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July 16, 2026

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Dear Readers,

ne of the curses of our generation is information. Well, it’s not real information that’s the hardship. It’s the different slants and biases that present the information as factual. There are swirling sides to every issue, and we are bombarded constantly with an overload of material. Some of that information is true; some has a touch of truth to it; other parts are far from factual. In any case, it’s nonstop and overbearing. Years ago, people would come home from work. Perhaps they would read the newspaper – printed hours before – on the train. Or they would listen to the radio in the kitchen. And then they would sit down to the nightly news at a specific time for a finite period. And that was that. They heard about any wars or diseases or economic hardships in small increments, parsed out at certain times. Now, everywhere we turn, we’re blasted by news and opinions and beliefs and falsehoods and attitudes without cease. It’s hard to quiet the mind, and it’s hard for our minds to discern what’s real and what’s not, what’s important to know and what’s just a bunch of drivel. Clarity is really what we crave. With clarity, with certainty, we can consciously sift through the barrage of what’s out there to determine the truth and to focus on what’s important. But until we are gifted the ultimate geulah, clarity is murky. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not there. If we can hold onto the Shechinah in our lives, we

can find clarity even in a world that seems so confusing. The Shechinah accompanies us into galus – He is peering through the cracks. Hashem may be hidden, but He is never absent. The world may be noisy, but His voice is still there for those willing to quiet everything else long enough to hear it. That is the challenge of galus. We don’t always understand why events unfold the way they do. We don’t know which headline will matter tomorrow or which opinion will be proven right. We won’t always have answers. But we do have an Anchor. Every tefillah, every page of Torah, every act of chessed, every mitzvah reconnects us to the One Truth that never changes. While the world races from one breaking story to the next, we can remain connected to something eternal. Perhaps that is the greatest clarity we can attain before the ultimate geulah. Not that every question will be answered, but that we know Who is guiding history, even when His Hand is concealed. One day, soon, the veil of galus will be lifted. What now seems fragmented and contradictory will make perfect sense, and the Shechinah that has quietly accompanied us through every step of exile will once again be revealed for all to see. Until then, our task is to hold on to Hashem, and in doing so, discover that the truest clarity has been with us all along. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Shana Brecher Lani White Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classified Deadline: Monday 5:00PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH CLASSIFIED ADS The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | July 17 – July 23

Friday, July 17 Parshas Devarim

FRIDAY

SHABBOS

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Partly Cloudy

ThunderShowers

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

Scattered ThunderStorms

Partly Cloudy

84° 71°

77° 72°

85° 69°

81° 73°

83° 71°

82° 65°

80° 67°

Candle Lighting: 8:05 pm Shabbos Ends: 9:11 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 9:35 pm

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

NEWS Global

National

That’s Odd

ISRAEL

Israel News

Bar Mitzvah Milestones by Barbara Deutsch

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

Tunneling to Yerushalayim by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

The Song of Opposites by Rav Yaakov Feitman

Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The Saddest Day in History by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

What are We Really Missing on Tisha B’Av? by Rabbi Heshy Kleinman

PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

Inspiration Nation

Lindsey Graham’s Enduring Legacy

America After Independence by Avi Heiligman

105

HEALTH & FITNESS Mastering the Art of Healthy Meatless Meals by Aliza Beer, RD

Cry It Out by Dr. Hylton I. Lightman

The Avoidance Tax by Chaim Silverstone

You’re Keeping Up. But With What? by Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

Teaching Children to Bathe Independently by Shira Richman

Dear Editor, The Noine Tagen (Nine Days) begin Tuesday night. Historically, numerous tragedies have occurred to Jews during this time. More recently, antisemitism has increased during this period. NonJews are highly aware of this schedule in the Jewish calendar and use it to harass us. I encourage everyone to follow and implement these actions any time of the year, but especially during the Noine Tagen: We are usually our own worst enemy. Don’t just reduce lashon hara. Completely eliminate it from your behavior. Along with that eliminate covetousness and jealousy of other Jews. Politely reprove wrongdoing coupled with love and polite, useful criticism. If something seems like it’s the wrong thing to do, ask yourself, What would G-d think of me if I did this? Don’t ask what others would think. It only matters what G-d thinks. If He would disapprove, don’t do it. Go out of your way to be a shining good moral example to yourself and to others – both Jews and Gentiles. Do kindness without expecting repayment or reward. The reward comes in Olam Haba, anyway. Many non-Jews hate us, no matter what we do. With some, you can alter

their attitude by demonstrating correct moral actions. Others are stuck in their irrational thinking. Know who’s who and don’t waste your time trying to change the incorrigible. At the same time, don’t provide food for fodder. Never, ever compromise your morals and principles to appease enemies. That’s exactly what they want you to do. Be firm and project the Torah’s truth, always. Act and dress modestly at all times but especially during the Noine Tagen. Someone is always watching you, even in an empty room. When you are about to panic or get angry, pause and say the following prayer: Merciful Father. With you are the greatness and might. No problem is too big or small for you. I hereby give you my current problem and pray that You will solve it for me. May this be Your will. Amen. Be vigilant, safe and smart. Have a meaningful, powerful and life-changing Noine Tagen. Daniel Feldman Dear Editor, Everyone understands that Tisha B’Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, and we recognize the importance of mourning its significance through the Three Weeks, and especially during the Nine Days. Continued on page 12

FOOD & LEISURE

Food for Thought

The Aussie Gourmet: Creamy, Cheesy Tuna Casserole

LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

Parenting Pearls

Bookmarked

Why Nine? by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

110

HUMOR Centerfold

Shmooze and Muse

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

100

How Young MAGA Voters View America’s Role by Marc A. Thiessen

104

CLASSIFIEDS

106

Which fish do you prefer to eat for dinner:

45 34 % % 12 9 %

Salmon

Sea Bass

Tuna

Bronzini

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Continued from page 10

Growing up, we all understood that we don’t eat meat during the Nine Days. Yet today, there seem to be more barbecues and steaks going in and out of broilers during the Nine Days than at any other time of the year, all under the guise of a siyum or another celebration that falls out during this period. First of all, if a learning group actually finishes a masechta during the Nine Days, why does everyone have to eat meat? The same question applies to any other celebration that falls during the Nine Days. Is the taavah really so strong that people can’t hold out until Shabbos? Personally, I actually prefer fish – a good piece of salmon or sea bass – over steak any day. Who are we fooling by using these Nine Days to gorge on the finest meats? If it’s about the learning, they learn either way. As it goes, as far as restaurants having a siyum every 15 minutes in order to take advantage. Is that mourning, or is it making a mockery of the situation? Take a few minutes to ponder that thought. Just because you’re allowed to do something does not necessarily make it the right thing to do. Reuven Guttman Lawrence, NY

Dear Editor, In response to the letter of Dr. Pop in regard to your humerus quiz about America’s birthday, I am shocked, that the only time he can use the word insult in the same sentence as the NYC mayor is your mentioning Uganda when talking about a low score on your quiz. He should be using the term insult to describe what the smear is doing to the people of our city. Also, the citizens of Uganda are not exactly the most upstanding people in the world. Check back into the history of the story of Entebbe, and you will see the report of tens of thousands of Ugandans protesting in the streets after the amazing miraculous rescue mission. They were upset about the terrorists being killed and the shame that it put on their murderous dictator, Idi Amin. Bottom line is, the quiz results did not mention the mayor at all, and the point was we all know that Ugandans among other nations would not know the answers to most of those questions as they are not Americans. The good point is, your paper should be proud and feel good that the only problem he had with your whole issue of the 250th birthday was that issue. A. Rosenblum

Dear Editor, I am an avid weekly consumer of your publication. I have in the past written letters to your “Dear Editor” column, never questioning your editorial decisions, as to what is fit to print and what is not. As I was going through your July 9 edition, I turned to page 104 and was honestly taken aback. The subject of the piece was about “Nordic Happiness.” Now, I could care less about this story except for the fact that it was penned by none other than The New York Times’s Nicholas Kristof. That is a name I would not mention except to excoriate him for his anti-Israel bias. Readers might remember his opinion piece in May in the paper with the line “All the news that’s fit to print” on its masthead, a paper I personally would not use to wrap fish in. He accused the IDF of conduct I will refrain from repeating here. If someone reading this is unfamiliar with the story you can look it up. Suffice it say, I would not feature anything written by this individual, in a pro-Israel publication, or anywhere else for that matter. Thomas Lax Woodmere, NY

Dear Editor, Lately, I’ve been joining so many others, in particular my parents, with the complaint that restaurants have sadly not been offering decent portions for the money lately. It went so far as a popular restaurant owner, an old family friend of mine, telling me outright that he had to skimp on flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and other ingredients due to the rising prices, as well as making his pastries smaller. Not too long ago, I walked into a restaurant and saw how they charged an arm and leg for a rice and salmon lunch meal, which looked TINY. I walked out. Today, I went to the local grocery store, picked up a 3 lb. bag of brown rice, a medium-size slab of salmon, and made a nice meal in my rice cooker that tasted just as tasty, if not, better, than anything found at a restaurant these days – and I had leftovers to store in the freezer for future meals. All that for the same price, if not less, of one of those meals at a restaurant. My parents were right – these days, more than ever, you might as well cook at home. Chaim Feldman

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

The Week In News

Surge of Nationalism Hits Iran

A wave of nationalism sweeping Iran following last month’s war is making it increasingly difficult for the country’s leaders to negotiate with the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal, as hard-line factions push back against any compromise they view as weakening Iran’s position. The Iranian government, which had faced widespread public discontent and anti-regime protests earlier this year, has embraced patriotic messaging since the conflict with Israel and the United States. That sentiment was further fueled during the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike during the opening days of the war and was laid to rest last week. Now, analysts say, the same nationalist fervor is limiting the government’s ability to negotiate a lasting agreement with Washington. One of the biggest sticking points remains the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Under a preliminary agreement reached with the Trump administration, Iran was expected to reopen the strategic waterway within 30 days. Instead, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued enforcing its claim of exclusive control over the strait, while attacks on commercial vessels have resumed. Over the weekend, efforts by U.S. officials and Qatari mediators to restart negotiations fell apart after the Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed once again. Mahmoud Nabavian, an Iranian lawmaker and former member of the country’s negotiating team, dismissed any discussion over the future administration of the waterway, calling such negotiations

“an obvious and glaring weakness.” He insisted that the Revolutionary Guard would “fulfill the right of the Iranian nation over the Strait of Hormuz and exercise exclusive control... come what may.” Political analysts say the Revolutionary Guard sees the dispute as both a strategic and domestic advantage. “They feel that as long as they can rule Hormuz, they will be calling the shots both with the U.S. and internally,” said geopolitical adviser Mustapha Pakzad. “Nationalism is a convenient temporary sentiment to cling to.” The hard-line rhetoric has spilled into public demonstrations. During Khamenei’s funeral, crowds chanted anti-American slogans and condemned moderates seeking negotiations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heckled by protesters, while state media has amplified calls for revenge against American, Israeli, and other Western leaders. Despite the nationalist momentum, many analysts believe the regime’s underlying challenges remain. Economic hardship and widespread dissatisfaction with clerical rule continue to simmer beneath the surface, even as patriotic sentiment has temporarily strengthened support for the government.

Nations Reject Chinese Expansionism

A group of 14 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, issued a joint statement on July 12, condemning China’s claims in the South China Sea. The announcement came on the 10th anniversary of an international ruling against Beijing’s maritime claims in the waters. The Philippines, which initiated the 2013-2016 case, has, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, been involved in disputes with China over who gets to control the sea. The statement, which was also signed by the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia, criticized China, with the nations expressing “strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

stability in the region,” reiterating their “strong opposition to the use of coast guard, military and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, intimidate lawful operations by other states at sea or in the air and in so doing endanger the safety of personnel and fishermen and seriously degrade regional peace and security.” On July 12, 2016, an arbitration panel in The Hague ruled, as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, mostly in favor of the Philippines, which had challenged China in court over a standoff in the South China Sea. Beijing rejected the rulings, claiming that they “seriously contravene the general practice of international arbitration” and “gravely infringe upon China’s legitimate rights as a sovereign state and state party to UNCLOS and are unjust and unlawful.” “China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards,” China’s foreign ministry declared, noting that Beijing “does not accept any means of third-party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China.” As of late, aggressive Chinese actions have prompted the U.S. and other countries to urge China to comply with the ruling.

Former Qatar Ruler Dies

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who boosted Qatar’s role in diplomacy, media, and investment during his 18 years as emir, passed away last week at the age of 74. In June 2013, he stepped down, having served since 1995, and handed the reins of leadership to his son. During the sheikh’s rule, Qatar gained power globally, mediating key conflicts. He also established Al Jazeera, a news outlet which Israel banned in 2024 for the network’s affiliation with Hamas Its reporting not only angered other Arab leaders, sometimes to the point of diplomatic rupture, it also riled Washington. Al Jazeera aired statements from the terror network al-Qaeda, even as Qatar hosted one of the key Pentagon logistical hubs

following the September 11, 2001, attacks and the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Qatar’s rise under Sheikh Hamad rankled regional and Western allies with its independent-minded policymaking, including its close ties to Shiite center Iran, the Palestinian terror group Hamas, and Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Sheikh Hamad stepped down peacefully and voluntarily, although he came to power in 1995, when he ousted and exiled his father, Sheikh Khalifa, in a bloodless coup. Sheikh Hamad, a former defense minister and commander of Qatar’s armed forces, became crown prince in the late 1970s. Among his responsibilities was planning for the country’s vast oil and gas reserves. As emir, Sheikh Hamad boosted Qatar’s standing in the realm of sports. In 2022, the country hosted the FIFA World Cup. He also pushed Qatar Airways to expand into a major international carrier, trying to rival neighboring carrier Emirates. The country’s international airport in Doha, Qatar’s capital, which cost at least $15 billion to construct, bears his name. At the end of Sheikh Hamad’s reign, Qatar also established an office for the Taliban, the terror group that rules Afghanistan. Qatar, a peninsula half the size of New Jersey, is believed to have around 300,000 citizens.

Finally Honoring Dreyfus

for Dreyfus, established by President Emmanuel Macron last year. “We know that the old demons of antisemitism have never completely disappeared from our country,″ the French president said at Sunday’s ceremony, calling for constant vigilance to prevent acts that ″target people because of who they are.″ Dreyfus’ 99-year-old grandson Charles was among those in attendance. “I must sadly admit that I would not have imagined, at my age, seeing antisemitism resurface with such virulence in our country,″ Charles Dreyfus said. His disappointment, however, was tempered by what he called ″the deep joy″ at seeing his grandfather’s statue erected outside the Palace of Justice, depicting Dreyfus proudly wielding a broken sword. Created in 1985 by artist Louis Mitelberg, the statue was effectively hidden from the public for decades after proposed sites were repeatedly rejected. Dreyfus was convicted by a secret military court in 1894 after he was falsely accused of spying for Germany and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Prominent intellectuals at the time, including novelist Emile Zola, argued that Dreyfus had been made a scapegoat by the French military. Evidence later proved another officer was responsible, but the military concealed the discovery in an affair that divided France. After he was exonerated, Dreyfuss rejoined the French army and served in World War I. He died in 1935. Last year, France’s parliament approved a bill promoting Dreyfus posthumously to the rank of brigadier general.

French Delicacy Hails From China

On Sunday, a statue honoring French army captain Alfred Dreyfus arrived at its new permanent home in Paris, 120 years after his sentence for treason was overturned. The 12-foot bronze sculpture of Dreyfus, wrongly convicted of treason in 1894 in a notorious act of antisemitism, now stands outside the Court of Cassation in Paris. The court had overturned the Jewish army captain’s conviction on July 12, 1906. Its unveiling on July 12 coincided with France’s national day of commemoration

China has recently emerged as a prominent producer of foie gras, a French delicacy made from duck and meat innards, with the Chinese producing 11,000 tons a year, or around 45% of the cuisine’s global supply. China has also become a dominant exporter of truffles and caviar. Foie gras has become a popular treat

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

at weddings and banquets, according to industry executives. Foie gras ice cream and sushi rolls are in the works, as well. Though the delicacy mostly appeals to wealthier Chinese, local Chinese foie gras is nearly half the cost of its French counterpart, boosting demand. Chinese foie gras has yet to make inroads abroad, although experts anticipate it rattling the industry once imports rise, as local foie gras producers cannot compete with China’s prices. The product may be particularly popular in Macau, a former Portuguese colony now governed by China, which mostly operates as a foreign market. In anticipation of Chinese imports, the European Union has introduced new rules, banning foreign producers from using words like “Perigord-style” to make their foie gras sound authentic.

Fatal Fire in Bangkok Pub At least 28 people were killed early Monday morning when a massive fire ripped through a pub in Bangkok. Several people were injured as patrons tried to flee the smoke-filled venue, officials said.

The blaze was reported around midnight at the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of Thailand’s capital. Video shared by first responders showed flames pouring from the front of the building and thick black smoke billowing into the sky as people scrambled to escape.

Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes. Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said 63 people were transported to the hospital, including 22 people in critical condition. He said authorities are working on identifying victims who were killed since many were not carrying an ID or were unconscious. According to a musician performing at the pub, smoke was coming from a circuit breaker near the stage shortly before the power went out. Moments later, an explosion was heard, and thick smoke spread through the venue.

Many of the victims were located in restrooms at the back of the pub. Juladit Chayaniyayodhin, a fire protection specialist with the Engineering Institute of Thailand, inspected the 53-year-old premises. He said that he was alarmed by the cheap insulation foam that had been used to soundproof the venue. He also noted plenty of plastic decoration that seemed to have been hung from the ceiling. “Both the foam and the plastic are highly flammable and can cause very toxic fumes,” he said. “They should have not been used inside this structure.” Juladit said his team had seen three exit signs but no emergency lights that could have guided guests to an exit once the electricity went out and the large room went dark. Deadly fires in nightclubs have struck Thailand in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in eastern Thailand killed 14 people. On January 1, 2009, during a New Year’s celebration, 66 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured in a fire at the Santika nightclub in Thailand’s capital.

Ukrainian PM Steps Down

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday, saying she was “proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine’s modern history.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has offered her a “new, important” role as he reshapes his administration during the ongoing war with Russia. “I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer,” Svyrydenko wrote. Zelenskyy, who has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited, framed the move as

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, signaling that additional changes to his government could be forthcoming.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Speedboat Sinks

part of a broader shift in Ukraine’s governing strategy. “Ukraine is changing its political strategy,” Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post, adding that he had offered Svyrydenko the chance to lead “a new, important area” in Ukraine’s relations with a key international partner. The Ukrainian president said each major area of foreign policy would be assigned to an experienced official responsible for carrying out agreements reached

with foreign leaders and advancing the interests of the Ukrainian people. He also announced planned changes to the country’s top law enforcement leadership, though he did not immediately provide additional details. The reshuffle marks the fourth major reorganization of Zelenskyy’s government since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Svyrydenko, who previously served as Ukraine’s economy minister, was ap-

pointed prime minister in July 2025 at age 39 after playing a key role in negotiating a minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States. The deal was widely viewed as a way to strengthen U.S. economic interests in Ukraine while reinforcing Washington’s long-term commitment to the country’s security. Following Svyrydenko’s resignation, Zelenskyy met with several senior officials, including Energy Minister Denys

Vietnamese police detained the captain of a speedboat that capsized off southern Vietnam last weekend, in which 15 Indian tourists were killed , state media reported. The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it overturned about 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, authorities said. The captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, is now under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations. Eyewitnesses said that nearby boats rushed to the scene and began pulling passengers from the water, before border guards, the navy, coast guard and other rescue agencies arrived. The rescue was difficult because many people were trapped inside the boat. Twenty-one people were rescued. All the bodies of the dead were recovered, authorities said. The people who suffered injuries were taken to local hospitals. Sixteen survivors of Saturday’s speedboat accident have since been discharged from hospital and were returning to India, the Indian embassy in Hanoi said on Sunday. One remains in critical condition in a Vietnamese hospital. All 15 victims were on a company trip organized by Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer, for its employees, distributors and retail partners, the company said. Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor for the company from the Indian city of Guntur who took part in the trip, said that the party had split into three groups to travel between islands when he witnessed the accident from shore. The first boat had already departed while the other two were still docked when it capsized. The boat was relatively close to shore when it flipped. He said, “We screamed, ‘Help! Help!’”

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Nearby boats immediately rushed to the rescue. “But by then it was too late,” he said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident and directed authorities to hold those responsible accountable. He also asked authorities to review waterway and maritime safety in the area where the accident happened and other similar areas. Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand is one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations. Hon May Rut island is about 6 miles south of Phu Quoc. The islands are known for their white-sand beaches and clear waters and draw millions of domestic and foreign tourists each year.

Forest Fire in France

French firefighters are battling a huge blaze in a forest just south of Paris as a devastating heatwave extends its deadly sweep across Europe. More than seven square miles of the Fontainebleau forest have been burned, as of Tuesday. Fire-fighting aircraft have been scooping up water from the River Seine as part of efforts to get the fire under control. Two people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in starting the Fontainbleau fire. A number of other fires have also bro-

ken out in other parts of the country. Wildfires are not unusual in Europe, but Europe is experiencing hotter, drier weather, which is setting the stage for fiercer fire seasons. They are also happening earlier in the year and are growing in intensity. In much of France and Spain, an exceptionally wet winter left a lot of vegetation that quickly turned into tinder as three successive heatwaves sent temperatures into the high-90s Fahrenheit. That has led to a spike in the number of larger fires, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System. Extreme heat can also be deadly. More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded during late June’s heatwave in western Europe, according to data from EuroMOMO, a network of researchers backed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization. More than 9,000 of the deaths were among those aged 65 and over. Extreme heat can lead to death by heat stroke or worsen existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, with older people more vulnerable. In Spain, 10 people are still missing following a fire that killed 13 people in the south of the country last week. More than 460 emergency workers were deployed to battle the fire near the town of Los Gallardos on the Costa de Almería, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Friday. In England and Wales, more than 2,700 people are believed to have died from heat-related causes during heatwaves in May and June, the UK’s national meteorological office reported on Monday. The heat has also led to a spike in the number of drownings. In Germany, at least 99 people drowned in June, the

highest monthly death toll since 2003. Excessive heat also leads to higher river temperatures, which affect nations’ nuclear plants, which require water as a coolant. Heatwaves have also led to sharply reduced crop forecasts, especially for corn, barley and wheat. High heat also contributes to an increase in diseases carried by mosquitos and other insects.

China Interfering With Dalai Lama Pick

Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, turned 91 last week. Because of his advanced age, many question who his successor will be (his “15th reincarnation,” as the Tibetans call it), and some are concerned that China, which rules Tibet and has claimed the territory as its own since invading it in 1950, will meddle in the process of choosing a new Dalai Lama. The process for choosing the next Dalai Lama is a lengthy one, which involves a search committee finding a few small children using sacred texts, omens, and oracles and subjecting them to certain rituals. One of the children is then chosen to be the next Dalai Lama and is subsequently trained for over 15 years. Until the child reaches adulthood, a regent acts on his behalf. This traditional process will be in place of a newer system that China prefers, which is the “golden urn” lot-drawing method: one of the three pre-selected candidates is chosen using ivory tallies pulled from a golden urn. In July 2025, the Dalai Lama, born as Tanzin Gyatso in 1935, announced that his successor would not be selected in this manner, as it has no traditional basis and would allow for Chinese rigging. The Dalai Lama’s announcement angered Communist Party officials. In an effort to influence Tibet and force assimilation, China hopes to control the Dalai Lama’s next “incarnation.” In all likelihood, there will be two Dalai Lamas: one selected by Tibet, who will be respected by Tibetans, and one chosen by China, who will be regarded as a fake. Beijing has a history of interfering

with Tibetan matters. In 1995, the Dalai Lama selected a child as the new “Panchem Lama,” the second-highest-ranking religious leader in Tibet. Subsequently, the Communist Party arrested the boy and his family. To this day, they remain in prison. China wishes to expand its borders to the Indian province of Arunachal Pradesh, claiming it as “South Tibet.” It also sees technology and mineral potential in Tibet.

Houthis Fire Missiles at Saudi Airport

A fragile period of relative calm in Yemen’s long-running conflict with its neighbors was shaken on Monday after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched missiles and drones at a Saudi airport, saying the attack was retaliation for airstrikes that damaged Yemen’s Sanaa’s international airport earlier in the day. The Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of carrying out what they called “blatant aggression” by striking the runways at Sanaa’s airport. Saudi officials said their air defense systems intercepted the incoming missiles and drones before they could reach their target, adding that no casualties were reported. The strikes followed an unusual dispute over an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation home after attending the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition and operates from the southern city of Aden, acknowledged carrying out the strike on Sanaa’s airport. Officials said the action was intended to prevent the Iranian plane from landing after the Houthis allegedly blocked Yemeni civilian aircraft while insisting the Iranian flight be allowed into the country. “The terrorist Houthi militias, backed by the Iranian regime, prevented Yemeni

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

national aircraft from landing...while insisting on allowing an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni territory; consequently, the airport runway was targeted,” Yemen’s Defense Ministry said. The Iranian aircraft ultimately diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, which remains under Houthi control. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that the attack on Sanaa had ended the “de-escalation phase” of the conflict and vowed it would not go “unanswered or unpunished.” After announcing the missile attack on Saudi Arabia, he also warned commercial airlines against using Saudi airspace until restrictions on Sanaa’s airport are lifted. The exchange marks the most serious escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia since an informal truce took hold four years ago. At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari urged restraint. “Yemen and the wider region cannot afford another cycle of escalation,” he said, calling on all sides to return to negotiations under U.N. auspices. Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014, has claimed more than 150,000 lives and left millions dependent on humanitarian aid, according to U.N. estimates.

Hungary’s Parliament to Remove President Hungary’s parliament on Monday approved a measure that would oust the country’s president, a highly unusual and contested move to dismantle the political order constructed by the country’s former

leader, Viktor Orban, by getting rid of his loyalists. Some legal scholars and human rights groups outside Hungary have raised concerns about the purge, and Orban’s supporters have denounced it as a sign of a coming dictatorship. But Hungary’s new government says the removal of the president, whose term runs until 2029, was a necessary step after 16 years of Orban’s strongman rule.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party handed a humiliating defeat to Orban’s party, Fidesz, in an April election, described the removal of the president, through a revision of the constitution, as an “important step to eliminate Orban’s economic and political mafia.” Magyar has repeatedly called on the president, Tamas Sulyok, to step down, insisting that his party’s landslide victory gave him a mandate to remove “puppets” of Orban’s system. Sulyok was selected for the presidency by the previous Fidesz-controlled parliament. For the president’s removal to take effect, the law amending the constitution must be signed by Sulyok. Since he is unlikely to do that, analysts and diplomats say Hungary could face a constitutional crisis. Magyar, rebuffed by the president and Fidesz, which has held small street protests in defense of Sulyok, rushed constitutional amendments through parliament. He is trying to accelerate what he

calls “Operation Cleansing Fire,” a drive to end the former governing party’s long grip on Hungarian politics, the judiciary, state-run media and nominally independent government agencies. Hungary’s main state television news channel, M1, temporarily halted transmission last week, displaying a contrite message addressing its previous role as propaganda bullhorn for Fidesz: “Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long.” The amendments approved on Monday also set term limits for members of parliament; that would hit Fidesz hard, as many of its legislators have served multiple terms. The amendments also restore a mandatory retirement age of 70, which Fidesz eliminated in 2011, for judges on the country’s Constitutional Court. The court is currently stacked with loyalists of the former governing party, and its president will turn 71 this year. Magyar’s party secured a supermajority in parliament in April, which has allowed it to push through constitutional amendments with ease. (© The New York Times)

Mexico’s Chinese “Fentanyl King”

Zhang Zhidong, a 39-year-old Chinese national, is known in criminal circles as the “king of fentanyl,” with cartel members crediting him for establishing the supply chain that brings fentanyl, a deadly drug 50 times more powerful than heroin, from Chinese factories to Mexican labs. Zhidong, known as “Brother Wang,” was arrested in Mexico in October 2024 and placed under house arrest. He reportedly escaped through a hole in the wall, flew to Cuba by private jet, and headed to Russia, where border officials stopped him, discovered his fake papers, and sent him back to Cuba, from which he was sent back to Mexico and then extradited to the U.S. Tens of thousands of people, mostly U.S. citizens, die of fentanyl overdose each year, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to levy tariffs against China, Mexico,

and Canada and declare fentanyl dealers “narco-terrorists” and the drug as “weapons of mass destruction.” A dose as small as a few grains of salt is enough to kill. Zhidong is one of “the world’s most dangerous traffickers,” then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in 2025, when the Chinese national appeared in court in New York, accused of “running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine” into the U.S., laundering “millions in narcotics proceeds.” Zhang maintains his innocence and awaits trial. In 2010, Zhang graduated from Beijing’s Peking University, the most prestigious university in China, with a degree in Spanish. A year later, he moved to Mexico and worked for a Chinese mining company. He operated in the Americas, Europe, China, and Japan, according to Mexican officials. He reportedly introduced precursors – the chemical building blocks of fentanyl – to the Sinaloa cartel. In his absence, the cartel has found it difficult to obtain the precursors. In all, he was responsible for exporting and distributing over 1,000kg of cocaine, 1,800kg of fentanyl, and 600kg of methamphetamine, according to Mexican authorities. He also allegedly handled over $150 million in annual drug proceeds.

Secondhand Smoke Harms Kids’ Sleep

Secondhand smoke negatively impacts children’s sleep by directly affecting their central nervous systems, according to a new Israeli study published on Monday. The study found that children, regardless of breathing quality and blood oxygen levels, slept much worse if exposed to

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

secondhand smoke. “Eliminating tobacco smoke from a child’s environment can immediately improve sleep efficiency, brain recovery, and overall pediatric health,” Prof. Ariel Tarasiuk, the study’s co-leader, said. According to the researchers, many parents underreported their smoking and their children’s exposure to secondhand smoke. As such, researchers collected each child’s urine in the morning and measured its cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine. “Cotinine is the gold standard to determine tobacco exposure,” Tarasiuk said. “Think about the morning urine like a window to what happened in prior days.” The team, based at Ben-Gurion University’s sleep lab, analyzed 30 children between the ages of one and 12 who were brought in due to concerns about sleep-disordered breathing. The researchers also used polysomnography, a number of tests that analyze the children’s brain waves and measure whether they’re in deep sleep, light sleep, or awake. They recorded airflow through each kid’s nose and throat, as well as chest movement, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and muscle activity. Children exposed to secondhand smoke had a 67% higher arousal index than their peers, which means they had more shifts in brain activity, causing them to have low-quality, fragmented, restless sleep. According to Tarasiuk, tobacco smoke harms the central nervous system, disrupting the body’s natural circadian sleep cycles. “Within a month of stopping smoking, we guesstimate that the amount of pollution will be much less,” Tarasiuk said. “We hope we will get the message across to the public about the importance of minimizing smoking.”

Media Overhaul Bill

With the coalition’s dissolution happening late this week, the government has been working to pass a number of bills, including a media overhaul bill pro-

posed by Communications Minister Shlomo Kahri. Several parts of the bill were dropped at the last second. On Sunday, the coalition discarded a part of the bill that would establish a government media app with free public TV channels and sports coverage. The idea was rejected by the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties over concerns with the app broadcasting on Shabbos. “Idan Plus,” a service that hooks up to the television, allowing for free public TV (without sports coverage), remains in the bill. The bill also reportedly bans cable and satellite television providers Hot and Yes from broadcasting violent or inappropriate content, as per a demand by MK Avi Maoz, from the one-man ultraconservative Noam party. Critics of the bill, including Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, claim that the legislation gives Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition the power to interfere in the media’s dealings. Kahri, however, says the bill would increase competition in the media market and lower costs for content consumers. Three petitions against the bill’s passage were filed last year, prompting the High Court of Justice to discuss the legislation on Monday. This is the first time a bill was discussed by the High Court before its passage. The bill will replace the Second Authority for Television and Radio and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council with the new Broadcast Media Authority and Council for the Regulation of Audio-Visual Content. The communications minister, according to the bill, will appoint four of the seven members of the latter, and the Communications Ministry’s director-general will appoint another member. The council will manage and regulate the registry for broadcast content and news content providers and may cancel a broadcast content provider’s registration for failing to comply.

Ahmadinejad a Spy?

In early 2024, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Hungary under the pretense of holding a climate change conference at Ludovika University of Public Service. But in reality, according to a report published by the New York Times, he was in Budapest to secretly meet with Israeli intelligence operatives. According to recent reports, for years, Israel has tried cultivating Ahmadinejad as a spy, hoping to install him as Iran’s new leader once regime change is achieved. Among those who met with Ahmadinejad in Hungary in 2024 was then-Mossad director David Barnea. Once a sworn enemy of the Jewish state, a Holocaust denier, and the man behind Iran’s nuclear program, Ahmadinejad’s relationship with Israel has changed since he left office in 2013. He worked to fix his hardliner reputation, adopting a softer, more moderate tone, critical of Tehran’s draconian measures. He also changed his look, exchanging a khaki windbreaker for a tailored suit and a messy beard for trimmed facial hair. In June 2025, shortly before Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, supposedly Ahmadinejad went to Budapest again to meet with Israeli intelligence operatives. Although Iranian officials have, for years, kept Ahmadinejad under strict surveillance, they’ve also given him a seat on the high-level council that advises the supreme leader. In February 2026, just days before the war started, he attended a council meeting. Over the past few years, Israel has secretly given Ahmadinejad money for housing and travel, according to U.S. officials. In February 2026, Israel tried to relocate Ahmadinejad, striking his compound with an airstrike. Then, Mossad agents picked him up in a car and drove him to a secret safe house in Iran. In the safe house, Ahmadinejad apparently lost hope that Israel would be able to topple the Iranian regime and install him as leader, and, for some reason, left the safe house. He wasn’t seen again in public until last Monday, at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral. According to Iranian officials, now that Iran knows about the former president’s dealings with Israel, Ahmadinejad is in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence wing under house arrest. Ahmadinejad was disqualified thrice from running for president and reportedly grew resentful of Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian regime. He reportedly said that as leader, he would recognize Israel and have Iran sign the Abraham Accords, joining the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other Muslim countries in normalizing ties with the

Jewish state. Ahmadinejad believed that he would be able to stabilize Iran after regime change. It is believed that Ahmadinejad first had contact with Israeli officials during a 2023 trip to Guatemala. At that point, he was almost blocked from leaving Iran by security forces, but in the end, he was able to go.

Sinwar Wanted Bigger Oct. 7 Attack

A newly disclosed handwritten memo by former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reveals that he believed Israel could respond to a large-scale Hamas attack with even its most devastating weapons— including a possible nuclear strike on Gaza—but pressed ahead with the plan anyway. The document, dated August 2022 and obtained by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, outlines Sinwar’s vision for the assault that ultimately became Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre. Portions of the memo were published on Sunday by Israel’s Channel 12. According to the report, Sinwar envisioned a far larger operation than what ultimately unfolded. His plan called for approximately 10,000 terrorists to participate in coordinated attacks, including 25 simultaneous breaches of the Israel-Gaza security fence by specially trained units of 100 terrorists each. Additional forces were assigned to attack Israeli communities, cities, and military bases. In reality, the Israel Defense Forces estimates that roughly 5,600 terrorists crossed into Israel on October 7, including about 3,500 Hamas operatives. The memo also details Hamas’s intended treatment of Israeli civilians. “The goal is to expel the settlers with their vehicles,” Sinwar wrote, referring to residents of southern Israel. He instructed that “priority” for killing should be given to women and children, while ordering that “the men aged 17-50 are to be taken hostage” and that their phones and documents be confiscated. Perhaps most striking was Sinwar’s assessment of Israel’s likely response. He

acknowledged that Israel would “not hesitate to use all means and weapons at its disposal,” adding, “They may even use an atomic bomb, no less.” Despite that possibility, Sinwar described the attack as “a campaign of life or death,” predicting that Israel would initially be caught off guard and descend into chaos before mounting its response. The newly released excerpts also suggest that Sinwar was uncertain whether Iran or its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, would join the conflict, despite Hamas’s hopes for a broader regional war. Hamas’s October 7 assault left about 1,200 people dead, most of them civilians, and 251 hostages were taken into Gaza. Israeli forces killed Sinwar in Rafah in October 2024, ending his seven-year tenure as Hamas’s leader in the Gaza Strip.

Torah Study is a Foundational Value

After hours of heated debate, latenight speeches, and fierce political sparring, the Knesset voted 63-52 on Monday to approve a Basic Law declaring Torah study a “foundational value” of both the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The legislation, which grants Torah study quasi-constitutional status, is already being hailed by its supporters as a historic recognition of Judaism’s spiritual backbone. Critics, however, argue that the measure is less about honoring Torah learning and more about protecting exemptions from military service for tens of thousands of yeshiva students during a time of war. The law comes two years after Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that blanket draft exemptions for yeshiva students could no longer continue without a legal framework. United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni called the vote “a historic step,” saying the law “will serve as the state’s moral compass” and recognizes that “Torah study is not merely the heritage of the past, but the foundation upon which rests the present and future of the Jewish peo-

ple on their land.” Shas chairman Aryeh Deri described the legislation as “a historic achievement,” declaring, “For the first time, the Jewish state recognized the supreme status of Torah study and of its students.” Opposition lawmakers fiercely rejected that characterization. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the coalition of prioritizing draft exemptions over soldiers serving on the front lines. “This is how you are ending your term,” Lapid charged. “By spitting in the face of IDF soldiers.” MK Chili Tropper echoed that criticism, saying, “The war is still here. Our soldiers are in Lebanon right now... and they see clearly that in this house, this week, draft dodgers are preferred to warriors.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the vote, drawing criticism from political rivals. The law is expected to be only the first in a series of measures advancing before the Knesset dissolves ahead of Israel’s October elections. Opposition parties and advocacy groups have already pledged to challenge the legislation in court, arguing that it attempts to constitutionally entrench military draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community.

Plot Targeting Trump

Eight individuals were indicted on several charges on Thursday for plotting to kill President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, pro-Israel members of Congress, Elon Musk, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House’s UFC event last month. Netanyahu did not attend the event. The alleged plotters planned to detonate small-explosive-laden drones over the event, triggering an evacuation. They would then stand at a nearby evacuation point and wait for their targets to pass, shooting them with rifles.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

They were charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Indicted by a U.S. Federal grand jury, they face life in prison. They were identified as Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez of Nebraska, Daniel Eskridge and Jordan Rincker of Missouri, William Falkner of Washington, Tycen Proper of Ohio, Chandler Scaggs of West Virginia, and Michael Thomas and Bryan Roa of California. The suspects were between the ages of 19 and 32. After online rumors claimed that Netanyahu would attend, Alvarez texted the group, “Targets confirmed,” and “1. 2. VP 3. N. 4. Musk,” which FBI agents interpreted as referring to Trump, Vance, Netanyahu, and Musk. They also planned on targeting members of Congress supported by the pro-Israel AIPAC lobbying group. The defendants acquired firearms, ammunition, night vision goggles, and body armor. They trained in shooting and combat and tried to create drones with a 3D printer. Two or more of them quit their jobs before the planned attack. Two of them began traveling to Washington, D.C.

Prosecutors say the plot was rooted in a white supremacist, extremist, antisemitic ideology. According to prosecutors, the suspects “believed that the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt.” Officials discovered the plot after Proper’s family reported his concerning behavior to local police.

Lindsey Graham Passes Away

On Saturday night, Sen. Lindsey Graham suddenly passed away after suffering a tear in his aorta, just two days after his 71st birthday. The aortic dissection, which tied into the hardening of Graham’s arteries, was discovered in a preliminary medical examiner finding. Graham was a top South Carolina Republican, a former Air Force lawyer, and

a politician who served in Congress for over three decades. President Donald Trump, who was close with Graham, said the senator was “like a member of the family.” They spoke Saturday night, following Graham’s return from Ukraine. During the phone call, Graham “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect,” Trump said. Trump ordered that flags be flown at half-staff across the country until next Saturday evening. Graham, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was a staunch supporter of U.S. military intervention and advised Trump on the Iran war and Russia. Graham was close friends with the late Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman. Graham was initially at odds with Trump, having competed with the future president for the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination. After Trump’s victory, the two became allies. While Graham briefly broke with Trump after the January 6, 2021, protests, the two stayed close during Trump’s second term. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy remembered Graham as a “true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.” Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, praised the late senator as “one of [Israel’s] greatest friends.” Graham supported the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. “America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,” Netanyahu said. Many of his colleagues in the Senate remembered him for his sense of humor and wit and for often putting politics aside and prioritizing relationships. Graham “understood how the world works,” former President George W. Bush said, adding that he “was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it.” Graham never married or had kids. He helped raise his sister, Darline Graham, after their parents passed away when they were young. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline as the late senator’s temporary replacement. A special election will determine his successor within weeks. Reps. Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, Russell Fry, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette may run for Graham’s seat.

NY: No Large Data Centers New York has become the first state in the country to temporarily halt the construction of large data centers, as officials

weigh growing concerns over the facilities’ impact on electricity costs, water resources, and local communities. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday signed an executive order placing a one-year pause on environmental permits for new data centers that would consume at least 50 megawatts of power. The temporary moratorium is intended to give state lawmakers and regulators time to develop stricter standards governing the rapidly expanding industry. “As data center development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it’s my responsibility to take action and lead,” Hochul said in a statement. “New York will lead the way in creating the strongest standards in the nation for data center development, ensuring that when companies succeed because of New York, New Yorkers succeed too.”

The move marks a significant setback for the artificial intelligence industry, which depends on massive data centers to power increasingly sophisticated AI systems. While New York has far fewer data centers than states such as Virginia and Texas, several proposed projects have already drawn opposition from nearby residents concerned about increased power demand, environmental impacts, and quality of life. The debate reflects a broader national trend. Communities that once welcomed data centers for their promised tax revenue and economic development have become increasingly skeptical, with critics arguing that the facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity while placing additional strain on the power grid. Some studies have suggested that growing energy demand from data centers has contributed to higher utility costs for residential customers, though researchers remain divided on the long-term effects. Supporters of continued development warn that slowing data center construction could hamper America’s leadership in artificial intelligence, a field viewed as increasingly important for both economic competitiveness and national security. Hochul also called on lawmakers to eliminate state sales tax exemptions for data centers as part of a broader review of the industry.

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Environmental advocates praised the decision. Mitch Jones, managing director for policy and litigation at Food & Water Watch, called the executive order “an important victory for the thousands of New Yorkers who demanded that their government take action to put a pause on hyperscale data centers.”

Last Iron Lung User Dies

The last known U.S. person living with polio and relying on an iron lung died at the age of 78. Martha Lillard, who contracted polio at age five and spent most of her life dependent on an iron lung machine that helped her breathe, died on June 26 in Oklahoma. Lillard slept inside the metal cylin-

der device that enclosed her body while changing air pressure within forced air in and out of her lungs. Despite that, she attended grade school for two hours daily before completing the rest of her education through tutoring. “They told her she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old,” Cindy McVey, Lillard’s younger sister, said on Friday. “She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.” McVey said she believes the effects of a long-term case of Covid-19 contributed to her sister’s death. According to McVey, Lillard’s death certificate lists chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome as her causes of death. Lillard’s family made it possible for her to travel, taking road trips to Missouri in a custom trailer after her father contacted hotels to ensure their doors were wide enough to accommodate his daughter’s iron lung. Lillard was also able to drive for a period of time. McVey said her sister experienced all of that after she had been told “she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old.” In an interview with NBC News in 2013, Lillard described the first moment she was put into the iron lung machine as “a relief.” “It feels wonderful, actually, if you’re

not breathing well,” she said. “It makes all the difference when you’re not breathing.” Lillard’s death comes two years after the death of Paul Alexander, the Texas man who gained international attention while spending much of his life in an iron lung after contracting polio at age six. Paralyzed from the neck down by the disease, Alexander became an inspirational figure, earning a law degree, writing a memoir and creating paintings using a brush held in his mouth. Alexander died aged 78 after being recognized by Guinness World Records as the organization’s “longest iron lung patient.” Before vaccines became widely available, polio was among the most feared diseases in the U.S., with yearly outbreaks leaving thousands of people paralyzed, most of them children. Iron lungs helped save thousands of lives during those epidemics, although they were intended only for short-term use.

No More Middle Seat? Were you ever seated in the middle seat while flying to your vacation? That

dreaded location, where your elbows are in no man’s land, may be a thing of the past. United Airlines announced this week a new type of seating in its Economy Plus cabin on its latest fleet of 50 Airbus A321XLR: a row in which the middle seat is transformed into a shared table to offer more comfort and elbow room to the window and aisle seat passengers. United will be the first known U.S. carrier to offer this seating design.

In the special row, a permanently fixed table will stretch across the middle seat to give the row’s two passengers “extra space to stretch out on longer international flights,” the airline said in a news release. “We’re investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin,” said United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella in the news

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

release. “The XLR is our newest aircraft and not only offers all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room. Our customers are going to love all these new options.” The seating option will go on sale later this year. For now, it is not known how much more it will cost for this premium product. According to United, the new fleet of 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft will begin flying domestically this fall and internationally by early 2027. Over half of the fleet will be in service by 2028. Some will replace the airline’s Boeing 757 on existing international routes, while others will open new destinations in Europe and South America. The Economy Plus seats in the XLR already have an additional three inches of legroom compared to Economy class. In March, the airline announced another seating offering to help passengers sleep on long-haul flights, slated to launch in 2027 on its Boeing 787 and 777. Called Relax Row, travelers can purchase a row of three seats located between Economy and Premium Plus “that can transform into a couch” with the help of adjustable leg rests, according to the airline.

Survival of the Fittest

If you’re looking for a healthier place to call home, your zip code may matter almost as much as your workout routine. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Elevance Health Foundation released their annual American Fitness Index this week, ranking the 100 largest U.S. cities based on residents’ health and the communities that support active lifestyles. For the ninth consecutive year, Arlington, Virginia, claimed the top spot as America’s fittest city. Washington, D.C., finished second, followed by Minneapolis, Seattle, and Denver. At the other end of the rankings, Oklahoma City placed last, with Memphis, Tennessee; Port St. Lucie, Florida; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Lubbock, Texas, rounding out the bottom

five. Better grab those sneakers, huh? The report found that residents of the highest-ranking cities are generally more physically active, have lower rates of obesity and chronic disease, and benefit from greater access to parks, walking and biking trails, public transportation, and cleaner environments. “If we have greater access to parks and playgrounds...or greater walkability in our cities, those things will resonate,” noted Stella Volpe, chair of the ACSM Fitness Index Advisory Board. “But if your city is one where there are barriers to get to those places, it’s not going to resonate.” One troubling trend emerged across nearly every city in the survey: rising food insecurity. Every major city except Santa Ana, California, reported an increase in the number of residents struggling to access affordable, nutritious food. On average, food insecurity rose from 12.9% last year to 14.4% this year. Health experts say higher grocery prices and recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have made it more difficult for many families to put healthy meals on the table. The report also highlighted the connection between air quality and fitness. Cities with poorer air quality often have higher asthma rates, making it more challenging for residents to exercise outdoors. Experts recommend checking local air quality before outdoor workouts, particularly for those with respiratory conditions. Several cities posted impressive improvements this year. Richmond, Virginia, climbed 20 spots to No. 20 overall, while Charlotte, North Carolina; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Durham, North Carolina, all made significant gains. Volpe hopes the rankings inspire cities to invest in healthier communities, noting that even small improvements can make a big difference. “Exercise is medicine,” she pointed out. “Physical activity really can decrease our risk of chronic disease, and any movement is better than none.”

States Sue to Block Media Merger A coalition of 12 Democratic-led states filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking to stop Paramount’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, setting up the most significant legal challenge yet to one of the largest media mergers in history. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in

California and led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argues the merger would reduce competition in both the film and television industries, ultimately hurting theaters, cable providers, and consumers. According to the complaint, combining two of Hollywood’s biggest studios would give the new company outsized control over blockbuster movie distribution, potentially leading to fewer films, higher prices, and less choice for audiences. “The merger will end this competition permanently,” the states wrote in the filing. “The likely result is higher prices, lower quality and less content for film.” The lawsuit also contends the deal would strengthen the company’s position in the market for basic cable channels, including networks such as CNN, giving it greater leverage over television distributors.

The states are asking the court to temporarily block the transaction while the case moves forward. They also filed for an emergency restraining order after alleging Paramount could finalize the acquisition as early as July 22. Bonta said the merger would harm “movie theaters, basic cable distributors and ultimately audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.” If the acquisition is delayed, the financial stakes are high. Under the terms of the agreement, Paramount must pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders $650 million for every quarter the deal remains uncompleted beginning in October. Paramount rejected the allegations, with company spokesperson Melissa Zukerman calling the lawsuit “wrong on both the facts and the law.” If approved, the merger would create a media powerhouse overseen by David Ellison, combining Paramount Pictures with Warner Bros., CBS News with CNN, and the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming platforms under one corporate umbrella. The lawsuit comes despite the U.S. Justice Department’s decision last month not to challenge the merger, concluding that the transaction was unlikely to reduce competition or harm American consumers.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Hanging On For Dear Life

Talk about holding on for dear life. A Serbian woman is being hailed as a hero after she refused to let go of her husband when he was nearly pulled out of a Ryanair plane through a shattered window during a terrifying midair emergency. The incident occurred on Friday aboard Ryanair Flight FR1879, a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, passengers heard what many described as a deafening explosion. According to witnesses, part of the aircraft’s engine apparently broke apart and struck a window, shattering it. The broken window created a powerful rush of air that partially sucked passenger Ljubiša Karović out of the aircraft while it was flying at approximately 20,000 feet. His wife, Svetlana Grković, immediately grabbed hold of his legs. “I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs,” she told Serbian outlet Nova. “I thought: ‘If we die, we die together.’ It was horrible.” For roughly five minutes, Grković held onto her husband as other passengers rushed to help. Together, they man-

aged to pull him safely back into the cabin while oxygen masks deployed throughout the aircraft. “Some people came to my aid, I remember one man and one woman,” the terrified wife recalled. “That man helped me a lot, Ljubiša and I.” She said she hopes to one day personally thank the passenger who helped save her husband’s life. The aircraft safely returned to Thessaloniki, where emergency crews met the flight. Karović was hospitalized with serious injuries, including burns, a badly injured hand, and severe shock. His wife said he lost consciousness several times during the ordeal and remembers very little of what happened. One passenger said Karović survived in part because he never unbuckled his seat belt. Ryanair confirmed that the flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff after “a passenger window dislodged inflight.” The airline said the aircraft landed safely and that medical assistance was provided to the injured passenger before a replacement plane transported the remaining travelers to Germany. A pregnant passenger was also taken to a local hospital as a precaution and was later reported to be in good health. For Karović, it was a flight he’ll likely never remember. For his wife, it’s one she’ll never forget—and one that proved that a good marriage means holding on tight even through the tough times.

Fine Dining At one California restaurant, the bill may come with an extra side order: accountability. Fed up with unruly youngsters turning dinner into a playground, restaurant owner You You Xue has begun charging parents when their children damage property. His family-friendly eateries

south of San Francisco post a blunt message atop the menu: “Please control your children.”

The policy bans children from running through the dining room, shouting, and using utensils as percussion instruments, warning that parents will be financially responsible for any damage caused by their children. Xue says the policy came after repeated incidents in which his staff had to play referee – and sometimes substitute parent – for disruptive children. “That’s not their job,” he said, adding that while accidents happen, repeated misbehavior shouldn’t become everyone else’s problem. Calling Dr. Middos. The restaurant’s website lists several examples. One family paid $327 after a child dropped and shattered a credit-card terminal. Another was billed $109 after a youngster carved designs into a tabletop with silverware. Even a broken teacup earned a modest $5.47 charge – no use crying over spilled milk. The policy, introduced last year, recently went viral, with many applauding the move and others debating whether charging for smaller mishaps goes too far. For Xue, however, the message is simple: his restaurants welcome families, but they also expect their patrons to sit down and eat nicely during dinner. After all, the only thing that should be getting roasted at dinner is the entrée.

Battle of Bull Run

Did you know? The largest firework display consisted of 810,904 fireworks in 2016 in the Philippines and lasted for more than one hour.

Visitors to Yellowstone National Park are reminded every summer to give wildlife plenty of space. One camper learned the hard way that a bison doesn’t always appreciate being the center of attention. A rampaging bull bison tossed a man nearly eight feet into the air on Friday

evening after charging through Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming. The victim, Carl Isom-McDaniel, suffered multiple broken bones but remained conscious and even managed to crack jokes afterward, according to witnesses. The incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. as the visibly agitated bison wandered through the campground, charging at several groups of campers. Professional photographer Mike MacLeod, who witnessed the encounter, said the animal appeared unusually aggressive, likely because bison mating season is just beginning. During the rut, male bison are known to become highly territorial and apparently not interested in sharing the campground even with twolegged creatures. MacLeod said the bull first charged a group of teenage boys, who quickly scattered before the animal stopped to roll in the dirt near a campsite. Moments later, Isom-McDaniel and his grandson stopped to photograph the massive animal. The grandson managed to escape, but the bison caught up with Isom-McDaniel. “The bison stopped rolling in the dust and kind of sat up. He’s looking in the direction of those two,” MacLeod recalled. The bull hooked the man near the hip with one horn before flipping him into the air. “I knew he was in danger because the bison didn’t leave,” MacLeod said. “He stood right over Carl, and he was really, really angry.” Fortunately, as other campers rushed toward the scene, the bison eventually turned and ran away. (Sometimes, even a 2,000-pound animal decides it’s time to hoof it.) Despite suffering several broken bones, Isom-McDaniel remained alert throughout the ordeal. “He was in a lot of pain with his leg, and otherwise he was conscious the whole time, in good spirits, joking,” MacLeod said. Yellowstone officials said park emergency medical personnel responded and transported the man to a nearby hospital. Park officials routinely remind visitors that bison may appear calm but can sprint up to 30 miles per hour and can become unpredictable without warning. In Yellowstone, selfies with wildlife are never worth becoming part of the wild story yourself.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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Community A Night of Simcha Offers Comedy and Connection For Camp Simcha Alumni

he laughter was nonstop as Chai Lifeline welcomed Camp Simcha alumni and friends to A Night of Simcha, an unforgettable evening of comedy, camaraderie, and reunion. Hosted on Thursday, June 25, at the Atlantic Beach, NY, home of Bari and Dani Erber, the event brought together more than 200 members of the Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha alumni community for dinner, conversation, and performances by comedians Eli Leibowitz and Dovi Neuberger. The evening was filled with laughter, shared memories, and the unmistakable energy that has made Camp Simcha a second home for so many. More than just a night out, the event offered alumni the chance to reconnect with old friends, reflect on their Camp Simcha experiences, and create new memories together. “This evening is a reflection of what Chai Lifeline is all about,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Whether it’s during a child’s illness, at Camp Simcha, or years later as alumni reconnect, our goal is to build lasting relationships that remind every family they are never alone. It’s inspiring to see these friendships continue to flourish long after camp has ended.” “Camp Simcha has always been about

so much more than the summers we spend together,” said Alumni Director Eli Skaist. “It’s where lifelong friendships begin and where people discover they’re part of something much bigger than themselves. Seeing alumni come back together, years later, laughing like no time has passed, is incredibly meaningful and a reminder that the Camp Simcha family is forever.” Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s medically supervised overnight summer program, gives children and teens living with serious illness the opportunity to experience the magic of summer camp in a safe, supportive environment. For many campers, volunteers, and staff, those shared experiences become lifelong friendships that continue well beyond the camp season. The event was organized by a dedicated volunteer committee including Dani and Bari Erber, Menachem Dicker, Noa Hacker, Chaya Sara (Shippel) Gaizel, Pessy Lesser, Bruce Greenberg, Goldie Dicker, Tzivi Dunn, and Dovid Neuman, whose efforts helped create a memorable evening for the Camp Simcha alumni community. For more information about Chai Lifeline and its programs, visit www.chailifeline.org.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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Shaar Lev at HALB Announces Daily Transportation from Franklin Early Childhood Center

Activists Dr. Paul and Drora Brody of Great Neck, NY, visited Ambassador Mike Huckabee in the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem this week

Sunday Funday at BACH

haar Lev and the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) are happy to announce that for the 2026-27 school year, with collaboration from Yachad Long Island and with the assistance of private donations, transportation will be provided daily from the Franklin Early Childhood Center directly to HALB. This new route will give District 14 families the convenience of one-way transportation straight from Franklin to HALB — the same benefit District 15 residents have enjoyed for the past nine years. Founded in 2018, Shaar Lev is HALB’s after-school inclusion program serving Jewish children with special needs who attend public school during the day. Each afternoon, a bus brings the children to HALB, where they are greeted with highfives and hugs before dividing into small groups matched to their abilities. Led by devoted rebbeim and special education teachers, the children learn kriah, tefillah, parshas hashavua, brachos, halacha,

and the excitement of the yomim tovim — many reading the letters of the Aleph Bais, saying the Mah Nishtana at the Seder, and proudly sharing parsha sheets at their family’s Shabbos table for the very first time. More than an after-school program, Shaar Lev has built a warm community of children and parents who know they are part of the HALB family. HALB would like to thank Superintendent Dr. Dina Anzalone and the administration of Hewlett Woodmere District 14 for its help in making this happen. Registration is now open for a limited number of spots for the coming year. Register at www.shaarlev.org or email Richard Altabe directly at raltabe@halb. org. We are grateful for our new partnership with Yachad Long Island and look forward to our collaboration in the future.

n Sunday, the BACH Jewish Center’s Youth Department hosted a Sunday Fun Day Migdal David program as part of its weekly summer youth series. During the event, children took a virtual trip to Jerusalem to explore renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly’s Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem 2000 exhibition at the Tower of David Museum (Migdal David), learning about his vibrant, nature-inspired blown-glass creations before making their own colorful works of art using ice and liquid watercolors. Founded in 1946, Bachurei Chemed (BACH Jewish Center) is one of Long Island’s oldest and most prestigious Ortho-

Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, in conversation with Jewish college students from Great Neck, NY

dox synagogues. Its members hail from Long Beach, Lido Beach, Atlantic Beach and Island Park.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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The Secret to Feeling at Home in Israel Isn’t What You Think

f you’re considering aliyah or purchasing a home in Israel, you’re probably comparing locations, apartment layouts and prices. Those things matter. But ask families who have already made the move, and they’ll often tell you that the biggest difference isn’t the apartment they bought— it’s the community they joined. That’s why you’re invited to join the Carmay HaNadiv webinar this Sunday, July 19, where you’ll discover why this flourishing dati community in Kiryat Malachi has become home to a growing number of English-speaking families from around the world. From the moment they arrive, new residents are welcomed into a warm, supportive community that makes the transition to Israel feel natural. Neighbors become friends, children quickly settle into excellent schools, and families enjoy the reassurance of knowing they’re

surrounded by others who understand both the excitement and the challenges of building a new life. “We felt at home from the moment we arrived,” says Daniel Katz who recently made aliyah to Carmay HaNadiv with his family. “Within days, we had neighbors inviting us for Shabbat and helping us navigate every aspect of settling in. We immediately felt that we belonged.” At the same time, Carmay HaNadiv offers the opportunity to become part of the broader fabric of Israeli life. Set in the growing city of Kiryat Malachi, the community combines a close-knit atmosphere with all the opportunities of a thriving Israeli city. Residents enjoy modern homes, beautiful parks, outstanding educational institutions, expanding shopping and community services, and excellent accessibility. Ashdod and its beaches are just 20 minutes away, while Jerusalem

and Tel Aviv are both within comfortable commuting distance. Whether you’re a young family building your future, empty nesters looking for a fresh start, or retirees looking to enjoy an active, meaningful lifestyle in Israel, Carmay HaNadiv offers a rare combination of community, convenience and ex-

ceptional value. Tune into the Carmay HaNadiv webinar this Sunday to hear directly from residents, learn about the neighborhood, discover current purchasing opportunities, and ask the questions that matter most to you.

Episcopal Health Services Receives AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

piscopal Health Services has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability. Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.,

according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery. Get With The Guidelines brings the

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expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death. “Episcopal Health Services is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer at Episcopal Health Services. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in Far Rockaway, NY, live longer, healthier lives.” Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.

“We are proud to recognize Episcopal Health Service for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.” Episcopal Health Services also received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM: Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy. Episcopal Health Services also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

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ver 700 cyclists from around the world are gearing up for the 17th annual Bike4Chai, the premier cycling event benefiting Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network. Over the course of two unforgettable days, participants will ride up to 180 miles through scenic roads in New Jersey, the Pocono Mountains, and the Delaware River Valley, choosing from multiple route options designed for cyclists of varying skill levels. Throughout the ride, participants will enjoy fully stocked rest stops, SAG vehicles, and mechanical and medical support. The destination, however, is unlike any ordinary finish line. On Thursday, July 30, riders tackle the final leg of the ride, including the iconic Hawks Nest overlooking the Delaware River, before reaching what has become known as The World’s Greatest Finish Line at Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s medically supervised overnight camp for children with serious illnesses. As riders enter camp, they will be greeted by hundreds of cheering campers, counselors, staff, volunteers, and families, a moving reminder of the hope made possible through every mile ridden and every dollar raised. “The World’s Greatest Finish Line isn’t about crossing a finish line on pavement; it’s about arriving for children who need us,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Every mile rid-

den and every dollar raised helps ensure that families facing serious illness have a community standing beside them. When our riders arrive at Camp Simcha, they see exactly why they ride. They’ve helped create hope.” “For almost two decades, Bike4Chai has brought together people from all walks of life with one shared purpose: helping children and families facing serious illness,” added Rabbi Sruli Fried, Executive Director of Bike4Chai. “The miles challenge you, but the mission inspires you. And there’s nothing like arriving at Camp Simcha to be reminded why every mile matters.” Since its inception, Bike4Chai has grown into the nation’s premier charity cycling event, raising millions of dollars to support Chai Lifeline’s year-round services for children and families confronting illness, crisis, and loss. Funds raised through Bike4Chai help provide professional case management, meal delivery to hospitals and homes, transportation to medical appointments, emergency financial assistance, insurance advocacy, crisis intervention and trauma response, i-Shine afterschool programming, Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, and dozens of additional programs that support families every day of the year. Cyclists of every age and experience level participate in Bike4Chai, united by one mission: transforming every mile into hope for children and families who need it most.

Campers Build Friendships, Creativity, and Colorful Memories at Hillel Day Camp

nother exciting week at Hillel Day Camp was filled with laughter, creativity, teamwork, and unforgettable experiences as campers embraced every opportunity to learn, play, and grow together. Throughout the week, campers strengthened friendships that continue to blossom with every shared activity, whether greeting one another in the hallways, cheering each other on during games, or simply enjoying time together between programs. Those everyday moments of connection are what make camp feel like a second home. Creativity was on full display as campers spent time in the art studio transforming blank canvases into colorful works of art. Campers young and older rolled up their sleeves in the kitchen, working side by side to bake delicious lemon treats while practicing teamwork and enjoying plenty of laughs along the way. Out on the fields, friendly competition brought excitement as campers took

part in games that emphasize sportsmanship, perseverance, and encouraging one another. Even the youngest campers found adventure around every corner, exploring, climbing, and discovering the joys of camp through hands-on play designed just for them. The week featured two special interactive experiences. Campers raced, laughed, and celebrated during the always-popular Color Run, crossing the finish line covered in bright bursts of color and even brighter smiles. As the lights in the gym dimmed, excitement grew at the Neon Glow Party, where glowing lights, music, dancing, and endless energy created the perfect highlight to another incredible week. At Hillel Day Camp, every activity – from creating art and baking together to scoring goals, making new friends, and celebrating special events – is another opportunity to build confidence, strengthen friendships, and create memories that will last long after summer ends.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Over 700 Cyclists to Participate in Bike4Chai

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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An Awesome Week at SDC

hat an awesomely pumping week we had here at SDC! From an amazing QZAR trip to our Massive two-day overnight trip to American Dream DreamWorks Indoor

Waterpark! The 40’s and 50’s ended their trip with an in-camp overnight. (Notice no one mentioned the word sleeping!) Our XTREME! Division headed to the JEC in New Jersey for a solid night’s rest,

early davening and breakfast, followed by a jam-packed day of bowling, pizza and Dave & Busters. Then it was back to camp for some delicious burgers, hot dogs and freshly tossed wings in Chef

Shuie’s secret sauce. The MIDZ Division headed out to a full day of rides at Adventureland amusement park where everything was up and down and all around! Like a regular day at SDC!

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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The Shaar Neshama Campaign

arren checks the address on his phone one last time. A 25-yearold cybersecurity professional from Denver now living in Manhattan, he was encouraged by his Olami rabbi to spend a Shabbos at the Shaar. Reserved by nature, he isn’t sure what to expect. Thursday night begins with chavrusa learning, where he’s paired with Aaron, a securities attorney. Before long, the conversation shifts from the learning packet to careers, life, and shared interests. Later that evening they’re off to a spirited hachanah l’Shabbos in a local home. Music fills the room, guys sing arm in arm, and Darren slowly lets his guard down. He came looking for learning, but finds something he didn’t realize he was missing – genuine friendship, warmth, and belonging. Then comes Shabbos. A whirlwind of kedushah unfolds. The conversations, the zemiros, the seudos, the camaraderie, the quiet moments of reflection - by the time Havdalah arrives, something inside has shifted, even if it’s impossible to explain exactly what… Nestled within the campus of Sh’or

Yoshuv in Far Rockaway is the Shaar, a kiruv yeshiva with a unique mission. It serves young Jewish men searching for authentic Torah life, whether they are able to learn full-time or balancing careers and college. More than 90% of those who stay for at least six months leave fully shomer Torah u’mitzvos. Founded in 2019 by Rabbi Mayer Hurwitz, the Shaar was created to fill a growing need. While many students were inspired through Olami, not everyone could spend years learning in Eretz Yisrael. The Shaar became the answer – a place where young professionals and students could immerse themselves in Torah while continuing to build their futures. Soon after, Rabbi Hurwitz partnered with Reb Shlomo Reich, whose infectious warmth, music, and ahavas Yisrael became the heartbeat of the program. Later, Rabbi Ephraim Kamin joined as mashgiach ruchani, bringing decades of kiruv experience and deep personal guidance. Together they built far more than a yeshiva – they built a family. The Shaar is woven into the fabric of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway.

Hundreds of local families regularly host talmidim for Shabbos meals, many forming lifelong relationships. These aren’t guests; they become part of the family. In return, the community is inspired by the sincerity, enthusiasm, and commitment these young men bring to every Shabbos table. Every student arrives with a different story. A geneticist searching for meaning. A former Marine. A Columbia Law student. A cybersecurity champion who once competed on Shabbos and later became a serious ben Torah. A professional golfer who met Rabbi Eli Mansour while working at a Pesach program. A surfer whose chance conversation in the ocean led another struggling Jewish student to the Shaar. Some grow quickly, others slowly, but every journey is treated with patience, dignity, and love. Today, approximately 60 young men learn through the Shaar, with customized schedules that fit around work or school. Shiurim run throughout the day and late into the evening, alongside chavrusas, mussar, halachah, Gemara, and practical guidance for building Torah homes. Their

motto – Healthy Balanced Growth (HBG) – emphasizes steady, genuine development while encouraging healthy recreation, careers, and strong middos. The Shaar doesn’t simply teach Torah. It guides every stage of life. The staff mentors talmidim through shidduchim, marriage, careers, and beyond, remaining involved long after the chuppah. Graduates continue hosting Shaar students, creating a cycle of giving that strengthens both the yeshiva and the broader community. Perhaps that’s the Shaar’s greatest accomplishment. It doesn’t just change individuals; it transforms families, communities, and future generations. It creates a place where young Jews discover that Torah isn’t simply something to learn – it’s something to live. Please participate in the Shaar’s $1 million Rayze.it campaign and help open the door for the next generation of young men searching for Torah, purpose, and belonging. Every contribution makes a difference. Donate today at https:// www.rayze.it/shaar.

Village of Lawrence Advances Traffic Safety Measures

he Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees has approved several traffic safety initiatives aimed at reducing speeding and improving roadway safety throughout the community, particularly in the Back Lawrence neighborhood. During a recent Board meeting, residents voiced concerns regarding excessive speeding on Causeway, Ocean Avenue, Harborview North, Harborview South, and Narragansett Avenue. Residents cited limited visibility, dangerous roadway curves, and the absence of sidewalks in certain areas, creating safety

concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, and families with young children. In response, the Board approved resolutions authorizing further analysis and evaluation of new traffic control measures, including proposed stop signs at the intersections of Harborview North and Lawrence Avenue, the intersection of Harborview South and Harborview West, and Causeway and Narragansett Avenue. Village officials will work closely with residents and traffic safety professionals to determine the most effective solutions for each location.

Additionally, the Village will evaluate the potential installation of speed humps in areas experiencing chronic speeding. Similar traffic-calming measures recently installed on Atlantic Avenue have successfully reduced vehicle speeds and improved roadway safety. The Village will also coordinate with the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct to increase patrols and targeted traffic enforcement in affected areas. “Protecting the safety of our residents is one of our highest priorities,” said Mayor Samuel Nahmias. “We have heard the

concerns raised by our residents and are taking proactive steps to address speeding and improve traffic safety throughout the Village. Through engineering, enforcement, and community input, we will continue working to make our streets safer for everyone.” Residents are encouraged to continue sharing feedback as the Village conducts its traffic safety analysis and develops recommendations for future improvements. For additional information, please contact Village Hall at (516) 239-4600.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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Dirshu Chaburas Shas Program Holds Siyum at Home of Rosh Yeshivas Chevron HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, Shlita By Chaim Gold

nique, a word that pales when describing a triple siyum. It was a siyum not on one, not on two, but on all three “Bavas” – Bava Kama, Bava Metziah and Bava Basra – that have recently been completed in the Dirshu Chaburas Shas Iyun Program. The siyum was held at the home of the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, and was attended by choice maggidei shiur in the program. “Once a person gains a comprehensive knowledge of Bava Kama, Bava Metziah and Bava Basra,” Rav Cohen said, “he comes with a hekef of the entire Seder Nezikin at his fingertips. All the foundational sugyos in Nezikin are contained in the three Bavas: kinyanim, nizkei mammon, geneiva, gezeilah, yerushos, it is all there. When someone learns iyun and says a sevara with all three Bavas at his fingertips, it is a different chiddush, a dif-

ferent iyun. The Torah is one big puzzle,” Rav Cohen continued. “You can’t just learn one small part and figure out how everything fits in. You must have knowledge of sugyos throughout Shas. Not just by learning them quickly and perfunctorily, but through learning them the way this wonderful Chaburas Shas program learns, day in and day out, Gemara, Rashi, Tosafos, and the main rishonim. That is the true tzurah of a talmid chacham.” The Power of a Tzibbur Learning Together The siyum at Rav Dovid Cohen’s home was not the only siyum held on the three Bavas. In Bnei Brak, there is a large shul called Beis Medrash Beis Hashem led by its distinguished Rav, HaGaon HaRav, Rav Yitzchok Kolodetzky, shlita, a son-in-law of the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l. It is a large shul with hundreds of members. Under the direction of Rav Kolodestzky, the members of the shul

have adopted the Chaburas Shas program as one of their daily limudim. Hundreds of shul members learned all three Bavas and took tests on them. Their accomplishments were also celebrated with a beautiful siyum attended by the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedster, shlita. Rav Menachem Kessler, shlita, a maggid shiur in the kehillah, opened the evening by pointing out that there was a common denominator between Beis Medrash Beis Hashem and Dirshu: both of them never stop coming up with new ideas and ways to enrich the spiritual lives of their members. Beis Medrash Beis Hashem is always adding new spiritual initiatives and the Dirshu Chaburas HaShas has been a game changer for all the participants. In Rav Dovid Hofstedter’s address, he spoke about the ketores. “There are seeming contradictions regarding the ketores,” he began, “We know that when Korach and his men brought the ketores, they died as a result. On the other hand, we know that that very ketores is what stopped the plague. What then is the ketores, a killer or a savior? After putting forth a brilliant explanation based on the words of the Shem M’Shmuel, the essence of Rav Hofstedter’s answer was that when there is unity, when the entire Klal Yisrael is together as one, the ketores can stop a plague. When it is each man for himself, such as by Korach and his people, however, then the ketores causes death and destruction. Focusing his full gaze on the members of Kehillas Beis Hashem, Rav Dovid exclaimed, “In this elevated, wonderful tzibbur of talmidei chachamim there is the special quality of the learning that each of you do on your own. What you should know, however, is that you are not individuals who happen to be learning. You are a part of a tzibbur. When you are part of Chaburas Shas or any of Dirshu’s learning programs, you are not alone. You are joined together collectively by thousands of fellow lomdim all over the world. What you do doesn’t just positively impact you, your chavrusah and your own families. Rather your learning goes far beyond the yachid effecting a positive impact on the entire Olam HaTorah thereby elevating all of Klal Yisrael!” The Antidote to Galus Rav Yosef Rosenblum, one of the

maggidei shiur in the kehillah, cited the frightening words of the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh in Parshas Vayechi. The Ohr Hachaim says that Am Yisrael merited to be redeemed from the first galus, the galus of Mitzrayim in the zechus of Avrohom Avinu. We were redeemed from the second galus in the zechus of Yitzchok and from the third galus in the merit of Yaakov Avinu. Now we are in the last and final galus, the galus of Edom. In whose zechus will we be redeemed from this last galus? In the merit of Moshe Rabbeinu, who brought down the Torah from Har Sinai. The Ohr Hachaim then says something truly frightening. He said the main reason we have not yet been redeemed from this galus, the main reason why it is taking so long is because Moshe Rabbeinu does not want to redeem those who are beteilim min haTorah, those who don’t learn Torah! Standing here at Kehillas Beis Hashem with Dirshu, we can say that we are not beteilim min haTorah. We are immersed in Torah, in Chaburas Shas, in other programs… Let us come together and beg Moshe Rabbeinu that he should come and redeem us, bimheirah b’yameinu! The Simcha of True Yedias Hatorah At the siyum in the home of the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Cohen echoed this theme. “What a zechus!” he proclaimed, “What a zechus it is for a talmid chacham who has learned all three Bavas and really knows the foundational sugyos of them all! This kinyan, this acquisition that they have made puts them into a totally different category of talmid chacham. This is the simcha that we feel today, the simcha of true yedias haTorah.” “On the one hand,” Rav Cohen continued with a sigh, “we are living in a time of great hester panim. Yeshiva bachurim and kollel yungeleit are being thrown into jail for the ‘sin’ of learning Torah! Talmidei chachamim are suffering due to monetary sanctions as well. “When I see how despite all this, we are producing true talmidei chachamim, it brings me simcha! When I see the geshmak in learning of those people who have completed masechtos with iyun in a way that they truly know it, it fills me with light and hope!”

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JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Avnet Adventure: Growing in Confidence

s the second week of Avnet Country Day School came to a close, one thing was clear: campers gained confidence with every experience. Whether trying a new activity, encouraging a teammate or stepping outside their comfort zone, campers from all divisions continued learning, growing and making memories along the way. For the Tipot, the week was filled with exciting firsts. The youngest campers explored All American Gymnastics and went on their first trips to an interactive animal show and Jumptown USA. Each day brought opportunities to practice swimming, build coordination in sports and even participate in Chinuch. The Ma’ayanot Girls embraced an action-packed week both on and off campus. Sports leagues quickly became a favorite, with friendly competition and tremendous teamwork already on display. A trip to Laser Bounce gave campers the chance to get their adrenaline pumping. The Ma’ayanot Boys kept the momentum going with trips to Jumptown and bowling. STEM, Fine Art, Culinary and Orienteering activities also challenged campers to think creatively while having fun. Back on the fields, soccer, baseball and kickball leagues continued to heat up, and the division proudly celebrated its first Campers of the Week

during Oneg. The Agamim Girls showcased their confidence in a highly energizing and creative week. Despite a rainy start, the girls dove into beading, lanyards and sports before their Whiffleball League quickly became one of the week’s biggest highlights. A trip to Dave & Buster’s added another memorable adventure, while culinary activities back at camp satisfied everyone’s sweet tooth with homemade s’mores donuts.

Over on the DRS Campus, the G’vaot and Harim Boys enjoyed a week packed with adventure, including trips to Jumptown, Topgolf and bowling. Just as impressive, was the way campers represented Avnet everywhere they went. Staff members at each destination commented on the boys’ respectful behavior and outstanding middos, reflecting the values that define the Avnet community. Back at camp, sports leagues, Counselor Games and a spirited pre-Shabbos Oneg kept the

energy high from beginning to end. “One of the most rewarding parts of camp is watching our campers become more confident with each passing week,” said Camp Director Daniel Stroock. “Whether they’re competing on the field, trying something new on a trip or cheering on a friend, they’re growing in ways that will stay with them long after the summer ends.”

Joining Together for the Mental Health Community

ASK and Touro University Graduate School of Social work create many community programs together. In a fantastic display of communal unity and professional alignment, 60 members of the Orthodox mental health community joined for an event sponsored by MASK and Touro University Graduate School of Social Work. MASK is in it 29th year working with over 125,000 families to ensure that all parents/caregivers in the Jewish community receive the resources necessary to help raise emotionally healthy families by way of weekly support group and referrals. Touro’s MSW program offers gender specific cohorts where students study with study with qualified professors and participate in face-to-face clinical experiences supervised by expert clinicians. This inaugural event launched the Long Island & Queens Networking Alli-

ance. Many in attendance met in person for the very first time. This reflects the reality that while most of life is online these days, personal connection is still very much desired. Three of the community’s premier social service and crisis intervention powerhouses—Ray of Hope, Amudim, and Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services—generously sponsored this professional networking and program information event. Thanks to LICA as well for joining as a sponsor. The gathering drew an impressive crowd of therapists, mental health advocates, and community leaders, all focused on a singular, urgent mission: building an unbreakable safety net for individuals and families navigating mental health struggles, trauma, and crisis. These organizations have served as a critical lifeline from their own unique vantage point. The theme woven through the presentation is that healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, but can when we’re

in it together. The evening spotlighted how each organization’s distinct core strengths complement the others: Ray of Hope: Providing a deeply sensitive, confidential sanctuary specifically for survivors of a certain type of abuse, utilizing peer support groups and trauma-informed care. Ray of Hope can be reached at info@rayofhopeus. org or 845-600-1185. Amudim: Functioning as the rapid-re-

sponse hub for crisis intervention, case management, and resource allocation for those facing addiction, abuse, and mental illness. Amudim can be reached at info@ amudim.org or 646-517-0222. Ohel Family Services: Brings decades of clinical expertise, specialized domestic abuse support, and localized outpatient mental health clinics to the table. Ohel can be reached at access@ohelfamily. org or 800-603-6435.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Around the Community

50 Years of ArtScroll Part 18: The “American Maggid” — The Story Behind the Stories

s the ArtScroll readership grew, so did the vision. There were other forms of Torah inspiration waiting to be shared — not only translations and commentaries but stories: living lessons of emunah, middos, chessed, and greatness, told in a way that could touch every Jewish heart. One of the first and most enduring examples of that new direction began with two remarkable figures. Rav Sholom Schwadron was one of Eretz Yisrael’s most charismatic speakers, whose weekly derashos in Geulah’s Zichron Moshe shul drew standing-room-only crowds. R’ Paysach Krohn was a young American talmid of Torah Vodaath and the son of an outstanding mohel who trained his oldest son — then still a teenager — in the holy calling of milah. One would think that R’ Sholom and R’ Paysach – from two worlds and two generations – had little in common. But beneath those differences, they shared a deep and meaningful bond. R’ Paysach’s father was a great admirer of R’ Sholom, the “Mag-

gid of Yerushalayim,” and made sure that whenever R’ Sholom came to America, he would be a guest of the Krohns. Tragically, R’ Krohn senior passed away when Paysach was only 21. R’ Sholom continued to be a guest of the Krohns, and his fatherly concern and wisdom had a profound influence on young Paysach. Over his formative years, R’ Paysach had been regularly regaled by R’ Sholom’s fascinating and inspiring stories, and – meticulous person that he always was – kept notes of the stories. In 1987, two years after we published R’ Paysach’s authoritative book on Milah, R’ Paysach came to us with a suggestion for the sort of book we had never contemplated before: a collection of R’ Sholom Schwadron’s stories. It sounded interesting. We told him to get to work. R’ Paysach wrote. R’ Scherman edited. And “The Maggid Speaks” became a best-seller and deservedly so. The content was captivating and R’ Krohn knew how to tell a story that would make the reader a better person. The “Maggid” of that title, of course,

was the Maggid of Yerushalayim, but the next step seemed rather obvious. Why not follow up with more books of the same genre, and in the process R’ Paysach Krohn became the “American Maggid,” collecting stories from his own sources, researching them, and presenting them in the way only R’ Paysach could. Eighteen books later, R’ Krohn is still writing, one best-seller after another, R’ Scherman is still editing, and the public is still waiting impatiently for the next Maggid book. Not only that, we suggested to R’ Krohn that his infectious personality and skill as a presenter would make him an excellent speaker. A bit fearfully, he accepted the challenge and became one of the Torah world’s most popular and sought-after speakers, from America to Australia, to Antwerp, to South Africa. In recent years, R’ Paysach has written perhaps the most inspiring chapter of his life. At an Agudas Yisrael Convention a few years ago, he suffered a debilitating stroke. Most people in similar circumstances would have felt that they had no

The “Maggid of Yerushalayim” and the “American Maggid” in their element

choice but to spend the rest of their lives in secluded retirement – but not R’ Paysach Krohn. He would not surrender. He endured sometimes excruciating therapy and slowly resumed his career as a lecturer and spellbinding writer, producing another Maggid classic, this one on tefillah. The Maggid speaks on — and, in fact, R’ Paysach is now in the finishing stages of a new book on Shabbos tefillos, another gift from the master storyteller whose voice continues to inspire Klal Yisrael. UP NEXT: A Siddur for Our Time

Assembly Nominee Pesach Osina to Bring Active Threat Training to Local Houses of Worship

ollowing recent firebomb attacks targeting houses of worship, Democratic nominee for State Assembly Pesach Osina is working with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York to bring active threat preparedness training directly to local religious institutions.

“Condemning hatred and violence is important, but words alone are not enough,” said Pesach Osina, Democratic nominee for State Assembly. “We must make sure our mosques, synagogues, churches, temples, and all houses of worship have the knowledge and resources needed to protect their congregations.

Public safety must be an interfaith effort. When one community is targeted, every community must stand together, remain vigilant, and be prepared to respond. As your next Assembly Member, I will champion increased state funding for security enhancements and emergency preparedness so every house of worship has access to the resources needed to keep their congregations safe.” The initiative follows several recent incidents involving incendiary devices at religious institutions and businesses serving ethnic communities. Although no injuries were reported, the attacks have increased concerns among local faith leaders and residents. “We are grateful to Pesach Osina for bringing this important training to our community,” said Shafi Chowdhury, Co-executive Director of BACDY’s. “Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Christians, and people of every faith should be able to gather, worship, and serve their neighbors without fear. Preparation and cooperation between faith communities will help keep everyone safer.”

“Security at our religious institutions requires awareness, preparation, and strong relationships throughout the community,” said Shulem Klein of Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol. “This training is an important step toward making sure our institutions are prepared while strengthening the cooperation that brings our diverse communities together.” Osina is encouraging mosques, synagogues, Catholic churches, Christian churches, temples, and all other houses of worship interested in hosting similar training to contact his team. He will work to connect interested institutions with local not for profits and other appropriate public safety partners. “This cannot be limited to one faith or one neighborhood,” Osina added. “Every congregation deserves the opportunity to be prepared. We will work to connect interested institutions with appropriate public safety partners.” Houses of worship interested in arranging a training may contact info@pesachosina.com.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

TJH

Centerfold

Icecreamologist Quiz In honor of National Ice Cream month, Baskin-Robbins partnered with taste and smell expert Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, to associate personality traits that might correspond with its most popular flavors. Think you are an icecreamologist? See if you can match the flavors with the behaviors. 1. Vanilla

A. Scrupulous, conscientious, and a moral perfectionist

2. Chocolate

B. Generous, competent, and a go-getter

3. Very Berry Strawberry

C. Analytic, decisive, and a pessimistic

4. Mint Chocolate Chip

D. Impulsive, easily suggestible, and an idealist

5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

E. Tolerant, devoted, and an introvert

6. Coffee

F. Argumentative, frugal, and cautious

7. Chocolate Chip

G. Dramatic, lively, charming, and gullible

8. Rainbow Sherbet

H. Ambitious, competitive, and a visionary

9. Rocky Road

I. Aggressive, engaging, and a good listener

Answers: 1-D; 2-G; 3-E; 4-F; 5-H; 6-A; 7-B; 8-C; 9-I

Riddle Me This David bought an ice cream cone with 5 different flavors. The five flavors in random order are Jamaica, nutty-chocolate, peppermint, walnut and orange. 1. The bottom flavor of the cone has 7 letters. 2. The walnut scoop is at between Jamaica and the nutty-chocolate scoop. 3. Walnut is above the orange scoop but below the nutty-chocolate scoop. 4. The top flavor will stain your shirt. Can you figure out the flavor of ice cream in order from top to bottom?

From top to bottom, the flavors are: Nutty-chocolate, Peppermint, Walnut, Orange, Jamaica

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

1. *

It takes more than simply knowing how to get the perfect swirl to be an ice cream salesman or saleswoman. Frozen desserts come in many forms. Each of the following foods has its own definition, and many are standardized by federal regulations. You don’t want the Department of Justice to come after you for misrepresenting your delicious products to your customers, do you? So, brush up on your knowledge by matching the dairy frozen treat with the right description. 1. Ice Cream 2. Frozen Custard 3. Sherbet 4. Gelato 5. Sorbet 6. Quiescently Frozen

A. Separately packaged single servings of a frozen dessert that may or may not contain dairy ingredients. B. Characterized by an intense flavor and served in a semi-frozen state that is similar to “soft serve” ice cream. Italian-style is more dense than ice cream, since it has less air in the product. Typically, it has more milk than cream and also contains sweeteners, egg yolks and flavoring. C. A frozen novelty such as a water ice on a stick.

Confection

D. Must contain a minimum of 10% milkfat, as well as at least 1.4% egg yolk solids.

7. Novelties

E. Consists of a mixture of dairy ingredients. By federal law, it must contain at least 10% milkfat, before the addition of bulky ingredients, and must weigh a minimum of 4.5 pounds to the gallon. F. Similar to sherbets, but contains no dairy ingredients. G. Has a milkfat content of between 1% and 2%, and a slightly higher sweetener content than ice cream. Weighs a minimum of 6 pounds to the gallon and is flavored either with fruit or other characterizing ingredients.

Answers: 1- E; 2- D; 3-G; 4-B; 5-F; 6-B; 7-A

You Gotta Be Kidding Me! The young man entered the ice cream shop at the amusement park and asked, “What kinds of ice cream do you have?” “Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry,” the girl wheezed as she spoke, patted her chest and seemed unable to continue. “Do you have laryngitis?” the young man asked sympathetically. “Nope,” she whispered, “just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.”

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

So, You Wanna Be an Ice Cream Seller?

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Torah Thought

Parshas Devarim By Rabbi Berel Wein z”l

ur great teacher Moshe begins his final oration to the Jewish people in this week’s Torah portion. He reviews for them the history of his stewardship of the Jewish people over the past 40 years. He recounts the miracles and tragedies that befell the Jewish people, from the Exodus from Egypt until the very day that they now stand at the banks of the River Jordan preparing to enter the land of Israel. It is a very detailed oration. Apparently, all the major events and issues, the highs and lows of the sojourn of Israel in the desert of Sinai, are remembered and recounted. He spares no detail or criticism as to what went wrong, and at the conclusion of this book, his love for the Jewish people is fully on exhibition by the manifold blessings that he bestows upon them. Moshe mentions the heroes that arose to champion the cause of Torah and the Jewish people at moments of crisis, and he also tells us of those who fell short, i.e. how their acts of commission or omission led the Jewish people astray. He points out that heavenly guidance nurtured the Jewish people during this entire long span and assures them that the Creator will not abandon them in the future. But he also says that the Creator will hold them

responsible for their behavior and their loyalty to Torah. What is striking to me is that Moshe omits any mention regarding the construction of the Mishkan/Tabernacle from his recollection of the history of the Jewish people in Sinai. Yet, in the text of the holy

rah commentaries that discuss this omission, I have, myself, thought about it at some length. I think that Moshe is communicating to us a subtle but vital lesson that will enable the Jewish people to survive national loss and destruction, exile and dispersion, and yet be able to

It is, rather, the Torah, its values and commandments, its worldview and systems of life that have enabled the Jewish people to survive and eventually prosper and rebuild themselves.

Torah itself, a great deal of space and detail is devoted to this subject. All the commentators are hard-pressed to understand why many eternal commandments are merely mentioned or hinted at, while the construction of the Mishkan/Tabernacle occupies a great deal of space and detail. Though I have not found many To-

rebuild itself physically and spiritually. Moshe is teaching us that all physical structures, though they are the holiest of all human endeavors endowed with godly spirit, so to speak, are nevertheless only temporary. The Mishkan/Tabernacle lasted for hundreds of years in the desert and at

Shilo in the land of Israel, but it eventually disappeared. The First Temple stood for 410 years, but it too became only ruins. The Second Temple, which Herod rebuilt in enormous splendor and was one of the wonders of the ancient world, stood for 420 years. But it also was destroyed and disappeared. It is not the physical structure of buildings that has preserved the Jewish people until our very day. It is, rather, the Torah, its values and commandments, its worldview and systems of life that have enabled the Jewish people to survive and eventually prosper and rebuild themselves. It is no accident that the majority of Jewish scholars follow the opinion that the Third Temple will not be built by human beings, because it has to be eternal, and all human construction, no matter how grand, noble or lofty still remains only a temporary structure. Moshe, in his oration, speaks not only to his generation but to all later generations of the Jewish people. He does not dwell on physical structures which are always subject to ruin and replacement, but on the spiritual greatness of the eternal Torah that the L-rd has bestowed upon the Jewish people. Shabbat shalom.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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From the Fire Parshas Devarim

Tunneling to Yerushalayim By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

n Parshas Devarim, Moshe Rabbeinu begins to summarize our journey in the desert from Mitzrayim until we reach the land of Israel. He starts out by saying (Devarim 1:2), “Eleven days from Chorev [Sinai], by way of Mt. Seir until Kadesh Barnea.” Rashi there explains, “The [Jewish people] traveled [the entire eleven-day journey] in three days. That is the extent to which the Divine Presence exerted itself for your sake to hasten your arrival in the land. But because you sinned, it led you around Mt. Seir for forty years.” In other words, the eleven-day journey was turned into a three-day journey, which was transformed into a forty-year journey. Therefore, the next pasuk continues, “And it was in the fortieth year...” In Eichah (3:9), we say, “He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked.” Based on this pasuk, the Medrash in Eicha Raba (and in the Yerushalmi, Ma’aser Sheni 2:5) tells us that there were simple working Jewish men and women who lived in Tzipori, Tiveria, and even further north in Gilad, who used to travel to Yerushalayim every erev Shabbos to light candles and learn Torah in the Beis Hamikdash and then return home before Shabbos. It was not possible in those days to make such a journey in one day, so the Medrash and Yerushalmi explain that they traveled via miraculous tunnels. The Medrash explained, however, that these tunnels could no longer be found

because “mechilos ha’yu v’nignazu, there were tunnels there, but they became concealed.” Based on this, the Medrash quotes the pasuk in Eichah, “Gadar dirachai b’gazis nisivosai u’vah, He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked.” These simple Jews had such a strong longing to be in the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalayim that Hashem opened up a miraculous path for them in the form of those tunnels. The Maharal in Netzach Yisroel explains this Medrash as follows, “There is a deep point in this Medrash... It is impossible to explain these tunnels under the ground at face value. It is clear that the explanation [of these tunnels] is that they represent a hidden and concealed force...until the future when the nature of this force will be revealed.” The Yerushalmi cited above also tells the story of a man who found himself in a tunnel going the opposite direction. This man who lived in Eretz Yisroel was plowing with his ox when the ox ran away. He chased after it and followed it into a tunnel. When they came out on the other side of the tunnel, he suddenly found himself in Bavel, Babylonian. He asked some people he saw where he was, and they told him he was in Bavel. They asked him where he was from and when he arrived. He explained that he was in Eretz Yisroel that very day and just got to Bavel. They asked him how he got there, and he tried to find the tunnel but he was unable to. The Gemara also con-

nects this story to the pasuk in Eichah, “He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked.” The first story told of people who wanted to reach Yerushalayim so badly that Hashem created a miraculous path to the Beis Hamikdash for them. In the second story, on the other hand, even if someone is already in Eretz Yisroel, if he spends his time chasing cows and gashmius, physicality, those same tunnels take him into exile. We all have our “oxen” of this world that we are chasing, and just like the man in the story, we also do not know how to find our way back to Eretz Yisroel, to holiness. The distance between exile and redemption is very great. But the physical distance is not as wide or as vast as the distance in our minds and our hearts. With great desire for Eretz Yisroel, the path to the land of Israel went from eleven days to just three days. But when we went off track and began chasing the wrong things, that path suddenly became a forty-year journey and then a two-thousand-year exile from which we do not know how to return. There are many political and economic obstacles to our return to the land of Israel, but the main obstacles are inside of us, in our minds and in our hearts. Rebbi Yehuda Halevi longed for Eretz Yisroel so much that he wrote, “Libi b’mizrach v’anochi b’sof maarav, my heart is in the east, and I am at the end of the west.” With great longing, one can overcome all obstacles and bypass

all stumbling blocks to return home. Because of his great desire, even though travel to Eretz Yisroel was extremely dangerous in those days, Rebbi Yehuda Halevi found a “tunnel” and made his way back home. The exile and Churban, destruction, have destroyed the paths back to Eretz Yisroel and redemption. But Chazal have revealed to us (Psikta Rabasi 32:10) that when the final redemption comes, the ten lost tribes will one day return to Eretz Yisroel from the other side of the Sambatiyon river via these tunnels to Har Hazeisim. In addition, Chazal tell us (Kesubos 111, Yalkut Shimoni on Yeshaya 36:431) that at the time of the redemption, the tzaddikim who have left the world will come to life and return to Eretz Yisroel via these same tunnels. “[Hashem] will create tunnels for them in the earth.” Rashi there explains that “they will stand on their feet and walk to Eretz Yisroel in tunnels where they will emerge and come out.” The great desire that gives rise to these tunnels is so powerful that it can even bridge the distance between this world and the next to bring the lost tribes and the tzaddikim who have left the world back to Eretz Yisroel. Through these teachings, Chazal have revealed to us that the distance between exile and redemption and between this world and the next is not so far. In this week’s parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu says (Devarim 1:8, 21), “See that I have placed the land before you, come

59 for a few days and could not be found until she returned on her own with udders full of the most delicious milk. One day, the man’s son formulated a plan. He tied a rope to the goat’s tail, and when she left in the middle of the night, he felt the tug of the rope and followed her. He followed her into a tunnel, and they

remain there for the day and then return to bring his parents to Eretz Yisroel, but he saw people preparing for Shabbos and realized he would not be able to make the journey in time for Shabbos. He therefore wrote a note to his parents telling them that he was OK and in the land of Israel. They should

The distance between exile and redemption and between this world and the next is not so far.

walked through the tunnel for several hours, possibly several days. When they came out on the other side, they found themselves on beautiful verdant hills with trees and plants blossoming everywhere. He saw Jews, but they did not understand Yiddish. He asked them in Hebrew where he was, and they explained that they were in the land of Israel, near Tzfas. He wanted to

just follow the goat, and she would bring them to Eretz Yisroel to live with him. He placed the note in the goat’s ear and allowed it to return, and he went to live in Tzfas. When the goat returned home to the shtetl without his son, the boy’s father was brokenhearted. He did not find the note and assumed that his son had been torn apart by some wild an-

imal. Ripped by grief, he brought the shochet, the slaughterer, to kill the goat that brought him so much pain. As they were skinning the goat after slaughter, the note fell out of its ear. Seeing his son’s handwriting, the father read the note and realized that in his grief and haste, he had killed his only key to returning to his health, Eretz Yisroel, and to his beloved son. The opening and pathway to redemption still exists. We do not see it or think about it, but it is there and can be unlocked if we desire to return. Until we do, we still have Tisha B’Av. But when we believe in and long for the redemption, it is close and attainable. May we increase our desire for a world in which Hashem’s presence is revealed and merit to return through those hidden tunnels to Yerushalayim with the coming of Moshiach, may it be soon in our days.

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.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

and inherit it... See that Hashem your G-d has placed the land before you, ascend and inherit it as Hashem the G-d of your fathers has spoken to you. Do not be afraid and do not fear.” All that is required is not to be afraid. We did not get lost in the desert because of the other nations there, for political reasons, or any other cause. Rather, our journey turned into a forty-year trip because of our mindset. Moshe explained to them (Devarim 1:26, 32), “You did not want to ascend... This is why you did not believe in Hashem your G-d.” Shmuel Yosef (“Shai”) Agnon, the famous Nobel Prize winning and G-d fearing writer, wrote a story called “The Story of the Goat,” inspired by all of the Medrashim about the mysterious tunnels. He told of an old man who was very sick. His doctors told him that he needed goat’s milk, so he bought a goat. A short time after he bought the goat, she disappeared for a few days. Wherever they searched for her, they could not find her. But after a few days, she returned on her own with an udder full of milk so rich and delicious that it tasted like it came from Gan Eden. Whenever the milk ran out, she would disappear

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Delving into the Daf

A Wedding Menu to Remember By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

n a crisp, torch-lit night in eleventh-century Baghdad, the air carried more than the usual scent of roasted almonds, cardamom, and the damp clay of the Tigris. It carried the palpable weight of a changing era. Beneath the whitewashed arches of a grand courtyard, the centuries-old but courteous rivalry between Babylonia’s two great academies, Sura and Pumbedisa, was about to dissolve in a flood of rosewater, music, and diplomatic triumph. This was the wedding of Rav Hai, son of Rav Sherira Gaon of Pumbedisa, to the daughter of Rav Shmuel ben Chofni, the illustrious Gaon of Sura. The marriage united the two most influential rabbinic dynasties of the age, and when Rav Hai would later become Gaon, he would embody both legacies. But while history remembers the political triumph of the union, the guests that evening were far more preoccupied with the catering. The following is a fictional account inspired by a famous tradition regarding what was served at this remarkable celebration.

One particularly meticulous guest eagerly picked up the menu, hoping to confirm that everything had been prepared under impeccable rabbinic supervision. He smiled upon reading the opening line: “Everything served at this wedding is under my strict supervision.” — Signed, Rav Sherira Gaon His smile vanished as he continued reading. “In strict adherence to Jewish law, the meat served at this wedding was not ritually slaughtered.” The guest nearly dropped the menu. Surely, there had been some mistake. He immediately summoned the mashgiach and pointed accusingly at the offending sentence.

The mashgiach calmly explained that there was no error whatsoever. The meat came from a ben pekua: a calf discovered alive inside its mother after the mother had already been properly slaughtered. The calf had been raised to adulthood, and according to the accepted halacha, it could be eaten without undergoing shechitah itself, although, of course, it could not be eaten while alive. The explanation did little to reassure the guest. “Hadn’t Rebbi Meir ruled that such an animal requires shechitah according to Torah law? True, Rebbi Shimon Shezuri disagreed. But didn’t the Gemara remark that we follow Rebbi Shimon Shezuri in only two specific cases, and this certainly wasn’t one of them?” The mashgiach smiled. “True enough. But even without relying on Rebbi Shimon Shezuri, the accepted halacha follows the Tanna Kamma, who likewise agrees that a fully grown ben pekua does not require shechitah on a Torah level.” “But that’s only the Torah law,” protested the guest. “The Tanna Kamma, as opposed to Rebbi Shimon Shezuri, still requires shechitah by rabbinic decree once the animal has walked upon the ground.” Again, the mashgiach nodded. “Ordinarily, yes. The rabbis feared that observers might mistake a ben pekua for an ordinary cow and conclude that animals may be eaten without shechitah. However, Abaye (as recorded in Chullin 75b) explains that whenever there is something unusual enough to remind everyone that the animal is a ben pekua, the rabbinic decree does not apply. His example is a cow whose unusual physical appearance immediately signals that it is no ordinary animal.” The guest remained unconvinced. “There is nothing unusual about tonight’s dinner.” “On the contrary,” replied the mashgi-

ach. “This is no ordinary dinner. It is a wedding. I might add, it is the wedding uniting the houses of Sura and Pumbedisa. People will remember every detail.” The guest laughed. “You really think anyone will remember that a ben pekua was served tonight?” The mashgiach simply smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if, a thousand years from now, someone writes an article about the main course.” Still skeptical, the guest continued studying the menu. His eyes widened once again. The filet, sirloin, and other prized cuts all came from the hindquarters. Even more shocking, the menu proudly announced: “In strict adherence to Jewish law, the gid hanashe (sciatic nerve) and forbidden fats were not removed.” Now the guest was certain something was terribly wrong. The mashgiach patiently explained that this too followed naturally. Since the animal was a ben pekua, it did not possess the ordinary prohibitions of gid hanashe or cheilev (forbidden fats). “But Rebbi Meir certainly disagrees,” objected the guest. “He does,” admitted the mashgiach. “For the same reason he requires shechitah. He treats a ben pekua as an ordinary animal in every respect. Since we do not follow his opinion regarding shechitah, we likewise do not follow him regarding gid hanashe and cheilev.” The guest still wasn’t satisfied. “Even if that is true according to Torah law, shouldn’t the rabbis prohibit eating them? Won’t people mistakenly assume they may eat the gid hanashe of any animal?” The mashgiach could only grin. “I am still relying on the same unusual circumstance. Any wedding is considered unusual. Certainly, this one. Trust me: people will be

talking about this wedding for centuries.” The conversation then turned from halacha to business. “Suppose,” wondered the guest, “that two ben pekua animals were bred together. Would their offspring also be ben pekua?” “Indeed, they would.” The guest’s imagination immediately began racing. “Why not raise an entire herd? Think of the savings! No shechitah. No need to sell the valuable hindquarters to non-Jews.” The mashgiach gently pointed out that the plan was not quite so profitable. “In ordinary circumstances, rabbinic law would still require shechitah, and the rabbinic restrictions regarding the gid hanashe would remain. The practical gains would therefore be limited.” “Limited,” he added, “but not nonexistent.” There was one significant advantage. If a ben pekua were discovered to possess a fatal defect that would ordinarily classify an animal as a treifah, it would nevertheless remain permitted to eat, an extraordinary halachic exception. By this point, all the discussion had accomplished one thing: the guest was starving. After one final glance at the menu, he pushed aside his lingering doubts, accepted the mashgiach’s explanation, and finally sat down to enjoy what may have become the most famous wedding meal in Jewish history.

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.

Torah Thought

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Song of Opposites By Rav Yaakov Feitman

n our shul on Tishah B’Av, we have the minhag to sing the Kinnah “B’tzeisi Mimitzrayim, B’tseisi M’Yerushalayim – when we left Egypt; when we left Yerushalayim” (Kinnah No. 31). Some stanzas describe the times of miracles and greatness when we left the bondage in Mitzrayim. Others describe the times of sadness and degradation when we were sent into exile. The question is why should we sing the part about aveilus and mourning. It is understood that leaving Egypt happened amidst multiple nissim and signified Hashem’s love for His people. But why would we sing about the time when, amidst multiple tragedies, murder and distress, we had to leave our homeland? My Rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, and his son-in-law, Rav Yonasan David, explain that Klal Yisrael, more than any nation – but similar to many individuals – has experienced numerous ups and downs. However, just like most songs and music in general, there are high notes and low notes, but they are all part of the same song. Rav Yonasan adds that the common denominator between Tishah B’Av and Pesach is not just that Tishah B’Av always falls on the same day of the week as the first day of Pesach (see Menachem Tzion 2:3:25; 4:24). It is also that when we miraculously crossed the Yam Suf and sang Az Yashir, we said – and recite daily – “Who is like You among the heavenly powers, Hashem!” (Shemos 15:11). Chazal (Gittin 56b) interpret the word for “heavenly powers” as also meaning “Who is like You, making yourself mute!” This refers to Hashem’s silence in the face of His enemies. Even though He could, of course, eliminate them in an instant, He controls His anger (Pachad Yitzchok, Chanukah 8:9). The source of this paradox seems to be a series of statements in Chazal depicting the depths and heights which Klal Yisrael has experienced over the millennia. The

Medrash (Tehillim 120) notes that one of the most prominent words in Tehillim is not Shir Hamaaleh – which would mean a song of one rising.” It is Shir Hamaalos which means a song of many ascents.” The Medrash concludes, “When Klal Yisrael climbs high, it rises very high. But when it experiences a descent, it drops to the lowest possible place. The Gemara (Megillah 16a) goes even further: “This nation is likened to the earth and to the stars. When it drops, it goes down to the dirt; when it rises, it goes up until the stars.” The Gemara quotes Rav Yochanan Ben Zakai as marveling at the fate of our nation. “Ashreichem Yisrael! Fortunate are you, O Israel,” he declares. “When you do the will of the Al-mighty, you are amazing, but when you don’t, you are given into the hands of a lowly nation.” The Maharshah and others are puzzled by the word “fortunate,” which seems to apply to both our highs and our lows. What is so great about being given over to these degenerate enemies? The Maharal (Netzach Yisrael 14) answers that even our lowest madreigah proves our uniqueness. No other nation has fallen so low because we are indeed singular. The Brisker Rav explains the Maharal in light of the famous adage of the Kuzari (1:26) that there were originally four stages of existence in creation: Domem, the inanimate such as rocks; tzomeach, vegetation such as plants and flowers; chai, animals such as cows and horses; and medaber, which means the speaking creature known as mankind. However, after Matan Torah there was a new entity created, known as Klal Yisrael. One of the Kuzari’s proofs that each of these categories is unique and not evolved is that when one disintegrates, it doesn’t drop into the category below it; it just disappears. Thus, a dying flower doesn’t turn into a rock, nor does a dead cow become a rose. The same is with Klal Yisrael. We are literally a new creation. Therefore, when we fall, we do

not become another nation. We fall below anyone else on the face of the earth. This explains the Ashreichem exclamation. Even – and perhaps even especially – when we have fallen, it is obvious that we are a unique nation, unlike anyone or anything else in the universe. When we sing of our highs and lows, our ups and downs, the lows as well as the highs praise who we are and who we are not. As Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, often pointed out that we ask nothing of the people in the world except to be left alone. We are not like the Nazis who claimed Aryanism so that they could conquer the world. We just want to be able to keep our 613 mitzvos, even though it mostly deprives us of many of the pleasures which the rest of the world enjoys. Thus, Pesach sings of Hashem’s majesty and that of His people, but so does Tishah B’Av. On the Ninth of Av, we do not recite Tachanun (Shulchan Aruch 559:40) because it is a Moed – not just in the future – but now – since even our tragedies are proof our eminence. Moshiach is born on Tishah B’Av, and in the future, it will be celebrated as a great yom tov. Rav Yonasan David (ibid., page 62:29) cites another of the Tishah B’Av Kinnos as proof of the uplifting character of Tishah B’Av. In the 16th Kinnah, “Remember what the Tormentor (Titus) perpetrated,” we lament the enemy’s violation of the Holy of Holies. He impaled the “two-sided curtain” and drew blood. In that lilting, tragic poem, we lift our voices to declare that “they sang song and praises as Israel did at the Sea of Reeds.” Those who were leaping into the sea rather than be violated by the evil enemy sanctified the

Name of Hashem. But they were able to sing a song as they perished because this strength of character, this heroism also proved beyond doubt the greatness of our people. Sadly, but nobly, this scenario was replicated during the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Shemini Atzeres/ Simchas Torah in Eretz Yisrael recently, and throughout our history. Let’s modernize all this a bit. We are experiencing worldwide antisemitism, from the usual bad actors of Eisav and Yishmael but also from American pundits, leaders and politicians. The message to us is almost too simple and easy to read. We are being reminded that we are always different. We dare not rely upon the promises of “nobles, nor on a human being, for he holds no salvation” (Tehillim 146:3). We sometimes think that, chas v’shalom Hashem has abandoned us. But the truth is, as Chazal said, aderabbah – on the contrary – when Hashem shows us that “there is no one to rely upon except for Him,” He is revealing Himself to us in all His love and glory. As even objective observers such as Mark Twain have noted, the people of Israel has outlived them all. The Mamdanis are nothing new, only some of their names. With the help of Hashem, as we daven only to Him and rely only upon Him, all will turn out for the best. The music of Tishah B’Av ends on a high note of “when we return to Yerushalayim” because only Hashem can and will make it happen. Bimeheira b’yameinu, amein.

Rav Yaakov Feitman is the rav of Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi in Cedarhurst, NY.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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Halacha

The Death of the Kesubah by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

he Kesubah is a legal contract, written in Aramaic, that a groom gives to his bride. For thousands of years, this document protected a woman if her husband ever divorced her or if he passed away. The money was meant to be large enough that a husband would think twice before ending the marriage carelessly. Today, the value of the Kesubah is so miniscule that it no longer effectively serves that purpose.

Two Hundred Zuz, or Twenty-Five? The Kesubah of a first-time bride states the main obligation with the words “kesef zuzei ma’asan,” meaning two hundred zuz. The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Ishus 10:8) explains that the “zuz” is the same as a dinar, but that these coins were not pure silver: they were only one-eighth silver (7 parts copper to 1 part silver). Because of this, the 200 “dinar” of a besulah were actually equal to only 25 zuz of pure silver, and the 100 of a widow to just 12.5. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 66:3) rules this way, which is why the Sephardic Kesubah is valued at only 25 dinar. The Rama (ibid), on the other hand, holds that the zuz of the Kesubah is the normal, full dinar. To make clear which

type is meant, Ashkenazim add the phrase that the sum is “due to you by Torah law” (d’oraisa), and so the Ashkenazic Kesubah is valued at the full 200 dinar. The Sephardim do not add that phrase, relying on the contract rule of “al hatachtonah”: any undefined term is read at its lowest value. This one difference is the root of the gap between the two traditions. The research presented here draws heavily on the remarkable scholarship of Rabbi Ahron Notis in his recent volume, The Great Shiurim Debate, published by Mosaica Press.

Putting Real Numbers on It Twenty-five dinar equals about 106 grams of silver (under 3.5 Troy ounces); 200 dinar equals about 850 grams (about 27.4 Troy ounces). The dollar value swings with the price of silver, which has been volatile, ranging in recent years between about $18 and $30 a Troy ounce but climbing to roughly $60 a Troy ounce as of July 2026. At that price: • An Ashkenazic Kesubah for a firsttime bride (200 dinar) is worth roughly $1,640. • A Sephardic Kesubah (25 dinar) is one-eighth of that, roughly $205. • A widow’s Kesubah is half a first-

time bride’s; a Sephardic widow’s comes to only about $102. The number on the parchment never changed; only the price of silver did. Because the Kesubah is tied to silver rather than to paper money, its value floats with the metal, but it is never a large or reliable sum.

Why So Low? The Rivash’s Answer The Rivash (vol. 2, siman 153) was asked exactly this: the sum seems far too small to make a husband hesitate before divorce. His answer was that the Kesubah was never built for the wealthy; it was built for the poor of the time of Chazal, people who lacked even enough bread, slept on the ground, and mostly went barefoot. For such a person, 200 zuz was a genuinely meaningful sum. He proves it from the Mishnah: someone with 50 zuz who does business with it is no longer “poor” (and may not take the gifts left for the needy), and 50 zuz is only half a widow’s Kesubah. The key point is that silver has largely kept its purchasing power when measured in bread. In an era when bread was most of a poor family’s budget, 200 zuz truly hurt to pay out. The 200 was always the floor,

designed around the poor; a wealthier bride could always demand more.

The Three Money Promises in a Kesubah A Kesubah contains three obligations. The first is the ikar Kesubah, the ancient core amount (200 dinar in the Ashkenazic text). The second is the dowry (nadunya), the value the bride’s father sent along, which the husband had to return upon divorce or death; today it is written as a fixed 100 zekukim of fine silver. The third is the tosefes Kesubah, an added amount the groom voluntarily promises, another 100 zekukim. Together the dowry and the addition make the familiar 200 zekukim of Ashkenazic kesubos. These sums were once negotiated case by case, but communities eventually adopted one standard figure for everyone. As the Raaviyah (Sefer Raaviyah, vol. 3, Biur Mishpetei HaKesubah, siman 916) explained, since most people were poor, a uniform amount spared anyone the embarrassment of a small, revealing number.

The Mystery Unit: What Is a Zakuk? The word written in the Kesubah is zekukim (singular: zakuk), and one point

Because the Kesubah is tied to silver rather than to paper money, its value floats with the metal, but it is never a large or reliable sum.

haram Mintz, cited there, identified it with the mark currency worth 48 groshen. We are left writing in a measure that no longer exists, and no one is sure which historical mark was meant. If the old units are gone, why not use dollars or shekels? The answer lies in a problem with modern money: it is not backed by silver or gold, and it steadily loses value to inflation. A fixed dollar figure would erode over a long marriage and could be nearly worthless by the time it was collected. Silver, by contrast, holds its value in bread. The rabbis kept silver, but by now no one agrees which silver coins the zekukim were meant to be.

Rav Moshe Feinstein’s Attempt to Fix It Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, EH, vol. 4, simanim 91–92) proposed a fix. Noting that in Czarist Russia the custom was to collect 75 rubles (then worth a bit over $40, a meaningful sum for ordinary people), he suggested that in America we understand the word zakuk as the weight of a mark, about half a pound. A groom would then obligate the value of 100 pounds of silver (about 45 kilograms which as of July 2026 is $87,000), more than fifty times the ikar Kesubah, a sum large enough to truly make divorce not “light in his eyes.” But no such custom was ever adopted, and so the financial obligation of the Kesubah today remains insignificant. Gedolei Yisrael once kept the tosefes Kesubah meaningful by raising it as

economies changed, but since World War I, the amount has been frozen. Two reasons explain the lack of urgency. First, the fear of easy divorce has faded: Ashkenazim no longer permit a get against the wife’s will, and secular law now imposes a heavy financial burden on a man seeking divorce. Second, the Kesubah money is rarely collected at all; divorcing couples reach a broader settlement in which the husband gives far more than the Kesubah requires. So communities keep copying the same wording of 200 zekukim, even though neither the groom, the bride, nor the officiating rav know what it means.

Can a Woman Still Collect Her 200 Zekukim? It depends on where the Kesubah was written. In a place with a definite local custom fixing how much silver the 200 zekukim represent, she can collect that amount. But in most of the world today there is no such custom, and the rule of “al hatachtonah” takes over: an unclear sum is enforced only at its lowest interpretation. Since the smallest reasonable value of a zakuk is very little, there is sadly not much she can actually collect. The Kesubah remains a holy and essential part of every Jewish wedding, and its role in protecting the dignity and rights of a Jewish woman is as important as ever. What has died is the meaning of its money. The document still names ancient units, zekukim, that no living person can find or spend, and that were never even the name on a real coin. In the end, the Kesubah is a living testament to Chazal’s concern for the almanah and the divorcee. It is this author’s view that the matter should be taken up with our Torah leaders and that we should endeavor to have various communities adopt the view of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, and make the Kesubah a viable legal document collectable in court.

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

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

deserves to be clear: there was never a coin stamped “zakuk.” The word means “refined,” and it first referred to a weight of refined silver, much as the English “pound” began as a unit of weight. Over time, it likely attached to the European “mark” currency, so that, like the British pound, it came to mean a coin rather than an actual weight of silver. Before World War II, the zekukim in a European Kesubah pointed to the real money of the day, such as zlotys or marks. Today, no unit anywhere is called a zakuk. Rav Moshe Sternbuch (Hilchos HaGra U’Minhagav, Dinei Nisuin, siman 126) writes that it is not clear what “zekukim of fine silver” even means; the Ma-

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

The Saddest Day in History Th e Day of Th e Com i ng of mosh iaCh By Rabbi Daniel glatstein

hat will that great day look like, what will it feel like? We would expect it to be the happiest, most joyous day in our history. A day of exhilaration, a day of euphoria. Yet, the Navi Zechariah says that at the coming of Moshiach, “On that day the mourning will become intense in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon [and the mourning] at the Valley of Megiddon. The land will mourn each of the families by itself” (Zechariah 12:11-12). The Navi is telling us that the day that Moshiach will finally come will in some way be the saddest and most painful day in history. Are we reading this correctly? Why are we going to be weeping when Moshiach arrives? When the long-awaited redemption is finally at hand, why will we be mourning? The arrival of the Final Redemption ought to be the cause of rejoicing and celebrating, and yet, we are told that more tears will be shed on this day than ever before. How can we possibly understand this?

A Nation That Endures Throughout our history, the Jewish people have suffered and have been persecuted more than any other

nation in the world. In Mitzrayim, we were brutalized. The Babylonians murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews. The Romans killed millions. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms, the Holocaust. No nation has been subjected to the atrocities and tribulations that we were. But we endure. How have we survived all these incredible challenges, these unspeakable horrors? The question is not how we could possibly survive in a mortal sense. Physically, we endure, as Yaakov Avinu said, “If Eisav comes to the one camp and strikes it down, then the remaining camp shall survive” (Bereishis 32:9). There has always been a she’eiris hapleitah, a surviving remnant. Hashem, in His infinite kindness, has always spared a small number of Jews who escaped; they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, rolled up their sleeves, and started anew. So no, I don’t refer to physical survival. I mean emotional, psychological survival. How did the survivors have the fortitude and mental stamina that enabled them not to collapse, not to be crushed emotionally? How could they possibly have emerged and remained not totally demoralized? Let’s analyze the life of the Rokeach as an example.

The Rokeach Rav Elazar of Worms was born in Germany in the

year 1176. He authored the famous sefer, HaRokeach, so named because the numerical value of Rokeach is equivalent to the numerical value of his name, Elazar. The Rokeach, as he is referred to, was a talmid of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid, who, together with the Rokeach’s father, taught Kabbalah to Rav Elazar. They provided him with the mystical meanings behind the tefillos we say, and they taught him the correct text of davening, the correct nusach hatefillah that dates back to the time of the Tannaim. Rav Elazar wrote a commentary to the Sefer HaYetzirah, as well as Sadei Razya, a Kabbalistic work on the siddur that remained in manuscript form. His other works include Shaarei Binah, Seder Hashem, and many other unpublished treatises on Kabbalah. In 1197, crusaders murdered Rav Elazar’s wife and slaughtered his two daughters before his very eyes. They then wounded him and his young son. The Rokeach survived. Yes, he lived. But how did he continue? Imagine living as he did, constantly haunted by the horrific images of the murders of his family. How could he continue? When such tragedy strikes, some may go so far as to ask, “Who’s better off, the people who were murdered al Kiddush Hashem, or the survivors who must relive that moment for the rest of their lives?” Let’s fast-forward to the fifteenth century.

Rabbi Avraham Saba

The Holocaust We have suffered many episodes of terrible devastation, destruction, and attempts at annihilation during the course of our two-thousand-year galus. But this long history of persecution was possibly overshadowed and eclipsed by the events of the Holocaust. Between six and seven million Jews were slain by the Germans, yemach shemam v’zichram, a figure unprecedented in the twothousand-year Jewish exile. On a national level, it is impossible to comprehend the scope of this disaster. Every single isolated story is far too mindboggling to fathom. Daniel Goldhagen wrote a very important work, Hitler’s Willing Executioners,1 in which he quotes the words of a Death March survivor.

We will be crying thousands of years worth of pent-up tears, for centuries of unshed tears, for two thousand years of galus. did they continue to live, haunted by the image of their brothers and sisters being burned alive? Plagued forever by the stench of the burning bodies? Allow me to quote the transcript of Rivka Voselowska’s testimony at the Eichmann trial, a testimony about which Chief Prosecutor Gideon Hausner reported, “… her story shattered the courtroom … loud sobbing was heard from the audience, and tears flowed freely from many eyes.” Her testimony reads as follows2: The Jewish Quarter was suddenly surrounded by hundreds of SS men, who, with shouts and whiplashes, ordered all the Jews out of their homes. They were chased like animals to the central square of the town, where they were kept until the next morning without food or water. I did not believe they would kill us; I hoped it would be just torture. Rivka Voselowska stood there clinging to her six-yearold daughter. Her parents, grandmother, and sister were all nearby. The SS officers started shooting the Jews one by one, firing point-blank into the back of each victim’s head, and then kicking the body into the open pits. Rivka Voselowska saw her father and mother disappear into the ditch. Then the Germans approached her grandmother, who

was holding two little girls in her arms. She was comforting them, pointing to the heavens, where they would soon meet their loved ones. In a moment, all three were shot. “As I stood there, paralyzed with horror,” Rivka Voselowska continued, “my little daughter, Malka, was grabbed from my arms and killed.” “From that moment on,” she said, “I felt nothing more.” The German who shot her missed, and the bullet grazed the side of her head. She felt a booted leg kicking her into the ditch, leaving her to bleed to death or to die of suffocation. Later, she regained consciousness. “I felt like I was choking to death and desperately needed air. I lifted myself up from among the bodies, many of which were still alive. Some were biting at me and pulling me down. By then, the shooting was over, and the Germans had gone.” She described having only the skies above her head and an endless grave under her feet. She survived. But she saw her father, mother, grandmother, sister, and daughter all executed right before her eyes. How did she go on? How did she get the strength and courage to continue?

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz The following incident was often related by the Rosh Yeshivah of the Mirrer Yeshivah in Yerushalayim, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. Two children were brought to the train that was to carry them to the death camp. Their unfortunate mother stood helplessly by the steps of the train, begging the German soldier to give her children back to her. The Nazi told her that she could take one of her sons off the train. The mother took one of the boys, lowering him down and clutching him close to her chest. The second son jumped onto her back, weeping and begging, “Mama, Mama, why didn’t you choose me?” She put down the child she was holding and picked up the second, hugging him close. His brother burst out crying, “Mama, why are you leaving me?” Her heart was torn to pieces. The tragic end to the story was that both young boys remained on the train, and the distraught mother stayed behind. Yes, she was alive physically. But for what? What is the point of surviving? Of remaining alive physically? How can we survive emotionally? In the words of one Holocaust survivor: “The Jewish agencies would give us furniture if we needed it, but we needed a social worker and a psychiatrist, and there was no one to help.”3 Another survivor was more outspoken and described her early years in America as “a second holocaust; we needed emotional support and we did not get it.” Yet, somehow, someway, we were able to make it through and overcome. With tremendous resiliency and fortitude, we have always been able to start over and begin anew. How were we always able to do it?

A Heart of Stone Rav Simcha Wasserman, son of Rav Elchanan Wasserman, Hy”d, the talmid muvhak of the Chofetz Chaim, offers a very powerful thought. The Navi Yechezkel tells us, “I will give you a new heart

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Rabbi Avraham Saba was an illustrious Torah scholar whose granddaughter married none other than Rav Yosef Caro, the mechaber of the Shulchan Aruch. Rav Avraham was born in the Kingdom of Castile in the closing decades of the fifteenth century. He was already an accomplished scholar at the time of the gerush Sepharad (expulsion from Spain), during the Spanish Inquisition. In 1492, he fled from Spain to Oporto, Portugal, where he hoped to find a safe haven for his family. Unfortunately, that was not to be. During his first few peaceful years in Portugal, Rabbi Avraham completed his commentaries on Chumash, on the five Megillos, and on Pirkei Avos. The Jews were subsequently expelled from Portugal, but not before King Emanuel revealed the terrible surprise that he had in store for them. He issued an edict that all Jewish children below the age of eighteen were to be snatched from their parents and forcibly converted by the church. Rabbi Avraham’s two younger sons were both kidnaped and forcibly baptized. He never saw them again. How could one go on after experiencing such suffering? Death seems better than the living nightmare of knowing that one’s children have been kidnaped and converted to Christianity. Death is paradise compared to this anguish. But this was not the end of Rav Saba’s torments. His entire library of precious, handwritten manuscripts was confiscated to be burned in a public square in Lisbon, together with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other sefarim. Left totally bereft, Rabbi Avraham fled with one consolation. He still had a secret personal treasure of the manuscripts of the sefarim he had written in Portugal. His commentary Tzror HaMor on Torah, his peirush on the Megillos, and his work on Pirkei Avos remained hidden in a corner of his home. One day, friends mentioned to him that his secret had been revealed, and that if he did not destroy his manuscripts, his life would be in danger. With a broken heart, he dug a grave and buried his precious manuscripts under an olive tree. He never saw these manuscripts, the few remnants of his labor, ever again, but later he was able to reconstruct the text. Somehow, he managed to move on, to move past these tremendous losses. Let’s turn our attention to a more recent tragedy, the Holocaust.

One night [during a forced Death March from the Dora-Mittelbau Camp] we stopped near the town of Gardelegen. We lay down in a field, and several Germans went to consult about what they should do. They returned with a lot of young people from the Hitler Youth and with members of the police force from the town. They chased us all into a large barn. There were between five and six thousand of us, and the wall of the barn collapsed from the pressure of the mass of people. Many of us fled. The Germans poured out petrol and set the barn on fire. Several thousand people were burned alive. Those of us who had managed to escape lay down in the nearby woods and heard the heartrending screams of the victims. This was on April 13, 1945. One day later, the place was conquered by Eisenhower’s army. When the Americans got there, the bodies were still burning. So, yes, there were survivors of this incident. But how

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the stone heart from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Yechezkel 36:26). Rav Simcha Wasserman explains that while we are in galus, Hashem has given us a heart of stone, a lev ha’even. Why would He give us a heart of stone? Isn’t a soft, sensitive heart important in the service of Hashem and in our interactions with others? After all we have discussed, it should be self-evident. Hashem has given us a heart of stone to afford us the ability to emotionally survive the galus. Hashem has instilled in us a heart of stone for when wives and children are slaughtered in front of their husbands and fathers in the times of the Crusades. For when children are kidnaped and baptized by the Inquisition. For when families are burned or shot right before the eyes of their loved ones. Hashem provided us with a heart of stone so that in these horrific situations we don’t go mad. The stone heart is unfeeling, and some of the pain is not fully experienced. We are not completely sensitive to the raw and agonizing pain of the enormous tragedies that have befallen our people. Hashem has hardened and desensitized our hearts in order to preserve our sanity and to allow us to proceed with some semblance of normalcy. Truth be told, however, it is not all that good to have a heart of stone. We are supposed to be compassionate, sensitive people. We are supposed to be attuned to the needs of our friends. Having a heart of stone is not ideal — but it is necessary. But on that day, on that great day when Moshiach

will come, Hashem will remove our hearts of stone and provide us with new hearts: “V’nasati lachem lev chadash v’ruach chadasha etain b’kirbichem v’haseirosi es lev ha’even m’besarchem v’nasati lachem lev basar.” Hashem will give us a heart of flesh, at which point we will reflect on the tragedies we’ve endured; we will look back at the lives cut short, at the kidnappings, at the children stolen from our people, at the brutalities we have suffered, at the families that were torn apart, and at the thousands of children murdered in the Holocaust. The suffering and anguish that has piled up over the centuries will then hit us like a heavy load; it will pierce our raw hearts, and, after they have been somewhat numbed for over two thousand years, it will be a dagger to our hearts. We will cry and cry and cry.

Prayer are locked …. [However,] the Gates of Tears remain open.” Perhaps, if we can shed just one sincere tear, it will go straight up to the Ribbono Shel Olam, through the open Gates of Tears, and will be me’orer rachamim, awaken mercy before Avinu she’baShamayim, to bring the Geulah Sheleimah and the Third Beis HaMikdash.

Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1996, page 369.

“From Dusk to Dawn,” p. 82, by Rabbi Zechariah Fendel. Hashkafah Publications, 2003.

Redemption: A Time for Tears

After the Holocaust: the migration of Polish Jews and Christians to Pittsburgh, Barbara Stern Burstin, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1989, page 120.

On that great day, the mourning will be overwhelming in Yerushalayim. We will have so much crying to catch up on. We will be crying thousands of years’ worth of pent-up tears, for centuries of unshed tears, for two thousand years of galus. Throughout the year, we don’t feel it fully. We have a lev ha’even, a stone heart. But on one day a year, Hashem sensitizes our hearts just a bit, and we are able to feel the pain. Hopefully, we can offer at least one sincere tear. The Gemara tells us: “Rav Elazar says that from the day the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the Gates of

This article has been printed from The Darkness and the Dawn: A Journey through the Three Weeks, Tisha B’Av, and Beyond by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, published by Artscroll. Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime. com, podcast, his website rabbidg.com, and other venues.

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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Torah Thought

What Are We Really Missing on Tisha B’Av? By Rabbi Heshy Kleinman

av Wolbe was once in Europe, speaking to alumni of Yeshivas Be’er Yaakov, where he had served as mashgiach. He asked them to sum up, in one sentence, the underlying message of all the shmuessen he had given during their years in the yeshivah. They offered different answers, but Rav Wolbe was not satisfied. Finally, he told them, “The single idea I was trying to convey is that ruchniyus, spirituality, is no less a reality than gashmiyus, the physical world.” That last sentence may be one of the keys to understanding what we are really missing on Tisha B’Av, and perhaps even to helping us end this long galus. We know how to feel a physical loss. If a person, chas v’shalom, loses his home, his health, or his livelihood, no one has to explain to him that something terrible happened. The loss is real to him. It hurts. But the loss of the ruchniyus of the Beis HaMikdash is a totally different kind of loss altogether. It is not always easy to see, and not always easy to feel. But how important is it anyway, that we try to feel that spiritual loss? Reb Shimshon Pincus writes that if a person is unable to feel the loss of the Beis HaMikdash, if he cannot

mourn and cry for the Churban Beis HaMikdash, he should sit on the floor and cry bitterly over his own personal churban: that he cannot feel the loss of the spirituality of the Beis HaMikdash (Galus V’Nechamah, pp. 147-151). The Yaavetz writes even more sharply that if our only sin were that we do not mourn sufficiently for the Beis HaMikdash, that alone would be enough reason for the galus to continue (Siddur Beis Yaakov, Tisha B’Av, 6:16). So the question is: What was the spiritual heart of the Beis HaMikdash that we lost on Tisha B’Av? Why is it so hard for us to feel it? And most importantly, is there a practical way to begin to feel that spiritual loss so we can do our part to end this long and bitter galus? A backpacker in Eretz Yisrael once approached Rabbi Noach Weinberg, the founder of Aish HaTorah, and asked if it was true that people call this country the Holy Land. “Yes,” Reb Noach answered. “Well,” the tourist said, “I hiked from the Golan to Eilat, from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean, and I didn’t see any holiness.” Reb Noach asked, “Tell me, how many boofasticks did you meet?”

The tourist was confused. “Boofasticks? What are boofasticks?” Reb Noach said, “I didn’t ask what boofasticks are. I asked how many you met.” The tourist answered, “How can I tell you how many I met if I don’t know what they are?” Reb Noach replied, “Exactly. Thank you for making the point. If you do not know what holiness is, how can you say that you did not see it?” That story touches the heart of the Tisha B’Av dilemma. Every year we sit on the floor, fast, read Eichah, and say Kinnos. We read about the burning of the Beis HaMikdash and the suffering Klal Yisrael has endured throughout galus. And yet, a person can reach the end of the day, stand up from his low chair, eat something, and return to ordinary life almost exactly as he was before. That is deeply troubling, because Tisha B’Av is not meant only to remind us of the Churban. It is meant to bring the Churban into our hearts and inspire us to make even a small change in our lives. But what is the Churban really about? It is not only that a holy structure, the Beis HaMikdash, was destroyed. It is the destruction of the place where the Shechi-

nah rested openly among Klal Yisrael. We have heard the word “Shechinah” many times. But do we really know what it means? Is it real to us? Does it affect our daily life? The bottom line is that if Shechinah remains vague to us, then the loss of the Shechinah will also feel vague. A person can know about the korbanos, the daily miracles, and the central place of the Beis HaMikdash in Klal Yisrael, and still not feel the depth of the spirituality that was lost. Because until we clearly understand what Shechinah means, we cannot truly feel its loss. So, what exactly is Shechinah? What did we lose, and what are we longing for? The Noda B’Yehudah explains that Shechinah is connected to Hashem’s hashgachah, His direct involvement with Klal Yisrael (Noda B’Yehudah, Mahadura Tinyana, Orach Chaim 107). To live with Shechinah means to live with the awareness that Hashem is present, that His hashgachah fills the world, and that history is not merely a chain of politics, armies, governments, and human decisions. Perhaps we can begin to understand this from something that happened in 1940. Terrifying reports had begun reaching Lithuania about what the

ible events was Hashem. And that is one of the painful parts of galus: we see what is in front of our eyes and struggle to see what stands behind it. Yet sometimes Hashem allows a person to glimpse His hashgachah clearly. In 1936, Rav Pam sought a position in Torah Vodaath, but none were available. Since he knew several languages, he applied to become a court interpreter. He was highly qualified and scored highest on the exam, but the judge gave the position to his nephew. Rav Pam then applied for a rabbinical position in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The first suggestion is this: sometime on Tisha B’Av, set aside a few uninterrupted minutes. For the first two minutes, focus on one place in the world where Hashem’s Presence feels hidden. It may be the suffering of Klal Yisrael, a painful situation, or a confusing event where the surface is all you see. For the two quiet minutes, stay with that thought and try to feel what it means to live in a world where Hashem is present but hidden. After that, turn inward for two more minutes and ask yourself where the Churban is felt more personally in your own life. Maybe there is a mitzvah that you

To live with Shechinah means to live with the awareness that Hashem is present.

An interview was arranged, and he was supposed to take a bus from Port Authority. Rav Pam was known for his punctuality, but that day he missed the bus by mere minutes. The interview was never rescheduled. At the time, it looked like one disappointment after another: the court interpreter position and then the rabbinical position. But decades later, after a lifetime as a rebbi and Rosh Yeshivah in Torah Vodaath, Rav Pam looked back with deep gratitude. Only later did it become clear what really happened. At first, it looked like missed chances and closed doors. But behind the surface, Hashem’s hashgachah was leading Rav Pam toward the life he was meant to live, as Rosh Yeshivah of Torah Vodaath. Most of the time, though, we do not get to see the clear story. A person is hurt and sees only the person who hurt him. A problem appears, and he sees only the inconvenience. A door closes, and all he feels is the pain of what he lost. That hiddenness is part of what we are mourning on Tisha B’Av. And that is the dilemma this day places before us: Does it bother us that Hashem’s Presence is hidden from His world? Does it trouble us that we don’t feel His Presence? Do we even realize that His Presence is missing? So, as a practical matter, what can we do? Here are two easy, practical suggestions to help make the loss of the Shechinah real to us, bring Hashem’s Presence back into our daily lives, and bring the Geulah closer.

do mechanically, a part of davening that has become routine, or a relationship that needs improvement or repair. Choose one place where Hashem feels too hidden. Then spend two more minutes speaking to Hashem. It may feel strange, but that itself may be because Hashem feels hidden from you. Say, “Ribbono Shel Olam, I do not feel the Churban as much as I should, but I want to. I do not long for the Geulah as much as I should, but I want to. Please help me see You more clearly. Please help me care more deeply. Please help me change.” Now take what you noticed and turn it into one small action you will carry with you from Tisha B’Av. Will it be one moment a day to look for Hashem’s Hand in the events of the world or in your own life? Will it be one bracha a day said more slowly? One Shemoneh Esrei recited with more awareness? Or perhaps one relationship repaired, one apology offered, or one person forgiven? The second suggestion is a small daily practice, but it can open a person’s heart over time. In fact, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, and Rav Yechezkel Levenstein all encouraged it: keep a personal written record of moments when you see Hashem’s Presence in the world or in your life. Every night, stop for one minute and ask: Where did I see Hashem’s Presence today? It does not have to be dramatic. Was there a phone call at exactly the right moment? A problem unexpectedly resolved? Something you almost forgot but suddenly remembered? Write down

at least one thing every night. Why are these two suggestions an appropriate response to the Churban we mourn on Tisha B’Av? Because the Churban created a world in which Hashem’s Presence is concealed. And although we cannot rebuild the Beis HaMikdash by ourselves in one moment, we can begin to reverse that concealment inside our own hearts and begin to feel His Presence. Chazal say, “Whoever mourns over Yerushalayim merits and sees its joy” (Ta’anis 30b). On a deeper level, perhaps real mourning already begins the rebuilding. The Beis HaMikdash was the place where Hashem’s Presence was open and clear. When we truly mourn its loss, we are mourning the fact that we are not aware of Hashem’s Shechinah. And if that mourning awakens within us a greater awareness of Hashem’s Presence, then we have already begun to rebuild what was lost. And although it is true that on Tisha B’Av we may be unable to cry or fully feel the Churban, we can still stop, think, and say, “Ribbono Shel Olam, I truly want to feel Your Presence.” One final thought. After more than 1,950 years of galus, how can we be confident that our small efforts really matter? The answer begins with a powerful teaching of the Chofetz Chaim. He compares us to “a midget standing on the shoulders of a giant.” The giant represents the merits of all the generations that came before us. We may be small, but because we stand on the shoulders of all the generations before us, our small merits can matter more than we imagine (Machaneh Yisrael, ch. 25; Chofetz Chaim al HaTorah, Devarim 30:3). Similarly, the Sfas Emes explains that the merits of all the generations before us have been building and accumulating. When the final merits are added, Mashiach can come immediately, even if that final generation seems spiritually small (Sfas Emes to Devarim, 5634, cited in Ohr Gedalyahu, Bein HaMetzarim, p. 165, fn. 5). That means that no genuine effort is too small. One moment of seeing Hashem more clearly, one small change, one step out of the spiritual darkness of galus, may matter more than we can imagine. If we can try to change even one thing and begin seeing Hashem’s Presence more clearly in the world, then Tisha B’Av will not merely have been a day on which we mourned the Churban. It will have been a day on which we began to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash, one brick at a time. And with that, may we merit to see the complete rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash, speedily in our days.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Germans were doing to the Jews of Poland. People heard stories of cruelty almost impossible to believe. Naturally, they tried to explain what was happening. They spoke about antisemitism, German brutality, Hitler, politics, and military power. A young talmid chacham named Rav Chaim Stein, who would later become a Rosh Yeshivah of Telshe, Cleveland, heard the same reports. When a refugee arrived from Warsaw and described the horrifying cruelty of the Germans, Rav Chaim wrote in his diary, “How is it possible for people to become so cruel, to become so savage and vicious, far more than any predatory animal, if not because ‘Hashem, against Whom we have sinned’?” In understanding what Rav Chaim meant, we have to be very careful. Rav Chaim was not minimizing the evil of the murderers, excusing them, or claiming that we can explain the terrible suffering of Klal Yisrael. He was saying something else: that a Jew is meant to look beyond the surface of events. What human eyes see is real, but it is not the whole picture. Behind the visible events of the world, there is Hashem’s hashgachah, even when it is hidden from us. Rav Chaim saw exactly what everyone else saw, but he saw something deeper. He did not deny the cruelty, danger, or human evil. But he also saw that history has a spiritual reality beneath the surface. And that is the beginning of understanding what we lost with the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. The Beis HaMikdash represented a world where spiritual reality was not hidden. Hashem’s Presence was clear. His involvement was felt. Ruchniyus was not pushed to the side of life; it was the deepest reality of life. Chazal tell us that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananyah once found a Jewish child in a Roman prison. He called out the beginning of a pasuk: “Who gave Yaakov over for plunder, and Yisrael to the looters?” The child completed the pasuk: “Was it not Hashem, against Whom we sinned?” Rabbi Yehoshua said he was certain this child would become a great posek, and he redeemed him. That child became Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha (Gittin 58a; Yeshayah 42:24). That child saw the Romans, but more importantly, he saw beyond the Romans. The soldiers were real, the prison was real, and the cruelty was real, but they were not the whole story. Behind the vis-

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

The Wandering

Jew

Destination: Home Part VI: A Medley of Childhood Memories

By Hershel Lieber

the Stuchiner Rebbe off 13th Avenue, we davened for a year or two in the Belzer Shtiebel on 16th Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets. The shul was on the second floor. My father had a number of friends there who had originally davened in Stuchin. I have good memories of that period as well. We later started to daven on Shabbos morning and all yomim tovim by the Bluzhiver Rebbe, by whom my faMoving To a New Home ther had davened while Sometime after my we lived in Williamsburg bar mitzvah, when I from 1947-1951. Friday was about 14 years old, nights and occasionally my father surprised our Shabbos day we would family when he bought a daven at the Bertcher house. Even my mother Rebbe who was distantly had no clue that he was related to my father. The looking for a house! We Rebbe’s family as well as were quite content living other mispallelim were as tenants on 49th Street my father’s close friends, off 13th Avenue, yet my and their wives shared a father evidently wantclose bond with my mothed to own a house. Our er. During the weekdays, new home was located at I would daven at the Bnei 1682 - 53rd Street and Current photo 0f our house Yehuda Shul on the corwas bought from Shulem at 1682 53rd Street ner of 16th Avenue and Reiss who, more than a decade later, became my brother Yossi’s 53rd Street. Rabbi Eliezer Kirzner was father-in-law. It was a brick detached the rav, and he was quite friendly to me. What I remember from the 16th Avhouse on a pretty, tree-lined block. Besides the living room, dining room, kitchen, dinette, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, there was a finished basement that was bringing in some income as a rental apartment. The neighborhood was a bit out of the heavily Jewish areas of Boro Park, but our block had enough Jewish residents to make us feel comfortable. There were a numB’nai Yehuda Shul ber of shuls nearby, and shopping on 16th Avenue was relatively enue stores that we patronized were the iconic Bochner’s Grocery, which was loeasy in terms of buying kosher products. After davening for over ten years at cated as a single store on the even side of am transcribing only the memories that I truly remember. I bemoan the fact that forgetting most childhood memories is a very normal thing, yet I wish that I could remember more. Still, many people are astonished that I do retain so many tidbits of nostalgia from the days of my youth.

Inside Schicks Bakery

numbered streets, on the 49th Street corner was Mauzone where we always bought the Monday night special – a barbecue chicken with two side dishes. Diagonally across was Schwartz’s Appetizing Store whose pungent aroma spilled out on the adjacent streets. Schick’s “famous” Bakery was located between 47th and 48th Street. My mother always bought their classic bon-bons, which was a macaroon topped with chocolate cream and covered with a layer of dark chocolate. I still miss that delicacy. OK – enough about the stores! During that time, I was still learning in the Bobover Yeshiva in Crown Heights. I do not recall exactly why, but there was

the avenue, across its present location. On that block (between 50th and 51st Street) were the following stores: next to Bochner’s was Korn’s Bakery annex, a fruit store, a fish store, and a small grocery store on the 51st Street corner, which is presently part of Mittelman’s Grocery. There was a bicycle shop that specialized in repairing bikes, etc.; Kneitel’s Delicatessen where Yossi and I often came for dinner; a Chinese laundry; and an ever-present candy store smack in middle of the block and another A trolley car on Church Avenue and McDonald Avenue one across the street. On the next block (between 51st and 52 no school bus serving my area. I had to streets), there was a Chinese laundry, a travel by city bus to school. A lengthy liquor shop, an educational film rental three-bus trip brought me there daibusiness, and a shoemaker and on the ly. The first bus was from 16th Avenue 52nd Street corner, a fruit store. Diago- and 52nd Street to Flatbush Avenue and nally across that corner was another can- Cortelyou Road. The next bus continued dy shop followed by a custom lamp shade from there to Flatbush Avenue and Emdesigner shop. Miller’s Grocery was right pire Boulevard, right across Prospect next to another grocery on the corner of Park. There I waited for a trolleybus 53rd Street. On the corner of 54th Street which was powered by electric lines from was a very old-fashioned candy store, and overhead wires. I still recall the appealnext door was the kosher butcher shop of ing aroma from the adjacent Bond Bread Mr. Reichman. Gross’ Bake shop was on Bakery which wafted in the air throughthe next block. Going towards the lower out the entire neighborhood. From there,

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

My mother, Yossi, my father & me in the late ‘50s

I continued on to Kingston Avenue and Park Place, a block from my yeshiva. The trip took well over an hour and involved many late arrivals. Yossi’s Bar Mitzvah My brother Yossi’s bar mitzvah took place in June of 1962. The Bobover Rebbe, zt”l, put on his tefillin, and his aliyah took place in the Bluzhiver Rebbe’s shul. What stands out mostly was what happened before the bar mitzvah reception started. Our Uncle Ben and his wife Jean came with their two daughters, Sherry and Gail, from Los Angeles for the simcha. Jean’s parents also came along. My mother, Jean and her mother and the girls all went to a local beauty parlor to prepare their hair and makeup for the event. They were just making their way back by foot when it began raining. Rain is not the word! A torrential downpour which can only be described as a mabul left the streets flooded with waters kneedeep. Garbage cans were floating, and even the cars lifted themselves off the streets. I remember the women coming in completely soaked, their hairdos and makeup in complete ruin. But the show had to go on. They quickly managed to do some restoration of the damages, get dressed, and head to the hall. As we were leaving, the sun made a stark appearance as an omen for a brighter future. The event took place at Benson Terrace on 86th Street off 18th Avenue, and Yossi finally became a “man.” Baruch Hashem, all’s well, that ends well. Lola’s Art Studio Shortly after moving to the other side of Boro Park, my mother, a”h, convinced my father about the prospect of opening up an art studio. My mother was already an accomplished artist and was sought after by many people to paint their fam-

Yossi getting ready to put on tefillin

ily portraits, especially portraits of their deceased parents, grandparents and chassidishe Rebbes. She also painted

Family photo at Yossi’s bar mitzvah: L-R: Me, Yossi, Jean’s parents, my mother, my father, Jean and Ben, and seated Gail, Sherry and Mati

dren. In short, she really was multi-talented. Her personality definitely added to her appeal and success.

A torrential downpour which can only described as a mabul left the streets flooded with waters knee-deep.

landscapes and still lifes using different mediums (oil, watercolor, pastels, charcoal and scratchboard). She was very business-minded as well, and involved herself and my father in many of her enterprises. None of them were long-lasting nor were they truly successful. Nevertheless, Lola’s Art Studio, which was located at 4813 -16th Avenue, became a Boro

I spent a great deal of my free time at her studio where I helped her in many ways to conduct her business. This was more so when I was an older teenager.

Bobover Chassidus From when I was about nine years old through the age of sixteen, I was a talmid in the Bobover Yeshiva in Crown Heights. The last four years I became a Bobover chassid as well. My parents’ relationship with Rav Shloma Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe, zt”l, began during the War in 1941, and my mother was instrumental in getting the Rebbe and his family out of the Bochnia ghetto. This connection was definitely a factor in me becoming a loyal chassid, but there was more to it. I loved and respected the Rebbe, and he My mother a”h, in front of Lola’s Art Studio showed a sense of affinity Park landmark that spanned over a half towards me as well. Being a talmid of the a century. Her studio featured her own yeshiva and having most of my friends as creations, artwork that she purchased Bobover chassidim also moved me in this for resale, and antique paintings. She direction. Since we lived in Boro Park, I could also sold frames and designed custom framing. There were times that she sold not participate weekly in davening with artist supplies, and for many years, she the Rebbe or attending his tisch. But on gave art lessons to both adults and chil- many occasions, I made my way to Crown

Heights to absorb the warmth and splendor of being in the Rebbe’s presence. I would stay at my cousins, Asher and Shyfra Scharf, whose two sons Moshe Yakov and Beinish were near my age and we got along pretty well. On Shemini Atzeres/ Simchas Torah, Shavuos, Shabbos Chanukah, and Shabbos Shira it was a given that I would spend those days in Bobov. But there were other times as well. I loved the Rebbe’s regal appearance, his singing, his Torah thoughts, his constant smile, and the twinkle in his eyes. Though I left the Bobover Yeshiva after the tenth grade, I still remained a true chassid. I still went to Bobov for some of the yomim tovim and to the Rebbe with a kvittel a few times during the year. Though my looks and my clothing did not match my former classmates’, I was welcomed and accepted by the Rebbe and my friends. I have great memories of the seven years that I spent learning at the Bobover Yeshiva, and Bobov is still an important part of my identity. I had previously written a lengthy article about the ongoing relationship I had with the Rebbe. His petira in year 2000 left a significant void in my life. Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

School of

Thought

Bar Mitzvah Milestones By Barbara Deutsch

he best part of attending a bar mitzvah is watching a squirmy 13-year-old (firsthand knowledge as a middle school teacher and a principal) display the courage and grit needed to stand front and center, commanding the respect of a room filled with family, friends and strangers. Watching as his friends decked out in suits and ties (some with sleeves and pants too short) sit quietly while the bar mitzvah boy does his thing; seeing this now young man move along the rows, shaking hands with his peers, still chokes me up every time. In the old days, most bar mitzvah boys read only the haftorah and recited the brachos. In our community, this has morphed into reading the parsha, the Haftorah, davening Mussaf and reciting the brachos. For a weekend bar mitzvah, the best part was the opportunity to have funfilled time away from the drudgery of the everyday. For a weekend simcha, the boy would often lead Kabbalas Shabbos. A bar mitzvah held at the Kotel was the ultimate celebration. Preparations often start years in advance: secure the date, the teacher and the venue, the clothes, and create the

guest lists. Getting ready for our son’s big day rented my head space for years. I remember attending a lecture at a conference of principals and watching one of the female participants making lists upon lists. She noticed my curiosity and responded, “I’m making a bar mitzvah in three weeks, and I need to get started.” Responding to my reaction, she commented, “This is my sixth son.” Grandpa was the bar mitzvah teacher of choice for our son, sons of a few very close friends and all nine of our grandsons; Bob was kind, patient, skilled, patient, loving and patient. For the three boys who lived locally in Woodmere, the proximity made it a simple, though intense task. For the Canadians and Israelis, Grandpa got the job done, but it was much more complicated. A year prior to the date of the bar mitzvah, Grandpa would begin preparing the boys with a review of the parsha story. In this way, the bar mitzvah boy would get a better understanding of what they would be reciting. Grandpa would then embark upon the tedious task of teaching the trop. Suffice it to say that some of our boys had a better ear for the different sound tones than others.

Our son’s birthday is during Sefira. Bob was not a stickler for most things, but he insisted that Torah and secular names had to match and that the bar mitzvah had to be Bo Ba’yom. We researched and sought answers from multiple rabbis for a way to play music during Sefira; we got a definitive no! There was no live music at the party. What there was, was the joyous and robust singing and dancing of our wonderful guests. Their “music” elevated the celebration. There also was delicious food catered by our dear friend Richie Jedwab. Grandpa began his teaching series with our eldest grandson Elly, a well-behaved, serious and studious young man, for his big day to be celebrated in Israel. His performance was superb. Elly recently told me that when he had trouble following the tune for the second aliyah, Grandpa played the notes on a small keyboard piano; it clicked. Elly continues to use the skills Grandpa taught him in his role as a baal tefila and rabbi. Our twins split their parsha with Jakob, blondie, had three aliyot and Yoav, lefty, four. Blondie recited the entire haftorah by himself. The twins were flawless, as were each and every one of

the grandsons taught by Grandpa. All three Deutsch bar mitzvahs were unique and celebrated in Israel. It was a mixed bag when it came to the Canadians. Judah, the eldest, knows the Torah by heart. Drop him into any parsha, and with little to no practice, he can read it flawlessly. He is sought out for his skills by minyanim everywhere. Judah has made the most out of the skills his grandfather taught him. Elisha, boy no. 2, had the most magnificent bar mitzvah in a hotel that overlooked the Kineret. In his remarks, Bob commented that with four grandparents and a father who work in education, it was a good thing that his mother was a doctor, which enabled the family and friends in attendance to enjoy the remarkable view. Ezra, boy number three, was bar mitzvahed during the very early Covid days. When we approached the shul door in Toronto on erev Shabbos, there was a big sign proclaiming, “If you are from New York, stay out!” We opened the shul door and walked right in. We did not come all this way to go home. Despite numerous cancellations and loss of money, Ezra persevered, excelled, and did not allow himself to be disappointed.

73 black patent leather shoes. I was 11 years old and felt so fancy. Much to my dismay, as soon as we got off the city bus that took my family and a bunch of cousins to the beautiful Brownsville venue on Pitkin Ave in Brooklyn, I noticed that my dress’s coarse material had pilled my precious nylon stockings. I was heartbroken. The bar mitzvah party contained all the trappings, which included a candle lighting ceremony that was all the rage in those days. There was a traditional “Hora” and a lot of stiff-necked mixed dancing. The evening was topped off with many wild kids running all over the place. As refugees who had worked so very hard for every penny earned, making an elaborate bar mitzvah party was the be all to end all. The celebration screamed, “We made it!” This past week, I attended two very different beautiful and meaningful bar mitzvah celebrations in Israel. Dear friends who are like family, Irv and Tara, included me in their grandson Ezra’s bar mitzvah celebration in Jerusalem’s Old City at the magnificently

refurbished Churva Synagogue which overlooks the Kotel. The festivities began with a walk from Shaar Zion, through its gate accompanied by music and dancing. I had never been in a bar mitzvah parade before. It’s wonderful. The bar mitzvah boy’s dad is Sefardi – my former Yeshivah of Flatbush student David. Ezra did a terrific job reading from the beautiful, silver, round Torah scroll. From high up in the ladies’ section balcony, I could barely see him, but his voice carried the minyan of men below. The celebratory breakfast on the Churva rooftop terrace was awesome. Mom Ayla’s remarks reflected her pride in her very special boy. The beautiful memories linger. Oftentimes, celebrating a bar mitzvah in Israel, with important family members unable to attend, can be very disappointing. The extended Gluck and Goldschmidt families had the privilege of hosting all of their children, on both sides, together for a magical Shabbos for grandson Ephraim’s bar mitzvah. From Dallas, Texas, Passaic and Long Branch, New Jersey, everyone came to mark the simcha. Ephraim did his part with aplomb and confidence. What stood

out for me were the beautiful speeches that lauded the bar mitzvah boy as a true mensch, son, brother, grandson and friend. Ephraim is a boy who is ready to be a man. Despite the hours of hard work that planning a bar mitzvah entails, there may still be real obstacles, financial shortfalls, distance Covid or Sefira that keeps the event from being “perfect.” Regardless, this milestone in any Jewish family brings joy, excitement, nachas and will be long remembered by all who have the privilege to participate. A bar mitzvah is a defining hallmark in a young Jewish boy’s life. Having the zechus of learning the parsha from a loving grandfather is a cherished privilege for both the boy and his special teacher. Mazal tov to all celebrating bar mitzvah milestones.

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.

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Noam’s bar mitzvah was uneventful and magnificent; all of our kids from New York and Israel were able to be there to celebrate. Grandpa also taught our two musical Israeli Shapiro grandsons, Dovid and Yosef. Because the Shapiros reside in Israel and an Israeli bar mitzvah boy learns a particular way of reading, and as the boys did not want their accents to be mocked by their peers, Dovid and Yosef were given follow up lessons with an Israeli-trained bar mitzvah teacher. Dovid’s bar mitzvah was marked but in no way diminished by Covid. Many guests, including us, were unable to attend; a number of the important guests even came down with the virus. Dovid was not deterred and did us all proud. We celebrated Yosef’s glorious bar mitzvah in israel right before we made aliyah. As is Yosef’s way, he soared. My cousin Mike’s bar mitzvah party was the first one that I ever attended. My mom took me to the beauty parlor to get my long brown hair teased into a “flip.” At great expense, my parents bought me a pretty blue frilly dress made out of this rough mesh material. I also wore my very first pair of nylon stockings with

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

nspiration Nation

Omer Wenkert In the Darkness, But Never Alone By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

t was one of the highest points in 22-year-old Omer Wenkert’s life. Just weeks away from starting college, armed with dreams of restaurants and business, Omer was on cloud nine in the days before the October 7, 2023, enjoying the thrill of freedom. His whole life lay ahead of him, an array of youthful hopes and dreams. On the morning of October 7, he and his friend Kim attended the Nova music festival, an energizing party that, to him, represented the best parts of his life: the freedom, the excitement. He felt his aspirations pumping through his blood, beating to the rhythm of the

festival’s trance music. But it all ended so quickly. One minute, he was dancing. The next, running. One minute, he was breathing fresh southern Israeli air. The next, he was hiding in a bomb shelter beneath corpses. One minute, his heart thrummed to music. The next, it beat to the explosive sounds of machine guns, grenades, and fire consuming his shelter. And, of course, one minute, he was free, living the life in Israel. The next, he was a hostage, ready to die — his hands tied behind his back, his barely

In His Words… i say thank you for everything, because i believe that everything i have right now is from g-d. i was 197 days alone, but i didn’t feel alone for a second. i always felt that g-d believed in me. it was the moment that i realized that i’m not allowed to lose my hope, and that i need to fully believe that i’m going home. Because if i don’t believe it, what am i hoping for? i can’t hope for something i don’t believe is going to happen.

conscious body hurled into a truck and taken away to Gaza. *

When he arrived in his new destination — a dark Gaza tunnel — what was the first thought that popped into Omer’s head? “The first thing that came to my head was, ‘Omer, this is your life now,’” Omer Wenkert recalls. “‘You have nothing to do with the fact that you are being held by Hamas; it’s not under your control. You have nothing to do with it. Prepare for the worst, because your family is waiting for you at the end of the road — two months to 15 years.’ And that was the thought that stayed with me all through my captivity, because that was the moment I accepted my fate. I accepted it, and it gave me a lot of power. It gave me the strength to understand that I’m going to go home.” An hour later, the terrorists dragged another Israeli hostage into the tunnel. Liam Or, 18, was blindfolded and handcuffed, lying on the floor with a gunshot wound in his stomach. Of Omer’s 505 days in Gaza, those first three days in captivity were among the hardest. The beatings were nonstop. The terrorists kicked him and Liam, hitting their ribs and legs, stepping on Liam’s gunshot wound to make him bleed more. And then, after those first three days, some relief came. The terrorists brought Omer and Liam to a room in the tunnel, uncuffed them, and gave them a

break from their beatings. “They closed the door behind them, and it was the first time we were alone. I was lying on the ground and closing my eyes. I was not ready to handle the situation. I was denying it. But then, someone grabbed my hand, and I opened my eyes, and I saw Liam. He took my hand, and he told me, ‘Be strong, brother,’” Omer shares. “I sat up, still holding his hand, and I looked at him and said, ‘Don’t lose your hope. We’re gonna end up home.’ And it was our moment: it was the moment that we figured out that no matter what’s gonna come to us, we’re gonna handle it; we’re gonna survive as long as we’re together. “It was the moment when I realized that I’m not allowed to lose my hope, and that I need to fully believe that I’m going home. Because if I don’t believe it, what am I hoping for? I can’t hope for something I don’t believe is going to happen. So, I figured out that this is what I need to take with me until my last day in captivity, because this is what’s going to bring me home.” With the November 2023 ceasefire came Liam’s release, which simultaneously brought Omer genuine joy (not the slightest bit of jealousy) and panic. Because, as soon as the terrorists escorted Liam out, Omer looked around and realized he was all alone. He was effectively in solitary confinement. Omer was afraid of going insane. For two days, a full-blown panic seized him. But then, he figured he should make the best of it. At first, he tried keeping himself

Until January 2, 2024, Omer’s living conditions were terrible but, in his words, “reasonable.” He lived off three or four pitas a day. Every four days or so, he’d get a brief break from isolation when a terrorist would sit with him. It was by no stretch of the imagination humane, but he was able to manage. But then, with the new year came new circumstances. Suddenly, his living conditions got downgraded. Hamas terrorists brought him from his room to another tunnel — this time, a dark, tiny space. He had barely any room to move around in his new 3-feet-wide by 26-feet-long home. And then, new terrorists replaced the old ones. If the claustrophobia wasn’t enough, his new captors told Omer: “Our goal is to make you crazy. This is what we’re here for.” Suddenly, the little things he had were taken from him. The food became less and less every day until it was vir-

tually non-existent. They didn’t speak to him at all. Days would go by without him hearing a sound. “Every time I opened my eyes, I got a panic attack because I felt like the walls were closing in on me,” he recalled. Still, he was grateful to be alive and desperately held on to hope, even as he felt his sanity slipping. “But then, at the beginning of May, one of my guards got really crazy because his father, a big Hamas general, died from an IDF bombing,” Omer recalls. “And then, for a month and a half, he started to starve me on purpose, humiliate me, abuse me, torture me mentally and physically, and he almost abandoned me. He gave me half a pita or one pita every day. It was full of bugs, completely green. And he put it on the floor, which was full of sand, hair, and bugs. He brought me water once every four days.” The guard would greet Omer by spitting on him. Every few days, the terrorist would spray Omer’s eyes, mouth, and body with bug spray. Two weeks later, on Omer’s 23rd birthday (May 22, 2024), his captor said he had a “birthday gift” for the hostage. The terrorist took out a huge iron stick and hit Omer’s head and then his shoulders, arms, and legs with it. He continued beating Omer with the iron stick for a week straight, four or five times a day. “In the intense month of June, I remember feeling like a broken vessel. Even if they were to teleport me to my family right now, to my house right now, I was never going to be a normal person again. It’s hard to say it, but I felt like they ripped out my soul. They succeeded,” Omer Wenkert remembers. “And I felt like nothing was left inside me anymore.” There he was at one of his lowest

points, starving, beaten, and disoriented from nearly 200 days of isolation. But suddenly, the door opened, and he looked up. Three hostages stood before him: Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Eviatar David, and Tal Shoham. The three were moving in with him. “The second that I figured out that I wasn’t going to be alone anymore, I jumped and started to yell because I was so excited,” Omer says. “I can’t say that I was happy, because there’s no happiness in captivity. But I was really excited because I wasn’t going to be alone anymore. I had someone to lean on, and it was my turning point.” The first thing Omer said to his new friends: “Listen, I don’t want to sound weird. But I’ve been alone for 197 days, and I need a hug. Please, hug me.” And that was the first thing the four hostages did together, before having a conversation, before spending time together: they hugged one another. From that moment on, they were, in Omer’s words… family. *

Omer Wenkert was released on his 505th day of captivity after a humiliating Hamas ceremony. Standing alongside fellow hostages Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen, he left the tunnels for the first time since October 7. Omer Shem Tov stood to his right and Eliya, to his left. Suddenly, Eliya began reciting Shir LaMa’alos, and eventually, the others joined him. There, the three of them were in the middle of Gaza, loudly saying Shir LaMa’alos together, in the final hours of their captivity. After the ceremony, the Red Cross brought them to the IDF, which took them to a base in Re’im, where Omer was reunited with his parents for the

first time in over 500 days. “It was a moment that you just can’t explain in words, really. So many emotions went out of me, emotions that I’m sure there’s no real name for. It was amazing,” Omer Wenkert recalls. “That was the most powerful and exciting moment of my life. Then, they took us in a helicopter to Beilinson Hospital, and I met Ran and Maya, my brother and sister. And I was whole again. It was the moment that the five of us had been waiting for, for 505 days.” Omer lost 84 pounds, around 40% of his body weight. So, the hospital brought him lots of food. “I was afraid to fall asleep, because I feared waking up back in captivity. I really wanted to fall asleep, but then, when I came back to Beilinson Hospital, I had a whole pizza and three hamburgers. So even when I was tired and really wanted to fall asleep, my stomach was in so much pain! So, I really suffered that night, and I didn’t sleep for a second,” Omer says with a chuckle. “They tried to stop me from eating so much. But then, I fell asleep the next day, and it was a different kind of sleep. I felt safe again after 505 days that I hadn’t felt safe for a second. It was amazing.” Through it all, through his brutal 197 days of isolation, Omer says he never felt alone. From the moment he was captured to the moment he was home, he felt Hashem protecting him. “Today, I eat kosher, and I say a blessing before drinking water. And most of the time, I say thank you for everything. Because I believe that everything I have right now is from G-d,” Omer Wenkert declares. “I was 197 days alone, but I didn’t feel alone for a second. “I always felt that G-d believed in me.”

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

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

busy with physical activity: simple exercises like walking and weight training. But after that became unbearably boring, he searched for meaning within the confines of his mind. Omer couldn’t think about the past: that would be too painful and draining. And likewise, thinking about the present — his captivity — wouldn’t do him any good. So, he set his sights on the future. Sitting by himself, he started imagining his life post-captivity. What would he do after he’s free? What are his life plans? In Gaza, he clung tightly to his hopes and dreams. “I started to plan my life in a thousand scenarios, down to specific details. And this gave me a lot of strength,” he says. “So, for 197 days, for most of the day, I thought about my future.”

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

More Than a Senator

Lindsey Graham’s Enduring Legacy By yaEL HErTz

here is an old saying in politics that every senator wants to be president. Lindsey Graham once ran for the White House, but history will remember him for something else entirely. He became one of Washington’s most recognizable warriors – not because he always won, and certainly not because everyone agreed with him, but because he refused to stop fighting for the causes he believed in. Friends admired his loyalty. Critics questioned his shifting political alliances. Yet even those who opposed him rarely doubted his passion. Whether standing on the Senate floor, walking through the rubble of war-torn cities overseas, advocating for Israel as America’s staunch ally, or speaking before cameras with his unmistakable South Carolina drawl, Graham projected the image of a man who believed America had both the privilege and the responsibility to lead. When news broke this weekend that Senator Lindsey Graham had died suddenly at the age of 71 after what his

office described as a “brief and sudden illness,” tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump mourned the loss of “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “beloved friend” whose commitment to Israel never wavered. Leaders who disagreed with him on nearly every domestic issue still acknowledged that they had lost one of the Senate’s defining personalities. In an age when politicians often become famous for carefully crafted talking points, Graham built his reputation by saying exactly what was on his mind. Sometimes, it earned applause. Sometimes, it earned headlines for all the wrong reasons. But it almost always commanded attention. His story, however, began far from the marble halls of Washington.

Small Town Upbringing Lindsey Olin Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in the small mill town of Central, South Carolina. His

What he possessed instead was something equally valuable in legislative politics: preparation. He read briefing books. He asked questions. He mastered policy. He became the kind of lawmaker colleagues sought out when they needed someone who actually understood the details. That reputation followed him to Washington after Republicans swept into power during the historic 1994 elections. At just 39 years old, Graham won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the so-called “Republican Revolution” led by Newt Gingrich. The timing could hardly have been better. The Republican Party was reinventing itself, embracing smaller government, a stronger military, and a more confrontational approach to Washington politics. Graham fit comfortably into that movement while also displaying an independent streak that occasionally frustrated both parties. It was during his years in the House that he first emerged as a serious voice on constitutional law and national security. As a lawyer, military officer, and member of the House Judiciary Committee, he developed a reputation for carefully weighing legal questions rather than simply chasing political headlines. Those qualities propelled him to the United States Senate in 2002, succeeding the legendary Strom Thurmond and beginning what would become nearly a quarter-century in the chamber often described as the world’s greatest deliberative body. The House rewards quick victories and partisan fervor. The Senate, with its slower pace and six-year terms, rewards relationships, institutional memory, and an understanding that today’s political rival may be tomorrow’s negotiating partner. Lindsey Graham arrived there in 2003 prepared not merely to occupy a seat but to become a player. Within a few years, he had. He gravitated toward the issues that had captivated him since his days as a military lawyer: national security, the armed forces, judicial appointments, and foreign affairs. While other senators sought the spotlight on domestic issues like taxes or healthcare, Graham found himself drawn to conflicts unfolding thousands of miles away: Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China. To him, America’s role on the world stage was not an abstract debate; it was the defining challenge of the twenty-first century. It also led him to form one of the most consequential friendships of his political career.

The Three Amigos Lindsey Graham and Arizona Senator John McCain could not have come from more different backgrounds, yet they shared an almost identical worldview. Both had worn the nation’s uniform. Both believed America’s military strength deterred wars more often than it caused them. Both worried that isolationism invited aggression. And both possessed a streak of independence that often irritated leaders within their own party. Along with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the trio became known around Washington simply as “the Three Amigos.” They traveled together to Iraq and Afghanistan, met with military commanders, visited troops stationed overseas, and developed a reputation

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parents, Florence and Millie Graham, owned a modest combination restaurant, bar, and liquor store known as the Sanitary Café. The name sounded more impressive than the establishment itself. It was the sort of family business where everyone worked because there was no other choice. Young Lindsey washed dishes, waited tables, swept floors, and learned early that if something needed to be done, nobody was coming to do it for you. The Grahams were not wealthy. They were hardworking people trying to keep a business afloat while raising two children. Lindsey often recalled that his parents believed deeply in responsibility, discipline, and self-reliance, values that would become cornerstones of his political philosophy decades later. When Lindsey was just 21 years old, both of his parents died within about fifteen months of one another after battles with illness. Suddenly, the young college student found himself responsible not only for his own future but also for raising his 13-year-old sister, Darline. Most people facing such circumstances would have understandably put their ambitions on hold. Graham did the opposite. He finished college while becoming his sister’s legal guardian. Years later, friends would observe that Graham never married and never had children of his own. When asked about it, he often pointed back to those formative years. Raising his younger sister became his first and perhaps most important calling. That sense of duty would become a recurring theme throughout his public life. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Graham earned his law degree before joining the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer. Military service suited him. It reinforced his appreciation for chain of command, national security, and America’s role in the world. Although many politicians speak reverently about the armed forces, Graham didn’t just talk the talk – he had worn the uniform himself. Even after entering politics, he continued serving in the Air Force Reserve and later the Air National Guard, eventually retiring as a colonel after more than three decades of military service. That military background shaped nearly every major position he would take for the rest of his career. Unlike lawmakers whose worldview centered primarily on domestic policy, Graham viewed nearly every international conflict through the lens of American security. To him, events unfolding thousands of miles away were rarely somebody else’s problem. Terrorism in the Middle East, Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, China’s growing influence in Asia, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions all represented pieces of the same puzzle. America, he believed, could not afford to retreat from the world. Those convictions would eventually make him one of Capitol Hill’s most outspoken foreign-policy hawks. In the early ‘90s, friends encouraged the young attorney to run for the South Carolina House of Representatives. Graham won, quickly earning a reputation as someone who studied every issue carefully before taking a position. Unlike many ambitious politicians, he wasn’t naturally charismatic in the traditional sense. He lacked Ronald Reagan’s effortless optimism and Bill Clinton’s magnetic charm.

Friends joked that Graham seemed almost as comfortable in Jerusalem as he was in Washington.

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as some of the Senate’s most outspoken advocates for an assertive American foreign policy. The image became familiar: McCain leading the conversation, Graham dissecting military strategy, Lieberman providing the bipartisan bridge. Together, they became influential voices during the wars that defined post-9/11 America. Supporters praised their willingness to visit dangerous regions instead of relying solely on intelligence briefings in Washington. Critics accused them of being too eager to support military intervention. Graham rarely apologized for either. “I’d rather stop a war before it comes to my neighborhood,” he once remarked, summarizing a philosophy that would guide him throughout his career. That philosophy made him one of the Senate’s leading voices on defense spending, military readiness, and America’s alliances around the globe.

Some accused Graham of abandoning his principles. Others argued that he was simply adapting to political reality. Graham offered a simpler explanation. He believed conservative goals could only be accomplished by working with the president Republicans had elected. Personal disagreements, he argued, could not outweigh policy achievements. Whether one viewed that evolution as pragmatism or political calculation often depended on one’s opinion of Trump himself. There was no denying, however, that Graham became one of the administration’s most influential allies on Capitol Hill. He championed conservative judicial appointments. He defended Trump’s tax reforms. He played a central role in confirming Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, appointments that reshaped the ideological balance of the nation’s highest court for a generation.

A Voice That Couldn’t Be Ignored Whether speaking before a Senate committee or a bank of television cameras, Graham possessed an unusual ability to explain complex foreign policy in plain English. He wasn’t the Senate’s greatest orator. He wasn’t its most polished speaker. But he spoke with conviction, and conviction has a way of commanding attention. Cable news producers quickly realized Graham made for compelling television. He was willing to answer difficult questions, defend controversial positions, and engage in spirited debate without relying on carefully rehearsed talking points. His Southern humor also made him memorable. When discussions became too tense, Graham often defused the moment with a self-deprecating joke or witty remark. Reporters learned that even after a contentious hearing, Graham would frequently linger in the hallway, chatting casually with journalists long after many of his colleagues had disappeared behind closed doors.

Graham almost always returned to the same central theme: Peace is preserved through strength.

The Trump Years Yet as Graham’s influence grew, so too did the political earthquake reshaping the Republican Party. For decades, the GOP had largely been defined by the philosophy of Ronald Reagan—free markets, strong national defense, traditional values, and an optimistic vision of American leadership abroad. Then came Donald Trump. When Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 to announce his presidential campaign, Graham was among his harshest Republican critics. He questioned Trump’s temperament. He criticized his rhetoric. He famously joked that if Republicans nominated Trump, “we will get destroyed... and we will deserve it.” The attacks became increasingly personal. Trump mocked Graham repeatedly at campaign rallies, ridiculing his poll numbers and dismissing him as irrelevant. Graham fired back with equal force. For a time, it appeared impossible to imagine the two men ever becoming allies. Politics, however, has a way of surprising even its closest observers. After Trump won the presidency in 2016, Graham gradually became one of his most trusted Senate confidants, particularly after the death of Senator McCain in 2018.

That conviction shaped nearly every vote he cast involving national security. It also explains why one relationship occupied such a unique place in his worldview. Among America’s allies, no nation occupied more of Graham’s time, energy, or affection than the Jewish state. For Graham, support for Israel was never simply another foreign policy position to be checked off on a legislative scorecard. It was personal. It was moral. And over the course of his career, it became one of the defining causes of his public life. He visited Israel repeatedly over the years – not merely for official meetings, but to understand its people, its security challenges, and its place in a volatile region. He often remarked that every trip deepened his admiration, and those who traveled with him observed that he approached Israel not as a distant observer but as someone who genuinely cared about its future. For many senators, Israel was an important ally. For Lindsey Graham, it became something far deeper. “Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following Graham’s passing. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.” Congressional delegations visit Israel every year. Most senators make a handful of trips during their careers. But Lindsey Graham kept coming back. He didn’t believe foreign policy could be understood from a briefing book in Washington. He wanted to walk the streets of Jerusalem, stand on Israel’s northern border overlooking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, visit the communities surrounding Gaza, and sit across the table from Israeli leaders making life-and-death decisions. Friends joked that Graham seemed almost as comfortable in Jerusalem as he was in Washington. Every visit reinforced what he already believed: Israel wasn’t merely America’s closest ally in the Middle East. It was America’s indispensable ally.

The Netanyahu Connection As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham presided over some of the most contentious confirmation hearings in modern American history. Supporters admired his willingness to defend conservative nominees despite relentless criticism. Opponents accused him of applying different standards depending on which party occupied the White House. Either way, few questioned his influence.

A Friend of the Jewish State If there was one issue that consistently transcended partisan politics for Graham, it was foreign policy. Long before Americans became deeply divided over questions of international engagement, Graham warned that America’s enemies were growing more coordinated. He viewed Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. He argued that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extended far beyond Ukraine. He warned repeatedly about China’s expanding military and economic influence. Whether speaking about North Korea’s missile program or the threat posed by ISIS, Graham almost always returned to the same central theme: Peace is preserved through strength.

More than any Israeli leader, Graham became identified with Benjamin Netanyahu. The two men first met years before either had reached the height of his political influence. Over time, they developed the kind of relationship that extended beyond formal diplomatic meetings. Both viewed Iran as the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East. Both believed that military strength prevented wars more often than diplomacy alone. Both argued that terrorism was not merely Israel’s problem but a threat to every free society. When Netanyahu addressed Congress – sometimes to the frustration of American administrations –Graham was among his strongest defenders. When Netanyahu warned the world about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Graham echoed those concerns on the Senate floor. And when Netanyahu faced criticism from abroad, Graham rarely hesitated to defend Israel’s elected government, even when doing so placed him at odds with fellow lawmakers. Their friendship endured through multiple Israeli elections, changing American presidents, and some of the most turbulent years in the history of the U.S.-Israel

Beyond Bibi Although Graham was often associated with Netanyahu, his friendships extended well beyond a single Israeli government. He maintained warm relationships with President Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial role nevertheless made him one of Israel’s foremost ambassadors to the world. After Graham’s death, Herzog called him “a great American patriot, a true friend of Israel, and a dear friend of mine,” recalling their many meetings over the years and praising his “moral clarity” and unwavering support during Israel’s darkest moments. Whether Israel was led by Netanyahu, Bennett, or Yair Lapid, Graham’s support never appeared to fluctuate. He also cultivated close working relationships with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, strategic affairs adviser Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to Washington Michael Herzog, and countless current and former IDF officers. Graham often remarked that some of his most valuable conversations occurred not in formal conference rooms but around military maps, where Israeli commanders explained the realities they faced on the ground. His admiration for Ambassador Michael Herzog was especially evident; Graham once described him as “one of the most effective voices for the State of Israel I’ve ever known” and credited him with strengthening the alliance during one of Israel’s most difficult periods. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Graham was a “true friend.” “He loved Israel because he loved America and understood that the partnership between the U.S. and Israel was an incredible benefit to both nations and to freedom,” Huckabee wrote after his passing. “He often said that Israel’s enemies are America’s enemies. He was right.”

October 7 Changed Everything If Graham’s support for Israel had long been strong, the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, elevated it to an even greater sense of urgency. Within days of the attack, he traveled to Israel. This was not a carefully choreographed diplomatic tour. He wanted to see the devastation himself. He visited communities near the Gaza border where entire families had been slaughtered in their homes. He met survivors still struggling to process the horrors they had witnessed. He sat with relatives of hostages, listening as they described the unbearable uncertainty of waiting for news from Gaza. Those meetings left a profound impression. Returning to Washington, Graham spoke less like a politician and more like an eyewitness. He described October 7 as an act of pure evil and rejected any attempt to excuse or contextualize Hamas’s actions.

There could be debates, he acknowledged, about military tactics or diplomatic strategy. But there could be no debate about the massacre itself. His message became remarkably consistent: Israel had not chosen this war. Hamas had. And Israel, like any sovereign nation, had both the right and the obligation to ensure that such an atrocity could never happen again. When international pressure mounted for Israel to halt its military campaign before Hamas had been defeated, Graham pushed back forcefully. His view was clear and strong: If America had suffered an October 7, no one would expect it to leave the perpetrators in power. Why, he asked repeatedly, should Israel be expected to do so?

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

relationship. Earlier this year, despite growing health concerns, Graham traveled once again to Jerusalem to meet privately with Bibi. Following the visit, he spoke enthusiastically about Israel’s technological innovation and proposed dramatically expanding joint American-Israeli defense cooperation, describing it as a potential “21st-century Manhattan Project.”

Standing With the Jewish People Graham didn’t just see Israel as another country on the map. He understood the historical weight the country carried. He often reminded audiences that the modern State of Israel emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust – a people who, after centuries of persecution culminating in history’s greatest genocide, rebuilt their national homeland. He visited Yad Vashem on multiple occasions. He spoke movingly about Holocaust remembrance. He argued that “Never Again” could not remain merely a slogan; it required vigilance, strength, and allies willing to act. That philosophy shaped his view of Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. It also explained why Jewish organizations across the ideological spectrum frequently welcomed him. Whether addressing AIPAC, speaking before the Republican Jewish Coalition, or meeting privately with American Jewish leaders, Graham returned to the same theme: Israel was not asking America to fight its battles. It was asking America to stand with a fellow democracy confronting the very forces that threatened the free world. For Graham, Israel was more than a country. And that may explain why, when news of his passing reached Jerusalem, tributes came not only from political allies but from leaders across Israel’s government, all echoing the same sentiment: the Jewish state had lost one of its most loyal friends and supporters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him “one of Israel’s greatest friends.” President Isaac Herzog described him as a man of “moral clarity.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett praised his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. Ron Dermer, who worked closely with Graham over many years as Israel’s ambassador to Washington and later as minister of strategic affairs, remarked that few American lawmakers invested as much time in understanding Israel’s security challenges or defending them before skeptical audiences. For a nation accustomed to fighting for international support, Graham’s friendship carried unusual weight. His passing will undoubtably be felt in the halls of Congress and the Knesset and on the streets of Washington and Jerusalem – a patriot who served his country with distinction and who supported his nation’s ally with strong conviction.

Graham viewed nearly every international conflict through the lens of american security.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

Dear Navidaters, I am writing to ask you what to do in this sensitive situation. My older sister has been dating for five years. Over the past two years, her dating has gotten more and more frustrating.

Recently, I was talking to my neighbor who tries setting her up often. She asked me in confidence if I could recommend that my sister stops getting lip filler. Apparently, the boys she sets her up with are getting a feel that she looks fake. I agree with this but never thought others are feeling the same way. Apparently, it is very off-putting to most. I am younger than her and married, so our relationship is already strained. Should I really talk to her about this? On the one hand, she is very independent and isn’t going to like being told what to do. On the other hand, wouldn’t she want to know that guys are put off by something she is putting so much money into? Thank you, Leah*

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.

The Panel

Looking forward! Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. eah, kudos to you for your sensitivity to your sister’s feelings about her presentation and self-image. You are cognizant of the context of your relationship with an older unmarried sister which is already strained. If indeed her efforts are not yielding the attractiveness she seeks, in time she will figure it out. She has a mirror, and she knows what she looks like. She is an independent adult, and she may consult an aesthetician on her own. Personal grooming and beauty enhancement are personal choices. Sometimes, styles and looks change, too. I doubt that numerous men think she looks fake just from lip filler. I suspect that the neighbor is putting together one comment plus her own feelings on the subject. Maybe she feels frustrated that her efforts are not yielding the results she is looking for. Maybe she wants to be the one who finds the right guy for her and has a fixer complex. Beware of the neighbor and mixing in where you don’t belong.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond ear Leah, Wow. What a conundrum! I applaud you for wanting to help your sister in the proper way. I would like to let you know that as a shadchan, I have heard this same sentiment regarding lip filler

more times than I can count. From what I have seen over the years, people simply do not feel comfortable dating someone who looks fake. You feel terrible for her that she is spending a ton of money on treatments that might actually be turning prospects away. What should you practically do? Instead of telling her this directly, talk to one of her close mentors. Confide in them that you were recently told by someone who sets her up often that her prospects are not interested in her for this reason. From what you describe in your letter, it does not seem to have been just one person, but rather several people she has dated have expressed this sentiment. This does not seem to be a matter of just one person’s opinion. Your sister needs to hear this feedback from someone she truly trusts. Once she hears this information from someone she confides in and trusts, the ability to make a change will be in her own hands. Based on the way you describe your relationship, it may be too painful for her to hear this from you directly. Obviously, at the end of the day, she will do what she wants to do. However, at least she will have this feedback in the back of her mind, and it might help her in the future. Iy”H, when the timing is right, she will meet the right one who will appreciate everything she has to offer!

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler f your sister regularly reads this column (like most intelligent people), then your

dilemma is already solved, because she will read your letter and realize that she may have a solvable problem. On the other hand, if she, for some unfathomable reason, doesn’t regularly read this column (a serious defect that is easily remedied), then you should certainly try to find a tactful way to help her. What should you do, without damaging your relationship? Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, often extolled the value of anonymous letters, and I think his advice is particularly applicable here. Type a letter to your sister, print it, and mail it from a different ZIP Code (please do not include your name and return address). Your letter can say something like: Dear..., I hope you’ll forgive this anonymous letter. I debated whether to write because I know this is a sensitive subject, but I thought you would rather know than

A first-class postage stamp costs a lot less than a syringe of lip filler.

continue wondering why certain dates never seem to progress. More than one young man have remarked that your lip fillers create an overly artificial appearance. Whether or not you agree is entirely your decision, but you deserve to know that this may be affecting your dating opportunities. I wish you every success in finding your bashert.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Perhaps you can use this anonymous letter technique to try and help your sister. A first-class postage stamp costs a lot less than a syringe of lip filler. It may turn out to be the least expensive cosmetic treatment ever. And if it helps your sister find her bashert, it may also become one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for her.

Reader’s Response Rebbetzin Lisa Babich hank you for your thoughtful question. Two thoughts come to mind when responding. First, I’m curious whether numerous boys have felt this way or

if it was just one. Lip fillers may not be everyone’s taste, but if this is only one guy’s opinion, I’m not sure that’s enough to conclude that the fillers are a problem. On the other hand, if there is a broader consensus that her appearance is coming across as noticeably fake or unnatural, that’s a different situation. If it is the latter, I would suggest finding someone she trusts and has a good rapport with to speak to her. You mentioned that you are younger, married, and that your relationship with her is already in a sensitive place, so you may not be the best person to bring it up. Perhaps the neighbor could say, “I’ve received some honest feedback, and I wanted to pass it along to you,” or maybe a close friend or another sibling could have that conversation, depend-

ing on their relationship with her. Anything related to someone’s appearance is delicate. However, if it’s something she can change and there is genuine reason to believe the feedback is shared rather than just one person’s preference, it’s best for the message to come from someone she feels safe with and that she is least likely to perceive as threatening, critical, or insulting. I want to conclude by pointing out that, in my experience, finding one’s soulmate rarely comes down to one detail about someone’s hair or face. In other words, when people straighten their hair or get eyelash extensions, I don’t find that they suddenly meet their person sooner (of course, I’m not referring to a major physical change). Usually, a person finds their match when the timing is right, when they are ready, and when Hashem decides it is their bashert. That said, it’s

always worthwhile to improve and be open to constructive criticism when it is offered thoughtfully and comes from a place of care. I wish her so much hatzlacha, and I hope you can all celebrate good news together very soon.

who has invested years trying to help your sister find her bashert. I don’t imagine she took pleasure in sharing it. In fact, it sounds like she wrestled with whether to say anything at all. The bigger question for me is whether you are the right messenger. You mentioned that you’re younger, married, and that your relationship is already strained. Even the most lovingly intended feedback can land as criticism when there’s already hurt or comparison in the relationship. If you do decide to say something, I wouldn’t repeat, “People think you look fake.” Those words are likely to wound far more than they help. Instead, you might say something like: “I debated whether to bring this up because I never want to hurt you, and you can completely disagree with it. Someone who has tried setting you up mentioned that a few of the men felt

your lip filler was more noticeable than you probably intended. I don’t know if that’s representative or just one person’s opinion, but I wondered if you’d want to know. I love you, and whatever you choose to do with that information is completely up to you.” Notice what that does. It offers information without shame. It leaves room for disagreement. And most importantly, it respects her autonomy. Whether she keeps getting filler or never gets another syringe isn’t really the point. She deserves the dignity of making that decision with all the information available to her. Sometimes, loving someone means protecting them from unnecessary criticism. Sometimes, loving someone means risking an uncomfortable conversation. Wisdom is knowing the difference. Sincerely, Jennifer

Finding one’s soulmate rarely comes down to one detail about someone’s hair or face.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

ear Leah, I found myself sitting with your question for a while because it really isn’t about lip filler. It’s about what we owe the people we love. There are times when staying silent protects someone’s feelings. There are other times when staying silent protects our own discomfort. The hard part is figuring out which one this is. If I discovered there was something I was doing that was unintentionally getting in the way of finding a partner, I would want someone who loves me enough to tell me. Not everyone would feel that way, but I would. The key is how it’s shared. That said, I’d be careful not to

overstate what you know. You don’t know that “men don’t like lip filler.” You know that one person, who has set your sister up on multiple occasions, has heard similar feedback from some of the men she’s matched her with. That’s a very different statement. Attraction is deeply subjective. Some people are drawn to a more natural look. Others aren’t. This isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about understanding how she’s being perceived by at least some of the people she’s meeting. What also stood out to me is that this isn’t a random opinion from someone passing judgment. This is someone

Jennifer Mann, LCSW, is a therapist and certified life coach in private practice in Cedarhurst, NY and via telehealth. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and is a part-time school social worker at Bnos Malka Academy. Her work centers on anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse. She integrates attachment-based therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, and relational work, grounded in the belief that healing and growth emerge through honest, attuned, and meaningful human connection. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Health & F tness

Mastering the Art of Healthy Meatless Meals By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

uring the Nine Days, when meat and poultry are not eaten, the meals naturally shift toward dairy foods and other meat-free options. While this can be a great opportunity to enjoy nutritious foods like fish, eggs, legumes, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich dairy products, many people instead find themselves relying on convenient dairy meals that are high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, and calories. With a little planning, eating meatfree doesn’t have to mean sacrificing balanced nutrition. By making a few thoughtful choices, you can enjoy satisfying meals while continuing to fuel your body with the protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals it needs. For many families, preparing meatfree meals means choosing foods that are quick, familiar, and convenient. Unfortunately, many of these meals are centered around refined carbohydrates and cheese while containing very little protein, fiber, or vegetables. As a result, meals may be high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium but lower in the nutrients that help us feel our best. When meals are built primarily around foods like white pasta, pizza, French fries, or bagels, it’s common to feel hungry again soon after eating. Refined carbohydrates are digested quickly, causing blood sugar to rise and fall more rapidly than meals that include protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This can leave you reaching for snacks throughout the day and feeling less energized. Rather than focusing on what foods to avoid, think about what you can add to your meals. Including a source of protein, filling half your plate with vegetables, choosing higher-fiber carbohydrates, and incorporating healthy fats can transform even simple dairy or fish meals into balanced, nourishing options.

Dairy: Focus on Protein, Not Just Cheese

Start Every Meal with a Source of Protein One of the easiest ways to improve your nutrition during the Nine Days is to make protein the foundation of each meal. Protein helps build and repair muscles, supports a healthy immune system, and plays an important role in keeping you satisfied between meals. It also slows digestion, helping provide steadier energy throughout the day. Fortunately, there are many excellent protein options available during the Nine Days, whether you eat fish, eggs, dairy, or follow a vegetarian diet.

Fish: One of the Healthiest Protein Choices For those who eat fish, this is an ideal time to enjoy one of the most nutritious protein sources available. Fish provides high-quality protein while many varieties are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that support heart health, brain function, and may help reduce inflammation.

Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are particularly rich in omega-3s. Lean fish like tilapia and flounder are also excellent choices for those looking for a lighter meal while still getting plenty of protein. Fish doesn’t need elaborate preparation to be delicious. A simple sheet-pan dinner with salmon and roasted vegetables can be a great option that requires minimal preparation while providing exceptional nutrition.

Eggs: A Simple, Versatile Option Eggs are another high-quality protein that can easily fit into breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They provide all nine essential amino acids along with nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, choline, and selenium. A vegetable omelet loaded with spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and onions makes a balanced breakfast, while hardboiled eggs offer a convenient snack or addition to salads. Shakshuka, egg muffins, or scrambled eggs served with whole grain toast and fresh fruit are simple meals that are filling.

Dairy foods are often the centerpiece of Nine Days meals, but not all dairy products offer the same nutritional value. While cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, many varieties are also high in saturated fat and sodium. When cheese becomes the main ingredient in every meal, it’s easy to consume more saturated fat than intended while missing opportunities to include other nutritious foods. Instead, consider incorporating more protein-rich dairy products such as plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or reduced-fat ricotta. Greek yogurt contains nearly twice the protein of regular yogurt while also providing probiotics that support digestive health. Cottage cheese is another excellent option that’s rich in protein and can be enjoyed with fruit, vegetables, or whole grain crackers. Cheese certainly has a place during the Nine Days, but rather than making it the focus of every meal, use it to enhance a dish. A sprinkle of feta over a salad or a moderate amount of mozzarella on a homemade sourdough pizza topped with plenty of vegetables can provide plenty of flavor while allowing room for more nutritious ingredients.

Plant-Based Proteins If you don’t eat fish or eggs, or simply want more variety, plant-based proteins can provide excellent nutrition. Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and tofu are rich in protein while also supplying fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Unlike animal proteins, legumes also contribute significant amounts of fiber, helping support digestive health and promote fullness. A hearty lentil soup, chickpea salad, black bean tacos, tofu stir-fry, or roasted chickpeas added to salads are all satisfying options that can serve as the centerpiece of a meal.

Include Healthy Fats in Moderation

Vegetables are one of the easiest ways to improve the nutritional quality of any meal. They’re naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants while being relatively low in calories. They also add color, texture, and flavor, making meals more enjoyable and satisfying. Unfortunately, vegetables are often overlooked during the Nine Days, especially when meals revolve around pasta, potatoes, or cheese. Making a conscious effort to include vegetables at both lunch and dinner can dramatically improve the balance of your meals. Think beyond basic salads. Roasted broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, carrots, and green beans all develop rich flavors when roasted with olive oil and herbs. Fresh vegetables can also be incorporated directly into favorite dishes by adding spinach to lasagna, mushrooms and peppers to pizza, broccoli to pasta, or tomatoes and cucumbers to sandwiches and wraps. The goal isn’t to eliminate comfort foods but to make them more balanced. A serving of pasta becomes far more nutritious when it’s tossed with roasted vegetables and a source of protein rather than served on its own.

Fat is an essential nutrient that supports hormone production, helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and contributes to feelings of fullness. The key is choosing fats that support overall health. Olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish provide heart-healthy unsaturated fats that have been associated with improved cardiovascular health. A drizzle of olive oil over roasted vegetables, sliced avocado with eggs, or a handful of walnuts added to Greek yogurt can easily elevate both the nutrition and flavor of a meal. While cheese and butter can certainly be enjoyed, they are higher in saturated fat. Including a variety of healthier fat sources throughout the Nine Days helps create better nutritional balance without sacrificing taste.

Choose Carbohydrates That Keep You Full Carbohydrates provide the body’s primary source of energy, but choosing the right types can make a significant difference in how you feel throughout the day. Refined carbohydrates such as white pasta, white bread, bagels, crackers, and many snack foods are digested quickly, often leading to a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar. This can leave you feeling hungry shortly after eating and may contribute to unnecessary snacking. Whenever possible, choose carbohydrates that naturally contain more fiber, including whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, and whole grain bread. Fiber slows digestion, helping you stay full longer while supporting digestive health and promoting more stable blood sugar levels. Rather than thinking of carbohydrates as the entire meal, think of them as one part of a balanced plate. Pairing whole grains with vegetables and protein creates meals that are both nourishing and satisfying.

Balanced Meals and Healthy Alternatives Healthy eating isn’t about labeling foods as “good” or “bad.” Instead, it’s about building meals that combine protein, vegetables, healthy fats, and quality carbohydrates in portions that leave you feeling satisfied and energized. Simple changes don’t mean giving up your favorite foods; they simply make them more balanced. Pair meals with a large salad or roasted vegetables, include a source of protein such as fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or tofu, and you’ll create a meal that is both satisfying and nutrient-rich.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference Healthy eating during the Nine Days doesn’t require completely changing your menu. Often, a few simple adjustments are enough to create meals that are both delicious and nourishing. Choose whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta when possible, and replace heavy cream sauces with olive oil, garlic, herbs, or tomato-based sauces. Add vegetables to sandwiches, pasta dishes, omelets, casseroles, soups, and homemade pizza to boost fiber and nutrients. Prepare hearty vegetable-based soups such as zucchini soup, broccoli soup, mushroom soup, or roasted tomato soup for nourishing meals that are both filling and packed with nutrients. Fish is another excellent way to add variety to your menu. Instead of serving the same baked fish each night, try grilled salmon, salmon burgers or sliders, salmon patties, tuna patties,

or homemade fish tacos. If you’re preparing a cheese-based meal, use low fat cheese and keep it to a moderate portion while pairing it with a generous serving of vegetables or a side salad. These small changes add up over the course of the Nine Days and can help improve energy levels, increase fiber intake, and provide a wider variety of important nutrients.

Give Favorites a Healthy Twist The Nine Days are a great opportunity to experiment with healthier versions of familiar dairy meals. Small changes can significantly improve the nutritional quality of a meal without sacrificing flavor. Instead of making pasta the centerpiece of the meal, try cauliflower mac and cheese for a lower-carbohydrate option that adds fiber and nutrients. Use grilled eggplant slices or a cauliflower crust as the base for homemade vegetable pizza, replace pasta with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash, use cauliflower rice in place of white rice, and prepare cheese blintzes with a light cottage cheese filling flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Lettuce wraps also offer a fresh alternative to bread or traditional wraps for certain meals. Flavor foods with fresh herbs, garlic, onions, and spices to enhance taste while reducing the need for excess cheese or rich sauces. These simple substitutions allow you to continue enjoying your favorite Nine Days meals while making them lighter, more balanced, and just as satisfying. The Nine Days doesn’t have to become nine days of pizza, pasta, and grilled cheese. By focusing on balance rather than restriction, you can enjoy your meals while nourishing your body with foods that support your overall health. Whether your meals include fish, eggs, dairy, or plant-based proteins, building your plate around protein, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can help you feel satisfied, energized, and well throughout the Nine Days.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

Easy Baked Salmon Ingredients • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz. each) • 2 TBS olive oil • ½ tsp salt • ¼ tsp black pepper • 2 tsp minced garlic • ¼ tsp each dried thyme, parsley, oregano, and basil • 1 medium lemon Directions Preheat oven to 400°F and grease large baking pan. Place salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir together olive oil, garlic, herbs, and juice of ½ lemon. Spread over salmon fillets thoroughly. Top the salmon with the remaining slices of lemon. Bake for 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.

Cottage Cheese Bagels Ingredients • 1¼ cup cottage cheese • 1cup flour • 1½ tsp baking powder • Rock salt • Everything bagel seasoning Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix ingredients in a large bowl. Cut into four portions and shape into bagels. Egg and season the bagels. Heat baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake bagels for 30 minutes.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Fill Half Your Plate with Vegetables

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Health & F tness

Cry It Out – Then Both You and Baby Sleep By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

arents: It’s time to rest (literally and figuratively) easy. Data shows that letting babies cry it out (CIO) or self-soothe does not increase signs of stress compared with babies who don’t. Questions about babies and sleep ranked near the top of all questions asked about babies. It’s right up there with feedings, breast vs. bottle, poop – to cite the “big” ones. Within the last decade, there have been studies done on babies and sleep. One was done is Australia and the other in this country. The Australian study worked with families who said that their babies (ages 6-16 months) had a sleep problem. Researchers divided the families into three groups. 1. Group 1 did “graduated extinction”: They let the baby cry for just one minute before going in and interacting with them. They then gradually increased the amount of time they let them cry. 2. Group 2 did “bedtime fading.” Parents were told to delay bedtime so the babies were more tired. 3. Group 3 was the “control group.” Parents received education on babies and

sleep, and nothing else. The study measured the effect on babies by measuring the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the babies’ saliva. They also queried the mothers about the stress. Twelve months later, they looked for emotional or behavioral problems in the babies. They also tested to ascertain how attached the babies were to their mothers.

groups were the same when it came to emotional or behavioral problems. Even with the best intentions and carrying out whatever sleep program or method you choose, babies will wake up at night for various reasons. Babies have both REM and non-REM sleep. During the transition between stages, they may wake up. Some babies are just good sleepers right out the gate. Our jobs as parents

Our jobs as parents are to help create good sleepers, and this can take time and patience.

Fascinatingly, the babies in Groups 1 and 2 both fell asleep faster and had less stress than the control group. In addition, their mothers were less stressed than the mothers in the control group. Group 1 babies were the least likely to wake up during the night. All three

are to help create good sleepers, and this can take time and patience. Teething can also interrupt sleep. A study done in Israel shows when fathers are more involved in a baby’s care (both day and night), in addition to the mothers, their babies had fewer overnight

awakenings. Dads, please step it up. A word about pacifiers and bottles. Some babies are conditioned to fall asleep or back asleep by sucking on something. Many infants who use a pacifier at night wake up between 6-12 months of age when the pacifier falls out of the mouth. My advice? Get rid of the pacifier. But if a baby has been habituated to one, breaking the habit will take time. It’s fine to let your baby cry a little. This is not emotional neglect. In fact, it may lead to more sleep all around. Getting sleep helps us be better parents. What could make a mom and dad and their household happier? As always, daven.

Dr. Hylton Lightman MD DCH(SA) FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician and the Medical Director of Suffolk Health Five Towns. He adores his patients and tolerates their parents. His life’s mission is to deliver quality health care to babies, children, teenagers and young adults so they bring their children and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) to him. He loves what he does.

Health & F tness

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Avoidance Tax By Chaim Silverstone

person has to make a phone call. Not a life-changing phone call. Not some huge dramatic thing. Just a regular call. He needs to clarify something, ask a question, maybe deal with a bill or an appointment. He knows who he has to call. He has the number. He knows what he needs to say. And still, he doesn’t call. One day passes. Then another day. Then another. Every day he thinks about it. Every day he feels that discomfort in his stomach. Every day he says, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” And every day, somehow, he manages to push it off another day. Finally, after three weeks, he makes the call. It takes four minutes. The person answers normally. The conversation is fine. Nothing explodes. Nobody yells. He gets the information he needs, hangs up, and then thinks, “I can’t believe I tortured myself for three weeks over four minutes.” I think most of us know this feeling. Maybe for you it isn’t a phone call. Maybe it’s opening a bank statement. Making an appointment. Checking results. Answering a message. Apologizing. Asking someone for help. Having a conversation you know you need to have. In the beginning, the thing itself might not even be so terrible. But avoiding it makes it become terrible. That’s the part we don’t always notice. Avoidance works in the beginning. That’s why we do it. For a few minutes, you feel better. You don’t have to face it right now. You can put it down. You can breathe. You can say, “I’ll deal with it later.” The problem is that later usually comes with interest. Because now the original problem is still there, but something else has joined it. The guilt. The dread. The mental noise.

You think about it while driving. You think about it during davening. You think about it when you’re trying to fall asleep. The phone call may only take five minutes but avoiding it can take up three weeks of space in your head. That is what I call the avoidance tax. The original cost was small. The delay made it expensive. This makes a lot of sense. The mind learns very quickly. If I avoid something uncomfortable, I feel relief. So the next time something uncomfortable comes up, the mind says, “Good. I know what to do. Avoid.” And it really feels like protection. But a lot of the time, it’s not protecting you from danger. It’s protecting you from discomfort. And discomfort is not the same thing as danger. A difficult conversation is uncomfortable. Opening a bill can be uncomfortable. Admitting a mistake is uncomfortable. Hearing an answer you don’t want to hear is uncomfortable. But if we avoid every uncomfortable thing, life doesn’t become calmer. Usually, it becomes heavier. Shlomo Hamelech says in Mishlei: “The lazy person says, ‘There is a lion on the road, a lion among the streets.’” (Mishlei 26:13) On the simple level, Shlomo Hamelech is making fun of the excuse of the lazy person. Why can’t he go outside? There’s a lion. Yeah, right. But I think there is something deeper to it than that. Perhaps to the lazy person, the lion feels real. Maybe there is no actual lion in the street. But in his mind, there is danger. There is pressure. There is a whole story about what might happen if he goes out. That’s his lion. That is what avoidance does. It turns a phone call into a lion, or an

email into a lion, or a conversation into a lion. It can turn a five-minute task into something that feels too big to face. And to be fair, sometimes, there really is something hard there. Maybe the conversation will be awkward. Maybe the bill is higher than you hoped. Maybe the person will be annoyed. Maybe once you open the thing, you will have to deal with it. And the longer you stare at a lion from a distance, the bigger it usually gets. The Ramchal writes in Mesilas Yesharim that one of the things that weakens zerizus is sinas ha’torach, hatred of the effort. A person doesn’t only avoid because he is lazy or irresponsible. Sometimes, he avoids because he doesn’t want to feel the heaviness of dealing with something. Sometimes, we are not really avoiding the thing. We are avoiding the feeling that comes with the thing. It could be the embarrassment or uncertainty. Maybe it’s the effort involved or the possibility of hearing no. Sometimes, it’s the possibility that we may have to fix something. Whatever the reason, instead of feeling uncomfortable for five minutes, we carry a low-grade discomfort for days or weeks. A person says, “I’ll make the call when I’m calmer.” But often, making the call is what would make him calmer. He says, “I’ll deal with the bill when I have more headspace.” But the unopened bill is what’s taking up the headspace. “I’ll apologize when it feels easier.” But while he waits, the distance only grows. That is the trap. We wait for calm before taking action, but sometimes the lack of action is exactly what is stealing the calm.

Getting Practical: Pay the Cost Once Practically, don’t try to fix your whole life this week. Just pick one thing you’ve been avoiding. Not the biggest thing in your life. Not the deepest thing. Just one thing, whether it’s a message, a phone call, an appointment, a form, or a conversation. Ask yourself honestly: How long would this actually take if I did it? How much time have I already spent thinking about not doing it? And how do I usually feel after I finally deal with something I was avoiding? Most of the time, we already know the answer. We feel lighter. Not always finished. Not always happy. But lighter. Because we stopped paying the tax. So choose one small thing and deal with it. Because avoiding it is costing you more than doing it.

The Bottom Line Avoidance feels like relief in the moment. But very often, it becomes a problem that follows you around. Sometimes, the healthiest thing a person can do is stop waiting until it feels easy and take one small step while it still feels uncomfortable.

Chaim Silverstone is a rabbi, CBT therapist, and writer living in Jerusalem. He writes CBT ToolTalk, a weekly column combining Torah wisdom, Chassidic thought, and practical psychology. Learn more about Chaim and the Breakthrough program at www.40daysuccess.com.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Relationships

Rewired

You’re Keeping Up. But With What? By Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

here has been an interesting conversation taking place recently about the changing meaning of luxury. In a world where designer items, high-end aesthetics, and carefully curated lifestyles are increasingly accessible, many are asking whether luxury has lost its value. When everyone can own the same bag, wear the same brands, and create the same picture-perfect spaces, what actually becomes valuable? Maybe the answer isn’t luxury at all. Maybe it’s taste. Taste can’t be purchased. It’s the ability to recognize what feels authentic, what carries meaning, and what genuinely reflects who we are. It’s less about having more and more about knowing what matters. This conversation made me think about something much bigger than handbags or home décor. I recently heard Avital Chizik-Goldschmidt speak about how women in the frum community can sometimes be drawn toward consumerism. One point she made really stayed with me: our love of beauty and aesthetics is not a weakness. It is one of our strengths. But perhaps what we are really longing for is not simply more beautiful things. Perhaps we are longing for a creative outlet – a place to express ourselves, to make something that comes from within us, and to feel connected to ourselves in a way that consumption can never quite satisfy. The more I sat with that idea, the more I realized this conversation isn’t really about shopping. It’s about how we build our lives. I can’t help but wonder why so many of us become so connected to our external selves while remaining strangers to our inner ones. We spend enormous amounts of energy thinking about how our lives look, how we’re perceived, whether we’re meeting expectations, and whether we’re keep-

ing pace. Yet the person we spend every waking moment with – ourselves – often receives the least attention. We replay the same thoughts. We carry stories about who we are. We avoid certain fears and work hard to keep parts of ourselves hidden. We’re constantly with ourselves, yet we rarely give ourselves the opportunity to truly know ourselves. As a therapist, I see this all the time. People don’t usually come into therapy because they’re failing at life. More often, they come because they’ve become incredibly good at functioning inside a life that no longer feels fully aligned with who they are. They’ve achieved. They’ve built. They’ve shown up. They’ve done everything they believed they were supposed to do. And yet something still feels missing. Beneath all of that competence is often a quiet question: Is this actually the life I want, or is it simply the life I learned to pursue? I think many of us inherit more of our lives than we realize. We inherit expectations, definitions of success, milestones, and ideas about how we’re supposed to live. And because we’re capable people, we become very good at meeting those expectations. We become experts at keeping up without ever stopping to ask where we’re actually trying to go. I’ve noticed another version of keeping up that feels even more subtle. Growing up in the frum community, we often heard, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” There’s real wisdom in that. Judaism places tremendous value on relationships, community, and showing up for one another. But I wonder if connection can quietly become performance. Sometimes, it feels like a full-time job to stay informed; to know who’s making a simcha, who’s renovating, who’s travel-

ing, who knows whom, and what’s happening in everyone else’s lives. And I find myself asking the same question again: Why? What are we actually hoping to find there? Maybe it’s significance. Maybe it’s belonging. Maybe it’s the hope that our own names matter too. Those are deeply human longings. But if that’s what we’re searching for, perhaps the more important question isn’t whether everyone else knows our name. It’s whether we know ourselves. Sometimes, I wonder if we honestly believe we have nothing more interesting to talk about (of course we do!). We have dreams we haven’t explored, creativity we haven’t expressed, relationships that deserve more of us, and parts of ourselves quietly waiting for our attention. But looking inward asks something difficult of us. It asks for honesty. We also spend a lot of time talking about what’s “normal.” Can we retire that word already? I’ve come to think that “normal” is often little more than a performance. Behind closed doors, we’re all human. We all have insecurities. We all have fears. We all have moments when we feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure. The difference usually isn’t who struggles and who doesn’t. The difference is often how convincing we’ve become at hiding it. We’ve become remarkably skilled at distracting ourselves – and sometimes everyone around us – from the parts of ourselves we’d rather not confront. There are certainly moments when holding it together is necessary. Work requires professionalism. Parenting requires regulation. Relationships require restraint. But when

holding it together becomes our permanent way of living, something important gets left behind. It becomes the off-switch to real life. Real presence requires access to ourselves. It asks us to sit with our thoughts, our emotions, our questions, and even our imperfections without immediately escaping into productivity, comparison, consumption, or distraction. Maybe that’s what this conversation about luxury has really been pointing toward all along. Intentional living doesn’t mean rejecting beauty, ambition, success, or community. Those things can all be deeply meaningful. It simply asks us to become conscious of why we’re pursuing them. Are our choices expressions of our values, or are they simply reflections of the world around us? Maybe true luxury isn’t having access to everything. Maybe it’s having enough clarity to know what is actually worth pursuing.

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.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Are we giving our children what they want or what they need?

Be Part of the Solution: Take the V.O.V. Challenge!

www.ValuesOverValuables.org

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Parenting Pearls

Teaching Children to Bathe Independently 5-Minute Small Steps that Build Independent Skills By Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA

oes your child: • Avoid the water or the shower? • Tantrum when it is bathtime? • Forget to shampoo or rinse properly? Bella could spend hours splashing in puddles or in the sink. But when it came time to take a bath, everything changed. As soon as her parents announced it was bathtime, Bella became upset. She resisted getting into the tub, cried when it was time to wash her hair, and tried to climb out before she was clean. Some nights, simply turning on the water was enough to start a meltdown. As Bella grew older, bathtime became more challenging, and her parents worried about how she would eventually learn to wash up independently. They wondered if she was afraid, bothered by the feeling of soap or shampoo, or simply overwhelmed by all of the steps involved. Bathtime had become something everyone dreaded. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Bathing isn’t just one task. It involves tolerating new sensations, following a sequence of steps, transitioning from one activity to another, and learning new self-care skills all at the same time. For many children, especially those with neurodivergent learning patterns or sensory sensitivities, these steps can make bathing a challenge. The good news is that all of these steps are skills that can be taught with a mindful approach and just a few simple strategies. Helping Children Build Bathing Skills Many parents hope that their child will simply “grow into” bathing and showering independently. But the earlier we begin teaching these skills, the easier it often becomes. Although it may feel

tually, you can bring similar play into the bath with the floating toys like sailboats or rubber ducks. Over time, the bath should become a more familiar, low-pressure environment.

Get Comfortable with Soap and Suds

tempting to wait until a child is older, bathing a child actually becomes more physically difficult as they grow. Larger children may resist being washed by a parent, may struggle even more with new sensations, or may simply feel embarrassed about needing help with personal hygiene. By gradually teaching bathing skills early, parents can help children build confidence, independence, and important self-care routines that will support them later in life. The key is to start small. Rather than expecting a child to suddenly manage an entire bath or shower routine, think about one simple step that your child can start to practice first. Ask yourself two questions: • What can my child realistically do right now? • What can I realistically support during our daily routine? When parents begin with manageable

steps, children can practice, succeed, and gradually take on more responsibility over time.

5 Practical Strategies Start with Desensitization to Water For some children, the challenge is not the bathing routine itself but the sensation of the water on their body. One helpful approach is gradual exposure, or desensitization. Begin by letting your child experience water in fun, low-pressure ways that have nothing to do with bathtime. For example: • Play with water at the pool • Wash hands together at the sink • Wash dishes or toy dishes • Run through the sprinklers Play with water in a bin with sailboats or rubber ducks These playful activities allow children to become comfortable with water without the pressure of a wash-up routine. Even-

Another challenge for some children is the texture or smell of soap. You can introduce soap gradually through playful experiences before using it during bathing, as well. Start by blowing bubbles around the house. Then try blowing bubbles during bath time. Later, let your child feel small amounts of bubble or liquid suds on their hands. Eventually, you can introduce other types of suds such as suds from a bar of soap or shampoo bottle. These small experiences help children become comfortable with the look, feel, and smell of soap before it becomes part of a full, independent, bathing routine.

Practice Washing for Short Periods of Time Independence often develops through short, repeated practice. One helpful strategy is to set a timer or play a short song during bathtime and have your child practice washing for that amount of time before you take over. For example, you might say: “Let’s see how much you can wash before the song ends.” Some children benefit from the timer because it keeps them focused on the task. Others benefit because the timer signals when it’s time to move to the next step. You can also practice these washing skills during everyday routines in the morning, before lunch, and before bedtime, providing extra opportunities to build the skill. The more children practice small parts of

the routine, the more confident and independent they become.

Children are often more comfortable with bathing when they have some control over the tools involved. Consider letting your child help choose bath items such as: • Sponges or washcloths • Loofahs • Soap or shampoo scents • Favorite colors • Favorite textures A simple trip to the store to explore different options can turn hygiene into a fun and empowering experience. Choosing materials that feel comfortable and have a pleasant scent can also reduce sensory discomfort and increase cooperation.

Transitioning to Showers Learning to shower can be an important step toward greater independence. Some children feel nervous about the sound or pressure of a shower. One way to reduce this fear is to introduce the shower gradually during bathtime. You might begin by letting the showerhead trickle gently while your child is

As children approach puberty, these skills become especially important for developing healthy hygiene routines.

Five Additional Tips Helping children learn to bathe independently does not happen overnight. But with patience, gradual practice, and sup-

Begin by letting your child experience water in fun, low-pressure ways that have nothing to do with bathtime.

the shower on and off. These small steps help children feel more confident and capable. Learning to shower at a younger age can provide children with greater independence and flexibility as they grow. It also prepares them for situations such as: • sleepovers • school trips • camps • beach or pool activities • sports participation

portive routines, children can develop the confidence and skills they need to care for themselves. Here are 5 simple guidelines to keep in mind while you practice these strategies and support your child through the bathing process: 1. Start with one small, achievable step 2. Practice regularly during everyday routines 3. Introduce new sensations gradually

4. Allow children to choose tools and materials when possible 5. Celebrate small successes and progress Whether it is helping your child get used to the trickle of the shower, rinse thoroughly, or begin and complete the entire process without any reminders, independence in bathing can be as simple as one small step practiced every day.

Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA is the proud owner of 5 Minute ABA and developer of 5MinuteABA/ MadgeBadge Parenting App. She has spent over 20 years consulting with Directors of Special Education across New York, providing support and training to teachers, psychologists and principals regarding Behavior Plan and IEP Goal development, establishing aide-fading protocols, and increasing mainstreaming and inclusion opportunities. She conducts district-wide and individualized staff and parent trainings, and is the author of Raising a Child with Autism: A Guide to Applied Behavior Analysis for Parents and Encouraging Appropriate Behavior for Children on the Autism Spectrum: Frequently Asked Questions. For more parenting strategies and neurodiversity tips, or to contact Shira Richman, download mobile iOS App: 5MinuteABA/ MadgeBadge Parenting App

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Let Children Help Choose Bath Materials

in the bath. Over time, you can slowly increase the water flow as your child becomes more comfortable. Eventually, you can introduce a rotation of bath days and shower days, allowing your child to experience both routines. You can also involve your child in adjusting the water temperature or turning

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Parenting Pearls

A Real Home Entertainment System By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

hile I know we have pictures to remind them, I think my children really do remember these fond memories all on their own. In each photo, they are sitting in front of their creations, proudly displaying their projects. Their smiles today match those from years ago as they reminisced about the fun they had with that craft. What prompted this recollection of memories was a recent purchase of air-dry clay for my younger kids. I was excited to share the clay with my little ones but also curious to see how the older siblings would respond. It didn’t take long before the memories poured out. As a mother trying to be creative, it was rewarding to know that even something as simple as clay could have such an impact. The clay arrived on a rainy day when swimming was unsafe. I put down a plastic tablecloth and divided the clay between the children. They took to the projects with intention and care, thoughtfully putting each touch into the soft material. An hour later, I still saw some hands busy shaping and smoothing their clay. This summer, I had an unexpectedly high enrollment in Mommy Camp. I already knew all the campers very well, having taken care of them for their entire lives, but Mommy Camp brought in higher expectations. The kids wanted trips and entertainment, excitement and thrills. I wanted to provide a meaningful and enjoyable experience, while maintaining my sanity. While colloquially known as “Mommy Camp,” any adult can provide that at-home experience for a child. Thinking beyond the two months of summer, the same methods to entertain and captivate children can be used throughout the year to provide wholesome activities for youngsters. Having many options

tenance. It’s also a way to nourish our loved ones and show we care. For many kids dorming, having a home-cooked meal is one way to feel they have truly come back. While for many of us cooking may be a tedious but necessary chore, it can also be a means to relax and a form of creativity. When presented as an activity, cooking and baking can greatly interest children. Helping with the everyday cooking can be a fun activity but offering something beyond that can become a major event for a child. Sugar cookies can be made into fun designs of their choosing. Frosting and other add-ons can be used to decorate and create cupcake masterpieces. Pizza is a palette for a variety of creative toppings. available can help turn any weekend or rain day from boredom into enjoyment. Going beyond the need to entertain, children learn so much from play, and it’s often their main source of learning various life skills. They build fine motor skills as they continuously improve through trial-and-error. Physical activities develop gross motor skills as they improve their coordination. It’s often the more simple, basic – and often old fashioned – activities that provide the most learning for a child.

Crafts There is something so exciting about using your hands, being creative and making a terrible mess. Pull out the art supplies, and you will usually get a very positive response. Kids enjoy planning their projects and then executing their designs. Getting well deserved praise from their loving adult afterwards is no less enjoyable. With a little creativity, almost anything can be an arts and crafts project. Having a collection of basic supplies on

hand gives parents the flexibility to create a project idea out of nearly any item. Depending on the child’s age, items such as construction paper, crayons, markers, paint, scissors and glue can be pulled out when needed. Many kids will be happy to simply color. To add more creativity, you can give some further suggestions. For example, old magazines can be cut to create a collage or smaller pieces of colored paper can be glued to form a picture. You can demonstrate how to make paper airplanes or other origami. Anything from paper towel holders to empty tissue boxes are fair game. There are many prepackaged kits and other activities that parents can purchase. They include everything needed to make that specific project. Everything from 3-D wooden magnets and birdhouses to potholder looms can come as an all-in-one kit. They may cost a bit more, but many parents may find the convenience to be worth the price.

Kids in the Kitchen Food is more than just basic sus-

Preventing Disaster Arts and crafts are wholesome activities, but the mess can be overwhelming and make parents do anything to avoid suggesting the fun. There are many other activities parents would be happy to do with their precious youngsters, but the inevitable mess makes them hold back. Preparing the space in advance can keep the area clean and prevent future misery. I’ll discuss this topic mostly using arts and crafts as an example, but any activity can be prepared similarly. Clear the area and make sure there is nothing fragile or otherwise valuable in the vicinity. If the kids can access it, they will break it or decorate it with paint. If they can throw a ball at it, toss it in the air or look at it funny, they will destroy it. Never underestimate the talent of a child when it comes to ruining expensive or important items. The little artists should wear old t-shirts – preferably adult or oversized – or smocks. The area to be used (plus

Storytime Stories are fantastic. They are entertaining and often educational. Storytelling was historically a major way to pass on tradition. I have many fond memories of my grandmother sharing with me stories from the past, many about relatives I would never meet. For parents who are comfortable with oral storytelling, it’s a beautiful way to connect with a child. Many parents are not able to think of stories or tell over what they remember. Reading together is enjoyable and educational on multiple levels. Encouraging

children to read on their own is an underappreciated means of entertaining a child. Sometimes we’re so used to hightech that we can forget how much we can gain from a good book. My children have spent hours listening to audio stories. The frum community is fortunate to have many professional storytellers that create and record

Out and About From early ages, kids are thrilled to “go bye-bye.” There is adventure and excitement in simply leaving the house. With very young children, any outing is a trip, and the grocery store is exhilarating. Parks are often an easy trip. Bring snacks and water, and the kids can run

Thinking beyond the two months of summer, the same methods to entertain and captivate children can be used throughout the year to provide wholesome activities for youngsters.

entertaining shows for kids. There is no screen to watch; the kids just sit back and listen to the story. There are many free hotlines with children’s stories, ones that can be purchased individually, as well as audio devices geared to frum families (such as Naki Radio).

and climb happily for hours. To adults, parks seem so basic that we may not appreciate how much enjoyment they bring children. Swings, slides and climbing in the fresh air is not only enjoyable, but it may help them sleep better that night.

There are many “trip places” to take kids. Bowling, ceramics and indoor play areas are a few of the many options. Asking around and seeing what’s available can provide excellent suggestions. Trips can be overwhelming and exhausting. Parents can try to make it easier by choosing closer locations and ensuring the little ones are fed and well rested before leaving. Keep in mind that it’s not necessary to do major daily excursions. It can be once a week or whatever is considered manageable. If we build together with blocks, cuddle for a good read, or kick a soccer ball around with them, the activity is more fun, bonding and memorable. The most important part is to have fun and enjoy your precious child.

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.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

a generous space around it) should be covered with a disposable plastic tablecloth or other easily cleaned surface. Provide appropriate supervision, especially with scissors and similar items. Paint makes a fantastic mess when tracked along the carpets. Flour is hard to clean when spread on every surface. Balls and bats can break glass and chandeliers. While it’s helpful to keep basic art and baking supplies in the home, it’s often best to keep them out of a child’s reach. The same can be said for certain sports equipment and other items.

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Shmooze & Muse

Keep Your Eyes Peeled By Mordechai Schmutter

feel like everything should have a safety warning. Basically, everything already does. But I feel like maybe those warnings should be longer. It’s a dangerous world out there. Everything is constantly trying to take you out, unless you’re in shidduchim. And a lot of things that you assume are safe still have hidden dangers that could attack without warning. Unless you put on a warning – is what I’m saying. But even so, there’s no way we can anticipate every danger that can possibly happen, as the Ribbono Shel Olam shows us every day. For example, take eye drops. You’d think eye drops are safe, right? They’d have to be. Wrong. According to a recent story, doctors are noting an alarming increase in cases of glue being mistaken for eye drops. Though any increase would be alarming. I already have a fear of eye drops as it is. I always blink right before it hits my eye. My wife is like, “Should I put it in for you?” No, that would make it worse. And it’s not like a shot, where I can look away. “So shouldn’t the doctors be more careful about accidentally prescribing glue?” you ask. The mistake is not the doctors’ fault, they say. “Who’s they?”

The doctors. But it’s not like a label’s going to help. What would the label say? “Make sure this is not glue”? Where would they put this label? On the eye drops, which is not the item you’re picking up, or on the glue? It already says, “Glue.” Not on the back. So the doctors suggest that people stop storing these two items next to each other. Duh. Well, then where should I store my arts and craft supplies, smart guy? Not with my medical stuff? Though I suppose it would definitely cut down on how many buttons I swallow when I have a headache. Apparently, people are specifically mixing it up with lash glue, which, I don’t know much about women’s beauty products, but I assume is for people who were nebach born without eyelashes. I’m not judging. And now they have an eye issue on top of this, lo aleinu, that requires drops. Should we maybe just tell the manufacturers to make the packages different? Like maybe a quick phone call can solve this whole thing. But at least your child’s bedroom is safe, right? Maybe. Last April, a three-year-old girl in North Carolina told her parents that she had monsters in the wall of her bedroom, and they brushed it off. Well, not totally. They gave her a bottle of water and told her it was monster spray, and that she could use it to spray the monsters away if she needs to.

And before you think that they’re bad parents, don’t worry; it wasn’t a monster. Monsters don’t exist. It was 60,000 bees. Just picture it: a 3-year-old vs. 60,000 bees, and she’s furiously spraying them with water, slowly losing her faith in her parents. Eventually, they called pest control, who said that they needed a beekeeper, because apparently pest control does not own a beesuit. I’m still not sure why there even is a pest control, because they’re always full of excuses. I think they’re secretly scared of animals. And meanwhile, the family’s home insurance said, “We don’t cover pest removal. Pests are preventable.” And they couldn’t just kill that many bees, once they got the government involved, because bees are a protected species. You have to move. The house belongs to the bees now. Anyway, they called a beekeeper, who took a hammer and made a hole in the wall, and bees starting pouring out. And also about 100 pounds of honey. So there’s some good news there. It was all worth it in the end. But take toasters. A toaster is considered to be one of the safest ways to heat things up. Even yeshivas give bochurim unfettered access to toasters, and they generally get the fire department involved only about once or twice a year. But last January, a man in New Zealand accidentally set his house on fire when he was

cooking steak in his toaster. Don’t worry; he wasn’t home. He had gone out to the restaurant down the block to get French fries. Point is, you never know. That could have been you or me, except that we’re not stupid. Also, our toasters are milchig. This guy’s insurance company did pay out, though, because I guess this one wasn’t preventable. There is not one thing he could have done differently to avoid this fire. Maybe he should have had his whole meal at the restaurant. Restaurants are pretty safe, right? Most accidents happen in the kitchen, and that’s all the way in the back, near where you wash. Well, take the headline from a couple of years ago that says, “Fish served on plate at Japanese restaurant comes alive, bites chopstick.” OK, it didn’t come alive. It was alive the whole time. But this is why I get nervous eating fish heads. Safety tip: always make sure 100% that your food is dead. Take its pulse, if necessary. These sushi dishes are totally getting out of hand. Cook the fish! I guess that’s how you know it’s fresh – if it’s eating the avocado. This never happens with steaks. But golf – that seems like a pretty safe activity, right? The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll get hit by a ball. It’s not like you’re going to, say, run into a shark.

you’re a kid, you clean up your Lego and you find one little piece that you missed, after the box has already been put away. If you tell your parents, they’re exasperated that they have to get it out again, and if you leave it out, your father is going to shake the entire house in middle of the night. So you just put it up your nose for safekeeping, I guess, and you figure you’ll get it out next time you’re playing with your Lego, like a

hopefully the piece would clip on like a hat, and he would pull it out. So he stuck the guy up there, felt what he thought was a click, and when he pulled the guy out, the head was gone. So he panicked and told his mother, who went in with a pair of tweezers. Which got lost up there, too. No, just kidding. She got the head out. But she thought that was it. She didn’t real-

Safety tip: always make sure 100% that your food is dead. Take its pulse, if necessary.

really gross magic trick. It’s totally normal. I have a brother who did this with a crayon. He’s in kollel now. So that was what this man did. And then, presumably the next time he needed the piece, he went into a panic when he realized it was stuck, and he couldn’t reach it with his fingers. So he came up with another brilliant idea: He would build a little Lego man to help him get the piece out. He would stick the guy’s head up his nose, and

ize there were two pieces up there. And he had no idea, while he was panicking, that she’d only gotten one out. And then he “blocked” out the incident. He went on with this life, as one would, and he started developing sinus issues, and it never clicked. Some of his doctors had suggested he spend time in the shower every day breathing in the steam, and then one day, he did so and the piece came flying out. After almost thirty years.

“My initial thought was that I had blown out a mass of something that wasn’t supposed to come out,” he said. “The sound it made, my initial thought was that it was rock or maybe a tooth.” HOW MANY THINGS DOES HE HAVE UP THERE? Anyway, he can finally breathe easier. “I CAN SMELL COLORS NOW!” he said. Before this, he was only smelling yellow. So basically, if you’re like, “I don’t want to let my kid outside because it’s dangerous, what with all the falling sharks,” inside can be pretty dangerous too, between the bees and the toaster steaks... Always check to see what your kids are doing. They could be doing something as innocent as building a little Lego man, but ask yourself: “Why?” This is why you just buy your kid Lincoln Logs. This kind of thing just doesn’t happen with Lincoln Logs. Because like Honest Abe, you know…

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

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Actually, it’s exactly like that. In June, a game of golf in South Carolina was interrupted when a hammerhead shark fell out of the sky. Baruch Hashem (for the people), the shark was dead, or at least it was by the time it landed. Turns out, the shark was dropped by an osprey, which is a kind of bird that grabs sharks out of the ocean and eats them but not right away. The osprey had been trying to find a quiet place to eat its lunch that it wouldn’t bite back, when two other birds attempted to rob it, and in the commotion, it dropped the shark. Point is, even though you’re unlikely to run into a shark in your day to day, you should just know that there’s something out there that eats sharks and flies overhead. And something else out there that is willing to attack that thing. Our next story involves Lego safety. But not how you think. In September, a 32-year-old man in Arizona sneezed in the shower and was surprised to see a yellow piece of Lego fly out of his nose. And when he saw what it was, he says, “The memory of something I had completely forgotten about from my childhood came flooding back to me.” Turns out, it had been up there for almost thirty years. See, sometimes when

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

d for Thought

Pescada By Nati Burnside

or more than 10 years, Pescada has been one of Brooklyn’s premier kosher dairy restaurants, drawing diners from across the tri-state area with an elevated menu that blends refined technique with creative presentation. Earlier this year, the restaurant expanded with a second location just outside Lakewood in Jackson, giving Ocean County diners a chance to experience the brand without making the trip to New York. While the menus at both locations share many familiar favorites, the New Jersey restaurant takes advantage of its considerably larger footprint. The dining room is striking from the moment you walk in, with soaring ceilings, elegant décor and an abundance of seating. Unlike the Brooklyn location, its Jackson cousin was clearly designed with private events in mind, featuring multiple private rooms that make it equally suited for weddings, sheva brachos, business dinners and other celebrations. The restaurant describes its philosophy as combining classic culinary techniques with a modern approach while allowing seasonal ingredients to remain the star of every dish, an approach that became evident throughout the meal. When I was invited to Pescada, I started with sushi as always. The King Salmon Tiradito was perhaps the simplest dish I sampled but also one of the most memorable. Thin slices of exceptionally fresh salmon were alternated with equally thin slices of avocado, topped with a slight crunch, and paired with a bright citrus dressing. The salmon practically melted with each bite, while the avocado added richness without overpowering the fish. A light scattering of crispy garnish provided just enough texture to keep every bite interesting. In a restaurant with no shortage of elaborate presentations, this dish proved that quality ingredients often need very little embellishment, and I especially appreciated the Nikkei influence that gave it a refreshing departure from a more traditional sashimi presentation. The Cheese Chatchapuri offered an in-

ventive twist on the traditional Georgian favorite by replacing the customary bread with flaky malawach dough. The result was lighter and crispier than expected, while a drizzle of pesto added freshness and depth to the rich blend of melted feta and ricotta cheeses. The buttery layers of the malawach created an almost pastry-like texture that contrasted beautifully with the creamy filling. Crowned with a baked egg, the dish became almost like a pesto omelet nestled inside layers of buttery malawach, with the runny yolk adding even more richness as it mixed with the cheeses. Every pullapart bite delivered the satisfying stretch of melted cheese that makes this dish so comforting, while the pesto prevented it from becoming overly rich by contributing just enough herbal brightness. I’m kind of a sucker for warm salads, so I couldn’t help but order the Haloumi Salad. Crisp greens were topped with beautifully caramelized stir-fried vegetables and generous pieces of perfectly fried halloumi cheese. The vegetables retained a pleasant bite while picking up just enough char from the pan, and the haloumi developed a beautifully crisp exterior while remaining soft and creamy inside. The contrast of warm and cool textures made every bite satisfying, while the sweet-savory balance tied the entire dish together. It was substantial enough to be shared as an appetizer yet easily could have served as a light entrée on its own. One of the biggest surprises of the evening was the Forest Mushroom Pizza. Nearly every dairy restaurant offers some variation of mushroom pizza with truffle oil, but Pescada may have perfected the formula. The kitchen wasn’t shy with either the mushrooms or the cheese, while exercising admirable restraint with the truffle oil, allowing the earthy mushroom flavor to remain the star instead of being overwhelmed. A generous mix of mushrooms covered nearly every slice, delivering plenty of depth and texture, while the cheese provided richness without becoming heavy. Too often, truffle oil dominates

a pizza like this, but here it functioned as an accent rather than the main attraction. The result was balanced, flavorful, and one of the better mushroom pizzas I’ve had in recent memory. The Cheese Tortellini immediately caught my attention, because it’s still relatively uncommon on kosher menus. As someone with a particular weakness for tortellini, this was an easy dish to order and was just as easily devoured. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and each piece was generously filled. Rather than masking the dish with an overly heavy cream sauce, the kitchen allowed the tortellini itself to remain the focal point, producing a comforting yet refined plate that demonstrated confidence in its execution. For the entrée, the Asian Seabass demonstrated exactly what a composed seafood dish should be. Miso-marinated sea bass was accompanied by a king oyster mushroom “steak,” drunken pineapple, Thai sauce, black garlic cream and green soy. Every component had a purpose, and together they created a dish with remarkable balance. The sea bass was beautifully cooked, remaining moist and flaky while taking on just enough sweetness and umami from the miso marinade. The king oyster mushroom steak was packed with flavor and had an almost meaty texture, while the pineapple introduced an unexpected burst of sweetness that kept the dish lively. The black garlic cream added

richness, the Thai sauce contributed gentle spice and acidity, and the green soy tied everything together. It’s increasingly common to find sea bass on kosher menus, but this was one of the better fully composed seafood entrées I’ve encountered because every element complemented the fish rather than competing with it. Whether you’re already familiar with the original Brooklyn location or discovering Pescada for the first time, the new New Jersey restaurant succeeds in bringing that same level of culinary ambition to a much grander setting. Between its polished atmosphere, event-friendly layout and thoughtfully executed menu, Pescada has quickly established itself as the top high-end dairy destination in the Lakewood area. If the Brooklyn location earned its reputation over the past decade by consistently delivering refined kosher dining, the new Jackson restaurant proves that success wasn’t limited to one address. It offers everything longtime fans expect from the Pescada name while introducing one of New Jersey’s most impressive kosher dining rooms to a whole new audience.

Dairy

Tartikover Rav (Rabbi Yechiel Babad) 1359 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY PescadaNewYork.com (718)-766-2759

109 North County Line Road Jackson Township, NJ PescadaNJ.com (732)-730-4655

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

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Book

Marked

The Verse We Won’t Let Be Last By Baruch Landa

very Tisha B’Av night, the same thing happens in our shuls. The lights are low, we’re sitting on the floor or on low stools, and the baal korei makes his way through Megillat Eichah until he reaches the final pasuk, which may be the bleakest sentence in all of Tanach, the one that ends the megilla on rejection and rage. And then we refuse to let that be the end. The whole kehilla says Hashiveinu aloud, return us to You, Hashem, and we will return, and the reader repeats it after us, and only then do we rise from the floor. Most of us have been doing this since childhood without ever asking the obvious question. Why does the mesorah let a sefer end one way and then make us end it another? Dr. Yael Ziegler’s Lamentations: Faith in a Turbulent World (Maggid Books, with Matan and Yeshivat Har Etzion) is the answer to that question. She taught Megillat Eichah for 27 years before writing this commentary, which began as a weekly shiur on Yeshivat Har Etzion’s Virtual Beit Midrash and grew into a close reading of every pasuk, framed by essays on the Churban’s history, on suffering, on the megilla’s poetry and on what Chazal made of it. She dedicated it to her friend Dr. Avigail Rock, z”l. And she addresses our minhag directly: in saying Hashiveinu aloud, she writes, the community “resists and even undermines the final despondent message of the book.” We don’t just finish Eichah every year. We overrule it. We’re allowed to, because the megilla itself carries two voices, and anyone who has sat in a shiva house knows them. There is the voice that accepts, the mourner who says Hashem is righteous and means it. And there is the voice that cannot say those words yet, the one still asking why. We tend to assume that only the first voice is allowed in the room. Ziegler shows that Eichah is built out of both. Her central chiddush is structural. The megilla’s five perakim form rings around a center. The outer perakim, one and five,

are the quiet ones, and both end in Vidui: the first perek closes with Yerushalayim herself saying tzaddik hu Hashem, and the last perek finally brings the community to woe to us, for we have sinned. The inner perakim, two and four, never get there. They watch children starve in the streets, they describe Hashem acting toward His own city like an enemy, and instead of Vidui, they say words no one dares translate politely: You slaughtered, You did not pity. And in the middle stands one anonymous sufferer who works his way from despair to the words we know from davening: chasdei Hashem ki lo samnu. His kindness has not run out. The megilla never picks a side, and that is the point. A Jew in pain is allowed both voices, so long as he keeps hold of the core. Ziegler reads the hardest pesukim with the same steadiness. On the children of perek bet, the little ones asking their mothers where the grain and wine are, a footnote recalls that the pasuk in Zecharia about boys and girls playing in

does quietly. Hashem Himself weeps in the midrash. The Shechina, leaving the Churban, turns back to kiss the walls of the Beit HaMikdash. And Reish Lakish takes the terrifying last pasuk and flips it: rejection would mean no hope, but anger means hope, because “anyone who gets angry will eventually be appeased.” Then there is the mashal of the matron. A king writes his wife a generous kesubah and leaves for a faraway land. Years pass. The neighbors mock her: he’s gone, he’s never coming back. She goes into her house, opens the kesubah, reads what he promised her, and is comforted. When the king finally returns and asks how she waited all those years, she tells him the truth: without the kesubah, “my neighbors would surely have caused me to lose hope.” Chazal say it plainly. The kesubah is the Torah. We survived every exile because we kept reading what He wrote us. We even live this in the calendar without noticing. On Tisha B’Av night, we hear Eichah, where five times in the

Emunah is not written in quiet times. It is written on the day of the levaya.

the streets of Yerushalayim was beloved by Rav Yehuda Amital, z”l, Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion, who had witnessed the Holocaust and its million murdered children and who would marvel at the daily “miracle” of Jewish children simply frolicking in Yerushalayim’s streets. Perek bet mourns the children; Rav Amital lived to see Zecharia’s answer. The whole sefer works like that, holding Churban and nechama in the same hand. Chazal held them the same way, and some of the richest chapters here follow Eichah into Eichah Rabba. The midrashim do openly what our minhag of Hashiveinu

first perek Yerushalayim has no menachem, no comforter. Ten days later comes Shabbat Nachamu, and Yeshayahu answers the megilla almost line for line: nachamu nachamu ami, and later, I am your comforter. Ziegler charts the correspondences pasuk by pasuk, and once you’ve seen them, the haftarot of consolation become what they always were, Hashem’s half of the conversation. The most piercing moment in the book is a footnote. Ziegler completed her commentary on perek gimmel, the perek of hope, on the day her neighbor in Alon Shevut, Second Lieutenant Erez Orbach,

Hy”d, was laid to rest. Erez had a medical exemption from the army and insisted on serving anyway; he was murdered in a terror attack in Yerushalayim on Asara B’Tevet. She dedicates the perek to his memory. She wrote those lines in 2017 and published them in 2021, and reading them now, in the summer of 5786, they say everything. Emunah is not written in quiet times. It is written on the day of the levaya. This is our third Tisha B’Av since Simchat Torah 5784, and there will be people on the floor of every shul this year carrying losses that are not historical. For them, the question of how to sit with both voices is not theoretical. Ziegler’s derech is the one worth taking into the fast. Don’t choose between the Jew who protests and the Jew who accepts. The megilla never chose, and neither did the mesorah. Hold the center, and let the two voices circle. The matron’s neighbors told her the king was never coming back. She went home and read her kesubah. On Tisha B’Av night, we finish Eichah in the dark, and before we get up off the floor, we read one line of ours out loud. Hashiveinu Hashem eilecha v’nashuva. And then the baal korei says it again, so that nobody misses it.

Creamy, Cheesy Tuna Casserole Dairy / Yields 8 servings

By Naomi Nachman

This is the ultimate throw-it-together weeknight dinner – comforting, cheesy, and ready before you know it. The secret to that rich, savory depth is Tuscanini’s Mushroom Alfredo sauce, which coats every noodle in any extra chopping or simmering on your part. Layer in tender egg noodles, flaky tuna, and plenty of melty cheddar, then finish with a crunchy panko topping for the perfect contrast in every bite. This recipe doubles easily and freezes well and is perfect for a break the fast meal.

Ingredients

Preparation

• 1 (12-ounce) package egg noodles

• 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion

to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2. Preheat oven to 400°F.

• 2 (6-ounce) cans tuna, drained • 1 jar 14.5 oz Tuscanini Mushroom Alfredo sauce • ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk • 1 cup panko crumbs or packaged crunchy fried onions, crushed

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8

3. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together noodles, onion, 1 cup cheese, tuna, Mushroom Alredo sauce and milk. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with panko crumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese.

4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

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.

JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

In The K tchen

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

I didn’t consider it initially, but as I got older it became a challenge, and I enjoyed it so much I just kept going. - Bryan Murray, 94, of New Zealand, upon winning the Guinness World Record title for the oldest water skier

I like the saying, “You don’t stop because you are too old; you get old because you stop being active.” - ibid.

It was a racist race. - Radical leftist Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) talking about the Texas Democrat senate primary race that she recently lost to Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico (D)

I’d say the trash took itself out. - Sen. John Fetterman after Graham Platner, the Democrat senate nominee from Maine who has a Nazi tattoo and is accused of crimes against women, withdrew from the senate race

Out of nowhere, when I was sitting with my wife at a restaurant, my phone buzzed and it was a text from that friend who expressed to me the president’s genuine empathy for the [gehenom] that I was being dragged through… I deeply appreciated that text. I actually texted the president. I thanked him. Expressed my sincere hope that this long, exhausting feud between the two of us could finally end. - Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who turned against Pres. Trump and testified against him, disclosing on 770 WABC that he has now reconciled with the President

It’s difficult. There are lots of Ukrainian drones there. That’s right. Dangerous. - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference with Pres. Trump when the President suggested a possible peace summit in Moscow

Go back to where you were born, Mamdani. You don’t belong in America. - “Die Hard” actor Robert Davi blasting Mamdani on Friday after a city map highlighting immigrant enclaves omitted Little Italy

If we die, we die together. - Svetlana Grkovi, of Serbia, explaining why she held onto her husband’s legs as he was almost sucked out of an airplane at 20,000 feet when a window broke

Nah, my jet ski is gold plated…. Your job is to lie. Mine is to protect the American people, and business is good. - FBI Director Kash Patel tweeting in response to a hit piece on MS NOW that questions his travel expenses

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JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

There are enough people that I hear who are lazy and reductive, and they’re going to end up where they’re supposed to end up—in a little cul-desac of their own making. The reality is that most of us were lied to by the media about President Trump. If you just go back to the source material, you should take away two things. One, he didn’t say half the things they said he said. Two, why did these other people just fabricate what they wanted to say so that they could essentially assassinate his character? I think that second thing is completely unacceptable in America, and there have still been no repercussions, really. - Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya on CNBC talking about how he got rid of his Trump Derangement Syndrome

I took the time to learn about it. I admitted on the pod – which has millions of viewers – that I got it totally wrong, because I went and watched Charlottesville. The first person to call me was President Trump. I got to know him, and when I put the phone down, I called my wife and said, “We got it totally, totally wrong. We were lied to.” Then I got to know him, and he is fantastic.

This is the natural result of the corrupt system. Today, Egypt was playing Argentina… Very strange things happened in the match. The Argentina is an “Israeli team par excellence”; Benjamin Netanyahu is ‘”best friends” with President Milei; Yair Netanyahu brought Messi to play for Inter Miami.

- ibid.

- Egyptian sports analyst Mohammad Nour, reacting to Egypt’s FIFA World Cup defeat to Argentina

I am heartbroken that a field I have given my life to can treat me this way. The attack on Black women academics is real.

I’m number one on the kill list for Iran...but I don’t really care because I’m doing my job, and I’m doing it, I hope, better than anybody’s ever done it. I like being number one on TikTok better, but I’m number one on the list for killing.

-Kerri Greenidge, responding to academic criticism to her acclaimed book about slavery as containing numerous questionable assertions and sloppy sourcing

- President Donald Trump

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You know what you have to do: carry on. The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

- Argentinian flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo to his student midflight before unbuckling from his seat, removing his headset, opening the plane door and jumping out, leaving the student to have to land the plane alone with instructions from ground control

This should have been done 47 years ago. It shouldn’t have been allowed to start. Clinton and Bush let [Iran] go. Everybody let them go. Obama was the worst of all. Obama went to their side, you know, because he’s – well, let’s not say. Let’s leave that for another time. He was terrible. - Pres. Trump on Fox News

At the end of the day, like I said, we’re human, and the best way to understand somebody is to put yourself in their shoes. With the training and everything, that is what they tell us, try your best to understand that person, be empathic towards them, try to understand why they are there. The training emphasizes that, and also emphasizes that sometimes it’s not necessarily what you say but how you say it. - Hero NYPD officer Christian Yepes, who climbed the steel suspension cables of the Brooklyn Bridge to help a distressed woman who climbed up to the top of the tower and was threatening to jump

Do not count on there being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun; it will be a different broadcast. Far more powerful. - Prime Minister Netanyahu in a warning to Iran

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JULY 16, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

104

Political Crossfire

How Young MAGA Voters View America’s Role in the World By Marc A. Thiessen

egular readers know that I have been debunking the myth of MAGA isolationism for a while, citing a series of polls from the Ronald Reagan Institute and others that have consistently shown MAGA Republicans are more hawkish and less isolationist than any other segment of the American electorate. The isolationist right has dismissed those results as “Zombie Reaganism” – a dying “baby boomer supernova” driven by older Republicans with gauzy memories of a bygone era of 1980s GOP world leadership. Younger MAGA voters are far less supportive of bold U.S. leadership on the global stage, critics insist, and the future of MAGA is isolationist. To see if that’s correct, the Reagan Institute decided to drill down on the foreign policy views of MAGA voters under 30. Well, the results are in – and the news is not good for the isolationist right. Young MAGA voters don’t want America to pull back from the world; they want to lead it. A 72 percent supermajority of young MAGA voters believe the United States should be “more engaged and take the lead” on foreign policy, while just 19 percent say it should be “less engaged and react to events” – a 53-point spread in favor of U.S. global leadership. The institute surveyed more than 1,500 respondents nationwide in late May and early June, including a statistically significant sample of MAGA Republicans under 30. Young MAGA voters not only want the U.S. to lead; they want that leadership to be driven by American values: 74 percent agree that “the U.S. has a moral obligation to stand up for human rights and democracy whenever possible in international

affairs.” Almost 80 percent agree that “promoting freedom and democracy in authoritarian countries” should be a focus of U.S. foreign policy and that “defending people facing religious persecution in other countries” should be a U.S. priority. And 64 percent said they support “funding programs and organizations designed to advance freedom and democracy abroad,” while just 31 percent said the programs were “not worth the expense.” This commitment to America’s moral mission in the world is evident in their views on Iran: 59 percent of Gen Z MAGA voters say “supporting the Iranian people in their efforts to secure freedom and democracy” is important (as did 67 percent of MAGA voters over 30), while just 13 percent say it’s not. Asked if they approve or disapprove of the military actions President Donald Trump has taken against Iran this year, 73 percent of MAGA voters under 30 approve, as did 89 percent of older ones. Perhaps most important, 61 percent of under-30 MAGA voters want to see the Iranian regime either removed or weakened, while just 35 percent say they prefer a “negotiated settlement” in which “Iran’s current government remains in exchange for verifiable limits on its nuclear and missile programs.” Young MAGA voters support the “Donroe Doctrine” in the Western Hemisphere: 64 percent agree with Trump’s decision to remove Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela, and 60 percent would support using military force to remove the current Cuban government from power. Many polls have shown that support for Israel has collapsed among Gen Z Democrats. Though younger MAGA voters are

less supportive than older ones, solid majorities still back the Jewish state: 60 percent of MAGA voters under 30 approve of sending U.S. weapons to Israel, compared with 72 percent of older MAGA voters – far above the paltry 37 percent of Democrats who do. And 63 percent say that the security of Israel “matters to U.S. security and prosperity.” While young MAGA voters are not immune to the decline in support for Israel, they are among the least affected by this trend. Younger MAGA voters overwhelmingly believe in peace through strength: An 85 percent supermajority agree that “a strong U.S. military is essential to maintaining peace and prosperity, both at home and abroad,” compared with 93 percent of older MAGA Republicans. And they are significantly more supportive of the NATO alliance than older MAGA voters are: 62 percent of MAGA voters under 30 have a favorable view of NATO, compared with just 47 percent of those over 30. And 65 percent of both older and younger MAGA voters said they would be more likely to support continued U.S. participation in NATO after learning that “NATO members have recently increased their own defense spending in response to U.S. insistence.” Young MAGA voters also stand with the people of Ukraine: 64 percent say the outcome of the war between Russia and Ukraine matters to U.S. security and prosperity – almost indistinguishable from the 69 percent of older MAGA voters who hold this view. Only 35 percent support “conceding territory to Russia” as part of

a peace deal, while 57 percent say the U.S. should either support Ukraine “until all Russian-occupied territory is liberated” or a “ceasefire along current front lines” is reached “without formally recognizing Russian control of annexed territories.” On China, they are less hawkish than older MAGA voters: 65 percent say that the security of Taiwan matters to U.S. security and prosperity, compared with 78 percent of older MAGA voters, and 79 percent say that countering Chinese military power should be a focus of U.S. foreign policy (90 percent of older MAGA feel this way). But they also want U.S. policy toward China to be driven by principle: 53 percent say that “publicly pressuring China to release political prisoners, even if it increases tensions with China” should be a higher priority for the U.S. than “avoiding public criticism of China in order to preserve cooperation on other issues.” The gap between older and younger MAGA voters on China is concerning, but solid majorities still want to take a hard line with Beijing. Finally, when asked whether America remains the “shining city upon a hill because its freedom, prosperity, and democratic ideals serve as an example to the world,” 76 percent of under-30 MAGA believe it does. Somewhere up there, those results brought a smile to the Gipper’s face. Bottom line: The isolationists are out of step with Trump and the “America First” movement writ large – and there is no help on the way from the Gen Z right. © 2026, Washington Post Writers Group

105

Forgotten Her es

By Avi Heiligman

A depiction of the army’s retreat from Long Island

he delegates of the Second Continental Congress were fully aware of the gravity of their actions when they signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In fact, not all members of the Congress were for independence, and some refused to sign the historic document. The months immediately following were filled with turmoil, anxiety and confusion. Great Britain was about to invade the U.S. with a massive army, meaning the signers faced execution for treason if captured. Despite these dangers, Congress still had to draw up the Articles of Confederation, raise and fund an army, and build an economy from scratch. Simultaneously, individual states had to replace their royal charters with new constitutions while fiercely debating how the new country should operate. Despite this intense political and military chaos, the new Americans managed to pull through, effectively securing victory after winning the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. Militarily, things were looking bleak for the Americans. George Washington, who had been appointed commander of the Continental Army in 1775, had his forces outflanked by the British under General William Howe at the Battle of Brooklyn in August 1776. Under the cover of darkness, Washington was able to retreat across the East River and make it safely to Manhattan. While this saved his army from annihilation, it certainly wasn’t the decisive victory the Americans needed. In fact, this was just the first of several defeats for Washington that year. In September, the British easily overpowered the defenders of Manhattan in

A statue in tribute of Haym Salomon

the Battle of Kip’s Bay, but the next day, the Continental Army did earn a small victory at the Battle of Harlem Heights. Then in October, Howe pushed back Washington at the Battle of White Plains, and in November, the Americans lost Fort Washington, and 3,000 men along with valuable cannons and supplies was taken captive. By late December 1776, Washington’s army was in shambles. They had few supplies, their numbers were dwindling, and they had been forced out of New York. Washington was desperate for a victory, especially as many of his soldiers were facing the end of their enlistments on December 31. Then, on the night of December 25-26, Washington crossed the icy Delaware River during a raging storm and launched a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton on the morning of the 26th. The brief battle resulted in an American victory and stunned the British. This was followed by a victory over the British on January 3, 1777 at the Battle of Princeton. This gave the Americans the morale booster they desperately needed, but they would need help. The help would come in the form of military assistance from the French and monetary donations from several sources, including Jewish Americans. The famous story of a messenger sent by George Washington into Philadelphia’s Congregation Mikveh Israel on Yom Kippur, prompting Haym Salomon to stop the services until enough money was pledged, is more likely fiction than fact. However, what is true is that Salomon used his skills as a financial broker to assist the

Isaac Moses co-founded the Bank of New York with Alexander Hamilton

Continental Army and was never repaid for the massive loans he extended to the military and the Founding Fathers. Aaron Lopez of Newport, Rhode Island, was one of the wealthiest Jews in America at the time of the Revolutionary War, having owned a vast merchant fleet of around one hundred ships. He used his vessels to supply the Continental Army with ammunition and other vital material until the British confiscated his fleet. This devastating loss dealt a major blow to the American supply line. Other Jewish financiers included the Gratz brothers of Philadelphia, who supplied Washington with arms and ammunition while also equipping the Northwest expedition of George Rogers Clark (a story for another article). Meanwhile, Isaac Moses gave thousands of pounds sterling (as British currency was still used by some) to feed the Continental Army. Manuel Noah, originally from Germany, fought as a soldier during the war and served on Washington’s staff for a stint. Additionally, he contributed a significant amount of money to the American army. The American economy wasn’t faring much better than the army in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. The British Navy implemented a blockade on American ports, and exports from the Southern states caused the economy to effectively come to a stall. In a desperate move, the Continental Congress authorized privateering – the use of privately owned, armed ships allowed by a government to attack enemy merchant vessels during a time of war. This, in turn, caused problems for

A portrait of Bernard Gratz

the British as it disrupted their supply lines and caused many at home to doubt the effectiveness of a war that their country was fighting across the Atlantic. Congress, as well as individual states, started printing their own money but had no gold or silver reserves to back it. Hyperinflation started to settle into the local economy, forcing citizens to revert to bartering or using English currency. Firearms and ammunition were domestically produced, but price gouging and hoarding became widespread problems. The economy started to stabilize in 1778 with the entry of France into the war, as they poured a large amount of gold, silver, and supplies into the American economy. Banks backed by gold and silver emerged in 1781, but they would eventually enter a recession due to being cut off from the British trade network in the postwar years. The months and years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence brought the harsh realities of military invasion, economic isolation, and political division. This was the steep price of freedom, but the Founding Fathers knew that the conclusion of the war would only give rise to new struggles in building America. Ultimately, it was the resilience of these early Americans that endured the chaos and laid the foundation for a new country.

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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America After Independence

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SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

APT. FOR RENT

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New construction, 7-bedroom home on an oversized property in desirable Lawrence Bay Park.

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HOUSE FOR SALE Semi-Detached 2-Family House Far Rockaway, NY Owner’s apartment 5 B/R; Tenant’s 1 B/R $1.1M, non-negotiable Inquiries by email only 604Seagirt@gmail.com REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT Services – Do Not Manage Your Properties Alone! Contact Aliyah Suites for all your real estate management needs and affordable office space near you! (516) 366-1049 Management@aliyahsuites.com Marc Jeret (MJ) Team Leader & Licensed Real Estate Agent

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE

HELP WANTED

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

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

CAMP STAFF FOR Early Childhood Center The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC Early Childhood Center is hiring summer camp counselors and lifeguards. Applicants must be over 16-years-old for Summer, 2026. Please send resumes to Camp@guraljcc.org or call (516) 239-1354

GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Are you passionate about literature, writing, and inspiring young minds? Are you someone who can create engaging learning experiences? Someone who can help students develop strong communication and critical-thinking skills? Then this is an opportunity for you! Shevach High School seeks an enthusiastic and experienced ELA teacher. Please send your resume to mribowsky@shevachhs.org

5 TOWNS - SHOWROOM/ Warehouse For Lease 4000 + 1000 SF Can divide - Parking included Next to LIRR - No broker fee Call/text/Whatsapp: 516-206-1100

HOUSE FOR RENT N. WOODMERE Big renovated, spacious 4br, 2fbh, W&D, Driveway, garage, deck, huge backyard, SD#14, tons of storage, huge master, jacuzzi, shower, available immediately WhatsApp only owner, 347-517-3552

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

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

CARE MANAGER Remote (requires in-person home visits in NY) Support families facing serious medical or emotional challenges. Provide guidance, advocacy, and resource coordination from home or on-site. Training provided. BA or 2 years Care Management required Apply online: www. chailifeline.org/careers or email hr@chailifeline.org 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

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HELP WANTED

MISC.

YESHIVA OF GREAT NECK Boys Yeshiva High School. seeking qualified Algebra instructor to provide small group tutoring for two separate student groups. Position involves two afternoon periods daily, in a structured environment. Exceptional Compensation. E-mail recruitment@yeshivaofgreatneck.org

BROOKLYN BASED

UPSCALE EVENING & 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.

SHMIRAS HALASHON

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

Building maintenance company seeks outside accounts manager Please email resume to ap@dependableplastic.com

YESHIVA OF GREAT NECK Boys Yeshiva High School. seeking qualified high school science teacher to instruct three periods of core sciences, in supportive and structured environment. Hours begin after 3:00 pm. Strong content knowledge and teacher experience required. Competitive Compensation. E-mail recruitment@ yeshivaofgreatneck.org

JOIN THE ZAREINU TEAM! Our small, special education classes are in yeshivas and Bais Yaakov’s in Far Rockaway and the Five Towns. For the 2026-2027 school year, Zareinu is seeking: PM Special Education Secular Studies Teachers for middle school boys class AM Rebbe Assistants for boys classes P/T or F/T Assistants for boys classes Highly competitive salary and caring, supportive administration. Send resume to info@zareinu.org / or call Rabbi Lepolstat at 516-993-2142 for further information.

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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The Jewish Home | JULY 16, 2026

Life C ach

Why Nine? By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

hy are there nine days before Tisha B’Av? Well, that’s an interesting question. We usually think in terms of seven days – a week. Suddenly, during this period, we are thinking in something other than the most familiar unit of time, seven days. Seven represents living within G-d’s plan for nature, the natural order. It also represents a sense of completion. After all, the world was completed after seven days of Creation. However, we certainly do not feel “complete” about the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. We are devastated by it. Therefore, the number seven doesn’t seem to fit this theme. Unless, perhaps, we wanted to say that it represents the Temple being “completely” destroyed at the end of the count. But no one wants to celebrate counting down to destruction. Another possibility is the number eight. Eight represents the miraculous – when G-d shows us that He can operate beyond the natural order and beyond what we expect. It reflects His greatness and His ability to transcend nature. Yes, the destruction of the Temple was part of a Divine plan. But it was certainly not a miracle in the joyful or celebratory

sense. So, eight doesn’t seem to fit either. Therefore, let’s consider the choice of the number nine. “Nine” sounds like the Yiddish and German word nein, meaning “no.” And we certainly say no to another destruction. That alone is one good reason to focus on the Nine Days. Furthermore, we should remind our-

It therefore makes sense that, with the beginning of the new month, we begin counting down toward the ninth day of Av – the day that represents the height of the tragedy. Why else might nine be the number? Seven represents completion. Eight represents the miraculous. Ten often represents perfection. None of those concepts seem appropriate as the number

We should say an absolute “no” to any behavior resembling the actions that led to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash.

selves: no = nine = nein. We should say an absolute “no” to any behavior resembling the actions that led to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. There is also a more practical explanation. The siege of Jerusalem began three weeks earlier, on the 17th of Tammuz. However, the month of Av begins nine days before the actual destruction.

of days leading up to one of the saddest events in Jewish history. The truth is that nine actually makes a great deal of sense. And I’ll tell you why. It gives us hope. When many people think of the number nine, they think of cats, because cats are said to have nine lives. Nine opportunities. Nine chances to begin again.

Each day, as we move toward Tisha B’Av, we should strive to be spiritually reborn. Every day is another opportunity to start over. Every day is another “life.” Then, on the ninth day, despite all the hardship and destruction we remember, we recognize something extraordinary: we are still here. The Jewish people have the ability to endure the worst of times, to face challenge after challenge, and still emerge alive and kicking. On the Ninth of Av, we reach what feels like rock bottom. But rock bottom can also be the place where a new beginning starts. It is an opportunity to begin a new life. Let’s embrace that opportunity and move forward – to ten: striving to become the very best and most complete versions of ourselves that we can be.

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certifie d relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

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