Straight from the palace of Shushan, we bring you the most tremendous, incredible, absolutely spectacular Purim story- LIVE, as told by none other than King Achashveirosh himself. In a series of exclusive tweets, the king shares his big decisions, the best parties, the worst betrayals, and of course, the most unbelievable comeback in history. Folks, you don’t want to miss this one! Believe me.
Tweet 1:
“BIG announcement! Throwing the greatest party in history- the best party ever. All of Shushan invited. Unlimited wine, golden goblets, tremendous entertainment. No one throws a party like me, folks. It’s gonna be fantastic. Even the Persians agree!
#Winning #ShushanBash”
Tweet 2:
“Sad! My so-called queen Nasty Vashti REFUSED to show up. Can you believe it?? DISLOYAL. Not what you want in a queen. So we’re making a change. The people demand it! Execution scheduled. Total disgrace. #Disloyal #NotMyQueen #YoureFired”
Tweet 3:
“After a very, very extensive search—many, many candidates, all beautiful, but one really stood outI’m thrilled to announce our new queen: ESTHER! She’s absolutely terrific, folks. Tremendous beauty, very classy. Everyone’s saying it. Gonna be a great queen! #MakeShushanGreatAgain”
Tweet 4:
“Exciting news! We’ve got a spectacular new advisor- Haman. Terrific guy. Smart, knows how to get things done. People love him! Great ideas about running the kingdom, keeping things in order. Really tremendous leadership. #TrustTheProcess”
Tweet 5:
“Turns out this Haman guy? Not so great. Some are calling him Scam-an Haman- low energy, BAD plans. Very, very bad. Also, he’s got this weird thing about the Jews. I hear Mordechai (a really fantastic guy, by the way, very strong, very smart) won’t bow to him. Not good! #WitchHunt #LockHimUp.”
Tweet 6:
“BREAKING: Haman the Horrible & his 10 very, very nasty sons- GONE. Hanged for their insurrection. Couldn’t be trusted, folks. Very, very bad people. Justice is served! The people are cheering, they love it. Largest crowd ever to watch an execution. Amazing moment for Shushan! #ByeByeHaman”
Tweet 7:
“BIG news: Mordechai, a fantastic guy -taking over! Incredibly wise, very respected. Loves his people, and let me tell you, the Jewish people are absolutely incredible. Smart, loyal, winners! They always come out on top. Huge celebration in Shushan. #WinningAgain #PurimForever”
A freilichin Purim and peaceful Shabbos!
Aaron M. Friedman
your: community events,
& photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!
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Around the Community
Keeping Israelis - And Visiting Americans - Safe In Israel
By: Eve Glover
Anew student handbook (9th edition), Stay Safe in Israel, outlines security precautions for students and tourists traveling to the Holy Land, especially given the heightened danger due to the war. The author, Frank Storch, is an award-winning security and safety expert from Baltimore with over 50 years of experience, and the founder of the Chesed Fund and Project Ezra Baltimore, non-profit organizations that specialize in protecting the Jewish community.
In the U.S., Storch assists synagogues, schools, camps, and hospitality facilities to identify threats as quickly as possible and upgrade their security. “It only takes a few seconds between life and death,” he told The Jewish Press. He is currently in Israel for speaking engagements at yeshivas and seminaries, and his focus is on helping students who are coming to Israel for their gap year. His wife, Danielle, elaborated, “There’s nobody who’s really addressing seminary and yeshiva students ... He’s really emphasizing a lot of safety techniques - not to scare them, but to inform and empower them.”
The handbook dispenses advice for personal safety, safety in crowds, hiking, going out for Shabbos, and precautions to take when traveling by taxi and public transportation. There are also lists of security and national disaster websites and apps and emergency phone numbers.
Stay Safe in Israel is endorsed by the Secure Community Network (SCN), a North American non-profit organization that connects the Jewish community with federal law enforcement, and Agudath Israel and United Hatzalah.
Storch has implemented risk man-
agement practices at the Western Wall, Ben Gurion Airport, and the Malha Mall in Jerusalem. He was honored with the Maccabiah Award in 1997 for his devotion to protecting Israeli citizens, a commitment that is unwavering.
In the past nine years Storch has printed 100,000 emergency cards with life-saving information, such as how the phone number for United Hatzalah in Israel is 1221, something many people traveling to Israel are unaware of Danielle Storch told us bow her husband randomly approached an English-speaking woman in Israel and asked, “Do you have my card?,” to which she replied, “That card saved my baby!” Danielle described how the woman had just made aliyah and was in panic when she saw her baby turning blue, and then remembered - the man with the red card! - and called United Hatzalah.
In other incidents, a seminary student witnessed a passenger on the train having a seizure and pulled out the red card Storch had handed her; a man from London who was convinced he didn’t need the card reluctantly took it, and it saved a yeshiva student’s life that night.
Storch noticed that there aren’t signs around Israel demonstrating the Heimlich maneuver like there are in the United States, so he made up 1,000 signs and is distributing them to yeshivas, seminaries, and restaurants. He said these posters were created 15 years ago and have saved three lives in Baltimore that he knows of.
He also created a bomb shelter checklist, which reminds people not to forget their glasses or medication
- “things that are easy to forget in an emergency,” he says.
When the Israel-Hamas war began, Danielle described how her husband, who has always loved flashlights, started sending them to IDF soldiers. She relayed how, as soldiers were coming out of a tunnel in Lebanon, they mounted the flashlights onto the clips of their guns and spotted three terrorists, whom they immediately eliminated. While IDF soldiers were clearing out a house in Khan Yunis, one of them put a flashlight on the tip of his rifle and spotted tripwire and a booby trap that could have killed them through a bullet hole in the door, so he warned the soldiers not to enter.
Storch and his wife met with the assistant commander of that mission
A Special Motzaei Shabbos Learning Session At Bais Haknesses Ohr Hachaim
At Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim, a truly special learning session was held. Although last week was officially the shul’s final event with grand prizes, Rav Weiss requested one more session so the boys could return and learn purely lishmah before the clocks changed.
A remarkable number of boys and their fathers came out. To their
who “gave my husband the biggest hug and said, ‘I owe my life to you. There are not even words that I can say to thank you for what you did for me,’” she related.
“Saving lives has been our mission for decades,” Storch emphasized. For more information, visit www. chesedfund.com.
By: BJLife Newsroom
surprise, after the learning ended, there was a celebration with dancing and music. Everyone was treated to pizza, each boy was gifted a pocket Shas Mishnayos, and a set of Mikraos Gedolos Chumashim was raffled off.
What a memorable evening!
Around the Community
Maryland Teen Recognized At Largest Jewish Teen Summit
Arielle Suissa, a freshman at Winston Churchill High School and a proud member of Baltimore’s CTeen chapter, took the stage at the CTeen International Shabbaton, a gathering of 4,000 Jewish teens from 60 countries in New York City, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world. Representing Baltimore, Arielle shared her personal story of resilience — inspiring peers from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires to Israel by showing how embracing Jewish pride can turn even the hardest moments into a source of strength and leadership.
Surrounded by her peers, Arielle shared how she was living an ordinary life in Potomac, MD until she experienced things thrown at her, name-calling, and other forms of harassment. Yet despite the challenge of feeling alone and targeted, she chose to stand up, lean into her faith, and turn that challenge into a source of strength — not just for herself, but for those around her.
Inspired by her Jewish pride and the support of her CTeen community, Arielle became a role model for her peers, showing that leadership begins the moment you decide to turn hardship into action.
Arielle attended the Shabbaton with fellow teens from the Baltimore delegation, under the guidance of Rabbi Eli and Chana Solomon, Directors of CTeen of Baltimore.
The annual summit, held from February 28 to March 2, gave teens a powerful platform to connect, learn from each other, and step into leadership roles — at a time when Jewish teens worldwide are navigating rising antisemitism and questions about their identity.
This year’s theme, “Shine On,” challenged teens to stand proud and live their Judaism boldly, no matter the pressures they face.
Over the weekend, participants heard firsthand stories of courage —
HIRINGHIRING
from teens who saved their tefillin from California wildfires to Israeli teens who kept celebrating Shabbat under rocket fire, to students who stayed visibly Jewish on campus despite hostility.
“Sharing my story in front of thousands of teens made me realize that my experience — something I thought was just mine — actually connects me to Jewish teens everywhere,” said Arielle Suissa. “We’re all facing challenges, but the Shabbaton showed me that standing proud makes us stronger — together.”
Rabbi Eli Solomon reflected on the moment. “Watching Arielle stand up and share her story with thousands of peers was incredibly moving,” said Rabbi Solomon. “Our teens came back not just inspired, but ready to lead — and to show their friends here in Baltimore that Jewish pride is something to wear proudly every single day.”
“As a parent, seeing my daughter stand up and share her story with thousands of teens was incredibly moving,” said Kerri, Arielle’s mother. “She came back not just inspired, but confident — proud of who she is and ready to make a difference in her own way.”
“When a teen like Arielle shares their personal story with thousands of peers, the impact is exponential,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International at Chabad World Headquarters. “Hearing from someone their own age, who understands their world, carries a power no adult could match. That energy doesn’t stop in New York — it travels home with every teen, reaching friends, classmates, and entire communities.”
The teens also visited the Ohel, resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose empowering belief in the unique power of youth to lead inspired the creation of CTeen.
“Standing at the Ohel with thousands of teens made me think about my role back home,” said Arielle. “It showed me that leadership doesn’t mean waiting until you’re older — it means stepping up now.”
The weekend concluded with a Havdalah ceremony in Times Square, where 7,000 teens publicly celebrated their Jewish identity and took part in a live koshering of an iconic New York hot dog stand — marking 50 years since the Rebbe’s Kosher Campaign began.
“We didn’t just talk about Jewish pride — we lived it, right in the heart of Times Square,” said Mikhael Vainer. “That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
About CTeen Baltimore
CTeen Baltimore, led by Rabbi Eli and Chana Solomon, is part of CTeen - The Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest Jewish teen organization, with 841 chapters in 60 countries. CTeen empowers teens to become leaders and changemakers through acts of kindness, social responsibility, and Jewish learning — all inspired by the Rebbe’s belief in the unique power of teenagers to drive positive change.
For more information about CTeen Baltimore and upcoming programs, contact Rabbi Eli Solomon: Eli@jointhecircle.com, 443-985-5022
Grand Finale Of Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah’s Winter Avos Ubanim 5785
Last Motzei Shabbos was the grand finale of the winter Avos Ubanim season at Mercaz Torah U’TEfillah. An amazing event took place with learning, a super story by R’ Yehuda Bromberg, delicious food, and a spectacular grand raffle. Mazel Tov to Moshe Caplan on winning the grand CASH prize! Thanks again to R’ Yojo Morgenstern for overseeing the program and to R’ Binyamin Blackman for once again entertaining the oilam as the professional rafflier!
This past week Harav Avrohom HaLevy Schorr Shlita visited Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah and said a shiur to Rav Yonah Sklare’s Asukei Shmeitsa Chabura, and another shiur to Kollel Zichron Yehoshua Heschel.
Third in the SIMPLY series, and true to Rivky’s signature “Simple to create and gourmet on your plate” style, SIMPLY PESACH AND BEYOND will transport you to places you never thought Pesach could go.
Over 140 gluten-free, hassle-free, and still SIMPLY GOURMET recipes that will keep you coming back to enjoy all year long.
From Morocco to the European ghettoes, from campgrounds to hospital rooms, from Brooklyn to Meah Shearim to Djerba, here are stories that take us around the Jewish world – and into the Jewish People’s hearts. Some of the stories are poignant, others are inspirational and still others are full of surprises. And all of them are stories that inspire, engage, and teach us. And yes, each and every masterfully written story is for the Books
JEP Girls Of Maryland Hosts Annual Pre-Purim Carnival
Families from across the Jewish community gathered on Sunday for the much-anticipated annual JEP Purim Carnival. With over 200 attendees, the carnival attracted people of all ages in their Purim best with costumes ranging from the traditional Queen Esther to sports players and superheroes.
Children eagerly dashed from one booth to the next and enjoyed Purim themed games such as ‘hanging Haman on the gallows’ and ‘Mordechai’s horse race.’ Face painting artists added to the fun, as did a variety of refreshment booths. A moon bounce and photo booth provided even more entertainment. Participants also had the opportunity to shape their own hamantashen, pack mishloach manot for their friends, give matanot le’evyonim, and learn the story of the megillah.
A highlight of the event was a visit by Greg from Mayhem Magical Cir-
cus. Greg wowed the crowd with his extra tall stilts, and he closed out the
action packed afternoon with a circus show that was enjoyed by all!
Fourth Grade Mizbe’ach Project At Torah Institute
TI fourth grade hosted their annual Mizbe’ach Project in honor of Parshas Terumah. Many Talmidim on their own, or together with classmates, built models of the Mizbe’ach.
Many different materials were used, including some edible ones! Parents and grandparents were invited to come by for the expo which took place in our large Beis Hamidrash, and it was a pleasure seeing how many were able to come and see it.
The Talmidim shared what they had learned about the Mizbe’ach’s significance, and how they constructed their respective models.
The Mizbe’ach Project was an exciting and meaningful event for the students and their families.
Around the Community
BCL By Columbia Group Continues Its Season Into Week 3!
The Baltimore Chesed League’s boys took the spirit of Purim to a whole new level, spreading joy and kindness throughout the community.
With a theme of giving, they delivered Mishloach Manos, bringing smiles to families across the city. Their
impact extended beyond homes, as they visited assisted living facilities, uplifting residents with lively Purim songs and warm interactions. The boys also played an important role in the Shomrei Emunah Purim carnival, helping to create a fun and festive atmosphere for children and families.
Whether sporting their cool personalized sweatshirts sponsored by FRAM Monument or wearing a costume, one thing that was never missing was a smile! And more exciting news: all of our teams this year have qualified for the Rosenbloom Pest Control/LTS Insurance Tracking midseason prize outing to SkyZone!
Read on to see how these boys took week 3 of Baltimore Chesed League and through their acts of kindness, embodied the true essence of Purim— unity, joy, and chesed.
Team Winner Insulation enthusiastically brought great amounts of Purim cheer through song, engaging conversations and games to the North Oaks residents!
Team Pikesville Remodeling delivered mishloach manos to Chai Lifeline families, in costume and with big smiles!
Team Kove Group brought the fun running booths at the annual Shomrei Emunah Purim carnival.
Team Craft Sourdough brought Purim cheer in their costumes to the residents of Sterling Care Assisted Living
Team HESP Solar helped AIM deliver meals to families with newborns. Team Kelemer Brothers Replacement Windows did an incredible job delivering Purim packages to Friendship Circle families. Great costumes!
Team Keren Reva Costume Gemach really entertained the residents at Aventura at The Heights! Not only did they sing but they danced and really got to know the residents!
Team Kineged Glass Repair learned essential chesed skills with Chaverim, like changing a tire, jump starting a car and using a winch!
Team Pit Stop Tire Shop helped CHAI Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. by cleaning up Western Run. It was so appreciated that several cars slowed down to thank the boys for their hard work!
Team Sage Ventures LLC did a wonderful job bringing simchas Purim to the residents at the King David Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with their Broadway performance of the Purim story!
Team RenoSafe Homes learned about shaimos and helped organize shaimos that has been collected from the community.
Greater Washington: Around the Community
The Traveling Chassidim Visit Kemp Mill
The greater Washington community was treated to a weekend of unity, energy, and joy with special guests, The Traveling Chassidim, a group of Chasidish families from New York who have made it their mission for the past 15 years to travel to communities to share the warmth and inspiration of Chassidut.
The weekend was a collaboration between The Lev Experience, a greater Washington Jewish outreach organization led by Rabbi Shlomo and Devorah Buxbaum, and Kehilas Shaar Simcha, a vibrant and growing new initiative to bring lively song-filled programs and Tefilos to Kemp Mill.
The Shabbat brought together Jews of all ages and backgrounds for Tefilos, meals, and Kiddush full of singing and dancing. Each part of Shabbos saw all ranges of religious Jews from Kemp Mill, and less affiliated Jews who traveled from the various suburbs of the Greater Washington area to join together and get inspired. There was even a group of over 20 college students from University of Maryland who brought
the dancing and the energy of Shabbat to even greater heights.
The Shabbat ended with a beautiful musical rendition of Havdallah, followed by dancing in the spirit of Purim which is coming up. The Shabbos was one of a series musical initiatives that Shaar Simcha has produced this year, which has included a pre-Chanukah concert with the band Soulfarm, and a Shabaton with famed singer-songwriter Eli Beer. It is also one of many
programs in an ongoing effort by The Lev Experience to create connections between the Orthodox community and the non-Orthodox community.
Chabad Silver Spring Hosts “United As One” Culinary Tour
Chabad of Silver Spring recently hosted a “United as One” culinary tour, bringing together members of the community for a night of camaraderie and celebration. The event, which perfectly coincided with the approach of Purim, featured a diverse array of mouthwatering food from some of
New York’s finest eateries, including the renowned Izzy’s Smokehouse. Guests also savored an exceptional selection of fine wines and scotches, elevating the evening’s experience.
Adding a local twist, participants enjoyed fresh, delicious sourdough from the beloved Silver Spring-based
company, Unsimply Sourdough, which brought a unique flavor to the gathering. The evening was more than just a feast for the senses; it fostered a sense of unity, making it the ideal way to usher in the joyous spirit of Purim.
As the community came together to celebrate, the “United as One” cu-
linary tour left everyone feeling more connected, with fond memories to carry into the festive holiday season.
613 Seconds with Rebbetzin Goldberger of Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel
BJH: Can you elaborate on that?
Rebbetzin Goldberger: Sure. At Tiferes Yisroel, warmth is a
statement since the loss of our Second Temple, which, our Sages teach, was destroyed because of the senseless hatred developing among us. Today, we stand at a painful cross-
Rebbetzin Goldberger: Rabbi Goldberger has a calming and constant way of guidance that helps each of us in our own lives inch up the chasm and build a
A bridge that encourages
A bridge that values trying to understand
A bridge that helps us walk across the differences and find shared values without losing gaining - personal
A bridge that learns your name and hears your plaint. bridge that demonstrates that where we are willing to give up everything for Hashem is where we
Each gap that we strive to bridge on our personal path, each step in the direction of resolving our mighty conflicts, will surely contribute to our national striving of living with complete And may that, please Hashem, hasten our
Please take a step in our direction on Sunday, March 16 to help support Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel by contributing to our annual fundraising campaign. Donate at Tiferesyisroel.org
Photo credit: Fred Levi & Yael Sait
Mesorah Baltimore and the OU Women’s Initiative
Featuring: Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman, Director of the OU Women’s Initiative, and Andrea Schulman, Executive Director of Mesorah Baltimore
BJH: Please briefly tell us about each of your organizations
MB: Mesorah Baltimore (formerly WIT) is an educational organization for women providing quality classes and programs guided by Torah wisdom to enhance spiritual and intellectual growth. Women from Baltimore and beyond attend our myriad of programs both in person and via Zoom. Mesorah Baltimore offers a broad range of Jewish learning, including text based and philosophical courses and has become a national model for other communities committed to providing quality women’s Jewish education.
OU: The Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative (OU WI) is dedicated to elevating and expanding opportunities for women’s Torah learning, leadership, and community engagement. The OU WI has pioneered innovative educational and inspirational programs, providing women with access to high-level shiurim, professional development, and communal support. Flagship initiatives such as Torat Imecha Nach Yomi—a global daily learning program—have transformed women’s connection with Tanach, while leadership training programs cultivate the next generation of educators and community leaders. OU WI also addresses vital communal needs through mental health awareness seminars and professional
development for mikvah leadership and attendants, fostering an environment of support and sensitivity. Through these initiatives,the OU WI provides chizuk and support to address vital community needs and values.
BJH: What inspired this partnership program
OU: The Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative (OU WI) is committed to developing meaningful connections with communities through Torah learning and leadership development. Our partnership with Mesorah Baltimore is a natural extension of our shared mission—to engage and inspire women through high-level Torah learning and supporting local leaders. With the robust participation of women who have participated in a wide array of OU WI learning programs including Torat Imecha Nach Yomi and a vibrant base of talented educators from Baltimore and Silver Spring, this community emerged as an ideal location to bring our initiatives from a broad, global reach into localized, impactful programming. By connecting us to your community, we hope to create lasting opportunities for Torah engagement and learning.
MB: Mesorah Baltimore operates on a local level here in Baltimore, while the OU Women’s Initiative is able to operate on a more global level. Our organizations share the same goal of enabling women to grow and be inspired through Torah based programming and partnering on a program seemed like the
next step in our working relationship. On a personal level, the OU WI’s leadership initiatives have been instrumental in my professional development and have strengthened my ability to lead Mesorah Baltimore.
BJH: Please tell us about the Pre-Pesach event that you are co-sponsoring
The Hagaddah Roundtable program will take place Sunday morning, March 23rd at 10:30 am in person at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion The program will be offered free of charge and is open to women of Baltimore and surrounding communities. The program will feature opening remarks by Rebbetzin Dr. Shmidman as well as insights on the Hagaddah from Mrs. Shira Hochheimer, Mrs. Esti Kimche, Mrs. Jaclyn Sova and Mrs. Sara Malka Winter.
The program will enable women to begin their personal Pesach preparations and will provide materials to share during the sedarim. Oftentimes the spiritual and intellectual preparation takes a back seat, however, this year we are making sure that women go into the month of Nisan ready for all aspects of Pesach.
BJH: Please tell us how women can get more involved in your programming during the year?
MB: Women are invited to join us for the Nisan installment of the Fay and Nathan Holzman Rosh Chodesh Program which will take place Sun-
day night, March 30th via Zoom. Our post Pesach spring semester will begin the week of April 27th. Women are welcome to try one of our in person classes free of charge for the first week. In addition to our semester courses, our spring programming will include shiurim by Mrs. Shalvie Friedman, Mrs. Esti Hamilton and Mrs. Rivka Segal. Our summer series will take place on the Monday and Wednesday mornings in July. More details about our programs can be found on our website, www.mesorahbaltimore.org.
OU: You can get involved in the OU Women’s Initiative throughout the year by participating in a range of dynamic programs designed to inspire, educate, and connect. Torat Imecha learning opportunities include Nach Yomi, Parsha, Haftorah, and Halacha series, Rosh Chodesh Lunch and Learn, ALIT Virtual Beit Midrash , providing accessible, high-level shiurim led by outstanding educators across the world. Additionally, the OU WI offers leadership development programs, communal engagement initiatives, and professional training, equipping women with the tools to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Whether through daily learning, leadership training, or community-building efforts, there are countless ways to engage, grow, and be part of this vibrant network of women dedicated to Torah and impact. More details can be found at ouwomen.org.
The Week In News
The Week In News
Deadly Clashes in Syria
The Assad government in Syria fell to rebel forces in December. On Thursday, there was a rise in violence, which saw an armed conflict between the new military and supporters of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.
As of Saturday, the fighting led to over 1,000 casualties, including 745 civilians, among them many women and children
from Assad’s Alawite sect, 125 Syrian security fighters, and 148 of Assad’s loyalist fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, making the battles Syria’s deadliest since a chemical weapons attack in 2013 by Assad’s army.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivered a response over a video message filmed at a mosque in Mazzah, Damascus, where he grew up.
“We have to preserve national unity and domestic peace – we can live together,” Shaara declared. “Rest assured about Syria, this country has the characteristics for survival… What is currently happening in Syria is within the expected challenges.”
Meanwhile, the battles slowed in Latakia, Jabla, and Baniyas. Fighting also took place in Tartous. At the same time, the army, now controlled by the rebels who overthrew Assad just months ago, has been hunting for the 5,000 or so pro-Assad fighters hiding in the nearby mountainous regions. In December, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group ousted the government of Assad, forcing him to run to Russia, which supported his government in the civil war that started in 2011.
In response to the battles, the Eu-
ropean Union condemned “all violence against civilians” and “any attempts to undermine stability and the prospects for a lasting peaceful transition” in Syria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Syrian authorities to “hold the perpetrators of these massacres” accountable. Rubio said the U.S. “stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities.”
On Monday, the interim government reached a historic agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate them into state institutions. Sharaa announced the deal, emphasizing its aim to ensure equal representation and participation for all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
A key aspect of the agreement is the formal recognition of Syria’s Kurdish community, including granting citizenship to thousands who were previously denied it. However, negotiations over military integration remain complex. The People’s Protection Units (YPG), a crucial SDF faction, sought special units within the national army, a demand rejected
by Sharaa. For now, the SDF retains its existing structure and weapons, raising concerns about future fragmentation.
The deal also ensures SDF cooperation in securing Syria, including protecting key areas such as border crossings, oil fields, and detention facilities housing ISIS suspects. It marks an effort to stabilize the country, with executive committees tasked with implementing the agreement by year’s end.
Justin Trudeau’s Replacement
The Liberal Party of Canada on Sunday selected its successor for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, replacing the premier with a new party leader, Mark Carney, who is now also the prime minister.
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F
Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T, W, F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Ohr Hatorah S
7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F
Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S
Kemp Mill Synagogue S Kesher Israel S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S
8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S
8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville M, Th
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville S, T, W, F
Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S
Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S
mincha
2:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center S-F
2:20 pm YGW M, T, W
2:45 pm YGW M-Th
3:00 pm YGW Middle School School Days
mincha/maariv
Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
Beth Sholom Congregation
Chabad of Potomac
Chabad of Silver Spring
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County
Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville (20 min before, S-F) JROC
Kemp Mill Synagogue
Kesher Israel
Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue
Ohr Hatorah
Silver Spring Jewish Center
Southeast Hebrew Congregation
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi) maariv
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You’ve read it in the Baltimore Jewish Home—now experience it like never before. The 613 Seconds Podcast, powered by the new Jewish Life Network, brings you engaging, unscripted conversations with the personalities shaping Baltimore’s Jewish community.
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Of the 150,000 votes cast in the party election, roughly 86% were for Carney, who has never before held public office but has experience navigating the economy. He faced off against Chrystia Freeland, a former finance minister. Carney, 59, helped the Bank of Canada survive the 2008 global financial crisis and assisted the Bank of England through Brexit.
In his acceptance speech, Carney said in reference to recent annexation ideas raised by U.S. President Donald Trump, “America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form.
“So Americans should make no mistake,’’ Carney warned. “In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
Carney faces two main issues, the first being Canada’s economy—the country’s sky-high housing and cost of living costs—and the second being Trump, who has repeatedly raised the idea of making Canada the 51st state and has threatened to levy heavy tariffs.
Since Carney is not a member of Parliament, he will likely soon call for federal elections, during which he will compete against Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, 45, for the top position in the country.
Before Trudeau said he would resign and Trump adopted a tougher stance on Canada, Poilievre enjoyed a comfortable lead in the polls. Now, however, Carney would likely win, as many voters have soured on Poilievre due to his ideological similarities to Trump. Additionally, many view Carney as better suited to lead talks with Trump.
“Donald Trump thinks he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer. Pierre Poilievre’s plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered,” Carney said on Sunday night, “because a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him.”
Carney’s financial expertise may also make him the more desirable candidate, as Canada grapples with economic hardships. Recently, the Conservative Party has attacked Carney through ads, comparing him to Trudeau and highlighting his personal wealth and investments.
Bombing Mistake in S. Korea
A South Korean village near the North
Korean border was mistakenly shelled on Thursday by two fighter jets from the South’s own air force, leaving 15 people injured and damaging homes and a church.
The jets were taking part in a joint exercise with the U.S. military when each of them dropped four bombs, according to the South’s military. The bombs were meant to hit a range several miles from the village, but at least one of the South Korean pilots had entered inaccurate coordinates, the military said.
Four of the injured people were seriously wounded and required surgery, said officials in Pocheon, a town that includes the village of Nogok, where the bombs fell. Of the other 11, seven suffered shock and minor scratches from falling down. Local news outlets said none of the victims were in critical condition.
The military said it was suspending all live-fire drills while an investigation was carried out. The exercise on Thursday was connected to annual joint exercises, known as Freedom Shield, that the South Korean and U.S. military carry out every year and which are set to officially begin Monday.
The South Korean air force did not say how many of the eight bombs dropped had hit Nogok, which is about
20 miles from the heavily fortified North Korean border. It issued an apology and promised compensation for the victims.
“Something that should never have happened just happened,” said Mayor Baek Young-hyun of Pocheon. “The place where the bombs landed is utterly chaotic and looks like a battlefield.”
Baek said that three large military firing ranges occupy 12,253 acres of land in Pocheon and bullets that ricocheted from there have sometimes endangered villagers. He demanded that the military stop using the firing ranges until it can ensure that accidents like Thursday’s never happen again.
U.S. troops — but no U.S. Air Force aircraft — were participating in the joint live-fire exercise when the accident happened Thursday, the U.S. military in Korea said.
“We take this incident very seriously,” said Col. Ryan Donald, a U.S. military spokesperson, adding that his command was coordinating closely with South Korea’s Defense Ministry and was committed to a thorough and transparent investigation.
The United States has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea. The allies con-
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duct several joint military exercises each year, calling them defensive in nature.
The Israeli military announced on Friday that IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari would be retiring as a spokesman and from the Israel Defense Forces in a few weeks.
Like the majority of IDF spokespersons, Hagari has served two years, having started in March 2023. However, his retirement from the Israel Defense Forc-
es has been seen by many as a dismissal, as he has been passed up for promotions. Hagari wanted to become vice admiral and Israel’s defense attaché to the United States, two roles that would have allowed him to potentially become the head of the Israeli Navy or a senior member on the General Staff.
According to the IDF, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the new IDF chief of staff, agreed with Hagari’s decision to retire.
“The chief of staff wished to express his great appreciation to Rear Adm. Hagari for his years of significant combat service for the State of Israel. Rear Adm. Hagari performed his role as IDF spokesman during one of the most complex wars in the country’s history, in a professional and dedicated manner,” said the army.
Hagari had previously come at odds with members of the government, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, who likely refused to promote Hagari.
Politicians criticized Hagari on several occasions, including in June when he said that Hamas couldn’t be destroyed and in December when he spoke out against a bill that could protect intelligence leakers.
“Dear members of the unit, at the
CONGREGATION
start of my words it is important for me to say that I love you all very much. This month, I mark 30 years of service in the IDF, during which I have always put the security of the country and the mission first, and I will continue to do so,” Hagari told his workers. “The last two years have been challenging for all of us. I had the privilege of commanding a great unit with the best people. I had the privilege of standing up in front of the public in difficult times, while you work around the clock.
“The war is not over yet, and the hostages in Gaza are always in front of our eyes, as a goal of unparalleled value and importance,” he added.
Zamir will be tasked with selecting a Ground Forces senior officer to succeed Hagari.
Hagari joined the army in 1995. He mostly served in Shayetet 13, an elite Navy unit. He was the office manager of then-chief of staff Benny Gantz from 2012 to 2014. From 2016 to 2019, Hagari was also the assistant to Gadi Eisenkot, who was the chief of staff at the time. After 2019, he rejoined Shayetet as a commander, heading naval operations prior to becoming IDF spokesman in 2023.
Annual DAHAN LECTURE
One Jewish State: A Conversation with Ambassador David Friedman
Tuesday, May 6, 7:30pm | Dahan Sanctuary
As the United States Ambassador to Israel from March 2017 until January 2021, Ambassador David Friedman successfully guided unprecedented diplomatic advancements in the US – Israel relationship, including moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He also is among a small group of American officials responsible for the “Abraham Accords” – peace and normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco – for which he was nominated in 2021 for the Nobel Peace Prize. Ambassador Friedman is the founder of The Friedman Center for Peace through Strength which works to build upon the Ambassador’s achievements in strengthening the US-Israel relationship.
*Sponsored by the Haron Dahan Foundation
Fatal Bus Crash
Early Sunday, a bus traveling from Tel Aviv to Beersheba flipped over near the Ma’ahaz Interchange on Route 40. The crash killed one boy, 17-year-old Liron Avitan, and injured 12 others, three moderately and nine lightly.
Those hurt in the crash were brought to Soroka Hospital. All were in stable condition, including a 16-year-old boy who sustained injuries to the head, a 29-yearold man with chest injuries, and a 43-yearold man whose limbs were wounded.
Deputy Commissioner Yosef Avitan, the father of the boy killed in the crash, found out that his son had died after appearing at the scene as the Southern District’s Traffic Police commander.
The incident was being investigated by police. Authorities say that the driver, who is 23 years old, fell asleep while driving the bus.
From 2020 to 2024, 125 were hurt near the Ma’ahaz Interchange, six seriously.
According to the National Road Safety Authority, last year, traffic accidents killed 436 people in Israel, the highest number since 2007.
הלפת תיב BETH TFILOH
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Liri Albag Recounts Her Ordeal
Liri Albag, a surveillance soldier who was kidnapped on October 7 from the IDF’s Nahal Oz military base, gave her first interview since her release in January. On Friday, she spoke with Channel 12 about her horrific time in Gaza.
“The truth is that October 7 feels like one long nightmare, and I’ve been waiting for someone to wake me up, for someone to tell me I was dreaming. But that didn’t happen. Unfortunately, this has all been real,” Liri said.
She was abducted with fellow Nahal Oz security members Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger, all of whom were finally released. At the base, Ori Megidish was also kidnapped, though she was later rescued by Israeli forces. Noa Marciano, another soldier at the base, was killed in Gaza after being kidnapped; the military recovered her body.
On October 7, Liri had only been a trained surveillance soldier for two days and had just begun defending the Nahal Oz base. She wasn’t given a weapon.
“I was sure that the moment we stood there tied up, they were going to slaughter us — shoot us one by one,” Liri recalled. “I went into survival mode, I said: ‘OK, what can I do to make it out alive?’”
Liri said her time in Gaza was a nightmare. Terrorists forced her and other abductees to watch videos of the attacks on October 7, including footage of Liri’s abduction.
“They told us, ‘If you listen to us, we won’t kill you. You’re coming with us to Gaza.’ And we told them, ‘Yes, take us to Gaza’ because we were simply afraid,” she added. “I think it was totally instinctual.”
After being taken into Gaza on October 7, Liri and others saw Gazan civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, celebrating, joyfully running after them, clapping, and dancing. Liri deduced from that experience that there are no “innocent bystanders” in Gaza.
Hostages’ use of the bathroom was
sometimes limited to twice a day, according to Liri, adding there was “no hygiene there” and that she still hasn’t “been able to remove from myself the ‘filth’ of Gaza.” For meals, she primarily ate pita bread, rice, and sometimes pasta, but often went hungry. She lost 22 pounds since her abduction. Sometimes, she and the other hostages drank salt water since water was unavailable.
Liri said she acted friendly with her captors out of fear but that she was able to impose certain boundaries, including stopping terrorists from entering her room while she was asleep. There was “verbal violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse. [They would tell us] ‘You’re not going home,’” and “they tried to tame us into their culture, where women can’t laugh out loud, can’t sit [with legs crossed].
“They look at us like we’re a terrorist organization, like how we look at them. That’s how they see us: terrorists, murderers, thieves, liars. We had conversations with them about the Holocaust. They deny the Holocaust. They think Hitler was a genius… that Hitler didn’t do that, that Hitler was alright,” said Liri.
Liri briefly spent time in captivity with Keith and Aviva Siegel, who were freed in November 2023 and February 2025, respectively. After that, she was briefly held with the young children, who would later be released in the November 2023 ceasefire. For most of her time in Gaza, Liri was with Berger, who had been defending the Nahal Oz base alongside her on October 7. Berger was released shortly after Liri, Ariev, Gilboa, and Levy. Liri hadn’t seen Ariev, Gilboa, and Levy until after being freed in January.
During the interview, Liri downplayed her role in saving Amit Soussana, another hostage. Liri convinced the terrorists that Sousanna wasn’t a soldier, thus saving her life.
Liri explained that she was told in November 2023 that she would be released during that deal. However, when the truce quickly ended, she realized that she would remain in captivity.
At one point, the terrorists gave Liri a siddur left behind by IDF soldiers. She and her fellow abductees would pray from the book and attempt to observe Jewish holidays. Together, the hostages would sing, celebrate birthdays, and keep diaries in order to keep sane. While in captivity, she had access to a radio and heard that some people in Israel were against exchanging hostages for terrorists.
“It was very difficult for us to think that there are people who are really ready
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to sacrifice us,” she exclaimed. “Why? What did I do? I’m responsible for getting kidnapped?”
Job Losses
Recently it was reported that onefifth of Israelis who were forced to evacuate their homes after October 7, 2023, also lost their jobs.
The report by the Israel Democracy Institute highlights the heavy costs that Israel is bearing after the Hamas massacre and the subsequent war.
Tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from dozens of communities near the Gaza border in the wake of the Hamas assault from Gaza. More than 60,000 more were also evacuated from communities near the northern border when Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas on October 8.
Many of those evacuees were living in temporary places, including hotels around the country. The government helped to give them subsidies to help with the housing costs. The government has spent more than NIS 9 billion ($2.5
billion) on the evacuation of Israelis since the October 7 attack, with some NIS 6 billion going to payments to hotels and property owners.
Now, 15 months after the massacre, just 39% of those who were evacuated are back at home. Nineteen percent of those who were employed before the war are out of a job, according to the IDI report, highlighting the cost to an economy that grew by just 1% in 2024. Another 3% were called in to reserve military duty.
Around a third of Israeli households have reported a fall in their incomes since the start of the war, a proportion that reached as high as 44% among households in the north and south, where economic activity in businesses, tourism and the agricultural sector was severely impacted. The national average is 35%.
“The fact that around 15 months since the outbreak of the war, a majority of self-employed/freelance evacuees are still reporting a decrease in the scale of their business activity due to the war highlights the urgent need to create a clear and ordered mechanism that will provide an immediate response to this population group during emergency situations, such as wars, pandemics, and other extreme
Tuesday March 18th Monday March 17th
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:00 am
Baking with Yehudis
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpKi Sisa- Parsha Recap and Issues
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
2:00 pm
Music with Mr. Fried
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpGreat Ladies Who Did for Eretz Yisroel
1:00 pm
BINGO
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
events that are beyond their control,” noted authors of the IDI report Daphna Aviram-Nitzan and Omer Cohen.
Aviram-Nitzan and Cohen said the mechanisms should be “similar to the existing mechanisms for assisting salaried workers, who in times of crisis are entitled to a security buffer, whether by means of [providing] unpaid leave or receiving unemployment benefits.”
Electricity Cut to Gaza
On Sunday, Energy Minister Eli Cohen instructed the Israel Electric Corporation to cut off the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip.
“We will employ all the tools available to us so that all the hostages will return, and we will ensure that Hamas won’t be in Gaza on the ‘day after,’” said Cohen, explaining the reasoning behind the electricity cut.
Twenty-four hostages are presumed to still be held alive in Gaza. It is said that Hamas is holding the bodies of 35 other hostages.
Electricity from Israel to Gaza was cut off after October 7, but in November Israel announced it was renewing supply to a desalination plant near Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. This week, Israel cut the power to that plant.
The plant serves more than 600,000 Gaza residents through tankers or the networks of Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis governorates in central and southern Gaza, respectively. It is one of three such seawater processing facilities in the Gaza Strip, which before the war met around 15 percent of the 2 million-plus residents’ need for water.
On March 2, Israel said it was halting the entry of goods into Gaza. The United States backed the move, although other governments condemned it. Israel has noted that there is enough aid accumulated in Gaza to meet the needs of its population and that Hamas uses the supply of goods to bolster its control of the enclave and fund its attacks on Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that he was prepared to raise the pressure and would not rule out cutting off all electricity to Gaza if Hamas didn’t budge on its demands in talks to free the hostages and end the war.
WEEKLY CALENDAR MARCH 17TH - MARCH 21ST
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
10:30 am
Bais Yaakov Middle School Visit
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp- Hashkafa and Emuna
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
Thursday March 20th
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp- Hilchos Brachos
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
Friday March 21st
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:00 am
Baking with Yehudis
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpParshas Vayakhel Overview and Israel News
1:00 pm
Music with Aharon Grayson
For all your auto home life and business needs , , .
The Week In News
premises and make arrests. At around that time, Republicans in Congress interrogated Minouche Shafik, the then-president of Columbia, about her university’s failure to stop antisemitism. Four months later, she stepped down.
Trump Cancels $400M from Columbia University
On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would be canceling $400 million worth of federal grants and contracts with Columbia University, penalizing the Ivy League institution for not doing enough to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.
“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,” stated Linda McMahon, the secretary of education.
Soon thereafter, McMahon said she had “a productive meeting” with Columbia’s interim president Katrina Armstrong, with whom she expected to work “together to protect all students.”
In response, the university stated, “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.”
It remains to be seen which projects will be affected.
The announcement was celebrated by the university’s Hillel. Brian Cohen, the executive director of the Jewish student group, said he hopes the government’s actions would be “a wake-up call to Columbia’s administration and trustees to take antisemitism and the harassment of Jewish students and faculty seriously.”
In the wake of October 7, anti-Israel protests swept through colleges around the United States. At Columbia, antisemitic demonstrators propped up encampments on campus in April. Soon thereafter, protestors invaded a building on campus, prompting police to clear the
A few weeks later, a task force established by Columbia found that Jewish and Israeli students were being shunned by peers, humiliated in classrooms, and verbally abused.
Recently, the university expelled two students after they stormed an Israeli history class. The expulsion infuriated a small group of protestors, who went on to occupy buildings at Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia. Last Wednesday, police arrested several students occupying the buildings.
The federal government is investigating other colleges for antisemitism, including the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; and Portland State University.
Kabul Airport Blast Mastermind Captured
Mohammad Sharifullah, the man believed to have planned the Kabul airport bombing during the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, is now in U.S. custody after his extradition from Pakistan.
Sharifullah, who is also known as “Jafar,” has been charged in Virginia for allegedly providing material support to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), the terrorist organization that killed 13 U.S. military personnel and at least 170 Afghan civilians during the attack.
Sharifullah’s extradition came as a result of careful coordination between the U.S. and Pakistan. The U.S., according to an official from Pakistan’s ministry of defense, located the terrorist. Then, Pakistan forces launched a counter-terrorism raid near the Afghanistan border in the Balochistan province, capturing Sharifullah and three other important ISIS-K members.
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es to storm his hideout near the Afghanistan border and nabbed him in a swift raid,” the official explained.
The terrorist arrived in Washington, D.C., on March 2. His arrest was announced by President Donald Trump during his Tuesday address to Congress.
“The FBI will never forget the loss of these American heroes. We will continue to hunt down those who viciously murdered our warriors. We will find all responsible and bring them to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
In addition to orchestrating the bombing and helping ISIS-K access routes around Kabul’s Abbey Gate, Sharifullah admitted to playing a role in the 2016 bombing near Kabul’s Canadian embassy and the deadly terrorist attack at Russia’s Crocus City Hall last year, which killed 130. He can be sentenced to up to life in prison.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz thanked Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq over the phone for helping with the operation.
Last Tuesday, gunmen and suicide bombers killed 18 people, children included, and injured dozens in a planned attack on the Pakistani army base at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu. Two days later, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir noted that Afghan terrorist organizations continue to attack Pakistan.
Walgreens Going Private
Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm, has announced that it will buy pharmacy chain Walgreens for $11.45 a share in cash, or around $23.7 billion in total, counting debt and future payouts.
The purchase would take Walgreens off public markets almost 100 years after the company went public in 1927.
Over the past five years, Walgreens’ shares have lost almost 80% of their value. Ten years ago, the company was worth $100 billion. Now, it’s valued at around $9.5 billion. In October, Walgreens said it would be shuttering 1,200 of its 8,500 stores. By 2027, one in seven Walgreens locations will be closed. Similar chains, including CVS and Rite Aid, have suffered comparable fates, as drug stores struggle with low prescription drug reimbursement rates and competition from companies like Amazon and Target.
“While we are making progress
against our ambitious turnaround strategy, meaningful value creation will take time, focus and change that is better managed as a private company,” stated Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth. “Sycamore will provide us with the expertise and experience of a partner with a strong track record of successful retail turnarounds.”
Walgreens Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina holds a 17% stake in the company, as its biggest shareholder. As part of the buy-out, he will have to reinvest his stake in the company.
“Walgreens is a big company with big problems, and this would be a longer-term investment rather than a way to make a quick buck,” Neil Saunders, the managing director of GlobalData, said in December. “Cuts would most certainly be on the agenda, but the pathway to grow would be more challenging as the healthcare, pharmacy and retail sides of the business all have inherent problems that are not easily soluble.”
The transaction is supposed to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Walgreens.
In 2010, Walgreens took over Duane Reade. Four years later, the company spent $5.3 billion to purchase a 55% stake in Alliance Boots, a European drugstore operator.
83% of USAID Programs to Be Cancelled
Following a six-week review, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that 83% of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs would be canceled.
“The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve (and in some cases even harmed) the core national interests of the United States,” Rubio posted on X.
The 1,000 other USAID programs would, in consultation with Congress, be handed over to the State Department for more effective administration, Rubio added, thanking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which spearheaded efforts to eliminate the agency.
President John F. Kennedy founded USAID in 1961 to give more than 100 countries humanitarian aid. In recent
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years, however, many believe that the agency has been hijacked for partisan purposes. President Donald Trump claims the agency is controlled by “radical left lunatics,” while Musk asserted it was “beyond repair.” Currently, the Trump administration hopes to merge USAID into the State Department to cut staff and decrease the agency’s budget.
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order pausing federal funding for the conglomerate for 90 days pending review. The order doesn’t stop the government from providing “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” including medicine, medical services, food, shelter, subsistence assistance, supplies, and the like.
A district court stopped the administration from freezing around $2 billion in foreign aid. The Supreme Court refused to reverse the lower court’s decision.
Palestinian Protester to be Deported
Mahmoud Khalil was arrested on Saturday by federal immigration author-
ities who said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke the Palestinian activist’s green card. Khalil had been leading the anti-Israel student protests in Columbia University.
He had been at his university-owned apartment blocks from Columbia’s Manhattan campus when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the building and took him into custody.
Khalil was in the United States as a permanent resident with a green card. He came to the U.S. in 2002. He was born in Syria to Palestinian parents. His wife is American.
“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” attorney Amy Greer said. “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”
The Trump administration on Friday said it had canceled government contracts and grants awarded to Columbia University worth about $400 million. The government said the cuts and the student deportation efforts are due to antisemitic harassment at and near Columbia’s Manhattan campus.
“What more can Columbia do to appease Congress or the government now?”
Khalil complained before his arrest, noting that Columbia had twice called in police to arrest protesters and had disciplined many pro-Palestinian students and staff, suspending some. “They basically silenced anyone supporting Palestine on campus, and this was not enough. Clearly Trump is using the protesters as a scapegoat for his wider agenda fighting and attacking higher education and the Ivy League education system.”
In September, Khalil vowed to continue the protests. “As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist.”
The State Department on Friday reportedly revoked the visa of a foreign student who participated in pro-Hamas demonstrations.
On Monday, President Trump said that Khalil is not going to be the last person to be deported for his vile views.
addresses from the cyberattack on X originated in Ukraine.
“We’re not sure what happened but there was a massive cyberattack to try and bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area,” Musk said.
The outages were intermittent throughout the day on Monday, affecting tens of thousands of users.
Playing With Your Food
This orchestra loves to play with food. The 11-piece Vegetable Orchestra was formed in Vienna, Austria, in 1999.
“We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.”
Cyberattack on X
Elon Musk said on Monday that his social media platform X had suffered a “massive cyberattack,” suggesting that the attack originated from Ukraine.
, an online tracker of service outages, thousands of users reported outages Monday morning on the social media site bought by Musk in 2022 for $44 billion.
“There was (still is) a massive cyberMusk said in a post
”We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large coordinated group and/or a country is
Musk told host Larry Kudlow of Fox Business Network that the IP
Various musicians joined together to carve vegetables into instruments. Now, the most unusual group has earned a Guinness World Record for playing 344 concerts over the past 27 years – all with veggies.
“It all started as a joke,” founding member Matthias Meinharter told the BBC in 2019.
He said the founding four members had been signed up for a performance art festival in Vienna.
“We were brainstorming what we could do, and we thought: ‘What is the most difficult thing to play music on?’“ he said. “We were making soup together at the time, and one idea led to another.”
The performers have now perfected the art of playing with their food. Their instruments include carrots carved into recorders and leeks into mandolins. They carve fresh vegetables before every performance, as their instruments only last for about 6 hours before starting to rot or losing their shape.
Any unused vegetables are made into a soup to be served at the concert. The used instruments are turned into organic waste to keep the concerts eco-friendly.
Asked if they’re vegetarians, they respond: “No, we are not. Don’t ask again. We’ve heard this question 3 million times.”
Cool beans.
Torah Thought Relentless!
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
The moment of truth in the story of Purim takes place when Esther risks her life entering the chamber of the king uninvited. It is ‘do or die’ time, as Esther literally risks her life for her people.
For three days she fasts and absorbs herself in prayer. We can only imagine the spiritual elevation she must have experienced at that time. The Talmud (וט הליגמ) indeed tells us she reached heightened levels of Ruach HaKodesh, divine inspiration, as she clothed herself in divine radiance, immediately prior to her entry into the king.
In this exalted and purified state, she edges forward with renewed confidence that G-d is with her. But suddenly as she steps foot into Achashveirosh’s idol filled chamber, the Divine Presence suddenly departs.
In utter dismay, disappointment and frustration, Esther ‘roars’ out those now famous words, יל-א יל-א — My G-d, my G-d, ינתבזע המל — why have you forsaken me? (ב בכ םילהת)
What is going on here? Did G-d lead her on to believe she was being accompanied by Him only to pull away at the last minute?
These words of Esther are strong words, almost as if she was accusing G-d of abandoning her. Could she have been so confident in her perfection to point her finger outward rather than inward? Is one allowed to approach G-d in so brazen of a manner?
The Midrash (בוט רחוש) says the double reference to G-d alludes to G-d at the splitting of the sea and G-d at Mount Sinai at the giving of the Torah.
What is Esther’s intent in arousing those images of G-d’s presence exclusively?
Earlier in the story when Esther, not having been aware of the decree, dispatches Hasach to inquire about Mordechai as to why he is sitting in sackcloth and mourning.
The exact wording of the message she asks Hasach to deliver is: תעדל — to learn, הז המ — what this was about, הז המ לעו — and why? (ה ד רתסא)
The Midrash (ד ח הבר רתסא) tells us that in this double language of הז, Esther was questioning whether the Jewish nation was guilty of disavowing the (ב וט תומש) והונאו יל-א הז, the God they encountered at the splitting of the sea, or perhaps their denying the Tablets of which is stated, (וט בל תומש) הזמ הזמו — on this and on this, םיבותכ םה — were they written, referring to the miraculous ability of the words, though etched through the Tablets, appearing correctly on the opposite side and not reversed.
Here too, we find a reference to G-d at the splitting of the sea and G-d at the revelation at Sinai.
Reb Shimshon Pincus explains that Esther was wondering whether the Jewish nation had forgotten about the intimate bond they had with G-d that was expressed in the ability to ‘point’ directly and exclaim י-לא הז, this is my G-d, as a son who revels in the unbreakable bond with his father.
She further worried that in their lapse of this awareness they would fail to see G-d in every facet of life, even in the face of disappointment. She wondered that perhaps they were incapable of seeing in the difficult circumstances of life, the 'ד יכנא — I am G-d, that appears in every angle, turn and side.
Esther would serve as the paradigm of faith in the face of darkness, teaching the nation what type of relationship we have with our Father, even when all looks so bleak.
Esther would be tested to the max, having risen to the peak of revelation, G-d would appear to recede. Esther would be left with merely her faith.
She appeals to God as only a beloved child could, “Tatteh!”
— “Why have You left me?”
But her greatness lies not in her frustrated query, but in the very next sentence.
םמוי ארקא י-הלא — O my G-d, I call out by day, הנעת אלו — but you answer not; הלילו — and by night, — הימוד אלו but there is no silence, יל — from me.
Esther directs her aggravation to her Father in Heaven, but she does not relent. Her heartfelt pleas during the day seem to fall on deaf ears, yet she remains not silent knowing with absolute clarity that He is there, and she will continue to appeal even amidst total darkness.
Indeed, her doting Father is waiting for that critical moment where Esther will display an unequaled love and devotion that will warrant the miraculous intervention that will remain with us for eternity.
Rav Hutner discusses in his Pachad Yitzchok (דל םירופ) regarding what the Talmud teaches us that the only holiday that will remain for eternity is Purim.
All holidays are flashes of light that illuminate momentarily the night of galus, exile. When the great radiance of redemption arrives the lights that shone previously will no longer be necessary, as we will benefit from a much greater source of light.
But the subtle senses we honed, in the utter blackness of exile, will raise our ability to sense G-d in a much deeper way. This refined perception that penetrates beneath a superficial layer of sight will serve us even in the most radiant of lights.
The only holiday we begin the festive meal towards the end of the day celebrating the following night is Purim.
The verse we derive the command to read the Megillah by night is our previously cited verse, הלילו — and by night, יל הימוד אלו —but there is no silence from me.
Night represents that invisibility of G-d’s presence, when we persevere by sharpening our ability to feel G-d beyond the faculty of sight.
We read the Megillah at night to assert that we will not remain silent, we will persist in seeking G-d out.
We end Purim with a commitment to take its message into the night of galus, developing an ability to perceive G-d in a more profound way.
We take that newly gained skill to be able to sense His presence even when He is not apparent.
Perhaps this year, when we celebrate the closure of Purim as it transitions to the holiness of Shabbos — the day that illuminates our souls with the זונגה רוא — the Hidden Light of Creation, it portends the impending ‘light of redemption’.
May we be relentless in our quest to find G-d and in that merit bring the ultimate redemption and the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our time.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
PARSHA
OVERVIEW
The parshah begins with the prohibition of counting Jews, the donation of half-shekel, the mirrored urn, the oil and incense. Shabbos, the sin of the Golden Calf, the smashing of the Luchos and creation of the second Luchos are discussed as well.
Quotable Quote
“if you don’t know what you’re living for, you haven’t yet lived.”
TSorahparks
Inspiration Everywhere
Parshas Ki Sisa on
Rav Noach Weinberg
GEMATRIA
numerical value of הנבלח , which was the bad smelling part of the incense, is 95, which is the same as הפי - beautiful.
Every person has middos that are “bad smelling,” however, never does that take away from the innate holiness and beauty of a yid.
At our core, we are beautiful!
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of “Ready. Set. Grow.” and “Dove Tales.”
His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. Your feedback is appreciated: oristrum@torahsparks.com
Pesukim - 139
QUICK VORT Chassidus
The Sefer Emes L'Yakov points out that Moshe Rabbeinu did not throw down the Luchos until he saw the Jewish people dancing around the Eigel Hazahav.
When the Jewish people were dancing around the Eigel, it showed they were happy to serve an idol over Hashem. It was no longer a "last resort" option; it was preferred.
The mistake of the Jewish people by Purim was not that they partook in the seuda of Achashvei rosh, but that they were הנהנ - they deeply enjoyed - the seuda of Achashveirosh.
Dancing is the highest form of physical expression (of either tumah or kedusha) because one's entire being is involved.
That is why Moshe only smashed the Luchos when he saw them dancing around it.
Let us live life with joy and holy dancing as we work to get closer to Hashem!
The Meor Einayim, Rebbe Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, explains that a pleasure that is constant is not called pleasure.
That is why Moshe learned the Torah and forgot it, so that way he could experience the great pleasure again and again.
Every day is a new day, a new opportunity for pleasure!
There is an allusion to Purim in Parshas Ki Sisa. Where is it? What is the connection to Purim?
How many connections between Ki Sisa and Purim can you find?!
Scan the QR code to join the Torah Sparks WhatsApp Chat for more content!
Eretz HaKodesh is a movement created to protect kedushas Eretz Yisroel. They established a party in the World Zionist Congress (WZC), a board of Jewish representatives from around the world that wields serious influence and controls substantial funds that shape life in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the Jewish World.
Every five years, an election determines who represents American Jewry in this congress. In the last election cycle, Eretz HaKodesh received 20,000 votes from people like you. This election cycle, they aim for 100,000 votes because the stakes are higher. The opposition— woke left and liberal Jews—are working harder than ever to bring more of their representatives and change the face of Eretz Yisroel.
You care enough to say Tehillim when terror strikes. You care enough to check the news obsessively. You care enough to visit. You care enough to send your children.
Your tefillos are powerful. Your concern is genuine. Your care is significant.
But now, we need more than that.
The woke left and liberal are working to destroy everything you care about in Eretz Yisroel.
While you daven for Eretz Yisroel, the left is voting to undermine our values.
While you check the news and worry about the war and hostages, the left is taking control of billions in funding that could otherwise be used for kedusha in Eretz Yisroel.
The left is working to make Eretz Yisroel unlivable and unvisitable for us who really care.
The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave
The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd
Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave
Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd
Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor
Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave
They’re Talking About You
How The Woke Left Is Energizing Their Base
By: Dovid Gold
“Their goal is to silence our power. They do not want men and women to pray together at the Kotel; they want the education system in Israel to recognize only orthodox Judaism, and they do not want synagogues to allow women to serve as prayer leaders.” This was the rallying cry at the Conservative movement’s conference held in advance of the upcoming World Zionist elections.
The leaders of the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism are scared. Their hold on the World Zionist Congress and the billions at its disposal is disappearing. In the words of Dr. Yizhar Hess, head of the Conservative Mercaz party: “The only source of funding that non-Orthodox movements [receive] is from the National Institutions; the Zionist Congress and its daughter companies. These two movements, Reform Judaism and Masoriti Conservative movements [are] now at risk.”
These are not empty words. These religiously bankrupt movements are on their last legs. Thriving movements don’t rely on one source of funds.
From Ignoring Israel to Exploiting It
From their inception, the non-Orthodox movements have practically ignored Eretz Yisroel. Finding the concept of a Jewish homeland to be ideologically at odds with their vision of the modern Jew, the Reform movement in particular refused to have anything to do with it. But this has changed. Beginning in the 1970s, they started talking about Israel and its importance to Judaism.
Their ideology didn’t change. What they realized was that they were rapidly becoming irrelevant and to save their movements they piggybacked off the success of the State of Israel and its place in the hearts of the Jewish people. Suddenly, they started claiming they cared about it too. To this end, they joined the WZO and became active in Israeli politics.
The WZO is the umbrella term for the “National Institutions” — which include Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael, (KKL/JNF), the Jewish Agency (JAFI), and Keren Hayesod (United Israel Appeal), the official fundraising arm of the State of Israel. Collectively, these bodies have a $2.3 billion annual budget.
In 1978, the Reform Movement established the Association of Reform Zionists in America (ARZA) as its representative body in the WZO. At the same time, the Conservative Movement redoubled its efforts to grow its party, MERCAZ Olami. These alternative forms of Judaism began to grow in influence within the WZO and demanded that large amounts of money be given to causes aligned with their values.
Unfortunately, they were largely successful. By positioning themselves as the exclusive representatives of American Jewry, they secured leadership positions that allowed them to influence the budgets of the National Institutions.
Based on an investigative review of the entire WZO budget, the total annual amount transferred to the Reform movements by the National Institutions is approximately 46,500,000 NIS. For example, a Reform summer camp received not only direct funding from KKL/JNF but also operated at an official KKL/ JNF facility as part of a partnership with the Reform movement.
These activities have an unfortunate effect on thousands of unsuspecting Israelis who are just looking to add religion to their lives. This reality went unchecked for decades.
In 2020, concerned frum activists, guided by Gedolei Yisroel including Rav Chaim Kanievsky and
Rav Gershon Edelstein, decided to take action. They founded Eretz HaKodesh, a party dedicated to representing Torah values in the WZO. In their very first election, they secured 25 seats in the Zionist Congress, finally giving a voice to those who oppose the agenda of the Reform and Conservative movements.
Their effect was felt immediately. As Dr. Hess describes it: “What happened to us in the last elections to the Congress was a tragedy… The Chareidim ran a slate for the first time in history… and became a very serious party in the Congress. And it changed the forces in the Zionist movement. For the first time… the pluralistic side became a minority. The ramifications are serious.”
The Coming Election
In preparation for the next election, these organizations have launched audacious campaigns. In the last election, they received about 50,000 votes combined. They know they need to do better.
Nothing gets out the vote like a good bogeyman. And apparently, we serve that purpose for them. On ARZA’s election website, the copy screams their fear of a weak vote turnout: “To let ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox extremists win these elections, set the agenda, and control billions in Israel.”
In a campaign video, Josh Weinberg, Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, warns: “If we don’t vote and we don’t show up, we know who will. Our extremist ultra-Orthodox opponents stand against [our] values. They have opposed us at every turn and are mobilizing to roll back any progress we’ve made. We need all of us to stop them.”
Not to be outdone, Arza Canada’s video has Michael Dogin, Rabbi at the Reform Temple Sinai in Toronto saying: “There is a new organization called Eretz HaKodesh that is working hard to trans-
fer funds and people to jeopardize all of our achievements in Israel. The changes led by this dangerous movement are trying to silence us. We must act now so that our movement will strengthen and we will be able to fight them. Now, more than ever, we need your voice!”
In a recent Times of Israel article titled “Billions at stake: WZO vote sees Orthodox-liberal struggle, opportunity for N. American Jews (02/11/2025)”, Dr. Hess doubled down: “Generally speaking, the Haredi parties in Knesset do not send delegates to the Zionist Congress, but this new [American] party, Eretz HaKodesh, is associated with the United Torah Judaism party, and they managed to win 25 out of 152 seats. A very strong showing for a new party. All of a sudden, the liberal movements became a minority for the first time, while Haredi Jews, who make up only about 5% of American Jewry, have more than 16% of the vote.”
While his statistics may be questioned, his message is clear. It is only as a result of Eretz Hakodesh that the liberal movements he champions are now a minority in the Congress.
Billions of dollars hang in the balance. Be’ezras Hashem, those of us who care about the future of Am Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel will raise our collective voice March 10 - May 4th, and take action to ensure that Torah values remain at the heart of our nation.
The final word goes once more to our friend Dr. Hess: “When you don’t vote, all these billions and all this influence go to those who do. Not voting is voting.”
As Rabbi Aryeh Richter puts it, “The Matmid Program is the newest addition to our robust High School Beit Midrash track, giving our students the opportunity to take their Talmud studies to the next level with consistency, nuance, and depth. Students who elect to join this track gain skills and knowledge that will prepare them to continue their Torah learning however they choose - both in high school and beyond. Choosing the Matmid track at BT means that your high schooler will receive a stellar general education alongside a high-level Gemara class. This unique combination will afford your child opportunities to pursue advanced Yeshiva study as well as professional careers.”
When families are choosing a Jewish Day School, there’s a lot to think about. Some focus on college acceptance rates, others prioritize strong creative arts or athletics programs, and for a unique group, it’s all the above - plus making sure their child’s Talmud studies are just as rigorous as they would be in a traditional yeshiva setting.
At Beth Tfiloh (BT), they’re incredibly proud of their students’ success in post-high school yeshivot and seminaries. More than 35% of BT’s class of 2025 students are exploring gap year or educational opportunities in Israel. BT understands that for many families, choosing a school isn’t just about academics; it’s about ensuring their child’s Torah learning remains a priority. A Beth Tfiloh education means students don’t have
to choose between general and Judaic studies. They have access to top-tier Torah learning while receiving an outstanding General Studies education that sets them up for success in any path they choose.
One student summed it up perfectly: “The Matmid track’s impact is greater than just improving my Gemara skills. I have improved my logical thinking skills and have the ability to understand complicated ideas in any course.” Another shared, “I really like the Matmid class because it is giving me more strength in reading and translating the Gemara.”
That’s exactly why Rabbi Mordechai Soskil, Principal of the High School, created Matmid - an option for students who apply and are approved to take Double Talmud. The goal? To
instill in them the desire and ability to be lifelong, independent learners of Talmud. With double the time devoted to their Mesechta of Gemara, students can dive deeper into their learning, sharpen both their language and analytical skills, alongside teachers who are deeply committed to their growth, both academically and personally.
Matmid’s impact is already clear. Beth Tfiloh freshmen students are showing an impressive level of independence in their studies, beyond what’s typically expected. One student expressed it best: “I love the Matmid track. I learn so much Torah, and my instructor is the best. My Gemara skills are getting much better, and I think this will help me prepare for Yeshiva after high school.”
Unlike the BT’s standard Beit Midrash track, Matmid places a strong emphasis on building the skills to read, translate, and understand the Gemara directly from the text, rather than relying on a lecture-style class. The smaller classroom setting allows for deeper understanding, leading to a greater sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from learning.
Since all Torah learning is interconnected, the skills students gain in Matmid naturally enhance their study of Chumash and Navi, boosting their confidence in interpreting complex Hebrew texts. Matmid students are eager to put in the effort to grow, and it shows.
Thinking about whether the Matmid track could be an option for your child? To succeed in Matmid, students just need a basic exposure to Gemara - along with the motivation to work hard - because at the end of the day, effort and enthusiasm are what make this program so successful.
For our students, the rewards speak for themselves: “I really enjoy learning Gemara with Rabbi Furman because it allows me to think deeply. I also love learning the interesting cases and questions of the Gemara.”
“The Matmid track is amazing because of how much you get to understand Gemara. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t know how to learn that well, and I didn’t understand Aramaic that well, but now we are almost at the point where we can teach ourselves to learn for the rest of our lives. I love my teacher.”
Through the Matmid Program, students don’t just learn more Gemara - they gain skills, confidence, and a passion for Torah learning that will stay with them for life.
Could a Beth Tfiloh education be perfect for your child? Visit bethtfiloh. com/admissions to visit their campus or schedule a tour.
Life C ach
The Secret Weapon
By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS
Garage – or is it?
It’s that one secret weapon in every household.
Every house always needs something more.
Hardly any house truly needs a place for a car. Why would it? There are streets and driveways for that. But everyone has a desire for another space, maybe to store tools, bikes, carriages, or more. But often, more importantly, to be used as a Costco closet. What a gift – then you don’t need to trek down to the basement in
order to retrieve every new roll of toilet paper or a tissue each time you run low. Alternatively, it’s often a great place for an extra fridge or freezer, especially when Friday’s big prep comes around. Suddenly, your kitchen fridge, that worked for you perfectly all week, seems to shrink.
And then, if you truly want to capitalize on that terrific internal space, here’s the piece de la resistance. If you find your family expanding or your house shrinking, it often provides an extra magical
area. Without you knowing how it occurs, it somehow becomes a guest room, a study, and even a spare bathroom. Amazing how much you can kvetch out of it!
Yes, that garage may be there for a car. But often, people get much more mileage out of it.
Garages are a gift the builder gives to a homeowner because human nature is to fill all the space allotted. You know, nature abhors a vacuum – so one always needs more.
But – one glitch – if you wind up with
a detached garage, then all bets may be off. Because often it just winds up housing predominately excess junk . What does your secret weapon look like?
Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.
To Raise a Laugh
Chatzi Lachem
If there’s one thing people enjoy about a Friday Purim, it’s complaining about it.
As far as complaining, Friday Purim ranks up there with Shabbos Yom Kippur, Thursday night Motzoei Pesach, and a 3-day Yom Tov where the second day is Simchas Torah.
But what are people complaining about? It’s not the fast. The fast is on Thursday, like it seems to be every year. Taanis Esther is almost always on a Thursday, somehow. Science has not figured this out.
No, it’s about the lack of time during the day. We’re supposed to eat most of the seudah before 1, and people like doing their deliveries before the seudah, because they get drunk at the seudah, and then they can’t drive. Alternatively, they don’t drink as much, then they take a nap, and then they wake up right before Shabbos and say, “Um… Did we cook for Shabbos, though?”
If you think this is tough, Yerushalayim has a Purim Meshulash, which is a 3-day Purim. Would you rather have a 3-day Purim, or a halfday Purim?
The answer to that is 100% dependent on what stage of life you’re in.
That said, I think we should embrace the differences of this year with these tips for surviving the half-day Purim. It’s impossible to do all of these tips (especially in the time given), so do whichever ones work for you:
- Stay up all Thursday night. You can’t do any of the mitzvos of Purim, but you can definitely cook.
- You can also take your Shabbos shower in middle of the night. And then all that will be left to do before Shabbos, after all the mitzvos of Purim, is to take your much-needed post-Purim shower, and you’re done!
- Figure out if there’s a way that you can drink a certain amount at night until you’re just on the edge of being inebriated enough, and then, as soon as it becomes daytime, you drink that last part, and you’re there. If you don’t know how
much drinking does this for you, you should practice a bunch of times before Purim with different amounts of alcohol. V’tov l’hachmir bazeh.
- I would also advise giving out your mishloach manos in middle of the night. You really only have to give out one during the day, so there’s no reason the rest can’t be given out at night. For one thing, traffic is better! Just ring people’s doorbells at 4 in the morning, and they will be really appreciative to you for giving them this idea! (“There’s a pirate at the door.” “And you’re… What are you? An old-timey grandpa?” “These are my pajamas.” “Okay…”)
- This is also when you should be sending your bochurim collecting.
- At the end of the night, daven K’vasikin, then start your deliveries, if you haven’t done so already. Many of your friends will be at shul, so that’s the perfect time. They can find you later. Yes, Purim is about getting together and seeing other people, but – and I don’t know if you’ve noticed this – other people make things take more time.
- Take your mishloach manos delivery cues from your paperboy.
- When buying food for Purim, do not forget to buy food for Shabbos at the same time. Also, everyone you know is going to give you a Shabbos-themed mishloach manos. So you’re going to have double food for Shabbos. So maybe don’t buy any food for Shabbos. But then with your luck, no one will give you a Shabbos theme. And we all know that Purim is the holiday of luck.
- It’s very nice of your friends to assume that you forgot Shabbos was coming.
- Put your costume on under your Shabbos clothing so you can rip your Shabbos clothes off in shul right after megillah and start your deliveries. Maybe put a second suit on under the costume so you can do the same thing right before Shabbos.
- Don’t deal with costumes and makeup in the morning. Have your kids sleep in their costumes. You can wash their pillows on Motzoei Shabbos.
- For just this year, don’t choose any costumes that make it hard to get in and out of the car.
By Mordechai Schmutter
- Encourage your kids to wear costumes that would be appropriate for Shabbos as well, such as -- for boys -- Mordechai Hatzaddik, a magician, and a fancy waiter; and for girls, Queen Esther, a mommy, or a kallah.
- When it comes to teachers, don’t wait for your kids to go into the house, stand in line to take pictures with the teacher, and come back out. Instead, drop them off outside and come back later, while your next kid is in his teacher’s house. Also maybe have pictures of your child in costume printed out beforehand so that when their morahs say, “We have to get a picture!” you can just hand them the photograph and get a move on.
- The key to mishloach manos is the shliach So the day before Purim, deliver all your packages to the next-door neighbors of the people you actually want to give, with instructions to deliver them on Purim. Along with maybe a tip. (The going rate is a dollar.) This will cut picture times as well. (“And this is your teacher with her neighbor, and our mishloach manos!”)
- If you leave one or two mishloach manos packages out on your doorstep, people will assume you’re not home and just leave theirs there too.
- Instead of an elaborate 3-course seudah, put it all in a blender. That way it looks the same going down as it does coming back up.
- You know how they say that you don’t really have to get drunk – you can just drink a little more than usual and then go to sleep and you’re yotzeh? I wonder if maybe there’s a heter here that you don’t really have to have a whole big seudah – you just eat a little more than usual and take a nap. Your seudah can be you and your family noshing on the cholent while standing around the crock pot.
- Whatever you do to save time, do not drive drunk, people! Also, do not drive drunk people. Unless it’s their car.
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.
COLUMBIA GROUP PRESENTS:
Health & F tness
Eating Your Feelings? Cravings Unraveled
By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN
Food cravings and emotional eating are complex behaviors influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While cravings can come from physiological needs, emotional eating is often triggered by stress, anxiety, or other emotions. Understanding the mechanisms behind these behaviors can help individuals manage them effectively.
What are Food Cravings?
Food cravings are intense desires for specific foods, often high in sugar, fat, or salt. These cravings originate from a combination of physiological and psychological factors. The brain’s reward system, particularly the neurotransmitter dopamine, plays a significant role in cravings. When we consume highly palatable foods, such as chocolate or chips, our brain releases dopamine, creating a pleasurable sensation. Over time, the brain associates certain foods with positive feelings, reinforcing cravings. Additionally, some foods, like chocolate, increase serotonin and endorphin levels, which contribute to mood regulation and stress relief.
Hormones also influence cravings.
Ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, stimulates appetite and can intensify cravings, especially when someone is sleep-deprived or stressed. Leptin, the satiety hormone, helps regulate fullness, but imbalances can lead to overeating and cravings. Cortisol, the stress hormone, increases during stressful periods and can trigger cravings for high-fat and high-sugar foods as a coping mechanism.
Nutrient deficiencies can also contribute to cravings. For example, chocolate cravings may indicate a magnesium deficiency, red meat cravings could signal an iron deficiency, and salty food cravings might suggest dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance.
Sugar and Its Role in Cravings
Sugar is one of the biggest drivers of cravings. When consumed, sugar rapidly raises blood glucose levels, causing a surge of dopamine release, much like addictive substances. The more sugar one eats, the stronger the craving becomes, as the brain continues to seek that pleasurable response. Processed foods high in refined sugars, such as candy, pastries, and
sodas, can create a cycle of dependence, where consuming them increases the desire for more. This cycle is similar to how addictive substances function, reinforcing the urge to keep eating sugary foods.
What is Emotional Eating?
Emotional eating, on the other hand, is the habit of using food to cope with emotions rather than to satisfy hunger. Unlike physical hunger, which develops gradually and can be satisfied with any food, emotional hunger appears suddenly and is often specific to comfort foods.
Common emotional triggers for eating include stress, anxiety, depression, boredom, and loneliness. Elevated cortisol levels from stress drive the desire for comfort foods, while feelings of sadness or anxiety may lead some people to use food as a temporary escape. Boredom and loneliness can also prompt eating as a way to pass the time or fill an emotional void.
Emotional eating often follows a cycle: an emotional trigger leads to a food craving, followed by consumption of highly palatable foods, which provides temporary relief. However, after eating, feelings
of guilt and shame may arise, leading to more emotional distress and perpetuating the cycle. Breaking this pattern requires recognizing emotional triggers and finding healthier coping mechanisms.
Managing Cravings and Emotional Eating
To manage cravings and emotional eating, it’s important to distinguish between physical and emotional hunger. Physical hunger builds gradually, can be satisfied with any food, and is accompanied by physiological cues like stomach growling. Emotional hunger, however, appears suddenly, is specific to comfort foods, and is linked to stress or emotions.
A good way to assess whether you are experiencing physical or emotional hunger is to ask yourself, “Would I eat an apple right now?” If the answer is yes, it likely means you are truly hungry. If the answer is no and you are craving something specific like chips or ice cream, it is probably emotional hunger. This simple check-in can help you become more mindful of your eating habits and make better decisions in the moment.
Mindful Eating
Cravings are often triggered by external cues (such as the sight or smell of food) rather than actual hunger. Mindful eating helps individuals recognize these cues and differentiate between physical hunger and emotional hunger. Mindful eating involves paying close attention to the taste, texture, and aroma of food, as well as the body’s hunger and fullness signals. Eating slowly allows satiety signals to catch up, helping to prevent overeating. It is also beneficial to avoid distractions like phone scrolling during meals to enhance awareness.
Stress
Managing stress is another key factor in reducing cravings and emotional eating. Engaging in regular exercise releases endorphins, which naturally reduces stress. Deep breathing and meditation lower cortisol levels, promoting relaxation. Try to find enjoyable hobbies that can replace emotional eating and address your emotions instead of eating through them.
Consistent and Balance Diet
Maintain a consistent eating schedule to help prevent cravings and overeating. Eating three balanced meals a day, along with designated snacks, helps regulate hun-
ger levels. This prevents you from getting hangry, overeating, or making impulsive eating decisions. In addition, keeping your meals well balanced with the proper nutrients will prevent such cravings. For example, incorporating protein and fiber-rich meals can promote satiety and stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the likelihood of cravings. Limiting processed foods high in sugar and refined carbs prevents blood
approach. Enjoying a small portion of a craved food mindfully can be satisfying without overindulgence.
Many people struggle with cravings in the evening. This leads to late-night snacking, which can contribute to overeating. Implementing behavioral modifications can help manage this habit. One strategy is to brush your teeth after dinner to signal the end of eating for the day. Another is to
Maintain a consistent eating schedule to help prevent cravings and overeating.
sugar spikes and crashes, which can intensify cravings. Stay hydrated, as thirst is sometimes mistaken for hunger.
Moderation, Not Deprivation
Finally, allowing for moderation rather than complete deprivation can prevent binge episodes. Follow the 80/20 rule: eat nutrient-dense foods 80% of the time while allowing for indulgences 20% of the time. This helps maintain a balanced
set a rule of not going into the kitchen after dinner. If a craving arises, try to remove yourself from the situation by leaving the room and distracting yourself with something. If you are simply bored, tell yourself you will come back in 15-20 minutes to eat. Usually, the craving will pass naturally by the end of that time. Developing a nighttime routine that doesn’t involve food can significantly reduce mindless late-night snacking.
Understanding food cravings and emotional eating can help manage these behaviors in a healthy way. Cravings are often driven by physiological factors such as hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and the brain’s reward system, while emotional eating stems from stress, boredom, or other emotions rather than true hunger. Recognizing the difference between physical and emotional hunger, practicing mindful eating, managing stress, and maintaining a balanced diet can all help reduce cravings and prevent unhealthy eating patterns. Remember, moderation, not deprivation!
If cravings or emotional eating become overwhelming or start to interfere with overall well-being, seeking guidance from a physician or a registered dietitian can provide personalized support. A professional can help identify underlying causes and create a tailored approach to promote a healthier relationship with food.
Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer
Tech Triumphs
knew it was worth the effort. Honestly, I became much less addicted to checking my phone and felt a bit freer.
Elul passed, and I waited until after Yom Kippur to reinstall WhatsApp. My son did not get engaged. I realized that the One Above is not a slot machine—it doesn’t work like that. I put in the effort to clear my mind from distractions by removing WhatsApp, and I did it l’shem shamayim.
But I learned something important: the zechus wasn’t lost. I needed to make those changes for myself, without expectations. Self-growth is about me—though I still hope it helped bring the yeshua closer.
DID YOU KNOW:
Many popular smartphone apps expose users—especially kids—to inap-
propriate ads. Free games often rely on ads for revenue, some intrusive or highly inappropriate. Worse, many games reward players for watching these ads, making exposure unavoidable.
Block Blast, currently the #1 download in its category, is a prime example. Reports of inappropriate ads led Apple to give it a 17+ rating— meaning it’s recommended for ages 17 and older. This raises concerns for parents who assumed it was child-friendly.
To protect kids, check app ratings, read reviews, and opt for ad-free versions or parental controls. Spending a few dollars on an ad-free game is often a safer investment than exposing children to questionable content.
The story of Purim is one of unlikely heroes – figures who stood up against the odds to defend the Jewish people, often at great personal risk. In that spirit, the life of Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson, a non-Jewish British officer who became a fierce champion of Jewish self-defense, is a modern-day example of the courage and dedication we celebrate on this holiday.
Tucked beside Jerusalem’s Orient Hotel in the German Colony is a small street honoring Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson. I was intrigued: who was this man and what did he do to merit a street name? By the time I finished researching his life, I had only one question: why is there only one street in the country named after this hero of Israel?
Patterson was a man of many talents – engineer, author, big-game hunter, and decorated soldier. But above all, he was a passionate Zionist. Patterson’s devotion to the Jewish people was so deep that his final wish was to be buried in Israel alongside the men he once commanded. That request was fulfilled 67 years after his passing when he and his wife were reinterred in Avichail, a moshav founded by his former soldiers.
During World War I, Patterson was
My Israel Home The Godfather of the Israeli Army
By Gedaliah Borvick
appointed the commander of the British Army’s all-Jewish Zion Mule Corps and later the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers – better known as the Jewish Legion. These were the first Jewish military units in 2,000 years. Patterson was chosen for these positions due to his biblical scholarship and knowledge of Jewish history, which led to his champi-
paign, while the Jewish Legion helped drive the Turks from Palestine under General Allenby. Many of Patterson’s men went on to become leaders of the Yishuv’s paramilitary forces, which were the predecessors of the modern Israel Defense Forces.
After the war, Patterson continued to dedicate himself to the Zionist cause,
Patterson’s devotion to the Jewish people was so deep that his final wish was to be buried in Israel alongside the men he once commanded.
up to become the legendary commander killed in the daring Entebbe rescue.
At John Henry Patterson’s reinternment ceremony in 2014, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Patterson was the commander of the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. And as such, he can be called the godfather of the Israeli army.”
Just as Mordechai and Esther understood that Jewish survival depends on taking action, Patterson grasped the importance of Jewish self-defense long before the State of Israel existed. May we be inspired by his legacy and by the heroes of Purim to stand firm in the defense of our people and our homeland.
oning the Zionist cause. He wasn’t just a commander of the first Jewish military units in nearly two millennia, he was also a fierce advocate for his soldiers, standing up against the antisemitism rampant in the British army, even at the cost of his own promotions.
Patterson’s units fought with distinction. The Zion Mule Corps played a crucial role in the brutal Gallipoli cam-
working closely with Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky, in awe of his dedication, once said, “Never in Jewish history has there been in our midst a Christian friend of his penetration and devotion.” Patterson later formed a deep friendship with Jabotinsky’s disciple Benzion Netanyahu, who named his first son Yonatan in honor of him and the baby’s grandfather Natan. That child, Yoni Netanyahu, grew
Gedaliah Borvick will be in NY/NJ the week of March 17 th for private meetings and public presentations. Contact him at gborvick@gmail.com for details.
Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome. com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.
Patterson in 1922 Patterson’s resting place in Israel
Purim is a time of uncovering the hidden. Hashem was no less present on Purim than during Krias Yam Suf, yet we had to actively look behind the curtain to see the Emes. It is this unique aspect and challenge that we are offered each Purim. Hashem’s Name is not mentioned once in the Megillah, yet with a careful reading, we clearly see a Divine Hand controlling every moment. It is only after the entire picture is laid out before us in its entirety that we can see a Master Plan. With the recent news, it was inevitable this article would be written, and Purim seemed like the appropriate time. We are living in painful but extraordinary times. Many might question where our Divine protection has gone. Yet we are seeing open nissim which are a continuous reminder of Hashem’s love for us despite the challenges He is giving us. We are fortunate to have so many extraordinary role models. These great individuals inspire us through their actions and avodas Hashem. These rabbanim, rebbetzins and other wellknown individuals have reached incred-
Parenting Pearls Extraordinary Ordinary Events
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
ible heights. Often, it’s frustrating for the average person who wonders what a “simple person like me” can accomplish. Children, too, may wonder what someone so young can do. The reality is that we are constantly surrounded by examples of regular people doing great things, and we should take advantage of these opportunities when they arise to demonstrate to our children what “ordinary greatness” can look like.
There are time periods where we’ve clearly seen extra levels of mesiras nefesh. Under times of stress and pain we have time and time again seen how the “simplest” of Jews have done the most incredible acts of public or private heroism. We are a strong nation and have so many “average Joes (or Yosefs)” to be proud of.
For over 80 years, the stories of the Holocaust continue to inspire us as ordinary people rose above the ordinary to accomplish greatness. Despite the most inhumane situations, our grandparents refused to relinquish their humanity or kindness for each other. Their inner strength was stronger than any
army. Despite the best attempts of our enemies, we could ultimately never be defeated – even when badly and painfully beaten.
Soviet Jewry is a more recent example of this phenomenon. Here we had people who were raised denied the beauty of Judaism – or any knowledge of a Divine Power – yet their neshomos “understood” and they connected to The Source.
From my husband (born and raised in Kiev), I’ve come to appreciate the greatness of these individuals and their seemingly humble accomplishments. From stories of his grandfather secretly fasting on Yom Kippur and his grandmothers telling him he needed to marry a Jewish girl, it is clear that despite the intentions of an evil government, the neshama of a Yid never dies.
After meeting so many Russian Jews, it became almost normal to expect young men to proudly share how old they were at the age of their bris –and it was never eight days old. My husband accompanied a 69-year-old man to his bris. Another time we ate a Shabbos seudah with a grandfather who had
excitedly joined the bris shel Avraham Avinu just the day before. The Iron Curtain fell three and a half decades ago, yet the mesiras nefesh of Russian Jewry continues to this day.
We are at another point in history when we are seeing seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds. From all the heart-rending pain and devastation, we’ve still seen so much light and hope. We’ve united and stood together oceans apart, learning to care for other Jews with all our heart despite never meeting them. We’ve also seen the inner fire of the Jewish neshama burn to incredible heights, within ourselves and even in seemingly “secular” Jews.
We often focus on the amazing acts of kindness and devotion we see in other members of the community we associate with. We see the chessed, the compassion, and how we go out of our way to help each other. We experience the devotion and hasmadah of those around us learning Torah and fulfilling mitzvos. Yet, we don’t as often get to appreciate the mesiras nefesh of those we don’t normally associate with, failing
to connect to them as members of our extended family.
These past weeks were very painful as levayas were held for those who died al kiddush Hashem . So many hopes were destroyed, and it was a time to wish we could shield our children from the news. Despite this, one news item caught my attention, and I had to share this particular video with my children. A 26-year-old Russian Jew in Netanya had decided to undergo bris milah. I pointed out the “yingele ” who had just had his bris, and my children were surprised by how old he was. As the Chabad rabbi announced the name this man had chosen for himself – “Kfir Ariel” – this new member of the covenant just nodded and smiled. I wanted my children to see and appreciate the mesiras nefesh of this man. They should recognize how important this mitzvah is when a fullgrown man wouldn’t want to be denied this opportunity.
We’ve seen a sudden rush of increased shemiras Shabbos and other mitzvos as members of our nation want to reconnect to The One they know is truly in control of our personal and na-
amples. Our brave chayalim have been desperately seeking tzitzis, recognizing what truly protects them. Men have begun wearing tefillin for the first time, often in solidarity with hostages still being held in Gaza. Women have joined and completed Tehillim together as the new way of preparing for Shabbos. The amount of homemade challah done for
us throughout the world.
Shortly after, we were once again moved beyond words when her daughter, Agam (bat Meirav) Berger, was returned, and the stories began to emerge of her shemiras Shabbos and kashrus under threat of punishment and starvation. I wondered how many of us could have withstood such a test. As more
able love we have for each other. The families of hostages received unconditional love and support from all segments of the population, with many of us “adopting” someone being held in Gaza. These are just further reminders to value the unity of our people. Even when family disagrees, we’re still family.
the sake of the mitzvah is unparalleled.
We’ve all seen the well publicized video of Meirav Berger asking the media to not be mechalel Shabbos for her daughter’s return. This impromptu video was taken during a challah baking session when women gathered to do hafrashas challah for her daughter’s safe return. It was impossible to not be moved by her words. The kiddush
hostages are returning – may each one return home quickly and safely – we are learning how their neshamos clung to Hashem to keep them going. Shema, havdalah and other mitzvos became their daily lifeline. This is in addition to their acts of heroism trying to give strength and keep each other alive.
Two years ago, the Jewish community felt worlds apart, yet over the past year and a half we’ve seen the unbreak-
Just as Purim uncovered the hidden, today we are seeing the mask come off each other. We can never reiterate enough just how much our children learn from our examples and those which they see around them. Our chinuch should include teaching about the inner fire of a Jewish neshama, continuously reminding our children and ourselves of the incredible levels we are all capable of reaching, as well as what truly binds us to each other. Purim sameach , and may we once again see yeshuos. Am Yisroel chai!
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.
Fear Of A Jew Or Fear Of Hashem? Living Kiddush Hashem
RBy Rabbi Shraga Freedman
av Avrohom Kamai, the last rav of Mir, would recount a powerful story every Purim. The Vilna Gaon was once imprisoned on false charges but remained immersed in learning, indifferent to his surroundings. His talmidim, concerned for his fate, sent Rav Chaim Volozhiner to urge him to act.
When Rav Chaim arrived, the Gaon simply asked, “Where is the paper?” referring to his usual list of Torah questions. Rav Chaim, however, told him, “Rebbe, you are in jail and in danger.” The Gaon remained unmoved. “What difference does it make if I learn in my home or a prison cell?” When Rav Chaim warned him of a death sentence, the Gaon accepted it calmly: “I will die al kiddush Hashem, like the asarah harugei malchus.”
But Rav Chaim pressed further. “They don’t just want to kill the rebbe—they want to disgrace him, Klal Yisrael, and the Torah, burning the rebbe alongside the lowest criminals.” The Gaon immediately reacted. “No! That would be a real chillul Hashem.”
Soon after, he was taken to court wearing his tallis and tefillin. As he stood before the judges, he uncovered his tefillin. A wave of terror seized the courtroom. “Go free! Go free!” they cried. “We cannot keep an angel in jail!”
Upon returning home, the Gaon dismissed the astonishment of his talmidim. “The Torah says, ‘All the nations of the earth shall see that Hashem’s Name is called upon you, and they shall fear you’ (Devarim 28:10). The Gemara (Berachos 6a) explains that this refers to tefillin shel
rosh.” Tefillin possess a unique power to instill awe.
The Maharal (Ohr Chadash) explains that on Purim, Klal Yisrael fulfilled this prophecy: “The nations feared the Jews” (Esther 8:17). The Maharsha clarifies that this fear was not of the Jews themselves but of Hashem. Similarly, Ohr Gedalyahu explains that Chazal’s teaching “Vikar—zu tefillin” (Megillah 16b) refers to regaining the splendor of tefillin, through which Hashem’s Name is feared.
The fear evoked by tefillin is ultimately fear of Hashem. Rav Gedaliah Schorr zt”l noted that v’yaru mimecha—“they shall fear from you”—means that non-Jews will fear Hashem because of you, recognizing the Divine presence in a Jew who bears His Name.
Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush Hashem, and A Life Worth Living.
Email LivingKiddushHashem@ gmail.com for a free sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources
Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.
Purim Guide
“One is obligated on this day [of Purim] to have an abundance of simcha, and to eat and drink to contentment. However, we are not commanded to become drunk to the point of diminishing ourselves through the simcha, for the simcha that we were commanded to have is not one of frivolity or foolishness but one of spiritual pleasure that brings us to the love of Hashem and praise for the miracles He performed for us.”
– Meiri (as quoted in the Bi’ur Halacha, Orach Chaim 695)
“I tell the bachurim that their main goal is not to make money but rather to make a Kiddush Hashem... Every person you interact with should walk away with the impression of ‘praiseworthy is the person who is taught Torah’ (Yoma 86). Everything you do should always be with this mindset — Purim is no different.”
“Purim is not defined by costumes or drinking, but by kabbalas haTorah mei’ahavah.”
– Rabbi Avrohom Katz (Menahel)
the simcha that we were commanded to have... brings us to the love of Hashem
Kiddush Hashem and chillul Hashem sensitivities are fully applicable on Purim. One may not become drunk on Purim if doing so will cause inappropriate behavior that leads to a chillul Hashem.
Be Fully Aware of Your Surroundings: Whether you are driving, playing music at night, or drinking, remember that neighbors are watching.
Consider Your Neighbors: Placing mishloach manos at non-Jewish neighbors’ doors with a short note or a simple letter explaining Purim can go a long way in minimizing misunderstandings and enhancing darchei shalom
Keep Track of Children: Know where your children are at all times. If they are collecting, make sure a responsible adult is the designated driver.
Know where your children are at all times
“More damage can be inflicted by an insensitive Purim play than the damage wrought by drinking.”
– Executive Director of a Yeshiva
“For many years, the KKK and other racist groups, who murdered and lynched minorities, used a noose or a hanging doll to threaten and intimidate. Our fellow community members and neighbors often do not know Haman’s history, and it’s extremely painful and insensitive in their view.”
– Agudath Israel of America
Participation in Learning: Engage in the learning programs, such as Yeshivas Mordechai Hatzadik.
Costume Sensitivity: Exercise caution in your choice of costumes. Avoid any costumes that may mimic other cultures in a way that could be perceived as mockery. Consider how the outside world will perceive costumes like fake dreadlocks or an Arabic turban.
Be Mindful of the Broader Public Perception: In our digital age, every action can be publicized within seconds to thousands of people worldwide. Think about the potential ramifications before making jokes or engaging in behavior that could be misinterpreted. With the prevalence of social media, there is no longer any such thing as a “private” joke.
“Please refrain from using ‘blackface’ (coloring the entire face in black/brown makeup). Also, please refrain from enacting the hanging of Haman from trees or poles.”
– Torah Umesorah
Engage in the learning programs
“Don’t send them in a party bus or a fancy loaded stretch limousine… It’s not appropriate for our bnei Torah.”
– Baal Tzedakah from NY
Forgotten Her es Shootout at the Shushan Corral
The Purim Story with an American Twist
by Mordechai Twain
Hear ye, hear ye, and for those down south, howdy there, folks. It’s that time of year again where the writer of this column gets to digging through dusty old books and listens to old cassette tapes to find some previously undiscovered tidbits from the Purim story. You can bet the farm on it (but not the eggs – those are too expensive) that new pieces of information from the time of Mordechai and Esther were just found. These are just fantastic and huge. Did you know that there was American influence way back when? Well, neither did I. So buckle up for another version of Midrash Avi.
Before we continue, we would like to thank our sponsor, Hey Guys. For only $19.99 after the $100 Black Friday discount that is available year round, you will receive a pair of these lightweight sandals. Perfected by the royal chamberlain, Haggai, a patent has been secured for this innovative footwear. Approved by your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi) for use on Yom Kippur. Only available in Sears’s catalogs and at the Shushan Shuk next to Suki’s Sunflower Seeds Stand – he also sells Dead Sea skin care products (I did not get paid to advertise that for him).
Well-known criminal Haman had been investigated for years by the Secret Service of the previous administration. Of course, it led to no formal charges as his family just paid them off. Part of the Aggagi crime family, Haman had regularly supplied the king with very cheap wine that was manufactured underground and sold in speakeasies across the country. He was also accused of secretly manufacturing fake coins and starting his own cryptocurrency, which was a big flop. Called Shushcoin, it sparked a crypto trading war and was only
available through members of Congress who were over the age of 80.
Not only was Mordechai the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mordechai Hatzaddik, he was the chief fundraiser as well. Reb Mordechai tried many methods to bring in money but not all were successful. The Chinese auction created a lot buzz but was overshadowed by Haman’s idea of the Shushan Lottery with the grand prize of 10,000 coins. Reb Mordechai then tried selling chocolate bars to coworkers of the students’ parents but that flopped because he couldn’t get Cholov Yisroel chocolate that wouldn’t melt in the Persian heat. (Yes, I know that chocolate didn’t reach the Middle East until recent times, but this was guaranteed next day delivery by Amazon.) They even tried putting on a concert by the Shushan Boys Choir but since it was during Yeshiva Week (they didn’t look it up on the calendar first), no one showed up. Finally, they brought in a lot of money by hosting a 5K run ,which was won by a Kenyan runner training for upcoming Olympics in Ancient Greece.
Yeshivas Mordechai Hatzaddik ultimately had money for the top prizes at Avos U’banim and their coffee room was the talk of the town.
There were some very important people in the Royal Federal Government (RFG, for short), including the health minister RFK. His slogan was Make Shushan Healthy Again, but he didn’t last very long when he tried outlawing the annual Shushan Shakshuka Eating contest held on the boardwalk. Minister of Getting Rid of Everything, MGRE, Elon Musk, was fired by the king for trying to slash the budget to get rid of all parties.
Bigsan was the head of the Secret Service and only got his job due to his father’s
influence (he was called “the Big Guy”). He was known to promote his burger called the Big Sun – which was also his mascot. After he was caught sleeping on the job, he and his crony Seresh were removed from their positions and moved to the palace gates. While Bigsan was sleeping, a longhaired youth came in and tried to shoot at the king with a bow and arrow. Seresh, who was also on security detail during the incident, later claimed that he wasn’t on the roof because it was too sloped even though security footage clearly showed he was sunbathing instead of doing his job. It was discovered that Zeresh was a Russian agent trying to sell secrets of a classified weapon. However, due to money making their way to the pockets of previously poor politicians, she escaped punishment. It also helped that she was chairwoman of the Rigging Elections Committee, which happened to be the Persian national pastime. Somehow, Achashveroish always won the election especially after a billionaire who owned a lot of real estate in downtown Shushan came up with the most tremendous slogan in all of the ancient lands: Make Shushan Great Again. Zeresh was also a pager saleswoman but was badly injured in Operation Handoff. The culprits were never found.
The court courier was named Lawson D. Woods, who was purported to be the ancestor of Paul Revere. Woods, who we know was a redneck because he had a homemade fur coat and had brothers named Bubba and Junior, made a midnight ride to warn the people that both Haman and the British were coming. He was last seen announcing, “Here ye, here ye. We, the people of Shushan Habirah, do an-
nounce our independence from the Babylonians.” This was a strange statement since the Babylonians were long gone at that point but what they were really trying to do was get rid of Babylonian protesters that set up camp at local schools. Achashveirosh, who had just declared Jack Daniels as a national hero, didn’t have a problem with these protesters because they paid him a lot of money (they were probably paid for by Soros). The problem was that Achashveirosh was so hung over that no one dared to tell him that everyone but Hollywood had turned on the Babylonians. Instead, they drew up a declaration of independence from the previous kingdom which wouldn’t do much except hurt some woke people’s feelings. All the leaders of Shushan wrote their name in small, unreadable handwriting lest any remaining Babylonians would take offense. However, John Hancock wrote his name so large that even the king could recognize his autograph in his groggy sleep. Soon, that document sold on eBay for millions in gold. However, it was a promissory note backed with gold from Fort Knox, so no one knew if it was actually paid for or not.
Well, there it is. Purim wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t find previously unknown nuggets of information on the Purim story, although if it were up to some very woke people, they would just rewrite the history books. Have a Happy Purim!
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
Meir Koretzky (Silver Spring) & Chani Hulkower (Woodmere)
Meir Frank & Chaya Littman (Houston)
Pessi Rappaport (Olney) & Binyomin Willig
Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
Shimon & Batya Carroll on the birth of a daughter
Mr. & Mrs. Avi Abrams on the birth of a daughter
Shmuel & Miri Segal on the birth of a son
Dr. & Mrs. Yitzy Klein on the birth of a son
Want to see your simcha here? Email
Tsvi & Leah Palmer on the birth of a daughter
Avi & Dina Dear on the birth of a daughter
Dr. & Mrs. Hirschel Wohl on the birth of a son
Hey Underlings,
Just letting you know—before you pack my mishloach manos— that this year I’d like you to donate to the Ukrainian War effort. Slava Ukraini! Cash donations are the best. The suggested minimum gift is $18. If you’d like, you can send the cash directly to me, and I will forward to Zelensky the next time I see him. (I will only charge you a small onetime fee of LESS THAN 98% for processing the donation!) Do it fast; Ukraine’s future depends on YOU! Slava Ukraini!
Now let’s talk about dressing up. Don’t feel so much pressure to dress up— you look funny as it is! But if you do dress up, share your pictures. Your fellow underlings want to see how funny you looked.
So, send your Purim pictures to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com, subject line: Purim Pics
Deadline is Monday, March 17 at 5pm
Have a Happy Purim!
Centerfold Commissioner Forever
You Gotta Be Kidding Me
A man went to see his doctor because he was suffering from a miserable cold. His doctor prescribed some pills, but they didn’t help.
On his next visit, the doctor gave him a shot, but that didn’t do any good, either.
On his third visit, the doctor told the man to go home
and take a hot bath. As soon as he was finished bathing, he was told to throw open the window.
“But Doc,” protested the patient, “if I do that, I’ll get pneumonia.”
“I know,” said his physician. “I can cure pneumonia.”
Megillah Trivia
The following is based on various Medrashim found in the book titled, “Let My Nation Live,” by Yosef Deutsch
1. What title did Haman NOT have?
a. Bath attendant
b. Barber
c. Slave
d. Prime minister
e. god
f. Army chief
g. Uber driver
2. What did Achashveirosh not have at his feast?
a. Gold beds
b. Vessels from the Bais Hamikdash
c. Flowing wine
d. Music
3. At what time of year did the Jews of Shushan join in Achashveirosh’s feast?
a. Pesach
b. Lag B’Omer
c. Purim
d. Aseres Yimei Teshuva
4. How old, according to some, was Esther when she married Achashveirosh?
a. 3 years old
b. 40 years old
c. 75 years old
d. 80 years old
5. On what day was Vashti killed?
a. Yom Kippur
b. Shabbos
c. Taanis Esther
d. Kaf Shevat
6. How did Bigsan and Seresh attempt to kill Achashveirosh?
a. They sprinkled a dried mold on his pillow so he would breathe it in when he slept
b. They ground up glass and put it into his food
c. They extracted venom from a snake and put it in his cup
d. They poured oil on the marble floor of his bedroom so he would slip and be killed
7. After Bigsan and Seresh were killed, how much time did it take Haman to rise to power?
a. 3 months
b. 1 year
c. 5 years
d. 21 years
8. The original Taanis
Esther took place in what month?
a. Av
b. Tishrei
c. Nissan
d. Adar
10. How many people did Haman consult with about what to do with Mordechai?
a. 1
b. 10
c. 18
d. 365
Answers:
1-G (Nor did he work for Lyft.)
2-D (The reason? He wanted everyone to be present and enjoy. Sometimes music get annoying… think of the guy singing, “Mishe.. Mishe…Mishe…Mishe” in your ear for five hours straight.)
3-D
9. When the word got out about Haman’s evil decree, the Jews of Shushan began to cry. Who else was crying at that time as well?
a. Vayzusa
b. Hagai
c. Bigsan
d. The people of Shushan
4-B, C, D
5-A and B
6-C (Book depository seems simpler.)
7-C
8-C (Think about breaking your fast on matzah and cream cheese and hardboiled eggs…yikes!)
9-D (Hashem made those drawing water from wells in Shushan drown and those drying clothing on roofs in Shushan fall and die.)
10-D
Wisdom Key:
8-10 correct: Charvona?
4-7 correct: You are right in the middle…good thing you are not one of Haman’s kids.
0-3 correct: You give new meaning to “Ad d’lo yadah!”
Notable Quotes
“Say What?!”
I’ve had numerous complaints from performers who find it increasingly challenging to gauge audience engagement and bounce off their reactions.
- Mark Rothman, owner of a London comedy club, explaining why he banned patrons who have Botox
I sleep so much better, I just feel so much at ease.
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams claiming at a press conference that he has not followed the news for the past four weeks
It’s like, almost, if you eat junk food every day you’re going to get physical obesity. I was going through mental obesity.
- ibid.
I said, “Did you see anybody in there [who] was kind, out of the hundreds of people that you were seeing [from] Hamas? Did some of them wink at you and say, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to be okay, or give you a piece of bread?” “No.”
- Pres. Trump relating to reporters a conversation that he had with former hostages who visited him in the Oval Office
I said, “Were there any people that were like kind?” I was shocked— the answer was nobody. There was nobody. Just the opposite. They’d be slapped and punched. One man broke his ribs. He couldn’t breathe for a month. It was brutal.
- ibid.
I was so surprised. Because you think there’d be a couple of people that would be kind, that would say, “You’re going to be okay.” But they had none of that. It’s pretty amazing.
- ibid.
Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the office. I think that was an important step. There have been a lot of discussion between our team and the Ukranians.
- Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East and international negotiator, in an interview with Fox News
So I was willing to give up whatever might be the trackings of Kamala Harris’ particular fondness for nacho cheese Doritos for the sake of getting a big bag of Doritos as I watched the Oscar. But here’s the thing: At what point do we also uplift and highlight the consumer’s right to also expect — and you can debate with me if it should be a right; I think it should – to expect that the innovation would also be weighted in terms of solving their everyday problems, which are beyond my craving for Doritos, but about whatever — and I know the work is happening — around, you know, scientific discoveries, for example, to cure longstanding diseases. But I’m going to throw out another one I would love it if there would be an investment of resources in solving the affordable housing issue in America. Like, help me with that. Help me with that.
- Kamala Harris at an event earlier this week. Legit (someone started Purim a little early)
Well, guys, yesterday was daylight saving time, and we lost an hour of sleep. Democrats were, like, “An hour? We haven’t slept since November.”
-Jimmy Fallon
I tried something a little different this year. I set my clocks ahead four years. It didn’t work.
- Jimmy Kimmel
I’ve always said this about Trump: ignore the noise, look for the signal. Trump’s vision? A U.S.-Canada economic union—the largest economy on Earth. China will never catch up. The U.S. is the biggest consumer market, Canada is the richest in resources…. Trump wants zero tariffs, erase the border economically, and everyone wins.
- Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary
Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?
- A Texas thief’s question to police after he swallowed $770,000 worth of diamonds
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Dear Navidaters,
This might come across as a petty question but hear me out.
I’m in my early 40s and am now dating someone I can see myself marrying. The guy I am dating is a great guy; he’s a busy dentist and all his clients seem to love him (which I’ve been told is quite rare for dentists!). We’ve been dating for three months, taking it slow, but in the meantime, we have gotten to know each other pretty well.
There are two things about him I can’t stand, which I sometimes ponder breaking up with him for. His standards for “clean” living are completely different than mine. Although I did grow up with a full-time nanny so I may be on one side of the spectrum, I know that it’s not so hard for a guy to think about cleanliness when it comes to his surroundings. I can’t understand how he lives in a mess; his apartment is unclean. When I talk to him about it, he says he’s just busy and it doesn’t bother him much. Also, when we have eaten out at different families for meals together, he does not get up to help clean up which is a standard practice in the home that I grew up in. To give him some credit, in many of these places, the husband himself doesn’t even get up to help, but I would like to see him show initiative . It bothers me that he doesn’t get up to help.
Would you consider these things red flags or things to break up about?
Thank you for your time, Arielle*
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 Lisa Babich
Ihear your concerns, and I understand them. I think the best advice I was given was that we can’t look at people with a myopic eye. There are many facets to each person, and we need to take into account the whole person and not just one feature. That being said, I think it is worthwhile to have a discussion with him about how you grew up in terms of cleanliness and men helping out and how it is important for you that he meets you a little bit where you are at.
On the other hand, you also have to be willing to be flexible. Perhaps he won’t be the cleanest husband. Maybe on Shabbos he will sit at the Shabbos table keeping everyone entertained while you serve.
The picture may be slightly different than you anticipated but you must look at the overall package. Would this bother you enough to end the shidduch? I feel there can be compromise in these areas on both your ends, but it will take work and commitment to growth. Most people have areas where they are very different from their spouse, but if you both go in with this awareness and are willing to accept and grow with each other, then it can work very nicely.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
Thank you, Arielle, for bringing this very important question to the column. I would like you to first close your eyes and imagine. Imagine the thousands
upon thousands of couples in their early 20s who get married. For the sake of this mashal, let’s name one couple Shragi and Aliza. Shragi has been dating for two years; he is fresh off the boat from yeshiva in Israel and is now dorming/partially living in his parent’s home. He finally meets an amazing girl named Aliza, and they get engaged, mazel tov! Aliza comes over and sees her chosson’s room with his bed freshly made but little does she know that his mother has actually been cleaning his room for decades. His parents never held him to any cleaning responsibilities. When he was in the dorm, the guys all had messy rooms and leaving the bed unmade meant absolutely nothing. Little does Aliza know that she is about to embark on a marriage with a man who does not know the first thing about cleanliness, making his bed, closing the toothpaste cap after use, picking his socks up off the floor, and munching on leftover kugel in bed as a midnight snack. He does not know the difference between Fabuloso and flamboyant. She gets married and soon after realizes this difference and is hit by a shockwave.
As she talks to many people who give guidance, she soon realizes that she is not alone. There are thousands of other girls in the same boat as her, and this is actually very normal. She communicates with Shragi, and they work together to figure out a system that works for them. Aliza has to recognize that Shragi is learning a new skill from square one, and just like any new skill, it takes time and effort to master and implement. Aliza is patient with him, and as the years go on, he works on himself and she learns to overlook things, not letting them bother her so much.
What this story describes is just one of
the many normal occurrences which can be difficult about a young couple in shana rishona. What is the difference between Shragi and Aliza’s conundrum and yours, Ariella? While Shragi and Aliza were blissfully unaware of the big and small differences life together would bring and dealt with it after marriage, you are experiencing it firsthand during the dating stage. The guy you are dating is a successful, busy dentist who has his own apartment and has built 40+ years of life just as he knows it. The fact that he doesn’t have a clean apartment is not hidden to you, like it was for Aliza. You have been looking for a guy for so, so many years, but if you would have found him earlier, you would never have known about his messy room or cleaning habits! Like many, many couples, you would have realized and dealt with it after marriage.
You have to look at this guy through that lens, and recognize that although these differences are present, they are normal and workable. Getting married is not like purchasing a finished exquisite art piece – far from it! It is more like purchasing a canvas and creating the art as you go along. Obviously working together and good communication are key factors in all of this, and as long as that is there, you can work together and balance each other out nicely.
In response to him not getting up to help at meals, I have another perspective. I know, at least for myself, and after polling many of my friends to answer this question, the response has been abundantly clear. We all don’t like or want the men getting up from the table to help clear the plates during the meal; it just feels off. It messes up the flow of the Shabbos table feel – let the guys sit and shmooze/sing!
This guy you’re dating likely has been told by the host/hostess many times, “Please, sit down, we got this!”
Again, the guy you are dating is doing what he has been used to for years and years, and he should not be punished for that. Utilize the art of good, positive communication if something really bothers you, but remember not to drive him crazy. Focus on all the good qualities he has. You both have a lot to offer each other and will learn to mesh your lives but only with a lot of patience and understanding can any marriage work.
Hatzlacha!
Getting married is not like purchasing a finished exquisite art piece.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
Ariella, what I’m writing may seem harsh, but I would like to offer some perspectives that you may not have considered.
If your dentist boyfriend would ask me, a dental colleague, whether I think he should continue to date you or to break off the relationship, I just might ask him to consider if the baseball expression, “Three strikes and you’re out,” should apply to you, Arielle.
Strike one: You wrote that it is rare for patients to love their dentists. (BTW, we have patients, not “clients.”) Your flippant, glib comment perpetuates negative stereotypes about our profession.
Yes, undergoing dental procedures may not be a pleasure, but the great majority of patients appreciate how their dentists consistently strive to perform complex procedures efficiently and effectively, while minimizing discomfort.
If you’re going to be a dentist’s wife, please respect the profession.
Strike two: You complain that his bachelor apartment is a “mess.” But, as long as his personal hygiene is fine, that’s not a big deal.
First, a dentist works meticulously in a clean and sterile environment, so it’s possible and understandable that at home, he just doesn’t have the same energy to maintain a spotless living space.
Second, at work, he probably has a team of assistants cleaning up around him all day long. Have you considered how, for a married, successful dentist, cleaning ladies, laundry services, etc. are merely one,
easily affordable, phone call away?
Strike three: You complain that he does not offer to help clean up, when invited as a dinner guest. I had to think, really hard, if this is, or is not, a valid complaint.
I explored some online discussion forums on this subject. It seems clear that some hosts prefer to clean up alone, while others expect guests to get involved.
Some comments might surprise you:
“It just seems to be more work when people try to help. They don’t know where things go or where things are, so I need to tell them.”
“I actually like to do it myself after everyone leaves. It is relaxing to me, and I need the alone time.”
“In my family, the ladies prepped the meal and cleaned up afterwards. The time spent in the kitchen together was woman talk. It was a fun time.”
“When I host something, I actively shoo people away. My kitchen is quite small, and more than one person in there really creates a bottleneck.”
I’m sure that your boyfriend will be flexible on this relatively insignificant issue.
Please note, Arielle, that I am very deliberately NOT recommending that you shouldn’t be so “picky” at your age. You certainly should NOT lower your standards and “settle” for someone who does not meet your reasonable values and expectations.
However, your concerns here seem
very, very trivial. My advice: if the two of you can love and cherish each other and share the same goals and aspirations, go for it. I pray that you will enjoy a long, happy, and healthy life together.
The Reader’s Response
Isaiah Cox, “The Curmudgeon”
Congrats! You have a keeper! Grab him with both hands, and don’t let go!
Oh. Wait. You think that men and women seeing dirt and mess differently is a problem? Let’s dive into this.
Feminist aesthete Camille Paglia, “If civilization had been left in female hands, we would still be living in grass huts, but they would be beautifully decorated.” Her point was that the achievements of civilization come from the tensions between men and women, not our similarities. Where would be the fun if men and women were the same? What would be the point?
One of the single most valuable benefits of a marriage is that each person comes to understand that, given the exact same information, the husband and wife will come to different conclusions. Almost Every. Single. Time. Even if they have “everything in common.” And this is a benefit because learning how to see things flexibly, to understand that
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Dear Arielle,
Your concerns are completely valid, and it’s understandable that you’re reflecting deeply on these aspects of your relationship. It’s important to feel
aligned with a partner, es - pecially regarding day- to-day living and shared values.
other people see things differently without necessarily being wrong is a huge mental leap that escapes those who have never invested in marriage. Men and women are different. Men and women see things differently. This is good, because there is enormous value – and even fun! – in working to bridge the gap.
He obviously cares about clean teeth. You care about a clean house. That is a bridgeable gap. Besides, how can you have a full relationship with Hashem, to try to see things the way He does, if you cannot even manage to understand the perspective of a member of the opposite gender? Isn’t this why the Kohen Gadol was required to be married?
One of the other huge advantages in marriage is division of labor. Labor is not divided merely for economic convenience. It is divided because men and women gravitate toward different interests. It seems that you get a sense of satisfaction from a clean house. When they are forced to think about it, most men, even married men, can sometimes rise to the level of “vaguely aware.” So why not do the things that give you more satisfaction, while the man of the house does the same? Working as a team, the two of you can build and maintain a bayis ne’eman b’Yisrael.
Speaking of appreciation: I have never met a man who refused to help out if he knew it would please the woman he loves. But for all you know, he was taught that guests are expected to contribute to the conversation/zemiros and stay at the
When it comes to differences in cleanliness, it’s not just about the mess; it’s about how it makes you feel. If this is something that deeply affects your comfort and sense of partnership, then it’s crucial. It’s okay to want a partner who shares or at least respects your standards.
As for helping out at meals, that speaks to values around teamwork and consideration. You grew up in a home where men naturally helped out, and it bothers you that he doesn’t do the same.
He is a teethreader, not a mind-reader.
table. And why should he know what you think he should do? He is a teeth-reader, not a mind-reader. Nevertheless, all you have to do is incentivize your man toward the actions that please you – but be sure to do it in a positive and not a defensive way. Men love to feel useful and appreciated! That said, I had a very dear friend who adored his wife – and she, him. They were both very accomplished and capable people, and they hosted some of the most wonderful Shabbos meals imaginable, with a range of guests and plenty of stimulating conversation along with a delicious meal, beautifully and elegantly laid out. And at the end of the meal, the baal habayis was very careful and respectful in order to be mishtateif in the cleanup: he picked up a single item – a saucer or cup or some-such – and ostentatiously and with great ceremony, brought it into the kitchen. Although it was something of a joke between them, the underlying idea was solid: it is, after all, the thought that counts. And besides, he had made the bulk of the income that helped contribute to that meal.
Great marriages are not about sharing tasks: they are about partnering in support of shared goals.
Ultimately, these aren’t petty concerns—they’re reflections of what you need in a relationship to feel understood and valued. If he’s open to understanding your perspective and making changes, that’s a positive sign. If not, it’s worth considering how that might impact your future together.
Your feelings matter. It’s okay to prioritize them as you think about your next steps.
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.
In my capacity as a television show host, I have seen and heard a lot.
But nothing prepared me for the statement of Shir, daughter of recently released hostage Keith Siegal, who survived 484 days of captivity and joined his wife Aviva, who was also held hostage for 51 days.
I was certain that Shir, like the emotional relatives of other released captives, had come to the Channel 14 studio to call on viewers to support the hostage deal at any cost. I admit: I struggle with that. On the one hand, after all they’ve been through, they have the right to say whatever is on their mind. But on the other hand, don’t those who think differently also have that same right? Not to say everything, but to disagree slightly? To raise questions and concerns? To suggest other ways to free captives? But we are forbidden from uttering a word. Ask anyone who tried to raise the topic of the danger of releasing thousands of terrorists.
I was mulling this in my mind when suddenly she said, “I think that one of the things that helped my father cope, and that made him come back home –
Israel Today Captives of Valor
By Yedidya Meir
not only alive but much stronger than I remember him – was faith. ... I think that there in captivity, his connection to Judaism became much stronger. Out of the 484 days that my father was there, for half the time he was completely alone, locked in a room. On the rare occasions when he was around people, they spoke only Arabic. And of course, he sought Jewish identity, but it was hard to find. So, he found it in small prayers he began to say, in blessings over food, in ‘borei minei mezonot,’ which he’d never said before. And ‘Shema Yisrael,’ which he had never said in his life.
“He said that what really strengthened him was taking a moment to recall that he was a Jew and that there is meaning to the fact that he is part of the Jewish people. After my father returned, I asked him: ‘What would you like us to do at our first Friday night meal together?’ I imagined he would say some special dish that he likes, but he said, ‘You know what I really, really want? A kippah and a cup for Kiddush.’
“That surprised me! I think there is something to being not just in enemy territory, but in a place where they intention-
ally try to tear you from your identity, and exactly in that place, a person decides, ‘I will maintain my identity.’ He protected himself, and by protecting himself, in my eyes, he protected all of us.”
When I returned home from the broadcast, I watched the interview again to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. Well, not only had I not imagined it, but upon re-watching, I noticed inspiring things that I hadn’t caught during the program.
I remember the wonder that passed through my mind during the interview when she said that her father made the mezonot blessing. What made him say that? I can understand “Shema Yisrae,”, the most significant Jewish text. Generations of Jews gave up their lives with these words on their lips. But “Borei minei mezonot ”? Without detracting from their importance, what does a secular kibbutznik from Kfar Aza have to do with blessings over food?
Footage of Keith Siegal meeting with Shai Graucher and Rabbi Moshe Sheiner, who came to Israel at the head of a group of Jews from the Palm Beach community in Florida, provided the answer.
Keith told them: “I started to make a blessing before eating, ‘Hamotzi lechem min ha’artez.’ We had a piece of bread with every meal. It was the first thing I would eat, after saying the blessing. I didn’t know any other blessings but then I heard someone say on TV, ‘Borei minei mezonot” – is that right?”
Keith continued in explanation: “They allowed me to watch some Israeli TV. I think they were talking there about good places to eat in Tel Aviv. So, someone there on the program, before he ate, I don’t know what, said, ‘Baruch ata … borei minei mezonot.” So, I blessed Hamotzi before eating pita and Mezonot before I ate other things because I thought that was right. It was the only thing I knew. It turns out it wasn’t exactly right...”
When I saw this , I thought what a shame it was that Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach passed away more than 30 years ago, and we didn’t get to hear the story from his mouth. I can just imagine him relating this story about Rabbi Keith-Borei-Minei-Mezonot accompanied by his guitar…
But I think we need to realize that we live in a reality that is no less moving than any Carlebach story. We need only to open our heart (and to close it when necessary, not to allow ourselves to become confused by how the media tells the story). Because, what’s the story here? The Jewish people are returning to G-d, to their identity. Listen to the words of the captives. As they emerge from Gaza, they tell us how the prayers, mitzvot and good deeds that we sent them from here crossed the border, descended to the depths of the dark tunnels where they were held, and affected them in real time.
Omer Shem Tov from Herzliya, who began to observe Shabbat in captivity, posted his first post adorned with tefillin. The first line was intended for G-d: “Creator of the world, thank You for being with me at every moment.” Later he added: “I felt your prayers and even in the darkness I had light.” And just that evening, Danielle Gilboa reported how she and her friends made Kiddush in captivity and were afraid to pray in Hebrew so they taught themselves to sing “Shalom Aleichem” in Arabic.
On that same day, a sefer Torah was brought l’ilui nishmat Ori Danino, Hy”d. When Eli Cohen returned from captiv-
ity, he reported that this was Ori’s last request, that a Torah scroll be brought in his name.
A week earlier, we saw the picture of Sasha Troufanov, who apparently received zero Jewish education and who, the day after his release, asked to lay tefillin for the first time in his life.
to lay tefillin and to perform Havdalah. Wearing the tefillin, he said in a video: “Inside, we are a very, very strong people, and what unites us is faith — faith in G-d. For me, personally, that is what saved me, and thanks to G-d I am back here after captivity. Apparently, I needed to correct a few things.
“He said that what really strengthened him was taking a moment to recall that he was a Jew and that there is meaning to the fact that he is part of the Jewish people.”
But let’s say that’s the younger generation. We recognize this trend among the youth wherever they are. Not only captives from Gaza, also high school students at Ohel Shem in Ramat Gan. But now we are hearing stories in this spirit also from adults in kibbutzim. Aside from Keith Siegel, Ohad Ben Ami, a member of Kibbutz Be’eri, returned from captivity a few days ago and asked for two things:
“My message to the people of Israel: our faith is what unites us, and it is also what gives us strength in moments when we [here he stops for a moment, looking like someone who remembers the horrors of captivity] are the most humiliated, the most crushed...” After he removed the tefillin, he asked to perform Havdalah —on a Monday — because that was what gave him strength in captivity.
I wanted to end the column here, with the influence of our prayers on reality and in the wonderful stories about the awakening of Jewish souls, even those that seems the most distant. We are witness to a new genre of heroic stories of spiritual valor being written. And then, just before my deadline, I received the following email from the Tachover family of the Neve community in southern Israel:
“Hello Yedidia. In our settlement of Neve, there was an initiative to increase zechuyot for the sake of the captives. Families that were interested in taking part ‘adopted’ a captive and took on a goal of chizuk on his behalf. My wife and I and our seven children received the name of Keith Shmuel ben Gladys (Keith Siegal) and chose to take upon ourselves to make brachot out loud. We hung up a Bristol board with his name and each time someone said a bracha with kavanah, we added another sticker. We were overjoyed to hear about Keith’s release. And then we heard your interview with Keith’s daughter where she said that her father began to make brachot in captivity. To think that we and he were strengthened in exactly the same matter. Even now, as I write this to you, I am tearing up…”
Mental Health Corner
Working With Mental Illness
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
Mental Illness, like physical
commonplace, and according to the suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Thus, a large percentage of the workforce is grappling with these issues. As an employee, how do you remain productive in spite of your difficulties? How do you make sure that your mental illness does not get in the way of gainful employment?
makes you immensely more qualified for the fields that involve helping people, such as nursing, social work, and education. Many people enter fields to help people who have the exact struggles that they had and are the pillars of their field. Do not underestimate the superpowers that you have acquired through your journey.
The first point to consider is the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknesses. In reality, this is true for anybody seeking employment. Know what you are capable of, and seek jobs that cater to your strengths. For example, if someone has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and struggles with details and deadlines, then being an office manager who needs to keep everything organized and on time would probably not be the best idea. Someone who suffers from anxiety and has a hard time initiating conversations should probably not seek work as a fundraiser.
The second point to internalize is the importance of avoiding self-stigma. Just because you have a diagnosable disorder does not mean that you are any less worthy or capable than anybody else. If you tell yourself that you are undesirable because of your diagnosis, the vibes that you emit will be picked up by those around you and it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Support groups are fantastic tools for self-stigma since connecting with others who share your experiences will help you realize that you are not alone.
The third point to realize is that, as they say in Yiddish, punkt farkert - just the opposite! You think that you are less capable than others because of your diagnosis. The opposite is true! In many ways, this makes you more suitable for certain types of employment. Your life experiences help you understand the depth of human struggles, and the compassion that this engenders
The fourth point to understand is that the very fact that you struggle with this question means that you have the strength and courage to overcome the obstacles. Mental illness really rears its head when the individual with the illness denies its existence. Problems could be percolating right beneath the surface and will burst out into the open due to denial and neglect. Awareness and acceptance are the keys to taking a proactive approach to your mental health.
Finally, the imperative of selfcare must be on the forefront of your mind. This is true for everyone but is especially true for individuals who have psychological vulnerabilities. Eating healthy foods, having a proper exercise regimen, getting a good night’s sleep, and maintaining a proper work-life balance are critical for maintaining your wellness and staying one step ahead of the mental illness.
With self-compassion and proactiveness, employment should prove to be a challenge that you can and will overcome, and you will have the tools to deal with roadblocks as they arise. As Dr. Seuss said, “If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew! Just go right along, and you’ll start happening too.”
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
Note:
Tali Friedman, 10
Rafi & Ashy Mutterperl, 4 & 1.5
Shmuel Menachem
Sarah Golda Cline, 6
Miri F.
Sara Schwartz, 9
Tehila M., 6 Nati Coleman, 5
Shalva Romer, 7
Racheli Schwartz, 3
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
Chani Baum, 6
Yitzy Kravitz, 4
Elisheva Schwartz, 6
Ariella, 6
Uriel Nachum Fuentes, 7
Aharon Dovid Fuentes, 5
Tully Kinzbrunner, 10
Benny Radparvar
Simcha V., 7
Eliam Hakimi, 4
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Isaac Hakimi, 2.5
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Dovid Dov
Nadav 7, & Eitan, 13
Eliana Khoshkeraman, 4
Yaakov M., 6 Basya Mondrow, 6
Dassy, 6
Yeshaya Goldstein, 5
Lily Rosenbloom & Chayala Mutterperl, 7
Zahava Ament, 4
School of Thought
By Etti Siegel
Q:Dear Etti,
I’ve got a bit of a dilemma about Purim and could use your advice.
My kids are super excited about all the sweets and treats on Purim, but I’m a little worried about them eating too much sugar. I usually run a pretty healthy household, with candy only given for Shabbos party.
Do you have any tricks or tips for keeping the sugar intake in check during the holiday? I still want them to enjoy themselves without going overboard. Thanks a bunch!
- Healthy Mom
A:Dear Healthy Mom, I think many parents share your concern! I know I always did! With mishloach manos filled with candy, cookies, and tons of sugary stuff, it can feel overwhelming to try to manage a child’s candy intake and make sure they are eating enough healthy foods.
It’s important to remember that candy is not inherently harmful unless a child has a medical condition and being too strict on Purim can sometimes make eating and sneaking even more candy even more desirable. Instead of focusing on restricting sugar, shifting the focus to encouraging a balanced routine with a variety of foods can help ease the stress.
One way to help children avoid overloading on sweets is to make sure to have a lot of healthy choices out for grabbing. It can also help to set out healthier snack options, like cut-up fruits, vegetables, nuts, or whole-grain crackers, in easy-to-reach places so that kids have access to a variety of foods. This allows children to make their
own choices without pressure, increasing the likelihood that they will opt for more nutritious foods on their own. If you are putting out cut-up fruit and veggies, make it fun by putting out some dressing for dipping.
Make sure a hardy and healthy breakfast is served before mishloach manos start arriving and before the children go out to deliver yours/theirs.
Make sure you have a time for lunch and serve something quick and filling, something that can pass as real food (pizza, yogurt, fish sticks, or chicken nuggets or hot dogs if “becoming fleishigs” won’t cause issues) so they have something filling in their bellies. They are less likely to graze on candy throughout the day if they ate a proper meal.
Instead of focusing on restricting sugar, shifting the focus to encouraging a balanced routine with a variety of foods can help ease the stress.
Hydration also plays a big role in managing sugar intake. Make water easily accessible.
For parents who are particularly worried about the aftermath of Purim, planning ahead is always a great idea.
My children all had big bags or medium boxes with their names on them. As items came in, they put them in their bag/box. It actually helped because they did not want to eat everything up right away; it was fun to see what accumulated. I would throw some family mishloach manos goodies into children’s bags if I saw they were not getting so much.
After Purim, we would all sit down and examine the contents of their bags/boxes. They swapped items they did not like with siblings, checking with me if it was a fair
trade. I made sure to have items they could trade with me as well.
We then discussed portioning out their hoard for school snacking, 2-3 items a day and maybe one for dessert when they ate supper nicely until it was all used up.
If there was a food that overly horrified me, like a giant jawbreaker (that were in when my children were younger), I made sure to trade them for something I knew they liked. Then I made sure to put that offending candy deep into the garbage, where no little hands could pull anything out!
My kids were happy there was a system to the madness. I was always surprised at how well the system worked! Now my own children do the same thing with their children.
Ultimately, Purim is about joy and celebration, and food is a part of that experience. Instead of stressing over every piece of candy, parents can focus on fostering a positive atmosphere around food. Encouraging a balance between sweets and other nourishing foods while maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable approach to eating will make the holiday more pleasant for both parents and children.
Remember, the goal is to create a healthy and happy relationship with food, not to turn Purim into a battle over sugar.
Have a sweet Purim! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
- Etti
Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.
