JBuzz Hollywood Shavout

Rabbi Eliyahu Segal Publisher, CEO

Egypt – What You See from There, You Don’t See from Here

(Also published in Hebrew in ramatgannet.co.il, and in Givatayimnet. co.il newspaper in Israel)

The following article was written on March 10, 2024. Two years have passed since then, and nothing has changed. The situation is only worsening.

Background: Israel and Egypt have had a peace agreement since 1980 (effective January). The Sinai Peninsula was divided into three longitudinal zones from north to south:

Zone A (western): Allows Egyptian military presence up to 22,000 soldiers.

Zone B (middle): Allows Egyptian military presence up to 4 battalions.

Zone C (eastern, near Israel): Allows only police forces.

A multinational military force was meant to supervise compliance with these restrictions. That force no

longer exists, and no one monitors the agreement. The U.S. promised to establish a monitoring station at Umm Hashiba to secure peace, but it was never built.

Politically and militarily, the agreement was considered a major success for Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Religiously, however, many Muslims regard the treaty as invalid, since

Islamic law forbids signing contracts with non-Muslims. In practice, it is seen as a long-term ceasefire. Egyptian society has not internalized the peace; Israel is still boycotted by academic and social organizations.

Egypt borders Libya to the west and Sudan to the south. It also has a severe dispute with Ethiopia, which built a dam on the Nile threatening Egypt’s and Sudan’s water supply (water is considered casus belli). Yet Egypt has not reinforced those borders with troops, while Sinai is heavily militarized.

ISIS forces entrenched themselves in Sinai and threatened Egypt’s regime. Egypt requested, and Israel agreed, to temporarily allow additional Egyptian troops into Sinai. Two years ago, Egypt declared ISIS defeated and asked Israel to resume tourist flights to Sinai resorts. Why, then, has Egypt not reduced its military presence there?

Current situation (March 10, 2024): Egypt’s army has grown significantly. It is the largest among Arab states, equipped with modern aircraft, tanks, submarines, and more. Egypt built about 60 bridges across and under the Suez Canal, linking African Egypt with Asian Egypt (Sinai). Highways were paved in Sinai for rapid troop and equipment movement. Modern airfields and mountain bunkers protect vast military stockpiles, possibly including missile storage. Egyptian forces in Sinai are up to three times the permitted size under the treaty,an enormous financial burden given Egypt’s 40% annual inflation.

All this violates the peace agreement’s ban on such military buildup.

Expert opinions:

• Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Brik warns that if Egypt’s regime changes, a new ruler might attack Israel. War with Egypt’s army would be on a completely different scale.

• Eli Dekel (former Military Intelligence, now INSS researcher): Egypt still has motivation to conquer Israel. Its army has 2,300 tanks in Sinai, including 700 new American Abrams 1M tanks recently deployed there. Egypt has 13 heavy divisions in Sinai, each battalion with 41 tanks (compared to 30 in Israel). Egyptian intelligence is wellnetworked in Gaza and likely knew of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack plans. Egypt claimed it did not know and gave no warning. Dekel criticizes the IDF’s decision to attack Gaza north-to-south instead of first seizing the Philadelphi Corridor to cut Hamas off from Egypt.

• Newspaper “Makor Rishon”: Published a special supplement on Egypt’s military buildup and the dangers it poses to Israel.

Conclusion: What is seen from Egypt is not seen from Israel.

Updates for nowadays (April 30, 2026)

Recently, Egypt’s army began military drills just 100 meters from Israel’s border. These exercises have political motives: Egypt promised Gulf states its army would defend them if attacked, in exchange for tens of billions of dollars. Iranian strikes on the Gulf exposed Egypt as a “paper tiger.” The Gulf states stopped payments, deepening Egypt’s economic crisis.

Egypt now stages showy drills on Israel’s border to signal military capability to the Gulf and to show it does not fear Israel. The Egyptian

army still views Israel as a potential threat, “the next war.” The regime may use this external threat to unify the public and distract from worsening economic hardship.

The Egyptian military itself is a vast economic empire, owning factories, construction firms, farms, and even ports. The army is wealthy, while ordinary Egyptians are poor. Egypt buys weapons abroad but also manufactures its own. It has advanced intelligence capabilities, including satellites and sensors in Sinai.

Surveys show most Egyptians still see Israel as an enemy, not a partner. Education has not changed its narrative since Nasser’s era.

Egyptian media remains saturated with anti-Israel propaganda, and cultural/social boycotts persist.

Conclusion: This is a peace between governments, not between peoples.

Egypt is now in deep economic crisis. The Suez Canal loses $10 billion annually. Energy prices rise due to the Hormuz Strait blockade. Egypt consumes Israeli gas and depends on Israel, this dependence prevents confrontation.

But what if Egypt’s crisis deepens? What if the regime changes? What if the army seeks to restore its honor after the 1973 war?

This is no longer “cold peace” but a cold war.

Dr. Yeshayahu (Yishy) Bick – April 30, 2026 yishybick@gmail.com

From Gush Katif to Shlomit: How One Community Turned Tragedy Into Strength

By JBuzz

On the sandy frontier near Israel’s borders with Gaza and Egypt, a quiet but powerful story has been unfolding for nearly two decades — a story of displacement, rebuilding, loss, heroism, and unwavering faith. For the residents of Shlomit and the surrounding Halutza communities, October 7 was not the beginning of their story. It was another chapter in a mission that began long before, when families uprooted from Gush Katif chose not to disappear, but to rebuild.

We sat down with Yididya Harush for a deeply emotional conversation about the legacy of Gush Katif, the horrors of October 7, and why, despite everything, the people of Shlomit chose to return home stronger than ever.

“The Entire Community Began With Families From Gush Katif”

“My name is Yididya Harush,” he begins. “I’m a resident and part of the leadership of the Halutza communities on the borders with Egypt and Gaza. I’ve been involved since 2011.”

The story of Shlomit cannot be understood without understanding Gush Katif.

Following Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza, thousands of Jewish residents were forced to leave the communities they had spent years building. Entire neighborhoods vanished almost overnight.

For Harush, it was personal.

“It was actually my 17th birthday when Ariel Sharon announced the disengagement,” he recalls. “My

family had just finished renovating our dream home. We only got to live there for two months before we had to leave.”

His family lived in the southern Gush Katif community of Slav, near Rafah.

“The Halutza communities were essentially built as a continuation of Gush Katif,” he explains. “The first fifteen families who came here were evacuated families from Gush Katif who decided they still wanted to help build the South and continue Ben-Gurion’s vision.”

What began as a small group of determined families slowly turned into multiple thriving communities in one of Israel’s most remote and strategically sensitive regions.

“There was nothing here in the beginning,” Harush says. “No infrastructure. No services. Just sand and a mission.”

That mission was not only ideological. It was strategic.

“The presence of communities here helps secure the border,” he explains. “There were constant issues with smuggling through the Egyptian border — weapons, drugs, and other threats. Building strong communities here became part of protecting the region.”

Over the years, residents learned to live with isolation, security concerns, and the emotional burden of raising children under constant threat.

But nothing could prepare them for what happened on October 7.

“Nobody Imagined This Scale”

“We’re only about two and a half miles from the border,” Harush says.

Like many Israelis living near Gaza, residents understood there was always risk.

“In theory, everyone thought some kind of infiltration could happen,” he says. “But nobody imagined anything like this.”

The attack unfolded with terrifying speed.

“The army’s worst-case scenario had been maybe twenty terrorists entering a community,” he explains. “Here we faced thousands.”

According to Harush, more than 6,000 terrorists and approximately 3,000 rockets overwhelmed southern Israel within the first hours of the attack.

Missiles exploded dangerously close to homes throughout the region.

Then came a desperate call from the nearby community of Pri Gan. “Terrorists were trying to enter the community, and they needed immediate help.”

What happened next became one of the defining moments in Shlomit’s history.

“Our emergency response team made a heroic decision,” Harush says. “They left our own community and drove to defend Pri Gan.”

The battle lasted nearly two hours.

“There were very few of our people against many terrorists,” he says. “But they managed to push them back and save the entire community.”

The victory came with heartbreaking loss.

“Out of eighty-five families in our community at the time, four heroes were killed and four more were injured.”

In percentage terms, the impact was staggering.

“That’s nearly ten percent of the

community,” he says.

For a small town, the grief touched virtually every family.

“We Knew We Had To Stay Together”

The following morning, October 8, the IDF ordered the evacuation of the area.

Almost immediately, the community leadership gathered to discuss what came next.

“One thing became clear right away,” Harush says. “We could not allow the community to scatter.”

He points to lessons learned from earlier conflicts.

“After the 2014 war, some communities evacuated family by family into different hotels and cities,” he explains. “In the end, many of those communities never truly recovered together.”

The leadership feared the same outcome.

“We understood that if we separated, people might never come back,” he says.

In the middle of national chaos, Harush reached out to Jewish National Fund-USA.

“I called the CEO of JNF and explained the situation,” he recalls.

“Within minutes, they were already working to help us.”

An initial solution was found in the Arava region, but the community requested something closer to Jerusalem.

“Our fallen heroes were being buried near Jerusalem, and their families were sitting shiva there,” Harush explains. “We wanted to stay close.”

Soon afterward, housing was arranged in Gush Etzion.

Within hours, the evacuation began.

“We left together as one convoy,” he says.

Later, the entire community relocated together to the Kramim Hotel, where they remained for six months.

“People Were Just Sitting And Crying”

The first weeks after evacuation were emotionally devastating.

“People were broken,” Harush says. “Men, women, children — everyone was sitting and crying.”

He quickly realized the community needed structure and purpose.

“I started assigning responsibilities and tasks,” he explains. “People needed to stay active. They needed to feel they still had meaning and responsibility.”

Soon afterward, many of the men — including Harush himself — entered reserve duty and fought in Gaza.

“I was barely at the hotel after the first few weeks,” he says. “Most of us were serving.”

Despite the trauma, the decision to remain together proved critical.

“It helped preserve the soul of the community,” he says.

“We Came Back Proud”

After six months, Shlomit made

another extraordinary decision: to return home.

“At the time, most evacuated communities still didn’t feel ready,” Harush says. “But we believed returning was the healthiest thing for our families.”

The decision was made only after extensive consultations with the IDF and after receiving agreement from the widows of the fallen heroes.

“It was incredibly emotional,” he says.

When the community evacuated in October, residents left devastated and broken.

“When we returned, we decided we would come back differently,” he explains. “We came back proudly.”

Residents drove together in a long convoy filled with Israeli flags.

“There were tears everywhere,” he recalls. “But there was also pride.”

Before anyone even entered their homes, the community stopped at the site of a future daycare center.

“There, together with JNF, we laid the cornerstone for a brand-new daycare building.”

The symbolism mattered deeply.

“We wanted to send a message,” Harush says. “Our answer to terror is more life.”

He pauses before adding:

“You can break our homes. You can break our hearts. But you cannot break our spirit.”

“Today There Isn’t One Empty Home”

Incredibly, the story did not end with survival.

It became a story of growth.

“Since October 7, we’ve seen tremendous interest from families

wanting to join the community,” Harush says.

Today, there are no available homes in Shlomit.

“A lot of people heard the story of the community and said, ‘We want to be part of something like this.’”

Construction continues throughout the area as new families prepare to move in.

Just days before traveling to Boca Raton for community events, Harush attended another historic milestone: the inauguration of Shlomit’s first permanent synagogue.

“We dedicated it in memory of the four heroes we lost,” he says.

Support for the project came from around the world — particularly from supporters in the United States.

“Florida Feels Like Family”

Over the years, Harush has built close relationships with Jewish

communities throughout South Florida, especially in Boca Raton.

“The relationship feels like family,” he says warmly.

He describes the community as deeply supportive, caring, and personally invested in the future of Israel’s South.

“These are not just donors,” he says. “These are partners.”

As the conversation comes to a close, Harush reflects on the unlikely journey from the destruction of Gush Katif to the rebuilding of Shlomit.

For many communities, displacement could have been the end.

For Shlomit, it became the beginning of something even stronger.

“Without the support of these incredible friends,” he says, “we would never have been able to build what we built.”

Baby/Children

Baby Equipment Gemach

Miami/Hollywood

Mrs. Rinat Zelenko: 718-419-0215

Baby Gemach

North Miami Beach 917-359-5818

Orit Sabo.

Boca Children's & Ladies Coat Gemach

Boca Raton

Adina Moses: 718-854-2327

Bris Gemach

South Florida

Dina: 718-854-2327

Bris Outfits Gemach

South Florida

917-412-0713

Also collecting pillow donations.

Brit Gemach

North Miami Beach

305-409-2536

Pack N Play Gemach

Miami Beach

Avrumy: 631-575-4177

The Bris Box

Hollywood/Boca 917-902-5537

All bris supplies at no cost.

Bais Avel

Bais Avel Meals

South Florida

347-324-4039

Meals for families in Shiva.

The Local Gemach Network

Chesed Shel Emes

South Florida

305-359-5700

Burial, transport, Shiva equipment.

Clothing

Bais Yaakov Uniform Gemachs

South Florida

Esther: 786-422-2602

Coat Gemach

North Miami Beach

305-761-1648

Goodman Jewish Family Services

South Florida 954-909-0810

Uniform Gemachs

South Florida

Esta. 786-390-2767

Counseling/Advice

Free Private Counseling

South Florida

845-721-7062

Breast cancer support (MSW).

Ruth & Norman Rales JFS

Boca Raton jaclynt@ralesjfs.org

Infertility support for couples.

Seniors Support

South Florida

347-324-4039

For seniors needing to talk.

Food

Challah Gemach

South Florida

347-324-4039

Free Challah for familie in need.

Craig's Pantry

South Florida 954-648-6359.

JCS Food Bank

South Florida

305-947-8093

Shifra & Puah

South Florida

310-866-8261

Postpartum assistance.

The Cupboard (JFS)

Broward

954-530-7555

Broward residents; appointment only.

Tomchei Shabbos

Miami Rabbi Mendy Cheruty: 305-219-3353

South Florida 786-202-3344

Yetiv Lev Food Assistance

South Florida 786-202-3344

Meals for new mothers and sick.

Household

Air Mattress Gemach

North Miami Beach 561-271-3518

Free Mezuzahs

Online/Global myzuzah.org

Mezuzah Gemach

South Florida

R. Yochanan Klein 305-450-8287

Medical

Bikur Cholim

Medical supplies. Hollywood: 954-478-7490

North Miami Beach: 305-690-8949

Palm Beach: bikurcholimspbc.org

Chesed Houses

Miami 305-450-8287

Near Jackson Memorial.

Healing Hearts Bikur Cholim

South Florida

R. Yochanan Klein: 305-450-8287

Hollywood Medical Supplies

Hollywood Eldad: 954-478-7490

MB Medical Supplies

Miami Beach

Rabbi Stern: 305-318-2366

NMB Medical Supplies

North Miami Beach

Barry: 305-479-7745

Miscellaneous

Everything Virtual Gemach

Online

Orit Sabo: 917-359-5818

Jewish Library Gemach

South Florida

Tamar: 305-721-5880

Pack N Play Gemach

Miami Beach

Avrumy: 631-575-4177

Tzitzis Gemach

Boca/Global

Eliezer Cohn: 913-832-8032

Money/Loans

Free Loan Gemach

South Florida

Rina: 347-628-0394

Hebrew Free Loan Association

South Florida

305-933-1187

Loan Gemach North

Miami Beach

305-332-3572

The Helping Hands Lending

South Florida

Aharon Greenberg: 305-534-7050

Purim Costumes

Boca Raton Costume Gemach

Boca Raton

Dafna: 917-831-6654

Costume Gemach (NMB)

North Miami Beach 773-983-9704

Costume Gemach (Risa)

South Florida

305-308-2174

Queen Esty's Purim Gemach

Boca Raton

848-525-2958

Appointment only

Services

Notary Gemach

South Florida

Shoshana: 305-775-9354

Shaimos Gemach

South Florida Avi: 347-531-6057

Sheital

Sheital Sheital Gemach (Kallahs Only)

South Florida

305-490-5471|Requires approval.

Sheital Gemach (NMB) North Miami Beach 972-836-2432|Accepting donations.

Simcha

Costume Jewelry Gemach

South Florida

Sarah Tabakin: 917-620-5874

Gemach S'machot

South Florida

Paola Leonoff: 786-281-1133

Hollywood Simcha Gemach

Hollywood 954-609-1864

Decor & centerpieces.

Tablecloth Gemach

Boca Raton

Michal: 917-804-6924

Tablecloth Gemach (NMB)

North Miami Beach

347-848-5638

Yad David Tablecloth Gemach

North Miami Beach

Alli Jeger: 917-972-7695

Support Groups

Chizuk South Florida

South Florida

917-673-6123

Infertility support.

Shalom Task Force

South Florida

888-883-2323 |Domestic abuse.

Sharsheret

South Florida

954-416-0087| Cancer support.

Yacholet-Ikann

Hollywood 786-992-5036

Mental health assistance.

Wedding

Achnasos Kallah Gemach

South Florida

Marci: 786-877-2887

Bridal Gemach

Hollywood Visit: jeanettelevinebridalgemach

Chasde Chashie L'Kallah

South Florida

347-620-4145

Beds & dinette sets.

Jeanette Levine Bridal

Hollywood/NMB 954-588-7600 | Kallah dresses.

Leeba Gabriella Wedding

Boca Raton

Michal: 917-804-6924

Wedding Shtick Gemach

South Florida

305-781-8357|Props and decor.

Yad L'Kallah South FL

South Florida

347-371-1932

Italian Dairy Shabbat Menu

By Jamie Geller

Perfect for a dairy Friday night (or your Shavuot table!), this menu features a clever “no-noodle” Zucchini Lasagna packed with vegetables. Serve it with Whole Wheat Garlic Bread and finish with crunchy, classic Mandel Bread.

jamiegeller.com

Whole Wheat Garlic Bread

PREP TIME

5 minutes

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil such as Colavita

4 cloves garlic minced

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1½ whole-wheat baguettes halved, lengthwise

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Whisk together evoo, garlic, parsley, and salt.

Brush garlic mixture over cut side of baguettes and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until just toasted and golden around the edges.

Courtesy of the 28 Day JOY of KOSHER Challenge by Jamie Geller and Tamar Genger MA, RD.

100 Calorie Mandel Bread

PREP TIME

15 minutes

Ingredients

3 ½ cups whole wheat or spelt flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ cup extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil

2 eggs

½ cup silan or honey

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Adjust oven rack to middle and upper positions and in a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Make a well in the center whisk oil, eggs and silan. Add lemon zest and vanilla extract. Combine with dry ingredients until just mixed. Stir in almonds.

Divide dough into four equal parts. Shape each part into 3-inch wide log. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Take cookies out of oven and reduce heat to 300°F.

2 packed teaspoons lemon zest from about 1 large lemon

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sliced almonds

When cool enough to handle, cut each log on the bias to form 1-inch wide cookies.

Place cookies cut side down on baking sheet and bake until toasted, 15 minutes more, flip and cook another 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer for a wire rack to finish cooling. Cookies will keep, stored in an airtight container, for up to 1 week or for a few months in the freezer.

Zucchini Lasagna

PREP TIME

10 minutes

COOK TIME 1 hour 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME 1 hour 35 minutes

CALORIES 320 kcal

Ingredients

Cooking spray

2½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided

1 small onion finely chopped

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 portobello mushrooms chopped

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (about 3 cups)

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 medium zucchini sliced, lengthwise, into ⅛-inch thick “lasagna” style noodles

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese divided

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat.

Add 2 tablespoons oil, onions, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender, about 8 minutes.

Add remaining half tablespoon oil and mushrooms and cook, until brown, about 4 minutes.

Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered until it thickened, about 20 minutes.

Stir in basil and salt. Let cool.

Put a third of zucchini noodles on the bottom of the prepared dish, overlapping slightly. Top with half sauce and half ricotta. Repeat layers.

Top with last third zucchini. Sprinkle black pepper, parmesan, and mozzarella.

Bake at 375°F for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown.

The world’s largest cheese wheel weighed over 57,000 pounds.

There are more than 2,000 different kinds of cheese around the world.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

20 FUN FACTS ABOUT Cheese

Parmesan cheese is so hard that special knives are used to cut it. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Some cheeses are aged for more than 10 years before being eaten.

Swiss cheese doesn’t always come from Switzerland — it’s a style of cheese with holes.

String cheese is usually made from mozzarella cheese.

Some of the most expensive cheeses in the world are carefully aged for years.

Cheddar cheese gets its name from the village of Cheddar in England.

Cheese was discovered over 4,000 years ago by accident.

The holes in Swiss cheese are called “eyes.”

Cheese can glow under black light because of natural proteins inside it.

Americans eat billions of pounds of cheese every year.

Blue cheese gets its color from safe, special mold.

Pizza cheese stretches because mozzarella melts differently than most cheeses.

Cheese contains protein and calcium that help build strong bones.

Ancient Romans loved cheese so much they had special cheese kitchens. Some cheeses are made from goat milk or sheep milk.

Cottage cheese got its name because it was often made in small cottages on farms.

The smellier a cheese is, the more flavorful it often tastes!

A grilled cheese sandwich becomes extra crispy because of the fats in the cheese and butter.

10 Cheese Riddles

I can be sliced, shredded, melted, or spread.

What am I?

I have holes that are called “eyes.”

What am I?

I am creamy, sweet, and popular on Shavuot.

What am I?

I can be pulled apart into long, yummy strips.

What am I?

I stretch on pizza and make every bite gooey.

What am I?

I am named after a village in England.

What am I?

I am hard, salty, and often grated on pasta.

What am I?

What am I? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

I am white, soft, and often eaten with fruit or crackers.

I turn bread into a crispy, melty sandwich. What am I?

I am made from milk and come in more than 2,000 kinds. What am I? 9 10

:

all ROADS LEAD to TOWN

A Full-Service Cigar Lounge With a Community Soul

By JBuzz

When Zev Stern moved his family full-time to South Florida, he was not just watching Hollywood grow — he was becoming part of that growth.

Originally from New Jersey, Zev and his wife purchased their home in Emerald Hills in 2015. For several years, they traveled back and forth while business obligations kept him up north. Eventually, shortly before the lockdown, they made the full move.

“We loved being down in Hollywood,” Zev said. “Our children are in the local schools, we became part of the community, and we really felt connected here.”

Over the last few years, Zev has watched Hollywood transform from what he describes as a “nice small community” into one of South Florida’s fastest-growing Jewish neighborhoods.

“It exploded,” he said. “It’s not normal how quickly it grew.

Hollywood has grown by Griffin, West Hollywood, Stirling, the Lakes, the Hills — it’s massive. The same growth South Florida has seen, Hollywood has probably gotten a huge part of that.”

But Zev’s own story in the community is not only about where he lives. It is also about the unique business he helped build: a fullservice cigar lounge, coffee shop, bar, event space, and members’ clubhouse designed to be upscale, welcoming, and community-minded.

From Real Estate to Cigars

Before entering the cigar lounge business, Zev spent 25 years in real estate development. His partners, however, came from the cigar world.

“One of my partners has been in the cigar industry for over 20 years,” Zev explained. “He is the true cigar aficionado.”

That partner began years ago with a small cigar kiosk at the old Hard Rock Casino, long before the famous guitar-shaped hotel was built. Over the years, he became well known in the cigar industry and helped develop cigar retail and lounge concepts throughout the area.

Zev’s other partner is a former Marine and is also deeply connected to cigars. Together, the three saw an opportunity to create something more than a traditional cigar shop.

“They had the cigar background,” Zev said. “I brought my real estate and development experience. We bought the building, renovated it, designed it, and grew the concept from cigar retail into a full-blown cigar lounge.”

More Than a Cigar Store

What makes the lounge stand out, Zev explained, is that it was built as a full experience.

At the front of the store is a working coffee shop and bar, completely separate from the cigar area. Guests can come in for coffee, beer, wine, or conversation without being surrounded by smoke.

“We have phenomenal coffee,” Zev said. “People really rave about it. We have iced coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, espresso — the full coffee experience.”

The lounge also carries more than 100 beers from around the world, including a large stout collection, which Zev says pairs especially well with cigars. In addition, all wines served at the lounge are kosher, giving Jewish guests another layer of comfort when enjoying the experience.

“All of our wines are kosher, and we try to make the space comfortable and accommodating for Jewish clients as well as non-Jewish clients,” he said.

The cigar side of the business is equally curated. Zev says the lounge carries more than 300 facings, including mid- to high-end cigars, limited releases, rare finds, and brands that are difficult to get elsewhere.

“We are not a run-of-the-mill cigar store,” he said. “Because my partner has been in the industry for so long and knows so many people, we have access to cigars that are nearly impossible to find.”

A Speakeasy-Style Members’ Lounge

Behind the retail and coffee shop area is a speakeasy-style cigar lounge

designed for members and special events.

Members receive discounted rates and can use private lockers to store cigar boxes and personal bottles of hard liquor, which the lounge does not sell but allows members to keep in their own lockers. The result is a private clubhouse feel, where guests can enjoy their cigar of choice, their drink of choice, and conversations with like-minded people.

“It’s really a social experience,” Zev said. “Cigar smoking is not like cigarette smoking. It’s not about addiction. It’s about relaxing, enjoying the flavors, the experience, the pairing, and the conversation.”

The lounge includes large TVs for sports games, boxing matches, fight nights, and other events requested by members. It also functions as an event space for corporate gatherings, law offices, private groups, car shows, motorcycle meets, and veteran-focused programming.

“We’ve had corporations rent the space, people come in, mingle, smoke, have a drink, and enjoy the environment,” Zev said. “It’s a fullservice experience, not just retail.”

Why Davie/ Hollywood?

Although many people associate the lounge with Hollywood, Zev clarifies that the business is technically in Davie, right on the Hollywood border.

“Sometimes the address shows up as Davie, sometimes as Hollywood,” he said. “But we are right on the border.”

For Zev and his partners, the location made sense because they all live in the area. The building itself also offered something rare: independence.

“It’s a standalone building,” Zev said. “We have ample parking, we can do events, and we don’t have to worry about bothering neighbors. It’s our own spot.”

Owning the building also allowed Zev to design the space properly. The cigar lounge has its own ventilation, air conditioning, and air-scrubbing system, while the humidor is self-contained with ideal temperature and humidity for the cigars.

“The smoking area is separate, the humidor is separate, and the coffee shop and bar have no smoking,” he said. “Someone can come in with a child and sit for coffee without being around smoke.”

A Jewish-Friendly Lounge With a Community Feel

Beyond cigars, coffee, and conversation, Zev says the lounge was built to be a welcoming space for the broader community.

“We consider ourselves familyowned and operated,” Zev shared. “My partners and I are like family,

and giving back to the community is important to us.”

The lounge has already hosted shiurim, pre-Yom Tov gatherings, and community events, including pre-Pesach programming. The concept is simple: guests can come for meaningful Torah and conversation, and afterward those who wish can stay, relax, and enjoy a cigar in the lounge.

That community focus continues with upcoming events as well. On May 31, the lounge is scheduled to host Rabbi Daniel Lapin, known to many as “America’s Rabbi,” for a book signing and cigar event after Shavuos.

Zev also noted that the lounge is open to partnering with organizations that support Israel, the IDF, veterans, and other meaningful causes.

“We are Jewish-friendly, accommodating, and communityminded,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s also just a fun place to be.”

Built Slowly, With Room to Grow

The lounge opened in March of last year, and while Zev says the business is still young, the response has been encouraging.

“It’s a new business, and every new business takes time to build,” he said. “But our members seem to like it, and the response has been very positive.”

As for future growth, Zev says they are open to additional locations, though not necessarily franchising.

“We plan on opening other locations,” he said. “I’m not sure yet about franchising. Slow and steady is my motto. We’ll do it at the right time and in the right place.”

For now, Zev and his partners are focused on continuing to build the lounge as a destination — not just for cigar enthusiasts, but for people looking for conversation, community, events, and a comfortable place to unwind.

“It’s not just a cigar store,” Zev said. “It’s a full-service experience.”

Hollywood’s Jewish Boom

How Hollywood Became One of South Florida’s FastestGrowing Jewish Communities

Over the past decade — and especially since 2020 — Hollywood has quietly transformed into one of the most dynamic Jewish growth stories in the country. What was once viewed primarily

as a smaller alternative to Miami Beach or Boca Raton has evolved into a full-scale Jewish ecosystem: expanding shuls, booming kosher dining, growing schools, new mikvah projects, increasing Israeli migration, and neighborhoods now specifically sought after by Orthodox Jewish families.

Today, Hollywood is no longer simply “up-and-coming.” For many families, it has already arrived. According to recent community

research, the Hollywood area already contained more than 14,000 Jews across key ZIP codes as far back as 2016 — and nearly every major communal indicator suggests that number has risen significantly in recent years.

From Hidden Gem to Major Jewish Hub

For years, South Florida’s Orthodox growth centered around places like Miami Beach, Aventura, and

Boca Raton. But skyrocketing housing prices, school demand, and changing work patterns began pushing younger families to search elsewhere.

Hollywood offered something unique:

+ More affordable homes

+ Strong Jewish infrastructure

+ Access to kosher food

+ Expanding schools and shuls

+ Larger homes and neighborhoods

+ Proximity to both Miami and Boca

The result has been explosive growth.

Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale — one of the area’s central Orthodox institutions — reportedly grew from more than 650 families in 2021 to over 700 families today.

And many community leaders believe the real number of Orthodox families living in the area is even higher.

The Rise of Hollywood’s Kosher Scene

Perhaps nowhere is Hollywood’s transformation more visible than in its kosher food scene.

What once required long drives to Miami Beach or Boca can now largely be found within a few miles of Stirling Road.

Recent years have seen a wave of kosher openings and expansions, including:

+ PALA Mediterranean Kitchen

+ Sushi House

+ Bambu Hollywood

+ Yum Berry Cafe & Sushi Bar

+ Florentin Bakery

+ Cafe Noir

+ The Cave Kosher Steakhouse

+ Holy Schnitzel

+ Shalom Haifa

+ Jeff's Gourmet Kosher Sushi

The area’s kosher shopping scene has expanded just as dramatically.

Residents now regularly shop at:

+ KC Market

+ The Grove Kosher Market

+ Nuts Factory

The growth isn’t just about restaurants — it reflects a much deeper shift.

Large kosher grocery stores, Cholov Yisroel cafés, bakeries, sushi bars, upscale restaurants, and Israelistyle eateries now create the kind of infrastructure that allows observant families to comfortably build longterm lives in the area.

Shuls Expanding Across the City

Hollywood’s synagogue landscape has expanded dramatically alongside

its population growth.

The longtime backbone of the community remains Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, which has become one of the largest Orthodox synagogue communities in Florida.

But the broader ecosystem has diversified as well.

The area now includes:

+ Ashkenazi shuls

+ Sephardic congregations

+ Israeli minyanim

+ Outreach-oriented communities

+ Learning kollels

+ Community Torah centers

Among the notable institutions:

+ B'nai Sephardim

+ Hollywood Community Kollel

+ Chabad of Emerald Hills

The growth has become so significant that new mikvah developments and expansions are now actively underway.

One major proposed mikvah project on Monroe Street recently advanced through city approval processes and is expected to serve hundreds of local families.

Jewish Schools Feeling the Boom

Schools may be the clearest sign of just how quickly the community is growing.

Regional Jewish schools have reported surging enrollment, waiting lists, and increasing demand from relocating families.

The Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes system now reports more than 250 Hollywood students enrolled across its divisions.

Meanwhile:

+ Yeshivat Torat Yosef launched a major Orthodox educational campus

+ Brauser Maimonides Academy experienced major enrollment growth

+ Girls schools and high schools continue expanding

+ Families increasingly cite schooling as one of the main reasons for relocating

+ In many ways, Hollywood’s growth now resembles what Boca experienced years earlier — except at a faster pace.

Why Families Are Moving In

A major factor behind the migration is affordability.

According to the research,

Hollywood’s median home values remain significantly below Boca Raton while offering many of the same communal benefits.

For young Orthodox families balancing:

+ Tuition

+ Housing

+ Kosher living

+ Community needs

+ Growing family sizes …the difference can be enormous.

The shift accelerated heavily during and after COVID, when remote work made geography less restrictive.

Families from:

+ Brooklyn + Manhattan + Lakewood

+ New Jersey

+ Los Angeles

+ Israel

began increasingly viewing Hollywood as a viable long-term option instead of just a vacation destination.

Beyond Emerald Hills

Historically, Emerald Hills served as the heart of Hollywood’s Orthodox community.

But today, growth has expanded far beyond the original core.

Neighborhoods seeing increasing Jewish growth include:

+ Hollywood Oaks

+ Oakridge

+ Forest Park

+ The Preserve at Emerald Hills

+ Mapleridge

+ Arapahoe Farms

As the original neighborhoods become more saturated, the community continues spreading westward while remaining connected through shuls, schools, and communal infrastructure.

A Community

Becoming Permanent

What makes Hollywood different today is that it no longer feels temporary.

The community now has:

+ Established schools

+ Multiple synagogue options

+ Kollels and learning centers

+ Kosher supermarkets

+ Expanding restaurant scenes

+ Mikvah infrastructure

+ Community organizations

+ Jewish programming year-round Developers have noticed as well. Several major mixed-use and residential projects near the Hard Rock area have specifically incorporated synagogue space, kosher-oriented amenities, and Shabbat-friendly planning.

That signals something important: Hollywood’s Jewish growth is no longer simply reactive. It is now actively shaping development itself.

The Challenges of Success

Rapid growth has also brought pressure.

Housing inventory remains tight in many Jewish neighborhoods. Schools continue managing waitlists. Security costs for institutions have risen dramatically. And some neighborhood zoning debates have become increasingly contentious as Jewish infrastructure expands.

Yet despite those growing pains, most signs point toward continued expansion.

For many families, Hollywood now offers something increasingly rare:

A fully functioning Jewish community with room — at least for now — to still grow.

The Future of Jewish Hollywood

South Florida’s Jewish map is changing rapidly.

And while places like Boca and Miami Beach remain major centers of Jewish life, Hollywood has emerged as one of the most important growth corridors anywhere in the region.

The restaurants are opening.

The schools are filling. The shuls are expanding. And the families keep arriving. Hollywood is no longer the “next” Jewish community in South Florida. It has become one of the main ones.

Rethinking Torah Education: A Conversation with Rabbi Yoel Lax and the Vision Behind Hineini

A new educational model opening in Hollywood aims to combine rigorous Torah learning, handson life skills, music, creativity, and deeply intentional childhood development.

In an era when more parents than ever are asking difficult questions about education, one South Florida educator believes the conversation needs to go deeper.

Not simply: Which school is best?

But rather: What kind of childhood are we creating for our children?

For Rabbi Yoel Lax, an experienced educator who has taught across the United States and Europe, those questions eventually led to the creation of Hineini — a new Home Education Instructional Program (HEIP) for Orthodox Jewish boys ages five through seven opening in Hollywood, Florida in September 2026.

And while the legal structure may fall under Florida’s home education framework, Rabbi Lax says the vision behind Hineini is far bigger than labels or technical definitions.

“This is not a supplement or an after-school program,” Rabbi Lax explains. “This is a complete educational environment built around the idea that children learn best when Torah, creativity, practical skills, curiosity, and personal

responsibility are woven together.”

The name itself reflects that philosophy.

Hineini — “Here I am.”

“It’s the word Avraham Avinu says when Hashem calls to him,” Rabbi Lax says. “Presence. Readiness. Responsibility. That’s the culture we want to create — both for educators and for students.”

A Different Kind of Learning Environment

Rabbi Lax is careful not to frame Hineini as a rejection of traditional schools. In fact, he repeatedly emphasizes his respect for many existing yeshivos and educators.

But after more than a decade teaching in schools and educational settings in France, London, Texas, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and Florida, he noticed a recurring pattern.

“There are so many bright, curious, energetic boys who slowly disengage from learning,” he says. “Not because they lack ability — but because the structure around them doesn’t fit the way they naturally learn.”

According to Rabbi Lax, many children — especially young boys — thrive through movement, hands-on experiences, creativity, ownership, and active participation.

“We’ve normalized the idea that a child should sit still for seven hours a day absorbing information passively,” he says. “But for many children, that environment slowly shuts something off inside them.” Hineini was designed to reimagine that experience from the ground up. Every day begins with meaningful tefilla and Torah learning, but the

educational model extends far beyond textbooks and lectures.

“If the boys are learning about Sukkos, they’ll build a sukkah,” Rabbi Lax explains. “If they’re learning about the 39 melachos, they’ll experience them hands-on. If they’re learning Hilchos Kashrus, they’ll apply it practically in the kitchen.”

The goal, he says, is for Torah to become something children live — not simply information they memorize.

The “Eretz Track”: Learning Through Real Life

Alongside Limudei Kodesh, Hineini places significant emphasis on general studies taught through practical, immersive experiences.

Math is connected to budgeting, construction, and real-world problem solving.

Science emerges through gardening, cooking, experimentation, and building projects.

Hebrew immersion is woven naturally throughout the day.

Students also participate in project-based learning “sprints,” allowing them to pursue areas of genuine interest while developing independence and creativity.

The program eventually plans to incorporate woodworking, coding, plumbing, entrepreneurship, and additional practical disciplines often absent from conventional education models.

Rabbi Lax believes this type of experiential learning helps children retain information more deeply while simultaneously building confidence.

“A child should know what it feels like to become capable,” he says. “Not only academically, but practically.”

Why Music Is Core — Not Optional

One of the most unique aspects of Hineini’s model is its daily music program beginning at age five.

Students receive regular instruction in piano and music theory as part of the core curriculum — not as an extracurricular activity.

Rabbi Lax believes music plays a critical role in cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development.

“Music develops discipline, creativity, emotional intelligence, coordination — all at once,” he says. “And within Jewish life specifically, music is deeply connected to Yiddishkeit. Niggunim, davening, zemiros — music shapes how we experience Torah emotionally.”

The program’s music curriculum will be led by an experienced educator who shares the school’s broader educational vision.

Building Independence Through the “Skill Zone”

Another major component of Hineini is something called the “Skill Zone.”

During this dedicated time, students independently pursue an area of interest with guidance from teachers and outside mentors.

One child may focus on languages. Another may choose design, electronics, woodworking, or another craft.

“The experience of choosing something yourself, improving over time, and becoming genuinely good at it builds confidence in a

completely different way,” Rabbi Lax says.

“It teaches children how to learn independently — which may be one of the most important life skills of all.”

Orthodox, Torah-Centered, and Broadly Welcoming

Although Hineini introduces a nontraditional educational structure, Rabbi Lax is clear that the school’s Torah values are uncompromising.

“Hineini is unapologetically Orthodox,” he says. “Our atmosphere, standards, values, and culture are deeply rooted in authentic Torah Judaism.”

At the same time, the program welcomes families from across the Orthodox spectrum — including Yeshivish, Heimish, Sephardic, Litvish, and Modern Orthodox backgrounds.

“What matters most to us is not labels,” Rabbi Lax explains. “It’s whether Torah is truly central in the home.”

The curriculum itself is also designed to maintain strong academic rigor and alignment with recognized standards in both General Studies and Limudei Kodesh.

“We want parents to understand that they do not have to choose between ‘different’ and ‘rigorous,’” he says. “We are committed to both.”

Why South Florida — and Why Now?

Rabbi Lax believes South Florida’s rapidly growing Orthodox community makes this the right place and the right time for a

program like Hineini.

“There are more thoughtful conversations happening around education right now than perhaps ever before,” he says.

He also believes the post-pandemic world shifted the way many families think about childhood and schooling.

“Parents are asking deeper questions now,” he says. “Is my child genuinely engaged? Is he excited to learn? Is school helping him become the person we hope he’ll become?”

For Rabbi Lax, Hineini is intended to answer those questions through a model centered on intentionality, warmth, Torah values, and meaningful engagement.

And ultimately, he says, the success of the program will not be measured only by academic benchmarks.

“I want parents to see their son walk through the door excited about what he learned,” he says. “I want them to hear him bentch with feeling. I want them to see curiosity, confidence, kindness, and genuine excitement about Torah and the world around him.”

“That,” Rabbi Lax says, “is what we’re trying to build.”

Hineini is a Home Education Instructional Program (HEIP) opening in Hollywood, Florida in September 2026 for Orthodox Jewish boys ages 5–7. For more information, visit www.hineini.me or email info@hineini.me.

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