GIRLS ONLY COUNSELORS CLASS: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm TO REGISTER AND FOR CLASS LOCATION, PLEASE EMAIL SUMMERCPRSIGNUP@GMAIL.COM OR VISIT CHESEDFUND.COM.
Women/Girl/Counselor Classes Include Babysitting Safety! Presented by Dr. Eli Goldstein *Limited Space Available! CPR/First Aid K-12 certification card will be issued. If registering for the June 29th class, enter “Counselor” in the subject line.
Dear Readers,
As high school graduation approaches, many of us reflect on the incredible journey our children have taken. Fourteen years of schooling, from their dependent youth to their present status as independent young adults, have shaped them into the individuals they are today. While each path is unique, we are fortunate to live in a community where our schools share a singular mission: providing the very best Torah education. This, paired with the loving guidance of devoted parents, often results in a child who is well-prepared for the challenges ahead. It’s easy to take our educational system for granted. After all, we see it every day and become accustomed to its complexities. Criticism is common: the high cost of tuition, variability in teacher quality, and the mistakes that inevitably happen. Yet, it’s essential to remember that our schools are working under conditions that make perfection nearly impossible. Balancing the needs of every student and ensuring each child receives the attention they deserve is a monumental task. Teachers, no matter how dedicated, are few and far between, and the financial and logistical demands to support staff such as social workers and counselors are ever-growing. Despite these challenges, our schools remain committed to their mission and to every child who walks through their doors. The Rabbeim and teachers, who already give so much, always strive to do whatever they can to support and nurture every student. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where both of my parents were deeply involved in education. They made personal sacrifices to contribute to the future of Klal Yisroel, forgoing luxury to build a foundation of knowledge and values for the next generation. I’ve always believed that the brightest minds in the Jewish world are not necessarily found in boardrooms or labs, but in the Bais Medrash and in the classrooms of our schools. The Rabbeim and educators who teach our children could have pursued prestigious careers as doctors, lawyers, or corporate leaders. Instead, they made the selfless decision to dedicate their lives to educating our youth and shaping future generations of Torah leaders, families, and communities.
As this school year draws to a close, we stand with our graduates, filled with pride and a sense of bittersweetness. We are proud of who they’ve become and what they’ve accomplished. At the same time, we know that the time has come for them to step into the world as independent young adults, ready to take on the challenges ahead. Graduation marks a significant milestone, not just for the students but for their families as well. It is a time to reflect on years of hard work, love, and dedication, but also to look forward with hope and anticipation. With the foundation of Torah and the skills they’ve gained, these graduates are now prepared to embark on the next phase of their journey.
To the educators who have been partners in this mission, we offer our deepest gratitude. The impact of their hard work cannot be overstated. Their patience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to their students have shaped these graduates into the people they are today. They have not only imparted knowledge but have modeled values and character traits that will stay with these young adults for the rest of their lives. They have truly gone above and beyond, always giving EVEN MORE than what is expected of them.
And to our children, the graduates themselves, we say thank you. Thank you for the joy, pride, and meaning you bring to our lives. Thank you for the way you’ve grown, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the future you are ready to build. We look forward to seeing you flourish in all your endeavors, and we will always be here, cheering you on, supporting you, and davening for your continued success.
“It ain’t over till it’s over,” Rabbi Yechezkel Zweig poetically declared at the Bais Yaakov graduation. “It’s just the beginning.” With the solid foundation of Torah, the lessons they’ve learned, and the love and guidance that continue to surround them, we are confident that our children will continue to shine, no matter where life takes them.
Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos,
Aaron M. Friedman
SEND
Send us your: community events, articles & photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!
Cold
Starting on June 13th, Shabbos Parshas B'haloscha, and continuing on Shabbos afternoons through the summer, almost 40 hosts will set up water stations throughout the area when temperatures reach 85° or higher, providing cold water bottles to pedestrians.
The Baltimore community is still feeling the loss of a unique power couple, Rebbetzin Miriam Lowenbraun, ה″ע, who was nifteres on June 14th, 2014, and Rabbi Yitzchok “Itchie” Lowenbraun, ל″ז, who was niftar on April 29th, 2021.
Amongst the many important roles they played, they served as Regional Directors of NCSY’s Atlantic Seaboard for 18 years, dedicating themselves to the needs of thousands. As pioneers in kiruv, this dynamic duo are inspirational role models whose exceptional hachnosas orchim and Torah lessons still reverberate worldwide.
While this program was initially developed in memory of Rebbetzin Lowenbraun, ה″ע, we have rededicated it to include Rabbi Lowenbraun, ל″ז, as well. The Mei Miriam program is our way of honoring the memory of this special couple.
Honor a loved one’s memory by becoming a one-time or weekly sponsor. Email info@chesedfund.com or call 410-653-3333 for more details.
&
In memory of Rabbi Yitzchok and Rebbitzen Miriam Lowenbraun,
Around the Community
The Soul Behind The Spotlight: Dr. Zipora Schorr’s Enduring Influence
By: BJLife Newsroom
Spotlight 2025 was more than a celebration… it was a tribute to nearly five decades of extraordinary vision, unwavering commitment, and transformative leadership from Dr. Zipora Schorr.
Held in the Dahan Sanctuary on the Beth Tfiloh campus, the evening featured heartfelt remarks from Rabbi Chai Posner, Head Rabbi of Beth Tfiloh Congregation; Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, Rabbi-in-Residence; event co-chairs Hudi Schorr ’01 and Yanky Schorr; and Dr. Schorr herself. Known for her humility and deeply private nature, Dr. Schorr offered a rare glimpse into the values that matter most to her. She spoke about her upbringing, the strength and influence of her mother, the centrality of family, and the guiding force of a Torah lifestyle. Her reflections were a moving expression of the life lessons that shaped her neshama and the quiet determination that has carried her through decades of leadership. It was a personal and powerful moment that revealed not only what she’s accomplished, but who she is at her core.
The program included unforgettable performances by Avraham Fried, Yonatan Razel, Shulem Lemmer, and
Eli Schwebel. Each artist brought something personal and profoundly Jewish to the stage, weaving together classic niggunim, heartfelt ballads, and even unexpected musical mashups that created an atmosphere that was both joyful and deeply moving. Highlights included “Vehi She’amda,” “Shalom Aleichem,” “October Rain,” “Take Me Higher,” “Bring Him Home,” “Mi Shema’amin,” and “Am Yisrael Chai.” The evening closed with an emotional moment as Dr. Schorr’s sons, Yanky and Reb Avremel, spontaneously joined the entertainers on stage for a stirring “Acheinu.” Baltimore’s Jewish community is layered and diverse, but the crowd sang with one voice in a poignant reflection of the shared sense of celebration, purpose, family, and achdut.
Todah Rabah to the incredible generosity of esteemed Beth Tfiloh donors and supporters, this year’s Spotlight raised more than $2 million in support of financial aid, making a Beth Tfiloh education possible for more than half of its students.
Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School is Baltimore’s only co-educational K–12th grade Jewish
day school, offering an education marked by academic excellence, joy of learning, respect, and attention to the individual. Beth Tfiloh prepares students to become compassionate leaders with integrity and character, who are proud, knowledgeable Jews, with a deep connection to Israel, its land and people.
Schorr’s values are the pillar of a BT experience. Her influence is felt in every corner of the Beth Tfiloh campus, in every life she’s touched, and in every graduate who walks the world a little taller because of what they learned.
Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA) Achieves Full Accreditation From AIMS
Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA) proudly announces that it has officially earned full accreditation from the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), marking a major milestone in the school’s growth and commitment to educational excellence.
This achievement is the result of a rigorous, three-and-a-half-year accreditation process and reflects the tireless efforts of OCA’s faculty, staff, leadership, and community members. Accreditation by AIMS affirms that OCA—serving students from Early Childhood through Middle School—meets the highest standards of educational quality, operational integrity, and professional best practices.
“This recognition is a testament to the strength of our programs, the professionalism of our educators, and the deep commitment of our entire OCA commu-
nity,” said Dr. Deborah Rapoport, Head of School. “We are filled with hakarat hatov and take enormous pride in what we have accomplished together.”
What Accreditation Means for OCA:
• Excellence Across All Divisions: OCA is now formally recognized for maintaining exemplary standards from the Early Childhood Center through Middle School.
• Highest Rating in Maryland EXCELS: OCA’s ECC, licensed by the Maryland Department of Education Office of Child Care, has now achieved Level 5 status— the highest quality rating under the Maryland EXCELS program.
• Enhanced Donor Impact: Donors who work for employers with matching gift programs may now
be able to expand the impact of their contributions to OCA through an employer match.
• Expanded Funding Opportunities: Accreditation enables OCA to become eligible for certain federal grants and to sponsor J-1 visas, broadening opportunities for institutional growth and faculty development.
• Professional Development & Resources: Faculty and staff continue
to benefit from robust professional development and employment resources through AIMS, as well as through partnerships with the Baltimore Association of Jewish Day Schools, Jewish Educational Services, and Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools.
Achieving this milestone confirms what the OCA community has long known—that it is a place of vision, heart, and excellence in Torah and general education.
The Baltimore Community Welcomes the Rishon Letzion
Divrei Bracha
Sunday, June 15, 2025 · 9:45am For Men & Women
Ohr Hamizrach Congregation 6813 Park Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
Around the Community
JCSL By MDSC – Week 5 Recap: Parity Reigns As Playoff Race Tightens
As the JCSL by MDSC 2025 season hits its midpoint, competitive balance remains the defining theme. With five weeks in the books, all nine teams remain in striking distance of a postseason berth. Week 5 delivered more upsets, standout performances, and thrilling finishes—further muddying the waters as teams vie for one of the four coveted spots in the RenoSafe Homes Postseason, and a chance to lift the Premier Financial Trophy.
With just four regular season weeks remaining, the standings are as follows:
Team WinsLosses
GB Homes32
YL Waitering 32
Ambush Law 22
Donny Ankri Architects 22
Clothier 22
The Friendship Circle 22
Lazar Real Estate 22
Orshan Legal Group 23
Web Interactive Tech 23
Game Recaps
Donny Ankri Architects 14, Ambush Law 3
In the marquee matchup of the week, Donny Ankri Architects (DAA) took down first-place Ambush Law in commanding fashion. DAA jumped out early with three runs in the first and never looked back. Behind stellar pitching from Yair Moinzadeh, excellent outfield play from Josh Zaslow, and a highlight-reel backhand throw by shortstop Donny Ankri, the team stifled Ambush’s offense for five straight innings.
Jason Mann extended the lead with an inside-the-park home run before Ambush mounted a minor rally in the 7th to cut the deficit to 7–3. But DAA sealed the deal with a seven-run explosion in the bottom of the 8th, capped by a grand slam from Koby Leder—recorded at an astonishing 122.9 mph exit velocity per AWS tracking. The statement win propels DAA right back into playoff contention.
GB
Homes 11, Web Interactive Technologies 5
In a battle with standings implications, GB Homes rose to the occasion. After jumping out to a 3–0 lead in the first, they withstood a quick response from Web Interactive Technologies, who tied the game in the second. GB’s resilience showed as they reclaimed the lead in the fourth and controlled the game from that point forward.
Strong contributions throughout the lineup (led by the Bregin Brothers and crew) and airtight defense secured an 11–5 win and a share of first place for GB Homes in this tightly packed race.
YL Waitering 13, Orshan Legal Group 7
YL Waitering continued their strong season with a hard-fought win over Orshan Legal Group. The highlight of the game came from Yankie Goldsmith, whose heads-up baserunning with the bases loaded led to an overthrow that cleared the bases— providing the cushion YL needed.
Despite playing through a pulled hamstring, All-Star Moshe Burr delivered a gritty performance, helping his team to victory. Defensive standouts included Mendy Rauh at first base and Simcha Malin in his outfield season debut. Captain Yoni Levin’s speed and smart base running added pressure all game long, rounding out a complete team performance.
Lazar Real Estate 11, Clothier 6
Lazar Real Estate (LRE) came out swinging—and walking. Their disciplined approach at the plate resulted in seven walks from their first nine batters, maxing out the league’s sixrun limit in the opening frame. By the end of the third inning, they had built a commanding 10–0 lead.
Clothier’s late-game push—dubbed their “6-for-6 sale” in the sixth inning—wasn’t enough to overcome the dominant pitching of Aharon Adler, who allowed no runs through eight innings. Adam Neuman’s dazzling barehanded catch set the tone for LRE’s defense, while consistent hitting and hustle from Chaim Finkelstein,
Gershon Vegh, and Donny Basch powered the offense. Vegh’s decision to bring a literal fan to the game did not go unnoticed—and was a hit on and off the field.
With only a few weeks remaining, every pitch, play, and run carries sig-
nificant weight. As parity continues to define the season, fans can expect more drama, more surprises, and a postseason race that may go down to the very last inning.
Comfort Year-Round:
with !
Save Big on Energy Costs:
Cut your heating and cooling bills by 30-50% and make your HVAC system work smarter, not harder.
Breathe Better:
Enjoy improved air quality with reduced drafts and outdoor pollutants, creating a healthier living environment.
Charm City Ballers Sponsored By Advanced Security Week 3 Recap
Charm City Ballers sponsored by Advanced Security rolls on with a hard fought week 3 featuring strong individual performances as well as a dramatic game tying 3 pointer leading to an overtime thriller!
Fired Up Promotions 46 Orshan Legal Group 30
Fired Up Promotions held Orshan Legal Group scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the second half, carrying an 18-0 run from the late first half deep into the second and turning what had been a close game into a blowout, winning 46-30.
Chesky Lewin was uncheckable and led a dominating effort in the paint, as Fired Up outrebounded Orshan Legal 47-34. Lewin finished with 17 points and 21 rebounds, both easily game highs. Including Lewin, Fired Up had 4 players grab at least 7 rebounds in the victory as they coasted to a 2-0 start. Avromi Gartenhaus was one of those and also scored 11 points, while Zev Namrow added 12 points.
Orshan Legal was led by Heshey Green and sub Moshe Gerhardt, who each managed 9 points. Yoseph Orshan grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 5 assists, but was left ruing many missed shots that could have given him double figures in the latter category as well. Orshan Legal shot just 23% from the field for the game, repeatedly failing to capitalize on open looks. Orshan Legal slides to 0-3 with the defeat.
Councilman Schleifer 47 Platinum Insurance Group 39, OT
Yali Rothenberg nailed a game tying 3 in the final 30 seconds of regulation and Eitan Hariri scored the first 6 points of overtime as Councilman Schleifer rallied from a 9 point second half deficit to defeat Platinum Insurance Group, 47-39.
Hariri shook off a slow start to finish with game highs in points (21) and rebounds (17), continuing his strong early season play. Rothenberg’s game saving 3 was one of 4 he made in the game on the way to 17 points of his own. The rest of the Schleifer team combined to total only 9 points, sorely missing Avner
Shotz. Yeshayahu Schwartz did grab 10 rebounds in the win, as Schleifer moves to 2-0 with the victory.
Outside of a hot stretch from Yoni Gugenheim, who led his squad with 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, Platinum Insurance struggled to hit shots and score consistently, wasting multiple chances to extend their lead. Mordi Spero did hit a pair of key free throws in the final minute before the tying 3 that ultimately kept the game from becoming a regulation loss, but he was only 2-15 from the field on the game. Spero did manage a 10 point & 10 rebound double-double in the loss. Noach Schwartz added 8 points and 7 rebounds in the defeat, as Platinum dropped to 0-2.
Photos: Josh Finkelstein
Bestselling authors Danielle Renov (@peaslovencarrots) and Chanie Apfelbaum (@busyinbrooklyn) team up to spotlight the real star of your salad — the dressing. This brilliant little cookbook features 51 dressings + 9 bonus recipes and two salad ideas for each dressing. No fancy tools needed — just a jar and a spoon! From everyday meals to Shabbos and Yom Tov, this book will change the way you drizzle.
Danielle Renov
Chanie Apfelbaum
A Century Of Strength: Shearith Israel Marks 100 Years Of Torah, Leadership, And Legacy
By: BJLife Newsroom
Shearith Israel held its centennial celebration and honored its living past presidents. The Shul was founded in 1851, however, the branch at Park Heights and Glen Avenues was opened in 1925. The Shul also paid tribute to Rav Hopfer and the past Rabbanim of the shul, Rabbis Rice, Shaffer, Schwab, and Feldman. Rav Hopfer spoke about how Torah Judaism, at that time, was in decline, and how incredible it is to see the Shul and the entire frum community of Baltimore growing the way that it has. Rav Hopfer also spoke of his close relationship with each of the honorees and their families. The program included two video presentations.
The first focused on the contributions of the honorees, while the other, highlighted the historical changes which the shul has made over the years and how it has Baruch Hashem led to an expansion to include many young families moving to the neigh-
borhood and increased programming. We wish a mazel tov to Rav Hopfer, the honorees and Shearith Israel on reaching this important milestone!
eshivas Toras Simcha was graced on Rosh Chodesh Sivan with Rabbi Moshe Frohlich, Menahel Bais Yaakov Baltimore, who came to give a Pre-Shavuos Shmooze to the Bochurim Grades 5-8. Rabbi Frohlich had them on the seats sharing Chazals,
Hashkofos and Stories all relating to Hallel and Shavuos. His presentation finished with the crucial message, “Shavuos doesn’t have an exact Date in Chumash to teach us our Avodah is to treat every like a new Matan Torah all over again”.
Yeshivas Toras Simcha Guest Speaker
YOUR SUMMERActivate Activate
WITH WITS SUMMER COURSES
In-person
Convenient
Baltimore Doubles Down: Record Turnout For Weekly Hostage March Amid Rising Tensions
Every Sunday morning for the past 18 months, Baltimoreans have marched in solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza, and with the hostages’ families.
Following last week’s attack on a similar event in Boulder, the march that took place in Baltimore this past Sunday was not simply about showing solidarity with the hostages, but also about not cowering to terror.
In an inspiring demonstration of Jewish pride and determination, over 400 people from across the spectrum of our community assembled on Sunday at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom for Baltimore’s weekly walk for the hostages. People of all ages, along with rabbis, community leaders, and local politicians, joined together to publicly and loudly proclaim that the Baltimore Jewish community will not be intimidated, and that we will continue to march until every person held in captivity by Hamas is released.
The names of the captives were read, the crowd sang Acheinu and
Hatikva, and the march commenced, escorted by private security, city and county police, and Shomrim.
Baltimore’s weekly walk of solidarity is part of a global campaign by communities around the world to support the hostages and their families. For more information, or to join the Baltimore chapter’s WhatsApp group, go to run4lives.org
Senator Attar Featured As Guest Speaker At International Anti-Bullying Forum
By: BJLife Newsroom
Senator Attar was a featured guest speaker at the “Us Now, Imagine The Youth” International Anti-Bullying Forum—an event bringing together global leaders, youth advocates, and families to stand against bullying and promote a culture of empathy, unity, and strength.
Speaking during the opening segment of the program, Senator Attar delivered a powerful message on the importance of community, compassion, and collective responsibility. Her remarks helped set the tone for the forum, encouraging youth and families to work together in creating safer, more inclusive spaces for all.
By: BJLife Newsroom
Photos: Robyn Stevens Brody Photography
Around the Community
Bikur Cholim of Baltimore Appoints Rabbi Shaya Mintz as New Executive Director
By: BJLife Newsroom
Bikur Cholim of Baltimore is proud to announce the appointment of Rabbi Shaya Mintz as its new Executive Director. A native Baltimorean with a wealth of experience in Jewish communal leadership, program development, and organizational management, Rabbi Mintz joins the organization at a pivotal moment of growth and continued service to patients and families navigating medical challenges.
Founded in 1985 by a dedicated group of volunteers, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore has become a vital lifeline for the Baltimore community, offering compassionate, comprehensive support to individuals and families facing illness. Through services such as hospital visitation, meal delivery, transportation, respite care, hospitality apartments, kosher hospital pantries, and free-loan medical equipment, the organization seeks to ease the burden on patients so they can focus on healing.
A respected leader, Rabbi Mintz brings decades of experience to his new role. An alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel and the Ner L’elef community leadership program, he spent five years in Kollel at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. In 2005, he relocated with his family to join the Saint Louis Community Kollel, where he began as Director of Programming and rose to the position of Executive Director. His creative, approachable personality enabled him to build strong communal ties, expand outreach initiatives, and significantly increase the Kollel’s fundraising capacity.
Since 2018, Rabbi Mintz has served as Executive Vice President of Kollel Toronto, overseeing daily operations, fundraising, and the responsible stewardship of organizational resources. Under his leadership, the Kollel experienced sustained growth and continued to thrive as a cornerstone of the local Jewish community.
“Rabbi Mintz brings with him a deep commitment to chesed, extensive leadership experience, and a track record of growing successful, mission-driven organizations,” said Dr. Ronnie Samet, President of the Board. “We are confident he will be a driving force in advancing Bikur Cholim of Baltimore’s mission and strengthen our ability to support patients and families both locally and from around the world.”
Rabbi Pinchos Rabinowitz the Director of Clinical and Religious Services added, “we are very excited that Rabbi Mintz is joining Bikur Cholim. I have spent much time with him over the past few months and I am confident that he will advance the organization to greater benefit the Baltimore community.
For nearly four decades, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore has served as a source of strength for the Baltimore
community and beyond. With Rabbi Mintz at the helm, the organization looks forward to building on its rich legacy and expanding its reach to serve even more families with dignity, kindness, and respect.
For more information about Bikur Cholim of Baltimore, please visit baltimorebikurcholim.org.
SINAI HOSPITAL
1st floor, off the Blaustein
Lobby
JOHNS HOPKINS
1st Floor, Blalock Room 175
GBMC
New Building, Main Entrance, Adjacent to the Spiritual Care offices – Room 3281
UNIVERSITY OF MD MEDICAL CENTER
6th Floor, Gudelsky Conference room
UNION MEMORIAL
First floor, Johnson Professional Building across from the Zen Meditation Garden
Greater Washington: Around the Community
By: BJLife Newsroom
As a celebration for learning many daf of Gemora over the year, Yeshiva of Greater Washington’s seventh grade rebbi, Rabbi Binyamin Turoff , rewarded his class to a trip to Baltimore. Among their stops was STAR-K Kosher Certification.
Rabbi Sholom Tendler’s shiur was well-received and included what goes into certifying various industrial settings – the background and process, as well as interesting stories. To sweeten the deal, Rabbi Tendler treated the boys to two of the agency’s certified products, Rosendorff Bakery’s chocolate chip cookies and Pride of the Farm chocolate milk.
Rabbi Turoff commented, “It was a very eye-opening experience for the boys, to learn about what it takes, behind-the-scenes, to make factories kosher… We really appreciated it. The
boys really had a great time. Thank you, STAR-K, for sharing your expertise!”
In the students’ own words.…
Benjamin Cohen : “I learned a lot; it was fun”.
Chaim Fink : “I saw how much effort goes into hashgacha.”
Gavi Hershenson : “The topic was enjoyable.”
Yaakov Ben-Horin : “I really enjoyed it; I wish we could have stayed longer!”
Shlomo Mordechai Sobol : “The stories were fascinating!”
Shlomo Wasserman : “It really showed the process of hashgacha.”
Concludes Rabbi Tendler, “Always a pleasure for STAR-K to host children of all ages. It is truly refreshing to interact with young boys and share stories and lessons on
the importance of Kashrus and see their excitement and enthusiasm for
learning and understanding practical applications of Halacha.”
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F
Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T, W, F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Ohr Hatorah S
7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F
Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S
Kemp Mill Synagogue S
Kesher Israel S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S
8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S
8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville M, Th
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville S, T, W, F
Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S
mincha
2:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center S-F
2:20 pm YGW M, T, W
2:45 pm YGW M-Th
3:00 pm YGW Middle School School Days
mincha/maariv
Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
Beth Sholom Congregation
Chabad of Potomac
Chabad of Silver Spring
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County
Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville (20 min before, S-F)
JROC
Kemp Mill Synagogue
Kesher Israel
Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah
Silver Spring Jewish Center
Southeast Hebrew Congregation
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi) maariv
8:15 pm OSTT (OLNEY) S-Th
8:45 pm YGW School Days
9:30 pm YGW S-Th
Silver
shacharis
Greater Washington: Around the Community
Rabbi Postelnek Leads His Final Men’s Melave Malka At YISE Before Making Aliyah
This past Motzei Shabbos marked a bittersweet milestone at Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (YISE), as the community gathered for the final Men’s Melave Malka led by Rabbi Postelnek before his upcoming aliyah to Eretz Yisroel with his family. The Men’s Melave Malka series, which Rabbi Postelnek initiated, quickly became a beloved monthly tradition in the YISE community. Hosted in different members’ homes each month, these gatherings created an intimate and meaningful environment where men of the shul could connect through soulful singing, divrei Torah, and genuine camaraderie.
Each Melave Malka was infused with warmth, inspiration, and a sense of unity that reflected Rabbi Postelnek’s deep commitment to strengthening the fabric of the community. The final event was no exception—filled with heartfelt songs and an emotional and uplifting message from Rabbi Postelnek.
Attendees expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to bond in such a unique and personal setting, a hallmark of Rabbi Postelnek’s approach to community building. This program was just one of the many initiatives Rabbi Postelnek brought to YISE during his time in the community. Through his leadership,
dedication, and passion for Torah and people, he helped create numerous opportunities for meaningful connection and spiritual growth.
Although Rabbi Postelnek is now embarking on a new chapter in Eretz Yisroel, the Men’s Melave Malka will continue as a lasting part of his legacy
Kehillas Shaar Simcha Welcomes Rabbi Shmuel Silber For Pre-Shavuos Inspiration
In anticipation of the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos, Kehillas Shaar Simcha (KSS) was honored to host Rabbi Shmuel Silber of the Suburban Orthodox Congregation in Baltimore for an evening filled with inspiration, music, and heartfelt connection. Rabbi Silber was accompanied by Eli Cohen and his talented musical crew, who brought a powerful and soulful energy to the event through stirring live music and heartfelt singing.
Rabbi Silber delivered an uplifting and timely message focused on the theme of renewal—a reminder that it is never too late to begin again. As we prepare to receive the Torah anew, he encouraged the community to embrace opportunities for spiritual growth and fresh beginnings. He stressed the importance of incorporating Torah learning into daily life, emphasizing that just as our bodies need nourishment, our neshamos (souls) require the sustenance of Torah.
The evening’s music, led by Eli Cohen and his crew, created an atmosphere that was both joyous and deeply moving, enhancing the emotional impact of Rabbi Silber’s words and bringing the community together in a spirit of unity and elevation.
Kehillas Shaar Simcha continues to thrive as a vibrant center of Tefillah and community connection. KSS is known for its weekly Friday night Carlebach minyan, which infuses Shabbos with song and spirit, as well as its uplifting Shabbos Mevorchim day minyan each month.
Always seeking new ways to uplift and inspire, KSS regularly invites dynamic speakers and professional musicians to engage the community. Previous speakers have included Rabbi Menachem Goldberger, Rabbi Berel Wolvovsky, and Rabbi Michoel Frank. Musical guests have featured wellknown names such as Israel Portnoy, Soulfarm, Shlepping Nachas, Moshe
at YISE. His presence will be sorely missed, but the seeds he planted will continue to bear fruit. The YISE family wishes Rabbi Postelnek and his family tremendous hatzlacha in this exciting new journey. May they be blessed with success, fulfillment, and continued impact in their new home in the Holy Land.
With events like these, Kehillas Shaar Simcha reaffirms its mission of
bringing people together through Torah, music, and shared inspiration—creating moments that uplift the soul and strengthen the bonds of community.
Groner, Mendy Weinreb, and Eli Beer.
HIRINGHIRING
Elementary School
For the 2025-2026 School Year
Upper & Lower Elementary General Studies Teaching and Assistant positions P/T and/or FT
Greater Washington: Around the Community
From College Park To Capitol Hill: University Of Maryland’s Lucy Schneider Leads The Fight Against Campus Antisemitism
University of Maryland student Lucy Schneider isn’t just advocating on her campus, she’s making waves nationally. Last week, Lucy joined a select group of Jewish student leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., as part of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center’s Leadership in Advocacy Training (LIAT) Fellowship (in partnership with the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus), an intensive program equipping students with the skills and strategies to combat rising antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility.
Alongside Boston University’s Eduardo Kornworcel, Lucy co-founded AntisemitismOnCampus.net, a pioneering informational website and hotline that connects Jewish students with
tragedy: just blocks from where the fellows gathered, a radical antisemite murdered two Israeli Embassy employees in a hate crime that echoed the threats and violence Jewish students face on campuses across the country.
As part of the LIAT Fellowship’s required capstone project, each student designs a campaign or initiative to directly address antisemitism on their campus. In addition to Lucy and Eduardo, fellows like Hannah successfully lobbied Binghamton University to incorporate antisemitism awareness into its mandatory diversity training. Others, such as Claire, spearheaded a coalition to oppose anti-Israel resolutions proposed by the student government at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At Cornell University, Yael successfully reversed a
dorms, academic hostility, and intimidation from peers. Undeterred, they’ve emerged as voices of strength and reason, rallying fellow students, organizing counter-programming, and advocating for institutional accountability.
“Since arriving at college in 2022, my experience has been shaped by the fight against antisemitism. As Jewish Student Union President, I’m committed to building a campus where Jewish students can live proudly and safely.
strong against hate.” Said Lucy
In Washington, Lucy and her peers met with former White House officials, Israeli diplomats, and members of Congress, including Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), and Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA). They discussed critical legislation such as the Antisemitism Awareness Act and strategies to promote bipartisan action against antisemitism.
Lucy Schneider (bottom row, far left) alongside LIAT fellows at the State Department.
The Week In News
The Week In News
Am Yisrael Chai
According to a new Global Religious Landscape report by the Pew Research Center, the world’s Jewish population grew by less than one million from 2010 and 2020, which is a meager 6% increase, especially when compared with the world’s overall population growth rate of 12%.
The Jewish population’s growth is similar to the Christian population, which, during the same timeframe, grew from 2.1 billion to 2.3 billion. In comparison, the Muslim population, the fast-
est-growing religious group in the world, grew by 21% from 1.7 billion to 2.0 billion.
Around 6.78 million Jews (46%) resided in Israel between 2010 and 2020, while 5.7 million (39%) lived in the United States. Still, the Jewish population has yet to reach its pre-Holocaust level. In 2020, there were around 14.78 million Jews. In 1939, there were 16.6 million Jews.
Sergio DellaPergola, an Israeli scholar who used to be a professor and the Chairman of the Hebrew University’s Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, expects it to take one to two decades for “the global Jewish population [to] … surpass its pre-Holocaust numbers.”
Much of the Pew research was based on data collected by DellaPergola for the American Jewish Year Book’s “World Jewish Population” chapters. Though Pew’s figures go until 2020, DellaPergola’s data goes until January 1, 2024, when it was estimated that there were around 15.7 million Jews in the world.
“The general trends remained the same, even though some numbers, especially for Israel, have increased,” DellaPergola explained, adding that Israel’s Jewish population increases yearly by around 100,000.
The Pew Report, however, only includes individuals who identify as religiously Jewish, while DellaPergola’s estimate includes those religiously, culturally, or ethnically Jewish.
“It is important to consider that the general birthrate in Israel has been stable at around three children per woman for many years,” he said. “This is unique. If we take the 100 most developed countries in the world, not a single state reaches a similar birthrate.
“For about a century, Jewish diaspora communities generally had lower birthrates than the broader societies in which they lived.… Today, the trend is shifting, as birthrates in many countries have fallen so low that Jewish families are actually having more children on average,” he added. “For instance, the Jewish community in the United Kingdom has grown for the first time in decades, largely driven by the charedi population.”
According to DellaPergola, assimilation rates have decreased recently.
“For about 100 years, assimilation increased steadily,” the expert noted. “In the U.S. and many European countries, it reached 60%. Essentially, it can’t go higher.”
Simultaneously, he noted, many assimilated or partly assimilated Jews have reclaimed their Jewish identity in light of the rise in antisemitism.
Interestingly enough, more people left Israel than came between 2023 and 2024, he noted.
“Some 80,000 people who had left Israel by 2023 had not returned yet by December 2024. During the same period, approximately 30,000 Israelis returned to the country from abroad, and another 30,000 immigrated. This still leaves Israel with 20,000 fewer people. It is unprecedented,” DellaPergola explained.
“Today, approximately 45% of Jews live in Israel, and that share increases by about half a percentage point each year,” he noted. “Reaching the 50% mark will be another historic milestone — just like when the global Jewish population will surpass its pre-Holocaust numbers.”
Japan’s Rice Shortage
On Tuesday, Japanese Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the government
Board with what’s being served?
(NOT ANYMORE)
The Week In News
was prepared to sell more rice from its emergency stockpile to ease the ongoing rice shortage.
Around two weeks ago, the Japanese government started taking rice out of its emergency stockpile and selling the staple to retailers with the goal of offering a 5 kg bag for 2,000 yen ($14), which is less than half the average price. To purchase that rice, however, hundreds of customers, over the span of a weekend, had to wait four hours in line, with each household only allowed one bag each.
Since 2024, the price of rice has doubled in Japan for a few reasons, including because production was impacted by last year’s extreme heat. The country’s rice shortage crisis is a key issue in the upcoming June and July elections.
Koizumi said that the government is prepared to sell its entire rice stockpile if it needs to.
“If we let rice prices remain high, (store) shelves will be filled with imported rice,” he said, referencing a common Japanese concern. Japan levies tariffs on foreign rice to protect Japanese farmers from global competition. However, many are now calling for cheaper, foreign rice to be imported in order to handle the high rice prices and rice shortages.
The 2025 harvest year is supposed to be a better year for rice production in the country.
Shipping in the Red Sea Avoided
The largest commercial shipping companies continue to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, despite a recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Houthis intended to make the trade lanes safer.
The ceasefire, which began May 6, ended a U.S. campaign that involved more than 1,100 strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The Pentagon had planned on a months-long bombardment, but President Donald Trump ended it after about 50 days.
“If the intention was to restore freedom of navigation, which is what they stated it was, then the results speak for themselves: The shipping industry has not gone back,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, a shipping publication.
Ship traffic through the Red Sea is down by around three-fifths since 2023 when the Houthis started targeting ships
there in solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip, Meade said. Fearing that their vessels would be struck, big shipping companies avoided the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, taking a much longer route around the southern tip of Africa to travel between Asia and Europe.
The Houthis have said they are still at war with Israel and will attack vessels bound for the country. And though the Houthis have not attacked a commercial vessel since December, shipping companies say they worry that their vessels may be hit, deliberately or mistakenly, and have no plans to sail the southern part of the Red Sea anytime soon.
“We’re pretty far from the threshold,” said Vincent Clerc, the CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk, a large shipping line based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Speaking soon after the ceasefire in May, he said the Red Sea would have to remain safe for the foreseeable future before the company’s vessels returned.
At around 6 a.m. on Friday, four IDF soldiers died and five were injured after a booby-trapped building they were in partially collapsed near Bani Suheila, Khan Younis.
The deceased soldiers were named as Staff Sergeant Tom Rotstein, Staff Sergeant Uri Yehonatan Cohen, Reserve Staff Sergeant Chen Gross, and Staff Sergeant Yoav Raver, all of whom fought in the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, except Gross, who fought in the Maglan commando unit. Gross, from Gan Yoshiya, was 33; Rotstein was a 23-year-old from Ramat Gan; Cohen, from Neve Yarok, was 20; and Raver,
from Sde Warburg, was 19.
The soldiers are believed to have been killed while attempting to secure a building and remove Hamas infrastructure, such as tunnels. While in the building, an improvised explosive device was detonated, trapping the troops in the building. One other soldier was seriously injured and four were moderately wounded and were subsequently brought to hospitals by air. The Home Front Command’s recovery teams searched for the fallen soldiers’ bodies for hours.
On Monday night, the Israel Defense Forces released a preliminary report on the tragic incident. Before the soldiers entered the building, the IDF, in hopes of using a building to help them fight Hamas, examined three buildings. The first two were deemed too suspicious and unhelpful and were thus destroyed. The third was less suspicious and would be strategically useful. Shortly before they entered the building, the soldiers sent a drone to scan several floors and found no traces of a potential IED. The soldiers found the first floor to be safe. The second floor, however, showed signs of danger. As such, the soldiers regrouped by the stairwell and waited for a safety
check, which is when the IED exploded. The IDF is still investigating the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the soldiers sacrificed their lives to “defeat Hamas and to bring back our hostages.”
“Our four fighters gave their lives for all of our security,” Netanyahu stated.
“The entire people of Israel embrace the dear families in their heavy grief.”
“This is a time of great sorrow but also of great commitment: to stand behind the generation of heroic fighters, to embrace the families of the fallen, and to ensure that their names and heroism will never be forgotten,” said President Isaac Herzog.
Since Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza, following the October 7 massacre, 424 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat.
Results of WZC Elections
Preliminary results of the U.S.’s recent World Zionist Congress elections were released on Thursday.
The Week In News
According to estimates, right-wing slates secured 81 of the United States’ 152 seats. Liberal slates won 71. In this recent election, Orthodox and charedi groups won over 40% of the vote, earning more than 100,000 out of 230,257 votes.
“For the first time, the conservative and right-wing bloc has achieved a clear majority,” WZO Chairman Yaakov Hagoel said. “This is a historic moment in which American Jewry has voiced a strong stand for proud Zionism, for tradition, and for bringing hearts together.”
In first place was the Vote Reform slate, with 47,887 votes. Last election, in 2020, Reform earned 31,483 votes and also came in first place. Am Yisrael Chai, a newly formed group of Jewish college students and young professionals in favor of promoting the “love of Torah and Judaism,” won second place, securing 13% of the vote with 31,765 votes. In third place was the charedi Eretz HaKodesh slate, which received 12.7% of the vote with 29,159 votes, up from 20,045 votes in the last election. Mercaz, a slate for Conservative Jews, won fourth place with 27,893 votes, a huge increase from the 14,655 votes it received in 2020. Another 26,975 votes went to the Orthodox
Israel Coalition, which won fifth place this time around. In last election, OIC came in second place and had 21,692 votes. Around 13,500 more votes went to other Orthodox slates.
This election had around 86% more votes than the last election. In addition to the 230,257 votes cast online, another 18,948 were suspected of being fraudulent and were, as such, thrown out.
The World Zionist Congress was formed in 1897 by Theodor Herzl. The results of the election decide how $1 billion is allotted to Jewish causes and Israeli national institutions, such as the World Zionist Organization, which executes the Congress’s plans, as well as the Jewish agency, which relates to aliyah, and the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund.
Over 35 countries hold their own elections to be represented in the World Zionist Congress. Of the congress’s 525 seats, Israel holds 200, which are apportioned based on Knesset party representation; the U.S. holds 152; and the remaining 173 seats are allotted to other countries. On October 28-30, 2025, the World Zionist Congress will meet in Jerusalem.
The Week In News
Hostages’ Bodies Recovered
Last Thursday, the IDF and the Shin Bet recovered the bodies of hostages Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein from the Gaza Strip. The married couple had held U.S. citizenship and were murdered during their morning walk near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023.
Their bodies had been held by the Mujahideen Brigades, a small terror group in the Strip that was also responsible for the abduction and murder of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.
Gadi was 72 years old; Judih was 70.
The IDF said the recovery operation was carried out using “precise intelligence” from the IDF’s Hostages Headquarters unit, the Intelligence Director-
ate, and the Shin Bet. They had received information on the bodies’ location during a Shin Bet interrogation of a Palestinian terror operative who was detained in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announcing the operation on Thursday, said, “We will not rest until we bring all of our hostages home — both the living and the dead.”
President Isaac Herzog called the recovery of the bodies “a moment of deep pain, but also one of solace and the resolution of uncertainty.” He said Israel “will continue to do everything in our power to bring our sisters and brothers back from hell – the living for healing and rehabilitation, and the fallen to be laid to rest in dignity. Every last one of them!”
On October 7, Judih called paramedics for help. She described the head wound her husband was suffering from.
“Parts of his brain are out of his… everything is covered with blood,” she told the operator, confirming that terrorists had shot at the couple. Asked if she was somewhere safe, she responded: “No, [I’m] outside, under a tree, next to the road.”
“They came on the road. There were
lots of motorcycles and guns. They shot us. We were lying down and they shot us,” she recalled, clarifying that she, too, was shot in the hand and the head.
“This is a shocking moment,” their son, Ahl Haggai, said last week. “I am both relieved and anxious. This isn’t simple, despite it easing things and removing something [weighing] on the heart. There was an uncertainty that has ended.”
Haggai said their return “shines a spotlight” on the 56 hostages remaining in Gaza and efforts to bring them home as well.
“This was really surprising and I’m thinking why did we deserve for our loved ones to return and not others,” he said.
On Friday, the IDF recovered the body of hostage Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national, who had been kidnapped alive by terrorists of the Mujahideen Brigades on October 7. It is believed that the terror group killed Pinta during the first months of his captivity.
During the October 7 massacre, Hamas terrorists invaded Kibbutz Nir Oz and entered all but six of the over 200 homes in the community. They either murdered or kidnapped one of every four residents — 117 people out of some 400.
Qatar’s Yearslong Support of Hamas
Newly published documents retrieved from Gaza since the October 7 massacre seemingly confirm what many have long suspected: Qatar has deep ties with Hamas.
On Monday, Qatar’s International Media Office claimed the documents, which were reported on by Channel 12 news, were “fabricated” in an “attempt to sow tension and division between Qatar and the United States at a crucial stage in our efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.”
Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently claimed that Qatar’s years of contributions to Hamas — millions of dollars a month in cash — did not significantly help the terrorist organization start and continue the war in Gaza, the documents recount that Ismail Haniyeh, the now-deceased Hamas politburo leader, declared in a 2019 conversation with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani that Qatar’s
What makes Jewish Baltimore different? We show up for each other—especially in moments like this.
Every day, we’re watching our community reach a breaking point— here in Baltimore and across Jewish communities around the world.
Antisemitism is surging. Families are struggling to make ends meet. Our children are facing a growing mental health crisis. Israel and Ukraine are at war.
And every day, The Associated steps in—with job support, mental health services, tuition assistance for Jewish Day Schools, emergency financial aid and critical relief for those on the frontlines.
This is what community looks like—showing up when it matters most. Make your gift today at associated.org/give.
The Week In News
financial contributions were “Hamas’s main artery.”
After an 11-day battle between Israel and Hamas, Haniyeh told then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who has also since been killed by the Israeli military, that the Qatari emir privately “agreed in principle to supply the resistance discreetly, but he does not want anyone in the world to know. Until now, $11 million has been raised from the emir for the leadership of the movement.”
Haniyeh requested that Sinwar “write a letter, in which you will focus on the military campaign, your urgent needs — and dedicate the victory [in the war] to His Highness.”
According to a classified Palestinian Authority document, on an undisclosed date, a representative from Hamas allegedly met with Qatari intelligence officials to talk about the prospect of Hamas special training units being supervised on Qatari and Turkish military bases and Syrian Palestinians taking refuge in Lebanon to be integrated into Hamas’s battalions in Lebanon.
Other documents discuss how Hamas and Qatar handled the “Deal of the Century,” a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020, wherein a Palestinian state would be recognized with the Palestinians receiving around 70% of Judea and Samaria, not including Israeli communities, a part of the Negev desert, and a generous economic aid package. The Palestinian Authority rejected the deal. In August 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain agreed to join the Abraham Accords, thus normalizing relations with Israel. Over a year before then, in June 2019, Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, informed Hamas that Oman seemed open to normalizing relations with Israel.
“With respect to Palestine, Oman is on one side and we are on the other side,” the emir told Hamas leaders during a meeting.
During the same meeting, Khaled Mashaal, a Hamas leader, declared, “We must work together to oppose the Deal of the Century and eliminate it.”
According to documents, Hamas leaders feared that Qatar would build formal ties with Israel, which the terror group believed would lead to “the elimination of the Palestinian national project.”
The documents also show that Hamas and Qatar worked together to minimize Egypt’s role as a negotiator between Israel and the terror group.
“The Egyptians were attempting to re-
strain the escalation, and we caused them to leave the picture with empty hands. In their place, the Qataris came, and we gave them an opportunity to dictate the fruits of diplomacy,” Sinwar wrote.
Currently, two senior aides of Netanyahu are under fire for allegedly taking bribes from Qatar in exchange for boosting Doha’s reputation in a case that is known as “Qatargate.”
Documents also highlight Hamas’s relationship with Turkey.
“It is on you all to begin to prepare the campaign,” Sinwar wrote to Haniyeh. “We must begin immediately with our allies — Iran, Qatar, and Turkey. Qatari and Turkish diplomacy must be in a leading role. Our role is to make it hard for the occupation to breathe and ensure the severing of international actors’ diplomatic ties with them.”
Qatar called the report a “deliberate distraction deployed by those who want to deflect attention from negative coverage of their own irresponsible actions in Gaza.”
“This tactic has been used previously by those who want diplomacy to fail. They do not want Qatar’s work with the Trump administration – on the Gaza file and other regional files – to succeed in bringing peace to the region,” Qatar’s International Media Office stated. “Similar methods have been used against those who have spoken out against the continuation of the war or worked diplomatically to bring the hostages home including members of President Trump’s administration, in an effort to discredit them and undermine the diplomatic process.”
The statement added, “Their efforts will not succeed. No fabricated documents will weaken the bond between Qatar and the United States. We urge all media outlets to remain vigilant against misinformation spread by those who want to disrupt the negotiations by any means necessary in order to prolong the conflict.”
Trump Travel Ban
On Monday,President Donald Trump’s ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 African, Middle Eastern and South American countries went into effect.
The ban, signed last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Su-
The Week In News
dan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don’t hold a valid visa.
The order does not cancel visas that have already been issued to citizens of the countries, and those who possess them will remain free to travel to the U.S.
The president said on X the travel ban was being introduced after a terror attack against a pro-Israel group advocating for Hamas to release Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, last weekend, perpetrated by an Egyptian man who had overstayed his visa.
Trump said, “We will restore the travel ban, some people call it the Trump travel ban, and keep the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country.”
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said before signing the ban.
“That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya and numerous others,” he concluded. “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.”
Exercise and Brain Aging
Researchers from the Hangzhou Normal University in China analyzed 16,972 adults’ brain scans and exercise data and found that too little – and too much –physical activity accelerates brain aging.
The study was published in Health Data Science. Researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which is one of the largest health databases in the world. Using wearable fitness trackers and artificial
intelligence-aided brain scans, the biobank, over the span of a week, collected data on adults between the ages of 37 and 73, over half of whom were female. Less than 3% of participants were not white. Researchers found that the brains of participants who spent too little or too much time exercising aged slightly faster than those who spent a moderate amount of time physically active.
The average (median) participant spent around 34 hours a week doing light exercise, such as slow walking; 7.7 hours of moderate exercise, including brisk walking; and around 20 minutes of vigorous activity, including running or intense sports. Those in the highest quartile did much more exercise than those in the middle. Participants in the lowest quartile were far less active.
The reason physically inactive people experience accelerated brain aging is that a lack of exercise reduces blood flow to the brain and causes a drop in the production of a protein that helps keep neurons healthy. Those who exercise too much may have older brains because intense exercise can cause oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the brain. However, extreme physical activity’s link with accelerated brain aging is still unclear.
According to the research, moderate exercisers also had less white matter damage in their brains and saw other signs of brain health.
Those with older brains are more likely to develop dementia and depression and tend to underperform on cognitive tests.
It is worth noting that this study only finds the sort of exercise that top fitness devotees, including professional bodybuilders, do problematic. The type of exercise that the average person finds intense will likely not harm the brain.
The study had two main issues. First, it’s based on data collected over the span of just a week. A long-term study would
be required to prove a direct causation between exercise and brain aging. Secondly, nearly all participants were white. As such, the findings may not apply to individuals of other races.
The “Write” Ritual
Hundreds gathered on Saturday in the neighborhood near Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. It was an annual ritual, and they all came to celebrate the big No. 2.
Years ago, a 20-foot-tall pencil was sculpted out of a mammoth oak tree that had been damaged in a storm at the home of John and Amy Higgins. The couple turned the giant tree into a huge writing implement.
The yearly sharpening ceremony on their front lawn has evolved into a community spectacle that draws hundreds of people to the leafy neighborhood, complete with music and pageantry. Some people dress as pencils or erasers. Two Swiss alphorn players provided part of this year’s entertainment.
“Why a pencil? Everybody uses a pencil,” Amy Higgins said. “Everybody knows a pencil. You see it in school, you see it in people’s work, or drawings, everything. So, it’s just so accessible to everybody, I think, and can easily mean something, and everyone can make what they want of it.”
The Higginses had enlisted wood sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad to transform the tree into a replica of a classic Trusty brand No. 2 pencil.
“People interpret this however they want to. They should. They should come to this and find whatever they want out of it,” Ingvoldstad said.
That’s true even if their reaction is negative, he added. “Whatever you want to bring, you know, it’s you at the end of the day. And it’s a good place. It’s good to have pieces that do that for people.”
John Higgins said they wanted the celebration to pull the community together.
“We tell a story about the dull tip, and we’re gonna get sharp,” he said. “There’s a renewal. We can write a new love letter,
a thank-you note. We can write a math problem, a to-do list. And that chance for renewal, that promise, people really seem to buy into and understand.”
To keep the point pointy, they haul a giant, custom-made pencil sharpener up the scaffolding that is erected for the event. Like a real pencil, every time they sharpen it, it gets a bit shorter.
“Like any ritual, you’ve got to sacrifice something,” Ingvoldstad said. “So we’re sacrificing part of the monumentality of the pencil, so that we can give that to the audience that comes, and say, ‘This is our offering to you, and in goodwill to all the things that you’ve done this year.’”
It’s the “write” thing to do.
World’s Oldest Restaurant?
Sobrino de Botin, located in Madrid, Spain, is the proud holder of the coveted Guinness World Record for the world’s oldest restaurant. Botin opened its doors to patrons 300 years ago and has never stopped serving hungry diners since.
But another eatery in Spain, Casa Pedro, is vying for the title. Its owners claim that the establishment endured not just the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s and the Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s but even the War of Spanish Succession at the start of the 18th century — a lineage that would make Casa Pedro older than Botin.
“It’s really frustrating when you say, ‘Yes, we’ve been around since 1702,’ but ... you can’t prove it,” said manager and eighth-generation proprietor Irene Guinales. “If you look at the restaurant’s logo, it says, ‘Casa Pedro, since 1702,’ so we said, ‘[Darn] it, let’s try to prove it.’”
The eatery has hired a historian to prove its extensive existence. So far, documents found date the restaurant’s operations to at least 1750. That puts them within striking distance of Botín’s record.
Both taverns are family-owned. Both offer Castilian classics like stewed tripe and roast suckling pig. They are decorated with charming Spanish tiles, feature ceilings with exposed wooden beams and underground wine cellars. And both enjoy a rich, star-studded history.
But there are many differences to the eateries. Casa Pedro is popular more with local regulars; Botin is flooded daily with tourists in the busy city of Madrid.
For now, Guinales is still sifting in the past, hoping for proof of her restaurant’s old age.
Nearly a year after the nation arrived at Sinai to receive the Torah they finally embark on their journey to the holy land. Facing the big unknown they begin to complain and express their dissatisfaction.
Despite the miraculous provisions for their safety, comfort and nutrition embodied in the protective Clouds of Glory that also transported them effortlessly, and the Well of Miriam with the remarkable Manna that provided refreshing and delicious nourishment, they longed for the ‘good old days’.
They reminisced about the fish they ate in Egypt that was spiced with the plentiful leek and onions, dipped in garlic, and topped off with a dessert of melon and cucumber. (ינוקזח)
Could the nostalgia for ‘old times’ amidst the torturous labor and affliction they suffered as slaves in Egypt, be so enticing of a memory that would blind them from perceiving the overwhelming kindness they were experiencing now in the desert?
The Talmud teaches that this description of their pining for fish euphemistically disguises another more troubling desire. The Torah in retelling these events describes how they ‘cried with their families’. This, we are taught, refers to the reality of the new set of family laws introduced at Sinai that prohibited the marrying of certain close family relatives, they were previously permitted to. The ‘fish’ they remembered referenced fish propagation and its intimation of mating, in an allusion of their having lost the former opportunity of marrying more naturally within the family. (.הע אמוי)
Was it simply their carnal drive for these relationships that com-
pelled them to rebel? Is this craving that is paralleled to the hunger for the comfort foods in Egypt, merely coincidental, or might there be a common motivation that links these two powerful instincts?
The Talmud reveals that it was due to this unfortunate public display of frustration regarding the implementation of the new family laws that we are forever doomed to squabble over the details of the commitments each side is willing to concede to, and document in the Kesubah — the marriage contract that is required at every matrimony.
In what way does this punishment contrast with the sin?
The desire to wed those who are part of the clan didn’t stem from depraved passion. The goal of marriage is to create a natural and deep bond between the partners that will become the fertile ground to bring forth children infused with genuine love and harmony, reflecting the inspired presence of that third and ultimate partner, Hashem. When families selected to mate their close kin to one another there was no need for the protracted and at times contentious negotiations between parties, since the dedication and commitment to one another was most natural, absent of suspicion, and founded on trust.
The wisdom of Torah, however, dictates otherwise, summoning us to disconnect from the more comfortable choice of close relatives and choose from the pool of candidates that will challenge us to forge bonds and overcome the obstacles that sometimes separate us from one another. Were we to have readily submitted to His will we would have been blessed with
finding and marrying our matches with less tension and division. It is now our task to correct that flaw in hurdling those obstructions and build meaningful relationships.
There is an old adage we often use when waxing nostalgic of times past: ‘the good old days’. Many aver that they weren’t really that good, and that the future isn’t as bad as we may imagine. So why do we often dream of days of yore?
What often seduces us to long for the good old days is the pull to the sense of comfort it offered us then. Even when having faced challenge the memories of those simpler moments that are often aroused by familiar foods and lingering scents, draws us temptingly to its embrace, longing for that sense of comfort we felt during those times.
We often select to remain in those familiar comfort zones rather than opt for the challenge of the unknown, even though we are well aware that the future holds so much more opportunity and promise.
These two quests, for food and their relatives, are truly one in the same, and were never about seeking material pleasure alone. They simply longed for the simpler, though harsher life, driven by a misguided desire to live within a familiar comfort zone that provided them with a sense of belonging and connection, despite the difficulties they faced.
Rashi teaches that the five vegetables they hungered for, recalling the days in Egypt when they ‘dined’ on these ‘delicacies’, were the only foods the marvelous Manna couldn’t be willed to taste like. These foods are detrimental to the health of fetuses and nursing babies. It was for this reason
Hashem didn’t imbue the possibility of these harmful items into the Manna.
This seems like a strange intention. Didn’t the Manna only taste like the item if the eater so intended? Wouldn’t any pregnant or nursing mother avoid ‘thinking’ of these foods?
Perhaps herein lays this precise and powerful message. We often seek to imbibe, consume or experience certain ‘comfort’ items even though we well know it is not healthy or purposeful. Man needs security, familiarity and connection and will even risk at times unhealthy habits to gain that much needed comfort.
The Torah alludes to this reality in restricting these tastes from the Manna for it knows that man will often pursue something detrimental in order to obtain that enticing allure of temporary comfort.
The lesson for us all is that must be ready to leave our comfort zones. It was the hesitance to leave that snowballed into a downward spiral of sin with all its historical consequences, for our ancestors in the desert. That is the essence of avodas Hashem. We must never fear the unknown, trusting Hashem that greatness and utter joy awaits us in those unchartered paths ahead.
There is an old joke that the ‘good old days’ were so wonderful, because we weren’t that good nor that old.
The truth though is, that it is only the pursuit of absolute good, no matter how old and worn we may be, that will bring us the genuine happiness, accomplishment, comfort and connection that we so pine for.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
OVERVIEW PARSHA
Aharon is instructed how to kindle the Menorah in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Levites are inaugurated to their special role. Korban Pesach was offered in the desert; those who were impure brought their offering a month later. The Jewish people prepare for their departure from Sinai and their first stops in the desert. The Jews complain a few times and are rebuked. Miriam criticizes Moshe, gets tzaraas, and is then healed.
Quotable Quote “ ”
“Holiness is the space we make for G-d.”
TSorahparks
Beha’aloscha on
GEMATRIA
Parshas Beha’aloscha happens to be the 36th parshah of the Torah. This is incredible, because Parshas Beha’aloscha begins with the discussion of the lighting of the Menorah, and we know, the total number of candles we light on Chanukah is 36!
QUICK VORT
Prior to kindling the flames of the Menorah, the Kohen was required to climb the steps that was positioned in front of the Menorah.
There is an important message here. In order to kindle something elsesomeone else - you must first be "kindled" yourself.
To teach confidence, you must breathe confidence. To teach passion, you must live with passion. To teach joy, you must experience joy.
As such, the Kohen first had to climb up - experience a moment of elevation - and feel lofty, chashuv, and elevated within, and then - and only then - can he go ahead and light the Menorah, which would illuminate beyond.
PARSHA STATS
Pesukim - 136
Words - 1,840
Letters - 7,056
Mitzvos - 5
ThoughtsChassidus in
In Mishlei (20:27), we are taught, “Man’s soul is a lamp of G-d.” Our soul illuminates G-dliness, and it is up to us to access this light and allow it to shine forth. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that the instruction of Beha’aloscha“to fire up the lamps” - is a message to turn on the switch/button inside every Jew, igniting the fiery soul within!
Did You
Know?!
A source for saying “Im Yirtzah Hashem” and “B’ezras Hashem” are from this week’s parsha! The Shla"h HaKadosh learns from the verses of
an allusion to the concept of saying םא
or
. We should make it a practice to say these things so as to incorporate Hashem into every facet of our lives.
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of “Ready. Set. Grow.” “Dove Tales,” and “Karpas: The Big Dipper.”
His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute.
You can reach him at 443-938-0822 or oristrum@torahsparks.com
In our Avodas Hashem, it is so important that we feel qualified and important; not because we deserved it per se, but because Hashem chose us. He handpicked us, and that means something.
The candles of the Menorah would face the middle candle, teaching us that no matter what greatness we possess, we must strive to channel in towards a spiritual and holy cause, and utilize this gift from Hashem to light up the world.
PointsPonder to
The Menorah was 18 tefachim high, which is a little over 5 feet tall. If so, why were steps necessary by the Menorah? After all, the average person/kohen should have been tall enough to reach the top of the Menorah without the means of steps?
(See the Quick Vort for a possible approach)
Rabbi Lord J. Sacks zt”l
Political Crossfire
Make the Holocaust Memorial Council Great Again
By Martin Oliner
The tragic murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington, D.C., and the attempted murder of Jewish senior citizens in Boulder, Colorado, were a painful reminder that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been learned.
The Holocaust occurred in European countries where ordinary citizens cooperated or remained indifferent to the mass murders of their neighbors. After decades of crying out “never again,” antisemitism in the U.S. has hit a frightening new peak.
Just in case the message about the need to halt antisemitism in the U.S. did not hit home, the victim of the Boulder attack was 88-year-old Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor Barbara Steinmetz.
Thankfully, America has the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to lead the efforts to educate the masses about the dangers of antisemitism.
But in its current form, is the museum really fulfilling that important role? As a proud member of the Holocaust Memorial Council, I shudder to say that the answer is unfortunately no.
Thankfully, President Donald Trump,
who has made combatting antisemitism a priority of his second term, appears to understand these challenges and has begun cleaning house at the museum.
I must lament the weak connection between museum and the Jewish people, which could get even worse if budgeted allocations are not changed immediately.
The museum was designed when it was thought that antisemitism was a thing of the past, and it has moved on to combatting other types of hate.
The museum already provides no context of Jewish history before 1930 or after 1945. A planned $150 million renovation of the main exhibit hall could make the museum even more woke and disconnected, a liberal monument to the dangers of immigration enforcement and conservative politics.
What the museum should be doing is teaching Americans that antisemitism is the world’s oldest hatred. It started all the way back, some 4,000 years ago, when Nimrod threw the world’s first Jew, Avraham, into a fiery furnace.
More importantly, the museum needs to teach its visitors about the story of
Jewish survival. It needs to present the facts about the founding of Israel in 1948, the wars of 1967, and yes, the massacre of October 7, 2023. It needs to educate its visitors about pogroms that led to the creation of the Zionist movement. And it needs to paint America in the most positive light – highlighting the opportunities that America has offered to survivors and their families to this day.
It has been 19 months since more Jews were murdered than any day since the Holocaust. Every day since then, there has been an elephant missing from the room at the museum.
Its educational approach must be changed. The museum has no shortage of visitors and reaches thousands of teachers. But they are taught generally about hate and not enough practical information on antisemitism to enable the Holocaust to become more relatable to them. There has not been enough of an emphasis on preventing antisemitism in America, including where the problem is raging at universities.
The museum’s message must be much more direct, as Trump’s messages are.
Being indirect by talking more generally about “hate” has really been ineffective. Harvard-Harris polling has asked Americans of all ages monthly if they are more pro-Israel or pro-Hamas since October 7, 2023.
April 2025 was the first month that a majority of 18-24-year-olds said they preferred Hamas over Israel, 51-49%. Such polls indicate that a different approach is required at the Holocaust Memorial Council.
The amount of antisemitism that exists came as a total surprise to the operators of the museum. There is unfortunately no metric to demonstrate that the museum has done anything to quell the disturbing rise of antisemitism in America or prove that the museum changes its visitors’ views about Jews. All indications are that the museum is failing in that regard.
Happily, help is on the way. The museum now has a new board. Of course, Democrats are upset.
On the eve of Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, the partisan organization Democratic Majority for Israel had
the audacity to falsely accuse President Donald Trump of diminishing the memories of the Israeli fallen by firing political appointees to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council
“Choosing this day to remove public servants from the board shows again a troubling lack of awareness of history,” the leftist organization said. “This is a day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Israel’s sovereignty.”
The now-fired Biden appointees included his former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, former vice president Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, former labor secretary Tom Perez, Barack Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice, former deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, and Anthony Bernal, a former senior adviser to first lady Jill Biden, none of whom in this writer’s opinion belonged on the council to begin with.
Are we to believe that Susan Rice, who pressured Israel to make dangerous territorial security concessions, was a great champion of Israeli sovereignty? Rice was similarly responsible for politicizing the Biden National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism by nodding to alternative definitions of antisemitism that exclude anti-Zionism and include Islamophobia
which were completely out of step with the mainstream Jewish community.
Finer called members of the Israeli government “abhorrent” and said, “I do not have any confidence in this current government of Israel” in 2024 remarks to Arab leaders in Dearborn, MI. How did firing him detract from the Yom Hazikaron commemoration?
the council gracefully, telling the Associated Press that his firing “dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.”
Actually, since Mr. Emhoff’s wife’s own administration, it has now become customary for a new president to bring in his own people, as Biden did four
Every day since then, there has been an elephant missing from the room at the museum.
Bernal is under investigation by a U.S. House committee over the potential misuse of the Biden autopen that ironically may have been used in his own appointment to the council.
Replacing them with other, more qualified people some months later obviously does no disservice to the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust or any descendant or survivor.
Still, Emhoff decided against leaving
years ago when he terminated the chairman of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad and other key commission roles. Biden cleaned house on the boards of the military service academies as well, which presumably Democratic senators didn’t feel dishonored America’s fallen heroes.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum was indeed created not for politics but to preserve the memory of the Shoah
and consequently shield future generations from violent antisemitism, a critical role that should never be curtailed. If the members of the council who were dismissed did not realize that modern enemies of the Jewish people, including Iran and Hamas, must be recognized at the museum, perhaps they were not so fit to begin with.
The new members of the council appointed by President Donald Trump will bring their expertise from their careers as well as their skills and their important values.
The museum in D.C. and its Baltimore site require greater oversight by the council, and there must be input from the Trump administration to have a positive impact on its future.
It is time to rethink the museum and what it is supposed to do to combat antisemitism in America and make the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum great again.
Martin Oliner currently serves as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, appointed by President Trump five years ago. He is the former mayor of the Village of Lawrence.
Forgotten Her es Combat Jumps During World War II
By Avi Heiligman
509th PIR Paratroopers in 1942
Jumping out of an aircraft and using a parachute to land behind enemy lines was first tested and performed during World War I. In the years leading up to World War II, the United States evaluated the concept of training paratroopers, and the first paratrooper unit was formed in 1940. During 1940, many of the major belligerents dropped paratroopers into battle. The most famous American paratrooper drops were in Normandy on D-Day and Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Several other combat jumps were made during the war as well as during other major conflicts including in Iraq and Afghanistan. These were not as widely known but their contributions to the war efforts made a huge impact on the outcome.
Combat jumps have several objectives and benefits. These include seizing and holding key enemy targets like airfields and bridges, causing turmoil in enemy rear areas, and exploring opportunities that would be hard for ground units to achieve.
The first American combat jump in history took place on November 8, 1942. The 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) jumped near
Oran, Algeria. Their objectives were to gain control of key airfields in the support of the landings during Operation Torch. Over 500 paratroopers led by Lt. Col. Edson D. Raff were flown from their bases in England. Many landed far away from the drop zone due to adverse wind conditions. Twenty-eight of the 37 planes didn’t even drop their troops. Instead, the planes landed on a dry lakebed, and the troops marched towards their objectives. Despite setbacks, the members of the 509th were able to disrupt Axis patrols and severed key enemy communications. However, they weren’t able to secure the airfields. Airborne units were now seen as feasible, and lessons learned from the jump were applied to future operations.
A week later, on November 15, the 509 th PIR made their second combat jump. They boarded C-47 transport aircraft and jumped at Youks Les Bains to capture the key North African airfield. The mission of capturing the airfield was a success, with the Vichy French offering little resistance. The 509th continued to operate through March 1945 and made a total of five combat jumps. After the war, the 509th was reactivated and maintains its airborne status as they fought in the
recent War on Terror.
Elements of the 82 nd Airborne Division made combat jumps into Sicily in Operation Husky and Italy as part of Operation Avalanche.
A quarter past midnight on the morning of June 6, 1944, the first of the 13,400 American paratroopers jumped into France as the invasion of German-occupied Europe began. Together with the British 6th Airborne, the men from the 82 nd Airborne and the 101 st Airborne jumped from C-47 Skytrains and landed in motor-less gliders. The paratroopers were scattered throughout the countryside, but nevertheless they began to form small groups to head to their objectives. One of these objectives was to open up a causeway for the men landing at Utah Beach. About 100 paratroopers from different units formed the group that successfully completed the mission. The scattered landings also caused confusion within the German high command as messages from the front told of many more paratroopers than had actually landed.
Operation Market Garden took place in September 1944 when both the 82 nd and the 101 st Airborne Divisions were
part of a large mission led by British General Bernard Montgomery. The operation ultimately failed when the Dutch bridges over the Rhine River remained in German hands.
In March 1945, 16,000 paratroopers, including the 17 th Airborne Division, made a combat jump into Germany. Called Operation Varsity, the paratroopers gained control of key bridges and high ground. This successful operation was the last major air assault in Europe during World War II.
While three paratroop divisions were deployed to Europe, the 17 th , 82 nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, the 11th Airborne Division and other smaller units made at least seven combat jumps in the Pacific Theater of War. Nicknamed the “Angels,” the 11th Airborne landed mainly by boat on the Philippine island of Leyte. Some paratroopers did make an unopposed combat jump. This was the start of a three month grueling jungle campaign against the Japanese.
On February 3 1945, the 511th PIR flew in over 1,800 paratroopers to make a combat jump near Manila at Tagaytay Ridge to support the rest of the division. Three waves of paratroopers dropped
during this battle, but as with many other World War II combat jumps, the troopers landed far from their intended targets. Showing tenacity in the face of adversity and facing the constant threat of Japanese attacks, it took the regiment just five hours to link up and form into the rest of the 11th Airborne Division.
Two other jumps were conducted by the 511th PIR during the war. One of these was to rescue 2,147 Allied citizens and military personnel from the Los Banos prison camp. The mission was a success as 130 paratroopers from the Company B, 1st Battalion jumped into the camp. The
last jump of the war took place on June 23, 1945, by over 1,000 men of the 511th PIR with the objective of preventing the escape of the Japanese command from Luzon.
Smaller airborne units not attached to airborne divisions operated during the war, including the 503rd PIR. They made a jump in July 1944 on an island off of New Guinea and helped eliminate the Japanese garrison. The 503rd Regimental Combat Team made the jump onto the island of Corregidor to begin an intense eleven-day battle. The tiny island had been captured by the Japanese early in the war, and the recapture of Corregidor
would be a morale booster for the entire American Army. One-thousand paratroopers jumped into Corregidor on February 16, 1945. The surprised Japanese garrison put up heavy defenses, and the American paratroopers had to drop explosives by hand on Japanese positions. The regiment was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its successful capture of the island.
This is just an overview of the many combat jumps that took place during World War II. There were other jumps during the war including in support of the invasion of southern France in Operation
Dragoon. In a future article, we will talk about some of the combat jumps since the end of World War II. The lessons learned from the valiant paratroopers during World War II have been applied to training and combat jumps during conflicts such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, Panama and Iraqi Freedom.
Avi & Gavriella Snitzer on the birth of a daughter
Yaakov Yehuda & Eliana Trout on the birth of a son
Michal & Shua Leff on the birth of a daughter
Shlomo & Ariella Chernitzky on the birth of a son
Eliezer & Meira Szajowitz on the birth of a son
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. Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
Mr. and Mrs. Shaya & Aliza Abramson on the birth of twins
Yaakov & Rivky Litke on the birth of a daughter
Mr. & Mrs. Elazar Isbee on the birth of a son
Dovid & Rochie Frand on the birth of a daughter
A trooper of the 509th PIR during Operation Torch
Troops landing near Luzon
To Raise a Laugh
By Mordechai Schmutter
Keitzad Merakdim? I’m Asking Seriously.
Ithink I need to come up with a middle-of-the-circle dance for weddings.
And by “middle of the circle”, I don’t mean the various combinations and permutations of family members that dance with the chosson in the inner ring.
“Now let’s do the chosson and his brothers and his father!... Okay, now let’s do the chosson, his father-in-law, and his brothers-inlaw!... Okay, now the chosson and everyone at the wedding who’s under three!... Now the two rabbis and the four eidim!”
And then there’s one person who doesn’t understand the combination and he joins the circle and no one says anything because, “Who cares? It’s a wedding!” but everyone’s secretly thinking, “Well, that messed up the photo.”
No, I’m talking about that part of the wedding where the chosson’s sitting down, drinking his water, and people come into the middle of the circle, one at a time, and dance by themselves while he watches. Sometimes it’s not even a dance. Sometimes it’s just a guy doing push-ups.
“What?! I’m missing exercise class for this!”
This is sometimes the highlight of the wedding, especially for people who don’t really like to dance. Sure, there are some good dances, but I personally do not see the appeal of running in a crowded circle to music. Though I do think it’s cool that that one dance move somehow works for whatever song the band is playing. Though, to be fair, they’re only playing fast songs. I don’t think the running-in-a-circle dance works for Hamalach Hagoel or Eishes Chayil or any of the songs they generally play while the chosson and kallah are walking down the aisle.
On the other hand, I don’t have the guts to get up in middle of the circle and do my thing. Also, I don’t have a thing. My thing is, at best, stand-up comedy. Which is
difficult to yell over music. I have incredible stage fright when it comes to anything physical, and the last thing I want is for my back to seize up. Or for me to do two pushups and then get tired and start doing it with my knees on the floor.
The Amoraim did this kind of thing too. For example, Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchok juggled hadassim branches (Kesubos 17a). And if you don’t think that’s a big deal, try juggling hadassim branches.
Maybe the juggling is some kind of symbolic thing about married life. In fact, maybe all of these dances are symbolic.
I actually have a brother in law who juggles. He hasn’t graduated to hadassim yet, because he doesn’t go to a lot of weddings. He uses little balls that are specially designed so that you can hold all of them in one hand, because when you juggle, say, bowling balls, there’s no good way to stop. You kind of have to back out of the room and find a mattress.
Of course, some people use clubs, and the minhag with that is to stop by putting one on your nose and balancing it.
This is probably some kind of symbolic thing about balance.
Then some people jump rope with a string of napkins that they spent the whole wedding tying together. It’s always nice when the jump rope matches the tablecloth.
Sure, I suppose I can practice these things, but it never occurs to me to practice until I’m actually at a wedding, and the chosson sits down. And practicing isn’t always worth it, because a lot of times you just don’t get to do it. One guy finishes his act, and everyone takes one step forward, and the first one in the rink gets to be next, and it’s usually two guys doing a bullfighting act with a tiny napkin that they found in some corner somewhere that the jump rope guys missed.
(What’s with the bull thing? Is it supposed to be symbolic of marriage?)
But not every dance needs talent. For example, there’s also what people call “The Light Bulb Dance”, which is that one-person dance where you have your hands over your head and you’re miming screwing and unscrewing multiple light bulbs at the same time. This is symbolic of the manual labor you have to do once you get married.
Girls do middle-of-the-circle dances too, from what I hear, but they call it “shtick,” and they have gemachs for their shtick because it generally needs props and no one wants to buy a non-waterproof umbrella with 50 ribbons hanging off the edges, which, after you use it for one wedding, you would keep it in your umbrella bin and end up holding it in a windstorm someday.
Sometimes I come into the women’s section after a wedding to find out if my wife wants to leave yet, and I see hundreds of flower petals everywhere. What are they doing? Tearing apart the bouquets? The bouquet gemach is not going to be happy. Meanwhile the men’s side is all clean, and they’ve already started stacking the chairs.
The girls are also into printing things on shirts. But maybe the guys should print things on shirts so people don’t intrude on the private circles. We can print things like “brothersin-law of the chosson”, or “chosson’s friends from that year in Texas” so no one intrudes, and also so you can be reminded of these guys years later when you look at the pictures to see who’s dead now.
“Who were those guys, Totty?”
“I don’t kno-Oh, I guess they’re your uncles. Boy, none of them look like that anymore.”
“What happened?”
“They stopped dancing.”
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.
Parenting Pearls Happy Birthday!
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
We are celebrating the birthday of our little one, and like all youngsters, she’s been anxiously awaiting this day. For children, their birthday is truly a year-long event as they excitedly anticipate its arrival.
Technically, on your birthday, you’re only one day older than the previous day, but it still reflects a milestone of growth and achievement. For parents, a child’s birthday brings up memories and reflection. We remember their birth, those difficult first months and each step that has brought them to this big day. As exciting as it is for the child, it can be more emotionally overwhelming for the parent!
It’s only natural we would want to commemorate these occasions. There are so many ways to celebrate, but parties have become a popular option. Parties may include just the immediate family, like we did for our child recently. For older children, they often want to include friends, and the invite list gets longer.
Keeping It Simple
There are numerous stories of ridiculous amounts being spent on a child’s party. Parties don’t need to be extravagant. It not only establishes unfair standards for others, it also creates an unhealthy expectation in the child themself who would otherwise be happy with a simpler celebration.
Birthday parties shouldn’t create major stress for the parents. It’s unfortunate when the parent is under so much tension that the party is no longer worth it. It’s better to keep it simpler and calmer. When the birthday boy/girl is very little, the party is really for the parents (or grandparents). The child will never remember the party, although taking pictures may help. For little ones, a simple cake is just as exciting as a gigantic extravaganza. There is no need to go overboard. Especially for the earliest birthdays, keep it simple. If you spend some time reading to them or taking them to the park, they will enjoy that much more than an elaborate event.
The party should match the child’s
needs. Many children get overwhelmed by big events or being the center of attention. Sadly, it’s not uncommon to find a child crying at their own birthday party. This is especially noticeable during an upsherin when many little boys struggle.
No Child Left Behind
Children are very sensitive to being left out or treated differently. It’s important to make sure that children are not being excluded from any event. If a number of children are being invited from a class, then the guest list should include all their classmates. Similarly, if a few invited children are part of a “chevra,” then please include each member of that group. Whether or not your child plays with a particular peer does not change the need to be mindful of each individual’s feelings. This can be an opportunity to educate the birthday boy/girl on the importance of being sensitive to everyone’s feelings.
Schools often have rules in place to ensure each child is included and that events maintain the standards of the school’s parent body. Parents should be mindful to follow the rules of their child’s school.
Parties usually involve food – lots of it. It may be a meal, snacks or goody bags. Parents should take into consideration the kashrus standards of the children being invited. For example, if most of the children come from homes that only eat cholov Yisroel, it would be considerate to maintain that standard for all food. If only one or two children’s families maintain a particular standard, it’s still appropriate to take their feelings into account. If that’s not possible (for example, the particular item isn’t available), please politely inform the parents in advance so they can make the necessary accommodations.
Allergies affect many children. Unfortunately, they can also be quite dangerous for some kids. Presumably, parents of children with severe allergies will already have precautions in place to maintain their child’s safety. The party’s
hosts should be respectful of the child’s needs and carefully follow the parents’ protocol. This may include only serving that child food sent from home. When possible, parents can try to have a comparable item for children with less severe dietary restrictions (for example, a gluten-free cookie or cake for those who can’t eat the regular one).
Gift giving has become a part of the festivities in many communities. No child should ever feel shamed for not bringing a gift. Perhaps their family may not have known that others would be bringing gifts. Maybe they didn’t have the finances or they were in the midst of a crisis and couldn’t arrange it.
It’s better to avoid opening gifts during the party or in front of their friends. Too many children have had their feelings hurt by comments that were made or by comparing their gift to those of others.
Children should write thank-you cards or find another meaningful way to acknowledge their gratitude. They should recognize that others don’t “owe them” a gift and appreciate that others thought of them.
Surprise Parties
Often, families will choose to make a surprise party to celebrate an occasion. For example, my siblings and I arranged a surprise party for our parents’ anniversary a few years ago. In these situations, the one being celebrated is unaware of the festivities to come and is surprised to walk into a party in their honor.
Many people are beyond thrilled to be surprised for their birthday or other special occasion. They are excited to walk into an already prepared event and see how much was done in their honor. It’s important to match the party to the personality and only surprise those who will appreciate it. There are many children (and adults) who would not be comfortable with it, and we certainly need to take the honoree’s feelings into consideration. Often, when making a surprise party, there is a lot of work done behind the child’s back. This is an inherent part of surprising them. Please be mindful that the child may become aware that something is happening behind their back, and they may feel excluded or hurt –even if they will eventually find out the truth. Watch the child carefully and be considerate of their feelings. It may be better to ruin the surprise than to allow a child to wander around feeling the pain of exclusion during the weeks leading up to the party.
Birthdays are a special day that hit once a year but give us each the opportunity to feel like it’s “our” personal day. It’s a chance to celebrate those we love and appreciate having them in our life. “Happy birthday” to all TJH readers –whenever that day comes.
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.
COLUMBIA GROUP PRESENTS:
The One And Only Tech Triumphs
As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
I’m not what you would call “Yeshivish.” I know it’s a totally relative term and means something different to everyone, but I don’t see myself in that category. I just finished seminary and will be starting to date in a few months. I’m not looking for a long-term learning boy—just someone who has his head on straight.
On my way home from Israel, I looked around on the airplane and was startled to realize that I was the only one on the entire flight with a flip phone. Even though I don’t consider myself “Yeshivish,” this is one area where I feel a lot of pride. I refuse to be swept away by the distracting, magnetic pull of a smartphone, so I happily use an old-school flip phone with classic texting. You should see me text though—LOL—I’m really fast with those numbers!
As I looked around the plane, I was surprised by the strong feeling of satisfaction I felt at being the lone flip phone user. I alone had the freedom to resist that pull—and it felt great.
DID YOU KNOW:
WhatsApp is an app for sending messages to your contacts, but it’s more than just texting. One can share and receive text, pictures, and videos, and even make international phone calls. The app is owned by Meta, the creators of Facebook, so it’s no surprise that this messaging app has transformed in recent years into a social media app with features like Status, Channels, and AI.
Status is a way for your friends to broadcast messages, pictures, videos, etc., to all their contacts. Channels (also called Updates) allow users to join
public groups with content on all topics. AI is a tool within the app that lets users interact with artificial intelligence to get answers or generate content. All of this is unmonitored, uncensored, and there are no built-in parental controls or content moderation.
Other concerns include disappearing content—messages or media that can delete themselves after being viewed. While this provides extra privacy, it also makes it impossible for a parent to monitor what their child is viewing or sharing. Communication with strangers is a high risk, as anyone with your child’s phone number can message them, share content, and even add them to group chats. Geographic location is also easy to share, and in some cases, may be discoverable.
While the options for monitoring a child’s activity on WhatsApp are
limited, it’s still important to keep a close eye on their usage. Set your own limits on how much time they spend on the app and what they’re allowed to do. Because of WhatsApp’s own privacy features, filtering options are also limited. On Android, filters can block things like Status, Channels, and AI. On iPhones, filters are more limited—mostly blurring pictures and blocking videos.
It’s best to avoid WhatsApp for children completely, but there are times you might need to allow it for social inclusion. If that happens, it should be approached with caution and close supervision. There’s a high risk of children being exposed to inappropriate material or being contacted by people you don’t know—and all the dangers that come with that.
Yosef
A Ten-Year-Old’s Quiet “No” Living Kiddush Hashem
WBy Rabbi Shraga Freedman
hen the Greenbergs (name changed) were living in Canada, Mrs. Greenberg led trips to Israel through the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (now Momentum). These 10-day missions built deep connections, and when the women returned, many continued their learning. Mrs. Greenberg learned one-on-one with several of them and often hosted Shabbos meals.
One woman’s husband, a brilliant and cynical criminal lawyer, had no interest in religion—but his wife was growing, and Mrs. Greenberg had built a close relationship with her.
A few months after a trip, JET, the local kiruv organization, hosted a Friday night dinner for the women and their families. The Greenbergs attended with four of their children, including 10-year-old Meir, and were seated next to that couple.
It was the husband’s first Shabbos meal, and he observed everything with interest—especially the moment when Rabbi Greenberg bentched his children.
Midway through the meal, he asked Meir to bring him a napkin. Meir quickly ran to the kitchen and returned. The man reached for his wallet. “Here, take five dollars.”
His wife elbowed him. “Stop! It’s Shabbos.”
“So what?”
“You can’t give money on Shabbos.”
“Every kid wants money,” he shrugged. Turning to Meir, he whispered, “Want five dollars?”
Meir hesitated, then shook his head.
“It’s Shabbos. I don’t touch money on Shabbos.”
“Ten dollars?” he offered. Meir smiled and shook his head again.
“Fifty dollars. No one will know.” Meir stood straighter. “Nope.”
“A hundred dollars,” he tried. “You like hockey. Think of the cards you could buy!”
Meir’s eyes lit up for a moment—but he smiled and said, “Nope.”
The man leaned back, clearly moved. “This kid is the real deal,” he said to his wife. “We need to start blessing our kids on Friday nights.”
Mrs. Greenberg, listening nearby, was bursting with pride.
That Sunday, the man called and bought Meir two VIP hockey tickets. A couple of years later, for his bar mitzvah, he gifted him a full set of sefarim and a jersey of his favorite player.
The couple continued learning and
It all began with a ten-year-old who did what every frum child would do without hesitation. Shabbos is real. Torah is real. Halacha is real.
And sometimes, the most powerful kiruv comes from a quiet “no.”
Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush Hashem, and A Life Worth Living.
Email LivingKiddushHashem@ gmail.com for a free sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources
Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.
My Israel Home Encapsulating the Past, Building the Future
By Gedaliah Borvick
Jerusalem is a city literally built on its past. Every time a shovel pierces the ground, there’s a chance of uncovering history – sometimes glorious, sometimes inconvenient. From archaeological treasures to ancient tunnels to long-forgotten graves, construction projects in the capital can occasionally be a careful negotiation between development and preservation.
Of all the discoveries that can surface during excavation work, graves are among the most sensitive. When a suspected Jewish grave is found, construction doesn’t just grind to a halt — it enters a holding pattern of halachic consultation, archaeological assessment, and logistical recalibration.
Today, the go-to solution is a method known as encapsulation. Rather than disturbing the grave, it is carefully enclosed in a protective casing and respectfully relocated – often to the edge of the site. This process ensures that kavod hameis (dignity for the deceased) is upheld while
allowing development to continue.
It’s a delicate dance between past and future – one that Jerusalem has slowly mastered. Gone are the days when a single grave could paralyze a project for years. Thanks to the collaboration between developers, rabbinic authorities, and the Israel Antiquities Authority, there is now a clear protocol that honors halacha (Jewish law) and enables growth.
For developers, it’s a practical path forward, avoiding major delays and costly confrontations. For city residents, it means new housing can rise without erasing history. And for religious authorities, it ensures that halacha is observed with care and precision.
One vivid example is Givat Hamatos. This new 2,600-unit neighborhood is rising in southern Jerusalem – the first largescale residential development in decades and a critical part of the city’s housing future. But before a single crane went up, archaeologists surveyed the land and uncovered signs of ancient life: terraced
farms and burial caves from the Second Temple period.
Working with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the developers creatively adjusted the plans to preserve the archaeological integrity of the site. In some areas, graves were encapsulated and moved to the perimeter. In others, roads were gently rerouted to leave ancient remains undisturbed.
Another example goes even further back in our history. A few years ago, during excavation for a new residential development in the Arnona neighborhood, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery: a sprawling administrative complex from the First Temple period. The site included buildings and dozens of jar handles stamped with the words L’melech (“belonging to the king”) – likely used to collect and store taxes in the form of grain and oil.
Rather than freeze the project, the developers and the Israel Antiquities Authority worked together to excavate and document the site. In areas where ancient
graves were found, the solution followed the now-familiar script: encapsulation and respectful relocation to the periphery. Construction continued, but not at the expense of Jerusalem’s past.
These development challenges are not new, and Jerusalem’s growth has never been straightforward. But in many ways, it’s vintage Jerusalem — where the past is never far beneath the surface and where building the future means carefully addressing the past.
Perhaps that’s part of what makes Jerusalem real estate so meaningful. Here, a new apartment isn’t just a roof and four walls — it’s a continuation of our story thousands of years in the making.
Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.
Encapsulating burial grounds
TJH Centerfold
Flag Trivia
1. When is Flag Day celebrated?
a. June 14
b. July 4
c. June 4
d. May 14
2. The largest American flag ever flown, known as the Superflag, was owned by Thomas Demski of California. It is 505 wide, 225 feet tall, and weighs 300 pounds. When unfurled at the Super Bowl it took 500 people to stretch it out and hold it. How tall is each star on the flag?
a. 4 feet
b. 9 feet
c. 17 feet
d. 62 feet
3. Which U.S. building displays over 200 American flags?
a. The Betsy Ross museum
b. The Pentagon
c. The Capitol
d. The Library of Congress
4. In 2006, a Revolutionary War-era U.S. flag sold at auction for how much?
a. $12.3 million
b. $21 million
c. $45 million
d. $217.5 million
5. How many versions of the U.S. flag have there been?
A. 13
B. 37
C. 27
D. 50
6. Robert G. “Bob” Heft designed the current 50star U.S. flag in 1958 as a high school project while attending Lancaster High School in Ohio. Heft meticulously arranged and sewed 50 stars (even though only 48 states existed then) onto a blue canton made from a 48-star flag inherited from his parents What grade did he get on the project?
a. A+
b. B-
c. C
d. F
7. How many folds are in a ceremonial flag folding?
a. 10
b. 7
c. 13
d. 21
8. What happened to the flag planted on the Moon in 1969?
a. It was removed and brought back
b. It’s still there, but likely bleached white
c. It was stolen by aliens
d. It burned up on re-entry
Answers: 1-A
2-C
3-B 4-A 5-C
6-B
7-C 8-B
Wisdom Key:
6-8 correct: Happy Flag Day! L’flaga tova!
3-5 correct: You are a few stars short of a full flag.
0-2 correct: You’ve got more bunting than brains.
You Might Be a Flag Nut If…
You’ve called in sick to work on Flag Day…and felt it was patriotic.
Your shidduch resume has an American flag on it.
You’ve gotten into a heated argument about the correct flag-folding technique…at a family barbecue.
You describe your mood as “half-mast.”
You starch your flag more often than your dress shirts.
Your ringtone is “The Star-Spangled Banner” – in four-part harmony.
You own more flag-themed socks than you do regular socks.
You once stopped traffic to rescue a flag that was “flapping disrespectfully.”
You get your flags dry cleaned.
Your dream vacation? The United Nations Headquarters, so you can see all the flags.
You call Betsy Ross “Aunt Bets.”
You Gotta Be Kidding Me
Which flag is the most highly rated?
The American flag. It has 50 stars.
Riddle Me This
Three campers — Abe, Baruch, and Chaim — each brought a different flag to hang outside their tents: a checkered flag, a skull flag, and a smiley face flag.
Abe did not bring the smiley face flag.
The person with the skull flag is next to Chaim’s tent.
Baruch’s tent is not next to the checkered flag.
Each person has one flag, and the tents are in a straight row.
Who has which flag?
Chaim – checkered flag
Baruch – smiley face flag
Answer: Abe – skull flag
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
I mean, obviously, this is a moment where we have to be on the streets all over the country to protest what’s happening to our immigrant community, but more broadly, to protest what’s happening to our democracy.
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on “Morning Joe” urging more protests
LA riots? Have these geniuses ever seen what happens when the Eagles win a playoff game?
- Izzy Gardon, Gov. Newsom’s communications director, in a TV interview, arguing that burning cars, looting, and blocking roadways is not a riot
Even those who were out of step with what we were advocating, [which is] peaceful protest, did not create any violence. Nobody was shot, nobody was killed. Get it through your head.
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos. My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.
- Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) posting on X about the insurrectionists rioting in Los Angeles
The Jews’ fight is my fight
- Dr. Phil in an interview with JNS News
The avant-garde thing to do today is to stand up for the underdog, stand up for the oppressed, and they don’t dig in deep enough to find out what “oppressed” really means.
- ibid.
People jump on this idea and find themselves celebrating and cheering on a terrorist organization, who are murderers and absolute psychopaths, and you kind of get the world PR machine behind it.
- ibid.
Looks like her kidnappers didn’t want her either.
- One of many social media responses to the Israeli Foreign Ministry tweeting that Greta Tunberg and the other people from their “selfie yacht” have been sent back to Europe
I learned having doubt enter your head is impossible to escape but not impossible to overcome.
- Tennis star Coco Gauff, 21, who won the French Open women’s singles title on Saturday, becoming the first American since 2015 to claim the trophy
I realize that you just try to redirect those into positive thoughts, even if you don’t truly believe them.
- ibid.
Just so we are clear, this FBI needs no one’s permission to enforce the Constitution. My responsibility is to the American people, not political punch lines. LA is under siege by marauding criminals, and we will restore law and order. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.
- Tweet by FBI Director Kash Patel
I don’t know if it’s real anger. It’s hard to believe, actually, but I saw what happened. She’s certainly different. Anger management, I think she has to go to an anger management class. That’s my primary recommendation for her.
- Pres. Trump when asked about Greta Thunberg, whose “selfie flotilla” was stopped by Israel from entering Gaza
I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country.
- State House Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL-St. Paul), while arguing in an interview against the illegal immigration crackdown, disclosing that her father lied on paperwork for the family to come to the U.S. as refugees
What my father did was, one of our uncles worked for USAID, and because his mother had died, my father, as the one processing the paperwork, put my grandmother down as his mother.
– ibid.
It’s incredibly disheartening that my floor speech — where I shared my family’s deeply personal immigration story — was twisted into antiimmigrant clickbait. Let me be absolutely clear: my parents are citizens, and so am I.
– ibid. several hours later, after her Republican opponents called for an investigation into an illegal alien serving in the state legislature
Trump’s actually pretty forgiving. Vance called him a Nazi, and now he’s V.P. Megyn Kelly and Trump hated each other, and now she’s at his rallies. Musk was an Obama donor, then he backed DeSantis, then he went all in on Trump, and now he wants him impeached, so he’s been all over the place. Will they patch it up? Only those two know.
- Jesse Watters, Fox News
Musk is the wealthiest guy in the world, but Donald Trump is the most powerful person in the world, and I think probably that Musk kind of forgot that.
- Newt Gingrich, Fox News
I think what you’re seeing is a battle between the purist and the pragmatist. I don’t like it. I want it to stop. I want to tell them if they’re both watching, knock it off. We’re done with this. This is an incredible moment for our country. It’s awake. It’s optimistic. It’s on board with the golden age. Don’t sabotage it with the self-inflicted feud. Don’t let the Dems get back up from the floor where they belong.
- Greg Gutfeld, Fox News
LOL
- Tweet by Jeremy Edwards, who served under Karine Jean-Pierre, responding to her claim that she is leaving the Democrat Party due to misinformation and is writing a book about it titled “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines”
I’d like to congratulate Democrats for ridding yourselves of this untalented mediocrity. I mean, this is the most self-aggrandizing liar that has ever held this job.
- Conservative pundit Scott Jennings responding on CNN to Jean-Pierre’s announcement
The pitch went like this- if Jake Tapper can write a book about “the Original Sin” why can’t I write a book about being independent?
- Former Trump spokesman Sean Spicer talking about Jean-Pierre’s new book
This is just we need—a tell-all from the woman who said that Joe just had a cold and not rigor mortis.
– Greg Gutfeld, Fox News
He has no idea what to do with the sustained and growing and intractable and indomitable protest and opposition of the American people against him. And so he has decided to try to fix it by using the army. Sure. Game over, big guy. You lose. The movement against Trump is unstoppable, now more than ever.
- Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
“I didn’t see any violence on the streets of LA” is the new “I didn’t see any Biden decline.”
- Jesse Watters
It could turn very volatile if you move law enforcement in there in the wrong way and turn what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation or altercation between officers and demonstrators.
- A Los Angeles ABC reporter, standing in front of plumes of smoke and fire, proving once again why the mainstream media has lost all credibility
Republicans should forget calling this gargoyle of a bill their “Big Beautiful Bill.” They might as well call it the “We’re All Going to Die Act.”
– Sen. Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on cue, resorting to the classic attack that Republicans are going to take away everyone’s health insurance
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I’m 25 years old and have been dating for four years. The guy I’m dating now is a really nice guy but much more on the nerdy side than what I wanted. Our deep conversations are great, and we align on almost everything important. I just wish he was less nerdy. Recently, he told me the plan for our date was to go to D.C., get something to eat and go to the mall. I was excited to go to the mall until I realized on the date he meant the National Mall (to go see historical sites, etc.) – just another thing that highlights our differences.
Could such a difference still work in a relationship? I would love the panel’s perspective…
Aliza*
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
The Panel
Dear Readers,
We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion!
Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition.
If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well.
Looking forward!
Michelle, the “Shadchan”
The Rebbetzin
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
It could definitely work. Keep dating and see if you like him more. Get to know him better and understand where his interests come from. Work out some dating location ideas together. Is he open to exploring new hobbies, experiences, and interests? Does he respect your interests and differences? Is he flexible? Caring? Are you enjoying your time together? How is the communication going? Are you able to work out disagreements and conflicts? Keep going. Nerdiness is neither terminal nor permanent. At the same time, don’t think you will change another person’s core. Nerdiness is not necessarily core, however, and it is relative. Find out.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
Dear Aliza,
Dating is truly a learning experience. While some people marry the first person they date, others need more time to figure out what really matters to them. Learning from each relationship, what worked and what didn’t, is an essential part of the process.
You’ve been dating for four years, and from what you describe, this may be the first time you’ve connected with
someone on a deeper level. That says a lot. It sounds like many of the core elements you’re looking for are already in place.
As for him being nerdier than you’d like, try to embrace it. If his clothes are outdated, there’s nothing wrong with guiding him. You can offer to take him to the mall (the type with Macy’s, not monuments) and help him pick out some clothes that are more fashionable. It could be that this is one thing he appreciates about you specifically!
More importantly, try reframing how you think about his personality. Instead of saying, “Of course he wanted to go see historical sites instead of Sephora,” tell yourself, “How amazing is it that I’m with someone so curious, so thoughtful, and so smart?” The way we talk to ourselves has real power. It can shape how we feel about others and even influence how our relationships unfold.
If you respect him, share values, and enjoy meaningful conversations, that’s a strong foundation. With the right mindset and mutual effort, this kind of relationship definitely has potential.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
Are you serious? You’ve been dating for four years and still haven’t figured out that nerds make the very best husbands and fathers?
The boyfriend that you’re describing sounds wonderful. If we would publish
his email address, I am willing to bet that several dozen single, young women would immediately send him their resumés.
Here’s a suggestion: Why not tell him that for your next date together, you would like to do all the planning by yourself. Give him a chance to experience and enjoy your creativity and spontaneity.
By blending, or integrating, his nerdy, serious, academic personality, with your more social, extroverted, and impulsive personality, it sounds like a marriage made in heaven. This would be a wonderful marriage where you could both grow and expand your horizons together.
For fun, I searched online for quotes from women who married “nerdy” guys and were asked how it “turned out” for them. Here’s a sampling of what I found:
*“I married a nerd. Turns out, I married a really good problem-solv -
You’ve been dating for four years and still haven’t figured out that nerds make the very best husbands and fathers?
er. My husband is amazing at fixing things, from the Wi-Fi to my life.”
*“My husband is a nerd, and he’s obsessed with Star Wars. Turns out, ‘May the Force Be With You’ is a good motto
for married life, too.”
*“My husband is a nerd, and he loves playing video games. Turns out, he’s also really good at patience and strategy.”
*“My husband is a nerd, and he knows every trivia question. Turns out, he’s also great at remembering important dates, like anniversaries and birthdays.”
*“My husband is a nerd, and he loves to read. Turns out, he’s also a great listener.”
*“I married a nerd, and it turns out that I was guaranteed a lifetime of logic, love, and endless debate about the best sci-fi series.”
Best wishes to the two of you in navigating a healthy balance between stability and adventure.
Reader’s Response
Isaiah Cox, the Curmudgeon
Dear Aliza,
Differences are good! After all, aren’t the differences between men and women (not just the obvious physical ones) what make marriage interesting in the first place? Indeed, the deepest relationships we are supposed to have are between husband and wife, and between ourselves and Hashem. Wouldn’t you say there are some pretty stark differences there?
After all, as long as two different people agree on the Big Questions (the few truly non-negotiable items), then they should be willing to give in on everything else – and get married!
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Dear Aliza,
Thanks so much for writing in. When you say he’s “nerdy,” I find myself wondering what that means to you. Is it about energy? Interests? A vibe that feels different from what you pictured for yourself? Sometimes “nerdy” is just code for “not my usual type,” and it’s worth getting curious about what that brings up.
Before I go on, I want to take a moment to speak directly to anyone reading this who has ever been called nerdy – maybe by a date, a partner, or even by yourself. I know that word can bring up a lot. It might touch on old wounds
or moments when you felt dismissed for loving what you love or showing up with sincerity and depth. Please know, I see that. This isn’t about mocking or reducing anyone. Some of the most thoughtful, creative, and deeply alive people I know might call themselves a little nerdy.
Now, back to your question. It’s completely valid to want a partner who shares your idea of fun. For some people, aligning in how you spend time together feels essential. If you’re noticing that the differences in your styles or preferences are starting to chip away
I think you are asking the wrong questions. The right questions are:
1) Are you communicating well; and 2) Can you respect each other?
Communication: There seems to be a rather huge gap: you thought the DC Mall was a place to go shopping, and your young man thought it was an opportunity to look at art and discuss history and culture. It is clear that you are not speaking the same language!
I know you say that you agree on the Big Questions, writing, “We align on almost everything important.” But if you are not speaking the same language, how do you know that you are, actually, aligned? You might have been entirely misinterpreting what he has been saying all along! This would not be as rare as you might think: an entire area of academic scholarship has been devoted to the ways in which men and women (fail to) understand each other.
Start with that. And see if you are actually as well aligned as you thought you were.
Respect: You also need to ask a
Nerdiness is neither terminal nor permanent.
much more fundamental question. You have already volunteered that you look down on men who are “nerdy.” This is a problem. Can you respect him? Because if you cannot, then you do not belong together.
And he has to ask the very same question about you. Is he capable of respecting you and your very different perspective on life? That answer also has to be a resounding “yes.”
If you cannot both respect the other person and their interests enough to constructively engage and bridge the gap between you, then I am afraid you will not going to be able to build a successful marriage.
at your connection or chemistry, that’s something to take seriously. These things matter.
Because at the heart of any lasting relationship is chemistry, desire, and respect for who your person truly is. That’s the glue. When those elements are alive, even the differences can feel interesting or expansive. When they’re missing, even the shared interests can feel flat.
That said, not every couple enjoys all the same things. And that can be okay. Differences can stretch us in meaningful ways. You might learn to take turns, laugh at the mismatches, or create space
for your own interests while still returning to each other with love and curiosity. What matters is how those differences feel over time. Are they pulling you apart or inviting you to grow?
Every relationship is a balance between shared joy and respectful space. The more honestly you explore what works for you, the more you’ll be able to build something grounded, connected, and real or exit a relationship that is not meant for you.
Warmly, 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. 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.
Mental Health Corner
The Ups And Downs Of Tribalism
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
Human beings come in all types and stripes. Sometimes, the differences the differences are based on ideology. Alternatively, it may be based on geo
people who are similar to yourself and then to form groups based on similarities. This is known as tribalism.
Before modern times, tribalism was a means for survival. Groups of people worked together and pooled their resources in order to endure episodes such as drought, famine, or war. In modern times, we are fortunate to not need tribalism just to put food on the table. However, we still need tribalism to maintain our sense of identity.
Tribalism, at times, will have a dark side, as it may lead someone to mistreat people who are outside of their tribe. This is one of the sources of racism. Indeed, the very term tribalism is often understood as a negative and derogatory term.
On the other hand, there are benefits to tribalism, as human beings feel more comfortable when they are connected with people who are members of their tribe. For example, if a Frenchman is in the United States, he will feel more at ease if he can find for himself other French people that he can associate with. In this application of tribalism, the goal of the tribe is not to denigrate or isolate others. Rather, it is a healthy way of allowing people to feel connected to their own identity.
concerned about the pain that there is to animals that are not intelligent creatures, all the more so with people…”
This human tendency towards tribalism will create discomfort if one is isolated from the tribe. Therefore, if you find yourself in an unfamiliar environment, you might experience what is known as acculturation stress. Acculturation stress refers to the mental and emotional challenges of adapting to a new culture. When the change is acute, such as when one relocates to a different country, then the stress would similarly be severe. However, acculturation stress can occur even when the change is relatively small, such as when one starts a new job.
Sometimes, a new workplace can be similar to emigrating to another country. The culture of that specific group might be foreign, and the individuals who work there may not be his or her type. Since people spend most of their waking hours at work, isolation from one’s tribe at work may be a formidable challenge.
A fascinating application of this concept is found in the Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah 550). The Torah prohibits hitching up animals of different species to one plow. In his explanation of this Mitzvah, he derives a source for not grouping together people who are not similar to each other. He writes, “It is known that for species of animals and birds, there is great anguish in dwelling with those that are not its species and, all the more so, to do work with them. It is as we see with our eyes with undomesticated species that every bird dwells with its species, and all animals and other species also always cling to their own species. Any wise-hearted person will learn a lesson from this to never put together two people whose natures are different from one another and different in their behavior in any matter… If the Torah was so
One of the ways that one may reduce the stress of a culture clash is by maintaining rich and meaningful relationships with members of his or her tribe outside of the workplace. This will help relieve the feelings of isolation that are so common when one is in a new situation that limits one’s interaction with their own group.
Whenever one is placed in a new situation, there will inevitably be a certain amount of stress as one figures out how to restructure one’s life in order to meet this new environment. As time goes by, strategies to adapt and cope will present themselves. Chazal said it the best when they exclaimed that, “All beginnings are difficult!” (Mechilta de Rabbi Yishmael, cited by Rashi, Yisro 19:5)
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 contacted at 410-448-8356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp.org
School of Thought
By Etti Siegel
Q:Dear Etti, The school suggested that my child has executive functioning issues. The way they describe it, I might have the same issues!
What is executive function?
Can you offer ideas to help my child (and me) improve his executive functioning skills.
I need ideas for summer break when I can spend time with him and help improve his skills.
Thanks,
- Tzafloigen
A:Dear Tzafloigen, Summer is a wonderful time to help (you and) your child strengthen their executive functioning skills, especially because the pressure of school is off and you have the freedom to slow down and work together.
Executive functioning refers to the brain’s ability to manage tasks like planning, staying organized, managing time, controlling impulses, and regulating emotions. These are skills that some kids pick up naturally, but many need explicit practice, and you can give them that practice through your day-to-day summer activities.
One of the most helpful things you can do is to create a predictable daily routine, which is even more helpful when you include your child in the planning. Instead of telling your child what the day will look like, sit down together after breakfast and say, “Let’s decide what we want to get done today.” For example, you might say, “We need to go to the library and make lunch. What else do you want to do?” Then you can work together to figure out when and how those things will happen.
If your child goes to day camp, plan the late afternoon and evenings, and of course, Shabbos and Sunday.
This builds your child’s ability to plan ahead, estimate time, and feel a sense of control. If your child enjoys visual tools, you can write the day’s plan on a whiteboard or use sticky notes so they can see what’s coming next and cross things off as they go.
Games are another excellent way to practice executive functioning without it feeling like work. If your child has trouble with working memory or cognitive flexibility, try playing games like “Uno,” “Simon Says,” or even “20 Questions.” These types of games require children to remember rules, shift their thinking, and respond to changing situations. For older kids, strategy games like checkers, chess, or logic puzzles also help. Some electronic games, like Bop It, Simon, and the electronic Pop-It games, require intense focus and sequencing. Even video games, when used in
moderation and with a specific goal, can provide opportunities for planning, perseverance, and attention. (The games should be recommended by educators and occupational therapists so they are not mindless, which would defeat the whole purpose of allowing the limited screen time.)
Real-life activities also offer countless chances to build executive functioning. For instance, you can involve your child in planning a family trip or outing. Start by asking, “What do we need to bring?” and let them make a list. Then ask, “What order should we do things in to get ready?” If the trip is on Sunday, they may realize they need to buy food on Friday and pack the cooler on Sunday morning. These are the exact kinds of thinking steps that kids with executive functioning challenges often skip over, but when they do them with your guidance, they build real-world skills.
Games are another excellent way to practice executive functioning without it feeling like work.
fully calm down, they’re learning to recognize and respond to their feelings in a healthy way.
One especially empowering thing to try is setting a summer goal together. Let your child pick something they care about, maybe learning to ride a bike, baking three different desserts, writing a comic book, or reading five chapter books. Then work with them to break the goal into manageable steps. If the goal is baking, the first step might be choosing recipes, followed by shopping for ingredients, then trying one together. You can even make a poster or progress tracker and celebrate each little milestone. This helps your child learn how to stay focused on a bigger goal, even when it takes time and effort.
Warning: children who struggle might just want to give up the goal midway because it seems too hard or taking too long.
If your child struggles with starting tasks or sticking with them, you can support them by breaking things into small steps and giving them reminders in a helpful way. For example, if cleaning their room feels overwhelming, you can say, “First let’s just pick up the dirty clothes. That’s it for now.” Once that’s done, you can move on to the books or the toys. You might even use a kitchen timer to make it into a challenge: “Let’s see how much of the bookshelf we can organize in five minutes.”
Emotional regulation is also part of executive functioning, and summer is a great time to help your child learn more about their emotions and how to manage them. Go for a walk together in the evening and talk about what felt hard that day. You can say, “I noticed you were getting frustrated when your Lego tower kept falling. What helped you calm down?” You might create a calm-down space at home with drawing supplies, a soft pillow, or a favorite book. When your child uses that space, even if they don’t
Since that is a reality, throughout the summer, your attitude will matter just as much as the activities. Focus on effort, not just results. Say things like, “You really stuck with that even when it was hard,” or “I saw you take a deep breath when your sister annoyed you – that’s not easy.” These comments help reinforce the skills your child is developing and remind them that progress is what counts.
Summer doesn’t have to be packed with structured programs to be productive. Time spent cooking together, organizing the garage, building a fort, writing a story, or just talking about plans for the day can all strengthen the mental muscles your child needs to thrive.
With your support, patience, and encouragement, your child can head into the new school year feeling more capable, more confident, and better equipped to manage challenges on their own.
Enjoy your summer!
- Etti
Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.
Goldie Tenenbaum, 6
Note:
Malky Bergmann, 6
Yaeli Fakheri, 7
Temima Pheterson, 6
Shlomo Goldberg, 7
Esther O., 5
Tehila Parizad, 6
Temima O., 6
Yaakov M., 6
Simcha V., 7
Yitzy Kravitz, 4
Zorach Yehoshua Leib Levitan, 5
Note:
Gila Raczkowski, 5
Lailah B., 6
Avigail P., 9
Daniella Weinhouse, 4
AC Szendro, 11
Chani Baum, 6
Ariella Dancziger, 8
Rivka Nechama Edelman, 3
Binyamin Katzenstein, 3
Eitan L., 7
Mordechai Edelman, 10
Eliora Mittleman, 5
Michali, 9
Sruli Tuchman, 3 Avinoam, 7
Bracha Parizad, 7
Ahuva Bracha, 4
Ruti Tuchman, 4
Chana Chazan
Nina Korb Safira B., 9
Eitan Willner, 4.5
Leeba P., 9
Naomi Rabenstein, 6
Yossi Kinzbrunner, 7
Micro Peas - The s alad For M ula by d anielle r enov
Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
Serving Size: 2 SaladS
Five Towns. Bagels. If you know, you know. If you don’t, welcome to the club. This dressing is famous where I come from because it goes with everything, is delicious and completely addictive.
IngredIents
• 3 Tbsp (51 g) balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp (17 g) red wine vinegar
• ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise
• 1½ tsp (4.5 g) granulated onion
• 1 tsp (3 g) granulated garlic
• 1½ tsp (9 g) salt
• ¼ tsp (<1 g) pepper
• ½ tsp (<1 g) dried oregano
• ½ cup (108 g) avocado oil
salad 1
• 4 cups romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
• 2 cups arugula
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh broccoli, separated into florets
• Citrus roasted salmon, 4 pieces (see page 60)
• 2 cups pita chips (see page 72)
dIrectIons
Place everything except the oil in a jar or bowl.
Whisk to combine until smooth.
While whisking, slowly stream in oil.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
salad 2
• 8 cups kale, shredded
• 1 cucumber, halved, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1 shallot, halved, thinly sliced
• ½ cup snow peas, thinly sliced on a bias
• 1 ½ cups rotisserie chicken, shredded (see page 62)
Reprinted from Micro Peas - The Salad Formula with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.
