Issuu

August 27, 2026

Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

Always Fresh. Always Gourmet. See pages 10-11

Around the

Community 50 A Fresh Start to a New Year

60 A Special Week at Special Children’s Center

60 A Night of Jewish Music in Cedarhurst PAGES 117 & 119

Curious what a new roof will cost? Scan to get an instant roof estimate!

PAGE 67

100% FINANCING AVAILABLE ROCKAWAYKOSHER.COM FASTEST DELIVERY IN 5 TOWNS

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Dear Readers,

orty-four years ago, Yehuda Katz was 22 years old. He was learning in Kerem B’Yavneh, but he left the beis medrash to go out to battle for his nation. For more than four decades, Yehuda’s body lay in foreign territory, his soul soaring to the heavens, his physical being never finding rest. Last week, Yehuda’s remains were brought home, his funeral uniting a nation as they stood by as their brother was finally given the proper respect. As part of the belongings of Yehuda that were recovered in the operation to bring him home was a small, folded piece of paper. On that paper were scrawled six reminders of kabbalos that Yehuda had taken upon himself. Those kabbalos had stayed with him for the past 44 years while he was far away from his final resting place. Yehuda pledged to say Tehillim every day and to say Tikkun Haklali. He wanted to stay away from speaking devarim bateilim in the beis medrash. He wanted to eat in moderation. He desired to increase in his davening and hisbodedus and to wake up earlier in the morning before davening. And he wanted to make sure to go to the mikveh on erev Shabbos. A soldier, going out to war and bringing along these weapons. A soldier, with his final breath, endeavoring to uplift the life he lived. A soldier, who even in death remained attached to his spiritual pursuits. It is no coincidence that Yehuda was buried on Friday, erev Shabbos, his final cleanse and tahara taking place before we read Parshas Ki Seitzei. Last week’s parsha begins with the famous

words “Ki seitzei l’milchama al oyvecha,” when you go out to war against your enemy. The enemy, we are told, is our yetzer hara, with whom we wage battle every moment of every day. And the only way to be victorious against this constant threat is to be prepared with small, consistent ammunition that can pierce the potency of our opponent. Yehuda didn’t just go out to war with an Uzi slung across his shoulders. He took with him the most powerful bullets of all: the kabbalos that he accepted upon himself to subdue his enemy within. Every day, each one of us, like Yehuda, Hy”d, faces an internal battle. In the month of Elul, our war becomes more stark and more urgent. But we are given the tools and the weapons we need to overcome our enemy: consistent, small commitments to defeat the little whispers within us that work to sway our being away from our Creator. The secret is that our kabbalos need to be small. They need to be targeted to the battles that plague us. And they need to be consistent, something we do day-in, day-out, without wavering. Small steps that will lead us on a path to victory. “Ki seitzei l’milchama al oyvecha,” if you only go out to battle against your enemy, Hashem help lead you to victory. You need to take those few, small, consistent steps, and with G-d’s help, you will succeed. 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 | August 28 – September 3

Friday, August 28 Parshas Ki Savo

FRIDAY

SHABBOS

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

Partly Cloudy

Isolated ThunderStorms

AM Showers

81° 65°

79° 67°

80° 71°

82° 72°

82° 73°

84° 71°

81° 69°

Candle Lighting: 7:15 pm Shabbos Ends: 8:14 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 8:44 pm

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

Community Happenings

VoiceNotes

70 NEWS

108

Global

National

That’s Odd

ISRAEL Israel News

HaMelech BaSadeh by Barbara Deutsch

Turning Advocacy Into Results

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

We’re Going Home by Rav Moshe Weinberger

Willpower by Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

PEOPLE Remembering Mrs. Vera (Emunah) Dechter, a”h

Inspiration Nation

Sub Stories by Avi Heiligman

121

HEALTH & FITNESS School of Thought

When the Same Question Keeps Coming Back by Shira Richman

100

Mazal Tov. It’s a Baby by Rivka Kramer

104

Stay For the Flu Shot by Dr. Hylton Lightman

106

Sweet Nothings by Aliza Beer, MS, RD

108

FOOD & LEISURE Food For Thought

113

The Aussie Gourmet: Red Wine Shoulder Roast

115

LIFESTYLES

126

Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

Parenting Pearls

102

The Renovation Roadmap

110

Al, Going Up

Dear Editor, Regarding the August 20-27, 2026, Dating Dialogue column: Cut to the chase: Do not marry into this family. The brother-in-law is controlling and verbally abusive and the family is afraid to confront him, lest they “damage their daughter’s shalom bayis.” Well, their daughter’s shalom bayis is already damaged! When your writer marries into the family, he too will be swept up into this unhealthy family dynamic. He, too, will be afraid to say anything. Run from this relationship. You don’t just marry a girl; you marry her family. Why is everyone in fear of a bully? Well, that’s the way it is with bullies. Get out of the relationship. There are other families with eligible daughters which don’t present such problems. Eileen Pollock Baltimore, NY Dear Editor, It is interesting to note that in the most moving liturgy of the Yamim Noraim, we proclaim that teshuva, tefilla, and tzedaka annul the evil decree. But notice how it doesn’t say Shabbos, or chessed, or even studying extra will grant such a powerful result. This teaches us the true power of tzedaka. In Mishlei, it clearly states the famous line that charity saves from death. However, it’s important not to wait until we’re saying those words to take action. The time for tzedaka is during the month of Elul, which also can stand for “Ish Lirei’eihu Umatanos L’evyonim.” There are many struggling Torah institutions in Eretz Yisrael going through maybe their toughest years in history, and the

rabbanim are pleading for our help. A smart person invests wisely. If you have a serious court date coming up, wouldn’t it help to become one of the judge’s friends? How does it feel to know that some of your money helped sustain the Gedolei Hador whom Hashem cherishes? That would certainly turn the tide in your favor. So if you want to boost your defenses, you have to help sustain Hashem’s work. Whether its through the crucial Keren Olam Hatorah fund that directly holds up countless torah institutions under the supervision of the gedolim, or any Adopt A Kollel arrangement that many shuls already have enacted. Even someone without much means shouldn’t feel left out – small donations from someone struggling can count in Shamayim just like a big donation from someone else! Let’s build that defense portfolio and come armed with tzedaka on Rosh Hashana. Benyamin Rivlin Dear Editor, As a resident of Cedarhurst for nearly 40 years, I am deeply concerned by the increasingly hazardous driving and parking conditions on Central Avenue and the surrounding areas. Specifically, at 9:45 AM today, I observed several store owners parking directly in front of their businesses between Cedarhurst Avenue and Washington Avenue and repeatedly feeding the meters. By 10:00 AM, there were no parking spots available on Central Avenue. These vehicles occupy these spaces until 5:00 PM, making it nearly impossible for customers to park and directly contribute to dangerous U-turns and double parking. Continued on page 16

112

Book Nook

114

Two Birds with One Stone by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

126

HUMOR Centerfold

Shmooze and Muse by Mordechai Schmutter

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

116

Could Iran Try a Midterms October Surprise? by Marc A. Thiessen

120

CLASSIFIEDS

122

Would you taste cholent-flavored ice cream?

83 17 %

Yes

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Continued from page 14

To alleviate this congestion, I suggest requiring store owners to submit their license plate numbers and obtain a designated Cedarhurst parking permit. This would ensure that primary street parking remains available for customers and help reduce hazardous driving maneuvers. Additionally, attendees of the minyan on Cedarhurst Avenue regularly treat Cedarhurst Avenue and Willow Avenue as personal streets. The frequent U-turns and instances of driving in the wrong direction are incredibly dangerous. There is nothing wrong or broken with any of the meters in Cedarhurst (as stated in last week’s article). Every meter allows you plenty of time to daven and get back to your car. In addition, just a few steps away, by the train station, you can park for 12 hours. The problem isn’t the meters – the problem is the inability to follow the rules. The current state of these streets is a poor reflection on our community, and it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. A local resident

Dear Editor, A letter to the editor in the August 20th newspaper, erroneously stated that a Mamdani victory could have been prevented if the Republican Party stood behind Andrew Cuomo instead of so-called spoiler Curtis Sliwa and that Bruce Blakeman should have picked a woman or African American woman as his running mate for a better chance at winning. The fact is that Mamdani received over 50% of the vote and adding Sliwa’s votes and Cuomo’s votes was not enough to beat Mamdani. The blame for Mamdani’s victory is with the Democrat Party. The Democrats are the ones who voted for Mamdani in the primary and general election. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani, and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand were afraid to oppose Mamdani. If Hochul, Schumer, and Gillibrand endorsed and campaigned for another candidate, then maybe that would have prevented a Mamdani victory. The real spoiler candidate was Cuomo. After losing the Democrat primary, he should not have filed to run as a third-party candidate, knowing that Mayor Eric Adams was already on the ballot as a third-party candidate and Curtis Sliwa was on the ballot as the Republican candidate. Cuomo was an unpop-

ular candidate who resigned in disgrace as governor. When he resigned, Kathy Hochul became governor, demonstrating why it is important to have a candidate who is qualified based on merit, and not someone who was possibly chosen because she was a woman. A vote for Bruce Blakeman will hold Kathy Hochul accountable for endorsing Mamdani and would be an important check on radical Mamdani and the Democrat Socialists. A vote for Republicans for NYS Assembly and Senate will hold NY Democrats accountable for embracing socialism, passing radical left-wing policies that favor criminals instead of victims, pushing woke gender ideology on children, and failing to combat antsemitism. On another subject, there was also an article in the August 20th newspaper titled, “I’m Begging you: Never Write with AI.” It was a reasonable article until the last two paragraphs when the author wrote negative comments about President Trump, which had nothing to do with the topic. The article was copyrighted from the NY Times which explains the author’s Trump Derangement Syndrome. There is no need to publish articles from the NY Times in this newspaper because the NY Times is a disgrace to journalism with their bias against President Trump, Republicans, and of course Israel and Jews. Sincerely, Moshe Tassalman Dear Editor, I’ve recently seen some disturbing shul behavior caused by children as well as adults. While these behaviors should never occur at any time, people should be especially prudent not to exercise these behaviors during the upcoming High Holidays. First, I’ll address going to and coming from shul. Running late to make the minyan is no excuse to speed to shul. You place your and other people’s lives in danger. The minyan will still be there if you arrive a few minutes late. Speeding just raises the risk that you won’t be part of that minyan. Everyone – adults and children – should wear reflective vests or tape when walking to or from shul at night. The streets are extremely dark and narrow, and when wearing black suits and hats, most cars cannot see you. I’m not sure why bikes are prohibited but scooters are allowed on Shabbos or Yom Tov. But, if someone is using one, speeding rules apply to them also. They should also wear a helmet. Do not park

the scooters in front of shul doors or block access to the shul. The same rules apply to strollers. Most shuls have designated scooter and stroller storage. Use them. Now, for in-shul behavior. The shul is not a place for talking about anything other than what’s related to davening. If you must discuss business with your neighbor, take your business elsewhere. If someone asks you to be quiet in the shul, being a macher in the shul is no excuse to yell at that person and make a huge scene. If you can’t accept such rules, you can try a different shul that tolerates talking. Gabba’im have a difficult enough job trying to please people with assorted honors on Shabbat and, more so, during the High Holidays. Accept whatever honor you received and even if you received nothing. Regardless, don’t yell or fight with them. Before you decide that the lack of an aliyah is enough for you to leave the shul, see what it’s like to be in their position. A peaceful discussion is often more productive. Some shuls have “schnapps clubs.” I’m not here to debate the logic behind it. However, I will say that if you don’t care what you look like or what others think of you when you walk around drunk, think of the example you send to your and other kids in the shul. The shul is not a playground. Kids should be taught that the shul is a makom kadosh, a holy place. It needs to be treated respectfully. That means that they should not be running around or yelling in the hallways; sliding down bannisters; stuffing up toilets and sinks; or leaving food and garbage on the floor without picking it up and disposing of it properly. Would you let them leave garbage on the floor in your home? Kids belong in a shul group that is supervised by a responsible adult. You should know where your children are always. I’ve heard of cases where children were found roaming the streets sometimes blocks away from the shul. Shul time is not a vacation from your kids. If your kids aren’t in groups, they should be with you in the shul behaving nicely. If they and you can’t provide either, then they should stay home, preferably with a play date. I know that the long Yamim Nora’im davening makes this challenging. But there is no alternative. Let’s help keep every shul visit the way it should be – a holy revered place for davening and addressing G-d. I wish everyone a beautiful longer( leap) year. Daniel Feldman

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

The Week In News

Portugal’s Burqa Law

Last week, Portugal enacted a controversial new law banning face coverings in public, with violators facing penalties of up to 3,000 euro or $3,400 USD. President António José Seguro officially signed the legislation on Monday, prohibiting face coverings in public areas, including religious attire that conceals the face or prevents identification. In a statement released on Tuesday, President Antonio Jose Seguro explained, “The face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication.” The law also prohibits compelling individuals to cover their faces based on gender, religion, age or origin. The law was originally introduced by the far-right Chega party. Parliament passed the measure on July 17 with backing from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Chega, the Liberal Initiative (IL), and CDS-PP. The measure has been nicknamed the “burqa law” in reference to the full-body covering worn by certain Muslim women. There are exemptions to the law, for example, for health, professional, artistic, and weather-related purposes, as well as in specific locations such as houses of worship, diplomatic facilities, and airplanes. President Seguro characterized the matter as one of “great social and cultural sensitivity” and emphasized the need to balance rights and responsibilities in the decision. He further argued that the legislation would promote social integration, gender equality and security. Portugal is not the first country in Europe to enact this type of measure. Other European countries, such as Austria, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, have full or partial bans on face and head

coverings. The legislation has faced strong backlash from the left wing parties, which voted against the measure, and human rights campaigners. “This initiative is used solely to target foreigners, those who have a different faith,” said center-left Socialist party lawmaker Pedro Delgado Alves, whose party voted against the bill. The Executive Director of Amnesty International - Portugal, João Godinho Martins, called the law “discriminatory.” He said: “Despite having removed direct references to Islam, which were a part of previous versions of the text, this new law clearly violates the human rights of Muslim women who choose to cover their faces. It is a direct threat to their freedom of expression and freedom of religion. No one should dictate what a woman may or may not wear, and no woman should be penalized for practicing her faith, cultural identity or beliefs.”

Kids’ Social Media Ban in NZ?

On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that his party will introduce a bill in Parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposal suggests fines of up to 10% of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance. The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, including by utilizing existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. “We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,” Luxon said in a statement. “Social media is exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with and it’s affecting their family life, mental health, sleep and education.” For now, it is uncertain if the bill will pass through Parliament into law. One of Luxon’s coalition partners, the New Zealand First party, said it would not support it. “We have been concerned with the proposed legislation and the direction

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

and slippery slope that legislation like this will inevitably take our country,” New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who is also the country’s foreign minister, said in a post on X. In December, Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. That legislation had been a “colossal failure,” Peters said, adding that keeping children off social media should be the responsibility of parents. Luxon acknowledges that a bill won’t solve children’s social media problems. “I won’t pretend that it will be simple or that it will be perfect,” Luxon said at an event. “We won’t get every single child off social media. Some will always find ways around it, but frankly, it’s just way too important not to at least try.”

Garbage Heap Landslide At least 30 people were killed in a massive landslide in Guinea on Sunday when a mountainous open-air landfill

collapsed and buried nearby shacks, trapping numerous victims beneath a mass of garbage. The tragedy took place at Dar Es Salam, the largest waste dump in the West African country’s capital, Conakry. The weight of the waste caused a three-story building beneath it to cave in. Heavy rainfall also washed over the refuse overnight, creating hazardous conditions at the landfill.

ever, many people remained nearby at the time of the disaster. “We will ensure that the remaining families are relocated elsewhere,” Dienabou Touré, the minister of territorial administration and decentralization, said at the scene. In a similar incident in 2017, a landslide occurred at a landfill when torrential rains caused a mudslide that killed at least eight people.

Mocking Day of Silence

Six people were seriously injured and several homes were destroyed in the incident. Officials immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation to find any survivors. The landfill was originally scheduled to close on Sunday after officials warned of hazardous conditions. As a precautionary measure, residents who lived near the site had also been given eviction notices and were forced to vacate the area. How-

A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison in Bali after posting videos mocking Nyepi, the Hindu island’s sacred Day of Silence. Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was convicted by a Denpasar court after videos he posted on social media showed him violating Nyepi restrictions and making derogatory comments about the annual religious observance. Nyepi, which fell on March 19 this year, brings Bali to a near-total standstill for 24 hours. Residents and visitors are expected to remain indoors, avoid work and entertainment, and refrain from loud activity. The island’s international airport closes, streets and beaches empty out, and the use of electricity is discouraged. Zgraggen, who had arrived in Bali in February, told the court in June that he made the video after becoming hungry and frustrated when he could not find food during the holiday. He said he did not understand the rules at the time, despite having been informed of the restrictions by hotel staff. “I deeply regret what I did. I apologize to the Balinese people,” Zgraggen said. Zgraggen was arrested in March after his Instagram posts triggered widespread outrage and complaints to police. In one since-deleted video, he filmed himself walking toward an empty beach during Nyepi, calling the unusual scene “crazy” and using an expletive in the caption. Presiding Judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima said Zgraggen’s actions had offended Balinese people, hurt their religious faith and provoked public anger. “The defendant must be held account-

able for his actions,” the judge said. Zgraggen has already spent five months in pre-trial detention, which will be credited toward his one-year sentence The case comes as Bali takes a harder look at tourist behavior. The popular Indonesian island welcomed a record seven million international visitors last year, but authorities have increasingly complained about foreigners violating local customs, behaving disrespectfully at religious sites and breaking traffic laws.

Iran Hacked UK Power Plant

Last month, hackers linked to Iran unleashed a cyberattack that shut down a small British power plant for four days. This was the first reported successful Iranian-linked attack on vital UK infrastructure. Authorities have not named the plant. They also have said that the shutdown did not put the country’s power grid at risk. Still, they warned power companies about the danger of cyber-attacks. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said that the incident “impacted a small-scale energy generator, and at no point was there a risk to the wider energy system.” He added that the department works “closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards,” according to The Guardian. The attack took place at the same time that water infrastructure in the U.S. was also affected by a suspected Iranian cyberattack. The incident could mark an escalation in Iranian-linked cyber activity against Britain after London allowed the U.S. to conduct what it described as “defensive” operations against Iran from British bases. The UK has not helped Washington in offensive operations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned last month that “any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces.” It has previously been accused of carrying out cyberattacks on various

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

countries, including in relation to a massive power outage in Turkey in 2015. The U.S. has alleged that an Iran-affiliated group known as “CyberAv3ngers” targeted U.S. infrastructure in 2023, which compromised at least 75 devices in multiple infrastructure sectors. Israel has also faced suspected Iranian cyberattacks, including a major assault in March 2022 that knocked government websites offline for more than an hour. Israeli officials did not identify the perpetrator at the time, though some media outlets pointed to Iran.

“Wolf Boy” Dies at 80

For 12 years, Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja had no school, no home and almost no human contact. Instead, he lived in the mountains of southern Spain among

wolves and other wild animals. Rodríguez, whose extraordinary childhood later inspired books, documentaries and a feature film, died on August 15 at age 80 in Rante, a small community in northwestern Spain where he had lived since 2001. Born in 1946 in the Andalusian village of Añora, Rodríguez grew up in poverty and reportedly suffered mistreatment. When he was about 6 years old, his father sold him to a goatherd, who took him to a remote mountain valley. There, Rodríguez was placed under the care of an elderly shepherd. When the shepherd died, the young boy was left alone. With nowhere else to turn, Rodríguez learned to survive using whatever the mountains provided. Over time, the animals around him became his companions — and eventually, he considered them his family. Rodríguez later recalled becoming particularly close to a pack of wolves after feeding their cubs. He learned their sounds and behavior and believed the wolves accepted him as one of their own. He even said that when he needed to hunt, he could call the wolves and allow them to help drive animals toward him. His remarkable existence came to an

end in 1965, when Spanish Civil Guard officers discovered him at age 19. Ironically, returning to civilization proved harder than surviving in the wilderness. Rodríguez later said he had been happy in the mountains and struggled to adapt to ordinary human life. He worked in construction, hotels and restaurants and lived in several Spanish cities, but he never completely forgot the world he had left behind. Decades later, he still longed for the wolves. In 2018, he reportedly returned to the mountains hoping to reconnect with them. He could hear wolves nearby and called out, but they did not approach. Rodríguez believed that his human scent, clothing and cologne prevented them from recognizing him as one of their own. His story eventually became the subject of anthropological research and a book, I Played with Wolves. It also inspired the 2010 Spanish film Entrelobos. In his later years, Rodríguez became a speaker at schools, where he shared his unusual story and encouraged children to care for animals and the natural world. His tale was more than an adventure story, however. It was also a poignant account of abandonment, survival and belonging.

Strait Update

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major flashpoint in the six-month war between Iran, the United States and Israel, with dozens of commercial vessels targeted across the strategically important waterways surrounding the strait. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ maritime agency, has confirmed 68 incidents in the Gulf and neighboring waters since the war began. That amounts to roughly one incident every 2.6 days. At least 20 seafarers and port workers have been killed, 35 wounded and one remains missing, according to the IMO. Tankers have been the most frequently affected vessels, accounting for about half of the reported incidents. Container ships made up another 20%, while bulk

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Iran has warned ships against using the alternative route and, according to reports, seeks to retain control over passage through the strait after the war while charging fees to vessels using the waterway. Following the collapse of the talks, maritime incidents increased again, reaching an average of one every 2.8 days — nearly returning to the rate recorded before negotiations began. Four seafarers or port workers have been killed, 16 were injured and one was reported missing during this latest period. The figures underscore the continuing risks facing commercial shipping in and around Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors for energy shipments.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

18 Elephants Killed

carriers represented 15%. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) classified 47 of the incidents as attacks. Vessels registered in Liberia have been involved in the greatest number of incidents, with 13 cases reported. Ships registered in Panama and the Marshall Islands have each been involved in 10 incidents. Iran-flagged vessels were involved in four. The frequency of incidents has varied

throughout the war, particularly as diplomatic efforts have waxed and waned. From the outbreak of fighting in late February until the United States and Iran reached an agreement in mid-June establishing a framework for talks, an incident was reported approximately every 2.3 days. Those attacks accounted for 16 deaths and 19 injuries and occurred across the Gulf, including waters off Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The pace dropped significantly as negotiations continued, reaching an average of one incident every 4.6 days through about July 7. No seafarers or other maritime workers were reported killed, wounded or missing during that period. Five incidents occurred during the negotiating period, four of them clustered near the Omani coast around the narrowest section of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels were traveling along a route that Iranian authorities had not authorized.

Police have arrested four suspects in an investigation into the deaths of 18 elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem, where authorities also seized assorted substances including chemicals, the Kenyan Tourism and Wildlife Ministry said. Authorities say that the animals’ deaths seem to involve a toxic substance, with earlier indications suggesting cyanide poisoning due to the ingestion of pesticide-contaminated tomatoes from farms bordering Amboseli National Park. Some wildlife experts have expressed doubt that farm pesticide was responsible for the deaths, citing the absence of reported deaths among other animals in the area. The ministry said investigators were also pursuing a fifth individual believed to have information relevant to the case. A search in Tikondo in Loitokitok sub-county, about 220 km southeast of Nairobi, led to the discovery of assorted substances, including chemicals believed to have come from a neighboring country The first 15 elephant deaths were recorded between June 24 and July 24. The deaths occurred in Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary and the Kuku Ranch area. The animals showed symptoms including partial paralysis before

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

dying within one or two days. The broader Amboseli ecosystem spans the national park and surrounding community land in southern Kenya near the Tanzanian border, providing habitat and movement routes for elephants and other wildlife beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.

Iran’s Hijab Laws

Though Iran’s government has been occupied with more pressing issues — for instance, its war with the U.S. — Tehran leaders are now calling for a new crackdown on violators of Iran’s draconian modesty laws, particularly women who are seen in public without a hijab. Iran’s state media has been emphasizing reports about the government shuttering cafes and other businesses for vi-

olating the modesty laws. Seven or more cafes and restaurants in Tehran were shut down on July 19 for failing to force its customers to wear hijabs, the human rights group HRANA reported. In eastern Iran, in the South Khorasan Province, 10 cafes were reportedly shut down for purportedly violating “social norms and mandatory hijab rules.” On Monday, the Tehran Prosecutor’s office threatened to punish alleged offenders at particular cafes and restaurants in the capital. The office also said it would target clothing stores that sell “unconventional” or indecent clothing. In June, Qom prosecutors sentenced famous Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi, along with her band and producers, to 74 lashes after Ahmadi appeared in a 2024 YouTube livestream with her shoulders exposed and hair uncovered. The musicians and producers were also banned from leaving the country for two years, charged with “offending public decency through the production and publication of vulgar and immoral content on cyberspace platforms.” Hardliners have likened unveiled women to traitors, with one public sign falsely attributing the quote, “Unveiled women are our soldiers for free,” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Others have urged the government to focus on other issues rather than the hijab. President Masoud Pezeshkian has questioned whether laws could change people’s ways, while former MP Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi has called on officials to address Iran’s economic woes instead of perceived immodesty. Still, the laws are largely ignored, according to some Iranians, who report seeing girls walking the streets of Tehran in typical secular, Western clothing.

U.S. Deports to Liberia

Liberia has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States, with the U.S. thus far sending a flight of 20 people from Louisiana to the African country. As per an agreement between the two countries, the U.S. could send up to 1,200 migrants to Liberia. According to Liberian officials, the migrants were from “African and western hemisphere countries.” During the transfer, five people reportedly refused to exit the plane. As such, they were instead brought to Equatorial Guinea, a country in Central Africa, which is currently holding over 30 other migrants deported from the United States. Liberia, a country with fewer than six million residents, is already struggling with poverty and high youth unemployment, leading some to question how the country expects to accommodate an influx of migrants. Liberia was largely founded in the 1800s by a group of freed Black American slaves. During the 19th century, around 16,000 Black Americans fled to Liberia in hopes of escaping racism and living a better life. In 1847, the Republic of Liberia, which was heavily influenced by the United States, declared independence. Liberia’s flag is nearly identical to the American flag, except the former has one star and eleven stripes, while the latter has 50 stars and thirteen stripes. The capital of Liberia is Monrovia, named after James Monroe, the U.S.’s fifth president. Additionally, the country’s early institutions were largely based on the U.S.’s.

Syrian Grand Mufti Sentenced

Ahmed Hassoun, who served as Syria’s grand mufti from 2005 to 2021 during ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s rule, has been sentenced to life in prison by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus after being convicted of inciting civil war and playing a role in intentional killing. According to the court, Hassoun, 77, exploited his religious establishment to “provide cover” for the Assad regime’s military and security operations during the Syrian Civil War, which ignited in 2011 after the government launched a violent assault on pro-democracy protestors, ending in late 2024 with rebel forces taking control of Damascus, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. Hassoun reportedly used his religious position to support and justify the Assad regime’s attacks, including its use of barrel bombs, which are large, explosive-laden cylindrical containers. From 2012 to 2021, the Assad regime reportedly dropped nearly 82,000 barrel bombs on rebel-controlled areas, leading to over 11,000 civilian deaths. Prosecutors referenced a Syrian TV interview with Hassoun in 2015 amid the battle of Aleppo, during which the grand mufti said that civilians should flee from rebel-controlled areas in the city, adding that “every area from which a shell is fired should be completely destroyed.” The court accused Hassoun of receiving “money and gifts in exchange for intervening to secure the release of civilians detained by security agencies,” according to the Sana state news agency, which added that he also routinely offered financial support to Liwa al-Quds, a militia allied with the Assad regime. Hassoun has denied the accusations, claiming that the video clips were taken out of context. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan sentenced the former grand mufti to life in prison on charges of inciting civil war and sectarian strife, in addition to 20 years for incitement to intentional killing, 10 years for principal participation in intentional killing, and three years for abuse of office.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Hassoun is the tenth Assad-affiliated individual to be sentenced by Syria’s interim government. Earlier in August, the same court convicted Assad, his brother Maher, and six other senior regime officials in absentia of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to death. Another former official, Atef Najib — Assad’s cousin and the former Political Security intelligence agency head of Deraa — was convicted and sentenced in person. A week later, the court sentenced Wassim Assad, another cousin of Assad and the leader of a pro-Assad militia, to death. On Monday, the United States revoked its designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, as U.S. President Donald Trump offers sanctions relief to the Middle Eastern country. Additionally, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, has been removed from the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorist organizations.

Pollard to Run for Knesset

Former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard is entering Israel’s political arena, announcing on Sunday that he will run for the Knesset with Sharren Haskel’s newly formed Israel First party. Pollard, 72, made the announcement alongside Haskel in a video filmed at the Kosel, saying Israel needs “a new government that’s dedicated to the preservation of the land and people of Israel.” Pollard, who spent three decades dealing with the consequences of his conviction for passing classified U.S. intelligence to Israel, invoked the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack as part of his motivation for entering politics. “I wasn’t the exception to the rule. My abandonment and betrayal was not the exception. On October 7, I saw that the entire country had been abandoned and

betrayed,” he said. Pollard criticized Israeli politicians who, in his view, failed to take sufficient responsibility for the security failures surrounding the attack. He told Haskel that bringing leaders such as her into positions of authority was necessary to prevent a repeat of the massacre. Haskel welcomed Pollard’s decision, calling him an “Israeli hero” who paid “a very heavy personal price” for his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. Haskel’s Israel First party is part of a group of center-right parties known as the “third bloc,” which seeks to promote a broad Zionist unity government. The bloc’s parties have struggled to cross the electoral threshold in recent polling. “We believe in a Jewish, Zionist, strong, and prosperous Israel that defends itself, strengthens settlement, guards Jerusalem, and grants its citizens the opportunity to build a better future here,” Haskel said. Pollard served time in a U.S. federal prison from 1985 to 2015 after being convicted of passing American secrets to Israel. Following his release, he remained under U.S. parole restrictions until 2020, when he was permitted to move to Israel, which had granted him citizenship in 1995. Since arriving in Israel, Pollard has become an outspoken advocate of rightwing positions while also criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former prime minister Naftali Bennett. He announced in May that he was entering politics with the stated goal of unifying the right. Haskel has had a long political career. First elected to the Knesset with Likud in 2015, she later joined Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party. In July, she resigned as deputy foreign minister in protest of legislation concerning exemptions from military service for yeshiva students and shortly afterward announced Israel First.

Altalena Wreckage Found Divers from the Marine Mapping Division of the Survey of Israel found the Altalena cargo ship on Monday at 12:30 a.m. around 12 miles off Israel’s coast at a depth of 1,650 feet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, two members of the Otzma Yehudit party, announced. The ministers said the discovery came after “long months of meticulous planning and preparation” enabled by “special sensors and advanced survey systems.”

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

1 million ($335,000) in the search operation, touted the discovery as “a defining moment for our national memory.” Meanwhile, Ben Gvir, the head of the Otzma Yehudit party, framed the finding as a full circle moment.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

“Tonight, we are closing a historic circle on one of the most painful and formative events in the history of Israeli society,” Ben Gvir said.

Ben Gurion Airport Strike

The IDF was not involved in the search operation, according to a spokesperson for the army. According to Ynet, it isn’t practical to lift the ship from the water, given its depth and location, though the Heritage Ministry is mulling other options for potential monuments, such as a floating marker. During the 1948 Independence War, just a few weeks after the State of Israel and its military were established, then-

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s bitter rivalry with future-prime minister Menachem Begin nearly exploded into a civil war after Ben-Gurion ordered Begin’s Irgun militia to hand over the Altalena ship and its cargo to the IDF. An armed confrontation followed, with IDF and Palmach soldiers on the shore exchanging fire with Irgun members. Yitzchak Rabin, who would also later become prime minister, ordered the Israeli military to destroy the ship,

with troops setting it on fire. Later, Altalena’s wreckage was brought to the sea and sunk, becoming a symbol for the Israeli right and its ongoing struggle with Ben-Gurion’s successors. During the confrontation, sixteen Irgun members and three IDF soldiers were killed. Begin had ordered his troops not to return fire. Years later, he said, “My greatest accomplishment was not retaliating and causing civil war.” Eliyahu, who reportedly invested NIS

On Friday, a day after a sudden walkout triggered cancellations, Ben Gurion Airport was the most disrupted airport in the world. In the morning, it saw departure delays lasting, on average, 70 to 90 minutes. Thirty flights were delayed by late afternoon, according to Flightradar24. By the weekend, operations returned to normal. On Thursday, airport employees staged a spontaneous, unplanned strike for two hours. The Histadrut labor union says it did not call on workers to strike and that employees staged the walkout due to complaints regarding a staffing shortage. According to the Finance Ministry, the strike cost around NIS 30 million ($10 million). Following the strike, the Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revoked the airport’s workers’ union chief Pinchas Idan’s party membership. Likud officials have claimed that the strike was staged in an attempt to “harm” Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Netanyahu, who toured the airport a day before the strike and complimented the employees. According to reports, the walkout was originally going to happen on Wednesday

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

but was pushed off because of Netanyahu’s presence during Regev’s visit. Channel 12 reported that Idan ordered his employees not to load Regev’s luggage onto her flight, a stunt meant to showcase the airport’s issues. However, Arkia Airlines CEO Oz Berlowitz and Yiftach Ron Tal, the head of the Airports Authority, instructed workers to load the minister’s luggage, after which Idan followed suit. Idan attributed the strike to the airport’s “severe manpower shortage,” noting that he informed Regev about the problem in June after the Airports Authority fired 250 temporary workers. “The outrageous and shameful event that took place yesterday…was not preordained,” Idan wrote in a letter addressed to Netanyahu and Regev. “It was a direct result of a scandalous, unilateral, degrading and utterly irresponsible decision by management.” “There was no strike yesterday — not a wildcat strike and no planned stoppages at all,” he added, claiming that reports of the strike were a “complete lie.” Workers didn’t negotiate for raises or benefits, he added, noting that the incident happened because of “distress on the part of employees who simply ran out of energy.” According to him, employees have to

suffer through 13-hour shifts. “Rather than demonstrating humanity and managing the situation responsibly, the management chose to take the aggressive step of closing the [check-in] counters on their own initiative, creating an artificial crisis on the backs of the passengers.” Netanyahu, angry with Idan, has moved to fire him from his role, issuing an official request on Friday to oust him as union head. “The event occurred one day after a visit by the prime minister and transportation minister at Ben Gurion Airport. It is clear that the timing was chosen to hurt the minister, the prime minister and Likud,” Netanyahu reportedly wrote.

Hezbollah References “Journalist” On August 14, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivered a speech, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the terror group’s 2006 war with Israel. During the speech, however, Qassem quoted a “Jewish thinker” named Moshe Yair, a supposed writer for the Yedioth

Ahronoth newspaper, referencing a comment the journalist supposedly made regarding Lebanon’s ongoing talks with Israel: “Fortunately for us, [the Lebanese] sent a delegation that loves Israel and the United States.” The only issue is that Moshe Yair doesn’t exist.

He’s usually referred to as “Moshe Meir” by pro-Iranian propagandists It seems that Israel’s enemies manufacture false quotes to support their agendas and then attribute the remarks to a non-existent Israeli journalist to boost credibility. Pro-Iran outlets have referenced Meir/Yair in fabricated reports about mass Israeli emigration, with anti-Israel commentators claiming that millions of Israelis are leaving the country. “People [Israelis] are fleeing by the millions because Netanyahu destroyed us. It was not Iran’s missiles or Hezbollah’s operations that destroyed us – he [Netanyahu] destroyed us,” Moshe Meir was quoted as saying in an X post by Al-Machhad al-Alami, an anti-Israel, proIran news outlet. “Settlers are leaving by the millions — including [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s] wife and son — to the point that most cities and neighborhoods have become empty,” the fictitious journalist wrote, according to Arabic-language news site Al-Raed. “Most have left the country never to return, and some have completely liquidated their assets… Some are heading to Argentina so that they can have a ‘promised state’ there.” According to former Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram, Meir wrote that Hezbollah’s arms are the only thing protecting Lebanon from getting taken over by Israel. “The politicians and leaders in Lebanon serve us through their confusion and contradictory positions and work in Israel’s interest — knowingly or unknowingly…especially when it comes to the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons,” Meir said, Bayram claimed. “This is the most opportune moment for Lebanon to disintegrate. No one will be able to defend it and prevent us from occupying it except Hezbollah’s weapons, and once they are dismantled, it will be easy for us to expel everyone.”

Qassem is, thus far, the highest-ranked official to reference Meir/Yair. “We are not talking about a social media user who reposted an unverified story, but about the secretary-general of an armed organization that has fought wars with Israel and brought unprecedented devastation upon the people of southern Lebanon and Lebanon’s Shia community,” wrote Diana Moukalled, a Lebanese journalist. “He criticizes a negotiating process that concerns the fate of the entire country amid ongoing Israeli threats. He then invokes an ‘Israeli witness’ to lend weight and credibility to his position, only for both the supposed source and the article to turn out to be complete nonsense. “The issue here is not the fictional figure of ‘Moshe Yair,’ but what happens when narrative and illusion become more powerful than facts,” she noted. “What facts are the decisions that could take Lebanon to war once again being based on today?”

Kites of Conflict

The United Nations has criticized Israel over its warning that residents could be evacuated from parts of Gaza used to launch kites, drones and balloons toward Israel, calling the threat an example of “unacceptable rhetoric.” Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, addressed the issue on Tuesday in Geneva. “On the threat of expulsion due to children’s kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous,” she said. The Israeli warning came on Sunday, after a recent uptick in kites, drones and balloons being launched from Gaza toward Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would intensify military operations if the launches continued. “Israel warns Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not stop immediately, the IDF will act to intensify strikes against those responsible for the launches and evacuate populations from areas from which kites, drones and balloons are launched,” the two said in a joint statement. The Israel Defense Forces believe

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Hamas was behind the recent launches, although the terror group has denied responsibility. The objects reportedly did not contain explosives and may have been intended, at least in part, to gauge Israel’s response. The renewed activity has brought back memories of 2018-21, when Palestinians launched large numbers of kites and balloons from Gaza, some carrying incendiary materials or explosives. The devices sparked widespread fires in Israeli communities and agricultural areas near the Gaza border. Four kites were discovered in Israeli communities near the border on Saturday, while another was intercepted by the IDF the following day. About 10 have reportedly been recovered in recent days. Israeli media also reported that nine kites had been launched toward IDF troops in June, though no Israeli response was reported at the time. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim claimed the recent kites were launched by children. “[They were] launched from Gaza by children searching for their innocent childhood amid the rubble,” he said. Hamas also accused Israel of using the kite launches as a pretext for strikes in central Gaza. The group claimed that three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, citing the Hamaslinked civil defense service. Shamdasani said the kite warning was part of a broader pattern of statements by Israeli officials that the UN considers troubling. “We continue to see unacceptable rhetoric coming from the highest level of the Israeli authorities, showing utter contempt for international human rights and humanitarian law,” she said, accusing Israeli officials of rhetoric that could amount to incitement to violence.

The comments come amid continued international scrutiny of Israeli military policy and statements by senior officials as the war continues.

Stars and Stripes Editor Fired

The Pentagon has dismissed the top two heads of Stars and Stripes, escalating a growing dispute over the future and editorial independence of the U.S. military newspaper. Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin and publisher Max Lederer were given separation notices on Friday and have five days to appeal, according to CBS News. Slavin said he was fired for insubordination after publicly warning that any attempt to censor news for military personnel would cross a line. In a July interview with CBS, Slavin defended the newspaper’s long-standing role as an independent source of news for American service members. “We need to be able to provide independent news to service members,” Slavin said. “If we can’t do that, if we were turned into something other than that, if we were public relations? Yeah, that’s the foxhole.”

Stars and Stripes receives some funding from the Defense Department but has historically maintained editorial independence. That relationship has come under increasing pressure as the Pentagon moves to overhaul the newspaper. In January, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department was “returning Stars & Stripes to its original mission” and bringing the publication “into the 21st century.” He said the goal was to modernize operations and shift the paper’s focus away from what he called “woke distractions that syphon morale.” A Pentagon memo released in March outlined additional changes, including a requirement that published material align with “good order and discipline,” a phrase used in military law. The plan also called for moving Stars and Stripes’ print products entirely to digital. Lederer, who has served as publisher for nearly 20 years, announced Tuesday that he intended to retire September 30. He said his decision followed fundamental disagreements with the Pentagon over the newspaper’s mission, particularly the move away from print. “I think the right step is for me to step down, get out of the way, and let different leadership step in,” Lederer said. The latest dismissals follow the April firing of Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith, whose role included protecting the paper’s editorial independence. Smith later sued the Defense Department, alleging that her dismissal was retaliation for criticizing the overhaul and violated her First Amendment rights.

Death in Death Valley

This week, a tourist visiting from France died in Death Valley in California while attempting to walk across one of the hottest places on Earth. On Monday, Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, and a travel partner were driving near the Queen of Sheba Mine when their vehicle became trapped in the mud, National Park officials said. The two men left their vehicle and began walking across the salt flats toward Badwater Road in an attempt to get help.

Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places on the planet in summer, with temperatures hitting 130 degrees. That day, the high was 113, officials said. A little over a mile into the walk, Formosa could no longer continue. His companion left him there and continued walking, making it close enough to Badwater Road to flag down a passing driver. The man was taken to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, where authorities were alerted that Formosa was missing. A California Highway Patrol helicopter that was dispatched to help with the search located Formosa about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road. Unfortunately, he had succumbed to the elements. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a statement. “Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.” Death Valley officials strongly discourage hiking in the park after 10 a.m. in the summer. Visitors should bring at least one gallon of water per person per day, plus more for vehicle emergencies. If your car breaks down, officials recommend people stay with the vehicle until help arrives. Due to the “vast, remote terrain where cell service is limited or nonexistent,” bringing a satellite device may be advisable.

Alex Jones to Pay $6M

Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist who famously claimed that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax orchestrated by the government to justify stricter gun laws, was originally ordered to pay $50 million to the families whose loved ones died in the massacre. However, his judgment was dropped to around $6 million on Friday after the Texas Third Court of Appeals unanimously ruled to decrease the amount, given state laws that place a cap on lawsuit damages.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

his actions were wrong but insisted that it was within his First Amendment rights to promote the conspiracy theory. Families of the victims claim that Jones’ conspiracy theories led to them receiving death threats and harassment, both in person and online. Jones denied responsibility.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Tests and Not Essays

Jones, the founder of the Infowars website, is still liable to pay $1.25 billion in Connecticut, where a court found that he defamed and caused emotional distress to the families of the 20 first graders and six educators who were murdered in the shooting. The lawsuits have plunged Jones into bankruptcy, forcing him to surrender his assets and Infowars, which has since been acquired by The Onion, a satirical news website.

Jones celebrated the Texas court’s decision. Last year, he tried appealing the Connecticut judgment to the Supreme Court, but the appeal was denied. In Texas, Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the parents of 6-year-old Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis, sued Jones in 2022. The jury awarded the couple $4.1 million in compensatory damages for defamation and emotional distress. But the additional $45 million sought for punitive damages, on Friday, was slashed

to $1.5 million in compliance with state limits. “The families care not at all about this irrelevant ruling which affects only two of the 19 claims they all share. Jones still faces over a billion dollars of liability, so this changes absolutely nothing. All it does is highlight the absurdity of Texas law,” said Mark Banston, an attorney for Heslin and Lewis. During his trial, Jones admitted that the shootings were “100% real” and that

A new era of college admissions is unfolding after years of turmoil. Standardized testing requirements are being revived, or are under consideration, from coast to coast. Admissions officers at big public schools and top-tier private institutions are shedding some application essays. Administrators everywhere are fretting about what role artificial intelligence may play. The COVID-19 pandemic led many schools to loosen their processes and, in many cases, rely more on components such as essays. But AI’s rise, questions about student preparation, the end of affirmative action and the Trump administration’s campaign to prioritize “merit” in admissions are driving a swing back. College applications were up during the last admissions cycle, after a more diverse pool of students applied and students applied to more schools on average. But demographic shifts are expected to send enrollments diving in the coming years. At the same time, higher education is wrestling with public mistrust and concerns about the value of college, especially as AI starts to reshape the workforce. As schools prepare for a future with fewer students and more AI, approaches that make applying to college simpler could help them cushion the impact. The personal essay is still central to many college applications. But supplementary essays are falling out of favor. Tulane University, for instance, paused its requirement for applicants to write about why they want to attend the school. Concerns about potential AI-generated essays “were definitely a factor” in the decision, said Michael Strecker, a university spokesperson.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

What data universities need remains a significant flashpoint. The 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down race-conscious admissions programs lurks in many internal deliberations about requirements and processes. The Trump administration has argued that the court’s opinion should be interpreted to banish any consideration of race in admissions. Many university leaders and lawyers privately contest the White House’s view, but a series of Justice Department inquiries into admissions practices across the country has left them unnerved. Many figures inside the Trump administration want schools to rely on measures they see as more merit-based, such as test scores and grades. For a variety of reasons, many schools that relaxed their testing mandates during the pandemic are bringing them back. The testing debate is erupting anew in the nation’s most populous state, where the 10-campus University of California system is considering a resurrection of its standardized testing mandate. Given the public system’s prestige and size, a change could reverberate across the national landscape. (© The New York Times)

A Rare Blue Tree Frog

eastern U.S. marshes, blue tree frogs are exceptionally rare. That’s why a blue frog recently found in Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia, has been attracting a great deal of attention among locals and on social media. The American green tree frog, whose scientific name is Dryophytes cinereus, comes in many colors, ranging from dark olive green and brown to yellow-green. It can also change the brightness or darkness of its skin. However, some green tree frogs have axanthism, a condition that causes them to appear blue due to an absence of yellow pigmentation. Axanthism’s exact cause is unclear, though diet, environmental conditions, and genetic mutations may have something to do with it. Their blue coloring could impede their ability to hide from predators and attract other frogs. In the past century, there have been just over 100 documented cases of axanthism found among green frogs, according to Rayna Bell, herpetology curator at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Blue frogs are rare, but completely blue frogs are even rarer. The blue frog at Huntley Meadows has thus become something of a local celebrity in Northern Virginia. “It’s just a beautiful creature,” said Mar Acevedo, a retired public school teacher. “I like finding something that’s not easily found. You don’t expect to see something that looks so tropical here in suburban Alexandria, but here it is. It just brings you joy.”

Air Force Officer Insults Trump While green tree frogs are a common sight in Mid-Atlantic, Central, and South-

On Monday, Maj. Jason Watson, a twice-arrested U.S. air force officer, was

charged after criticizing President Donald Trump and calling for his impeachment, violating the rules against participating in overtly political activity while in uniform. Watson’s charges include three violations of Article 88 for allegedly making “contemptuous” comments about the president; five violations of Article 92 for purportedly disobeying orders; and two violations of Article 133 for allegedly engaging in conduct unbecoming an officer. In June, Watson participated in a political interview with the Defenders of our Republic Substack newsletter. On July 1, he protested in front of the U.S. Capitol while in uniform and called for Trump’s impeachment, leading to his first arrest. On August 17, he had an interview with CNN during which he criticized Trump, leading to his second arrest.

“Not only is (Trump) a failure as president, he is flagrantly violating the Constitution, breaking the law, engaged in rampant corruption, and is killing Americans,” Watson said during the interview. “And that is unacceptable to me.” Since the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s enactment in 1951, only two officers have been convicted of similar charges. In 1965, an Army lieutenant was dismissed from the service and sentenced to a year in military prison after participating in an off-base protest against the Vietnam War. In 2021, former Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who later became a senior adviser in the Trump administration, was sentenced to a $5,000 pay forfeiture and had to resign after publishing social media videos critical of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to Frank Rosenblatt, a retired Army judge advocate and associate law professor at Mississippi Christian University, a pre-trial hearing may be needed to determine whether Watson’s comments “are true or are fair criticisms” of Trump, noting that the conviction may depend on what is considered “contemptuous.” Under Article 88, the remarks must be “insulting, rude, and disdainful conduct, or otherwise disrespectfully attributing to another a quality of meanness, disreputableness, or worthlessness.”

Business Owners Sue Mamdani

On Monday, a group of New York City supermarket, bodega, and grocery store owners filed a class-action lawsuit in New York County Supreme County against Mayor Zohran Mamdani, claiming that the mayor’s plan to open five government-owned grocery stores violates the civil rights of small business owners. “You cannot expect hard-working small business owners to compete with a supermarket that isn’t going to pay rent, won’t have to pay an electric bill and won’t have to buy their products at full price,” declared Mark Jaffe, the Multicultural Business Coalition’s general counsel and the president of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. “They cannot possibly compete because no one will be subsidizing them.” In response, Mamdani argued that the plan won’t have a significant impact on small business owners. “We’re talking about delivering five city-run grocery stores in a city of eight and a half million people that has more than 1,000 grocery stores,” Mamdani said, noting that two similar stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn haven’t negatively impacted local bodegas. This isn’t the first Mamdani initiative to face legal challenges. Landlords have challenged the mayor’s rent freezes in court, while homeowners have filed suit against Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax. If it survives its legal challenges, Mamdani’s grocery stores would offer “a collection of essential staples” at 30% off, according to the mayor. The first five stores are supposed to open at Hunts Point in the Bronx next year, while the rest should be opened by 2030. Small business owners have argued that the reasons officials object to Walmart operating in New York City should apply just the same to Mamdani’s stores. “There is a better way to feed the struggling people of New York City,” Jaffe said. “We have seen no business plan; this is just a marquee store that will allow the mayor to say he kept a campaign promise, so we are asking the judge to stop this.”

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

The Brain Changes at 50

The brain may undergo a significant immune-system change around age 50, with cells that normally protect the brain increasingly replaced by immune cells that promote inflammation, according to new research published in Science. Scientists from the University of California, San Diego, the New York Genome Center and the University of California, Irvine, examined postmortem tissue from the hippocampus, the brain region involved in learning and memory. The study included 40 neurologically healthy adults between the ages of 20 and 95. Researchers found that after about age 50, the brain’s resident immune cells, known as microglia, appeared to decline while blood-derived immune cells became more prominent. “The most striking change was that after about age 50, the brain’s resident immune cells, called microglia, appear to be increasingly replaced by immune cells that enter from the bloodstream,” said Nathan Zemke, Ph.D., the study’s first author and a principal investigator at the UC San Diego Center for Epigenomics. Microglia play an important protective role, clearing cellular debris and responding to injuries. However, the incoming cells appear to carry stronger inflammatory signals. Researchers believe that increased inflammation could con-

tribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The study also identified deterioration in cells involved in maintaining the blood-brain barrier, which helps prevent harmful substances from entering the brain. Researchers observed additional changes in DNA and gene activity. The findings could eventually point toward new approaches to treating neurological disease. Because the replacement immune cells originate in the bloodstream, scientists may someday be able to modify those cells before they enter the brain. “It may eventually be possible to modify blood-derived immune cells so that they are more protective and less inflammatory when in the brain,” Zemke said. “That could provide an entirely new way to approach Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.” The researchers cautioned that the findings are preliminary. Because the study examined brain tissue from different people after death, it cannot show how an individual brain changes over time or establish that the immune-cell changes directly cause cognitive decline. The study also examined only the hippocampus and included a relatively small sample. Researchers said the timing and degree of the changes varied significantly among individuals, suggesting that brain aging may not follow a uniform timetable. Understanding what causes those differences — including the possible roles of inflammation, genetics, lifestyle and changes to the blood-brain barrier — will be an important area for future research. Zemke emphasized that the findings do not currently warrant specific medical or lifestyle changes but could help scientists better understand the biology of ag-

ing and identify new ways to protect brain health.

2 Measles Deaths in PA

Two people have died from the measles in Pennsylvania, the first measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH). Both individuals who passed away were unvaccinated. According to medical professionals, the best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated, which is administered through two doses, providing 97% protection. “My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness. We want to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities. As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand that the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles.” The two deceased individuals were both said to be residents of Lancaster County, which has had 185 of the reported 393 cases in the Commonwealth. Measles is a highly contagious virus that has been known to cause serious short- and long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling. Nearly 20% of people who contract measles wind up hospitalized, according to the DOH. Still, deaths due to measles are rare, with fatalities occurring in around three patients per 1,000, according to the DOH. Early symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A rash usually follows a few days later, starting on the head and spreading downward through the trunk of the body.

Mini Mozarts Missing

Salzburg has a Mozart mystery on its hands — and this one is missing more than a few notes. More than 200 miniature statues of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart have vanished from an exhibition in the composer’s hometown, leaving organizers wondering whether the disappearing act is an elaborate theft or simply an attempt to take a little Mozart home. The Mozarteum Foundation unveiled 320 polymer statuettes on July 15 to mark what would have been Mozart’s 270th birthday. Designed by German conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl, the statues stand less than 20 inches tall and depict the legendary composer alongside his beloved dog, Pimperl. Within two weeks, more than 80 statues had disappeared. By Wednesday, the number had reached 210. “The worst thing for an artist is when his work dissolves,” Hörl told the German news agency dpa, saying he believes the statues were the target of an organized theft rather than a series of souvenir-seeking visitors. The irony is that the thieves may have taken quite a haul without hitting the jackpot. Hörl planned to sell the statues for about $114 each after the exhibition ended, meaning 210 missing Mozarts would be worth less than $24,000 at their intended price. Still, the disappearing Mozarts have left quite a hole in the exhibition — and organizers are running short on replacements. A small supply of spare statues had been set aside in case of theft, but there weren’t nearly enough to replace the missing figures. To make matters worse, the manufacturer was on vacation, putting a quick “Mozart delivery” out of reach. The statues had been displayed throughout the garden of Mozart’s former home, inside his living quarters and

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

the big tournament. Organizers have also assembled a team of specialists whose opponents have tails, sharp teeth and little interest in playing by the rules. Four “monkey whisperers” have been hired to keep rhesus macaques from crashing the Badminton World Championships, which begin on Monday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Leading the unusual squad is 65-yearold Nazar Khan, who says his family has been chasing monkeys away for generations.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

in several pavilions. Now, the remaining figures stand more widely spaced, giving the exhibition a somewhat less harmonious appearance. Hörl is no stranger to having his work walk away. At a previous installation in Bayreuth featuring statues of composer Richard Wagner, an entire collection disappeared within 10 days. “That’s just the nature of public space,” Hörl said. “It ranges from destruction to theft.”

Hörl said his goal was not to create another grand monument to Mozart. Instead, he wanted to show the composer’s human side. “There are already enough of these,” he said of traditional Mozart monuments. “But I wanted to show his human side, that he was a normal human being despite his genius.” Perhaps that human touch made the statues a little too appealing. For now, Salzburg’s Mozart garden is playing to

a smaller audience, and organizers are hoping the missing mini-composers will soon return for an encore.

No Monkey Business The world’s top badminton players are descending on New Delhi, India, but they are not the only ones preparing for

The venue has had its share of animal-related disruptions. During the India Open in January, a monkey was spotted in the stands, while bird droppings and debris from a nest also interrupted play. This time, organizers are hoping to keep the competition strictly racket-versus-racket. Khan and his colleagues are “monkey wallahs,” professionals who imitate the calls of langurs, larger primates that are natural enemies of rhesus macaques. “We make specific noises that drive them away,” Khan explained. “We know our stuff.” Khan said three or four monkeys have been spotted around the stadium, including two larger animals considered potentially dangerous. His team also deals with another four-legged threat. “We also have to keep away stray dogs,” he said. “We catch them and take them out of the stadium.” The goal, he emphasized, is to remove the animals without harming them. Monkey handling has long been a profession in New Delhi. For decades, handlers used trained black-faced langurs to scare away the smaller monkeys. But a court ruling eventually prohibited the capture and use of the animals, forcing families such as Khan’s to rely on their own eyes, ears and surprisingly convincing primate impressions. His nephew, Faryad Ali, demonstrated the technique with a rapid barrage of hoots, screeches and growls. The job can be hazardous: Ali showed bite scars from previous encounters. “There are perils in this profession and sometimes we get bitten as well,” he said. “But it’s all part and parcel of our trade.” The unusual strategy has attracted plenty of online jokes, but Indian badminton star and Olympic medalist P.V.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

THURSDAY AUG 13, 20, 27, SEPT 3 9:30-4PM FRIDAY - AUG 14, 21, 28, SEPT 4 9:30 - 4PM SUNDAY - AUG 16, 23, 30, SEPT 6 10AM - 6PM

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Sindhu defended the decision, comparing it to Wimbledon’s use of Rufus the hawk to keep pigeons away. “You can laugh at the solution, but you have to love the effort,” Sindhu wrote on X. Organizers are taking other precautions, too. A non-toxic gel has been placed on roof structures and ducts to discourage pigeons from settling there. “We are taking no chances,” said Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra. “I am 100 percent sure that this time the pigeon-related or any kind of bird and animal-related problems will not occur.” For now, the tournament’s biggest stars can focus on their serves and smashes. The monkey whisperers will handle the rest — proving that in New Delhi, keeping a sporting event on track can sometimes take more than a good racket. It takes a little monkey business, too.

The 639-Year Concert Talk about taking it slow. A small organ in eastern Germany is starring in what may be the world’s most

patient concert, playing a single composition by avant-garde composer John Cage so slowly that the performance will not conclude until the year 2640.

The John Cage Organ Project in Halberstadt began in 2001, and this week it reached a rare milestone: a chord change that took the piece to about 4% completion. In the medieval Burchardi Church, more than 150 people gathered last Wednesday to hear one additional pipe join the organ’s seven existing pipes. And they heard it loud and clear — or at least as clearly as one can hear a musical change that takes years to arrive. For three minutes, visitors listened to the seven-pipe chord. Then an eighth pipe was manually added, producing a subtle new sound. After another three minutes, the audience erupted in applause and cries of “bravo!”

“It’s a very subtle difference,” said Jeffrey Lependorf, executive director of the John Cage Trust. “There’s a higher sound that’s a little more prominent.” The composition, titled “ORGAN²/ ASLSP,” short for “As SLow aS Possible,” was originally written by Cage in 1985 for piano and later adapted for organ. After his death in 1992, the piece was transformed into the extraordinary 639-year project. The performance began with nearly 17 months of silence before the first chords were heard in 2003. Since then, the organ has continued its musical marathon, with some individual notes lasting months or even years. The project is more than just a concert; it is a lesson in patience. The performance is expected to end on September 4, 2640 — meaning nobody currently alive will be around for the finale. Tickets for that distant event are already being sold for $3,045, and they are inheritable. If you’re looking for a last-minute concert, this one may require some family planning. The project’s organizers say the glacial pace is intentional. Cage instructed that the composition be played as slowly and softly as possible, and the Halberstadt interpretation stretches that instruction to

an almost literal extreme. Anneli Borgmann, chairwoman of the project’s board of trustees, said the performance offers a rare opportunity to pause in a rapidly changing world. “As fast as our world is developing, I think it’s a wonderful place to be and to come to yourself and just to be touched by this ‘being there,’” she said. The project has also given new life to the largely ruined Burchardi Church, which was restored enough to house the organ and its centuries-spanning performance. Cage fan Michael Barnett traveled from Scotland to witness Wednesday’s chord change, calling it a bucket-list experience. “You just wonder what will be left here in 600-odd years’ time,” he said. “Who will come to the last performance?” At least the organ is preparing for the long haul. Organ builder Johannes Hüfken said the pipes he has crafted should last at least another 500 years. The next chord change is scheduled for October 5, 2027. That may sound like a long wait for the next verse — but in Halberstadt, it’s practically an encore.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the

Community Opening Day at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

Beyond the Classroom Touro Summer Trip Brings Jewish History to Life in Central Europe By Gabe Mellman

his summer, a group of students and faculty from Touro University’s Lander College for Men participated in a course traveling and exploring Central Europe’s rich Jewish history. Students were given the opportunity to step back in time and learn in depth about Jewish life and heritage in the Czech Republic and in Austria. The Torah teaches us, “Zechor yemos olam binu shenos dor v’dor, remember the days of old, consider the years of ages past.” Touro not only fulfilled this commandment but took it a step further by bringing history to life on the ground. The faculty included Rabbi Dr. Shnayer Leiman, a distinguished professor at Touro’s Graduate School of Jewish Studies, who stated in his introductory speech that “travel is learning through experience.” By taking students beyond the classroom walls, Touro created an environment designed not just for hearing history, but for seeing it firsthand and inspiring growth for generations to come. Our first stop was the historic city of Prague. Dr. Israel Singer, Vice President of International Affairs at Touro University, lectured on Prague’s legacy as a crossroads of Slavic, German and Jewish cultures. This made Prague a city of

tolerance and a home for the Jews for hundreds of years. We visited the historic Jewish quarter where we saw many synagogues, including the Altneu Shul which was the main synagogue of the time and where the rav of the city davened, including the noted Maharal of Prague. We davened there on Friday night, and it was a moving experience. Although there was no air conditioning, the feeling in the air was remarkable; standing and praying in a sanctuary that has been in continuous use for hundreds of years served as a powerful testament to Jewish resilience across the generations. Theresienstadt – A Propaganda Camp From Prague, we visited Theresienstadt, a ghetto and transit camp established by the Nazis during the Holocaust. We were informed beforehand that this would not be the same experience as visiting Auschwitz in Poland. When we arrived via bus, we saw an ordinary-looking town and no signs of a concentration camp. Theresienstadt was used as a propaganda camp by the Nazis to show the world how “great” the Jews were being treated. While we were there, we visited a newly discovered shul that was used during the Holocaust. There were many transports from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz and other

camps. The experience visiting Theresienstadt was insightful and showed the psychological warfare of the Nazis. Beyond the major cities, our journey took us through historic Jewish communities in smaller towns such as Nikolsburg, Bratislava and Eisenstadt, where we visited historic synagogues and learned about the great leaders who shaped these kehillos. In Vienna, we learned about the vibrant history of Austrian Jewry while also visiting iconic landmarks like Schönbrunn Palace. Blending general European history with our own rich Jewish heritage made the experience all the more rewarding. Over the course of our trip, we visited many cemeteries. We saw the graves of the Maharal, Kli Yakar, and Noda B’Yehuda in Prague and the Chasam Sofer in Bratislava, and many more gedolim throughout our trip. Standing at the gravestones of these gedolim, we listened to Rabbi Dr. Shnayer Leiman share insights into their lives and snippets of the Torah they taught. Learning about these gedolim and visiting their resting places makes studying their sefarim so much more meaningful. Additionally, we heard insightful lectures from Touro faculty on a wide range of topics, including the legend of the Golem of Prague, medieval burial practices,

and the life of Theodor Herzl in Vienna. Shiurim were incorporated into the daily schedule so that there was no absence of Torah while we otherwise absorbed Jewish history. These shiurim and presentations transformed our journey into a true educational experience rather than a standard sightseeing tour. Looking back at the experience, student Mordechai Cywiak shared, “The trip was a great mix of seeing new places and meeting new people, learning about our history and just having a good time. There were definitely meaningful moments along the way, and overall, it was a great experience and a trip I’ll remember for years to come.” Ultimately, this journey through Central Europe was far more than a summer travel course; it was a living link to our past. By connecting the Torah we learn with the places where our mesorah was preserved, we returned home not only with a deeper understanding of Jewish history, but with a renewed sense of responsibility to carry that legacy forward into the future. Gabe Mellman is a junior at Touro’s Lander College for Men, majoring in biology.

Back-to-School Starts with Good Health

ack-to-school season can be hectic, but your child’s health doesn’t have to be. A little preparation before the first day of school can help ensure your child is healthy, confident, and ready to learn. Annual checkups, healthy routines, and guidance from your pediatrician can set your family up for a successful school year. According to Cynthia Criss, DO, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Episcopal Health Services, back-to-school preparation isn’t just about buying notebooks and backpacks. “It’s about making sure children are physically and emotionally ready to succeed. Consistent sleep schedules, nutritious meals and annual checkups all play an important role in helping children concentrate, manage stress, and perform their best both inside and outside the classroom.”

To help prepare parents for back-toschool, Dr. Criss shares healthy habits for the new year:  Schedule an Annual Well-Child Visit: Annual physical exams help ensure children are growing and developing appropriately. Make sure to complete medical forms before the school year begins.  Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations: Before school starts, make sure your child is current on all recommended immunizations, including the annual flu vaccine. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children 6 months of age and older receive a flu shot each year. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can lead to serious complications, particularly in young children. Flu season typically begins in the fall and peaks between December and February.

 Prioritize Healthy Sleep: A consistent sleep schedule helps children stay focused, improves learning, supports emotional well-being, and strengthens the immune system. Begin adjusting bedtimes one to two weeks before school starts, and limit screens for at least one hour before bedtime.  Start the Day with a Healthy Breakfast: Busy mornings can make breakfast easy to skip. Giving your child a balanced breakfast with protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provides them with the energy to stay focused and engaged throughout the school day.  Practice Backpack Safety: An overloaded backpack with heavy books and sports equipment can lead to neck, shoulder, and back pain. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 5% to 10% of their total

body weight. To prevent pain, a backpack should also be worn using both shoulder straps and fit snug against the back without hanging too low.  Support Your Child’s Emotional Well-Being: Starting a new school year can bring both excitement and anxiety. Talk with your child about what to expect, encourage them to share any concerns, and watch for signs of stress, anxiety, or depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 31.9% of adolescents experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Early conversations can help children feel more confident and supported during the transition. To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician, visit ehs.org/or call 718-EHSDOCS.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

A Maamad of Chizuk: Dedication of Knafayim’s New Chelka

espite the unrelenting rain, rabbanim, askanim, and supporters gathered last Thursday, August 20, at Har Shalom Cemetery in Monsey to mark the dedication of Knafayim’s newly acquired chelka. Knafayim walks alongside families facing the devastation of pregnancy loss, stepping into some of the most painful and overwhelming moments a family can face. Its dedicated team and volunteers walk alongside them through the days that follow, offering comfort, clarity and support through some of their darkest hours. The new chelka allows Knafayim to be there for families through one of the most sacred and difficult moments following a loss: ensuring these precious neshamos a dignified resting place, while giving their families the comfort and peace of mind of knowing that everything

was handled with dignity and care. Event chairman Harav Shmuel Yitzchok Pfefferkorn, shlit”a, menahel of Yeshivas Karlin-Stolin in Lakewood, opened the event by comparing Knafayim’s volunteers to a bird that flies straight into a storm. This, he said, is the koach of Knafayim: when a family is caught in a storm, Knafayim flies toward them. R’ Meir Shalom Gertner, director of Har Shalom, expanded on that message, speaking of Knafayim’s tov v’hameitiv, giving these neshamos tehoros the kavod of a proper burial. Harav Tzvi Hirsch Rabinowitz, shlit”a, AB”D Kochvei Yitzchok Bobov Monsey, described this chessed as twofold: yekara d’shachvei for the neshamos, and yekara d’chayei for the families who must carry on without them. The neshamos, he added, will be melitzei yosher for all who support this sacred work.

Harav Pfefferkorn expressed heartfelt hakaras hatov to those who make Knafayim’s work possible, specifically the attending doctors, Dr. David Lubel, Dr. Yaakov Abdehlik, and the many other medical professionals whose dedication to Knafayim has touched countless families. Next, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko, shlit”a, shared through tears his own firsthand experience with pregnancy loss. He spoke of the importance of having a place to mourn, and of the responsibility we carry as a community never to remain indifferent to a Jewish family’s suffering. Harav Zusha Ausch, shlit”a, rav of Knafayim, explained the meaning behind the organization’s name, citing a Midrash about a broken bird finding comfort in its beautiful wings. In moments of deep brokenness, he said, Knafayim’s volun-

teers are those wings. We cannot always change what has happened. But we can always make sure a family isn’t left to carry it alone. The rain continued to fall as the gathering came to a close with a moving Kel Malei Rachamim for the nefulim a”h, led by a renowned chazan R’ Yechezkel Brecher. But the message of the evening was unmistakable; even in the moments that cannot be changed, there is still chessed to be done, kavod to be given, and a family that should never have to stand alone. The maamad concluded with a heartfelt tefillah that the new chelka should see as little use as possible, and that we should soon merit the day when there will be no more pain or sorrow with the coming of Moshiach and techiyas hameisim, bimherah beyameinu, amen.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

The Nikolsburger Rebbe’s Shul of Achdus in Woodbourne, NY

VIDA Hadera: A Seafront Opportunity Taking Shape

or years, the coastline of Hadera was seen as a place of untapped potential: beautiful, expansive, and well-located, yet not a destination in its own right. However, that perception is changing. Plans to develop the beachfront, along with new neighborhoods, parks, and leisure facilities, are bringing fresh momentum to the city and attracting buyers who recognize the value of investing while this transformation is still in progress. Central to this new chapter is VIDA Hadera, Asden Israel’s luxury residential development located front-line, just a short 90-second stroll from the beach. This project features two contemporary 24-story towers, designed by architect Professor Gabi Schwartz to make the most of the coastal setting. Every apartment boasts a direct sea view, even those on the lower floors – an uncommon advantage for beachfront developments in Israel. The response has been emphatic. With approximately three years left,

some apartment types are over 60% sold, reflecting strong confidence in both the project and Hadera’s future. Construction is currently at the 4th floor, with completion scheduled for 2029. However, buyers can still secure a home in this development, with apartments ranging from compact one-bedroom units to spacious 6-bedroom family residences and penthouses. VIDA is designed to be much more than just a building next to the beach. Residents will have access to an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a residents’ lounge, a children’s play area, a private shul, multiple Shabbat elevators, and a 24-hour doorman. These communal spaces are intended to foster connections among residents and promote a warm, welcoming community. The project is also being built to high green-building standards, using engineering solutions tailored to withstand the challenges of a coastal environment. Beyond the towers, Hadera itself is becoming increasingly appealing. The

planned promenade, cafés, sports facilities, and upgraded public spaces will enhance the beachfront, while Eco Park and Hadera River Park offer generous green spaces for walking, recreation, and family activities. For American buyers, VIDA presents two compelling opportunities: a Mediterranean home for vacations, future aliyah, or year-round living, and a property

in a region showing clear development momentum. With around half of the project already sold, the opportunity has been validated—but it is not yet gone. For those seeking a genuine seafront home in Israel, this may be the perfect time to secure one while there is still a choice and an opportunity to customize the interior to your specific taste.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

A Summer to Remember at Hillel Day Camp

nd just like that, our summer has come to an end! Week 8 at Hillel Day Camp may have been our final week, but we made sure to finish the summer with plenty of excitement, laughter, and Hillel spirit. Campers enjoyed bowling, competed in our Playoffs, and ended the summer with an incredible visit from the Harlem Wizards. It was the perfect way to bring everyone together for one final week of fun.

But while Week 8 was filled with great moments, it also gave us a chance to look back on everything that made Summer 2026 so special. Over the past eight weeks, our campers traveled, explored, competed, created, learned, and most importantly made memories and friendships that will last far beyond this summer. We celebrated with Purim in July, danced through bubble and foam parties, got up close with dinosaurs, bounced on

trampolines and inflatables, explored adventure parks, enjoyed sports clinics and tournaments, created incredible art, tackled STEM challenges, and spent countless hours simply enjoying being together. We dressed up for special theme days, cheered on our teams during Color War, enjoyed trips and special events, and filled the summer with the kind of spontaneous moments that make camp so memorable. And then there were the little moments. The friendships formed between campers who may not have known each other eight weeks ago. The counselor who helped a camper try something for the first time. The laughter that could be heard across the field. The proud smiles after mastering a new skill. The conversations on the bus, the silly inside jokes, the games played with friends, and all those ordinary moments that somehow become the memories we hold onto the longest. “Every summer, I watch our campers grow—not just in their skills and confidence, but in the friendships they build and the way they become part of the Hil-

lel family. This summer was truly something special. I’m incredibly proud of our campers and grateful to every counselor and staff member who worked so hard to make these eight weeks unforgettable,” shared Camp Director Evan Leibowitz. As we said our goodbyes this week, there were certainly some sad faces. After all, eight weeks of camp creates a lot of memories, and it’s never easy to say goodbye to the people and places that have become such an important part of our summer. But there is so much to celebrate. Thank you to our amazing campers for bringing your energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and smiles to camp every day. Thank you to our incredible staff for giving their time, patience, creativity, and heart to our campers. And thank you to our families for trusting us with your children and allowing us to be part of their summer. The 2026 Hillel Summer may be over, but the memories we’ve created together will stay with us long after the last camp shirt is put away. From the first day to the very last, it was an adventure we will never forget. We can’t wait to see you for Hillel 2027!

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

The Special Children’s Center was proud to fill the gap between camp and school, opening our doors every day for the past two weeks and welcoming over 100 children each day for fun, friendship, and meaningful programming! To get involved or learn more about The Special Children’s Center, call 516-200-2234 ext. 507

Bowling with Shaar Lev

haar Lev at HALB invites the community to an afternoon of fun and bowling at the new Woodmere Bowl on Monday, September 7th from 4-7pm. (See ad in this week’s paper on page 38.) The event will feature live music by Aryeh Kunstler, free kosher food from the newly Vaad endorsed kosher kitchen at the bowling alley and one hour of bowling. You can register your entire family for a donation of $100 at https:// fs12.formsite.com/HALB/y1f7xz2xzm/ index. 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, tefil-

lah, 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. We invite families with children attending local public schools to join this wonderful program. This year, in addition to the transportation provided from District 15 schools, we are providing transportation daily from Franklin Early Childhood Center in Woodmere. 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.

A Night of Jewish Music in Cedarhurst

Steps to the Throne with Joy By Rabbi Nosson Muller

he Torah relates that when Yaakov Avinu journeyed to the house of Lavan, he came upon a well in the field around which stood three flocks of sheep, drinking from its waters (Bereishis 29:1). There is a fascinating Midrash Rabbah (Bereishis 70:8) that homiletically explains that the well mentioned in the verse refers to Yerushalayim, while the three flocks represent the three Yamim Tovim, through which Klal Yisrael would draw from the ruach hakodesh associated with each festival. What, precisely, is the Midrash conveying through this interpretation? Perhaps this can be explained through a parable from the Dubno Maggid regarding the Yamim Tovim that Hashem bestowed upon us: There was once a king who set out on a hunting expedition deep within a forest, accompanied by a group of his closest advisors and servants. After many hours of travel and exertion, the king and his entourage exhausted their supply of water. Faced with growing thirst, what were they to do? Two possibilities presented themselves, though each required time. One option was to dispatch a servant back to the city on horseback to fetch water. The other was to have several of the king’s attendants dig at that very location until they uncovered a spring hidden deep beneath the earth. Both solutions would ultimately provide water. At first glance, the outcome seemed identical: Within a few hours, the king would have what he needed to quench his thirst and soothe his parched lips. In truth, however, there was a profound difference between the two approaches. Consider what would happen if, twenty years later, another traveler found himself at that very spot in desperate need of water. If the king had merely sent a rid-

er to bring water from the city, that act would offer no benefit to the future traveler. But if the king had instructed his men to uncover a spring at that location, he would not have provided water for himself alone, but for generations to come, for all who would eventually pass that way and thirst for its waters. So too, explains the Dubno Maggid, is the manner in which Hashem established the calendar of Yamim Tovim. They are not merely commemorations of past events, nor are they one-time manifestations of miracles. Rather, each year, when we arrive once again at their appointed time, we reconnect with those very wellsprings of simcha and aliyah. We can draw anew from the holiness and sublime spiritual energies that were first experienced by our forefathers. This is why we are compared to sheep in the Midrash and why the Yamim Tovim themselves are likened to a well. They are recurring opportunities, year after year, to draw from and elevate us to greater heights of kedushah, meaning, and closeness to Hashem. Every day and every moment of these sacred times presents an opportunity for growth. Reprinted from Steps to the Throne with Joy by Rabbi Nosson Muller, with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

Agra D’Pirka’s Newest Five Towns Location Opens August 26 By Margie Pensak

gra D’Pirka is excited to announce that it is moving further out onto Long Island from its Brooklyn and Queens locations. The 13 Elul, 5786/ August 26 program opening has been eagerly anticipated by many rabbonim and members of the Five Towns community. It will be held in Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst (“YILC”), perfectly situated for the benefit of all the Yidden in the Five Towns community. The shiurim in various topics will take place Monday through Thursday, 9:45-11:45 a.m., given by leading talmidei chachomim including Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, shlit”a, Mora D’Asra of

Khal Nachlas Yitzchok; Rabbi Yoni Levin, Mora D’Asra, Bais Imrei Gavriel; Rabbi Akiva Willig, Mora D’Asra, Bais Medrash Woodmere; and Rabbi Yisroel Ephrati, Rav of Bais Medrash of Harborview. The Schuck family has generously dedicating this new Agra D’Pirka branch to the memory of their father, HaRav Simcha Bunem ben HaRav Meir Schuck, z”l. This will be Agra D’Pirka’s 20th location since its inception in 2009, when the founders of Agra D’Pirka started the learning program for balabatim in the Flatbush community – l’ilui nishmas Pesi Rochel Klein, a”h (whose initials spell out “Pirka”). Today, Agra D’Pirka has over 100 maggidei shiur who provide 5,000 shiurim annually to the Torah public. Rav Aharon Kahn, shlit”a, rav of

Knesses Bais Avigdor and Agra D’Pirka’s Moreh Derech, reminisces, “Agra D’Pirka has grown into a sacred space where people can spend their mornings immersed in Torah. It has become a home for anyone who wants to learn with shiurim, chavrusas, breakfasts, and a warm, respectful environment for all.” Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum concurs. “I have had the privilege of being part of Agra D’Pirka since its inception. I have personally seen how this unique learning program has changed the lives of so many people. My bracha to Agra D’Pirka is to continue spreading Torah with siyata d’Shmaya m’toch simcha v’harvacha ad biyas goel.” “Torah is the DNA of our people,” remarks Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, rav of

Young Israel Lawrence-Cedarhurst. “It is not just the ideas learned by the sages. It is something everyone has a part in. We are honored to welcome Agra D’Pirka to the Five Towns, which will enable more people to learn Torah at a high level.” Agra D’Pirka’s Coordinator of Project Development, Rabbi Sholom Jaroslawicz, is very excited to begin this new program. “You see how the koach HaTorah is flourishing everywhere,” he said. “Each time we enter a new location, and spread the wings of Agra D’Pirka, the world becomes bigger and brighter with kavod Shamayim, a place well prepared for Moshiach.” For further information and sponsorships, contact Rabbi Sholom Jaroslawicz, 212-661-9400.

Israel’s Economy Is Booming. So Why Are So Many Families Struggling to Buy Food? By Hadassah Bay To most people abroad, Israel appears surprisingly prosperous. Even after nearly three years of war, global investment continues to flow into the tech sector and the stock market remains resilient. That financial success is real, but it masks an urgent crisis on the ground. Across Israel, staff and volunteers at Meir Panim Restaurant-Style soup kitchens are witnessing a steady, heartbreaking trend: the overwhelming majority of people turning to us for help are part of the working poor. These hard-working men and women hold regular jobs and earn monthly paychecks, yet they still cannot earn enough to feed their children. “These aren’t necessarily the people you picture when you think of poverty,” says Mimi Rozmaryn, Director of Global Development at Meir Panim. “Many are working in low-paying jobs as cashiers, caregivers, cleaners, warehouse staff, or laborers. They work hard every day, pay rent, and raise their families. However, with soaring food prices and living expenses, there simply isn’t enough left at the end of the month.” Their daily struggle points to a widespread financial reality. According to data cited by TIME, one-third of Israeli households spend more than they earn, trapping millions of employed citizens in

a constant cycle of debt and chronic bank overdrafts. For these working families, support from Meir Panim serves as an essential safety net. Whether through grocery vouchers, fresh produce, dry goods boxes, or warm meals, targeted assistance eases the relentless pressure so parents who work full-time do not sink deeper into financial ruin. The strain on working households is especially clear in Tiberias. There, the local Meir Panim branch has become a critical hub of support for struggling parents, working-class families, seniors, Holocaust survivors, and many immigrants from the former Soviet Union. “The majority of people who walk through our doors are employed,” says Yehudit Amar, the Tiberias branch manager. “They want to support themselves, and swallowing their pride to ask for help is painful. We make sure they know they can walk in with dignity and leave with what their families need.” For some, simply reaching a location requires extraordinary effort. Recently, two residents from the southern Dead Sea region reached out to ask whether they qualified for food aid. Neither owned a car. Rozmaryn reassured them that Meir Panim has no complex qualification barriers, then connected them with Nissim at the Dimona branch, their nearest location, over 45 minutes away. Nissim

coordinated with the couple and guided them onto the bus route. When they arrived, they received fresh produce, cooked meals, and pantry staples. Shortly after returning home, they sent a message back: “You gave us such relief with the food yesterday. Thank you to the Dimona team for their generosity. We are deeply grateful.” As Rosh Hashanah approaches, stories like this become increasingly common. While active conflict may no longer dominate every headline, the economic fallout remains an overwhelming daily reality for wage earners across Israel. With soldiers and reservists still deployed, countless working households are trying to absorb the compounding financial strain of the past three years. That

strain shows up quietly in mounting debt, struggling family businesses, and parents putting items back on the supermarket shelf at checkout after a full week of work. “There are so many families in Israel who are holding on by a thread,” Rozmaryn says. “Sometimes, a small amount of help right now is often the only thing that keeps them on their feet.” This Rosh Hashana, that quiet crisis is a battle Israel’s working poor cannot afford to lose, and it is a battle Meir Panim is determined to win. Support Meir Panim by donating online at mpisrael.org, by phone at 1- 877-7366283, or by mail to American Friends of Meir Panim, 88 Walton Street, Suite B1, Brooklyn, NY 11206. All U.S. donations are tax-deductible under EIN #201582478.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Around the Community

50 Years of ArtScroll Part 24: The ArtScroll Series — Who is It For?

bout ten years ago, a Canadian doctoral student was doing research for his doctoral thesis, which was on the subject of ArtScroll. He concluded that ArtScroll has been created primarily for baalei teshuvah, essentially as a literary kiruv organization. His facts were carefully gathered. His conclusion, however, was wrong. When we began, focusing specifically on the unobservant Jewish population was not our intention. Our vision was broad: to make the Torah’s wisdom accessible to every Jew whose ability to learn was limited by the language barrier, background, time or opportunity. That audience included Jews across the spectrum, from the totally uninitiated Jew, all the way to the accomplished talmid chacham looking for efficient access to sources and explanations. ArtScroll was not created for one segment of Klal Yisrael. It was created for every Jew. Although that scholar was mistaken about our original purpose, he had recog-

nized something enormously significant about its impact. The modern baal teshuvah movement could not have achieved anything approaching its extraordinary success without ArtScroll. Think of it: those who were around before 1976 — before ArtScroll entered the scene — probably knew no more than one or two baalei teshuvah. Today, chances are that you know many Jews who have found their way to Torah, and that many — if not all — relied on ArtScroll for their journey. When the baal teshuvah movement started, kiruv organizations, rabbanim, teachers, hosts, families, and communities inspired countless Jews to rediscover their heritage. They awakened curiosity, ignited Jewish souls, and opened doors to Torah life. But once those doors were opened and they were on their own, people needed the tools with which to enter and stay the course. The treasures were there, but for many, they remained hidden behind a lan-

guage barrier. The desire to learn might have been intense, but desire alone could not translate Hebrew, explain an unfamiliar phrase, provide background, or guide a newcomer through a page of Gemara. ArtScroll changed that reality. As one woman from Baltimore wrote: “When I first began my journey toward an observant Jewish life, the ArtScroll Siddur became my rebbi. I carefully studied the translation, as well as every instruction on its pages. It guided me step by step and gave me the confidence to daven with meaning and with a genuine connection to Hashem.” “That siddur helped ignite a lifelong journey of faith and accompanied me as I married, raised a family, and built a beautiful Jewish home of my own. Today, my children are true bnei Torah, dedicating their lives to Yiddishkeit — a legacy that began, in so many ways, with the ArtScroll Siddur, and continues to this day with the help of ArtScroll’s many other “rebbeim,” which continue to guide us through every area of life.” Sometimes, the stories are more amusing. There is a community out West — one of those “ArtScroll communities” that rely on ArtScroll for nearly everything. Someone once noticed that no one there recited

Actual siddur used by the woman from Baltimore

a bracha acharonah after drinking the Havdalah wine. When asked why, they explained that the ArtScroll Siddur does not include a bracha acharonah after Havdalah — and they faithfully follow “Minhag ArtScroll”! (Instructions to recite the bracha acharonah after Havdalah has since been added.) The pasuk tells us that the Torah is “not in the Heavens” or reserved for an elite few. It is “very close to you.” By making Torah accessible to Jews everywhere, ArtScroll played a major role in transforming those words into a living reality. UP NEXT: The Stone Chumash: A Revolution Carved in Stone

Peninsula Public Library A Community Update from the Board of Trustees

he Board of Trustees of the Peninsula Public Library is pleased to announce that following the summer, the Library will return to its regular Saturday hours. We are also pleased to share that the search for a new Library Director is currently underway. The Board is working

diligently through the process and hopes to provide an update to the community soon. We thank our patrons and the entire Peninsula community for their continued support of the Library. We look forward to a wonderful year ahead!

Gabe Solomon reading his favorite Jewish newspaper in front of Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

In Memory

A Legacy of Bitachon, Warmth, and Devotion Remembering Mrs. Vera (Emunah) Dechter, a”h By Menachem Hoffman

he life story of Mrs. Vera Dechter, a”h—known in Hebrew as Emunah bas Tzvi—is a profound testament to divine providence (hashgacha) and the endurance of pure faith, true to her name (emunah). Born on June 22, 1931, her journey spanned continents and eras, yet remained defined by a single golden thread: an unshakeable connection to Hashem and a life dedicated entirely to others. Many readers of TJH may recall her remarkable autobiography, which was published here in a multi-part series a number of years ago, detailing her extraordinary escape from Europe, her deep spiritual reflections, and her steadfast bitachon. Her mother, Dora (Devora), was orphaned as a young girl in Grodno and trained as a nurse before meeting her husband, Herman, an Orthodox German soldier. The young couple established a vibrant home in Hamburg rooted in warmth, hospitality, and an unyielding commitment to Yiddishkeit. As the dark clouds of Nazi persecution settled over Germany during the 1930s, Dora’s sharp instincts, courage, and resourcefulness saved her young family. She liquidated their business inventory into valuable goods to send ahead, arranged for Herman to hide aboard ships with the help of a kind merchant marine named Hans, and managed to secure kosher food for her children under perilous conditions. Following the horror of Kristallnacht in November 1938, sevenyear-old Vera and her family miraculously escaped the rising darkness, boarding the S.S. Washington and arriving in America in January 1939. Arriving in New York with very little, the family built a new life from scratch upon a foundation of faith. Dora transformed their Upper West Side apartment

into a sanctuary for fellow refugees, offering open doors, warm meals, and an atmosphere overflowing with zemiros, comfort, and heartfelt gratitude to the Eibishter.

A Heart Open to All Growing up across Manhattan, Westchester, and Long Beach, young Emunah was shaped by a home environment where chessed was not merely an action but a way of life. Her family provided dignified, loving care for elderly community members long before “assisted living” existed, creating a home filled with honor, gentleness, warmth, and a lively shul.

She drew strength from her quiet, powerful connection to Hashem.

Emunah was deeply influenced by Rebbe Meir (Rabbi Milton Feist, z”l, musmach of Rav Aharon Kotler, z”l), a renowned musicologist and scholar who lived with the family for many years. Rebbe Meir became her lifelong mentor and confidant, instilling in her a profound appreciation for internal dignity, a genuine joy for Torah learning, and an unwavering de-

votion to helping every Jew in need. In later years, warm encounters with Lubavitch chassidim and mentors inspired Emunah and her children to embrace deeper levels of Torah study and Chassidic tradition. Through life’s many trials, personal loss, and the immense responsibilities of single motherhood, her bitachon never wavered. She drew strength from her quiet, powerful connection to Hashem, facing every obstacle with extraordinary resilience, noble character, and calm dignity.

The Heart, Face, and Love of Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv For 40 dedicated years, Mrs. Dechter’s presence was central to Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv. Originally hired by the founder, the legendary Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, she served as far more than an administrative anchor. As Rabbi Kurland and Rabbi Halpern so movingly recalled at her levaya, she was truly the very face and love of the yeshiva—acting as a devoted mother to the entire yeshiva family. Rabbi Halpern expressed that Rabbi Freifeld would consistently tell him how pleased he was to have a woman of such stature and warmth working in the yeshiva. Her ear was always open to speak with the bochurim and rebbeim, regularly offering her keen insights to guide them through complex situations. Mrs. Dechter guided the boys with immense love and, when necessary, the perfect blend of tough love. She became a trusted friend for shidduchim and dating advice, offering practical wisdom on everything from date ideas—like grabbing frozen yogurt and sitting by the water down Woodmere Boulevard—to helping young men polish their presentation. Known for her

cial treats for Shabbos for the family, and whenever relatives came to visit, she would surprise everyone with delicious dinners and go to great lengths to bring the entire family together in warmth and celebration. Whether gathering everyone for birthdays or coming together to celebrate her milestone 95th birthday surrounded by loved ones, her deepest desire was always to see her family united in love and joy.

An Enduring Legacy She is survived by her loving children: Rabbi Shmuel Dechter, David Dechter, and Lori (Tzippy) Hoffmann. She is also survived by many grandchildren, all following in her ways of noble middos, Torah, and chessed, and many, many great-grandchildren as well. Emunah bas Tzvi, a”h, lived her life by a simple, unwavering truth: no Jew is ever forsaken, and the Holy One is constantly guiding our steps with love. Her memory will continue to live on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the countless students and lives she touched over the decades. Yehi zichra barucha.

If anyone has personal stories, memories, or messages to send to the family, please email ffbylori@aol. com. To participate in learning Mishnayos for her shloshim (Emunah bas Tzvi), please sign up on the learning chart for the family at mishnah.org.

YOM TOV SCHEDULE ROSH HASHANA EDITION

YOM KIPPUR EDITION

SUCCOS EDITION

POST YOM TOV EDITION AD DEADLINE: Tuesday, October 6

AD DEADLINE:

Tuesday, Sept. 8 5PM

Tuesday, Sept. 15 5PM

Friday, Sept. 18 5PM

ON NEWSSTANDS:

Thursday, Sept. 10

Thursday, Sept. 17

Thursday, Oct. 24

ON NEWSSTANDS Thursday October 8

place your ad now! 516.734.0858

ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

eye for detail, she would A Cherished lovingly tell a bochur how Anchor for to spruce up his wardrobe, Her Family once famously advising a For her grandchilstudent to replace the dull dren, Bubby was a gentle buttons on his blazer with buffer, an easy-to-talk-to nicer gold ones to make the confidante, and a conright impression. stant source of unconMrs. Dechter was also ditional devotion, wiswidely known for helping dom, and joy. She made people locate lost objects a true point to always be through the segula of Rabbi present and show up for Meir Baal HaNess. She kept every milestone. She was a long, meticulously mainalways there for them— faithfully driving them tained list recording a 100% to and from Yeshiva and success rate, representing Mrs. Dechter, a”h, immersing herself in evcountless individuals whose with Rebbetzin Sara Freifeld, a”h anxieties were relieved by ery aspect of their lives. her care and faith. A lifelong learner with She greeted everyone who entered the Yeshiva with refined tastes, she enriched their world by passing on unconditional warmth, celebrating their growth, en- her passions for gardening, classical music, and art, gagements, and life milestones with true maternal expanding their horizons with patience and love. Never one to let technology stand in the way of pride. She watched with immense joy as generations of young men learned, built Torah-true homes, and connection, Bubby learned how to text message a few raised families of their own within the community. years ago. This allowed her to maintain continuous, Her reverence for the rebbeim was boundless, and intimate contact with all of her grandchildren, ensursupporting their holy work brought her deep spiritual ing that each one felt her constant presence and care satisfaction. The energy, vitality, and kedushah of Sh’or regardless of distance. Yoshuv filled her with a sense of purpose that burned Her devotion manifested in endless, thoughtful brightly throughout her life. gestures. She made it a point to always purchase spe-

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Voice N

tes

As the School Year Begins By A Loving Father

My dear children, As another school year begins, and you prepare to entrust your precious children to their rebbeim, morahs, and teachers, I want to share a small thought with you— one that I learned years ago in a rather unexpected place. One Sukkos, I was staying at a hotel together with family. We had barely checked in when I watched one of my relatives walk over to the maître d’, shake his hand warmly, and hand him a rather substantial tip. I looked at him in surprise. “You haven’t even eaten your first meal yet,” I said. “Why are you tipping him now?” His answer stayed with me. “Look,” he said, “there’s a certain amount I’m going to tip him regardless. So why wait until the end? If I give him something now, he knows that I appreciate him. And he also knows that perhaps there’s more coming later. From the very beginning, I’ve opened his heart toward me.” I thought it was brilliant. Not because he was purchasing special treatment. He wasn’t. He was simply beginning the relationship with appreciation rather than waiting until the relationship was over to say thank you. There is a fascinating Torah idea here as well. In Parshas Shoftim, the Torah warns a judge not to accept a bribe, “ki shochad ye’aveir einei chachamim,” because a gift has the extraordinary ability to affect even the perception of a wise person. Of course, I am certainly not suggesting that anyone bribe a teacher to favor his child. But the Torah is teaching us something profound about human nature: when someone feels appreciated, his heart naturally opens. And when the person whose heart you are opening is the rebbe, morah, or teacher who will spend hundreds of hours this year educating, encouraging, correcting, com-

forting, and caring for your child—that is not an insignificant thing. Years ago, I visited an orphanage in Eretz Yisrael. The people running it told us something that I have never forgotten. They explained that they had actually studied the way adults naturally respond

the children’s clothing. Think about that. They understood something very basic about human nature. A teacher is a human being. If one small detail could help a child walk into a classroom and instinctively evoke just a little more warmth, patience,

He was simply beginning the relationship with appreciation rather than waiting until the relationship was over to say thank you.

to children and found that children who arrive in school neat, clean, and smelling pleasant tend to evoke a warmer response from the adults around them. These were children coming to school from an orphanage, without a mother standing over them each morning making sure that every shirt was fresh and every collar was straight. So the staff took it seriously. They even researched which laundry detergents left the most pleasant scent on

and affection, they wanted to give that child every possible advantage. There is a lesson here for all of us. When orientation comes, or during those first few days of school, don’t simply drop off your children and disappear. Introduce yourself. Walk over to the rebbe. Meet the morah. Shake the teacher’s hand. Tell them, “Thank you for taking care of our child this year. We know how much you put into what you do, and we appreciate it.”

And perhaps don’t stop with words. If it is appropriate within your school’s policies and your circumstances, send a thoughtful card together with a nice check or meaningful gift—something substantial enough to convey that this is genuine appreciation for the enormous responsibility this person is about to undertake. Again, the point is not to purchase anything. It is not to ask for favoritism. It is simply to say, at the very outset: We value you. We respect what you do. And we are grateful that our child is in your care. Don’t wait until June to tell a teacher that you appreciate him. Tell him in September. Because before the first test is failed, before the first homework assignment is forgotten, before the first difficult phone call has to be made, you have already established something very important: We are on the same team. Your child’s teacher should know from Day One that the parents standing behind this child respect him, appreciate him, and want to work together with him. We spend enormous amounts of time preparing our children for school. We buy the clothing, the shoes, the knapsacks, the notebooks, and the supplies. Perhaps we should spend a few moments preparing the relationship as well. My dear children, as you embark upon another school year, may the Ribbono Shel Olam give each of your children wonderful rebbeim and teachers, good friends, success in their learning, and a year filled with growth and happiness. And perhaps, before that year even begins, consider doing one meaningful thing to open the hearts of the people who will be caring for them. Sometimes appreciation given at the beginning can make a very big difference all year long. With love, Abba

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

1. *

TJH

Centerfold

Signs Your Family Road Trip Has Gone on Way Too Long >> The kids have stopped asking, “Are we there yet?” because they no longer believe there is a “there.”

>> Someone asks what state you’re in, and nobody in the car is completely sure.

>> You’ve started recognizing the same truckers.

>> You’ve passed three signs for the “World’s Largest” something and are now genuinely considering stopping.

>> Google Maps says, “4 hours, 12 minutes remaining,” and you say, “Oh, we are almost there!” >> You’ve driven 35 miles with the gas light on because you are trying to make some headway before stopping. >> You’ve threatened to “turn this car around” despite being 600 miles from home. >> You’ve begun measuring distance in bathroom stops rather than miles. >> You’ve said, “We’re making memories!” primarily to convince yourself.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me! While on a road trip, Yankel and Esther stop at a roadside coffee shop, get a coffee, and get back on the road. Soon, Esther tells Yankel that she forgot her sunglasses at the rest stop and that they need to turn around. Yankel is upset that he has to go back and is

>> Nobody remembers whose idea this trip was, but everyone agrees that person should be punished. >> Someone in the back seat has constructed a privacy wall out of pillows. >> You’ve started discussing which highway lanes have the best “vibe.” >> The children have run out of things to fight about and are now arguing over who looked out whose window. >> You finally see the sign for your destination, and everyone cheers louder than they did when you announced the vacation. >> You start seeing the wisdom of “99 bottles of beer on the wall.”

very unpleasant on the drive back. “How could you forget your sunglasses?... What were you thinking?!” he keeps muttering. Soon, they get back to the coffee shop. Esther gets out to retrieve her glasses. Yankel screams after her, “While you’re in there, you might as well get my hat and credit card too! I think they’re on the counter.”

1. I-90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States. How many miles is it? a. 2,422 b. 3,085 c. 4,776 d. 6,927 2. Which state has the most miles of Interstate highways? a. California b. New York c. Texas d. Florida 3. How many states does historic Route 66—nicknamed the “Main Street of America”—pass through? a. 8 b. 10 c. 12 d. 24 4. What is the highest posted speed limit permitted on a U.S. public highway, found on Texas State Highway 130? a. 75 mph b. 80 mph

c. 85 mph d. 100 mph 5. How many states does the I-95 pass through? a. 7 b. 12 c. 15 d. 32 6. What colors are used on the familiar shield-shaped signs that identify Interstate highways? a. Red, white and blue b. Blue and white c. Red and blue d. Red and white 7. What do the odd and even numbers generally tell you about an Interstate highway? a. Odd numbers are toll roads; even numbers are free b. Odd numbers generally run north-south; even numbers run east-west c. Odd numbers are older highways d. Even numbers indicate highways longer than 500 miles

8. Which state has the most Interstate highway routes in America, with more than 30 primary and auxiliary Interstate routes running through it? a. New York b. California c. Texas d. Hawaii Answers: 1-B 2- C 3-A 4-D 5-C 6-A 7-B 8-A Wisdom Key: 7-8 correct: You are a serious day tripper…8 days a week! 4-6 correct: You are on cruise control in the middle lane. 0-3 correct: You’ve been on all 30 interstate highways in Hawaii, and you still hardly got any questions, right?

Riddle Me This Why did the tire need a vacation?

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Last Road Trip of Summer Trivia

Answer to riddle: It couldn’t take the pressure anymore!

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Torah Thought

Parshas Ki Savo By Rabbi Berel Wein z”l

he main part of the parsha is concerned with the description of the woes that will befall the Jewish people in their long years of exile and persecution. The Torah sees this as being a form of redemptive punishment for the Chosen People who chose to imitate the idolatrous and immoral ways of the general society. However, as the exile of Israel stretched into centuries and then into millennia, the Jews began to feel that somehow the punishment was rather excessive relative to the crime. Therefore, other explanations for the length and bitterness of the exile of Israel were advanced. The Talmud itself, hundreds of years after the destruction of the Second Temple, offered that the scattering of the Jewish people throughout the world was to allow non-Jews who wished to convert to Judaism be afforded the opportunity to do so. Others suggested that the dispersal of the Jewish Diaspora was to allow Judaic values and

attitudes to penetrate the non-Jewish world as well. It was through the bitter exile itself that the Jewish people would fulfill its mission of being a light unto the nations of the world. The survival of the Jewish people under the oppressive conditions of its exile also raised questions and prob-

the Church established the institution of the “Pope’s Jews” who were protected from harm since they had to survive to be the “Witness People.” Be all of this as it may, what is clear is that every word of the Torah regarding the fate of the Jews in exile has come true – true literally and not allegorically. As

It was through the bitter exile itself that the Jewish people would fulfill its mission of being a light unto the nations of the world.

lems for the Christian world. The concept of the “Witness People” gained currency in the Christian world – that somehow Jews had to survive to “witness” the eventual reappearance of the Christian savior and finally convert to Christianity. Thus,

the Ramban phrased it, it is astounding that a book written thousands of years before the events occurred should record those events so truthfully and faithfully. It is of comfort that since the tragedies recited in the parsha that would

befall Israel have all come true literally that we can be certain that the blessings and redemption similarly told to us in the parsha shall also undoubtedly be fulfilled literally. Some of them have already been realized in our time with the ingathering of the exiles of Israel to the nascent Jewish state. Others are still developing. The Torah never placed any time limits either on Jewish exile or redemption. The L-rd has His own reckoning that no human can be privy to. The rabbis, therefore, strongly discouraged prognostications of dates for the arrival of the redemption and the messianic era. Over the many centuries of Jewish exile, many dates were forecast to be the ones of redemption, but all of them have come and gone and the redemption is yet unfulfilled in actuality or completeness. Yet our hope and belief in our eventual redemption has never waned. “Next year in Jerusalem” in a fully rebuilt and peaceful Jerusalem is in the wings of the drama that unfolds now before our very eyes. Shabbat shalom.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

From the Fire Parshas Ki Savo

Enough – We’re Going Home By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

he plight of the Jews in France, and in Europe generally, and all around the world reminds me of the mitzvahh to create cities of refuge in this week’s parsha. The Bnei Yisaschar finds a hint to the month of Elul, the time when we prepare for Rosh Hashana by doing teshuva, in a pasuk relating to the cities of refuge (Shemos 21:13): “And G-d brought it about into his hand, and I shall make a place for you to which he shall flee.” The Bnei Yisaschar says that the initial letters of the words “ana l’yado v’samti lecha, brought it about into his hand, and I shall make [a place] for you,” spell Elul. Many of us are “unintentional killers,” having killed our own improvements, hopes, and aspirations from the previous year. We feel so disappointed by our own failures that we think we have no place in G-d’s presence. We feel home-

less. But Hashem tells us, “I shall make a place for you, to which [you may] flee.” That is Elul; Hashem’s warm embrace into which He welcomes us back to His presence. In the physical world, however, we only have one true home. The parsha introduces the mitzvahh of bikkurim, first fruits, with the words (Devarim 26:1), “And it will be when you come to the land which Hashem your G-d has given you as an inheritance and you take possession of it and you dwell in it…” All of the commentaries point out that the first word of the pasuk, “Vayehi, and it will be,” implies joy. Why is this? The Ohr Hachaim says that “this is to point out that there is no joy except in dwelling in the land [of Israel], as the pasuk [Tehillim 126:2] says, ‘Then [when Hashem returns us to Eretz Yisroel,] our mouths will be filled with laughter.’”

The mitzvah of bikkurim also concludes with (Devarim 26:11), “And you shall rejoice in all of the good that Hashem your G-d gave you, and in your house…” One can only feel true happiness when he is in his homeland, in his house, in the place where he belongs, when he is in his place of refuge from the storms of the world. In the rebuke found in this week’s parsha, one of the most overlooked of the curses is (Devarim 28:65), “And among the nations you will not find tranquility, nor will your foot find rest. Therefore, G-d will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and despair of the mind.” We find this curse in Eichah as well (1:3), where the prophet says, “She dwells among the nations and does not find rest.” The Midrash (Bereishis Raba 33:6) explains why this is: “If they found rest, they would not return [to Eretz Yis-

roel].” The Midrash says the same thing about the dove in Noach’s ark which did not find rest, and the same thing about the pasuk in our parsha, “And among the nations you will not find tranquility.” Sadly, if we found rest among the nations, we would call their land our home. Our people thought, many times in history, that we have found “rest” with various nations of the world. But, sooner or later, they remind us that we are G-d’s wandering dove, longing and searching to find its way home. In the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century, the nation of Poland guaranteed Jews religious and civil rights and invited the Jews to emigrate there. It was a country with nothing, and they practically begged the Jews to build a community there. Our people even said that the Hebrew word for Poland,

selves the modern-day Plishtim. Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, zt”l, expresses our loneliness among the nations, using this imagery: “The mute, distant dove, the rose of the valley, wandering in the markets, where is it, dwelling in the heavens… They were like a vessel desired by no one among the mass-

over Parshas Ki Savo. When the Torah reader reached the pesukim of the rebuke, he followed the regular custom of quietly and quickly reading the horrible curses that will befall our people if we do not keep the mitzvos. But the Rebbe interrupted the reader, calling out, “Louder!”

Sooner or later, they remind us that we are G-d’s wandering dove, longing and searching to find its way home.

es…” The Jewish people are unwanted by everyone, like a dirty, earthenware vessel. We are lost in the world, mute, unable to express the truth of who we are as long as we are in exile. We wander among the nations like a homing pigeon, longing to return to where it belongs, unable to speak. We are like the woman in the Song of Songs who wanders around, looking for her beloved (3:2), “I will arise now and wander around the city, in the marketplaces and in the streets. I will seek out the one my soul loves; I searched for him, but I did not find him.” Using a pasuk in this week’s haftara, Rav Kook, zt”l, teaches that although we will ultimately return home to Eretz Yisroel, there are two ways that this might happen (Yeshaya 60:8): “Who are these, blown like a cloud and like doves to their cotes?” Very often, Jews find their way home against their own will, “blown like a cloud” by the winds of hatred and persecution. But there is a better way home. We can return “like doves to their cotes,” to their nests. Fortunate are those Jews who do not wait to be driven to Eretz Yisroel by antisemitism. Fortunate are those who return to our homeland like doves who finally find a place to rest in the land of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. Hashem told his people, who feel homeless and hapless, who are seeking His refuge: “I shall make a place for you.” One of the tzaddikim of the previous generation acutely felt the call to return home just after the Holocaust. The Klauzenberger Rebbe, zt”l, first moved to New York when he left Europe after the War. He spent several weeks before Rosh Hashana in New York, including

Confused, the Torah reader paused, not knowing what to do. On one hand, he could not ignore the Rebbe. But on the other hand, the custom is clear. One does not read the curses of the rebuke loudly and clearly. The Rebbe then called out again, “Louder!” The reader was dumbfounded and did not know how to respond. He therefore continued

standing there in silence. So the Rebbe spoke up: “Why are you afraid of reading these curses out loud?! We have already endured all of them. We have been through it. It is done. This whole exile is done. I am through here. It is time to come home.” Indeed, the Rebbe had already begun making plans to return to Eretz Yisroel. The Torah reader began reading the curses loud and clear. Many people in the shul began to openly weep as the enormity of everything that they had been through washed over them. Soon after yom tov, the Rebbe and many of the chassidim returned home to Eretz Yisroel to build the Torah community of Kiryat Sanz. This year, may the wandering dove, the Jewish people, finally find rest for its weary wings in its true home of Eretz Yisroel with the coming of Moshiach and the arrival of the complete redemption.

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Polin, is a contraction of the words “po lin, here, you shall rest.” To our dismay, we know what happened to the Jews of Poland during the Holocaust. The Jews of Morocco used to have a sizable and beautiful Jewish community. Even today, the small community of 3,000 Jews believes that the government of “friendly Arabs” will always protect them. But we see what happened to the Jewish community protected by the Shah of Iran. I have had many students from Persia who showed me pictures of their estates, swimming pools, and mansions with servants from the time of the Shah. Jews had some of the most prominent positions in the government in Iran. But now, the community has dwindled, and they are ruled by despots and Islamic extremists. Similarly, the Meshech Chochma presciently wrote that “if the Jew thinks that Berlin is Jerusalem … then a raging storm wind will uproot him by his trunk and subject him before a faraway gentile nation…” We are like the dove, wandering from place to place. A dove will always feel driven to return home. Even after Noach’s dove found a place to rest, an olive tree, it still returned back home to the ark. We will never truly be at home until we return to our true homeland, Eretz Yisroel. We are compared to the dove in another way as well. The pasuk in Tehillim (56:1) says, “For the conductor [to be sung by the levi’im in the Beis Hamikdash], over the mute, distant dove, of Dovid, a michtam [type of song], when the Plishtim captured him in Gass.” Dovid was thanking Hashem for saving him when he was captured by the Plishtim and made himself appear insane, like a mute dove which lacks any outward appearance of intelligence. Because he could not express his true self, he felt silenced, unable to reveal the depth of who he was. He also felt “distant,” far from Eretz Yisroel, and subject to the whims of the Plishtim who wanted to kill him. Even in Eretz Yisroel today, the world does not want to hear the truth of the Jewish soul. They do not want to know what we are going through. Not only do we feel distant from the realization of our dreams of revealed Divine providence through the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, we feel silenced and mute in the court of world opinion. Even potential friends and allies turn against us because they are afraid of raising the ire of those who call them-

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Think. Feel.Grow.

Willpower Generating Momentum for Our Return By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

here’s a story of two elderly men who had been childhood friends but had not seen each other in many years. One day, they ran into each other on the street and were delighted to recognize one another. One of them lived in the area, so he invited the other into his home. They happily caught each other up on their lives, getting lost in their stories and jokes as the day went on. The guest finally noticed that it had become dark outside, so he asked his friend if he had the time. “I don’t have a watch,” his friend replied. “So, look at the clock and tell me what time it is.” “I don’t have a clock either,” his friend replied. Puzzled, the first man asked his friend: “If you don’t have a watch, and you don’t have a clock, how do you tell the time?”

“I use my trumpet!” the second man proudly replied. “A trumpet? How can you tell time with a trumpet?” “I’ll show you.” He picked up his trumpet, opened the window, and blew a long, deafening blast. A few seconds later, a window opened below and his neighbor shouted: “It’s three o’clock in the morning, and you’re playing your trumpet?!” The man turned to his friend and proclaimed, “It’s three o’clock in the morning.” Sometimes, Hashem will send us a wakeup call, begging us to wake up from our slumber. When we hear it, we must remind ourselves what time it is. It’s time to question, to think, and to redirect. Often, though, life has a way of running on autopilot, controlled only by the flow of momentum. When things are going

well, they flow forward, steadily picking up speed. When things fall apart, they tumble downhill, refusing to ease up. Making a healthy eating choice can serve as inspiration to wake up early the next morning and exercise. The feeling of making a great decision leads you to another great decision, and the cycle continues. The energy and confidence from this positive momentum leads to an increased surge of confidence, leading to another great decision — perhaps a push forward in your career, a positive development in your relationships, or a focus on the next step of your spiritual growth. This is the beauty of momentum. This is also the psychological and practical root of the concept of “Mitzvah goreres mitzvah — one mitzvah leads to another” (Avos 4:2). However, this same momentum can be the cause of our undoing as well, as

“Aveirah goreres aveirah — one misstep leads to another.” Maybe it starts with a small slip-up in our diet, when we promised ourselves we would do better. Now, we feel weak and foolish and begin muttering degrading insults to ourselves. Our confidence takes a major hit, and we begin to see ourselves as a failure. The next morning, we hit snooze, making ourselves feel even worse, even weaker, and even more of a failure. Next, we sabotage our relationship, miss a meeting, or let our growth and spirituality slide. Of course, this makes us feel even worse, so we break our diet again, making us feel even worse, yet again. This is the deadly cycle of momentum. One thing leads to another, creating a cataclysmic landslide toward complete and utter breakdown. While this picture is extreme, we can all relate. Sometimes, things seem

Free Will Hashem presents us with the choice between blessing and curse, between good and bad (Devarim 11:26). The Torah states: “U’vacharta ba’chaim — you shall choose life” (Devarim 30:19). This is cited by most commentators as the source for the principle of free will, the power of choice. The Rambam includes the concept of free will within the laws of teshuvah, which seems both strange and unnecessary (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah, chap. 5). The necessity and nature of free will appears more philosophical than legal, so why does the Rambam include this in his work of halachic codes? And more specifically, why include this in the context of teshuvah? To understand this, we must delve into the true nature of teshuvah.

Teshuvah: Act of Return While teshuvah is often translated as repentance, its literal meaning is “return,” as in the word “shuv.” The goal of teshuvah is not only freeing ourselves of punishment and responsibility for our past. Teshuvah is about self-transformation, returning to a higher, better version of ourselves. We don’t only wish to escape; we wish to ascend. It is on this premise that the Rambam describes the three-step process of teshuvah (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah 1:1). The first step of teshuvah is recognizing that there is a problem to fix and that a mistake has occurred. It is impossible to solve a problem without first admitting that the problem exists. It is all too easy to simply push forward in life, ignoring our inner and outer struggles. But that results in the downward cascade described above. Only by acknowledging the problem can we stop the downward momentum and actually solve it. The second step of teshuvah is to regret one’s mistake. Often, we know that a problem exists, but we don’t feel ashamed, hurt, or even bothered by it. Without internal regret or hurt, we will not be motivated enough to take the actionable steps required to make change. When we yearn for the truth and allow ourselves to powerfully feel the inner contradiction between how we could be living and how we currently are living, we generate the emotional response necessary to

genuinely regret our past mistakes. Third, one must commit to an improved future, one in which this mistake will not be repeated. We must commit to strive toward a greater version of ourselves, whereby if given the chance to

future in order to give up their current lifestyle. However, when we push with all our might, expressing a full force of our inner will, we get a taste of truth, an experience of destiny, and a glimpse of our true self.

speaker, bestselling author, business coach, the CEO of SMA, and a TED Talk Speaker. His online content reaches millions of people every month, and he lectures internationally on topics of Torah thought, psychology, leadership, and business – uniquely blending many areas of Torah and wisdom together. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring

One must fully and wholeheartedly believe in their new future in order to give up their current lifestyle.

gateway into deeper Torah thought. After receiving his BA from Yeshiva University and Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, Rabbi Reichman received a Masters degree in Philosophy and Religion from the University of Chicago. As part of his Masters Degree at the University of Chicago, Rabbi Reichman received an Ivy Plus Scholarship to Harvard where he spent a year study-

repeat this mistake, we would not give in to temptation but would overcome the challenge instead.

The Necessity of Free Will In order for the process of teshuvah to exist, there is one essential element: free will. The only way we can genuinely change, transform, and evolve is if we have the capacity to assert our inner will and to create a new reality within ourselves. This requires a complete re-creation of self within our consciousness — a remolding of our inner world. While yesterday we were the type of person who did one thing, today a new decision is formed and a new reality is created within our inner world. This requires a complete assertion of willpower, an overcoming of self, and a breakdown and reformation of inner drive and character. This means giving up who we are for who we want to be; sacrificing what we think we want for what we truly want. (See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Gerushin 2:20, where he discusses the relationship between our true ratzon [“rotzeh ani”] and our lower self.) It means overcoming the emotional and overwhelming pull of current desire and generating a new “want” within our very core. This is why the Rambam places his seemingly philosophical discussion of the concept of free will amongst the halachos of teshuvah; free will is the very root and foundation of hilchos teshuvah. Without free will, one could never change and one could never become something else, someone new, and someone better. Strikingly, Rav Eliyahu Dessler explains that many people never experience a true assertion of their free will due to its immense difficulty. This is why many people do not change. Change is hard, uncomfortable, and often requires sacrifice. One must fully and wholeheartedly believe in their new

However, this understanding of teshuvah, namely, that of return, has an even deeper layer to it. After all, if teshuvah is an act of return, what or whom are we returning to? In our next article, we will delve deeper into this fascinating topic and try to answer this question. In the meantime, may we all be inspired to continue to embark on the journey of becoming our ultimate selves!

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is an international

ing Religious Philosophy and Literature as an Ivy Scholar. Additionally, he received a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from Azrieli Graduate School and a Masters degree in Jewish Thought from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. As a business and leadership coach, Rabbi Reichman provides a unique 1-on-1 coaching program where he helps high-achievers, coaches, and business owners achieve their financial and personal goals. To learn more or to get in contact with Rabbi Reichman, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

to fall apart in our lives, and we struggle to pick up the pieces. When we start that downhill slide, how do we stop the momentum? How do we pick ourselves up?

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Delving into the Daf

The Hot Dog That Got Nathan in Hot Water By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

he following is based on a true story. Nathan comes home from his out-of-town dormitory and loudly declares, “I’m starving!” His mother gently reminds him that he managed for a few months on his own and could fend for himself. Nathan, who is famous for his hot dogs, decides to make himself one. He looks around the kitchen and, to his delight, sees a utensil with boiling hot water. He drops two hot dogs in and waits for them to be ready. His mother enters the kitchen and sees Nathan waiting for his food. She grills him: “Where exactly did you cook your hot dogs?” “Oh. Right over there in that stainless steel utensil.” His mother screams, “Nathan, you are in hot water! You just made my urn fleishigs!” Nathan says, “Let’s be frank with each other. I’ll just empty out the hot water and put new water in, and it will be fine!” His mother replies, “I’m sorry, that doesn’t cut the mustard. Even if I change the water, my urn is still fleishigs.” Nathan says, “Don’t knock it. ‘Wurst’ comes to ‘wurst,’ you can use the urn for coffee after a fleishig meal.” His mother replies, “I have a beef with you. I use the urn for my morning coffee, which I add milk to. Oy! What have you done?” Nathan says, “Okay, I’ll call our rabbi, Rabbi Osher Meyer.” He tells Rabbi Meyer what he did. Rabbi Meyer says, “Your mother is

right. The urn is fleishigs.” Nathan replies, “Oy. I don’t relish the thought of telling my mother I ruined her urn.” Rabbi Meyer responds, “Not so fast. I want to show you how laws and sausages are made. First, though, we have to discuss the buns or rather, bread baked in a clean meat utensil.” What is the status of bread baked in a clean meat utensil? This is an example of the halachic jargon known as natbar-nat. “Nat” is an acronym referring to nosein taam, meaning “flavor transfer.” “Nat bar Nat” means two flavor transfers. In this case, meat imparted flavor to a utensil. The utensil was subsequently cleaned, but the imparted flavor remains in the walls of the utensil. Now parve bread is baked in that meat utensil. The kosher meat flavor went from the meat to the walls of the pan and then to the bread. The bread should be halachically parve. This is similar to the case discussed in the Gemara (Chullin 111b), where hot fish was placed on a cold meat plate. The Gemara says that the fish may be eaten with milk. Tosfos concludes, according to one explanation, that indeed the bread is parve. In other words, the case may sound cooked, but it is not quite as simple as that. However, while the Shulchan Aruch (and generally Sefardim) accepts Tosfos’s hypothesis, the Rema prefers that one not rely on it, at least initially. The Rema would rule that parve bread baked in a clean meat pan is in fact parve but shouldn’t be eaten together with cheese.

If someone already smeared cream cheese on the bread, the Rema would say it can be eaten. Therefore, hot water boiled in a clean meat pot should not be used with dairy. The Vilna Gaon posits that one can even eat the bread with cheese initially if the meat pan hasn’t been used for 24 hours. Therefore, one can boil hot water for use with milk in a clean meat pot if the pot has not been used for 24 hours. The Chochmas Adam doesn’t accept this leniency unless no other pan is available. However, if one has a unique pan used for making a certain type of bread, one would initially be allowed to use such a meat pan to bake parve bread to be smeared with cheese, if the pan has not been used for 24 hours. Moreover, the Divrei Chachamin quotes Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, and Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l, that one may rely on the Vilna Gaon’s lenient opinion. The Ohelei Yeshurun quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, that one may rely on the Vilna Gaon where a parve utensil inadvertently became fleishigs or milchigs. Perhaps this would apply to this situation. At this point, Rabbi Osher Meyer asks Nathan, “Did you follow that?” Nathan replies, “Yes, but how does this get me out of the doghouse?” Rabbi Meyer says, “Clean out the urn. Don’t use it for 24 hours.” “The urn is a special utensil that serves a function of always having hot water available. Presumably, you only own one urn. You are not putting milk into the urn, which you certainly

may not do. The urn, in that regard, is fleishigs even after 24 hours. Rather, you are putting clean parve water into a clean urn that was used for meat over 24 hours ago. The Chochmas Adam says you can consume the product of a double taste transfer with food of the opposite type after twenty-four hours if there is a special utensil involved. “So here, the hot dog flavor was absorbed by the specialized urn. It was cleaned, and 24 hours elapsed. The subsequent flavor transfer from the urn to the parve water may be disregarded in this case. Therefore, milk may be added to that water. In addition, more recent poskim have said that one may rely on the Vilna Gaon’s lenient opinion.” Nathan replied, “Well, hot dog! Thanks, Rabbi.” Nathan had come home hungry, cooked two hot dogs, and nearly turned his mother’s coffee urn into a very expensive frankfurter-flavored coffee maker. Fortunately, he wasn’t totally cooked. He had learned that sometimes the difference between a real halachic problem and a temporary pickle can come down to a little time. Someone facing a similar meat grinder should seek guidance from a non-fictional rabbi.

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Headlines

Halacha

Cardinal Lustiger and Yeshiva University by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Cardinal Lustiger in Auschwitz, where his mother was murdered for being a Jew

n a recent shiur delivered to a group of baalei batim in Eretz Yisrael on the theme of Torah, parnassah, and the needs of Klal Yisrael, Rav Hershel Schachter, shlita, told a remarkable story about Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris, a story that deserves to be preserved, and, in one detail, gently corrected. According to Rav Schachter, the Cardinal once simply walked into Yeshiva University off the street, in the years when the building was open and anyone could wander in and observe classes. Looking through the classroom windows, Lustiger witnessed rebbeim delivering shiurim in Gemara, Shulchan Aruch, and Tanach in the morning — and, on the same blackboards, equations from chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. In Europe, he knew, the man who attends university does not attend a theological seminary, and vice versa. He wanted to understand how the same young men did both. His initial hypothesis, Rav Schachter explained, was that the answer lay in the chavrusa system, and that if he could import it into the Catholic seminaries, it would solve his own institution’s problems. (Rav Schachter’s own dry assessment: of course, it had nothing to do with anything,

and it did not solve the problem at all.) The Cardinal went to the office of Dr. Norman Lamm, z”l — who, Rav Schachter noted, was almost never in his office (since he spent a good amount of time raising money for the yeshiva) — and happened to find him in. He asked whether he could bring a delegation of European cardinals. They spoke only French; the rebbeim spoke no French; and thus, a translator was arranged. On that first visit, Rav Schachter related, the visiting churchmen said something striking: for decades they had come to America and met only with Reform and Conservative representatives, and they had finally concluded that those movements do not represent the Jewish religion. To understand what Judaism actually is, they said, one must meet with the Orthodox. That first year, the delegation went to Yeshiva University, to Torah Vodaas, to Satmar, to Lubavitch, and elsewhere. In subsequent years, they returned only to YU. The visits continued roughly every eighteen months. Rav Soloveitchik’s guidelines were in force throughout: social issues only, never theology. Rav Schachter also recalled a session at which a cardinal widely considered a papal

contender sat opposite Dr. Lamm with a notepad and asked how the school was run. The first thing that came to Dr. Lamm’s mind was the halacha that one may not charge tuition for Torah since HaKadosh Baruch Hu did not charge Moshe Rabbeinu tuition. “Then how do you pay the rabbis’ salaries?” the cardinal asked. Fundraising dinners, he was told. The visitors had never heard of such a thing. Their institutions were not short of money.

A Respectful Correction In the course of introducing the story, Rav Schachter, shlita, said that Lustiger’s non-observant parents handed him over to Catholics so that he would survive the Nazis and that his parents were killed in the camps. Shiurim delivered without notes inevitably compress details, and the substance of Rav Schachter’s account — the visits, the yeshivos, the exchange with Dr. Lamm — stands. But the biographical particulars run the other way, and on a matter this sensitive the record is worth stating precisely. Aron Lustiger was born in Paris on September 17, 1926, the only son of Charles and Gisèle Lustiger, Ashkenazi Jews from

Będzin, Poland, who had left around the time of the First World War and who ran a hosiery shop in Paris. The family was thoroughly secular; the children received no religious instruction, though their grandfather had been a rav. The parents spoke French at home and switched to Yiddish when they did not want the children to understand. The conversion was not arranged by his parents as a wartime shelter. The family fled to Orléans at the outbreak of war in September 1939; during “Holy Week” in March 1940, the thirteen-year-old decided on his very own to become Catholic, and he was baptized on August 21, 1940, by the Bishop of Orléans, a certain Jules-Marie-Victor Courcoux, someone who was previously implicated in the Basel Commercial Bank Affair. It seems that Lustiger also later convinced a sister to convert. By the Telegraph’s account of the episode, he had disobeyed his father’s explicit instructions in entering a church at all. His decision was made at the age of thirteen. It is true that Lustiger’s mother was murdered at Auschwitz. Lustiger, his father, and sister found refuge in the unoccupied southern zone while his mother returned to Paris to run the family business.

accordingly severe. Rav Yisrael Meir Lau publicly denounced him as having betrayed the Jewish people, and when an interfaith center at Sacred Heart University honored him in 1998, the ADL objected that a man who converted out makes a poor example. The sad fact is that a person whose grandfather was a rav had not one single hour of Torah instruction. He likely had a Pesach Seder that meant nothing, had no Shabbos experience, and alef-beis was never taught. According to his own account, somewhere between the ages of ten and twelve, he came across a Protestant Bible and felt a

One generation of silence, and the grandson of a rabbi is now buried in a crypt of Notre-Dame.

Bishop of Orléans in 1979, Archbishop of Paris in 1981, cardinal in 1983, election to the Académie française in 1995. Lustiger was widely regarded as papabile – being eligible for the popehoodness. In 1987, he negotiated with representatives of the organized Jewish community, including Théo Klein of CRIF, over the removal of the Carmelite convent at Auschwitz, and he did oppose the canonization of Isabella of Castile on account of the 1492 expulsion. The visits to New York that Rav Schachter described are documented for 2004 and 2006 and included the Bobover Rebbe — who gave him a bracha — as well as Yeshiva University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he addressed students and faculty together with visiting European bishops. Rav Schachter placed the original, informal walk-in earlier, before 9/11, when the campus was still open to the street; the later delegations are the ones that entered the published record. Lustiger died on August 5, 2007, at the age of eighty. At his funeral at Notre-Dame, kaddish was recited before the portal of the cathedral by his cousin Arno Lustiger. Rabbi René Samuel Sirat, former Chief Rabbi of France, reported having personally seen him enter a shul to say kaddish for his mother. Halachically, a Jew who apostatizes remains a Jew. Whatever he called himself, and whatever office he held, Aron ben Charles was a Jewish neshama, and the reaction from the Jewish world was

pull toward it. The tragedy is that no one in his circle could open a Chumash with Rashi and show him his own birthright. Lustiger found a cathedral in Orléans instead. It is this author’s view that Lustiger’s story is a story about assimilation long before it is a story about conversion. A family took French citizenship, prospered, and slowly stopped transmitting anything of spiritual value. One generation of silence, and the grandson of a rabbi is now buried in a crypt of Notre-Dame. I want to contrast this with a fascinating story about a young couple that I know who just had a baby daughter. She was visiting Auschwitz and heard the tour guide there say, “Over 1.5 million Jews were murdered here, and many of them did not have the opportunity to explore their own birthright. They were not allowed to leave and were murdered. You, however, do have the opportunity to walk out of here and discover your birthright of Judaism. I encourage you to do just that. Learn about it and embrace it.” She did. Now she is an influencer who does remarkable kiruv with tens of thousands of followers. She became a Torah observant Jew through a remarkable organization called Olami. My family is proud to have hosted an Olami rav and his wife last week for one of their remarkable activities.

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

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

It was in September of 1942 that she was deported to Auschwitz, where she was murdered the following year. The surviving family returned to Paris at the end of the war, and Lustiger’s father then attempted — unsuccessfully, and with the assistance of the Chief Rabbi of Paris — to have his son’s baptism annulled. That effort produced a permanent rupture between father and son when the young man entered the Sorbonne and announced his intention to become a priest. His subsequent career was ordination in the priesthood, r”l, in 1954, chaplaincy at the Sorbonne, a Paris parish from 1969,

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

School of

Thought

HaMelech Ba’Sadeh By Barbara Deutsch

he ninth of Elul is Bob’s first yahrtzeit; it’s Elul, and HaMelech ba’sadeh. The Deutsch, Levy and Shapiro families are not in the same country with half the Levys living in Toronto – Mom and two sons who need to finish high school and college. The dad, new job, and two sons looking for a job and starting university are in Maryland. The Deutsch family is in Woodmere with married kids in Queens, Woodmere, New Jersey and the City. The Shapiro family and I are in Jerusalem. To mark the day, I’m hearing that Bob’s specialties and favorites will be the fare served at the family commemorative gatherings: potato kugel, chicken and rice (see recipe below), large meatballs (our daughter-in-law likes to make them small), gefilte fish and chocolate cake. There will be fruit but no fruit platters. I have been thinking about sharing some thoughts on my aveilut for a while. It’s difficult and surprising to all who knew him that Bob has been gone for a year. In that time, two beautiful babies have been born, and our granddaughter Ariela is a kallah engaged to Yoel. Bob is missed every day, especially when celebrating smachot and chagim. Bob’s endearing quiet presence is felt. As I walked past Bob’s kollel this morning I felt a soft wind blowing towards me. I turned. I do my best to fill my days productively; each week overflows with classes, trips, lectures, mahjong, canasta, papercutting, breakfast, lunch or dinners and sometimes all three. I push myself to try anything that will get me out of my head. This hard week along with my usual scheduled activities, I explored Gush Etzion and its environs with the Billets (a must-see is the remarkable and emotionally fulfilling movie at the Gush Etzion Museum) and watched the premiere of David Fishoff’s amazing movie which documents the experience of ten October

7th survivor musicians who attended his famous Rock Camp in Los Angeles. It is called The Bridge. I sampled a new eatery in Jerusalem called Zuta with dear friends, Jill and Satch. Perry, their grandson, is the bartender/waiter, and we, his willing samplers. Best of all, the girls in our family shopped for a wedding gown for Ariela; it is stunning. When we lived in Cedarhurst and visited Toronto, our best times were spent with our kids, grandkids and most recently, great-grandkids. Living full time in Israel – about which I often ask myself if I should stay without Bob in this world next to me – I sorely miss the family and friends left behind. Over the course of this very hard long year, I have often found myself participating in some uncomfortable or awkward encounters. For example, there is a custom to say, “HaMakom yenachem eschem…” upon departing a shiva house. Sefardim say, “Min hashamayim tinuchamu/tinachamu min hashmayim.” I find the Sefardi words more comforting. The sentiments articulated in these phrases are meant to be words of comfort and are recited during the week of shiva to the mourners. Until just recently, I was unaware that a person who wants to offer condolences has a full year window in which to say “HaMakom” or “Min hashomayim.” Many rabbis even encourage saying it within the year post-shiva if you have not done so already during the shiva window. That could mean that if someone has not had an opportunity to be menachem, he can still fulfill the mitzvah whenever he connects with the mourner. In real time, that translates as anytime or anywhere within that year someone who bumps into an aveil can recite the phrase. Walking, immersed in my own thoughts, I would be randomly tapped on the shoulder or greeted by a friend or acquaintance. He or she would say “hello” and then, seemingly out of the blue, blurt

HaMakom. These encounters would catapult me back into the painful place I have been trying to escape. Perplexed by why this was a good idea, I investigated the thinking behind rabbis encouraging this mitzvah/minhag. The best answer I got was that saying the phrase keeps the name of the niftar alive. It does not work for me, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all journey. I have been told that even those close to you really don’t know what to say to an aveil. No matter your age or experience, an encounter often feels clumsy. It’s not easy to greet a sad someone trying to recover from deep loss. During the initial long months of shock and numbness, I felt like I had heavy weights attached to my chest; I could barely walk or get myself to engage. With time, therapy, beloved family (especially our grandkids), and a magnificent community of new and longtime friends, I am in a better place. I am far from good and wish every day for the return of the person that I used to be. I am still struggling with closure and the acceptance that Bob will no longer be with me to continue sharing my life. I savor my cherished memories. It is customary for a loved one’s yahrtzeit to light a special candle, say prayers, go to the kever, dread that, and daven. Oftentimes, Torah is studied in the person’s honor, a siyum, a kiddush, and or a special dinner prepared. Sometimes, there are designated chesed or tzedaka opportunities sponsored for the aliyah of the meshama of the lost loved one. Bob’s unique and not-so-unique qualities are hard to pin down. A simple man who was loved by many and missed by all who knew him is hard to honor. Bob hated to be singled out for recognition or honorariums; he embraced quiet respect, intellect, curiosity and knowledge of any kind. Bob had a wicked, droll and sarcastic sense of humor. It was hard to make him laugh, but his mouth was always smiling.

Bob loved to read fiction above all other genres. He was never without a stack of books on his nightstand. He appreciated fine quality in clothes (got that from his Hungarian mom) and dressed mighty fine before his retirement wherein he limited his shopping almost exclusively to the Costco brand. Friends and family are remembering him on his first yahrtzeit in multiple ways. Wedding Suits for Lone Soldiers: ELSEmek Lone Soldiers is an organization, founded by R’ Shalom Myers, that supports religious, English-speaking lone soldiers (male and female) with housing, equipment, personal, weddings and post-army needs. Under their umbrella, our family established the “Be Like Bob Chesed Fund” to provide wedding attire for chayalim who cannot afford a special suit for lack of family support, financial hardship or estrangement due to their army service. To learn more and if you wish to donate to the “Be Like Bob Chesed Fund,” I will provide the link. In just the first few days of the fund, five lone soldiers have already been outfitted for their weddings: suit, hat, shirt and shoes. Our youngest grandson, Yosef, has been donating thi- point pens to the boys in his yeshiva through the Yeshiva’s gemach Eis Ratzon. The zechut for learning the Torah concepts written with these special pens should be a source for an aliyah for his beloved Grandpa’s neshama. Yosef’s sisters are sponsoring seder daled for the boys in his Yeshiva Ketana. So far, 60 boys have committed to a dai-

on Makos. All this in the zechut of their beloved Grandpa’s neshama. From the start of her aveilut, our daughter, Rachel, has been on a mission to get people to say Mizmor L’Todah every day as a zechut for her father’s nesha-

Bob’s Chicken and Rice Recipe

INGREDIENTS • 1 chicken, cut into ⅛ • 1 red pepper, cut into strips • 1 onion, cut into strips • 2 TBS canola oil • 8 oz. rice + 1 tsp salt • Paul Prudhommee Vegetable Magic (available on Amazon) DIRECTIONS Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Sautee pepper and onion in oil. Add 1 TBS Vegetable Magic to mixture in pot. Cover chicken pieces with Vegetable Magic on the skin side. Brown chicken on both sides. Add 2 ½ cups of water and cover. When water is boiling, add the rice. Stir and cover pot. After the rice has cooked (approx. 18 minutes; check the package), let rest till cool. If you want to shred the chicken, do so when chicken has cooled sufficiently to be handled.

ma, a lesson she learned from him – to appreciate everything Hashem gives us. She distributes special magnets and posts perek 100 on her status daily. Sponsoring a Reading Club: At Charles E Smith Jewish Day School where our son-in-law Jonathan is the new Head of School, there is a program to encourage summer reading wherein different staff members suggest books from which students choose to read over the summer. In the fall, these students meet with the faculty member who chose their book to discuss in a student-run book club. This year, the book club will be sponsored in commemoration of Bob’s first yahrtzeit. It will serve as a way to memorialize Bob’s lifelong commitment to encouraging his love of books, writing and reading in middle and high school students. Our oldest grandson, Rabbi Dr. Elly Deutsch, compiled family memories and stories, along with reflections, from many of Bob/Mr. Deutsch’s students and colleagues. From these stories and reflections, Elly put together 18 (“chai”) lessons, many of them related to Pirkei Avot, that capture Bob and the impact he had on so many lives. Through these conversations and

written notes, our family was able to gain a deeper understanding of Grandpa. And more… Our family is privileged to already have a namesake: our precious great-grandson Avi, son of Michal and Yoav, is named for Bob. Thank you to my readers, many of whom have become friends, who comment with insight and support on my weekly musings. Hamelech ba’sadeh. During my last Erev Shabbat meal with Bob, our wonderful host, David, polled the table asking, “HaMelech ba’sadeh, what do you want to tell Him?” Bob’s immediate response: “Thank you Hashem for a wonderful life!” Hashem took Bob home that Monday, the ninth of Elul. Avraham ben Pinchas Shmuel, may your precious neshama have an aliyah. It’s Elul. HaMelech ba’sadeh. Don’t squander your opportunity.

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

ly extra seder of learning for the week of Grandpa’s yahrtzeit. Both of our Israeli grandsons, Dovid and Yosef, will be making siyumim on Shabbat and Sunday. One of our American grandsons, Jakob, is making a siyum

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Israel Today

Turning Advocacy Into Results By Tzipora Mandel

ERUSALEM — A major initiative strongly advocated for by Eretz HaKodesh has reached an important milestone, with approximately 40 million Israeli shekel for the Olim B’Limud program now going to participating yeshivos and seminaries across Eretz Yisrael. Eretz HaKodesh strongly advocated for and helped push the program forward, recognizing both the financial commitment families make to send their children for a year of learning in Israel and the unique opportunity this year presents to build a lasting connection with Eretz Yisrael and encourage students to consider building their future here. Olim B’Limud is a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, with the support of Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The program combines meaningful financial assistance for first-year-in-Israel students with educational programming, using the gap year as a unique opportunity to deepen students’ connection to Israel and encourage them to consider making aliyah in the future. Every year, thousands of young men and women leave their homes and families to spend a year learning in yeshivos and seminaries across Israel. While the year represents a substantial expense for many families, it also provides a unique opportunity for students to experience life in Israel and build a relationship with the

country that can continue long after their gap year ends. Olim B’Limud seeks to build on that opportunity. The financial assistance to the parents is part of the program’s broader effort to encourage a future move to Eretz Yisroel, helping ease the financial burden for participating students while creating opportunities for them to experience the country, become more familiar with Israeli

ing about one day moving to and building their future in Eretz Yisrael. The approximately 40 million shekel for Olim B’Limud is also an important example of the impact Eretz HaKodesh has sought to make through its involvement in Israel’s national institutions. From the outset, Eretz HaKodesh has worked to ensure that the priorities of the community are heard and that opportuni-

The approximately 40 million Israeli shekel being provided through Olim B’Limud is an investment in thousands of gap year students

life, and develop a deeper sense of connection and belonging. Through Olim B’Limud, thousands of gap year students have had the opportunity to experience Israel in a deeper and more meaningful way. By encountering the people, places and communities of Israel firsthand, students are able to turn their year in Eretz Yisrael into something more than a year abroad. For many, it becomes the beginning of a connection they want to maintain and strengthen for many years to come — and an opportunity to begin think-

ties benefiting families receive the attention they deserve. Olim B’Limud presented just such an opportunity. Thousands of students were already choosing to spend this formative year learning in Israel. Supporting them could both help families with the considerable costs involved and use this unique year to strengthen students’ connection to Israel and encourage them to see Eretz Yisrael as a place where they might ultimately build their lives. Eretz HaKodesh advocated strongly for

the concept and helped push the initiative forward. Today, through the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, that effort has developed into a program representing tens of millions of shekels of investment in gap year students. “We are deeply grateful to all of our partners in the Knesset and at the Jewish Agency for making this dream a reality,” said Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz of Eretz HaKodesh. “We thank them for this significant financial support and for helping thousands of young people experience Eretz Yisrael in a meaningful way, strengthen their connection to the country, and begin to see it as a place where they may one day build their future.” It is a tangible example of why representation in Jewish communal institutions matters: representation can lead to results. The approximately 40 million Israeli shekel being provided through Olim B’Limud is an investment in thousands of gap year students, in the families making this year possible, and in strengthening the next generation’s relationship with Eretz Yisrael — with the ultimate goal of encouraging more young Jews to see Eretz Yisrael not only as the place where they spent their gap year, but as a place where they may one day choose to build their future. For Eretz HaKodesh, helping push that investment forward is an achievement worth celebrating.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

nspiration Nation

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Moran Stela Yanai Surrendering to the Unknown By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

In Her Words… Being happy doesn’t mean not being scared or having bad days. i have tons of bad days, but i allow myself on those days to still be happy. i think that only in an extreme situation can we understand how big we are, how strong we are. and eventually, when i was in a good place, what did i say to g-d? i said, ‘i have you, i have me, i have everything.’ after being punished, i was smiling, even happy. and i looked at the ceiling, and i closed my eyes. i pictured the sky. and i said to g-d, ‘you are something. But fine, i understand. i finally understand. Whatever you choose, i’m fine with it. i’ll do my best.’ i got proof daily, repeatedly, that i’m being saved. a gun pointed to my head, but he’s not shooting. Everything seemed doable, like g-d was giving me the power to deal with my situation.

or much of her adult life, darkness filled Moran Stela Yanai’s world, crushing her under the weight of mounting social pressures, unfulfillment, and purposelessness. She drifted away from G-d, leaving a void in her soul. But at age 36, Moran decided to turn things around, embarking on a journey of truth and self-discovery. Self-improvement became her chief hobby, as TED Talks about physical, mental, and spiritual health occupied her free time, and therapies ranging from NLP to CBT granted her insights into her cognitive processes and psyche. A deep dive into world cultures led her to Buddhism, which gave her a framework for meditation and the like, changing her life. By age 40, in July 2023, Moran was on top of the world. Spiritually, she never felt better. Her mind was clear of the mental storms that once plagued her, peaceful like a blue sky. And her physical health was as good as ever. Every month, she set a new self-improvement challenge for herself, and her latest challenge was called: “Surrendering to the unknown — believing that something is protecting me.” That month, she hopped on a plane to Thailand without much planning, without booking hotels or anything, certain that it would work out. Moran had two life-changing encounters during her trip. The first was

with a woman who told Moran about the upcoming Supernova festival in southern Israel, scheduled for October 7, 2023, and suggested that Moran, a jewelry designer, set up shop during the rave. The second was with a man she met on her last day in Thailand, who taught her that all the Buddhist wisdom she admired originates with the Torah and Judaism. She returned to Israel around two weeks before October 7, enlightened and inspired. Moran went straight to work, crafting jewelry to sell at the festival, while quietly dreading the idea: she’d never been to a festival before. Furthermore, she didn’t feel comfortable working on Shabbos. But she trudged through, checking off another challenge from her list. Little did she know that the real challenge — the greatest surrender — would soon follow. *

There’s a video of the Nova festival-goers from the night before the party. In the video, everyone’s dancing, smiling, and laughing in the moonlight. But take a closer look, and you’ll find one person clearly not enjoying themself: Moran. Visibly uncomfortable, she stood in place, glancing from side to side, repeatedly looking behind as if concerned that something or someone

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

would sneak up on her. In her words, “I felt so weird.” She remembers staring at the festival’s portable bathroom stalls and feeling overwhelmed by this sudden sense of dread. “I don’t know how to explain it, but my mind told me, ‘Do not even look at that place, and do not even come close to that place,’” Moran recalls. “And you know, eventually, when the attack started, Hamas shot every booth in that bathroom.” But her dread — her sinking feeling that something bad was coming her way — started creeping in even earlier. Two days before the massacre, Moran met with her emotional trainer on Zoom, and as the meeting started, Moran suddenly spaced out, staring blankly until her trainer caught her attention. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Moran remarked. “What do you mean?” her trainer replied. Moran recounted this recurring nightmare she’d been having, one of the rare dreams she remembered. In it, someone attacks her, and she tries to defend herself, but suddenly, her right leg basically becomes paralyzed — and then, the dream ends. “OK, is that what’s bothering you?” her trainer inquired. “No. Well, I also just watched a documentary about the Holocaust again, and I’ve been wondering in my head…” Moran answered, her voice trailing off. “What have you been wondering?” “Well,” Moran replied. “I don’t know. Could the Germans march in the streets and shoot us again?” Moran’s trainer looked confused. “Forget the Germans,” Moran added. “What about the Arabs? Will they come and shoot us, just because they can?” A few days before October 7, Moran’s friend also had a concerning dream: the woman and her young son were peering out their large window, watching a village and its square-shaped houses burn to the ground.

Later, while in captivity, Moran recounted her friend’s dream to a fellow hostage, who was from Be’eri. The girl was stunned. “Moran, that’s exactly how our kibbutz is built,” the hostage said. During the night of the Nova festival, as festival-goers began dancing, Moran felt strange. Feeling oddly lost, she looked up to the sky and asked G-d for a sign. Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of her face, handing her a note. She looked up and saw an elderly woman offering her a small piece of paper. Moran accepted the note, unfolded it, and took a look. It read, “There is logic in the craziness.” (Oddly enough, that same elderly woman distributed messages to several others the night before the attack, with some notes warning festival-goers of impending trouble.) Moran found herself shaking all night. But at around 6:10 a.m., as a picturesque sun rose in the sky and excitement levels reached new heights, Moran took a deep breath, sipped some tea, and tossed her worries aside. She started dancing and letting go, finally enjoying herself. And that’s when she looked up and saw two rockets in the sky. “I started to scream,” Moran remembers. “And you know…it all went down from that point.” Suddenly, the earth began to shake beneath her feet. She turned around and saw thousands of terrorists charging towards her. Moran and others ran, tried driving away, and hid in the middle of a potato field. From one moment to the next, Moran was all alone. “Terrorists were standing on top of the mountain, screaming ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and closing in on me,” Moran recalls. “They were about to beat me in the head with an iron pipe, and I jumped. One of them jumped after me, and then, immediately, I pretended to be an Arab. I said, ‘I am an Arab,’ and then started begging, ‘Please don’t kill me.’” Surprisingly, after Moran showed them an Arabic necklace (which she

received as a present from an Egyptian supplier), the terrorists left her alone. But then, a second group confronted Moran, and she did the same shtick, claiming to be an Arab and displaying her necklace. “They were asking me questions, and I remember that I made a mistake; I suddenly said that my mother is Jewish, because one of them asked me, ‘Where are you from?’ And because he made a face, I understood that he was the only one who heard me say that my mom is Jewish, and the others didn’t,” Moran shares. “So, immediately, I took off the Arabic necklace and told him, ‘Hadiya,’ which means gift.” She gave the necklace to one of the terrorists. Then, the group left, leaving Moran alone in the field once more. Confused and scared, feeling like she was in a nightmare, Moran screamed on top of her lungs — so loud that a third group of terrorists heard her. When they found her, she decided against concealing her Jewish identity. And so, the terrorists grabbed her and dragged her away, shoving her into the car that would soon bring her to her new home: Gaza. As they entered the Strip, Moran tried closing her eyes, hoping that it was just another bad dream. “The terrorist was so happy. He forced me to open my eyes and see the entrance to Gaza. And that’s an image I will never ever forget,” Moran declares. “Seeing thousands of people celebrating in the streets, screaming ‘Allahu Akbar, G-d is great.’ And what are they celebrating, exactly? Evilness?” “At some point, one of the terrorists decided to rip off all my jewelry. He ripped off all my necklaces at once. Then, he ripped off my bracelets all at once. And then, he took off my rings, and he almost cut off my fingers,” she recalls. “When he ripped off one of my bracelets, he mistakenly cut me, and he accidentally carved the first letter of G-d’s name — hay — on my hand. And all I saw at that point was the mark,

completely red. That’s the only thought that I had left in my head before I completely disconnected myself from the situation. I told myself: ‘Remember, you just took a journey. You have proof from this entire journey that something is protecting you. You are safe and sound.’” *

The terrorists first dragged Moran to a hospital, throwing her onto an iron bed in a tiny room and putting a cast on one of her legs (she broke both legs, but only one was treated). Then, they brought her to a house, where she was interrogated. Two hours later, the terrorists brought another hostage – a young, bright-haired girl wearing pajamas — into the room with Moran. “I was not allowed to speak to her for the first three days. I asked permission to say something to her. The first time, the terrorist said no, so I asked permission again, and the second time, he said OK. So, I told the girl, ‘If you’re here, you have all the tools to deal with this situation, and you must believe,’” Moran says. “I also felt some comfort, because, immediately, I understood the drill on the airplane when the oxygen masks go down, and you have to put it on yourself before helping the person next to you. Now, I knew I had to protect myself if I wanted to protect her. So, it really helped me, knowing that I’m protecting somebody. It made it so that I was able to bear the punishments and abuse. If I was by myself, I wouldn’t. But for her, I’ll bear it.” Ten days later, the young girl’s mother, who was also kidnapped on October 7, joined them. During her 54 days in captivity, Moran faced nonstop harassment and abuse. One of her captors was, in her words, “possessed by this conspiracy that I was speaking with a drone at night.” The terrorist apparently hypothesized that Moran’s lone earring was an IDF radio chip. For four days, the ter-

herself to say “Ani.” Suffering in Gaza, unsure if that day would be her last, she felt like it was impossible on that morning to declare that she was grateful. “I remember, I said, ‘You know what? Today, I still believe in You, but I’m angry. And today I’m not going to say thank You. And today I’m going to ask all the why questions: Why me? Why now? Why, why, why?’ But, you know, even then, I found my answers,” Moran shares. “I got proof daily, repeatedly, that I’m being saved. A gun pointed to my head, but he’s not shooting. Everything seemed doable, like G-d was giving me the power to deal with my situation.” When she saw the hay again after her beating, she ran to the bathroom and smiled from ear to ear. “After being punished, I was smiling, even happy. And I looked at the ceiling, and I closed my eyes. I pictured the sky. And I said to G-d, ‘You are Something. But fine, I understand. I finally understand. Whatever you choose, I’m fine with it. I’ll do my best.’” *

future. She pictured the moment she’d reunite with her mother, with whom she had a rocky relationship before October 7. She thought about the impossible: her Moroccan mother wearing an outfit she’d never wear — a blue shirt on a black shirt with blue jeans. She imagined her mother dancing, something she never did — screaming with excitement, embracing Moran with both arms (usually, she’d only hug her kids with one arm), her smile bigger than ever before. Most of all, Moran imagined her mother as her best friend. Remarkably, that exact scenario, down to the same outfit and dance, played out the moment the mother and daughter reunited. “She came to the hospital with a blue shirt on a black shirt, with the same jeans that I pictured in my head, with the same shoes. She did the same dance, she had the same smile, and she hugged me with both of her arms. And

I didn’t ask for anything! And it felt like the biggest victory. Not only did I win this situation and I won against the terrorists, but I also won myself. I felt like I learned so much about myself,” Moran shares. Incredibly enough, when the Red Cross brought her out of Gaza, Moran looked back and said thank you to the land: “Thank you for this unimaginable experience.” “I won. I never win. When you need to choose a person, it’s never me. I never win against anything. But this time, I had the biggest victory of my life. Now, my mother is my best friend. We became so close from the situation. And I feel 100% blessed,” Moran declares. “I think that only in an extreme situation can we understand how big we are, how strong we are. And eventually, when I was in a good place, what did I say to G-d? I said, ‘I have You, I have me...’ “‘I have everything.’”

Moran’s captors fooled her four times into thinking she would be released, only to have her hopes come crashing down. Even on the day of her release, when she saw Red Cross jeeps in the distance, she suspected that someone would tell her, “It’s a mistake. You have to come back with us.” But at long last, after 54 days in Gaza, she was freed as part of the short-lived November 2023 ceasefire. “It was two months in there, but it felt like two decades,” she notes. While in captivity, she often distracted herself with mental visualization techniques, vividly imagining her

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

NOT COMBINABLE WITH ANY OTHER OFFER LIMIT ONE PER FAMILY

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL

20% OFF IF SCHEDULE TO START BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1 - OCTOBER 16

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

rorists subjected her to a brutal investigation, accusing her of voluntarily surrendering to Hamas in order to come to Gaza and spy on behalf of the Shin Bet. She wasn’t 40 years old like she claimed, alleged the Hamas investigator, a Hebrew-speaking man with an eyepatch. “From that point on, I wasn’t allowed to do so many things. I mean, you hear about some female hostages cooking and cleaning. And you know, at some point, I begged to be a servant, because I needed to move. But they wouldn’t let me out of the room,” she recalls. “So, I had to live in a closed room without knowing what’s happening outside. No radio, no television.” At some point, she wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom, eat, or even speak without permission from her captors. Moran was moved around 11 times between five different houses. “I thought they were going to kill me so many times. They kept saying that even if there will be a ceasefire, I’m not going to be released. One of them kept motioning every day that he’s going to cut my throat,” she remembers. “One day, I was punished, severely beaten. And when they shoved me back to the mattress, I saw the mark again — the hay (the letter that represents G-d’s name) — on the wall above my head.” She thought she was going crazy, hallucinating. But when the other hostage also saw the hay on the wall, Moran felt like it was a sign from Hashem. During her time in captivity, every Friday night, Moran recited the one prayer she knew by heart: the prayer for candle lighting. Every morning, she had a ceremony where she’d say Modeh Ani and pray for a good day. But one morning, after she said the word “Modeh,” her voice cracked; she couldn’t bring

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Dating Dialogue

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

Dear Navidaters,

I love reading your column and hearing the insights of your panelists. My friends and I were discussing this, and I thought it would be a good idea to present it to you. We range in the ages of 23-27.

When we go out with a boy and have gone out for at least 5 dates, some of my friends were lamenting that they would like to meet the boy’s parents to get a better picture of where the guy is coming from. They know this is not the norm, but they think it would be helpful to meet with the parents for a short amount of time, without pressure from either side that this is moving things too forward. We know this is unconventional, but the boy gets to meet the girl’s parents on date number one… What are your thoughts? Do you think it would be helpful for girls to meet with the boy’s parents after a certain amount of dates without any pressure that this is about to lead to an engagement, just to get to know him more? Thank you, Chani F.*

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. ou and your friends make a legitimate point. Go for it! You may want to frame it in a positive way, like seeing the family he feels so connected with. Keep it casual and friendly. And do not spend your time together looking them up and down and scrutinizing the home. You want to get a sense of who they are and how they respond to someone their son is dating. It’s not an interview.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond hanks for your compliments on the column! I love that you’re sparking conversation surrounding changing things up in the shidduch world. I do have mixed feelings on the topic, though. On the one hand, it seems only fair to get to meet a guy’s parents, just like he met yours when he came to pick you up. Meeting the parents helps you get a better sense of where someone is coming from and gauge the vibe of their family. An official short meeting, however, can end up being one more thing for both sides to nitpick about. “His mother was soooo quiet... Is she awkward?” “The girl he’s dating wears such casual clothes. Will she really fit in with our family?” etc., etc., etc. The list can go on and on. Remember, when a guy comes to pick you up from your house, it’s not officially

to meet your parents. He’s picking you up for the date. Having an official “meet the boy’s parents” meeting can be stilted and awkward, depending on who the parents are and the girl’s personality. There are already so many things built into “the system” that can make it feel non-organic and uncomfortable. My middle-ground advice would be that once things are getting serious and you can see yourself having a future with this person, exchange Shabbos meals at each other’s houses. This way, you can each get a taste of the other person’s world. It will still satisfy your interest in getting to know the parents without it being a potentially awkward, formal meeting. It will allow your/the parents’ personalities to come out more and give much more of a realistic taste than if you’re sitting in front of his parents for an official sit-down meeting. I’ve had plenty of my couples exchange Shabbos meals at each other’s homes, and it’s usually a big success!

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler t just goes to show that it’s important not to jump to conclusions. When I read your letter, my immediate reaction was to avoid making that idea a universal recommendation, because every relationship proceeds at its own pace. For some dating couples who feel a strong connection after only a few dates, it might actually be a good idea for the girl to meet the boy’s parents by date #5. But, for other dating couples who can

take much longer before feeling a strong connection, asking to meet the boy’s parents by date #5 might make the young man feel pressured, threatened, frightened, and cause him to end the relationship and head for the hills. Further, when a group of friends try to establish a “one size fits all” approach, it demonstrates how peer pressure, or “group think,” might be good advice for some members of the group, but bad advice for other members of the group. However, before submitting my answer, I thought it would be a good idea to check with a friend of mine, who is a very successful shadchan here in the Five Towns. She let me know that in the yeshivish world today, “It’s actually become quite common to meet the boy’s parents around the fifth date. At this point, it’s almost the norm.” Further, she surprised me by saying that she agrees with the girls who feel that

There are already so many things built into “the system” that can make it feel non-organic and uncomfortable.

there is a lot to be gained from a quick introduction to the boy’s parents. Moreover, she told me that the boy’s parents often also like to meet the girl their son has been spending time with — not because they’re putting pressure on them or implying anything about marriage, but simply because they’re curious to meet the person he’s getting to know.

AUGUST 27, 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 | AUGUST 27, 2026

Finally, my shadchan friend cautioned that all parties need to understand that “meeting the boy’s parents does not imply a serious step forward and does not represent a step toward marriage. It’s simply an additional way of getting to know the person you’re dating and understanding a little bit more about him.” (And here I thought that my wife was the only one who tells me how wrong I am.) So, what should a young woman do today? I don’t know. But it’s usually a good idea to simply follow the custom of your particular demographic and location. There is a lesson to be learned here. Over the past six years of contributing to

the Dating Dialogue column, I continue to discover what I did not know about our contemporary dating scene. The lesson is to be open-minded, listen to other opinions, and be flexible about accepting newer, fresher points of view.

Reader’s Response Baruch Glazer, LCSW Founder of Turning Point Therapy ’ve always thought that meeting parents at the very beginning of dating is a little ridiculous. You barely know

Pulling It All Together

each other, there may not even be a second date, and I’m not sure what you’re really supposed to learn from a quick interaction at the front door. Meeting parents further into dating makes much more sense to me. And if we think there’s value in meeting the family of someone you may marry, I don’t see much reason for that to only happen in one direction. Both people can benefit from it. I think the bigger question is: What are you hoping to learn from the meeting? Maybe you want to see how you fit into the family. Maybe you want to see how he interacts with his parents and siblings. Or maybe you want to see some of the things you’ve already talked about on dates come to life. If he’s told you what he loved about the home he grew up in, what he wants to do differently, or what kind of home he wants to build himself, meeting his family

What are you hoping to learn from the meeting?

can add context to those conversations. Of course, his family isn’t him, and I wouldn’t treat meeting them as some sort of test. It’s simply another way of getting to know someone once the relationship has reached a point where that information is actually meaningful. So I’m very much in favor of meeting parents later rather than earlier, and for both people. But I think the meeting is most useful when you go into it knowing what you’re actually looking to understand.

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

ear Chani, You and your friends are pointing out something that is so built into the dating system that I don’t think most of us even stop to think about it. The guy gets to meet the girl’s parents. He comes to her house, walks into her home, says hello to her mother and father, maybe talks to them for a few minutes. And if they continue dating, he may see them again and again. And whether he’s consciously paying attention or not, he’s getting information. He gets a feel for her home. He sees how her parents interact with her and how she interacts with them. He gets little glimpses into the family she comes from. And she gets into his car. When you look at it that way, there really is an imbalance. So to answer your actual question: yes, I do think meeting his parents could be helpful. I don’t know that I would make it a rule that it happens after five dates, or seven dates, or any particular num-

ber of dates. There are enough rules and timelines attached to dating already. But I see no reason that once two people have been dating for a while, a girl couldn’t meet his parents without everyone deciding that this must mean an engagement is around the corner. You said your friends want “a better picture of where the guy is coming from,” and I think that’s a reasonable thing to want. Meeting his parents can give you a glimpse of his family culture. You can see him in a context other than sitting across from you at a restaurant. What is he like around his mother? His father? Is there warmth? Respect? Does he seem like himself? How do they speak to one another? Are there boundaries? Is there room for everyone to be themselves? These things can tell you something. But I would be careful about how much they tell you. I do think meeting his parents can give

you a better picture of where he comes from. I just wouldn’t confuse where someone comes from with who he is. Wonderful people can come from very difficult families, and difficult people can have absolutely lovely parents. A mother who makes you uncomfortable doesn’t tell you what kind of husband her son will be. A charming father doesn’t guarantee anything either. And one short meeting is exactly that: one short meeting. But there is another reason I think your question makes sense. If this relationship does progress, these people may become your family. Wanting to know them isn’t strange or intrusive. It’s actually pretty natural. What I would love to see change isn’t necessarily that girls should meet the boy’s parents after date number five. It’s the idea that her meeting them has to mean so much. Why does he get to walk into her home on date one without anyone assuming anything, while her meeting his mother can feel like some sort of pre-engagement ceremony?

Maybe that’s the part worth questioning. You’ve gotten to meet my family. I’d like to meet yours. That doesn’t sound like too much to ask. It actually sounds pretty fair. If this is something that is important to you and your friends, it may be worthwhile to explore not only sharing this request with a guy you’re dating, but also seeing his reaction to the request. Is he willing to go outside of the box for your comfort? Is he absolutely unwilling and turned off by the request? Does he validate your desire to see and meet his parents casually but ultimately feel uncomfortable because of societal norms? This is all information. Thank you for writing! Sincerely, Jennifer P.S. I always love when people think outside of the box and find a way to make shidduch dating personal and uniquely their own. And so many people are tired of so many rules!

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Shmooze & Muse

Definitely Not a Pyramid Scheme By Mordechai Schmutter

lot of people wonder: “Should I become a teacher? I mean I know a lot…” As a teacher myself (I teach English Language Arts in a mesivta), I say yes. Absolutely. There is literally no downside to being a teacher. You know, besides for all the downsides that I normally write about. And I’m not just saying this because the principal comes over to us at the end of every school year and asks, “Do you have any friends who maybe want to teach next year?” Which brings us to our first upside: I. There are always job openings. Every year. It’s in all the papers. What other industry can say that? Granted, the salary is pretty low, but that’s just a small price to pay. Literally. But it’s not a pyramid scheme. It’s just a job where there’s very little room for advancement, and you barely get paid, but the people under you don’t get paid at all and in fact pay to be there, and some of those people are eventually going to become what you are too or else the system collapses. And if you know anybody in the business, they are constantly trying to get you to join. “Do you want to maybe teach on the side?” “I work during the day. Is it worth it fi-

nancially to quit my job to take this one?” Well, no. The point of teaching a kid secular studies, in general, is so they can get a job that pays more than being a teacher. If it paid less, why would the teacher bother teaching it? II. The general upside everyone mentions is that you get a couple of months off in the summer. The downside that no one mentions is that those are generally the same months that your kids have off. And you like your kids just fine, but you need this time off to get things done around the house. And in fact, your kids being home makes more things for you to do around the house. Every minute they spend out of your way “so you can work” is a minute you’re wondering what they’re doing and why you haven’t heard from them. What was that noise? Just a few minutes ago, as I was trying to figure out this article, I heard a noise from the kitchen that sounded like a light, five-second hailstorm, after which my son, who is 21, came into the living room and said, “I just pulled the new bag of cereal out of the box and there must have been a hole at the bottom, I don’t know, and now all of it’s on the floor.” Well, not all of it. Enough had spilled back into the box to give him one bowl of cereal, so he didn’t care. He was just

letting me know what the noise was, in case I wanted to stress about how much of it he was going to miss cleaning up. Basically, being a teacher guarantees that you will never have a day off when your kids aren’t also home. So you’re like, “Yes, but you can send your kids to camp!” I have news for you: Teachers can’t easily afford camp. So you’re like, “Yes, but what if you work in a camp? You have off!” OK, but then THERE’S STILL NO TIME THAT I’M HOME THAT THE KIDS ARE NOT! III. You make a lasting impression on their lives. Turns out the students do grow – just after they leave your classroom. When they’re in the classroom, they just complain. I recently went to an aufruf of one of my former students (because his parents are our neighbors), and this was a student who, when he was in my class, didn’t really think there’re was a purpose in what I was teaching. But when he saw me come in, he got up and ran over to me and said, “Mr. Schmutter! It helped, the English!” I was going to correct him, but I no longer get paid to do that. I have to turn it off when I’m not in school, so I don’t lose

friends. So I just said, “What?” And he said, “When I was writing letters!” And that was all the explanation I got. I’m a writing teacher, not a talkingto-other-people-you-run-into teacher. I’m extremely unqualified to teach that. But I’m picturing that he was writing to his kallah, and she wrote back, “It’s so eloquent, your writing!” IV. Students are hilarious. It’s a laugh a minute! Students love pranking teachers, and luckily, the teachers get paid enough to deal with it. For example, last year I had these two students – let’s call them Lander and Eisgrau. This is not their real names. Lander’s real name is Eisgrau and Eisgrau’s real name is Lander. See, the first day of class, while I was taking attendance, they decided to pretend to be each other. Isn’t that hilarious? You should’ve been there. What’s the point of this joke? I don’t get it. “When the teacher says Lander, Eisgrau will say, ‘Here!’ He’ll look so stupid!” Stupid is not the word for when I act based on the information I was given because I was lied to. Like imagine I purposely teach the material wrong, and then I mark the tests based on what’s ac-

their friend in trouble. If they’re going to misbehave, they have to hope that they misbehave so badly that I actually send them out to the principal’s office themselves, so the right one can be in trouble. That’s commitment. The other upside was that they never handed in a paper with no name on it, which is an issue with a lot of students.

“Wow. What, does he write you letters?” Personally, I wanted to see what the plan was for when one of them was absent. So I continued calling them by the wrong names. And then at some point, I think in November, they came to me together and said, “We have something to

Basically, being a teacher guarantees that you will never have a day off when your kids aren’t also home.

So it was less headache for me. Because otherwise, I have to bring it to each student and ask them, “Are these the answers you wrote?” “No, uh… I think this is Lander’s handwriting.” “Are you sure? He’s not here to ask. Let me ask some other people if it’s theirs.” “No-no-no! I’m sure it’s his!”

tell you. See, my name is actually Lander, and his name is actually Eisgrau.” And I said, “I don’t believe you. What a weird thing to say. Go sit down.” And they said, “No, really! People can vouch for it!” And it turns out the other students didn’t know that they weren’t lying about their names anymore, so they got a mixed verification. Near as I can tell, these two had had

an emergency meeting: “PTA is coming; what do we do?” Also we had a test coming up, and I wasn’t going to let them do that together. I don’t think they had a plan. I think honestly neither of them expected it to get that far. So I finally told them that I’d known since September, and they said, “Prove it!” so I showed them the text. (This was why I’d written the text.) And I said, “Good luck on the test. All the information I taught you was wrong.” And guess what! After that day, they started misbehaving. And whenever I said, “This was why I didn’t want it to stop,” they denied it. They wanted to start misbehaving in time for conferences, I guess. So as you can see, teaching is nothing but upsides. In fact, there are even more that I haven’t listed here, but I’m not going to bother thinking of them, because frankly, I’m trying to have a summer vacation here. I’m done, the article.

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

tually correct, and I say, “Ha, ha, you fell for it! You look so stupid!” So I believed them. Why not? They said, “Here!” and no one laughed. Because it wasn’t funny. So they kept the joke going. They did their worksheets at the same table every day, and then they quietly picked up each other’s papers and handed them in. The trick was convincing the entire class to call them by the wrong names. Anyway, one day after class, about a week in, the principal came over to me and said, “I didn’t want to say anything at the time, but you’re calling these two kids by each other’s names. Do with that information what you will.” So I thought about it, and I texted him, “What I want to do is pretend you never told me this. Let’s see how long they can keep it going. Who’s it hurting?” In fact, they’d pretty much been behaving since day one, despite that these were clearly not normally the best-behaved kids. So I figured that as long as they think they’re pulling one over on me, they’re going to behave. They’re not going to do two things at the same time. Or do something so that I give the principal the other one’s name and get

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

This letter was received in the summer, and the mom received the answer then. All identifying information has been changed.

Dear Etti, My sister sent me your column from April 16, 2026, about a child whose anger and physical behavior seemed to be connected to embarrassment and difficulty expressing what he was feeling. I felt as though you were describing my nine-year-old son. My son is struggling in school and is being labeled with ODD, among other things. We have been told that he may not be able to return next year unless we come back with a specific plan. I took him for a basic evaluation, but the results were inconclusive. The doctor did recognize that there seems to be more going on than the behavior we are seeing on the surface. In your column, you recommended a comprehensive evaluation. Were you referring to a neuropsych evaluation, or is there another type of evaluation we should be pursuing? I hope to bring some of the points you raised to the principals. Unfortunately, they seem to be looking for a quick fix. I know that my son needs help finding the words to explain what he is experiencing and the tools to regulate himself, but that is a significant undertaking. He does not like therapy or therapists, which makes it even more difficult to know how to proceed. Any suggestions or direction would be greatly appreciated. Your column encouraged me to listen to my instincts and keep looking beyond the label. - Looking Beneath the Behavior

Dear Looking Beneath the Behavior, The child I wrote about became extremely angry, and sometimes physical, when he

propriate? Will information be felt embarrassed, criticized, gathered from both home and or made to feel less capable school? Most importantly, will than others. The adults around We want to you come away with practical him saw defiance. His mother recommendations? sensed that the defiance did give him You do not need another renot explain the whole picture. words before port telling you that your son is Some children who appear defiant. You already know what oppositional are not simply his behavior the behavior looks like. You are setting out to challenge autrying to understand what is thority. They may be reacting has to speak driving it. to something that feels huI would also return to the miliating, unfair, confusing, for him. doctor who did the original or overwhelming. By the time evaluation. Ask what was exthe behavior erupts, the child amined, what remains unclear, may no longer have access to the language or self-control he and what kind of follow-up needs to handle the moment differently. would provide the missing information. An inconcluThat does not make physical behavior acceptable. sive evaluation does not mean there is nothing more It does mean that consequences alone are unlikely to to find. solve the problem. I also want to address your comment that the When I recommended a comprehensive evaluation, school seems to be looking for a “quick fix.” I was not referring only to a neuropsychological evaluIt is possible that they are frustrated and hoping ation. A neuropsych can certainly be helpful because it the problem can be solved more quickly than is realiscan look at attention, executive functioning, memory, tic. But there is another possibility that may be harder language, learning, and social-emotional functioning, to hear: the school may not have the resources to give and at how those areas interact. your son what he needs. But not every child needs a full neuropsych. DeThat is not necessarily an indictment of the school, pending on what was included in your son’s first eval- and it is certainly not an indictment of your son. uation, a thorough assessment by a child psychologist A child who is repeatedly becoming overwhelmed or another clinician experienced with children who may need much more support during the school day have complicated learning, emotional, and behavioral than a classroom teacher can reasonably provide needs may be appropriate. while teaching an entire class. He may need a dediI would be less concerned with the name of the cated paraprofessional who can recognize when he is evaluation and more concerned with what is actually beginning to struggle, help him put words to what is being evaluated,and who is doing it. happening, and intervene before he reaches the point Before making another appointment, explain what of explosion. Or he may need a school setting with is happening and ask what the evaluator will explore. smaller classes and staff trained to work with children Will the evaluation look beyond the behavior itself? whose language, learning, or regulation difficulties afWill it consider anxiety, emotional regulation, execu- fect their behavior. tive functioning, social perception, language processThere are schools, including programs such as TAL ing, learning difficulties, and sensory issues where ap- Academy, designed to work with children who strug-

corrected publicly? Was the work too difficult? Did he misunderstand another child’s intentions? Was there teasing, noise, a transition, or something he perceived as unfair? What were the first signs that he was becoming agitated? A workable plan might include a private signal from the teacher, a way to request a short break, an adult he can approach, and a clear plan for returning to class. Trying to reason with him or confront him in the middle of an escalation is unlikely to accomplish much. There must also be accountability. Feeling embarrassed, angry, or misunderstood does not give him permission to hurt someone. Once he is calm, he needs to repair what happened and practice what he could do differently next time. Understanding and accountability are not opposites. He needs both. You are also correct that helping him develop emotional language and self-regulation will take time. Start with words he can actually use: “That embarrassed me.” “I thought he was making fun of me.” “I need a minute.” “I’m getting too angry to talk.” We want to give him words before his behavior has to speak for him.

His resistance to therapy makes the process harder, but parent guidance can be a good place to begin. A skilled clinician can help you recognize patterns and change how the adults respond even before your son is ready to participate himself. And perhaps this is the hardest part of parenting: sometimes advocating for our child does not mean fighting to keep everything the same. Sometimes it means being willing to consider something we never pictured for him. A para may feel embarrassing. A different school may feel frightening. Neither should be chosen casually. But neither should be rejected because of what other people may think. It takes courage to be a good parent. Keep looking beneath the behavior, get the information you need, listen carefully to what the school is telling you, and then ask the question that matters most: not “Where do I wish he could succeed?” but “Where will he actually have the best chance to succeed?” Hatzlacha, Etti

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

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

gle with language and learning in ways that can affect their functioning throughout the school day. I am not suggesting that any particular school is necessarily right for your son. That decision needs to follow a good evaluation. But I would encourage you to allow the question of placement onto the table. Parents sometimes fight very hard to keep a child in his current school because leaving feels like a failure. A child may also be embarrassed at first by having a para or attending a school that is different from the one he expected to attend. Those feelings are real. But we have to ask a bigger question: Where is this child most likely to succeed? There is a tremendous difference between being the child who is constantly in trouble in one school and being the child who is understood and learning how to succeed in another. A change that feels embarrassing at nine can sometimes prevent years of feeling stupid, bad, rejected, or out of control. In that sense, finding the right support can change the course of a child’s life. While you are figuring that out, there are things his present school can do. Ask his teachers to pay close attention to what happens before an incident. Was he

100

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Parenting Pearls

When the Same Question Keeps Coming Back A Simple Strategy for Responding to Repetitive Questions and Conversations By Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA

oes your child: • Ask the same question multiple times? • Frequently return to the same conversation? If so, it can be helpful to look beyond the question itself and consider what may be motivating the repetition and what may be maintaining it over time. Max was in a blended program. He took a variety of classes in different rooms throughout the building and knew his schedule for each day of the week by heart. Yet every day, Max asked his teacher the same questions about his schedule: questions to which he already knew the answers. “What time is it?” “What time do we eat lunch?” “Is it 12:00 yet?” “What do I have after lunch?” “Do I have Speech today with Ms. Bindel?” “What time is Speech today with Ms. Bindel?” “Is Math in room 242?” Even though his teacher had explained

the schedule several times, Max continued to ask about it. Sometimes, when the teacher was busy helping another student and did not immediately respond to Max’s questions, Max repeated the question louder. He would even prompt the teacher by saying, “Say 12:00. Say we eat lunch at 12:00.” Max’s whole body would tense, and his frustration would increase until his schedule was told to him, repeatedly and throughout the day. Think: Did Max need his schedule repeated? What were some of the motivating factors contributing to Max’s asking about his schedule? What was most likely to help Max stop repeating a question that sought out information he already knew? At first glance, it may seem that anxiety relating to certain topics or routines is triggering the repetition, as a child looks to seek out reassurance. However, there are many alternate possible motivating factors or reasons why a child may repeat a question or return to the same conversation.

Why Might a Child Repeat the Same Question or Conversation? Reasons other than anxiety that a child may return to the same topic of conversation or repeat a question multiple times can include: • A child with limited conversation topics may engage socially by discussing the same topic over and over again. • A child with highly focused interests may gravitate toward discussing those specific topics of interest. • A child may thrive on routines and therefore hyperfocus on them. • A child may perseverate on hearing you respond to the question in the same way multiple times. Perseveration is the inappropriate repetition of a behavior, in this case, a verbal behavior, even when it is no longer relevant and has ceased to be effective. Whether one or all of these motivations are factors, repeatedly answering

the same question or engaging in the same conversation can become part of what maintains the repetition. Although another answer may feel reassuring in the moment, the repetition can contribute to a child’s habit of perseverating on a topic or schedule. Over time, this can become tiresome, create unrealistic conversational habits, and limit access to more appropriate coping strategies and social interactions. In other words, the repetition is no longer effectively serving the child. Therefore, it seams to reason, that repeatedly answering the same question or conversation will also no longer effectively serve the child.

A Simple Strategy: Answer Once, Then Move On In order to break the habit of repeating questions and conversation topics, treat the topic like a conversation the first time it is brought up. If it is brought up again, treat it like a perseveration and move on to

How to Practice 1. The First Time: Respond • The first time your child asks the question, answer it. • Make sure your response is clear, direct, and to the point. • If applicable, write the answer down. This gives your child somewhere to find

• Paste Post-its in prime locations throughout the house • Add it to a list • Daily schedules • For older children, phone notes and reminders These more natural visuals are appropriate for all ages and therefore will create less resistance and pushback, and you can still feel that you are not ignoring your child’s needs by not responding verbally. With consistent practice, your child can begin to learn that asking the same question again isn’t productive, or even necessary. Then, as the repetitive question-and-answer pattern decreases, your child will have more opportunities

The goal is not to stop your child from asking questions or from talking about favorite topics. the information again without needing another verbal response. 2. The Second Time: Refer Back • If your child asks the same question again, say: “We already talked about that.” • Then point to the written visual. • Afterward, walk away and/or change the topic. 3. The Third Time: Use the Visual • If your child asks the same question a third time, do not say anything. • Instead, point to the visual with the answer, and then walk away and/or change the topic. • The information will still be available to your child, but not verbally. It can be so tempting to just answer the question again, but the only way to refrain from providing a verbally reinforcing response is to not respond verbally. Remember that you are trying to establish a new habit, and new habits can be difficult at first. But there are many natural tools that can help.

Some Natural, Non-Verbal Ways There are many tools that we naturally use in our own day-to-day lives to help us with thoughts that get stuck in our heads. Using these same natural tools with children can help this process of asking / responding once and moving on: • Use a calendar and hang it up publicly for easy access

to practice related skills such as smoothly transitioning away from a topic, engaging in alternate and more varied conversations, and developing more elaborate social interactions. The goal is not to stop your child from asking questions or from talking about favorite topics. It is to help your child recognize when a question has been answered, trust the information they already have, and become available for whatever comes next. I want to thank my readers. I hope you enjoyed this summer series.

Shira Richman, MA, BCBA, LBA is the proud owner of 5 Minute ABA an d d e v e lop e r of 5 Minu te A B A/ 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

101

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

a new topic. The distinction is important. In other words, address the question and engage in the conversation the first time it comes up. The goal is not to ignore your child’s questions. The goal is to provide the information clearly the first time without allowing your repeated answers to become the maintaining factor that keeps the same question going.

102

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Parenting Pearls

Long-Distance Parenting By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

his is a topic I’ve thought about writing for a long time yet never felt ready to address. I can’t say I’m ready for it, but this time of year seems the most appropriate time to have this discussion. When discussing parenting topics, we generally assume the child is living with you. You see each other each day and have time to connect. It’s often the little interactions throughout the day that ultimately build big connections. When children dorm for school, the dynamic shifts, and parenting long distance is an entirely different method. I went to Israel for a year post-high school, but the experience has changed dramatically due to advances in technology. In Israel, I didn’t have a cellphone – we relied on a pay phone in the hallway. Today’s child will generally have a personal cellphone. Many will also have text and email. As they transition into adulthood, many children will dorm for school instead of commuting each day from home. It may be for yeshiva, seminary or college. They may be in-state, in the USA or very long distance such as Israel. While

I will be using the terms “child” and “children,” usually these kids are legal adults. Parents may see their children once a month or not at all for the year. Communications may be limited based on the program the child attends. It’s a time for children to increase their independence and learn more about who they are as individuals. Still, our children need us and the connection we have hopefully built over the first nearly two decades of their lives. No article can cover everything since the needs of a seminary girl in Israel will be vastly different from the needs of a bochur in Lakewood. I want to touch on a few of the topics that may come up for parents as they and their child adjust to long-distance parenting. This article is not addressing the specific needs of families where the parents share custody. That is a different arrangement and one that would be best discussed as its own topic. I am also predominantly addressing the needs of post-high school students. As children change and develop so much from year to year, the needs of a ninth grader starting to dorm will be vastly different from those of an 18-year-old.

Mixed Feelings Children and parents will go into this with mixed feelings. They may be excited and scared at the same moment. They may look forward to the new experience while simultaneously wanting to run under their bed and hide. This is normal, and parents should expect it. We can validate their feelings, give them time to express themselves and show them our support – both before and after they leave our home. Parents should take the time to address their own feelings with another adult. Rather than ignore our own emotions, we want to work through them and be as available as possible to focus on our child. If we ignore our needs, then ultimately our own emotional health will suffer, and we will be less able to support our child. These first few months are an adjustment period. It helps to remember this. Even the most “I can’t wait to leave” child can become home sick minutes after leaving. During this time, they may reach out more and need to speak on the phone with us more frequently. Schools are aware of this, and hopefully they will have something in place to help ease their

adjustment. Ultimately, students really need time to adjust, and as that time passes, they should feel more at ease.

Independence Learning independence and becoming stronger in themselves is a major part of the experience. As long as they are under our roof, we are still there as their backup. There is nothing wrong with us being available for our child, but we want to slowly foster independence throughout their developing years as they become ready for it. For many children, dorming is the next step in that process. This is a positive step, and one of the ways to help them transition into adulthood. We want to foster their independence and encourage them in their development. It’s one of the finest balancing acts of parenthood to recognize when to help and when to stand back. It can also be hard for families to adjust after their child returns home. They are used to going out without telling us. They have their own schedules and do things their own way. They will have friends we’ve never met and experiences we were unaware of. Parents should

Keeping the Connection Children still need a connection to their parents. We don’t go out of style just because they left the nest. We can make the connection through phone or whatever communication option is most available. Each child requires their own balance of connection. Some children need to speak frequently and others prefer less often. Personally, I went based on their needs and allowed them to lead, when possible. I also tried to make sure I was available to speak to them when they did reach out and call. The main points to remember are to maintain that connection and to remember how much our children need us. They may not realize it, but they need us to be there for them to maintain a loving bond and provide support throughout the year.

Current Issues When children leave our home, they will encounter many new situations just when they have less of our support than

before. We will also be less aware of what’s going on in their lives. Now is the perfect time to continue the conversation with our precious children and share our values. Drinking is a difficult topic. There are two main areas that are unique for children that are dorming. The first is that the legal minimum drinking age in Israel is 18. It can be a bit of a shock for

they should connect with and who is unhealthy for them. Mental health is another area that can be challenged when leaving home. Children should know they can come to their parents or someone in their school should they have any concerns. Parents should keep a listening ear and monitor for any issues that need to be addressed.

It’s one of the finest balancing acts of parenthood to recognize when to help and when to stand back.

children who grew up knowing they can’t purchase alcoholic beverages for three more years to suddenly find they are already there. The second is that children will have no supervision over Purim. This is an appropriate time to discuss this important topic with children. This is also an opportune time to discuss healthy relationships. They will encounter many new people, and it’s important for them to recognize who

There are many mental health professionals that can provide support for a child struggling with adjustment and other emotional struggles during this time. Whenever a child leaves home, the dynamics in the house will shift and adjust, too. Many of these changes can be positive. For example, the next-in-line child gets the opportunity to be “the oldest” and the maturity that comes with that position, and siblings will learn a greater

appreciation for each other when they do reunite together. Dorming will mean they don’t have all the comforts of being at home. That’s OK. They may have more roommates and less bathroom space than at home. That’s fine. They may not have their favorite toiletries, linens, clothes or towels. That’s all OK, too. This is all part of the learning process. They will learn crucial interpersonal skills and other life lessons. Please make sure your child has an adequate supply of medications, spare eyeglasses and any other necessary items. It may take time for them to adjust to having to arrange their own necessities, and we don’t want them to be without crucial items at this time. I want to wish our community’s children a wonderful and successful year wherever they may be.

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.

103

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

expect this adjustment period at the end of the year. It’s a balancing dance of respecting the child’s new independence and adulthood while still respecting the needs of a family.

104

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Health & F tness

Mazal Tov, It’s a Baby….! By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

here is a moment after a baby is born when the world seems to become very small. The room may be filled with family and celebration, but for the new mother, everything can suddenly revolve around one tiny person who needs her constantly. She is holding a new baby while also recovering from childbirth, adjusting to interrupted sleep, navigating changing hormones, and trying to understand how this new role fits into the person she was before becoming a mother. As beautiful as this transition can be, it can also be complicated. A new mother may feel completely overwhelmed one moment and deeply grateful the next. She may cry for reasons she cannot explain. She may look at her baby with enormous love and then wonder how she is going to make it through another night without sleep. She may miss parts of her old life while feeling enormous love for this new person. This is one of the first things I want families to understand about postpar-

tum mental health: difficult emotions do not mean a mother is ungrateful, and struggling does not mean she does not love her baby.

The Emotional Adjustment The postpartum period is a tremendous biological and psychological transition. Hormones change rapidly after delivery, the body is recovering, sleep becomes unpredictable, and daily life suddenly revolves around the needs of someone who cannot yet communicate what they need. At the same time, a woman may be adjusting to changes in her marriage, friendships, work, independence, and even her sense of identity. For some women, these changes lead to what we commonly call the baby blues. During the first days after delivery, a mother may feel more emotional than usual, cry easily, become irritable, feel anxious, or find herself overwhelmed by feelings that seem to come out of nowhere. But sometimes those

feelings do not fade. They become more persistent or begin to interfere with a mother’s ability to function. This may be postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, both of which are common and treatable. Depression can look like sadness, but it can also appear as irritability, emotional numbness, exhaustion, guilt, difficulty connecting with the baby, or feeling as though ordinary responsibilities have become impossible. Anxiety may involve constant worry about the baby’s health or safety, repeated checking, frightening thoughts, or an inability to relax. The common thread is that motherhood does not always feel the way we expected it to feel.

The Partner is Part of the Postpartum Plan There is another piece of postpartum mental health that deserves far more attention: the role of the partner.

When I work with women during the postpartum period, one of the questions I often ask is not simply, “How are you feeling?” I want to understand the relationship she has with her spouse. What does support look like in their home? How do they communicate? What does each person expect the postpartum period to look like? What did they grow up believing a mother and father are supposed to do after a baby is born? In some families, there is an unspoken belief that the mother is supposed to handle the baby because she is the mother, while the father returns to work and helps when he can. In other families, grandparents or extended family may be expected to step in. Every family has its own culture and traditions. But regardless of those expectations, there is one question worth asking: Is the way we have structured this postpartum period protecting the mother’s mental health? A partner’s support can make an enormous difference.

Sleep is Medicine One of the most important things a partner can provide during the postpartum period is protected sleep. Sleep deprivation is often treated as though it is simply unavoidable when you have a newborn. Of course, babies wake during the night. But there is a difference between interrupted sleep being part of having a baby and a mother being chronically deprived of meaningful rest while everyone assumes she will simply manage. Sleep is not a luxury during this period. Sleep is medicine. Significant sleep disruption can worsen anxiety, depression, irritability, and emotional regulation, and in vulnerable individuals can contribute to more severe psychiatric symptoms. This is why I often encourage partners to think beyond simply taking turns with the baby. Instead, think about dedicated time. If one parent is responsible for the baby for a protected stretch of time, the other parent can truly step away and sleep. It is not about keeping score or counting who got up more times. It is about making sure that both parents have meaningful opportunities to rest, and particularly making sure that the mother, whose body and mind are recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, is not functioning indefinitely on fragmented sleep. A father taking the baby for several hours so his wife can sleep is not spoiling her. It is participating in the health of his family.

Supporting Her is Not Spoiling Her There may be an assumption that a woman should be able to manage or that too much help will make her dependent. But the postpartum period is not the time to test how much a woman can endure. Supporting a new mother does not make her weak. It gives her the foundation she needs to recover. When a father takes the baby so his wife can shower, eat, sleep, exercise, or simply sit quietly for twenty minutes, he is helping preserve her physical and emotional resources. When he notices

that she has had a difficult day and takes something off her plate without waiting to be asked, he is sharing the responsibility of building a family. And when he becomes an active participant in caring for the baby, he is not helping the mother with her job. He is parenting.

What Does She Need? A woman who has been awake several times during the night, recovering physically, feeding a baby, managing appointments, and carrying the emotional weight of a household may not have the energy to create a list of instructions for another adult.

support. Sometimes an early conversation, a little more sleep, or a professional evaluation can change the entire course of the postpartum experience.

Understanding Postpartum Psychosis There is one postpartum condition that deserves particular awareness because although it is rare, it can develop quickly and requires immediate medical attention. That condition is postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is very different from the baby blues, ordinary postpartum anxiety, or the emotional ups and downs that accompany becoming

The responsibility of protecting the mother’s health belongs to the family as a whole.

This is where partners can become proactive. Think about meals, laundry, errands, older children, nighttime responsibilities, household decisions, visitors, and time for the mother to rest. Most importantly, pay attention. If she looks depleted, believe her. If she says she needs sleep, take that seriously. If she seems different from herself, ask about it. Sometimes, the most supportive thing a partner can say is, “I see how much you are carrying. What can I take off your plate?”

When Something Feels Different One of the most useful questions a family member can ask a new mother is simply, “Do you feel like yourself?” It is not a diagnostic question. It is an invitation to talk. A new mother may be so focused on caring for her baby that she does not recognize how much she herself has changed. She may assume that anxiety, sadness, or exhaustion are simply part of motherhood, or she may be afraid that admitting she is struggling will make others question her ability to care for her child. If something feels different, that deserves attention. We do not need to wait until a mother is in crisis before we offer

a new mother. A woman experiencing postpartum psychosis may become severely confused or disorganized, have difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not, hear or see things that others do not, or develop beliefs that feel completely real to her even though they are not grounded in reality. What can make postpartum psychosis particularly difficult for families is that the person experiencing it may not realize she is unwell. From her perspective, what she is thinking or experiencing may feel completely true. This is why postpartum psychosis requires urgent professional evaluation. It is important to talk about postpartum psychosis without creating fear. Postpartum psychosis is rare, and experiencing ordinary postpartum anxiety, sadness, intrusive thoughts, or exhaustion does not mean someone is developing psychosis. The purpose of understanding it is not to make families afraid. It is to make sure that if something truly unusual happens, the people around that mother recognize that she needs help.

thing that belongs exclusively to the mother. The baby belongs to both parents. The household belongs to both parents. And the responsibility of protecting the mother’s health belongs to the family as a whole. This is not about taking something away from the father. In fact, it is the opposite. The postpartum period is an opportunity for fathers to establish their own relationship with their baby, become confident caregivers, and build the foundation of the family they are creating. When a father takes the baby and tells his wife, “Go sleep. I have the baby,” he is doing more than giving her a break. He is saying, “Your health matters to me.”

Taking Care of the Mother Takes Care of the Family After a baby is born, everyone naturally asks about the baby. Is the baby eating? Is the baby sleeping? Is the baby gaining weight? Is everything developing as it should? Those questions are important. But there is another person in that room who deserves to be checked on too. How is the mother sleeping? How is she feeling? Does she feel supported? Does she feel like herself? Is she constantly worried? Does she feel overwhelmed or hopeless? Is she afraid to tell anyone what she is experiencing? These questions do not mean something is necessarily wrong. They mean that we understand the mother is also going through a major transition. The postpartum period does not need to be perfect. There will be exhaustion, uncertainty, tears, laughter, beautiful moments, difficult moments, and days when everyone is simply trying to get through until bedtime. But mothers should not have to navigate those days alone. There is no bonus prize or special mitzvah for suffering. When we protect the mother’s mental health, we are not taking attention away from the baby. We are protecting the family.

Rivka Kramer is a Board Certified Psychi-

The Postpartum Period Belongs to Both Parents Perhaps one of the most important shifts we can make is to stop thinking about postpartum recovery as some-

atric Nurse Practitioner. She has a psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a maember of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 917-905-3995.

105

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

I want fathers to hear this not as criticism, but as an invitation. Your role during the postpartum period is not simply to help your wife. You are not a guest in the postpartum experience. You are one of the parents.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

106

Health & F tness

Come For the Ice Cream. Stay For the Flu Shot Our annual Flu Fair is back with games, prizes, balloons, snacks, and plenty of fun. But behind it all is one important goal: helping protect your family this flu season. By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

ar Rockaway and the Five Towns have its own unique set of signs that the fall season is practically upon us. The kids are back in school. The carpools are running. The Jewish holidays are either coming, happening, or we are recovering from them. And then there’s our annual Flu Fair. For years, whether we were on Jarvis Avenue or now in the Bingo Plaza, we’ve turned the area into something nobody particularly looks forward to—a flu shot— into something the entire family enjoys. There are games and prizes. Balloons. Snacks. Music. Ice cream. Kids running around. Parents catching up with people they haven’t seen in a while. Somewhere, in the middle of all that fun, we give a lot of flu shots. At this point, the Flu Fair has become something of an annual Five Towns tradition. I love seeing families who come back year after year, watching children grow

up, meeting new families, and having the opportunity to say hello outside the usual confines of an exam room. So yes, I want you to come. Bring the kids. Enjoy the fun. Get your SWAG. Grab a snack. But most importantly, I want your family to leave protected. Because the flu shot doesn’t just help prevent the flu. If you or your child does get influenza, vaccination can make symptoms milder and lower the risk of serious complications. Honestly, that is the real reason we do this every year.

We Tend To Underestimate the Flu Maybe it’s the name. “The flu” sounds almost routine. We say, “I think I have the flu,” whenever we have a fever, a cough, and feel miserable for a couple of days. But actual

influenza is not simply a bad cold. Every year, influenza sends children to doctors’ offices, emergency rooms, and hospitals. Some develop serious complications, including pneumonia. Tragically, children in the United States die from influenza every year. That includes otherwise healthy children. As a pediatrician, this is the part I wish every parent understood. We spend a lot of time worrying about illnesses that are extremely rare. Then something like influenza comes along every single year, and because it is familiar, we sometimes stop respecting what it can do. That’s why prevention matters; it’s also why reducing the severity of the illness matters.

“But You Can Still Get the Flu After the Shot” I hear this line every year.

Fact: You can get the flu even after receiving the vaccine. A flu vaccine is not a magical force field. It does not guarantee that your child will never contract influenza. But preventing infection is only part of the reason we vaccinate. The flu shot can also make a tremendous difference in what happens if you do get sick. Vaccination can make symptoms milder and lower the risk of serious complications, hospitalization, and death. That distinction matters a great deal. Think about seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t guarantee you will never be injured in a car accident. We wear one because if an accident happens, we want every possible layer of protection between ourselves and a catastrophic outcome. The flu vaccine is another layer of protection. When it comes to our children and

before flu season arrives, I believe we should use it.

This Isn’t an Article About the Vaccine Debate

So Why Make a Fair?

I know there are people who have strong opinions about vaccines. Frankly, I’m not going to attempt to settle the entire vaccine debate in a column about our Flu Fair. What I am asking parents to understand is something much narrower and very important: influenza can be a serious childhood illness, and flu vaccination can reduce the risk of its most serious consequences. Research examining pediatric influenza deaths has repeatedly found that many of the children who die from flu were not vaccinated against influenza. That doesn’t mean vaccination makes serious illness impossible. Medicine rarely deals in absolutes. It means we have a tool that can meaningfully reduce risk. It can help prevent influenza. It can make the illness milder if you do get it. And it can lower the chances of serious complications. When we have an opportunity to give our children that additional protection

Because visiting the doctor doesn’t always have to happen when something is wrong. I’d much rather see your children

and parents when nobody is sick. No exam table. No frantic phone call. No child coughing in my face (this can be an occupational hazard). Just families coming together, having a good time, and doing something simple to help protect themselves before flu season arrives.

The flu shot can also make a tremendous difference in what happens if you do get sick.

running around my parking lot with a face filled with paint than in my office three months later with a 103-degree fever. I’d much rather have them associate a visit to the doctor with balloons and ice cream and fun and joy once in a while than with thermometers and tears. Above all, I particularly love the opportunity to hobnob with my patients

That’s preventive medicine at its best.

Come For the Fun. Leave Protected If you’ve been coming to our Flu Fair for years, I look forward to seeing you again. If you’ve never been, this is your invitation. Bring the whole family. Come for the bounce house. Come for the prizes. Come for the balloons, snacks, music, ice cream

and the Warren Levi karate demonstration. Come over and introduce yourself. One of my favorite parts of practicing medicine in this community is knowing the families behind the charts. And while you’re here, roll up a sleeve. Because flu season comes every year whether we invite it or not. The Flu Fair is our chance to get ready for it together. Come for the fun. Enjoy the afternoon. And most importantly, leave knowing you’ve taken an important step toward protecting the people you love. Join us on Monday, August 31, from 3-6:30 pm in the parking lot in front of our brand-new state-of-the-art office (which many patients and their families call a “spa”). Address: Bingo Plaza, 510 Burnside Avenue, Inwood. See you at the Flu Fair. 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.

107

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

our families and those we love, those layers matter.

108

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Health & F tness

Sweet Nothings A Spoonful of Sugar Substitutes By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

rom breakfast cereals and coffee drinks to salad dressings and sauces, added sugar has found its way into many of the foods we eat every day. While a little sweetness can certainly be part of a healthy diet, consuming too much added sugar has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and tooth decay. As more people become aware of these health concerns, sugar substitutes have become increasingly popular. But are they really healthier? The answer depends on the type of sweetener you choose and how often you use it. Today’s consumers have more options than ever before. Grocery store shelves are filled with products labeled “sugar-free,” “diet,” “no added sugar,” or “naturally sweetened.” While these labels may sound appealing, not all sugar substitutes are created equal. Understanding the differences can help you make smarter choices for your health.

Why Cutting Back on Sugar Matters The average American consumes significantly more added sugar than is recommended for good health. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, added sugars should make up less than 10% of your total daily calories. For someone following a 2,000-calorie diet, this equals no more than 200 calories, or about 50 grams of added sugar per day. Consuming too much added sugar can make it difficult to meet your nutrient needs while staying within your daily calorie goals. Excess sugar intake contributes to weight gain because it provides calories with little nutritional value and is often found in highly processed foods. Over time, regularly consuming large amounts of added sugar may increase the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, elevated triglycerides, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Reducing added sugar is one of the simplest di-

etary changes you can make to improve your long-term health. Sugar substitutes are ingredients used to provide sweetness while containing little or no sugar. They are often used to reduce calories, lower carbohydrate intake, or help manage blood sugar levels. However, not all sugar substitutes work the same way. They differ in how they are made, how the body digests and absorbs them, and how they affect blood glucose and calorie intake. They generally fall into four categories: artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohol, natural non-nutritive sweeteners, and natural nutritive sweeteners.

Artificial Sweeteners Artificial sweeteners are synthetic compounds that are chemically designed to taste sweet but contain little to no calories. Examples include aspartame (Equal®, NutraSweet®), sucralose (Splenda®), saccharin (Sweet’N Low®), and acesulfame potassium or Ace-K

(Sweet One®, Sunett®). These sweeteners are typically 200 to 700 times sweeter than table sugar, so only tiny amounts are needed to provide the same level of sweetness. Since such small quantities are used, they contribute virtually no calories or carbohydrates to the diet. Unlike regular sugar, artificial sweeteners are not metabolized by the body in the same way. Most are either not broken down for energy or are metabolized in such small amounts that they have little effect on calorie intake or blood glucose levels. For this reason, they are commonly used in diet sodas, sugar-free desserts, yogurt, chewing gum, and other reduced-calorie products. Although they can help reduce sugar consumption, research continues to evaluate their longterm effects on appetite, the gut microbiome, and metabolic health. These sweeteners are considered safe for the general population when used within established safety limits. However,

intensely sweet, only very small amounts are needed, contributing virtually no calories or carbohydrates. These sweeteners are metabolized differently from sugar and generally do not cause significant increases in blood glucose or insulin levels. This makes them attractive options for people with diabetes or anyone trying to reduce added sugar intake. Their plant origin has also contrib-

Sugar Alcohols

uted to their growing popularity among consumers looking for more natural alternatives to artificial sweeteners. While generally well tolerated, they may cause an aftertaste or mild digestive discomfort in some people, particularly when consumed in larger amounts or in products blended with other sweeteners.

Sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are a type of carbohydrate that occurs naturally in small amounts in certain fruits and vegetables but is most often manufactured for use in processed foods. Common examples include erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and maltitol. Unlike table sugar, sugar alcohols are only partially absorbed in the small intestines. Since the body does not fully digest and absorb them, they provide fewer calories than sugar, typically 0.2 to 3 calories per gram, compared with 4 calories per gram for table sugar. Their incomplete absorption also means they usually cause a smaller rise in blood glucose and insulin levels, making them popular ingredients in sugar-free products and foods marketed to people with diabetes. The portion that is not absorbed continues into the large intestine, where it is fermented by gut bacteria. This fermentation can lead to bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea, particularly when consumed in large amounts. Erythritol is an exception because it is mostly absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted unchanged in the urine, which is why it generally causes fewer digestive symptoms than other sugar alcohols.

Natural Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Natural non-nutritive sweeteners are derived from plants and provide intense sweetness with little to no calories. The two most common examples are stevia and monk fruit. Their sweetness comes from naturally occurring compounds, which are hundreds of times sweeter than table sugar. Since these compounds are so

Natural Nutritive Sweeteners Natural nutritive sweeteners are sweeteners that come from natural sources such as plants or bees and contain carbohydrates that provide energy. Unlike non-nutritive sweeteners, they contribute calories because the body digests and absorbs their natural sugars. Common examples include honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, agave nectar, and date syrup.

Understanding the different types of sweeteners can help you make informed choices.

Stevia Stevia is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant and has become one of the most widely used natural sugar substitutes. It contains no calories, does not raise blood sugar levels, and is considered safe for individuals with diabetes. Since it is much sweeter than table sugar, only a small amount is needed to provide the desired sweetness. Stevia is also heat stable, making it an excellent option for baking and cooking. In addition, it works well in coffee, tea, yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, and homemade baked goods.

Monk Fruit Monk fruit sweetener comes from a small fruit native to Southeast Asia. Unlike regular fruit sugars, its sweetness comes from naturally occurring compounds called mogrosides, which do not significantly affect blood sugar levels. Like stevia, monk fruit contains virtually no calories and is appropriate for individuals managing diabetes or watching their calorie intake. Many people find that monk fruit has a cleaner taste than some artificial sweeteners. However, it’s important to read ingredient labels carefully because many commercial monk fruit products are blended with erythritol or other sweeteners to improve texture and reduce cost.

These sweeteners are composed primarily of naturally occurring sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which are broken down and absorbed by the body to provide approximately 4 calories per gram, similar to table sugar. Because they are fully metabolized, they can raise blood glucose levels and should be considered part of your total daily added sugar intake. Although they are often grouped together with sugar substitutes, natural nutritive sweeteners are different because they provide both sweetness and nutrients. Depending on the type, they may contain small amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other plant compounds. For example, honey contains antioxidants and naturally occurring enzymes, maple syrup provides minerals such as manganese and zinc, and date syrup retains some of the fiber and polyphenols found in dates. While these nutrients are present in relatively small amounts, they make these sweeteners less refined than white table sugar. For many people, natural sweeteners can be a wholesome choice when used to replace refined sugar as part of an overall balanced diet. However, because they still contain calories and sugars, consuming them in excess may contribute to weight gain, elevated blood sugar levels, and other health concerns associated with excessive added sugar intake. The healthiest approach is not necessarily to avoid natural sweeteners, but to enjoy them in moderation while emphasizing a diet rich in whole, minimally processed foods.

effective way to create lasting habits. One of the easiest ways to improve your diet is to slowly reduce the amount of added sugar you consume rather than searching for the perfect sugar substitute. Over time, your taste buds adapt, and many people find they begin to enjoy food and beverages with less sweetness after just a few weeks. Simple substitutions can make a significant difference. Replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea, choose plain yogurt and add fresh fruit instead of buying flavored varieties, reduce the amount of sugar added to coffee or tea, and satisfy sweet cravings with naturally sweet foods such as fresh fruit. When baking at home, many recipes can be made with 25 to 50 percent less sugar without noticeably affecting taste or texture. Reading the Nutrition Facts label is another valuable tool for reducing added sugar. The label now lists the number of Added Sugars in each serving, making it easier to compare products and make informed choices. It’s also helpful to recognize hidden sources of added sugar in ingredient lists, including corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, dextrose, maltose, brown rice syrup, and evaporated cane juice. Building balanced meals can also help reduce sugar cravings. Meals that include fiber-rich foods, lean protein, and healthy fats are generally more satisfying and can help keep blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day. Small adjustments like these can reduce sugar intake without sacrificing enjoyment. Sugar substitutes can be valuable tools for reducing added sugar intake without giving up the foods and beverages you enjoy. Understanding the different types of sweeteners can help you make informed choices that align with your health goals. When used thoughtfully, sweeteners can be part of a healthy eating pattern by helping to reduce excess added sugar while still allowing you to enjoy sweetness. Pairing these choices with a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can support long-term health and well-being. The goal isn’t to eliminate sweetness altogether, but to enjoy it in a way that supports a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private

Practical Ways to Reduce Sugar

practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza

Reducing your sugar intake doesn’t have to happen overnight. In fact, making small, gradual changes is often the most

can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

109

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

research continues to examine their potential long-term effects. Aspartame has also received attention because the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency classified it as “possibly carcinogenic,” while other health authorities, including the FDA, continue to consider it safe at approved levels. For individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), aspartame should be avoided or restricted because it contains phenylalanine. For most people, artificial sweeteners can be useful when they help replace a significant amount of added sugar, for example, choosing a diet beverage instead of a sugar-sweetened soda. However, they should not be viewed as a healthy food or something that needs to be consumed regularly. When possible, gradually reducing the overall preference for very sweet foods and beverages is a better long-term goal.

110

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Home Sweet Home

The Renovation Roadmap Assemble the Right Team By Neil Schwartz, RA CPHD LEED AP

ast month, we spoke about goal clarification and taking the time to think through your renovation. Now it’s time to get people involved. Everybody knows a guy. Your neighbor used someone for their kitchen and can’t stop raving. Your brother-in-law has a contractor who did his basement for a great price. Someone at shul has a cousin who does beautiful work. The referrals — and the warnings about who to stay away from — arrive before you’ve even decided to do work. But who’s who, do you need them, and what exactly do they do? I’m going to split this segment into two portions. We’ll focus this month on who is typically involved and what they do. Next month we’ll dig into the questions worth asking to help you decide who’s right for your project.

The Architect The architect is often the first person

called in on a project. They go through extensive training to balance code requirements and building practices with project goals and an eye for the actual design of the home. An architect is licensed by the state and is responsible for the design of the building itself — not only how it looks, but making sure the exterior and interior are coherent, the relation of rooms to one another, where light comes from, how people move through the space, and the specifics of how it’s built and performs. The architect typically produces the drawings that contractors base their pricing on and build from and will often be specifying the permanent elements of the building — windows and doors, exterior materials, stairs and railings, trim profiles, and the assemblies that determine how the house performs over time. Where an architect’s value shows most is in holding the whole picture at once. Zoning, structure, systems, light, circu-

lation, and how the finished thing will feel to live in are one conversation, and a change in any of them ripples through the rest.

The Interior Designer Like an architect, an interior designer goes through extensive training — in how people use space, in materials and how they behave over time, in color and light, and in the coordination required to get all of it built. An interior designer focuses on how a space looks, feels, and functions. Their responsibilities range from layout and space planning to selecting the finishes, fixtures, cabinetry, lighting, hardware, furniture, and the overall material palette. A single room can involve dozens of selections that all must work together, be available, arrive on schedule, and hold up to real life — and many designers carry trade access to lines and pricing not available directly to homeowners.

Where a designer’s value shows most is in judgment about how materials behave and how people live. Which stone stains. Which finish survives children. What a color does in north light in February. For a project that’s genuinely about refresh, a designer may be the right lead; for anything touching walls, structure, or systems, they’ll usually work alongside an architect.

The General Contractor The general contractor is responsible for the people who will perform the build. They run the site, hire and coordinate the subcontractors, order and stage materials, hold the schedule, coordinate inspections, and instruct the workers on how to perform. Everything after the drawings are done runs through them. The specialty trades — plumbers, electricians, HVAC installers, tile setters, millworkers, painters — work under their umbrella, and the contractor handles that coordination.

The Engineers Structural engineers calculate loads and size foundations, columns, beams, and other structural elements. They evaluate what’s needed and how large an opening can be. Want a large opening to the backyard, or more headroom in your basement? Call a structural engineer. MEP engineers — mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — design the heating, cooling, and specialty electrical or plumbing needs. If you want smart systems, self-sufficiency, or a house free of allergens and contaminants, bring in an MEP engineer. Civil engineers typically aren’t brought in for residential work within an established city. But if your home sits on a significant slope, or you have water issues, a civil engineer should design a system that drains away from the house and diverts rain and groundwater. Most architects will size basic structural and mechanical systems, but for more complex or specific requirements, an engineer should be consulted. An architect can typically let you know when that is the case.

Required Consultants Land surveyor — Any addition or new home needs an updated land survey with specific information required by the town. This isn’t the same as the survey performed by the architect or designer at the outset of a project. It must be performed by a separate entity and identifies metes, bounds, and heights of the building and lot. The Department of Buildings uses it to determine where on your property you can build and how large the home can be. Environmental testing — For asbestos, lead paint, or mold. On older buildings this is sometimes a regulatory requirement before demolition, depending on jurisdiction and scope.

Optional Consultants Beyond the required consultants,

an owner may elect to bring in specialists to design particular aspects of the project. A kitchen designer will resolve cabinet interiors, specialty pull-outs, and appliance placement to maximize how the kitchen actually functions. A lighting designer thinks in layers — ambient, task, and accent — considering how light changes through the day, how the system is controlled, and how it can work with circadian rhythm. An AV and technology consultant handles the

after the drawings are finished is one where the owner absorbs that coordination. Some architects want no part of tracking down your tile delivery; some interior designers won’t chase the contractor about whether the pipes were insulated correctly. Neither position is unreasonable, but if nobody has claimed that work, it lands on you. An owner’s representative — A personal project manager with a construction background who works only for

Who’s who, do you need them, and what exactly do they do?

infrastructure behind everything that plugs in or connects: network wiring, speaker placement, screen locations, shades, and security. And landscape architects and designers take on everything outside the building envelope — plantings, hardscape, outdoor living space, pools, and irrigation. Who is needed usually gets determined during initial design phases, and their work gets coordinated with the rest of the design and engineering team.

Who Manages All This? By now you’ve noticed a project can have many people and many moving parts. Someone must keep them pointed in the same direction. Several people can take on that role. The owner — Plenty of owners manage this successfully on smaller projects, and some genuinely enjoy it. It’s worth knowing what it asks of you. Decisions come faster than you expect, and a slow answer can ripple through a schedule. If you have the time and either the experience or the interest, it’s an option. If you don’t, delegating it is the smarter move. The architect or interior designer — On most residential projects, this sits with the design team, through construction administration: site visits, answering contractor questions, issuing sketches, checking that what’s built matches what was drawn, reviewing payment applications, and resolving the conditions nobody anticipated. It’s a distinct phase of service, so confirm it’s included. Scopes vary, and one firm’s construction administration may cover more or less than another’s. Remember: a project where the designer disappears

you, reviewing contracts and invoices, tracking schedule and budget, sitting in on meetings, and making sure the team is doing what it’s supposed to be doing. Most common on commercial work and large residential projects, or where an owner wants an independent party handling it. The contractor — Many contractors

take on a good deal of the coordination, and on projects where the scope is clear this can work very well. It’s most effective once construction is underway, when the work is in their hands anyway. It’s worth discussing early so everyone knows what they’re taking on. Whatever the arrangement, the important thing is that you know who is doing what. The most common version of this going wrong isn’t someone doing the job badly. It’s everyone assuming someone else was doing it. Next month: How to vet the people on your list — credentials, references, and the questions that actually tell you something.

Neil Schwartz founded TNB Architecture + Interiors, which specializes in custom residential and hospitality work. Passive House certified and LEED AP, with more than two decades in the field and licenses across multiple states, he believes that craft, livability, and client vision have to work together from the very first conversation — and that a well-built home should be beautiful, comfortable, and built to last. Find TNB on Instagram @tnbarchitecture or get in touch at neil@tnbarchitecture.com.

111

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

A good general contractor will have in-house staff — general carpenters and laborers — to keep a project moving even when a subcontractor’s schedule slips, along with a dedicated site manager assigned to your project full time. Contractors are also the people who know what things cost right now — not last year, not in theory, but this month, in your neighborhood, with any site access constraints. That knowledge is valuable early, which is why good contractors are worth talking to while the design is still flexible.

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

112

AI, Going

Up?

Building and Sharing Skills By Dov Pavel

few installments back, I walked you through Projects, the feature that lets Claude remember who you are so you can stop re-explaining yourself in every new conversation. But knowing who you are is not the same as knowing your work. By default, Claude is still a generalist. Ask Claude to review a legal contract and you get a competent, broadly informed answer on the clauses in front of it. What it won’t know to flag is the clause you always require and is left out, or the one that is there but well outside the norm. The difference between a generalist and a specialist is what today’s installment is about. The feature is called Skills, and it is one of the more useful things sitting quietly in Claude’s settings, worth a closer look. ChatGPT has its own version, called Custom GPTs, and Gemini calls its version Gems, both worth knowing if you work across platforms, though this piece focuses on Claude.

Projects vs. Skills A Project’s instructions apply all the time and is limited to the specific Project. A Skill activates only when a specific task calls for it and can work across Projects. A reader who runs a contracting business had, until recently, two separate Projects: one for writing estimates, another for weekly job-site updates to clients. It worked, but it meant two places holding repetitive instructions, client roster and pricing standards, occasionally drifting out of sync. The better structure was one Project holding the shared context, clients, job specs, pricing, with two Skills to call upon. An Estimate is a comprehensive baseline: scope, materials, timeline, cost, standing on its own. A Job-Site Update is narrower and recurring: what got done this week, what’s next, anything the client needs to decide. Different shapes, different tones; one a formal proposal, the other a quick check-in. One Project, two Skills, each doing its own job without bleeding into the other’s format. If your business has two recurring, differently shaped tasks sharing the same context, this is likely the cleaner setup for you, too.

Handing a Skill to Someone Else

Where They Come From Structurally, a Skill is fairly simple to create. It is a short file with a name and a plain-language description at the top, telling Claude when to use it, followed by instructions underneath, the actual checklist or process. A Skill is a well-organized memo somebody wrote once so nobody has to write it again. Anthropic includes a handful of Skills in Claude, quietly powering fea-

building from scratch is often the better use of your time.

Building Your Own As is true for most of what we cover in this column, you do not need to be technical to build a Skill. Claude even has a Skill to help you build a Skill. A Skill is simply a file folder containing one file, written in plain English, describing what you want Claude to check,

A Skill is the third piece: borrowed expertise, packaged once, reused every time the task comes up.

tures you may have used without realizing a Skill was behind them. The tools that build a polished Word document, a formatted spreadsheet, a real slide deck – these are all embedded Claude Skills. Beyond Anthropic embedded Skills, Skills built by other people and companies exist online publicly, and it may be worth a quick look before building your own. Quality and fit vary widely, though, so unless you find one that works perfectly, or close enough that you can customize it into your own,

in what order, producing what kind of output. The folder and the Skill have to carry the same name, otherwise Claude will not connect the two. You upload it through your account’s Skills settings. From that point forward, it is simply there, available in any conversation or Project, triggered either because you asked for it by name or because Claude read the task in front of it and recognized the match on its own. If you have more than one Skill, each gets its own folder and its own upload.

Once you have built something genuinely useful, the next question may be how to get it onto a colleague’s account too, so your job-site update format,works the same way no matter who on your team is using it. For a business large enough to run Claude on a Team or Enterprise plan, there is real infrastructure for this – organization-wide provisioning, group-level targeting, permission controls. That setup involves enough moving parts that it is really its own topic, beyond what a column like this can walk through properly. If your business has reached the point where several employees need the same Skills working the same way, a professional with experience may be appropriate. If you are on an individual Pro or Max plan without that organization layer and want to share a Skill: since the Skill is a plain text file, you can send it the way you would any document, email, or a shared drive folder, and your colleague can upload it into their own account through their own Skills settings and/or by creating the appropriate Skills folders and uploading them. Zipping the file folder may also be easiest if you are comfortable with that.

Where This Leaves Us You have already given Claude your context through Projects and access to your real data through connectors. A Skill is the third piece: borrowed expertise, packaged once, reused every time the task comes up. Most small businesses have at least one recurring task that follows a process only a specialist would know to run. The elevator keeps going up!

Dov is a partner at Bond-Bridge Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping small businesses navigate and implement AI solutions. He writes about AI with a focus on practical application for everyday users and organizations. He can be reached at Dov@ Bond-Bridge.com. Previous columns are available at GoingUpWithAI.Substack.com.

113

d for Thought

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Diner By Nati Burnside

very restaurant hopes you’ll remember the food. The Diner in Pomona wants you to remember how it made you feel. At first glance, it looks like you’ve stepped back several decades into a classic American roadside diner. Gleaming chrome accents, colorful booths, checkerboard flooring and vintage-inspired décor immediately set the tone before you even glance at the menu. It’s unlike anything else in kosher dining, not because it’s trying to copy every aspect of the diners that once lined America’s highways, but because it captures everything people loved about them: the nostalgia, the comfort food, the approachable prices and the idea that going out to eat should be an experience the whole family can enjoy. The building has the history to pull it off. It originally opened in 1995 as the Mount Ivy All American Diner, becoming a familiar landmark in Rockland County. Just down Route 202, the owners of the ever-popular Pies n’ Fries had admired the property for years. They envisioned something different from their pizzeria—a place where families could gather in a memorable setting without the cost of a steakhouse dinner. After nearly three years of trying to convince the owners to sell, they finally got their chance in 2025. Years of renovations by previous ownership had stripped away much of the diner’s original personality, so restoring it became a project in itself. Working with Shany Kaufman of ICO Design, the owners painstakingly brought back the retro aesthetic that made the building special, while Chef Isaac Bernstein, who also works with Pies n’ Fries, created a menu that fits the concept perfectly. Seating for approximately 135 guests inside and another 70 outdoors makes The Diner equally comfortable for a weeknight family meal or a larger gathering. The menu isn’t enormous, nor is it trying to be. Instead of attempting to serve

everything imaginable, The Diner focuses on recognizable American classics and puts its own creative spin on them. The result is a menu that’s approachable, playful and filled with dishes that practically beg to be shared. When I was invited to The Diner, I wanted to start my meal like you might start your day, and nothing says “diner” quite like breakfast at any hour. The Diner embraces that tradition with the Lumberjack French Toast. Thick-cut French toast is layered with candied beef facon and caramelized bananas before being finished with warm maple syrup. Every bite balances sweet and savory as the smoky sweetness of the facon plays beautifully against the soft bananas and rich French toast. It’s indulgent without feeling overdone and exactly the sort of breakfast you’d hope to find in a place built around nostalgia. The Southern Comfort Chicken & Waffles continues that breakfast-for-dinner theme, though don’t let the waffles fool you—this is substantial enough to serve as an appetizer for four people. Four crispy bone-in fried chicken thighs are served with four quarters of a full golden Belgian waffle before being drizzled with a spicy honey sriracha glaze and finished with candied jalapeños. The contrast between the crunchy chicken, fluffy waffle, sweetness of the glaze and gentle kick from the peppers makes every bite interesting. It’s a dish that disappears remarkably quickly once everyone at the table starts reaching for a piece. While much of the menu proudly celebrates comfort food, the Chinois Chicken Salad proves that lighter fare deserves attention too. Grilled chicken is served over crisp romaine with red cabbage, carrots, red onion, snap peas and crispy noodles before being topped with salted cashews and tossed in a sesame ginger dressing. The dressing ties everything together beautifully, but what really stood out was the variety of textures. Nearly every bite

offered something different, from crunchy vegetables to crisp noodles to the tender grilled chicken. If you’re looking for something that won’t leave you feeling overly full, this is the clear winner. But if breakfast is one half of the classic diner experience, meat on bread is the other, and The Diner offers several outstanding takes on American favorites. The Heatwave Chicken Sandwich is not for those who merely tolerate spice. A massive piece of crispy fried chicken is tossed in spicy honey sriracha before being topped with spicy mayo, creamy coleslaw and pickles. The chicken is so large that it doesn’t come close to fitting on the bun, creating one of those gloriously messy sandwiches where every bite delivers incredible crunch along with genuine heat. Fortunately, the slaw and pickles provide just enough balance to keep you reaching for another bite. The “Not a Philly Cheese” Steak may be one of the most convincing dairy-free cheesesteaks you’ll ever eat. Griddled shaved beef is combined with fried peppers and onions before being smothered in creamy “not cheese” sauce and finished with garlic aioli on a toasted baguette. Every component plays its role perfectly, creating a sandwich that scratches the cheesesteak itch without ever feeling like a compromise. I honestly can’t remember ever eating anything quite like the Tijuana Dog, and now I’m glad I have. A beef faconwrapped frank is tucked into a soft pretzel bun before being piled high with pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños and fried onions, then finished with a drizzle of spicy mayo. It’s admittedly difficult to eat neatly, but that’s part of the fun. Between the smoky facon, fresh pico, crunchy onions and the pretzel bun holding everything together, each bite offers a surprising combination of flavors and textures that somehow work beautifully. Then there’s the restaurant’s signature

Sizzling “Not Cheese” Burger, already one of the most recognizable dishes in kosher dining. Served on a cast-iron skillet, the burger arrives sliced in half and placed face-down into a bubbling pool of melted dairy-free cheese alongside a pile of fries. Topped with diner sauce, “not bacon,” jalapeños, onion crunch, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun, it’s easy to understand why this is the restaurant’s most photographed entrée. The presentation is spectacular, but the real surprise is that it tastes even better than it looks. Rich, juicy and unapologetically indulgent, it’s worth ordering at least once. No diner meal feels complete without a milkshake, and The Diner delivers with the Oreo S’Mores Shake. Served with a fudge-coated rim covered in chocolate sprinkles, it’s loaded with crushed cookies and topped with toasted marshmallows and a full cookie. It’s impossible not to smile when it arrives at the table. If you’ve ever dreamed of pairing a great burger with an equally outrageous milkshake, this is your chance. Kosher diners have never had a restaurant quite like The Diner. It doesn’t pretend to be a 24-hour roadside institution with a menu the size of a phone book. Instead, it takes the best ideas from the classic American diner—comfort food, nostalgia, affordability and an atmosphere that welcomes everyone—and reimagines them for today’s kosher audience. The result is something that feels both familiar and completely new, making The Diner not just another restaurant, but a destination you’ll want to return to with family and friends.

American - Waiter Service 1669 US RT 202 Pomona, NY 10970 845-860-7173 TheDinerNY.com Tarnopol Kashrus

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

114

Book

Marked

A Meaningful Way to Spend Each Day of the Aseret Yemei Teshuva By Tzvi Adler

Reviewing: “Return: Daily Inspiration for the Days of Awe” by Dr. Erica Brown Maggid Books and OU Press. 2025. Hardcover: 168 pages

abbeinu Yona of Gerona spent his last years trying to finish one act of teshuva and ran out of road. He had helped drive a burning of the Rambam’s “Moreh Nevuchim,” and when Gemaras burned publicly in Paris a few years later, Dr. Erica Brown writes, he seems never to have forgiven himself. Legend has it he planned to take a minyan to the Rambam’s kever in Tiveria and ask mechila out loud, the part of teshuva nobody can do quietly in their own head. He set off and died on the road. “Return: Daily Inspiration for the Days of Awe” (Maggid Books, with OU Press) opens with him. Dr. Brown wrote her master’s thesis at Jews’ College under Rabbi Sacks, z”l, and lectured there herself, and she has some twenty books behind her on Tanach and on leadership. This one starts its argument with a word. Repentance renders nicham, regret, which the Rambam names as well, yitnachem al she’avar, and which Rabbeinu Yona counts as the first of his twenty parts of teshuva, not the whole of it. Shuv is the act. And lashuv can also mean to recover, which Dr. Brown finds in a variation of the word when David comes back from the Amalekites and the verse takes care to tell us nothing was missing. That’s a harder bar than sorry, and it’s also a promise. She reads Rabbeinu Yona in “Shaarei Teshuva” as calling teshuva a sanctuary and takes him at his word. Not an act you perform. A room you walk into, where the things that usually tear at you cannot reach. What went wrong this year is not merely forgivable. It is recoverable. The Rambam writes that teshuva is accepted immediately in the Aseret Yemei Teshuva and that the custom of Israel is to give more and do more than the rest of the year. Between Zochreinu and HaMelech HaKadosh, Selichot, Tzom Gedalya on the

third, Shabbat Shuva and two seudot on the ninth, you can get from Rosh Hashana to Kol Nidrei without a free hour. What none of it supplies is a subject. There was a time it came with the building. School, seminary, a year in Israel, yeshiva: somebody set the subject, and somebody noticed whether you were working on it. Nobody arranges that for you now. Ask anyone who has sat in the same shul for twenty Eluls which of the ten days they’ve ever used, and watch the counting. So here is a day. It opens on a line of the Vidui and a middah, then seven or eight pages of essay, then a question to carry. Three passages to learn at the end: a perek of Hilchot Teshuva, the Mesillat Yesharim, and Orot HaTeshuva. Half an hour, and less if the essay is all you have time for. The Vidui line is the hinge, and the Rambam supplies the reason: he opens Hilchot Teshuva by putting the mitzvah itself in the Vidui. Al Chet goes by at a phrase a second and lands where it lands. Here each phrase gets a day, and by Yom Kippur you have sat with every one of them. Dr. Brown notes in her preface that the ten perakim of Hilchot Teshuva led many to learn one a day through these days. Rav Genack’s foreword cites the Rav in “Al HaTeshuva” that his father and Rav Chaim both kept the custom. What neither points out is that her own study passages follow it: the first day takes perek one, the fourth perek four, the numbers walking to the tenth on Yom Kippur. Two days trade places. It may be nothing. But the day whose subject is the shofar is the day holding 3:4, where the Rambam hears “uru yesheinim” in it. She built to the calendar in a second way. The first two days and the tenth are yom tov, and what they leave you with

is something to think about. Every day that wants a pen sits on a weekday. The one that comes nearest the line hedges: write them down if you are able to. So anyone already learning a perek a day isn’t being asked to put anything down. The same perek is waiting, with a middah attached and an essay that puts the halacha somewhere in your own life. It props up what you already do rather than competing with it. The middot climb: Faith, Destiny, Discipline, Humility, Compassion, Gratitude, Anger, Joy, Honesty, Holiness. You enter at emunah on the first day of Rosh Hashana and arrive at “kedoshim tihyu” on Yom Kippur. Ten words on a page, until you open the chapters. Faith is Hagar in the wilderness with a dying child, and Sarah humiliated at being displaced by a servant who could deliver. Humility is not being able to bear that a younger colleague is doing better than you are. Compassion is Jonah, who has no pity for anyone and a great deal for himself. Anger is the kind that makes a person unrecognizable at their own table. Honesty is confessing in a way that gets you admired for it. None of that is seasonal. It is what most of us are already carrying when Elul starts, and it is what makes this a very good sefer. The days are not gentle. One takes the confession for eating and drinking and carries it to Rav Dessler’s bechira point, where the front line is the only place the fight counts and nobody earns anything for turning down ham. Two pages on sits the Rambam on teshuva gemura in 2:1, the same place and desire and ability, and he holds back. The same idea arriving from the other side. You walk out with a question. Where you need more patience and where you need less. What you would want said about you when it is no longer your turn to speak. Which of the four kinds of anger is yours. Twice it is not a question but an errand. One is three stamps and an afternoon tracking down a teacher. Yom Kippur does not touch what we owe other people until they have been asked, and a corridor on the ninth of Tishrei is not asking. The other comes at the seuda hamafseket, where she has everyone

at the table answer the same questions on paper and where you read what you answered the year before. Dr. Brown argues hard for joy. A full chapter holds that a season spent only in dread has misread itself. She teaches from inside the tefilla, too. Twelve pages in she describes what Unetaneh Tokef does to her every year, the tears landing off the end of her nose into her siddur without any dignity at all. Then she turns and gives the shiur. Yom Kippur is a miniature death. We wear white as we will be buried in it, and we imitate death to walk out of it more alive than we walked in. The route she takes is a wide one. Hume turns up, and Melanie Klein, and pages of willpower research before she gets near Rav Dessler. Her position is that whoever has thought hard about what a person is has something to say to a Jew in Elul, and the Rishonim set the terms throughout. One chapter overpays: gratitude reaches Bachya late and briefly. Rav Genack’s foreword quotes the Rambam on what these days are for. Only yesterday he was loathed before the Almighty, repulsive and distant. Today, he is beloved, pleasing, close. Nobody covers that distance by resolving to. It gets covered a day at a time. Everyone’s real objection is that this works for other people. Acher tells Rabbi Meir he heard from behind the curtain that all may return except him, and Dr. Brown, following her teacher, will not take it as prophecy but as denial. If everyone can change, there are no exceptions, and it cannot be possible for everyone and impossible for him. She knows how most of us will do at that and says so in the kindest sentence in the book: every day we fail, we pick ourselves up again, and there is always tomorrow. What you want at Ne’ilah is to be sealed in the Book of Life, for yourself and for whoever’s name you brought in with you, and for the year ahead to go better than the one behind. What Dr. Brown claims is that you come to that request differently having worked the ten days than having meant to. If you want something to inspire you during Aseret Yemei Teshuva, this is the sefer to have before Rosh Hashana.

115

Red Wine Shoulder Roast Meat / Yield: 10 servings / Freezer friendly

By Naomi Nachman

There’s a reason this roast has become the one my fa mily requests before every yom tov rolls around. It’s the kind of dish that fills the house with that deep, oniony, red wine aroma hours before anyone sits down to eat — and by the time it hits the table, the meat is so tender it practically falls apart under the fork.

Ingredients • 1 4-pound shoulder roast or 2nd cut brisket • 6 large onions, sliced into half-moon rings • 2 tablespoons canola oil • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil • 6 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper

Preparation Preheat oven to 325°F. In a Dutch oven on medium high heat, add canola oil and onion and sauté till lightly brown. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, spices, and ketchup, mixing them together to form a paste. Rub the paste all over the meat. When the onions are brown, push the onions to the side and place the meat in the

• 1 teaspoon paprika

center; sear the meat on all sides. Cover with lid or with parchment paper then foil or

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

a lid (yes, I double wrap it).

• 1/2 cup ketchup • 1 cup red wine

Bake, covered, for 3 hours, Remove from oven. Allow roast to cool, then slice it. Pour pan juices over meat to serve. Cook’s note: You can also cook it overnight at 200°F in the oven.

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.

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

In The K tchen

116

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Britain is methodically and regularly throwing oil on the fire. - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday, after Britain announced additional military support for Ukraine

I was very blessed in that during my career I saw my body as an asset, and because I had to take care of it to perform my job, I learned a lot of discipline around what I had to do in order to have my body as physically fit and prepared as possible for playing football. I’m never going to lose that discipline, because I see the benefits of the investment paying off. - Tom Brady in a recent interview

I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security.

[Liberals] think that here’s the way you’re supposed to think. Again, here’s your skin color. There’s this kind of deterministic view that you’re supposed to think this because we say so. And I, of course, declined that invitation. And so now that means that something, that I’m a walking contradiction, because I’ve deviated from their perception of what I should think. - Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Sen. Ted Cruz’s podcast explaining why the left hates him even though he is black

In June alone, nearly 28,000 Russian soldiers were eliminated – and we have video confirmation for every single one of them. The overwhelming majority were struck by drones. Frankly, we take no pride in this. We are saying it to show what modern war looks like – a war we did not start, but one we are forced to fight in order to defend our country. - Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Defense Industry Forum

Putin hopes that we are tired, but we know that he is mortal. - ibid.

I would love to go back in time and tell my papaw [grandfather] that there is a man who claims to stand for working people, who says not only should we have sharia law, but if you criticize it, you are a white supremacist. - Vice Pres. J.D. Vance talking about Michigan Democrat Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed

- Darline Graham, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina and brother of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, when asked in a debate about the strategic importance of Taiwan

117

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

118

I think it means we’ve all been too ambitious on timelines. People keep doing the same things they’re doing. They keep buying from the same company. They keep sort of wanting to use their tools in the same way. - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a recent interview with Yahoo Finance noting that AI’s impact on the economy is slower than he anticipated

From a note of kabbalos (commitments) written in Hebrew that was found on slain chareidi soldier Yehuda Katz, Hy”d, whose body was retrieved this week, 44 years after he was killed:

Say Tehillim every day + Tikkun HaKlali. Strive not to speak devarim bateilim in the Beit Midrash. Eat with moderation. Increase in tefillos and tachanunim and hisbodedus before Melech Malchei HaMelachim HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Wake up earlier in the morning, before davening. Go to the mikveh at least every Erev Shabbos.

We’re building in a lot of places. But when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference. And I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing. - Buc-ee’s co-founder and CEO Arch ‘Beaver’ Aplin III announcing that he will be focusing the iconic gas station/rest stop chain on red states which are business friendly rather than blue states which are not business friendly

And what if we introduced them to food fresh from the ground? Teaching them — making these relationships with the farmers so they learn about the soil. They learn about irrigation. They learn about the effect that it has on their crop. They get an opportunity to eat a tomato fresh off the vine. It’s a different food than you get in the store, quite frankly. Fresh sweet corn and hot dogs. But what a difference it makes when they can taste these things. They won’t have a craving for the unhealthy foods that are so prevalent in our society. - Dr. Ben Carson, who serves as the USDA’s national advisor for nutrition, health, and housing, at a recent event

Even at 117, I’ve had many firsts this year, from stroking a llama to holding hands with the King! I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings. - Ethel Caterham, of Britian who is the world’s oldest living person, upon celebrating her 117th birthday on Friday

Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons. - Prime Minister Netanyahu in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14

When my uncle was president, 3% of American kids were obese. And he was also so alarmed with that, because it was double what the European numbers were. And he launched the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness. Today, 20% of kids are obese, and, you know, many more of them are overweight. Seventy-seven percent of our kids can’t qualify for military service. And it’s not because they suddenly became indolent or hungry or lazy. It’s because we’ve been mass poisoning them with ultra-processed foods. - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

I’m 22. He’s been playing for that long. I think he might be older than my mom. - Steelers rookie Germie Bernard, on 42-year-old teammate Aaron Rodgers, who is entering his 22nd NFL season

I ain’t lying, I be having low-key a little bit of anxiety when I’m out there with him just because it’s like I don’t really want to mess up. - ibid.

119

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

120

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Political Crossfire

Could Iran Try a Midterms October Surprise? By Marc A. Thiessen

resident Donald Trump dismissed the Iranian attack on the United Arab Emirates this week, declaring that though the Iranians “shoot a drone every once in a while,” their attacks have little more than “nuisance value.” But what if Iran has something more in store? What if Iran is planning an October surprise before the midterms? Six months into the conflict, Trump is showing admirable patience and determination in his effort to disarm Iran. He has reimposed the blockade that is crushing Iran’s economy and reducing its oil exports to near zero. He has quietly taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. military escorting tankers carrying about 10 million barrels of oil through the Persian Gulf every day. And on Wednesday, Trump vowed to unleash what he called “ECONOMIC D-DAY” on Iran, imposing “the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY” on any nation or entity that does business with the regime. Most important, Trump made clear that he will “never apologize” for taking military action to stop Iran’s nuclear push – and told voters if “you [have] to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have … a nuclear weapon.” That takes enormous political courage. Here’s the problem: Though Trump is squeezing Iran economically, its leaders know that he is reluctant to resume major combat operations. They have tested him repeatedly – launching drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the strait, even firing ballistic missiles at American service members in Jordan – and have watched as Trump has on multiple occasions come close to ordering a massive final military assault, only to turn back at the last minute.

This has emboldened Iran. Though Trump did enormous damage during Operation Epic Fury – destroying more than 85 percent of Iran’s defense industrial base, sinking its navy, grounding its air force and annihilating its conventional military forces – he stopped about 14 days short of completely U.S. Central

ed to resume major combat has been his stated concern that Iran might retaliate by launching attacks on energy targets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states, taking much of their oil off the world market and sparking a global depression. As Trump explained, “I never want to be the late, great Herbert Hoover.”

Iran believes that it is winning the battle of wills with Trump.

Command’s target list. This left Iran with enough firepower to threaten Gulf energy infrastructure, U.S. bases and the ships making “dark runs” through the strait. Iran could decide to use that firepower before Americans go to the polls in November. One reason Trump has hesitat-

Well, what’s to stop Iran from doing just that right before the U.S. midterms? The Wall Street Journal reports that America’s allies in the Gulf have shared intelligence indicating that Iran’s leaders are preparing “to widen the war and raise the costs for the U.S.,” noting that “Iran’s leaders are increasingly talking

about offensive operations on enemy territory.” Iran could launch attacks on energy targets to spike the price of oil just before Americans vote. It could try to kill U.S. service members – which would force Trump to launch retaliatory action, restarting the war. Or it could attempt a terrorist attack on U.S. soil or that of U.S. allies. Iran believes that it is winning the battle of wills with Trump. As retired Gen. Jack Keane points out, Iran’s leaders may think that if they launch an attack before the midterms, “there’s a good chance that the Democrats will take control and maybe stop funding the war.” They may also believe that the United States intends to attack them after the midterms anyway, making it in their interest to resume fighting when it would do maximum political damage to Trump. Launching such a preemptive attack might not be rational, given the likely U.S. response. But Trump has repeatedly said that Iran’s leaders are “sick” and that “there is something wrong with them.” Well, sick people are prone to miscalculation. The way to take this option off the table is to act first – by launching a final, decisive blow against the regime. If Iran does attempt an October surprise, Trump will have no choice but to resume major combat. It would be better to do so at a time of America’s choosing rather than Iran’s. If Trump were to launch a quick and lethal attack on Iran’s leadership, economic and energy infrastructure, and nuclear facilities now, he could credibly declare victory months before the midterms. Before launching Operation Epic Fury in February, Trump weighed the risks of military action against the risks of inaction – and concluded that the risks of inaction were far greater. He was right. There are risks of inaction today as well. © 2026, Washington Post Writers Group

121

Forgotten Her es

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Sub Stories By Avi Heiligman

HMS Seraph

erhaps the most mysterious of all military machines during World War II was the submarine. Hiding beneath the ocean’s surface, these stealthy vessels would maneuver into an enemy convoy to unleash a deadly spread of torpedoes, then dive hundreds of feet to dodge depth charges dropped from escort vessels. Each nation had its own submarine design and variety of missions for its fleet, and while their primary goal was often to cripple the enemy’s shipping capabilities, submersibles were frequently called upon for covert warfare. Allied submarines were regularly assigned to these specialized operations, and during these missions, the men of the “Silent Service” carried out some of the war’s most daring assignments. The British S-Class submarine HMS Seraph was assigned several high-risk special missions during the war. Most notably, she played a central role in the famous Operation Mincemeat to deceive the Germans regarding where the next Allied landings would take place. Surfacing off the coast of Spain, the Seraph launched a corpse from a steel canister, equipping the body with falsified papers. The body was picked up by local authorities, and the papers were passed to German intelligence, who fully bought into the British intelligence service’s deception. Earlier in the war, the Seraph survived a friendly fire incident from an RAF bomber. Following repairs, she was fitted with special equipment to launch commandos in folbots (folding kayaks). In October 1942, she was tasked with transporting American

Some of the crew on the USS Tang

General Mark Clark to and from a beachhead in Algeria to meet with pro-Allied French military leaders. Shortly thereafter, the submarine was sent to southern France to evacuate French General Henri Giraud, who had escaped from a German prison and was seen as a potential leader for Free French Forces during the upcoming invasion of North Africa. Due to the sensitivity of the mission, U.S. Navy Captain Jerauld Wright was on board and took nominal command. In order to make the operation appear purely American, the Seraph flew the United States Navy ensign, while the British crew tried their best to imitate American accents. Throughout the war in the Pacific, American submarines were given a wide variety of tasks that included rescuing personnel and civilians, landing, recovering and supplying guerrilla fighters and Special Forces, as well as rescuing downed airmen and survivors from surface ships that had been attacked. In April 1945, the USS Tigrone (SS-419) and USS Rock were instructed to sail to the Philippine Islands and locate a Japanese radio station. The two fleet submarines used their 5-inch deck guns to sever an important communications line on Batan Island. The Lifeguard League was operational from 1943 to 1945 and directed submarines towards routes where American bombers would fly over to attack Japanese strongholds in the Pacific. Over 500 airmen were picked up by submarines by the end of the war including future President George H. W. Bush. His TBM Avenger torpedo plane

USS Harder Crew

went down after being hit by anti-aircraft fire while on a bombing run to Chichi Jima and was picked up by the USS Finback (SS-230). The USS Tang (SS-306) under the command of Richard O’Kane rescued 22 airmen in just two days during the airstrikes on Truk Lagoon. In May 1945, the Tigrone rescued a record 31 airmen in one patrol. While on board submarines, the rescued airmen received medical treatment if necessary and, since space was limited, often in torpedo storage space. On April 1, 1944, the USS Harder (SS257) picked up a downed, injured aviator stranded on a small islet off Woleai. This rescue was far more dangerous than most since the pilot, Ensign John Galvin, was trapped on an enemy-held island. The submarine maneuvered close to the reef and sent three submariners in a rubber raft through the rough surf. An American floatplane attempted to assist, but the towline snapped. Despite enemy sniper fire and rough sea conditions, the sailors managed to get Galvin onto the raft before using a new towline to pull them back through the surf. The pilot was soon safe aboard the Harder, which then headed for the safety of open waters. The Harder’s next patrol saw her rescue a six-man Allied Intelligence Bureau Coastwatching team off the coast of North Borneo. Three other submarines had failed to extract the team due to heavy Japanese anti-submarine measures. However, on the night of June 8, 1944, the Harder sent two rubber boats to the beach and successfully extracted the intelligence team. The

British and Australian operatives provided the Allies with crucial information on Japanese troop strength, shipping routes, and warship locations. Remarkably, this rescue took place while the Harder was actively tearing through enemy escorts; she had already sunk two Japanese destroyers over the previous two days and would sink another shortly after near Tawi-Tawi. Commander Samuel Dealey received the Medal of Honor for this remarkable patrol. Although Dealey and his crew continued their aggressive tactics, the Harder was tragically lost with all hands during a depth-charge attack on August 24, 1944. These operations are just a small sample of the many special missions carried out by Allied submarines in World War II. Other submersibles evacuated gold and valuable assets from the Philippines before the islands fell to the Japanese, while some landed reconnaissance teams on enemy shores prior to invasions to gather vital beach sand and soil samples. Whether delivering supplies, dropping off secret agents, rescuing stranded airmen or gathering intelligence, Allied submersibles went far beyond their traditional role of sinking merchant ships. Submarines proved to be one of the Allies’ greatest assets, operated by the brave and versatile men of the Silent Service. 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.

Classifieds

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

122

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!! Doula covered by Medicaid Insurance!! MEDoulas 332 320 1892 Top devoted doulas with passion and care!! We accept Anthem BC BS.

PEACEFUL PRESENCE STUDIO Men’s private yoga, Licensed Massage & Holistic Health Guidance 436 Central Ave, Cedarhurst Info. & free video training www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715

ZEVIZZ WOODTURNING JUDAICA Challah knifes, batei mezuzah, besamim holder, kiddish cups, havdalah candle holders, yad for sefer torah, pens, stenders, bowls and more 952-356-2228

FREELANCE BOOKKEEPER with years of experience in QBO online (and Excel). Many references. Call Zev: 646-907-5163 or E-mail: 4135998@gmail

HAIR COURSE: Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs. Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009

MY MOTTO IS DON’T WAIT TO buy real estate Buy real estate and wait Your realtor for life 516-784-0856 Alexandra at Realty Connect USA

GERBER MOVING Full Service Moving Packing Moving Supplies Local Long Distance. Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422

DU N DURT Power & Soft Washing We clean siding, stucco, decks, driveways, concrete, pool patios, pavers & sidewalks. Say goodbye to grime, mold & allergens! Call/WhatsApp: 718-688-2964 Email: dundurtny01@gmail.com THE LEATHER SHOPPE The spot for all your custom leather Judaica. Tallis/tefillin bags, lulav and esrog bags, havdallah sets, challah covers, shtenders, pesach sets, matzah/afikomen bags. WhatsApp: (732) 523-0007 or email: theleathershoppe732@gmail.com for a full catalog. We ship.

REACH OUT FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE OFF MARKET DEALS

LAWRENCE 34 LISMORE RD.

A luxury residence offering over 12,000 sq. ft. of exceptional, high-end living with every amenity you could want.

Two Story House Ya Know,

Properties Alone!

Second Story

real estate management needs and

After You Own It!

affordable office space near you!

MANAGEMENT STAFF WILL ASSIST you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust * In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling * Securing reliable home care assistance * Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared -

LAWRENCE 348 MULRY LN,

Move-in ready Colonial on 10K+ sq ft. 5BR/4.5BA, radiant floors, finished basement w/ sep entrance. $1.65M

SOLD OFF MARKET!

Services – Do Not Manage Your Don’t Get Stuck With a

Contact Aliyah Suites for all your

SOL

JUST SOLD!

LAWRENCE

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT

It’s One Story Before You Buy It But a

TOP SELLING BROKER IN THE FIVE TOWNS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Realty Connect USA (917) 587-5704 Sarahcisaacs@gmail.com

Private street luxury living in this custom-built 2026 gut-renovated home. 8 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, soaring ceilings & radiant heat. $3.95M

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

HANDYMAN AVAILABLE For big or small jobs, Sheetrock, carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, install & repair appliances Call Ephraim at 347-593-4691

SARAH ‘CHAYA’ ISAACS

FOR SALE!

HOUSES FOR SALE

UNDER CONTRACT

LAWRENCE 60 BROADWAY,

This stately side-hall colonial with soaring ceilings, beautiful hardwood floors, and incredible bones is truly one of a kind.

SOLD OFF MARKET!

LAWRENCE 116 HARBORVIEW EAST

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

Call Dov Herman For An Accurate

(516) 366-1049

Termite Inspection

Management@aliyahsuites.com

Full Report All Included

Marc Jeret (MJ) Team Leader &

NYC 718-INSPECT

Licensed Real Estate Agent

Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

Classifieds

123

COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE CEDARHURST Prime Restaurant Location For Lease. For more information: Call/Text/WhatsApp Owner: (516) 206-1100 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 ATLANTIC BEACH Full House Rental | 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms | EIK | Sunroom | Finished Basement + Bonus Bedroom. Call: Rivky Rothstein, Behfar Team: 646-793-6316. EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY In prime Lawrence 6 spacious bdrs, 5.5 bath plus add 2 bdrs in low level Low taxes, desirable cul de sac Walk to shopping, houses of worship, parks, LIRR 516-784-0856 Alexandra at Exp

HELP WANTED

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

REGENTS EXPERT

CARE MANAGER

Tutoring regents in Algebra and

Remote (requires in-person

Geometry A Darchei Torah

home visits in NY)

instructor. Guaranteed results

Support families facing serious

Text 347-491-8045

medical or emotional challenges.

WhatsApp 347-767-1755

Provide guidance, advocacy, and

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

resource coordination from home or SEEKING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

on-site. Training provided.

For current school year, starting

BA or 2 years Care Management chailifeline.org/careers or

assistant teacher for General Studies.

email hr@chailifeline.org

Candidate should have skills to take over for teachers if needed.

ARE YOU A DOULA?

Far Rockaway area boys’ school,

Or have a passion to be?

M-Th, PM hours, strong support.

Come join our great referral

Excellent salary. Possibility to

group and get access to a vast

continue for next year. Send resume

new clientele through Medicaid.

to teachersearch11@gmail.com

JUST CALL 347-668-7886

LEAH SCHEININGER

ELISHEVA BAUM

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Better Homes & Gardens RE Realty Connect 516-884-6530 (C) Lscheiningerrealtor@gmail.com @LeahScheininger_Realtor 24 Franklin Ave. Hewlett NY 11557

917-620-0572

elishevabaum18@gmail.com @elishevabaum

WOODMERE WOODMERE CEDARHURST

required Apply online: www.

from end of January: Seeking

WOODMERE LAWRENCE LAWRENCE

OPEN HOUSE 381 WOODMERE BLVD AUG 30 2:00-3:30

Tudor-style home perfectly situated in the heart of

Quality New Construction!!! Woodmere. This beautifully renovated corner property Stucco with 2 Story Entry 9 ft Ceilings, Zone Heat which offers aCol. spacious open-concept layout,14 ideal for elegant includes Radiant Heat, Anderson Windows with Lots of Natural entertaining. 3+ bedrooms 4 Bath school 15 price OPEN HOUSE 3:00-4:30 223district Hickox Avenue Light Throughout, Flr Fdnr, Magnificent Chefs Eik with High End Totally renovated New. High Ceilings, Chefs $1.359M Appliances, DbleColonial. Ovens , 6Like Burner Cooktop with Pot Filler,EIK, 5 Bdrms. Prime Woodmere location! 2 Dishwashers, and more. Master Bdrm Suite with Luxurious Bath $1.659M and Walk in closet,+4 Bdrms and 2 Beautiful Bths ,2nd Flr

WOODMERE WOODSBURGH CEDARHURST

Laundry Rm , Full Finished Basement with 10 ft Ceilings Huge Playrm 2 Bdrms and Bth laundry Rm storage, Beautiful Manicured Garden.

OPEN HOUSE 409 BARNARD AUG 30 11:30-1

Grand and stately brick Center Hall Colonial showcasing timeless elegance and exceptional craftsmanship throughout. A gracious entry welcomes youExpanded into a elegant living banquet -sized Spacious Wide Line Ranch onroom, MostaPrestigious and formal Cul-de-Sac dining room,inperfect The main level den Serene Villagefor ofentertaining. Lawrence , Main Flr Master Bdrm OPEN HOUSE 12:30-1:30 offerswith a private retreat forand relaxing. The heart of Main the1068 home is the& Bath, Suite Many Closets Bthrm, Addional Flr highland Bdrm Center HallinHuge Colonial with Main Level+Den 3 BRs 23Bths Baths chefs eat kitchen. 4 Beds 4Mudrm, Bath Lg Flr Fdnr Den, EIK, 4 Bdrms onFinished Second Flr, Basment Beautiful Property price $3.49M Beautiful Wrap Around Property, $1.690M $999K

WOODMERE

Move-in condition high ranch in central Woodmere location. Fully renovated in 2018. Kosher eat-in kitchen, 5 beds, 3 baths. $7500/mo

WOODMERE

LAWRENCE

Fully updated 4 bed, 3.5 bath colonial in the desirable Academy Area. CAC, kosher eat-in kitchen w/ 2 of everything, finished basement. $8000/ mo

Rare opportunity!! Beautiful, big house in the desirable “Tree Streets” area. 9,000 sq ft lot. 5 beds (upstairs), 3.5 baths. Finished basement. No flood zone. Low taxes! $2.295M

LAWRENCE

JUST SOLD

NEW LISTING

INWOOD CO-OPS/CONDOS WOODMERE CO-OP

261 Central Ave 1st Floor, Large Entry Foyer, Open Concept Kitchen. Large LR/DR Overlooking the Courtyard $229K

240 Central Avenue Spacious 1 Bdrm 1 Bth Apt in Well Maintained Elevator Bldg with Terrace Overlooking Garden, Near All $229K

FAR ROCKAWAY

Welcome tos/h thiscol bi-level offering a bright open This spacious , in thehome prestigious village of woodsburgh, concept for modern living. Thesetting, main floor features sits on 1/2 layout acre property in a. most serene with beautiful waterviews, magnificent sunsets . Flr and banquet fdnr with , a sun filledand living room, dining room kitchen COMMERCIAL RENTAL! NEW! 9 ,Room Drbdrm officesuite Suite, Located breakfast rm, main level den /fpl master with his seamless flow for everyday living and entertaining. This inand theher Heart of Cedarhurst, room, Reception closets and bth + 4Spacious bdrms , waiting new bths, newly renovated home 3+2 bedrooms, including a home office Area andoffers Exam Rooms, alllaundry on Mainrm, Floor. Close to of Public finished basement with playrm, lots storage, or additional bedroom, plus a den/ playroom ideal for Transportation many special details thruout $1.9M+ $6,000 activities. 5 BEDS 2BATH price $1.135M

156 B 9th St Mint 2BR, 2 BTH Beachfront Condo PRICE ADJUSTMENT! This modern, well maintained with Wraparound Terrace, Magnificent professional medical building is ideal for doctors, Sunrise & Sunset dentists, chiropractors or a combination of professional $589K practices. Built in Apt 2004, single-Mint, story,Corner Class-A 29 Woodmere Blvd 2B this Renovated, 1 Bdrm property offersSpacious flexibleEat space designed for efficient with 9ft Ceilings. In Kitchen, 2 Sinks, Granite flow and comfortable work areas. Situated on a level Counter tops and S.S. Appliances.Large Lvgrm/Dnr and Largelot, the building features a large private parking lot with 18 Bdrm/BR with Lots of Windows dedicated$299K spaces. Call for details !! REDUCED

LAWRENCE

Legal 2-family home on oversized 8600 sq ft lot. Multi-vehicle parking. Great location, close to many shuls & shopping. Asking $1.299M

WOODMERE 833 Glen Dr Last Ask $2.15M

WOODMERE

Beautiful center hall colonial on a quiet block. 3 beds, 3 full baths. New finished basement w/ playroom & add’l bed & bath. Great backyard! $1.499M

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

124

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

HELP WANTED

MISC.

MDS REGIONAL NURSE

BET YAAKOV BNOT YISROEL

SHMIRAS HALASHON

5 Towns area Nursing Home

Is seeking preschool and lower

management office seeking a

elementary school teachers and

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.

Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office.

assistants. Call: 718-971-9799 Email: sec@yeshivatbneitorah.org

Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience

STAFF FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD Center The Marion & Aaron

with good computer skills required. Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered. Great Shomer Shabbos environment

Gural JCC Early Childhood Center is hiring Assistant Teachers for the 2026-2027 school year. Please send resumes to:

with some remote options as well.

JCC.Nursery@guraljcc.org

Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

or call (516) 239-1354.

YESHIVA OF GREAT NECK BOYS Yeshiva High School Seeking qualified Hebrew Language teacher for four periods of Regentsfocused instruction weekly. Classes meet twice a week. Hours begin 3:00 pm. Strong content knowledge and teacher experience required. Competitive Compensation. Email recruitment@ yeshivaofgreatneck.org. SEEKING 2 TEACHERS For Science and for History, 4:15-5, M-Th, JH boys. Great environment, great administrative support. Eganz@siachyitzchok.org

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

We put the “Pro” in

Property!

LAWRENCE

125

2 family luxury townhouses on the beach, private balconies, access to private beach and dock. Ayelet (516)993-9561 STARTING AT $1.15M

Welcome to this perfect resort like home, 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms on a 25,047sqft lot. Avigail (516)316-3452 $2.9M

Spacious 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath residence at The Plaza 360 Central featuring an oversized layout. Lydia (516) 286-1629 $599K

FAR ROCKAWAY

CEDARHURST

ATLANTIC BEACH

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

27 Frost Lane Lawrence, NY 11559 (516) 374-4100 www.ftmr.com

FR- SALTMEADOW TOWNHOMES

Move-in-ready legal two-family home, Featuring 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths Miri (646)515-8813 $1.79M

A move-in ready beautifully renovated splitlevel home featuring 4 bedroom, 2.5 Baths. Miri (646)515-8813 $1.149M

beautifully redone 4 bedroom, 2.5 Bath located 1 block from the bay and 1 block the ocean. Moshe (516)455-5364 $5,000/M

HEWLETT NECK

Tamar Miller

Hollywood, Florida (954) 300-3142 MillerRealtySouth.com

WOODMERE

Open House 842 Fiske Street Sunday Aug 30th 11:00am-12:30pm

Exceptional custom Colonial featuring 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths on a 30,056 sf lot. Avigail (516)316-3452 $4.15M

beautifully maintained split-level home in the highly desirable District 15 of N. Woodmere! Sarah (347)524-9147 $1.225M

Beautiful sun-drenched split-level, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths Nestled on a quiet, tree-lined block. Chana (516)449-9692 $1.378M

Spacious five-bedroom, three-bath Colonial in sought-after District 15 in Woodsburgh. Sarah (347)524-9147 $1.775M

Move-in-ready completed new construction features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, on a 6,000sf lot. Avigail (516)316-3452 $2.39M

Beautifully renovated 5 bedroom, 3 full bath splanch in an unbeatable location. Miri (646)515-8813 $1.525M

Rare opportunity to purchase fully occupied office building in the heart of Cedarhurst. Raizie (917) 903-1778 Moshe (516-455-5364 $2.39M

Elevate your business in this high-end professional office space, situated in prime Woodmere District. Chana (516)449-9692 $3,000/M

Spacious colonial on a beautifully landscaped property, 7 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths. Bryna (516)322-4831 $12,000/M

HALLANDALE BEACH

HOLLYWOOD

The Olympus- 2 bedroom, 2 baths, Kayla (347) 729-9863 Chana (516)449-9692 $274K

3 bedrooms, 2 baths, Moshe (443) 630-2006 $499K

WOODSBURGH

CEDARHURST

Don Miller

NORTH WOODMERE

WOODMERE

NORTH WOODMERE

HEWLETT NECK

DEERFIELD BEACH

additional units available for Sale and Lease

2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, Chaim (516) 262-2144 $225K

126

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

Life C ach

Two Birds With One Stone By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

id you start yet? If not, you might be behind already! Yes, it’s great to have food fresh out of the oven. But meal after meal after meal? Best idea is to make some things well in advance that freeze well. By bringing up this concept I’m not trying to rush summer. The schools have seen to doing that already. Labor Day used to be the marker. And then gingerly, one or two days later, the kids were back to the grind. But this year, Labor Day is practically like midwinter vacation. Some kids have been in school that long already. The summer is being pushed out as well, by the early arrival of the holidays. It’s practically get-your-last-swim-in, get-your-first-new-fruit. There’s no turnaround time. One minute you’re still celebrating summer, hanging out at the beach club, making your last barbecue… And the next minute, it’s out of that grilling pan and into the fire. Massive quantities of foods will be

cooking on the stove and in the ovens at full force. And it’s not the simple throw-ons, like hotdogs, hamburgers, and fries. It’s usually complex recipes. After all, how else are you going to keep them coming back to the table meal after the meal?

Once seated, we usually eat. Not only that, there aren’t separate Shabbasim to cook for and eat AGAIN. Another amazing break! And on top of that, there’s a whole day we get to just stay out of the kitchen altogether. It’s not necessarily some-

But this year, Labor Day is practically like midwinter vacation.

Yes, the meal frenzy is upon us. Oy! Though we must stop and look at the blessings this year. There aren’t any three-day holidays – what a break – from our forced stuffing of ourselves, since other than the GLP1 magic, we rarely have the willpower to contain ourselves.

thing new. But this is a new way to look at it: the Yom Kippur break! Just a bit of an attitude of gratitude tossed in, as we prepare for the holiday onslaught. So, I’m just suggesting, if you can, maybe get some items stored in your freezer.

If you don’t want things fully cooked in advance, for the more discerning palate, there’s lots you can prep, freeze, and cook later. Just spread out the tasks. That way, the holidays don’t get diminished by the workload. And they don’t, overwhelmingly, sneak up upon you suddenly. You might even be able to grab an extra day at the beach this way! Have the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone (as the saying goes)…. Simply by taking along a rod with you, you can catch a fish for the holidays, while still getting to enjoy the sun out there on the lovely shore!

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.

127

AUGUST 27, 2026 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 27, 2026

128