A close friend of mine, someone intelligent, cautious, and financially literate, recently confided in me about a scam he fell into. It wasn’t a suspicious email or a request to wire money overseas. It was something far more subtle and far more dangerous. It started with a WhatsApp group that felt perfectly legitimate: stock tips, market chatter, a frum, friendly tone. The moderator posed as an experienced investor, sharing thoughtful commentary and responding to questions. There were no red flags, no requests for money – just ideas and opportunities.
Eventually, the “advisor” dropped a stock suggestion. No pressure, just a confident recommendation that this was a “strong play.” My friend bought in. The stock climbed quickly, and within days he was up 28%. The group celebrated. Trust soared. That’s when the second recommendation came – this time with urgency. The window was tight. The stock was “about to take off.” Riding the high of his first return, my friend reinvested a considerable amount of money he and his wife had been saving for some time. But this time, the stock crashed. Shortly thereafter the WhatsApp group vanished. What he had experienced was a textbook pump and dump: the scammer bought shares in a thinly traded stock, hyped it through the group, sold at the peak, and left everyone else holding the loss.
He wasn’t alone. My friend later discovered others in our community and beyond – newlyweds, retirees, working professionals – had fallen for the same scheme. Some lost wedding money. Others lost their
life savings. One even lost his home. What made the scam so effective wasn’t just the tactic, it was the familiarity. The scammer used our language and sounded like someone you’d daven next to in shul. And that’s what made the betrayal feel so personal. These scams don’t just take money, they isolate. Victims often feel too embarrassed to speak up, and that silence allows the cycle to continue. We have to change that. If you’re part of an investment group, take a step back and ask the hard questions: Is anyone promising “can’t-miss” returns? Are you being rushed to act? Does the advisor have credentials, or just charisma? Would you trust this person with your checkbook in real life? Most importantly: if it feels off, pause. Ask. Wait. No legitimate investment opportunity is built on secrecy, pressure, or urgency. And no return, no matter how shiny, is worth your peace of mind.
If you’ve been scammed, please know: it doesn’t mean you’re foolish – it means you’re human. The best thing you can do is speak up. Your story might protect the next person. Let’s look out for each other. Let’s keep our eyes open, and our wallets safe. Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos, Aaron M. Friedman
If you or someone you know has experienced a financial scam and would like to share your story, or if you have ideas to help educate and protect our community, please email: media@baltimorejewishhome.com.
Send us your: community events, articles & photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!
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Around the Community
JEWELS Pickleball Event
The first annual JEWELS Open took place this past Sunday at Bounce Pickleball. A great crowd turned out to watch 48 talented players play for the title and to support the amazing children of JEWELS. Fans and players were treated to delicious food and drink, and a great time was had by all. It was a spectacular evening for a great cause. Congrats to the JEWELS Open 2025 Champion team of Vadim and Binyomin Bakaev, the father and son dynamic duo. Thank you to Amiel Chiceportiche, Aryeh Gross, Chemi Lefkovitz, Ari Litzman, and Rabbi Ephraim Skolnik. This talented and dedicated team worked tirelessly to make this the epic event it was.
Mesivta Shaarei Chaim Shechts A Lamb
In a memorable and informative experience, bochurim at Mesivta Shaarei Chaim had the opportunity to witness a Shechita and Nikkur as part of the Mesivta’s summer program led by Rabbi Zecharya Michelsohn and Rabbi Naftali Skaist.
Rabbi Shimshi Lebovitz, who had learned Hilchos Shechita with the 10th graders for the past several weeks, organized the event. The Shechita itself was carried out by shochet Rabbi Nosson Moore, while Rav Moshe Heinemann offered a comprehensive and hands-on presentation, spending over 90 minutes guiding the boys through the intricacies of the process and performing the Nikkur. The Shechita and Nikkur were graciously hosted by parents Mr. and Mrs. Saadya Cohen.
The program didn’t end there. On Thursday, the bochurim joined Shlomo Moinzadeh of Shlomo’s Butcher Shop for an up-close and hands-on demonstration of Melicha—the salting of meat. Finally, the bochurim got to
enjoy the tasty results of their experience in a lively barbecue and kumzitz, hosted by parents Mr. and Mrs. Reuven Schnitzer, with inspiring words from Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Rayman and live music from Rabbi Skaist.
Around the Community
Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok Torah Institute Of Baltimore Celebrates 8th Grade Mesibas Preida
The Cheder proudly celebrated its 8th grade Mesibas Preida this past week, honoring the accomplishments of its Talmidim. Held in the Cheder’s gym, the largest graduation event in their history with 88 Talmidim, brought together parents, grandparents, and staff to witness a milestone in the Talmidim’s growth in Torah.
The proud parents and grandparents beamed with nachas as they were welcomed with an inspiring program and a delicious buffet put together with the generous help of the PTA. This included Divrei Chizuk from the Menahel Rav Shimon Hirsch and President Rav Hillel Tendler emphasizing growth, responsibility, and the next stage of learning.
Following Divrei Torah from representatives of each of the three Shiurim, a beautiful 10 minute video was played which showed pictures of the boys over their years in the Cheder, as well as Divrei Bracha from
By: BJLife Newsroom
the three Sgan Menahlim. After the graduates received Sefarim from the Hanhala as a memento to their time in Torah Institute, he Talmidim, fathers, grandfathers, Rebbeim, Hanhala and staff all joined in dancing to celebrate this special occasion.
The Cheder continues its mission to inspire young Bnei Torah, and this Mesibas Preida marked another step in shaping the next generation of Torah leaders.
Mazel Tov TA 12th Grade And 8th Grade On Their Graduations!
Lunch & Learn With Rabbi Shimon Hirsch
By: BJLife Newsroom
Community members are gathered for a special Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Shimon Hirsch, Menahel of Torah Institute, taking place at the Commerce Center and generously sponsored by the Knish Shop.
Around the Community
JCSL By MDSC – Week 6 Recap: Doubleheaders Deliver Drama As Playoff Race Tightens
Week 6 of the JCSL by MDSC brought a full slate of doubleheader action, with all nine teams taking the field in what proved to be a pivotal week in the 2025 season. With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the standings remain incredibly tight—every team is still mathematically in contention for a coveted spot in the RenoSafe Homes Postseason and the chance to hoist the Premier Financial Trophy.
Team WinsLosses
YL Waitering52
The Friendship Circle 42
GB Homes4 3
Donny Ankri
Architects 33
Lazar Real Estate 33
Web Interactive Technologies 33
Ambush Law24
Clothier24
Orshan Legal Group 24
Game Highlights
Web Interactive Technologies 14, Ambush Law 5
Web Interactive Technologies (WIT) delivered a strong performance to stay in the playoff hunt, bouncing back with a statement win over Ambush Law. The offense came alive early, with key hits including a bloop RBI single from Shulie Hochman in the first inning and a leadoff triple from Aron “The Peacemaker” Meister in the third. WIT put up four runs in that frame, highlighted by RBI hits from Mitch Gross, Meir “The Right is” Preis, and Shalom “Pastrami and Cole Slaw on” Ryback.
Meister also made his season debut on the mound and impressed immediately, holding Ambush Law hitless through the first two innings. Despite a brief Ambush Law rally, sparked by a bases-clearing double, WIT responded with six more runs in
the fifth, led by Lefky Lefkovitz and Chaim “The Three-Horned MoleRat” Mandelbaum.
The defensive play of the game came in the fifth, as Gross fielded a sharp line drive and relayed to Hochman, who fired a one-hopper home that catcher (and Player/Owner) Navid Raoofian scooped beautifully to end the threat. Navid also stood out behind the plate with five caught foul balls.
This complete team effort, anchored by Meister’s dominant pitching and Navid’s defense, secured a crucial 14–5 win for WIT.
YL Waitering 13, Clothier 2
YL Waitering continued their impressive season with a commanding 13–2 win over Clothier. The team jumped out to an early lead, with four of their first five batters registering extra-base hits in the opening frame.
Yaakov “Altuve” Furman led the offensive charge with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate. Mordechai Schiermeyer contributed both with his glove and bat, making several standout plays in the field and adding an RBI.
Pitcher Yanky Goldsmith was dominant, working several quick three-pitch innings while also helping his cause with two hits. On defense, Mendy Rauh “Rauh, Rauh your Boat” played a key role with rock-solid play at first base.
Avi Friedman delivered a clutch 2-RBI double, and Yoni Levin added an RBI single. Sol Kuhnreich had a standout two-way game, collecting two hits and making acrobatic defensive stops. Chaim Glazer and Yehuda Rosen added timely hits to keep the pressure on throughout the game.
This all-around performance cements YL Waitering’s status as a top contender heading into the final weeks of regular season play.
Donny Ankri Architects 12, Lazar Real Estate 10
In one of the most thrilling matchups of Week 6, Donny Ankri
Architects (DAA) edged out Lazar Real Estate (LRE) in a seesaw battle on a sweltering afternoon.
LRE struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but DAA responded quickly, with clutch hits from Josh Zaslow and Jason “What a” Mann evening the score. Lazar regained momentum with a four-run second inning, but DAA answered with a six-run explosion of their own—highlighted by a key hit from Moshe Majeski—to take an 8–6 lead.
DAA added three critical insurance runs in the sixth inning to widen the gap. Lazar made a valiant comeback attempt in the seventh, scoring three runs and loading the bases with one out. But pitcher Yair Moinzadeh held firm under pressure, inducing two soft popups to seal the 12–10 win for DAA.
This hard-fought victory keeps DAA firmly in the playoff mix with just two weeks to go.
Looking Ahead
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the 2025 JCSL by MDSC season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Every game now carries postseason implications, and fans can expect even more excitement as teams battle for their place in the RenoSafe Homes Playoffs.
Stay tuned for more updates, recaps, and playoff projections as the race to the Premier Financial Trophy heats up.
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The World is Singing... Discover What It’s Telling You
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Beloved author Rabbi David Sutton, known for his bestselling daily readers, now brings us a powerful new perspective on Perek Shirah. In this inspiring work, his brief yet profound insights help us not only appreciate the wonders of Hashem’s world — but also uncover the greatness within ourselves. INCLUDES THE FULL TEXT OF
From all over the world, Jews flock to the small Israeli town of Nahariya, seeking blessings, guidance, or simply to bask in the holy glow of the great Torah scholar and famed Kabbalist, Rabbi David Chai Abuchatzeira. In this book, the rav draws upon countless Torah sources to offer a deep and transformative understanding of how to access the infinite power of emunah and bitachon — and how to make them a living, breathing part of your everyday life.
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Around the Community
Week 5 Of Charm City Ballers Sponsored By Advanced Security Featured Several Outstanding Individual Performances As Well As Two Of The Biggest Shots In League History... In The Same Game!
Fired Up Promotions 48 Platinum Insurance Group 31
Fired
Up Rides Hot Start To Win
Zev Namrow scored 21 points as Fired Up Promotions ran out to a double digit lead midway through the first half and kept the pedal down from there, moving to 3-0 with a 48-31 victory over Platinum Insurance. Fired Up dominated the boards, with a 4226 rebounding advantage, and shared the ball well with 11 total assists.
Platinum Insurance struggled to score most of the game, shooting under 25% from the field and 13% from 3. Noach Schwartz led the way for Platinum with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Mordi Spero had 8 points and 8 boards and Yoni Gugenheim added 7 & 7. Platinum dropped to 0-4 with the loss, and will look to get back on track next week against M&S Enterprise.
Fired Up also got major contributions from Chesky Lewin, with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Avromi Gartenhaus who finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, and a game high 5 assists. Fired Up heads into next week’s powerhouse matchup against Councilman Schleifer with both teams having started the season 3-0.
M&S Enterprise 56 Advanced Security 54, OT
Game of the Year Ends On Yudkowsky Buzzer Beater
In the moment it felt like nothing could top Yisroel Luchansky’s game tying circus 3 with 3 seconds left in regulation that sent the game to overtime. But just a few short minutes later Avi Yudkowsky sent his squad into a frenzied celebration after his floater from the left elbow over 3 defenders beat the buzzer and pulled out a crucial overtime win for M&S Enterprise.
Yudkowsky scored 17 of his 26 points in the final 11 minutes of regulation and overtime, as a game that had looked very ugly early on turned into a classic back and forth battle. Advanced
Security led 13-3 at the midway point of the first half, with M&S unable to put points on the board for a long stretch. M&S then flipped the script with an 11-0 run that extended into an 18-2 run going into halftime, where they held a 6 point lead. The second half was a completely different story, with the teams trading buckets and the lead.
M&S led for the final few minutes of regulation, with a pair of Yudkowsky free throws with 8 seconds remaining looking like nails in the coffin for Advanced. But following a timeout Luchansky, expecting a quick foul, elevated and took an off balance one handed 3 that banked in. M&S avoided fouling him, but they were unable to get off a shot in the final seconds and the game went to OT.
Overtime was another close stretch, as both teams held leads but neither led by more than 2. Sub Ben Steele hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to tie the game for M&S, and an Advanced miss set up the dramatic final shot.
Yudkowsky added 14 rebounds and 3 assists to his scoring and heroics, while Howie Friedman and Mike Khoshkeraman each added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Khoshkeraman also had multiple steals and was a part of a strong defensive effort from his squad, while Howie Friedman added 4 assists in the win. M&S moves to 2-1 with the victory.
Advanced was led by a strong performance from Yisroel Luchansky, who overcame dogged defense from Steele and Avi Goldstein to finish with game highs in points (27), rebounds (17), and assists (5), with what would have been the shot of the
game in just about any other scenario. Avraham Frost had 12 points while Yaakov Rosenblum added 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Advanced drops to 1-2 with the loss.
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Around the Community
Bas Melech Gymnasts Soar Again! This Time in Lakewood!
After making waves in Miami, Baltimore’s Bas Melech Gymnastics Team traveled to Lakewood, NJ, for the Empower Summer Stars Meet this past Sunday. And, once again, left their mark!
Weeks of dedicated training, extra practice hours, and countless runthroughs paid off as the team secured placements across every category: beam, floor, bars, and all-around.
Beyond the medals, the weekend was filled with energy, teamwork, and genuine support for one another. The girls encouraged each other through nerves and celebrated each win, big or small!
BAS MELECH TEAM SECURES SECOND PLACE TEAM AWARD!
Even though it was the very first meet for many of the Bas Melech gymnasts, the team delivered an outstanding performance in both Level 3 and Level 4, bringing home great scores, plenty of medals, and a 2nd place as a team out of the seven competing gyms!
Here’s a look at the individual medals our team brought home:
LEVEL 3
Junior Division 1:
Beam: 2nd Place
Floor: 2nd and 10th Place
Bars: 10th Place
All Around: 10th Place
Junior Division 2:
Beam: 1st and 10th Place
Amilestone moment was marked for Northwest Baltimore with the ribbon cutting of the newly revitalized Reisterstown Road Plaza. Led by owners Aaron Loeb and Yanky Schorr, the celebration brought together community leaders, business owners, and longtime residents to honor the past and look ahead to a bright future.
State Senator Dalya Attar and City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer were
Floor: 2nd, 5th, and 10th Place
Bars: 7th and 9th Place
All Around: 4th, 10th, and 11th Place
Senior Division 1:
Bars: 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 10th Place
Beam: 2nd, 6th, 9th, and 10th Place
Floor:1st, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Place
All Around: 4th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Place
Senior Division 2:
Beam: 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Place
Floor: 1st, 4th, and 9th Place
Bars: 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 9th Place
All Around:1st, 5th, 7th, and 8th Place
LEVEL 4
Senior Division 1:
Bars: 4th and 5th Place
Beam: 5th and 10th Place
Floor: 3rd and 6th Place
All Around: 2nd and 6th Place
Congratulations to the entire team on winning second place for all-around:
Racheli Abramson
Tzipporah Barber
Elisheva Berkowitz
Talia Berman
Lea Bregin
Leah Don
Ariella Erez
Tova Feld
Ahuva Goldberg
Shira Devorah Goldberg
Ashira Hirsh
Atara Levine
Batsheva Priluck
Baila Tova Rosen
Yehudis Rosen
Sima Schuchman
Tiby Silberstein
Chaya Tron
With another impressive meeting behind them, the team is already aiming higher, pushing boundaries, building momentum, and preparing for what’s next.
The Jewish gymnastics world should take note: Bas Melech is just getting started!
A special thank you goes to Coach Mauri Ruiz and Tzipy Goldberg for accompanying the girls to the competition and their steady guidance throughout the season, ensuring every gymnast felt prepared and ready to soar.
To learn more about the Jewish Gymnastics League or other Bas Melech classes, please contact basmelech. org or call 410-358-5241.
among the speakers at the event. Both officials shared personal memories of the plaza, echoing a common sentiment among those in attendance — that this space once held a central role in the community and still carries deep emotional significance.
“This plaza was where we all came growing up — it was alive with energy,” said Senator Attar. “To see it coming back to life, with local leadership behind it, is incredibly meaningful.”
From the elected officials to longtime residents, the message was clear: the Reisterstown Road Plaza holds a special place in the hearts of many,
and its revitalization marks not just a physical transformation, but a renewal of community spirit.
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Greater Washington: Around the Community
Maryland Softball Competition (MDSC) Delivers
An Unforgettable Day Of Sportsmanship, Family Fun, And Community Spirit
The Maryland Softball Competition (MDSC) once again hit it out of the park this past Sunday, bringing together more than 150 players for an action-packed day that combined high-level softball, family-friendly entertainment, and meaningful community impact. The tournament served as a fundraiser for the Yeshiva of Greater Washington’s Scholarship Fund, turning every swing of the bat into vital support for a great cause.
Teams and families traveled from near and far — Silver Spring, Baltimore, Lakewood, New York, Los Angeles, and Columbus, Ohio — all eager to be part of this special day. From the crack of the first bat at sunrise to the final out at Ripken Stadium, the energy was electric.
The morning games set the stage, with Tier 2 teams kicking off at 8:15 AM at Northwest Regional Park, and Tier 1 teams taking the field at 8:30 AM at Reisterstown Regional Park. These early matchups determined who would earn a spot in the playoffs and championship rounds later in the day.
Players fueled up on a fantastic breakfast courtesy of Yakov Simanowitz and his team at Y Events and Catering. The spread — smoothies, wake-up wraps, acai bowls, yogurt parfaits, and fresh fruit cups — powered the athletes through intense, spirited competition.
By afternoon, the action shifted to Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Tier 1 saw fierce battles as JP Warehousing, Evergreen Benefits Group, Town Appliance (The Boiz), and Sky Plumbing/ PMF Capital advanced. In Tier 2, NIV Advisors, Apex Electrical Group, Actual Eyes, and Fired Up Promotions/ Rapid Solutions fought for glory.
The playoffs and championships did not disappoint. NIV Advisors captured their second Tier 2 title, while Evergreen Benefits Group claimed their third Tier 1 championship in a thrilling showdown against Town Appliance that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
In addition to the tournament, players had the opportunity to relax in
the players’ lounge, receive massages from professional therapists, and savor a delicious menu. Families enjoyed a full lineup of activities — including a bubble show, magic show, exotic reptile show, and face painting in the family lounge — while the Ripken Kids Zone’s inflatables kept younger fans active and smiling. Throughout the day, Mosi, Betzalel, and the Yaffa Catering team kept everyone satisfied with a mouthwatering BBQ feast that perfectly complemented the festive atmosphere.
The MDSC vibe was unmatched — competitive yet friendly, intense yet joyful. The weather held out, and the sense of community shone just as brightly as the sun.
A huge thanks goes to commissioners Dovi Ziffer, Jeremy Lasson, and Shami Whitman for their tireless leadership, as well as Chesky Saur and
Bini Levi for assembling the Lakewood team. Gratitude extends to our sponsors, including AARP Maryland, Actual Eyes, AMF Creative, Apex Electrical Group, Baltimore Jewish Life, BJH, Catering by Yaffa, Drain Masters, East Insurance Group, Evergreen Benefits Group, Fired Up Promotions, Graber & Associates, Israel Bonds, JP Warehousing, Knish Shop, Lazar Construction, Montcare, NIV Advisors, PMF Capital, Premier Financial, Rapid Building Solutions, Silver Spring Medical Center, Sky Plumbing, Town Appliance and Wohl and Trail Periodontics.
Special thanks to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington’s Development Team — Rabbi Yitzchok Merkin, Rabbi Yitzchak Labell, Rabbi Simmy Merkin, and Mrs. Adina Adise — for their vision and dedication, and to the many volunteers who made the day possible. Finally, a big shoutout goes to both
Shlomo Kugler with his Benchmark Commercials team for capturing the magic on video, and to photographer Josh Finkelstein for preserving the memories through his lens.
The MDSC continues to grow each year, uniting communities through sports, fun, and shared values — and leaving a lasting impact far beyond the ballfield.
Board with what’s being served?
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Greater Washington: Around the Community
Camp Shomrai Launches Summer Season With
Energy, Excitement, And Enrichment
Camp Shomrai has kicked off its summer with full force, welcoming campers across four vibrant divisions and an action-packed schedule. With enthusiastic leadership and a dedicated staff, this season promises to be filled with growth, joy, and unforgettable experiences.
At the helm of Camp Shomrai is Director Mrs. Dollman, who oversees and guides each division with care and expertise. Her vision and leadership ensure that every camper receives a meaningful, safe, and engaging summer experience.
The camp is organized into four divisions, each designed to meet the unique needs of its campers. The preschool division is led by the ever-energetic Mrs. Yocheved Lichtenstein, who brings warmth and creativity to the youngest campers. The boys’ division is guided by the experienced team of Rabbi Herzberg, Rabbi Florans, and the newest addition, Rabbi Moshe Rosen-
stein. The girls’ division is under the direction of Mrs. Leigh, whose leadership brings excitement and structure to each day. The teen division, led by Rabbi Kasierer, offers a dynamic and mature program tailored for older campers.
Campers are welcomed daily by incredible counselors whose positive energy and enthusiasm are the heart of the camp. Under their guidance, campers enjoy a rich blend of learning programs, engaging trips, and a wide variety of recreational activities.
Excursions so far have included thrilling visits to Six Flags, LOL Station, and ice skating rinks, along with many unique in-camp events. Children return home each day filled with excitement and eager anticipation for the next day’s adventures.
A highlight of the daily schedule is swimming at the Parkland Pool, a favorite among campers of all ages. In addition, each division enjoys
special opportunities such as football and basketball clinics, food art, and arts and crafts, offering something for every interest.
This summer’s theme for the girls’ division—“Socks and Footwear”— adds a fun and quirky twist to the daily programming, encouraging creativity and laughter. Meanwhile, the boys’ division enjoys “Surprise
Specials,” a rotating lineup of unexpected treats and activities that keeps the excitement going strong.
With so much happening already and even more in store, Camp Shomrai is truly off to an unforgettable start. The ruach is high, the smiles are wide, and the memories being made are sure to last a lifetime.
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
For edits or additions email ads@baltimorejewishhome.com
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 Spring Jewish CenterSpring/Summer
9:45 pm Ohr Hatorah M-Th
10:00 pm YGW S-Th
shacharis
The Week In News
The Week In News
Give Peace a Chance
The new Global Peace Index (GPI) report that ranks countries based on their “level of peacefulness” placed Russia as the least-peaceful country in the world. On the other hand, if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, Iceland has been hailed as the “most peaceful country” in the world. The United States, though, didn’t earn such high marks.
The 19th edition of the report from
the Australia-based Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP) looked at 163 independent states and territories using 23 indicators to measure the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and the degree of militarization.
Of the 163 countries ranked, 74 improved their placement while 87 slid from last year’s ranking. The GPI found an average deterioration of peacefulness of about .36 percent, marking the sixth year in a row that overall peacefulness declined.
The GPI report noted that there are currently 59 active state-based conflicts, “the most since the end of WWII and three more than the prior year.”
The 2025 GPI found that “global peacefulness continues to decline and that many of the leading factors that precede major conflicts are higher than they have been since the end of WWII. More countries are increasing their levels of militarization against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, increasing conflict, the breakup of traditional alliances and rising economic uncertainty.”
But countries in the top ten, generally haven’t seen much change. Iceland
nabbed the top slot on the list followed by Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland. Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland rounded out the top ten.
The biggest move at the top saw Canada tumbling out of the top 10 into the 14th slot, sharing the spot with the Netherlands, which had landed there last year as well.
The United States ranked 128th, just ahead of Ecuador, Brazil and Libya, but behind Bangladesh, South Africa, Honduras, Togo, and Kenya.
Israel placed 155th, just ahead of South Sudan, Syria, and Afghanistan. Both the U.S. and Israel ranked last for the GPI “Militarization domain,” which appears to have a significant weighting, while Russia and Ukraine ranked last in the “Ongoing Conflict domain.”
Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan ranked last for the “Safety and Security domain.”
The “Palestinian Territory” was ranked 145, ahead of Turkey, Iraq and Nigeria and behind Colombia, Haiti, Iran, Niger and Pakistan.
How Hackers Attacked Iran
During Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, an anonymous pro-Israel hacking group called Predatory Sparrow seriously hit two Iranian financial organizations in a series of cyberattacks aimed at targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “financial lifelines.”
The group recently claimed responsibility for an attack on Bank Sepah, an Iranian state-owned bank which is used by the country’s military. Predatory Sparrow said it shut down the bank’s online services and cash machines.
The hackers also targeted the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in Iran, Nobitex, which Iranians often use to trans-
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fer money overseas. Predatory Sparrow took around $100 million in funds from the exchange, forcing its shutdown. The group then destroyed the funds.
Before the attacks, the hacking group warned the “noble people of Iran” on X to “withdraw your funds before it is too late.” It is unclear whether the group works for the Israeli government, though experts suggest that Israel helped with the cyberattacks.
During the war, Iran restricted Internet use to prevent opposition and more cyberattacks.
Nobitex and Bank Sepah are still impacted by the attacks, with services disrupted.
Though a ceasefire was reached last Tuesday, the cyberattacks are expected to continue on both sides. Iranian hackers have struck Israeli government websites with DDoS attacks, wherein the hackers bombard the sites with more traffic than the servers could handle, thus causing temporary shutdowns. Iranian hackers have also been recently targeting Israelis with phishing scams.
Iran Targets Local Jews
Following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, authorities have targeted local Jews in Tehran and Shiraz, summoning 35 or more for interrogation, according to the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA). Most of those questioned reportedly have family in Israel and have been ordered not to communicate with them or anyone outside of Iran for now. The number of Jews called in for interrogations was “unprecedented,” causing concerns for the community’s “psychological and social well-being,” according to an anonymous Iranian Jew.
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There are around 8,000 to 10,000 Jews living in Iran, which, other than Israel, hosts the largest Jewish community in the Middle East.
An Iranian Jewish woman who goes by the name Miriam told Channel 12, an Israeli news outlet, that she saw authorities detain six Jewish women and four Jewish men one morning at 1:30 a.m., with armed Iranian officials “jump[ing] … over the wall” of her community’s courtyard, seizing residents’ phones, and arresting 10 Jews, “loading them like sheep into the car.” According to the woman, the six women were later freed on bail.
According to Femme Azadi, a French-Iranian women’s rights group, authorities in Tehran and Shiraz have accused Jewish religious leaders of being affiliated with Israel. Officials detained several members of one particular family and seized their electronics, according to Ynet news. The outlet added that the men, including one rabbi, have yet to be released.
Since the war between Israel and Iran started on June 13, Iranian officials have detained over 700 individuals they suspect of having connections to Israel. They also executed three or more suspected “traitors.”
According to reports, the Iranian Jewish community has hosted an event to affirm its allegiance to Iran and dispel the notion that they are spies or traitors.
China Brainwashing Tibetan Youth
In an effort to erode the cultural and religious values of the Tibetan minority group, the Chinese government has now ramped up its two-decade-long campaign to educate Tibetan children in line with the Communist Party’s ideology.
China is putting children, some as young as four, into boarding schools, where they are taught Mandarin instead of Tibetan, thus hindering their ability to communicate with family members, most
of whom exclusively speak Tibetan. The programs also attempt to instill a love and appreciation for Chinese culture and communism. Signs on campus say, “I am a Chinese child, I love speaking Mandarin,” and children are told by teachers that their clothes and shoes, for example, were given to them by the Communist Party.
After preschool, children enroll in a boarding school from first to sixth grade, where they stay away from their families for weeks or months straight.
This program is in line with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s belief that the Communist doctrine needs to be instilled in children “so that the red gene seeps into their blood and permeates their hearts.” Children learn patriotic rhymes and communist stories and hear lies about the history of Tibet.
According to the rights group Tibet Action Institute, there are over 800,000 boarding school students — or three-quarters of all Tibetan school-age children — in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and parts of four close-by provinces. For their 1,400-year history, Tibetans have long rejected Chinese culture. The leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama, is currently exiled in India.
Communist forces invaded Tibet in 1950. Under the leadership of then-Chairman Mao Zedong, the Chinese government squashed a Tibetan uprising in 1959, after which the Dalai Lama escaped.
Previously, schools in Tibetan areas taught both Tibetan and Mandarin, and children were permitted to study in monasteries and independent schools run by monks. Xi, however, has crusaded against Tibetan culture, urging Tibetans to exclusively adopt a Chinese identity.
One former student, a 15-year-old girl who attended a boarding school around seven years ago, described the institution in unpleasant terms. Forced to adhere to a strict academic schedule, children were often hit with sticks and physically punished in other ways.
More Sorrow
On Sunday, Sgt. Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld lost his life fighting in Gaza.
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The 20-year-old was part of the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion and hailed from Ra’anana.
According to an initial IDF probe, Natan was killed by an explosive device during operations in the Kafr Jabalia area.
The 20th soldier to be killed in fighting since the start of the month, Natan moved to Israel from London with his family 11 years ago. He is survived by his parents and three siblings; his sister’s boyfriend was killed fighting terrorists near kibbutz Sufa on October 7.
“He told us a long time ago, ‘I want to be a combat soldier in the army. To do something for our country,’” Natan’s father, Avi, told Ynet.
“When he was assigned to combat engineering, he was so happy. He was in a place that was right for him. He didn’t really like school and we were worried, but in the army he just blossomed.”
He added, “His commanders were really special. They were like family to him. Every time he came home, he had a smile. Not because of the role itself but because
he knew why he was doing it. He knew he was doing it for his parents, his family, his people. I feel he has a place in history. We are very proud of him,” Avi said.
Natan’s death brought Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip to 441. The toll includes two police officers and three Defense Ministry civilian contractors.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged progress in ceasefire talks.
“MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!” Trump wrote on social media early in the morning, after raising expectations on Friday by saying there could be an agreement within the next week.
Aza, and Be’eri will likely be able to come home in 2026. There is no return date for Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was almost completely destroyed during the October 7 massacre and will be rebuilt as part of a plan valued at over NIS 350 million ($95 million).
Though those communities’ 5,000 residents have been barred from returning, 92% of all Gaza border residents came home as of May 2025, according to the Tekuma Directorate.
Israel will stop funding rental accommodations for residents of those seven approved communities. However, residents who cannot return are able to request continued accommodations until June 30, 2026.
Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was set to travel to Washington this week for talks on a ceasefire, an Israeli official said, and plans were being made for Netanyahu to travel there in the coming weeks, a sign
“Thanks to a deep partnership with the communities, the Tekuma Directorate [responsible for rehabilitating the Gaza border area] and local authorities, we were able to shorten schedules, expand budgets, and create an infrastructure that allows not only a return, but growth as well,” said Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who manages the Gaza and Lebanese border rehabilitation effort, adding that the southern border communities would be “restored, developed, and be a symbol of the strength, resilience and resurrection of Israeli society as a whole.”
It is unclear how many residents of the 13 communities intend to return. In May, the Habayta Forum predicted that 30% would not return, while the State Comptroller estimated that 13% would not.
Israel hopes to double the Gaza border population by October 2033.
Of the areas attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 13 border communities were hit the worst. Now, residents from seven of those communities will be allowed to return home, as essential renovations have been completed in Re’im, Nirim, Ein Hashlosha, Sufa, Nir Yitzhak, and Netiv Ha’asara. expect to finish restoring Nahal Oz in August, while residents Kissufim should be able to return in November 2025. Those in Holit, Kfar
Hebron Anti-
Terror Operation
Over the past three months, the Shin Bet detained more than 60 Hamas terrorists in Judea and Samaria, the security agency announced on Sunday.
A senior Shin Bet official called the joint operations with the IDF and police the agency’s “largest and most complex investigation” in the area “in the last decade.” According to the Shin Bet, the operation exposed “significant, complex, and large-scale Hamas infrastructure” in the city of Hebron.
The majority of terrorists detained during the operations were previously jailed in Israel and had “worked to recruit, arm, and train additional Hamas operatives from the area to carry out shooting
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and bombing attacks against Israeli targets.” The terrorists intended to carry out significant attacks on Hamas’s behalf in Israel, including in Judea and Samaria, according to the agency, though thankfully none of the plans came to fruition.
Israeli officials acquired information that brought about more arrests during interrogations with the terrorists, who belonged to 10 linked terror cells. Thanks to the interrogations, authorities arrested those who supplied arms to the terrorists who killed Military Police soldier Cpl. Avraham Fetena in November 2023 at a Route 60 checkpoint, in addition to the terrorists involved in the August 2010 fatal shooting of four Israelis near Hebron.
The Shin Bet also found 22 firearms, 11 grenades, other weapons, and an underground arsenal and hideout.
“The exposure of the infrastructure, which operated covertly while maintaining compartmentalization between the different cells, constitutes a significant thwarting of Hamas’s intentions to carry out a series of major attacks in Israel,” said the Shin Bet official.
The terrorists face serious charges, such as heading a terror organization, at-
tempted murder, and attempted conspiracy to commit murder.
Hamas Founder Killed
Hakem al-Issa was one of the founders of the terrorist group Hamas and helped to plan the October 7 massacre.
On Friday, the terrorist who had served as chief of staff in the “combat and administrative support division” in the group’s military wing was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City.
The IDF said Issa was a “central source of knowledge and one of the last senior Hamas operatives who held high-level positions before October 7 and remained in the Gaza Strip.”
“In the past, Issa led Hamas’s force build-up efforts in the Gaza Strip, was one of the founders of the military wing’s operations division, served as head of the training division, and was a member of Hamas’s general military council,” the IDF said in a statement.
The military added that Issa “played a significant role in planning and executing
the murderous massacre on October 7.”
During the war, including in recent days, “Issa served as head of combat support, advancing terror plans from the air and sea against Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said. “Alongside advancing these plans, Issa worked to rebuild Hamas’s arrays that were damaged during the war.”
Israel has killed a number of other high-ranking Hamas officials since the October 7 attack, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, and Mohammed Sinwar in May
Who’s Proud to Be An American?
According to a Gallup poll conducted from June 2-19, just 41% of adult Americans report being “extremely” proud to be U.S. citizens. Additionally, 17% report being “very” proud of being American, 19% report being “moderately” proud,
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11% say they are “only a little proud,” and 9% say they are not proud at all.
The number of “extremely” or “very” proud Americans decreased by nine percentage points since last year.
Between 2001, shortly after 9/11, and 2004, 90% or more Americans reported being “extremely” or “very” proud of being U.S. citizens. In 2005, that number dropped to 83%. It remained at around that level until 2017, when only 75% said they were “extremely” or “very proud” to be American. Before 2018, less than 10% reported being a little or not at all proud. Since then, American pride has dropped more, with around 20% reporting little to no pride.
Now, only 58% say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American. The drop has mostly been attributed to Democrats, whose American pride hasn’t been this low since 2020, when just 42% were extremely or very proud. In 2025, only 36% of Democrats reported being extremely or very proud, as opposed to 62% a year before, when Joe Biden, a Democrat, was president.
In comparison, this year, 92% of Republicans reported extreme or a lot
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of pride in being American, as opposed to 85% last year. Republican pride only dropped below 90% in 2016 and from 2020 to 2024. Fifty-three percent of independents, on the other hand, reported being very or extremely proud.
The results also show a generational divide, wherein older people are more likely to be proud of being Americans than younger individuals. Fifty-eight percent of millennials (those born from 1980 to 1996) have reported being extremely or very proud of being American, and just 41% of Generation Z adults (those born
after 1996) say they have great pride in being U.S. citizens, in comparison to 71% of Generation X (born 1965 to 1979), 75% of baby boomers (born 1946 to 1964), and 83% of the Silent Generation (born 1928 to 1945).
Boulder Victim Dies
Karen Diamond was wounded in the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado,
on June 1, in which pro-Israel marchers were targeted by an Egyptian man who threw Molotov cocktails at the crowd. This week, Karen died of her wounds
Twenty-nine people had been injured in the attack.
Karen was 82 years old. Now, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who had posed as a gardener and shouted pro-Palestinian slogans during the attack, will be charged with first-degree murder.
“This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends,” Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney, said.
Colorado abolished the death penalty in 2020, so the maximum state
penalty the defendant could face if convicted of Karen’s murder is life in prison. But federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty against Soliman.
Federal officials have already charged Soliman, 45, with a hate crime in the attack, which left the Jewish community in Colorado reeling and called attention to growing antisemitic rhetoric and violence in the United States. He has pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges.
Karen was part of a group of marchers who had been walking down the outdoor pedestrian Pearl Street Mall in Boulder as part of the group Run for Their Lives, which walks in support of Israeli hostages who have been held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. In a social media post, the group called her death “a heavy and heartbreaking moment.”
Soliman had said that he wanted to “kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,” prosecutors said in court papers.
The attacker yelled “Free Palestine” as he hurled two incendiary devices, and investigators said he had brought 16 additional devices to the event.
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Torah Thought Open Your Eyes
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
With the death of Miriam, the miraculous well that traveled with the Children of Israel and provided them abundant and sweet water, suddenly ceased to flow.
The people are stunned and immediately gather and protest to Moshe.
“If only we had perished as our brethren perished before G-d! Why have you brought the congregation of G-d to this wilderness to die there, we and our animals? And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? — not a place of seed, or fig, or grape, or pomegranate; and there is no water to drink?”
Facing the life-threatening loss of water, what significance is there in their bemoaning the paucity of figs, grapes, and pomegranates? Furthermore, there is no evidence they were ever provided with these fruits during their forty-year sojourn. Why bring that up now?
The Maharam Shik, Rav Moshe Shick — illustrious 19th century Hungarian rabbinic figure and prized disciple of the Chasam Sofer, who carried the battle of his beloved teacher against the Neologs who sought to institute religious reform — offers a very creative and profound interpretation of their plaint.
Among the plethora of items that G-d created in this magnificent world there are two categories — necessities, and nonessentials.
Bread and water are essential for survival, delicious fruits are not, and are simply a luxury. These perks were generously created to provide comfort and peace of mind. When we have all our ‘needs’ met, the provision of these extras is not as critically necessary. But in times of scarcity of essential
items having these extras can help us in enduring times of difficulty, maintaining emotional health and balance in not being overwhelmed by the pain of loss.
When they realized that they would now face deprivation of vital water, they not only worried how long they could survive physically in its absence, but they also expressed concern that with the lack of ‘comfort’ foods, they would quickly descend to depression or worse.
It was never about the fruit per se, as evident in G-d’s responding to provide them once again with water alone. Once they had their ‘needs’ met they no longer sought the pain reliever of luxurious food.
The Maharam Shik goes on to assert that if this mechanism was embedded into nature for the benefit of our physical well-being, how much more so must there be a parallel in matters of our spirit — our soul.
There are powerful instincts we possess, such as the quest for healthy joy and mirth that buoys our healthy fulfillment of mitzvos, and the drives for pleasure that prod us to sustain ourselves and promote new life, bringing children into the world. But these urges are extremely dangerous as they can lead to sin as Rabbi Akiva in Pirkei Avos succinctly warns, Merriment and frivolity accustom one to licentiousness. (3 13)
Although these forces that were wired into our being are ‘necessities’ for a world to exist, but there must be an equalizing agent that was created to temper these drives so that we can maintain our spiritual equilibrium and not be overwhelmed by these ‘painful’ forces that too often devour us.
The antidote, he suggests, are the four ‘fences’ Rabbi Akiva goes on to
delineate, that protect us and enable us to healthily equalize these drives.
Tradition is a fence to the Torah; Tithes a fence to wealth; Vows a fence to abstinence; A fence to wisdom is silence.
Our identifying with an unbroken ‘tradition’ of dignified greatness, built upon a foundation of values and goals that distinguish us throughout history as being cut from a very different cloth, empowers us to overcome even the most powerful physical urges.
The quest for wealth and power, that often fuels blind ambition permitting us to selflessly trample upon others, is quelled by engaging in acts of benevolence. ‘Tithing’ our time, energy, and resources, awakens within us the legacy of selflessness we have been bequeathed by our patriarchs.
When we courageously ‘vow’ to refrain from what is most instinctive to us, we arouse our heritage of the ultimate display of true power — self-control — and the exquisite inner joy it evokes within each one of us when we exercise it.
When our impulsive corporeal drives blind our minds from better judgment, thoughtful and deliberate ‘silence’ — a return to mindfulness, quickly douses the fires of passion that would otherwise consume us.
The Sefer, Gan Raveh, suggests that the sudden request for fruits at this juncture was because while the Well of Miriam was extant those who drank from its waters would be cured from illness. The Midrash quotes a particular incident regarding a blind man specifically who drank its waters and began to see. Rabbi Akiva states that a Torah scholar should not inhabit a city that has no fruits because fruits are
enlighten one’s eyes. With the sudden loss of
the curative waters, they thus begged for fruit so that it may fill the void.
Perhaps blindness here refers to our sinking into the darkness of despair when we face seemingly insurmountable challenges. The fruits that enlighten, are the luxuries G-d’s provides, that lift our spirits enabling us to remain positive, as the Maharam Shik taught.
But as the Maharam Shik asserts, it is a double-edged reality, the physical and spiritual worlds mirror each other in possessing this tool for survival.
If we utilize the four fences in warding off the painful and dangerous exposure to our unleashed instincts, then we can merit to partake of the physical fruits that assist us in not sinking in despair.
When Moshe smote the rock, condemning them as rebellious people, the Rambam explains, he was being held accountable for overreacting with anger. He allowed his ‘instinct’ to blind him, rather than taking refuge behind the fences that Rabbi Akiva outlined.
He was thus withheld, measure for measure, from being privileged to partake from the ‘fruits’ of the land, that cure blindness by ‘illuminating’ our eyes.
G-d provided us with these accessible shelters to protect us from the crass world we engage in.
We can find a comfortable distance if we are simply willing to stand behind these mighty fences.
If we succeed, we will all deserve to return to our land and partake from its delicious fruits!
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
OVERVIEW PARSHA
Parshas Chukas discusses the Red Heifer, the laws of the Parah Adumah. In addition, the Parsha discusses laws about a corpse, Miriam and Aharon’s passing, the attack of Amalek, more complaints from the Jewish nation, and various battles that the Jewish nation experienced.
Quotable Quote “ ”
“Our common humanity precedes our religious differences.”
TSorahparks
Parshas Chukas on
Rabbi Lord J. Sacks zt”l
GEMATRIA
The Parah Adumah atoned for the sin of the Golden Calf, as Rashi says: “Let the mother (cow) come and clean after the child (calf).”
Kitzur Baal HaTurim points out that indeed, the numerical value of הרפ המודא is the exact sa me as לע הז תלגע ןוע , which is 341.
QUICK VORT
Every MLB baseball stadium has something called a “Batter’s Eye,” which is a solid dark-colored area beyond the center field wall that serves as a visual backdrop directly in the line of sight of a baseball batter while facing the pitcher. The dark backdrop allows the batter to see the pitched ball against a sharply contrasted and uncluttered background. This provides a safety as well as hitting advantage for the batter.
In a world that is filled with so much impurity and sheker, so much clutter and confusion, we need to position ourselves in front of the Batter’s Eye. For us, as Yidden, that center-focused uncluttered zone is called the Torah!
PARSHA STATS
Pesukim - 87
Words - 1,245
Letters - 4,670
Mitzvos - 3
ThoughtsChassidus in
Rebbe Yisroel Mikoznitz, in the Sefer Avodas Yisroel, says that when the pasuk (19:2) says,
(they should take a cow which is without blemish, and upon which a yoke has not come), we can learn the following: Someone who thinks he already achieved perfection -
that is a sign that
- that he has not properly accepted upon himself the
, the yoke of Heaven!
Did You
Know?!
Did you know that in Parshas Chukas, the Jewish people sing a song — but it’s not Az Yashir or Haazinu — it’s about a well!
“Then Israel sang this song: Rise up, O well — sing to it!” (Bamidbar 21:17)
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. He may be reached at 443-938-0822 or rabbistrumo@gmail.com
Hashem gave us an eternal gift, called the Torah, which is The Word of G-d, a Book that represents and is completely emes, truth. The words הרותה תקח תאז on some level are perhaps teaching us that the Torah is in the realm of תאז , THIS. In a world of sheker, the Torah is something we can connect to; we can point to it and use it as a guide to direct us on a path of emes.
The Torah is our Batter’s Eye, and sitting at the center of our lives, it allows us to focus on our life’s mission and to properly see the pitches of life thrown our way. The clear, unadulterated, and uncluttered Batter’s Eye backdrop (Torah) allows us to keep our eye on the ball and to recognize truth amidst a world filled with so much falsehood.
PointsPonder to
Immediately after the Torah discusses the laws of the Parah Adumah, the Torah mentions the death of Miriam (which actually happened 38 years later!).
Clearly, the Torah wants us to draw a lesson from one to the other.
What is the connection? What does Miriam’s passing have to do with the Parah Adumah?
Scan the QR code to view Torah classes from R’ Ori Strum on Torah Anytime!
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The Hidden Hustle of Camp Directors
What
no one sees behind the scenes of sleepaway camp
By Tifere T Schafler
“Living ten months for two” isn’t just a phrase for summer-loving campers — it’s the year-round reality for camp directors who pour their energy, expertise, and endless hours every day of the year into making eight weeks of magic. From logistics like budgeting, staffing, and campus repairs to the more ideological decisions about policy, culture, and camper experience, directors qui-
etly lay the groundwork for a season that seems to fly by in a blink – but takes months to create.
At 9 AM on the day The Jewish Home spoke to Camp Morasha director Jeremy Joszef, he had already put in a full day’s work.
“I was up at 4:45 AM for a call with the leadership teams of Sulam and Amcha, Morasha’s Israel programs, going over contingency planning for the summer,” he said. “By 6:00 AM, I was in the car, picking up five sifrei Torah from YU for camp, and then made a stop at Home Depot to grab window shades — enough for 50 bunkhouses.”
And once the summer comes, directors’ sleeping
abilities definitely don’t get greater.
“I sleep in my clothes, just in case I get woken up,” said Shonie Schwartz, director of Camp Machaneinu. “There’s no such thing as ‘night’ in camp — midnight often feels like 7 PM, confirming buses for the next day, debriefing with division heads, or holding latenight staff meetings.
“Some nights, my youngest daughter actually falls asleep in the golf cart,” Schwartz added. Even five hours of sleep is considered a win — a common reality for many directors.
Dov Perkal, Director of SHMA camps, said his best method for overseeing everything is simple: “I start my
day at 5:30 AM, and by the end of it, I’ve walked more than 10 miles, through nearly every building and field of campus, checking in on staff and interacting with campers as I go.”
Some camp directors make up to as many as 50 trips up to camp before the summer even begins. And for most, planning for next summer kicks off before the current one even ends.
“By the end of July, I already have next year’s dates, pricing, camper projections, and facility upgrades locked in,” shared Rabbi Eli Brazil, director of Camp Kaylie. Registration often opens while campers are still packing up to go home, and that’s by design. “You need those numbers early,” explained Brazil, “so you know whether you need to recruit more campers or staff, where to recruit, and how to price accordingly.”
The early cash flow also helps avoid borrowing.
“I used to take out loans to cover expenses,” said Perkal, “but why do that? This is a 12-month business. A 12-month operation.”
Even shutting down camp at the end of the summer can take weeks. “Putting all the equipment away, draining the pools, turning off the water supply — these are all behind-the-scenes jobs that take a lot of time,” said Perkal.
Alex Gold, director of Camp Dora Golding, recalled it once taking his team two full days just to mow the entire campus lawn.
By November, Brazil is overseeing facility repairs and starting to plan out next summer’s programming. That includes ordering boxes of swag and activity supplies that arrive months before the season, ready to be unboxed and stored at camp by an on-site caretaker who’s there year-round. Specialty staff are given budgets to submit their wish lists — everything from pizza ovens for culinary programs to resin for art.
“A lot of this stuff is getting ordered from China by January or February,” said Brazil.
January is also when Brazil starts finalizing bunk staff and collecting payments from parents. By February and March, the trips up to camp begin again, with health code inspections already underway.
Few people have the logistics of launching summer camp as fresh in their minds as Shonie Schwartz.
Just two summers ago, she and her husband, Dr. Binyomin Schwartz, opened Camp Machaneinu — an allgirls camp built from the ground up. The couple spent nearly five years searching for the right campus, scouring listings and weighing properties. There were some non-negotiables, like a lake, a pool, a proper commercial kitchen, and cabins that were large enough for married staff, which many secular campuses often don’t necessarily have, Shonie explained. The Schwartzes were exposed to the vast, unknown world of summer camp directing:
brokers, dedicated groups and bulletin boards specifically for finding camp properties; international and national camp organizations, like the American Camp Association; message boards; Jewish and secular camp expos.
“There are tons of resources dedicated to every aspect of the camping world. The camp industry is a massive industry in and of itself,” Schwartz said. Schwartz offers her married staff to come to a 3-day camp convention that features resources, courses and roundtables on every aspect of camp: courses on medical training, managing campers emotions and behaviors, programming ideas.
The Schwartzes make the trek up to camp multiple times a year with a U-Haul, since the camp property is currently rented.
Once they had the grounds, they needed a name.
“It became a full family effort,” she said. “We wanted a name that would reflect our mission — a sense of
“Sending up a tray of Chickies isn’t affection – it’s indulgence, which going to summer camp already is.”
belonging that every camper and staff member could be proud to be part of. Machaneinu means our camp, and that’s exactly what we hoped to create for everyone there.”
Next came advertising and recruiting, which came mostly through a few newspaper ads and some word of mouth. But word spread quickly. Today, Camp Machaneinu draws campers from outside the U.S. and all across the country, from California, Nevada, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Boston and, of course, the tri-state area.
And then came the “smaller” details — choosing camper management software. Interviewing directors, counselors, and upper staff, as well as campers themselves. Creating schedules. Designing programming.
“No one realizes how much you need to start a camp from nothing,” Shonie said. “We had to buy every glue stick. Every pen. Computers, office supplies, printers. Basketballs, soccer balls, baking trays, kayaks. You’re literally starting from zero — not even one paintbrush.”
The camp handbook is another undertaking that takes a considerable amount of time and thought. “I didn’t sleep the night that I wrote it,” Schwartz said. “People think of a handbook as rules — what to pack, dress code, package policies. But really, it’s what makes the camp what you want it to be. You have to think about the values you want to uphold, the tone you want to set; the small rules and policies are what create the overall experience.”
Even the smallest choices have ripple effects: Do you let parents drive their kids up and unpack them? What’s your policy on in-camp birthday parties? On erev Shabbos cholent and kugel deliveries? Private swimming lessons? Laundry? Each of the decisions the Schwartzes have made on these questions reflects a balance — between logistics, values, and the culture they’re trying to build.
When it comes to creating, maintaining or changing policies, camp directors find themselves walking a tightrope — between preserving the nostalgic magic of “good ol’ camp,” while adjusting to the ever-changing expectations of a new generation of campers and parents.
“Campers have changed, because the world has changed,” said Joszef. “People sometimes lament, ‘Camp is so different than it used to be.’ But we can’t expect campers and camp to exist in a bubble; if the world is different, campers are affected by that, and that will require the camp experience to be different to a certain extent. When we’re looking at whether we should change something or keep it the same, we don’t base it on being about what camp once ‘was,’ but rather whether the topic we’re discussing currently either enhances or detracts from the camp experience.”
Joszef cites an example of this: the same year they decided to add air conditioning throughout the camp, something new, they made a pivotal call to change something once “was”: no more gaming devices, iPads,
or entertainment gadgets permitted into camp.
“Even though we used to allow them, we realized it’s impossible to keep camp camp with all of that around,” he said.
Technology and communication are at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to the question of enhancing or detracting from camp. All the camps we spoke to prohibit cell phone usage for campers and counselors alike, with one requiring staff to keep their cell phones on them for emergency purposes; some allowing usage for counselors in specific areas after the campers go to sleep; and one prohibiting the usage of smartphones the entire summer, with only flip phones being allowed to be brought in.
“The adjustment is real — for campers and counselors alike,” said Gold. “Our younger kids often don’t have phones yet, but older ones do, and it takes them time to disconnect. And it’s not just the campers. Parents are used to constant contact — texting, tracking, checking in. Not being able to do that is a big change for them, too. So we allow three emails a week from home and a weekly phone call,” Gold said. “We want to give parents peace of mind but without pulling kids out of the camp atmosphere.”
On the other hand, parents spend a lot and make big sacrifices to send their kids to camp, said Joszef. “They deserve to see what’s going on — to get nachas from it.”
Joszef has found media to be a good balance and has invested in top-notch media teams that produce videos and photo galleries throughout the summer, letting parents glimpse their kids’ days without interrupting them.
But all policies need constant re-valuation.
“We used to have a separate Instagram account for each division,” Joszef shared, “but our counselors and division heads told us it was feeding into a culture of refreshing and scrolling — encouraging parents to be glued to their phones instead of trusting the experience, and requiring more information.”
That shift in tone revealed a deeper goal: helping parents develop healthy independence from their children, just as much as helping children grow healthy independence from parents. Still, Joszef received some pushback about the media change. “My response was: it’s okay not to know everything. There’s a limit to what we need to know about our children’s day-to-day lives. And there’s a balance between making sure they are okay and stifling their ability to grow in resilience skills.”
Schwartz even adjusts her own habits to stay in sync with the camp’s philosophy. “When I’m in camp, I’m not in touch with the outside world. My own kids couldn’t reach me on my phone — and started realizing they should just call the camp office instead. It’s about removing distractions. If you’re working in a day camp, you go home and get sucked right back into the world. In sleepaway camp, you have the opportunity to have a much more immersive experience – but you can’t ac -
complish that if people are still very much connected to the outside world. ”
Communication from home comes not only in the form of calls and emails, but in packages. But overtime, the sheer amount of packages being sent has made directors question their logistical possibility.
“At some point, we realized we weren’t just running a camp, but also a post office, with the amount of packages and emails we were getting,” said Gold.
Directors have also found that what is intended as a loving gesture from parent to child can, and has often, quickly snowballed into something else: a constant flow of snacks and stuff that pulls kids away from the simplicity of camp, disrupts acclimation, and creates subtle divisions be -
“If you have basic good food, music, ruach – you don’t need fireworks outside the dining room to make people remember it and have fun.”
tween “haves” and “have-nots.” Instead of packages, Perkel suggests sending a loving, detailed letter to your child, which can communicate the same “thinkingof-you” sentiment, without having campers come to equate affection with material goods.
“If you want to make sure your kid has enough food, put money in the canteen; sending up a tray of Chickies isn’t affection — it’s indulgence, which going to summer camp already is.”
Most camps have gone from allowing packages, to implementing no-package policies, or packages that require pre-authorization such as for medications or other necessities. For the Schwartzes, who also implemented a no-package policy, the response from parents was overwhelmingly positive.
“People were relieved,” Shonie said. “Sometimes, it’s
not just about what you want to send — it’s about wondering if you should because of what others are doing. When no one’s sending, there’s a real sense of calm.”
The balancing act continues for directors when it comes to creating long-lasting memories and experiences that “wow,” while trying to not cross the line of excess. For Schwartz, that balance is front and center in programming decisions.
“There’s a difference between bringing in a singer and having campers put on a talent show,” she explained. “One is entertainment they create themselves; the other is something that’s served to them.”
Outside vendors add excitement and energy, but Schwartz is careful to balance them with in-house entertainment, and entertainment that campers can create themselves.
“Every year, our programming has a theme, and each day has its own mini-theme built around it. We try to strike the right balance between activities we create inhouse and outside additions — and the kids genuinely enjoy both.”
For Perkal, the balance between keeping up with the times and avoiding excess starts with recognizing where opportunities for experiences already exist — and elevating them.
“It begins with a baseline of physical and emotional safety and comfort, which is going to be something that changes over time,” he said. “Once basic physical and emotional comfort is in place, which — yes, nowadays includes things like air conditioning, that maybe weren’t necessary 20 years ago — you can make the ordinary extraordinary. Every meal in the dining room, for example, can become an experience. If you have basic good food, music, ruach — you don’t need fireworks outside the dining room to make people remember it and have fun. You have the basis to create a fun vibe at each meal.”
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Drawing from his background in business and hospitality, Perkal shared a story from his training with the Ritz-Carlton. A young guest left behind his favorite stuffed elephant, and instead of simply mailing it back, the hotel staff staged a mini-photo shoot to include in the return package: the elephant lounging by the pool, dining at the restaurant, enjoying the hotel amenities.
“When that package arrived, it wasn’t luxury — it was an experience,” said Perkel. “They took something simple and made it magical. That’s the approach I try to bring to camp. When a staff member greets a camper by name, or when something small is turned into a big moment, that’s where the real magic is.”
For those not involved behind the scenes, the cost of running a summer camp can be staggering. “Just sending our campers to Walmart costs around $10,000 — just for the school buses,” said Schwartz, who opened Machaneinu amid rising inflation. “A trip to an amusement park? Upwards of $30,000.” And that’s for a camp intentionally priced on the more affordable end.
For Perkal, the numbers are even larger: “It costs millions to run our camps each year. Some of the largest expense line items include payroll, food, and transportation. One of the biggest ongoing investments is capital expenditures — we put significant funds each year into maintaining and upgrading our facilities, infrastructure, and program offerings. Last year alone, we had to cover several hundred thousand dollars in emergency fire repairs.”
Cash flow is crucial to making it all work. “I used to take out loans to cover early expenses, but now we’ve built systems to manage that up front — with clear financial planning, reliable vendor relationships, and flexible payment options for families. That structure allows us to run with purpose, accountability, and long-term stability.”
Is keeping tuition flat — or even reducing it — possible or on anyone’s agenda these days? With inflation driving up costs across the board, it might seem unlikely. Joszef says one of the factors that can depend on is where the camp is in terms of its growth and infrastructure.
“Over the past few years, our camp enrollment has doubled from 500 to 1,000 campers, and because of that expansion, the camp has invested over $30 million into expanding and upgrading its facilities. But now that our infrastructure is strong and numbers have been stable, we’re able to put keeping tuition the same, or potentially reducing it, on the table as a conversation,” he shares. “This past summer, we were able to not raise tuition by a cent. Yes, our profit margin shrinks when income stays flat and prices are rising with everything, but just like we invested in the facility,
tuition is an area we’re now investing in.”
A camp’s pricing can also reflect deeper structural factors, such as whether it operates as a for-profit or non-profit. When Perkal took over SHMA camps, originally run as non-profits, he realized that the traditional model wasn’t working.
“Yes, camp used to be simpler,” he reflected. “But today’s world is different — kids are flying to Florida multiple times a year, they’re growing up on Disney and social media, and expectations have changed.” The camps had relied heavily on external funding, like USDA programs and federation grants, but there was no larger organizational infrastructure to support them, and though camp costs were rising, grants weren’t getting any bigger.
“When a staff member greets a camper by name, or when something small is turned into a big moment, that’s where the real magic is.”
“A non-profit camp operating under a larger umbrella organization, like Chai Lifeline, can make sense, since the larger organization can raise enough capital to fund the camp subsidiary,” he explained. “But as a standalone non-profit, SHMA was not bringing in the necessary funding and, therefore, started drowning in debt.”
After running it for a year as a non-profit, he made the decision to restructure the camp as a for-profit operation — not to get rich, but to build stability and accountability. Over time, he worked out payment terms with vendors and flexible schedules for families — all while building a culture of responsibility and financial health.
“In any business, cash flow is king. If you don’t control it, you lose.”
The transition also brought a deeper philosophical
change: recognizing that while donors and parents are the ones paying the bills, the true client is the child.
“Everything has to be about their safety, comfort, and care. But to provide that well, we needed to run like a real business — not with a culture of ‘eh’ or ‘let’s see what we can get,’ but with purpose and accountability.”
While finances and logistics may run in the background, directors know that emotional preparation for campers should also start long before the buses roll in. Directors agree that the best thing parents can do for first-time campers is to set the tone before they even step on the bus.
“Talk to your child about how it’s okay to miss each other. Missing someone means you love them; frame missing each other as a good thing, and not something sad or something that indicates that something is wrong,” said Schwartz. “At the same time, help them go in with a mindset of excitement — they’re about to have fun and make new friends.”
When it comes time to say goodbye, Alex Gold encourages parents to keep it simple and reassuring.
“Give them a hug and kiss, but don’t say, ‘If you’re homesick, I’ll come get you’ or ‘I’m going to see you on visiting day.’ They’ll remember that, circle the day on a calendar, and it will make it harder to adjust.”
Perkal suggests that fostering independence starts not by giving instructions, but by asking questions and helping give kids the thinking points to work through problems independently.
“You could tell a kid what to do, or you could guide them toward the answer,” he notes. “That builds self-sufficiency. The more your kid learns how to build that, the more confident you will be that they can be on their own.”
And above all, Joszef says, parents also have to prepare to let go.
“Plan to let go a bit for the summer. Don’t make your concerns your kid’s concerns. Let them be a kid — and that might mean hitting a bump in the road. But the power of camp is in learning how to grow from it.”
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To Raise a Laugh
Worrying About My Grey Hairs
This week’s column is about another thing that I noticed about myself that I wanted to put in my “getting old” column a couple of months back, but I forgot.
A few months ago, I mentioned some things that I’ve noticed about how I’ve been getting older recently. (I haven’t always been getting older. This is a recent thing.) A lot of the things I noticed were doctor-related. But the thing I forgot to mention in that article was that I think I might need to get a bigger yarmulke. Not that I’m getting frummer, chas v’shalom. There’s nothing wrong with the size of my yarmulke. It’s not small. I’m not one of those people who has to take off his yarmulke when he runs, which by the way is the worst time to take off your yarmulke. You’re not supposed to travel 4 amos without a yarmulka, unless it’s quick, right? Run for it!
No, the reason I might need a bigger yarmulke is that I noticed that the hairs under it are going grey.
I don’t think the yarmulka’s what’s making them grey. I say this because I’ve been wearing yarmulkas all my life and some of them have actually been grey (though they didn’t start off that way) and this is the first time this has happened. Is this how it works? If I exclusively wear black yarmulkas, will it go back? What if I wear navy blue yarmulkas? And why am I wearing yarmulkas with a dye that runs? I think I need to start going back to The Man with the Truck. This is the last time I shop at The Man with the Windowless Van. Rhyme shmyme.
But I’m getting grey hairs, especially under my yarmulke. I’ve been noticing it for a couple of years now whenever I looked in the bathroom mirror, but for a long time I thought, “Okay, it’s something about the lighting. The light is bouncing off my hair and making it look silver.” But then it occurred to me that if the light is bouncing off of it, it IS silver. Light doesn’t bounce off dark colors.
This whole grey situation gets more noticeable in the 3 weeks, when my hair is really long. But I’m not crazy about haircuts either, because I don’t like how I look with short hair. I look like a potato. And not even a good one. I look like the kind where people stick comical facial features into holes, and there’s a door on the back of my head where you keep the facial features you don’t have room for on the front of the face. And sometimes I have a moustache, but sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it doubles as eyebrows.
Sure, people come over to me and say, “Nice haircut,” as if I’m the one who gave myself the haircut, but that’s usually about a week and a half after I actually get it, because that’s how long it takes for me to stop looking like a potato. And then a week later, it’s too long and grey again, because my hair grows back fast, B”H.
This is why my wife likes me to get a haircut around 2 weeks before a chasunah. But it’s a little tough if someone’s getting married on Lag Ba’Omer, for example. Unless we give me a baldie before Pesach. Everything clean off. Start a new Pesach minhag. Though if there’s any time you don’t want to look like a potato, it’s Pesach.
And at least it’s happening slowly. I know people who one Shabbos you see them, and they’re all black, and the next Shabbos they’re white.
“Wait, didn’t I see you just last week?”
“Yeah! Why?”
“Well, uh, what have you been up to since then?”
“Well, I started my own business...”
Of course, everyone goes grey eventually. Sure, I can say that my kids are turning me grey, and my deadlines are turning me grey, and my students who call me “Schmutter” are
By Mordechai Schmutter
turning me grey, but you can have no kids and no job and no students who call you “Schmutter” and still turn grey. Maybe slower, though. The only way for a hair not to turn grey is if it falls out. It has to abandon ship. So it’s not the problem, you’re the problem.
Though if you think about it, turning grey doesn’t affect your life, really. It’s not like the sooner you turn gray, the sooner your teeth fall out.
Well, actually, it does change your life, because there’s always other people’s perception of you. For example, if someone with grey hair is niftar, the world at large accepts it. “Eh, he should have thought of that before he got old.” But if someone with black hair is niftar, everyone’s like, “Oy vey! He was so young!” So basically, you want people to be sad if you die.
Women are lucky. They get to hide it. Technically, as I said, I can hide it too, but people will definitely ask me why I’m starting to wear bigger and bigger yarmulkas. (Plural.) Though I won’t be able to hear them, because they’ll be covering my ears. Nor will I be able to see them. But women get to wear sheitels. True, I can get a toupee, but I don’t think that will get people to stop talking. Especially when I remove it in shul every morning before I put on tefillin.
But bigger headgear won’t help me, because I also have hair growing out of other places on my head. Sometimes I feel like it’s trying to teach out and touch people. Or lean towards the sunlight. I can’t wear a yarmulke that goes 360 degrees around my head and covers my ears and nose, can I?
Maybe a turtleneck.
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.
W E D D I N G P A C K A G E
Immediate Gratification Tech Triumphs
As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
Iam constantly on my iPad. It is my source of information, my entertainment, and my lifeline to family and friends. It bothered me that I spent so much time on it, but I wasn’t stopping any time soon. Then it hit me one day: my daughter is going through a really terrible time right now. She is struggling through an exceptionally painful high school experience, and my heart breaks for her. Socially, she is stuck in a rut; educationally, she does poorly and has given up putting in effort after so much failure. Spiritually, she is barely holding on, and I daven and worry about her constantly.
What wouldn’t I do for my child? If, G-d forbid, my child were sick, I would give up everything to save her. What if I gave up my iPad to save my daughter? Could I manage that?
I decided then and there that I would make a sacrifice for her. I would stop using my iPad and take care of my technology needs in a different and less addictive way. I didn’t make an announcement about my decision, but I was ready to do this.
The next day, my daughter knocked on my bedroom door and came to tell me something incredible. She had made a big decision to join a special summer program that would help her grow in many areas. My relief knew no bounds. The connection was crystal clear to me. My personal sacrifice brought about this spark of hope inside my child and gave her the energy to take steps to help herself.
Our sacrifices and personal effort are seen from Above, and in this case, I had immediate gratification from my
attempt at controlling my temptations. Wow, it was worth it.
DID YOU KNOW:
Finding out your child has diabetes can be overwhelming. Between new routines, doctor visits, and medical terms you never expected to learn, you may suddenly be told they need a smartphone — even if they’ve never had one before. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s natural to feel uneasy about introducing a device that can open the door to unnecessary distractions and challenges.
The reality is, there isn’t one right solution for every child. Some setups work without a smartphone altogether, others require one only so a parent can monitor their child’s numbers remotely, and some systems depend on apps that must run on a phone. TAG
can help you understand your options and choose the setup that’s best for your child — and to make sure that if a phone is needed, it’s locked down to serve only that purpose.
In certain cases, diabetes apps can run on small smartphones, which are easier to manage and carry — but compatibility depends on the system you’re using. Each app has its own requirements, and some (like Omnipod) work only with specific models. If a smartphone is needed, TAG can help you find a compatible device and set it up to allow only the necessary apps, blocking internet, calls, messages, and everything else. There are even preconfigured phones available with only the diabetes apps installed — no filter subscription required.
Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
I’m jetlagged from the seemingly abrupt end of the war; my recovery is taking time.
Thursday morning, we woke up to a gorgeous day with no alerts or sirens. On the way back from my pilates class (gym open), the bus stops were crowded with kids waiting for their buses. Smiling mothers and fathers were happily dropping off their toddlers at their gan.
The Kotel is open, stores are waiting for customers, kollel is in session, traffic is back, theater and concerts are hoping that patrons of the arts return. After 12 sleepless nights and scary scenarios, business as usual in Jerusalem is trying to find its sea legs.
As a new Israeli Oleh, I am still struggling to figure out what’s supposed to be normal. What should be my real or ridiculous expectations for living here? When we lived in America and observed from afar, we always had one ear to the ground about life in Israel; we kept the news on 24/7 and hoped for the best. After all, an important part of our beloved family is in Israel.
I have come to understand that it’s hard to wrap your head around how much resilience, courage and stamina it takes to be a full-time citizen of this great but somehow fragile land. I do not believe that the world, especially Israel, has recovered from the dreaded Coronavirus. As an educator, I remain concerned that our children (students) will be compensating into their futures for the gaps created by not going to school, not being able to interact with peers, and masking.
A new world order has been created by the proliferation of phones, distance learning, and most significantly, the rise of antisemitism. Even though Bob and I came of age in homes impacted by the hate of the Holocaust, we nevertheless grew up in a wonderful bubble created by the world’s guilt over what happened to the Jews during World War II. That guilt has disappeared, and the ugly underlying hate for our people is back – big time.
School of Thought
Trying to Get Back to Whatever Normal Is
By Barbara Deutsch
We need every single Jewish person (those who identify and those who don’t) to step up and take responsibility for our people’s survival. Everyone must actively work hard and in any way that they can to ensure the survival of our beloved Israel.
What is going on in New York?
When we woke up Sunday morning to the news that Trump had followed through on his promise to join the war against tyr-
than the state of New Jersey destroyed the brutal Iranian leadership’s arsenal of weapons.
Never again!
My granddaughter, new mother Penina, described the scene in the Shaare Zedek bunker maternity ward. All the laboring mothers were movedv to the floors below ground for safety; the beds were lined up
After 12 sleepless nights and scary scenarios, business as usual in Jerusalem is trying to find its sea legs.
anny, Iran, joy was to be found in every corner of our land. While Trump took a lot of the credit for the campaign’s success, no one cared. I cannot adequately articulate my feelings given it came with a barrage of alerts and sirens; this war was so scary and somehow more real than whatever came before.
Overriding any feelings was my chest expanding with pride, wrapping my head around the fact that a country no bigger
side by side and separated by flimsy curtains. There was one bathroom and a rusty shower. This was much different from the beautiful, fully equipped luxury suites that she had toured the previous week.
The moaning and groaning permeated the crowded space filled with the about-tobe mothers and family members. There will be many stories to share at the bar mitzvah of this brand-new beautiful Jewish Sabra baby boy.
Among the many miracles we have witnessed these past few weeks was seeing pictures of the room full of future Israeli warriors born into this world to protect our land from the evil that never seems to go away.
As described by the onesies bestowed on the babies born in that maternity bunker, Penina is a lioness.
This war may be over, but the healing has yet to begin. The reality of seven soldiers being lost to a booby-trapped tunnel in Gaza, hostages that continue to be tortured, and young men and women miluim who have yet to get back to their former lives still exists.
These last few days have been filled with a sluggish haze where everyone’s movements slowed. As we try to desensitize ourselves to the booms from cars and random noises, it’s still difficult not to sleep without one eye open.
Our dear friends Vel and Naomi lost a treasured family member. At the recent shiva, we heard this moving story. The 10-year-old grandson of the deceased was asked to share something about his beloved grandfather with whom he had a very close relationship. To him, his wise, learned grandfather seemed to know the reason for everything. Yet sometimes, he, too, did not have answers.
The grandson responded, “Now he has all the answers!”
This war and the events leading up to it leave us with so many questions; we have to leave it up to Hashem for the answers.
Our wartime baby hero has a name, Dovid.
Like our king!
Barbara Deutsch is the former associate principal at HANC, middle school principal at Kushner, and Dean of Students at Yeshiva of Flatbush. A not-retired educator, she is trying to figure out life in Israel through reflections on navigating the dream of aliyah as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
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
A Personal Story From Rabbi Wachsman For A Nation At War Living Kiddush Hashem
By Rabbi Shraga Freedman
Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman recently shared a personal story that offers a powerful message for these difficult days:
“Two weeks ago, I flew to Eretz Yisroel for just one day. When I left JFK, I put and had shiurim downloaded so I could prepare for my upcoming classes during the return flight.
As the plane was about to take off, I realized they had sent the wrong shiur. I quickly called the office, and they
Then the man said, ‘There’s Wi-Fi you can purchase on the plane. I’ll do that and get it for you.’
I told him I’d pay, but he insisted: ‘You said it’s a mitzvah—I want the merit.’
He downloaded the file. I listened and was able to prepare the shiur.
After we landed, as I was going through passport control, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was him—his eyes filled with tears.
‘Can you give a bracha for my wife and family?’ he asked. ‘I’m so grateful that I was able to do that mitzvah for you.’
neshama. Our priorities shift. May Hashem protect Klal Yisroel, and lead us all to walk the streets of Yerushalayim in joy.
(Heard from Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman on TorahAnytime)
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
10 Things That are Technically American
Arguing over the correct way to grill hot dogs
Chanting “U-S-A!” at totally inappropriate moments
Eating your body weight in potato salad
Pretending to know the second verse of the national anthem
Wearing flag-themed clothing...made in China
Celebrating our history while forgetting that you thought Ben Franklin was a president
Saying “I’m never eating again” after third plate at a BBQ...and then grabbing dessert.
Turning anything—literally anything—into a competition.
Watching a fireworks show while recording the whole thing on your phone (even though you’ll never watch it again)
Thinking all holidays should involve grilling meat, drinking beer, and keeping up the neighborhood with your fireworks show
Centerfold
Riddle Me This
This year’s July 4th parade has a marching band, pairs of dancers, a float of jugglers, a dozen circus clowns, a veterans’ troop, a Boy Scout troop, and a championship football team.
Read the description of each group carefully and decide how many are in each group and in what order they marched in the parade.
• The marching band was not the leader, but their 6 rows of 4 musicians in each row were near the front, just ahead of the veterans’ troop.
• The football team had 2 fewer marchers than the veterans’ troop and took their time signing autographs as they marched at the end.
• The veterans’ troop and the Boy Scouts were separated by the 3 groups of 4 jugglers on the jugglers’ float.
• The 3 pairs of dancers were between the Boy Scouts and the football team.
• The Boy Scouts had 5 rows of 3 marchers and the veterans’ troop had twice as many.
Answer: The groups are listed in the order that they marched, from first to last: 12 circus clowns; 24 musicians in the marching band; 30 veterans; 12 jugglers; 15 Boy Scouts; 6 dancers; 28 football players
“Happy B-Day America” Trivia
1. How did the Liberty Bell get its crack?
a. It was built with the crack as a symbol that all cracks in freedom must be patched together.
b. Some lady was singing the National Anthem, and the bell and all surrounding windows in the area cracked.
c. It just happened the first time the bell was rung (rang, ringed, whichever is correct).
d. A kid was visiting on a Chol Hamoed trip, and although the guard told him not to touch the bell, he just couldn’t help himself.
2. Life, liberty and _______?
a. Big government.
b. The pursuit of taxes.
c. Freedom for all.
d. The pursuit of happiness.
3. In which other country is there a July 4th?
a. France
b. Britain
c. Australia
d. Canada
4. “The Midnight Ride” is the story of:
a. Going to Seasons Express in the middle of the night for kugel … just because.
b. Paul Revere warning that the British were coming.
c. The Continental Army led by
George Washington sneaking up on British forces in October 1775.
d. Washington and his troops stealthily crossing the Delaware and capturing nearly 1,000 enemy soldiers at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776.
5. What is the official name of the July 4th holiday?
a. Fireworks Day
b. Independence Day
c. Barbeque Day
d. Freedom Day
6. In what year was the Declaration of Independence signed?
a. 1492
b. 1969
c. 1772
d. 1776
Answers:
1. C- The bell cracked slightly on its first ringing. However, the large crack apparent today seems to have occurred on a later day. According to some, the large crack happened when the bell was rung to celebrate George Washington’s birthday in 1846.
pursuit of happiness” is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence and considered by some as part of one of the most well-crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language.
3. A, B, C, D- duh…
4. B
5. B
6. D- It’s interesting to know that historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.
2. D- “Life, Liberty and the
Wisdom Key:
5-6 correct: You are a step ahead of our politicians in Washington, who seem to have forgotten about the Constitution.
3-4 correct: Not bad, just continue your summer school classes and you will be alright.
0-2 correct: When your friends tell you to stand over the fireworks while lighting them, don’t listen!
Notable Quotes
“Say What?!”
We will not dwell on Justice Jackson’s argument, which is at odds with more than two centuries’ worth of precedent, not to mention the Constitution itself. We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial executive while embracing an imperial judiciary.
- Justice Amy Coney Barrett in a rare Supreme Court rebuking of her fellow Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her majority opinion about lower courts not having the right to stop President Trump’s agenda via judicial injunctions
You know, if they disagree, I’m sorry, fill out a hurt feelings report. Buy a comfort rock.
- Sen. John Kennedy responding to liberals’ outrage that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down lower courts’ ability to issue sweeping nationwide injunctions
Anybody who knows a law book from an LL Bean catalog knows that federal judges just made up this concept of universal injunctions. - ibid.
When I walk in the streets of Boro Park… I see so much good. I was recently there actually… you see these kids, it’s sort of in the evening… they’re walking around holding books, and they’re peering into storefront windows of bookstores. It’s like, this is beautiful. This is what you want.
- The former head of a group that was created to antagonize Chassidic Jews talking in a recent podcast about how he now regrets what he did and is in a certain way envious of the life that they live
With Trump producing dozens of rabbits out of his MAGA hat, they return to going after his words not his deeds, which is like criticizing Houdini for saying “abracadabra” instead of “nothing up my sleeves.”
– Greg Gutfeld, Fox
Biden wanted me in here... Didn’t work out that way. That son of a [gun]!
- Pres. Trump while visiting a new prison in Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”
When you come to America, you are a guest and you have to behave like a guest.
- Arnold Schwartzenegger on “The View,” throwing the hosts into a tizzy
Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise’s ancestry is characterized by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with Eastern European heritage, only partially understood. It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today’s hostile states, as the next chief of MI6.
- Press release by the British Foreign Office after it was disclosed that new M16 (Britian’s intelligence agency) head Blaise Metreweli’s grandfather was a notorious Nazi
If Elon sticks to rockets, I’ll stick to finance. I am confident that this bill will pay down the debt.
- Treasury Scott Bessent on Fox News responding to Elon Musk’s criticism of the Big Beautiful Bill
I was in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital, the store didn’t have bags, and I was juggling multiple purchases.
- Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan (D), a Connecticut state representative, after his arrest last week for allegedly stealing from a Target
Do I see him as an enemy of America? You’re [darn] right I do. I think he’s gonna destroy New York City, and I think this is a disaster time for New York City. This guy becomes mayor, this city is gone. People are leaving the city already. You can’t say things like the things he’s saying and not frighten the [daylights] out of people. I mean, it has nothing to do with even 9/11.
Had 9/11 not happened, he’d [still] be an enemy of the city.
- Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on Piers Morgan Uncensored
It’s not Islamophobic to say: maybe don’t elect someone who openly hates the country he wants to run.
– Laura Ingraham, Fox News
Every time the left says “equity,” I hear “we’re going to take your money and give it to someone who hates you.”
– Jesse Watters, Fox News
What is so hard about requiring an able-body individual with no dependents, no sickness, to work 20 hours a week?
- Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on “Meet the Press” talking about Medicaid reform
Schumer, our great Palestinian senator. This guy— no, he’s changed. He used to like Jewish people. Now he’s totally against Jewish people.
- Pres. Trump talking about Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
I’m so glad I didn’t have a boy! Because he would have been a Barack Obama…I would have felt for him.
- Michelle Obama on a recent podcast
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I’m a 26-year-old guy who has been dating for three years, unfortunately unsuccessfully. I need help figuring out how to better get ideas that are more suited for me. I’m an out-of-the-box kind of guy, very frum internally and growth-minded but what people would consider as more modern. Minyan is hard for me.
I listen to English music. At the same time, my family is yeshivish, so when modern girls look into me they think I’m not modern enough. The truth is maybe I’m not, I do keep a lot of the geshmak of Yiddishkeit within myself and want a religious home, just one growing at my place. And my pace right now seems more in line with more modern but the modern girls aren’t interested because of my family’s type...
How can I successfully find the right type?
Thanks, Ben*
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.
Ben, reaching out to people, both lay people and shadchanim out of town, may be helpful. Jewish people who live out of town are less judgmental and less focused on the boxes one fits into than people in the metro area. Some cities such as Chicago have wonderful initiatives forcused on girls in their city that involve shadchanim meeting men during their own trips east. They not only set guys up but also arrange a place to stay and more.
Another idea may be to reach out to people in town who are connected to seminaries that are not traditional and focus on staying in touch with the girls. These can be found in Baltimore, Brooklyn, and beyond.
Broaden your search to use the digital apps that are responsibly managed. JSwipe works!
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this very frustrating situation. My first question is, what does your resume and picture look like? These are the two main things being put out there to show who you are and what you’re looking for, so you want to make sure they really reflect
the real you.
Think of it like advertising. There’s something called the three-second rule in marketing, which means you have about three seconds to catch someone’s attention and help them understand what you’re offering. The same applies here. If your picture and resume don’t clearly show who you are and what you’re looking for, you’re likely to get passed over by people who might have actually been a great match.
For example, if your shidduch picture has you wearing a hat and jacket, that might get you an automatic no from someone more modern, even if you’re not really holding in that world. You also want to come up with a short blurb or bio describing who you are and what’s important to you that you can send around to shadchanim. These days there are so many shidduch WhatsApp chats that are great for just that. If the info you’re giving out isn’t showing the real you, then it’s no surprise that people aren’t coming up with the right kind of ideas.
Another important thing is to get yourself to out-of-town singles’ events and meet out-of-town shadchanim. Don’t just wait for the people who already know you to come up with something. You need to branch out and put yourself out there.
Also send your resume to your married friends and ask them to help out. Just make sure they’re describing you the right way. They need to understand where you’re holding and what you’re really looking for. A friend vouching for you can make all the difference in helping you meet the right one.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
You think you’re frustrated?! I am attempting to write this column, while sitting in a JetBlue plane that has been stuck on the runway after four hours of delays.
Two rows in front of me, an infant has been howling non-stop, and across the aisle from me a tiny dog has been growling and barking at me from the time we left the gate.
But let us address your issue.
Please do not be insulted, but your letter leads me to believe that you have a problem communicating clearly and presenting yourself appropriately.
If you want to be perceived as “modern Orthodox,” when speaking, please organize your thoughts, speak clearly, and delete words like “geshmak” from your vocabulary.
And, if your dates think you are too “yeshivish,” it probably has very little to do with how they perceive your family. It probably has more to do with how you dress. Have you considered shopping at an upscale, more modern men’s store? The road to a more modern-looking Ben may very well begin with a brand-new wardrobe.
How can you meet the many wonderful young women who, like you, may come from very yeshivish backgrounds, but may feel more comfortable in the modern Orthodox world?
Here’s a suggestion: instead of trying to connect via the shidduch system, where prospective dates read your resume and see that you attended very yeshivish schools, try meeting women on your own.
You can sign up for Shabbatons, singles’ events, and chessed programs. Those are excellent venues for meeting like-minded folks.
Present yourself with confidence. Don’t come across as indecisive. Speak, dress, and act like a person who perfectly at ease with with himself. Be patient – a suitable life partner is out there, waiting for you.
The road to a more modern-looking Ben may very well begin with a brand-new wardrobe.
(Speaking of being patient, our pilot just announced that we are making good progress, and that there are only thirteen planes in front of us on the runway, waiting to takeoff.)
Reader’s Response
Abby and Ben Greene Shadchan Wannabees
Sounds like your resume is getting in the way of accurately communicating to people who you really are! Unfortunately, this is one of the negative results that comes with labeling. If people look into you and only see a yeshivish background, maybe you can add a little paragraph about yourself that identifies other key values and interests that people would not otherwise assume.
Also, I think a good way to avoid the confusion your resume provides would be to attend singles events! This could be a good way to show girls who you are without them looking into you and being clouded in their judgment by the limited information of a resume. Ultimately, your resume is what it is, when it comes to family and background, etc. and it’s confusing so we have to find a way to make it not confusing or to avoid altogether.
I think meeting in person will allow someone the ability to really get to know you and see that there’s much more to you than what’s written on a piece of paper.
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Hi Ben,
I really hear how hard this has been for you. It sounds like you’re in this space where you don’t fully fit into the boxes people want to put you in, and honestly, that makes total sense. You’re a thoughtful, growth-oriented guy with your own unique blend of values, personality, and religious identity. Of course, the system feels frustrating. It’s built for neat categories, and you’re not a neat category.
Here’s the thing. The right person for you isn’t going to get scared off by your family background or by the fact that you’re still figuring out what your religious rhythm
looks like day to day. She’ll actually find it refreshing that you’re self-aware and honest about where you’re holding.
Try not to get caught up in other people’s labels. Modern, yeshivish, frum enough… it’s all noise when it comes to what really matters, which is building a life with someone who gets you and wants to grow with you. You’re not looking for approval from every girl who looks into you. You’re looking for your person. And she’s out there.
As for how to find her, honestly, it’s
about being really clear with yourself first. The more you own who you are, without apologizing for it and without trying to squeeze yourself into someone else’s definition of what you should be, the easier it’ll get to filter out the wrong people and attract the right ones.
Be upfront in shidduch résumés or conversations. Let people know, “I come from a yeshivish family, but I’m carving out my own religious path that feels authentic to me. I’m serious about Yiddishkeit, but I’m also figuring out my own pace with things like minyan and hashkafa.”
Also, broaden your search. Be open to shadchanim, but don’t rely only on them. Let friends and people who actually know you make suggestions. Go to events. Get out there socially. Even consider platforms where you can write a more nuanced profile
Modern, yeshivish, frum enough… it’s all noise when it comes to what really matters.
than just checkboxes.
And if people pass on you because you don’t fit neatly in their system, let them. They’re not your person anyway.
You’re not late. You’re not broken. And you’re not behind. You’re just in the middle of your own story.
Sincerely, Jennifer
Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. 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
When Parents Are Mentors
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
no longer need their parents’ help for every little thing. Eventually, they move out of the house and live independent lives. What role do parents play at this juncture in their child’s life? One role is that of a mentor and confidant.
Some parents are fortunate enough to play that role, and their children come to them to talk about their struggles and ask for guidance and advice, or to simply air their frustrations. However, there are some parents that do not have that kind of relationship with their children. The family might be a warm and loving family, but the adult children still don’t view their parents in that light. What circumstances lead to some parents having that kind of a relationship with their children and some do not?
This is a complicated question, but there are certain general points to bear in mind as your children mature to have your children view you as someone they want to confide in.
Be available.
As your children start growing up, they will invariably want to share with you what is on their mind or what is going on in their lives. Make it your top priority to have time for them when this comes up.
Spend quality time with them.
Be vulnerable.
Children may share with their parents difficulties they are having in life. Sharing with one’s children how when you were young you had similar experiences will foster the empathy that is needed to have them view you as a trusted mentor.
Respect their privacy.
When you confide your personal dilemmas with your mentor or close friend, you expect them to honor your privacy and not betray your trust to share this information with others. This is also true with your children. If you want them to share with you personal matters, you must respect their privacy.
Manage your emotions.
Parents are the ultimate defenders of their children’s lives and wellbeing. When your child shares something with you, your immediate reaction might be one of arousal and anger. Certainly, there are times when parents need to spring into action. But, when children are coming to you to discuss a dilemma, focus on listening. They need to be heard and understood without immediate judgement.
Life is hectic, busy, and relentless. Who has time to spend quality one-on-one time with every single one of your children? This is a good question that does not have a good answer. However, if you want your children to view you as someone they want to discuss important matters with in their adult future, it is absolutely imperative to build a close and warm relationship with them when they are young, and this includes one-on-one special time.
Parenting is from the biggest challenges one may face throughout life. To meet all of a child’s needs, both physical and emotional, requires you to draw on all your resources. Being there for your child when they need advice and guidance is part of that task. Prepare for this early in your child’s life. Your child will thank you for it.
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
The summer is here, and everyone is beginning to settle into their new schedules. While most children will be in camp, there are a number who will be home. Planning and enjoying a summer at home is a bit different from the other options. Many parents may be unable to do this, such as those whose job hours are not compatible, but it should be a viable option for a number of families.
Being home is more than “not camp”; it’s an experience in and of itself. It takes some advanced planning and initiative, but being home can be a wonderful experience yielding positive lifelong memories.
Each age group will have their own staying-at-home needs. Recognizing and meeting your child’s unique needs is one way to ensure their summer is a success. This article will focus on ways parents can provide a special at-home experience for their preschooler.
Advantages
In some situations, the parents would like to send the child to camp but it’s too expensive or they were unable to
Parenting Pearls Preschool Playfulness
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
find the right one. Perhaps the child has some form of special needs that makes camp challenging. We often think of camp as the default and optimal summer location, but there are many positive reasons to keep a child home.
Before jumping into the technical details of being home, it’s worth understanding a few of the ways kids can benefit from this arrangement. Rather than lamenting the lack of camp, we can appreciate and celebrate the opportunities we are providing.
Being home lends itself to more bonding time. Kids are out most of the school day and away from their families. Being home during the summer allows children to have precious time with their parents and have meaningful shared experiences. We should never underestimate the role we play in our child’s life, and making time for them is part of this foundation.
During the rest of the year, the time we spend with our children is often pressured or stressed. “Did you do your homework?” “It’s almost Shabbos, get showered!” “Let’s go to your doctor’s appointment now.” Summer gives us
the opportunity to spend relaxed and meaningful time with our child. Maybe we are strolling around the block, doing an art project, or just watching them run through the playground. The overall less pressured pace affords us the chance to spend real, quality time together.
School is an important part of a child’s life, but it can be stressful for many students. They have to be up and out by a certain time of day; there are tests, assignments and strict schedules. As necessary as this may be, some children need a less structured environment to unwind. For some children, they really just need this time to themselves to relax and rejuvenate their young minds.
While external structure is important, children need to learn how to manage their own time and entertain themselves. Summer at home provides children with opportunities to learn the skills involved in time management, as well as how to productively fill their time. They also learn how to pace themselves and plan their day.
Many children have special interests or hobbies they may wish to pursue. The
summer is a two month period where they can learn something new or engage in a beloved activity.
The Preschool Years
Each age has its own needs. The preschool years can be an enjoyable age to have home during the summer. They are old enough to not need to be carried everywhere, they are able to participate in many activities, but they are not picky regarding what they do.
They still need continuous supervision, but they can walk on their own, feed themselves and have a certain level of independence. They nap less frequently – or not at all –giving more freedom in scheduling.
Unlike babies or toddlers, preschoolers are capable of doing most activities. They can play on a variety of playground apparatus, run through a park or sprinklers, go bowling – almost anything other than axe throwing and certain height-limited roller coasters.
As families learn each chol hamoed, older kids are often very picky regarding what they are willing to do. They won’t do this or that, but they insist on a re -
ally expensive outing. It can be a major challenge to find just the right activity. Sadly, even after they’ve gone and had a great time, they may still find something to be miserable about. Preschoolers are different. The world’s an adventure and they’re happy to go almost anywhere. Grocery shopping? Yeah! Pizza? Woohoo! Accompany Mommy to the doctor? Yes!
Parents should have sufficient snacks and water available for trips. Preschoolers still need some structure. Bedtime and meals should be at their usually scheduled time. Adults should never mess with nap time – it will not be pretty! Sunscreen, hats and clothing that cover are all helpful in preventing burns. Preschoolers happen to look adorable in big, floppy hats so this is definitely a time to take photos.
It’s important to be mindful of your preschooler’s bathroom needs. Children this age are usually newer to being toilet trained but are less capable of anticipating and controlling their bodily functions. Remind them to use the facilities before they go, but make sure you have bathrooms where you will be or bring a
travel potty with you.
Preschool is simply an adorable age. They still have the sweetness of babies without the night feedings. They are cute and so much fun. They enjoy being home with their loved ones, and they give amazing hugs.
Activity Suggestions
Preschoolers are really flexible when it comes to activities. Anything you do
blocks, dolls or pretend play will provide the same excitement they always do.
Arts and crafts are always a hit. It can be a formal project, but this age group can generally enjoy anything. Let them cut up a magazine and glue the pictures to make a collage. Coloring and painting are classics. Almost anything can be made into a masterpiece, and they will have fun with these hands-on activities. Preparing the area in advance
Summer gives us the opportunity to spend relaxed and meaningful time with our child.
in your daily life can be exciting to this age group. They can join you on a walk, for a workout, shopping or errands. Whatever activities and toys that entertain them during the school year will work during the summer. Building
– plastic tablecloths and smocks – will make clean-up easier.
Preschoolers are thrilled to go outside and that only enhances the adventure. Walk around the block, run through a park, stroll the boardwalk, or
simply enjoy outside window shopping. Water play is very popular and will be extra enjoyable with the current heat. Home sprinklers, sprinkler parks and even the bathtub are all exciting for the little ones. Make sure to never leave children unattended in the pool, bath, or wherever there is accessible standing water.
Trips are fun, and there’s no reason to not take your little one for any outing they would enjoy in camp. Be mindful of how much time will be spent in the car. This age group does not have the patience for long rides.
Camp at home – often called “Mommy Camp” – is a wonderful option for summer fun and growth. Being able to spend this time with your child will create a meaningful connection lasting long after the first snow. Enjoy the sweet memories!
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.
Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Gelberman on the birth of a daughter
Shimon & Tziporah Pensak on the birth of a daughter
Mordechai & Rivka Palmer on the birth of a son
Rabbi & Mrs Yonah Sklare on the birth of a son
Efrayim & Bayla (Katz) Goldberg on the birth of a daughter
Yehudah & Tehila Rosenbloom on the birth of a son
Dovid & Tzipora Hastings on the birth of a son
Eli & Hemdah Pridonoff on the birth of twin boys
Aviva Triebwasser, 7
Note:
Sara Schwartz, 9
Leah Goldsmith, 3
Rafi Simpson, 4
Shoshana Perel Cohen, 8
Eliana Kushner, 5
Yehonatan Baron, 5
Yedidya Baron, 10
Nina Korb Shoshana Schwarz, 6
Tuvia Glaser, 12
Yitzhak Moradian, 4
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
Sara Schwartz, 9
Shragi Katz
Yirmi Glaser, 9
Elby Chernitzky, 11
Tehila Robinson, 3
YSM Chernitzky, 5
Sarena Bloch, 6
N.S., 13
Avigayil Robinson, 8
Michal R.
Avigail Schwarz, 4
Leah Kravitz, 7
Daniella, 4
Nava & Gabe Denise AD Fuentes, 6
Adir Yisrael Romer, 2.5
Meira Robinson, 5
Rus E. N.S., 6
Rena Portnoy, 11
Tzviki Simpson, 10
Ariella S., 5
UN Fuentes, 7
Yael David, 9
Doni Simpson
In The K tchen
Sunday Soup: Veggies, Chicken, and Barley
Makes about 10 cups
By Naomi Nachman
A few month ago, my friend Kim Kushner came on my cooking show Sunny Side Up on Kosher.com We made this delicious soup together. After we filmed, everyone from my film crew tried it and went crazy over it. Hope you’ll enjoy this as much as we did.
This is my family’s favorite soup. I call it Sunday Soup because I make it every Sunday. It’s a full meal in a bowl. Hearty vegetables, juicy chicken, and just the right amount of barley. This versatile soup can be made with any vegetables—there’s no need to stick to the recipe below; just use what you have on hand and leave out what you don’t. And don’t fret if you don’t have chicken or vegetable stock; I’ve made this soup using water as the liquid many times and it always turns out delicious.
Ingredients
◦ 2 onions, peeled and cut into chunks
◦ 4 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
◦ ½ butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
◦ 1 zucchini, trimmed and cut into chunks
◦ 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
◦ 2 tablespoons olive oil
◦ 8-10 cups vegetable or chicken stock
◦ 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
◦ 1 bunch fresh checked dill, tied with kitchen string
◦ 1 cup raw pearl barley
◦ Kosher salt
◦ Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
1. Combine all of the vegetables in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times until all of the vegetables are chopped into tiny pieces, but don’t let them get mushy.
2. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and sauté for five minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer until the vegetables are soft, five to seven minutes longer.
3. Pour the stock or water over the vegetables, filling the pot three-fourths of the way. Stir in the chicken thighs and add the entire bunch of dill (you will fish it out later). Cook, covered, over medium heat for one hour.
4. Use a slotted spoon to take out the bunch of dill and discard the dill.
5. Stir in the barley and simmer, covered, until the barley is softened but not mushy, 30-40 minutes longer.
6. Remove the chicken. Use a large fork to shred it into small pieces and then return it to the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.
