Baltimore Jewish Home - 4-28-22

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N E W LO O K , S A M E G R E AT C O N T E N T ! Vol. 8 Issue #8 | April 28 - May 11, 2022 |

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Kesser Torah Bochurim Warmed by the Fire of Torah During Winter Zman

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My Comedy is Real Life -

The Irrepressible Malkie Knopfler

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Over 5,000 Issues Printed | Over 10,000 Readers | www.thebjh.com

‫ י׳ אייר‬- ‫כ״ז ניסן‬

The BJH Kid’s Coloring Corner


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APRIL 28, 2022

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APRIL 28, 2022

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Contents

Dear Readers,

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

APRIL 28, 2022

COMMUNITY Around the Community Community Calendar

6 36

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman

32

PEOPLE 613 Seconds

15

FEATURE “My Comedy is Real Life” The Irrepressible Malkie Knopfler

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HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT Centerfold

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Notable Quotes

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NEW! Kids Coloring Contest

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LIFESTYLES Dirshu

34

Teen Talk

40

Israel Today

44

Parenting Pearls

46

JWOW!

50

Forgotten Heroes

52

Mental Health

54

Dating Dialogue

62

Life Coach

66

Your Money

68

With Elon Musk on the cusp of acquiring Twitter, it is difficult to balance how we should react to the news. Twitter has been the most powerful social media platform in regard to providing a stage for individuals, organizations, and media to broadcast breaking news, opinions, and other content by “tweeting,” or expressing the post in no more than 280 words. Until now, there has been an “oversight” committee that governs the quality, truthfulness, and tone of each tweet. This group of internal Twitter administrators, has built a reputation for having an extreme far left bias, which results in Twitter being dominated by people with similar belief systems. At the same time, they do attempt to eliminate blatant anti-semitism and unruly individuals. For many in the Jewish community, these policies are quite concerning because there is a definite bias in their oversight; voices that should be muted are amplified, and vice versa. However, now that Elon Musk has agreed to buy out the shareholders (for a cool $44 billion!), there is an expectation that he will remove the shackles and provide a voice to everyone equally. The easy reaction is to celebrate free speech and look forward to a balanced playing field. As Jews though, there’s reason for concern. Do we want the far right to circulate their persuasions? Do we want people that have no moral values to preach? It’s

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National

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That’s Odd

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The Twitter effect has also run its course across Jewish media as well; not just on “Frum Twitter” but on Jewish news sites as well. The ongoing rat race to be the first to publish or post something, is oftentimes at the expense of others and void of empathy. Do we beed to see the live footage of a a bombing in Israel showing dead people or severely injured individuals? Do websites need to allow comments that will inevitably lead to Lashon Harah and Rechilus? Do we need to sensationalize the untimely death of a father or a mother? The list goes on, but as opposed to Twitter this is something we can control and we need to be better at! Aaron Menachem

Send us your: community events, articles & photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!

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Either way, Twitter is a monster that we’re better off without. There is far more divisiveness than good. Aside from the polarizing opinions that are rampant on the platform, there is also an environment of competition in being the first to break news. Additionally, there is a general lack of sensitivity in posting videos, images, and opinions of breaking news stories. Virtue signaling is rampant, and the reactions are brutal. But, Twitter is here to stay and there is not much we can do about it!

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certainly confusing and challenging to know which direction is more beneficial for us.

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The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. All opinions expressed by the journalists, contributors and/or advertisers printed and/or quoted herein are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, Internet or another medium. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.


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Around the Community

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Community-Wide Biyur Chometz Attended by More Than 20,000 Members of the Baltimore Jewish Community


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APRIL 28, 2022

Kesser Torah Bochurim Warmed by the Fire of Torah During Winter Zman

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hile Kesser Torah of Baltimore (KT) may only be five years old, it has already entrenched itself within the Baltimore community as a yeshiva that sets its bochurim on a path to learn with a brehn and create a cheishek for Torah for a lifetime. This past Winter Zman has allowed the talmidei ha’yeshiva, who number well over 100 bochurim in grades 9-12 and a first-year Bais Medrash, to not only engross themselves in Torah via their normal seder ha’yom, but also by witnessing their rebbeim emulate a life of Ahavas ha’Torah and Yiras Hashem. At the beginning of the Winter Zman, the yeshiva shared in the simcha of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRov Nosson Newman Shlit”a, as he was mesayim Shas, something he has been zoche to achieve annually for close to twenty years. Also at the beginning of the Zman, the new Bais Medrash dormitory opened its doors to bochurim from Baltimore, Lakewood, Monsey, Brooklyn, Passaic, and other locations. The dorm is housed in a beautiful manor house on the yeshiva’s campus. A few months ago, over the course of a four-day retreat, the entire mesivta relocated to New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, to learn and grow in a new environment while being able to witness their rebbeim outside of the normal yeshiva schedule. As in the past, in true KT fashion, talmidim participated in a four-hour retzufos seder to cap off an unprecedented Winter Zman of growth in

Limud ha’Torah and Yiras Shamayim. Bochurim removed their watches and learned without interruptions with their chavrusas. The only break in learning was halfway through the seder when the Rosh Mesivta provided words of chizuk to the Bnei yeshiva. In addition to the mesivta’s alumni who are currently learning in KT’s Bais Medrash, many other alumni, currently learning in yeshivos in Lakewood, Monsey, and Eretz Yis-

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roel, returned to join in the seder. This was an incredibly powerful sight for the younger bochurim as they begin to understand what it means to continue their kesher with their rebbeim and yeshiva for a lifetime. Following this impressive accomplishment, the entire yeshiva joined in a banquet with music and dancing in honor of the Torah learned during the Winter Zman. Additionally, there were raffles for those who were me-

kabel upon themselves to learn every day over Bein ha’Zmanim. Prizes included sets of Achronim, Mishna Brura, and various Haggadahs. The event concluded with a kumzitz outside. Each bochur was able to complete the long Winter Zman with a sense of accomplishment and an opportunity to catapult themselves into greater learning during the final Zman of the year.

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ARYEH KATZ President

ZVI SCHWARTZ Vice President

RAV MOSHE HEINEMANN Rabbi

ELI REIDLER Treasurer

EZRA KRONGLAS Assistant Treasurer

SHIMON SMITH Secretary

Reuven Abedon Yisroel Applebaum Yisroel Moshe Bohensky Natanel Danziger

Alex Alhadeff Shlomo Berman Menachem Cohen

Tony Goldenberg

Shraga Green Eli Heinemann

Tuvia Jacobs

Shalom Chaim Halberstam Moshe Jacobs

Shalom Aryeh Greenfield Moshe Hoffman

Chaim Kamarow

Rami Kelemer

Akiva Krupp

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Shia Lowenbraun Avraham Nelkin

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Alexander Weill Moshe Weiskopf

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Moshe Weiss

Chanoch Lurie Nechemya Rayman Shmuel Tzvi Sheffield Naftali Spero Binyamin Weinstein Shimon Zelikovitch

Yehuda Levenbrown Ari Markowitz Noach Yisrael Salzberg Sruli Shapiro

Akiva Ziffer

Dovi Ziffer

Larry Ziffer

Noam Zuroff

Mordechai Zelikovitch The Baltimore Chesed League

Yaakov Zev Greenfield Avrohom Dovid Hopfer Kfir Kelemer

Binaymin Danziger Yisrael Meir Glazer Gary Gutenberg

Shmuel Singal Yehudah Weill

Yaakov Fialkoff

Ari Ansfeld Dovid Boehm Yosef Chaim Danesh Daniel Frank

A special mention goes to the Jewish Cemetery Association, headed by Mr. Steve Venick, who arranged many of the details to facilitate the burial of the ‫ שמות‬and who took care of all the substantial costs of the excavation at the cemetery. Although this was written to thank those involved with the burial of the ‫שמות‬, we would like to use this opportunity to thank Reb Dovid Mandel who works throughout the year to keep the whole ‫שמות‬ project in good order. Yasher koach to Reb Dovid for his outstanding dedication. AGUDATH ISRAEL OF BALTIMORE ● 6200 PARK HEIGHTS AVENUE ● BALTIMORE, MD 21215

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Jeff Alhadeff Dovid Berkowitz Chaim Moshe Cohen Daniel Elman

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APRIL 28, 2022

We are grateful and indebted to the unbelievable team of volunteers who joined in the mitzvah of preparing the ‫ שמות‬for burial which took place between Purim and Pesach. The Agudath Israel of Baltimore receives ‫ שמות‬from the entire community – individuals, institutions, shuls and schools -- and takes care of the work involved at no charge. As the difficult task of loading the ‫ שמות‬into dumpsters was taking place, the ‫ אחדות‬and cooperation between everyone helping – young and old – was a beautiful sight to behold, and ‫ הקב״ה‬Himself surely had ‫ נחת‬from this outstanding group of people. They should all be bentsched with Brocho and Hatzlocho. We would really like to publicly thank everyone involved, but some people preferred to remain anonymous. Some names were unable to be verified, so this may be only a partial list of the wonderful volunteers, but each one who helped, whether listed or not, will surely receive his ‫ שכר‬from the ‫רבש״ע‬. Our sincerest thanks to:

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Agudath Israel of Baltimore


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Around the Community

O

hr Chadash Academy (OCA) is proud to announce that 8th Graders Alina Rosen and Racheli Schwarzenberger recently qualified to participate in the national finals of the Chidon HaTanach competition in New York on May 1. The Chidon HaTanach is sponsored by the Jewish Agency and is open to students in grades 6-11. OCA is registered in the highly competitive Hebrew Middle School

division of the Chidon HaTanach for schools that learn and master the text in Lashon HaKodesh. Under the guidance of Rabbi Mordechai Abrahams, six dedicated OCA middle school students worked hard to learn all of Sefer Bereishit, the majority of Melachim Aleph, and select perakim from Tehillim. At the national finals, Alina and Racheli along with more

than 100 students will take further tests and celebrate their knowledge of these sefarim. The top four students will represent the U.S. in the International Chidon HaTanach competition next summer. OCA is thrilled that for the fourth consecutive year two of its students qualified for the national finals. Hatzlacha Rabbah to Alina and Racheli!

Three Members Of Our Community Are Running For Elected Office By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

T

hree members of our community are running for elected office, Ruth Goetz, Karen Yosafat Beleck, and Rebecca Chesner. Ruth Goetz is running for her third

term on the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee District 2. She has served as the Chair of the Outreach and Communication Committee, Member at Large, president of the Northwest Republican Club for 4 years. Karen Yosafat Beleck is running for Baltimore City Board of Education

Member at Large. She has dedicated her life to the education of children and adults in many different settings. She has innovative plans to improve our city schools and encourage the students to enjoy learning in school to be productive citizens of our city. Rebecca Chesner is running for Baltimore County School Board District 2. She is a retired school psychologist who worked twenty five years for

Baltimore city public schools. She is a passionate advocate for children and stands for bringing back transparency, academic excellence and common sense policies to our schools. Board of Education candidates are non-partisan. All registered voters can vote for Board of Education candidates. It is important for our community to participate in the making our city and county a better place for everyone.

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abbi Shmuel Berkovicz taught so much — and meant so much — to so many. A dedicated rebbi and menahel. A beloved rav of his Passaic kehillah. A compassionate father to yesomim. An expert in shalom bayis issues. And a friend, a yedid? Reb Shmuel was that - and so much more! - to every single Yid. In this engaging biography by Rabbi Yechiel Spero, his very life becomes a powerful lesson to all of us. We learn lessons in how to raise well-balanced and happy children or students. We learn how to raise ourselves up, how to fill ourselves with simchah, with caring and compassion for others, with enthusiasm and fervor for Torah — and for life.

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“He called so many ‘yedidi ahuvi,’ because each one was his beloved friend.”

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Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Hosts Community Wide Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim Program

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s the word “Mercaz” implies, Mercaz Torah U’Tefilah today is the center for Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim in the Baltimore community. Under our new branding of “Mercaz Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim”, we have been blessed to serve over 500 kids, Bachurim and Yungerleit with our various Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim programs. The Bachurim were trickling in already starting after Purim, but Bein HaZmanim kicked into high gear on the Sunday before Pesach with the pre-Pesach community Shiur. Sponsored by the Friedman family in memory of their father, Yerachmiel Boruch ben Elozor, this year we were Zocheh

to be addressed by the Rosh Yeshiva of BMG, Harav Dovid Schustal Shlit”a. This standing room only event was a tremendous Kavod HaTorah, and truly set the tone for the many hours the Bachurim shteiged over Bein HaZmanim. Bachurim from across the community flocked to Mercaz Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim because of the comfortable and inviting Beis Medrash, convenient Minyanim times, catered breakfast, state-of-the-art coffee machines, refreshments throughout the day, hot fleishig supper and most importantly – the general atmosphere. To quote Aaron Strauss who was in for Bein HaZmanim from Eretz Yisroel: “Yeshivas Bein HaZmanim in Mercaz Torah U’Tefilah has brought

the learning during Bein HaZmanim in the city of Baltimore to a whole new level. Anyone walking in was able to see and feel the fire, the Hasmada and the incredible energy. I really enjoyed being a part of this!” Over the course of Bein HaZmanim we had the Kavod of hearing Shiurim from many Chashuv Rabbeim representing the many wonderful Yeshivos in our community. On Wednesday night before Pesach we heard Divrei Hisorerus with connection to the Haggada from Rav Shlomo Kinzer, (Rav Shlanger’s Yeshiva). On Chol HaMoed we heard Shiurim on a range of topics, including Melacha on Chol HaMoed, Simchas Yom Tov and the Mitzva of Arba Kosos. The Shiurim

were given by Rav Avrohom Schorr (Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim), Rav Tzvi Einstater (Ner Yisroel), Rav Eli Rifkind (TA) and Rav Yitzchok Hopfer (Kesser Torah). On Sunday night following Yom Tov we heard a Shiur from Rav Yehuda Weiner (Ner Yisroel) on Inyanei Sefiras HaOmer. As we look towards the Summer Zman, Dovid Boehm who’s home from his Yeshiva in Passaic, says: “Whatever time I come, whether morning or evening, the Beis Medrash is packed to the point I have a hard time finding a seat… I’m looking forward to my seat in Yeshiva! “ We wish all the Bachurim and Yungerleit safe travels and a successful Summer Zman!


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What type of real estate are you involved with? I am a commercial real estate investment sales broker with Marcus & Millichap. I work out of their Baltimore and DC offices. I focus on the retail sector, and I am part of a 5-person team helping clients buy and sell shopping centers in the

What types of clients do you work with? I work with a wide range of clients from the private high net worth investors looking to buy their first triple net leased property with hands off involvement for cash flow and depreciation to the sophisticated public real estate investment trusts. I also work with a lot of clients that are looking to perform a 1031 exchange from either a more management intensive asset class or just trading up to a larger property. What trends are you seeing now in the retail real estate market? While retail has had a negative reputation since before COVID, we learned during it how important

I understand you are putting together a real estate and business networking golf event on behalf of Ner Tamid. How did that come about? Besides real estate, I also enjoy giving back to my community and I am very involved with my shul, Ner Tamid. I am currently the co-president of our brotherhood, and when COVID was more of an issue, the shul was looking for a nice way to put on an outdoor community event that people would be comfortable attending. After spending some time researching different options, golf was chosen due to its growing popularity and shortage of community golf events. Where and when will the event be held? Sunday, May 15, at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Timonium.

How do I sign up or sponsor? Visit NerTamidGolf.com Do you need to be a golfer to attend the event? No. The event was designed to be a fun, relaxed way to meet other business owners and people involved in the real estate industry. If you are not a golfer, we have an option to just join us for the networking and dinner portion that will be taking place after golfing. Do you have any final thoughts you would like to add? I would like to thank our event sponsors and volunteers who have been helpful in getting this event off the ground. I would like to invite everyone to join us on Sunday, May 15th, for what promises to be a great event. If I can ever be of assistance to anyone, whether they are an experienced real estate investor or looking to learn about the industry, I am always available to chat. How can readers contact you? I can be reached at jeff@marcusmillichap.com or at 202-536-3760 or on LinkedIn.

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Tell us about yourself? I am from Baltimore and am one of five sons. My last name may sound familiar as I have 3 brothers in town involved in different businesses, as well as my mom who is a well-known writer. I have always been involved in business one way or another since a young age. I was in the construction, manufacturing, landscaping and retail sectors before putting those skills to work in the real estate industry.

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physical retail really was. Online retailers are realizing that having physical retail stores actually helps their online sales in those markets. There is still currently lots of money chasing retail deals which are still causing pricing to be at record highs. Interest rates have been rising steadily and we are just starting to see it affect pricing.

APRIL 28, 2022

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

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The Week In News

15.2M Jews Worldwide The world’s Jewish population reached 15.2 million by the end of 2020 – approximately 1.4 million less than on the eve of the Holocaust in 1939, when the number was 16.6 million, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. Israel is home to 6.9 million Jews; when the state was established in 1948 there were only 650,000 Jews living there. Six million Jews live in the United States. France has the largest population of Jews outside of Israel and the United States, with 445,000 Jews living there. The next nine countries with the

most Jews are Canada (393,000 Jews), the United Kingdom (292,000 Jews), Argentina (175,000 Jews), Russia (150,000 Jews), and Germany and Australia, which are tied at numbers eight and nine, with 118,000 Jews each. Of the Jews living in Israel, 5.4 million were born in Israel, and 1.5 million immigrated. Two-thirds of the Jews who made aliyah came from the U.S. or Europe, and most of the rest came from Africa or Asia.

MK Chikli Ousted The Knesset House Committee on Monday authorized Yamina’s request to oust renegade Yamina MK Amichai Chikli, after raucous deliberations that stretched out for some 12 hours. The move, which carries significant personal sanctions on Chikli, is widely seen as a sign to other Yamina lawmakers to stay in line after former coalition whip Idit Silman destroyed the coalition’s majority by leaving it in early April. Yamina filed its request

to eject Chikli from the party a day after Silman’s departure. Chikli will now be barred from running in any existing Knesset faction in the next election, among other punitive measures.

Seven members of the committee voted in favor of declaring Chikli a defector, while three, including Silman, did not participate in the vote. Silman, who is a member of the committee, said during the hearing, “I felt that I am loyal to my values ​​and to my voters. This hearing is vengeful.” Grouping herself with Chikli, she said: “We are not the defectors; we are going with the promises, the platform and the values we ​​ promised to Yamina voters.” Chikli and his supporters claim that diverging with the party over

ideological grounds may be allowed under Knesset rules and that Chikli has maintained Yamina’s electoral promises while the party has abandoned them. The party, represented by Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana, has in turn claimed that Chikli actively worked against the Yamina-led government – from refusing to vote for its investiture to voting no-confidence in the government to voting against key legislation. “MK Chikli, if values were the basis of your decision, how did you dare to vote against the Citizenship Law? How did you dare to vote against a clear security interest of the State of Israel?” Kahana said, adding that Chikli had agreed ahead of time to vote in favor and then did the opposite. In all, Chikli voted against Yamina’s position 754 times, including against the state budget, Kahana said. “The legal situation before us is simple, clear and unequivocal: MK Amichai Chikli has taken every possible action to defect from the Yam-


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The Week In News ina faction and is actively working against the faction and with a clear aim to harm it and its leaders,” said the minister. Chikli is the third MK to be ejected from a party. Most recently, former MK Orly Levy-Abekasis was ejected in 2017 from her first political home, Yisrael Beytenu, 10 months after operating as an independent MK in protest of Yisrael Beytenu’s entry into a Likud-led government under terms she opposed. Levy-Abekasis went on to form a new party, Gesher, which failed to cross the threshold in its first election but banded with Labor and Meretz to enter Knesset in another election shortly thereafter. Today, she is an MK with Likud.

Terrorist Sentenced to Life

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The Lod District Court on Sunday sentenced the terrorist who murdered a 39-year-old father of four two years

ago to life in prison. On August 26, 2020, Rabbi Shai Ohayon was murdered in a terror attack in the central city of Petah Tikva. His killer, Khalil Abd al-Khaliq Dweikat, from the Palestinian Authority village of Rujeeb, was convicted last year of murder under aggravated circumstances, as well as of “unlawful possession of a knife in the circumstances of an act of terrorism.”

On Sunday, he was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay approximately $79,000 in compensation to the Ohayon family. At the time of the murder, Dweikat had been in Israel as the holder of a work permit and worked at a construction site in Petah Tikva. According to prosecutors, “The defendant considered and arrived at a

decision to kill a Jewish Israeli citizen or soldier with a knife … for Palestine, the Palestinian people, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Allah. “The defendant pulled out the knife from his pocket and stabbed the deceased with three deep cuts,” they added. After Ohayon called out for help and attracted the attention of passersby, Dweikat left him, already in critical condition, and pocketed the knife. Dweikat considered searching for another victim but was quickly arrested. Dweikat later confessed his crime to the investigators and did not “show any empathy, remorse, or regret for the victim or his family,” prosecutors said. Dweikat, a father of six, had no history of terror activities prior to the killing.

Shabak Rounds Up Terror Cell Shabak on Monday announced

that it foiled an attempt by the Islamic Jihad terror group to enlist Palestinian Authority (PA) Arabs to carry out terror attacks against Israeli targets. According to Shabak, several PA Arabs from the Jenin area were detained for planning a bombing attack on Israeli farmers in the area. One of those arrested is Yasmin Shaaban, a 40-year-old mother of four.

The Islamic Jihad operatives were directing the cell to build explosive devices for use in a terror attack, Shabak added. Footage showed cell members testing an explosive device shaped similarly to a rocket. Shaaban was accused of passing information between the cell members and the Islamic Jihad operatives


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The Week In News in Gaza. Her interrogation led to the arrest of seven other suspects, all allegedly part of the same cell. Shaaban herself is an Islamic Jihad operative who previously served jail time for her role in planning a suicide bombing. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, “The Shabak and security forces are in constant pursuit of Palestinian terror cells that are planning to murder us. We won’t let up the pressure. Every terrorist should know … that ultimately we’ll put our hands on him.” Shabak added, “This is systematic and extensive activity that is being driven by organizations, including the Islamic Jihad organization, in order to destabilize the entire region.”

Status Quo on Temple Mount?

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Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Sunday reiterated Israel’s commitment to preserving the status quo on the Temple Mount

In a Sunday afternoon briefing to foreign journalists, Lapid said, “Israel is committed to the status quo on the Temple Mount. Muslims pray on the Temple Mount; non-Muslims only visit. There is no change –there will be no change.” On Saturday night, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai told Kan News, “There are a lot more Jews who are going up to the Temple Mount. There are some that stop on the way and pray, which was forbidden.” Lapid, when asked by Times of Israel about Shai’s comments, said that his colleague is “misinformed” but admitted that “somebody might sneak by, now and then.”

He added, “By the way, I don’t feel comfortable with the idea that Jews do not have freedom of religion in the State of Israel and that Jews are banned from the site. “I do know what instructions the police have – and they’re enforcing them to the best of their ability – that Muslims can pray on the Temple Mount and that other religions can visit. “Israel has made substantial efforts to stop Jewish extremist elements as well,” he said. But, he emphasized, “We have to put things into proportion. There have been 200 to 300 extremists sent by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to incite riots. Just yesterday, 95,000 worshipers came to the Temple Mount to hold a holy ceremony, and to hold it in peace. We have done everything to ensure peaceful prayer.” In a separate incident on Friday, Hamas activists on the Temple Mount mounted a public and “antisemitic call for the slaughter of Israeli citizens,” Lapid noted.

Does Your Chocolate Have salmonella? The Strauss Group on Monday issued a recall for a long list of chocolate products after multiple samples of salmonella were discovered in the factor’s Elite production line. The Health Ministry’s food service was immediately updated, Arutz Sheva noted. In coordination with the Ministry and as a precautionary measure, the company has issued a recall of all chocolate products with certain “best before” dates.

Later, Unilever Israel recalled many of their own products, as a result of the same contamination.


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The Week In News In a statement, Unilever said, “Although Strauss/Elite has confirmed to us that the chocolate it supplied as a raw material has been tested and found to be in good condition, and although our tests have shown that our products are in good condition, Strauss Ice Cream at Unilever Israel announces a recall on some of our products. This is as a means of additional caution.” Items in the Unilever recall include Magnum ice cream, Pesek Zman ice cream, Solero coconut ice cream bars, and multiple flavors of the Kremisimo ice cream tubs. Meanwhile, Strauss has emphasized that operations are underway to locate the source of the problem and that production and distribution will resume once everything is deemed safe.

Bennett Food Fight Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Ben-

nett has dismissed claims that his family’s food expenses – 26,000 NIS per month for a family of six – are outrageously high and at the taxpayers’ expense. According to a Channel 13 report, the Bennett family regularly orders takeout to the tune of several thousand shekel per week. These bills are sent to the government, and the Bennett family is then reimbursed for the expenses, the report said.

Bennett lives in his home in Ra’anana, claiming that the official Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem requires renovation before his family can move there. Meanwhile, no renovations have been carried out

in the ten months Bennett has been in office. Bennett does not entertain or host official visits in Ra’anana; the food expenses for that residence are solely those of his family. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, was unable to separate his family’s food expenses from those of the official entertainments, given that he lived in the official residence. The Channel 13 report also emphasized that the cost of renovating the Bennett home to function as his official residence – in violation of Israeli law – is also falling on the taxpayers’ shoulders. Responding to this report, Bennett’s office insisted that his spending was much lower than that of the Netanyahu family and justified the takeout expenses by claiming that the Bennetts are saving taxpayer shekels by not hiring a full-time cook. The statement added together the Netanyahus’ expenses at their private home in Caesarea and the official Jerusalem residence, and underlined that

Bennett has not made use of much of his permitted budget. “In the face of a machine of lies, I must present the truth,” Bennett wrote in a Facebook post criticized for focusing excessively on Netanyahu. “There is an attempt to paint everyone as corrupt. But I am not Bibi [Netanyahu], Gilat is not Sara, my children are not Yair… The expenses of the prime ministerial residence have shrunk dramatically in my term,” he asserted. “The attempts to present me as a hedonist are laughable.” The Likud party responded by noting that the money spent by Bennett is being spent on his private home and noted that “the law states that the official residence of the prime minister will be in Jerusalem, not Ra’anana.” “Bennett should open his home to the public to let them see the new basement, carpentry, and redecorating that has been done with public money – something the Netanyahu family never did.”

A Healing Laugh B A LT I M O R E

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Using Humor to Cope with Stress


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The Week In News

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The “Proteksia” That Got Our Son Into Yeshivah The night was taking forever. I turned from one side to the other, unable to find rest. Yossi! His precious, maturing face was plastered before my eyes. I simply couldn’t sleep! The tension and worry was getting to me. You see, Yossi is not your typical bachur. He faces various challenges when it comes to learning and has to work very hard to keep up. But he is a gentle child who doesn’t mean any harm. Still, the administration of his yeshivah chose to send Yossi home. They didn’t want a boy who was lagging behind, falling short of his grade level and the yeshivah’s standards. It was painful. I was pained. My son was pained. I couldn’t look on as my son wallowed in his anguish. In the meantime, Yossi was home with me all day. We reached out to one yeshivah after the next, trying to find a new haven for him, but the response was the same. Each one denied Yossi the right to education. The only thing I could do was daven. And daven I did. I poured my heart out, knowing that only Hashem could help us. Hashem must have heard my tefillos, because soon, He directed me to the world of Tehillim Kollel. The more I read about this unbelievable organization, the more impressed I was. Locations around the world, mekomos hakedoshim, kivrei tzaddikim, minyanim of talmidei chachamim reciting all of Tehillim… It sounded amazing – exactly what I needed just now.

The Week In News defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans.” Separately, he said in a tweet on Monday that he hopes “even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

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A mid-air stunt went awry last week, resulting in a pilot parachuting to the ground and his plane drifting back to Earth. The Red Bull stunt involved a pair of pilots attempting to skydive into each other’s aircraft mid-flight. What could go wrong? Well, apparently a

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Flying Fail

A U.S. Air Force officer was found guilty in a military court of abusive contact. The case is the first-ever court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the military branch’s history, an Air Force statement said. During the trial, Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley was found guilty of one of three specifications of assault connected to a 2018 incident in New Mexico. Cooley had pleaded not guilty. However, a senior military judge found him guilty of one of the counts. He was found not guilty of the two other specifications. The victim’s attorney, Ryan Guilds,

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The Week In News

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Prefaced by HAGAON HARAV YITZCHOK SOROTZKIN shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and Lakewood Mesivta, the sefer contains a thorough examination of all the halachos of Sefiras Haomer and the Three Weeks, based on the rulings of the Mishnah Berurah and is part of the popular Kitzur Halachos series.

Bear Scare A family in California will be sleeping a little easier this week after a family of bears was evacuated from under their home. Throughout the winter, the family had heard rumbling, snoring sounds from under their floors. Their neighbors thought they were imagining things. But as spring came, there was no denying it: bears had taken up residence under their home.

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lot could go wrong if you try to skydive into another plane 12,000 feet in the air above the Arizona desert. Pilot Andy Farrington, 42, and his cousin, Luke Aikins, 48, were each piloting a Cessna prop plane in what was billed as the first midair “plane swap,” which was being livestreamed on Hulu. One of the planes went into a flat spin after the pilots sky-dived in an attempt to jump into each other’s planes. Farrington deployed his parachute while falling 140 miles an hour; Aikins remarkably made it to Farrington’s plane and took over the controls. The other plane that had spun out of control deployed a tail chute and drifted to the ground. Amazingly, both pilots made it back to the ground unscathed. But the story doesn’t end there. The stunt made national news, which garnered the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration which said it is launching a full investigation into the stunt. Supposedly, the FAA had denied Red Bull’s request for “an exemption from federal regulations that cover the safe operation of an aircraft.” Sounds like sparks will fly.

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The family called in The BEAR League, a nonprofit organization that helps people live “in harmony” with bears. Members of the league

came in to “un-invite” the bear from the home, only to find that they were dealing with a family of cuddly animals: a mother and four cubs. Supposedly the furry group had found a hole in the crawl space and settled in for the winter months ago. Thankfully, The BEAR League managed to convince and Mama and her cubs to vacate the home.

A 13-Year-Old Graduate

Elliott Tanner is about to graduate college. But he will not be driving himself to graduation. You see, Elliott is only 13 years old, and he is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in May. Elliott has majored in physics with a minor in math. But he’s not stopping there. He has his sights set on the school’s doctoral physics program. Elliott’s mother, Michelle, said he taught himself to read at an age when most kids are still figuring out how to tie their shoes. “He had started reading when he was maybe 2, just 3. We said, ‘Oh, well, that’s interesting. You’re reading. We didn’t teach you to read,’” she told KSTP-TV. Tanner started reading college-level textbooks at the age of 9, and two years later he graduated from Normandale Community College with an associate of science degree. “It’s amazing. It’s sort of been a crazy ride getting here, but it’s just been such a nice experience,” Elliott said. He said he is hoping to earn his doctorate and give back to the university. “I’m hoping to become a professor at the University of Minnesota in order to also spread this joy and passion for physics with other people,” the 13-year-old boy said. And I’m still struggling with getting to the bus on time each morning.


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The Week In News

volved burning the receipt and throwing half of the gold into the Seine River in order to make the buyer the “definitive owner” of the conceptual artwork. The receipt was originally issued to antiques dealer Jacques Kugel. Talk about a blank canvas.

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Clear Cut

Would you pay for a piece of invisible art? Well, what would you pay for the receipt for a piece of invisible art? We’re guessing it’s not millions. But this week, a receipt for a piece of “invisible art” by French artist Yves Klein surpassed expectations by selling for nearly $1.2 million at an auction. Sotheby’s said the receipt, part of Klein’s imaginary art series Zones of Immaterial Pictorial Sensibility, had been expected to fetch up to $551,000, but surpassed expectations by fetching a top bid of $1,151,467.40. The receipt was dated December 7, 1959, just a few years before the artist’s death in 1963. The receipts for Klein’s artwork are rare today because Klein invited buyers to participate in a ritual that in-

1 Million Steaks We got no beef with Gayle Dudley, who has earned the distinction of grilling one million steaks during the 20 years she has worked at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Columbus, Georgia.

Gayle was surprised at work by executives from the nationwide chain after grilling her millionth slab

of meat. Executives presented Dudley with a $5,000 check, a gold chef coat and the title of “Grill Master Legend.” LongHorn Steakhouse, which operates more than 540 restaurants nationwide, said Dudley is one of a small handful of employees to be dubbed a Grill Master Legend after cooking 1 million steaks. The designation previously was bestowed upon Simeona “Simi” Tamaseu, a cook at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2018. Holy smokes!

A Feline Family In an effort to never be separated from her pet cat, Deborah Hodge has married it. Yup, Deborah says that it took months of emails for her current landlord to allow her to keep her cat, India, on premises. But Deborah now lost her job and may be evicted. Her future landlord may not allow pets on the property.

Finally, Deborah – who has two children – came up with an idea: if she marries India, then her future landlord will realize how important India is to the family. And so, it went. Deborah, who is 49, married India at a civil ceremony presided over by her friend in a park in London.

Deborah wore a tux; the five-yearold cat was draped in gold lamé for the big day. “She is fundamentally the most important thing in my life after my children,” Deborah said about her new family. She wants to be with India together furr-ever.

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Engagements Eliezer Yablonsky and Caylee Finkelstein (Baltimore) Tuli Silberberg (Lakewood) and Sara Esty Glazer (Baltimore) Yitzy Radner (Detroit) and Ellie Ziffer (Baltimore) Adam Lombardo (Silver Spring) and Miriam Waxman (Baltimore) Yossi Bereliani (Chicago) & Batsheva Kibel (Baltimore) Menachem Kops (Queens) & Malky Cohen (Baltimore) Nachum Twersky (Queens) & Chaya Yehudis Neuberger (Baltimore) Yosef Spero (Baltimore) & Avigayil Samuels (LA) Eli Pottash (Baltimore) & Sarah Chamberland Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!


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Torah Thought

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APRIL 28, 2022

Holy Schmattes! By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

L

ast week we sat down to the Seder garbed in our white Kittels.

The Maharal explains this is done to accentuate our role at the Seder as equivalent to the High Priest who wore ‘white garments’ during the special service performed on the holiest day of year — Yom Kippur. The High Priest who entered the Holy of Holies once a year wore four white garments comprised of linen alone, shedding the additional four golden garments he is accustomed to wear all year long. We are told this reflects on the stance of the High Priest on this holiest of days in resembling an angel, who the prophet Yechezkel describes as, ‘robed in linen’.

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These four white linen garments correspond to the four camps of angels who tend to His Divine countenance on high. The High Priest is not merely serving in this earthy realm but is being elevated to the level of those servants who dwell in His Presence. ( The Holy Kohen of Tzefas in his Sifsei Kohen suggests therefore we clothe the dead in white linen garments as well, so that they too may enter the holy realm above dressed in the same dignity and stature of the High Priest on Yom Kippur. The Torah when describing these four garments being fashioned from linen uses the word ‫ בד‬to indicate its exact nature. This word literally means, alone or isolated, but is used to describe the flax plant from where it comes from, as this plant contains buried within each individual plant’s single stem the flax contained therein

that will be formed into fibers used for clothing. This is in opposition to other plants that possess many branches that divide off from each plant. It also emphasizes the character of each fiber that remains genuinely indivisible in contrast to single wool hairs that naturally split apart. (‫יח‬:) Rabbeinu Bechaye sees in this not simply a botanical observation but the expression of the very greatness of the High Priest who stands firmly focused on the singular goal of devotion to G-d never permitting outside influences or instincts to distract him from his goal. The early Kabbalists points out that in the ‫ א ב‬cypher system, where there exists a correspondence between the first and last letter of the Alef Beis — continuing the parallel with the second letter to the next to the last letter and so on with all the letters — the twin letters for the word ‫ בד‬- the second and fourth letters in the Alef Bais, are ‫שק‬, with ‫ ש‬the second to the end, and ‫ ק‬fourth in receding position. A ‫ שק‬is a sack made generally from coarse goat hair — schmatte — rag material. Our job in life is to transform the abrasive moments in life into fine and exquisite fine linen garments. The word ‫ בד‬itself colloquially refers merely to a swath of material not necessarily the entire garment, perhaps to indicate that what may appear as an inconsequential schmatte may well be the vestment of greatness equivalent in stature to that of the High Priest. Reb Boruch Mordechai Ansbacher, a ninety-two-year-old holocaust survivor, who ‘graduated’

Theresienstadt, Birkenau and Aushwitz, described in an interview his indoctrination to the concentration camp.

Meir Lau and surrounded by other rabbinic figures and dignitaries he once again pulled out of his pocket this ‘holy schmatte’.

“The confusion, terror and charging dogs are memories still embedded within me. They forced us off the trains with screaming threats. Amid the S.S. soldiers, the angel of death himself, Mengele, presided. With the casual wave of his hand and the subsequent beating of his stick I was separated from a dear friend, with my friend being dispatched to death and I to life.

After repeating his poignant story, he declared:

“Who could believe what was transpiring? “We were sent to the showers where we were instructed to disrobe and deposit our personal effects in a container and directed to grab and don quickly one of the striped prison uniforms. “I followed their directive and discovered that each pant had two pockets. I instinctively placed my hand into one of the pockets and felt a schmatte situated there. Before I even had a chance to check what it was the commandant shouted out that in each pocket was a schmatte to remove the ‘snot’ off our dripping noses amidst the freezing weather. “I dutifully drew the schmatte out to wipe the mucous away only to discover that my schmatte was actually a talis kotton, a pair of Tzitzis. It was the size appropriate for a sevenyear-old or so. It was clearly lovingly hand-knitted by a loving Bubbeh - grandmother, embroidered with a Magen Dovid and the year 5698 1938. “Reality stunned me, as I realized how not long before this young child undressed as he prepared for his death in the gas chamber and placed his cherished talis kotton on the random pile, so that it would serve as a ‘schmatte’ for someone else.” Years later in 1988, Reb Boruch Mordechai returned for the first time to this hallowed ground. In the presence of Rabbi Yisroel

“From the moment I received it until the very last day of the war, each morning at daybreak I’d procure the ‘holy schmatte’ recite a blessing and return it deeply into my pocket. “This tallis kotton accompanied me after the war as I merited to ascend to Yerushalayim. “It was with me when I established my home... when my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born... when I fought in the War of Independence... when I battled in the Six-Day War, worthy to liberate the Me’arat HaMachpelah and pray in the Tomb of Yitzchok Avinu... “It is by my side every night of the Seder when we cry out, ‘Not only one has sought to obliterate us...’ “It is a living memorial to my surviving the horrors of the Holocaust. It is the source of my strength, because just as it survived so too did our people endure the most unimaginable atrocities. It is still here, strong and firm, brimming with faith and hope.” (Mispacha Magazine - Pesach/ Hebrew edition 5779) The legacy continues. We have been privileged to have been touched by individuals who have taken difficult moments and transformed them into inspiring greatness. May we never complain that we were handed schmattes in life, for in the world of a Jew every moment is laden with the greatness worthy of the High Priest. We can each access that realm. It’s all a matter of perspective. May we emulate those who wear the garments of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, in inspiring the good times with faith and passion, and even when facing challenge to transform them into ‘holy schmattes!’ You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ohelmoshebaltimore.com


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Dirshu The Joy and Majesty That Were – Dirshu’s Everlasting Connection with Rav Chaim Rabbi Nachman Seltzer

Rav Chaim had been involved with Dirshu for many years. The Sar HaTorah attended quite a few of the large Dirshu gatherings like the Siyumei Hashas in 2012 and 2020 for example, where he even recited the kaddish. But the relationship was much closer than that since there were many private Dirshu gatherings at Rav Chaim’s home – especially when they celebrated different milestones with Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, where he spoke to the charter members of the organization, gave them chizuk and expressed in the clearest way how much he loved what Dirshu was doing for Klal Yisrael – and how he was even jealous of what Dirshu was attaining.

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Saying Goodbye As someone who has had the good fortune to be involved with the Dirshu organization under the leadership and guidance of Rav Dovid Hofstedter shlita, I have found myself attending and writing about numerous Dirshu events through the years. There have been many times when I was touched by things that were said by various speakers, songs that were sung, and sights that I witnessed. I have seen thousands of Yidden singing together in gigantic halls, and I have walked along the rain soaked ground just outside the Chofetz Chaim’s kever, with a much smaller group of gedolim. Like I said, many of my interactions with Dirshu have been memorable and have stuck with me. But a key moment happened at the Dirshu Siyum on Mishnah Berurah, which took place at the Arena Stadium in Yerushalayim in 2022. It was a memorable event for a number of reasons. Dirshu events always are. But this time it was memorable for something that happened and made a deep impression on me. Sitting not far from the head table, I caught sight of a tent that had been erected near one of the exits of the hall and was waiting

there patiently. I knew what ing – looking at the crowd of that tent meant. It meant that Bnei Torah again and again – there was a good chance that an action he had never done Rav Chaim Kanievsky was in the past. He was in the going to be attending this sefer and back to the crowd, event and would be brought back to the sefer and back to over to the head table within the crowd. At the time it had the safety of that tent. Beseemed to be out of characing that Rav Chaim was alter, but the moment Rav ready very elderly (this event Chaim’s son made his comwould end up being his final ment, it was obvious that his public appearance) it was unwords were emes, and that HaRav Chaim Kanievsky attending the recent Dirshu World Siyum, 2022 clear until the last moment, his father really had been whether he would actually saying farewell to the people attend. that he loved so much, with a But then in the middle series of loving looks. of the event, suddenly we While Rav Chaim’s eyes understood that Rav Chaim had been closed a lot of the had arrived and was being time in the last period of brought into the hall. The his life, at that moment they fact that he had chosen to were completely open. One make the incredible effort couldn’t help but feel that to come that night, makes the neshomos of Klal Yissense, especially when you rael and their Gadol HaDor remember the quote that his were completely intertwined, talmid, Rav Mann, related which was why the feeling of from Rav Chaim with regard electricity that swept through HaRav Chaim Kanievsky giving the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, and its founder, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, a bracha to Dirshu. Rav Mann said the hall was so very powerin Rav Chaim’s name, “Tell ful. It was stemming from seemed as if the very roof of the AreDirshu that I am jealous of their zechu- na was about to go flying off into the the fact that both were saying goodbye sim. Ashreichem V’Ashrei Chelkechem night, such was the level of excitement to one another - the people who had - fortunate are you and fortunate is and enthusiasm. Like I stated earli- waited for hours outside the famous your lot!” er – I have been at numerous Dirshu address on Rashbam Street in the heart Since this is what Rav Chaim felt, events, but Rav Chaim’s entrance at of Bnei Brak, and the elderly Rav it made sense that he was there on that that siyum was something I will nev- Chaim, who had welcomed them into great night. er forget, for it taught me in the real- his home and life with such love – as I have never seen a crowd react est sense who Klal Yisrael values and he provided them with hope and blessthe way that crowd reacted when Rav what we all aspire to be. In my mind, ing for so many decades. Chaim appeared at the head table. it was an example of Kavod HaTorah There is no question that everyThere was a sense that history was at its finest. one will remember the way it was and being made as the Gadol HaDor and During the shiva Rav Dovid went that the memory of that apartment and Sar HaTorah was brought into the hall. to be minachem ovel the family and staircase and bridge near the LederEvery person in that gigantic hall was while sitting with one of Rav Chaim’s man shul will remain fresh in our on their feet, the music began to play sons, he mentioned that the Dirshu si- minds. Most of all, we will recall the and it was beautiful, but the singing yum was his last public appearance. sight of an elderly Yid with a sefer in from the mouths of every person in the Rav Chaim’s son then made a fas- his hands and the entire Torah in his hall was way more beautiful. A sense cinating observation. mind – who gave of himself completeof electricity coursed through my “My father said goodbye to Klal ly to Hashem and at the same time body as I watched the events unfold- Yisrael at the siyum.” made himself available to his people ing and saw the veneration and admiThose words struck a chord and like a father to his sons. ration – more than that – the absolute resonated in the most authentic way, For the fact is, Rav Chaim was ours love – which all these beautiful Yidden because that’s exactly what he was do- and we were his.” felt for Rav Chaim. At that moment it


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Nissan/Iyar

Iyar 1

‫ראש חודש‬

Nissan 24

Monday 25

2 Ohel Moshe Campaign see page 3

Iyar 8

Hilchos Shabbos Shiur R’ Heinemann @9

9

Iyar 22

24

17

10

3

26

Iyar 23

Iyar 16

Iyar 9

Iyar 2

Nissan 25

Tuesday Tuesday

2022 April/May ‫ראש חודש‬

Nissan 30

Nissan 23

Sunday 24

1 Ohel Moshe Campaign see page 3 Rabbi Ken Spiro see page 17

Iyar 7

WIT: Spring Semester Starts see page 33

8 Shomrei Campaign see cover WIT: Scholar in Residence see page 35

Iyar 15

Shomrei Campaign see cover

16

Teleconference: Gila Levitt see page 63

Iyar 14

23

Hilchos Shabbos Shiur R’ Heinemann @9

WIT: Scholar in Residence see page 35

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Iyar 21

Ner Tamid Golf Tournament see page 5

22

Wednesday Wednesday Nissan 26

Iyar 3

Iyar 10

Yom HaZikaron

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4

11

Iyar 24

Iyar 17

Shidduchim Series: Mrs. Feige Engelsberg see page 27

18

25

Shidduchim Series: Mrs. Jaclyn Sova see page 27

27

20

13

6

29

Nissan 29

Saturday Saturday 30

9:13 PM

Iyar 27

9:06 PM

Iyar 20

8:59 PM

Iyar 13

8:51 PM

Iyar 6

‫ פרשת אחרי מות‬8:43 PM

7

‫פרשת קדושים‬

14

‫פרשת אמור‬

21

28

8:05 PM ‫פרשת בחקתי‬

Iyar 26

8:00 PM ‫פרשת בהר‬

Iyar 19

7:53 PM

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7:47 PM

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7:40 PM

Nissan 28

Friday Friday

Community Calendar

Iyar 4

Next BJH Issue

Nissan 27

Thursday Thursday 28

5

OCA’s Yom Ha’atzmaut @ Shomrei see page 21

Iyar 18

Next BJH Issue

Iyar 11

Yom HaAtzma’ut

12

19

Iyar 25

Lag Ba’Omer

Simcha Leiner Concert @ Shomrei see cover

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“My Comedy is Real Life” The Irrepressible Malkie Knopfler By Malky lowinger

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any of us are familiar with the influencers, the bloggers, the recipe developers, the Instagram “stars,” and the many characters who populate the world that lives in our phones. These are the people who we may never have met but who we are very familiar with. In that bizarre world we call social media, they’ve become our friends. Among all of these celebrities, Malkie Knopfler, aka the Comic Cook, stands out. She is both irrepressible and irresistible. With her spot-on observations on the life of the Jewish woman, her willingness to share her struggles, and her sharp but funny satire, she has weaved her way into the hearts of thousands of followers. In a community that is reluctant to expose its vulnerabilities, Malkie’s comedy is a welcome relief. She’s not perfect – and neither are we. Clearly, she must be doing something right. Malkie has performed in countless women-only productions. She has 32,000 followers on her Instagram account as the_comic_cook. She is the marketing genius behind many successful brands. And her most recent endeavor, “The Malkie Show,” is a historic first. It’s a talk show for women, by women, and about women, with an outstanding lineup of talented and fascinating guests. With her trademark good humor, Malkie keeps the episodes engaging, intriguing, and entertaining. It’s a super ambitious project that Malkie says is totally a full-time job. Why is it that Malkie makes us smile even before she starts to say anything? What is it about her work that is so endearing? How does she make even the jaded among us laugh?

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alkie grew up in Boro Park, a Bais Yaakov girl through and through. She had the typical heimish childhood. But inside that little girl with the trademark ponytail and the pleated uniform skirt, the girl who wore all the right headbands and had the proper family background, there was a free spirit waiting to bloom.

“I was not the best student,” admits Malkie in that way that you know she wasn’t the second-best either. “I was more into comedy and drama, all the extracurriculars.” Today, she would have been the star of her school’s productions, but back then, she wasn’t able to participate in the extracurriculars her Bais Yaakov offered. So, as Malkie puts it, “I spent a lot of time with my friends in the hallways where we made up our own extracurriculars.” Aha. OK, got it. Clearly, those years were challenging for Malkie, and she speaks about them with passion. “I wish I would have known then what I know now,” she says. “That if we don’t do well in school, we are still valuable, and we will one day find ourselves.” Years later, Malkie wrote a poem which she has since recorded as a music video called “Dear Young Me.” The song, set to music by Tehila Ehrlich, is dedicated to all the girls and women out there who may struggle academically or even socially but are really superstars in their own way. The video, which was posted just a few weeks ago, can be seen on YouTube and has already been viewed close to five thousand times. “I can’t tell you how that song resonates with both kids and adults,” said Malkie. “The feedback is incredible.” Malkie’s serious side is certainly intriguing. But her career as a comic performer highlights her keen sense of humor and her irrepressible giggle. She makes it look easy, but Malkie says that comedy is an art that requires lots of focused energy and insight, especially when performing for a community where the subject matter is restricted and sensitivity is paramount. “I do good, old-fashioned Jewish humor,” she points out. “I make fun of bloggers but it’s tongue in cheek because I’m a blogger myself. I make sure my act is totally good-natured and not mean-spirited in any way.” It’s not easy to walk that fine line between being appropriate yet unpredictable, funny yet also inspiring, quirky and comical but never disrespectful. Malkie manages to keep it consistently clean, kosher, and still entertaining. “People like to ask me if I’m funny all the time,” she says. “I tell them that being funny is an amazing talent which I am grateful to have. Hashem gave me this gift, but I’m really just


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that if we don’t do well in school, we are still valuable, and we will one day find ourselves.” resents a major investment for Malkie, not just in time and talent and energy but also in resources. “It’s extremely costly,” she declares. “People are always asking me to produce more episodes, but they don’t realize what a major investment it is.” Malkie works with a producer, Sima of Davidowitz Productions, who is her right-hand (wo)man and manages to attend to all the details so that Malkie can concentrate on what she does best – performing. “Without her,” says Malkie, “I would be overwhelmed.”

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WemW W.T H E B J H . C O M oH hsiweJ eht | 5102 ,92 rebOtcO

alkie’s career trajectory has largely been a success story, but she remembers one particularly disastrous performance that occurred when she was just starting out. “I was hired to do stand-up comedy for a group of women who were raised in a different country,” she remembers. “They totally didn’t get my act and sat there staring at me with blank faces. I was devastated.” Malkie went home that evening convinced that she would never again perform. “It was my most humiliating evening,” she recalls. “And I wasn’t looking to embarrass myself ever again.” But instead, she decided to forge ahead. “I realized the problem wasn’t me. The audience just wasn’t a good fit for me. They simply didn’t appreciate the nuances of our lifestyle that I joke about.” Instead of quitting, she persevered, endearing herself to audiences who appreciate her humor and are not afraid to laugh at themselves. Malkie likes to tell people to follow their dreams and develop their talents. Her favorite saying is, “You don’t have to be a someone to be a something,” which, loosely translated, means “Stop sitting on the couch thinking that you’re not good enough.” “There’s this perception that only special people can do chesed and that only celebrities can visit hospitals. But everyone can find something that they’re good at and some way in which they can help others. And it won’t happen by sitting on the couch. “Anyone can be a star,” Malkie asserts. “They just have to try.”

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“T

he Malkie Show” is probably Malkie’s crowning achievement, an opportunity for her to showcase talent while offering kosher inspiring entertainment for women. It was a daunting endeavor to be sure, but early feedback indicates that she has stumbled onto something huge. “I actually had this idea in my head about ten years ago,” she says. “I pitched the concept to several people, but the world wasn’t ready for it yet.” Now the world is. “The Malkie Show” is a showcase of talent and entertainment for women of all ages and backgrounds. “There’s such a need for it,” Malkie insists. “I get stopped all the time by ladies begging me to produce more episodes. People are constantly reaching out to tell me how much they enjoy the show.” Malkie says the show provides healthy “Inspir-tainment,” a phrase that she coined. Over the past few weeks, Malkie has interviewed Raizy Fried (raizyscookin), Tehila Ehrlich, Shaindy Plotzker (shaindyplotzkermusic), ping-pong champion Estee Akerman, and even her own mom. “She was my very first guest,” Malkie says proudly. “It was my way of saying I owe it all to her.” “The Malkie Show” may seem to flow seamlessly, but it rep-

“I wish I would have known then what I know now –

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a regular person with a family just like you. Like everybody else, I have my struggles.” Through Malkie, we can laugh at the gossipy women in the bungalow colony, the overwhelmed moms, the harried housewives, and even the social media bloggers. She helps us to recognize our own flaws and our failings. “My comedy is real life,” she notes. “Mothering, childbirth, shidduchim. Yes, people may be struggling with these issues. But on the other hand, there’s so much to laugh about. I try to find the humor in our everyday life and help people find a new perspective. They can laugh at themselves, and I think they’re really grateful for that.” One of Malkie’s running themes is the challenge she faces in juggling her career with her family life. She calls it her “juggle struggle.” “It’s a struggle I constantly face,” she says. “I’m not gonna lie. I make a cheshbon hanefesh every day.” It’s not easy to lavish attention on your own children when you are stopped in the street by followers on a regular basis. “I appreciate it when people come over to tell me they enjoy my show,” she says. “But when I’m with my kids I try to focus on them. There’s a time and a place for everything.” That struggle, she adds, is shared by all career-minded women. “Our heads are full of so many things,” she observes, “but we need to be there for our kids not just physically but emotionally as well. It’s definitely a challenge.” That said, Malkie’s family is super proud of what she is achieving.

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APRIL 28, 2022

teen talk

by Mrs. Osnat (Arlene) Klestzick

Dear Teen Talk, I am a freshman in a girls high school, and I am so grateful to be able to address my question to someone who does not know me and will be totally unbiased and can perhaps help me.

Teen Talk ,

a new colum n in TJH, is ge ared towards th e teens in our com munity. A nswered b rotating ro ya ster of tea chers, reb clinicians beim, , and peers (!), teens w hearing a ill be nswers to many que stions they had percolatin g in their minds and wishe d they ha d the answ ers for.

I am really hurting! I feel so alone. I would describe myself as friendly but on the quiet side. In elementary school, I had one or two best friends. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel ignored or even bullied by some of my new classmates. One day they seem to be my friend, and the next day they simply ignore me. We have a class chat and whenever they plan anything and I want to join them, they give me some lame excuses why I can’t. When I call girls to try to make Shabbos arrangements, I usually get rejected. And it seems in class, whenever I walk over to some girls, they stop talking. It is as if they don’t want to talk in front of me. They don’t want to include me, and I don’t know if that’s called bullying, but it’s very hurtful. What should I do?

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OctOber 29, 2015H | the Jewish W W W.T EB J HHome .COM

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ear freshman in high school, It takes a very mature young lady who is in touch with her emotions and feelings to be able to reach out for support. I will try to help you help yourself; but first you must have a better understanding of the term “bullying.” This word has been bantered about and used indiscriminately for almost all undesirable behaviors. It seems our society is fixated with “bullying.” As far back as I can remember, children have always displayed certain poor behaviors, especially in group dynamics. Not every action is bullying. But many are. According to the Oxford dictionary, a bully is “someone who seeks to intimidate, harm or coerce someone who is perceived

as vulnerable. It can also be someone who persecutes, oppresses, tyrannizes, intimidates or torments another person. It can be verbal, saying mean things, teasing, name calling, taunting and threatening to cause harm.” Leaving someone out on purpose and

you do about it? You told us in your opening statement that you had one or two good friends. I assume they are not with you in this high school and that is definitely part of the problem. Attending high school is a hard adjust-

Once you have an ally, you will have more self-confidence. being exclusive is a form of social bullying. You can see from the above description of bullying that your classmates definitely fall into that category. Now the question is: what should you do about it? What can

ment for most. Social interaction and relationships play a big role. When you feel comfortable with your surroundings and feel welcomed by your peers, that adjustment will come.


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Going back to the definition, bullies seek out one who is perceived as vulnerable. It is your job now to change that perception. My advice to you would be to seek out one or two girls in the class that you know are kind and have good middos. They might not be the most popular girls in the class, but that’s OK. Foster their friendship. Develop a relationship. Once you have an ally, you will have more self-confidence. Truthfully, why would you want to be friends with the other girls? They are exhibiting mean behavior. This behavior can be confusing and inconsistent. One day, a girl may seem like your best friend, and the next day she may refuse to speak to you. There are a number of reasons why girls choose to be mean. Perhaps it is peer pressure or trying to gain popularity or having been a recipient of this behavior themselves. Mean girl behavior can often be considered bullying. I have noticed that cliques and social groups are more common among girls. There is normally some sort of hierarchy to a clique. Those who are considered the most popular or who have the most dominating personalities become the leaders. When a clique has already been formed, it can be difficult to enter unless you are invited. You should

know, it is not uncommon to be excluded from joining. I have seen many girls who have been rejected from a clique that even contained old friendships. When this happens, you feel betrayed and alone. Perhaps that loneliness can be viewed as a lesson and even a bracha. You now have a unique opportunity to take your freshman year experience and use it to further your own growth in middos. You will have gained such an important sensitivity towards others that perhaps you didn’t even possess before. It can cause you to be an even more warm and welcoming person, especially to those with limited friends. You possess something now that most are lacking: an acute sensitivity to other girls’ feelings. You can channel this deep empathetic understanding to help others in the future and counsel those who are going through this very overwhelming stage. I hope my suggestions are helpful. If you take the path of surrounding yourself with girls that have fine middos, you will be able to navigate your high school experience in a positive state of mind and your feelings of loneliness and anxiety will disappear.

Mrs. Osnat (Arlene) Klestzick, a resident of Far Rockaway, has been the English principal of Bnos Leah Prospect Park Yeshiva Elementary School in Brooklyn for the past forty years. She is now semi-retired and remains principal emeritus.


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Returned to Sender by rafi Sackville

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the government changed its policy. Then they did it again. Like many governments around the world groping for the correct response to the ongoing crisis, Israel is no different. Its messaging has been confusing to such an extent to leave even the likes of ministers in its own government speechless. The messaging has had a major effect in schools. When students stayed home sick and teachers soon followed them, our staff was sent vague messages that needed parsing down to the last syllable. For example, when my colleague Gabby fell ill with Covid, we were informed that if we’d been within close proximity to him and we were over 60 years old, we were to take a PCR test. Everybody else had to take an Antigen test. The arguments about “proximity” really means “within 2 meters and for at least 15 minutes in length.” If you didn’t know this,

parcel service with whom I had entrusted those mezuzot. I provided the representative with the tracking number. “Sir? Are you there, sir?” “Yes, I am.” “Ah…there’s a problem regarding your package.” “What problem?” “Australia is temporarily not accepting parcels from overseas.” It took me a moment to absorb this. I looked around me. A teacher at the next desk was complaining about her unvaccinated students who had been too close to Gabby for too long the day before; the bell for the next lesson had begun to ring; a homeroom teacher was informing us that three of his students had been diagnosed positive with Covid. “Australia isn’t accepting parcels? I don’t understand. Your tracking service has been informing me for over a month

“Ah…there’s a problem regarding your package.”

you’d be confused. As for Antigen testing, huge swaths of the population were hoarding them like toilet paper in the early days of Covid. Not to mention the fact that they are less than accurate. We were informed about Gabby’s condition on a Monday. He was feeling well. His health provider had called him the previous evening and told him that as he was over 60 and in a category of at-risk people, they would be sending him one of those famous tablets from Pfizer within the hour. Apparently, the pill helps mitigate up to 80% or more of the symptoms. It arrived as they had promised. As of this writing, Gabby is happily resting at home. I was sitting in the teachers’ room during a break when I decided to call the

that my parcel was sent there.” “We apologize for that, sir. Unfortunately, we have no idea exactly when they plan to restart the service. Where are you now?” “Why do you want to know?” “Please, sir.” “I’m at work,” I answered. He checked my address. “OK,” he said without explanation. “We’ll be in touch in the near future.” Without so much as a goodbye, he was gone, leaving me holding my phone and watching the cacophony of madness around me. I packed my bag and went to class. Monday is a slow day at school. Students are dismissed at noon. We teachers

Shlomo with the mezuzah case he made for my mother

eat lunch before going to the auditorium to attend a teacher enrichment program. I had just sat down in the teachers’ room when a delivery guy knocked on the door. Michal, the Hebrew language teacher, gesticulated wildly at him. “You’re the guy who delivers those Pfizer tablets, aren’t you? I’ve seen you around a lot in the last week.” The delivery guy nodded in the affirmative. “What are you doing here with that white envelope?” He checked the envelope he was holding. “I’m looking for Rafi Sackville,” he said. I stood up and made my way towards him. As I did so, Michal stormed out of the room in anger. I signed for the envelope and went back to my seat. A moment later, the principal was standing in front of me demanding to know if I had tested positive for Covid. I looked up at her and sighed slowly. Ripping off the top of the envelope I put my hand inside and raised six mezuzot and a wooden case above my head for all to see. “I’m always positive,” I smiled. Pointing to the mezuzot, I added, “Here’s something that is bound to help during this crazy period of Covid.” Then Michal walked back into the room and sent an accusatory stare in my general direction. Meanwhile, do any of you know someone traveling to Australia anytime soon?

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.

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recently bought my mother six mezuzot for her new apartment in Australia. It was the least I could do to help her move after the difficult six months she’s had since my father’s passing. She was delighted, but even more so after I told her about my friend Shlomo, who had offered to make a simple but elegant mezuzah case for her. Were we living in the center of the country I would have probably sought out someone traveling to Melbourne and asked them to take the mezuzot for me. Living in the Galil, however, where a drive to Jerusalem takes more than two hours, I decided to rely on the postal service instead. My cousin put up some temporary mezuzot while we waited for the package to make its way across the universe. I made an online appointment at the post office. I sent the package certified and express. I waited a few days before checking on the tracking number. After a week and a half, I was notified that the item had been sent to Australia. Seeing we’ve been FaceTiming each other every day for years, I kept my mother abreast of the parcel’s progress. Over the last few months, our conversations have become longer. I revel in making my mother laugh. I jokingly quipped how the mezuzot would probably take forever to get to her. In her inimitable manner, she quipped back that it was the thought that counted. She was confident they would arrive. While waiting for the package to get to her, Omicron started to rapidly spread throughout Israel, much as it has done everywhere in the world. Nothing much changed here in Ma’alot where we live. We were designated a “red zoned city” months ago. This designation affected our school, because there are classes in which less than the required 70% of students have been vaccinated. For a time, these students were being taught via Zoom. Then

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Parenting Pearls

The Antics of Little Ones by Sara rayvych, MSed

I

hope all the readers of TJH, and all of klal Yisroel, had a wonderful Pesach. It’s been a busy couple of weeks. As we wind down from an exciting, exuberant, and overwhelmingly busy time, I thought we all could use a week of slightly lighter reading. I hope this article gives everyone some smiles after a hectic time period. I choose to limit which group chats I’m in while being part of a few that I find very helpful and necessary for practical reasons. Everyone has to find their own happy middle for this, determining for themselves what benefits, and what detracts, from their daily functioning, emotional health, and avodas Hashem. On Thursday, erev yom tov of the second days, I was busy doing a quick cooking marathon in the kitchen. I had been having back problems, and I wanted to get whatever I could out of the way before the pain set in. I chopped and measured, watching salads take shape. Whether they liked it or not, my family was being offered their veggies. As I began to feel the strain in my back, I finished my final preparations and went to the other room to sit down. I looked for my phone, hoping to catch up on any missed messages. After locating the device in my little one’s favorite hiding spot, I opened the chats and noticed something looked off. After some quick scrolling, I realized my little guy had not only hidden my phone but had responded to my text messages during that time. It seems I had a personal secretary. The ladies from my workout class, most of whom are mothers themselves, quickly picked up on the unusual messages and realized my phone had been hijacked. The messages, as strange as they would be by the random tappings of a tot, were only more hilarious once autocorrect tried to make sense of them. After deleting his confusing, verbal mes-

sages and apologizing for his antics, it suddenly dawned on me that if he could do this to one chat – he could do this to more chats. In a slight panic, I opened my other chats and confirmed my suspicions. He had sent a long text to my block’s chat. I was horrified and quickly deleted his message. My block is made predominantly of families with young children, many of whom are rebbeim and mechanchim. A child typing on Mommy’s phone wouldn’t elicit such a shock. What upset me was what the message said – I never knew autocorrect had such a potty mouth! I will not write exactly what his message read, but we will simply acknowledge that the editors wouldn’t allow it through for publication. I deleted the message and briefly apologized that my son had used my phone. Then I waited to see if there would be any fallout. Using the family chat, I updated my family on my son’s latest mischief,

and everyone had a great laugh. It was even more humorous for my family who knows I’ve never been the type to use that language, not even as a child. It was quickly suggested that this would be a great topic for my next article: what happens when children accidently embarrass their parents.

The Reality When we’re being totally honest, we recognize that there are many times children will accidentally embarrass their parents. I say “accidentally” because there is a big difference between intentionally shaming someone and the irksome or unintentional actions of most childish behavior. Purposely shaming someone is a more serious topic and one that will not be the focus of this article. At this time, I will also not be addressing the requirement to make a kiddush Hashem in public. Tantrums and acting up are common things kids do, even by kids bigger than

we’d like to admit. When they do it in public, it’s usually not to embarrass the parent but simply because that’s where the incident occurs. Whether it’s because they’re out of their usual environment, hungrier, more tired or because that’s where the action happens, children tend to act up in public more than we’d like. There are many methods our sweet, innocent progeny can use to make us want to shrink into the walls. There is the famous tantrum in the grocery store that we know so well. There is the cursing out your block’s chat, as mentioned above. Some kids like to make messes in their home before visitors come, while others prefer trashing the homes of others or eating like they were raised in barns. There are the children that like to spill the shmorg on themselves right before the big family pictures. (As a side point, it’s for these very children that I usually bring extra white shirts to family chasunas.) Of course, there are the children that take more than a lifetime’s supply of food at the kiddush. Some children have accidents while they’re potty training in just the wrong places. Other kids tell the doctor they hate him/her, while others fight back so hard that they draw blood from their physician. None of these examples are done with the intention of causing us embarrassment, but it’s hard not to feel more than a little uncomfortable. Some of the examples listed above came from other families, some are my own, but they’re all real. The reality is that all kids do these types of things, and it’s completely normal during their younger years.

Chinuch to the Child We need to try our best to ensure our response fits the child’s behavior and not our personal mortification. It’s hard to keep focused on what our child actually


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48 lematic texts ended up fitting in quite well to the theme of this article. The women of my fitness class and family chats all had a much-needed laugh on a busy day. At least my son was able to add some humor into their last minute, potentially stressful yom

The messages, as strange as they would be by the random tappings of a tot, were only more hilarious once autocorrect tried to make sense of them.

spectators wouldn’t even know because we’ve all seen kids pull away from their parents or practically need to be dragged out of the location.)

Back to My Chats You might be wondering what happened to my phone messages in the end, after I did all the clean up. Those prob-

tov preparations. They thought he was incredibly cute, and it’s a bracha from Hashem that he truly is very adorable. My son is too young to have realized what he did. I could have been a hypocrite and yelled at him, but the truth was he didn’t even recognize what he did. My role, as his parent, is to keep the phone in a higher area and make sure he can’t

bypass my passcode in any way. He can’t be expected to have self-control, but I can do my part in preventing his ability to cause havoc. My neighborhood block, which received the foul language message, tactfully didn’t respond. Whether they didn’t see the original message or simply chose to remain silent, as good spectators they very well may have recognized that kids are kids and getting angry at his shenanigans would be pointless. Personally, I was very happy to not see any fallout from his silliness. We all have stories of the things we did to embarrass our parents, and our kids will return the favor to us. Let’s try to laugh at their innocence and enjoy their cuteness, because, as we all daven, one day they will no longer be so little. Please daven for a refuah sheleima for Yechiel Meir ben Sarah.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.

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did and not on how we feel. I recognize that separating those emotions isn’t easy. When they scream or act obnoxious in the grocery store, we feel like everyone is watching us and judging. If we respond in relation to our emotions, we’re going to respond in a very angry fashion. If we properly calibrate our response to the child’s behavior, we may just find the child is merely hungry or just needs a calm, but firm, reminder that the answer is “no” to that particular treat. Ultimately, feeding a child before grocery shopping or firmly, but calmly, reinforcing the “no” will yield better results than flying parental sparks. It helps to remember that children are children and those watching you most likely have met kids before. If they have any experience with littler people, then they know not to judge you for your child’s errant behavior. If other adults judge or respond back inappropriately, then it generally says more about them than about you. Spectators can help by not making the situation worse and recognizing that kids being kids isn’t something to judge others about. Snubbing your nose or giving dirty looks is like fuel on a fire to an


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jewish women of wisdom

APRIL 28, 2022

A Matter of Perspective

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by Sara N. brejt, esq., cPc

I finally designed the three-part kitchen that I wanted – green for pareve, red for fleishigs, and blue for milchigs. My son only saw me playing my “kitchen game,” day after day. Everyone sees the world through the lens of their own perspective.

he’s not colorblind. He brought me his red, er green, er red, cap and showed me the underside of the visor part of the cap and, by golly, it was totally green. Sure, the world saw the outside color of red-and-white, but when he wore his hat, and looked up

Everyone sees the world through the lens of their own perspective.

at the sky, all he saw was the “green” part of his hat. To him, it was a green hat. Everyone sees the world through the lens of their own perspective. The day after our first daughter’s engagement, our 5-year-old son was very angry at us. Huh, this doesn’t make sense. He

JWOW! is a community for midlife Jewish women which can be accessed at www.jewishwomanofwisdom.org for conversation, articles, Zoom events, and more.

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Speaking of green, I asked a different son to put on his red baseball cap before he went outdoors. “But Mommy, I only have a green hat.” “You have a red and white one, please put it on.” “No, I only have a green one.” “Hmm, something here is not right.” I know what you’re thinking, and, no,

should be happy! What was going on?!? It took a while to figure this one out! We finally uncovered that he was angry at us for not bringing him to what he thought was his sister’s wedding! On the previous evening – after the l’chaim – my husband and I and the engaged couple and another daughter hurried off to attend a chasunah. We also took our two older boys back to their yeshiva as it was close to the wedding hall. So, basically, the seven oldest members of our family left the house, right after the l’chaim, to go to a wedding. And our little one thought that we had left the house to attend his sister’s wedding! And we had left him at home. We apologized profusely, of course. Everyone sees the world through the lens of their own perspective.

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“M

ommy, you forgot to turn off your kitchen game,” said my 4-year-old. We were about to leave the house, and I was anxious to get going. “My what?” “Your kitchen game.” “Hmm what is he talking about? … Oh!” “You mean the computer program where Mommy looks at different things for our new kitchen?” “Right, Mommy, your kitchen game.” After all, he must have thought, everyone plays games on the computer. He and his sisters and brothers had Math Blaster, Pajama Sam and The Oregon Trail. And Mommy has her kitchen game. In our new kitchen, I wanted a pareve section – sink, oven, cabinetry – not a mirror image kitchen of only milchigs and fleishigs. So, I sat at the computer, with a kitchen-designing computer program for many hours and laid out and designed our new kitchen. And re-configured. And tweaked. Baruch Hashem,


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Forgotten Her es APRIL 28, 2022

Heroes and Heroics During the Civil War

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by Avi Heiligman

Union Sharpshooter “California Joe” with his Sharps rifle, 1862

H E29,B JH .C OM OctOber 2015 | the Jewish Home 10W W W.T

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uring wartime, armies will see an expansion of their forces. This was very evident in the American Civil War as the U.S. Army went from 16,000 soldiers in 1860 to over 1 million by the war’s end in 1865. Recruits came from all walks of life, and units were formed based usually on their state of origin. Some of these of units were not of the usual standard, and many had incredible tales of bravery as they served their country with distinction. Many unique units were formed during the Civil War, but only one had a crazy age requirement. The 37 th Iowa Infantry Regiment was known as the Greybeards Regiment as the minimum age for enlisted men was 45 years old. Many of these men were grandfathers, and none were actually born in Iowa as the territory wasn’t settled until 1833. Given their age, the regiment was usually given light non-combat duties such as guarding supply chains. They did see action on June 5, 1864 when they engaged a band of Confederate guerrillas, and three enlisted Greybeards became casualties. The oldest of the Greybeards was 80-year-old Curtis King who descended from Pocahontas. The former farmer decided to answer President Lincoln’s call

for volunteers and, after getting rejected twice from other units, was finally accepted into Company H, 37 th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He was discharged in 1863 and was noted as one of the most efficient men in the regiment. The Sharps rifle was known for its accuracy, and a specific unit of marksmen used the carbine version to great effect.

with the most accurate rifles that were outfitted with telescopic sites. These units were present at several battles including Gettysburg, where they delayed the Confederates at the boulder-strewn Devil’s Den. They played an important role in the overall battle as they stalled Confederate reinforcements from reaching disorganized Union lines.

The 37th Iowa Infantry Regiment was known as the Greybeards Regiment as the minimum age for enlisted men was 45 years.

The term sharpshooter was created, and the first unit of sharpshooters was under the command of Union Colonel Hiram Berdan. Soldiers in the 1st United States Sharpshooters Regiment had to go through rigorous marksmanship training and tests. They wore green uniforms instead of the traditional Union blue uniforms in one of the first attempts at camouflage. Sharpshooters were equipped

The second in command of the 1 st United States Sharpshooters Regiment was William Y. W. Ripley. He started his Civil War service with a volunteer regiment from Vermont and in late 1941 joined the Sharpshooters. Ripley was hailed for his heroic actions during the fighting in the Battle of Malvern Hill in Virginia. His Medal of Honor citation reads: “The President of the United

States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel William Young Warren Ripley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 1 July 1862, while serving with 1st U.S. Sharpshooters, in action at Malvern Hill, Virginia. At a critical moment Lieutenant Colonel Ripley brought up two regiments, which he led against the enemy himself, being severely wounded.” He had been struck in his leg by a bullet and had to be carried off the battlefield. Later in the war, Ripley rejoined the Vermont infantry and became the commander of the 1st Vermont Militia Division as a major general. Two of the most celebrated units of the Union Army were the Irish Brigade and the Iron Brigade. The Irish Brigade was made up of soldiers from New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, with most having Irish heritage and many actually having been born in Ireland. They were known for their courage and toughness in battle and on several occasions led the charge for the Union’s Army of the Potomac. The brigade suffered heavy casualties at Antietam and Fredericksburg. There is a monument to their bravery at Gettysburg.


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A depiction of the Irish Brigade fighting in the Civil War

on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg by repulsing a Southern offensive through the Herbst’s Woods. They captured much of a Confederate brigade including their commander, General James Archer. Later in the battle, the Iron Brigade made a charge that captured the flag of the 2nd Mississippi Regiment, and they took hundreds of prisoners during the fighting. They took heavy casualties but remained present in the battle. While positioned on Culp’s Hill, they made a night counterat-

tack to retake positions that had been captured by the Confederates. These are just some of the many interesting units that fought with distinction during the war that ripped apart our country. There were others like the 3rd Maryland Cavalry Regiment that was noted for having galvanized Yankees in their ranks. Galvanized Yankees were former Confederate prisoners, and the regiment was present during battles in the Western Theater of the war.

The names of the soldiers that fought in these units may not be well known – even their unit’s history aren’t talked about – which makes this history that deserves to be remembered.

APRIL 28, 2022

The Iron Brigade had several nicknames, including the Black Hats and the Brigade of the West. These names came from the unique black hats they wore in battle. The soldiers came from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. The name Iron Brigade came from their dispositions, and they were engaged in many important battles including the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and Appomattox Courthouse. The brigade played a prominent role

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A member of the Greybeards Regiment

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

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Mental Health Corner

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APRIL 28, 2022

Bipolar Disorder and Personality Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depression, is a mental health disorder that is defined by periods of depressed mood and mania. When one is in a manic phase, it is common to experience high energy, decreased need for sleep, feelings of grandiosity, increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased risk taking, and a loss of touch with reality. There is another form of mania called hypomania (which literally means less than mania), where a person is in a high-energy state but does not experience a break with reality. Sometimes, individuals with a natural talent for creativity feel their creative juices flowing intensely when they are in a hypomanic or manic state. This can lead individuals with bipolar disorder to resist taking their medications, as they do not want to lose the extra boost they receive from their mania. Another common fear of taking medication for bipolar disorder is that the medication will flatten their personality.

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

This dangerous misconception is partially the result of the grandiose feelings that are common during manic phases. This euphoria makes the person truly believe that he functions at his best in that state. This is analogous to saying that automobiles function the best when the accelerator is pushed to the floor and the brakes are not working. True, the car will go very fast, but it will likely crash. Similarly, during a manic phase the energy level feels great, but being that it is uncontrolled it will most likely be more detrimental than beneficial. Moreover, the medications most commonly taken for bipolar disorder are the mood stabilizers (such as lithium, Lamictal, and Depakote). These medications operate on your mood and not on your personality or talents. If you are naturally talented, your talents will not be lost when you take your medication. Just the opposite is true, as it will provide you the stability that you need to carry out your goals. Actually, there are times when

medication will make you feel not like yourself. However, this is usually not due to the medication per se, but rather due to a wrong dosage or incorrect type of medication. One of the hardest parts of psychiatry is finding the right medication and the right dosage for each individual person. It can take a lot of trial and error until the right medication and dosage is discovered. Once you have reached that point, the medication will make you feel like your true self. This is not only the case with bipolar disorder; it is true by all mental health disorders. Every class of psychiatric medication has many medicines that do the same thing. The reason is that every psychiatric medication carries with it the risk of negative side effects. Some people will experience these side effects with one medication in that class, and others will feel it from another. Indeed, there are ongoing studies trying to determine if a DNA profile can determine the right dosage and medication for

each individual person. An additional mistake with bipolar disorder is to identify the grandiosity of the manic phase as a true representation of yourself. When one is in a manic phase, he feels on top of the world and super-human. It can feel like a letdown when you can no longer have that experience, but that is actually a positive development since those feelings of grandiosity can be very dangerous. Life is not always easy, and the journey to find the right medication for each individual with bipolar disorder can be arduous. That journey is not simply a pathway to symptom relief; it is also an endeavor to be able to live your life with access to the full range of your talents and personality. This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be con-

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1. *

TJH

Centerfold

MUSK LISTEN Some of Elon Musk’s most memorable quotes to date We could definitely make a flying car, but that’s not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that’s super safe and quiet? Because if it’s a howler, you’re going to make people very unhappy. We have essentially no patents in SpaceX. Our primary long-term competition is in China — if we published patents, it would be farcical, because the Chinese would just use them as a recipe book. Good ideas are always crazy until they’re not. I would like to die on Mars. But not during a fatal impact. I always invest my money in the companies I create. I don’t believe in using just other people’s money. I don’t think that’s fair. I will not ask other people to invest in something if I am not prepared to do it myself.

When Henry Ford made cheap and reliable cars, people said, “Nah, what about a horse?” It was a huge bet that he made and it worked. Don’t confuse schooling with education. I didn’t go to Harvard but the people that work for me did. I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary. Any product that needs a manual to work is broken. Funded by the government just means funded by the people. Government, by the way, has no money. It only takes money from the people. It’s a fixer-upper of a planet but we could make it work. My proceeds from the PayPal acquisition were $180 million. I put $100 million in SpaceX, $70 million in Tesla, and $10 million in Solar City. I had to borrow money for rent.

I wouldn’t say I have a lack of fear. In fact, I’d like my fear emotion to be less because it’s very distracting and fried my nervous system.

I take the position that I’m always to some degree wrong, and the aspiration is to be less wrong.

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My biggest mistake is probably weighing too much on someone’s talent and not someone’s personality. I think it’s important if someone has a good heart.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me! Yankel says to Moishe: “Oy, I wish I was a billionaire, just like my father...” Moishe replies incredulously, “Your father was a

billionaire?!” “No,” says Yankel, “but he also wished that he was a billionaire.”


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1. How much did Elon Musk pay to buy Twitter (the whole company, that is)? a. $3 billion b. $14 billion c. $44 billion d. $100 billion

3. How did Twitter get created? a. Jack Dorsey sold an IT company to Google for $500 million and invested $300 million in this new startup called Twitter. b. A podcasting company was going under because iTunes came along and took up their market share, so they had a brainstorming session and one of the engineers (Jack

Answers: 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. A

6. C 7. D Wisdom key: 5-6 correct: u r a twtr exprt 3-4 correct: #mediocrity

5. In 2006, Jack Dorsey sent out the first ever tweet. What did it say? a. “ just setting up my twttr” b. “One small tweet for me, one great leap for social media” c. “covfefe” d. “Forward this message for a chance to win $1 million” 6. How many tweets are sent on average per day? a. 15 million b. 75 million c. 500 million d. 2 billion e. 7 billion 7. Approximately how many Twitter followers did Donald Trump have before he was permanently blocked from the platform on January 21, 2021? a. 5 million b. 12 million c. 20 million d. 80 million

0-2 correct: You don’t pay much attention to Twitter. Maybe you are really smart. On the other hand, one of the smartest people in the world today just paid $44 billion for the company, so maybe you are not really so smart.

WemW oHW.T hsiweJ eH ht E | 51B 02 ,J9H 2 re.bC OtO cOM

4. Who famously said the following: “I’m not a Twitterer…

I’m not a Facebooker. I am a ... nothin’ ... I’m old school”? a. George Bush b. Michael Jordan c. Jordan Peterson d. Tony Robbins

APRIL 28, 2022

2. What is the official name of the bird that is the Twitter logo? a. Larry T Bird b. Blue Bird c. Twitter Bird d. Tweet Twit

Dorsey) came up with the idea of allowing people to send a short text message to a central number, where it could be disseminated to a large group of people, thus allowing people to share their status. c. Jack Dorsey would send out text messages to all of his friends about different things (probably nose rings and yuppy beards), and he realized that it would be easier if he could just write something on his phone and all of his friends could see it. He therefore came up with the app and sold it to Google, which developed it. d. Jack Dorsey accidentally sent a text message to all of his contacts saying, “I’m going to Hamilton tonight.” When he received 75 responses asking how it was, he realized that it is really cool to be able to broadcast messages in a text message style to a lot of people at once. Based on that, he created Twitter.

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Twitter Trivia

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Notable Quotes APRIL 28, 2022

“Say What?!”

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Dramatic action is needed to stop the New York City crime spree and to give New Yorkers hope rather than fear. The subway system is the circulatory system for our downstate economy, and we must increase police presence and police action. A police officer on every train worked before and will work again. But police must actively patrol and that means district attorneys must prosecute crimes. - From a Daily News op-ed by disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, who was actually the one who signed the bail reform law that is commonly believed to be the cause of the current crime wave in New York

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices and food prices all over the world. Everything is going up.

Millions of Americans are suffering right now under President Biden and Speaker Pelosi’s big-government socialist agenda that has given us record-high inflation, with skyrocketing gas prices and a border crisis, yet the only thing the Democrat media continues to obsess over is January 6th. - Lauren Fine, spokeswoman Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

- President Joe Biden

I’m doing everything within my power by executive orders to bring down the price and address the Putin price hikes.

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- Ibid.

Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war, commits genocide, a half a world away, to help deal with this Putin price hike. - Ibid.

An interesting observation – just FYI. President Macron appears to have secured a double-digit victory over LePen, at a time when his approval rating is 36%. Hmmm… - White House chief of staff Ron Klain

When I see young people walking alone outside with the mask, I want to punch them. - Bill Maher, HBO

Netflix is blaming their losses on fierce competition, inflation, and Russia. When he heard that, President Biden was like, “Hey, get your own excuses.” — Jimmy Fallon


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HOT TUB


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APRIL 28, 2022

— Trevor Noah

I feel exhilarated by the fact that this fellow finally, totally discredited himself. He put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Couldn’t have happened at a better time. – Then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to a reporter on January 6, 2020, according to a recently released book

If someone is breaking into your house, you’re more than welcome to shoot at them in Santa Rosa County. We’d prefer that you do actually… You’ll save the taxpayers money. - Florida’s Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson

You’re a corporation based in Burbank, California, and you’re going to martial your economic might to attack the parents of my state? We view that as a provocation, and we’re going to fight back against that. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis while signing a bill to end Disney’s special privileges after they fought against a bill which prohibits schools from teaching kids under third grade about depraved behaviors

These economic blows are just one element in a cascading set of problems all hitting at the same time. It combines the nuclear anxieties of the 1950s and ‘60s with the inflation threat of the ‘70s, the crime wave of the ‘80s and ‘90s and the tensions over illegal immigration in the 2000s and beyond. This electorate is not experiencing a malaise, as President Jimmy Carter was once apocryphally said to have proclaimed but has instead formed into a deep national fissure ready to blow like a geyser in the next election if leadership does not move to relieve the pressure. - Democratic pollster Mark Penn in a New York Times op-ed

You could secretly ban one party’s candidate, or all of its candidates, all of its nominees, or you could just secretly turn down the reach of their stuff and turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us might not even find out about it until after the elections.

- Digital Strategist Gregg Price in response

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I’ve been looking for a new rock to live under and was wondering which one you use.

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- MSNBC’s Ari Melber ironically expressing concern that elections could be swayed through Twitter censorship, now that Elon Musk is buying it


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One billionaire – whose estimated net worth has gotten about 10 times larger since the start of the pandemic – is about to have the power to decide how millions of people can communicate with each other. It’s dangerous for our democracy to have so much power in so few hands. – Tweet by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

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Elon Musk and a handful of billionaires now have dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms. They can’t be trusted, and self-regulation has failed. We must pass laws to protect privacy and promote algorithmic justice for internet users, especially for kids. - Tweet by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

The extreme antibody reaction from those who fear free speech says it all. - Tweet by Elon Musk responding to the left’s meltdown over his purchase of Twitter

Elon Musk could have put that $44 billion towards tackling world poverty, instead he’s used it to send millions of woke Liberal narcissists into a spiral of depression, and honestly I think it’s money well spent. - Tweet by comedian Andrew Lawrence

People say that work kills; for me, work kept me alive. I kept working until I was 108. - A French nun, age 118, who became the oldest person in the world this week

It’s interesting, my subscriptions went up massively — that’s what’s crazy. During the height of it all, I gained 2 million subscribers. - Joe Rogan talking about the left’s recent attempt to cancel him

Elon Musk has committed to nothing except more transparency and more free speech – and the Left is melting down. Which shows two things: 1) They hate transparency and free speech; 2) They always assumed Twitter opposed both, then gaslit everyone that Twitter wasn’t biased.

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Late last night, after winning his battle for Twitter, @elonmusk was in Boca Chica and held his regular 10 pm meeting on Raptor engine design, where he spent more than an hour working on valve leak solutions. No one mentioned Twitter. He can multitask. – Author Walter Isaacson, who is working on a book about Elon Musk

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– Tweet by Ben Shapiro


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APRIL 28, 2022

Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LcSW of the Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

After many years of dating, I finally am dating a really great guy. We connect on many levels, which is a big deal for me. For the sake of the letter, I’ll call him Eli. I have been set up with a lot of guys who are not driven and don’t have the intellectual capacity that I want or are professionally “figuring it out,”

which is such a turn-off to me. Eli is different. He is motivated, successful, and a hard worker. I feel so stupid saying this now since this is what I always wanted, but I feel like he enjoys his work more than spending time with me. We have been dating for four months, and it is coming to the point where I have to make a decision. We speak about this issue all the time; if I marry him, I have to understand he will travel for work, I

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will have to accompany him to parties, and we definitely won’t spend as much time together as I would have wanted. I’m so torn. I like him, and I respect him, but do I want someone married to his job? I just don’t know. Any clarity would be helpful. Thanks, Melissa*

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


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the rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. elissa, you must understand that smart, ambitious people must invest in their professions/occupations to achieve their goals. He obviously has a good work ethic and is being very straightforward with you. He is saying that he wants you to be part of his professional world and not leave you out of it. He also does not wish to mislead you. Is that being married to the job? I don’t think so. But you apparently think he is making a choice between you and his work. That’s not very mature. Understand that his commitment to successful work and time commitments go together. Any woman who dates a doctor or corporate lawyer gets that she will not have access to her partner for many more hours beyond nine-to-five and will have to develop an independent life of her own. Do you want an escort, or do you

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want a successful spouse who values honesty and your company? Maybe he gets that you are lacking companionship and find it difficult to be alone. Maybe he gets that your love language is spending time together, and he cannot give you that as much as he would like. Perhaps he understands you better than you understand yourself. Think about your other love languages and your ability to communicate them and then discuss them with him. You need to be ready to accept reality, yourself, and your ability to accept his needs before committing. You are not there yet.

the Shadchan Michelle Mond

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hat a predicament! Melissa, if his working habits

bother you, he might not be the right one for you. As the famous adage says, when someone shows you who they truly are, believe them. Many hard-working men in top corporate positions are openly worka-holics. If these men are in successful marriages, their wives come along for the ride and enjoy the thrill of constant travel, work parties, conferences, and corporate life. The man you are dating is being completely open about the kind of lifestyle he would like to live, because he does not want to blindside you. I admire that he is communicating this with you rather than getting engaged and leaving you trapped on your own to figure it out. Melissa, there are hardworking men out there who still make lots of room for family time. There is a large gray area in between the guys you describe whom you have dated, those who have no financial plan, and no motivation to work, and this man you are dating who is married to his job. If you do not respect his choices now, you will be even more resentful when

Mutual respect is the most important ingredient needed for a successful relationship.

you are married. Realize, however, that men with a better work-life balance will choose time at home over being more successful or perhaps going to your daughter’s siddur play over spending more time in the office. There is always more one can achieve when it comes to earning. What matters the most is where his priorities align. Figure out which one you respect and that will help you steer yourself in the proper direction.

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The Panel


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you choose to accept them as your form of perfect.

Tzipora Grodko

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the Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

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his is a very tough question. I am not that concerned that your boyfriend is hardworking and “married to his job,” because, after all, in today’s world that is often required of highly successful people. Think of dedicated surgeons spending countless hours at their hospitals or corporate officers and their lawyers working through numerous all-night sessions. Spouses who love each other reluctantly understand and accept those situations. However, what does worry me is his need to travel frequently. Here is how I would frame the di-

You need to be ready to accept reality, yourself, and your ability to accept his needs before committing. but could, instead, share some enjoyable experiences with you. And, as an added bonus, perhaps you could assist him in his work. Of course, you, yourself, would need a job that would allow you to work remotely from time to time. And, when you are blessed with children, you would need dedicated caregivers (grandparents?) who could watch the children from time to time. Bear in mind that there are no guarantees in life, but this might be the basis of a mutually enjoyable and trusting marriage. Good luck!

APRIL 28, 2022

utual respect is the most important ingredient needed for a successful relationship. Can you respect that Eli wants to be a source of financial security for his family, understanding that everything he is doing is ultimately for the benefit of his family (which would include you)? It is extremely important for a spouse to feel proud of his work and an extra bonus if he finds tremendous fulfilment and satisfaction. Finding purpose and meaning enables a spouse to feel their best self, furthermore, being the best husband, they can be. Clarify whether your feelings of being secondary to Eli’s responsibilities are true through communication. If they are not, recognize that there will be challenges with any potential soul mate. Things are not meant to be perfect. But

lemma: Observation #1: I know folks who are jewelers and folks who are salespeople who must travel almost weekly. The good news is that, after decades of marriage, they are wonderful, loving, and loyal husbands and fathers. Observation #2: Unfortunately, I also know of husbands who, perhaps because of too much business-related travelling, have seriously strayed from Yiddishkeit and from their morals. Observation #3: After dating unsuccessfully for many years, you may have finally found “Mr. Right.” It would be heartbreaking, maybe even foolish, to walk away from such a potentially promising relationship. So, what should you do? Here’s my suggestion: See if the two of you can agree that, every so often, you would accompany him on his business trips. Think of the cities and hotels that you could enjoyably explore while he is working. And, when he isn’t working, he would not have to be alone in a strange city,

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the Single

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

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ear Melissa, Thank you for your email. There is no such thing as a “stupid” feeling, especially when it comes to settling down with “The One.” I’m glad you’re paying attention to your feelings. G-d willing, Eli will always work and have business dinners, parties, and travel, and late nights will be a part of your life should you get married. No one else has to live your life, so no one can really advise you whether to move forward or to break up. I can only offer you some things to consider…

I have worked with women in your shoes, on the other side of the chuppah. They are married to doctors, attorneys and businessmen whose hours are long and not their own. Some women seem to be A-OK with the lifestyle, and some aren’t. Some adjusted, and some didn’t and report feeling lonely when apart. You have to be brutally honest with yourself about what you can and what you cannot

stock and barrel, he/she is most likely putting in long hours in some capacity. I noticed you wrote that you sometimes feel like Eli enjoys his work more than he enjoys spending time with you. It may be I’m reading into something that isn’t there, or it may be that this is worth your own personal exploration – the idea that you are somehow in competition with his work. Perhaps he is not making you feel special and cherished during your time together? If you feel it relevant, you guys may want to speak to a therapist together to iron out some of these concerns. Wishing you all the best and that your clarity arrives shortly! Sincerely, Jennifer

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

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handle. If you truly don’t know, you may want to speak to a professional to figure this out. Not only is Eli’s schedule not going to change, but he is going to need your emotional support and understanding to help him keep going. If you’re a reader of the column, you may have read this question before… How do you walk away from healthy love? I ask you to consider what the quality of your relationship is and how you feel when you are together and how you feel in the relationship when you are not together. Can you imagine your life without Eli in it? Something else to consider is that in 2022, unless a person is independently wealthy or is supported by parents lock,


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Life c ach

by rivki D. rosenwald esq., LMFt, cLc, SDS

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crowd is either bloated by a combination of shmura matzah expanded by salt water and potatoes or fast asleep on the couch because they did their “leaning” so well. Although there is good news: somehow, people are completely revived by the aroma of something other than bitter herbs being served. And the meal gets consumed.

hind them. Sound familiar?! Then there is that other Pesach medley, that everyone knows, and everyone is sick of, but every kid and parent sing anyway. Because it gives parents the delicious nachas of hearing their kid know every single, meaningful word. For everyone’s benefit, though, I won’t review the familiar and overheard ditty; suffice it to say, just don’t make Pharaoh’s bed in the

Where it gets rough is when you go to someone who does it differently than your family. For instance, the new inlaws. It just feels “wrong” somehow. The beat, the cadence, the flow – we just don’t feel it’s a Seder unless it’s our old familiar way! Those are the times one is happiest to be married to a baal teshuva. It’s easy shmeazy because your traditions become theirs.

The beat, the cadence, the flow – we just don’t feel it’s a Seder unless it’s our old familiar way!

morning if you can avoid it, or these will be jumping here, there and everywhere! We follow the fun beginning with the Haggadah reading and the singing that ensues – and every family has their own style. Some race through the words and stop for the familiar songs, while others converse and discuss each and every section. Of course, there are those who pick and choose what to exclude all the way through. Yet, it’s all fine as long as you’re reliving the experience somehow.

After all that, there’s the eating ceremonies. Dip, and wash, and chew, and chew, and chew. Matzah is just not a glide-down-easily food! There’s a variety of traditional food items we eat in varied layouts, and we get pretty full. Nevertheless…after that…. We try to make a delicious meal for the first night of the holiday! After all, our whole family is together for the first time in a long time. The problem is that by the time we get to the meal, half the

While this is going on, it’s still not that relaxing because all the while there are little people scurrying about, under foot, under table, and even, to your dismay, opening sealed up cupboards. But the search must go on. Because to end the meal, you must chew, chew, and chew again the afikomen matzah! We then continue with praise of G-d for all of this. But things are still not done… The door gets opened for a guest – thankfully, an invisible one! No pressure there. After all, you’ve just cleaned up and put everything away. Now, the real measure of a truly dedicated family is those who make it to the last part of the Seder…. After all, you’re full, you’re tired, you’re drunk. Still, we sing, we get pumped. We get wild. We dance, and we celebrate! There is no stopping us…. We will be doing this next year and the year after that – although we’ll be in a different country while we chew, chew, chew. But that is the true measure and message of the night. We can and will survive and thrive through anything.

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

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t some point during the Ma Nishtana, the cuteness level goes up 100 %! This is due to the originality of the words that the youngest children create. Oh, the tune stays perfectly familiar, it doesn’t miss a melodic beat, but the words are hysterical beyond recognition. And yet, the credibility of the questions is not marred even one bit because of the obvious sincerity in the delivery. The erect stance on the chair, along with the booming confidence of the accuracy of their words, makes you almost believe the jumbled sounds have some meaning. Now, of course, that’s only the Ma Nishtana delivery made by the first of the “4 Seder sons” (or daughters). Let’s call him the “secure son.” What about the “shy son” (or daughter)? He’s still trying to get up the courage to stand up! And you kind of spend the whole rest of Pesach trying to prove to the whole family that he/she knows the Ma Nishtana perfectly. After all, he/ she came home and did it flawlessly when they first learned it. And how about the “semi-shy son”? Oh, those start off with their heads meekly buried under their armpits. But suddenly, they do really well when standing up with cousins. All at once, they are blurting out their words as loud as the kid next to them. The funniest ones, though, are the “quiet singing sons.” They know it perfectly. Even at age 2. Yet they are singing it way too softly for anyone to hear! But it gets even worse. The moms and dads, for ages past and to come, take the same route to solve the problem. They sing along ever so quietly under their breath to help their child sing out loud better. Which consistently and for centuries backfires. Of course! Because their children then sing even softer in order to emulate their mentors. So that is the true Passover saga of the “four sons.” And the eight frustrated parents be-

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Highlights and Insights


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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

by Allan rolnick, cPA

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OctOber 29, 2015 | the Jewish Home

H

ave you tried buying a car lately? It’s nuts! Carmakers are scrambling to find the chips they need to power features like entertainment systems and digital displays. That means fewer vehicles are rolling off assembly lines. And as everyone knows, when supplies go down, prices go up. That means dealers can scrawl “3,000$ market price adjustment” at the bottom of the sticker, laugh at their good fortune, and actually get away with it. (Fun fact: it’s called a “Monroney sticker” after Oklahoma Senator Mike Monroney, who sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act mandating the stickers back when Cadillacs still had tailfins.) The average price of a new car climbed $3,301 in 2020 and $6,220 in 2021. That’s partly because carmakers can’t find enough chips and partly because they aren’t wasting their supply on cheap econoboxes when they can use them for pickups and SUVs. Even used car prices, which typically rise about 1% per year, have soared 45%, to an average of nearly $26,000. Leisure Suit Larry, walking the floor down at the local dealership, is living his best life. But it’s causing all sorts of problems for the rest of us – including Larry’s boss, who has to pay extra taxes

on those shrinking inventories. Here’s the problem. (Warning: it’s boring and technical. Soooo boring and technical.) Most car dealers use the lastin, first-out (LIFO) method to account for their inventory. This requires them to track something called a “LIFO reserve,” which represents the difference between

ent LIFO calculation. There are four to choose from: the General Dollar-Value LIFO Method, the Simplified Dollar-Value LIFO Method, the Inventory Price Index Computation Method, and the Alternative LIFO Method. (Ugh.) Or they could file Form 3115 to recapture their entire LIFO reserve and spread the tax over four

Leisure Suit Larry, walking the floor down at the local dealership, is living his best life.

inventories under the LIFO method and inventories under the conventional firstin, first-out (FIFO) method. Usually, that reserve doesn’t mean much. However, when inventories drop – like they have now because there aren’t enough cars to sell – dealers have to recapture part of that LIFO reserve and add it to their taxable income. That, in turn, means paying tax on income they don’t actually earn. (Like I said, it’s technical – but you don’t have to be the Mona Lisa Vito of LIFO reserves to get that it’s a problem.) Now, dealers can switch to a differ-

years. But both of those options still mean paying unexpected taxes on income they would otherwise be able to carry forward. Fortunately, car dealers vote. And the folks in Washington who write the tax laws know that cutting taxes wins more voters. So earlier this month, House Democrats introduced a bipartisan bill that would let dealers wait until 2025 to replace their inventories and determine the income attributable to their 2020 and 2021 sales. Also, 92 Representatives and 52 Senators have petitioned the Treasury to grant temporary LIFO relief

to businesses having trouble replacing inventories due to COVID supply chain interruptions. Seeing Republicans and Democrats come together to support the measure is really something in today’s polarized environment. (Waiter: “How would you like your steak, sir?” Customer: “Like a bipartisan Congress.” Waiter: “Rare it is, sir!”) There’s a step in any car-buying adventure when your salesman says, “Let me go talk with my manager.” (He’s not really talking with his manager. He’s just watching the game for half an inning to make you think he’s arm-wrestling on your behalf.) Well, proactive planning is as close as you can get to haggling with the tax code over your bill. And you wouldn’t buy a car without negotiating, right? So why on earth would you file a return without seeing what you can save? Call us, and let’s see if we can put you in a sweet new ride!

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.


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