COLlive Magazine - Nissan 5785

Bentzi Avtzon hears the voices of Lubavitchers

Morgan Stanley wealth manager talks bitachon

Tips for a successful Seder with small kids

Simple recipes for making Pesach basics

MAGAZINE

COLLIVE

B rooklyn, NY

Rabbi

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Dvar Malchus

The Ultimate Story of Bitachon The Ultimate Story of Bitachon

Yetzias Mitzrayim serves as an example for our complete trust in Hashem

By the Grace of G-d 11th of Nissan, 5721

Brooklyn, New York

To our Brethren Everywhere G-d Bless you all!

Greeting and Blessing:

Yetzias Mitzraim, the Exodus (the departure from Egypt). the focal point of the festival of Pesach -· occupies a central place in Jewish life, both on the collective as well as on the individual level. As such it is a source of instruction and inspiration not only in its general theme, but also in every detail and aspect of it.

One of the fundamental features of the Yetzias Mitzraim message is the unlimited Bitochon - the absolute reliance on Divine Providence - which found such poignant expression in the historic event of the Exodus from Egypt. A whole people, men, women and children, several million in number, eagerly leave a well-settled and prosperous country, with all its fleshpots and material blessings, and go out on a long and perilous journey, without provision, but with absolute reliance on the word of G-d coming through Moshe Rabbenu.

Moreover, they do not follow the welltrodden and shorter route (through the land of the Philistines) which, although possibly entailing war, was yet more logical by far than crossing the vast and desolate desert. For in the fortunes of war, there is a chance of victory, and even in defeat, there is a chance of escape and survival for many, whereas the chances of survival in the terrible desert without food or water were, by all laws of nature, virtually nil. Nevertheless they follow the obviously “irrational” route

solely on the word of Moshe speaking in the name of G-d.

Still greater is the wonder considering that this takes place after spending 210 years in a highly agricultural country, where nomadic life was despised, a land of fertile soil, independent of rain and climatic inclemencies, richly irrigated by the faithful Nile River, in short, a land completely secure in its natural resources and natural laws and conditions.

“Since the days of your departure from Egypt” and to the present day, these aspects of Yetzias Mitzraim, namely, the absolute Bitochon in the Divine Providence and its implementation in life, down to the daily conduct in accordance with the Divine precepts, regardless of the dictates of human considerations and natural laws, must be the indispensable companion and guiding light, in the experience of our people as a whole, and in the daily life of the individual Jew in particular, everywhere and at all times.

When the non-Jewish world, and even those of the Jewish world who have strayed from the true Jewish way of life, challenge the observant and practicing Jew: You, who like us, live in a materialistic world, in the midst of a highly competitive society, facing a desperate struggle for economic survival, how can you escape subservience to the idolatry of the land (be it the Dollar, or the fear to be “different”, etc.)? How can you adhere to a code of 613 precepts which “burden” your life and limit your competitiveness at every side and turn?

The answer is - Yetzias Mitzraim provides the clue.

And as in the case of Yetzias Mitzraim, when the Jews responded to the Divine call and precepts, disregarding so-called

rational considerations, and breaking with the negative past, it turned out that precisely the application of this principle in actual life was the road to their true happiness, and not only spiritually (receiving the Torah and becoming the G-d-chosen people and holy nation), but also materially (in coming to the Promised Land, flowing with milk and honey).

So it is also today and always, by virtue of the Divine Law, which is called Toras Chayim, the Law of Life, and the Mitzvos, whereby Jews live, lived and experience daily life, regardless of how the past had been, the Jew attaches himself to the Creator and Master of the World, and liberates himself from all “natural” restrictions and limitations, and attains his true happiness, materially and spiritually.

“Know Him in all your ways”. Jews are enjoined to know and remember and permeate with holiness every aspect of the daily conduct and activities. In so doing the observant Jew may frequently face the abovementioned challenge and test. Therefore, the Jew has been enjoined: “Remember your deliverance from Egypt, every day of your life.”

Remembering and identifying oneself with the aspects of Yetzias Mitzraim is a source of limitless strength to make every day meaningful and full of true Yiddish life, and as my father-in-law of saintly memory, has emphasized: The festival of Pesach irradiates not only every day, but every moment of the Jew’s life.

With the blessing of a Kosher and Happy Pesach, /Signed Menachem Schneerson

Publisher

Mica Soffer

Editor

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Associate Editor

Mendy Wineberg

Contributing Writers

Asharon Baltazar

Shmuel Blesofsky

Mushka Cohen

Libby Herz

Tzemach Feller

Sari Kopitnikoff

Sruly Meyer

Tzali Reicher

Mordechai Schmutter

Yisroel Shochet

Design

Chana Tenenbaum

Photo Credits:

JEM/Living Archive

Special Thanks

Kfar Chabad Magazine

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Have you ever heard of a nine-day Pesach? This year, it seems we will have one—and it might actually be a blessing. Since Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, for all intents and purposes, we’ll be eating kosher for Pesach meals earlier than usual.

For some, being ready for Yom Tov a day in advance might add extra stress. But in reality, this Shabbos offers us a unique gift—a moment of breathing room between the whirlwind of cleaning and cooking, preparation or travel, and the actual Yom Tov. It allows us to enter Pesach with a sense of calm and presence.

Once the Seder begins, we have the opportunity to be fully engaged— with ourselves, our families, and the deeper meaning of the night. In our Chinuch Matters section, educator Mushka Gopin shares valuable tips on how to create a meaningful and engaging Seder experience for young children.

To connect with the Seders of our Rebbes, explore five special items preserved and used in their Seders, courtesy of the Central Chabad Library. Our monthly story recounts the moving tale of a lonely Israeli man stranded in Mumbai, India—and the knock that came from Heaven.

Pesach is a time rich with customs, and Lubavitcher families have beautiful minhagim and chumros that make the Yom Tov even more special. We spoke with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman of Los Angeles and Rabbi Levi Kaplan of Crown Heights about key Pesach practices of which to be mindful.

On a different note, we sat down with Naftali Horowitz of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management to hear his advice for young professionals starting their fi nancial journey—and why bitachon (trust in Hashem) is the best form of stress relief in an unpredictable world.

Speaking of stress, our humor columnist reminds us that we are living in a golden age of Pesach products—and not just the edible ones! But if you’re looking for delicious Pesach recipes, check out our Kosher Spread section for homemade staples that will elevate your Yom Tov meals.

Whether you’re hosting or being hosted, this issue is packed with inspiration and insight to enhance your Pesach. We hope you enjoy the read and wish you a happy, kosher, and truly meaningful Pesach!

MICA SOFFER

A FORCE FOR CHANGE

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

The Seder That Hung in the Balance

The timing of this year’s Pesach on Motzoei Shabbos means all preparations must be fi nished before Shabbos. Cleaning, inviting guests, and cooking must all be completed early, which isn’t easy. However, compared to Pesach 5768 (2008), which had the same timeframe, it might seem like a breeze.

That year, the Merkos Shlichus program of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters sent me to help lead the large communal Seders in Nepal. That alone foretold some logistical hurdles for me and the others in charge, but there were more obstacles than any of us anticipated.

Upon my arrival in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu, the Shliach Rabbi Chezky Lifshitz kindly requested that I proceed to the lakeside city of Pokhara. “You never know what might come up, and you have

experience, so I’d appreciate it if you could go there,” he said.

I had led public Seders but had no idea what hiccup he was foreseeing. “I’ll go where I’m needed,” I said, boarding a small aircraft for a 30-minute fl ight over Phewa Lake and the Annapurna mountains, a famous trekking destination.

There was little time for sightseeing. We had much to do—over 400 guests were expected at the Seder, which would be held in a large tent constructed on a leveled rice field by the lake. “Sister and Brother, Welcome to Seder Night,” read the large handwritten sign in Hebrew we hung up. The tables were set with red napkins, silver paper plates, and blue-labeled water bottles.

We soon discovered that the biggest challenge was what to put on the plates, as the food delivery was in the hands of the Maoists.

Nepal was experiencing a significant political shift, marking the end of its 240-year monarchy and the move toward a federal democratic republic. The Maoists’ Communist Party had won the election the week before, yet their militias erupted in street riots.

One of the trucks they blocked was carrying 2,000 bottles of kosher wine, a ton of matzah, 3,000 pieces of gefi lte fish, and more. The shipment was meant to first stop in Kathmandu and then continue to Pokhara, where we had staff and volunteers ready to prepare it.

As Yom Tov neared, we realized we needed to improvise. We asked Rabbi Lifshitz to prepare the meals in Kathmandu and then send them to us ready to serve in case the shipment was further delayed. Meanwhile, we purchased and cooked local produce.

On Friday, we were told that the container had arrived in Kathmandu and that staff were working around the clock to prepare our meals. Shabbos came and went, and the truck was still delayed. Our Nepalese staff informed us that the shipment should arrive “any minute.” Those minutes turned into hours.

As Pesach began, we welcomed hundreds of guests dressed in white and speaking different languages. They were united by their Jewish heritage and the opening words of the Haggadah: “Kol dichfin yeisei veyeichol - Let all who are hungry, come and eat.”

Only, we didn’t have much to feed them. The Seder plates we put out had an egg, parsley, potatoes, ginger, lettuce, and the charoset fruit and nut mixture. They lay flat on the table without the three matzahs that traditionally lay beneath them.

We began the Seder with the little wine we had available but remained in a festive mood as we sang the Ma Nishtana questions and told the story of yetzias mitzrayim and Hashem’s miracles. With the shipment still delayed, we silently asked for a miracle of our own. To gain some time, we had the Chad Gadya skit, which was meant to be performed at the end of the Seder, done earlier.

Just as we intended to wash our hands for matzah which was not yet there, the truck arrived. Its expected 7-hour drive had taken 11 hours. There was no time to breathe a sigh of relief. We had the truck park at the entrance of the tent, and people from the crowd formed a human chain to pass the food trays directly from the truck to the tables.

And just like that, time seemed to slow down. Everyone was celebrating

and joyous, especially those of us who no longer had to lead a Seder without an actual Seder meal. It made us wonder if we got a taste of how the Jewish people felt when the Yam Suf split for them.

As we prepare for Pesach this year, Nepal faces renewed protests calling to restore the monarchy, fueled by frustration over corruption and economic struggles. Perhaps the lesson of the story of Pesach is that true freedom isn’t a single moment in time. It is something we must actively seek every year and in every generation, even when we face the unexpected.

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.

Highlights from the Rebbe’s 75th Birthday Farbrengen

On Yud Aleph Nissan 5737 (1977), the Rebbe marked his 75th birthday with a special farbrengen. Thousands of chassidim, shluchim, and dignitaries from around the world came to attend the momentous occasion.

The Rebbe opened the farbrengen by expressing thanks from the depths of his heart to all those who had come as well as the many who had sent in their well wishes in writing. Throughout the evening, individuals approached the Rebbe to offer their brachos and present gifts. To each, the Rebbe responded with a l’chaim and brachos in return.

This month’s gallery offers a glimpse into this special farbrengen.

The Rebbe recites a Mammer

Reb Zalman Jaffe, a chossid from England who attended the farbrengen, described the atmosphere leading up to the event:

“[As the Yud-Aleph Nissan farbrengen scheduled for 9:00 p.m. was about to begin], the hall at 770 was packed tightly from one extreme end to the other.

Tier upon tier of boys reached to the ceiling—an impressive and imposing sight. About six thousand people were present inside the hall. The entire Lubavitch world was listening via telephonic communication, with connections to forty-five cities worldwide.”

During the farbrengen, the Rebbe acknowledged the dignitaries and politicians in attendance and spoke at length about the role of the United States and its leadership in rescuing and providing a home for the Jewish people, including the Frierdiker Rebbe, during the war. The Rebbe emphasized how this support not only ensured Jewish survival but also fostered the remarkable growth and flourishing of Jewish life in America.

Following the second and third sichos, dozens of politicians, rabbonim, shluchim, and guests approached the Rebbe with gifts. They presented keys to their cities, proclamations, and plans for new initiatives. The Rebbe asked them to say l’chaim and responded with blessings.

This continued for close to an hour and a half while the crowd sang joyfully. Between visitors, the Rebbe encouraged the singing by nodding his head and clapping his hands.

As the Rebbe had encouraged in previous years, many yeshivos prepared journals (kovtzim) of Torah thoughts as gifts for the Rebbe. Bochurim from these yeshivos passed by the Rebbe, presenting the kovtzim and saying l’chaim. The yeshivos included Melbourne, Brunoy, Cincinnati, Oholei Torah, Miami, Morristown, and Seattle. Rabbi Mentlik, the Rosh Yeshiva of 770, presented the Rebbe with the kovetz from the bochurim in 770 and Chovevei Torah.

The Rebbe heads home after the farbrengen

Reb Zalman Jaffe relates:

“At 2:00 a.m., the Rebbe stood up and took his leave—a very happy and cheerful five-hour birthday party. I dashed for the exits, wanting to be at his door to say ‘farewell.’ Jumping over tables, benches, and people, I fought my way upstairs.

The Rebbe stepped outside, and we all clapped and sang ‘Ki Besimcho.’”

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TO BE JEWISH

What began as a clandestine shlichus has developed into a sprawling community in the Gulf state

FACING TRAGEDY

The shluchim to the United Arab Emirates were shaken this past November, when the shocking abduction and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan cast a long shadow over a vibrant community that had blossomed in an unlikely place. The community endured days of uncertainty before learning that Kogan had been killed, and the days that followed were a blur of logistics and grief. Calls poured in from around the world. Security arrangements were strengthened. All UAE shluchim attended Kogan’s funeral in Israel, where Rabbi Levi Duchman, the Head Shliach and rabbi to the Emirates, gave a powerful eulogy promising his work would be continued and taken to new heights. Then, they all flew to New York for the annual conference of Chabad shluchim, carrying a Torah scroll written in his memory. At the closing

banquet, they placed it in Kogan’s designated seat.

Rabbi Yehuda Marozov and his wife Mimi exemplified this resolve by returning to their shlichus in Abu Dhabi just days after the funeral to host a bar mitzvah for a family whom Kogan had been close to. Kogan had even arranged for a gift to be sent to the young man days before he was killed.

“That Shabbat crystallized everything,” Marozov recalls. “Going back, even at the funeral, we knew it was what we had to do. We had to continue Zvi’s work for his neshama, and for the community he gave his life to build.”

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The remarkable growth of UAE’s Jewish community traces back to one young rabbi with extraordinary

vision. In 2015, Rabbi Levi Duchman, a 21-year-old Crown Heights native, was in Casablanca, Morocco, assisting his sister and brother-in-law, Rabbi Levi and Chana Banon, when he first heard whispers of a small Jewish presence in the United Arab Emirates.

“It was a tiny community, maybe a few hundred people at most,” Duchman recalls. “But they were eager to connect and build something lasting.”

Duchman flew to the Emirates for Passover. What he found was an eager community that lacked resources, including matzah and wine, or a way to bring them in.

“We hosted one Seder in Abu Dhabi,” he says, “while another organization facilitated one in Dubai. The turnout far exceeded our expectations and the interest was undeniable. That’s when I knew: we had to come back.”

From his base in Morocco, travel to the UAE was straightforward and he

60 pairs of tefillin donated in memory of Rabbi Zvi Kogan HY”D

began making frequent visits. There was no mikvah, no kosher food, and no local shechita. So he got to work.

“Early on, we kept a low profi le,” Duchman says. “We didn’t walk around in large groups or in traditional dress. We didn’t make noise. The authorities knew we were here, and they welcomed us—but they asked us to keep things quiet as they figured out how to work with us. We respected that.”

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky a”h, who oversaw the work of Chabad emissaries worldwide as Vice Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch until his passing, was already a strong supporter of Duchman in those early days. He

even came to the Emirates on a visit with his son Mendy before the Abraham Accords were signed when travel to the UAE was still quite uncommon.

Everything changed in 2019. The government declared that it would be the Year of Tolerance in the Emirates, which was expressed with many interfaith events and the recognition of religious communities and institutions.

Duchman organized a Purim party at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel—the fi rst major Jewish public gathering in the Emirates. The event marked a turning point. What had been an underground effort was now stepping into the open.

A HUB OF COEXISTENCE

On September 15, 2020 Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed a normalization agreement as part of the historic Abraham Accords and the Emirati rulers began openly promoting religious tolerance. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Jewish tourists have flooded into the UAE, and over a dozen packed fl ights from Israel land in the Emirates daily.

Rabbi Mendy Blau, who runs the center for Israelis in Dubai, explains that fear of visiting the UAE often stems from misconceptions.

Rabbi Levi and Lea Duchman at their wedding in Abu Dhabi

“The people who are afraid just don’t know what life here is like. The Emiratis are a pragmatic and peaceful people. A number of them even speak Hebrew. They’re a very progressive society who promote tolerance and understanding.”

In addition, Jews from around the world have relocated to the UAE, attracted to the zero income tax, year-round sunshine, and almost non-existent crime rates. The Gulf state is an international hub and serves as an example of coexistence. There is no regular trend of antisemitism, and during heightened tensions between Israel and the terror organizations on its borders, the authorities work closely with the Jewish community to ensure their safety. Today, an estimated 10,000 Jews call the Emirates home.

EXPANDING THE TEAM

As the community expanded, so did Duchman’s need for support. He began recruiting young rabbis to join him in the UAE. The result: a dynamic, youthful group of ChabadLubavitch emissaries, most in their late 20s, many arriving single, later marrying and returning with their wives. Five of the eight shluchim currently serving alongside Duchman began as single rabbis and returned with their wives to help build the Jewish community of the UAE.

The shluchim work closely together, supporting each other in their activities, while allowing the space for each individual shliach to manage their programs as they see

fit.

Blau says that the camaraderie and unity between the shluchim has been crucial.

“Abu Dhabi and Dubai are just an hour’s drive apart. We’re all the same age, 30 years old and younger, and our children are the same age. We often spend Sundays together with our families. Every Monday morning, we also have a scheduled time when we gather to daven and learn as a group, and regular meetings to check in with each other. It’s a real community within a community. We’re from different backgrounds—the U.S., Israel, France—but here, we’re family,” he says.

Marozov sees an additional element at play.

“Most of us were born after Gimmel Tammuz,” he says. “And yet, here

The Shluchim to the UAE

we are, living the Rebbe’s vision, building Jewish life where no one thought possible. It’s very powerful and empowering.

“Today, there are less and less grassroots shlichus opportunities available,” reflects Marozov. “This was an opportunity to be pioneers.”

THE LANDSCAPE

Abu Dhabi is the capital city.

Characterized as quieter and the center of power in the United Arab Emirates, the community in Abu Dhabi is smaller and is served by three shluchim couples. In comparison, Dubai is served by five shluchim who are based in the international business hub, which has a much larger community and volume of Jewish tourists passing through.

Dubai boasts a kosher French patisserie, a pizzeria, a dairy restaurant, and three meat restaurants, all privately owned and managed with a high kashrus standard overseen by Chabad, with guidance from OK Kosher and Rabbi Mendy Chitrik in Istanbul. Rimon Kosher Supermarket also offers a wide variety of kosher food options and ready-to-eat food for Shabbos, much like what one would expect to see in a kosher supermarket in any large Jewish community. Abu Dhabi currently hosts a kosher fish and dairy restaurant.

A UNIQUE COMMUNITY

Duchman’s wedding to Lea Hadad in 2022 made international headlines. The fi rst Chassidic wedding in the

UAE shluchos at the Kinnus Hashluchos Banquet

UAE was a spectacle of cultures merging— chassidic men dancing alongside Emiratis clad in traditional attire, a viral moment that underscored the country’s remarkable religious tolerance. The wedding was attended by prominent Emirati businessmen, government officials, shluchim from around the world, and ambassadors from various countries in a spectacular display of unity.

In the joyous and united atmosphere, everyone—locals and the Jewish community alike—felt they were celebrating a family occasion.

That sense of belonging is something Marozov sees daily.

“The UAE is almost like a college campus,” he says. “It’s an incubator, where everyone is away from family, and so the bonds here are tight. People are eager to connect, and we’re here to help them grow in their Yiddishkeit, even thousands of miles from home.”

“None of the adults in our community were born here,” Duchman notes. “They come from the U.S., Israel, Europe, South Africa, South America. They arrive looking for connection, for meaning—and Chabad provides that.”

After the horrors of October 7, 2023, some questioned the durability of a Jewish community within an Arab state.

But for the Chabad shluchim, retreat was never an option.

“The fi rst thing to know is that we don’t run away in the face of challenges or tragedy,” says Blau. “That isn’t the Chabad way.”

The community has enhanced security measures, and is working

with Emirati authorities who have ensured all Jewish centers are properly protected.

The message from the shluchim is clear: Jewish life here is not just surviving—it’s thriving, defiantly and vibrantly, in the heart of the Middle East.

HONORING

RABBI ZVI

KOGAN HY”D

Zvi Kogan grew up in a yeshivish family in Israel, and became close with Chabad during his teenage years. Initially planning on traveling through Asia after his service in the IDF was completed, Kogan joined his brother who lives in the UAE in 2020, after COVID-19 forced him to cancel his planned trip. Kogan quickly distinguished himself as a practical and deeply capable person, and a natural community builder.

“He was unbelievably resourceful,” said Duchman.

“Much of what we’ve built here, our ability to serve both the local community and thousands of tourists, is thanks to Zvi’s work.”

Among Kogan’s many responsibilities was the Rimon Kosher Supermarket, where his friendly demeanor and sociable character connected him to locals and guests who came to shop at the store.

“He ran the store as a Chabad house,” remembers Blau. “He used his daily job in the store to connect with Jewish people that stopped by. Unsuspecting shoppers suddenly found themselves invited to do a mitzvah or to a Shabbos meal in his open home.

Many people are now connected to the community from the relationships he built in the store.”

In true chassidic fashion, the tragedy of Kogan’s death has become a catalyst for deeper commitment within the community.

“We will double the number of shluchim, create more institutions, and expand into a full school,” says Duchman. “We’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible.”

The current infrastructure is already impressive. Chabad of the UAE operates a kindergarten with 70 students, a Sunday school with over 100 children, a thriving new Ckids program for daily afterschool activity, teen programs, young professionals’ groups, and programs in multiple languages.

The community already possesses 12 Torah scrolls, conducts active tefi llin campaigns, and is assisting emerging Jewish communities in neighboring countries with all their Jewish needs, helping them obtain kosher food and other items needed to maintain a Jewish lifestyle.

The shluchim are involved in every single aspect of Jewish life— establishing educational centers and building all the necessary infrastructure that Jewish life requires.

Duchman, looking back on the decade of growth, marvels at the transformation.

“It’s amazing that ten years ago no one saw the possibility of creating a Jewish community here, and now it’s flourishing. We’re committed to growing even further, and building a community that will make the Rebbe, and Zvi, proud.”

The Rimon Kosher Supermarket in Dubai

Pittsburgh tour: Bentzi Avtaon interviews (from top)

author Rabbi Dr. Eli Rubin, Yeshiva Schools CEO Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, Pittsburgh Zal

Dean Rabbi Choni Friedman, Oberlin College Shliach

Rabbi Shlomo Elkan and publisher R’ Dovid Markel

By Tzemach Feller

CONVERSATIONS Worth Having

Filmmaker and Podcaster Bentzi Avtzon Is Documenting Lubavitch, One Interview at a Time

In the summer of 2020, as the Covid pandemic raged, gatherings were largely prohibited, and schools and camps remained shuttered. For the first time in its nearly seven decades, Camp Gan Yisroel in Parksville, New York, was closed. Despite that, Bentzi Avtzon was asked to go to the camp for a brief yet important visit.

“Rabbi Yudi Ceitlin, who coordinates the annual Yarchei Kallah, called and asked that I film my grandfather there,” he recalls.

Like many events and conferences at that time, the Yarchei Kallah gathering of Chabad rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva was

Rabbi Avraham Shemtov as filmed by his grandson, Bentzi Avtzon, in the summer of 2020

going to be held virtually on Zoom. Its founder and organizer was Avtzon’s grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, the legendary Shliach in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, who also heads Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and the camp itself.

Avtzon has been living in Philadelphia’s Bala Cynwyd, just a few neighborhoods from his grandparents, Rabbi and Mrs. Batsheva Shemtov. Ceitlin said that due to his expertise and family ties, Avtzon would be the most suitable candidate to make the 3-hour drive with his grandfather from Philadelphia to the Catskills and film his opening remarks for the virtual Yarchei Kallah.

Avtzon agreed and produced a moving, six-minute film titled, “A Source of Inspiration.” His camera followed Rabbi Shemtov as he walked through the empty fields of Gan Yisroel, reminiscing about years past when those fields were filled with the sounds of campers playing and rabbonim sharing Torah with one another.

The video opened the broadcast, which would run for 12 hours continuously. Leading rabbis presented shiurim on various topics in Torah, halacha, and Chassidus instead of their in-person gatherings in the green campgrounds. After Avtzon posted the film to his Facebook page, one commenter wrote, “This video makes me homesick for Lubavitch.”

with a live string quartet concert that conveyed the stories and teachings behind the Rebbe’s niggunim.

Titled, “Songs of the Inspired Soul,” the production quickly took off — to date, close to 100 Chabad centers have hosted the event, and the video has been translated into Russian as well. This led to him opening a full video production company, Yuvla Media, that specializes in telling thoughtful and memorable stories of non-profits around the country.

(He has since come back to his filmmaking roots with a new film and live music production, “The World is a Garden,” focused on the maamar Basi Legani. “I took the maamar and opened it up through film and a live musical performance to present the maamar in a new way to audiences around the world,” Avtzon says.

As Avtzon’s filmmaking business expanded, he met more Lubavitchers with stories to tell. “Working on these different video productions allows you to meet a lot of different people,” the 37-year-old says. “There were a lot of conversations I was part of, many of them with other Lubavitchers, and I felt it would be wonderful to have those conversations in a public setting.”

Avtzon wanted to share those conversations.

you post it online, and you let people reach their own conclusions.”

Avtzon remembered that comment on his Yarchei Kallah video from 2020, and the podcast had a name - “Homesick for Lubavitch.” Billed as “A Podcast Exploring Lubavitch Identity,” Avtzon interviews Lubavitcher men and women of different ages and renown about their upbringing, vocations, and views.

“I grew up on shlichus,” Avtzon says. “I’m very much part of — and related to — a big part of Lubavitch; very much an insider on one hand. On the other hand, I grew up in Hong Kong. I then went to school in Australia and continued in yeshiva in Monsey, Argentina, and at Oholei Torah in Crown Heights. I have been around and have a different story than most, which creates an outsider perspective. The podcast negotiates these two things.”

“What I’ve found in these conversations is that Lubavitch is complex, not a monolith,” he continues. “The podcast takes the time to hear people’s stories. Sometimes debates, sometimes discussions. We drill down ideas to where they emerge from. That, to me, is invaluable.”

Insider andOutsider

In nd sider a

Avtzon began his career in filmmaking by creating a distinctive event for Lubavitch of Philadelphia, blending a video production

“I remember walking to shul one Shabbos and thinking, ‘I make a lot of short films, documentary work — it would be wonderful to make a documentary about Lubavitch, where it is today.’ But then I thought that would be a massive undertaking, impossible to complete, impossible to decide who to include. So I decided that maybe a podcast would be a better setting. You don’t edit the conversation;

His day job as a filmmaker helps too. Avtzon brings along a camera and a couple of microphones, and that’s about it. The interviews take place in people’s homes, and Avtzon recognizes that a production-style atmosphere—with bright lights, reflectors, and other gear— would be both costly and overwhelming. “Many of the people I’m interviewing are not comfortable in the spotlight,” he reminds me. So he opts for a simple setup, a single wide shot of a table and two chairs that has since become the trademark of the podcast.

“Initially the table framing was a practical decision,” he explains, “as that is pretty much the only thing you can count on finding in every house. But there’s also symbolism here. When we sit around a table, there is enough distance for us to disagree, we are literally on the other side of the table. At the same time, we are both sitting at the same table. Something is bringing us together here.”

He sits across the dining room table from his subject, a microphone in front of each of them, and a headset for each. He fills in the gaps in equipment with his trained eye in setting up the room with what’s on hand. Besides the uniformity — every Homesick for Lubavitch video is instantly recognizable — it also creates an atmosphere of “this isn’t a casual conversation with your buddy; it’s a discussion where maybe we won’t agree, but we can do so amicably.”

“On a practical level, the technical work I do in video production entails capturing the video and the audio, but the soul of the work is the questions I ask people and trying to figure out how to bring out the story from the person in front of me. It’s not as easy as it seems to shape a two-hour conversation so that the listener feels he got somewhere. It’s a skill one builds over time.”

Homesick for Lubavitch episode 16, where Avtzon traveled to London to interview his great-aunt, Mrs. Fradel Sudak, R’ Bentzion’s daughter.

“We sat down at her dining room table for the interview, and the spot where I sat down was the chair where my great-grandfather would sit when he visited. It was also the spot where she last saw her father before he went to Israel where he was eventually hit by a car and passed away,” Avtzon said. “She was telling me a story about a comment he made to her, the last words she heard from him — that took place right where I was sitting. It was very powerful and very moving.”

A few months later, Bentzi interviewed Rabbi Yosef Katzman of Crown Heights for episode 44, who picked up the story where his Mrs. Sudak had left off. “Rabbi Katzman was in Israel when my great-grandfather landed there and was with him the last few days before he was killed. In the episode, he spoke about a Shabbos farbrengen that he remembers between my great-grandfather and his brother-in-law, Reb Mendel Futerfas. It was a very moving moment to piece together the last few days of my great-grandfather’s life.”

The Personal Side

The onalPers

Bentzi Avtzon is named after his great-grandfather, R’ Bentzion (Bentche) Shemtov, a fearless chossid who was imprisoned by the Communists in Siberia before moving to London, England, where he helped found the Lubavitch community there.

This connection came to the fore in

When I ask him about an episode that stands out, Avtzon points to episode 50 where he interviewed his father, Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon, Head Shliach of Chabad of Hong Kong.

“Interviewing for me is my work and is at this point something that comes relatively naturally to me,” Bentzi Avtzon relates. “But interviewing a father has different dynamics, and it was in many ways unfamiliar terrain to navigate. Maybe because it is so personal. That said, I believe many people would be well served sitting with their father, getting over that initial discomfort, and putting themselves in a position where they listen

to their parent’s backstory — especially as you get older and appreciate more what they did for you. It’s valuable to hear where they came from.”

Avtzon says his father “wasn’t jumping to do it but came around to it eventually. Many tell me it’s one of their favorite episodes, and I’m very proud of how it was received. In many ways, it’s a microcosm of the entire podcast – people assume it’s uncomfortable, and yes, the lines are blurred; it’s hard to know where to draw the line. There’s usually baggage, there is some discomfort, and that’s part of life. It’s still worth having a conversation.”

He then adds, “An uncomfortable conversation is often a necessary one as well.”

Anmore interesting than he thinks. “People have many different skills, many different views on what it means to be a chossid, to be mekushar, to be connected to the Rebbe’s vision,” he said.

He describes it to me with a metaphor listeners of the podcast would find familiar. “Some look at the post-Gimmel Tammuz era and see a broken egg oozing mess, a shattering of something irreparable. But another way to look at it is an exploding meteor, where each fragment has so much energy it can light the world on fire. A fragmentation that brings out something new and worthwhile in each person. Some are set on putting the egg back together again.” He pauses. “Well, they’re trying. I don’t think they can.”

An Act of Journalism

For the podcast, Avtzon has interviewed many well-known Lubavitch figures, some of whom are well-versed in the Rebbe’s teachings and activities, such as Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Rabbi Michoel Seligson, Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin, and others. But he also makes a point to emphasize that, “some of the people I’ve had on, some of the most interesting conversations and most resonant, were people you’ve never heard of.”

“This isn’t a show looking for celebrities, trying to get access to the upper echelons,” he clarifies. “I see the podcast as a form of journalism. I’m trying to understand what’s going on in the Lubavitch community where people stand. It’s not only about the top people — there are people I want to get on that are household names, and there are people very high up on the list whom very few people know. I feel they, too, have things to share.”

Avtzon says he has come to see that invariably the person he is talking to is

As Homesick for Lubavitch approaches its 60th episode with thousands of people listening to each new interview, he says that what inspires him to continue are the messages he receives from people.

“People reach out to me to tell me how much it meant to them; they listen to it with their child on the way to the airport; or they listen separately and discuss it at the Shabbos table. People have told me that they feel this is a conversation they have with themselves and always wondered if anyone else thought this way — and suddenly, this conversation is out in the open.”

“It’s something I hope to continue doing as long as Hashem helps me make it work financially and time-wise. It’s been a very big honor to be a part of it and to see how it has meant so much to so many people. I look forward to seeing where it takes me.”

He smiles, then corrects himself. “Where it takes all of us.”

Homesick For Lubavitch is available on all podcast platforms and is posted in video format on YouTube. Find out more at www.hflpodcast.com. Bentzi Avtzon can be reached at YuvlaMedia.com.

Bentzi Avtzon interviews (from top): his father Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon, Mrs. Tzivia Jacobson and R’ Yossel Mochkin

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By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Rabbi Moshe Kesselman of Los Angeles learned to provide answers and guidance to the many halachic questions he receives

AAs a youngster, Rabbi Moshe Kesselman had a habit of always checking the date of any communication from the Rebbe. Be it a sicha, maamar, an Igeres Kodesh, or note, he eagerly hoped that the date would be 18 Adar II 5738 (1978), his birthday. “I felt that if I could find something that the Rebbe had said or written on my birthday, it would have a special connection to my neshama, and help me find my life’s calling,” he explains.

Rabbi Kesselman was raised in a deeply Chassidic home. His father, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kesselman, a Mashpia at the Chabad Yeshiva in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the son of the Kfar Chabad chassid and Mashpia R’ Zev Volf (Velvel) a”h Kesselman and grandson of the famed mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim a”h Kesselman. His maternal grandfather was the chassid R’ Nosson Gurary a”h from Montreal, Canada.

“For years, I could not find anything,” says Rabbi Kesselman, who is now a Chabad Shliach and the Rov of Congregation Shaarei Tefila, one of the oldest and largest Shuls in Los Angeles, California, located on Beverly Blvd in the Fairfax District. “I was born four days after Purim, on a regular Monday.”

Then, at the beginning of 5759 (end of 1998), he was sent as one of the Talmidim Hashluchim to the Chabad Yeshiva in Melbourne, Australia. “When I arrived, they told me that the first thing the shluchim do is call their parents to let them know they have arrived safely. I went into the yeshiva office to make this phone call and faced the wall for privacy. I then noticed a little photocopied tzetil (note) taped to the wall. It was clearly an answer from the Rebbe.

It was dated Chai (18) Adar II 5738. Written in Hebrew, it stated, “A

fundamental principle in Torah and mitzvos is the concept of Divine Providence—that Hashem watches over each individual personally, literally. [Especially based on how well this is explained in chassidus.] So what place is there for worry?! According to the Torah, a person’s actions should be carried out without any worry at all. If there is uncertainty about the correct course of action, one should seek advice from trusted friends, such as one’s father, mashpia, or similar individuals. And if their opinions differ, one should follow the majority view.”

Rabbi Kesselman says that he asked for a copy of it “and I keep it with me throughout my life.” The copy of the Rebbe’s answer he now uses as his profile image on WhatsApp, the platform on which he engages with many people and fields numerous halachic questions on a daily basis.

“Because it was dated on the day of my birthday, I felt like it was calling to me,” he adds. “It was the Rebbe’s way of telling me that if I lived with hashgacha protis, I would live a life with no worries. And the more I think about it and study it and work on it, the more this reality becomes true.”

TO BECOME A ROV

It was a Friday afternoon in the last week of Adar when Rabbi Kesselman agreed to be interviewed for the COLlive Magazine. He had already seen a spike in calls and messages with Pesach questions from many in his community and beyond.

Where you find yourself today, as a rov and posek, is that due to hashgacha protis?

“Absolutely,” he replies. “I’ve had the zechus of seeing Hashem’s hand, ‘hashgacha pratis’, guide me in a revealed way in all the major deci-

sions in my life. Where I live, who I married, and the work that I do. I’m truly grateful.”

Was rabbonus something that you were always planning to do?

“The short answer is no,” he says with a chuckle.

So how did you end up in rabbonus and in Los Angeles?

“When I got married, I was already working in Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad in LA, and during that time, I was introduced to the world of rabbonus and halacha lema’ase (practical halacha) through my father-in-law, Rabbi YY Shusterman. I was completely mesmerized by it.

My shver is well known for his crystal clear way of paskening, ‘L’asukai shema’tesa aliba dehilchasa,’ - to take the academic world of Halacha and translate it into an actual psak that people are seeking.

I was very taken by it. Until then, I had never learned halacha lema’aselema’ase. Even when you learn Shulchan Aruch you don’t necessarily know how to apply it. It was actually not as simple as I thought.

THE CHABAD WAY

Speaking on the phone, Rabbi Kesselman is brimming with ideas, references, and quotes, all conveyed in a clear yet decisive manner. This approach takes time to master, balancing a range of questions that often reveal the experiences and even baggage that shaped them. His style is personal and down to earth, he laughs as he shares with me something that was sent to him on one of the WhatsApp groups regarding Pesach: “Don’t forget to give your children some trauma this Pesach, so they have what to talk about on a podcast when they grow up.”

Are the chumros on Pesach con-

sidered halacha, mesorah, or minhagim, or a category on its own?

“That’s a loaded question and I know that this is an issue that many seek clarity on. Let me say this for now: There are certain hora’os that we have from the Rebbeim with regard to things we abstain from on Pesach. For example, there is the famous responsa from the Alter Rebbe that one should refrain from matzah shruyah (gebrochts). The Alter Rebbe writes that one should refrain from eating it ‘lizoher mechashash issur deoiraisa’ - ‘To be careful regarding it out of concern of violating a Biblical prohibition.’ This is obviously taken very seriously in Chabad. Many who observed the Rebbe’s seder reported how careful the Rebbe was to refrain from even the tiniest crumbs of matzah being exposed to water (or anything containing water).

Incidentally, toward the end of that famous answer, the Alter Rebbe quotes the Arizal that one should be machmir with ‘kol hachumros b’Pesach’ (all the chumros on Pesach). Then there are many family min-

hagim with regard to chumros and hiddurim on Pesach. Families that have those minhagim should treasure them deeply and pass them on to their children. But since they have no formal source in the writings of the Rebbeim or minhogei Chabad, they should not be seen as ‘universal Minhag Chabad.’ As always, if one is in doubt one should follow the Rebbe’s hora’ah and consult with a chassidisher Rov for guidance.

As we get closer to Pesach, I get calls from young couples asking: ‘We’re doing Pesach for the first time in our home. Tell us what we need to do. If we’re kashering the sinks, do we have to cover them? Can we eat processed foods on Pesach? What if it has a reliable kosher l’Pesach hechsher? There is an element here that is very personal and cannot be legislated. Pesach is a serious Yom Tov from both a halachic perspective and from a spiritual perspective. It is incumbent upon us to be upright Yidden with yiras shamayim and kabbolas ol, while remembering that: ‘Dust is not chametz and the children are not the Korbon Pesach.’

As a rov for close to 20 years, do you find that young people are following the chumros of their parents?

“I am often humbled and genuinely in awe of people’s yiras shomayim and deep desire to ‘do things the right way.’ But, people also want clarity. What is a halacha? What is a minhag? What is a chumra? Young couples who grew up with different minhagim often ask which family minhagim they should follow. They are prepared to work hard and spend money on having a proper ‘Lubavitcher Pesach’ but they would like to know what that means. They are very appreciative when they can get the right type of hadracha.

IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING RIGHT

Where do you see your role when responding to questions from such a wide spectrum of people?

“I say a lot of Tehillim every day to

know how to deal with that correctly. I daven for siyata dishmaya. I try to stay very humble, I try to listen carefully when people ask sha’alos, and I do my best. It takes a tremendous amount of siyata dishmaya to get it right. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

“Sometimes, people need their questions answered and that’s it. If something is permissible, they need to be told that it is permissible and that’s the end of that. And sometimes, people need to be told that although there is a heter in halacha for such a thing, it is still wrong.

“I heard the following story from the person himself: There was a bochur who went into yechidus with a decision he had to make. He asked the Rebbe if something was permissible ‘al pi halacha’. The Rebbe’s answer to him was: ‘al pi Torah it isn’t right.’ I love that story. People often think that if something is permissible, then it’s permissible and that’s all there is to it. That is not true at all. A chassid’s atti-

tude is: If something is forbidden - it is forbidden. If something is permitted - It is still not necessarily for me.

The Frierdiker Rebbe once said: ‘A yesh omrim in Shulchan Aruch darf dernemen ad mitzui hanefesh.’ (An opinion in Shulchan Aruch - even if it is not necessarily the final ‘Halacha’ - must permeate a person to the depths of their soul.)

What advice would you give to young, emerging Lubavitcher rabbonim?

“I’m delighted and very encouraged by the amount of younger rabbonim that Lubavitch is now producing, baruch Hashem. I would encourage young rabbonim to give themselves the time to gain experience and to never become complacent. We are here to serve the community and we need to remember that. Rabbonus requires a tremendous amount of dedication, loyalty and discretion. I would encourage younger rabbonim to remember the words of the Rab-

beim about the unbelievable zechus and achrayus involved in rabbonus and to remember that their families pay a heavy price for their workload.”

What closing words can you share with us connected to Pesach?

“In the Rebbe’s Torah, there are many teachings about the concept of cheirus - freedom. One of the very powerful ideas that the Rebbe explains is that cheirus means being authentic to yourself. When we’re told that the Jewish people were forced to do ‘avodas perach’back-breaking work, the Gemara says that they forced men to do women’s type of labor. It was considered such difficult work because it was so foreign to who they really were. When a Yid lies to themselves about who they are, that’s the definition of Mitzrayim. Breaking out of slavery says that I am defined by being a Yid and being a Lubavitcher chassid. And that is something we must all be reminded of.”

Pesach Treasures

5 special items that are held at the Rebbe’s Library

The Agudas Chassidei Chabad— Central Chabad Lubavitch Library and Archive Center contains 300,000 volumes and manuscripts, making it one of the world’s most important privately held Judaic libraries. It is located at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, New York. Since its humble beginnings in the early eighteenth century with the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi

Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the “Alter Rebbe,” each of the Rebbes grew the collection until it morphed into the prestigious library it is today.

Alongside the seforim, the library is home to numerous sacred items, including those used by the Chabad Rebbes. To commemorate Pesach, COLlive Magazine showcases five distinctive Pesach-related items from the library’s collection.

The Arizal Siddur

The Siddur Im Kavanos HaArizal, printed in 5554 (1794), includes the kabbalistic teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, known as the Arizal, who lived in the holy city of Tzfas. According to an inscription inside the front cover, written by the Frierdiker Rebbe, it originally belonged to the Tzemach Tzedek. He and each subsequent Rebbe would have this Siddur with them during the sounding of the shofar on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, as well as during the Pesach Seder.

he Siddur Im Kavanos HaAr izal, n kabbal achings Luria s the Arizal, who lived in the f inscript i side t rierdiker origina lly belo ea ubsequent th i ith of hofar on Rosh Hashana and Yom s Seder Th in te as of in Fr to su wi sh as

The Alter Rebbe’s Bowl

The Rebbe’s Haggadah mentions items from the Alter Rebbe’s Seder table, including a silver bowl with two handles and a cover. Chassidim pooled resources to purchase it, and it was passed down through generations of Chabad Rebbes. During the Rebbe’s Seder, after serving soup, the bowl was brought with extra broth. The Rebbe would take three spoonfuls and then pass it around for others to serve themselves. One chossid noted seeing this bowl at the Rebbe’s table on the last days of Pesach.

The Frierdiker Rebbe wrote about this bowl: Typically, a person is neither afraid nor ashamed of inanimate objects. However, there are certain inanimate objects that one should regard with fear and shame. Just knowing that this was used by the Alter Rebbe and passed down from Rebbe to Rebbe evokes bow a C purcha and it was passed down th of Chabad Reb During the Rebbe’s Seder, Rebb a nd t pa ss it around for others to them selves. chossid n ng this bowl at the Reb he last of Pesach.

seein on th F this b neit h inan i are ce one s sham used such

Fr ierdiker wrot bowl: T ypically, pers her af ra id nor a shame imate Howev ertain inanimate obje fea me. that the Alter Rebbe an n f rom Rebb emotion.

The Frierdiker Rebbe’s Ka’ara

The Rebbe writes in his Ha gaddah that in the homes of the Rebbes, part icipants would create their ka’arahs using napk ins, except for the Rebbe himself, who would use a si lver tray as t he base of the ka’arah. The Fr ierd iker Rebbe’s silver tray had handles on bot h side and on it, he would place the three matz and the Seder items a customary.

e s os as

The Rebbe’s Ka’ara

On Erev Pesach 5711 (1951), the Rebbe asked the activist nd rmed with tray was acceptable, to which the Rebbe agreed. Attendees

Lower East S a heavy oc ta buying it, he the Rebbe if tray was acce ag of t he Rebbe the years rel actually noti covered with

Rebbe asked the ac tivist chossid Rabbi JJ Hecht to fi a silver tray for the ka’arah. Rabbi Hecht searched t he Side and found agon tray. Before e confi rmed an 8-cornered eptable, to which greed. e’s Seder over ated they never iced it, as it was h napkins.

The Rebbe’s Pesach Becher

In 5722 (1962), a wealthy chossid, R’ Aharon Klein of Crown Heights, commissioned a pure gold becher for the Rebbe to use during Kiddush. It was engraved with the words “Yomim al yemi melech tosif - Add days to the days of the king” (61:7) from the Kapital in Tehillim, recited on the

To watch a video of these items, scan the QR code Tehi llim, recited on t he Rebbe’s 60th birthday. The word Ufaratzta, the rallying cry of the Rebbe’s global outreach mission, is engraved on the plate. From 1971, when the Rebbe conducted the Seder privately with the Rebbetzin, he used t his becher.

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Living Responsibly

A conversation with Naftali Horowitz, Managing Director - Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

NNaftali (Mark) Horowitz is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and was ranked number 9 on the Forbes “Best In State” advisor list in New York in 2024. Naftali has lectured to tens of thousands globally on the topics of business, motivation, self-actualization and finance and is the author of You, Revealed: A Torah Path to a Life of Success and Path to Kedusha, blending Torah wisdom with personal growth. He also serves as Chairman of BINA (Brain Injury Association) and Migdal Ohr International. Horowitz lives in Flatbush with his wife and seven children.

Ahead of Pesach, COLlive Magazine had a fascinating conversation with Naftali where he shared his connection to Chabad, his advice to young people starting their financial journey, and why bitachon is the best kind of therapy in a stress-filled world.

Tell us about your background.

I grew up in Boro Park in a chassidisher family that descends from great Rebbes including Rav Naftoli of Ropshitz and Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhenshk.

Interestingly, my family also developed a close connection to Chabad after arriving in America from Siberia, where they survived the war. My maternal grandparents were Sanzer chassidim but they couldn’t find any place to send my three uncles to Yeshiva because they had no money for tuition.

Not to be deterred, my grandmother, Mrs. Miriam Hecht a”h, went with her children to the Frierdiker Rebbe and said to him in Yiddish: “These are my children and I need someone to educate them.” The Frierdiker Rebbe lovingly embraced the children and replied: “You think they are only your children? They are also my children!” All of my uncles learned in Chabad institutions and my grandmother remained indebted to Lubavitch for the rest of her life, doing all she could to help, including raising millions of dollars and founding a women’s auxiliary.

I merited to receive many dollars from the Rebbe and even joined a yechidus together with my grandfather.

Your book, You, Revealed, quotes from a dizzying array of sifrei chassidus, including Tanya. How were you introduced to chassidus and Chabad chassidus in particular?

After learning in Stolin and other yeshivas, I went on to learn for a number of years in the Brisker yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael. In the evenings, I would learn at a Shul where a Tanya shiur was regularly held and the Lubavticher chossid who led the shiur encouraged me to join. Regrettably, I shrugged him off telling him, ‘When I finish Shas, I’ll learn Tanya.’ To which he responded: ‘If you learn Tanya, you might remember more of what you are learning.’

As I got older and set out into the world I came to realize that it’s impossible to survive without chassidus. It breathes life into our everyday experiences and gives us a real chance to develop a connection to Hashem and His mission for us.

Today, I study the width and breadth of chassidus from the Mitteler Rebbe’s Torah to Nefesh Hachaim and everything in between. I feel that Chabad chassidus has the perfect balance of depth and intllectual rigor, combined with lebedikiet and warmth.

Today, you are a highly regarded portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley, earning the Best in State ranking from Forbes. How did that come about? Every step of my journey has been clear hashgocho protis.

After 5 years in kollel, I took a job in sales at a commercial printing company where I was noticed by someone who tasked me with running a small company which was then bought out. That led me to corporate finance which ultimately resulted in working in wealth management which is what I do today.

Without any formal college education, I have B”H been able to have a very successful career in this high-stakes field.

So, is college not important at all?

Never in my career in wealth management has anyone asked me for my college credentials.

That being said, you can’t create a blueprint or build a portfolio from knowing a blatt gemara. You have to get the information somewhere.

In my case, I was extremely disciplined and I taught myself finance and all the subjects necessary for my job by studying from the textbooks. So yes, as long as you are

prepared to work hard, college and all that it comes with is not necessary in many cases.

You speak to many communities and advise hundreds of people about living responsibly. What are some critical mistakes that people make that sets them o ff course?

The biggest issue I see is one that affects not only one’s finances but the decisions they make throughout their life.

Many people lack a clear sense of direction. They live their lives as frum Jews but without a palpable feeling that their life has a purpose and the decisions that they make are meant to lead them to their goal.

In that vacuum, external influences shape a person’s perception of what life is all about. The ads that they see and the temptations they are shown become the path they unwittingly follow for lack of a better alternative.

How does that play out practically?

It affects all of our decisions, from big to small.

Life is basically like shopping at the grocery store. When you have a list, you know exactly what you need and there is little room for distraction. When you don’t, every item can be a

life, we shop with our time, attention, and money and we walk around looking for a good place to invest them. When we lack the conviction that comes from a sense of purpose, even major decisions like who we marry, what type of career we pursue, or what types of people we socialize with can be influenced by our surroundings.

So many just fl oat through life? Exactly.

We need to be the CEOs of our lives with a plan and goal of what we are going to accomplish. That way, empty pockets of time are filled with meaningful pursuits that make us feel better about who we are.

Lottery winners often lose their wealth because they have no idea what to do with their money. Our time, which is far more valuable than our money, shouldn’t be squandered away. Set goals and think about what’s important - that will keep you from making bad choices. The best way to gain that clarity is by learning Torah which provides us with a manual to understand our purpose.

What are some pitfalls that young people should be careful to avoid as they begin their fi nancial journey?

People need to teach themselves to be allergic to debt. I am seeing young couples in our communities accumulating tens of thousands of dollars in debt within just a few years. It’s a real tragedy.

What happens is that people get so used to spending on whatever they want that they get comfortable with debt in order to continue with their lifestyle. In reality, debt is simply spending tomorrow’s money today, making it impossible to save for the

We need to learn to be disciplined and say no to things we can’t ord. It’s the first step to living responsibly.

Young people also need to think about the types of jobs they are taking. Often, people take a job without thinking about the growth trajectory of the job and what skills they are going to learn from it. They feel comfortable early on but eventually life gets too expensive and they are stuck with a salary that can’t pay their bills and no skills to use elsewhere. The advances of AI are also quickly substituting paid salary jobs and that is going to continue. People need to choose careers that have growth potential and develop skill sets where they provide value as people, so a machine will never be able to replace them.

You mentioned saving for the future. If one can only a ff ord to save a small amount of money, is there any value to putting it away?

Quick takes

Debt

When we get used to spending without thinking, debt becomes an easy trap to fall into and remain in comfortably. Really, people should be allergic to debt and it should keep us up at night. Instead of saving for the future, debt means you are spending tomorrow’s dollars today.

Savings

We can’t live our lives thinking that because everything is fine now, I won’t think about tomorrow. Yosef Hatzadik thought about saving for the future and saved Mitzrayim. We must think about future expenses like weddings, bar mitzvahs, tuition etc, and take the steps to be prepared for them.

Career

Many people don’t realize that AI and computers are going to make many jobs irrelevant in the coming years. Young people need to think about getting into spaces where human interaction is key, so that a machine cannot replace them.

Bitachon

We can either escape the stresses of life and making a living by falling into harmful behaviours or by lifting our eyes upward with bitachon. It is truly the greatest therapy, where a person internalizes that what he perceives as good may not be so, and Hashem, who is totally in control, is orchestrating events for our own good.

Yes. Saving for the future is the responsible thing to do and every little bit helps when you need it. Besides, even small sums of money can amount to a lot if invested properly and given time.

There is a tool in investing called compounding interest where money that is invested in the stock market gains value that builds on itself over time, doubling and tripling what was initially put in. This is a particularly powerful tool for retirement savings which are very long term and can handle the ups and downs of the market. Allow me to illustrate this with real numbers. $1000 invested at the age of 25 will grow to be approximately $108,000 at retirement (age 70). Saving and investing $100 a month every year between 20 and 30 years old will amount to over a million dollars at retirement. Those numbers are staggering and it only takes a little bit of discipline when you are younger to reap the full benefit of compound interest.

How does someone with no experience in investing go about it?

None of this requires extensive experience or knowledge about investments. The first step is to find a brokerage that will allow you to open an account and invest money in the market for close to free. Vanguard, Schwab, and Fidelity are all good options. There, you’ll be able to choose funds to invest in and some firms will even invest the money for you for a moderate fee. There are videos on YouTube and articles online to learn the basics of investing and with just a little research one can easily determine what are safe, reliable funds to invest in.

How important is bitachon when dealing with fi nancial struggles?

Anxiety stems from a person believing that only a certain outcome will be good for him but then things turn out differently. For that, bitachon is the best kind of therapy. It reminds a person that Hashem is good and that His ways are perfect, yet mysterious. We never truly know what is ultimately good for us.

We like to think that we are in control and that the decisions we make determine our success or failure. In actual fact, Hashem is in complete control and if He wants something to succeed it will happen regardless of what we choose. The proof is that sometimes the wrong decisions land us in a better place than the “right” decisions would have. Hashem doesn’t need us to be smart and cunning to earn what we need, He can provide for us using any method He chooses. The difficulties are designed to be a challenge to our emunah that we are meant to overcome.

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Located on Kingston Avenue, next to Mendy’s restaurant in Crown Heights, HOLYGEMS is more than just a jewelry store—it’s a place that embodies pure emunah and love for Eretz Yisroel. The store itself offers a tangible connection to the Holy Land, with each gemstone telling a story of faith and miracles.

The journey began in 1988 when the mayor of Haifa visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who told him that precious stones lay hidden beneath the earth in northern Israel. At the time, the statement seemed far-fetched, given the lack of geological evidence to support it. However, the Rebbe’s words carried profound weight and could not be forgotten.

Over the years, the prophecy remained untouched—until one piv-

By Libby Herz

Holy Gems from the Holy Land

otal moment when a woman approached Mr. Avi Taub, a respected diamond dealer and jeweler in the Chabad community. She asked, “Why hasn’t anyone acted on the Rebbe’s words? Why hasn’t the treasure been found?” That simple question ignited the spark that led to the discovery of the HOLYGEMS.

Sometime after Gimmel Tammuz, Mr. Taub wrote into the Igros Kodesh, asking the Rebbe if it was the right time to mine for the gems. The Rebbe’s answer was straightforward and affirmative. Guided by the Rebbe’s brocha, Mr. Taub and a group of dedicated friends, including Rabbi David Nachshon, set out to find these hidden treasures. Despite the skepticism surrounding the possibility of precious gems in Israel, they pressed forward. At the time, there was no evidence that precious gems existed in the region. Still, for over twenty-two years, they searched, conducted research, and faced countless challenges with the help of their loyal investors. Their belief in the Rebbe’s prophecy kept them going, unwavering in the face of doubts and opposition.

Over the years, many gems were found. In 2019, after years of research and scientific approvals, the Israeli government officially acknowledged the discovery. The Carmel Mountain region in Haifa was recognized as the site of the first-ever economic deposit of precious gems. This achievement was bittersweet, however. Just three months earlier, Mr. Taub passed away, not living to see the fulfillment of his lifelong dream. But his vision lives on through his children, many of who currently work in his company, HOLYGEMS. His daughter, Tali Shalem, carries the mantle of CEO, with her brothers, Yossi and Mendy Taub as co-directors.

HOLYGEMS, which opened its first store in Crown Heights in 2024, is much more than just a jewelry business. The store offers a wide range of rare and precious gemstones, all sourced from the Carmel Mountain region. These gems are not only visually stunning but also hold spiritual significance, carrying with them the blessing of the Land of Israel.

One of the brand’s biggest strengths is exclusivity. It offers only Israeli gems, with full traceability—a major

advantage in today’s luxury market. As lab-grown diamonds become more common, a gem’s real value now depends on its natural origin. HOLYGEMS are rare, authentic, and come straight from the land of Israel.

One of the most remarkable gemstones in the collection is the Carmel Sapphire. Found only in the Carmel Mountain region, this unique sapphire is known for its cloudy-blue hue, resulting from geological conditions that do not exist anywhere else in the world. This sapphire symbolizes Israel’s uniqueness and serves as a tangible link to the biblical stories and prophecies that have shaped region.

The opening of the HOLYGEMS store was a milestone not only for Tali and her family but also for the entire community. “Crown Heights is the Rebbe’s neighborhood,” Tali says. “It was natural for us to open our store here because this is the Rebbe’s discovery. This is a miracle from the Rebbe, and we want everyone to be able to touch it.” The community’s emotional connection to the gems reflects the spiritual significance they carry. HOLYGEMS is not

just about business; it’s about continuing a mission and bringing the Rebbe’s prophecy to life.

“These gems were discovered thanks to the Rebbe,” Tali says. “It is because of him that we are here today.” In an era where lab-grown diamonds and synthetic gems are widespread, HOLYGEMS offers gems with an irreplaceable connection to the Holy Land. Each piece sold at HOLYGEMS comes with a certificate of origin, ensuring that the gem was ethically sourced from the Carmel Mountains.

The store has become a place of deep emotional connection. Visitors often find themselves moved by the story behind the gems. For many, wearing a Holy Gem is more than just owning a beautiful piece of jewelry—it’s a connection to the Land of Israel, and a connection to the Rebbe. “It’s not just jewelry,” Tali shares. “It’s a connection to the Rebbe, to Israel, to something deeper than just metal and stone. When someone wears a Holy Gem, they are carrying a piece of infinite brocha,” she says.

The store on Kingston Avenue is a place where you can see these treasures firsthand, touch the miracle, and carry home an authentic piece of the Land of Israel with you. Whether you’re looking for something beautiful, some-

thing meaningful, or something that connects you spiritually, HOLYGEMS offers a chance to experience a rare and extraordinary journey. With a wide range of prices to suit each customer — from elegant everyday pieces to once-in-a-lifetime luxury heirlooms , and custom-made personal creations — Everyone can find their favorite. Customers who reference this article upon their visit will receive an exclusive gift.

HOLYGEMS

305 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213

234-770-0090

www.holy-gems.com info@holy-gems.com

Chinuch atters

ANSWER BY RABBI LEVI KAPLAN, PRINCIPAL OF CHEDER CHABAD OF MONSEY, NEW YORK, AND ROV OF THE SHULL OF CROWN HEIGHTS. HE IS A SOUGHTAFTER LECTURER AND CHAZZAN WHO TRAVELS THE WORLD TO SING, LECTURE, AND EDUCATE.

PRESENTED BY MUSHKA COHEN AND THE MENACHEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (MEF)

Ask the Mechanches

How do we remain staunch in our family’s chumros on Pesach without inadvertently denigrating those who don’t keep them?

Regarding how to introduce chumros on Pesach—or in any area of life—to our children without fostering a sense of elitism or looking down on others, I fi rst want to thank you for raising this important issue. It’s something very relevant today. Some parents may not even realize how children raised in very frum homes might mistreat or speak down to their classmates, experiencing their frumkeit as a form of snobbishness. So, it’s commendable that you are shining a light on this matter.

When it comes to the chinuch aspect of this inyan, there is a derech arucha. Education and context are essential. We must provide our children with an understanding of what true Yiras Shamayim is.

There’s a well-known story of a masmid whose wife passed away at

a young age, leaving him with small children. People encouraged him to remarry, but he hesitated, citing the Gemara that a second wife is granted based on one’s merits. He feared that if he was undeserving, he might end up marrying a difficult person. This story illustrates the essence of taking on chumros: not as a means of feeling superior, but out of a deep sense of humility before Hashem. Despite being an accomplished learner, he was not self-assured about his worthiness and was focused on the areas in which he could improve. True Yiras Shamayim results in greater humility and more careful self-examination, as opposed to judging others.

The second point is that the closer one is to Hashem, the more careful one must be in their behavior. Just as a person standing before a king must act

with greater care and refi nement than in their own home, so too, the more one seeks closeness to Hashem, the more they should refi ne their actions. This principle is found at the very beginning of Shulchan Aruch. However, and this is key, someone who is meticulous in their Mitzvos must be even more meticulous in their interactions with others. Because when one is close to Hashem, even the smallest blemish is magnified.

The third point is fundamental: children must understand the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching, as reinforced by the Rebbeim and especially the Rebbe, that the way we view another Jew is the foundation of

everything. Ahavas Yisroel is the primary path in Avodas Hashem, even greater than Ahavas Hashem, as explained in Chassidus. This means that, chas v’shalom, a Yid may never put down another Yid. Our role is only to uplift and strengthen others.

To make this even clearer, the Rebbe himself modeled what our avodah should be. The Rebbe would often quote that Hashem sends a person down to this world for 70 or 80 years just to do a favor for another Yid— sometimes a favor in gashmiyus! Every interaction we have may be the reason we came into this world. This is the perspective we must impart to our children.

Our Heritage Student of the Month

Chumros should lead to humility. They should highlight our Avodas Hashem and our yearning to be close to Hashem. If a person sees their chumros as a way to boost their ego or put down others, then a paradigm shift is needed. Often, this mindset is something absorbed from one’s environment, possibly even from their parents. But the response is not to put them down in return—it’s to help them discover the truth, the real reason for taking on a chumra May we always seek to elevate ourselves and those around us in a way that brings nachas ruach to Hashem.

“The best thing about being in a Jewish school is that all my classmates are Jewish like me.”

What’s one mitzvah you love doing and why? Giving tzedakah because I like helping people.

What’s your favorite school lunch? Hot dogs and French fries.

What is your favorite Jewish holiday? Chanukah because we get to celebrate all the miracles of Chanukah together.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor or professional soccer player.

- Sruli V. Second grade, First year at Slater Torah Academy in Metairie, Louisiana

Our Heritage, a program of the Menachem Education Foundation, promotes Jewish day school enrollment by offering up to $30,000 in matching grants to Chabad schools that enroll new public school children annually. Since its inception, it has awarded $1,637,000 to over 35 Chabad schools, helping 704 students access education globally.

MRS. ROCHEL LEAH ENGEL

– JEWISH ONLINE SCHOOL TEACHER

Please introduce yourself.

I started teaching part-time in 2010 and then taught in a brick-and-mortar school in Brooklyn from 2012 to 2019. I began teaching virtually when we moved to West Hartford, Connecticut, in 2019. I now teach in multiple tracks at the Jewish Online School, including Hebrew School, Cheder classes, After School programs, and tutoring tracks for various ages and grades. I also teach at the Shluchim Online School.

When did you realize you wanted to be a teacher?

I always enjoyed telling stories, but it was in summer camp that I realized just how much I loved teaching. Giving a shiur became the highlight of my day, and I looked forward to it. I hadn’t even realized this about myself before then, but once I started, I knew it was something I wanted to do.

How does teaching in an online school differ from teaching in a traditional classroom?

Online learning permeates the home automatically. If we’re davening, the mother might hear it from the next room and start recognizing the tefi los. If we’re learning about the Haggadah, it becomes a family project, with siblings helping decorate. If we talk about tzedaka, the tzedaka box is already on the kitchen counter or near the Shabbos candles.

Another big difference is the diversity of students. In a regular classroom, most kids live in the same area. Here, we have kids on farms, in big cities, on military

bases, and in countries where they may be the only Jew for miles. But despite their different lives, their Yiddishkeit unites them, which is very powerful.

How do you create a sense of community among students who are spread across different locations?

There are school-wide programs, like the Rosh Chodesh events, where kids from all over the world play the same games, sing the same songs, and learn about the mitzvah of the month at the same time. You have kids from South Korea to Hawaii to Germany, all part of the same experience.

Kids also set up Zoom playdates with each other, which is huge for students who don’t have any Jewish friends nearby. We also have mother-daughter programs where the moms meet each other virtually and support each other. Some families and even teachers have traveled for students’ Bar and Bas Mitzvahs.

It’s fascinating for them to see how different their lives are yet they feel so connected through Yiddishkeit.

What is a teaching moment that has stayed with you?

During Hakhel year, I hosted students who lived within a certain distance from me. The school sent an entire party in a box—decorations, games, supplies, everything needed to make an instant Hakhel gathering. It’s incredible to see kids worldwide participating in the same celebrations at the same time. It makes them feel part of something bigger.

Teaching Tip

BY MUSHKIE LIPSKER @EVERGROWINGEDUCATOR

10 MAKKOS TEACHER TEXTS

A creative take on what the Makkos might look like in text messages

This project is a fantastic way to assess whether students truly understand and synthesize the information. By creating their own text messages (on any topic!), they engage with the material in a creative and meaningful way. You’ll be amazed at their originality, and it’s a fun activity that boosts classroom engagement.

For more classroom ideas, visit evergrowingeducator.com

Are you counting down to Seder night, so you can crash? Over 40% of my polled audience on Instagram admitted to that. Whether you’re hosting or visiting, It takes a lot of work to make it to the Seder.

But why do all that prep and then miss the point?

Pesach isn’t just about endless lists, shopping and cooking, or coordinating wardrobes and travel plans. The goal of the Seder is “vehigadeta levincha”—to transmit our legacy and heritage.

How can we make Pesach a Yom Tov that our kids love and look forward to all year?

SECRETS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEDER WITH SMALL KIDS

BY MUSHKA GOPIN, M.ED

Prepare Yourself

• Give yourself some downtime before the Seder.

• Have realistic expectations. Yes, grape juice will spill, and someone will cry!

• Make sure to eat with the kids beforehand so you both have energy.

Support Your Child

• Serve real supper before the Seder—little kids can even do Maggid then.

• Dress kids in comfy clothing (or themed pajamas like frogs or matzah!).

• Lay off the pressure for performing Ma Nishtana.

Set Up for Success

• Serve whatever dish the kids “helped” with (set it near them!).

• How can you set up the room so your child can fall asleep near the table?

• Make the table exciting with wipeable toys like animals and mentchies.

Mushka Gopin teaches young mothers actionable parenting strategies and perspectives through her email newsletter, courses and resources. Download your free kid-friendly Seder guide at MyMotheringMindset.com/Pesach

Chinuch with the Times

ENCOURAGING QUESTIONS

The Haggadah emphasizes questions, beginning with the Mah Nishtana and then the four kinds of children and the questions they will ask. The Haggadah even expresses concern for the child who does not know how to ask, instructing us ול חספ תא to gently point out what is going on and what begs for an explanation.

As parents, how do we regard the

questions children ask? Are we afraid of thorny questions, worried that we will not be able to answer adequately? Or do we encourage inquiring minds, offering to do research, or pointing them where to fi nd answers that we don’t have?

As teachers, do we worry about questions taking us off-topic, or do we set aside time or designate a question box to ensure that

questions can be addressed at the right time and place? As parents, do we pause from our busy routine to validate and respond to our children’s questions?

And when children are passive and unquestioning, are we relieved at the receptive audience, or do we train them in critical thinking skills to allow them to climb the ladder of understanding?

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the inside track

By Yisroel Shochet

RBut when the Rebbe repeated the motion several times, my father realized he might be mistaken. His friend, Reb Dovid Bokobza, suggested that perhaps the Rebbe wanted to see the child—me. Reb Dovid took action, as my father had already said a lot of l’chaims, and he went to bring me from the house where we were staying. I was a small child wrapped in a blanket, and I arrived at the farbrengen and became fully immersed in the nigunim and joy that fi lled the room.

Rab D

Rabbi Menachem Amar is the Rabbi of the Or Menachem and Director of the Merkaz Meorot children’s museum in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. However, many around the world are inspired by one of his activities. For 13 years, Rabbi Amar has been recording updated versions of Chabad nigunim. The project, “Gaagouim Nigunei Chabad,” has already released eight albums, with musical production by R’ Mordechai Brotzky and arrangement by R’ Oved Munis.

What is your earliest nigunim memory?

I believe that was my fi rst encounter with nigunim— the Rebbe wanted me to see him and witness the singing of the Chassidim. The truth is, from infancy, I grew up with the Nicho’ach records constantly playing in our home, and I knew them all by heart.

My personal memory of the world of Chabad nigunim likely begins at a moment I don’t actually remember myself, but I heard about it from my parents. It was the year 5736 (1976), and I was two and a half years old. We traveled to the Rebbe for Purim, and during the farbrengen, the Rebbe motioned to my father with his holy hands. My father assumed the Rebbe was instructing him to say l’chaim on a full cup, as was the year 5736 and I was two and a half years old. We traveled to the Rebbe Purim, and during t he Rebbe his hands. My father assumed the Rebbe was say f ull customary.

My father had a custom on Shabbos of walking a long distance to daven in a shul where great chassidim prayed, even though there were synagogues much closer. He wanted us to taste and experience authentic chassidic warmth. When we arrived at the shtiebel, my father would tell me to go up front and sit next to the chossid Reb Leib Eidelman to hear his davening. It was a unique shtiebel. I remember the blue walls; I would touch them and feel the warmth of the soul. Watching the mispalelim (worshippers) sway in deep concentration before tefi llah, then singing a nigun and crying during davening—it was a sight to behold. Those moments, in the presence of such people, connected me from within and allowed me to feel the truth radiating from them. I saw how they did not surrender to physical exhaustion or material concerns. They were men of truth.

Is there a distinct style to a Chabad nigun?

There is a wide range of nigunim, each reflecting certain states of the soul in a chossid’s avodah. There are nigunim of dveikus (deep spiritual connection), nigunim of avodah (soulful effort), nigunim of joy and consolation, strengthening of bitachon (trust in Hashem), and melodies that express aspiration and the inner strength a person is capable of and meant to achieve. Families of baalei neginah (master composers), such as Charitonov and Althaus, had a unique musical style that reflected their spiritual state and way of life—their joy and their approach to serving Hashem.

What led you to launch your project?

After the Nichoach project concluded, I felt it was important to preserve the authenticity of these melodies in their original style while making them

accessible through the best musical tools available today so that every soul can connect. This combination has proven effective. A good nigun resonates with all audiences across all Chassidic communities. I see traditional Jews whose children are already playing the Poltava Nigun and mothers telling me that their children sing the Alter Rebbe’s nigun of deveikus on Friday night. Ultimately, we must remember that every nigun carries its own message. Sometimes, we may not know its full background, which is why we rely on the Sefer Hanigunim. When you read about a nigun’s history, it opens a new dimension of connection. For example, we released the Alter Rebbe’s nigun of deveikus during the Covid pandemic, a time when people were davening alone. This was the very nigun that the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe used when they prayed in solitude. That knowledge gives the nigun a deeper meaning and a unique connection.

With so much Jewish music being created, where do nigunim stand today?

Our generation faces tremendous challenges in raising children, particularly concerning what they are exposed to and, unfortunately, sometimes led toward. Among the chassidim I have known, one could see a deep, soulful vitality—a chassidic warmth. This same essence exists today in chassidic nigunim. A nigun is an inseparable part of that inner warmth. Every chossid has the potential to be like a Levi, a master of song. As the Rebbe said, in the future, all of Klal Yisrael will become singers.

Chassidic nigunim have often solved many challenges in children’s education. They speak the language of the heart. A child can receive years of formal education, but sometimes, that education does not penetrate the inner depths of his soul.

When one reads such accounts, one becomes aware of the profound power of a nigun—how it can work wonders and provide solutions even to the challenges of our generation. Do you incorporate nigunim in the davening in your community?

Of course. Doing so has transformed the experience. It brings prayer to life and elevates it. The Mitteler Rebbe writes in Igeres Mem that for those searching for segulos (spiritual remedies) in prayer, there is a tried and tested one—prayer accompanied by a nigun. It sweetens judgments, silences accusations, and brings blessings in children, life, and sustenance. The Rebbe, too, emphasized the importance of awakening song in prayer.

There are several nigunim we have integrated into tefi llah that have been very successful. Today, you see young men davening with newfound vitality because of this. Their prayer has been transformed. When you combine a nigun like Reb Asher Nikolayev with Kel Adon, it becomes something completely different. I tried this once while visiting France, and I saw how the congregation awakened—suddenly, there was tefi llah! Even those unfamiliar with the nigun became curious and wanted to learn. Afterward, people approached me and said they had truly enjoyed davening.

There is a deep, inner truth here—if we harness it correctly, we can reach new distances and broader audiences. People today simply thirst for something real, like air to breathe.

Can you share with us a story of the impact of a nigun?

Yes. This story began while I was a bochur in the yeshiva in Brunoy, France. The famed Mashpia Reb Nissan Neminov had a son R’ Sholom Ber who was paralyzed and confi ned to a wheelchair. Every Erev Shabbos, after most of the bochurim had gone down to the dining hall, Sholom Ber would sit and sing the nigun ‘Essen Est Zich’ with great deveikus (devotion). Those moments were etched into my soul.

Years later, when I was on shlichus in Sydney, Australia, I met a businessman we had been trying to inspire for an entire year without success. Eventually, we decided to take an unconventional approach to awaken his heart.

On Purim, we held a special seudah and convinced him to stop by for just ten minutes before returning to his work. He arrived, but I saw he was in a rush. I realized I had only a few minutes, and if I didn’t reach him right away, the opportunity would be lost.

I began singing ‘Essen Est Zich,’ translating it into the language he understood. I sang it over and over for ten minutes straight. Finally, I saw a tear rolling down his cheek. I hugged him, and we parted ways. A week later, he called me. ‘What did you do to me?’ he asked. He told me that the nigun kept haunting him, not letting go, demanding something of him at every turn. That was yet another turning point for me in understanding the power of nigunim.

For more, visit orm-center.org/gaagoim

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Billions Are at Stake. Jewish Values Are on the Line.

Every five years, American Jews are given a rare opportunity to shape the future of the Jewish people in a concrete, powerful way.

That opportunity is happening right now, in the 2025 World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections—a global election that will decide how over $5 billion in funding is allocated throughout the Jewish world.

This money affects everything from yeshivos and Jewish education, to aliyah and security, to settlements and Jewish identity.

And that’s why Achdut Yisrael – Slate #8 was created: to ensure these massive resources are directed toward Torah, unity, and a strong Jewish future.

Why Does It Matter?

The World Zionist Organization (WZO) oversees three powerful institutions:

• KKL/JNF (Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael)

• The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)

• Keren Hayesod (United Israel Appeal)

Together, they manage land, allocate funds, shape Jewish identity, and influence decisions in Israel and around the globe. These institutions impact where Jewish dollars go—and which values they support.

Where does the money come from?

1. Land Sales: KKL/JNF owns massive portions of Israel’s land. In 2022–2023 alone, they generated near-

Davidi Ben Zion

ly NIS 15 billion from land sales.

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These bodies still hold shares in banks, real estate, and infrastructure. That means consistent, long-term income— decades after the investments were first made.

3. Global Fundraising:

With deep donor networks across the U.S. and Europe, the National Institutions raise millions annually from Jews worldwide.

4. Government Funding:

Thanks to a 1952 Israeli law, the WZO and its partners can receive funds directly from the government, bypassing typical bureaucracy.

These four streams make up one of the most powerful financial ecosystems in the Jewish world. And those who win the WZC elections determine where the money goes.

A Critical Shift Is Happening

For many years, the direction of the WZO was led by parties that did not share Torah values. That meant funding went to causes that often opposed our views on education, identity, and Israel itself.

But in the last WZC election, something changed. For the first time in years, the momentum shifted—and voices aligned with Torah and tradition gained serious ground.

This year’s election is even tighter.

In this moment, every vote isn’t just helpful— it’s essential to maintaining our voice and our influence.

Introducing Achdut Yisrael – Slate #8

Achdut Yisrael was formed to protect and strengthen that growing voice. It’s a movement built around one clear mission: to ensure Jewish funds and institutions reflect Jewish values.

By voting for Achdut Yisrael – Slate #8, you help ensure that these resources support:

• Strengthening Torah Education: Direct critical funds to yeshivos, day schools, and programs grounded in Torah

• Supporting Soldiers and Their Families: Ensure our defenders are cared for and honored—on and off the battlefield

• Protecting Jewish Communities: Build security infrastructure and support at-risk Jewish communities worldwide.

• Defending Eretz Yisrael: Advocate for Jewish growth in every part of our land—Yehuda, Shomron, and beyond.

• Upholding Jewish Identity: Push back against efforts to redefine Mi Hu Yehudi. Protect halachic standards in Jewish institutions.

This isn’t symbolic. This is real.

Leading the Slate: Davidi Ben Zion

At the head of Achdut Yisrael is Davidi Ben Zion, a leader known for turning ideals into action.

Raised in Elon Moreh, Davidi has devoted his life to Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Toras Yisrael. A former IDF combat soldier and now Deputy Head of the Shomron Regional Council, Davidi has helped build real infrastructure, strengthen security, and support thriving Jewish life across Yehuda and Shomron.

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When war broke out on October 7, 2023, Davidi returned to active duty. For 250 consecutive days, he served on the front lines—from Kfar Aza to Khan Yunis—delivering gear, helping grieving families, and fighting for Israel’s safety and future.

Davidi has spent his life defending the Jewish people. Now he’s stepping up to defend our voice in the institutions that shape the Jewish world.

“This Is About Shleimus HaTorah, Shleimus HaAm, and Shleimus HaAretz”

As Rabbi Moshe Pinson, a respected community leader and advocate, recently expressed:

“This isn’t just about money.

It’s about Shleimus HaTorah—Torah without compromise.

It’s about Shleimus HaAm—preserving Jewish identity through halacha.

And it’s about Shleimus HaAretz—standing proudly for every inch of our land.

That’s what this election is really about—not just dollars, but direction.”

How to Vote

If you are:

• Jewish

• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• 18 years or older by June 30, 2025

Ben Zion with fellow soldiers after being called up to serve in the wake of the October 7th attacks

• And did not vote in the last Israeli Knesset election

You are eligible.

To vote for Achdut Yisrael (Slate #8):

Go to achdusyisrael.com

Register (takes 2–3 minutes)

Pay the $5 registration fee

Select Slate #8 – Achdut Yisrael

Your Vote Matters — Silence Helps the Other Side

Not voting in the World Zionist Congress elections isn’t neutral. It’s a vote for the other side— for parties that have long used these billions to fight against Torah, redefine Jewish identity, and weaken our hold on Eretz Yisrael.

In the last election, we made real gains. But this year, the race is tight—and if we don’t show up, we risk losing our voice, our influence, and our values.

Every vote counts. Every vote protects. Every vote strengthens.

Vote Achdut Yisrael – Slate #8

Because if we don’t vote for our values—others will vote against them.

Ben Zion with Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner at the Mayanot Yeshiva in Yerushalayim

Unscramble: Dollars

Riddle: A coin

Crossword: Quarter, Penny, Nickel, Dime

How many coins: 29

CRAFT. PAINT. BAKE. EXPERIMENT.

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

2. THE NUGGET

CONTEST

WIN 2 FREE MUSEUM TICKETS

Finish the weekly project, snap a pic, and email us at info@jcm.museum for a chance to win 2 tickets to the Jewish Children’s Museum. Let’s get creating!

Congratulations to the Abramson family for winning the contest!

4. FUN FACT

1. LIFE STORY SNIPPET

After Yetzias Mitzrayim, when the Jewish people were trapped at the Yam Suf, they were divided about what to do. There were varying opinions: go back to Egypt, fight the Egyptians, run away into the desert, or give up their lives by jumping into the sea. It was questionable if it was permitted to have Mesiras Nefesh by jumping in. However, Nachshon did not make calculations about this because he had his eye on one goal: reaching Matan Torah. Even if a sea stood in the way, he had to jump in, if that’s what it would take to move one step closer to the goal. It was Hashem’s business to take care of what would happen once he jumped in. Nachshon’s job was to stay committed to the goal by doing his part.

Nachshon was given this name because he descended first into the “Nachshol” – the powerful waves – of the Yam Suf. (Lamed & Nun are interchanged because they are both pronounced with the tongue.)

Nachshon, a member of Shevet Yehuda, was the Nasi of his Shevet, as well as the brother-in-law of Aharon HaKohen. When the Jewish people were trapped at the Yam Suf, he courageously jumped in first, leading to the miracle of Krias Yam Suf. As a reward for this, he merited to be the first Nasi to offer a Korban to dedicate the Mishkan, and was blessed with 6 great descendants: David, Daniel, Chananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Moshiach.

3. BRINGING IT DOWN

In our lives, if we encounter a “sea” – an obstacle – that seems to be blocking us from our “Matan Torah” – doing what Hashem wants of us –our job is to take just one step toward our goal. The rest is up to Hashem. For example, if you planned to gather your neighborhood friends for a Mesibas Shabbos but the weather is very bad, don’t let that stop you. Put on your rainboots and get going!

5. QUESTION TO CONSIDER

What is an obstacle you have encountered when trying to do something positive? How did you overcome it?

PLASTER PAINTING

Draw a dot in the middle of the canvas. On the bottom of the canvas, mark 3 inches from either corner.

Scoop small amounts of the plaster along the sides of the canvas. Using a large paintbrush, draw swirls to create waves. Layer the waves on top of one another to create more dimension.

Using a sponge and a mixture of gold and brown paint, connect the dots to form a triangle, and fill it in. Dot the rest of the canvas white. Once it’s dry, line the triangle with two pieces of painter’s tape.

Peel off the painter’s tape and add some fruits and glitter to the waves by pressing them into the Plaster of Paris.

6 3 8 2 5 7 4 1

With the other small paintbrush, paint in between and around the circles with glue, and cover it with sand. Carefully shake off any excess sand .

-Canvas -Painters Tape -5 oz. Plaster of Paris

-One Large Paintbrush

-Two Paint Sponges

-Two Small Paintbrush

SUPPLIES LIST

-Paint: White, Gold and Brown

-A Measuring Cup

On a plate, mix 5 oz. of Plaster of Paris with 4 Tbsp water and a squirt of blue food coloring. Mix well until combined.

Use the small paintbrush and brown paint to add dots, making them smaller as the pathway gets narrower. Sponge some white paint around the waves to create a seafoam effect, then let it dry.

Your beautiful plaster painting is complete!

-Blue Food Coloring - Glitter and Fruit Charms

-Sand

-Glue

-Pen -Ruler

-Plate

-Spoon

By Sruly Meyer

KosherSpread

Pesach 101

Simple recipes for making the basics we all need on Pesach.

Pesach as a Lubavitcher is pretty basic as it is. Many do not use any processed food, which limits a lot of things, but did you know there are very easy ways to make a lot of simple things? Here is a great refresher of some items that you can make on Pesach that are easy as 1,2,3 ….(ingredients).

Below you can find easy-to-follow recipes to make Mayonnaise, Pesach Lokshen, Potato Starch, Ice Cream. Jelly, Almond Butter, Avocado Dressing, Pesach Ketchup, Sweet Onion Kugel and a Classic French Roast.

Mayonnaise

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg, at room temperature

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Blend the egg: In a tall, narrow container (like a jar or cup), add the egg and lemon juice.

2. Slowly add the oil: Pour in the oil but do not mix yet.

3. Emulsify: Place an immersion blender at the bottom of the container and blend without moving it for about 15–20 seconds. Once the mixture thickens, slowly lift the blender while continuing to mix until fully combined.

4. Season to taste: Add salt and blend again briefly.

5. Store: Transfer to a clean jar and refrigerate for up to a week.

Tip

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender or food processor—just drizzle the oil in very slowly while blending.

Potato Starch

Making your own potato starch at home is simple! Here’s how you can do it:

What you need:

• 2–3 large potatoes (Russet or starchy varieties work best)

• Water

• A grater or blender

• A fine strainer or cheesecloth

• A bowl

Instructions:

1. Peel and Grate/Blend:

- Peel the potatoes and grate them into a bowl.

- Alternatively, you can chop them and blend with a little water to create a puree.

2. Extract the Starch:

- Fill the bowl with cold water and stir the grated/blended potatoes well.

- Let it sit for 20–30 minutes to allow the starch to separate.

3. Strain the Mixture:

- Strain the potato liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into another bowl.

- Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the pulp.

4. Settle and Drain:

- Let the liquid sit for 1–2 hours until the starch settles at the bottom.

- Carefully pour off the water, leaving the white starch behind.

5. Dry the Starch:

- Spread the wet starch on a baking sheet or plate and let it air dry for a few hours (or overnight).

- Once dry, break it up and store in an airtight container.

Pesach Lokshen or Crepes

Can be used for soups, or use the full circle to make crepes!

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, beaten

• 1⁄2 cup water, room temperature

• 1⁄4 cup potato starch

• Salt and oil, for pan

Instructions:

1. Mix room temperature water with potato starch.

2. Slowly add to beaten eggs, stirring well, making sure there are no lumps.

3. Add Salt to taste.

4. Heat small pan or skillet. First wipe with oil on a paper towel. Using a ladle, ladle a thin, even amount into the pan. Fry on medium heat.

5. When set flip and then immediately remove/flip to plate.

6. With wetter side up, roll as tight as possible.

7. Slice into 1/4 inch circles. Do not unroll.

8. Continue frying in batches until no egg mixture is left.

9. Mix the egg mixture each time before you ladle into the frying pan or potato starch will all sink to the bottom.

Can be made a couple of days in advance and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream (cold)

• 1 cup whole milk

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions:

1. Dissolve the Sugar: In a bowl, whisk the milk and sugar together until the sugar fully dissolves.

2. Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form.

3. Combine: Gently fold the whipped cream into the milk mixture until smooth.

4. Freeze: Pour into a container, cover, and freeze for 4–6 hours, stirring once or twice for a creamier texture.

5. Enjoy! Scoop and serve!

Apricot Jelly

Ingredients:

• Apricots (about 2 lbs)

• Water (2 cups)

• Sugar (2 cups)

• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)

Instructions:

1. Peel the apricots by cutting an “X” on the bottom of each, boiling briefly, then transferring to ice water. The skins should slip off easily. Remove the pits.

2. In a pot, combine the peeled apricots and water. Simmer until the fruit is very soft.

3. Mash the cooked apricots and strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to extract the juice.

4. Return the juice to the pot, adding sugar and lemon juice. Boil, stirring often, until the mixture thickens to a jelly-like consistency.

5. Pour into sterilized jars, let cool, and store in the fridge.

Almond Butter

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw almonds

• Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Roast the almonds in a dry pan or oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes to bring out the flavor. Let them cool slightly.

2. Blend the almonds in a food processor or high-powered blender, scraping down the sides as needed. Keep blending until smooth and creamy—this may take a few minutes.

3. Add a pinch of salt if desired, blend again, and transfer to a jar.

4. Store at room temperature for a few days or in the fridge for longer freshness.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (home made)

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• A pinch of salt (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Scoop the avocado into a bowl and mash it with a fork until smooth.

2. Add the mayo, lemon juice, and salt, then mix until fully combined.

3. Taste and adjust the salt or lemon juice if needed.

Avocado Dressing

This recipe is a favorite and something my mother used to make every Pesach. Shred up some romaine, add this dressing and enjoy

Pesach Ketchup

Ingredients:

• Ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped

• Lemon juice

• Honey

• Salt

• Dried crushed garlic

Instructions:

1. Peel the tomatoes by scoring the skin, briefly blanching in hot water, then cooling and removing the skins.

2. Chop and cook them in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they become soft and break down.

3. Blend until smooth, then strain for a smoother texture if desired.

4. Return to the saucepan and stir in lemon juice, honey, salt, and dried crushed garlic. Simmer until thickened. Let cool and store in the fridge.

Sweet Onion Kugel

Ingredients:

• 5 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced

• 3 eggs

• 2/3 cup potato starch

• 1/4 cup oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Thinly slice 5 medium sweet onions and sauté in a skillet with a little oil until caramelized, about 20-25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3. In a bowl, beat 3 eggs, then mix in 2/3 cup potato starch, 1/4 cup oil, and 1/3 cup seltzer until smooth.

4. Combine and Bake: Fold in the caramelized onions, pour the mixture into the prepared dish, and bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown.

Classic French Roast

Ingredients:

• 3-5 LB French Roast

• 2 large onions

• 2 medium carrots

• 2 teaspoons of Paprika (Use the homemade version from last year’s issue!)

• 2 teaspoons of parsley

• Salt and pepper

• 1 cup of white wine

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven at 320 degrees.

2. Peel and chop the onions and carrots into discs.

3. Combine all the ingredients in a dish, cover with foil but leave it tented (open on each side) and bake for 3 hours on 320 degrees.

By Asharon Baltazar

A Knock From Heaven

A lonely Israeli backpacker receives his answer in Mumbai

The Chassidic man stood out in the bustling streets of Mumbai, India. His short beard, black hat, and dangling tzitzis caught curious glances in the city’s hotel and business district.

He darted between buildings, clutching flyers, slipping in and out of hotel lobbies and hostels, spreading the word about a Pesach Seder at a local hotel. There would be no sign guiding guests—the flyers directed visitors to look for the menorah on the fourth-floor balcony.

The young chossid moved through the crowded streets, navigating around outdoor dwellers and passersby. Now and then, he

stopped to chat with a tourist, introducing himself with a beaming smile: “Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg, Chabad Shliach in Mumbai. Join us for the Seder!”

Back at the hotel, volunteers worked quickly to prepare for the Seder—vegetables were quickly peeled, massive pots were bubbling on stoves, and tables were set with matzah and bottles of wine. Pesach was about to begin.

Rabbi Holtzberg then spotted a small guesthouse. He went inside and asked the receptionist to check the guest book. He found an Israeli name and asked where the guest was staying.

“Upstairs, last door on the left.”

Rabbi Holtzberg knocked but got no response. He knocked again. Still nothing. He tried once more. Silence. He turned to leave, but then the door opened. A man, still halfasleep, looked at him. “Who sent you?” he asked in Hebrew.

“The Almighty,” Rabbi Holtzberg replied.

“Wait here,” the man said, disappearing into his room.

A few moments later, he came back and invited Rabbi Holtzberg in. “I have a story to tell you,” he sniffed, a tear in his eye.

Despite his many responsibilities, Rabbi Holtzberg paused to listen.

“I’m from a kibbutz, traveling in

India,” the man began. “I just arrived in Mumbai today after spending time in the south. I hadn’t planned to stop here. I was changing trains when I realized my wallet was gone—no money, no passport. I was in shock. What do I do now?

“A young French tourist and his wife approached me. He asked why I looked so upset, and when I told him I was from Israel, his face lit up. He was Jewish as well. He gave me a few rupees and told me to take a bus into town, rent a room, and after the holiday, I could have my parents send money to my account.

“I had enough money to rent

this room for two days, yet I felt despondent. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and started talking to Hashem. I told Him, ‘I didn’t plan to be here. Why is this happening?’

“As a kibbutznik who had never spoken to Hashem, I suddenly found myself talking to Him!”

“Then I remembered that tonight was the Seder night, and my thoughts picked up again:

‘Hashem, the Jewish man I met at the train station told me tonight is the Seder night. I know my connection with You isn’t much, but please, if You care about me at all—give me a sign that You know me! Don’t let me be alone tonight.’

“I fell asleep, but then I heard knocking. I thought I was dreaming, but the knocking came again. I opened the door, and there you were. When I asked who sent you, you answered, ‘The Almighty.’ Isn’t that amazing…?”

At the Seder that night, among the travelers and businesspeople from around the world, there was a kibbutznik. When the door was opened for Eliyahu HaNavi, his eyes met Rabbi Holtzberg’s. They shared a look—one that only they understood.

(Translated from Sichat Hashavua #1474)

By Mordechai Schmutter

Unnecessary Pesach Products

We are living in a golden age of Pesach products – and I’m not even talking about the edible ones (if you can call some of them edible). I’m talking about products that our grandparents never would have dreamed of. Especially our grandparents in Mitzrayim. I’m sure they were like, “If only there was a towel that we could use for Urchatz. All the towels we usually use for washing have “Al Netilas Yadayim” written on them, but for Urchatz, we don’t say, “Al Netilas Yadayim.” What do we do?”

I don’t know. You have 85 towels in your house that don’t say, “Al Netilas Yadayim.”

But no, nowadays they make a special towel for Urchatz, and it has to say “Urchatz”, because what else could it say?

WHAT THEY SHOULD SELL

INSTEAD: A towel for cleaning up wine spills on the Seder table that says something like, “Shefoch Chamascha Al Hagoyim.”

And then, of course, there are the Bedikas Chometz kits with ten pieces of bread . I think that’s silly, but that could just be a generational

thing. I bet in the old days, our grandparents thought it was ridiculous that we had a set that had a feather, a candle, and a spoon. They were like, “You don’t have any spoons in the house? Or candles? Or feathers?” Nowadays, we actually don’t have feathers, because we no longer have chickens. The yeshivas can’t very well send out packages that just contain a feather.

But now they’re saying, “You know what we’re missing? The bread!” So that if someone forgets to use their kit, they have chometz in their house over Pesach. Or, if a yeshiva sends them out late, half of them could get to people’s houses on Pesach. This sounds like a humorous, low-key terrorist plot for a children’s story tape.

WHAT THEY SHOULD SELL INSTEAD: A biur chometz kit, featuring matches, lighter fluid, and an old lulav.

There are also a bunch of products out there designed to make our Seder more fun. I don’t know what’s supposed to make all the other meals fun. I could defi nitely use something for leftover night.

When I was a kid, the fun of the Seder came from visiting relatives, staying up hours later than your bedtime, the

afi koman situation, the faces everyone else makes during Marror, and licking our pinkies after the makkos. But nowadays, they’re trying to convince us that the Seder has to be fun, because Maggid is long. I’ve got news for you: Maggid is only long because of the kids. We’re trying to tell them a story, and they keep interrupting with things their rebbi told them.

“Why does your rebbi keep taking my mitzvah? Let him get his own kids.”

But every single one of the “fun” items they sell focuses on the makkos, which, to be honest, is not the longest part of the seder. It takes ten seconds, every Haggadah has pictures, and we get to splash around in the wine with our hands. And our parents can’t say anything!

Also, the makkos, as they were happening, were not actually fun for everybody. I mean, we’re spilling out wine to show that we’re not so happy about this part. But bring out the toys!

So for example, you can buy a

Basket of Plagues to show your kids what a blast the makkos were back then. And to spend a half hour on ten words of the Haggadah.

And then there are all the Pesach products that specifically feature frogs. Just the one Makkah. You would think the main point of Pesach is frogs. We worked for 210 years, people died, but for one week there, there were frogs. And these frogs were disgusting and loud. They weren’t cute and smiley with little crowns, or the Egyptians would have been like, “Awwwwwww…” Cute smiley frogs? That’s a makkah? In fact, if you’re looking for a cute animal mascot to represent Pesach, I think sheep had more of a role in the story. And they went in the ovens too!

WHAT THEY SHOULD SELL INSTEAD: We can have more realistic depictions of the makkos that are not whimsical toys:

- Dam – Before yom tov, add a red pigment to your house’s water supply.

- Tzefardeya – I think you can

actually order a box of frogs. Biology teachers do.

- Kinim – Lice from your kids’ school.

- Arov – Just casually mention, during Maggid, that there’s a loose pet in the house. Preferably some kind of rodent or snake.

- Dever – Find some roadkill and leave it lying around outside the house.

- Shechin – When preparing your menu, play it fast and loose with the allergies of the people at the table.

- Barad – Barad-shaped ice cubes! With jalapenos in them.

- Arbeh – You can order these too.

- Choshech – Set a timer for the lights to go out halfway through the Seder. Good luck looking for the afi koman!

- Makkas Bechoros – Give your oldest son malkos. You might not know what he did to deserve it, but he does.

But one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen was a T-shirt that says, “Karpas diem .”

It’s a pun; get it? Because carpe diem!

Okay, it’s not even a pun. Puns have double meanings. This does not.

“Carpe diem” means “Seize the day.”

So what does “Karpas diem” mean?

“Seize the vegetable”? No, because diem doesn’t mean seize, it means day.

“Vegetables the day”? “Vegetable day”?!

Do you eat vegetables one day a year, that you’re so excited that it’s Vegetable Day?

Also, it’s night. I feel like the Haggadah is very clear about this.

WHAT THEY SHOULD SELL INSTEAD: Why not a T-shirt that says nothing, for Urchatz ? Or maybe some other ridiculous puns that make no sense, such as:

- “Kadesh d’rabbonon”

- “Korech v’chal adaso”

- “YOLO v’yavo!”

- And some kind of mother-in-law joke about Shefoch Chamascha al Hagoyim.

So what products do you think should exist for Pesach? Write in, so I have something to write about next year. Vegetables the day!

AND

Then Now

by Shmully Blesofsky

From French’s Tavern to Preeminent Chabad Institution

In the 19th century, the location that is currently 310 Crown Street— today home to the Bais Rivkah girls’ school & seminary, was the site of a renowned saloon, French’s Tavern. At the time, Brooklyn’s population numbered about 5,000.

French’s served as a vital stop for farmers, hunters, and merchants as it was located right off of Clove Road— an ancient diagonal path likely used by Native Americans—that cut through the Bedford Pass and linked early Brooklyn towns of Flatbush and Bedford. The area was mostly undeveloped and was dotted with hills, meadows, and sparse forests. At the time, the area was known as Malboneville and was part of Bedford Hills, bordering the rural hamlet of Bedford—now Bedford-Stuyvesant..

Malboneville

In 1833, Ralph Malbone, a real estate developer, bought a large tract of land from Jeremiah Vanderbilt, subdivided it, and sold lots to residents, giving rise to the name “Malboneville.” In fact, Empire Blvd. was known as Malbone Street until the Malbone Street Wreck in 1918.

However, the area remained mostly undeveloped and had a reputation for muddy roads, taverns, and small-town intrigue.

In 1837, Thomas French, a local politician and father of 11, purchased Malbone’s house near Clove Road and converted it into a general store, bar, and inn. French’s Tavern was referred to as the “well-known hotel on Prospect Hill,” and it featured 3-cent drinks downstairs and 6-cent pours upstairs. The tavern hosted cockfights, betting on horse races and other events. It was very popular among travelers, attracting up to 100 wagons on weekends. Local lore includes tales of a New Year’s Eve murder, likely fictional, that added to its legend.

Once the grid system was set down and development began, roads such as Eastern Parkway were constructed, and Clove Road was almost completely built over and removed from the maps—and the tavern fell into decline.

In the summer of 1925, Talmud Torah of Crown Heights—which had started two years prior with 17 students— purchased the 80x127 lot for $25,000 to 310 CROWN STREET

A New Era: Holiness Replaces Hooliganism

build an edifice that would house a school and synagogue to service the growing Jewish community of Crown Heights.

Initially, a two-story structure was constructed for $150,000, but then Talmud Torah of Crown Heights expanded its plan with community support. By 1926, the project had grown to a three-story building at a cost of $250,000, designed to accommodate 1,500 students in 30 classrooms. The goal was to provide an after-school Jewish education to public school children, many who had been attending PS 161 next door.

Construction and Expansion

Construction began in 1927 with a celebratory parade and groundbreaking ceremony. The cornerstone, still visible today, bears the Hebrew year 5687 (1927). As the building was completed, it soon became a center of activity. Rosh Hashanah services were held in the unfinished structure, and an additional $200,000 was raised to furnish it.

By 1928, under new president Meyer Nemerov, over $300,000 had been

1940 2025

raised and during that High Holiday season, the three-story building was officially opened. Nearly two thousand people attended the first Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur service at 310 Crown Street, where they had a special chazzan and a choir.

What began as an after-school Talmud Torah developed into a full-time day school by the end of the decade, offering both Jewish and secular curricula. It also provided adult education as well as dance classes that turned it into a lively community hub. By 1933, enrollment reached 500. A fundraiser at the Empress Theatre (now Empire Kosher) helped cover tuition for low-income students. That same year, the Talmud Torah’s first class graduated.

In the late 1930s, there were 600 students enrolled and by 1946, the Brooklyn Eagle reported that the Yeshivah—chartered by the NYS Board of Regents—held the highest rating of any Jewish parochial school in Brooklyn. It had grown from 17 students to over 700, with a faculty of 44. Later, it became the largest elementary Hebrew school in Brooklyn.

During the 50s and early ’60s, with the arrival of many Chassidim, the Crown Heights orthodox population surged.

The school outgrew its original space and launched a $1 million campaign for a new facility to serve the growing institution that boasted 750 students. The back building (later used as a Head Start center) was completed. However, shortly after the new building was completed, rising crime led to a swift and dramatic exodus of the Jewish population.

Bais Rivkah

In 1975, Bais Rivkah—then located on Church Avenue after having previously been based in Brownsville—began renting a section of 310 Crown Street and soon expressed interest in purchasing the building. Following negotiations led by the venerable Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, then the rov of Congregation Yeshiva of Crown Heights, the property was sold to Bais Rivkah in 1976 for $350,000. The Yeshiva of Crown Heights subsequently relocated to Mill Basin, where it expanded and was renamed the Mill Basin Yeshivah Academy.

Conclusion

Where Thomas French once hosted

weary travelers in 19th-century Brooklyn, there now stands an institution devoted to educating and inspiring the next generation. Where Betsy Milstein once played 1940s-style hooky in the hallways of the Talmud Torah of Crown Heights, today the students of Beis Rivkah High School rehearse for their annual production. And where an overflow minyan gathered in the school gym for Kol Nidrei night in 1928, countless simchas would later be celebrated over the years.

The story of 310 Crown Street reflects the areas broader evolution—from rural farmland to an urban frontier, and from tavern to Torah. It stands as a testament to resilience, community, and the enduring spirit of Jewish education—a place where the past and future continue to converge.

Legacy and Continuity

Note: from when they opened up a high school every year the rebbe would give a special Yechidus to the graduating class.

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and their approach to healthcare

Let’s keep him out of this conversation.

He knows how to navigate the system and make the best choice.

HE EITHER:

• Is on a great employer-sponsored plan

• Has free healthcare coverage

• Gets a high marketplace subsidy

No plan. No protection.

No idea what he’d do in an emergency. He’s just hoping for the best—but hoping isn’t a strategy.

This Pesach, be the . Join United Refuah HealthShare — the affordable, reliable, and transparent way to manage your healthcare expenses.

• Is a member of United Refuah — an affordable, transparent, and reliable way to manage healthcare expenses. e, transparent, and relia anage health .

He doesn’t really know what he has.

He just knows he’s paying a LOT and assumes that means he’s fully covered— until he finds out the truth about the world of limitations.

Fine print, exclusions, and unexpected out-of-pocket costs leave him shocked and unprepared.

The Four Sons in the Haggadah represent varying levels of knowledge in Avodas Hashem—a holy concept with no connection to healthcare choices. This ad is not equating healthcare choices with spiritual standing. Rather, it draws a loose parallel to illustrate how, in everyday life—including healthcare—people approach decisions with different levels of awareness and mindset, which can have very real and practical consequences. The intent is not to borrow a heilige concept for marketing, but to encourage thoughtful, valuesbased decisions in an area that affects every family deeply.