BIH_Virtual Notes_
3x3 _9_2024.pdf
Honest Reporting, Torah-True • Kosher & Fat-Free
1
10/7/24
1:28 PM
NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL! WIT H BLUE ISLAND HOM ES!
LICENSED REAL EST ATE BROKER
CALL ME TODAY
Oct. 11 to 17, 2024
516 .319.0505
9 Tishrei, 5785 • Yom Kippur Vol. 23, No. 35
Jennie Katz
REAL ESTATE SALE
Jennie@BlueIslandH
SPERSON
omesNY.com
BlueIslandHomes
TheJewishStar.com
NY.com
1270998
Reach the Star: Editor@TheJewishStar.com 516-622-7461 x291
Asking forgiveness and giving mechilah W
ith courage and humility we undertake the work of teshuvah, praying that Hashem will forgive our transgressions. When we are asked to forgive, we endeavor to emulate G-d’s attribute of mercy and to be generous in giving mechilah to those who have slighted us. But it’s different this year. Acquaintaces — not to mention colleagues, long-time friends and even family members — too often rage against each other. Are we hesitant to ask forgiveness because we ourselves are not in a forgiving mood? How many of us no longer chat with people whose politics we find indefensible? How may Shabbos dinner invites were not extended and how many dinners ended with host or guest feeling less than Shabbosdik? Even if we believe our political arguments are “for the sake of Heaven” (a haughty presumption),
are we licensed to act cruelly to a fellow Jew or justified in rejecting a fellow Jew’s apology? Our tradition emphasizes that we should seek forgiveness from others before seeking forgiveness from G-d. In Mishneh Torah (Repentence 3) we are taught: When the person who wronged him asks forgiveness, he should forgive with a complete heart and a willing spirit. Even if he aggravated and wronged him severely, he should not seek revenge or bear a grudge. ••• Publishing a newspaper carries the risk that someone may be hurt by something printed or something omitted. I ask mechilah of anyone I may have hurt either through this newspaper or in person, and I offer mechilah to anyone who might seek it from me. Wishing all a gemar chatimah tovah. Ed Weintrob, Editor and Publisher
Real lessons of Oct. 7 must not be ignored
Commentary by Jonathan Tobin he first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacres in southern Israel adds yet another sacred date to a calendar already filled with those devoted to mourning tragedies in Jewish history. But the pain is fresh from this most recent instance of Jewish suffering. The war against Islamist terrorists that began last Oct. 7 is ongoing with hostilities against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And more than 100 of the hostages taken are still unaccounted for or continue to be held captive by Palestinian terrorists. In Israel, much of the commentary will focus, as it has in the previous 365 days, on pinning responsibility for the massive failure on the part of Israel’s military, intelligence and political establishments that allowed the catastrophe to unfold. But the post-mortems shouldn’t be limited to how and why Hamas was able to breach the border so easily, setting in motion a day of horror that was the worst instance of mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.
T Rep. Ritchie Torres speaking at SAR Academy in Riverdale on Monday, Oct. 7.
SAR marks a dark day
The Salanter Akiba Riverdale High School and Academy marked the first anniversary of Oct. 7 by reaffirming the school’s commitment to supporting Israel. The day began with assemblies in both the High School and Academy that heard from Riverdale Rep. Ritchie Torres. He said that peace would be possible only when Israel is safe from genocidal enemies intent on repeating Oct. 7. •SAR Academy alumna Abby Marcus told ninth graders how she
helped collect money and army gear — financing an estimated $2.5-million in goods and filling move than 800 duffle bags — to aid IDF solidiers. •Tenth graders heard SAR parent Rachael Klein discuss Boots for Israel. She led an effort to send more than 60,000 pairs of boots to IDF soldiers. •Eleventh graders were moved by the stories of SAR parent Esther Sperber who’s been involved in the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. •Seniors traveled to Manhattan to participate in a ceremony at the UN.
A public bomb shelter where Israelis were murdered at the Oct. 7 massacre, on a road near the Israeli-Gaza border in southern Israel. Chaim Goldberg, Flash90
Both in Israel and in the Diaspora, the discussion about what happened must also include broader misconceptions that not only helped bring about this epic disaster but that might conceivably allow it to be re-
peated in the future. That’s especially true in the United States, where public discussion of the war on Hamas continues to center on myths that should have been rejected long ago. See Lessons of Oct. 7 on page 21