White House under Nixon’s orders. During testimony before a U.S. Senate committee, Butterfield was asked by Republican Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee if he was aware of any listening devices in the president’s Oval Office. “I was aware of listening devices, yes, sir,” Butterfield said at the time. “Everything was taped,” Butterfield told investigators while under oath, adding, “as long as the president was in attendance”. The tapes brought to light by Butterfield revealed what the president knew about the Watergate break-in and his role in covering it up. A year-long legal battle over access to the tapes ended in 1974, when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Nixon to hand them over. Less than a month later, facing impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives, Nixon resigned from office, the only U.S. president to do so. Thousands of hours of the audio recordings were eventually made public and are now controlled by the US National Archives. “I just thought, ‘When they hear those tapes...’ I mean, I knew what was on these tapes... they’re dynamite,” Butterfield told the Nixon Library years later. “I guess I didn’t foresee that the president might be put out of office or impeached,

but I thought it would be a perilous few years for him. I guess I couldn’t conceive of (Nixon) being forced out of office. It had never happened before.” John Dean, another former Nixon aide, said Butterfield “had the heavy responsibility of revealing something he was sworn to secrecy on... He stood up and told the truth.”

The Phantom Seat 11A

Somewhere over Middle America, Chris Young found him himself staring at a wall. Last September, as Young boarded his Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Detroit, he was checking seat numbers and already thinking about the view. Then he saw it. “Oh, no,” he recalled. “There’s the seat that has no window.” The airline had assigned him the seat. The seat map had a window. The wall beside him did not. Young, a 52-year-old comic from Helene, Michigan, said he could only laugh. No clouds, no wings, no horizon. Just a pale, curved wall where the window might have been. This was Seat 11A. “That’s just sort of my luck,” he said. Not every passenger handles the disappointment so gracefully. On certain Boeing 737 and Airbus

A321 aircraft, row 11 on the left side aligns with a cabin air-conditioning duct. The result is a seat sold as a window view that offers, instead, a wall. The discovery tends to arrive after boarding, when little can be done. Some passengers respond by taking out their phones, documenting the wall and posting it online with a caption that lands somewhere between humor and disbelief. But not everyone finds it amusing. In August, passengers filed proposed class-action lawsuits against Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, asserting that they had paid for window seats on certain aircraft only to discover that there was no window. The lawsuits argue that the absence was not clearly disclosed during booking. “When consumers choose to book an airplane seat adjacent to the wall, they expect it to have a window,” a federal complaint filed said. Both airlines moved to dismiss the claims. United declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit. Delta did not respond to a request for comment. The plaintiffs argue they are not asking for much — just, in this case, a bit of accuracy. Carter Greenbaum, one of the lawyers representing the passengers, said in a statement that passengers who are willing to pay an upgrade fee for a window seat expect there to be an actual window. “As airlines continue to upcharge seemingly every conceivable element of the flight experience, passengers who pay often an extra $100 or more to select an undisclosed ‘wall seat’ are understandably outraged,” he said. (© The New York Times)

confident behind the wheel,” Uber said. But not everyone is comfortable with the move. Ubers drivers have filed a class action lawsuit in California, claiming that the move discriminates against men. Uber said around one-fifth of its drivers in the U.S. are women, although the ratio varies by city. Uber’s Women Preferences was launched on Monday in response to women riders and drivers who told the firm they wanted “more control over how they ride and earn.” Women can reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance or set their preference in the app to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman. In cities where teen accounts are available, teens and their parents can also request women drivers. Two California Uber drivers have accused the company of violating California legislation, by potentially giving female drivers access to a wider pool of passengers. Uber has filed a motion to stop litigation and move the case to private arbitration, citing an agreement the drivers signed when joining the app. Ride-sharing app Lyft is also facing a discrimination lawsuit over its feature introduced in 2024 allowing riders and drivers to prioritize women. Last month, a U.S. court ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was assaulted by a man driving for Uber in a legal ruling that could influence the outcome of thousands of other cases against the company. Uber had argued that it should not be held liable for criminal acts by drivers using its platform, who it says are independent contractors and are subject to background checks as part of the vetting procedure.

Uber’s WomenOnly Option

Uber already offers the woman-matching option for drivers in more than 40 countries and for riders across seven countries, including Spain, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

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Uber has launched a feature allowing female drivers and passengers across the U.S. to request trips with other women on the ride-hailing app. The feature was piloted in the U.S. last year and led to women feeling “more comfortable in the back seat” and “more

Long security lines at several U.S. airports this week are highlighting the strain on the nation’s travel system as a government shutdown coincides with the busy

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

dispute in Congress over immigration enforcement policies. Democrats have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security until new limits are placed on federal immigration operations following the fatal shootings of two people in Minneapolis earlier this year. Officials in the Department of Homeland Security blamed Democrats for the travel disruptions. Lauren Bis, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, said the situation has forced TSA officers to work without pay and contributed to staffing shortages. Airlines are also urging lawmakers to resolve the dispute quickly. Chris Sununu, president and CEO of the airline trade group Airlines for America, said the delays are unacceptable. “More than 2.7 million people cleared through TSA yesterday, but too many had to wait in extraordinarily long — and painfully slow — lines,” Sununu said. By Monday afternoon, delays at several airports had eased. Wait times at Hobby Airport dropped to about two hours, while security lines in New Orleans fell to around 10 minutes. Still, airport officials warn that delays could return if busy travel periods coincide with staffing shortages, leaving passengers facing long waits during one of the year’s busiest travel weeks.

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Bishop Accused of Stealing

spring break travel season. The worst delays were reported at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, where passengers waited more than three hours to pass through security checkpoints on Sunday and Monday. Travelers at airports in New Orleans and Atlanta also faced waits exceeding an hour during peak periods. The surge of travelers during spring break would strain airports even under normal circumstances. But the ongo-

ing shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security has left many Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, raising concerns about staffing shortages if the situation drags on. Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA union’s bargaining unit, said many officers are still struggling financially after the previous 43-day shutdown last fall — the longest in U.S. history. “Over the last 15 months, TSA offi-

cers have went through three government shutdowns,” Jones said. He warned that missing paychecks could lead some workers to take second jobs or miss shifts to cover basic expenses such as gas and childcare. Jones said workers will miss their first full paycheck this weekend since the shutdown began February 14, adding that morale among employees “has taken a severe hit.” The shutdown stems from a political

A bishop accused of stealing money from Saint Peter’s Chaldean in East County, San Diego, pleaded not guilty on Monday to 15 felony counts. Bishop Emanuel Shaleta has spent the last four nights in jail after he was arrested at the San Diego airport trying to leave the country. Shaleta himself was seated behind bars in a holding area of the courtroom. His lawyer stood in front of him, allowing to the defendant to evade the camera, although the judge ordered the media not to show his face while he was in court. Scores of supporters came to the courtroom for the hearing. Prosecutor Joel Madero argued that Shaleta is a flight risk and that the

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

TJH10

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$125,000 in bail already set was appropriate — but only if Shaleta wears a GPS monitor to make sure. “When he was arrested last Friday, it was at the San Diego International Airport, and he was on his way to Germany,” Madero said after court. “Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties, we’re close to Mexico — I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate.” Shaleta’s attorney argued the flight was pre-planned and that her client had no intention of running away from the charge that claims he stole at least $270,000. “That money effectively vanished, and the money was going to the bishop, via the secretary,” Madero said. “There is no accounting of that money. The bishop indicated that was given to the needy.” The bishop was able to make the $125,000 bail. Shaleta is due back at the El Cajon courthouse next month for a preliminary hearing. If convicted of all of the embezzlement and money-laundering charges, he could spend 15 years behind bars. The allegations against Shaleta are connected to eight months of rent pay-

ments prosecutors say were paid in cash from a tenant of the church’s social hall to Shaleta himself. Madero said on Monday those rent payments were monthly installments of over $30,000 and the alleged missing payments totaled around $272,000. The prosecutor said Shaleta moved money from a church bank account designed to assist the needy to the church’s operations account as a means of concealing the embezzlement. When a financial adviser for the church flagged the discrepancies in the accounts, Shaleta “provided completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going,” such as giving the cash away to the needy, Madero said. The prosecutor said Shaleta could not provide proof of who he gave the money to or when he provided the money, and later removed the financial adviser’s access to the accounts. Shaleta faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and an enhancement of “aggravated white collar crime.”

YouTube is World’s Largest Media Company

According to MoffettNathanson, YouTube is now the world’s largest media company. The Google-owned platform reached $62 billion in revenue, beating Disney’s $60.9 billion. With these numbers, the research firm estimates YouTube is worth between $500 billion and $560 billion. “Over the next few years, unlike almost any other asset we cover, we strongly believe that YouTube will be a major beneficiary of both the structural tailwinds and headwinds facing technology and media companies. In a world filled with business model concerns, YouTube’s global scale and innovative offerings create an uncommonly high moat,” MoffettNathanson said. Looking ahead, the firm explains YouTube stands to grow from generative AI and content that can be targeted and monetized, as well as small bundles and streaming channels, and its music service. MoffettNathanson estimates that YouTube has 334 million global paid subscribers, 180 million from Google One and 143 million from YouTube Premium. “We now anticipate slightly faster subscription revenue growth in 2027 and 2028 than previously penciled in,” the firm concluded. “All together, we forecast YouTube’s total revenue growth to settle in the low double-digit range from 2026 through 2028.”

Columbia Occupiers are Let Off A New York judge has thrown out disciplinary sanctions against 22 current and former students at Columbia University who participated in the takeover of Hamilton Hall during anti-Israel campus protests in April 2024. Gerald Lebovits, a justice on the New

York Supreme Court, ruled on February 27 that the university improperly relied on sealed arrest records when determining that the students had violated campus rules. Because those arrests had been legally sealed, the court said the university could not use them as evidence in its disciplinary process. “Respondent’s internal hearing panel was statutorily barred from taking into account the fact that petitioners had been arrested in Hamilton Hall,” Lebovits wrote in the decision. “The fact of petitioners’ sealed arrests was the only evidence before the hearing panel that petitioners were in Hamilton Hall while it was occupied.”

As a result, the judge concluded that most of the disciplinary findings were “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling stems from the occupation of Hamilton Hall between April 29 and April 30, 2024, when protesters seized the campus administrative building during demonstrations tied to the war between Israel and Hamas. Activists barricaded entrances, smashed glass doors, and covered security cameras while renaming the building “Hind’s Hall” in honor of a child killed during the conflict in Gaza. Video from the scene showed demonstrators hanging a Palestinian flag from a window and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, including “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Two university janitors, Mariano Torres and Lester Wilson, later filed a lawsuit claiming they were trapped inside the building during the 22-hour standoff and were “terrorized,” assaulted, and mocked with antisemitic slurs. Police from the New York Police Department eventually cleared the building and arrested dozens of protesters. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office later dismissed misdemeanor trespassing charges against the students, citing insufficient evidence after many protesters concealed their identities and blocked security cameras. The charges were dropped with the understanding that the university would pursue its own disciplinary proceedings. Columbia’s internal panel later found the 22 students responsible for multiple violations of campus conduct rules, issuing punishments ranging from suspensions

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to expulsions and even retroactive revocation of degrees. In his ruling, Lebovits said Columbia could reopen disciplinary proceedings if it finds evidence unrelated to the sealed arrests. The judge also granted a 30-day stay on the decision to allow the university time to seek an appeal. A Columbia spokesperson said the school is reviewing the ruling and emphasized that the sanctioned students cannot return to campus for now. “The order does not take effect for at least 30 days, and no student who was disciplined for the occupation of Hamilton Hall can return to campus at this time,” the university said in a statement. “Columbia is considering all of its options, including seeking a stay of the order and appealing the decision.”

was led by individuals associated with far-right influencer and pardoned January 6 demonstrator Jake Lang. A counterprotest, called “Run the Nazis Out of New York City/Stand Against Hate,” drew around 125 demonstrators. The protests began around 11 a.m., and police separated the two groups into designated protest areas. Around 12:15 p.m., an anti-Islam protester allegedly attacked counter-protesters with pepper spray and was detained, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Approximately 15 minutes later, Emir IED Hurled Outside Balat, an 18-year-old counter-protester from Pennsylvania, ignited and hurled Gracie Mansion Around 20 anti-Islam protesters gathered in front of Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayor’s residence, on Saturday to demonstrate against Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The protest, titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City/Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,”

an explosive device at the anti-Mamdani protesters. The device reportedly hit a crosswalk barrier near police before extinguishing itself. Footage from the scene shows an unknown man seemingly yelling “Allahu Akbar” as Balat threw the device. Tisch described it as “a jar wrapped

in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws along with a hobby fuse.” Authorities said Balat then allegedly fled the scene and obtained a second device from 19-year-old Ibrahim Nikk of Pennsylvania. He lit the device and began running with it before ultimately dropping it. Both Balat and Nikk were arrested. Law enforcement officials said the attack appeared to be at least partially inspired by ISIS. “The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death,” Tisch announced on Sunday. “Further analysis will be conducted, including on a second device.” Sources told CBS News that the devices allegedly contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), an extremely unstable and volatile explosive. The substance, appearing as a white crystalline powder, is commonly produced using acetone and hydrogen peroxide. Authorities said the explosive was placed inside a sports drink bottle, which was then set within a glass jar and packed with fragmentation, with a fuse similar to those used in fireworks. Mayor Mamdani, who was inside Gracie Mansion during the protests, condemned the anti-Islam demonstration as “rooted in bigotry and racism.” “What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are,” Mamdani said. “I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day.” Authorities searched the premises after the incident but found no additional threats. Nine people were arrested in connection with the protests, including three for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.

New DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is leaving her post as Department of Homeland Security secretary on March 31, just 13 months into her controversial tenure. President Donald Trump has nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) as her replacement. Mullin, a 48-year-old Trump loyalist, is expected to be confirmed, having

support from Senate Republicans and Democratic Senator John Fetterman. He will be tasked with regaining public confidence in Trump’s immigration agenda. Democratic lawmakers have said they would boycott a DHS funding bill until the administration addresses concerns regarding ICE. Noem’s efforts to shutter the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) drew criticism from many, including Republicans. Mullin’s plans for FEMA remain unclear. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s immigration policies would “continue without interruption” under Mullin.

Critics, including Democratic leaders and immigrant rights organizations, accused Noem of staging attention-grabbing displays to boost her image while directing increasingly militarized deportation efforts, which led to violent confrontations involving migrants, protesters, and residents in several U.S. cities. Some Republicans welcomed Noem’s departure, blaming her for weakening Trump’s immigration agenda. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll in February showed 44% of Americans favored replacing Noem, while 23% opposed it. “The messaging from the administration—particularly following the shooting of two Americans in Minneapolis—was wrong and did real damage,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on his podcast. “That rhetoric did damage to the administration, and I think it contributed to the president’s decision to shift from Kristi Noem as the leader of Homeland Security.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Mullin’s leadership could reflect the strategy of Tom Homan, former Trump border czar, who emphasizes enforcement against violent offenders. Homan had previously been sidelined by Noem, who elevated Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, but Trump later removed Bovino after the Minneapolis shootings. Mullin, a strong supporter of the president’s immigration agenda, defended ICE agents involved in the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

ple getting marathon finisher medals for running 18 miles,” said Jim Picker, 68, who has run every Los Angeles Marathon since its inception in 1986. Picker said it was a good idea to prioritize safety, but he was not as convinced about the need for medals for early finishers.

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

“Hopefully, the people that do that will get the medal and it will give them an incentive to come back next year, sign up and give it another shot,” he said. Steph Dunlap, 41, a pacer who runs with marathoners, said she had heard from people who said that marathon medals represent the memories, not the distance. As far as she is concerned, “all runners count,” even if they do not complete the race. “I think for them, they should be incredibly proud of how far they’ve come,” she said. “I mean, 18 miles is still nothing to scoff at.” (© The New York Times)

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Participation Trophy? The story goes that in 490 B.C., a messenger ran about 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory

over invading Persians. But in 2026, he might have had to run only 18 miles. That would at least be the case in Los Angeles, where organizers of the annual 26.2-mile marathon announced that runners could turn off at mile 18, head to the finish line and still collect a finisher medal. Organizers cited the weather for race day Sunday, with high temperatures set to reach into the 80s, as the reason for the new option — available for this year only. About 26,000 had registered to run.

“There is no shame in making a smart decision for your body,” ASICS Los Angeles Marathon website read. The decision has been met with a mixed reaction among runners. Some have praised the Los Angeles Marathon organizers’ decision to make sure runners do not push themselves too hard in the heat. But other seasoned marathoners are balking at the idea of a medal for an incomplete race. “I’m not a big fan of the idea of peo-

It’s nice to donate things to charity, but you should probably check to make sure what you’re donating is legal. Two teenagers were arrested in New Zealand after accidentally leaving a backpack containing cannabis and thousands of dollars in cash outside a charity shop. A strong smell emanating from the knapsack piqued a shop volunteer’s interest. The volunteer opened the bag and found several plastic bags of marijuana weighing 43.2g and NZ$3,700 ($2,200) in banknotes. The sixteen-year-olds had left the bag outside the shop in the Southland region as they waited for a vehicle to be serviced. They later returned to the store, frantically looking for the bag. Recreational cannabis use and selling the drug are illegal in New Zealand. Charity shop staff saw the bag outside the front door and thought it was just another donated item.

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“When the shop worker took the bag inside, they noticed that this particular donation had a distinctive pungent aroma,” a police spokesperson said. “Once it was opened, it quickly emerged why.” After arresting the teens, officers also searched their vehicle, where they found an air pistol – possession of which requires a license and supervision for those under 18 years old – a police scanner, and more cash. Sounds like they’re up to no good.

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The misdirection wasn’t the first in road-racing history — in 1994, German Silva famously followed a lead car into Central Park at the New York City Marathon — but it’s rare enough that even seasoned officials are scratching their heads. So what now? The world championship team in Denmark will be named in May, and while some athletes might decline spots out of principle, the paperwork marches on. And as for Atlanta’s half marathon, it will be remembered not just for the miles run, but for the mile “detoured” — a cautionary tale proving that in racing, sometimes the fastest route is not necessarily the intended one.

If you thought running 13.1 miles was tough, try doing it while following the lead car straight off the course. That’s exactly what happened on Sunday at the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships, where a race meant to crown America’s fastest women instead crowned… confusion. Molly Born crossed the finish line first and happily snapped the title to her collection. Except there was a small hiccup: she really shouldn’t have been the winner. The top three women — Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat — were all leading the pack when a misdirecting race vehicle sent them off course about a mile from the finish. For roughly 1,000 meters, the leaders were in uncharted territory, running what might have been Atlanta’s most scenic detour. “I had to make a complete U-turn,” McClain posted on Instagram, presumably while wondering if she should charge the lead car for damages. Meanwhile, Born, blissfully unaware, claimed victory. “I do not feel like the winner,” she later admitted on social media. “I know I should not actually be the winner.” Ouch. The Atlanta Track Club promised to “make the affected runners whole,” doling out $20,000 to McClain and nearly $10,000 each to Hurley and Kurgat. But money can’t fix a national title—or a world championship spot. USATF insists the official results must stand because, apparently, there’s no rule about following a rogue pace car into oblivion. Race director Phil Stewart put it lightly: “It’s complicated.” And yes, that’s putting it mildly.

Bettina Dorfmann owns the largest collection of Barbies. But they’re not just dolls lining her walls. This week, the German woman earned a second Guinness World Record by identifying the Barbies while blindfolded. Dorfmann’s collection boasts 18,500 Barbie dolls. She appeared on the record-keeping organization’s Germanlanguage TV series The Great Show of World Records to make an attempt at a second title. Dorfman was blindfolded and handed various Barbie dolls, which she identified by touch. She correctly identified 19 dolls in three minutes. She said the key was using her hands to analyze the shape, hair and clothing of each doll. Dorfman originally set the record for largest collection of Barbie dolls in 2005, when her collection was tallied at 2,500 different dolls. Her collection has since increased more than sevenfold, having been most recently counted at 18,500 in 2022. “I played with Barbies a lot in my childhood,” Dorfmann related. “I had so much fun, and I always kept them and kept them for my daughter. We would always play games with them.” She said she thinks Barbie mirrors society and notes that the ones she played with as a little girl are very different to the ones her daughter played with. “I think Barbie is always so exciting because Barbie is a mark or sign of our reality ahead,” she said. What a doll.

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Community At the Purim Mesiba at YOSS Mechina!

The Shnitzel Guys, and DJ Newman brought ruach and energy to a beautiful mesiba

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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The Power of a Confident Smile How Hygiene, Whitening, and Modern Aligner Technology Transform Smiles Children at the Special Children’s Center cleaning for Pesach at the Sunday program

By Dr. Shaul Schwalb • SmileSpa by AlignSmile Key Elements of a Confident Smile confident smile is one of the most powerful forms of nonverbal communication. It conveys warmth, health, and self assurance before a single word is spoken. People naturally gravitate toward those who smile confidently because it signals positivity and approachability. In both personal and professional settings, a confident smile can strengthen relationships, build trust, and leave a lasting impression. Maintaining this kind of smile requires consistent attention to oral health. Good dental hygiene is the foundation of a confident smile. Regular brushing, f lossing, and professional cleanings help prevent plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay. Healthy gums and clean teeth create the natural brightness and freshness that make a smile appear vibrant. Whitening also plays an important role. Over time, teeth can become stained from coffee, tea, and other everyday habits. Whitening treatments restore brightness, allowing teeth to ref lect light more evenly and giving the smile a youthful, polished appearance. When teeth look clean and bright, people feel more comfortable sharing their smile. Straightening the teeth is another key component. Proper alignment improves both aesthetics and function, creating balance and symmetry in the smile. Straight teeth are also easier to clean, which supports long term oral health. Together, good hygiene, whitening, and straightening form the essential pillars of a confident smile— one that ref lects health, care, and genuine self confidence. These goals are achieved through regular dental hygiene visits and modern orthodontic solutions such

A The yeladim at HANC EC had an incredible time learning about and celebrating Purim, complete with an awesome carnival

as clear aligner therapy. Professional hygiene appointments allow dental professionals to remove plaque and tartar that cannot be eliminated by brushing and f lossing alone. Routine visits also allow early detection of dental problems before they become serious. Clear aligner orthodontics gently guides teeth into their ideal positions using a series of transparent trays. Because aligners are removable and nearly invisible, patients can straighten their teeth while continuing their daily routines comfortably. An additional advantage in modern dental practices is the use of an in-house digital workf low that includes intraoral scanning, digital design, and 3D printing. Instead of waiting weeks for outside laboratories, an in-house team can digitally scan a patient’s teeth and immediately design a customized aligner treatment plan. With on-site 3D printing technology, models can be produced quickly and accurately, often allowing treatment to begin far sooner. This streamlined approach provides faster turnaround, more precise customization, and a higher level of patient care. When expert hygiene care, clear aligner orthodontics, and advanced in-house digital technology work together, patients receive efficient, high quality treatment and exceptional service—leading to healthier teeth and a brighter, more confident smile. Dr. Shaul Schwalb, practices in both Pomona, NY, and Cedarhurst, NY, with his expertise being Alignsmile, an Orthodontic Aligner product that far surpasses any in patient comfort, service and expediency. Aligner treatment starts within 48 hours of a patient scan. He may be reached at alignsmile650@gmail.com or at 516-218-2652.

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Simchas Purim at the home of Rabbi Witkin

Yachad’s Winter Season Brings Community, Friendship, and Inclusion

hile this winter season brought plenty of snow to the New York area, it also brought an extraordinary season of programming for Yachad participants across the community. From Shabbatons, Shabbayoms, and holiday celebrations, to weekly social and educational programs, this winter has been one of Yachad’s most active and successful seasons yet. Throughout the season, Yachad participants enjoyed a wide range of evening, weekend, and special programs designed to foster friendships, build confidence, and strengthen connections within the broader Jewish community. Several new initiatives were also introduced, expanding opportunities for participants to engage, learn, and grow. One of the highlights of the season was the Yachad Fall Leadership Shabbaton, held at the Armon Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. Students from many New York-area schools joined Yachad participants for an unforgettable Shabbos experience filled with ruach, laughter, and meaningful connection.

The weekend featured inspirational lectures, engaging support group panels, Torah shiurim, fun activities, and unique opportunities for participants and students to bond. The Shabbos concluded with a beautiful Havdalah ceremony and evening, where harmonious singing and dancing created a magical atmosphere of reflection and togetherness. Yachad Shabbatons were also hosted within our local shuls, offering community members the opportunity to spend meaningful shul time with participants. These Shabbos experiences allowed congregants to hear participants share divrei Torah, receive aliyos, and join together for communal Shalosh Suedes meals. This past Shabbos, the Young Israel of Woodmere hosted a Yachad Shabbaton where participants and advisors, along with a few families, enjoyed a beautiful Shabbos filled with singing, lively circle time, Torah and speeches from the shul rabbis, games, onegs, and a true experience of friendship and connection. Beyond Shabbos programming, the winter season included an array of en-

gaging weekly and special programs. Participants celebrated Chanukah and Purim with festive chagigahs alongside local schools, a fun and engaging Superbowl party which included a live performance by the Breakdancing Bros during halftime, while also enjoying regular activities such as bowling nights, comedy night, parent-child learning, Mishmar, Pizza and Parsha gatherings, Healthy Habits workshops, as well as cooking and art programs. Adult participants also enjoyed a memorable overnight trip that began with a beautiful Melave Malka. The following day featured snow tubing at Camp Gaw, roasting marshmallows, and concluded with a scavenger hunt and dinner at the American Dream Mall, creating fun and lasting memories. This season’s success was made possible through sponsorships and the support and partnership of many synagogues, schools, organizations, and host families who opened their doors and welcomed Yachad participants into their communities. Special thanks go to the Young Israel

of West Hempstead, Young Israel of Long Beach, Riverdale Jewish Center, Young Israel of New Rochelle, Young Israel of Woodmere, Hebrew Institute of White Plains, the Esplanade of Woodmere, SAR, WTA, Westchester Hebrew High School, Ramaz, MDS, YU, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Magan David, Rambam, HAFTR, HALB, DRS, SKA, HANC, YHT, NSHA, RCC Hillel, and NYU. Yachad is dedicated to fostering the inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by creating shared social and educational experiences alongside typically developing peers. These programs allow participants to develop meaningful relationships while strengthening the fabric of the community as a whole. Thanks to the community’s ongoing commitment and dedication, we were able to create meaningful opportunities for our participants this season. For more information, to sponsor a program or to make a donation, please visit www.yachad.org/newyork/donate or email shatzr@ou.org.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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Epic Shushan Purim at YCQ

ast Wednesday was an epic Shushan Purim at YCQ, and the energy in the building was absolutely electric! The halls were transformed by a sea of creative costumes, an incredible carnival, and a delicious ice cream bar

that was a massive hit with students of all ages. Beyond the fun, the elementary school students participated in a meaningful mishloach manot exchange, beautifully capturing the spirit of the day.

HAFTR Students Participate in Chemagination Competition

AFTR High School juniors Gigi Hersh and Emma Zuckerman came in third place in their category at the 2026 New York Section of the American Chemical Society Chemagination Competition, held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at St. John’s University. For this event, high school students are asked to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article for ChemMatters, a magazine for high school students that focuses on the role of chemistry in everyday life. The subject of the article is: “Describe a recent breakthrough or innovation in chemistry (and/or its applications) that has improved the quality of people’s lives today.”

The category that Gigi and Emma presented in was Alternative Energy, and their project was about using the energy created when salt and fresh water mix together in deltas. Gigi and Emma demonstrated impressive curiosity, teamwork, and scientific insight in their research of alternative energy. Their project showed both creativity and a strong understanding of important environmental challenges, and earning third place in this very unique chemistry competition is a wonderful accomplishment. Their hard work, thoughtful research, and dedication are truly commendable. We are so proud of the initiative and enthusiasm they brought to this project and look forward to seeing their science research develop.

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Brewed for Pesach

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50 Years of ArtScroll PART III: The Birth of an Unlikely Shidduch

t the Golden Anniversary of a couple with generations of successful offspring, people often ask how the shidduch came about – and the answer is sometimes surprising. Who thought of it? Did anyone guess how productive it would be? It’s 50 years since the first ArtScroll publication appeared on the Jewish scene, and these are the questions many people are asking about the “shidduch” of Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman and the secret of its longevity. Here’s the inside story. They were both born in the United States and went to mainstream yeshivos, but there, the similarity ends. R’ Meir was the son of Rav and Rebbetzin Aron Zlotowitz, who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1920s. Rav Aron was a product of the illustrious Lomza Yeshivah in Litvish-Poland, and became a vice president of the Agudas HaRabbonim. This meant that he knew Shas and Shulchan Aruch, a requirement to even be considered for membership in those days. R’ Meir attended Yeshivah Rabbi Jacob Joseph and then Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem, which was a turning point in his life. There, he became talmid of the gadol hador, HaR-

av Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, and developed a lifelong, very close relationship with the future gadol hador, Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l. Rabbi Nosson Scherman’s father was from Poland and his mother from Ukraine. They both arrived in Newark, N.J., in 1923 and married there. It’s hard to believe today, but a city with over 60,000 Jews did not have a single day school when he was growing up. R’ Nosson attended a public school and afternoon Talmud Torah until he was 10, when he became a dormitory student at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, and then Beth Medrosh Elyon and its kollel. In the 1960s, while R’ Meir, together with R’ Sheah Brander, produced artistic scrolls, brochures, and invitations at ArtScroll Studios, R’ Nosson was taking a different route. He became a rebbi, and then s’gan menahel and general studies principal at Yeshivah Torah Vodaath of Flatbush (which later became Yeshiva Torah Temimah). In 1971, he was appointed menahel of Yeshivah and Mesivta Karlin Stolin in Boro Park. Unlikely candidates for a shidduch? Indeed! Here’s how it happened. R’ Scherman wrote an article, “The

Chofetz Chaim in Vienna,” for the Jewish Observer magazine, which told about the frail and elderly sage’s trip to Agudath Israel’s Knessiah Gedolah in 1923. R’ Meir read it and was impressed. “I wish I could meet the person who wrote this article,” he mentioned to Avi Shulman, who was then a salesman for ArtScroll Studios. “He’s my friend,” Avi said. “I’ll introduce you.” And so he did. At first it was a casual, “get to know you” relationship, but as the years went by, it became closer and deeper. From time to time, ArtScroll needed copy for a scroll or brochure, and R’ Meir asked R’ Nosson to do the writing, so his admiration for the Chofetz Chaim article developed into an occasional professional relationship. After publishing Megillas Esther, the pressure to turn that single work into the ArtScroll Series started becoming irresistible. For a time, both R’ Nosson and R’ Meir continued their daytime jobs and devoted every spare moment to their collaboration, but it became obvious that it had to be fulltime...or nothing. It was a painful decision. R’ Meir had a family to support, and ArtScroll Studios was increasingly successful. R’ Nosson was committed to

R’ Nosson Scherman, R’ Meir Zlotowitz and R’ Sheah Brander

chinuch, and Karlin Stolin’s reputation and appeal were growing. How could they give up these careers for a questionable future? On the other hand, both felt an overriding responsibility to put the needs of Klal Yisrael over their personal considerations. Was a future ArtScroll Series such a need? R’ Meir made his decision first. He persuaded R’ Nosson, and the partnership was formed. Avi Shulman’s shidduch prospered, producing over 3,500 titles so far, many hundreds of thousands “students,” and they are still counting… Up Next: The Fascinating Story Behind Shir Hashirim

Improv Workshop Enhances the Day

fter getting together for kriyas haMegillah and enjoying schoolwide hand-delivered mishloach manos on Purim day, the spirit of celebration continued the next day on Shushana Purim at Brandeis Hebrew Academy with a full day of festive activities. One highlight of the day for students in grades 4–8 was an interactive improv workshop led by longtime educator Chaia Frishman, who has more than 32 years of experience teaching in the Far Rockaway

and Five Towns community. Frishman was assisted by Rivka Lubin, a seasoned Five Towns teacher. The lively session introduced students to a variety of improv games that encouraged creativity, teamwork, and quick thinking. Students eagerly stepped forward to participate while their classmates cheered them on, creating an atmosphere of genuine fun. Together, students built funny scenes and played a range of improv games that kept the energy high and

Parsha Comes Alive at TAG

t’s not every day that one sees a Kohen Gadol walking the halls of the Ganger Early Childhood Division of TAG. But when Parshas Tetzaveh comes, you would not be surprised to find him visiting all the classes in his beautiful clothing befitting his stature in Klal Yisroel.

the laughter flowing. The workshop was just one part of a full day of Purim festivities that took place throughout the school. The celebration, sponsored by the school’s Parents’ Association, featured an all-day carnival that kept students busy and energized. Multiple bounce houses were set up for students to enjoy, and carnival booths offered games and prizes for everyone who participated. The seventh grade played an important role in the event, taking responsibility for running the game booths and helping younger stu-

dents try their luck and win prizes. Students moved from activity to activity, enjoying the festive atmosphere and the opportunity to celebrate Purim together with their friends and classmates. Under the leadership of Head of School Mr. Raz Levin and Rabbi Aharon Bain, the school continues to provide programming that brings students together in meaningful and enjoyable ways while strengthening their connection to Torah, mitzvot, and Jewish life.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Gastroenterologist Shares Prevention Tips

olorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 108,860 new cases of colon cancer and 49,990 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2026. While colorectal cancer has traditionally affected older adults, cases among individuals under age 50 have been steadily increasing over the past decade. Because colorectal cancer often develops from precancerous polyps that can be detected and removed early, screening remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease. The ACS recommends that people at average risk begin regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45. In recognition of National Colorec-

tal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Marc Fenster, MD, Gastroenterologist at Episcopal Health Services, is encouraging the community to focus on prevention through healthy lifestyle habits, regular screenings, and awareness of early warning signs. “Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when it is detected early,” said Dr. Fenster. “Routine screenings such as colonoscopies allow doctors to identify and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we encourage everyone—especially those over 45 or with a family history—to talk with their doctor about screening and take proactive steps to protect their health.” Prevention Tips • Get Screened: A colonoscopy is

one of the most effective ways to detect colorectal cancer early and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. • Limit Alcohol Intake: Colorectal cancer has been linked to moderate to heavy alcohol use. Limiting or avoiding alcohol can help reduce your risk. • Avoid Tobacco: Smoking has been associated with an increased risk of many cancers, including colorectal cancer. • Know Your Family History: About 1 in 3 people who develop colorectal cancer have a family member who has had the disease. Talk with your doctor about your family history and whether earlier screening may be recommended. • Monitor Chronic Digestive Conditions: Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, have a higher

Marc Fenster, MD, Gastroenterologist at Episcopal Health Services

risk of colorectal cancer and should work with their physician to ensure appropriate monitoring and screening. For more information, please visit www. ehs.org/colonoscopy or call 718-EHSDOCS (347-3627).

JSL Winter Season Recap

nother incredible week of JSL action by FM Home Loans is in the books as playoff intensity ramped up across all divisions. From buzzer beaters and overtime thrillers to dominant scoring performances and clutch goaltending, the boys brought the energy all day long. JSL Juniors Recap K/P Hockey – Mini Tournament Yeled LI Panthers defeated Smash House 7–5 as Moshe Homnick was electric, scoring 4 goals to power his team to victory. Maidenbaum rolled past Exclusive Cabinetry, thanks to an outstanding performance from Yehuda Kabalkin, who scored 4 goals while also making several beautiful saves. Marciano PD defeated Demo & Cleanouts behind a Hat Trick from Aharon Portal, who provided the offensive spark. SD Shades beat MoldPro 9–5 as birthday boy Aryeh Klestzick celebrated in style with a 5-goal performance. K/P Soccer – Mini Tournament Arise Real Estate edged SR Whee 2–1 with Nissim Schwartz scoring both goals for his team. 5 Towns Central shut out Sunflower Cafe 5–0 behind stellar play in net from Chaim Leyton, who kept the clean sheet. HOCKEY 1st Grade Division – Playoffs Chosson Central topped Zlotowitz

Law 12–7 behind an unbelievable performance from Yaakov Rosenberg, who scored a remarkable 9 goals. Posh Home & Bath staged a comeback win over Tikva Fire, 7–6, with Jerry Pasternak scoring two goals and adding the game-winning assist. 2nd/3rd Grade Division – Playoffs Town Appliance edged J Works Construction 4–3 as Aron Blobstein came up big between the pipes when it mattered most. Nate Builders defeated Remsen Auto 8–5 thanks to a 4-goal performance from Yumi Ehrlichman, who found the back of the net repeatedly. 4th/5th Grade Division – Playoffs SR Whee cruised to a 7–1 victory over Frank Kitchen & Bath, led by a dominant performance in net from Mordechai Kirschner. J Works Construction pulled off a major upset, knocking off top-seeded Extreme Vent Cleaning 4–3 with incredible goaltending from Rafi Taber. 6th–8th Grade Division – Playoffs Emporio defeated Town Appliance 4–3 as Yosef Treuhaft stood tall in net, sending Emporio to their second championship appearance this year. SD Shades advanced to the finals with an impressive 11–3 win over top-seeded Twillory, with Zachary Borenstein delivering a huge performance in goal.

BASKETBALL 1st Grade Basketball Seasons defeated The Shoppe 14–12 behind the smart play and shooting of Ami Yarmish. Marciano PD defeated Posh Home & Bath 16–14 as Gavriel Kranzler delivered the dramatic buzzer-beater game winner. 2nd Grade Basketball Wieder Orthodontics defeated White Glove Concierge 10–8 with Ruby Wieder scoring a game-high 8 points. Rita’s edged 5 Towns Landscaping 24–22 as Eli Lopiansky hit the game-winning shot in a thriller. 3rd Grade Basketball Tikva Fire defeated Seasons Express 14–11 behind strong play down the stretch from Dani Grabie. Central Pizza Co. completed a comeback win over Elegant Lawns, 10–8, with Naftali Zackutinsky dominating the boards with 10 rebounds. 4th/5th Grade Basketball Newman Dental defeated Tal By Luxe 23–1 behind a 14-point performance from Dovid Bauman. Wieder Orthodontics defeated Zlotowitz Law 33–28 as Akiva Scharf and Yonasan Lang led the offensive charge. 6th/7th Grade Basketball Maidenbaum edged Twillory 36–34

with Ari Van Halem hitting the game-winning shot. Elegant Lawns defeated TNB Architecture 21–17 as Menachem Wiener recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Men’s Basketball Welcome back to Nick Hurowitz of Maidenbaum! In his return, he dropped 35 points including 10 three-pointers in a big win over Smash House. Town Appliance defeated Kol Ve’or 51–47 as Ezra Sicklick channeled his inner Jalen Brunson, attacking the rim and hitting 11 free throws on his way to a 17-point performance. Altbanq got scoring from all five starters in double figures in a balanced 55–44 win over SR Whee. Yitzy Wieder continued his dominant season, pouring in 33 points as Emporio defeated Twillory.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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A Jam-Packed Week of Inspiration and Connection at SKA

his past week offered a powerful glimpse into the vibrant programming that shapes SKA students into thoughtful, engaged, and giving members of the broader Jewish community. We welcomed Israeli singer Shmuel for an uplifting kumzitz. Shmuel’s music and heartfelt words of connection to Hashem filled the room with a palpable energy and inspiration. The atmosphere was electric as students joined together in song, creating a powerful moment of connection and unity that left everyone feeling elevated. That spirit continued into the weekend with “Shabbos of Elevation,” an op-

tional program for 11th and 12th grade students. Nearly fifty girls chose to participate, beginning with davening together on Friday night followed by a warm and welcoming Shabbos meal hosted by the Storch family, full of divrei Torah and zemirot. The evening continued with an inspiring oneg and shiur from Rabbi Rice. The meaningful programming continued Shabbos afternoon with a thoughtful Q&A session, divrei Torah from Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, and student-led chaburahs that encouraged reflection and discussion. The Shabbos concluded with a beautiful seudah shlishit hosted at the Lebowitz home, leaving participants in-

spired and deeply connected. On Motzei Shabbos, SKA hosted its annual Chessed Fair, bringing together local chessed organizations and highlighting the many opportunities available for students to give back to the community. The event also celebrated SKA students who embody chessed, supporting those in need, with their induction into the Chai Plus chessed society. This remarkable week captured the spirit of SKA. It represents just some of the many opportunities students experience beyond the classroom. Through innovative programming, meaningful Torah learning, and a strong emphasis on chessed, SKA continues to nurture young

women who grow not only academically, but spiritually and personally as well, preparing them to make lasting contributions to Klal Yisrael and the broader community.

Sky-High Learning at HANC

he fourth grade students in the HANC Reinstein Family Campus in West Hempstead have set their sights high in the sky, learning as much as they can about space. Under the direction of HANC Elementary School’s Science teacher, Mrs. Lauren Weinrib, the children have been learning about many aspects of astronomy, including the solar system, phases of the moon, star constellations, gravity, and methods the astronauts utilize to explore space. In order to learn even more about space in a creative, hands-on way, the children were presented with a list of topics that

they could explore further. Each child chose a topic of interest to them and then conducted their own research. They then were tasked with creating a project reflecting what they had learned, along with compiling a fact sheet containing three to five fun facts about their chosen topic. The students put their creativity to work, creating posters, dioramas, galaxy jars and other models to present their topic in a meaningful way for their peers. Each project was placed on display in the Science Lab, creating a museum-like atmosphere. Thanks to the glass walls that

Lev Chana students enjoyed the 100th day of school with special themed activities and by doing 100 mitzvos

surround the Science Lab, the impressive display drew a lot of attention from students and staff who passed by in the hallway. The projects included a poster of the phases of the moon, using Oreo cookie cream carved in the shape of each phase; a moon landing satellite; a model of the Kennedy Space Center; dwarf planets created with paper quilling; a 3-D printed rocket ship and moon; gravity shoes; and a model of the planets created from clay, with a flag attached to each planet listing five facts that make each one unique. On the day of the Fourth Grade Spectacular Space Show Event, each child presented their project and read their fun fact sheet to the class. The children presented their projects with so much confidence and pride in their work, and their classmates gained extra knowledge

from the presentations of their peers. It was evident from the smiles on their faces that all of their hard work was not only rewarding but enjoyable as well. One mother noted that her daughter, Ricki Weitzman, was so excited about her rocket ship that she spent all day on a Sunday creating it. She even FaceTimed with both sets of grandparents and walked around the house singing: “I’m going on a trip on my favorite rocket ship!” Reflecting on the success of the Space Show, Mrs. Weinrib remarked: “The children’s projects truly exceeded our expectations! The final products were colorful, innovative and brought space to life in our brand-new HANC Science Space. Now we are looking forward to our next special program, the third grade Mini Maker Challenge.”

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MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

SYEP s back!!

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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Fun at Friendship Circle

ast month, the Friendship Circle held an amazing trip to Ferox Athletics. Our participants — each paired with a dedicated volunteer — had a blast navigating ninja courses, bouncing on trampolines, exploring foam pits, and shooting hoops. It was an unforgettable day filled with fun, smiles, and joy. At our recent T-YAD (Teens and Young Adults Division) event, which was shortly before Purim, everyone made delicious hamantaschen and faced off in a funny hat contest. As always, the program was a huge hit filled with laughter, creativity, and friendship.

Then, shortly before the holiday, we held our annual Purim Drive, where volunteers — bringing costumes and songs — delivered over 250 mishloach manot to kids, teens, and adults with disabilities throughout the Five Towns, ensuring that everyone’s Purim was special. The recipients were so excited and happy — the visits brought them so much simcha. We’re excited for another month of joy and fun at the Friendship Circle! The Friendship Circle, a project of Chabad of the Five Towns, is an organization dedicated to bringing joy and friendship to the lives of individuals

with disabilities. With help from our teen volunteers, we offer a wide range of exciting weekly and monthly programs. If you are interested in volunteering, do-

nating, or joining the Friendship Circle family, please visit fc5towns.com for more information.

Preparing for Pesach and for Life…Why the Dogs and Not the Frogs? A Public Shiur by Rabbi Yissocher Frand

arav Yissocher Frand, shlita, was named third recipient of the Rabbi Raphael Zalman Levine Endowed Distinguished Talmudic Scholar Award presented by Touro University. As the award recipient, Rabbi Frand will present a special shiur, “Preparing for Pesach and for Life…Why the Dogs and Not the Frogs?” The shiur will take place at Touro’s Lander College for Women, 227 West 60th St, NYC on March 23 at 7 pm and is open to the public. From Talmid to a Rosh Yeshiva Born in Seattle, Washington, Rabbi Yissocher Frand attended Baltimore’s Yeshivas Ner Israel as a teenager and rose to become a Rosh Yeshiva there as well as one of the most popular lecturers of our time and the leading teacher of the English-speaking American Jewish community.

“Touro is thrilled to present this shiur by a true Torah teacher who combines scholarship, humor, eloquence and passion in his timely and timeless presentations,” said Rabbi Moshe Krupka, Touro University Executive Vice President. Rabbi Frand has educated hundreds of students as a Rosh Yeshiva and continues to inspire thousands in his public lectures and appearances around the globe, including as keynote speaker at the conventions of Agudath Israel of America, Torah U’mesorah and at the Siyum Hashas. His recorded shiurim and lectures are distributed by the Yad Yechiel Institute to Jews of all backgrounds on every continent. Rabbi Frand has authored ten books published by Artscroll, covering Parshas Hashavuah and the Haggadah. Rabbi Frand has also published three

popular seforim including HaParsha B’halacha and Yomim Tovim B’halacha. Prestigious Award Touro University’s Rabbi Raphael Zalman Levine Endowed Distinguished Talmudic Scholar Award is generously endowed by Mr. Joel Margolis to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions in the field of Torah Scholarship and dissemination. Previous award recipients were HaRav Asher Weiss and HaRav Dovid Cohen. Zalman Levine, a musmach of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski and devoted student of Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz, came to the United States in 1923. After a brief teaching career at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, he moved to Albany. Eschewing any rabbinic titles, he spent the next six decades deeply involved in studying and teaching Torah, while supporting his family, first as an insurance salesman and then, for several decades, as a deeply respected staff member of the

Rav Yossi Sauber at the hanachas tefillin of his son Boruch, with Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Darchei Torah

Rabbi Yissocher Frand

New York State Comptroller’s Office. When Rabbi Levine arrived in Albany, the concept of a Torah scholar serving as a lay communal leader was unheard of, and his pioneering role set an example for others. Not only was Zalman Levine a devoted communal lay leader and an accomplished Torah scholar, he also enjoyed the deep friendship of several generations of North American Torah luminaries. For more information and to register, visit www.touro.edu/ravfrand.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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HAFTR LS students celebrated 100 days of school

YUHSG Celebrates Purim 5786

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ith Adar in full swing and spring warmth just around the corner, the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) transformed its campus into a hub of celebration for Shushan Purim 5768! Purim is always a highlight of the spring semester at YUHSG, and this year was no exception, with innovative costumes, spirited programming, and events making for a week of fun. Leading the charge in costume highlights was the class of 2026. These senior Wildcats approached their final Purim at YUHSG with enthusiasm and style, fully embracing the school’s annual “Dress Like a Teacher” day on Rosh Chodesh Adar by putting their own spin on faculty fashion. The week marked one final celebration before the milestones of the later part of the semester, including YUHSG’s annual Senior Seminar, the senior internship program, and, of course, graduation. Other highlights included a special program on Monday, March 2, Ta’anit Esther, featuring Mrs. Toba Shifrin, who gave a talk titled “Esther: A Role Model for Women.” Purim featured community gatherings far and wide where Wildcats could stop in for fun, bonding, and misloach manot. In West Hempstead, YUHSG Principal, Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, welcomed students at home, while in Woodmere, YUHSG Science Department Chair, Mrs. Ruth Fried, hosted local Wildcats, with Humanities Department faculty, Mrs. Saritte Wolkenstein,

hosting YUHSG’s Brooklyn students, and YUHSG’s Goldman-Reiss family welcoming YUHSG students in Great Neck. Shushan Purim, Wednesday, March 4, gave campus the atmosphere of a high-energy party. Events included Escape Shushan rooms, a chagiga with DJ Ephrat, and activities hosted by YUHSG G.O. Faculty departments once again joined in the costume fun with coordinated costumes, adopting the theme “E-Central (Essential) Workers.” Faculty and admin could be found dressed as essential workers of all stripes, from air traffic controllers to FBI agents to grammar police, and, in a few cases, staff dressed as their colleagues, highlighting how “essential” YUHSG staff are to one another. Students showcased a wide range of costumes: from Barbie to Old McDonald with his farm in tow to the entire senior class dancing through classrooms as Minions from the film Despicable Me. But the day’s undisputed highlight: the annual Purim shpiel, a tradition blending humor, creativity, and (affectionate) parody that is beloved by students and teachers alike. But the momentum doesn’t stop with Purim celebrations! The spring semester is in full swing at YUHSG, with a packed schedule to come. Another yearly highlight: the annual YUHSG Dinner of Tribute, which will take place on Saturday, March 7 at Great Neck Synagogue, followed by a new tradition, the 2026 Central Spotlight, which will take place on Sunday, March 15 at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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France Provence France Provence 10 days 10 days

Provence & Riviera Journey - Jewish Heritage Meets Art, Nature & History 10-day tour through Southern France: from Marseille to Monaco, Roman ruins to Van Gogh trails, medieval synagogues to the French Riviera. Includes Shabbat in Aix, Chagall Museum, and timeless Jewish Provence.

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Peru Peru 9 days 9 days

City Comptroller Mark Levine celebrating Purim in his office with leaders from Crown HTS, listening to the Megillah and enjoying hamantaschen L-R: Ari Lustig, Pinny Hikind, Rabbi Shmuel Butler, City Comptroller Mark Levine, Yaacov Behrman, and Moshe Blau

DRS Wildcats Win Back-to-Back Basketball Championships

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu, the rich history of Cusco and Lima, and the wildlife of the Ballestas Islands. From ancient Inca ruins to vibrant markets and stunning landscapes, this journey through Peru is an unforgettable adventure!

02 AUG 2026

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Japan J apan 10 days 10 days Discover the perfect blend of ancient traditions and futuristic innovation as you explore Tokyo's bustling streets, Kyoto's historic temples, Hiroshima's moving memorials, and breathtaking natural landscapes. From samurai castles to hightech wonders, this journey through Japan is unforgettable! 10 Aug 2026 09 Nov 2026

Vietnam Vietnam & Cambodia & Cambodia 14 days 1 days The Pearl of the East A fascinating journey to countries where authenticity can still be felt

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he DRS Wildcats captured their second consecutive basketball championship, marking the first time in over 20 years that a school has done so in the yeshiva league. The team’s success was fueled by tremendous hard work and strong senior leadership. Gaby Spodek delivered a historic season, elevating his game while taking on a larger scoring role and leading the team through key moments. Michael Solomon, a natural leader, helped guide the team with poise and determination. The Wildcats’ starting five—Michael Solomon, Yitz Bennet, Shoham Gabay, Elisha Tsaidi, and Gaby Spodek—developed incredible chemistry, consistently

playing in sync and executing as a cohesive unit. Under the leadership of Coaches Moshe Cohen and Yonatan Bayaz, the team maintained its focus and discipline throughout the season. The Greenhouse, DRS’s spirited student fan section, brought incredible energy all year, creating an electric home-court atmosphere. The following day, Rabbi Kaminetsky, the Rosh Yeshiva, spoke to the student body about the important lessons one can learn from the team’s success – hard work, determination, and teamwork – and how those same qualities apply to other areas of life, including learning and avodas Hashem.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Around the Community

Gan Chamesh Purim Celebration

he children at Gan Chamesh enjoyed a fun-filled 5 Senses Purim Carnival. They used all their senses to explore and internalize the meaning

of Purim while having a blast. The carnival was followed by an entertaining and interactive music show by Gary Wallin Productions.

HALB eighth graders participated in the annual program about substance abuse and prevention with CCSA organization

Literacy week at Shulamith School for Girls

hulamith School was buzzing with excitement as students celebrated a vibrant and engaging Literacy Week, dedicated to fostering a love of reading, writing, and storytelling. The week featured a wide range of activities designed to bring books and language to life for students of all ages. A highlight of the week was a special visit from author and illustrator Anne Koffsky, who spoke to students about the creative process behind writing and illustrating books. Students were captivated as

she shared her stories and demonstrated how illustrations help bring characters and ideas to life. Throughout the week, classrooms were filled with literacy-focused activities. Students took part in a schoolwide vocabulary bee, while Mrs. Barbara Drucker visited classes to teach about the rich history of folktales and storytelling traditions. The annual Middle School Poetry Slam was a standout event, with students proudly presenting original poems in a lively and supportive atmosphere.

The school also hosted a successful book fair in partnership with Menucha Publishers, offering a wonderful selection of both Judaic and secular books for students and families to explore. Adding a creative historical twist, Mrs. Beth Ruck’s “Turn Back Time Café” transported students to the 1920s through interactive word games and literacy challenges. In addition, each class studied a well-known author from the past, learning about the author’s life and the history behind their books.

Literacy Week concluded with a festive closing ceremony recognizing students who achieved record-breaking reading logs. With so many opportunities to explore the power of words, Shulamith’s Literacy Week was truly a celebration of learning, creativity, and the joy of reading.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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Purim at IVDU Five Towns

his past week, IVDU Five Towns was filled with excitement as students and staff came together to celebrate Purim. The hallways were alive with creative, colorful, and imaginative outfits. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm as everyone showed off their costumes. DRS boys joined us for music and dancing. The energy in the room was contagious as students sang along, danced together, and fully embraced the simcha of Purim. It was an uplifting experience for all. A highlight of the day was a special

Purim carnival organized by our two older classes with the guidance from their dedicated teachers. The students put tremendous thought and effort into creating booths featuring Purim themed characters and engaging games. Each station gave students the opportunity to participate, challenge themselves, and, most importantly, have fun. Throughout the day, the school was filled with sounds of achdus, celebrating the festivities together. The smiles on the students’ faces said it all. It was a memorable Purim celebration that captured the spirit of the holiday.

YOSS Mechina talmidim who were in the Tefilasi top 10 received fresh popcorn and iced tea for their continued efforts into tefilla

Mesilas Yesharim Siyum at MAY

his past week, Rabbi Yaffe celebrated the completion of the whole sefer Mesilas Yesharim with an elite chaburah of 16 MAY students. For the past year and a half, each morning this chaburah spent the first 10 minutes of their breakfast time learning mussar with their Rosh Hayeshiva. To celebrate this tremendous accom-

plishment, Rabbi Yaffe treated the boys to a special lunch at Chosen Island. Reflecting on the experience, Rabbi Yaffe shared, “They are the bright spots of my day. I really enjoy learning with them.” The Mesilas Yesharim chabura is dedicated in memory of Miriam bas Elimelech, a”h, and Ozer Aryeh ben Baruch, a”h, by a MAY alum.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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Purim Fun at HALB

Purim Joy and Spirit at Yeshiva Har Torah

n Purim day, HALB students visited their morot, rebbeim and principals to celebrate the day together.

In school on Shushan Purim, students had fun dress up days and enjoyed a carnival and chagiga!

he spirit of Purim was alive and vibrant at Yeshiva Har Torah as students and teachers alike joined together in a joyful celebration filled with creativity, laughter, and community. Our Early Learning Center students were treated to a special “Drum Tales” program that brought the story of Purim to life through rhythm and interactive storytelling. The children eagerly participated, drumming along and experiencing the excitement of the Purim story in a fun and engaging way that perfectly captured the energy of the holiday. The celebration continued with a lively Purim Carnival for our GCP students, where the halls were filled with games, activities, and plenty of Purim spirit. Students arrived in colorful and imag-

inative costumes, enjoying time with friends as they moved from station to station throughout the carnival. Adding to the festive atmosphere, our teachers truly embraced the Purim spirit, dressing up alongside their students and joining in the fun. Their creativity and enthusiasm helped make the day even more special, creating a warm and joyful environment that reflected the strong sense of community at Yeshiva Har Torah. From the rhythmic beats of Drum Tales to the excitement of the carnival and the spirited participation of both students and teachers, Purim at Yeshiva Har Torah was a wonderful celebration of joy, unity, and school pride.

together to deepen children’s appreciation and understanding of tefillah. The evening, filled with music, warmth and inspiration, marked a meaningful step in enriching tefillah education. A big yasher

koach to the participating classes from HAFTR, HALB, South Shore, and Yeshiva Ketana for making this memorable event possible.

Uplifting Tefillah Kumzitz

n Motzei Shabbos, over 250 participants, including boys along with their fathers and grandfathers, rebbeim and rabbonim joined together for an amazing kumzitz featuring

Eitan Katz and his orchestra. This event was part of the first year of Together for Tefillah, an initiative spearheaded by the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools to help schools, shuls, and homes work

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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The Simcha of Adar Continues: HANC High School’s Surprise Color War

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Rav Yaakov Feitman at his home Mesibas Purim

Shevach Students and Alumnae Help Spread the Spirit of Purim

n Taanis Esther, Shevach students went to visit residents at The Boulevard ALP and Margaret Teitz Nursing Home to bring in the spirit of Purim and to deliver mishloach manos provided by The Agudas Yisrael of America. Dressed up in fun costumes, the Shevach students, along with the elderly residents, had a memorable and uplifting experience. In the words of one of the Shevach students, “When we left, it was unclear who had gained more from the experience. It was very special for us the feeling that we had made someone else’s Purim. Yet I know that it really made our day, too!” This was just one girl’s experience, yet it was clear that all the girls felt the same way. In Kew Gardens, The Atria and The Homestead were both treated to a memorable visit by Shevach alumna Mrs. Batzion (Massis) Brody, her husband, and her three children, who in their delightful costumes, brought Purim joy to all the

residents. The seniors loved being visited by the charming children, many residents in fact remembering them from their previous Purim visits. As Mrs. Brody stated, “I started coming here on Purim when I was a Shevach student, and I will not give it up! This is the true spirit of Purim that I hope to impart to my children.” Kudos to the following Shevach students who participated in this wonderful chessed either at The Boulevard ALP or at Margaret Teitz: Sara Lea Cohen, Shoshana Glatt, Devorah Greenberg, Aviva Hochster, Batsheva Keller, Rivka Levant, Kaylie Maslansky, Chava Nat, Elisheva Niazov, Adina Orbach, Emmy Paris, and alumna Batya Orbach. The Queens community can be very proud of the Shevach students, as they do their wonderful acts of chessed and amaze all with their willingness to give. They readily give of their time during their busy high school years and continue with this attitude of giving even after they graduate when life gets even busier!

By Abigail Saldin

he simcha of Adar doesn’t just end after Purim at HANC High School! Last week, after a lively Shushan Purim Chagiga, students gathered in the gym to be treated to a hilarious Purim spiel when, suddenly, unprecedentedly, Color War 2026 was announced! This was the very first time in HANC High School history that this much-beloved school tradition, Color War, was held in a consecutive year, instead of every other year, making this an extraordinary surprise! The teams this year were revealed to be Blue, representing orah, and Black, representing simcha. After a commencement speech by Rabbi Slomnicki, the students immediately participated in various fun teamwork activities, including collecting pom-poms throughout the school, tic-tac-toe relay races, spike ball, chess, and many more. All-star players from both teams went head-to-head in a thrilling basketball tournament, with their respective teams cheering them on from the sidelines. It was an energy that had to be seen to be believed. Throughout the day, there was always singing and cheering ringing throughout the halls of the building. The morning of the finale began with insightful shiurim followed by a school-

wide game of musical chairs, and the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was like the cherry on top of the past two days of color war, featuring exhilaratingly choreographed STOMP performances from both teams, student-written poems, as well as hysterically funny student-produced commercials for imaginary Shark Tank products. Additionally, each team’s respective art committees presented unique banners representing their team’s theme to the school to be hung up in the school’s Beit Midrash. After all the points amassed by each team had been tallied and calculated, the entire school sang Acheinu together. The students waited with much suspense before it was announced that the Blue team had won and would have their team name engraved on a WWE-style belt to be displayed in the school long after all team members have graduated. At the end of the day, though, even though there was only one “official winner,” it could be argued (as cliché as it may sound) that we’d all won because of how much fun we’ve all had these past few days together as one HANC High School community. A big “thank you” on behalf of all the students to all the teachers and administrators who worked hard to coordinate, supervise, and facilitate all the fun activities during this entire event, which wouldn’t be nearly as fun without all their help. Looking forward to the next Color War!

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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The Rav Meir Shapiro and Chachmei Lublin Haggadah K’negged arba’ah banim dibrah Torah, Concerning four sons does the Torah speak.

he greatness of Torah lies in its universal accessibility. Every Jew — man, woman, or child, regardless of age or intellect — can learn Torah. A second-grade child today studies the same Chumash taught by Moshe Rabbeinu, explained by Rashi, and explored by every Torah giant since Mattan Torah. Unlike other areas of study that belong only to the intellectually gifted — calculus, physics, quantum mechanics — Torah speaks to everyone. Hashem, in His infinite wisdom and compassion, gave us a Torah that reaches every person on their own level: a child, a layman, a scholar, and everyone in between (see R’ Chaim Brisker in Haggadah Beis HaLevi). The Haggadah emphasizes this through the Four Sons. The wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not know how to ask all have a seat at the Seder. All have a place in Torah. Torah is not reserved for the elite; it is the heritage of every Jew. All his life, R’ Meir Shapiro devoted himself to spreading Torah and building a generation of Torah learners. His goal was not limited to yeshivah bachurim. He believed deeply in the strength of the working Jew, the balebos, and his ability to grow in Torah. This was one of the driving ideas behind daf yomi: to bring Torah into the life of every Jew, every day. He once said: “The most beautiful sight in the world is a craftsman with a hammer in one hand and a Shulchan Aruch in the other.” Today we see that vision fulfilled. People learn the daf on

the train, in the car, in airports, at dawn before work, and late at night after a long day. Torah — daily, steady, and accessible — has entered every corner of Jewish life. R’ Meir lived this truth. In every conversation with anyone he met, he found a way to connect through Torah. Whether speaking with a bachur, a balebos, an unlearned Jew, or Torah giants like the Chofetz Chaim or the Imrei Emes, R’ Meir showed that Torah is both approachable and personal. Someone once asked him: “What is the difference between how a chassidishe bachur and a Litvishe bachur learn Gemara?” R’ Meir answered with a sharp and humorous story. Two bachurim — one chassidish, one Litvish — were learning Maseches Succah. They reached the Gemara (28b) describing the holiness of R’ Yonasan ben Uziel. The Gemara says that when he learned Torah, a fiery light of kedushah surrounded him, and any bird flying overhead was burned. The chavrusos paused. The Litvishe bachur asked his chassidishe friend, “What are you thinking about?” “I am thinking about the holiness of R’ Yonasan ben Uziel,” he answered. “Imagine the holiness that scaled such heights that such a fire emerged from his learning!” He then asked the Litvishe bachur: “And you — what do you think when learning this Gemara? The Litvishe bachur replied, “I am wondering whether R’ Yonasan ben Uziel would be obligated to pay for the damaged bird as a mazik.” Two bachurim. One sugya. Two com-

pletely different paths of connection. That, said R’ Meir, is the beauty of Torah. Its depth is endless. Its pathways are many. And every Jew — no matter who he is — can navigate it. After R’ Meir was niftar on 7 Cheshvan 5694 (1933), hespeidim were delivered throughout Europe. Among them was a powerful eulogy from R’ Dovid Menachem Munish Babad, rav of Tarnopol and author of the Chavatzeles HaSharon. He began with Chazal: There was no one like R’ Meir [the Tanna, disciple of R’ Akiva] in his generation (Eruvin 13b). But this seems difficult. R’ Yehudah and R’ Yosei also lived in that generation, and halachah often follows their opinions instead of R’ Meir’s. Why, then, is R’ Meir singled out with the phrase There was no one like [him] in his generation? The answer, he said, lies in the Gemara (Sanhedrin 38b) which teaches that when R’ Meir gave a shiur, he would divide it into three parts: one-third halacha, one-third Aggadah, and one-third parables and teachings suited for the general public. Why this structure? Because R’ Meir understood the diversity within Klal Yisrael. In every crowd, there are talmidei chachamim able to engage in deep lomdus, baalebatim with more basic backgrounds, and simple Jews with little formal learning. R’ Meir crafted his shiurim so that every person present, no matter his level, could walk away uplifted and enriched. This, explained the rav of Tarnopol, is why R’ Meir the Tanna was called yachid b’doro, unique in his generation. His greatness was not only in his mastery of Torah, but in his mastery of teaching. He reached every neshama. He spoke to the heart of every Jew. And then he continued: “This was our R’ Meir Shapiro. A leader who could teach and connect to every Jew. Who understood each person on his level. Who worked to make Torah accessible to all. That is why we cry today with such longing: There was no one like R’ Meir in his generation. This was the mission of R’ Meir. And it is the message of Pesach itself: to connect, to include, and to uplift, so that every Jew and every one of our children finds a place at the table of Torah. R’ Meir chose a pasuk from Tehillim (34:12) to adorn the entrance to Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. In gold lettering, it

said: “Lichu vanim shimu li, yiras Hashem alamedchem, Go, O sons, heed me, I will teach you the fear of Hashem.” R’ Meir explained that the use of the word “go” rather than “come” is deliberate and deeply meaningful. Chinuch is not about inspiring a child only while he is present in the classroom, the beis midrash, or the home. It is not defined by how a child behaves when a parent or rebbi is watching. True chinuch is measured later, when the child grows up, leaves the shelter of home or yeshivah, and is no longer surrounded by structure. Will he continue to walk the path he was shown? Will he live with yiras Shamayim even when no one sees him? This, said R’ Meir, is the mission of parents, rebbeim, moros, and teachers: to give children the strength to live with Hashem not only when they “come,” but especially when they “go.” At the beginning of each zman, R’ Meir would repeat this teaching to his talmidim. And his prayer was fulfilled. Wherever the talmidim of Yachel, Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, later found themselves, across continents and through unimaginable trials, they carried with them their rebbi’s dream: to always listen to what Hashem wanted from them, wherever life led them. Reprinted from The Rav Meir Shapiro and Chachmei Lublin Haggadah by Dov Weller, with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Rav Yerucham Olshan speaking to Rav Yaakov Feitman at the Chaim Berlin dinner

Magic Al visited Lev Chana and brought all the fun and laughs, as he always does

Rambam Mesivta Celebrates 34th Annual Scholarship Dinner

ambam Mesivta recently held its 34th Annual Scholarship Dinner on Motzei Shabbos, February 28, at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. Parents, alumni, faculty, and friends gathered to celebrate the Rambam community and support the school’s scholarship initiatives. The evening began with opening remarks from Judge Ronald Goldman, followed by Tehillim led by Rabbi Jonathan Ziring. Guests then joined in singing the National Anthem, followed by alumnus Josh Aminov’s stirring rendition of Hatikvah. Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HaYeshiva, offered words of chizuk and gratitude, setting the tone for a meaningful and inspiring evening. The dinner honored several distinguished individuals whose dedication to Rambam, and the broader Jewish community has made a lasting impact. Rabbi Avi Herschman, Rosh Mesivta, presented awards to this year’s honorees.

Ben and Mozelle Goldstein were recognized as Guests of Honor for their devotion to community and Torah life. Mozelle is widely known for her volunteer work with local shuls and schools, as well as teaching CPR classes throughout the tri-state area. Ben is deeply involved in Torah learning and teaching, leading his shul’s weekly mishmar, parent-child learning programs, and delivering shiurim throughout the year. In an extraordinary act of chesed, he recently donated a kidney through Renewal. As parents of Moe, an 11th-grade talmid and Gabbai at Rambam, the Goldsteins exemplify the values of commitment and giving that define the Rambam community. Mr. Jason Mayer and Dr. Kimberly Green-Mayer received the Parents of the Year Award for their longstanding involvement in Jewish communal life and dedication to strengthening the institutions that support it. Their commitment is reflected in their son Aidan, a senior

and Gabbai at Rambam, who lives the values they instill. The evening also recognized two outstanding graduates with the Alumnus of the Year Award. Rabbi Jonathan Ziring (Class of 2006), the 20-Year Alumnus of the Year, was honored for his accomplishments as a distinguished Torah scholar and Rosh Yeshiva at Migdal HaTorah in Israel. Even as a student at Rambam, he demonstrated the clarity, passion for Torah, and leadership that continue to define his work today. Josh Horowitz (Class of 2016), the 10-Year Alumnus of the Year, was recognized for exemplifying Rambam’s ideal of Torah u’Madda. As a successful software engineer and, together with his wife Tamar, Teen Director at Young Israel of West Hempstead, Josh balances professional achievement with Torah learning, community leadership, and mentoring the next generation. A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Pillar of Rambam

Award to Naomi Rosenblum. Dr. Hillel Goldman, principal, introduced a moving video tribute honoring Naomi, who is retiring after thirty years of unwavering commitment. Having worked with her for the past 16 years, Dr. Goldman shared the profound impact she has had on him personally, both as a colleague and mentor. The video celebrated Naomi’s remarkable dedication, highlighting her role in shaping generations of talmidim with wisdom, warmth, and tireless devotion. The program concluded with a message of gratitude and optimism for the future, expressing the hope that the Rambam community will continue to build Torah together and share in the tremendous nachas of its students’ growth and accomplishments, exemplifying Rambam’s enduring commitment to Torah, Middos, and Excellence.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

In Memory

Rabbi Dovid Spiegel, zt”l A Rebbe Whose Heart Uplifted and Carried His Kehilla By David Portal

he passing of our beloved Rebbe, Rabbi Dovid Spiegel, the Ostrov Kalishener Rebbe, has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family, his chassidim, his mispallelim, their families and the many in the communities whose lives he touched. For so many, the loss feels not only like the passing of a revered spiritual leader but like the loss of a close family member and dear friend. In 1970, at the behest and encouragement of his brother-in-law, Rabbi Binyomin Kamenetzky, zt”l, the Rebbe moved to the Five Towns. What began as the relocation of a quiet but deeply learned Torah scholar soon became the planting of a beacon of Torah, warmth, and chessed that would illuminate generations. From his shul—affectionately known by all simply as the “Shteibel”—the Rebbe built not an institution alone but a family. Those who entered its doors did not feel like congregants; they felt like children returning home. The Rebbe was a towering talmid chochom whose mastery of Torah was matched only by his humility. Yet what defined him most was the way he lived Torah. His avodah, his davening, and his palpable hislahavus in the performance of mitzvos inspired all who witnessed it. Watching the Rebbe daven was itself a lesson in what it means to stand before the Ribbono Shel Olam—with awe, with joy, with sincerity, and with a heart full of devotion. But if his Torah uplifted people, his heart carried them. The Rebbe shared in the simchos of his congregants as if they were his own. Whether a wedding, a birth, or any milestone, he rejoiced with a genuine warmth that made each family feel uniquely cherished. Yet even more remark-

able was how he shouldered the burdens of others. When someone in the community faced hardship—be it the loss of a loved one, illness or injury, challenges in shalom bayis, difficulties with parnassah, or the painful uncertainty of shidduchim—the Rebbe carried their pain with them. He listened, advised, encouraged, and most importantly, cared with a depth that cannot be easily described. There are countless stories that illustrate this devotion. Among them is the remarkable account of the Rebbe undertaking a grueling thirty-six-hour journey to and from

He listened, advised, encouraged, and most importantly, cared with a depth that cannot be easily described.

Eretz Yisroel in order to seek the guidance and brachos of gedolim on behalf of those who had turned to him in their time of need. The journey allowed for almost no rest—perhaps an hour or two of sleep at most—yet for the Rebbe this was simply what had to be done when another Yid needed help. Such acts were not extraordinary in his eyes; they

were simply part of living a life devoted to Torah, to mitzvos, and to the wellbeing of others. Those who knew the Rebbe will forever remember the unique combination that defined him: his vast Torah knowledge, his heartfelt and elevated davening, his radiant hislahavus in the service of Hashem, and his unforgettable, beautiful smile. That smile had the power to comfort, to encourage, and to uplift, often saying more than words ever could. Today, the void left by the Rebbe’s passing is deeply felt. Yet alongside the pain is an enduring legacy. The Rebbe leaves behind a remarkable family—sons and daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—each carrying forward his values and his light in their own homes and communities. In addition, he leaves behind the countless individuals whose lives were transformed through his guidance, kindness, and example. The truest tribute to the Rebbe is the continued striving of his family and congregants to live with the same dedication to Torah, the same joy in mitzvos, and the same boundless love for every fellow Jew that he embodied every day of his life. May the memory of Rabbi Dovid Spiegel, the Ostrov Kalishener Rebbe, be a blessing for all who were privileged to know him. Yehi zichro baruch.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

1. *

TJH

Centerfold

Shakespeare Trivia 1. Who warned Julius Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March” in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar? A) Brutus B) Mark Antony C) A soothsayer D) Cassius 2. Where was Caesar assassinated? A) The Colosseum B) The Roman Forum C) The Pantheon D) The Senate chamber 3. How many plays did William Shakespeare write? A) 20 B) 37 C) 52 D) 75

4. Which Shakespeare play contains the famous line “To be, or not to be”? A) Hamlet B) Romeo and Juliet C) Macbeth D) Othello 5. Which Shakespeare play features three witches who predict a man will become king? A) King Lear B) Hamlet C) Macbeth D) Richard III 6. Which character gives the famous speech beginning “Friends, Romans, countrymen”? A) Brutus B) Mark Antony C) Caesar D) Cassius

7. What is the name of Hamlet’s father’s ghost? A) King Edward B) King Richard C) King Henry D) King Hamlet Answers: 1-C 2-D 3-B 4-A 5-C 6-B 7-D Wisdom Key: 6-7 correct: Thou art a Shakespeare savant. 3-5 correct: You know just enough Shakespeare to say, “Et tu, Brute?” at inappropriate moments. 0-2 correct: Et tu Dummi

Riddle Me This I am an odd number. Take away one letter, and I become even. What number am I? Answer: Seven

The guy who refuses to eat square pizza on March

The person who celebrates Pi Day at 1:59 p.m.

14 because “that’s mathematically disrespectful.”

because “that’s the next digits.”

The person who memorized 200 digits of π and

The guy who eats 3.14 slices of pizza and calls it

somehow manages to bring it up in every

tradition.

conversation. The friend who says, “Happy Pi Day!” and then expects applause.

The person who writes 3.1415926535 instead of their actual phone number on forms.

The

guy

who

says,

The bakery that suddenly renames everything

“Actually, π is irrational”

“pi.”

every

time

someone

says Pi Day is silly. The guy who insists that cake is geometrically inferior to pie.

The one friend who says, “I prefer cake” and is

The person who tries to explain π at the dinner

immediately disinvited.

table and suddenly nobody is hungry anymore. (If you looked at this list and immediately realized that The person who tries to calculate the exact

there are more than 10 items on it, Happy Pi Day Nerdo!)

circumference of the pizza before eating it.

You Gotta be kidding Me! Sadie is sitting on the beach doing a Sudoku puzzle. Her friend asks, “Why don’t you relax a bit?” Sadie sighs and says, “At my age, I have two hobbies: worrying and numbers. Sudoku lets me do both at the same time.”

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

10 People Who Take Pi Day Way Too Seriously

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Torah Thought

Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei By Rabbi Berel Wein z”l

he Torah reading of the book of Shemos concludes this week with the reading of the total portion of Vayakhel and Pekudei. These two portions are a fitting conclusion to the long narrative describing the construction of the Mishkan. Every great project, whether physical or spiritual, is yet incomplete without an accounting being given as to the investment, effort and cost relating to the project. One of the great principles of the Torah and of Jewish life generally is accountability – for behavior, speech, actions and even thoughts. The Talmud phrased it succinctly: “Human beings are always accountable and liable for their actions.” We have a concept in the Talmud that one can be found not to be liable for actions caused by human negligence or mistakes by an earthly court but still be liable in the heavenly court, which judges all of our behavior. As human beings, we hold ourselves to a far less stringent standard of behavior and liability. But Heavenly judgment,

which knows our true capabilities and potential, holds us to its lofty standard of accountability. We are witness to that in the accounting that Moshe submits to us in this week’s Torah reading, of the wealth accumulated and spent in this

held the curtains that constituted the hanging tapestries of the structure. One of the great demands of current politics that now engulfs us is the issue of transparency. We wish for transparency in government affairs, fi-

One of the great principles of the Torah and of Jewish life generally is accountability.

great construction project of the Tabernacle/Mishkan. The project was enormous in scope and in cost. Yet Moshe was aware that one thousand measures of silver were not accounted for. He could not rest until he traced the missing silver – which was actually used for the hooks that

nancial dealings, and even in personal relationships. All governments are currently besieged by the leaking of sensitive documents and information, and all of this is justified by the idea that the public has a right to know everything about everybody at all times. In theory, transparency is a good

and necessary component of a democratic republic. But the question arises as to whether there are any limits to this right to transparency. From the Torah itself it seems that in monetary matters and in accounting for the use of public funds, especially charity funds, there is no limit to the necessity for transparency and accountability. However, in matters of personal behavior and past actions of human beings, the Torah does impose limits on the need for revelation. The laws of evil speech and slander apply even when one speaks the truth about others. Then, the so-called right to know is severely curtailed. Such distinctions do not exist in the culture that currently surrounds us. Private information about people’s lives, which at one time was considered sacrosanct, is today visible to all on social media and through the hackers and leakers that abound in our world. Even transparency has to have its limits of decency and restraint. Shabbat shalom.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

From the Fire

Parshas Vayakhel-Pikudei Partners in Creation By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

n halacha, the first thing a Jew does when he gets up in the morning is wash each of his hands three times, netilas yadayim. The Rashba maintains that the source for this halacha is in this week’s parshas (Shemos 40:30-32): “And you shall place the kiyor [wash basin] between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall place water into it for washing. And Moshe and Aharon shall wash their hands and feet from it…” We see from here that the Torah calls netilas yadayim “washing.” Chazal, on the other hand, call the kohanim’s use of the kiyor, “sanctifying the hands and feet” (see, e.g., Tamid 1:4). Chazal knew that the Torah’s description of netilas yadayim as “washing” could have been misunderstood to refer to a physical cleansing. They therefore made sure to dispel any mistake by calling it “sanctification.” Its purpose is not to remove impurity or dirt. Rather, netilas yadayim is a positive act, designed to sanctify the kohanim in preparation for their service in the Beis Hamikdash.

But what is the connection between the kohanim’s netilas yadayim and a Jew doing netilas yadayim when he or she first wakes up in the morning? The Torah explains in this week’s parsha that there were three steps involved in the kohanim’s inauguration to their service in the Mishkan: (1) immersion in the mikvah; (2) donning the garments of the kohanim; and (3) being anointed with oil (Shemos 30:12-13). After they were first brought into service in the Mishkan, the kohanim’s preparation for each day’s service differed with respect to the third step on the list: sanctifying the hands and feet with the kiyor (ibid. 20-21) rather than being anointed with oil. We therefore see that the kohanim’s use of the kiyor to sanctify their hands and feet with water was an integral part of their service in the Beis Hamikdash. The pasuk even says that the obligation to sanctify their hands and feet was so critical that a kohein would be subject to the death penalty in the Heavenly court if he even entered the Beis Hamikdash

without having washed (ibid.; Rambam, Frankel edition, Bias Hamikdash 5:1, 9:1). Why is it so important for the kohanim to rededicate themselves to their service by sanctifying their hands and feet before each day’s service? Why is this a continuing obligation? Perhaps we can understand this by contemplating the corollary of the kohanim’s sanctification of their hands and feet and our mitzvah to do netilas yadayim every morning. Just before we wash in the morning, we say, “I acknowledge before You, living and enduring King, that You returned me my soul…” We see from these words that a Jew is like a newborn child every single day. Hashem wants us to look at the world every day with fresh eyes. He wants us to see our family, friends, the Torah, our surroundings, and the world at large as if it was for the first time. This is reflected in the simple but powerful words of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (2:6): “Because a person, when he rises from his bed in the morning, is like

one newly formed to serve the Creator, he must sanctify and wash his hands using a vessel like a kohein who would sanctify his hands every day from the kiyor before his service.” Rav Ganzfried (author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch) is teaching us that the reason we do netilas yadayim in the morning is in order to rededicate ourselves to a brand-new service of G-d each day. And by comparing this service in our daily lives to the kohanim’s service, he is telling us that the world around us in which we service G-d is like the Beis Hamikdash! Every kitchen, office, campus, basement, or train in which we find ourselves each day is like the courtyard of the Beis Hamikdash to us. That is why we must approach those places with proper preparation, by doing netilas yadayim with a sober recognition of the gravity of the holy activities in which we are about to involve ourselves. Daily life has a purpose. The pasuk (Iyov 19:26) says, “In my flesh, I see G-d.” How can we relate to this? We know that the seforim hake-

99 ways that a person must prepare himself to serve Hashem. First is the aspect of “they came to the Tent of Meeting.” Sometimes, it is difficult to even decide to go to the right place. Our feet must take us to where we are supposed to be – to the beis medrash, to shul, to work, or the like. We must ensure that our feet take us to the right environment. The kohanim’s obli-

ber 27, 2002 with three other bochurim: Gavriel Hoter, Tzvi Ziemen, and Yehuda Bamberger. Two terrorists with guns and body armor broke into the kitchen and began firing on the four bochurim in the kitchen. Noam realized that the terrorists were about to go from the kitchen into the main dining room where seventy bochurim were eating the Shabbos meal.

What can I do to fix G-d’s world and make it better?

gation to sanctify their feet correspond to this aspect of Divine service. But Noam suggests that there is a second step. Once we are where we are supposed to be, we must “approach the altar to serve.” We must actually use our hands to carry out the service in that place. We must do our duty. That is the significance of the kohanim’s obligation to sanctify their hands. And who was Noam Apter? He was on kitchen duty in the dining room of Yeshivat Otniel on Shabbos night, Decem-

Although he was carrying a gun, Noam used his last second of life, before the terrorists shot him, to close and lock the sliding door separating the kitchen from the dining room in order to give the bochurim time to hide or flee. Rather than use that second to escape or risk only stopping one of the terrorists with his gun, Noam locked himself into the kitchen with the terrorists so that he could save everyone else. Noam sanctified his feet by running to the door – not to escape, but to sacrifice

himself to save everyone else. And Noam sanctified his hands by using them to lock himself in with the terrorists rather than retrieve his gun. Because of Noam’s holy service, IDF soldiers and other armed bochurim and rebbeim were able to eventually neutralize the terrorists. Noam’s body was found in front of the locked door riddled with bullet holes, evidence of his sacrifice which prevented any deaths beyond the four bochurim in the kitchen. The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Beni Kalmanzon, said that when he found Noam’s body in front of the door, he saw a serene look on the young man’s face. With G-d’s help, none of us will be called upon to dedicate our feet and hands to G-d’s service in the same way Noam did. May we instead merit to see ourselves as partners with Hashem in the creation and perfection of the world so that we may live in a way that sanctifies G-d’s name by dedicating our hands and feet to the service of G-d and the sanctification of His Name.

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congreagation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

doshim teach that Hashem created and creates the world through ten attributes called sefiros. The Sefer Hayetzira (1:3) also teaches that the ten fingers of our hands, through which we fulfill the mitzvos, correspond to the ten sefiros. Putting aside what this means on a kabalistic level, we can now understand why we must sanctify our hands every morning. With our ten fingers, we are partners with Hashem in creating and rectifying the world around us. We must look at everything – at shul, home, work, and on the street – and ask: What is missing here? What can I do to fix G-d’s world and make it better? Recognizing that I am like a kohein in the Beis Hamikdash in my daily life, I must sanctify my hands because I must use them to complete G-d’s creation of the world. I saw a beautiful explanation in the name of a bachur, a student at the Hesder Yeshivat Otniel, named Noam Apter. He asks why, of all the parts of the body, the kohanim had to wash their hands and feet. Answering his own question, he suggests that perhaps it was because of the two parts of the pasuk (Shemos 30:20): “When they came to the Tent of Meeting…or when they approach the altar to serve…” He suggests that there are two

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Delving into the Daf

The Mysterious Matzah By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

y son came home with a questionnaire his rebbe had distributed. The students were asked to indicate their family’s minhagim regarding a wide range of practices at the Seder. I had not realized how many variables there were! Still, most of my own customs turned out to be fairly standard. David Olivestone once wrote about a seemingly bizarre custom he observed in his home. Whenever his father performed bedikas chametz, he would place half a matzah into the bag he carried while searching for chametz. Curious, Olivestone asked his father about the purpose of the matzah. His father replied that he wasn’t sure but that his own father had always done the same. If you can already figure out the meaning behind this custom, don’t say it out loud – you’ll ruin the ending! The Gemara in Menachos (57a) teaches that when fruit juice is added to flour, the resulting dough cannot become chametz even if it sits out all day long. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 462:4) writes that this rule applies to eggs as well. Accordingly, egg matzah

might seem ideal: one need not worry about it becoming chametz, whereas ordinary matzah dough can become chametz if it is not handled properly. However, the Shulchan Aruch adds an important limitation. Even if egg matzah is baked with the proper intention, it cannot be used to fulfill the mitzvah of eating matzah at the Seder. The Torah requires that the matzah be considered “lechem oni,” the bread of the poor. Once fruit juice is added, the product is considered matzah ashirah, “rich man’s bread.” The Rema notes that the custom in his communities was to refrain from eating egg matzah on Pesach unless there was a compelling need, such as for the elderly or the ill. This became the generally accepted Ashkenazi custom. Three explanations are offered for the Rema’s stringency: 1. We must take into account the minority view among certain Rishonim who hold that dough made with fruit juice can, in fact, become chametz to some degree. 2. Egg matzah might be confused with regular matzah, leading someone

to mistakenly eat egg matzah on Seder night to fulfill the mitzvah. 3. Although fruit juice alone does not cause chametz, the addition of even a small amount of water does, and the combination of water and fruit juice can cause dough to become chametz even faster than flour and water alone. In such a case, the baker would not even have the usual eighteen-minute window. Because of these concerns, the Ashkenazi custom is to avoid eating egg matzah during Pesach. Nevertheless, this custom does not extend to owning egg matzah on Pesach. Moreover, while we stop eating chametz after the fourth halachic hour of the day on Erev Pesach, some poskim permit egg matzah to be eaten until midday or even until the tenth hour of the day. The classification of egg matzah as matzah ashirah also leads to an interesting leniency regarding Erev Pesach. Some have the custom not to eat matzah for thirty days before Pesach, while others stop eating matzah from Rosh Chodesh Nissan. However, everyone agrees that eating matzah on Erev Pesach itself is forbidden. This is not merely a cus-

tom; it is a rabbinic decree. Yet the Shulchan Aruch rules that this decree does not apply to matzah ashirah. Since egg matzah tastes different from regular matzah and cannot be used to fulfill the mitzvah at the Seder, one may eat egg matzah on Erev Pesach. Indeed, Tosafos in Pesachim records that Rabbeinu Tam himself would eat matzah ashirah on Erev Pesach even after the time when chametz had already become forbidden. There are, however, two important caveats. First, the Vilna Gaon notes that the Rambam, in his commentary to the Mishnah, seems to indicate that one should avoid eating any matzah ashirah on Erev Pesach. The Sha’ar HaTziyon cites this view. Interestingly, the Kovetz Halachos quotes Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlit”a, as saying that, when possible, the custom is to follow the Vilna Gaon’s position. Second, the Rambam himself holds that one can fulfill the mitzvah of matzah on Seder night with egg matzah made with the proper intention. Although the halacha does not follow the

101 Thus, ordinary dough containing water becomes susceptible to tumah and can contract tumah when touched by a tamei person or utensil. Therefore, the separated challah is tamei and is therefore burned. With egg matzah, however, we are extremely careful that the flour never comes into contact with water. As noted

when baking a large quantity of egg matzah presents a problem: the baker, being tamei, is forbidden to eat the challah, yet the separated piece could not be burned. The Mishnah Berurah (462:20) advises that in such a situation, one should give the separated dough to a young son or daughter of a kohen. The

Since egg matzah tastes different from regular matzah and cannot be used to fulfill the mitzvah at the Seder, one may eat egg matzah on Erev Pesach.

earlier, adding water to fruit juice can cause the dough to become chametz rapidly. As a result, the separated challah from such water-free dough would not be susceptible to tumah. The obligation to separate challah

Derech Emunah, however, writes that this advice applies only to dough prepared in Chutz La’Aretz. In Eretz Yisrael, the separated challah would have to be buried. Now we can return to the mysterious

half-matzah. David Olivestone once traveled to Meah Shearim to purchase shemurah matzah. As his package was being wrapped, the baker mentioned that he had not yet taken challah from that batch of matzos. Generally, the practice is to separate challah from matzah only after the baking process is complete. “It’s not a problem,” the baker said casually. “Just burn half a matzah together with your chametz.” At that moment, Olivestone realized the source of his grandfather’s custom. The half-matzah placed in the bedikas chametz bag was intended to be burned together with the chametz. The halfmatzah was the challah that had been separated from the other baked matzos. Mystery solved.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Rambam on this point, some suggest that it is still preferable not to eat egg matzah on Erev Pesach, since according to his view it is similar to the matzah used for the mitzvah. A talmid of Rav Moshe Wolfson, zt”l, once related that from the moment his wife took out the Pesach pots and dishes, chametz was no longer used in their home. On Shabbos, for lechem mishneh, Rav Wolfson would use egg matzah. Interestingly, one year while eating seudah shlishis in shul shortly before Pesach, he remarked, “It’s been quite a while since I’ve had challah!” The Shulchan Aruch also offers an intriguing practical instruction. Someone baking egg matzah should ideally prepare a dough smaller than the shiur that would require separating challah. Ordinarily, when a Jewish baker separates challah, the piece is burned. This is because challah has the same halachic status as terumah, and terumah that becomes tamei must be burned. However, food can only become susceptible to tumah after it has come into contact with one of seven specific liquids, the most common being water.

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Headlines

Halacha

Moon-Grown Chickpeas What Bracha? By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

ccording to a paper published in Scientific Reports this past Thursday, researchers have just successfully cultivating chickpeas in simulated lunar soil. They accomplished this feat by treating the simulated regolith — as lunar soil is known — with both a symbiotic fungi and worm-produced compost. The fungi and compost significantly improved the likelihood of reproduction of the chickpea plants. It is this development that raises the following halachic question. What bracha would one recite before eating a chickpea grown on the moon — when and if that day arrives? Before addressing the specific lunar question, we must first understand the broader halachic debate regarding the bracha on produce grown in unusual circumstances — most relevantly, the wellknown controversy surrounding hydroponically grown vegetables. From there, we will examine how the unique features of lunar agriculture may shift — or even resolve — that debate.

The Fundamental Obligation Let’s first remember that one may not derive benefit from anything in this world (which means the universe) without first

reciting a bracha. The Talmud in Brachos (35a) states explicitly: “It is forbidden to derive benefit from this world without a bracha. Anyone who derives benefit from this world without a bracha is considered as if he has committed me’ilah [misappropriation of sacred Temple property].” This is codified by the Rambam (Hilchos Brachos 1:2) and the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 210:1). Thus, regardless of which bracha is ultimately appropriate, one is absolutely obligated to recite some blessing before consuming a moon-grown chickpea — and that bracha must be correct, or at minimum, not entirely inapplicable. Under ordinary circumstances, the bracha on a chickpea (garbanzo, arbes in Yiddish) is borei pri ha’adama. Chickpeas grow in the ground and are a legume (kitniyos). The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 208:1) and all major poskim agree on this. If the chickpea is ground into flour and baked (as in falafel with chickpea flour), there may be other considerations, but for a whole or simply cooked chickpea, ha’adama is the proper blessing.

The View of Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, (Yechaveh

Daas 6:12) writes that the proper bracha to recite on hydroponically grown fruits and vegetables is shehakol. He explains that since they do not receive any nourishment from the soil, they are comparable to mushrooms, for which the bracha is shehakol. The Talmud (Brachos 40b) and Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 204:1) rule that mushrooms receive a shehakol because they derive their sustenance not from the ground itself, but from the moisture and air — they do not truly grow “from the earth.” Rav Ovadia Yosef develops his position by drawing an analogy to the laws of Shemitta. Although it is forbidden to plant in soil in Eretz Yisrael during Shemitta — even in a flowerpot — the Chazon Ish and others ruled that one may plant hydroponically, because planting in water is not the same halachic act as planting in soil. This demonstrates, says Rav Ovadia, that halacha itself recognizes a fundamental distinction between growth in soil and growth in water. If so, the bracha should likewise reflect this distinction. Rav Ovadia Yosef did concede, however, that if one recited borei pri ha’adama on hydroponically grown vegetables, the bracha is valid bidieved.

The View of Rav Wosner, zt”l, and Rav Sternbuch Rav Wosner, zt”l, (Shevet HaLevi 1:205), lbc”l Rav Sternbuch (Teshuvos V’Hanhagos 2:149), and many others maintain that the bracha for hydroponically grown vegetables remains ha’adama. They offer a fundamentally different analytical framework: Chazal established a uniform bracha for each species, based on how that species characteristically grows — not based on how any particular specimen came to exist. For example, since tomatoes ordinarily grow in soil, people refer to tomatoes as a pri ha’adama — a fruit of the land — because that is their natural mode of growth. It is therefore appropriate to recite borei pri ha’adama irrespective of whether a particular tomato was grown in the ground, in a flowerpot, or hydroponically. The blessing follows the min — the species type — not the individual item’s actual growing conditions. This approach is grounded in the premise that Chazal crafted blessings with a broad categorical sweep, deliberately using species-level designations rather than case-by-case determinations. On this view, even a tomato grown on a spaceship would receive ha’adama, be-

103 safek brachos l’hakel, in cases of doubt, regarding brachos, we rule leniently. This is codified in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 209:3): when there is genuine uncertainty as to which bracha applies, one should recite the more lenient option, which in this context means the more inclusive or less specific blessing — namely, shehakol.

202:1) notes that shehakol is considered a valid bracha bidieved for virtually all foods. Therefore, even if one holds that ha’adama would technically be correct, one who recites shehakol has certainly fulfilled the obligation. This is explicitly acknowledged even by the stringent opinions, including Rav Ovadia Yosef himself in the hydroponics context.

Chickpeas grown on the moon, by contrast, represent a situation that is she’einah shchiach, profoundly uncommon, in fact, utterly unprecedented.

The Magen Avraham (209:9), the Mishnah Berurah (209:9), and the Beur Halacha all emphasize that the rule of safek brachos l’hakel is not merely a chumra or stringency — it is actually the normative halachic ruling in cases of genuine uncertainty. The Aruch HaShulchan (Orach Chaim

A separate and intriguing question is whether the moon can be considered “ha’aretz” at all for purposes of brachos. The blessing borei pri ha’adama refers specifically to the produce of ha’adama — the ground/earth — which, in its p’shat, means refers to the soil of this world, this planet. The moon has no adama in the

traditional sense; its surface is composed of regolith, lunar dust, and rock — not the life-sustaining soil that the bracha was designed to acknowledge. Indeed, one can argue that Chazal’s formulation of borei pri ha’adama was a blessing of gratitude specifically for the remarkable capacity of this earth to produce food. Extending that blessing to produce grown on a foreign celestial body may simply be conceptually incoherent. On this reading, the lunar chickpea would be categorically excluded from ha’adama, and shehakol would be the only option. Rav Harfenes further agreed that moon earth is not ha’adama. Rav Ovadia Yosef’s analogy to mushrooms is especially instructive here. The Talmud (Brachos 40b) gives mushrooms a shehakol because they are yonkim min ha’avir, they draw their nourishment from the air, not from the ground. The principle is that when a food’s sustenance does not come from ha’adama, it cannot receive the blessing of ha’adama.

This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.

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cause “tomato” is — by its very definition in halachic taxonomy — a pri ha’adama. The lunar chickpea case may introduce a critical distinction that may render the debate between Rav Ovadya Yosef and Rav Wosner inapplicable, or at least significantly reshape it. The entire logic of Rav Wosner’s position rests on the principle that Chazal established the bracha on the min — the species — as it is normally encountered. This presupposes that there is a widespread, recognizable, established pattern of how that species grows, and that this normative pattern justifies a species-wide blessing. Growing in water is also within the purview of what was possible – when Chazal established the bracha. Chickpeas grown on the moon, by contrast, represent a situation that is she’einah shchiach, profoundly uncommon, in fact, utterly unprecedented. There is, as of yet, no established “lunar agriculture.” The takana of reciting a borei pri ha’adama would not have been included. Therefore, even Rav Wosner, zt”l, would likely have agreed that the bracha would be a shehakol. I presented this rationale to Rav Yisroel Dovid Harfenes, shlita, and he agreed fully with this rationale. As is well-known, the principle of

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

School of

Thought

Sirens and Seudah By Barbara Deutsch

he way my head processes, I try to have all of my thoughts organized and ready when I begin writing my reflections. In the short span of a week, I have gone from touring from the North to the South of Israel mindlessly to hunkering multiple times in a shelter. This has resulted in too many false starts and stops. I’m still not even sure what I can or am able to share. On my way to my seudah on Shushan Purim, numerous sirens blasted caution. Just a few days ago, at the start of this Roaring Lion War, every noise rattled and alarmed. I am still not in that place where I can just keep walking (like some resilient or maybe just dumb natives) when I hear the siren and I am outside; I have just begun to venture out. It took three attempts for me to get to a dear friend’s seudah; during that 15-minute capsule of time there was an onslaught of sirens. I was forced to go up and down the elevator numerous times seeking shelter. When I was finally able to leave my daughter’s building, there was another siren blast. It sent me hustling to wait it out in my own apartment. When missiles are launched from Iran, there is a dramatic warning signal (think introduction to a scary show) that is posted on the Israel Homeland App; the warning gives you a few minutes to find shelter. You then wait in place as the sirens scream.

Depending on the location of the target, you do or don’t hear a big boom. If the missile is coming from Lebanon, sirens begin blasting with little or no warning. Your job is just to run for safety in the closest miklat. In the short while since our aliyah, a little over a year and a half ago, we have been plagued with uncertainty: war, protests, forest fires, hostage negotiations, calls to duty, terror attacks, sirens and bombs. There is no choice but to learn the safety protocols. This is the norm for Israelis who want to stay healthy. Though it was not unexpected, that first siren on Shabbat came as a startling surprise. The commandment to hear Parshas Zachor packs the shuls with men, women and children. The sirens disrupted everyone’s reading of the ancient words of caution. Too well versed in the drill, everyone in shul, at home or in the streets scrambled for shelter. The timing implications were lost on no one; Khamenei’s eradication coincided with the decree to remember our difficult journey with haters. We just celebrated Purim, every child’s – or child at heart – favorite chag. It may seem trite when there has been so much heartbreaking loss and imminent danger to complain about postponed weddings, cancelled parties, community Megillah readings and closed school (no

special dress up days). Yet, complaining about small things keeps us from facing the big dangers. Enabling Israel’s safety is the call to service of over 100,000 reservists. Once again, they are leaving disappointed families to celebrate a seudah with an empty chair at the table. My friend Anna’s son was called to active duty in Lebanon yesterday. Again! I have to remind myself that just last week I joined my rabbi, Rabbi Trump of the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst’s three-day walking tour of Sefer Yehoshua. This tiyul marked the completion of an in-depth study of the sefer with a real-time goal of following Yehoshua’s journey into the promised land. Led by Rabbi Trump, a charismatic scholar and teacher, and the outstanding knowledgeable Israeli guide, Shulie Mishkin, we walked and tried (me and some others) to hike the path of our forefathers. Every stop was referenced with Sefer Yehoshua. First Shulie would present the overview followed by Rabbi Trump who would enhance the story and timeline using an open Tanach. Rabbi Trump and Shulie came prepared with multiple source sheets which were distributed but not always utilized; the strong mountain winds whipped the sourcebooks out of our cold hands. I joined the tour for days one and

three. On Day 2, I had a date with a surrogate grandchild. Elisheva had invited me to be her Safta at her class’s Siddur Celebration; that’s a whole other story. Mazal tov Elisheva, you are a superstar. Day 1 found me standing at the foot of the Jordan River while it was being used for baptisms by Greek Orthodox Christians wearing long, specially designed t-shirt dresses, a money maker for the gift shop. You really have to be committed to dunk up to your neck in muddy brown, icy water. From North to South, we went for a YILC Torah Dedication in memory and in honor of Captain Daniel Perez, Hy”d, son of Rav Doron and Natalie Perez. Captain Perez (22) was killed, his body kidnapped, on October 7, 2023, while defending against Hamas terrorists who infiltrated southern Israel. Now an IDF hero, Captain Perez is credited with risking his own life to save countless others. The moving and amazing story of the YILC Perez Torah Dedication is also for another time. I debated about joining on the last day of the tour; I was still recovering, physically and emotionally, from Day 1. This leg of the trip sent us North with some very interesting stops along the way. A bulletproof bus and an armed escort took us to bone chilling mountain villages to

105 In Shilo, we explored a flourishing community in the former holding place of the Mishkan. It is now home of the Parah Haduma that has been raised by religious Christian farmers in America’s West. These sacred cows are then shipped in specially designed planes to Israel for breeding. The juxtaposition of the ancient pure bred cows traveling on modern day airplanes gives one pause and wonder.

spoke mishloach manos. They regaled me with songs, Purim stories, and the latest news about the new shul and their beloved Torah. The Ashkenazi shul congregants wanted to learn more about Bob and our family. I cried. On Taanit Esther, I heard Rav Rimon speak about the topic of Megillah. Rav Rimon, an eminent Torah scholar and

Though it was not unexpected, that first siren on Shabbat came as a startling surprise.

Thank you Rabbi Trump and Shulie Mishkin at http://www.shuliemishkintours.com and my wonderful non-complaining YILC friends. I hear that there is a new cohort in the planning for another sefer study. Hopefully, that trip won’t find participants scrambling to get back to America. Before Purim, my new friends/family from Beit Shemesh’s Ashkenazi shul, home of the Sefer Torah dedicated in memory of Bob, dropped by with a be-

Jewish leader, posits that even before the events of October 7, we have been in the process of writing a Megillah for modern times – the miracles of that horrific day, the war with the Houthis and Iran, the return of the hostages and more. We will, with Hashem’s guidance and love, wipe out Persia/Iran, once and for ever. On Purim, we read the Megillah. This yearly retelling of the story of Esther and Mordechai serves as an ongoing reminder to us of what is needed to survive. On

Purim, we cement the bonds of community and brother/sisterhood by giving tzedaka and mishloach manos. Though we dodged bombs, were derailed by sirens, and downgraded grander plans, we still gathered in shelters and safe homes, modified our gift giving within smaller circles, and wore our usual outlandish costumes. Despite all, we celebrated with joy. There is no escaping the war. As I was writing, my phone jumped, signaling another warning. It’s far from OK to anticipate the next siren or to have to think twice before venturing out to buy milk. Praying for peace in the land that was conquered by Yehoshua and the Israelites. Praying for the safety of our brave selfless chayalim. Praying that Daniel Perez and the many heroic soldiers like him have not died in vain. Let’s pray that everyone can be home for next Shabbos. Stay safe.

Barbara Deutsch is the former associate principal at HANC, middle school principal at Kushner, and Dean of Students at Yeshiva of Flatbush. A not-retired educator, she is still trying to figure out life in Israel.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

see and learn about Yehoshua’s altar. Thankfully, my friend Helen convinced me to go. The site of Yehoshua’s altar is located on the northeastern slope of Mount Ebal in the West Bank, near the city of Nablus (biblical Shechem), at an archaeological site often called El-Burnat. Discovered in 1980 by Professor Adam Zertal, it is a large Iron Age I structure (circa 13th century BC) consisting of unhewn stones and a ramp, matching the biblical description. The spot is identified as the place where Yehoshua built an Altar to Hashem and where the Israelites renewed their covenant with Him. Excavations have revealed that there are large amounts of ash, animal bones from young, male sheep/goats, and Late Bronze Age pottery. To get to the altar, you have to carefully maneuver a not so steep rocky hill, a treacherous climb for me and a few of us who are older and have compromised limbs. Blessedly, our young escorts and some of the more able-bodied in our group offered supportive assistance and extreme patience. Word to the adventurous and less than wise: don’t wait until you need walking sticks (getting myself a set) to experience life’s wonders.

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Israel Today

Skiing for Israel – On One Leg By Steven Lipman

heina Vaspi, a world-class one-legged skier from Israel, says she, unlike many successful skiers, was not born to hit the slopes. There wa no skiing while she was growing up in her Mediterranean homeland. In fact, she, unlike most award-winning winter athletes from northern climates, did not take up the sport till she was 16. Vaspi, now 24, who was Israel’s first representative four years ago in the Paralympic Games, once again entered the Paralympics, which will end on March 15. The quadrennial international athletic competition for men and women with various disabilities are taking place in Milan-Cortina, at the same Italian venues as the 2026 Winter Olympics, which concluded on February 22. Again, she is the only Israeli at the Paralympics. A Sabbath-observant member of a Chabad-Lubavitch chassidic family from Yesud Hama’alah in northern Israel’s Hula Valley, she is taking part in several para-alpine standing skiing events (separate “sitting” skiing races are offered in the Paralympics for men and women unable to stand) but has chosen to not race in two events scheduled for Shabbos. Vaspi’s participation in the 2026 Paralympics follows her recovery from an injury last year that cost her a few months of training, the traumatic death of a beloved grandmother, and the death of a cousin who fell in Gaza as a soldier in the Israeli Army’s fighting. Vaspi, who has been outfitted over the years with several high-tech prostheses she wears while walking, lost her left leg, above the knee, in a traffic accident at the age of three; she says she has no memory of walking on two legs. One leg is her old normal. “OK,” she says, “I don’t have one of my legs. It’s not that dramatic – I am happy with what I have.” Many years of rehabilitation and therapy in Israel followed her leg’s amputation. Israel, which has experienced limited-but-growing success in the Summer Olympics, has fared well over the years in athletic competitions for disabled men and

women because of the country’s network of support and rehab activities for injured soldiers and civilians. Eight years ago, a relative of Vaspi who had experience working with disabled Israeli soldiers suggested that she try skiing. Vaspi took her first skiing lessons on Mount Hermon, in the Golan Heights, Israel’s only skiing resort. Growing up within sight of Mount Hermon, she had been unfamiliar with the popular winter sport.

tive sports and prostheses. Like other competitors in her specialized sport, she uses a single ski and specially-adapted poles that include two short blades that enhance balance. Realizing her high level of skill in the sport – where she reaches speeds of 55 mph on the slopes – as well as the difference between the work required to take the step from skiing’s recreational to its competitive level, she decided to further develop her

As a modest-dressing woman, Vaspi always wears a skirt over her standard ski pants – which does not seem to cramp her style on the slopes.

“I knew nothing about skiing until I tried it for the first time,” she says. “I skied for a few hours, and I liked it.” She was a quick learner, soon showing her potential and an innate ability. Vaspi’s progress was helped by the Israeli Paralympics Committee, the Erez Association (an organization for disabled soldiers), the Sports Association for the Disabled, and the Shevet Foundation, which specializes in adap-

ability, with more-concentrated training and coaching. She moved to Winter Park, Colorado, home of the National Sports Center for the Disabled, where she improved her skiing technique and her English. Her family supported her dedication to her sport. By 2022, Vaspi was good enough to qualify for the Paralympics held in Beijing. She finished there, as the only entrant from a warm-weather country, in 15th place in

the giant slalom, out of 22 racers, a respectable showing for a first-time Olympian. She bowed out of the shorter slalom race, in which she had been entered, when it was rescheduled at the last minute to Saturday. Vaspi, who lives and trains most of the year in the U.S., then looked ahead to the 2026 Games. As a shomer Shabbos athlete, she declines to race or train on Friday night or Saturday, a choice she made several years ago when her father – her parents are baalei teshuvah -- left that decision up to her. She chose Shabbos over competing. “That was how she grew up,” says Limor Goldberg, chief of Israel’s mission to the Paralympics. For Vaspi, says Goldberg, “Shabbat is Shabbat.” As a modest-dressing woman, Vaspi always wears a skirt over her standard ski pants – which does not seem to cramp her style on the slopes. Vaspi is, as far as she knows, the only Orthodox athlete taking part in the Paralympics. She appreciates her unique status. “I feel blessed that I can carry on practicing my religion and pursue sports as well.” She has not indicated encountering any antisemitic reactions from fans and fellow athletes because of her identity as Orthodox Jew, let alone an Israeli. Coping with the psychological pressure of competing while her Israeli homeland is coming under rocket fire from Iran, Vaspi early did not finish in the Super-G early this week, her first scheduled competition, the only one of her events that concluded in time for this publication’s deadline. On a wall behind the stands where fans watched the competition, an Israeli flag was posted alongside the flags of the other nations whose athletes were taking place in the skiing events. For Vaspi, success at the Paralympics this year transcended skiing time or finishing position, Goldberg says. While Vaspi’s goal was a finish in the top ten in her races, just showing up was a success and the opportunity to represent her Jewish homeland. Vaspi’s main goal, Goldberg says, is to “put Israel on the map. She wants to show that Israel is everywhere.”

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Jewish History

Recalling the 200 Days of Dread By Larry Domnitch

s Israel is currently facing an Iranian regime obsessed with pursuing its demise, so too the people of the Yishuv, the 500,000-strong Jewish population of the land of Israel, faced the threat of Nazi genocide during the Second World War. In early 1942, the German army launched a campaign to seize the Middle East which was primarily under British control. They sought its vital oil fields and control the Suez Canal in Egypt for the transport of supplies. The land of Israel, then usually referred to as Palestine, was also a target. If the German Afrika Korps under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel succeeded in reaching its borders, the Jewish community there would be in grave danger. Rommel, who was perceived to be invincible for his military successes, led the Axis attack. After taking the seaside city of Tobruk, Libya, Rommel’s forces made their way eastward into Egypt. The British 8th army strategically retreated to El Alamein, sixty miles out of Alexandria, Egypt. The British commander, Field Marshal, Sir Claude Auchinleck, chose to retreat to El-Alamein, as it was situated next to a large depression. It was good ground to face an approaching enemy. Rommel, expecting victory, confidently stated, “Once through (El-Alamein), our road to the Nile was clear.” From El-Alamein, the road to nearby Palestine would be wide open. In Alexandria, facing a very possible German attack, there was panic. Trucks were hastily exiting British personnel from the city. Fleeing refugees filled the trains. British officials were busy frantically destroying their records. The situation was dire. In the land of Israel, the local Arabs, who expected a Nazi victory and subsequent invasion, were emboldened. Swastikas appeared on the streets, copies of Mein Kampf were found in Arab bookstores, some people were greeting each other in the street with “Heil Hitler.” Jews were scared to be outside at night. The

Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that on July 26, 1942, the German radio promised Palestinian Arabs that upon the Nazi invasion, they would be given Jewish possessions in Palestine. Arabs were marking Jewish homes they were claiming for their own after the anticipated arrival of German forces. Rabbi Chaskel Besser, who witnessed the scene, writes in his book, The Rabbi of 84th Street, “Streets filled with Arabs who were actually fighting among themselves over who was going to get which house.” The British-appointed “Mufti” of Jerusalem, Amin Al-Husseini, a notorious Jew hater who had close connections with Nazi leaders and had met on a few occasions with one of the chief organizers of the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann, was ready to form an Arab unit to assist SS units to slaughter the Jews. In Palestine, the Jews prepared to meet the threats. Extra precautions were taken. Shelters were set up everywhere, and additional first aid stations were established. Busses were equipped to be easily converted into ambulances. The Hagana was planning defenses and a possible evacuation of the Yishuv. But to where? After the possible British retreat upon the German advance, Hagana leaders considered Mount Carmel, near Haifa. From Haifa, civilians could be transported out from the city’s port. This time would eventually become known as the “two hundred days of dread,” when Palestine Jewry faced the horrific prospect of a Nazi invasion. Many Jews turned to prayer. The book, Miracle at El-Alamein by Rabbi Zev Paretzky, describes the intensity of the prayers in the Land of Israel during this time in synagogues, shteibelach, and at the graves of known tzaddikim. Public fasts were also declared. Rav Eliezer Finkel who arrived in Eretz Yisrael in 1941 from Mir, Poland, and founded the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, stated, “It is true that there are no weapons but there is a way to escape from the troubles of Hitler: Torah and prayer.” The Ponovezher Rav, Yosef Shlomo Ka-

haneman, who at this time re-established the Lithuanian Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak as it was destroyed by the Nazis, cited a sentence from the Navi Ovadia, 1:17, stating that there will be sanctuary for the Jews in the land of Israel, “And on Mount Zion will be refuge.” Other sages also referred to this pasuk when appraising the situation, one of whom was Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, halachic authority and Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, who, when asked about the situation, cited the same verse. The Zhviler Rebbe of Jerusalem asserted, “The enemy will not be able to enter.” Rabbi Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog, the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of the Palestine Mandate, was urged by British conservative politician and ambassador in Washington, Lord Halifax, at a meeting in Washington, DC, not to return to Palestine due to the dangers. Rabbi Herzog replied, “The prophets did not foretell of a third destruction of the Temple, and I firmly believe the enemy will not reach the gates of our land.” The German attack on El Alamein on June 30, 1942 failed. Allied forces held strong and stopped the Nazi advance. At the second battle of El-Alamein, the British offensive from October 23 to November 4 broke through German lines, ending the German threat. Leading the Allied assault at that time was British Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery. The threat was averted and the British victory at El-Alamein, the first major land victory against the Germans in the war, denied the Germans access to vital oil supplies and transport routes, signifying a turning point in the war. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who called El-Alamein the “End of the Beginning,” had also stated, “Before El-Alamein, we never had a victory; after El-Alamein, we never had a defeat.” It is paradoxical that the British policy of immigration restriction of Jews into Palestine during the war was a catastrophe of untold proportions as refuge was denied to Jews during the Holocaust. Yet, the Jews relied on the British victory at El -Alamein to save the Jews of Palestine.

British troops attacking at El Alamein

The Mufti of Jerusalem meeting with Hitler, ym”sh, in Germany in 1941

General Rommel briefing officers

Since the Arab pogroms in Palestine during earlier waves of Zionists in the early 1920s, the Yishuv and the eventual State of Israel have faced numerous existential threats from surrounding enemies which have been averted, with Hashem’s help, against great odds. During the horrors of the Shoah, the Yishuv was spared the peril of Nazi invasion. Between the holidays of Purim and Pesach, which mark survival and redemption, may the Jewish people merit complete redemption in our times.

Larry Domnitch is the author of The Impact of World War One on the Jewish People, by Urim Publications. He lives in Efrat.

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Iran’s Gulf GambIt Inside Tehran’s Strategy of Regional Pressure By TzvI Lev The Gulf Region

“I

f you have a problem you can’t solve, solve it by making it everyone’s problem” is an adage attributed to former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. While the veteran American politician used this saying to describe the bureaucratic dysfunction he witnessed in the Washington Beltway, it also perfectly captures the logic behind the decision by the Islamic Republic of Iran to target Arab Gulf states. Israel had taken it as a given that it would be bombarded by Iran following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khameini on February 28, which kicked off the current hostilities between the two countries. The United States had fully expected that its military installations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar the United Arab Emirates would be targeted as well, moving nonessential troops out beforehand and prepositioning air defense batteries for weeks leading up to Operation Rising Lion. What no one expected was that the Gulf Arab States themselves would be targeted. While longstanding tensions between Iran and the aforementioned countries were well known, the Sunni Saudis, Emiratis and Bahrainis always managed to avoid matters getting out of hand when dealing with Shi’ite Iran. Not anymore. Iran unleashed the aerial onslaught almost immediately after Israeli warplanes obliterated the compound in Tehran during a meeting Supreme Leader Ali Khameini was chairing with high-ranking regime officials. Within

hours, the first Shahed 136 Kamikaze drones slammed into Fairmont The Palm, a glitzy 5-star resort located on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Later that day, another wave of missiles destroyed a residential building in the affluent neighborhood of City Walk, adjoining the swanky Dubai International Financial Center. Separate barrages of ballistic missiles slammed into Bahrain’s capital of Manama and Riyadh in neighboring Saudi Arabia. The fusillade sparked mass panic in the United Arab Emirates and especially in Dubai, a glittering desert oasis and tourist destination known for its luxury and wealth. Panicked expats and tourists flooded police hotlines with inquiries as air raid sirens wailed throughout the metropolis. Never imagining that this day would come, the UAE does not have any bomb shelters. Later that day, a pair of Iranian Shahed UAVs smashed into Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, halting operations for hours at the world’s busiest airport and paralyzing a crucial artery for global aviation. “That’s when we realized that the world we knew had changed,” said Majd Al-Falasi, a senior Emirati businessman and political commentator. This was the first salvo of an aerial blitz that left the UAE reeling and has Dubai staring into the abyss as it fights off economic collapse. Having marketed itself successfully as a haven for people and capital and a stable way for global businesses to access what is a very unstable (albeit lucrative) region, Dubai now watches in horror as its

carefully crafted image shatters. Dubai is uniquely leveraged in a way that no other city is. Fully 90% of its residents are expats from foreign countries who can pick up and leave at any given moment. With its last barrel of oil having been sold in 1991, no income tax and corporate tax varying from low to nonexistent, Dubai does not have any source of steady revenue and banks on the quality of life and personal safety it affords to attract international business and wealthy emigres. For four decades now, Dubai carefully cultivated its image and Western-style openness to brand itself as the international safe haven, catapulting from an economic backwater subsiding on pearl fishing into an international financial center. Now, it all may all come crashing down together with the missiles and drones that pummel the Emirati City State. Global capital is highly mobile.Without the sense of safety Dubai affords, nothing is keeping the foreign expats from leaving for better locales and taking their money with them. As Beirut learned in the 1970s, geopolitical change can devastate a regional business hub when multinational corporations headquartered there take flight. In the meantime, government officials in the United Arab Emirates overall, and Dubai specifically, insist that everything is under control. State-controlled media outlets feature testimonials from residents declaring that they have no plans to leave, while influencers wax poetic about their love for the UAE to their legions of online followers. Mohamed Alabbar, the founder of Emaar Properties

111 stripped of staples like bread, dairy, and fresh produce. With major delivery services reporting indefinite delays, the fragility of a teaming metropolis cut off from its primary supply lines has been laid bare. The CEO of Swiss logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel warned that Dubai had about ten days of fresh produce left due to the transport collapse in the Arabian Gulf region if shipping in the Strait of Hormiz did not resume immediately. The UAE is not the only Arab Gulf state suffering from Iran’s aerial blitz. The Islamic Republic has hammered targets across Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman, blowing up critical infrastructure Iranian expats at the Iran Fest in Dubai in 2025 and energy facilities. Yet the UAE has borne the brunt of Iran’s rocket fire and has faced a significantly higher volume of direct Iranian strikes compared to its neighbors in the Gulf Emirates — specifically Dubai — is Iran’s second-largest Cooperation Council. As of Sunday evening, the UAE was trading partner, consistently ranking just behind China. hit with 238 ballistic missiles and 1,422 drones, far more Bilateral trade between the two nations reached approxithan the 524 projectiles that hit second-place Kuwait and mately $27 billion in 2025, with the UAE acting as a vital a 381.88% increase over the 320 projectiles targeting Israel hub for Iranian imports and non-oil exports. – Iran’s main adversary. Furthermore, cultural ties between Emiratis and their Behind this disparity lies Iran’s entire strategy de- Farsi-speaking neighbours stretch back for hundreds of signed to enable the regime to survive the U.S.-Israeli years. Persian traders founded Dubai; some of the most onslaught: Stopping the war prematurely by making the powerful Emirati families have Persian ancestry, and UAE the main victim of a war it didn’t want or start, while almost a million Iranians call the United Arab Emirates systematically destroying the American air defense array home today. In other words, it would be quite strange for Tehran protecting the Gulf and Israel. to suddenly make such a fatal mistake during what is the biggest test for the Mullahs’ survival since the Islamic Revn one hand, the fusillade of ballistic mis- olution in 1979. But what if it wasn’t a mistake? What if siles and UAVs Iran unleashed on its Gulf Iran is bombarding the UAE with lethal firepower after neighbors is widely viewed as a signifi- deciding that it is the most effective way for it to achieve cant miscalculation. Tehran’s unprece- its strategic aims? Iran’s list of enemies and countries with which it maindented decision to attack opulent hotels in Dubai, oil infrastructure in Saudi tains an uneasy relationship is long and illustrious. Yet the Arabia and Bahrain’s financial district dumbfound- UAE is both more vulnerable, and far more influential, ed observers, as shocked Arabs and Westerners alike than any of the countries on the extensive list that range spoke of the Islamic Republic having “gone crazy” for from Israel to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. embarking on what they predicted was a hasty move To understand what prompted Iran to detonate every that Iran would long regret. diplomatic norm and Islamic tradition, it’s important to In a conversation with NBC News, a top Arab diplo- first understand what, exactly, Iran is trying to achieve. mat said that “the Gulf countries have no choice — it was At the moment, Iran is facing the biggest challenge to a huge mistake for Iran to strike the Arab neighbors,” as the survival of the Islamic Republic since the ouster of former CIA Director David Petraeus called attacking the the Shah in 1979. Gulf states “a serious strategic error.” The Mullahs are facing a full-on assault by the most “Iran’s actions will carry serious consequences for the powerful military in the world, whose naval assets and region,” warned Dr. Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic airpower can rain hellfire on Iran for months on end. Asadvisor to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. sisting the United States is Israel, which has repeatedly Yet such a judgment error by Iran should be puz- demonstrated intelligence domination unparalleled in zling. Iran is not an opaque civilization half a world away modern history and showed no compunction in assassilike North Korea, but a country located a short distance nating Ayatollah Ali Khameini in broad daylight – Iran’s away across the Arabian Sea, and one whose leadership Supreme Leader and one who was believed to be G-d’s perpossesses deep insight into the thinking of GCC movers sonal messenger to humanity by hundreds of millions of and shakers. Shi’ite Muslims. Meanwhile, the vaunted and expensive proxy network Persians and Gulf Arabs have been doing business with each other for almost 1,000 years, and the United Arab that Iran painstakingly constructed over the course of de-

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and a prominent Emirati real estate developer who built the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, maintained during a prominent interview with CNBC that the current crisis would have no long-term negative impact on Dubai. “People with true capital understand that a country like this, with stable leadership and the safety it has shown, can deliver,” said the Arab business magnate. “They will double down on this.” In an attempt to radiate calm and hammer home the “business as usual” line promulgated by authorities, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed gave his first-ever national address to residents of his nation on Saturday. In a live broadcast, the ruler highlighted that “the UAE places its security and the protection of all citizens, residents, and visitors at the very top of its priorities. With G-d’s grace, the UAE is fully prepared to confront these threats.” Concurrently, authorities cracked down on social media in an attempt to censor news of missile strikes from the international community and thus limit the reputational damage Dubai was suffering. Official government communiques warned content creators that anything deemed liable to “harm public order” or “ hurt national unity” would result in massive fines beginning from AED 200,000 and escalating to a year behind bars. People posting videos of missile strikes or interceptions received menacing phone calls ordering them to delete them immediately or face severe penalties. Yet initial economic data contradicted the carefully crafted narrative official state organs were putting out. In a staggering 48-hour window following the March 2026 Iranian missile strikes, an estimated $75-77 billion in UAE market wealth was erased. To prevent a total systemic collapse, regulators took the unprecedented step of shuttering the UAE’s stock exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for two days. Upon reopening, the Dubai Financial Market was forced to slash its circuit breaker limit to just -5% – down from the usual 10% – after blue-chip anchors like Emaar Properties and Emirates NBD saw their valuations plummet by the maximum allowed daily limit. Investors, once confident in the emirate’s immunity to regional volatility, scrambled to exit positions as the risk of holding assets in an active combat zone became undeniable. At the same time, the physical toll on Dubai’s infrastructure has struck a blow to the very heart of its identity as a global trade hub. Jebel Ali Port, the largest container facility in the Middle East and a vital artery for international shipping, was forced into a precautionary shutdown after debris from intercepted Iranian missiles ignited a towering blaze at one of its berths. While Dubai Civil Defence teams quickly brought the fire under control, the temporary paralysis of the port sent shockwaves through global supply chains. Combined with severe damage and operational halts at Dubai International Airport, the city’s logistics network, until recently the world’s gold standard for efficiency, suddenly found itself vulnerable to the “falling sky” of modern aerial warfare. Yet the most visceral sign of the collapse was not found in stock tickers but in the growing desperation at local supermarkets. The UAE remains a desert nation that imports over 80% of its food, a dependency that has rapidly transformed into a strategic liability as shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz now face unprecedented disruption. Panic buying gripped the city, leaving grocery shelves

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

112 cades for this very moment is gutted. Despite being under crippling economic sanctions for the better part of its history, Tehran funded Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and the Iraqi militias to the tune of trillions of dollars in the belief that they would rain hundreds of thousands of missiles onto Israel in the event of any direct clash between Israel and Iran. Yet at a time where the theocratic Shi’ite regime in Tehran fights for its life, Hezbollah is engaged in limited clashes with the IDF on the Israel-Lebanon border, every single senior Hamas leader is dead, and Bashar Assad is practicing ophthalmology in Moscow. The Houthis An attack near Dubai’s Jebel Ali Freeze Zone in Yemen, meanwhile, are sitting out this round entirely. Iran’s overriding strategic imperative in this situation is to do whatever it can to earn a temporary whose economy is built on being a haven for Western cessation in hostilities. Stopping the war would allow it to wealth and tourism. regroup, replan, and rebuild. As mentioned previously, explosions and Iranian rockBut how to do this? The obvious route of asking Pres- ets strike at the heart of the psychological foundations of a ident Donald Trump to resume negotiations in the hope country that had spent four decades constructing that idenof leveraging the slow pace of diplomacy to buy time is a tity as one of the world’s most reliable places to do business in an unreliable neighbourhood. nonstarter. The longer the UAE is targeted, the more its image as a Pausing the war prematurely to talk would ensure that the mercurial President will get the worst of all worlds; haven for expats and foreign enterprises erodes, increasing both enraging his political base and failing to “bring home the urgency for businesses and individuals to explore other the bacon.” The result would be a bloodbath in the 2026 destinations. Congressional midterms and the bottom falling out of the MAGA movement. Launching an aerial blitz of ballistic missiles and Dubai carefully cultivated drones into Israel, while leading to many dead Israelis, would do nothing to stop the war itself. The 3,500 kiloits image and Western-style meters separating the two countries affords Israel ample time to dispatch its citizenry into the bomb shelters, and openness to brand itself as the vast majority of whatever Iran sent Israel’s way would be shot down over Saudi Arabia or Jordan. Should Iran still succeed in getting a few direct hits, it the international safe haven. would not result in the Netanyahu government ordering a halt to the onslaught. What unleashing hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel would do is lead to the destruction of the limited launchers Iran possesses, as the American and Israeli satellites maintaining their unblinking watch over Tehran’s current campaign against the UAE is thus not the Islamic Republic would detect the launch coordinates just a traditional military escalation but a sophisticated and rapidly dispatch one of their warplanes circling above form of financial warfare. The scope of this strategy is beto obliterate them. coming increasingly clear: the objective is not merely to Yes, Iran could unleash its dwindling ballistic missile strike at urban landmarks but to dismantle the foundastockpile on Saudi Arabia in an attempt to destroy its oil- tional infrastructure that allows Dubai and Abu Dhabi to fields and, by extension, the Saudi economy. But turning operate as global financial hubs. Saudi oil infrastructure into a raging inferno would only By disrupting airports, maritime logistics, and digital enrage China, whose economy depends on Saudi oil to networks such as the massive, multibillion-dollar Amafunction and remains Tehran’s only remaining ally now zon data center in Abu Dhabi Iranian missiles turned that Venezuelan strongman Nicholas Maduro is languish- into smoldering wreckage last week, these strikes target ing in a New York prison cell. the very connectivity that attracts international capital. Furthermore, firing an aerial blitz at Bahrain and Ku- Destroying a physical skyline is unnecessary to cripple a wait would accomplish little in light of their limited influ- modern economy; one only needs to cultivate a climate of ence in Washington. What use is there in Iran expending persistent risk. its most important resource – ballistic missiles – on small When capital feels vulnerable, mobility becomes reand insignificant countries that don’t have the political stricted, and the promise of operational continuity begins and diplomatic capital to bring the war to a halt? to fracture, the “safe haven” status of a city evaporates. No, a different tactic would be needed to stop the Iran’s decision to turn the UAE into its main target is a war. Something like attacking the United Arab Emirates, deliberate attempt to “unstack” its successful economic a Gulf state well within range of cheap Iranian Shahed model. By pressuring every node of this system, from enUAVs as opposed to long range ballistic missiles and ergy exports to the security of its wealthy resident class, the

current strikes are testing the long-term viability of the Emirates’ position as a global sanctuary for wealth and commerce. But on the other hand, the UAE is well-positioned to actually make the pain stop. The ruling Al- Nahyan family enjoys enormous influence in Washington and particularly within the Trump administration and the president’s inner circle of real estate developers and financiers. Emirati Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al-Otaiba is a close associate of President Trump and wields extraordinary influence, widely viewed as the most powerful foreign diplomat in the nation’s capital. The financial ties between the UAE and the Trump family are well-documented and have evolved into a multi-billion-dollar network spanning traditional real estate, emerging technologies, and private equity. Only last month, a Wall Street Journal expose detailed how just days before President Trump was inaugurated for his second term in the White House, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed bought a 49% stake for $500 million in World Liberty Financial, a crypto company owned by the Trump family. Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, has raised an estimated $500 million from Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds as his Private Equity Fund, Affinity Partners, has become a central vehicle for Gulf capital. Meanwhile, the real estate development company that made Donald Trump rich has been doing significant business in the UAE. The Trump International Golf Club Dubai remains a cornerstone of the family’s regional presence, while the recently announced Trump Tower Dubai will be an ultra-luxury development located on the affluent Sheikh Zayed Road and is the only Trump-branded tower in the Middle East. In other words, Tehran is targeting the UAE inordinately because it is central to its strategy in bringing the war to a close as the only one that stands to suffer significant economic damage the longer hostilities drag on, while possessing the means to actually be able to sway the Trump administration to its thinking.

arly signs show that Iran’s strategy is bearing fruit as Abu Dhabi refrains from taking steps that would escalate matters further with Iran. According to a Bloomberg report, the UAE has been quietly lobbying the Trump administration to give Iran an off-ramp that would enable the guns to fall silent. As per a separate report in the Financial Times, officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar are considering scrapping mammoth investments they had planned in the U.S. that would have given President Trump significant political capital. Notably, the UAE hotly and immediately repudiated an Israeli media report on Sunday alleging that its warplanes had attacked Iranian water infrastructure. At the same, the Emirates have as of now refrained from freezing the $300 billion in Iranian assets held in the oil-rich Sheikhdom, a move that would cripple Iran’s economy and signal that the UAE was taking off the gloves vis-avis its neighbor.

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Should March turn into April with no end to the war in sight, Iran wants the Gulf Arab States, Israel and U.S. regional military installations to be powerless to stop its aerial blitz after having neutralized America’s defensive sensors and radar arrays across the Gulf and depleted missile interceptor stocks to zero. At the same time, the global economy would be facing widespread recession while President Trump faces the wrath of angry voters. In this scenario, Iran would have the upper hand as the pain it inflicts on its foes becomes too much to bear. A side benefit to Iran would be fracturing the alliance between Israel and the UAE and eliminating any potential normalization between Jerusalem and other Arab countries as the Emirates resent paying the price for a war it didn’t want nor desire. This is a key strategic imperiative for Tehran, as seen in captured Hamas documents showing that a key motivation behind the terror group’s October 7, 2023, massacre was derailing an expected peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Signs that the UAE faults Israel for getting it in the difficult position it finds itself could be seen in an open letter to President Trump published on Thursday by Khalifa Al Habtoor, an Emirati billionaire often seen as a mouthpiece for official government thinking. The business magnate asked the President in a missive he published on X who “gave him the authority to drag our region into war with Iran” considering “that the ones who would pay the price would be the countries of the region themselves?” “Was this your decision alone? Or did it come as a result of pressure from the Netanyahu and his government?” wrote Habtoor, whose business empire was one of the first to enter into partnerships with Israeli companies following the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. There is no guarantee that Iran’s strategy will pay off. As legendary military strategist Carl von Clausewitz wrote, “War is the realm of uncertainty; three-quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.” The current sichuation is dynamic and anything can happen. Israel may very well succeed in systematically eliminating Iran’s military capabilities; we may yet find that the sustained air assault leads to the mass defections and political disintegration needed for the collapse of the Islamic Republic. But one thing is certain: Iran believes that its chance at survival lies with leveraging the traditional Persian endurance-based outlook prioritizing patience and longterm strategic thinking. By making its problem everyone’s problem, it can survive to fight another day.

Tzvi Lev is a businessman, strategic consultant, and former diplomat with years of experience living and working in the Arabian Gulf. Previously, he ran Israel’s Economic Team for the United Arab Emirates and served on the Israeli government’s elite Abraham Accords Implementation Task Force.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

But while Tehran hopes for an imminent end to the fighting, it is also working on Plan B: Designing a reality in which continuing the war unabated works towards its benefit and to the detriment of the United States and the Gulf States. This, by focusing its missile barrages on the radar systems and early-warning arrays that form the backbone of the U.S.-led missile defense architecture in an attempt to systematically wipe out the sophisticated sensor network protecting the Middle East. Since the beginning of the war, Iran has destroyed at least 16 critical American radar An attack on Dubai’s airport temporarily closed flights and communication installations in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Upwards of $4 billion in high-tech defensive hardware has been neutralized, with the most also successfully destroyed the Fujairah Oil Industry significant blow involving the destruction of four AN/TPY- Zone, the UAE’s primary strategic alternative for by2 (THAAD) radar units—the sophisticated “eyes” of the passing the Strait of Hormuz. The result is skyrocketing oil prices that have surged U.S. missile shield valued at approximately $2.296 billion. This was compounded by the hit on a singular AN/ 35% in one week alone to cross $90 a barrel, raising fears FPS-132 Block 5 Early-Warning Radar at Qatar’s Al of a recession as Goldman Sachs warned that prices will Udeid Air Base, an asset worth an estimated $1.1 bil- hit $100 a barrel should shipping disruptions continue. lion. Beyond these heavy hitters, the loss of an AN/MPQ- The stability of the global economy is facing a critical 65 Patriot radar system and its associated Engagement inflection point as Gulf Arab states exhaust their finite Control Station in Kuwait added another $190 million oil and gas storage capacities. to the tally. This phase of the Iranian air campaign is specifically designed to “blind” regional interceptors and priortehran’s current campaign itize the destruction of high-value radar and tracking infrastructure in the aim of dismantling the Pentagon’s against the uaE is thus not sensor network. Concurrently, Iran’s relentless barrages of cheap Shahed UAVs are rapidly depleting expensive interceptor stockpiles needed to stop them, as supply just a traditional military chains for Patriot air defense systems remain critically low after years of war in Ukraine. escalation but a sophisticated It’s important to highlight that Tehran is prioritizing the preservation of its limited long-range arsenal by first form of financial warfare exhausting its much larger supplies of drones and shortrange projectiles to neutralize enemy air defenses and deplete interceptor stockpiles. This tactical shift aims to degrade enemy defenses, ensuring that more lethal strikes can be deployed with maximum precision down the road. While strongly denying reports that its interceptor With the Strait of Hormuz effectively paralyzed, the inventory was running low, the UAE did confirm on traditional maritime export routes for crude and liqueSunday that it has requested that South Korea expedite fied natural gas (LNG) have been severed. Consequentdelivery of the Cheongung-II interceptor missile system ly, regional energy giants have begun sharply reducing it had purchased in 2025. energy production, even shuttering production facilities, simply because there is no remaining logistical space to hold newly extracted resources. With the war already unpopular among the majority s Iran works on rendering the Gulf states, Israel, and American air defenses helpless of Americans, high prices at the pump will create signifby taking out radar systems and depleting icant political vulnerability for President Donald Trump interceptor stockpiles, it is engaged in a and his Republican Party in the lead-up to the American separate, parallel effort: ensuring that oil midterm elections in 2026. As mentioned, Iran is hoping to engineer a quick end prices remain intolerably high, with the to the U.S.-Israel war by disproportionately targeting the goal of sending the global economy into shock. Tehran is doing this in multiple ways: Sending re- UAE, believing that the catastrophic economic damage peated missile volleys into Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti oil- Abu Dhabi and Dubai face should it continue, coupled fields and blockading the Straits of Hormuz, a critical with the leverage it has in the Trump administration, will artery needed for crude oil to leave the Arabian Gulf to be enough to cut things short prematurely. But should international markets. To maintain the oil-soaked Gulf this strategy fail, Iran’s Plan B is creating a reality in states’ reliance on the narrow, high-risk passage, Iran which the passage of time only hurts its adversaries.

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nspiration Nation

R’ Judah Mischel & R’ Ari Dembitzer Lessons in Leadership By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

ou’d think that the heads of two similar chessed organizations would be rivals, vying for the same participant and volunteer base. You’d imagine that their relationship would be marred by a constant sense of competition. You’d think that their bond, at best, would be neutral. But not so with Rabbi Judah Mischel and Rabbi Ari Dembitzer — the heads of

Camp HASC and Camp Simcha, respectively — whose unbreakable friendship is marked by mutual admiration rather than competitiveness; whose relationship proves that leadership is about compassion, not cleverness. A few years ago, Rabbi Mischel and Rabbi Dembitzer sat down together for an interview, during which they discussed their thoughts on leadership and chessed.

In Their Words… That’s what the lubavitcher Rebbe always said about leadership. he would say that leaders don’t create followers. Real leaders create leaders. i think we have to stop trying to be successful, and i think we have to just be. and we have to understand who we are and what our mission is in life. Every person in their own home, in their own place, can be a leader. Every single person is empowered in their own place on planet Earth to have purpose and meaning and to go somewhere. you don’t have to have a professional position in order to fulfill that. i think leadership requires positivity and compassion… Whoever you’re leading needs to know that you’re there for them. Whoever you’re leading needs to know that you’ll do everything you can to make things work.

When asked about leadership advice, Reb Ari half-jokingly declared, to his co-interviewee’s amusement, “The advice that people give me is to be more like Rav Judah.” Here are some takeaways from their conversation: *

According to Reb Ari, leadership has two key aspects. “I think leadership requires positivity and compassion,” Reb Ari shares. “I think whoever you’re leading needs to know that you’re there for them. And I think whoever you’re leading needs to know that you’ll do everything you can to make things work.” While many people have a rigid mindset, insisting that things won’t work, it’s a leader’s duty to insist that things will – to be ambitious and ignore the naysayers. The question is: Where can you find the drive? As Reb Judah shares, leadership requires clarity and direction. You need to know where you’re going. “You can’t be a leader unless you have a specific direction or directive,” Reb Judah says. “First, you need to know where you want to go and what you want. They say you should lead from the head or the heart: all of that relates to the notion of having a sense of self and a sense of place and knowing where you want to get to and what you want to accomplish.” “At the end of the day, we’re always asking ourselves and the people around

us, ‘What’s the point?’” adds Reb Ari. “Ultimately, our contemplation — the three times a day that we daven in our Shemoneh Esrei — keeps us grounded, keeps us directed to say, ‘What is the point of what I’m doing?’ I think that’s what leadership is – asking that question of ourselves and for everybody that we’re leading: ‘What’s everyone doing here?’ And if we’re able to answer that question or at least ask the question, I think that’s so powerful, and I think that’s true leadership.” In a similar vein, Reb Judah discusses the power of repeatedly asking oneself “why?” as a means of uncovering the real reasons we do the things we do. And, as Reb Judah explains, all you need to start leading is a clear mission and the drive to fulfill it. You don’t need to be a head counselor or the director of an organization. You don’t need a position. All you need is a mission. Indeed, as Reb Ari shares, so much effort is put into the process, in the minor details, that we tend to lose the forest for the trees. To truly succeed, we have to focus on the big picture. “I think we’re so focused on being something that we’re not or getting somewhere that we miss steps along the way,” Reb Ari explains. “I think we have to stop trying to be successful, and I think we have to just be. And we have to understand who we are and what our mission is in life.” “Rebbi Nachman says that Bereishis, creation, the first thing we learn, has the same letters as Rosh Bayit,” Reb Judah shares. “Every person in their own

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the world is one thing, and that could be an extension of their home. But to be a real leader, you have to be a Rosh Bayit. A person has to find their daled amos in the world and know that building the Beis HaMikdash and redeeming the entire world begins with the redemption of the self in one’s own space.” “You give your kids gedolim cards, and you want them to be like people. But it’s different as an adult,” Reb Ari adds. “I think adults aren’t necessarily striving to be like somebody else. I think kids should or might be directed in that di-

rection. But when you become an adult, stop trying to be anybody. Just be you.” A “gadol,” Reb Judah shares, is literally someone who is big or mature, but being a gadol also means being responsible for oneself: To become one’s true self and to think freely. In other words, Reb Judah adds, a gadol is someone who is independent, whose physical and emotional wellbeing — whose identity — isn’t dependent on others. “It’s someone who could stand on their own feet,” he says. “That’s what the Lubavitcher Rebbe

always said about leadership. He would say that leaders don’t create followers. Real leaders create leaders,” Reb Judah adds. “In other words, how many people can wear the same crown? How many people can be the director, the associate director, and the supervisor? It’s not a question of your title and your place in the organizational chart of wherever you are, but everybody can be their own Rosh Bayit, sit at the head of their table, so to speak, and be a gadol, be great, be big, in their own way, in their own place.”

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

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MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

home, in their own place, can be a leader. Every single person is empowered in their own place on planet Earth to have purpose and meaning and to go somewhere. You don’t have to have a professional position in order to fulfill that.” Indeed, Reb Judah says that true leadership doesn’t start on the job. It starts in the home. “I think that we feel most in our element in our own homes. And I think that’s a very important nekudah,” Reb Judah continues. “A person’s job, their passion, their shilchus, their mission in

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Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I’m 28 and have been dating for the past five years. I come from a more affluent family, and I have a hard time finding a guy on par with what I’m used to. I’m writing now because I’ve been dating a guy for the past 4.5 weeks. Things

have been going very well – he’s an awesome guy, has a good job and a nice family. But I’m writing because suddenly I feel deceived. For all our dates, he came to pick me up in a really nice Tesla and dressed super nicely. This past Shabbos, I spent in his hometown, and we had a meal together. He picked me up from the train station, which was kind of him, but he came in a really old car. When I asked where his Tesla was, he responded that he had been borrowing one of his rich uncle’s cars for dating and now that he’s home, he’s using his own. He also went on to say his uncle lends him clothes as well. He said it very nonchalantly as if he knew it wouldn’t bother me. He laughed about it innocently, as if it was no big deal. But in reality, it does bother me. We had a nice time over Shabbos, but it was all tainted, knowing he was wearing borrowed clothing and seeing his real car (a real clunker) bothers me terribly. I’m tempted to end it, as he just isn’t the type I thought he was. But I wanted to first ask this panel what you all think. Thank you, Rachel*

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

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Dear Readers, We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion! Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition. If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well. Looking forward! Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. achel, instead of appreciating the young man’s transparency, you are re-evaluating him based on his actual financial standing. Didn’t you try to put your best foot forward on the dates as well? Were you being deceptive? Your about-face betrays a lack of maturity and values of depth and responsibility that go deeper than finances and the lifestyle you are used to. Do some soul searching with a lot of guidance from wise counselors and mentors. Money comes and goes. Hashem sends challenges of all kinds to people, those that we see and those that we don’t see. If outward displays really matter to you, a person of responsibility, values, and depth like you indicate, the young man is not a fit for you.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond achel, I am going to be very honest with you. The man you are dating, who you’ve been spending time with, is the real person you have been getting to know. His character, his personality, his job, and the connection you described are the real things. His car and his clothing are just external details. You wrote that he is a great guy, that he has a good job, comes from a nice fam-

ily, and that the two of you are getting along pretty well. Those are the things that actually matter when you are choosing a husband. Right now, he is an unmarried man. As you said, he has a solid job. There is very little stopping him from upgrading his wardrobe or buying a nicer car when the time is right (i.e. when he has a wife to help him with those things). I’m sure you could easily encourage him to buy new clothes of his own and maybe even enjoy going shopping together. You might even pick out a new car together. What stands out to me even more is that he was not trying to hide anything. If he were attempting to deceive you, he could easily have continued using his uncle’s car when he picked you up from the train station. Instead, he showed up in his own car and casually told you the truth. The way he said it so naturally suggests that he genuinely did not think it would be an issue. Borrowing a nicer car or clothing for dates is actually very common. Maturity sometimes means recognizing that the external things in life do not arrive on a silver platter. Life is hard and comes with many obstacles. You did not say the age of the guy you are dating, but I would imagine he’s around 30. This means he is probably a couple years into a good job after going to school for many years. I’m sure he has student loans to pay off as well. For now, before he is married, he’s likely saving his money wisely for when he ultimately gets married. The important qualities are the ones you already described in this young man. He sounds responsible, practical, employed, and someone you enjoy spending time with. If the car and the clothing truly over-

shadow all of that for you, then it may be best to step away and allow him to find someone who appreciates him exactly as he is. Don’t you think he deserves that? Do you perhaps have some of your own imperfections that your future spouse may have to overlook or work with? I think you do simply because everyone does. He appreciates you for who you are; it’s time to give him the same decency. If you can look past the surface details, you may realize that the qualities that actually matter are already there.

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler ou are having doubts about the relationship. Is it mainly because you feel that he deceived you, or because you are concerned that he won’t be able to sup-

Maturity sometimes means recognizing that the external things in life do not arrive on a silver platter.

port you in the style to which you have become accustomed? Issue #1 – Deceitfulness When people go on dates, they naturally try to present themselves in the best possible light. When you go on a date, don’t you make an extra effort to dress your best and apply your makeup especially well? You probably don’t look quite the same when you’re having an early morning cof-

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The Panel

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fee. And there’s certainly nothing unusual when girls often borrow clothes from their roommates when they wish to look special. Your boyfriend, like any single, tried to present himself in the best light possible. Note, however, that the way he presented himself when you visited his hometown certainly indicates that he wasn’t trying to create a misleading impression and then lie about it. Issue #2 – Affluence When guys start dating, smart mothers warn them to beware of wealthy, high maintenance women. Those wise mothers worry that their sons will endure unhappy lives, trying to meet unrealistic expectations. Many accomplished and financially comfortable women are happy to marry exactly the type of man you describe: “an awesome guy, with a good job and a nice family.” They look forward to building a comfortable and secure future together

with their partner. I hope I don’t sound judgmental, but your letter suggests that you may be focused on finding someone who is already wealthy, rather than someone who has the potential to build a successful life with you. Issue #3 – Decision time The guy that you are dating is, in your own words, “an awesome guy, with a good job, and a nice family.” Unfortunately, because he has not yet earned his own Tesla and designer clothes, you feel that his current financial situation does not match what you hoped for. My honest advice may sound harsh, but it is probably best for both of you to end the relationship. He deserves someone who appreciates him for the person he is today. And you deserve someone whose lifestyle already matches the one you envision for your future. And, as an added bonus, many oth-

Pulling It All Together

er single women will be delighted to find that this “awesome guy with a good job and a nice family” is once again available.

Dating is full of moments

Reader’s Response

where the image cracks a little and something

Avigail and Binyamin Lowenstein achel, Wow, that sounds like a lot of emotions! Especially because you seem to really like him; his looks, his personality, everything about him, and you seem to like the way he dresses, and to say it outright: you like it that he seemed financially well off. I can hear where you’re coming from; for a girl to feel financially stable and secure is important. You just have to realize, are you marrying someone because he has money, or are you marrying HIM? Just because you marry someone who has money, who says they won’t lose it all?! Just because you marry someone who doesn’t have money, who says they won’t be motivated and successful and earn more money than you can ever imagine (yes, that happens more often than you’d think)?! So marry a guy who you like for who HE is and for no other

real appears underneath.

reason, and that will be a secure, successful marriage that will last your entire life! I do also want to add that I think you have a right to feel hurt that he wasn’t open with you about his car and clothes, etc. before you got this far along in dating. I would ask him and have an open conversation about this and share your feelings with each other and express that you want to have a relationship where you both feel comfortable sharing things with each other, even if they may seem scary. You should have clarity to see what is right from wrong and be able to make confident decisions that will lead you to be the best person you can be!

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

ear Rachel, I’m really glad you wrote in before making a quick decision, because something meaningful happened here and it’s worth slowing down with it for a moment. For the first few weeks, you were getting to know a certain version of this man. The Tesla, the clothing, the overall presentation created a picture in your mind of who he was and what his life looked like. And then this past Shabbos, the picture shifted. That can feel unsettling. It’s never pleasant to realize that something you assumed wasn’t entirely accurate.

But I’d invite you to pause and ask yourself a deeper question: what exactly is bothering you? Is it that he doesn’t have the car and wardrobe you thought he had? Or is it the feeling that he allowed you to form an impression that wasn’t quite real? Those are two different things. If the lifestyle piece matters to you, it’s okay to be honest about that. The environments we grow up in shape our expectations. They influence how we imagine our homes, our spending habits, and even the rhythm of daily life. Compatibility in

those areas can matter and pretending it doesn’t rarely works in the long run. But there’s another piece here that shouldn’t be skipped. Was he trying to fool you? Maybe. Or maybe he was a little self-conscious about dating someone from a more affluent background and wanted to level the playing field. The truth is, from the outside, we can’t know his intention. And intention is an important piece of this puzzle. Which is exactly why the next step here isn’t to end things. It’s to talk. Tell him honestly how it landed for you. Not accusingly, but openly. You might say something like, “I have to admit, when I realized the car and clothes were borrowed, it made me feel a little

thrown. I want to understand what was going on for you.” His response will likely tell you far more than the borrowed Tesla ever could. Dating is full of moments where the image cracks a little and something real appears underneath. Those moments aren’t always comfortable, but they are often the moments where you actually begin to see who the other person is. So before deciding whether he’s “not the type you thought he was,” give him the chance to show you who he really is. And listen carefully. His honesty in that conversation will likely tell you everything you need to know. Warmly, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

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COLORS OF 2026

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

SHELLSTATION® Nylon / Cotton / Modal

Rose

SHELLSTATION®

Yellow

Light Blue

Apricot

Tea

Blossom

Lavendar

Periwinkle

Cotton / Modal

Nylon / Cotton / Modal / Ribbed

Modal

5 1 6 . 5 5 8 . 74 3 5

Modal

Nylon / Modal

4 8 9 C E N T R A L AV E , C E D A R H U R S T N Y

S U N D AY 1 0 : 3 0 - 6 M O N D AY-T H U R S D AY 1 0 - 6 & F R I D AY 1 0 - 2

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Shmooze & Muse

Heavy Creamer By Mordechai Schmutter

here’s nothing like a KitchenAid to change you from not wanting to make cookies because it’s a pain to mix the batter to not wanting to make cookies because you don’t want to take out the KitchenAid. And when I say “KitchenAid,” I’m of course talking about the KitchenAid stand mixer. I have to mention this, because KitchenAid makes other things, too. I think at some point I had a KitchenAid can opener that we got in Amazing Savings. That is not what I mean. This one thing is called a KitchenAid. It’s like how Frigidaire the company also makes ovens. As it turns out, according to federal law, if you get married in this country, you legally have to get a KitchenAid. And it has to cost as much as your first car. (Other highly-specific appliances that every family is legally obligated to own: Crock-Pot-brand slow cooker, Betty Crocker pizza maker, and a Bosch.) For those of you who weren’t aware of this law, a KitchenAid is a device that weighs a thousand pounds, and it mixes stuff. And you’re like, “But I can mix stuff.” Yeah, well with this, you can walk away while it’s being mixed. And you’re like, “Why?” So you don’t get covered in flour. Though as it turns out, your newer KitchenAids do come with a “spillproof” “lid” that doesn’t fit in the same cabinet as the KitchenAid. This is supposed to protect your counter, except that the part that the mixing arm goes through isn’t covered, and there’s a hole so that you can add ingredients as it mixes, and neither is a one-way hole, and the cover is harder to wash than the counter is. We have a new KitchenAid, because the old one sounded like a helicopter was landing in our kitchen, and generally what we do is we forget the cover. Then we turn on the machine and stuff starts coming out around the edges, and we yell, “No!” and we jump on top of the

machine and keep the stuff in with our arms until it calms down. No other company makes this appliance. When I was little, my parents had a hand mixer. It had two beaters that you put in the batter that spun in opposite directions. And if you had to beat egg whites, your parents would make you stand there and hold the beater while they ran around the kitchen for more ingredients, and you would hang on for dear life as the beaters tried to run away, and then as a reward, you got to lick them afterwards. I actually don’t even know how people discovered that if you beat eggs long enough they get stiff. Someone had to have been mixing egg whites with no other ingredients for 20 minutes by hand, just saying, “Let’s see what happens. You never know.” It had to have been some form of ruach hakodesh. Did they try this with other foods? “Did you mix the cholent?” “This is mixed!” “OK, but keep mixing it another 20 minutes, in case something happens.”

But the KitchenAid is a massive improvement over hand mixers. For one, it’s less likely to catch your hair and pull you in. Another safety feature is that it has a hard time fitting into any of your cabinets. You’re the only one who can take it out and put it in, so you know the kids won’t play with it. Also, it has an extremely sturdy design, with a shell that’s designed to deflect small arms fire, in case your kitchen is in a bad neighborhood. Which is not to say that the KitchenAid doesn’t have its own safety issues. Every year, dozens of people end up in the hospital from a KitchenAid that has been dropped onto the floor of the apartment above theirs. It’s crazy how heavy this piece has to be. Technologically, it shouldn’t be that heavy, I don’t think. A hand mixer weighs nothing. I think they make it this heavy so it doesn’t vibrate off the counter. They had to design it so it’s heavier than anything you could possibly put in there. And we’re probably at a point in his-

tory where we’re at the lightest it’s ever been, like with any other technology. Because I looked it up, and turns out that I wasn’t born before KitchenAids. The original model was made in 1908 and held 80 quarts. It was used in naval battleships and sank many a ship. I actually think it was conceived as a way to mix concrete. The original home model was produced in 1919 and didn’t have a bowl. The flour went everywhere. Nowadays, though, the machine comes with a bowl and also various attachments that look like medieval torture devices, including one that you will never ever use in your life and one that looks like a pirate’s hand. It also has ten speeds. Like a bike. Who needs ten speeds? It’s like over the years they kept adding speeds to stay relevant. The speeds go from 1, which kind of just cautiously pushes the dough from side to side, to 10, which launches your batter into orbit. I don’t think we need ten speeds. No one ever looks at the number. The way everyone uses it is they turn it on to a random setting – as high as they’re willing to risk – and then they yell, “No!” and dive on top of the machine and lower it a bit. And the machine does all of this for $450! Or roughly a dollar per pound. It also has a nice big bowl that you can use to soak everything you used in the kitchen that day, in a cloudy white liquid that sticks to the back of your hands. But that is not all. You can also buy various attachments that screw onto the front and hover two feet above the counter and process foods in various ways that they will not fall anywhere near the bowl. I think you have to set the bowl on the floor. For example, for another $150, you can attach a contraption to the front that allows you to make pasta. And you’re like, “I’m already allowed to make pasta.”

121 But it’s not just about pasta makers. You can also attach a meat grinder. “To my pareve KitchenAid?” OK, you can grind fish, I guess. Make your own gefilte! Which is definitely not something the manufacturers had in mind. “Well, how easy is that to clean?” No idea. Personally, I would be scared to clean the inside of anything called a meat grinder, because I’m made

KitchenAid. And think of how much money you’d save on flour by just buying straight grain! Though I assume you have to factor in the gas to get back and forth from the threshing floor. I don’t usually see whole grains in the supermarket. Except in Cheerios. But some attachments are maybe more practical. Like for an extra $100, you can add a spiralizer that turns your zucchinis into noodles. (“What are

The speeds go from 1, which kind of just cautiously pushes the dough from side to side, to 10, which launches your batter into orbit.

of meat. You’re going to have to trust your dishwasher on this one. Another attachment they sell is something called a “grain mill” that allows you to grind your grain into flour, so you don’t have to use your millstone. Which I imagine is heavier than your

these?” “They’re noodles!” “No they’re not!”) This sounds great for Pesach! Though I have a tool that allows me to do the same thing on yom tov itself. It cost me ten bucks and looks like a pencil sharpener. But why not put all your eggs in one basket? That way, while one

person is making pasta, the next person can wait in line so they can turn the vegetables into noodles, too! But the company is very into trying to upsell you on all the attachments. They need to do this, because you buy one KitchenAid and you’re good for decades. So they’re like, “How do we get them to spend more money? We can get them to buy attachments! We can do a meat grinder and a cheese grater, and then they have to buy three entire machines!” Other attachments they sell: back massager, can opener, oscillating fan, electric toothbrush, electric screwdriver, shaver, weed whacker, rotisserie, table saw, sewing machine, and paper shredder. Maybe they can come up with something that turns potatoes into starch.

Mordechai Schmutter is a f reelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. He can be contacted at mschmutter@gmail.com.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Yes, but this is fresh pasta, made from scratch. And you’re like, “I can make pasta from a box for a $1.25. And I don’t have to clean up flour from my countertops. How much better is this homemade pasta?” Well, it won’t quite come out right if you don’t know what you’re doing. But I mean, first of all, all you have to do is make pasta 300 times and the attachment pretty much pays for itself. And you will make pasta 300 times, if you have kids. And you can have fresh pasta in an hour. Can you imagine? An hour! Personally, I mostly make pasta when I don’t have an hour. And it’s something the kids can make. Can you imagine having your kids make this? They can’t even get out the machine! But it’s all about convenience. Like let’s say you don’t have pasta in the house. Are you going to go all the way out to the store and buy some, or would you rather just make a giant mess and take an extra hour to make something that your kids, who are the ones who wanted pasta in the first place, will say, “What is that? I don’t like it.” Your kids didn’t want pasta; they wanted noodles.

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Parenting Pearls

I Caught Ya! By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

arents may hear the phrase “catch them being good.” It’s an interesting way to say something. Usually, when we picture “catching” someone, it’s not for good things. It also connotes some sneakiness. The image coming to mind is one of parents slithering through the living room, ducking behind furniture and lying in wait, just so they can jump up and say, “I caught you –being good!” Potentially, the next image is one of a confused – and perhaps frightened – child. Clearly, this phrase cannot refer to the above scenario. We’re not here to terrify our kids, nor do we need to act with stealth in our living rooms. Catching a child being good refers to noticing the moments a child is behaving appropriately and using it as an opportunity to praise or encourage them. As parents, we want to encourage and guide our child, but it’s hard to do this when a child is acting inappropriately. When they hit their sibling, it is not the time to praise their strength. When they throw a ball and break glass, it is not the time to cheer on their good aim. We want to tell them how wonderful they are and how much we love them. We want to praise their many good character traits and continuously improving middos. We want to point out the many positive qualities we see in them. Unfortunately, we usually can’t do this when they’re in the middle of a temper tantrum. The solution to this problem is to find the moments they’re doing the right thing and “catch them” in the middle of good actions.

The Challenge As parents, it’s easy to notice when a child misbehaves. Something breaks. Someone cries. Destruction and mayhem reign. We jump into our role and do what we feel is appropriate to address the issue. When we see negative behavior, it naturally generates a corresponding negative parental response. This creates a negative cycle if all we do is criticize, punish or respond harshly. All the child hears are things that put

them down when we really want to raise them up. The lower they feel, the lower they behave. We risk a continuous downward spiral of responding harshly to their negative behavior, they behave even worse, and we respond similarly. Rinse, wash, repeat. Some children are particularly sensitive to this and will become tiny aggressors as a result. They can go out of control, and the situation becomes uglier by the moment. Once the cycle starts, they’re off! This doesn’t mean we need to ignore all negative behavior to prevent this cycle. What it does mean is we need to find a way to break this cycle before it becomes strongly entrenched in our home. We also know that positive reinforcement is so powerful and a healthy way to raise children. We want them to recognize the good within themselves and use that as their guide. We know that criticism can be so hurtful and that praise can be so beneficial. But we run into a not-so-small problem. We want to praise our precious progeny and encourage them, yet we can’t easily do that when they’re misbehaving. Ironically, positive reinforcement, praise and connecting to our children can prevent many of the negative situations

we are being forced to address. We’re continuously thrown into a reactive parenting response when our family is better served by a loving, proactive one.

The Response There is a natural human tendency to notice only when things are not going well. We can walk around feeling great all day, yet we only notice we have been feeling fine once a headache or other pain begins. Our spouse can be helpful all week, yet we only notice that time the garbage isn’t taken out. We could spend significant time discussing this negative middah and the many ways it can affect parenting (and our lives). As parents, it’s easy to only notice the times our children act up. When everything is quiet, we’re either so relieved that we don’t say anything, or we don’t even recognize the lack of screaming. We only pay attention once someone yells, hits or speaks rudely. Once that moment of disrespect or misbehavior occurs, we are suddenly thrown into the role of disciplinarian and it’s too late for praise. The reality is that we often ignore so much good, just so we can focus on a little negative. Our child may be a perfect mensch 90 percent of the day, yet we only notice that other ten percent. It’s truly a

shame to not appreciate the 90 percent because it’s overshadowed by ten. Similarly, it must be very frustrating for a child to work hard and do the right thing for so much of the day, yet only the times they misstep get noticed. Even a child who acts out 95 percent of the day still leaves us five percent to not want to tear our hair out. It’s truly a shame to not notice the five percent of the time we don’t want to cry. When I work with families, I notice there is a tendency for parents to discount the improvements. They may readily acknowledge the improvements, yet focus on where the child still hasn’t improved. I validate their frustrations that a certain amount of the negative behavior continues, but I also point out that they would certainly notice a 25 percent increase of negative behavior. It behooves us to also appreciate when that same behavior similarly decreases. It’s not hard; it simply involves awareness. When we take the time to notice those calm moments throughout the day, we will find many opportunities to say something positive or loving. They walk in the house after school: “it’s great to see you. “Passing in the hallway: “your smile makes me smile, too.” At dinner: “I like how you respectfully served your parents first.” “That’s so sweet of you to share your toys (or read to your sister).” It doesn’t require creativity. We don’t need to learn any new skills. We just need to pay attention to the moments we often ignore. Beyond being an excellent exercise in middah improvement, it’s an amazing opportunity to appreciate the moments we often ignore and take advantage of their potential.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, holds a master’s degree in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 15 years. Sara provides personalized parent mentoring services, addressing a variety of general and specific parenting concerns. She can be contacted at Sara.Rayvych@gmail.com with comments, questions or for private consultations.

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School of

Thought

Limiting Screen Time is Not a Religious Issue By Etti Siegel

here are a lot more kosher options for children nowadays. Children can watch beautifully produced plays, shows, wholesome comedy, and content that has been carefully reviewed and approved and has actors who look like them. For many families, that feels reassuring and responsible. It feels like we’ve solved the problem. However, as an educator and coach, as someone who spends her days inside

classrooms watching children learn, struggle, engage, disengage, regulate, and unravel, my concern is not about Jewish versus non-Jewish, or kosher versus non-kosher. I leave those questions to the rabbanim. My concern is not religious at all. It is developmental and educational. We live in a screen-saturated world. Screens are everywhere, all the time, woven into the fabric of daily life so

seamlessly that we often don’t notice them anymore. A tablet in the car. A phone while waiting. A show during dinner prep. A “quick” video to calm down. None of these moments feels dramatic on its own. Each one seems small, harmless, even helpful. But childhood is not a collection of random events; it’s the sum total of what fills a child’s days. There are only twenty-four hours in a day. When a child spends time on a screen, any screen, even a kosher one, that time is being taken from something else. And that “something else” matters more than we often realize. Recent research underscores this in a way that aligns powerfully with what educators have been seeing for years. When researchers examined what happens when screen time is replaced with shared parent-child reading, the results were not subtle. They were measurable. Children who spent more time reading with parents showed stronger language skills, better understanding of written text, and more advanced socio-emotional development. And these gains weren’t dependent on what kind of screen content was replaced. Educational screens, recreational screens, it didn’t matter. The device itself could not replicate the developmental benefits of reading together. That means when screen time is replaced with parent-child reading, even in small chunks, children show measurable gains in language development and emotional understanding. Not just correlation, but substitution: fifteen minutes less screen time and fifteen minutes more shared reading leads to better phonological awareness, stronger familiarity with written language, and deeper socio-emotional skills. Reverse

the swap, and those skills decline. This is important because many parents assume that educational apps or “learning shows” provide a safe harbor. We tell ourselves that if the content is enriching, the medium must be neutral or even beneficial. But the research challenges that assumption directly. Even when educational screen time replaces shared reading, children lose ground in language and emotional growth. Why? Because development doesn’t happen through exposure alone. It happens through interaction. When a parent reads with a child, something profoundly different is taking place. There is shared attention. There is conversation. There are questions and clarifications. There is tone, facial expression, body language, emotional connection. A book doesn’t talk at a child; it invites engagement with a child. A parent pauses to explain a word. A parent notices confusion. A parent encourages prediction. A parent points out emotion. A parent wonders aloud. A parent responds in real time. This is not just literacy-building. It is relationship-building. It is emotional coaching. It is the slow, steady construction of a child’s inner world. Screens, by their nature, are often passive. They are designed to deliver information efficiently, not relationally. Even when parents co-view, the interaction tends to be thinner. The screen sets the pace. The screen controls the narrative. The screen does the talking. And this difference shows up later in classrooms. I see it when children struggle to listen without constant stimulation. I see it when they have difficulty reading

125 changes the texture of a child’s learning experiences. And again, this has nothing to do with values or messaging. A kosher show is still a show. A frum app is still an app. The medium remains the medium. One of the most striking findings in the research is that even co-viewing, which is when parents watch screens together with children, does not outperform shared reading. While co-viewing is certainly better than solo screen use, it still falls short. Watching something together is not the same as doing something together. The shared focus on a book invites dialogue; the shared focus on a screen often limits it. From a teacher’s perspective, this makes sense. Children who arrive at school with a strong foundation in language, emotional awareness, and attention are better equipped for everything that follows. They can follow directions,

Childhood skills grow best through sustained, reciprocal human interaction, not digital input. participate in discussions, manage transitions, and engage with learning even when it’s challenging. These skills don’t come from being entertained. They come from being engaged. This is why my pushback on screens

isn’t about morality or modesty or messaging. It is not a religious argument. It’s about development. It’s about protecting the kinds of experiences that actually build language, empathy, and resilience. It’s about understanding that childhood skills grow best through sustained, reciprocal human interaction, not digital input. I’m not suggesting that screens disappear entirely. That’s probably unrealistic. But I am suggesting that we stop asking, “Is this show OK?” and start asking, “What is this replacing?” Because when families choose books over devices, even imperfectly, even inconsistently, they are choosing conversation over consumption, connection over convenience, and development over distraction. And those small, daily choices quietly shape the kind of learners, and people, our children become.

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds a MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. Etti is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, FACTS Education Solutions, Brienza Academic Advantage, Yeled V’Yalda; is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country; and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School Leaders and has a weekly column in The Jewish Home. She can be contacted for questions and comments at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

emotional cues, managing frustration, or expressing themselves with words. I see it when learning feels effortful and uncomfortable, and their tolerance for that discomfort is low. These are not moral failures. These are developmental gaps. Language development, emotional regulation, and attention are built through what psychologists call “proximal processes” – the repeated, reciprocal interactions between a child and a responsive adult. Reading together is a gold-standard example of this. It is slow. It is human. It is inefficient in the best possible way. Screens, by contrast, tend to shortcut the process. They entertain without demanding reciprocity. They reward without requiring sustained effort. They provide feedback that replaces the adult’s role, cheering, buzzing, congratulating, often allowing parents to step back unintentionally. Over time, this

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Relationships

Rewired

Obsessive Thoughts They’re Not What You Think By Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

f you’re human, the pre-Pesach period tends to come with a flood of urgent-feeling thoughts and emotions: “Where are we going?” “Where are we staying? “With whom?” “I feel so anxious being around Y.” “How much matzah do I need?” “What do I do if X asks me that question?” “It’s not fair that my parents are giving this sibling the better accommodations.” “How are we going to pay for all of this?” Just reading that list can make you tired. And what makes these thoughts particularly uncomfortable is the feeling that comes with them. They don’t just pop up — they sit there. They circle back. They feel urgent and heavy, like something that must be dealt with immediately. There’s a lot of conversation out there about what it means to “obsess.” Most people automatically think of OCD — repetitive behaviors, rituals, checking, counting. But today I want to talk about something a little different. Thoughts that keep showing up again and again… that won’t quite leave you alone…but don’t necessarily come with any ritual or action attached to them. This isn’t about OCD. It’s about something much more subtle.

When Thoughts Won’t Let Go Sometimes, thoughts linger because your brain is trying to flag something important. Your mind is essentially saying: Pay attention to this. These thoughts are often carrying emotions that haven’t had much room elsewhere — worry, resentment, disappointment, fear, longing. When those emotions don’t have a clear place to go, they tend to show up in thought loops. Most of us respond to those loops the

same way: we try to shut them down. We tell ourselves we’re overthinking. We push the thought away. We distract ourselves with the next thing on the list. And sometimes, that works for a little while. But often, the opposite happens. The thoughts come back stronger. Louder. More persistent. Because if something important inside of us keeps getting ignored, our brain doesn’t just shrug and move on. It keeps knocking.

Why It Gets Louder Around Pesach Pesach has a way of turning the volume up on everything. There are logistics. Expenses. Travel. Hosting. Family dynamics. Expectations — both spoken and unspoken. There’s a lot happening all at once, and much of it involves relationships that already carry some history. So it’s not surprising that thoughts start swirling. You might notice yourself thinking about an interaction that hasn’t even happened yet. Or replaying an old dynamic that seems to resurface every year. Or worrying about whether you’ll feel comfortable where you’re staying. Your brain is trying to prepare you. And sometimes, it’s also trying to protect you.

The Risk of Ignoring What’s There Many people assume the healthiest response is to push these feelings aside. After all, life is busy. Not every thought deserves a deep analysis. And that’s true — to a point. But there’s a difference between letting a passing thought go and repeatedly dismissing something that clearly matters to you. When important feelings keep getting pushed away, they don’t disappear. They show up somewhere else. They show up as irritability with the people closest to you. They show up as tension in your body.

They show up as snapping over something small. They show up as a quiet sense of dread about situations that are supposed to feel meaningful. Sometimes, people move through an entire yom tov feeling unsettled and don’t quite understand why. Often, it’s because something inside them has been trying to get their attention for weeks.

Just Give A Listen None of this means every thought needs to be solved immediately. Sometimes, the most helpful thing you can do is simply pause and ask yourself: What is this thought trying to tell me? Maybe it’s pointing to a boundary that needs to be clearer. Maybe it’s highlighting a fear you’ve been carrying alone. Maybe it’s grief about a relationship that doesn’t feel the way you wish it did. Or maybe it’s just a signal that you’re overwhelmed and need a little more support. Not every message requires a dramatic response. Sometimes acknowledging the feeling is enough to soften its grip. When a thought is recognized instead of dismissed, it often settles down.

Catching It Before It Costs You Pesach is a high-stakes time. There’s a lot invested — emotionally, financially, and relationally. People travel far, expectations run high, and the room is often filled with the same relationships that carry years of history. When certain thoughts keep circling before yom tov, it’s often your mind flag-

ging a situation that may require a little forethought. Not necessarily a big conversation or confrontation — but some level of preparation. Maybe it means deciding in advance how long you’ll stay in a certain environment. Maybe it means adjusting expectations about how a family dynamic is likely to play out. Maybe it means having a quiet conversation with your spouse about how you’ll support each other if things get tense. Sometimes it’s as simple as recognizing a sore spot so you’re not blindsided by it later. These small adjustments may not change the entire situation, but they can dramatically change how much it costs you. Without that awareness, people often walk straight into predictable dynamics and then spend the rest of yom tov managing the emotional fallout. With a little foresight, however, you’re far less likely to be caught off guard. Pesach will always come with pressure and moving parts. But when you listen to the signals early enough, you give yourself a better chance of protecting the relationships, the atmosphere, and the parts of yom tov that are actually meant to be enjoyed. Bassy Schwartz, LMFT is the founder of Core Relationships, a boutique therapy practice in the Five Towns offering individual, couples, and family therapy. Her work centers on helping clients build safer, more authentic connections by healing the patterns that block intimacy and trust. Bassy is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and integrates trauma-informed care and relational insight in her approach. She believes therapy is not about “fixing” people — it’s about creating the safety to be fully human.

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The World the Torah Was Arguing Against Review by Michael Bernstein

Reviewing: “Echoes of Egypt: A Haggada” by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman Koren Publishers Jerusalem, ISBN 978-965-583-015-6, Hardcover, 156 pages. Published 2026.

ith Pesach right around the corner, it is the season when we return to the telling of Yetziat Mitzrayim. We read the same texts we have read since childhood, recite the same passages, and ask the same questions. What most of us are missing, year after year, is Egypt itself. Echoes of Egypt: A Haggada, by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, a professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, published this year by Koren Publishers Jerusalem, is built on a claim that scholars of the ancient Near East have long recognized but that has never before reached the Seder table with this discipline: the Exodus was not an escape. It was a theological argument, conducted in Egypt’s own symbolic language, against everything Egypt stood for. To understand what was being argued, you need to know what Egypt actually claimed. In ancient Egyptian iconography, the crook, the heka, is the emblem of royal sovereignty. In reliefs and monuments spanning three thousand years, the king holds it in his left hand, resting it upon his shoulder. The image encodes a specific claim: Pharaoh is the shepherd of his people, he holds them as a shepherd holds his flock, his dominion is cosmic and therefore unchallengeable. When G-d commands Moshe to perform the signs before Pharaoh with his staff, every Egyptian in the throne room understands what is being held and what is being claimed. The Torah does not step outside Egypt’s symbolic world. It enters it and seizes the crook. On the page of Kadesh, alongside

“asher bachar banu mikol ha’amim, who has chosen us from among all peoples,” there is an image from an Egyptian pillar: the god Ptah and Pharaoh Senusret I, carved in identical proportions, face to face, locked in intimate embrace. For three thousand years, this is what divine chosenness looked like in Egypt. One man, elevated by the gods above all others, his authority rooted in the structure of the cosmos. Kadesh does not choose a king. It chooses a people. The argument was al-

thousand years old. The words have been said every Pesach since Sinai. They belong on the same page, and they always did. At the marror, he stops at the haroset. The halachic requirement that it contain something resembling straw, he shows, connects directly to Exodus 5: Pharaoh’s deliberate withholding of straw as a calculated act of political oppression, designed to fracture Israelite leadership, scatter organized resistance, and render their labor futile. You have been eating haroset your

When G-d commands Moshe to perform the signs before Pharaoh with his staff, every Egyptian in the throne room understands what is being held and what is being claimed.

ways this specific. Most of us have been saying it without knowing what it was answering. In Maggid, when the Haggadah reads the verse about how Egypt embittered our ancestors’ lives with clay and with bricks, Rabbi Berman places a painting from the Tomb of Rekhmire, dated to the period of Israel’s sojourn: workers making mudbricks, a taskmaster standing to the right of center, a slave bent beneath a yoke. “Va’yemararu et chayeihem b’chomer uv’lveinim.” The painting is three

whole life. You did not know that the straw in it was a memory of a specific act of oppression three thousand years old. At Hallel, at “lo hameitim yehallelu Yah, it is not the dead who praise G-d,” is Howard Carter’s 1922 photograph of the interior of Tutankhamun’s tomb: five thousand eight hundred artifacts prepared to follow the king into the afterlife. Egypt organized its entire civilization around the theology of death, around the premise that kings remained kings within it and that the proper response to mortality was to fur-

nish the passage. The psalm being sung at that moment of the Seder is a direct refutation. It was direct when it was first sung. This Haggadah makes it direct again. Rabbi Berman is more rigorous than most popular biblical scholarship about the distinction between parallels that establish a shared conceptual world and allusions that require demonstrating conscious literary borrowing. He does not always maintain this distinction cleanly, and some sidebars reach further than the evidence strictly warrants. But the essential argument does not stand or fall on proving intentional borrowing. Israel emerged from within a civilization with a specific theology of power, divinity, and human worth. The Torah entered that civilization on its own terms. The argument between them is what the Seder has been recounting every year. Echoes of Egypt shows you the other side of the argument. Koren has produced the book with the visual seriousness the thesis demands, image and text in genuine conversation rather than illustration and caption. The heka appears when the Haggadah reads “with signs: this refers to the staff.” The Tomb of Rekhmire appears when the narrative reaches clay and bricks. The haroset commentary, when it comes, tells you something about straw you will never forget. Pesach is right around the corner. For as long as most of us can remember, b’chol dor vador has been an instruction we knew we were supposed to fulfill and rarely could. This Haggadah gives that instruction somewhere to stand.

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MoRe PeSACh SeCReTS FRoM BATyA’S KITChen

Savory French Onion Soup by Batya Kahan

The key to this comforting broth is slow caramelization. Patience is vital. This soup needs constant TLC. Keep it pareve at first; on Chol HaMoed, reheat and crown it with your favorite cheese. Yield about 10 quarts / Freeze Friendly IngredIents • 20 large Spanish onions, thinly sliced • 8 garlic cloves, minced • ½ cup olive oil • 2 Tbsp fine sea salt, or to taste • ½ tsp fine black pepper • 5 quarts water • 1 cup sherry cooking wine • 6 Tbsp (2½ packets) onion soup mix (I use Goodman’s) • 2 bay leaves + 2 Tbsp dried thyme, in small-mesh filter bag InstructIons Halve onions through the root; peel, keeping root end on to hold layers. Slice lengthwise (root to stem) about ¼-inch thick for best results. In a sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and 1 tablespoon salt. Sauté for 60 minutes, stirring constantly every few minutes, until onions are a very deep golden brown. If the bottom browns, add a few tablespoons water to deglaze; add a touch more oil only if truly dry. Color = flavor — don’t rush. Stir in garlic; cook for 1 minute. Add sherry wine; simmer for 3 minutes, scraping up browned bits. Add onion soup mix. Add bay leaves and thyme to the pot. Add water; bring to a boil. Add remaining tablespoon salt and the pepper. Lower to a gentle simmer; simmer for 1 hour. Remove herb bag and discard. Taste; finish with more salt and pepper only if needed. Batya’s tIp: For meat meals, add a marrow bone to your broth after adding the water to elevate this soup even further.

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Our top-selling muffin at Batya’s Kitchen — loved by adults, kids, and yes…even babies. Tender, gently sweet, and perfectly spiced, these are the grab-and-go bites that disappear the moment they hit the table. Yield 36-40 mini muffins / Freezer Friendly IngredIents • ½ cup sugar • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 Tbsp vanilla sugar • 5 eggs • 2 cups mashed carrots (see note) • 8 oz whipped topping • ½ cup potato starch

InstructIons heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray. In a mixer, combine sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla sugar; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until light and well combined. Add carrots; mix well. Add whip; combine till fully incorporated and smooth. Sprinkle in potato starch, mixing until just combined — do not overmix. Spoon batter into greased or lined mini muffin cups almost to the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until set and a tester comes out clean. note To prepare mashed carrots, peel 3 large carrots; add to a pot, cover with water, and boil till soft. Drain; mash carrots until very smooth. (This is easily done with an immersion blender or food processor.) Set aside to cool slightly before continuing with recipe.

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Mini Carrot Muffins

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Chocolate Walnut Cake

There is nothing basic about this cake. I’ve been baking it since I was sixteen, and the pages of my old cookbook are still speckled with chocolate from all the times I baked it. Back then, there weren’t too many cookbooks on the shelves — this one is adapted from Spice and Spirit, the softcover yellow one. Do you remember it? Yield 1 cake / Freezer Friendly IngredIents • 3 cups sugar • 8 eggs • 1¹/₃ cups oil • 1 cup premium cocoa powder • 1 cup ground walnuts • 1¹/₃ cups potato starch • Powdered sugar, for dusting InstructIons heat oven to 350°F. Grease a Bundt pan or a 9x13-inch baking pan. In the bowl of a mixer, beat sugar and eggs on high speed for 2 minutes, until light and glossy. Reduce speed to medium; slowly stream in oil and beat for 15 seconds. Add cocoa and ground walnuts; beat for 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl. Add potato starch; beat for 45 seconds, just until combined. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until set and slightly springy. If preparing a Bundt cake, invert the pan over a cake plate; dust with powdered sugar. Fond MeMorIes once my kitchen is ready for Pesach, the first thing into the oven is always something chocolatey. It’s the best feeling — and the best aroma.

Reprinted from Pesach Secrets from Batya’s Kitchen, with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

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In The K tchen

Onion Brick Roast Meat / Yields 10 servings

By Naomi Nachman

I developed a new roast recipe that is quick and easy to make. So many roast recipes have to be timed just right so they aren’t overcooked in the center. Because this roast is cooked low and slow, it does not require constant attention after it’s in the oven. The marbling rippling through the meat makes it soft, moist, and flavorful, so you’ ll get a perfect roast every time.

Ingredients

Preparation

◦ 6 onions, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. 2. Place onions into a roasting pan. Place meat over onions; set aside. 3. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, garlic, paprika, onion powder, garlic

◦ 1 (4-5-pound) brick roast ◦ 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard ◦ 3-4 cloves garlic, crushed ◦ 1 teaspoon paprika ◦ 1 teaspoon onion powder ◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder ◦ 1 teaspoon salt ◦ 2 Tablespoons olive oil ◦ 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer

powder, salt, and olive oil to form a paste. Rub the paste all over the meat.

4. Pour beer over the meat. 5. Cover the pan tightly with foil; bake for 3 hours. Remove from oven; allow to cool.

6. After the meat has cooled, slice and serve with the onions. Cook’s Tip: For an extra-special sauce, combine onions with pan juices in a small pot; cook over low heat until reduced and thickened. Serve over the meat.

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

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Trump lied about being against forever wars. He broke the most basic promise he made to his own supporters. There is no reason this war had to happen. - Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, who was the architect of Obama’s failed nuclear deal with Iran, commenting on X, shortly after Operation Epic Fury began

Yes, we were much better off with a president who drew redlines and failed to enforce them. Team Obama might want to sit this one out. - Political commentator Marc Thiessen, in response

If you’re having a tough day and want to end your race before 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early. You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time. You will still receive your finisher medal. - From a notice to marathon runners by the organizers of the LA Marathon

People who don’t finish the Marathon can identify as people who do finish the Marathon. - Tweet by Lisa Cusack

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

136 Faith isn’t built in a day. Faith is a gift from G-d, and faith is what gives you the ability to stand in front of these challenges, these experiences, in front of these waves. - Tamar Biton, who lost three of her four children in the missile strike that hit Beit Shemesh, in an interview with Times of Israel

Are you just ridiculously good-looking, as Vogue said? No, seriously, what do you do about that? - Katie Couric to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) “in a hard-hitting interview” asking him if he is too looking to become president

You know what, I am who I am, and it’s fine. - Newsom’s response

Tucker has lost his way. I knew that a long time ago, and he’s not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that. – Pres. Trump in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl responding to some of Tucker Carlson’s unhinged statements

My advice to the mullahs: go back to your mosque. There’s a game in America called whack-a-mole. We’re doing “whack a mullah” right now. Everybody sticks their head up and says, “I’m in charge,” and you’re gone — history. - FOX News analyst Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg

If a guy can [get massive amounts of viewers] with overhead [of] about $600, and you have every big star lining up to do his show…that’s when I profoundly understood that late night shows are in trouble. - Former late night show host Conan O’Brien talking about how podcasters have rendered late night TV obsolete

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

I encourage you to go to Tehran alone and drunk… Let’s see how long it will take them to hang you from a crane. - A member of Spain’s Parliament, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, after Spain’s prime minister condemned the war in Iran

Yeah, the amount of dentists that have reached out, man, it’s too many. But I’m going to get them fixed, hopefully this week. — U.S. Olympics hockey hero Jack Hughes, whose post-goal celebration photo — featuring a missing tooth and a mouth full of blood — quickly became iconic, talking about having his teeth repaired

I think people will be [upset] if I do get them fixed. - ibid.

Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather. But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home. - A CNN news post about two radicalized Muslims who came to New York to carry out a terrorist attack but were thankfully not successful

Let me just say I predicted a lot about what’s happening right now. I’m not into saying, “I told you so,” but we did see it coming. But what I did not predict is that we would not have Jesse Jackson with us right now to help us get through this. - Kamala Harris’s crafty way of making it all about her loss to Pres. Trump, during her speech at Jesse Jackson’s funeral

Yesterday I listened for several hours of three United States presidents who do not know Jesse Jackson. - Jesse Jackson Jr. commenting on politically charged speeches at his father’s funeral by Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden

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– Noah Pollack

This statement from the administration: “The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest.” That’s too vague for you? - Bill Maher to Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) who was on the show arguing that Pres. Trump did not have the authority for his actions in Iran and needed to get congressional approval first

Totally vague. - Schiff’s answer

OK. Because that’s from Obama about Libya. - Bill Maher’s reply

The [American] press is a drumbeat of negativity favoring the Iran regime. It’s puzzling at this point how any success is buried. The reality is likely the regime is being pummeled on all sides and has no ability to provide for its people. Maybe it can put on a good show for another week or two, but its leadership is under immense pressure. But that’s not what the American public is getting from mainstream media. - Former Democrat strategist Mark Penn

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Trump wants our side to win. The winning approach to terrorism is very simple. Bomb them to smithereens. Kill them off. Decapitate the regimes. Sanction them until they have no more money for jihad. Trump gets it, because unlike so many people in politics, he doesn’t care whether Harvard likes him.

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Political Crossfire

The Dangerous Rise of Decapitation Warfare By David Ignatius

resident Donald Trump said about the airstrike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a week ago: “I got him before he got me.” Iran had plotted to assassinate Trump, he explained. “Well, I got him first.” Few people outside of Iran will mourn Khamenei, who devoted himself to a decades-long campaign to kill Americans, Israelis and his own dissidents. But Trump’s comment indicates how targeted killing – assassination, in blunt terms – has become normalized in modern warfare. Gangland terms like “getting him” and “taking him out” are now commonplace. “Decapitation” is emerging as the American way of war, after two frustrating decades of unsuccessful “nation building” in Iraq and Afghanistan. A week into the Iran campaign with Israel, the United States’ goal seems to be destruction of Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure – with an ill-defined hope that a better regime will rise from the rubble. It’s the strategic equivalent of a “fire and forget” missile. The goal is to destroy the Iranian regime’s leadership and structure of repression. Building a new Iran is an afterthought. “Maybe we’ll get lucky,” one key member of Congress mused to me. But U.S. intelligence analysts have assessed that this campaign has a low likelihood of creating a stable, modernizing government, according to people who have read the intelligence reports. Trump, in one of his stream-of-consciousness soliloquies last week, explained the difficulty with his decapitation strategy. Asked who the United States would negotiate with when the bombing campaign ends, Trump answered: “Most of the people we had in mind are dead. … Pretty soon, we’re not going to know anybody.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told members of Congress this week that the United States would finish its demolition of the regime – and then gauge the prospects for political reconstruction.

That strikes me as a triumph of tactics over strategy – knock it down and then think about how to rebuild. It didn’t help when Trump proclaimed Thursday that he should be involved in choosing Iran’s next leader. Rather than risking American “boots on the ground” to help build a new Iran, Trump is offering support for Iranian opposition groups, including air cover for Kurdish militias. That kind of approach has been considered by U.S. and Israeli officials ever since the 1979 Iranian Revolution – but was abandoned because it risks producing a fragmented and chaotic Iran that compounds the region’s instability. “The regime is a fabric, and Trump has yet to unravel that weave,” cautions one of the CIA’s most experienced Iran experts. “The fabric of the regime must be changed if we are going to change its approach to decision-making.” America’s new enthusiasm for assassination may compound the problem. Here’s how Jonny Gannon, a recently retired CIA officer with extensive Iran experience, weighs the balance: “Assassination can help you remove a node and disrupt a larger network. It can signal resolve without mass mobilization. It can help you avoid a larger war by applying selective violence, and, maybe, if fortune favors you, help shape succession in your favor,” he texted me. “But it comes

with risks – martyrdom effects; hard-liner succession; erosion of norms; and intelligence degradation (because dead men don’t talk).” Israel for decades has used assassination and decapitation strategies against its adversaries in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. “Since World War II, Israel has assassinated more people than any other country in the Western world,” writes Ronen Bergman in his detailed history of these operations, “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations.” Israel showed “impressive operational capabilities,” Bergman writes, but paid a “high moral price.” These tactics may have been necessary, given Israel’s unrelenting terrorist enemies. But it’s hard to argue that they’ve been successful, given the recurring cycles of violence that Israeli officials came to describe as “mowing the grass.” Assassination is forbidden for the United States. Executive Order 12333, signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, states: “No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in or conspire to engage in assassination.” The original order, issued by President Gerald Ford after the Church Committee investigation of the CIA in 1976, banned only “political assassination” and didn’t extend to those “acting on behalf of” the

United States. But the rule was tightened by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and reaffirmed by Reagan. Despite the 1981 ban, “Reagan and every president since then have arguably either violated the order on its face or expressed an intent to do so,” writes Stephen Knoepfler in an extensive law review article. Targets included Col. Moammar Gaddafi’s compound in Libya, Saddam Hussein’s presidential palace in Baghdad, and Osama bin Laden’s training camp in Afghanistan. “Targeted killing in the War on Terror was a gateway drug to what we have now,” a former top national security official told me. According to Bergman’s book, U.S. targeted killings of alleged terrorists rose from 48 under President George W. Bush to 353 under President Barack Obama. Targeted killing has become much easier thanks to exquisite intelligence that can locate people and precision munitions that can destroy them. Technology is seductive: The long slog of conventional war can seem like a waste of time and lives when you can vaporize an enemy’s leaders in a moment. But these tools will be available to adversaries, too. Mustafa Suleyman, one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, wrote about the “Hezbollahization” of technology in his 2023 book, “The Coming Wave.” He warned of “a splintered, tribalized world where everyone has access to the latest technologies.” Gannon, the former CIA officer, asks: “Are we ready for our ambassadors and other officials overseas to more commonly become targets?” President Trump is right to seek the end of the cruel regime in Iran. But he needs to think more carefully about how to create a stable Iran after the war is over. And we all need a serious debate about how to avoid creating a global shooting gallery and a perpetual high-tech gang war. © 2026, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard The Spine of a Militarized State By Neil MacFarquhar

ithin hours of the first Israeli and U.S. airstrikes hitting Iran, militiamen from the Revolutionary Guard deployed in neighborhoods across Tehran, the capital, and in most urban centers. Eyewitnesses and the occasional furtive video posted online depicted men in plainclothes, often armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, manning checkpoints where they searched cars and cellphones, alert for signs of endorsing the war. Black anti-riot vehicles were lined up in places such as closed schoolyards that were less likely to be struck by missiles. “They tried to create the illusion for outsiders that they are in control, and inside to create fear for people so they do not dare come out to the street,” said Saeid Golkar, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee and the author of “Captive Society: The Basij Militia and Social Control in Post-Revolutionary Iran.” President Donald Trump has sug-

gested that the Guard drop their weapons to buttress popular support for regime change. Analysts consider that scenario highly unlikely. Iran might appear to be a theocracy, and its official ideology is firmly rooted in Shiite Islam, but the Guard constitutes the spine of a militarized state. Analysts consider their pervasive military, political and economic clout the main barrier to regime change, or any change, in Iran. Here is a primer on this powerful group.

What is the Revolutionary Guard? In the early days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, its founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, did not trust the armed forces, known as Artesh, a Farsi word for army. He was said to have muttered, “Artesh has the Shah in its blood.” So he organized a parallel armed force, the Revolutionary Guard, charged specifically with safeguarding the revolution. The core of the group were mem-

bers of neighborhood committees, often organized around a mosque, that had been established to protect their areas and to liquidate perceived enemies of the revolution. The eight-year war that started when Iraq invaded in 1980 molded the Guard into a more cohesive force. The Guard took on tasks such as building a missile development program virtually from scratch; the United States, its main arms supplier, had severed ties after the revolution. After the death of Khomeini in 1989, the new supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, turned the Guard into an elite force, marrying his office to its power, while allowing it to expand into politics and the economy. The Guard established a separate wing to manage reconstruction after the Iraq war. The group still builds roads, dams and other infrastructure. It also became adept at smuggling goods in and out of Iran, including oil, in response to Western economic sanctions imposed

after 2002, when Iran’s then secretive nuclear development program was exposed. Today, the Guard controls at least 25% of the economy and perhaps twice that amount, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. By toppling Saddam Hussein in 2003, the United States created an opening for the Guard to expand across the Middle East, using its Quds Force to build an axis of mostly Shiite Muslim militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Gaza Strip. The Guard then became a major foreign policy player.

How is the Guard Structured? The Guard numbers between 125,000 and 180,000 men. Analysts peg the country’s overall security forces at up to 1.5 million, including the police. Not all Guard members are armed; some work in fields including construction or cultural programs.

143 visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. “The system is functioning without Khamenei.” While following a central blueprint, regional commanders have autonomy on decisions such as when to launch missiles or drones. There are 31 commands, one for each province, with even smaller branches meant to puncture do-

United States, Iran and the Struggle for the Middle East.”

Who Commands the Guard? Israeli and U.S. attacks have killed two Guard commanders, one in June and the second on Feb. 28. A veteran hard-line officer with a reputation for brutality, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, was appointed on March 1

Today, the Guard controls at least 25% of the economy and perhaps twice that amount.

mestic protests in virtually every neighborhood. The current war, with the leadership in Tehran degraded, “is exactly the type of moment that the mosaic doctrine was meant to respond to,” said Afshon Ostovar, author of “Wars of Ambition: The

to head the Guard. A former minister of the interior and defense, he was a founding commander of the Quds Force in 1988, leading it for eight years. Vahidi is suspected of fostering overseas organizations that carried out terrorist attacks at Iran’s behest, in-

cluding a deadly bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people. Argentina, accusing Vahidi of approving the attack carried out by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, unsuccessfully sought his arrest through Interpol. Iran has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Looking Ahead Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late supreme leader and his newly announced successor, enlisted with the Guard during the Iraq war and has maintained particularly strong ties. As his father’s closest aide, he appointed its senior officers for the past two decades, analysts said. But the Guard is not monolithic. While some members helped to mow down protesters by the thousands in January, it is also a conscript force, so its foot soldiers mirror Iranian society — some disdain the Islamic system. A core group of 2,000 to 3,000 officers, however, are considered hard-liners whose rank and wealth are tied to the organization. They will fight to the bitter end, analysts said. © The New York Times

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

There are four main military branches — ground, naval and aerospace forces along with the Quds Force, which is responsible for foreign operations. In addition, the Guard controls various allied organizations including its own intelligence agency, as well as the Basij neighborhood militias. The Guard follows a so-called “mosaic” strategy that emerged from both seeing the rapid collapse of central authority in Iraq during the U.S. invasion in 2003 and the domestic effort to squash the Green Movement, the nationwide anti-government protests in 2009. A decentralized command structure was intended to ensure that the Guard could maintain domestic control in case the provinces were ever cut off from Tehran or could overcome any vacuum in the absence of the supreme leader, the ultimate decision-maker. The strategy was further refined last June to strengthen Iran’s defense against an external enemy, analysts said, after Khamenei was a target of a 12-day war waged by Israel and the United States. “They are acting according to the playbook,” said Hamidreza Azizi, a

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The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

Political Crossfire

Trump’s Critics Have a Lot Riding On the Iran Conflict By Jonathan S. Tobin

hether they admit it or not, a lot of people are rooting for disaster for the United States and Israel in the conflict that began on Feb. 28, with the two allies attacking the Islamic Republic’s leadership and military targets. And it’s not overstating the matter to acknowledge that the diverse coalition of opponents of President Donald Trump and the Jewish state has a lot riding on whether their Cassandra-like predictions of doom for the administration turn out to be right. If they are, then the extreme right wing of the Republican Party, led by antisemitic podcasters like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, has an opening that they would hope to use to take over the GOP. A disaster in Iran will also put even more wind in the sails of the intersectional left-wing base of the Democratic Party. If that happens, its leading figures, like New York City Mayor Zohran

Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will hope it means that their faction will be in a position to name their party’s 2028 presidential nominee. Meanwhile, the somewhat less ideological veterans of the Obama and Biden presidencies, of whom the most prominent figure today remains former Vice President Kamala Harris, and their liberal press corps rooting section will also assert that their belief in appeasement of Tehran has been vindicated.

Betting on the Regime’s Survival Such a result will be a political landscape that will not only look bleak for conservatives and Trump supporters. It might also be a body blow to the last vestiges of what was once a bipartisan consensus in support of Israel that stretched across the American political spectrum. That’s because the one thing that links

various elements of the loose, anti-Iran war coalition is hostility to, if not outright hatred for, the State of Israel. Their assumptions about the attack on Iran are based on a belief in the resilience of an evil terrorist regime, coupled with a conviction that Trump’s belief in the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance is inherently wrong. They are sure that either the Islamist Republic will survive or that its ouster will lead to chaos that will harm U.S. interests. Many of them are also convinced that, despite Trump’s clear intentions to avoid such a scenario, the United States is likely to be bogged down in an endless and unsuccessful conflict in the Middle East. Indeed, some are counting on it resembling those in Afghanistan, and even more so Iraq, which Trump critics on both the left and right are citing as a likely precedent for his decision. And that’s not even taking into account the way some in the Democratic

base tend to sympathize with anyone who is at war with the West. Disillusionment over those wars led to the success of anti-war factions and played a significant role in the rise of President Barack Obama and then Trump. If that scenario is repeated, it could result in the capture of both major political parties by extremists who have nothing in common but their desire to abandon Israel to its fate in a region still dominated by genocidal Islamists. It could also impact the flow of and price of oil. And that could lead to higher gas prices in the United States and hurt Republicans in the midterms, leading to two years of Democratic congressional control that would hamstring what was left of the Trump presidency. Of course, there’s a chance that they are right and that the Iranian government—or what’s left of it after strike after strike has decapitated its leadership—will

145

Thinking like Khamenei and Sinwar But it’s also very possible, if not likely, that they are citing the wrong precedent when they talk about another Iraq. They could be making the same mistake others have made when they underestimated Trump’s savvy and leadership. They could also be channeling the same catastrophic mistake as those who assumed that Israel was ripe for a defeat that could lead to a collapse in 2023. The late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Hamas senior leader Yahya Sinwar never imagined that the war they launched on Oct. 7 with unspeakable atrocities and the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust would turn out the way it has. Not only are they, in addition to many of their associates and followers, dead; the Islamist movement has suffered major defeats in Gaza and Lebanon, in Syria with the fall of longtime dictator Bashar Assad, and now, in Iran. Israel was shaken by that surprise invasion and attack, but it rebounded and is in a much stronger strategic position than it was 29 months ago. The impact on American politics of success in Iran, which could entail the fall of the Islamist regime as well as the further weakening of its allies in the region, could be just as significant. Since the fighting may go on, as Trump has indicated, for weeks, predictions as to how it will turn out are, at best, premature. Given that Trump is mindful of the Afghanistan and Iraq precedents, he will never agree to a U.S. land invasion; what follows these strikes will depend on the actions of the Iranian people as much as on the American and Israeli militaries. We don’t know yet if Iranian dissidents—either from within the regime or those who have demonstrated in the streets against the tyrannical theocrats—can seize the opportunity Trump has given them. Even if they can’t, a few weeks of pounding from these two potent militaries will not be without effect. While the Islamists may not fall, Washington will be able to ensure the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf, no matter what happens in Tehran. That would likely leave the regime in a position where its ability to inflict harm on the region would be severely diminished.

That, in turn, will make their allies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen much weaker. And it would give Trump the room to maneuver that could also lead to better outcomes in Gaza, where Hamas is hanging on, as well as the further weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The latter terrorist organization fired on Israel during the war’s second day, but the reaction from the Lebanese government to the prospect of being dragged into a war to defend the Iranian regime indicated that the era in which Hezbollah dominates that country may be about to end. Far from the war expanding, a weakened Tehran with no ability to inflict further mayhem would only strengthen U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, and open the possibility of expanding Trump’s 2020 Abraham Accords. While U.S. elections are determined by economic issues far more than any-

no evidence that Carlson—and the rest of the anti-Israel and antisemitic right-wing podcaster corps, including the likes of the ever more fanatical Candace Owens, neo-Nazi groyper Nick Fuentes and their once mainstream ally, media personality Megyn Kelly—speak for a genuine political movement. These political commentators may have a lot of viewers and listeners, but how many of them are bots, as opposed to Republican primary voters? Unlike the left, there is no indication that in 2027, there will be a right-wing “Squad” of antisemites to make common cause with the dozens of Israel-hating “progressives” caucusing with the Democrats. Anything short of the sort of Iraqstyle fiasco in Iran that Trump is deliberately refusing to allow to happen will expose this segment of the MAGA move-

Nothing—not even the collapse of a terror regime in Iran—will convince the Trump-haters that the president is right about anything. thing that happens abroad, the scenarios in which Trump benefits from his Iran decision seem more realistic than those that predict disaster.

Exposing Carlson and Vance Indeed, anything short of disaster in Iran will significantly damage Trump’s right-wing critics. Carlson and other extremist podcasters who have been trafficking in antisemitic tropes about Israel dragging America into war, and smearing the Jewish state and its supporters, have been speaking as if this is their moment. Carlson has ignored Trump’s demands that he desist from this antisemitic campaign and has instead doubled down on it again. His description of the president’s decision as “absolutely disgusting and evil,” predicting that it “will shuffle the deck in a significant way”—presumably, in his favor—presages a full break with Trump. Simply put, after this, Carlson can’t pretend that he is merely trying to push Trump in a different direction. He has now joined the anti-Trump resistance. He has plenty of company there. More than that, his assumption that he speaks for the GOP grassroots may be about to be exposed as a big lie. To date, there is

ment as a politically marginal faction in a way that is not true of the left. That could also undermine the prospects of Vice President JD Vance, whose huge lead for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination could diminish if he doesn’t soon disassociate himself from Carlson. It could open up the possibility of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio getting into a race that he now says he won’t enter. Rubio has become far more visible and seemingly close to Trump in the past few months as foreign-policy issues relating to Venezuela, relations with America’s European allies, the president’s Board of Peace to help reconstruct Gaza and the conflict with Iran have dominated the news. A good outcome—or at least one that is not another Iraq—makes him the most important figure in the administration not named Trump.

The Left’s Stake in Regime Survival The strengthening of Israel as a result of events in Iran could also impact the Democrats. Nothing—not even the collapse of a terror regime in Iran—will convince the Trump-haters that the president is right about anything. They are ideolog-

ically and temperamentally committed to “resisting” the president, rather than being a loyal opposition. The Democrats’ left-wing base is also wedded to toxic, left-wing, neo-Marxist ideas that have convinced them of the truth of the big lies about Israel—and its Jewish supporters—as being “white” oppressors. It also leads some to sympathize with or at least oppose action against Islamist terrorists like the Iranian regime and Hamas. What they aren’t counting on is a transformation of the Middle East in which anti-Israel Islamists and other extremists are no longer able to bolster the Palestinians’ century-old futile war against the Jewish state. That won’t silence the Israel-haters that proliferate throughout the liberal mainstream media and elsewhere in society. But it will make it easier for a counter-force of moderates who, at the very least, don’t want to support a genocidal war against Israel to further tarnish the Democrats’ brand to emerge as a force in 2028. If the war in Iran makes future conflict less likely, that exposes and undermines left-wingers who have gone all-in on Israel-bashing and helps those who want to talk about other issues. Such a faction won’t agree with Trump on the Middle East in the manner of a Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) or likely nominate an ardent supporter of Jerusalem. But it will further diminish the influence of the Obama administration alumni and liberal critics of Israel, who have been wrong about everything in the Middle East for the past four decades. A good outcome opens up the possibility of a future in which both parties move in a more reasonable direction on Israel and the Middle East, and harm the prospects of extremists who share a predilection for antisemitism. There may be much to fear in the coming days and weeks as the wounded regime seeks to lash out and, as it has already done, kill Americans, Israelis, residents of the Gulf States and wherever else it might reach with its missiles. Still, what those who are betting on disaster in Iran aren’t taking into account is the possibility that Trump’s keen instincts for when to strike and his instinctual good judgment when it comes to defending American interests against its enemies will actually be a political success for him—and a defeat for both his left-wing and right-wing opponents.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

ultimately prevail in one way or another. If so, it would be just another example of a second presidential term that was undone by a foreign-policy misjudgment.

The Jewish Home | MARCH 12, 2026

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FAR ROCKAWAY 156 9th St Mint Mint 2BR, 156 BB9th St 2BR,22BTH BTH 156 B 9th StCondo Mint 2BR, 2 BTH Beachfront Condo Beachfront This spacious the prestigious village of woodsburgh, This spacious s/h col s/h , in col the, in prestigious village of woodsburgh, Beachfront Condo This spacious s/h col in the village of woodsburgh, on 1/2 acre property in a.prestigious most with beautiful sits on 1/2 acre property in ,a. most serene setting, beautiful Aexpansive rare & expansive 2-fam home set onsetting, anwith incredible A rare &sits 2-fam home set serene on an incredible Elegant 6 Bed / 6 Bath stone residence with Elegant 6 Bed / 6 Bath stone residence with Sunrise&&Sunset Sunset sitsrare on 1/2 acre property in a. home most serene setting, with beautiful Sunrise expansive 2-fam set on an offers incredible 13,000 sq ft lot. This one-of-a-kind property offers 13,000ACOMMERCIAL Elegant sq ft & lot. 6architectural This Bed / 6 Bathbeauty one-of-a-kind stone and property residence with RENTAL! NEW! COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! timeless modern $589K Sunrise & Sunset timeless architectural beauty breakfast rm,level main level den /fpl , master bdrm suite with and modern $589K breakfast rm, main den /fpl , master bdrm 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm suite with hishis 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B Renovated, Mint, Corner 1 Bdrm 13,000 sq ft lot. This one-of-a-kind property offers endless potential, whether for investment orReception a endless potential, inclosets the Heart ofmain Cedarhurst, waiting room, whether investment COMMERCIAL ornewly as aasrenovated RENTAL! NEW! inand theher Heart of Cedarhurst, Reception timeless architectural beauty and modern $589K and her closets and bth +for 4Spacious bdrms , bths, newroom, bths, breakfast rm, den /fpl , master bdrm suite with his with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite and bth +level 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new newly renovated 29 Woodmere Blvd Apt 2B amenities. The airy main level is ideal for Renovated, Mint, with Corner 9ft Ceilings. 1 Bdrm Spacious Eat In Kitchen, Sinks, Granite amenities. The airy main level is2 ideal for endless potential, whether for investment as Area and Exam Rooms, all on Main Floor. Close toor Public aspace inand the Heart of Cedarhurst, Spacious waiting Area Reception and Exam spacious private residence. With generous living Rooms, all on Main Floor. toroom, Public spacious private residence. With generous living space her closets and bth +4 bdrms , Close new Counter tops and and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Large bths, newly renovated with 9ft Ceilings. Spacious Eat Counter In Kitchen, tops 2 Sinks, S.S. Appliances.Large Granite Lvgrm/Dnr and amenities. The airy main level is ideal for botheveryday everyday living and SetSet onLarge Transportation and Exam Rooms, all onthe Main Floor. Transportation Close Public both living andentertaining. entertaining. spacious on private residence. With generous living space many special details thruout $1.9M+ and adetails lot size rarely found in the area, it’stotruly a standout Bdrm/BR with Lots Lots of many special and aArea lot thruout size rarely $1.9M+ found in area, it’s truly a standout Counter tops and S.S. Bdrm/BR Appliances.Large with ofWindows Windows Lvgrm/Dnr and $6,000 $6,000Transportation both everyday living andgrounds. entertaining. SetLarge on beautifully landscaped $3.69M REDUCED $299K many and aspecial lot thruout sizedetails rarely found $1.9M+ in the area, it’s truly a standout REDUCED beautifully Bdrm/BR with $299K landscaped Lots of Windowsgrounds. $3.69M opportunity . $1.5M opportunity . $1.5M $6,000 beautifully REDUCED $299K landscaped grounds. $3.69M opportunity. $1.5M

REACH OUT FOR OFF MARKET HOUSES IN LAWRENCE

FAR ROCKAWAY

503 Reeds Ln, An oversized property in one of the area’s most desirable blocks !

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HELP WANTED

COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE

HELP WANTED

CEDARHURST Prime Restaurant Location For Lease. For more information: Call/Text/WhatsApp Owner: (516) 206-1100

UPSCALE EVENING &

JEWISH PRESCHOOL In Merrick seeks warm, loving, experienced toddler teacher for 2-year-olds. Mon-Thu 9-3, Fri 9-2. Email admissions@jewishelc.org or call 516-833-3057 ext 110

5 TOWNS - OFFICES FOR LEASE 250SF to 500SF Offices in Inwood & Cedarhurst Utilities, Internet & Parking incl. with some Kosher kitchen - Minyan Next to LIRR - No broker fee Call/text/Whatsapp: 516-206-1100

Ready-to-Wear Boutique opening on Central Ave seeks fashion-forward, friendly sales associates with retail experience. Full-time & Part-time. Text/WhatsApp 718-310-8550.

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver this Newspaper every

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

Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Mini van or SUVand availability to work Consistently every week. Good pay - Please email gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

BOOKKEEPER A Five Towns Real Estate Company is seeking a full-time Bookkeeper. The right candidate must be proficient with QuickBooks and Excel. They must also be self-motivated, organized, detail oriented, reliable, and able to work independently or as a team player. Warm, frum office environment with excellent salary & benefits. Please email resume to HR@capsprop.com BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN Pays up to $30 an hour. Part-time: Late Afternoon (3-9 pm) M-F. ABA therapy support for child. Warm Jewish family environment. Garden City, Valley Stream NY Text: 718-304-6359 or email: talent@encoresupport.org to apply.

YESHIVAT KOL YAAKOV In Great Neck, NY, is seeking general studies teachers for both the elementary and middle schools, for the upcoming academic year. Mon-Thur afternoons. Competitive salary, warm and supportive environment. Send resume to m.kalati@kolyaakov.org SEEKING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS For current school year, starting from end of January: Seeking assistant teacher for General Studies. Candidate should have skills to take over for teachers if needed. Far Rockaway area boys’ school, M-Th, PM hours, strong support. Excellent salary. Possibility to continue for next year. Send resume to teachersearch11@gmail.com

LEAH SCHEININGER

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Realty Connect USA 516-884-6530 (C) Lscheininger@realtyconnectusa.com @LeahScheininger_Realtor 24 Franklin Ave. Hewlett NY 11557

NEW LISTING

INWOOD

Amazing opportunity - legal 2-family home on a great block! 5 beds, 3 baths. 10,880 sq ft lot. Low taxes. $1.39M

WOODMERE

2021 renovated open-concept colonial with full finished basement. 7 beds, 4.5 baths. Great location! Call Lenny (516)784-0262. $1.85M

WOODSBURGH

Prestigious brick colonial on 1+ acre. 9 beds, 9 full baths, 3 half baths, elevator, pool, hot tub, sports court, too much to mention! Call Dara (516)724-0389 or Lara (516)314-6944. POR

MARCH 12, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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Classifieds

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HELP WANTED

MISC.

ARE YOU A DOULA? Or have a passion to be? Come join our great referral group and get access to a vast new clientele through Medicaid. JUST CALL 347-668-7886

REGENTS EXPERT Tutoring regents in Algebra and Geometry A Darchei Torah instructor. Guaranteed results Text 347-491-8045 WhatsApp 347-767-1755

MDS REGIONAL NURSE 5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office. Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required. Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered. Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well. Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE Help Jewish Children Organization. Get $1500 tax deduction and $500 shopping card or cash. 718-974-9428

Learn to Drum

ALL LEVELS

Uri Zutler 742 Empire Ave, Far Rockaway, NY 917-749-3652 Sunday through Thursday, 9am-9pm, Saturday 6-10pm (depending on season) Contact to schedule a session $100 per half hour session

A CLASS TO HELP YOU STAY ON BEAT!

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

SHMIRAS HALASHON Text 516-303-3868 with a time slot of your choice to be careful on lashon hara. Be a part of the 1,000 people for klal yisroel! BEIS HAMEDRASH CONG. Chasdei Uvois Oshpitzin Talmidei chachomim are willing to learn mishnayos, say kaddish and be the shliach tzibbur to daven for the umid on the yartzeit yom hashanah of your parents or close relatives or loved ones To arrange please call Rabbi Miller 917-445-6220

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Forgotten Her es

Israel’s Intelligence Units By Avi Heiligman

ilitary intelligence has played a pivotal role in countless conflicts throughout history. Knowing an enemy’s plans can often be the difference between victory and crushing defeat. The Battle of Midway serves as a primary example: American forces were able to learn about the Japanese invasion plans through partially decrypted messages resulting in the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers. Conversely, later in World War II, intelligence units failed to detect Germany’s preparations for the Battle of the Bulge leading to a weeks-long struggle to stem the tide of Nazi forces at a massive cost in Allied lives. In the post-war era, Israeli military intelligence has been highly scrutinized both for its high stakes successes and notable failures. Known as Aman (Agaf HaModi’in, the Intelligence Section), this intelligence arm is often overshadowed by the Mossad but their unique analytical and collection roles make it an indispensable part of the IDF. During the British Mandate, the intelligence operations were conducted by the Shai (the intelligence wing of the Haganah) and worked from a cramped basement in a building in Yerushalayim. Soon after Israel was declared a state in 1948, an intelligence department with the name “Special Department (Informants)” was formed under the fledgling IDF. The name was soon changed to Modi’in 10, a secretive branch tasked with cross-border infiltration, and after a number of name changes, it is now known as Unit 504. Their early activities included contacting foreign agents, organizing clandestine intelligence operations at home and in enemy territory, and interrogating prisoners of war to gain immediate tactical advantages on the shifting frontlines of the War of Independence. Other units during the Israeli War of Independence were responsible for SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) where they decoded Egyptian military ciphers and intercepted high level military radio broadcasts and conversations. One of their most significant achievements

during the war was listening to the Egyptian Army’s internal conversations regarding the armistice agreement at the end of the war, providing Israeli negotiators with invaluable leverage. Reuven Blum was one of the formative commanders of these early SIGINT units and spent

the IDF to process vast amounts of raw data. Following the intelligence failure of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where the research division misread Egypt’s intentions, the unit underwent a major change. They incorporated advanced algorithms to better predict enemy movements and

They were able to track leadership movements and assured commanders that the Iranian officials were headed to the fateful meeting.

the war listening to encrypted communications from both the Arabs and the British. Later, as commander of Unit 515 (a predecessor to Unit 8200), Blum placed an emphasis on properly training radio operators who would become world-class experts in electronic intelligence and traffic analysis. While its roots trace back to 1952 as Unit 515, Unit 8200 eventually emerged as the premier intelligence arm of the IDF. They incorporated existing signals units under one centralized command and pioneered the use of cutting-edge technology in their operations. In 1961, they integrated the use of the first computer in

eventually expanded into space-based reconnaissance, supporting the launching of Israel’s first intelligence satellite, Ofeq-1, in 1988. Israeli SIGINT entered the world of cyber warfare in the 21st century, with their involvement in the joint “Operation Olympic Games” to deploy the Stuxnet worm in 2009. Since then, Unit 8200 has incorporated advanced AI systems to cross-reference data from social media, phone records, and surveillance footage to create real-time threat assessments. Military intelligence units are always learning from their mistakes as was evident from the intelligence failures in

failing to detect the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the October 7 massacre by Hamas. Reports indicate that intelligence officials had stopped listening to Hamas radios in 2022 and that they had dismissed warning signs of a buildup of terrorists near the border. New systems and protocols were put into place to prevent the same mistakes from happening again. Unit 8200 has been heavily involved with the wars against Hamas and Iran, shifting from traditional ways of gathering intelligence to active cyber-kinetic operations. In the recent attacks on Iran, Unit 8200 AI-driven tools and data were able to plow through the massive amounts of information on the Iranian leadership. They were able to track leadership movements and assured commanders that the Iranian officials were headed to the fateful meeting. Following this confirmation, an Israeli airstrike killed Khamenei and many of Iran’s top leaders. Reports indicate that Israel had hacked traffic cameras years earlier, which allowed analysts to observe the compound and track the movements of bodyguards and drivers. Israel’s intelligence units grew from humble beginnings to become an indispensable part of the military. Many of the soldiers in Unit 8200 are between the ages of 18 and 21 and are selected for their “out-of-the-box” thinking. After their service, they often go on to careers in other parts of the intelligence community, such as the Mossad or Shin Bet. The history of Israel’s military intelligence is the story of the merging of human intuition and signal processing that has monitored the region for decades. While many of the missions and operations often go unnoticed, their work is a part of history to be remembered.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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