COLlive Magazine - Sivan 5784

REBeL ChoSsID REBeL ChoSsID

Anti-war protestor Yale Zimmerman became a Chabad activist in Chicago from from to to

Miami Rosh Yeshiva talks Torah

TAKES TOURO THERE YOU

HANNA SONIGO, RN, BSN MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER

TOURO’S SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

“Touro has a very good nursing program and the students are held to high standards. It really prepared me for my boards and my nursing career. I had many amazing professors, and I did a hospital internship which showed me what working as a nurse is like. The most rewarding part of the job is making a positive difference in someone’s life.”

A Cleaner Kingston Ave.

Editorial I Mica Soffer

Touching the Infinite

A letter from the Rebbe

Caring for the Young

Marc Asnin

From Rebel to Chossid

Dovid Zaklikowski

The Vietnam Draft Crisis

Tzemach Feller

Crowns of Torah

JEM gallery

Searching for Sinai

Essay I Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Shavuos Worthy

Libby Herz

Frum Farming

Tzemach Feller

The Blooming Blessing

Libby Herz

Let Israel Finish the Job

Ariel Kahana

Chevron is Being Reclaimed

Meshulam Nachmanson

Chinuch Matters

Menachem Education Foundation

Tips for a Reference

Shidduchim I Danit Schusterman

The (Im)Perfect Tefillin

Story I Asharon Baltazar

Special Privilege for Women

Halacha I Rabbi Shraga Homnick

Keeping Safe in the Sun

Health I Dr. Avraham Gottesman

Commandments of Marriage

Mental Health I Rabbi Daniel Shonbuch

The Inside Track

Music I Sruly Meyer

Kosher Spread

Food I Sruly Meyer

Kids Korner

Fun I Sari Kopitnikoff

Shavuos Craft

Activity I Parsha Studio

Surprise, Supplies

Humor I Mordechai Schmutter

Then and Now

Local I Zev Gotkin

Yale Zimmerman, former hippie and now an ordained rabbi, photographed by Leah Boyarskiy in Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois

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Publisher

Mica Soffer

Editor

Yehuda Ceitlin

Associate Editor

Mendy Wineberg

Contributing Writers

Asharon Baltazar

Tzemach Feller

Zev Gotkin

Rabbi Shraga Homnick

Libby Herz

Sari Kopitnikoff

Sruly Meyer

Mordechai Schmutter

Danit Schusterman

Daniel Schonbuch

Dovid Zaklikowski

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Springtime in Crown Heights is one of my favorite times of the year. When we can finally get out and enjoy the warmer weather, it's almost like we are being set free after the bitter cold of winter.

Daily, individuals and groups can be seen up and down Eastern Parkway walking for fun or exercise, something my husband and I have started to do in the past few months in an attempt to live a healthier lifestyle (no one's getting any younger!).

Walking on the Parkway, with the green leaves from the trees above us and gray stones under our feet, I am reminded of how much I love Crown Heights. To me, it is the most beautiful neighborhood in the world. I truly love this place which I have always called home. I am sure that there are nicer locations to live, as so many tell me, but there are not many neighborhoods that can come close to what we have here in Crown Heights, our beloved Shchuna. Driving back into the neighborhood from anywhere we travel, I am always so happy to drive back into town, seeing 770 with a little thrill of, "I'm home where I belong."

Recently, Rabbi Mendel Duchman of Los Angeles shared a photo of his father, R' Yisroel Duchman, on his 35th yartzeit. In the photo, his father can be seen outside 770 Eastern Parkway wearing a hat, suit, and tie sweeping the floor. "When he heard the Lubavitcher Rebbe was coming out to address his chassidim, (my father) took out a broom to sweep," he wrote.

This is the kind of love and respect that Chassidim have long had for Crown Heights - and it’s not gone.

R’ Sholom Ber Goldstein, a resident of Crown Heights since he was 5 years old, remembers when Kingston Avenue was a two-way street with tracks for trolleys. He has a passion for caring for the neighborhood, advocating for street cleaning, and getting benches and trees for Kingston Avenue.

He calls on residents to contact city officials, but also to do their part. “Sweep in front of your homes, paint old fences, take care of your lawn, and make sure it looks beautiful. More weeds means more rats,” he says. “Shmuley Stern pays out of his pocket to have a gentleman go up and down Kingston Avenue to sweep and clear the trash bins.”

He noted, “It’s our duty to show respect for the Rebbe’s neighborhood. We have the nicest neighborhood in the world. We have visitors from around the world, we dance in our streets, and we are a center.”

With summer right around the corner and all of us spending more time outdoors, this is our opportunity to do our part to ensure that Crown Heights aesthetically lives up to its designation as “Kan Tziva Hashem es Habracha.” Together, we can maintain the welcoming and vibrant environment that makes Crown Heights not just a place to live, but a place to truly call home for Lubavitch.

MICA SOFFER

Touching the Infinite

By the Grace of G-d

2 Sivan 5711 [June 6, 1951]

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rabbis S. Carlebach New York N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

With the approach of Shavuot, the festival of our receiving the Torah, I want to send you a brief message, although I am greatly overburdened with work. This ought to indicate to you how highly I value the work of your group for advancement in both knowledge of Torah and practice of its precepts.

Being G - d given, the Torah has infinite aspects. The purpose of this message is to point out to you one of the most important aspects of the Torah.

To many, the Torah may be a means to gain reward and avoid punishment. Others consider the Torah a guide to good living. I will give you my view after a brief introduction.

The world is a creation by G - d. As such it can have no common denominator with its creator. This cannot be amplified here, for lack of space, but it should be sufficiently clear anyway.

This world consists of a variety of creatures, which are generally classified into "Four Kingdoms: minerals, vegetation, animals and mankind.

Taking the highest individual of the highest group of the four mentioned above, i.e. the most intelligent of all men, there can be nothing in common between him who is a created and limited being, and G - d, the Infinite, the Creator. No analogy can even be found in the relative

difference between the lowest of the lowest "Kingdom" and the highest of highest, for both are creative things. However, in His infinite goodness, G - d gave us the possibility of approach and communion with Him. G - d showed us the way how a finite created being can reach beyond his inherent limitations, and commune with G - d, the Infinite.

Obviously, only the Creator Himself knows the ways and means that lead to Him, and the Creator Himself knows the capacity of His creatures in using such ways and means. Herein lies one of the most important aspects of the Torah and Mitzvoth to us. They provide the means and ways whereby we may reach a plane above and beyond our status as created things. Clearly, this plane is comparatively above the highest perfection which a man can obtain with his own created (hence, limited) sphere.

From this point of view, it will no longer appear strange that the Torah and Mitzvot find expression in such simple, material and physical aspects as the Dietary Laws, and like. For our intellect is also created, and therefore limited within the boundaries of creation, beyond which it has no access. Consequently, it cannot know the ways and means that lead beyond those bounds.

The Torah, on the other hand, is the bond that unites the created with the Creator, as it is written, "And you that cleave to G - d your G - d, are all living this day."

To the creator — all created things, the most corporeal, as well as the most spiritual, are equally removed.

A thought provoking letter of the Rebbe on the true purpose of Torah and Mitzvot, and the connection that they achieve.

Hence, the question, "what relationship can a material object have with G - d?" has no more validity than if it referred to the most spiritual thing in its relationship to G - d.

But the Creator gave us a possibility to use, not only within our created bounds, but beyond, toward the Infinite, and he desired that this possibility be open to the widest strata of humanity. Consequently, He has conditioned this possibility upon ways and means which are accessible to all, namely, the Torah and Mitzvot.

From this point of view it is also clear that no sacrifice can be too great in adhering to Torah and Mitzvot, for all sacrifices are within the limits of creation, whereas the Torah and Mitzvot offer an opportunity to rise beyond such limits, as mentioned above.

It is also clear that no person has the right to renounce this Divine opportunity by professing indifference toward reward and punishment. Such views are but the product of his limited intellect which has no right to jeopardize the very essence of the soul, for the latter, being a "spark of the Divine", is above the intellect and any arguments it can produce, to deter him from the utmost perfection he is able to attain.

I wish each and every one of your respective families an enjoyable and inspiring Yom Tov with lasting effect throughout the year.

With blessing,

Menachem Schneerson

Caring for the Young Shevat 1992

By Marc Asnin

When I walked into 770 Eastern Parkway, my goal was to photograph the relationship Rebbe Schneerson had with the people who he interacted with. I was struck by the intense connection and intimacy with those in the room and him. It was not just the Rebbe’s total living in the moment, but the sheer devotion of those who were there in the room.

It is found in the crossing of the hats that was on the New York Times Magazine’s cover, or the photo of the Rebbe giving a booklet to a small child as he bent down to look him in the eyes and give the child his blessing.

During the prayers, the perimeter around the podium where the Rebbe prayed was shut off. In a photo in the book you can see one of the ushers sprinting across the table in feverish moves so that no one passed the line. We interviewed and photographed him to understand that moment.

There was also a young man and three boys who were always there. I photographed them from various angles trying to portray the happenings. When the Rebbe’s eyes were closed, the young man’s was too. The children were singing, the Rebbe’s hand was swinging.

One was a man with special needs from Israel, and the others were orphans. Both of their stories are riveting, and while the young man is no longer alive, we interviewed a father and son whose home he would frequent. We also interviewed and photographed two of the orphans.

I could not capture what was happening behind closed doors, the decisions Rebbe Schneerson made and the guidance he provided. Israeli ministers turned to him for military advice, Jewish institutional leaders asked for support on major issues, and regular people consulted him on life-and-death medical decisions.

Those are all spelled out at length in the many essays in the book.

Yet the Rebbe still had time to remember four young children in Crown Heights whose father died suddenly. Those are the moments of intimacy that I captured with my camera that tell a much larger story than I ever believed they relate.

“At the time I took it for granted,” Rochel ScharfTenenboim told us. “Today, I don’t take even a single moment for granted. Every gesture, every bit of attention the Rebbe paid to us made a difference. It lifted us up during that difficult time. And today, when I tell my children these stories, it gives them the strength and pride to face their challenges as well.”

Marc Asnin is an award winning photojournalist who has photographed for New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, Reader’s Digest and other prominent magazines. His images of the Rebbe will be published in a forthcoming book The Oracle: Portraits of Rebbe Mendel Schneerson, and is available for preorder at a discount at www. RebbeSchneerson.com or www.HasidicArchives.com.

Rebel ChoSsId from to

Yale Zimmerman’s journey from a hippie musician to a devoted chossid.

By Dovid Zaklikowski

Photos: Zimmerman family, Chicago JLI, Lubavitch Archives and Leah Boyarskiy

WWith a forever smile on his face, Yale Zimmerman likes to say that he was there at the beginning: When the Hippie movement began, when the protest movement against the Vietnam War and civil rights movement started, when Chabad was setting down its roots in California, at the beginnings of Tiferes Bachurim and Chabad in Chicago.

He has proof, he said. His license plate is CHABAD. “You needed one qualification to have it,” he jokes, about the coveted vanity plate. “You have to be old,” he said, adding, “You also had to have a few dollars to purchase it.”

Despite being in business for many years, in Chicago he took the lead in doing mivtzoim, giving classes, and “whatever else was needed.”

One day, Rabbi Yitzchok Wolff, the longtime director of the local Lubavitch day school, told him, “You know what? We were youngsters once, and now we are ziknei hachassidim.”

Zimmerman said that while he replied “That is a qualification that you have to be old for,” he does not feel that way.

As one of the mashgichim at the University of Chicago—in addition to being a licensed real estate broker, at times he is asked to do two shifts. His son asked him why he would agree, saying that he would never be able to do a second shift.

Despite having eleven children, and many grandchildren, he joked to his son, “You are an old guy, but I am a teenager, and I have no problem at all.”

Born the Victor

Yale was born into joy. At his birth, people were honking horns, clapping and dancing in the street, his mother would say, “They are partying because I was having a baby.”

In truth, the radio had just announced that Japan surrendered to the Allies, and Americans celebrated the end of WWII. “We were going to name him Yale, a family name,” his father Michael told the Chicago Tribune on his fifth birthday. “But because he was born just as the news of the surrender was received, the doctor suggested that the only fitting name would be Victor.”

While he was named at his bris after his paternal grandfather Refoel Yoel, joyous victory—albeit a quiet one— has always remained with him.

Growing up, Yale had religious experiences. His mother lit Shabbos candles from time to time, one of his grandparents taught him the mah nishtana and he went to a Conservative Hebrew school, where he learned a few Hebrew words. Two of them, he likes to say, are sheket bevakasha, quiet down, please. “I was not a real troublemaker,” he said, “but I definitely was not a studious student.”

But wherever he turned he was surrounded by Jews. At his local public school and overnight camp. “It was unofficially a Jewish camp,” he said, “95 percent of the camp was Jewish.” It was there that he received his first taste of Jewish rituals. They would bentch, sing Lechah Dodi on Friday night, and on Shabbos morning they had a service for a half hour on the lake. For the four years he went to the camp, he

said, the Jewish part, “made a very strong impression on me.”

At high school, he was on the tennis team, a debater, and acted in various school plays. He also started playing the piano that was at his home.

When it came time to go to college, he decided that he wanted to go somewhere near Chicago and that it should be a midsize school. He applied to a few, including Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Soon the recruitment letters from WashU piled up, and he decided to go there.

It turned out that the school wanted to transform from being known as a “party” school to an academic one. They hired a president from Harvard, who heavily recruited Jewish students and professors. The new dormitory the school built was home to many Jewish students. “When I came to the dormitory,”

Yale recalled, “all I met were Jewish kids again. I felt like the world was Jewish...”

On campuses across the United States it was a time of confusion, with many searching for purpose. “We were looking for meaning in life that was beyond monetary,” he said. He started taking illegal substances, and radicalizing.

His major was history, and he was fascinated by Jewish history, “Because we do not fit into the main category.” But, he jokes, the one course that he failed was Judaism, “Because I did not turn in my college paper.”

He credits his black roommate for being proud of his interest in Judaism. He was once walking with a Jewish book with the title hidden, because “I was kind of embarrassed.”

“Yale, we have a lot of Uncle Toms in my group,” James said, “but you got a lot of Uncle Irvings in your group. Don’t be ashamed of what you are.”

He turned the book around and told himself, "Hey, I can be proud of something", recalling those years at summer camp.

One Step at a Time

At college he would play the piano with a friend and compose music. They decided to go into the music business and drove from Missouri to California. At first, he stayed at his aunt and uncle’s home. “We looked kind of wild,” he said, and the neighbors complained that if the Hippies would remain there too long, the real estate value in the area would go down.

The duo had several successes, while Yale’s interest in Judaism continued to grow. “I was reading more about Jewish things. Doing a little of Shabbos and davening on my own,” he says.

One day he went to the Chabad

House at UCLA, but did not like his first experience there. “I was too wild, and that was too straight and normal. It was scary to me.”

For Rosh Hashanah, he was in Mountain View, and when looking for a shul to go to, he found the newly opened Chabad House. He called, and asked if he could come. They said sure and asked him for his name, he recalls, to which he replied “Zimmerman.” “When I arrived the rabbi in charge there was very disappointed,” he says, “because he thought that it was the singer Bob Dylan who was coming.” While sharing the same family name, he knows of no relation. “I may have looked like him, but I was not him,” he jokes.

But he was taken by the Chabad House there. Everyone who came was new. “There were no cliques. I liked it very much,” he says.

Still busy with his music career, he joined a group of anti-war musicians that would put up shows. “We were making $10 a day to travel around America,” he describes. During this period, he started taking his first steps in yiddishkeit. “First no bacon on the hamburger, then no cheese.” Another step was that he was driving on Shabbos, “but I said I won’t play the radio.”

One Friday night he was traveling with a group of musicians in a cargo van. “There were no seats,” he recalled, “I was squatting near the two doors.” It turned out not to be properly closed, and when it turned a corner, the doors opened, and he fell out of the van, and survived the fall unharmed. “Friday night I am falling out of a van and not getting hurt,” he recalled thinking, “it must be a sign to be a little bit more kosher.”

Back in Los Angeles, he went to a symposium that promised a debate between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis. “Everybody was

talking about ethics and morals,” he recalled, and Rabbi Cunin, the shliach in Los Angeles, California, held up “white weavings” and said, “You gotta do. Thinking and philosophizing is good, but you have to do.”

He was inspired, and the next day he went to the local Jewish bookstore, and asked for “The Jewish macrame.” The guy behind the counter was not amused when he asked for the Jewish Hippie weavings, “We don’t have anything like that.”

But Yale was adamant, “I saw a guy last night that had these things on his belt, and he was very Jewish.”

He soon realized that he was talking about tzitzis. Yale said that he did not think that is what the rabbi had held, but the guy behind the counter was exasperated, and told the Hippie that if he wanted, “Just cut one of them off and tie it to your belt.”

In the end, he just wore them, and as he said, “One mitzvah leads to another and I was getting quite involved.”

He was soon going to the Chabad House at UCLA, and becoming more and more involved, while realizing that in order to have a successful music career he would need to lead a stabilized life.

The Chabad House was just starting out, and he met Rabbis Shlomo Cunin, Avremel Levitansky, Yerachmiel Stillman and Shlomo “Schwartzie” Schwartz. “Rabbi Cunin raised the money,” he recalled, “and gave the talk on Friday nights,” otherwise he was not much involved in the happenings. Shwartzie, he recalled, was on the campus, Rabbi Stillman ran the Chabad House, Rabbi Levitansky was the knowledgeable one. “His shirt was hanging out, and he was rolling around on the floor, and you would never know how brilliant he was.” He enjoyed being with

Schwartzie, he said, “But Levitansky was my rabbi.”

He was attracted to the philosophical conversations at the Chabad House, “The chassidus excited me. Dealing with the most profound subjects of life, and the ironies of the universe.” In the past, he was told that religion runs away from the world, but chassidus dealt with the deepest ideas of the universe, “The insights were just unbelievable.”

After being in Los Angeles for three years, and one year at the Chabad House, with little success in the music industry, he decided that he wanted to go to yeshivah to further his knowledge. Schwartzie told him to give music another year before he goes. That year, he became more entrenched at Chabad, doing mivtzoim, and even joining a band,

The Chabadniks, which put on the first Chabad concert in the city.

The unforgettable shluchah Ruchie Stillman, he recalled, was the concert’s director. “When people say that frum women are treated like second-class citizens, I tell them, ‘You never were at a concert or dinner Mrs. Stillman ran.’ She ran it with an iron fist. She was a tough lady, not a second-class citizen.”

Chicago Pioneering

Before leaving to study at Tiferes Bachurim, Schwartzie, knowing him well, gave him three pieces of advice: Sell your car, otherwise you will be the chauffer for many people; Don’t volunteer for anything, you need to focus on learning; For the first year, don’t tell anyone your age, because they will want to marry you off, and you will not be able to learn.

After a year, Rabbi Hirschel Lustig suggested that he date Rochel Leah, who was studying at Machon Chana. When he would go to Crown Heights, it was arranged that he eat on Shabbos at the Baumgarten’s. “It was a singing family,” Yale recalled, and he really enjoyed it.

One day, Mrs. Nechamah Baumgarten called Rochel Leah and told her that she had a dream about her. “It was about this great shiduch,” she said. Rochel Leah said that she was dating, and she would call her back if it did not work out.

To Mrs. Baumgarten, if she had a dream, it had to be a good idea, even at the expense of stopping to date the current guy.

“It was about this guy Yale Zimmerman, you have to go out with him,” Mrs. Baumarten said. “Great!” Rochel Leah replied, “That’s the guy

Manning the Mitzvah Tank in Los Angeles, circa 1970

I am dating now!”

They married, and returned to Morristown, where Yale continued his studies. Over the year, he received many suggestions to join one of the few Chabad Houses in the United States.

He wrote to the Rebbe of the various suggestions, noting at the end, that before leaving California he had promised his father that he would consider joining the family business, Zimmerman Brushes. He noted that he had no background in business, and he knew that his father, a successful entrepreneur “was very strong willed and dominant, and I did not know if I could work for him.”

The Rebbe circled that he should go into the family business, as long as he would not need to work on Shabbos or yom tov, and it could be sufficient to support his family.

“The Rebbe didn’t care about the negatives,” Yale said.

But he believes that the Rebbe

sent him there to work with the shluchim to lay the groundwork for Chabad in the city. “You can be in business, and reach out to Jews,” he said, recalling that after their first grand Lag Beomer parade, someone approached him and said that they must have a huge crew working on the parade. “We all took responsibility,” he said, “One took the parade, one took the fair, one the food.”

The Rebbe sent him to Chicago, he said, “I am assuming it was a way of saying ‘help get Chicago on the map.’ Instead of being on shlichus, be on a shlichus of a different kind.”

It was not just words, Yale is one of the backbones of all the Chabad institutions in Chicago. From the founders and primary funders of the local cheder and high school. But, Rabbi Meir Hecht of JLI Chicago and Evanston Chabad, who grew up in Chicago, recalled Yale always being at Chabad events, “whether it was with his music, or to man the Tefillin booth.”

He recalled Yale as the number one guy at all the Chabad mosdos events playing piano. When Rabbi Hecht asked him to play at an event, Yale readily agreed. “He didn’t ask him to pay him a nickel. He was very happy to do it.”

When it came to his parents’ business, he modernized it and grew the sales. “My father was not great with the employees,” he said, and his brother had a hard time managing with his father, “But I learned to make improvements in his ways.”

Around two decades ago, the business was sold to a conglomerate and Yale went into real estate. Today, in his late seventies, he is still not retiring. He even received semicha several years ago.

He said that while he would never be able to learn all day, “I am much too ADD,” since he does a lot of manual labor as a mashgiach, he can listen to shiurim. “When I am cutting up the strawberries, meanwhile I am listening to one of the shiurim on

" Friday night I am falling out of a van and not getting hurt, " Zimmerman recalled thinking, " it must be a sign to be a little bit more kosher."

Likkutei Sichos. While driving I am listening to a shiur. I am learning more now than ever before,” he says.

Greatest Joy

Many of his children have gone on shlichus, including five to Arizona. “My parents visit fairly often, so everyone knows him,” said his son Ephraim Zimerman of Chabad Oro Valley. “He’s the big star when he comes here.”

He loves going there to meet with people, give talks, and help the members of his children’s Chabad Houses to add in mitzvahs. Recently he has been talking about the protests on college campuses he experienced years ago, “At that time everything was personal, they were against the war, they were against the draft, trying to get more rights

for blacks in America.”

Today, he said, they don’t know what they are talking about; it has nothing to do with them. “No one is being drafted to fight in the IDF, no one is being drafted to fight in Hamas. Where does it come from?”

At the time, he said, there was little antisemitism among the protestors, but today they found a new word to blame the Jews, saying “They are the oppressors and Israel are white supremacists.”

He believes that the Jews need to fight with pride, and to be positive. At the university, he makes his interactions with the students, including the non-Jewish ones, meaningful and enjoyable. It is his way of fighting the haters.

In addition to listening to shiurim, he learns at least one maamar in-

depth each week, which means he learns it over and over. He has a list of people he calls on Friday, to share with them an idea from it.

“I so look forward to him calling me every Friday,” said Dr. Ronald Bernstein in Oro Valley. “He has such an easy way of teaching.”

Yale said that his greatest joy is when the rabbi of Bnei Reuven Shul in his hometown asks if he can share a maamar on Shabbos. “That is to me the greatest nachas, my learning; I love Chassidus.”

Dr. Bernstein says, “Learning with him makes my whole day bright. The city is golden, and so is Rabbi Zimmerman.”

Dovid Zaklikowski is a biographer and archivist, his books can be found at HasidicArchives.com. He can be reached at DovidZak@gmail.com.

The Zimmerman family

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Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schapiro is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva Gedolah of Miami, and Rov of Congregation Beis Menachem in Miami Beach, Florida. His scholarship and erudition is legendary, as is his power of zikaron—recollection. He was a constant presence near the Rebbe as a bochur, and has continued his close involvement with the Rebbe’s Torah throughout his life.

His outstanding power of recollection made him a natural to serve as one of the Rebbe’s chozrim, and he was closely involved in the publishing of Likkutei Sichos,

the 39-volume compilation of the Rebbe’s talks. Today, his zichronos recollections—have been recorded and digitized, and serve as a treasure trove of valuable insight into the Rebbe’s leadership, Torah and directives.

In an interview with COLlive Magazine, Rabbi Schapiro said that Torah study should not be limited to those whose profession involves teaching.

“First of all, it’s a mitzvas asei mideoraisa, and the mitzvah is to learn day and night—even if you don’t have much time,” he said.

Rabbi Schapiro recalled that a series of flyers advertising the mivtzoim were once given to the Rebbe for review. One said, “Learn Torah every day.” The Rebbe added “-and night.”

Torah study is not just any mitzvah, however. According to Chassidus, “Torah comes into your mind, and your brain becomes the Torah—your body is the mitzvah; you become one with the Torah. Torah is Hashem’s wisdom, and as the Rambam says, He and His wisdom are one.”

“There’s nothing that makes someone one with Hashem like the Torah,” he says.

Torah’s Triumph

Miami Rosh Yeshiva recalls the Vietnam draft crisis

By Tzemach Feller

Conquering the World

The benefits aren’t limited to the one learning. “If you learn Torah, it changes the whole atmosphere in the house. A yungerman who learns Torah, even outside the home— this has an effect on his wife and children. They know ‘where’s tatty? He went to a shiur.’ If he’s learning in the house they see the father is learning, the husband is learning.”

“Learning Torah brings a different

atmosphere; it makes the yiras shamayim much stronger. You know what’s wrong and right; you know what sha’alos to ask, so it adds to your kiyum hamitzvos. Your whole outlook on the world is different.”

“A famous anti-religious Israeli writer once wanted to learn with Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstein of Yerushalayim. Rabbi Glitzenstein asked the Rebbe whether he should learn with him, and the Rebbe said yes—on condition that you don’t mention a word about mitzvos. Rabbi Glitzenstein did so. Several months later, the writer asked Rabbi Glitzenstein whether he could put

on tefillin with him. Before long he became completely frum. And he told him, ‘Had you started with mitzvos, I would have cut off our shiur completely.’”

“Learning Torah shines a certain light and conquers the person. That is ‘conquering the world.’ Typically, our mivtzoim focus on doing mitzvos. At this farbrengen, the Rebbe was saying to stress learning. If you meet someone, if you have a chance, make a shiur with them.”

“When you shine the light of Torah, it will illuminate the person. With Torah you conquer the person.”

Draft Crisis

Rabbi Schapiro specifies that the Rebbe’s efforts to promote and preserve Torah study was not just for bochurim who would become rabbis, but for every student. To illustrate that, he shared the following precious tale.

In 1971, as the Vietnam War raged and more than a million U.S. citizens were drafted into the Armed Forces, a little-known amendment to the Military Service Act was put in place.

Until then, a ministerial student— someone studying to become a member of the clergy—got a “4-D”, and was exempt from service in the same way as a practicing member of the clergy. Now, instead of this exemption, they received a “2-D deferment.”

Until now, a student could be in divinity school—yeshiva—until age 26, at which time they would be exempt from the draft. Now, that exemption would not take place until they were 35, unless they were practicing rabbis. The minute a bochur left yeshiva, he would be eligible for the draft.

This obscure law threatened to upend the lives of many thousands of yeshiva bochurim, throwing their future into jeopardy. This threw the frum world into an uproar. An asifa was called, at which Litvishe and Chassidishe roshei yeshiva pledged to strengthen limmud haTorah in response to this threat.

Some months earlier, on 15 Shevat, 5731—1971—the Rebbe went to the Ohel. Upon returning, the Rebbe held a surprise farbrengen. As the Chassidim excitedly rushed to join, the Rebbe quoted the gemara (Taanis 7a) which quotes the passuk comparing man to the tree of the field, and specifies that this refers to talmidei chachamim

If this is the case, from now on—the Rebbe said—we must conquer the world with Torah.

For months afterward, the Rebbe would often refer back to this farbrengen and speak on the theme of conquering the world with Torah, instructing us to strengthen our learning and teaching Torah.

Then, on Shabbos Hagadol, 5731, the Rebbe explained.

“When I was at the Ohel on 15 Shevat, I had an urge to farbreng, and I decided to give in to the urge,” the Rebbe said. “Since there was nothing special to talk about [other surprise farbrengens typically included the introduction of a mivtza or initiative] I decided to speak about conquering the world

with Torah.”

“We now see the Divine Providence in the matter: A large conference has been held in recent days regarding the government’s desire to draft Yeshiva students, and, thank G-d, the decree was averted. Now the reason for that farbrengen has become clear; it was to ‘precede the illness with the cure.’ In this merit, the decree was abolished.”

“There was an asifa, and they wanted to know why Lubavitch [i.e. the Rebbe] didn’t participate. But what we did was even better. Before the gezeirah came, we spoke about strengthening learning Torah.” Sure enough, in the coming years, the draft was reduced and then eliminated, and the yeshivos were preserved.

CROWNS OF TORAH g

Selected encounters of the Rebbe with Gedolei Yisroel

RABBI MOSHE

FEINSTEIN

World Renowned Posek, famous for his multi-volume set of halachic responsa Igros Moshe.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein exits the Rebbe’s office after their meeting in 770 in late March, 5734. The Rebbe can be seen partly in the background. The closed door meeting, which lasted for over an hour, reportedly touched on multiple issues facing Israel and the Jewish community and was described by Rabbi Simcha Elberg, president of Agudas Harabbonim who also attended the meeting, as “historic”.

RABBI YISSACHAR DOV ROKEACH

The Belzer Rebbe

The Rebbe meets with the Belzer Rebbe in his office on 4 Adar II, 5741. In their conversation, the Rebbe urged the practice of making set times in the yeshiva schedule for students to study chassidus. “The Yeshiva students must know that the study of chassidus is equally important to studying the revealed parts of Torah (nigleh)...Especially in our times where there are new illnesses in the world, we need to treat them with medicines that may not have been necessary in the past”.

RABBI MORDECHAI ELIYAHU

Rishon Letzion - Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel

The Rebbe meets with Rabbi Eliyahu in his office on 5 Cheshvan 5752, his fourth such visit. Much of the conversation centered around the topic of Moshiach with the Rebbe expressing that “Moshiach is at our doorstep and is waiting for every person to open the door and bring him inside”.

At a Collel Chabad event in New York later that week, Rabbi Eliyahu expressed his deep admiration for the Rebbe. “I have merited to meet many great Torah giants in this generation,” he said, “but the Rebbe is something else entirely. I have never seen someone with such a vast knowledge of every part of Torah.”

RABBI PINCHAS MENACHEM ALTER

The Gerrer Rebbe (Pnei Menachem)

The Rebbe speaks with Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter on 4 Iyar 5743. At the time, the Pnei Menachem was not yet Rebbe and was serving as a Rosh Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Toward the end of their conversation, which took place between Pesach and Pesach Sheni, the Rebbe pointed out that if Moshiach would arrive then, there would be a mitzvah to offer up the Korban Pesach on Pesach Sheni because it was unable to be brought on Pesach itself.

RABBI YOSEF BER SOLOVEITCHIK

Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University in New York (R.I.E.T.S.)

Rabbi Soloveitchik sits near the Rebbe at the Yud Shevat Farbrengen of 5740. According to Rabbi Herschel Schachter, a student of Rabbi Soloveitchik who accompanied him to the farbrengen, the Rav had only intended to attend for about half an hour but ended up staying for over three hours. When they returned to the car, Rabbi Soloveitchik commented: “Er iz a Gaon. Er iz a Gadol. Er iz a Manhig Yisroel. He is a genius, he is a great man, he is a leader of the Jewish people.”

SOLDIER’S DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER CAPTURING THE SINAI PENINSULA

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Search online for “Mount Sinai” and Google Maps will swiftly point you to a marker in Jabal Mousa, Arabic for Mount Moses, located in the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

Consult with a biblical scholar or geographer, and you will hear about other locations such as Mount Sin Bishar and Mount Helal in the peninsula, Jebel al-Madhbah at Petra in Jordan, Jabal al-Lawz in northwest Saudi Arabia, and Hashem el-Tarif near the Israeli city of Eilat.

But review the Torah itself, the actual document given by Hashem on Har Sinai, and you will find no reference to the exact location. You will learn what happened when Hashem spoke directly to the Jewish people, but not where. What is more, the many commentators on Torah seldom discuss it either.

This anomaly was troubling for an Israeli soldier named Dr. Moshe Berhab, and he examined the issue further when he had the opportunity to visit the Jabal Mousa location in 1956. This was after Israel captured the Sinai peninsula during the Sinai War (Mivtza Kadesh) to end the Egyptian blockage of Israeli shipments through the Straits of Tiran.

Berhab had fought in that battle and was excited to stand on the ground where our forefathers gathered some 3,300 years ago. He was possibly walking on the same earth where our people became a nation and received the Aseres Hadibros.

Upon climbing up the mountain, he expected to feel spiritual enlightenment or divine energy. Instead, he felt none of that and was left with deep disappointment. Upon his safe return home, Berhab wrote a letter to the Rebbe in search of an explanation.

The Rebbe wrote back a letter (published in Igros Kodesh 14, page 495) pointing out that the word Torah is rooted in the Hebrew word hora’ah, meaning instruction and a roadmap on how to live life.

The Rebbe explained that it is called the Torah of life and the eternal Torah (Toras Chaim and Toras Olam). This means that it is an eternal teaching that is binding for every Jew in every generation at any time and location. And it is through that that we are an eternal nation.

The Rebbe continued, “The importance of Mount Sinai is the Torah that we received upon it, once the Torah becomes part of our life. But the physical identification of the mountain does not have any special significance.”

Others explain that had the Torah been given in an urban and perhaps more appropriate setting, such as the holy city of Yerushalayim or Chevon, it could have been reduced to a specific class in society, period, and space.

Instead, it was given on a mountain surrounded by open land to teach that everyone has equal access to follow its timeless wisdom and the right to practice its divine teachings. Once the Torah was given, Har Sinai went on to live through us.

My friend, author Rabbi Eli Wolff of Kfar Chabad, commented that if you are asked what is the exact location of Har Sinai, you can easily point to its precise location: Your own heart. That is where your neshama resides and your neshama is intrinsically bound to the Torah.

On the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos, commemorating the date when Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Har Sinai, the custom is for every man, woman, and child to hear the reading of the Aseres Hadibros at Shul. Why? Because we need Har Sinai there and you are the only one who can bring it.

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive.com and COLlive Magazine, is the outreach director of Chabad Tucson, and Associate Rabbi of Cong. Young Israel of Tucson, Arizona. He coordinates the annual Yarchei Kallah gathering of Chabad Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva.

Shavuos Worthy

Floral designer Chani Greenbaum shares how to create a beautiful tablescape

By Libby Herz

Creative Director Mussia Alpern

Photography: Shalom Burkis

Shavuos is a time of renewal and growth, similar to the blossoming of flowers in spring. Decorating our homes with flowers for Shavuos reminds us of Har Sinai, and symbolizes the fresh, everrenewing personal connection we have with the Torah.

Chani Greenbaum, renowned floral designer and event planner of Chani Greenbaum Events, is a beloved staple in the Crown Heights community. She is proud to provide top-of-the-line, intricately designed floral arrangements that stand out for their beauty and artistry, catering to both highend tastes and affordable options.

Fresh throughout the week, Chani’s flowers are expertly crafted to enhance any event, from weddings and bar mitzvahs to community gatherings, with delivery available across Crown Heights. Beyond her commercial success, Chanie is committed to community service, regularly donating flowers to organizations like Bikur Cholim and Hatzolah, ensuring that holidays are brighter throughout the community. It’s no wonder Chani Greenbaum Events is the go-to flower shop, seamlessly integrating stunning floral designs into every special occasion.

In honor of Shavuos, Chani shares her go-to tips to transform your Yom Tov celebration with a few thoughtful choices and creative touches.

Option A

Start with a Solid Tablecloth: Begin with a crisp, white tablecloth as your canvas. This classic choice provides a clean backdrop that makes your colorful accents pop and gives a fresh, festive look perfect for Shavuos.

Add Bold Floral Arrangements: Opt for vibrant pinks in light, deep and medium hues, and lush greens in your floral arrangements.

Universal Tips:

Whether you choose a solid tablecloth with vibrant flowers or a bold tablecloth with muted blooms, these tips will ensure your tablescape looks professionally designed.

Option B

Mix in Floral Prints: For a truly gorgeous Shavuos table, mix in some floral print elements, such as napkins or placemats, to complement your fresh flowers.

Incorporate Muted Flowers: White flowers can add a soft touch and balance the bold colors of your tablescape.

Whether you choose a solid tablecloth with vibrant flowers or a bold tablecloth with muted blooms, these tips will ensure your tablescape looks professionally designed.

Universal Tips

1 Avoid Tall Candles: Tall candles can be difficult to move around on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Instead, let your table pop with bunches of flowers and beautiful place settings.

2 Use Two Glasses per Setting: Having two glasses at each place setting—one for water and one for wine—adds an extra touch of sophistication. It also visually anchors the table setting, giving a more polished and cohesive look.

3 Spice it Up with Chargers: Chargers are a great way to add elegance without breaking the bank. Stores like Amazing Savings and Dollar Tree carry stylish yet affordable options. Chargers can be reused multiple times, but if they wear out, they’re inexpensive enough to replace.

4 Keep Flowers Fresh: Store your flowers in a cool place until you’re ready to set the table to ensure they stay fresh and vibrant throughout the meal.

5 Layer Your Plates: Use two plates at each setting—one on top of the other. This layering adds dimension and a touch of formality.

6 Steer clear of thin plastic table covers, as they can detract from the overall aesthetic. Instead, opt for a freshly washed tablecloth for a polished and inviting look.

7 Distribute Flowers Across the Table: Instead of a single centerpiece, spread smaller flower arrangements across the table. Keep them low to ensure guests can see each other and engage in conversation easily.

8 Use Height for Visual Intrigue: Integrate square cake stands to showcase dishes such as fish and salads at different levels. This not only enhances visual appeal but also facilitates easier serving for your guests.

9 Add Colored Glass: Colored glassware can add a festive and whimsical touch to your table. Choose glasses in colors that complement your flowers and overall theme.

By following these steps, you’ll create a stunning Shavuos tablescape that’s both beautiful and practical. Your guests will appreciate the thoughtful details and the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you choose one or all of these tips, your family and friends are sure to feel welcomed when you receive them with a warm smile and a genuine enthusiasm to embrace the Torah with joy.

Tablescape and decor: Chani Greenbaum Events @chanigreenbaumevents

Photography: Shalom Burkis Photography @_shalomphotography

Wine: Herzog Wineries Wine by the Case kosherwinedirect.com

Model's Wig: Sheebawigs @sheebawigs

Men's and boys suit: Gents Gents.com

Model's makeup: Chaya Levin Makeup @makeupbychaia

Children's clothing: Bon Knit www.bonknit.com @bon.knit

Food: Ricotta Coffee Shop ricotacoffee.com

Dips: KosherTown koshertown.com

Making Milchigs

Bethel  doesn’t take shortcuts and their quality products prove it.

By Tzemach Feller

With Shavuos around the corner, many kosher dairy companies are ramping up production to meet demand for the cheesecakes, blintzes and other milchigs that will grace Jewish homes on Yom Tov.

But not Bethel Creamery—they’re already maxed out.

Bethel Creamery is located near Bethel, New York, a sleepy town made famous when the Woodstock festival took place there in 1969. And in the spirit of its namesake town, Bethel eschews uniformity for authenticity.

“Every cup of Bethel yogurt you’ll buy is different,” said Eliezer Franklin, who was born and raised on the farm and is now CEO of Bethel Creamery. “The world has gone in the direction of perfection

and uniformity. We wanted an authentic product, the way Hashem made it, with the least amount of modification.”

Fascinated by Nature

Refoel Franklin has always been fascinated by nature.

Growing up in a traditional—but not religious—Jewish home in Oceanside, on Long Island, New York, Refoel found meaning in the beauty of the world around him.

became a wildlife biologist, living off the grid in a one-room cabin in a remote part of the state. He became friendly with local Sioux Native Americans, and felt he had found his calling. As the Sioux grew to trust the young man, he finally was allowed to meet with the matriarch of the tribe.

He was flabbergasted when the elder asked him, “Why are you here?”

“You are a man of Moses. You have the truth. You should connect with your faith,” she told him.

By age 17, he had channeled that fascination with nature, and was studying wildlife biology in the University of Montana.

Refoel wanted to embrace nature. He

Refoel had left all that behind. But now, he heeded the directive of the elder and went back east, journeying from one community to another, meeting with one Jewish leader after the next. Always, his lifestyle and his passions seemed to clash with

Judaism, and he felt he didn’t have a place.

Refoel loved to hunt. He looked at the act of hunting as an almost spiritual experience. Every part of the animal that had been harvested was cherished and used, with gratitude and respect toward nature. But when he’d mention his affinity for hunting, he’d hear, “That’s not compatible with Yiddishkeit.”

As he was nearing the end of his visit to the East Coast, preparing to return to Montana, a friend gave him the number of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, who founded the Sh’or Yoshuv Yeshiva. Refoel called Rabbi Freifeld late that evening, and Rabbi Freifeld said, “Come on over.”

“So what do you do,” Rabbi Freifeld asked Refoel. As he had answered so many times, Refoel said, “I hunt,”

and braced himself for the inevitable rejection.

It never came.

“What do you hunt? How do you hunt?” Rabbi Freifeld asked. He took an interest, and Refoel was hooked. “Come meet me in the yeshiva office,” Rabbi Freifeld offered. Refoel accepted, and pushed off his plans to go back to Montana.

As they spoke in the office, Rabbi Freifeld excused himself for a minute, and as he waited, Refoel looked around the room. He saw a stack of books on the floor, and even he knew that that would be disrespectful for seforim. Refoel took a closer look, and realized that it was a stack of library books about Native Americans. Rabbi Freifeld had taken them out in an effort to understand this new talmid

That sealed the deal.

From that day until Rabbi Freifeld’s passing in 1990, Refoel was a close talmid. Rabbi Freifeld encouraged Rafael not to abandon his passion for nature, but to channel it into respectfully harvesting animals. He encouraged Refoel to open a farm, and in 1979, Refoel and his wife Naomi purchased Bethel Farms. To channel his passion for hunting, Rabbi Freifeld encouraged Refoel to become a schochet, and his skill and expertise soon became worldrenowned.

That was how Pelleh Poultry began. Since its inception, it has focused on exacting kashrus and true-to-nature quality, sourcing their Pekin ducks from Joe Jurgielewicz & Sons, widely considered “America’s tastiest duck.” Today, Pelleh produces

glatt-kosher duck and squab (pigeons). Their products include various duck sausages, duck fry “bacon,” and rillettes, a French-style duck spread.

In 2006, Refoel Franklin retired from Pelleh, handing the reins of the poultry business to his son Eliezer and went into dairy farming, a relaxing change of pace from the more laborintensive work of shechita.

They started off with a couple of cows, and Refoel’s sensitivity to nature manifested itself in the style of farming here too. The cows are grassfed, and the Franklins are careful to avoid overgrazing pastures, which can cause damage to the grassland. In 2010, the dairy farm grew to include a bottling operation. As demand increased for this natural, cholov Yisroel milk, in 2015 the Franklins applied for and received a grant to significantly expand their dairy farm. Eliezer came on board to direct the expanded operations, and Bethel Creamery was born.

Three

Ingredients or Less

One of Bethel’s foundational principles is to keep everything to three ingredients or fewer. Their chocolate milk has just milk, cocoa and sugar. Their yogurt is flavored with maple syrup, vanilla beans, or berries—and that’s it. They avoid using artificial ingredients, stabilizers and thickeners. And Franklin says the results speak for themselves.

“We proved you don’t need stabilizers or uniformity. Every batch is unique: the fat and protein content is different; it’s inconsistent—and that’s what people are looking for,” Franklin says. “People are going back to the source. They want emes; they want to know what they’re eating is real, authentic, delicious.”

Where many companies produce

their Greek yogurt in hours, Bethel’s method—which takes place completely on site—takes days.

“Everything we do is very old school, very slow, very gentle,” Franklin says. “For us to make yogurt we’ll start at 3 am on a Monday morning, and that product won’t be packaged until Wednesday.”

“There are no cheap ingredients, no cutting corners,” he says.

Bethel sources its cocoa from the Barry Callebaut Group, whose cacao comes from Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ecuador, Indonesia, Ghana and Nigeria before being processed in Europe. When Covid disrupted supply chains, Bethel stopped production of their chocolate products for two months rather than using commerciallyavailable cocoa. They make their own vanilla from fresh Madagascar beans.

They utilize vat pasteurization instead of the much faster HST

(High Temperature Short Time) pasteurization, as the lower temperatures in vat pasteurization preserve more of the milk’s natural flavor profile. And all of their milk comes from Jersey cows, the smallest dairy cow breed. Jerseys produce less milk—and therefore less profit per cow—but their milk is higher in fat and protein.

“Regular milk is just not the same,” Franklin explains. “Our Jersey cows have less yield but their milk has much higher components; higher butterfat and protein. The protein is the key behind the texture of our products.”

Principles over Profit

With so few additives, the quality of the milk Bethel uses is crucial, and as demand has increased, they’ve had a tough time locating additional

The Blossoming Blessing

Avraham (Gil) Hirsch opened his Crown Heights flower shop at the instruction of the Rebbe

In 1974, I went for a ‘birthday yechidus’ with the Rebbe. It was meant to last for a few seconds. The Rebbe gave me a blessing and then added in Yiddish, “תוחמש

- “I’d like to have a flower shop on Kingston Avenue for our simchas.”

At the time, I was struggling to find parnassah (making a living) and was trying to find something stable. I didn’t know much about flowers. Then, for a full three minutes, the Rebbe explained to me how one establishes a flower shop, detailing step one, step two, and step three.

After I received the blessing to open a flower shop, I immediately went to rent a store and purchase a refrigerator where we would keep the flowers fresh. Two weeks later, I wrote to the Rebbe that we rented a store and were ready to open. The Rebbe then sent me a check as a small investment in my business.

The day I opened the store, an Italian man walked in out of nowhere and asked for a job. He has been working as a guard for the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, but said: “I’m a floral designer. Do you need any help?” I immediately hired him and he taught me the flower business. Together, we built up the flower shop. This was purely the Rebbe’s blessing. Right from the first month, we already had parnassah, something unheard of for a new store. We later moved to a larger location at 325 Kingston Avenue.

As told to Libby Herz

Shlichus Opportunity

Although my wife and I were married for a year, my wife still wasn’t expecting. So when we went to the Rebbe for another birthday yechidus, we asked for a blessing and added that we were ready to go on Shlichus.

The Rebbe answered us, “After the baby is born, you will go on Shlichus.”

My wife and I walked out dancing; the Rebbe had promised us a child!

We were indeed blessed with a child and we returned to yechidus with our dear little Chana’le to thank the Rebbe for the blessing. When we reiterated that we were ready to travel on Shlichus, the Rebbe responded: “Why do you need to travel? You have a holy and dear Shlichus in Brooklyn.”

We remained in Crown Heights as one of the only American-born Chassidic families in the neighborhood.

In the late 1960s, many Lubavitchers were immigrants from Russia. Because of this, the Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) would send visiting college students to join our Shabbos table.

Many of our guests were Jews who volunteered in developing countries in Africa as part of President John F. Kennedy’s Peace Corps. These Jews had returned to the United States and were searching for meaning in their lives. They came to Crown Heights and were directed to our home for Shabbos.

Shabbos guests would also join me at the flower shop on Sunday. They would visit the homes of Rabbi Leibel Groner and Rabbi Mendel Baumgarten, who had homes full of children. The children would inspire the students to become Torah observant.

Over the years, many college students who were our Shabbos guests became baalei teshuva. Additionally, every week at the flower shop, I have been giving an online shiur about stories of the Rebbe on VirtualYeshiva.net which reaches thousands of people. My wife and I have a clear shlichus here in Crown Heights, and this flower shop is our heilikeh makom hashlichus (holy Shlichus location).

To Hirsch's request to be sent on shlichus, the Rebbe responded "Why do you need to travel? You have a holy and dear shlichus in Brooklyn."

The PlantsRebbetzin’s

When Reb Zalmon Jaffe was in yechidus with the Rebbe, he mentioned that his wife Roslyn would like to visit the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. So the Rebbe told him to write a little note to the Rebbetzin, including her phone number. If the Rebbetzin would like to meet, the Rebbe explained, she would invite his wife over.

The Rebbe then said, “And how does one send a note to a Rebbetzin? With a bouquet of flowers.”

From then on, when the Jaffes would come to Crown Heights before Shavuos and Sukkos, they would send a beautiful bouquet to the Rebbetzin with a note saying: “To our Revered Rebbe and our Gracious Rebbetzin - From Zalmon and Roslyn Jaffe.” Along with the bouquet, Jaffe would send a twenty to thirty-page journal about his experiences of the previous year in 770 and in Manchester.

The Rebbetzin once called me to her home on President Street because she had a problem with one of her plants. I walked into the house and saw that there were windows in an “L” shape, with beautiful flowers sitting on each of the two window ledges.

Now, plants eat pollution and harmful chemicals, and they pump out oxygen. The front room of the Rebbe’s house was open to the rest of the house. Since all of the Rebbetzin’s plants were absorbing all the pollution and chemicals of the home while giving out oxygen, it meant that the Rebbe’s house was completely full of oxygen with no pollution whatsoever!

Whenever the Rebbetzin received flowers, she would save the vase. The day that I came to her house to help with the plants, she offered me some of the vases. Her aide Rabbi Sholom Ber Gansburg brought me to the basement to choose some of the vases that were kept there. Now, each one of my children and many friends has one.

Without knowing much about the flower business, Hirsch succeeded thanks to an italian immigrant who walked into his store on the very first day, asking if he needed any help

Full Circle

Our flower shop is called Crown Heights Florist & Fruit Baskets, and most of our orders come from listings on Google.

I remember that when we first opened, we were the first new business to be established on Kingston Avenue. There was a beautiful yid named R’ Nochum Prager who lived on President Street. The day I opened my store, he walked in and said with excitement, “Wonderful! A new store on Kingston Avenue!”

Then, he looked around and exclaimed, “But you have no merchandise in the store other than a refrigerator!” He

took out a checkbook and wrote a check for $2,000 on the spot.

He then asked me for twenty checks, with the first one dated in one year. Three years later, he walked in, shook my hand, and thanked me for returning his entire two thousand dollars.

My success is greatly due to the help of Reb Nachum. Not only that, but one year ago, my grandson Mendel married his granddaughter, Racheli. Just last month, they were blessed with a baby boy.

Avraham Hirsch's flower store was one of the first Jewish businesses to open on Kingston Avenue

An interview with former governor and presidential hopeful Nikki Haley

“America Should Let Israel Do Its Job”

By Ariel Kahana - Israel Hayom

Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the UN and one of the prominent voices on the American Right, says Israel should ignore the restrictions that President Joe Biden is imposing on it regarding the war in Gaza. Instead, in her view, the fighting should continue until Hamas is eliminated.

“You can’t hold back weapons from an ally,” she said in an interview during her tour in Israel. “So if we want to be a friend to Israel, the best thing America can do is let Israel do its job and just support them. We shouldn’t be preaching to Israel, we shouldn’t be telling them how to win the war, and we shouldn’t tell them what they can or can’t do. We should just be saying, what else do you need? Bottom line - that’s it. That’s what I want to see America do is be a friend, a true friend, and make sure all the other countries that are aligned with us are a true friend

with Israel too.”

Q: But the administration has not been doing that. Rather, it has been telling us what to do. For example, ‘Don’t enter Rafah, bring more and more humanitarian aid’ – which goes to Hamas – and so on. What, then, should Israel do? Abide by what the administration says or choose the path of war as we see fit?

“Israel needs to tune out the noise and finish the job. We know that they have to go into Rafah because that’s where the Hamas movement still is. For them not to go into Rafah is to leave the terrorists still in power. I also know that a lot of the aid that is going into Gaza is feeding Hamas, fueling Hamas. They’re using it, and the Palestinians really aren’t getting much of it. But this goes back to the fact that if the Palestinians want a better life, they need to get rid of Hamas. They need to change leadership; they need to

understand that they are in this situation because of the leaders around them. This is not Israel’s job to save the Palestinians, the Palestinians should want to save themselves by getting rid of the terrorists who are trying to control them and who are using them as human shields.”

Haley stressed that Israel must make sure to finish the job lest Hamas resurge and do the same atrocities it committed on Oct. 7, G-d forbid.

“The best way to make sure it doesn’t happen again is to do it right the first time. And we know that as long as Hamas exists, it can happen again. That’s why I’ve said from the very beginning you need to finish them once and for all.”

Haley recently announced she was dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, having surprised many by finishing

second in the states she contested. In an interview with Israel Hayom, she addressed her political future and explained, among other things, why she will vote for Donald Trump in November despite the harsh criticism she leveled against him during her campaign.

Additionally, she called for imposing American sanctions on the international courts at The Hague and demanded that the Biden administration use its veto to protect Israel at the UN. Haley emphasized that the US faces a threat from terrorism by extreme Islam and noted that the treatment of Israel is a test for the Western world.

“I want Israelis to know, you’re doing the right thing. Don’t let anybody make you feel wrong because Israel is not wrong in this. There are a lot of countries in the world that are wrong because they’re siding with

the terrorists, and that needs to end. And we need to acknowledge the fact that the last thing Israel needs is for us to go stab them in the back when they’re already down.”

Her visit to the country was organized by Knesset Member Danny Danon, the former Israeli ambassador to the UN. The two have been close friends since serving together at the UN as representatives of their respective countries. The conversation with her was held in the office of the mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, who hosted her in the city as part of a tour of the southern communities hit by the Oct. 7 terrorists.

In the interview, the former governor made a serious allegation that Russia passed intelligence to Hamas. “I think that we know that Russian intelligence was involved in helping Iran and Hamas do

what they did. And I think it’s very important that people know that Russia is trying to play both sides of the fence. Russian intelligence was used to learn about Israeli bases and what had happened. They need to be held accountable for their part in this, they can deny it all they want.

The second thing is that Russia is struggling with Ukraine. They’d lost 87% of their fighting forces that started the war, they raised the draft age to 65. They did not win it in five days like they thought they were going to do. And so they were getting weaker. And how is it that all of a sudden, you’ve got this happen on October 7? And what happened was the world’s eyes turned from Russia and Ukraine, and started looking at Israel. It’s the best birthday President Putin ever got. Because all of a sudden, it turned America and the West to switch focus to Israel.”

Nikki Haley and MK Danny Danon inside a destroyed home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Nikki Haley - X

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Building on History

By Meshulam Nachmanson

When Yishai Fleisher speaks about Chabad’s history in Chevron, a noticeable tone of excitement creeps into his voice. Fleisher, a spokesperson for the Jewish community of Chevron, is accustomed to discussing the holy city’s historical importance.

Speaking to visitors and the media, Fleisher constantly highlights how the Me’arat Hamachpelah (Cave of the Patriarchs) is the first piece of land owned by the Jewish people in Israel. This makes Chevron one of the holiest places in the world and a destination for Jewish pilgrims for centuries and to this day.

Yet, Fleisher still finds something unique in Chabad’s historic connection with the holy city. “Chabad is the movement with the longest continuous connection with Chevron, spanning more than 200 years,” he says. “And in addition to its long, storied history here, Chabad continues to play an important role in Chevron to this very day.”

Indeed, the history of Chabad in Chevron is almost as long as the history of Chabad itself. The first established Chabad community of Chevron was founded less than ten years after the passing of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, at the direct instruction of his son and successor, the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber Schneuri.

The Mitteler Rebbe instructed his chassidim to move to Chevron, and support the community by purchasing “daled amos” (property) there. “One who has an estate in the holy city of Chevron will be saved from chibut hakever [“beating of the grave” – a punishment that the body of the deceased goes through after the burial],” the Mittler Rebbe wrote, quoting Rabbi David ibn Zimra (Radbaz).

The Mitteler Rebbe himself purchased a property in Chevron, a room near the Avraham Avinu shul,

which then became the local Chabad shul.

Igniting a New Legacy

A generation later, in 1845, the then-thriving community received a powerful boost with the emigration

of the Mitteler Rebbe’s daughter, Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel Slonim. Together with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Kuli Slonim, their family revitalized the city and especially the local Chabad community. Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel quickly became revered as a saintly woman and Jewish and Muslim people

The deed of sale of Beit Romano written in Arabic

alike turned to her for blessings. She passed in 1888 and was buried in Chevron’s Jewish cemetery.

In the Chevron of today, these stories are not just historical facts or interesting information from the past; It is part and parcel of the current Jewish experience in Eretz Yisroel’s second most holy city.

“It is impossible to take part in the Chevron community without recognizing how much the Chabad Rebbes and their families were involved in building the Jewish presence here. We are still reaping the fruits of their labor today,” says Uri Karzen, CEO of the Jewish Community of Chevron.

Karzen, the driving force behind an exciting new residential

development in the heart of the city, says that hardly a day goes by that he doesn’t think of these great figures from the past.

“The shul purchased by the Mitteler Rebbe is in daily use, filled with the sound of Torah and tefillah, making it the oldest surviving Chabad shul in the world,” he says. “The grave of Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel is one of the most visited sites in Chevron, and hundreds of Chabad chassidim gather every year on her yahrzeit to visit the grave and hold a farbrengen.”

The Fight for Beit Romano

During the time of the Rebbe Rashab, Rabbi Sholom Dovber

Schneersohn, a dramatic incident threatened the continued existence of the entire Jewish community in Chevron. The ‘Beit Romano’ building, a mansion built by prosperous Turkish-Jewish merchant Chaim Yisrael Romano, was put up for sale by his sons.

There was fear among the local Jews that the building, which housed a yeshiva, shul, and guest house, would be purchased by non-Jews. Local Arabs and even Christian missionaries offered large sums for the building and almost succeeded in purchasing it.

Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, a renowned Torah scholar and author of the ‘Sdei Chemed’ halachic compendium, lived in the building then. He fought like a lion to prevent

The Team: Rabbi Danny Cohen, Yishai Fleisher and Uri Karzan

The shul inside of the Beit Romano building in Chevron, which was purchased by the Rebbe Rashab in 1912

the building, so vital to the Jewish community, from falling into nonJewish hands.

Desperate for options, he sent a letter to the Rebbe Rashab in Lubavitch, asking him to get involved. The Rebbe Rashab agreed to his request and purchased the mansion for at least 22,000 rubles, a huge sum at the time. He requested that the property be registered in his name despite legal complications.

Three years later, the Rebbe Rashab established the Toras Emes Yeshiva in that Beit Romano building by sending a group of bochurim and teachers from faraway Russia. It seemed that a new era had dawned for Chabad in Chevron.

But only two years later, with the outbreak of World War I, the Ottoman Empire, which then ruled over Eretz Yisroel, expelled all Russian citizens from its territories. The bochurim and mashpi’im of the Toras Emes yeshiva, along with many members of the local Chabad community, suddenly found themselves on their way back to Russia. The Turks also confiscated Beit Romano, turning it into a police headquarters, a jail, and a courthouse.

Adversity Under British Rule

After the British conquered Eretz Yisroel during the Second World War, Beit Romano was transferred to their hands and continued to house police officers and criminals instead of bochurim poring over their Gemaras.

Following the passing of the Rebbe Rashab, his son and successor, the Rebbe Rayatz, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, attempted to have the property returned to him as the legal heir. But despite pleas and legal efforts, the British refused to return the land. A visit to the property by

the Rebbe Rayatz during his historic trip to Eretz Yisroel in 1929 didn’t achieve that goal either.

Just days after that visit, the horrific Chevron Massacre occurred. Bands of murderous Arabs killed, maimed, and injured scores of Jews and destroyed their shuls and homes. The British, who stood by as the pogrom took place, then banished the Jewish community to other cities. An attempt was made to reestablish the community in 1931, but by 1936, only one Jewish family was left.

Despite it all, the Rebbe Rayatz did not despair in his efforts to reclaim the property and issued a strong protest when Arabs started building shops at the edge of the property, but to no avail. Then, in 1948, Chevron was occupied by Jordan, and no Jew stepped foot in the city for years. That changed following the miracles of the Six-Day War when Jews were finally able to revisit Chevron. Several years later, they were allowed to return and live in the city again.

The renovated Beit Romano building that also houses the Yeshivat Shavei Chevron.

Redemption of Chabad’s Holy Sites

“It was no simple feat to start rebuilding the Jewish community of Chevron,” Karzen says. “The Israeli government fought tooth and nail against each move. On more than one occasion, the Rebbe publicly spoke about what was taking place, expressing deep pain and shock at how the government was treating the community’s pioneers.”

Even after Jews were finally allowed to settle in Chevron, it took decades more of struggle to redeem the Jewish sites in the city, especially the sites owned by the Chabad Rebbes.

In 1981, an opportunity arose to redeem the Beit Romano building. As the Rebbe was the rightful heir of the property, he had to grant his permission for the efforts. Rabbi Moshe Levinger, a leading figure in the struggle to redeem the Jewish properties in Chevron, traveled to New York to ask the Rebbe for his permission and blessing. After hearing his plans, the Rebbe granted him power of attorney to redeem the property while still retaining ownership.

In 1982, a new yeshiva - Shavei Chevron, opened in Beis Romano, and the sound of Torah was once again heard inside the hallowed halls. Over the following years, additional stories were added to the building, which today is an important center of Jewish life in the city.

The Jewish community wasn’t satisfied, however. In addition to the actual building, the Rebbe Rashab had purchased the surrounding estate, and they worked tirelessly to redeem the entire lot.

“One of the primary focuses of our Shlichus in Chevron was to redeem

and maintain the historic Chabad properties in Chevron,” explains Rabbi Danny Cohen, Director of Chabad of Hebron. “Baruch Hashem, we have seen much success in this area over the 22 years we have lived here.”

“In 2005, when this project began to really get off the ground, I reached out to Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, who gave us permission, as custodian of the Rebbe’s estate, to represent Chabad in redeeming the land,” Rabbi Cohen recalls.

After decades, permission was granted in 2018 to build a new Jewish neighborhood on the land. Named the Hezekiyahu Quarter –Nachalas Chabad, it honors Chabad’s central role in Chevron and Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, the ‘Sdei Chemed,’ who lived there.

Helping Yishuv Ha’aretz

Currently, the city is a hive of activity. Bonei Ir Havot Aguda Shitufit, a co-op led by Fleisher, Karzen, and Rabbi Cohen, is building a new housing development titled the Jewel of Hebron. Tractors are coming and going, foundations are being laid, and buyers are visiting to see the site of their future homes.

It has taken centuries, two World Wars, pogroms, regime changes, miracles, and a heroic struggle, but finally, the land that the Chabad Rebbes gave up so much for will serve its purpose once again.

“This is an exciting moment for the Jewish community of Chevron, of course, but it is also a historic milestone for Chabad chassidim around the globe,” Karzen notes. “After all, we are only standing here today thanks to the far-reaching vision of the Rebbes of Chabad.”

From his perspective, Rabbi Cohen sees this small victory as part of a much bigger picture.

“As a Shliach of the Rebbe, this project means so much to me,” he says. “Anyone who knows the history of Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, and especially the Rebbe’s struggle for shleimus ha’aretz, knows that Chevron was always at the forefront. Today, with so much of the world turned against us, it is not hard to see why: Chevron is the symbol of Jewish continuity in our Biblical homeland.”

For more information and full specs on the Jewel of Hebron visit jewelofhebron.com

Avraham Fried is given a tour of the construction site for the new housing developments

Chinuch Matters

PRESENTED B Y

COLLIVE

AND THE MENACHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (MEF)

Teaching Tip

BY MUSHKIE LIPSKER @evergrowingeducator

My Ten Commandments of Teaching

I wrote these up for myself, so that I always have my “personal commandments” to refer to. I encourage you to do the same, whether you choose to have the same ones or your own.

I - Thou shalt remember that the teacher-student “relationship” comes first.

II - Remember that learning never ends, and that a teacher must always look for additional growth opportunities.

III - Thou shalt live with the times. Our students are living in an ever-changing world. And in an ever-changing world, I need to be an evergrowing-educator.

IV - Learn to recognize emotional struggles that a child may have or be going through.

V - Respect your students, in order that your teaching days shall be most impactful to the students.

VI - Imbue your classes with thy passions and encourage thy students to do the same.

VII - Make your class a safe space, where students feel respected by their peers and want to learn from each other.

VIII - Recognize that growth comes from mistakes, both for students and teachers.

IX - Recognize how different each child is and how they may have different needs and strengths.

X - Remember that Torah and Yiddishkeit is not a subject, but a way of life.

Helping Yongsters to “Acquire Torah”

CHINUCH

PEARLS from PIRKEI AVOS

“Torah is greater than the priesthood or sovereignty, for sovereignty is acquired with thirty virtues, the priesthood with twenty-four, and Torah is acquired with forty-eight qualities” (Avos 6:6).

Included in the process of “acquiring Torah” are studying, verbalizing, humility, joy, and later, asking and illuminating, learning in order to teach, and exactness in conveying a teaching. Here are a few ideas of elements that both teachers and parents can incorporate:

- Verbalization: Do I encourage the children to study out loud, emphasizing that verbalizing Torah study is part of the Mitzvah of learning?

- Joy: Do I teach joyfully, with a smile on my lips? Do I highlight the positives in the different situations that come up during the year?

- Accuracy: Do I fact-check and ensure that I have the right sources for what I’m giving over, or do I let my students/ children know if it is uncited? This not only shows credibility as a teacher but also exposes students to different Torah sources.

Excerpted from Chinuch with the Times (published by MEF). Available at mymef.org/shop

Meet Shaina Baumgarten

PRESCHOOL TEACHER AT SILVERSTEIN HEBREW ACADEMY, GREAT NECK, NY

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Shaina Baumgarten. I have been working in preschool for over 20 years, primarily with 2-yearolds.

What is your Chinuch philosophy?

I believe that teaching is a four-way partnership—the parents, teachers, children, and Hashem. We are all working together towards one goal: helping children discover who Hashem created them to be and helping them learn and develop the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to reach their potential.

I hear you are a very creative teacher...

B”H. I was very lucky to begin my preschool career working with an incredible teacher and mentor, Morah Flory Heller. She trusted me and encouraged me to come up with my ideas, and gave me the space to implement them without micromanaging me. It allowed me to explore various sources for inspiration, whether online, through my own ideas, or by expanding upon hers.

How can less creatively inclined teachers inject creative flair into their classrooms?

We are born creative individuals, and our creativity can take many forms. Over the years, our creativity may have been stifled by well-meaning adults or other circumstances. At times, we can get stuck in our definition of what creativity means. If we take the time to observe children and watch how they look and interact with the world with their natural curiosity and creativity,

we can learn from them and awaken our own creativity.

Can you share an example of a particularly successful creative project or lesson you’ve implemented?

One year, we created a body unit to understand what happens to food after we eat it and how different foods help our systems. This was sparked by the children’s interest and questions during snack and lunchtime. These were two-and-ahalf-year-olds talking about their esophagus and intestines and how their veins carried blood!

How do you engage students who are less interested in creative activities? We spend a lot of time introducing materials and letting the children explore them without pressure. Then, we slowly add more elements so they can get more creative. Watch what interests the children and see if you can help introduce them to something they are hesitant about by using something else that they are passionate about. A child who loves playing with cars and is nervous to touch paint may be willing to dip a car into paint and make tracks on paper.

How do you measure the success of a creative lesson or activity?

I try to get a sense from the children - how engaged they are, and whether they talk about it or ask if they can do it again. I also understand that just because a lesson is going in a different way than how I planned it, it doesn’t mean it was a failure and not worth it. There is always a lesson to be learned, and sometimes

the lesson is that an idea was too advanced, too impractical, or that you need to try it again from a different approach.

What advice would you give to new teachers who want to develop their creative teaching skills?

You have to be excited about what you are going to teach and what you bring to the classroom. Using someone else’s ideas can feel boring or like a chore, so use them as a springboard to develop your own ideas and make them your own. Another point: Understand that some ideas will not go as planned, and some may not be received well, and it’s all part of the journey. You and your students will learn a lot from those experiences as well, and those are important life lessons. How you handle unexpected situations is extremely valuable.

How do you balance the need for creativity with the requirements of the curriculum?

You can take the material that needs to be covered and come up with a variety of ways to teach it. Not all learning is done in a formal manner. Encouraging movement, sensory involvement, exploration, and discovery can be more impactful than traditional methods like lectures or worksheets.

When the children get to move and involve more of their senses, and they get to explore and discover how the world works, it has a far greater impact than just being lectured, read to, or answering questions on a worksheet.

Work in Chinuch

New Chinuch Shlichus opportunities are available:

Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School in the Upper East Side of Manhattan is seeking a Middle school Rebbi/Ivrit Teacher.

Ganeinu Academy in Fresh Meadows, NY is seeking a 4th-grade Judaic and general studies teacher and general and Judaic studies curriculum coordinators.

New England Hebrew Academy in Brookline, MA is seeking a preschool director and 6-7th grade Rebbi.

Chai Tots in Chatsworth, CA is seeking warm, responsible, and caring preschool teachers to join their team of preschool teachers for the upcoming school year. Menachem Education Foundation is seeking a talented communications director. Contact info@mymef.org with resume and sample work.

To find out more about these opportunities, visit mymef.org/shlichus

News and opportunities

Registration is now open for the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad on 11-12 Tammuz 5784 - July 17-18, 2024 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Connecticut. The annual convention and retreat, themed this year "Chinuch with Joy," brings together female educators for inspiration, knowledge, and networking. The first 100 registrants will receive a sweater as a gift. For more: ChinuchConvention.org

The pilot cohort of Teach for Lubavitch has registered in this innovative teachertraining program, and is currently being placed in exciting teaching positions throughout the U.S. Limited spots are still available. If you are a postseminary Chabad woman looking to impact Chinuch in a supported way, visit mymef.org/tfl

Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, MERKOS L’INYONEI CHINUCH

The Rebbe strongly urged and encouraged that summer should be a time of continuous Torah learning and Yiras Shamayim, so choosing the right camp is the first and most important way to ensure a positive camp experience.

Practically speaking, here are a few tips:

1. Tipping Staff: Tips are important at camp. It’s best to arrange tips before summer starts. If you know your child’s teacher and counselor, give them the tip and a supportive note beforehand. This encourages collaboration for your child’s benefit. If you don’t know the staff, ask the head staff to deliver the tips once assigned.

2. Communicating with Staff: When reaching out to the camp, approach

Q: What are ways to ensure your child has a positive and enriching summer camp experience?

them humbly, not from a demanding perspective. Let them feel that you view them as authorities who can provide your child with something you cannot. Make them feel important and valued.

3. Preparing Your Child: Before camp, have a conversation with your child. Instead of focusing on the negatives, emphasize the positive opportunities and growth potential. It is important to mention that there may be negative elements to be alerted to. Still, focus on the positive aspects of the camp experience.

4. Contests and Incentives: Camps have contests for Mishnayos, behavior, sports, and more. Prepare for them by creating contests with children at home, in which they can win based on their own

achievements (even if they don’t become the top performers in camp contests).

5. Keeping in Touch: When your child calls home, listen carefully. If you notice any signs of unhappiness, follow up with a staff member. Speak with a staff member a few times during the summer to check in on your child, while being mindful not to bother the staff too much. The more you stay in touch and show the staff that you trust them, the better it is for your child’s camp experience. By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that, b’ezras Hashem, your child has a positive and enriching summer camp experience. May we all merit to have nachas from all of our children!

Save the date: The 24th Kinus Mechanchim Chabad will be held on 25-26 TammuzJuly 31-August 1 at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown, NY. It is a joint project of the Merkos Chinuch Office and the Menachem Education Foundation. Registration opens on Rosh Chodesh Sivan at kinushamechanchim.com

Mrs. Batsheva Deren, Judaic Principal of the Girls High School at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, is retiring after 43 years. The new principal will be Mrs. Bayla Blumstein, previously principal at Chaya Mushka Girls High School in Detroit who is known for her dynamic vision and personal touch. Her husband Rabbi Yarden Blumstein will teach in the Pittsburgh Mesivta and serve as a student counselor for the Mesivta and the girls’ high school.

Tips for a Reference

Advice from shadchanim for what to say and how to say it when you get that shidduch call.

By Danit Schusterman

Finding one’s soulmate is an exciting time in a person’s life. It is a process where you get to discover what you are looking for in a prospective mate as well as figure out what values are important to you.

Part of the process of meeting someone new is finding out about who they are from others who know them and have spent time with them. This is where those who are references play a crucial role in sharing what they know about them.

When providing a reference for someone in the Shidduch process, it is very important to maintain a delicate balance between being informative and respecting the individual’s privacy.

Speaking with some very well-known and experienced Shadchanim in the Crown Heights community, here is a comprehensive guide on what to disclose and what not to disclose as well as the proper vocabulary to use when asked to share information about a prospective man or woman:

Things you should disclose

Personality traits: Highlight positive characteristics like kindness, honesty, a sense of humor, and reliability. These traits give valuable insights into the individual’s character.

Interests and hobbies: Mention any passions or hobbies that the individual enjoys. This helps paint a fuller picture of who they are beyond their professional or social circles.

Values and beliefs: Emphasize important values or beliefs that shape the individual’s identity. This could include specific Mitzvos that they value, moral principles, or Minhagim that are significant to them.

Communication style: Provide insights into how the individual communicates and interacts with others in social settings. This helps prospective matches understand how they might engage in conversations or express themselves.

Lifestyle: Share details about the type of lifestyle the person prefers, whether it’s living in the city or the suburbs, pursuing a career, or going on Shlichus. This information is crucial for compatibility assessments.

Things you should not disclose

Negative traits or flaws: Refrain from discussing negative qualities or past mistakes unless they are directly relevant to the match and need to be addressed.

Unrealistic expectations: Avoid exaggerating or misrepresenting the individual’s qualities or preferences.

Sensitive personal information: Exercise discretion when sharing details about the individual’s past relationships, family issues, or medical history (mental or physical health). It is imperative to discuss with a Rav what is necessary and relevant to disclose, and always prioritize privacy and confidentiality.

Be careful of the vocabulary you use when describing an individual. Here are some examples of ways to share qualities that can sound negative in a positive light:

Stubborn can be determined: This person knows what they want and is committed to achieving their goals.

Shy can be thoughtful: They take their time to observe and listen, and open up when they are ready.

Impulsive can be spontaneous: They bring excitement and energy to any situation, always ready for adventure.

Sensitive can be empathetic: They

deeply understand and connect with others’ emotions, offering genuine support and compassion.

Pessimistic can be realistic: They approach situations with a clear understanding of potential challenges, enabling them to plan and prepare effectively.

Introvert can be reflective: They value introspection and enjoy deep, meaningful conversations, opting for genuine connections with others as opposed to small talk.

Blunt can be honest: They communicate openly and directly, providing valuable feedback in their relationships.

Perfectionists can be detail-oriented: They have a keen eye for detail and strive for excellence in everything they do, ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Impatient can be eager : They have a strong desire to see results and are enthusiastic about moving forward with projects and plans.

Overly competitive can be ambitious: They are driven to succeed and continuously challenge themselves to reach new heights of achievement. When someone calls you to find out about an individual, keep the conversation concise. Aim to provide all necessary information within a maximum of 15 minutes, unless you

have a pre-existing relationship and are discussing other topics.

Show enthusiasm and positivity when sharing about the individual. Even if you haven’t been in touch with them recently, focus on their positive qualities and the reason they listed you as a reference. Keep the conversation upbeat and positive, emphasizing the individual’s strengths and potential compatibility with prospective matches.

By following these guidelines, you can provide valuable insights while respecting the privacy and dignity of the individual seeking a match. Your words as a reference carry weight, so approach each conversation with care and integrity.

Side note: When calling a reference to find out about an individual, initiate contact via text or WhatsApp first. Since many people don’t answer phone calls from unknown numbers, it’s best to send a text or WhatsApp message stating that you are looking into someone for a potential Shidduch (write their name) and would like to schedule a convenient time for the conversation.

The (Im)Perfect Tefillin

A story about a boy’s mysterious illness and checking tefillin

by Asharon Baltazar

Rabbi Bentzion Vishedsky oversees the Talmud-Torah “Oholei Torah” in Kfar Chabad. He immigrated to Israel from Russia with his parents and brothers, escaping the severe persecution they faced for adhering to Torah and mitzvot

On one occasion, Rabbi Vishedsky had the opportunity to visit the home of the renowned Chasidic judge, Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi Wosner. Rabbi Wosner showed great interest in the devotion of Rabbi Vishedsky’s family in Russia and treated him with exceptional kindness. Encouraged by this warm reception, Rabbi Vishedsky seized the moment to inquire about a remarkable story he once heard, which was related to Rabbi Wosner.

Rabbi Wosner verified the story and even filled in some of the missing details. It goes as follows:

It happened during the 1960s. A boy from the Chabad community in Bnei Brak, who had just turned 13, began to suffer from health problems. Despite the doctors’ suggested treatments, the problems persisted,

and the underlying cause remained undiagnosed.

The boy’s father wrote a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, seeking guidance and a blessing. The Rebbe’s response was quick and terse: “Check the tefillin.”

The boy’s tefillin were new, purchased for his bar mitzvah, yet his father promptly took them to a sofer for inspection. A day or two later, the sofer returned the tefillin, complimenting the quality of the writing and the overall craftsmanship. There was nothing wrong with the tefillin.

A few weeks passed, but the boy’s condition did not improve. The father wrote to the Rebbe again, explaining he had given the tefillin for inspection and that the sofer had been amazed by their beauty and quality, finding no flaw in them. Shortly after, he received another response from the Rebbe, repeating the same advice: “Check the tefillin.”

The boy’s father recognized the Rebbe’s unwavering opinion as a sign that some detail had

been overlooked in the previous inspection. Driven by a resolve to uncover the issue, he sought out one of the most esteemed sofers in the field, widely respected for his expertise. He even disclosed that the Rebbe’s instruction had prompted this second examination, emphasizing that “something” significant was left to be discovered.

When the boy’s father returned to the expert sofer to retrieve the tefillin, he was met with disappointment. The sofer had not found the slightest imperfection nor even a flaw that could be considered only be’dieved.

“These tefillin are kosher according to all opinions,” declared the sofer, admiring the beauty of the script’s writing.

When the boy showed no signs of recovery, his father sat down and penned a third letter to the Rebbe. He included the results of the second inspection, providing the sofer’s name and his high praise regarding the boy’s tefillin.

The Rebbe’s reply to this letter was

duly received again: “Check the tefillin. He [the boy’s father] should consult with a rabbi in his city.”

The boy’s father followed the Rebbe’s instructions to the letter. Once again, he entrusted the tefillin to an expert sofer for examination, which upon yielding no findings, he proceeded to consult with Rabbi Wosner, as per the Rebbe’s directive to seek the counsel of a rabbi in his city.

Rabbi Wosner listened as the father recounted the chain of events and the results of the tests conducted by the expert sofers. Sensing a mystery before him, he pondered the situation at length. Eventually, he decided to summon the sofer responsible for writing the tefillin.

Within a short time, the sofer appeared before Rabbi Wosner. The rabbi observed a devout, G-dfearing Jew. He inquired about the sofer’s family, residence, and work practices. The sofer earnestly responded to each question. During their conversation, he mentioned his practice of abstaining from

writing Hashem’s name until after immersing in the mikvah.

This statement piqued Rabbi Wosner’s interest. No mikvah was yet built in the sofer’s hometown. “How do you fulfill the requirement to immerse in the mikveh, given that you must travel to the nearby city each time?” he asked.

In the same sincere tone, the sofer elaborated on his practice. Because of the distance between his home and the mikveh, he usually writes the passages without including Hashem’s name, ensuring ample margin space. Subsequently, when he visits the city and immerses himself in the mikveh, he returns to inscribe all the previously omitted names.

“Oy vey!” exclaimed Rabbi Wosner. His outburst jolted the sofer to understand the gravity of the situation.

Initially, the sofer primarily focused on writing Torahs, where halacha permits writing passages out of order and filling in the gaps later. However, when it comes to writing

tefillin and mezuzot, the writing must be sequential. If the passages are written out of order, they are invalid and not kosher, even be’dieved. Over time, the scribe had simply forgotten this law.

Rabbi Wosner immediately ordered the sofer to contact everyone who bought parshiyot from him and inform them that these parshiyot were invalid. Furthermore, he prohibited the sofer from working until he thoroughly reviewed all the relevant halachic laws and demonstrated proficiency in them.

The boy’s tefillin were replaced with new ones, and within a short time, the mysterious health issues disappeared.

Upon concluding the story, Rabbi Wosner remarked, “I witnessed firsthand the Rebbe’s holiness and foresight. Thank G-d, through his guidance, I merited to spare many Jews from using non-kosher tefillin!”

(translated from Sichat Hashavua #1750)

Ladies First?

Halacha grants women a special privilege when buying a house, but does it still apply?

By Rabbi Shraga Homnick, Sgan Rosh Kollel of Kollel L'Horaa

Maasis

Did you know that halacha codifies a form of ‘affirmative action’ for women seeking to purchase real estate, with the declared aim of ‘leveling the playing field’ for this historically disadvantaged group? It’s true! Kind of.1

You may be familiar with the law of ‘bar metzra,’ the halacha that gives priority to a neighbor when a property goes up for sale. Since it’s assumed that the bar metzra has the most to gain from buying this adjacent property (if they intend to use it as an extension of their existing property) compared to anyone else, Chazal ruled that the just and fair (lit. hayashar v’hatov) thing to do would be to give the bar metzra the opportunity to purchase the property first. 2 And if the bar metzra is bypassed in the process, they may even seize the property from the buyer (after paying the value of the property of course),

1 These terms are not invoked and deployed here as an endorsement of how they are used and applied today; but in the belief that comparing and contrasting halachic principles with familiar terms and concepts may help provide a more concrete understanding of how these halachos work.

2 Gemara Bava Metzia 108b; Rambam, Hilchos Shecheinim, chapter 12; Tur and Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, siman 175.

and transfer the deed of the sale to their own name with no additional transaction necessary. 3

But since this halacha is predicated on being just and fair, we must consider whether taking the bar metzra’s side every time may sometimes come at the expense of being just and fair to someone else. To this end, the Gemara 4 sets out to enumerate a lengthy list of exceptions to this rule, among them the following scenario: “[if the property was sold] to a woman…it is not subject to the din of bar metzra [i.e. the bar metzra cannot seize it from her].”5 In other words, the desire to assist this woman in obtaining the property is more compelling and of greater importance than the benefit that the bar metzra would stand to gain from purchasing the same property. But why?

Rambam puts it this way: Women don’t typically venture into the arduous process of purchasing a

3 It is assumed for the sake of this discussion that all of these halachos apply to homes and apartments as well; see Shulchan Aruch ibid. s’eif 53.

4 Ibid.

5 Gemara ibid.; Rambam ibid. halacha 14; Shulchan Aruch ibid. se’if 47.

property, so if a woman already made it this far and completed the purchase, the kind thing (lit. ‘chesed’ ) to do would be to allow her to keep it. Rashi seems to say something similar.6 Put another way, women are seen as starting from a distinct disadvantage and as being likely unable to compete in the real estate market with men on equal terms, so the requirement to give preference to the bar metzra is lifted for their benefit.7

But how does this work in practice?8

6 Interestingly, the Rebbe has a ‘mehalach’ in the sugya of bar metzra that draws a distinction between Rashi and Rambam generally, and the Rebbe cites this specific din as an illustration: By invoking the concept of ‘chesed’ here, Rambam demonstrates that he requires a high bar to override the bar metzra who already has a certain measure of ownership over the land, while Rashi does not go as far on both points. See Likutei Sichos vol. 19, Va’eschanan 3, pg. 57 fn. 17. (For the famous sicha on the connection between the laws of bar metzra and Shavuos, see Likutei Sichos vol. 18, Shavuos 1).

7 See also R. Yosef ibn Megas (‘Ri Migash’), Shaalos U’teshuvos siman 212 (cited in Shita Mekubetzes on Bava Metzia ibid.); and see also ibid. siman 84 for an interesting case in which a woman was accused of acting as a front for her husband, and her detailed halachic counterarguments in her defense, which Ri Migash rejected.

8 For contemporary discussions of these

And crucially, what’s to stop any man seeking to overcome the hurdle of the bar metzra from having his wife make the purchase on his behalf? 9 Rama 10 rules that in order to allay the suspicions that she’s fronting for her husband, the woman must have the financial resources at her disposal to be plausibly engaged in commerce for her personal gain;11 alternatively, not having a husband altogether (e.g. a widow) would also do; moreover, if a couple purchases a property together, the woman’s exemption shields both of them.

This may naturally leave

halachos see e.g.: Mishpat Hamatzranus (2018), pgs. 137-142, and elsewhere throughout; Shaalos U’teshuvos Mishpetei Chaim vol. 1 (2005), siman 30, pgs. 299-387; Nesiv Hamatzranus (2016), ch. 13, pgs. 208-219, and elsewhere throughout.

9 See fn. 7. This concern seems to be at least 1,000 years old. Early halachic interpretations of this halacha’s scope ranged from limiting its application to the wife of the seller only (Rav Moshe Gaon and Nagid cited by the questioner in Shut Ri Migash, siman 212), to affirming the women’s rights even in a case of outright subterfuge (Mar Yosef b. Chiya bin al-Shami cited by the woman defendant in siman 84).

10 In Shulchan Aruch, ibid.

11 Sma ibid. clarifies further that these assets must be outside her husband’s control, or else whatever she purchases would necessarily be seen as belonging to him.

us wondering: What are the applications and ramifications of this halacha today? It is far more common in this day and age for properties to be under joint ownership of husband and wife; women today are also far more likely overall to be homeowners.12 What impact if any does this reality have on these halachos?

As it turns out, these changes have indeed sparked an interesting debate in recent halachic literature from the last two decades. Some argue that the rationale that women are at a disadvantage no longer holds true today, with women quite evidently being accustomed to participating in the house-hunting process; having achieved this measure of equality, they should no longer be afforded special protections.13 Some have even raised the concern that preserving this carveout for women would

12 (For reference, see various recent figures cited in Axios Business (Jan. ’24), ‘Women are winning real estate’).

13 Rabbi Naftali Nussbaum in Kovetz Hayashar V’hatov #7 (2008), pg. 34. Rabbi Nussbaum is an influential Israeli charedi dayan and posek, and it’s reported that batei din under his authority rule this way in practice (see Machsheves Adam - Choshen Mishpat (2020), pg. 96).

effectively render the principal din of bar metzra itself obsolete.14

However, some take issue with the blanket revocation of a din that was codified in Shulchan Aruch, 15 or argue that the takana of bar metzra was simply never ‘chal’ on women to begin with, and that ruling otherwise now would essentially serve as the invention of a new takana today.16

Some 60 years ago, the Tzitz Eliezer17 also acknowledged the modern reality of joint husband-wife purchases from a joint bank account and ruled that this is sufficient to beat back the claims of a bar metzra. Ultimately, it seems, a final ruling today will depend on which contemporary posek the given beis din follows.18 Mileage may also vary depending on the degree to which the woman is truly involved in the purchase.

14 Machsheves Adam ibid., pg. 95.

15 Mishpat Kahalacha vol. 2 (2016), pg. 193.

16 See response to Rabbi Nussbaum in the following issue of Kovetz Hayashar V’hatov #8 (2009), pg. 231, and Rabbi Nussbaum’s reply there.

17 Vol. 8 (1964), siman 41.

18 See Machsheves Adam ibid. that other batei din rule according to Shulchan Aruch.

Keeping Safe in the Sun

Important safety guidelines for a hot summer ahead

By Dr. Avraham Gottesman

Summer in the city or in the countryside is fun, exciting and HOT, HOT, HOT. B”H, our bodies are masterfully designed to deal with quite extreme levels of heat or cold. Specifically, when overheated we flush and sweat, allowing the body to release excess heat and cool down. We also become thirsty which reminds us to drink. After approximately a week our bodies become acclimated to the new climate and can handle it even better. Despite this, we always need to be aware and alert of the potential for dehydration and heat-related injury.

It is of crucial importance to always bring enough fluids for any summertime excursion. Water, fruit drinks, or sports drinks are all acceptable forms of hydration in most situations. It is usually not necessary to monitor exactly how much your children are drinking, as the human body is designed so that children will usually drink what is necessary to stay hydrated if given access to fluids. Obviously, babies and children with special needs will need special consideration. In camp or trip situations drinks should be available and easily accessible for all. Access to fluids should NEVER be used as a reward or punishment

Despite access to fluids, heat-related injuries are common. Infants and active adolescents are particularly at risk. Infants do not have the ability to take drinks on their own,

or to communicate their thirst. However, there are clear signs of heat injury that if recognized early can be easily treated. These include looking flushed, becoming irritable or lethargic, feeling nauseated, or actually vomiting. A baby exposed to the heat may become irritable and sick looking very quickly. Fever may occur and is usually a more advanced sign. Older children, although able to communicate their needs, may get distracted during an outdoor activity and ignore the signs, or may choose to continue playing due to peer pressure.

As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Do not leave the house without water and make sure infants and younger children are drinking throughout the day. Older children should be educated about the importance of staying hydrated, and the signs of potential heat injury, and instructed to inform a responsible adult if they begin to experience any symptoms.

Be careful about leaving babies or young children in a car without air conditioning for any amount of time, even if you are standing right there. When driving with an infant or young child in the back of the car, it can be helpful to leave an item such as your phone or wallet next to the car seat as a reminder.

If you suspect someone is showing signs of heat injury, immediately bring them to a shaded or air

conditioned area. A fan or a cold wet cloth around the neck can be used to cool them down and a drink, preferably a cold one, should be given. If the person is having difficulty keeping down the drink, small sips should be taken. Ices, such as freeze pops, can often be useful in a situation where a person is having difficulty drinking on their own or keeping the liquid down.

Fever in the context of overheating indicates a more severe injury and can become very dangerous. In such cases, it is usually advisable to call Hatzalah. Even a low grade fever when accompanied by change in mental status, for example, confusion, should be taken very seriously as heat injury left untreated can quickly progress. When in doubt err on the side of caution.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and enjoyable summer.

Dr. Avraham Gottesman grew up in Toronto, Canada. He received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and trained in pediatrics at LIJ in Queens. He has been practicing in the Crown Heights East New York area since 2007.

His practice at 555 Lefferts Avenue is open full-time, where he has a wonderful team of PAs and medical assistants. For an appointment, please call 646-757-8751 or WhatsApp us at 718-594-0503.

The Commandments of Marriage

Dos and don’ts to keep your marriage thriving

By Daniel Schonbuch

One of the most beautiful analogies concerning Shavuos is that receiving the 10 Commandments is likened to a marriage, where G - d is the Divine groom, Israel the bride at Har Sinai (the chupah), and the 10 Commandments are the ring which signifies our long-term commitment between G-d and the Jewish people. As a marriage therapist, I often speak with couples about the “commandments” of marriage, and the constant need to review our behaviors. Dr. John Gottman, the world’s lead marriage researcher, highlights this bond in his book “The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work.”

It’s interesting to note that he

believes healthy marriages are built upon “principles.” These are principles which, when upheld, create a constant connection between husband and wife.

On Har Sinai we received 10 Commandments that solidify the bond between us and G-d. So too does marriage have “commandments” that nurture and protect the connection between husband and wife.

Here are some of the “commandments” of marriage based on many years of experience working with couples. They are based upon two principles: (1) to avoid the damaging effects of critical language; and (2) to focus on positive and nurturing words. This

is similar to the structure of the two tablets divided between five “Thou Shalt Nots,” and the other five “Thou Shalts.”

The Thou Shalt Nots include avoiding the behaviors that damage the relationship. Couples who insult, judge, or blame one another damage their relationship and cause unneeded stress to their marriage. Those who insinuate or embarrass each other will deplete their emotional savings accounts and cause lasting damage to their relationship.

No one likes being criticized, blamed, or belittled, especially in marriage where close daily contact necessitates a high level of

sensitivity and understanding.

However, to make a marriage great, you also need to fulfill the Thou Shalts. They are built upon positive and nurturing behaviors and words that are caring and empathetic. The Thou Shalts encourage couples to empathize and find the good in one another.

According to Gottman, the Thou Shalts include deepening your understanding of your spouse's inner world, enhancing fondness and admiration, spending quality time together, and accepting each other’s influence.

On Shavuos, you can also take the opportunity to evaluate your relationship with your spouse. Are your words accepting, friendly, compassionate, and understanding? Or are they critical, aggressive, insulting, or belittling?

If the overall tone of your conversations are angry, critical, or confrontational, you are probably transgressing the Thou Shall Nots. If you are using affirmative and encouraging words then you are fulfilling the positive emotional “mitzvos” for one another, and growing closer together each day.

Beginning your conversations with the right attitude is one way to fulfill the “commandments.” In the same way that we meditate about the greatness of G-d and our love for Him before we pray, couples should also arouse a love for one another and think about the importance of their relationship before they speak. The inner message is, “I love you and care about you, and I want to deepen our relationship.”

When you begin with the right intention, you’ll have a greater chance of using words that build happiness in your marriage. Having the right inner message may be your best guide in evaluating whether what you are about to say will push your spouse further away or bring him or her closer.

The following principles can also be helpful:

1 Soften your approach to the argument. Be less confrontational in your responses. Instead, make your tone with your spouse soft and tender so he or she will feel secure. Avoid criticism at all costs! Spouses cannot connect when they tear each other down.

2 Validate what your spouse is feeling, instead of criticizing.

3 Listen sincerely to your spouse. Hear what he or she is really saying.

4 Show an understanding of the heart. Put yourself in your spouse’s shoes while listening intently to what he or she says. Then, communicate that you see the

problem from their perspective. Put the argument on common ground by agreeing, “This is our problem.”

5 Be willing to compromise. The relationship is far more important than the issue.

6 Give your spouse attention and affection. Try to communicate statements like, “I’m here and I’m not leaving.” Point out the positive changes your spouse has made in your life.

Finally, for those who have tried to keep the marital commandments, but are still in distress, it would be valuable to read more about healthy marriages, take courses, and when necessary seek marriage therapy to help improve the most important relationship in your life.

the inside track

By Sruly Meyer

When I decided to ask singers their favorite song about the Torah in honor of Shavuos, my first thought went to the ballad 'Kad Yasvun'. It is one of my favorite songs from Benny Friedman’s debut album (which I helped produce). While I feel it must be included because it’s simply beautiful, that isn’t my final answer.

One of my favorite albums of all time is Avraham Fried’s “Yiddish Gems.” The song that makes the top of any Torah song list must be “Di Torah” from Fried’s original Yiddish Gems. Not only did I break my teeth and start my Yiddish learning from these albums, but the theme and lyrics for this song, combined with Avremel’s warm and strong delivery, is for me, the quintessential song about Matan Torah, Shavuos, the Yidden.

There are the songs that notable singers and songwriters have chosen for the COLlive Magazine:

Yisroel Werdyger: I have an amazing song, 'Mesikus HaTorah,' composed by R’ Hillel Paley on my Odeh Lakeil album that came out in 2012. It’s my personal favorite.

Benny Friedman: I would have to say the most beautiful song is by Avraham Fried, about the contract between the Yidden and the Aibishter, the song 'Shtar Hatnaim.'

Uri Davidi: I have a very heartzike song, it’s called 'Chad Hu' from the album Muchanim.

Yanky Lemmer: When I think of Shavuos and songs about the Torah, the song that

comes to mind is Abie Rotenberg’s “The Place Where I Belong” from Journeys. What a masterful song.

Shlomo Simcha: There's a nigun sung by Dov Hoffman, written by Yossi Green, 'Torah Hakdoisha.' It's a very heartzike, vareme nigun. It's got a lot of yearning and a lot of dveikus. Torah is supposed to be about connecting; this song expresses that concept, and I like singing it.

Here are some more beautiful songs about Torah to enjoy for Shavuos:

Eli Marcus - Kol Torah

Yossi Green - 8th Note - Layehudim

Miami Boys Choir - Torah Today

10 Things You Didn’t Know About…

Zusha, the Band

As college students, Shlomo Gaisin and Zachariah Goldschmiedt first met in 2013 at Chabad @ NYU (New York University) in New York City.

They wrote their first song, “Beis,” in Zachariah’s dorm room at NYU.

Shlomo went on to become the lead singer of the Marylandbased Jewish rock band JudaBlue.

In 2013, they formed the Zusha band, named after the great Chassidic master, R’ Zusha of Anipoli (Hannopil in Ukraine), a student of the Maggid of Mezeritch.

Initially, Shlomo and Zechariah didn't set out to form a band or make money; they started creating music together purely for fun and the joy of collaboration.

Zachariah lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, while Shlomo resides in Montebello, Monsey. They used to live together as bachelors before getting married.

Music is their primary source of livelihood, though they occasionally engage in other activities like music production and leading prayers during Rosh Hashana and other major Yomim Tovim.

Their most viral song, "Kol Yisrael," was created using non-instrumental sounds like a tissue box and an air freshener can during the Sefiras Omer period when playing instruments is traditionally restricted.

Their music video for “Chanukah is Here” was filmed by Shimmy Socol in the back alleys of homes in Crown Heights and ended up at the big Dreidel in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum.

Along with their global success, they often seek guidance from their rabbi, Rav Dovber Pinson, on balancing religious observance with their musical careers.

Photo

KosherSpread

By Sruly Meyer

Ultimate Shavuos Cheesecake Collection

Rosh Hashana has honey cake, Pesach has meat and potatoes, Simchas Torah has stuffed cabbage, but Shavuos? Oh, there is nothing like the taste of cheesecake on Shavuos. Sure, cheesecake is always delicious, rich and creamy, but on a Yom Tov when we make sure to have milchigs, this is the time for the cheesecake to shine. We’ve collected four amazing cheesecake recipes that will make your cheesecake the star of your Shavuos menu.

Shavuos Wine Pairings

By Gabriel Geller, WSET III

Shavuos is the celebration of the bikurim, the first fruits of the harvest. Typically, the first wines to be released to the market during springtime are rosé wines. Most of these wines are made to be refreshing, bursting with fruit, and meant to enjoy as close to release as possible, as they otherwise lose their initial freshness.

Nowadays, there are many kosher rosé wines available, Baruch Hashem. I try every year to taste through most if not all of them. One that usually stands out, and this year even more so, is the Château Roubine. Château Roubine 2019 is a very classy-looking bottle, the content of which is even classier. A very pale, delicate pink color that features aromas and flavors of citrus blossom, red berries, and stone fruits

with mouth-watering acidity. I also very much recommend the other two wines produced by the owners of Château Roubine: Roubine La Vie en Rose, as well as Sainte-Béatrice Cuvée B, both also from the 2023 vintage, of course. While not as complex as the Château Roubine, they deliver the same refreshing notes of summer fruits with balancing acidity.

Baron Edmond de Rothschild, from the famous Rothschild family, was the owner of the worldfamous Château Lafite-Rothschild in Bordeaux, France in the 19th century. He wished to revive the wine culture in Eretz Yisrael and donated millions of francs as well as knowledge, equipment, rootstock, and technology to build the Carmel Winery.

In 1986, more than 100 years after the establishment of Carmel, Baron de Rothschild’s grandson and great-

grandson, Edmond and Benjamin, continued their ancestor’s legacy when they produced the first quality dry red kosher wine from Bordeaux at their famous Château Clarke. This is a wine that combines depth, complexity, and power and is certainly worthy of your Yom Tov table.

The Pacifica Riesling 2022 is also a delightful off-dry white wine to accompany a platter of fine cheeses on Shavuos. It is lively and delicious with notes of Meyer lemon, Anjou pear, and peach, with great balancing acidity; truly excellent value.

For many of us, Shavuos is not complete without some cheesecake. The Herzog Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2021 is one of the best wines to pair with that succulent dessert. It is sweet but not cloying, with a great balance of acidity to match its ripe and dried fruit flavors.

Creamy Cheesecake with Pomegranate Sauce

By Nina Safar

My son is crazy about cheesecake and even though it’s not really that difficult to make, I like prepping two of these bad boys at a time so I can throw one in the freezer and have it ready when needed. This recipe makes two creamy cheesecakes. The sauce is an easy pomegranate syrup that is the perfect combo of sweet and tart to dress up the rich and creamy cheesecake.

Ingredients

16 oz. whipped cream cheese (room temperature)

16 oz. sour cream

2 eggs

1/2 cup of sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 ready-made crusts (6oz. each), can be graham cracker or chocolate

Directions

Combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Slowly add in eggs and beat until combined. Divide batter between the two graham cracker crusts. Bake at 350' for an hour.

Pomegranate Sauce

4 cups pomegranate juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Bring ingredients to a boil (allowing sugar to dissolve) then lower flame and stir until thickens. Allow sauce to cool off then combine with 1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds. Serve over cheesecake.

Nina Safar is a kosher food blogger living in Los Angeles, California. Her food blog, Kosher in the Kitch showcases simple recipes that are easy and tasty. She enjoys mixing up classic recipes by giving traditional dishes a modern makeover.

@kosherinthekitch

Decadent NY Style Cheesecake

By Sruly Meyer

Cheese filling

2 containers of 8 oz whipped cream cheese

1 container of sour cream

1 cup of sugar

2 tablespoons of flour

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of vanilla extrac t

4 eggs

Crust

1 stick of butter, melted

2-3 cups worth of your choice of graham crackers or Bloomies sandwich cookies.

Crust instructions

In a food processor, mix together the butter and cookie or graham cracker base. Take the mixture and put it in a springform pan, pressing down to form the crust. Place it in the freezer to chill for 20 minutes while you make the cheesecake mix.

Mix together the cheesecake filling ingredients and pour the batter into the crust after you take it out of the freezer. Bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour, and then turn off the oven and leave it in the oven for an additional hour. (This is to prevent cracking or sinking.)

Sruly Meyer, the writer behind our food and music sections, operates his own marketing agency in Hollywood, FL. He is also a home cook who runs a food and travel blog discussing fitness, local food scenes, and daily life being a Jewish father and business owner.

@Srulycooks

No Fail Perfect Cheesecake

By Naomi Elberg

Crust Options

1 1/2 cups Graham cracker crumbs or almond flour

1/3 C melted unsalted butter

1/3 C sugar

Or store bought graham cracker crust

Filling

2 8 oz bricks cream cheese, room temperature

2 eggs, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Topping

8 oz sour cream

3 tbsp vanilla sugar

2 tbsp sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix the ingredients for the crust with your fingers to form a wet sand-like consistency. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a deep dish pie plate or small individual pie pans.

3. In a blender or in a stand mixer combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Pour filling into pie pan. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Once baked turn off the oven and leave inside for 15 minutes.

4. Remove cheesecake from the oven and preheat once again to 350 degrees. Spoon topping over cakes. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before transferring to the fridge to finish cooling off and to set.

Naomi Elberg is one of Instagram’s top baker bloggers. Naomi is known as the queen of babka, but she sure knows how to make amazing Challah, and of course, cheesecake! @naomi_tgis

Strawberry – Amaretto Cheesecake

By Rivka Katzen

Graham Cracker Crust

9 double graham crackers

3 Tbsps. sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling

2 pounds cream cheese (room temperature)

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 large eggs (room temperature)

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 Tbsps. lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 Tbsps. vanilla extract

2 Tbsps flour

1 cup sour cream

1 cup fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped

Topping

2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

1 cup Amaretto liqueur

1/2 cup sugar

Crust

Lightly grease bottom and sides of 9” springform pan. Crush graham crackers in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. Pour into medium bowl and add sugar and melted butter. Combine and press into bottom of a springform pan. Chill in refrigerator for about 1/2 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Filling

In a large bowl beat the cream cheese until soft and fluffy, add the sugar and beat well. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the cream, lemon juice, vanilla and flour. Stir in the sour cream and fold the strawberries in by hand.

Pour mixture into chilled springform pan and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce temperature to 275 and continue to bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour turn off oven and leave cake in oven for another hour.

Remove from oven and cool on rack for 3 hours.

Topping

In a medium bowl marinate the strawberries in the Amaretto and sugar for 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Drain the strawberries well, and spread evenly over the cooled cake. Bake for 7 minutes.

Cool cake completely. Remove sides of spring-form pan and refrigerate overnight.

Mrs. Rivka Katzen, a resident of Crown Heights, is an accomplished baker and chef. She is part of the team behind the legendary Spice and Spirit Kosher Cookbook, a staple in kosher kitchens around the world, and served as a recipe tester for its first publication in 1990. This is a variation of a cheesecake recipe that appears in The Spice and Spirit of Kosher Jewish Cooking.

DID YOU KNOW? STORY

The Torah was given in the middle of the desert to show that it doesn’t belong to a specific country or place but to EVERY place! Hashem wants us to bring Torah to the beach, the mall, or any place where we may go.

There was once a Jew, who after moving into a new town couldn’t stop finding problems with the community, when things seemed like they were only getting worse he decided to go to his Rebbe for a visit. Wearing his best outfit, he walked in and the secretary closed the door. Walking closer to his Rebbe he tries to find the words in order to explain why he came. Before he gets a chance to speak, the Rebbe turns to him and asks, “How are things going in your town?” Since this is exactly what he came to talk about, the Jew started explaining all the various issues in his town. When he finished his explanation the Rebbe looked at him and said, “Perhaps this is why YOU were sent to this town, in order to create a more positive environment and influence the community.”

DELVING DEEPER

BRING IT HOME

What is one way you can bring Torah to the place where you live – your school, shul, or home?

Of all the places in the world, including sparkling lakes, majestic waterfalls, and beautiful beaches, Hashem chose to give the Torah in the middle of the desert! A desert is an empty dry place that belongs to no one. Hashem chose to give the Torah specifically there, so that no individual, group of people, or place could claim that the Torah belongs exclusively to them based on where it was given. By giving the Torah in an ownerless desert, Hashem conveyed that the Torah belongs equally to everyone and should therefore be spread throughout the whole world. After receiving the Torah in the desert, the Jewish people continued to the land of Israel, and eventually around the world, signaling that the mission of a Jew is to bring the teachings of the Torah to whichever place he or she may find themselves in.

Create a mountain for the Har Sinai out of green clay, make sure it fits inside the cover of the container.

Make sure to take out cover insert. Ask an adult to help you superglue & stick the Luchos to each other and then to mountain, stick the whole thing onto the inside of the cover.

Put on the cover (submerging the Har Sinai) and close as tight as you can.

Shavuos Snow Globe PARSHA

Create two equally sized rectangles as the Luchos from the blue clay, making sure they are proportionate to the Har Sinai.

Pour your desired amount of glitter into the container and then pour inside some glycerin. About 2-3 tsp. Mix well.

Using a tooth pick, etch into the Luchos some of the AlephBeis

Pour water into the container until it is almost full to the top.

SUPPLIES

Glycerin (we used vegetable glycerin)

Flower Glitter (or any type of glitter)

Small Plastic Container with Cover Green & Blue Clay

Super Glue

Toothpick

Water *We would love to see how your Parsha Studio Project came out! Send us pictures to, info@Jcm.museum

Surprise Supplies!

With the end of the school year comes every parent’s nightmare - leftover school supplies.

Mordechai Schmutter

It’s that time of the year again – time to think about school supplies. And I know what you’re wondering. You’re wondering, “Mordechai, it’s June!” But watch; your kids are about to start coming home with school supplies. Well, parts of them. And not necessarily the ones you sent. It hardly seems fair. You went hunting to several stores looking for exactly what the teachers asked for. Your kids are bringing you whatever’s left. No one asked for this. You didn’t send a list to the teacher that said, “a half of a set of markers, a sefer that’s seen better days, a pencil I don’t recognize as ever coming from my house…” It’s one thing if they were items you can save for this coming September, but usually, they are not.

Things they come home with:

- Three pencils with broken points

and no erasers.

- One giant dirty eraser block with pencil-point holes in it.

- Broken crayons that are either black or blue or indigo or dark purple or brown.

- A sefer that you’re no longer halachically allowed to open on Shabbos.

- A bottle of glue that is glued shut.

- One half-full glue stick. (“Look, it’s half full!” “I sent you with 12.”)

- Most of a ruler.

- That bag of spare clothes you had to send with your kindergartener that he outgrew so long ago that it missed going into the appropriate “too small” box in the attic.

- A binder whose rings don’t quite line up anymore.

- A folder with a cookie in the

pockets. No bag, just a cookie.

- Two markers that still work, from a set of 12. (I have a drawer at home with 26 grey markers in it.)

- A book sock that smells like an actual sock. What did he do to get it to this point? I can’t imagine this protected the book.

Basically, all the nice, shiny stuff you worked so hard to get for your kids at the beginning of the year comes home in June in pieces that look like no matter what happened over the ten months of school, they kept all their supplies outdoors. And these pieces are useless for next year or the next kid, yet you have to find a place to store it all for the summer so you can decide this together in September.

And why does everything in the pencil box smell that way? You open the box and you get hit in the face

with this supplies cholent that’s been festering all year.

“SUPPLIES!”

I was bringing my third grader to school on the last Monday of school a couple of years ago, and he’s about to get out of the car, and he says, “Should I take my bath mat out of my knapsack?” And I said, “Goodbye. Wait, what? Why do you have a bath mat? No, never mind. Go to school!”

“Should I tell you what it was for?”

“No! Get out of the car! You’ve been home all weekend with a bath mat in your knapsack and you’re waking up now?”

And then I drove away, and I was wondering, “Why does he have a bath mat?” And then I vaguely remembered that back in September, his teacher had said at orientation that everyone in the class needed to bring in a carpet for reading time. Because they sit down on the floor to read, like no adult does ever. And he gave us some dimensions – about 2 feet by 3 feet – so kids wouldn’t show up with, say, a living room rug. And we were like, “Who has a carpet of those dimensions just lying around, just in case? Do we have to go to a carpet store for this?”

So we bought him a bath mat that matches absolutely nothing in our house. We didn’t even get the matching toilet mat. Even though that’s the kind of mat that I read on. And now he’s bringing it home, apparently, which is something we never considered he’d do, so now we have to store a random bath mat. And it’s not like he needs it for school any other year!

I’m not sure what to do about the seforim either. Every year, your kid comes home with a Chumash, and you’re like, “This goes right in sheimos. It’s disrespectful to even keep it around. Where’s the cover?”

The Chumash has been whittled

down to the two middle parshios. And the siddur is the same way -- the entire Birchos Hashachar is missing. I asked my son, “How do you say brachos in the morning?” and he said, “I say it by heart.” Or he comes late, because he’s in the car with me, arguing about bath mats.

Those are the things I get back. But what happened to all the Ziploc bags I sent? Every parent sent an entire box of sandwich bags, and not a single one came home at any point of the year. Is the teacher just using us to do her shopping? When I send my kid with a snack in the morning, I’m already sending it in a bag. What

else do you need the bags for? And what’s happening to the bags I keep sending, that the snacks I send end up at the bottom of the knapsack without them? Someone’s walking away with bags here.

Maybe if we collect whatever’s left over from all our kids, we’ll have enough supplies to send one of them back to school. Just pick whichever one we love the least, and send him with all the old supplies and an entire wipes box of all grey markers.

I’m thinking one of our high school kids. He’s going to have the only dorm room with a bath mat.

Then Now AND

by Zev Gotkin

The Oholei Torah Mechina

Nestled in the heart of Crown Heights on a tree-lined avenue between Montgomery Street and Empire Boulevard sits a lowrise brick building with an eye-catching facade. The building at 417 Troy Avenue is home to the beloved Oholei Torah Mechina – the boys 8th grade within the Oholei Torah Chabad Yeshiva system in Crown Heights. But the building itself has an interesting history and has passed through different hands over the years.

The front of the building is marked

by three prominent Corinthian gray columns under two white arches with Magen Davids in circles carved on either side. Engraved at the top of the facade in Hebrew letters are the words: “Yeshivat Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov” followed by חפרת תנש (established 1928). While the facade is ornate and distinct, the remainder of the structure is a plain, pre-war red and yellow brick building.

Despite the engraving in front proclaiming the former synagogue and study hall to have been established in 1928, multiple real

estate sources say the building was only built in 1930. It has 3 stories, 2 units, and 11,040 square feet and it sits on a 4,000-square-foot lot that only houses this one building.

Before it was acquired by the Oholei Torah school system, the building was known as the Jacob J. Reines Shul, named after the prominent religious Zionist and founder of the Mizrachi movement, Rabbi Jacob (Yitzchak Yaakov) Reines. The shul served the local Zionist community as a place of prayer, study, and community gatherings.

417 TROY AVENUE

The building was first used by Oholei Torah as a mesivta (high school), but when that was moved to a new location in East Flatbush, Brooklyn in 2021, the site became the new home of the Mechina program. The Mechina prepares post-bar mitzvah boys aged 13-14 for Mesivta by honing their learning skills and preparing them for the rigorous curricula of high school and Yeshiva.

In addition to teaching students the fundamentals of Torah study,

the Mechina also aims to instill a passion for teaching others, something Chabad is known for doing throughout the world. According to the Oholei Torah Mechina website, “During these years, [the students] begin a hands-on approach to the work of Chabad – as they engage members of the greater Jewish community in awareness and share what they learn with others. The Mechina has ongoing programs, shabbatons, and a summer program in Upstate New York, to keep them excited

and motivated, as they become rabbinical students.”

From its inception, the building at 417 Troy Avenue has been a place of Jewish community and learning. Today, that tradition continues, albeit in a different form. Within its hallowed halls, the next generation of yeshiva bochurim, rabbis, and Chabad shluchim hone their skills and build a foundation of Torah knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

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