CY Family Mag #200 by Country Yossi

DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

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Message From the Publisher Hi Everybody, With the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling latkes and oongeshtupteh jelly donuts already wafting through the air, can the annual spectacular HASC concert be far behind? This year, the incomparable Eli Gerstner takes over the reins of producer and promises an incredible event of unparalleled excitement. Headlining the show is the supremely talented superstar Yaakov Shwekey! And to top off an already-legendary concert, this year they’ll be hitting the road! In order to leave an even greater impact on Jewish listeners nationwide, Gerstner will be taking the HASC orchestra and performers on an unprecedented tour across the United States, to communities that have never before had the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of “A Time for Music.” Ok, now that you’re back from your quick trip to buy tickets to the HASC concert, let me continue my preview of this fabulous issue. With the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba recently announced by the Obama administration, we felt a firsthand account of Jewish life on this small island country would be informative as well as enlightening. As it turns out, it is also heartbreaking! Read our exclusive special report (complete with mind-boggling photos) of El Comandante himself with a Rabbinical delegation from Caracus, Venezuela and joined by Chief Rabbi Lau from Israel. Once you recover from that mindexpanding experience you’d better brace yourself because we’re about to hit you

with a YWN Coffee Room controversy that will raise your hackles as well as your blood pressure - Annoying Telemarketers! And once you calm down from that head shot, we start working on the body (Let me know when you’ve had enough of these boxing references). We jab you with some provocative opinions like “Putin Marches, Obama Watches,” by Charles Krauthammer and the always unsettling “Why Does G-d Allow Suffering,” by R’ Shmuel Pollen. Dennis Prager checks in with “Why I Am In Israel” and the Short Vort by R’ Ron Yitzchok Eisenman recalls the world series of the ‘50s: “Those Were the Days!” This issue, we’re proud to begin a new monthly column by our popular State Senator Simcha Felder. You’ll get an inside, behind-the-scenes exclusive take on all the happenings in Albany and how they affect us, our families and our neighborhoods. We also feature an insightful new column by a licensed mental health counselor whose practice serves adolescents, adults and couples. Her inaugural essay explores the benefits of difficult relationships. You don’t want to miss this! Of course there’s enough laughter and fun to put you in the proper frame of mind for Chanukah! So enjoy your yom tov and peel one more potato for me! Chag Sameach! Your friend,

Country Yossi

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ISSUE 200

“New York’s Premier Jewish Magazine”

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“As you slide down the bannister of life, may all the splinters be pointing in the right direction!” – CY December 2015 |

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Table of Contents

Volume 28 Number 4

LET’S SHMOOZE ...................................................................................................................................................................................27 COVER STORY

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The HASC Concert: Hitting the Road! by Chaya Sara Schlussel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

SPOTLIGHT • Easy Flow: Little One’s Serenity, Mother’s Best Remedy, by Chaya Sara Schlussel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 • The Legend Continues: The Lost Treasure, by Yona Silver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 • Smart Sound Service: Simcha Music at Your Fingertips, by Chaya Sara Schlussel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 OPINION • Why Does G-d Allow Suffering? by Shmuel Pollen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 • Just Keep Davening, by Rabbi Reuven Lauffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

• Putin Marches, Obama Watches, by Charles Krauthammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SOUND OFF • Why I Am In Israel - and Why You Should Be, by Dennis Prager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 INSPIRATION.........................................................................................................................................................................................50 TORAH • I’m Allergic to Fighting, by Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 • The Short Vort: Those Were the Days, My Friend, by Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 TIMELINE • Felder Focus: 21st Century Patriotism, by Senator Simcha Felder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 SPECIAL REPORT

• The Rabbi Who Blew Shofar for Fidel Castro, by Henny Brener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 REAL LIFE • What Does the Mother of a Dying Child Do to Celebrate a Birthday?, by Maria Kefalas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 ISRAEL • Blindsided, by Daniel K. Eisenbud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 • by Dov Shurin HEALTH AND ADVICE • Dear Bubby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 • The Benefits of Difficult Relationships, by Sheri Toiv, LMHC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 CONTROVERSY • YWN Coffee Room: Annoying Jewish Telemarketers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

JEWISH BOOKS • Book Excerpt: Choosing Life: Stories from the Post-Holocaust Generations, by David Z. Gordon. . . . . . . . . 100 • Top 10 in Jewish Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 JEWISH MUSIC • Top 3 in Jewish Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 • CY Songbook: Daddy Come Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 HUMOR • Extremely New York, by Chaptzem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 • Can’t You Just Plotz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 • Savings Time, by Kayla Kuchleffel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

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COUNTRY YOSSI FAMILY MAGAZINE • 1310 48th Street, Suite 308 • Brooklyn, New York 11219 Telephone: (718) 851-2010 • Email Address: country@countryyossi.com COPYRIGHT © 2015 - Country Yossi Family Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Country Yossi Family Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. We reserve the right to print all letters in part or in full unless specifically requested otherwise. No articles, photographs, artwork or other material in this magazine may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, without prior written permission of the publisher. Country Yossi Family Magazine will not be responsible for typographical errors or advertisers’ claims.

Cover Design: R.A. Stone

website: www.countryyossi.com Follow countryyossi on Twitter

Interior Layout: H. Walfish

EXCHANGING GIFTS Dear Country Yossi, Netanyahu received an item from the leader of Hamas. During the recent cease-fire, the leader of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, Khaled Mashal, sent a “gift.”(Actually, it was a gesture of hate and contempt to the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.) It came in an elaborate box, along with a note. After having the box checked for safety reasons, Prime Minister Netanyahu opened the box and saw that the content was cow dung. He opened the note, handwritten in Arabic by Mr. Mashal, which said, “For you and the proud people of the Zionist Entity.” Mr. Netanyahu, who is literate in Arabic, pondered the note and decided how best to reciprocate. He quickly did so by sending the Hamas leader an equally handsome package, also containing a personal note. Mr. Mashal and the other leaders of Hamas were very surprised to receive the parcel and opened it very carefully, similarly suspecting that it might contain a bomb. But to their surprise, they saw that it contained a tiny computer chip. The chip was rechargeable with solar energy, had a 1.8 terabyte memory, and could output a 3D hologram display capable of functioning in any type of cellular phone, tablet or laptop. It was one of the world’s most advanced technologies, with a tiny label, stating this item was “Invented and produced in Israel.”

Mr. Netanyahu’s note, personally handwritten in Arabic, Hebrew, French, and English, stated very courteously: “Every leader can only give the best his people can produce.” Received via email

NO BAD DAY Dear Friends, One day recently I went

blue eyes bore a hole in my heart as he said, “A bad day? I haven’t had a bad day since I was liberated from Auschwitz! Every day is good! Some days are better than others but every day is a gift from G-d!” Then he turned and resumed what he was doing. I stood there speechless! I left that store without money, but much richer than before! Country Yossi

FAITH, TRUST, HOPE

into a store in Boro Park to collect some advertising money that was owed to me. As I entered the empty store, the storekeeper slowly shook his head from side to side and sadly said “I’m sorry, not today!” “Oh,” I said understandingly, “you had a bad day, huh?” At my words, he stopped what he was doing and looked me right in the face. His intense, sky

Dear Country Yossi, 1. Once all the villagers in a small town decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered - but only one boy came with an umbrella. That’s FAITH 2. When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her. That’s TRUST 3. Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning. But still, we set the alarm clocks to wake us up. That’s HOPE 4. We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That’s CONFIDENCE 5. We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children. That’s LOVE 6. On an old lady’s shirt was written the sentence: ‘I am not 80 years old. I am sweet 16 with 64

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years of experience.’ That’s ATTITUDE Live your life like the six stories above! N.P. Boro Park

THE YELLOW STAR Dear Country Yossi, On D-day all American Jewish soldiers were given the choice to take the ‘H’ (for Hebrew) off their dog tags, in case they were captured by the Nazis. Instead, one brave American boy landing on bloody Omaha Beach painted a huge yellow star on his flak jacket. They knew who was coming for them. L.S. Received via email

TEFILLIN INSIGHTS Dear Country Yossi, Some interesting insights on tefillin: Why is there a knot at the back of the shel rosh? Moshe asked Hashem the age-old question of ‘why bad things happen to good people.’ The Midrash recounts how Hashem showed Moshe the knot in the back of His own tefillin. Why the knot of all answers to the BIG question? When we understand that the black box symbolizes creation’s purpose, the two straps coming down represent the two ways Hashem can interact with us Din (strict judgement) or Rachamim (mercy). The knot at the back of the head that they both lead to, represents Unity. When the Ultimate Truth will be revealed, man will understand why everything had to happen, how it happened, and how it all benefited creation. The shel rosh has two straps coming down. These represent the flow of history, emanating from the box (creation). They teach us that even at the lowest times in human history, the purpose of Hashem is always the same: to do good for creation. The shel yad has one long strap that we wrap around the arm seven times. This represents the long twists of history that also flow from the Source - Hashem’s desire to do good. When we wrap our strap around the finger reciting “I will

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betroth you to me forever,” Hashem says “and so too will the Jews be betrothed to me forever.” The fact that it is the Name ‘Shakkai’ that is on both tefillin and mezuza is because this Name corresponds to His active part in creation - the laws of Nature - the attribute of Hashem that the avos knew. They did not know Akonai. May the mitzvah of tefillin be forever enlightening for people, and may we all be blessed with chachmah to realize Hashem’s plans for us as best as He allows us to. Jordan Jay

“Do not worry about me,” the Chafetz Chaim smiled. “I know how to speak to such a Jew. Trust me, good will yet emerge from our encounter.” The Chafetz Chaim approached the soldier, stuck out his hand and - in a friendly voice - said, “Shalom Aleichem. Is it true what I just heard about you: that as a young boy you were forcibly taken from your home and sent together with other youngsters to Siberia? You were raised among the gentiles, who many times

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had sought to estrange you from your religion. You never had the opportunity to study one word of Torah. You underwent many painful trials and tribulations. You were forced to eat non-kosher food. Indeed, you suffered the vicissitudes of Gehinom, Purgatory, in this world. Yet, you did not renege on your religion. Despite all of your sufferings, you still remained a Jew. You are indeed fortunate. If only I could be worthy of your portion in Olam Habah, the World to Come. Your mesiras nefesh, self-sac-

WORDS OF THE WISE Dear Country Yossi, I read this and wanted to share it with your vast readership. It is a story by the Chafetz Chaim zt’l (translated from Shem Olam ch.10). “The words of the wise are heard when they are spoken gently” Koheles, 9:17. The Chafetz Chaim, zl, would travel from village to village selling his seforim. He was once in Vilna, where he noticed a man enter a restaurant and in a gruff, insolent voice demand a piece of roast duck and a glass of whiskey. When the waitress served him, he quickly grabbed the portion. Without reciting a berachah, he gulped down his food and washed it down with his glass of whiskey. No thank you, no berachah, no menshlichkeit whatsoever. The Chafetz Chaim was shocked at this display of uncouth, beastly behavior. The innkeeper, seeing the Chafetz Chaim’s shock, dissuaded him from saying anything to the man, claiming that he was a veteran of Czar Nikolai’s Army. He had been taken from his home as a child and conscripted to Siberia and other miserable outposts for forty years. It was no wonder that he acted like such an untamed animal. He had not been in a civilized environment for most of his life. He never saw a Jew, let alone a tzaddik such as the Chafetz Chaim. “Please, Rebbe,” the innkeeper begged, “ignore him. It is not befitting the Rebbe’s dignity to speak to him. He will only act with disrespect and impudence towards the Rebbe.”

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rifice, for Judaism is unparalleled. To have suffered for almost forty years and to still identify with the religion of your ancestors is nothing short of incredible.” The Chafetz Chaim finished speaking. He looked into the eyes of the soldier who was shedding bitter tears - tears that emanated from a pure heart. When he was notified who it was that was speaking to him, he grabbed hold of the saintly Chafetz Chaim and kissed him, as he wailed bitterly for forgiveness for a life that was empty of religion, ethics and morals. The Chafetz Chaim turned to him and said, “Someone such as you, who has sustained so much and remained a Jew - if you would only accept upon yourself from here on to observe the Torah and mitzvos, your eternal reward would be boundless.” Needless to say, the Chafetz Chaim’s unique approach to rebuke proved effective and the soldier became an observant Jew, fully committed to the Torah way of life. Received via email

THE TEST Dear Country Yossi, The relentless Florida sun was particularly oppressive that Friday afternoon, so it was with a keen sense of relief that I entered the air-conditioned Kosher supermarket and began my last minute erev Shabbos shopping. I was walking up and down the aisles searching for the items my wife had written on a long list for me, when I first noticed her. A young “vaibel” (frum housewife) wearing a kerchief covering her hair, was using her cell phone as a calculator as she checked the prices on various items. She pressed some buttons on her keypad, and more often than not sadly shook her head as she put them back on the shelf. I was at the same time cavalierly throwing cans and boxes into my wagon without even bothering to check the prices! Every time I turned a corner into a new aisle there she was, cheeks flushed, calculator held high near her teary eyes, her wagon barely holding any items. My cart, in marked contrast,

was filling up quickly and I was starting to run out of room. I was beginning to feel uneasy and uncomfortable and despite the cool temperature I began to perspire once again! Suddenly she turned and approached the takeout counter. I watched from a distance as she ordered six slices of Gefilte fish. When the counterman gave her the wrapped package with the price sticker on it she turned bright red! She quickly picked up her cell phone and called a number. I saw her talking animatedly to someone, probably her husband, I figured. She hung up and reluctantly put the package back on the countertop. She apologized to the workman and asked him to please remove three slices! He did so rewrapped and repriced it and returned it to her. She studied it for a moment, made a quick calculation on her phone and turned a dark shade of crimson! Apologizing profusely I heard her ask the exasperated counterman if he could possibly give her thinner slices. At this point I was beside myself.

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I began pacing around the store wondering what, if anything, I should do. Should I offer to pay for the six slices of fish? Would she be insulted? Would I embarrass her? I suddenly felt as if time stood still. The supermarket was suddenly dead silent. I felt as if I was being observed from above, to see how I would react to this situation. One thing was certain: I knew if I did nothing I would regret it for the rest of my life. Why had Hashem put me here in this situation? I knew I was being tested, but what was I supposed to do? Suddenly, I knew! She was checking the price on a box of matza when I walked up to her. “Excuse me,” I said softly, “could I ask you for a favor?” Caught off guard, she almost dropped her cell phone! “Sure,” she said, her perplexed eyes studying my face. “I need a z’chus and I was wondering if I could help you pay for your Shabbos meal this week?” I held up a crisp, new $100 bill for her to see. She was speechless!

“This is weird,” she muttered. “Look,” I said, I don’t know you and you don’t know me. We will probably never see each other again, so please take the money and let me have my z’chus!” She hesitated for a second, then whispered thank you as she slowly took the bill from my hand. I thanked her as well and as I quickly headed for the checkout line I saw her pocket her cellphone and approach the takeout counter once again. As I left the store I was filled with a storm of conflicting emotions: satisfaction, relief, trepidation… and doubt! Had I done enough? Did I handle it right? Did I pass the test? I don’t know, but I guess one day I’ll find out! What would you have done? Received via email

A GERMAN’S VIEW ON ISLAM Dear Country Yossi, It’s hard to argue with this. This is one of the best explanations of the Muslim terrorist situation I have ever

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read. His references to past history are accurate and clear. Not long, easy to understand, and well worth the read. The author of this email is Dr. Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist. A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, who owned a number of large industries and estates, was asked how many German people were true Nazis. The answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. ‘Very few people were true Nazis,’ he said, ‘but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come.’ ‘My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.’ ‘We are told again and again by “experts” and “talking heads” that IsContinued on Page 87

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S P O T L I G H T

EASY-FLOW: LITTLE ONE’S SERENITY, MOTHER’S BEST REMEDY BY CHAYA SARA SCHLUSSEL

t’s 2:20am. Two weeks ago at this time, I was pacing the floor of my living room, wearing my rug threadbare as I trudged back and forth with my eyes drooping in sleep-deprivation. In my arms was my chronically screaming infant daughter. I patted her, sang to her and begged her to calm down. She just continued howling. It was almost 4am by the time we both finally succumbed to an exhausted sleep. That was the routine I had been blindly following for more than two months, despairing of ever finding rest, and giving up on the hope of a happy, content baby. I lovingly nursed her, but it was a monumental sacrifice for me, rather than a relaxing exchange between mother and child. I was never sure if she had eaten enough, as she never seemed satisfied. Both my daughter and I were miserable - which is why I will be forever grateful to the friend who finally introduced me to an incredible product called Easy-Flow. I’m sure my story will sound familiar to many. After my first 2-week stint of insomnia, I seriously contemplated switching from nursing to formula. It just wasn’t working out, and I was ready to quit. But once I learned about the many benefits of mother’s milk, bottle feeding became a far less optimal option for me. Aside from the incomparable bonding experience it creates, breastfeeding stimulates the immune system, protecting against invasive diseases, viruses and cancers - even lowering the risk of Leukemia by 30%. Additionally, nursing has been scientifically proven as an IQ-booster, providing proper nourishment for the brain in its earliest stages. It prevents obesity and eating disorders later on in the baby’s life and significantly lowers baby’s risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). With all its natural benefits, nursing was inarguably the superior feeding alternative. So instead of jumping ship,

I set out to find a way, if at all possible, to continue nursing without the crankiness. I began asking people for advice and soon found that many women shared similar circumstances to mine. Some complained about colic and gassiness in their infants. Others sighed over nursing-induced irritation and soreness. Many were despairing of ever enjoying their “bonding experience.” And then finally, I met my friend Mimi at the park. I casually mentioned that my nursing was not all I had hoped it would be. She nodded knowingly, and then whipped a bottle of Easy-Flow out of her pocketbook. “Easy-Flow,” she confidently asserted, “will change your life. Trust me. Just try it.” I began taking Easy-Flow twice a day, and I’ve never looked back since. During my 2-month quest for answers, I learned many things about nursing that I’d previously been unaware of. I learned that some women have a low milk supply, which results in an unsatisfied, unhappy baby. Other women have plentiful milk, but still fail to satiate their baby’s hunger due to poor milk consistency, diluted quality, bitter taste or lack of nutrients. In some cases, mother’s milk cannot travel properly for lack of conduit fluency - and the frustrated baby cannot get enough. At times, superficial sores and skin conditions can cause severe discomfort to the mother both during and after nursing sessions. Amazingly, the one natural, centuriesold antidote for all of these complications is Easy-Flow. This prize product from Smiling Herbs both enhances and enriches mother’s milk to its greatest advantage. It’s a healthy supplement that provides instantaneous, positive results in many areas of difficulty. Easy-Flow aids smooth movement of the milk by ensuring consistency and conduit clearance. It eliminates irritation by targeting internal infection. It in-

creases baby’s appetite, making nursing sessions longer and more productive. Vital minerals and nutrients give both mother and baby a healthy boost, as mom’s immune system is strengthened and resistance to infection and disease is fortified. One mother confided that she only began using Easy-Flow after twelve months of nursing, when her milk supply gradually began to decrease. Easy-Flow reversed the decline. With absolutely no side effects, Easy-Flow does not cause any reactions, allergic or otherwise. And best of all, EasyFlow has a soothing effect on babies, targeting pressure points and eliminating headaches, upset stomachs, colic, gassiness, and other causes of stress or interference. It’s a favorite of mothers worldwide, who cannot help but rave about the incredible transformation that Easy-Flow has brought to their nursing sessions. Recently, this standard herbal supplement was redesigned to contain a high-potency extract that is easy to take, with revolutionary results. The Smiling Herbs Company saw the tremendous need for a product that would aid mothers significantly in their nursing. Using a precise processing system overseen by a highly trained staff of field experts with extensive knowledge of herbal history, Smiling Herbs reintroduced Easy-Flow to their exuberant customer base. The all-natural ingredients are hand-selected for their physical and chemical potential. Now small, easy-to-swallow capsules provide instant relief in manageable dosages. While every mother needs to regulate her own dosage, most people see a definite improvement with just two capsules a day. The feedback that Easy-Flow has received is overwhelmingly positive from their many satisfied clients. Now it’s 2:25am and the only reason I’m still up is that I had to finish writing this article, letting all the feeding-forlorn mothers out there know about this unparalleled product, so they too can upgrade their nursing from bleary-eyed to beautiful. Mommies, don’t quit. Take Easy-Flow and get to enjoy the beauty, bounty, and blessing of your baby. Thank you, Smiling Herbs, for the miracle of quiet and contentment that you’ve given me. Good night! Smiling Herbs 347-546-2792 smilingherbs@gmail.com

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O P I N I O N

Why Does G-D AlloW sufferinG? By shmuel Pollen

veryone reading this has experienced suffering. So has the one writing it. Sometimes the most pious among us seem to suffer the most. And sometimes the ones who hurt others the most live best. So it’s only human to ask, “Why does a good G-d allow bad things to happen to good people?” Rabbis don’t like answering this question. Not because they can’t. Because of the risk. If your brother’s pain makes sense, it might not bother you the same way. In that case, it would be better to have no answer at all. So if you want to understand “why,” you must promise me one thing. That in the face of others’ pain, you will forget every explanation and just be silent. Just look into their eyes. Into the pain. And don’t stop until they know for certain that you share in it. Until they know they’re not alone. For all other times, let’s begin to understand. A group of boys decides to play a game of basketball. One boy doesn’t hear so well. A ball is handed to him, so he puts it on the floor and kicks it hard to the other side of the court. The other kids turn to him angrily and say, “What in the world are you doing?” He says, “What do you mean? I just scored a goal.” They say, “No, you didn’t. You scored nothing, got us a penalty, and gave the other team control of the ball.” The boy is confused and dejected. The issue? He was playing soccer. They were playing basketball. I call this problem “playing the wrong game.” And “playing the wrong game” is the biggest mistake you can make in life.

Whatever you face now, whether it be debt, hunger, addiction or disabilities, that’s how G-d “kicked the ball.” You get angry and think something must be wrong with Him. Or with you. In truth, the only problem is the two of you are playing different games. Let’s introduce them. You are playing a game called “My Perfect Life.” Every day, you strive to have perfect health, perfect finances and the perfect marriage. Or as close as you can get to them. When suffering occurs, you’re angry because that means your game is being ruined. What game is G-d playing? It’s called “The Perfect Story.” G-d wants to tell the greatest story ever told. He unfolds His story (history) like acts in a play. The story is full of drama. Heroes and villains. Victory and catastrophe. Sadness and joy. And we are told that it’s all being recorded “above” like one big 7,000-year-long movie. So where are you in this game? You’re on camera! You’re an actor and He’s the director. You’ve been in this movie the whole time. The problem is, you don’t realize you’re in it. You’re playing the other game, so the Director’s instructions don’t seem relevant. Meanwhile, there is no one who can play your role, and that’s ruining this game. Until one day, you decide to listen. The words you hear affect you to the very core of your being. You begin to feel like you’ve awakened from a bad dream. You aren’t who you thought you were. And your life isn’t what you thought it was. Things begin to come into focus. This is what the Director said: “My child, I chose you for this specif-

ic role for a reason. I waited a long time for you to turn to Me and find out what it was. So I will tell you what it is. Your role was never to have the perfect life for yourself. Your role is to find a way to be a hero for someone else. What’s a hero? Anyone who is willing to go beyond himself for the greater good. Anyone who is willing to put his personal desires aside, to fulfill My wishes for him. “What do I wish? I wish you would uplift others who have fallen, with a kind word or a small act of charity. I wish you would feel grateful for all of the good that surrounds you, and that you would humbly accept the challenge to overcome the rest. I wish you would fight every day to defeat the demons I gave you, be they greed, lust, laziness or anything else. “Because I want you to know: buried underneath the jagged rocks I’ve put in front of you is hidden gold. It is in those darkest moments, when you see no way out, that all the souls who have passed, ‘the great audience in heaven,’ will be glued to the screen, crying for you, praying for you, waiting to see what you’ll do and who you’ll become. “And where will I be? Not behind the camera like any other director. I will be with you in that moment of pain. Experiencing it just as you do. Because we are not separate. We are one. And you will never be alone. I want you to hear My instructions, and listen to them, because I know that’s what’s best for you. I know because I created you. But even if you ignore everything I say, the love I have for you will be the same. You are my daughter. You are my son. Always.”

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Upon hearing these words, you look back at everything you’ve been through. And say, “Yes, I’ve been cut. Yes, I’ve been bruised. Yes, actors I loved have had their roles cut short far too soon. Unfair? Imperfect? Yes. But maybe the goal never was perfection. Maybe the goal was the story itself. And stories never die. I feel inner joy behind all that pain. Because I know that no matter what happens, every day I’m being chosen to have a small part in the Great Production. And I get to work with, and for, the Almighty Creative Director.” The challenges will be there. They aren’t torture. They are the Director’s way of saying, “I believe in you. I have a lesson that I need to teach the audience, and I think you can do it like no one else in the world.” When a challenge seems too big to handle, that just means the Director sees a power in you that you didn’t know you had. He wants you to see it too. Distress isn’t a cause for anger or despair. No. That’s your moment. Do something with it that’s worth watching. Something that makes the Director smile.

The best part about this game? You can never lose. Because the failures are worth just as many points as the successes. The story needs those failures. If you can’t see how, just wait. In time, He’ll show you how the whole production would have fallen apart without them. What’s your role now, right now? Here it is: You’re in a scene in which the world has been encompassed by darkness for thousands of years. Everyone has forgotten what light even is. Everyone has a single match, but they don’t know what to do with it. You strike your match on a rock, and others are amazed at what they see. They start to do the same. Soon thereafter, candles all over the globe light up the world. The Director’s instructions are the Torah and its mitzvahs. Your match is your actions. Your soul is your fire. And when you hit a rock, instead of losing faith, strike the match. It can change everything. The day is coming when only good things will happen to good people, and justice will be served to the rest. And togeth-

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er with Moshiach, we will create “Our Perfect Life.” I bless you all to be heroes who don’t need any challenges to become great. Now go and play. Rabbi Shmuel Pollen received a law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and resides in Rockaway, New Jersey. He is the founder of Bnei Noah, a nonprofit organization that provides food and medicine to the needy of Gujarat, India, and eastern Ukraine. Bnei Noah educates nonJews about their G-dly purpose and the 7 Noahide Laws. The content in this page is produced by Chabad.org, and is copyrighted by the author and/or Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you do not revise any part of it, and you include this note, credit the author, and link to www.chabad.org. If you wish to republish this article in a periodical, book, or website, please email permissions@chabad.org.

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O P I N I O N

JUST KEEP DAVENING BY RABBI REUVEN LAUFFER

t’s not an easy time to live in Israel right now. I have been living here for over thirty years and there have only been a few times in the past that I remember feeling quite so unsettled. I think that the worst point was when my daughter went to the post office to buy pepper spray for the whole family. It took a few trips as they were selling out faster than they could order it in but, in the end, we all have a little container with a small spray cap that I hope and pray we will never have to use. Why did we buy it? Because my youngest child, who has just turned Bar Mitzvah, came home from Cheder and told us that he doesn’t feel safe coming home at night in the dark. This is a child who has been through far more than I ever went through during my idyllic childhood. We live in Har Nof and we were davening together on that terrible morning one year ago, just three minutes away, at exactly the time that the barbaric murderers were ripping out the lives of the four Kedoshim and trying to destroy the families of the Kedoshim and of the wounded whose lives will never be the same again. My son is a sensitive and pure Neshama and whilst we barricaded ourselves in the Shul that we were in, waiting for instructions and to be told that we could go home, I could see that he was deeply affected, even though at that point we knew no details. Afterward it transpired that the families sitting Shivah included boys from his Cheder. The little boy who famously managed to escape from the inferno in the Shul is in his class and my son poured out his pure heart together with all his friends that his friend’s father be granted a Refuah She-

laymah together with the other wounded. It took him a little while but, Baruch Hashem, he bounced back to his normal self - sweet and as serious as can be. But even after that he never told us that he doesn’t feel safe… until now. And that is why we all have pepper spray. Personally, I think that there is something obscene about buying pepper spray in the post office. When I was growing up we bought stamps and envelopes in the post office. But here in Israel, the reality is different and, yes, if need be one can still buy a stamp or two in the post office but over these last few weeks the lines have all been for pepper spray and nothing else. It got me thinking. If I lived elsewhere I am not sure that I would be able to relate to any of what I have just written! If you are reading this outside of Israel - even if you were here for a year or two in Seminary I am not sure what any of this means, or what it can mean, to you. Perhaps just one thing. It may be beyond your abilities to put yourself in our place, but there is one thing that is universal and that is that Klal Yisrael is under attack and Klal Yisrael is hurting and there is only one thing that can counterbalance the attacks and the fear that follows. That is Tefillah. To daven effectively does not mean having to have personal experience. It means knowing absolutely that you belong to the Klal! A lot of Tehillim has been recited over the last months and at the end of the recitation there is a famous phrase that is often added. It begins with the words “Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael - Our brothers, the entire family of Israel…” My Rebbi once told me that when he was a small child he was “befriended” by one of

the greatest Rosh Yeshivas of the generation, HaRav Yitzchak Isaac Sher. Once, when my Rebbi was all of six or seven years old, HaRav Sher asked him why we use that terminology: “Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael…” My Rebbi thought for a little while and then admitted to not knowing. So HaRav Sher told him, “We are all brothers because we all have the same Father - Avinu Shebashamayim - our Father in Heaven!” Until now, that story has just been a story with an inspirational message. But now it is something that we are all living because we are the Jewish Nation and we are all one family. Please, if you have not yet done so - and even if you have - offer up a heartfelt Tefillah for Klal Yisrael’s wellbeing. The classic chapters of Tehillim that are recited are normally 20, 130 and 142. But any Kapitel can be recited - really any chapter that you find particularly personal. They can be said in Hebrew or in English (or any other language) and you should just let the astonishingly poignant and beautiful words come out of your mouth and into your heart. And then let them soar up to Avinu Shebashamayim. Rabbi Reuven Lauffer teaches in Ohr Somayach and several seminaries around Yerushalayim. He also answers questions about anything and everything via email for both Ohr Somayach and Gateways in New York.

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O P I N I O N

PUTIN MARCHES, OBAMA WATCHES BY CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER

yrian President Bashar alAssad and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Oct. 21. Russia has supported the Syrian government throughout that nation’s civil war. Guess who just popped up in the Kremlin? Bashar al-Assad, Syrian dictator and destroyer, now Vladimir Putin’s newest pet. After four years holed up in Damascus, Assad was summoned to Russia to bend a knee to Putin, show the world that today Middle East questions get settled not in Washington but in Moscow, and officially bless the Russian-led fournation takeover of Syria now underway. Does the bewildered Obama administration finally understand what Russia is up to? President Obama says Russia is doomed to fail in the Syrian quagmire. But Russia is not trying to reconquer the country for Assad. It is consolidating a rump Syrian state in the roughly 20 percent of the country he now controls, the Alawite areas stretching north and west from Damascus through Latakia and encompassing the Russian naval base at Tartus. It’s a partition. It will leave the Islamic State in control in the interior north and east. Why is this doomed to failure? Putin’s larger strategy is also obvious. He is not reconstructing the old Soviet empire. That’s too large a task. But he is rebuilding and reasserting Russia’s ability to project power beyond its borders. Annexing Crimea restores to the motherland full control of the warm-water Black Sea port that Russia has coveted since Peter the Great. Shoring up a rump Alawite state

secures Russia’s naval and air bases in the eastern Mediterranean. Add to that Russia’s launching of advanced cruise missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea to strike Syrian rebels 900 miles away and you have the most impressive display of Russian military reach since the Cold War. For Obama, of course, these things don’t matter. “In today’s world,” he told the U.N. last month, “the measure of strength is no longer defined by the control of territory.” That he clearly believes this fantasy was demonstrated by his total abandonment of Iraq, forfeiting U.S. bases from which we could have projected power in the region (most notably preventing, through control of Iraqi airspace, the Iranian rearming and reinforcement of Assad’s weakening regime). While Obama counts on the arc of the moral universe bending toward justice, Putin acts. As soon as the ink was dry on the Iran nuclear deal, Iran’s Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani flew to Moscow (a sanctions violation that we blithely ignored) to plan the multinational Syria campaign he is now directing. His Shiite expeditionary force is comprised of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Iraqi Shiite militias and Lebanese Hezbollah fighting under the cover of Russian airpower. They are pounding non-Islamic State rebels, many equipped, trained and allegedly supported by the U.S. and Obama’s vaunted 60-nation coalition. What a comfort to be pulverized by 60 to 90 Russian airstrikes each day but to know that Belgium is with you. The immediate Russian objective is to retake Aleppo, the eastern part of which is the rebels’ last remaining urban stronghold. Russia is not fighting the Islamic

State. On the contrary. Its attacks on the anti-government, anti-Islamic State rebels have allowed the Islamic State to expand, capturing rebel-held villages north of Aleppo, even as the Shiite expeditionary force approaches from the south. Apart from the wreckage to Obama’s dreams of a “reset” with Russia, think of how these advances mock Obama’s dreams for Iran, namely that the nuclear deal would moderate Iranian behavior. What has happened since the signing of the deal in July? Iran convicts an American journalist, contemptuously refusing to offer even the most minimal humanitarian gesture. Iran brazenly tests a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that our own U.N. ambassador said violates Security Council resolutions. And now Iran’s most notorious Revolutionary Guard commander takes control of a pan-Shiite army trying to decimate our remaining allies in the Syrian civil war. Obama’s response to all this? Nothing. He has washed his hands of the region, still the center of world oil production and trade, and still the world’s most volatile region, seething with virulent jihadism ready for export. When you call something a quagmire you have told the world that you’re out and staying out. Russia and Iran will have their way. “60 Minutes” asked Obama: Are you concerned about yielding leadership to Russia? Obama responded dismissively: Propping up a weak ally is not leadership. I’m leading the world on climate change. Upon hearing that, anyone in any conflict anywhere who has put his trust in the United States should start packing his bags for Germany.

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SOUND OFF

WHY I AM IN ISRAEL - AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE BY DENNIS PRAGER

I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY I AM IN ISRAEL. I am here with 450 American (and a German and a Canadian) listeners to my radio show. About 400 are nonJews. We are here on a “Stand with Israel” tour organized by the syndicator of my radio show, the Salem Radio Network, and I am accompanied by my wife, my producer Allen Estrin and his wife, and my radio colleague Mike Gallagher. People frustrated with the direction of America and the direction of the world regularly ask: “What can I do to make any difference?” Here is one of the best answers I know: Visit Israel. And do so especially when there are terror attacks. If every time there were a spate of attacks on Israel, few people canceled their trips to Israel. Or, if I may imagine a much better world than we live in, tourism to Israel actually increased, three huge things would be achieved. First, Palestinians would get the message that there are many people outside of Israel who find the stabbings of Israeli Jews morally repulsive. Second, Palestinians would have to weigh their emotional high from murdering Israelis against the economic benefit Israel would receive in increased tourism. Third, Israelis would know they are not alone. When I came to Israel to broadcast my show during the worst of the suicide bombings of the Intifada in 2000, Israeli after Israeli would say to me, “Thank you for coming.” (You can

watch the documentary I made then.) Israel, it ought to be recalled, is the only country in the world targeted for annihilation. That has been true from the day it was proclaimed as a state in 1948 until today. It was true before Israel was forced to conquer East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank, where the Palestinians (outside of Jordan) live. It was true before there was a single Jewish settlement on the West Bank. It was true after three Israeli prime ministers - Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Barak, and Ehud Olmert agreed to give up virtually all of Gaza and the West Bank to Palestinians to set up a Palestinian state. It was true after Israel gave every inch of Gaza to the Palestinians. All of which proves that when Palestinian spokesmen say they want peace, they do not mean peace with Israel. They mean peace without Israel. Israel’s Western opponents who say they “support” or even “love” Israel but hate its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, are lying to themselves, lying to the rest of us or both. Nothing would be different if the Israeli left had won the last election. For example, the chief opponent to Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog of the Labor Party, opposed the treaty with Iran as virulently as did Netanyahu. On Earth, at this time in its history, there is not a more clear battle between the decent and the indecent than Israel’s battle for survival against its enemies. In his speech before the United Nations General Assembly in Sep-

tember, Israel’s prime minister concluded his speech (which, it should be sadly noted, was not even attended by the American ambassador to the United Nations under orders from the White House) with this truism: “Israel is civilization’s front line in the battle against barbarism.” Those who refuse to acknowledge that have chosen to be morally blind. But if you do acknowledge that Israel is civilization’s front line in the battle against barbarism, it behooves you to come to Israel now. You will do more good than you can do with almost any other single act - while also having the time of your life. You should also send your college-age son or daughter to Israel. Nothing can inoculate a young person against the morally distorted ideas he or she will be subjected to at virtually every American college as does a prolonged visit to Israel. Young people will not only come to realize how broken the university’s moral compass is vis-a-vis Israel and the Middle East, but how broken it is in general, especially vis-a-vis America. The truth is that a visit to Israel, even when there are terrorist attacks, is extraordinarily safe. A visitor’s chances of getting hurt are minuscule. But to the extent there is the slightest danger - well, we all have to decide how we want to live our lives in the few years we are granted. And when it comes to fighting for good and against evil, we can either play it safe or we can do good. Very rarely can we do both.

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Inspiration Who’s Your Shimmy Today?

ome with me to a third grade classroom. There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop; he cannot imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. They’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives. He puts his head down and prays this prayer, ‘Hashem, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I’m in trouble.’ He looks up

from his prayer and there comes the teacher with a look in his eye that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Shimmy is carrying a bowl that is filled with water. Shimmy trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, ‘Thank you, Hashem! Thank you!’ Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him an extra pair of pants to put on while his own pants dry out.

All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Shimmy. He tries to help, but they all tell him to get out. “You’ve done enough, you klutz!” Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Shimmy and whispers, ‘You did that on purpose, didn’t you?’ Shimmy whispers back, ‘It happened to me once too.’ May Hashem help us see the opportunities that are always around us, to do good.

A Simple Lesson

rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the farmyard, the rat proclaimed the warning; “There is a rat trap in the house; a rat trap in the house!” The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Excuse me, Mr. Rat, I can tell that this is of grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.” The rat turned to the pig and told him, “There is a rat trap in the house; a rat trap in the house!” “I am so very sorry, Mr. Rat,”

sympathized the pig, “but there is nothing I can do about it other than pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers.” The rat turned to the cow. She said sarcastically, “Wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. You think I’m in danger? I couldn’t care less.” So the rat returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s rat trap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hos-

pital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient. His wife’s sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer’s wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.

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I’m Allergic to Fighting by Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss

ne of the most fundamental missions of a Torah Jew can be found in the Rambam at the end of the Laws of Chanukah. There, he states, “Kol HaTorah kula nitna la’asos shalom b’olam, sheneemar ‘Deracheha darchei noam v’chol nesivoseha shalom’” The entire Torah was given to promote peace in the world, as it is said, ‘Its ways are ways of sweetness and all Its paths are paths of peace.’ That the common denominator of all Torah commandments is to ensure, foster, and promote peace is a remarkable declaration, especially by the Rambam who was expert in all of the 613 mitzvos. How important this pursuit is in the eyes of Hashem can be seen from a Mishna in Pirkei Avos. There we are taught, “Kol she’ruach habrios nochah heimenu, ruach HaMakom nochah heimenu” - The person who people are pleased with can be certain that Hashem is pleased with him too. One of the absolute obligations of wise parents is to inculcate into their children abhorrence against all forms of fighting, feuding, and dissention. We are taught that when Dasan and Aviram and their fellow conspirators fought publicly with Moshe Rabbeinu, even their infants were punished with death. Rashi comments that although the human court punishes only from the age of thirteen and the Heavenly court punishes from the age of twenty, for the sin of machlokes, fighting, even babies die. The Ramban, in Parshas Nitzavim (Devarim 29:17) cites the posuk, “Pen yeish bachem shoresh poreh rosh v’laana” - Lest there be amongst you a root growing gall and wormwood. The Ramban explains that

the word poreh means to propagate and it indicates that if there is a foul root in the parents it will flourish even worse in their children. Thus, if parents are quarrelsome and argumentative people, it is likely that their children will be even worse. And therefore, if the parents engage in fighting that is punishable by death, their children can be taken away young because of the philosophy, “Mutav yamos zakai, v’al yamos chayev” - Better that they should die young and innocent than old and guilty. How scary it is that children who grow up watching their parents fight in shul often turn out disrespectful and quarrelsome themselves. On the flip side, parents who demonstrate to their children how to be pacifists and how to flee from the faintest sense of controversy raise peace-loving children who are liked by all. Let’s remember the wise recipe of Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avos, “Eizehu mechubad? Hamechabeid es habrios” - Who is honored? He who honors all men. Relationships are almost reciprocal. If we demonstrate to our children that we can find what to respect in every person, they will reap the reward of being loved in turn by everyone around them. On the other hand, the sefer Mivchar HaPninim states, “Mi sheyizora hasinah yikso charota” One who sows hate will harvest regret. Let me tell you a story brought down in the preface of the sefer Minchas Adom. During World War One, the saintly Rebbe Chaikel, zt”l, zy”a was sitting in front of his home when he overheard two women quarreling. One was elderly; the other was young, and they were fighting heatedly over who had the first rights to rent a cer-

tain choice apartment. Finally, in anger, the younger woman shouted, “What do you need this apartment for, anyway? In a short time you’ll take up new residence in the Beis HaChaim, the cemetery.” The older woman angrily answered back, “Only Hashem knows who is going to die first.” Rebbe Chaikel relates that only an hour later a bomb hit the block, immediately killing the younger woman. The older woman didn’t escape unscathed either. She was holding an infant grandchild and when the bomb dropped, it fell from her arms and also died. The Minchas Adom concludes how we see from here the grave dangers of machlokes and that no side escapes its dreadful repercussions. In 1904, when the Chofetz Chaim was already very aged, a dispute arose in Radin, his home town. A group of people wanted to break away from the Chevra Kadisha, the burial society, and form their own splinter group. (Splinter groups of all kinds seem to be the rage these days.) The Chofetz Chaim got up to speak that Shabbos and said that the sin of dissention is very, very grave. All the mitzvos one has done may be lost if one foments or participates in dissention. He went on to say that he is sure that participants in this dissention will be called for an accounting by the Heavenly Tribunal. They in turn will try to defend themselves by saying that they had a Halachic authority, the Chofetz Chaim, who didn’t protest. Therefore, the Chofetz Chaim proclaimed, “Please do not use my name. My sins are heavy enough. I cannot assume responsibility for your actions.” He then broke down and cried and that was the end of the plans to make a breakaway Chevra

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Kadisha. (Twerski on Chumash, Shaar Press.) We can extrapolate from the words of the venerable Chofetz Chaim how one stands to lose all of life’s religious efforts by foolishly instigating or even getting sucked in to a machlokes. Forewarned is forearmed and therefore the horrific end of Korach, who was wise, great in Torah, and of impeccable pedigree, lost everything because he succumbed to the yeitzer hara of dissention. I reiterate that there is almost no greater gift that we can give our children than to foster in them a sense of dread and foreboding about getting involved in any type of fight, whether it’s shul politics, bungalow politics, office politics, family feuding, sibling bickering, marital fighting or anything else. In the merit of our pursuit of peace, the common thread of Kol HaTorah Kula, may Hashem bless us with long life, and good health filled with sweetness and happiness until the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days. Sheldon Zeitlin takes dictation of, and edits, Rabbi Weiss’ articles.

To receive a weekly cassette tape or CD directly from Rabbi Weiss, please send a check to Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss, P.O. Box 140726, Staten Island, NY 10314 or contact him at RMMWSI@aol.com. Now back in print is a large size paperback edition of Power Bentching. To order call him at 718-916-3100 or email at above. Attend Rabbi Weiss’s weekly shiur at the Landau Shul, Avenue L and East 9th in Flatbush, Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m. Join him on Mondays and Thursdays at the famous Woodbourne Shul, and on Sunday night at the beautiful Woodridge Shul. Rabbi Weiss’ Daf Yomi and Mishnah Yomis shiurim can be heard LIVE on Kol Haloshon at (718) 906-6400. Write to KolHaloshon@gmail.com for details. They can now also be seen on Torah AnyTime.com.

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THE SHORT VORT

THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND BY RABBI RON YITZCHOK EISENMAN

Eventually, of course, they would go on to win the World Series against the mighty Orioles of Baltimore. My Rebbe at yeshiva taught us that Tzedokah can help bring about miracles. Series!” What could be more of an affirThe New York Mets would be mation of his teaching than the fact heading to the World Series for the that hours after the Mets give Tzefirst time since 2000. dokah they won 11 straight games! Although it’s been years since I Those were special, simpler have followed baseball, as I looked times. at the headline my mind waxed nosIt was a time when a Jewish talgic as I recalled the ‘original’ baseball player named Shamsky Miracle Mets of 1969. would not play on Rosh Hashanah Perhaps even more importantly, and a Catholic man named Hodges I remembered ‘me’ and who I was from Bedford Ave could give $500 from that long ago time. to help build a Yeshiva. It was a grand time when the And it was a time when a redMets won the World Series in 1969. headed, pudgy little boy went to It was a time of excitement and Left to Right: Eugene Gold, Rabbi Silber, Gil Hodges and Art Shamsky sleep at night feeling safe and seof hope. cure. If the Mets could win the World His parents and brother were in Rav Meilech Silber, who was Series, could Mashiach be far behind? the adjacent rooms and the Mets were Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva, arrived at The 1969 Mets were everything a winning. the Shea Stadium on May 28th to reJewish child could want. What else could a boy want from ceive the check and presented Gil They had a Jewish player by the life? Hodges and Art Shamsky a Seder Plate name of Art Shamsky who was the As I write these lines I realize that as a show of gratitude. hero of every Jewish kid in Brooklyn! I am now whiter than I am red. By May 28th, 1969, the Mets had Gil Hodges, the manager, lived on My parents are no longer in this played 41 games and they were 18-23. Bedford Ave in Flatbush. world and life is certainly more comBeginning with the game, which My brother and I would bike to plicated. was played immediately after Rav Silhis house and if we saw him on the I wonder, ‘Can I ever recapture ber received the $500 check from Gil porch or picking up the paper from his the pristine innocence of youth?’ Hodges, the Mets reeled off a clublawn we would shout, “Let’s Go I doubt it. record 11 straight wins. Mets!” Those were the days. Starting with that 42nd game, the He would smile and wave and life Mets’ win/loss record was 82-39, an was great. Ron Yitzchok Eisenman, Rabbi, Congregaimpressive .678 winning percentage! It was a time of racial turmoil in tion Ahavas Israel, Passaic, NJ s I glanced at the news this morning I could not help but notice the headline: “Miracle Mets Are Headed to The World

the city and it was a time when Jewish neighborhoods such as East Flatbush were in flux. And when the Yeshiva of Eastern Parkway was badly burned in an arson attack and suffered $200,000 worth of damage, it was only natural that the Mets raised $500 for the rebuilding of the yeshiva.

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S P O T L I G H T

IMPRESSIONS OF

BY YONA SILVER

t’s not often that an ad for a product catches my eye and holds my attention for more than a brief moment. It is even a greater rarity when an ad evokes such excitement in me that I immediately close the paper, dash down the steps, and rush to the store that supplies that product as fast as my car will take me. But this is precisely what took place when I came upon the ad for The Lost Treasure. Abie Rotenberg. Rabbi Shmuel Klein. Rabbi Moshe Blaustein. Shloime Goldreich. Shimmy Stauber. Baruch Levine. Shlomo Simcha. Etka Gitel Schwartz. Another installment of The Golden Crown. Wow! THIS IS HUGE! Who didn’t grow up listening to The Marvelous Midos Machine? Who isn’t entranced by Abie Rotenberg’s songs? Who doesn’t melt into nostalgia at just a mention of The Golden Crown? How many times have we yearned for a glimmer of those days of yore to come along in a fresh new package? And you thought that I was being drastic when I closed the paper and rushed to get myself the CD? At a red light, I cleared out the CD player to avoid even the slightest delay

later. My mind drifted off, thinking. When even one of these people puts their great talents into a project, the results are amazing. I could only imagine what would result from a collaboration between such brilliant legends. The outcome must surely be mindblowing. At least I wouldn’t have to imagine for much longer!

As I hurriedly ripped the plastic off the CD, a flash of unease passed through me. How do you top a legacy? Is it possible for this album to live up to the expectations that history has inherently set for it? But all my doubts vanished as the story began, and Abie Rotenberg’s powerful acting voice filled my car. Abie in all his glory, on a level that I have never before heard from him. That was my first thought, as the CD began. I don’t know if it’s because of advancing technology, or perhaps Abie just got better with age, but his acting just blew me away! As the story progressed, I got lost

in a sea of nostalgia. Akiva and Yehuda entered, and a visit to our beloved Zaydie’s house followed suit. As the first notes of the classic Story Song began, my surroundings just faded away. I didn’t think about how silly it looks when someone just sits in their car, motionless, in front of a Judaica store. I was in a world of my own. I was lost in the stunning notes of the song, masterfully redone, with live music and real strings, with just enough of the original to keep that priceless feel, but adorned with beautiful new embellishments that brought the song to a whole new level. As the song ended and the story carried on, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the quality of the production. Every iconic background effect recognizable from The Golden Crown has made its way back, completely redone, into the scenes of this story, used in the most brilliant manner, keeping the mood as authentic as possible. The background music is so delicately placed; each piece in its perfect location. The very arrangement is a work of art. The CD played on. The story gained complexity, the actors played their parts impeccably, and the action began. The plot thickened into a gripping tale. The songs came in and swept me away, the notes crisp and the vocals dynamic. A tune by Baruch Levine, a solo by Shlomo Simcha, an arrangement by Yanky Briskman. The songs themselves are ample reason to buy the CD! Finally the story reached its breathtaking climax, followed by a magnificent finale. The CD is just plain awesome! As I finally put my car into drive, I pressed the button to start the CD again from the beginning. And I smiled, because at last there’s an album that my kids will be”H one day be able to look back on, and reminisce about the classic entertainment that they grew up on. Money well spent!

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21ST CENTURY PATRIOTISM BY SENATOR SIMCHA FELDER

few months ago I was shocked and horrified when I learned that a group of malcontents was organizing the burning of an American Flag in Brooklyn’s historic Fort Greene Park. We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear; peace, security, liberty, family, friends, our home. So, the burning of an American flag anywhere is a despicable act. It is the antithesis of patriotism, the trampling of our nation’s values and all it stands for. When I heard about the incident, I offered to buy any of the flag burners - who clearly hate America - a one way ticket, free of charge, to Iran, North Korea, or another totalitarian country of their choice. This group of misfits and cowards, who wore masks while burning the flag “to make a point,” should learn firsthand what it’s like to live in a truly oppressive country before they begin accusing America of “standing for” oppression. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of patriotism today that wasn’t present in prior generations. I recall the post-9/11 days - when everyone was hanging American flags outside their homes, on their cars, in their windows. The unity that we had as a nation, the feeling of community we all shared, the love for America - the patriotism - we felt during those days seems to have abated. Ultimately, being patriotic is not

about agreeing with the actions of our government unwaveringly. The First Amendment exists in order to protect our right to disagree. Patriotism is about love and respect for the ideals of

America. It is about being able to disagree with others while still respecting the dream upon which this nation was built. When an American flag is burned, it does not symbolize disagreement with the actions of our government. It represents hatred towards

the very foundation of this country the fundamental ideas that generations before us fought and died to preserve. It is a slap in the face of all who have come before us, of the men and women who have sacrificed everything to protect an idea. Someone once said: “What do you say about a government that goes out of its way to protect even the citizens that try to destroy it?” You say “G-d Bless America.” State Senator Simcha Felder was elected in November 2012 to represent the 17th Senate District which encompasses the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Midwood, Flatbush, Borough Park, Kensington, Sunset Park, Madison and Bensonhurst. Prior to serving as Senator, Simcha was elected to the City Council, where he successfully pushed against fierce opposition to have the Pledge of Allegiance said at the start of every stated Council meeting. A lifelong New Yorker, Simcha lives with his wife and children just blocks from the house in which he was born and raised. Simcha is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Masters of Business Administration degree in Management from the renowned Zicklin School of Business at CUNY’s Baruch College. Felder also serves as a Professor of Management at Touro College and CUNY’S Brooklyn College.

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Starting July 5th, Catch the Country in the Country Radio Show, Sunday Evenings, 8 - 10 PM on Thunder 102.1 FM. For Magazine or Radio Advertising Call: (718) 851-2010

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SPECIAL REPORT

THE RABBI WHO BLEW SHOFAR FOR FIDEL CASTRO BY HENNY BRENER

EDITOR’S

NOTE:

WITH

THE RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC

CUBA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WE FELT THIS FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF JEWISH LIFE ON THE SMALL ISLAND COUNTRY WOULD BE INFORMATIVE AS WELL AS ENLIGHTENING. AS IT TURNS OUT - IT IS ALSO HEARTBREAKING! - CY TIES WITH

n Sunday, February 6, 1994, we left La Carlota airport from Caracas in a small jet, destination: Havana. On board were Rabbi Pynchas and Henny Brener, Ruben and Susy Halfen, Rafi Gruszka and Thea Segall. Our flight took us first to Fort Lauderdale, where we were met by Rabbi Israel Lau, his wife Chayaita,

David Altman of Bar Ilan University and a very determined Israeli journalist, Yehezkel Zadok of Yediot Aharonot, posted in New York. The journalist flew to Ft. Lauderdale to plead with Rabbi Brener to allow him to accompany us to Cuba, to cover this unprecedented visit of the Chief Rabbi of Israel for a unique encounter with the Jewish community of Cuba and hopeful-

ly for a meeting with the leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, with whom the State of Israel has no diplomatic ties. Rabbi Brener called the Cuban Ambassador, Norberto Hernandez Curbelo, in Caracas, to ask him if an entry permit could be obtained for Zadok. The Ambassador did not think that there would be any obstacle to his visit. At 1:00 p.m. we took off for the 50-minute flight to Havana. During the flight, Zadok, who couldn’t believe his good fortune to get this exclusive scoop, was briefed by Rabbi Brener about the background of our two previous visits to Cuba. He also told him about Thea, the photographer, who two months prior to

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this visit, accompanied us on a sojourn to five countries in three days, to photograph historic synagogues for a forthcoming book: “The Synagogues of Venezuela and the Caribbean” and that now this book would also include the synagogues of Havana. We landed at Jose Marti airport and were met by a delegation of Cubans from the Ministry of Religion; Dr Jose Miller, president of the Jewish community, and Adela Dworin, the secretary of the Patronato. Our luggage was removed from the plane and the Customs official realized that we had brought food with us. They confiscated the tomatoes and tangerines, saying: “It is against our health laws for you to bring in these items.” I didn’t dispute them, but only tried to explain that due to our dietary restrictions it was necessary for us to bring along food. They consented to our keeping the food. The journalist’s passport was checked by an immigration official, and after he paid a $20 entry visa tax, we were on our way. There was a second plane of Venezuelan young adults from our community who accompanied us, who were anxious to visit with the Cuban community: Lily Blank, Alfredo Cohen, Igor Flasz, Milton Gruszka, Ricardo Cohen and Eric Vaisberg. They were taken to the Hotel Neptune in a minibus which Rabbi Brener had obtained for the community to transport the children to the Patronato for classes in religious instruction. The minibus had been donated by Alexander Stransky and David Weisz of Caracas. We were driven to Miramar, the section of Havana of once elegant homes and mansions. There the wealthy had lived before the revolution. We were housed in one of these mansions, known today as “protocol houses,” reserved for VIPs and diplomats. The white mansion, with its drive-in entrance, was still lovely, notwithstanding the toll taken by years of disrepair and lack of paint. We were all assigned to our rooms, which were spacious with wood paneled walk-in closets. There were some tiny objects in the ceiling near the air conditioning ducts. Were

they listening devices? We were advised not to talk in the room. All the windows of the rooms overlooked the lush vegetation of the gardens below. The bathrooms, if not of the latest designs, were ample and clean. The kitchen was spacious, the cabinets were dated, but the large refrigerator afforded us space to store the trays of meat, breads, cheeses and salads brought from Caracas. We gathered in the large, sunny parlor with the people from the Communist committee, who would accompany us for the rest of our stay, to plan our program. In reality, everything and every move had already been arranged for us. A pre-arranged request to visit with the Archbishop of Cuba had been canceled. Several weeks prior to our visit, he had been critical of the government and now they were isolating him in retaliation. At 3:00 pm. lunch was served in the dining room. The Cubans were very respectful and did not serve meat to the group. I proceeded to unwrap and serve our Caracas food, giving the Cubans who were working in the kitchen a taste of everything first. Since by now we were very hungry, our food tasted like a gourmet meal. Dessert consisted of homemade rugelach and mohn cake, which we shared with all present. After the Mincha service, we divided into two groups. One group went to the Opera, which they later said was most enjoyable. I opted for the visit to the Sephardic synagogue with Thea, Adela, Dr. Miller, Rabbi Lau, David Altman and Rabbi Samuel Szteinhendler. Rabbi Szteinhendler, a Conservative rabbi from Buenos Aires, lived in Guadalajara, Mexico. He came to Cuba every two months for a two-week stay and was sponsored by the Joint. He organized the youth, gave them a sense of Jewish identity and within the difficult framework of the political situation, he was able to accomplish many feats for the Jewish community. Our first visit was to the Centro Sefardi, a community house where the youth congregates on Sundays. In this simple synagogue, Rabbi Lau addressed the group. He told them: “Be proud of your Jewishness, come to Is-

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rael, as you are part of a great people who have had to struggle to remain Jews.” In an adjacent, dimly lit room, we joined another group. The chairs were placed in a circle. The youth danced and sang Israeli songs with a fervor and spirit equaled only in Israel. Rabbi Lau again delivered a brief inspirational discourse about Jewish peoplehood, for now and forever. During this time of celebration, several women approached me to tell me about their difficult situation and their lack of the basic necessities to enable them to live a dignified life. Some had sick children and notwithstanding the fact that healthcare is provided for everyone in Cuba, they lacked medicine. Milk is only available for children under the age of seven and vitamin-deficient related illness is rampant. There had recently been a Bar Mitzvah celebrated in the synagogue of the Sephardic center, of a descendant of the first Jew to come to Cuba with Christopher Columbus, Luis Torres. The boy, David de Torres received a blessing from Rabbi Lau. In a light moment, Rabbi Lau spoke to a simple Jew who was dancing with the youth. He had arrived to Cuba on September 1, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland from Karpata, Russia, Shedlitz. His name was Getzl Kreplach. He existed from a pension, and judging from his skeletal body, it was very meager. At 5:30pm the lights went out. We wondered if this was only to conserve energy or did the darkness also discourage unlawful gatherings of dissidents, which is not in the interest of the revolution? The group dispersed and many Cubans now had a three hour wait for the “guagua;” the infrequent, overcrowded bus to take them to their destinations. Our next visit was to the synagogue in downtown Havana -”Havana Vieja,” Adath Israel. For lack of money to purchase materials for repairs, the non-existence of paint and glass to restore the broken windows, this once beautiful synagogue had been transformed into a shabby, dark and musty edifice. I spoke to Abraham - we knew his

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relatives, who once lived in Caracas. He is married to a convert. Their wedding ceremony was preformed last year by Rabbi Szteinhendler, his wife being one of twelve women who were converted to Judaism. Before the ceremony, they realized that wedding rings were not available. Two women obtained several forks with long tines, which they bent to form 24 wedding bands. Even a seemingly monumental problem can sometimes be resolved with a bit of ingenuity. I asked Abraham if his handsome, serious boy of 12 could someday expect to marry a Jewish girl in Cuba. He responded: “There is more hope for my son to marry one today than there had been for me.” Zadok, the journalist, asked Abra-

ham: “Why does the building look so abandoned and in such disrepair?” After some prodding Abraham told him that no one has money to do anything. There seemed to be such resignation to their miserable situation, or did these people really believe that the ideology of the revolution would solve all the ills of Cuba? At 8:00 pm. we returned to our protocol house, tired but exhilarated after an afternoon spent with some members of the Cuban community. We awaited a call for our impending visit with the “Comandante,” the title of Castro, but it seems that Sunday was not the night. Our friends from the second plane came to the house and after a warm chat and some refreshments, they left.

Monday morning we awakened early to arrive at the Patronato (the Ashkenazi synagogue and community house built around 1950) by 8:00 am. for services in the small sanctuary. The Venezuelans came running and winded after being unsuccessful in finding neither taxi nor bus to bring them to the Patronato. Rabbi Brener led the prayers and read from the Torah. The aliyot were given to Roberto Cohen (cohen), Ruben Halfen (levi) and to Rabbi Lau (israel). Our breakfast, imported from Caracas, consisted of bread, hard boiled eggs, smoked salmon, cereal and milk. The imported juice from Mexico was provided by Dr. Miller. At 10:00 am. we arrived at the building of the Communist Central

Front Row Left to Right: Rabbi Brener, Fidel Castro, Rabbi Lau and his Rebbetzin

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Committee building, which is adjacent to Revolution Square (the site of major rallies). Here we were received by members of the committee and the director of cults (religious affairs) Caridad Rosario Diego. By the color of her lily white skin, she is probably of Spanish ancestry. She is a feisty woman, who seems to have risen in the ranks by her loyalty to the party and to the ideology of the revolution. We were escorted into a rectangular, ample room whose only adornments on the walls were a painting of the trio: Marx, Engels and Lenin. On the opposite wall hung a drawing of Che Guevara. The length of one wall had a vitrine, exhibiting mementos and memorabilia won by Cuba in former socialist countries in sporting events and also included a bronze Russian samovar. For three quarters of an hour, we were subjected to listen to the party rhetoric by Caridad about church and synagogue relations. She stressed how Cuba facilitates the attainment of various activities for these institutions, how Cuba does not discriminate,

which is true, as ALL the people are in want. She suggested that foreign countries should help Cuban organizations such as hospitals and old age homes. A proposal had been made by the JDC for Jewish doctors to come to Cuba to work for a specific period in its hospitals, whereby the Cubans could benefit from the most advanced American technology, even though the regime prides itself on their scientific advances. After Caridad’s discourse, Rabbi Lau responded to her with gusto. He thanked her for all Cuba had done in the past for the Jews, granting them a haven during the war (except for the tragic incident of the boat San Luis, which after arriving to the shores of Cuba, was turned back to war-torn Europe and few survived.) and for the present consideration for the Jewish community. He also emphasized that Cuba is against anti-Semitism. He went on to elaborate a request: “Since the Jewish religion is the first monotheistic religion, which is not only spiritual and abstract, but practi-

cal as well, and since the Jewish religion has 613 daily commandments to observe, it demands certain things of us, such as kipot, mezuzot, wine, candles, Hanukah menorot and matzah for Pesach.” He wants the Jewish community to have access to all these ritual items. He continued: “Cuba had a commitment to Israel when statehood was proclaimed and that there is no conflict between loyalties to religion versus the government.” Rabbi Lau offered to help in the restoration of the Cuban synagogues and asked Caridad how this idea would be accepted. Caridad answered him through her interpreter (although we suspected she knew English) that if the materials needed for the restorations are not available locally, she is in favor that they be brought to Cuba. Rabbi Lau naively recommended that Rabbi Brener be the coordinator and act as an honorary counsel in conjunction with the Cuban ministry of religious affairs. Caridad replied that Dr. Miller, with whom they have an open relationship, is the bridge to the Jewish

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community. (In other words, ‘no outside interference please.’) Coffee was served and we left for our next programmed activity, which was a visit to the Finley Institute, where there is ongoing research for various types of vaccines. Here again we were seated in a room and subjected to listen to the wonders of Cuban advances in the field of immunology. The buildings were off limits to us, but could be viewed from the outside. Again they were gracious and served ice cream and coffee. A 40-minute bus ride took us to Guanabacoa - the site of the Jewish cemetery, erected in 1906. Many of the tombstones were in need of repair. The relatives of the deceased had long ago immigrated to Miami or to Venezuela. A monument in the cemetery was built in memory of the victims who perished in the Holocaust .It was erected over bars of soap made of Jewish human flesh. Rabbi Brener and Rabbi Lau recited psalms and then the mourner’s kaddish at the foot of this imposing black marble monument. We walked around the cemetery, read-

ing the names on the tombstones and noticed that there were many of young children, who perhaps had been victims of an epidemic. The ride back to the mansion took almost an hour. By this time we were hungry and tired from the tropical sun. Before we left the mansion in the morning, I asked the cook if he could obtain potatoes for us. If yes, she should wash them well, and wrap them in the aluminum paper I had brought along and to bake them. When we sat down for our lunch, the cook was pleased to announce that our potatoes were ready. It was not a feat easily achieved in Cuba. Now we had a warm dish to accompany our cold meats and salads. The cook was delighted that he was able to please us. The kitchen help and the drivers were fascinated by the multiple uses of aluminum foil, as it is not an item available in Cuba. We left all the unused disposable plates and utensils to be divided among them. For the housekeeper, I left all my toiletries, a bottle of perfume and four apples for her son. I don’t think there was a happier

woman in Cuba that day. Between lunch and our visit to the Patronato, I asked one of our constant Cuban companions if he would take the women in our group to a shopping area. He consented and took us to the Hemingway Marina, a diplotienda for tourists, diplomats and those fortunate enough to receive dollars from relatives abroad. This was a mini-mall, with several shops. The clothing store had a limited selection of goods imported from China. By Cuban standards, the prices were high, considering the inferior quality of the merchandise. There was a supermarket, a pricey sneaker store and a shop for perfumes and jewelry imported from Panama. Across the Mall, on the water’s edge, was a shop for handicrafts. I purchased two rag dolls for my granddaughters and Mrs. Lau was pleased to find something that she thought was an appropriate souvenir. Our Cuban companion who began and ended every sentence with the phrase: “…and after the triumph of the revolution,” was glad that he was able to show us a bright corner of Havana, al-

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though the only other shoppers were a few Spanish speaking tourists. As soon as we returned to the mansion, we were whisked off to the Patronato, riding down Fifth Avenue the wide, tree-lined avenue of once beautiful homes, now a shadow of their former splendor. There were very few cars on the avenue, but the bus had to keep slowing down to avoid hitting the many cyclists who swerved from side to side. We had not seen bicycles on our last trip and now with even fewer buses running due to the energy crisis, bicycles were the best solution for getting the people to work. The Jewish community received special permission to hold a gathering of 200 people, many of whom traveled two days to attend, from the interior of the country. When we arrived, the crowd was already seated and the quiet was almost eerie. Perhaps years of oppression had put a lid on the emotions of a nation. Dr. Miller, the president of the community, was master of ceremonies. He began the evening program by telling the audience that this night was a special occasion for the community - a real â&#x20AC;&#x153;yom tovâ&#x20AC;? and that they were being honored with the presence of two distinguished Rabbis and a delegation from Caracas. Dr. Miller introduced Rabbi Brener as the man who was responsible for the community to have been fortunate to receive a minibus, which was in constant use. There followed a great round of applause. Rabbi Brener then addressed the gathering and thanked Rabbi Szteinhendler for all that he had done for the community under the most difficult of circumstances. It was heartwarming to hear the thunderous clapping of hands from the Cubans. Even one person can make a substantial difference in the lives of so many. Entertainment was provided by a group of young adults dressed in typical Israeli costumes of orange and gold, who performed folkloric dances. We were awed by their performance; was this truly taking place in Havana? Was the dancing giving them hope for a time in the near future when they would be able to immigrate to Israel? We hoped so.

After the performance, Rabbi Brener introduced Rabbi Lau .He spoke at length to the Cubans, giving a spiritually uplifting greeting. While the rest of the speeches were delivered, I joined the Venezuelans to distribute the gifts which we had brought from Caracas. I gave chocolates to the children. After the release of the doctors on our first trip to Cuba in 1988, we brought along chocolate bars for the return flight to Caracas, knowing that there would not be any food on board

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due to its limited capacity. Chocolate was decided upon to impart sweetness for the beginning of the Cubansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new life in freedom. We had recently received a large basket of assorted chocolates as a gift, and we felt what better way to enjoy this luxury than to bring it all to Cuba, to share it with the children of the community. The first child I gave chocolate to in the hall of the social room, was accompanied by his grandmother. I observed how she fed this thin

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little six-year-old boy, piece by piece. I asked her, “When was the last time your grandson had chocolate?” She answered: “Señora, we do not have any chocolate in Cuba. Not only that, but many a night I just don’t have any food at all to feed the child.” At that moment, the lights went out and I quickly used the opportunity of the darkness to press dollar bills into her hand and told her to slip them into her blouse as we knew that there were people monitoring what we were doing at all times. With that the lights went on again. I can still feel her embrace of gratitude around my shoulders. The Rabbis joined the youth in the singing and dancing of “horas.” They say that seeing is believing, and to have seen the joy on the faces of these people dancing with the Rabbis, we just knew that on this night the Jews of Cuba had hope. Refreshments were served to everyone, prepared by the Patronato. We continued with the distribution of the gifts which had been donated by Caracas Jews. All the items were articles either not available in Cuba, or severely rationed - such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, Q-tips, and toys for the children. We had prepared bags with these items which even included a watch for everyone and costume jewelry. The Venezuelans also brought shirts for the men. It was interesting to observe that although the Cubans regarded all this like manna from heaven, they showed patience and no aggression. This must be a result of cultivating patience from days of standing on line to receive a weekly ration of rice and beans, or their monthly chicken. The atmosphere became more informal and several women came over to me as they had done the day before with the same tales of woe; not enough food to feed their families, no medicines, wages so low they couldn’t meet their basic needs. My message to them was not to ever lose hope for a better tomorrow for themselves and for their families. I really wanted to give them all some dollars, but I knew that I was being watched by our companions of the Communist committee, and I certainly would not have wanted to be the cause of suspended meetings

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of this nature in the future. Some women squeezed small pieces of paper with their names and addresses written on them into the palm of my hand - asking me not to forget them. I asked if they would receive money if it was sent to them by mail. The answer was, “No - it would be dangerous.” They just want to know that someone outside of Cuba is aware of them and cares enough to keep in touch. When I returned home, I wrote to them all. The evening events culminated with the Rabbis leading everyone in the singing of the Hatikva, its words sounded more beautiful and inspirational than ever. We left the Patronato emotionally spent. The room we returned to in the mansion now seemed empty. All the items brought along from Caracas had been distributed. It was satisfying to know that many people took part in the mitzvah of bringing a bit of joy to the Cuban Jews living a bleak existence. The waiting game had now begun. One bides one’s time for the anticipated call to be told when the visit with the Comandante will take place. At 8:50pm Rabbi Brener came up to the room to tell me that they had just received the call and would be on their way immediately. The only persons who were invited to visit Castro were the Rabbis and David Altman. The wives of the Rabbis were not asked to come along. Mrs. Lau became incensed and refused to send the gift which they had brought for Castro from Israel - a Shofar with a silver plaque dedicated to Castro and commemorating Lau’s visit to Cuba. She sent a message with her husband to Castro that only she, Mrs. Lau, would bring the gift to him personally. Castro received his guests in the warm Latin manner. He bade them to sit down and the conversation - with Juanita Vera, his longtime translator at his side - (although he speaks English) took off in a most cordial setting. Their topics of conversation covered the gamut of Rabbi Lau’s recounting his experiences in concentration camp, the Bible, the state of Israel and the Jewish community of Cuba. Castro challenged Rabbi Lau: “How is it possible that if only 70 peo-

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ple left Canaan for Egypt, by the time they left Egypt 210 years later they had multiplied to 600,000 souls.” Rabbi Lau insisted that Cuba renew diplomatic ties with Israel. Castro replied to him that this would be a function of the peace progress and that at the present time his only friends were the Arabs. He certainly wouldn’t want to do anything that would alienate them. He also thought the United States would not view renewed diplomatic ties between Israel and Cuba favorably; and that this was not good for Israel. By 11:00 pm, Mrs. Lau wanted to retire to her room; it had been a long day after all. From our past experience, knowing that the Cubans work in mysterious ways, I convinced her to sit around and chat some more. At 12:00 p.m. the driver came back to the house with a request to bring Mrs. Lau and myself to the presidential palace to join the others. She was delighted and brought the Shofar along. Upon our arrival a guard took the Shofar from a worried-looking Mrs. Lau for a security check and returned it to her in

the waiting room of Castro’s office. Castro, tall and imposing, wearing his green military fatigues and combat boots, was standing to receive us. Mrs. Lau presented him with the Shofar and the Rabbis proceeded to explain to him its symbolism. He received it with much interest. Rabbi Brener presented him with a set of his own books and two books of Venezuelan photographs taken by Thea Segall. While Castro was holding the Shofar, I couldn’t resist asking him if he would like to hear its unique sound. He nodded enthusiastically in the affirmative. Rabbi Brener blew the Shofar with the loudest “tekiah” ever heard. Indeed, it was a historical moment. As the Rabbis had already spent three hours with Castro and it was 1:00 a.m., it was time to bid farewell. Rabbi Lau requested cigars from Castro, for his friends Rabin, Peres and Weitzman. Within the hour they were sent to him. When we returned to the house, the phones which were used to send and receive international calls didn’t stop ringing. Calls came from Israel, from every imaginable newspa-

per, hungry for the details of the visit to Castro. By then, Zadok had already sent his scoop to Yediot Aharonot. We were accompanied to the airport early Tuesday morning by the same Cubans who had been our hosts from the time of our arrival. They bade us a warm farewell and expressed the hope that we would meet soon again. We left Havana for Nassau, from where the Laus would continue on with a commercial airliner to their final destination, Israel. We flew to Florida with the Halfens and then returned to Caracas with memories of an outstanding trip. It was due to the generosity of Ruben Halfen, who provided the plane that we were able to go to Cuba. Arriving at La Carlota airport, we found Raffi and Ricardo waiting for us. The Venezuelan group had arrived an hour earlier. They were bursting with emotion: “Remember the suitcases we came to Cuba with, which held our personal belongings? Well, we gave them away: every single item, including the suitcases.” They had literally returned to Caracas with

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just the shirts on their backs. This group of beautiful human beings was so touched by the plight of the Cubans that they wanted to share all they could. They were a shining example of the Venezuelan Jewish community. One of the outcomes of this visit was a request by Rabbi Brener to allow a Jewish doctor to come to work in Venezuela in his field of oncology. The petition is under consideration. We undertook to send from Caracas prayer books, kipot, talitot and text books to learn to read Hebrew. Would we return to Cuba again? Who knows what mission still lay ahead in the future to help the Jewish community get back on its feet and gain pride in their heritage - with freedom to congregate, to practice their religion, and with all the demands which Rabbi Lau enumerated to Caridad Diego, freely and readily available to them. Pynchas Brener is the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Caracas, Venezuela, since 1967. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University and his Master’s degree from Columbia University, and is a PhD honoris causa of Bar Ilan University. Brener is a president of the Committee of Liaisons between Churches and Synagogues in Venezuela and member of the Board of Directors of Bar Ilan University in Israel. He is the author of several books about Judaism, including El Diálogo Eterno, Las Escrituras: Hombres e Ideas, and Fe y Razón, all published by the World Zionist Organization’s Department for Education and Culture in the Diaspora. He has also written Tradición y Actualidad and Luto y Consuelo, published by Editorial Boker, and La fe y la Intuición, published by Monte Avila Editores in Caracas. He also co-edited with Marianne Beker and Thea Segal, the book Las sinagogas se abren al mundo. He is also a regular columnist in the Venezuelan newspapers such as El Nacional, El Universal and the Venezuelan Jewish community weekly newspaper Nuevo Mundo Israelita. He has an internet project and a website: www.pynchasbrener.com.

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S P O T L I G H T

SIMCHA MUSIC AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! BY CHAYA SARA SCHLUSSEL

f you’re planning a simcha, it’s time to ramp up your rhythm with the latest phenomenon in Jewish music! Take control of your own tunes and tempos, volumes and vibrations using Smart Sound Service - a revolutionary new concept in simcha music that’s taking the crystal clear clarity and reverberating sound of a live orchestra, and compressing it into the palm of your hand. They say the best innovations are the ones that leave us scratching our heads and wondering, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?!’ Yitzchok Weissmandl is just such a visionary; the genius behind the simple, but startlingly advanced new idea of putting us in control of our own simcha music. Here’s how it works. People contact him before an event and discuss their song choices, the singers they prefer listening to and the genres they favor. They choose everything from soft, nostalgic classics to play during dinner and whet the appetite - to toe-tapping, uptempo dance melodies that will inject everyone at the simcha with unstoppable energy and dynamism. Since the songs are all pre-recorded with multiple-piece bands, complicated harmonies, intricate vocal and musical arrangements, they are far and away more professional-sounding than your average oneman on a keyboard. There’s only so much a one-man-band can

do, and as skilled as he may be, he cannot possibly recreate the combined artistry of many talented musicians, songsters, arrangers and mixers working for months at the recording studio to reach spot-on musical perfection. Yitzchok deftly loads all of the selected tracks onto an ipod. Next, he sets up wireless speakers at the hall in advance of your event, placing them at strategic points to create the effect of superior surround sound. Before the simcha commences, the host is given the ipod with detailed, incredibly easy instructions for its use. The number one question people ask Yitzchok: Is it simple? His answer: It takes all of one minute to learn! With the entire playlist in your pocket, you get to be the Master of Ceremonies, or Concert Coordinator. You decide on the next song your audience will listen to. You control the volume. In short, as the one with your thumb on the play button, you’ve got your finger on the constant pulse of the evening! Making a beautiful simcha involves many things. Some people place great emphasis on the décor, the centerpieces, and the table settings. Others focus largely on the flowers or the photographer. Many more concentrate on the details of the menu. But the bottom line is, when you want to really set the mood at an event, it all comes down to the music. Whether you need cheerful, light renditions for a party; soulful, ambient chamber music for a dinner; upbeat, lively dance tunes for a sheva brochos, bar mitzvah, or any other occasion; the right chords can uplift or inspire, exhilarate or enthuse, motivate your crowd or get your crowd moving. With Smart Sound Service, you can completely take charge of the mood at your simcha, enhancing it with state-of-the-art strains that are perfectly suited to your own individual tastes and preferences. Why rely on a hired pianist’s playlist, when you can create and command your own? The proud proprietor of Smart Sound Service is more than happy to equip your event at any hall or residence in the tristate area and beyond. He will also provide microphones for lectures and speeches, so all your audio needs are met and exceeded. You can even have those speeches recorded, and receive them the following day via email. Call Yitzchok today and find out how you can make musical magic at your simcha, transforming the orchestration from simple and ordinary, to simply extraordinary.

Yitzchok Weissmandl ISSacwm@gmail.com

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R E A L

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L I F E

What Does the Mother of a Dying Child Do to Celebrate a Birthday? By Maria Kefalas

s the mother of a terminally-ill child, celebrating my daughter’s 4th birthday this year, on December 23rd, provides some unique challenges. My daughter, Calliope Joy, called Cal by our family, has metachromatic leukodystrophy, a neurological disease that has robbed her of the ability to walk, speak or feed herself. Most people have only encountered this disease through the film Lorenzo’s Oil. Lorenzo Odone suffered from adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a cousin of my daughter’s illness. Unlike the film’s Hollywood ending suggests, the Odones didn’t find a miracle oil to cure any form of leukodystrophy. Eighteen months after diagnosis, my daughter, a child nicknamed “Happy Feet” because she was in constant motion, now receives hospice care and cannot hold up her head, sit up, use the toilet, communicate, and she struggles to swallow. The doctors at the world’s finest children’s hospital have no hope to offer. It is a disease so cruel it makes me envy children with brain tumors. Needless to say, when your little girl can’t sing, play, eat cake or open presents, how can you celebrate her birthday? You are not in the mood to send out cheerful invitations or hire a magician. Some alternatives include crying all day, self-medicating with wine or prescription drugs, wailing, pulling your hair out or pretending as best as you can that everything is normal and baking a cake and getting some balloons. I have tried them all.

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This year, I will try a different approach: selling cupcakes. My son gave me the idea. When he saw how successful our first fundraiser for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, an event called Cal’s Cupcake Challenge (a more kid-friendly take on the show “Cupcake Wars”), was, he asked if we sold a million cupcakes, would that be enough to find a cure for his sister’s disease? I told him I wasn’t sure if a million cupcakes would do the trick, but it was a great place to start. After all, $50,000 buys 1,000 hours of medical research. So, my key coping strategy for this birthday will be to sell as many cupcakes as possible to raise money for and awareness of kids with neurological disease. Cupcakes make people smile and they taste delicious. And the cupcakes make it easier for people to listen to our sad story and hear that 20 million American children have some sort of neurological disorder (ranging from autism to epilepsy). Precious few of these diseases have any meaningful treatments or therapies, and not a single one has a cure. So, for my daughter’s birthday, I will work to help other children when my child can’t be saved. Secretly, I fantasize about how my cupcake sales might change the world. Grief has caused a sort of mania. I want to believe our tragedy has granted me superhuman powers; it feeds this grandiose notion that my daughter’s suffering has to mean something. For all that will be lost for her and us, there must be something worthwhile that comes out of this. Nothing I do in her name will ever make

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up for her suffering and death. Yet, I know I have to do something. And so, this conviction forces me to get up each day and pushes me to talk to doctors, lecture to medical students, write politicians and sit around in parking lots and sell cupcakes. And you might be surprised to learn that in the midst of this nightmare, I have discovered so much beauty in the generosity of friends and the support of neighbors. So many people with sick children hide. I do not. I share my girl and

this story with anyone who is willing to listen. I have to say that being out there and doing something is much better than staying home and feeling sorry for her and for myself. By being out in the world, there is joy and connection and love and meaning to be found. Cal receives letters, cards and books created by children touched by her story, wishing her well and hoping the doctors can find a cure. When Cal goes to visit with children at her older brother’s school, kids don’t turn

away the way their parents do. The children are brave and loving in the purest way, and they touch my daughter’s curly hair and say how pretty she is and ask questions about her disease and her. They want to know if they can be her friend. By being out in the world, I found an extraordinary artist who gave me a wonderful gift last year by doing my daughter’s portrait. The artist took special care to capture the light in Cal’s eyes, since the painter understood that as my daughter becomes blind, her gaze would be more unfocused and distant. Each morning, after I settle my daughter with her nurses when she gets fed and dressed, I stare at the lovely painting of my daughter and dream of how she will always be - for me - despite what this disease has taken. But, I won’t lie, trying to get through another birthday and be brave won’t be easy. In my melancholy moments, I rage about how there is nothing to celebrate this year except that my daughter doesn’t need a feeding tube and that there have been no grand mal seizures yet. It’s hard not to be angry and bitter when people ask, “So, what are you doing for your daughter’s birthday?” So, for now, I will keep writing and selling cupcakes. And maybe, if I am really lucky, one day, some of the money earned from the cupcakes, t-shirts and cupcake-themed merchandise will be part of the research project that makes the breakthrough in epilepsy or autism that we have been awaiting for decades. In the future, I dream, the doctors who diagnosed my daughter will call me to meet the 4-year-old child that they have saved from my daughter’s fate. And I will touch this child’s hair and gaze into her eyes, and ask her mother what they are doing to celebrate her birthday. And this mother won’t weep at the thought of birthdays or need to sell cupcakes to feel better. This will never make up for losing my daughter, but it will have to do.

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Shmoozse… Cont. from Page 31 lam is a religion of peace and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.’ ‘The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of the victims of their abuse. It is the fanatics who teach their young to kill and to become suicide bombers.’ ‘The hard, quantifiable fact is that Continued on Page 115

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I S R A E L

BLINDSIDED EVANGELICAL STRATEGIST SEES IRAN AS BIGGER WORLD THREAT THAN ISLAMIC STATE BY DANIEL K. EISENBUD

he gravest threat facing the world today is indisputably radical Islam, the American-Israeli New York Times best-selling author and former US and Israel political adviser, Joel Rosenberg, said at the Jerusalem Leadership Summit in the capital on Wednesday. While he emphasized that the vast majority of Muslims are not radicals, Rosenberg, an evangelical Christian whose debut novel, ‘The Last Jihad,’ published in 2002, was an international bestseller, contended that even at a fraction of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslim population, the extremists pose an imminent threat. Rosenberg made aliya last year with his wife and four kids. Two of his sons have served in the IDF. “If you look at some of the polling that’s been done about the attitudes in the Muslim world, you see that 90% or more are moderate, really peaceful people,” said Rosenberg, during his lecture at the Inbal Hotel, adding that only between 7%-10% of Muslims express approval of radical Islam. “However, in a world of 1.6 billion Muslims, 10% is 160 million people. That’s half the population of the United States. If you grouped them in one country, you have one of the largest countries on the planet.” Therefore, Rosenberg said, he takes issue with US President Barack Obama’s contention that the fight against Muslim terrorists is not a “war against Islam.” “You cannot say that those in the 160 million category are not driven by Islam,” he said. “They say they are.

You can call it a ‘perversion,’ but you have to understand why they would say that Islam motivates them. Whether that’s pure Islam or not, I’ll leave that to the Islamic scholars.” Noting that the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, a descendant of Muhammad, has said that “the West is engaged in a third world war against Islamic terrorism,” Rosenberg said that Abdullah has conceded that Muslims themselves must do far more to fight the killers in their midst. “At its core,” King Abdullah says, “This is a Muslim problem. We need to take ownership of this. We Muslims need to stand up and say what is right and what is wrong,” he said. Moreover, Rosenberg cited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah alSisi as recently warning religious leaders at Al-Azhar University that the fight against radical Islam must be fought by moderate Muslims. At the Harvard of Sunni Islam, he said directly to the clerics and to the professors: “This is your mission. You will be held to account if you do not confront this problem inside Islam,” Sisi said. So Muslim leaders say that it is a problem in Islam, and obviously, it is. Extrapolating from the unexpected attacks on Pearl Harbor and New York City during 9/11, Rosenberg said that the theme of his novels is that “to misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.” “We were blindsided by a theology and an ideology that we did not understand,” he said. “Was it understandable? Yes it was. But did we as leaders in America, and in the West generally,

understand it and take it seriously? We did not.” Rosenberg went on to cite Obama’s “catastrophic” Iranian nuclear deal as a case in point of the inherent dangers of not understanding the consequences of radical Islam. “He believes that he’s Nixon and he’s dealing with China. And that Iran wants to be part of the world’s system, that they feel isolated and left out,” he said. “So, let’s bring them in and hope that gradually, they will evolve into a player that we can deal with.” Such a supposition, Rosenberg warned, is profoundly naïve and dangerous, despite the fact that the majority of Iranians want freedom and to be integrated into the world. “If you base your analysis on the Iranian people, you come to the conclusion that they want engagement,” he said. “The key is the top: the Ayatollah and his inner circle. The question is not what the country wants - the question is what the supreme leader and his inner circle want. What do they believe? Because if you misunderstand what they believe,” he continued, “you will be blindsided.” He contended that Iran, which is far more patient than ISIS, poses the larger threat of genocide. “Iran’s leadership says: ‘No, we’re not going to build a caliphate now, we’re going to build nuclear weapons because once we’re ready for genocide, we’re not going to use swords and AK-47s, we’re going to use atomic weaponry. We’re going to be able to kill millions, and not just thousands.’ Iran, he warned, is ‘biding its time.’”

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I S R A E L

Chanukah Lights For Hu By Dov Shurin

On Chanuka, the candle is lit for WHO? For Hashem ‘HU’ HaElokim! Chazal tell us that ‘HU’ is actually another one of Hashem’s names! The best proof of this is found in Devorim 32, verse 39, when Hashem states: “See now the I ñ I am HE” (In Loshon Kodesh: R’ooh atah kee Ani ñ Ani Hu.) So, here, G-d refers to Himself as ‘HU!’ The most famous ‘HU’ declaration happened when Eliyahu Hanavi, during the great drought in the days of King Achav, placed two sacrifices on two separate alters. One was to Hashem and the other was to the gods of the ‘Baal’ priests who believed that Hashem was only the ‘Powerful Master’ of the nation of Israel, but there were other gods in the world called ‘baals.’ (Kings 1, Chapter 18) After Eliyahu prayed mighty prayers, a fire consumed ONLY the sacrifice to Hashem. The Baal sacrifice was utterly rejected. Upon seeing this Kiddush Hashem, all of Israel shouted “Hashem HU HoElokim” two times, after which they killed those Baal priests and Israel was rewarded with strong rains. (I’d like to add that, in the recently published new Sefer ‘Emes L’Yaakov on Nach, my holy grandfather Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt’l points out that the Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel writes ‘Hashem HU Elokim’ leaving out the ‘Heh haYidiya’ [HoElokim] to make it clear that the people recognized that Hashem is ‘ALL ENCOMPASSING,’ and not just a sacrifice-consuming god! This was the intention of the Targum.)

But how is the G-dly name ‘HU’ connected to ‘light’ (Heb. ‘Ohr’)? In the beginning (Berashis chapter 1) G-d’s first declaration was “Yihee Ohr,” - Let there be light - and then it’s written, “and G-d saw the light, that it was good. The words are “Ki tov,” not “Ki tov HU” (because, as I mentioned, ‘HU’ is a name of G-d!) But when our Teacher, Moshe, was born (Shimos 2) the Torah writes that his mother saw that ‘He was good,’ (Ki Tov HU). Suddenly the ‘HU’ word is used! And the great commentator Rashi writes, “When he was born, their home was FILLED WITH LIGHT!” Doesn’t he learn this from that extra word - HU? And when the daughter of the Pharoh finds baby Moshe in the cradle in the Nile, the text reads: “Va’TeraiHU: And she saw (the letters ‘HU’ are extra) the child.” Again Rashi, explaining the seemingly extra ‘HU,’ writes, “She saw the light of G-d engulfing the child!” It seems that Chazal, our holy Rabbis, when composing our Tefilos, our prayers for all time, loved to employ the ‘HU’ name of Hashem. In the fourth blessing of Birchos Ha’Mozon, commemorating the miracles that happened to the dead of the Bar Kochva rebellion, they write a bunch of extra ‘HUs’ “He was good, He is good, He will be good. There is HU after HU after HU! They could have simply written: “He was, is and will be good.” They seem to have loved the ‘HU’ name of Hashem! Also, in the Keser Kedusha of Shabbos Mussaf they wrote, ‘He (HU) is our G-d, He (HU) is our Father, etc. instead of simply stating, “He is our Gd, father, King, Savior…” They used

‘HU’ again and again and again. Why? Because ‘HU’ is truly a name of Hashem! And this coming Chanukah I would advise us all that, when lighting our humble little candles each night, for eight nights, we should be meditating “Hashem ‘HU’ HaElokim” two times, as in the story of Eliyahu Hanavi. Because we are witnessing the DARKEST days of modern history. There is ruthless murdering happening all around us, for the ‘honor’ of a ‘Baal’ whose priests imagine that their god is commending them with each decapitation (sic), and with each suicide bombing. Let us not forget the saying of the first Gerer Rebe, “The darker the times, the brighter is the light, just as a candle burns brighter in a pitch black room!” And boy is our world pitch black these days. Let me conclude with a return of Eleyahu Hanavi, as stated in the last chapter of the book of Malachai the Prophet: “Behold, I send you Eliyahu Hanavi, before the coming of the day of Hashem, great and awesome!” And I now ask you a Torah Test question, for you to become, as Country Yossi says, “A grand prize winner.” Ok, are you ready? Here’s the question: “The day of Hashem, great and awesome, what is this day called? It must have a unique name! Just as day 7 is called ‘Shabbos,’ and the week of leaving Egypt is titled ‘Pesach,’ so what is that coming ‘great and awesome day of Hashem’ titled? Nu? No answer? At the end of each davening we say Alainu followed by the ‘Al kain nikaveh…’ which ends with: “And it is written that G-d will be King of all the land, “bayom haHU.” He will be One and His name will be One. We all thought that ‘bayom haHu’ meant “On ‘that’ day.” Please stand corrected. It actually means, ON HIS DAY, on the ‘HU’ day. And as we say, “Good Shabbos,” or “Good Yom Tov,” very soon, with the coming of Moshiach, we shall say, “Ah gutten Yom HaHu.” A good ‘G-d’s day. Chanukah sameach! I’ll be in New York from December 2 till December 23. I have no phone number yet, but if you want to contact me I’m at: dovshurin@ yahoo.com

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HEALTH & ADVICE

Dear Bubby If you would like advice from Bubby send your letters to: Bubby, c/o Country Yossi Family Magazine, 1310 48th Street, Suite 308, Brooklyn, New York 11219

CHANUKAH JITTERS Dear Bubby, Chanukah is on its way and instead of feeling excitement I am filled with worry and dread. Kinayna Hara I come from a large family, I am one of eight and we are all married with children of our own. Every year my siblings and I buy gifts for each other’s children. It is a beautiful custom and one that brings smiles to all the children’s faces. This year, however, money is tight (tighter than usual). Between buying gifts for my own children, I am now buying for 5 nieces and nephews, not to mention my parents and in-laws. The gift buying has gotten out of control. When I mentioned to some of my sisters how I felt they laughed it off and said that Chanukah rolls around once a year and to just grin and bear it. Perhaps they have a better financial situation than I do, or perhaps they just don’t care; but for me personally, I am trying to save money and all this spending is insane. As you can imagine, today’s children have almost everything and to really impress them you have to go the extra mile and spend more than you’d like. My husband just makes matters worse by constantly reminding me how much money we are spending and how little of it we have. He keeps telling me that we should exclude ourselves from this ‘ridiculous’ ritual and only buy gifts for our kids and parents - but the thought of being left out makes me feel awful and embarrassed, not to mention the fact that buying gifts for our parents is an expense as well. I just wish that I could be excited for Chanukah without all this unnecessary pressure. I don’t know why we can’t just get together and enjoy each other’s company minus all the extravagant spending. I am not sure how to be a part of the festivities without going bankrupt. Sincerely, Unhappy Holidays

Dearest Unhappy, As I read your letter I couldn’t help but wonder how we have gotten so off track when it comes to a Yom Tov. Chanukah is a holiday meant to commemorate a miracle; for our children to watch as the menorah is lit each night and be a part of a most meaningful tradition. As with all holidays, we try as best we can to get the children involved and excited, thereby the involvement of dreidels, Chanukah parties and gifts. Unfortunately, we live in a world where all too often we lose sight of what’s really important. Instead of focusing on all the beauty and wonder of Chanukah, we tend to focus almost entirely on gift giving. The tradition that your siblings have taken upon themselves to buy gifts for each other’s children sounds both generous and heartfelt. Unfortunately, it also creates a tremendous expense and places a burden on you that you cannot handle. You expressed in your letter that you have tried to relay these concerns to some of your siblings and that they simply laughed it off. Perhaps you made light of it when speaking to them, because they certainly didn’t seem to take you seriously. With a family as close as yours you must feel comfortable to be honest and upfront about the financial strain you are currently facing. In order for you to ascertain that your feelings and concerns are being conveyed properly, be sure that you are straightforward. Be prepared to offer some suggestions that can accommodate everyone. It’s true that many children today are inundated with gifts; however, that does not and should not mean that excess money must be spent to please them. So long as your heart is in the right place it is most certainly

the thoughtfulness that counts. You and your siblings should agree on an amount of money that you all spend on each other’s children. No one should spend more than the given amount, this way everyone is on the same budget and no one is outdoing the other. The amount of money that you spend should be within the realm of reasonable for you. Remember that gift giving is about sentiment, not price tag. The same holds true when it comes to buying gifts for your own children. Many families have gotten into the difficult habit of giving their children gifts every single night. To those families I recommend that each child gets one ‘special’ gift, something they really want or need. All the remaining nights should just be small tokens of love. Another suggestion is for you and your siblings to chip in and buy gifts for your parents and the kids from all of you. If each of you chipped in even a small amount the expense individually would be less and the gift could be far greater. When it comes to family and finances, things can definitely get awkward and uncomfortable. However, open and honest communication is almost always the key. That same line of communication can also be used with your husband, helping him to understand how much this celebration means to you. Help him realize that you are not looking to spend more money than necessary, but that to the contrary you are trying to find ways to be involved in the most economical way possible. Wishing you and everyone a happy Chanukah and may the menorah lights remind us of what’s really important! Sincerely, Bubby

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HEALTH & ADVICE

The Benefits of Difficult Relationships

oxic people and relationships have been a hot topic recently in every form of media and type of publication. Pop psychology articles and blog posts abound with articles touting the importance of recognizing the need to cut negative people out of your life to protect yourself from unnecessary pain. One would think the amount of toxic people out there is growing by leaps and bounds to engender this bombardment. You could get the idea that without purging people from the fabric of your existence you are dooming yourself to a never-ending source of suffering and maybe worse. The use of the word toxic implies that these people are dangerous to us; it plays on our insecurities and triggers anxiety about our ability to function well at work, at home, as a parent and spouse. “He’s always negative and controlling; She’s self-centered and judgmental of everything I do!” Who wouldn’t clearly see the benefits of removing some of the negativity and pain from life? After all, life is hard enough. We need to surround ourselves with supportive, loving people, don’t we? No, we don’t. Not unless we have lost faith in our ability to grow, manage our feelings and overcome adversity. These are the natural outgrowth of managing the more difficult relationships or people in our lives and they are lost to us if we follow the advice to avoid the pain and cut them off. We don’t have to run from people. By

sticking around we may actually inspire change both in ourselves and our relationships too. Too often we build walls to keep people out and what we do unintentionally is lock ourselves in. It’s hard to control what parts of our selves get lost behind the wall. And how many walls will we build, once we accustom ourselves to avoidance rather than sticking it out and seeing it through? The ideal goal should always be to embrace what there is to appreciate, accept that which we can tolerate and create firm boundaries and stimulate change in the areas we find painful. If you’re thinking this must be more difficult than it sounds, you’re right, but here are 4 easy steps to coping with difficult people and changing the way you deal with them forever.

choose logic over emotion and thoughtful action over emotional response. Avoid getting pulled into the same old routine and see how slowly the sting goes out of the punch. Logic tells you this is not about you, it’s about them. Logic tells you that you don’t have to match their emotional level. Logic tells you to have a plan for how to deal with this.

Step 2: Be Aware of Your Internal Response. What behaviors are triggering an unmanageable emotional response in you, and how do they keep pulling you in? It is important to get in touch with ourselves rather than focusing all our energy on the other party. The answer lies within, so we must recognize the telltale signs of our emotional upheaval and begin to nurture and self soothe.

Step 4: Create Well Defined Boundaries. Boundaries protect you and they protect the principles by which you live your life. You can exit a situation when it reaches a level that you have determined is beyond what you wish to deal with. You may determine what sorts of behaviors you will tolerate and which are prohibited. These become the determinants of whether the other person is healthy enough and respectful enough of the relationship to abide by your rules. As a side note, you cannot make these judgments until you have put this plan to work with consistency. There are real reasons to preserve relationships and the least of them is the growth that we engender and enjoy as a result of our efforts. The fallout of cutoffs is usually worse than we imagine or hope. What we want is a clean break, but very rarely is that the reality. In that space where once there was a relationship, there is guilt and loss and enduring pain from the lack of closure or understanding. There are families torn apart and legacies of pain that endure beyond our own years. We can be strong. We can do better than just endure; we can change the game.

Step 3: Choose Logic Over Emotion. Once you have learned to recognize your own emotional response and learned to calm yourself you will be in a position to manage your reactivity,

Sheri Toiv, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor whose practice serves adolescents, adults and couples. She can be reached at 917-332-7508 or via email at sheritoiv@gmail.com.

Step 1: Define the problem. How are they hurting you? Which behaviors are unbearable for you or in direct conflict with the principles by which you lead your life?

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CONTROVERSY

TODAY’S TOPIC: Annoying Jewish Telemarketers Y.W.: I am quite certain that my experiences are not unique, and that my reactions to them are also not unique. We all lead busy lives. We are pulled in many directions, have countless responsibilities to family, spouses, children, parents, jobs, etc. And then, as we are juggling our responsibilities, the phone rings. We rush to answer. I, personally, have an elderly mother with multiple health problems so I answer every call. So do many others. And who is the caller? A recording, be it from a yeshiva, a mosed, a sale from a heimishe business, a reminder to attend a function - the list goes on and on. These calls come at all hours, disturb dinner, homework - they disturb life. They are unsolicited and they call both my phone numbers. I believe they constitute onoas devorim, and can only wish they would stop. I don’t know what rationale these people use to justify the mass calling and intrusion of countless people. Gottit: I totally agree with this. But what I find even more annoying, are the live telemarketers. You can’t just hang up the phone on them, because they keep nagging you to pledge a donation. And you gotta be ultra-polite because it might be someone you know. Joseph: Non-profit mosdos making fundraising calls is legal both according to secular law and Jewish law. DaasYochid: Some of you may not believe this, but in real life, I’m a pretty nice guy. So it wasn’t easy, but I trained myself to simply say, “Sorry, but now is not a good time” and hang up even while the telemarketer starts to make his/her pitch. Joseph: If the issue is with the time of day the calls are being received, and not opposition to receiving the calls altogether, it is a legitimate discussion. But other than not making the calls at an unreasonably late hour, how is the fundraiser supposed to know when you are eating supper? Raising tzedaka is a very Jewish middah.

Comlink-X: I expected this thread to be about how to annoy telemarketers, and whether it’s allowed if they’re Jewish. Lesschumras: Thank Hashem for caller ID. The worst are the ones who scream for several minutes that there are only two hours to buy a ticket. The second worst are the ones who lie and say you’ve donated before. With caller ID, I don’t have to deal with it anymore. Yehudayona: I’m not sure why Y.W. feels compelled to answer every call even if he has an elderly mother with many health problems. It’s highly unlikely that someone calling about his mother will have “Unavailable” as their caller ID. My complaint about some of the allegedly frum robocallers is that they’re breaking the law by not disconnecting when I hang up on them. If I pick up the phone again after hanging up, they’re droning on about the sale I don’t care about or the Chinese auction that I’m not interested in. G-d forbid that I should actually need the phone for an emergency. Yserbius123: Recently I was by my parents, who live in a very frum city. The house phone rang and my mother said, “Here, listen to what we have to put up with.” She put it on speaker. It was a robocall in Yiddish about some sweepstakes or other. She barely even glanced at the caller ID. Apparently, every call that comes in that they don’t recognize the number is a teletzedakaer. I told my father that what they’re doing is illegal and can be reported. He said that there’s a possible maasrus shaaloh so he didn’t want to. I disagree, as there’s no mesirah if the person is actively committing a crime, there’s no shaaloh of medinas ra, and people are being bothered by it. CTLAWYER: The term Chinese Auction is a very disgusting and derogatory term and should never be used. They are not auctioning off Chinese people as they did with blacks in pre-Civil War America.

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I have a Chinese daughter, my wife and I adopted her in China 18 years ago at a time when due to the governmental one-child-per-family policy, newborn girls were being killed. Any charity or organization that advertises a Chinese Auction will never get one cent from me, and I will publicly urge a boycott of the charity/organization until the term is banned and proper apologies made. We know dozens of other Jewish families that adopted infant girls in China and we are all offended by this racist term. BTW, we also have a white, American born adopted daughter who is 30. We did not start to adopt until we had 3 natural birth children, then for medical reasons could have no more. Syag Lchochma: CT Lawyer - I have never in my life heard anything about Chinese Auctions to indicate it is derogatory. I assumed this was a discreet way to have an auction, more typical of Chinese culture than ours. And now that I have googled it, I have found that others echo that sentiment. No evidence anywhere of this being derogatory. Not even sure what it could mean if it was. Yehudayona: Joseph, you’re correct that charities (and politicians and pollsters) are exempt from the DNC list. But I’ve had robocalls from furniture stores, which are clearly illegal. And not disconnecting when hung up on is also illegal. Joseph: CTLawyer, do you on principle not play Chinese Checkers or eat French Fries? Gottit: I certainly had no problems hanging up on telemarketers. And we kept a list of telemarketer numbers, so if they popped up on the caller-ID, we’d just let the phone ring. Little Froggie: Again, let me repeat what I wrote once before. If you get a call and suspect it’s a telemarketer, etc., keep quiet and wait for the other party to speak first. The way the robot-calling system works is that a machine dials your number, and if it detects a live human voice (as opposed to an answering machine), it will connect to a live “operator” on their end. Keeping quiet on your end will avoid that. Try it out. The line usually goes blank after ten seconds. Mazal77: My beef is with the organizations that sell donors’ names. I get bombarded by them. Like, I gave you a donation and did you a favor, now you sell my name? And now I have to deal with shredding the papers that contain my address? Oh, and the ones that so “thoughtfully” include shamimos items! Seriously, like I need more shamimos items to get rid of? I did not ask to receive your “gift.” No, I do not need a Birchas Chanukah, or Licht Bentching. Popa_bar_abba: This thread is a bit over the top. What is the origin of “Chinese Auction” anyway? Wikipedia doesn’t know. I doubt the origin is auctioning off African Americans in the south, since then it would be called an African American auction. Also, people were auctioned as slaves throughout history - not just in the American south, so they may as well be called a Paris auction, or an Algerian auction, or, hey, a Chinese auction.

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I think frum Chinese Auctions are racist because the prizes are never things that are only used in discreet racial markets except frum markets. For example, have you ever seen an Indian product that they only use in India being auctioned at a frum Chinese Auction? Racists. That is why I will never give a cent to any Chinese Auction, except the one that I like to go to because my friends go and there’s separate seating so I get credit for a date but sit with my friends. Also, if you call me during dinner, on my cell phone, I will either (a) not answer, or (b) answer. Those are the only two choices, and neither one leads to a contribution, except the chances are slightly higher if I answer. Also, if you call me during dinner to tell me about your dinner, I only assume that someone else will call me during YOUR dinner, and how will I enjoy it anyway? Also, once I went to a Chinese Auction that served Chinese food. But I’ve been told that in China they don’t eat what we call Chinese food. They eat real Chinese food (and mistama call it American food). So this was very confusing, and indicated to me that in China they also don’t have Chinese Auctions. They instead have regular auctions where you bid on stuff and the highest bidder wins and gives it to the rav, and they call it Simchas Torah auctions.

CTLAWYER: Read this 2002 post from Wordorigins.org. It brings home the point I made: CONFUSED ABOUT CHINESE AUCTIONS My children came home last night with an advertisement for a Chinese Auction that was going to be held at one of the local elementary schools. We are Chinese Americans. My 10-yr-old son asked me if only Chinese people were allowed to go. I told him “no.” He then asked me what an auction was. I explained. He then asked me if they were planning to sell Chinese people. When I asked the schools about the term “Chinese Auction,” I was told that this is what it has always been called. (Not that this is justification). I then asked the obvious question, “WHY?” I was told then that the Chinese, a long time ago, were considered “tricky” and “deceptive” and that that was why the term “Tricky Tray” was synonymous for “Chinese Auction.” I went from curious to offended very quickly. It seems to me that things should be named appropriately. I am not offended by “Chinese Food” or “Chinese Checkers” because those are appropriate names and accurately describe these things. I am offended by “Chinese Auction” because there is absolutely nothing Chinese about it. Call it a “Basket Raffle” or “Surprise Raffle” or even “Tricky Tray.” But for goodness sakes, let’s not call it “Chinese Auction” because that is not what it is.

Coffee addict: Ctlawyer, put ‘Chinese Auction’ into Wikipedia. It’s not offensive.

Zahavasdad: CT has a point and it’s not funny, however most of us (including me) do not get that Chinese Auction might be offensive. Wherever that term came from, it sort of lost its meaning. I was once speaking to someone on the phone and she said I should “Jew down the price.” The person had no Idea I was Jewish and didn’t even think that was offensive. I do sales and normally you are supposed to be composed over the phone (They called me). I told them how offensive it was to say “Jew down the price.”

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B O O K E XC E R P T

A MOSAIC OF BLACK AND WHITE

uring the spring of 2011, I paid my first visit to Citi Field in Flushing MeadowsCorona Park, the home of the New York Mets. I did not go to see the game, as the team was suffering through yet another injury-plagued season. I went to Citi Field to view the rotunda. The rotunda at Citi Field is a replica of the one that formed a part of Ebbets Field, the one-time home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, previously located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. The Ebbets Field rotunda was on street level and was the entryway right into the stands. It was beginning in 1947, the gateway to one of the most transformative social revolutions of the Twentieth Century. I grew up in the Borough Park section of Reprinted with permission from “Choosing Life: Stories from the Post-Holocaust Generations.” Available on Amazon.

Brooklyn, a neighborhood of middle-class Italians and Jews, and in the late 1940’s and 50’s, rooting for the Dodgers in Brooklyn was a virtual religion. During one World Series when Gil Hodges went 0 for 27, psalms for his revival were chanted in almost every church and synagogue in the borough. If I remember correctly, the prayers worked, but only for the following season when his performance was much improved. By my eighth birthday in 1951, I had seen only five people of color and all were domestics. My first trip to Ebbets Field changed all of that. When I walked into the stands from the rotunda I was greeted by a mosaic of black and white faces. When Jackie Robinson broke the color line on the playing field, everything changed. More than 10,000 blacks started to attend each game. The white and black fans in the stands cheered together; booed and jeered together; gave the thumbs up together (the high-five was not yet invented), and sipped out of the same water fountains. If a fan bought a hotdog, it was passed to him through a sea of white and black hands. The white and black fans that were season ticket holders would routinely exchange pleasantries before and after the games. Acquaintances were formed and maybe even some true friendships. The melting pot was cooking. On the field, Robinson was followed by Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians, Monte Irvin of the New York Giants and Jackie’s teammate on the Dodgers, Roy Campanella. Each of these pioneers was forced to withstand curses, taunts, and threats of bodily harm. But following the pattern on Ebbets Field, the true revolution occurred in the stands where tens of thousands of blacks began attending game after game, and where there was a true mingling of the races. This phenomenon began in the summer of 1947; the directives to integrate the United States army were not issued by President Truman until late 1948. Many have asked why the Wilpons (the owners of the Mets) chose to replicate the Ebbets rotunda in Citi Field. To at least this writer, the reason seems obvious. It reminds the world of baseball’s finest hour.

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Country Yossi Family Magazine

DECEMBER 2015

CELEBRATE H KURTZ - FELDHEIM ELIZABET SWEET SOMETHING PASCAL - ARTSCROLL MIRIAM KIDS SPEAK 8ALDER - FELDHEIM CHAIM W IPES AURANT REC SCHAPIRA - ARTSCROLL T S E R T E R C E S K, LEAH VICTORIA DWEC TSCROLL LATTER THE SILVER PGILLETZ, DANIELLA SILVER - AR NORENE F STARS A HANDFUL ONFELD - ARTSCROLL C.B. WEI

LMI THE YERUSHAALDER - FELDHEIM CHAIM W VOL. 3 SHOP SRAEL BOOK I TORAH TAVLIN N A M FF O RABBI DOVID H LL ION POSITIVE VIS ROHOM NEUBERGER - ARTSCRO RABBI AV S PEPSI MEYER F O N O S A E S M THE G - FELDHEI ABIE ROTENBER

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1. Avorcha - Yisroel Werdyger - Aderet 2. Hakol Litova - Dovid Gabay - Aderet 3. SL2 - Simcha Leiner - Aderet

1. Avorcha - Yisroel Werdyger - Aderet 2. Kinder Farbreingen Nigun 3. SL2 - Simcha Leiner - Aderet

1. SL2 - Simcha Leiner - Aderet 2. Hakol Litova - Dovid Gabay - Aderet 3. Project Relax 3 - B. Levine & S. Leiner - Yochi Briskman

DECEMBER 2015 1. Avorcha - Yisroel Werdyger - Aderet 2. Achakeh Lo - Levy Falkowitz - Avrum Mordche Schwartz 3. Mikan V'Elech - Shloime Taussig - Ruli

IMPORTANT NOTE These ratings are supplied by the 7 major Jewish music outlets listed here, based on their actual sales over the last thirty days in the Greater New York area. The list does not reflect total sales of any CD. It does not include sales in other stores, cities or countries (Israel!). The list is designed to be an indication of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently popular in New York. Although every effort has been made to ensure fairness and accuracy, this list is published for entertainment purposes only and Country Yossi Family Magazine is not responsible for any inaccuracies or misrepresentations. 104

1. Inner Flame - 8th Day - Aderet 2. Eli Marcus - Dovid Hamelech - Yossi Green 3. Avi Miller Sings Rav Hillel - Shua Fried

1. SL2 - Simcha Leiner - Aderet 2. Eli Marcus - Dovid Hamelech - Yossi Green 3. Inner Flame - 8th Day - Aderet

1. Hakol Litova - Dovid Gabay - Aderet 2. SL2 - Simcha Leiner - Aderet 3. Stay With Me - Mesivta of Waterbury

1. Operation Candlelight - Aderet 2. Catch a Butterfly - Teck Productions 3. Twins of France: Looking for a Job - Aderet

1. Catch a Butterfly - Teck Productions 2. Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Chatzrois Kodsheinu - Aderet 3. Twins of France: Looking for a Job - Aderet

1. Triumph of the Spirit - Torah Legacy Productions 2. Twins of France: Looking for a Job - Aderet 3. Catch a Butterfly - Teck Productions

DECEMBER 2015 1. Catch a Butterfly - Teck Productions 2. Operation Candlelight - Aderet 3. Kingdom of Aldecot - Rachel's Place

IMPORTANT NOTE 1. Twins of France: Looking for a Job - Aderet 2. Bella Bracha and the Talent Show - Mitzvah Boulevard 3. Operation Candlelight - Aderet

1. Bella Bracha and the Talent Show - Mitzvah Boulevard 2. Twins of France: Looking for a Job - Aderet 3. Operation Candlelight - Aderet

1. Operation Candlelight - Aderet 2. Catch a Butterfly - Teck Productions 3. Kingdom of Aldecot - Rachel's Place

These ratings are supplied by the 7 major Jewish music outlets listed here, based on their actual sales over the last thirty days in the Greater New York area. The list does not reflect total sales of any DVD. It does not include sales in other stores, cities or countries (Israel!). The list is designed to be an indication of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently popular in New York. Although every effort has been made to ensure fairness and accuracy, this list is published for entertainment purposes only and Country Yossi Family Magazine is not responsible for any inaccuracies or misrepresentations. 105

DECEMBER 2015

H U M O R

ExtrEmEly NEw york

“

rrrrr… it’s freezing cold out here!” or “Oy, it’s so hot here you can chalish!” Sound familiar? If there’s only one consistent thing about New York it’s definitely the erratic weather. There are many large cities in the United States of America. In most of these cities the weather is either predominantly hot or cold. This means that in a warm city the summers will be hot but the winters will be very nice. The same will be true in the opposite for the cooler cities; the winters will be cold but the summers will be really comfortable. Take, for example, the wonderful city of Miami, Florida, the Jewish dream city. All winter long there are thousands of packed, Yiddish-speaking-only flights that make direct trips from Boro Park to Miami. During the cold New York winter months Miami is such a popular Jewish destination that if you wait long enough in front of Shomer Shabbos you’re likely to be able to hitch a ride straight there for the small contribution of only tolls and some gas money. During the winter, all you hear people talk about in shul is when they’re going to Miami. Wherever you go in Boro Park during the winter people are either coming or going to Miami. There is so much travel back and forth between New York and Miami that the temperature in New York City is a full five degrees higher than the rest of the region from the warm air that is brought back home from Miami. All this changes, however, as soon as the Shavuos cheesecake starts making its way out. As the first sign of

sun hits in New York City everyone is on their way back from Miami. As soon as it starts to heat up the least bit in Florida, everyone starts packing up the palm trees, the sunscreen, beach towels and polo shirts and they swiftly hop on the next charter flight back to Boro Park. This is all true only at least until country season arrives again in a couple of weeks. On the other side of the coin you have a city such as Boston. Blizzards with ten feet of snow for a couple of months of the year are the norm. All winter long you practically spend your days and nights wearing long and thick under-underwear and wrapped in layers of wool and fur. But then comes the summer and it’s your time. The weather is nice and comfortable. You can actually spend some time outdoors without feeling like you’re about to roast. The city of New York is nothing like this at all. New York City sees the most extreme temperatures of almost any city in the world. In the winter we get hit with regular temperatures in the teens and single digits and often experience below zero degrees. In the summer the nineties are the norm and temperatures over one hundred degrees are very usual. This basically means that New York City weather has a fluctuation rate of over one hundred degrees. This is a phenomenon almost entirely unheard of in an urban area. Aside from all the heat that one has to endure in New York City in the summer, there is also the unbearable humidity that just adds to the misery. There’s the known story of a New Yorker who, unfortunately, after 120 years came up to heaven and was told that due to his many transgressions he

would need to spend a year in Gehennom. The man calmly said he would accept this sentence but only under the condition that there would be no humidity there. Aside from the harsh effect that this erratic, highly fluctuating weather has on people, there is a whole different toll that such weather takes on inanimate objects. Take, for instance, personal vehicles. The damage that the excessive heat of a New York City summer can cause to your car is only rivalled by the devastation that the cold can inflict on your machine. Between melted seals, slippery belts, cracked engine blocks, overheating and frozen pipes there’s not much else left one can do to cause any more damage to their car. Another example of the effects of this crazy New York City climate is with the sidewalks that we walk on and the roads that we drive on. During the cold freeze of the winter the surfaces are beaten by the snow, ice and salt and the subsequent erosion caused by all of this. Then come the hot summer months with their own separate style of damage that regularly gets inflicted on these surfaces. Between the extreme heat and the freezing cold it’s a miracle if the streets last more than one Con Edison-Cablevision digging cycle. All this craziness makes you wonder why our grandparents had to settle in New York City. On their way over from Europe, instead of coming through Ellis Island, couldn’t they try the Cayman Islands or at least Puerto Rico? Who in their right mind would ever make a conscious decision to live in such a bipolar city as New York? Why any sane person who is not under any witness protection program would put themselves through this torture by their own free will is a great mystery. The truth is that only people as crazy as New Yorkers would be crazy enough to want to live in New York. Chaptzem is a heimishe blogger that authors the Chaptzem Blog, the most popular heimishe website. The Chaptzem Blog has been quoted many times in the mainstream media and is viewed by thousands daily. www.chaptzem.blogspot.com

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H U M O R THAT’ S SOME YICHUS ...

A PENNY SAVED ... IS NOT ENOUGH

I’m in high school and I take my schoolwork very seI was visiting my riously. bubby last week when Well, one of my teachmy zaidy came stumers recently gave my class a bling into the house, big homework assignvery short of breath. ment: to draw a family “Baila,” he gasped tree tracing back as far as he fell into a chair, as possible. I worked “I just saved us $1.50.” very hard on mine and “How did you do was especially proud that, Yankel?” she to include, in a promiasked. nent place in my report, Zaidy answered, the fact that I am a direct “I chased the bus all the descendant of the Maharal. way home.” It wasn’t until my teacher had He smiled proudly, waiting graded the family trees and returned to be praised for his ingenious monthem to us that I discovered that ey-saving scheme. my brother had added in, in my Bubby just glared at handwriting, an “Urgent Note” him. “You klutz!” she on the Maharal page: “While all cried. “You should’ve my family members are direct chased a car service descendants of the Maharal,” he home. Then you would’ve had penned in, “it has been essaved us SIX dollars!” tablished that I am a direct deY.T. scendant of the Golem.” Flatbush Y.R. An old man had a dog who died. He Lakewood THTOP AND THINK went to his rabbi and asked if he would arrange to say Kaddish for the deceased My boss is notorious GRIM DIAGNOSIS pet. for hanging up annoying The rabbi refused. “Kaddish is only little “motivational” signs My 5-year-old daughter can for humans, not for animals,” he in every which corner. be a bit of a hypochondriac, so scoffed. “However, there’s a new Reform One day he even went as when she began complaining last congregation down the street a block or far as to tape up a bright week that her stomach hurt, I two. You go there and ask if they’ll say yellow sign above the couldn’t decide whether to take Kaddish for the dog; they may just be men’s room sink that her to her pediatrician. Finally I meshuga enough to do this for you.” read: “Think!” could stand it no longer, and I The old man thanked the rabbi kindThe next day my coscheduled an appointment for her. ly and turned to leave. As he was openworkers and I had a good When we got to the docing the door he asked, “Do you suppose laugh when we went to tor’s office, I had my daughter they’ll also accept my $75,000 donation the men’s room. Right bedescribe her alleged symptoms in memory of my little Moishy?” low my boss’s sign, just to the doctor. I then turned to “Hold it!” shouted the rabbi, jumpabove the soap dispenser, the doctor, a frum woman, and ing up from his chair. “You didn’t tell someone had posted anexplained in Hebrew that my me your dog was Jewish!” other sign. It read: daughter would say anything to “Thoap!” get a day off from school and a S.S. checkup. “GMG?” I gasped. Had I been Los Angeles The pediatrician made a big show Send your true anecdotes, embarrassing moments, bright saywrong? Was my daughter really sick? of checking my little nudnik. After a ings, real life experiences, or any interesting incident relating to “Yes, GMG,” repeated the doctor. few minutes she said gravely, “This Jewish life in America to: COUNTRY YOSSI MAGAZINE, 1310 48th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11219. All printed submissions “Gornish mit gornish.” girl has a bad case of GMG. She must will receive free tapes or another valuable prize. Winners should F.N. go to sleep early tonight, and tomorbring legal I.D. PRIZES WILL NOT BE MAILED Flatbush row she’ll be all better.” e-mail: country@countryyossi.com

A “HINT” OF KADDISH

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H U M O R

so you stay up longer. Finally at 2:30 don’t know about you but all There you have it - the kids will which is really 1:30 you can justify gothis business with the changing see how they gain an hour - the teaching to sleep. The only problem is - the of the clock - I just don’t get it. ers will certainly understand it. Mothkids went to bed on the old time and First of all not everyone ers will have an extra hour to shop or you went to bed on the new time… So knows if you turn it forward to prepare dinner. Doesn’t this make at 7:00 a.m. the old time - which is one hour or back one hour. When you more sense? 6:00 a.m. the new time the kids are all finally get that all straightened out Or let’s say you just turn it back wide awake, and you’re a zombie! So “fanked zach un a maysa” - don’t ask! whenever it’s convenient for you - for I don’t know, but instance - let’s say when I was little my you have a babysitter, ANOTHER KAYL A CL ASSIC parents had one clock you left on the old to change - the kitchen time but when you reclock - and that’s it, turn, you turn your they were DONE. I clock back an hour. didn’t know when, Hey you just saved where, what - but yourself $7.00 again, when I woke up in the you’re actually aware morning - it was the of how you gained an right time. hour. Do you get my Now I need point? everyone’s participaEvery year I wontion to change the der the same thing clocks. First you have where did that hour the kitchen clock, then go?? all the Shabbos clocks, And then they the thermostat clock, have the nerve to tell all the clock radios, me that in the spring the car clock, the stove I’m going to lose the clock, the microwave hour I just gained clock, everyone’s Nu! I’m asking you wrist watch and the how can I lose somemost important clock thing if I never had it of all - the one on the to begin with? I just VCR - chas vesholom don’t get it!! my question is where is that hour I you should tape the wrong show! Another thing I don’t get is when supposedly gained?!! Of course there is always that one I’m flying, depending on where I’m Who made up the rule that you person who forgets to change their going, they tell me I just gained six change the clock at 2:00 a.m. anyway? clock and comes to minyan an hour hours or I just lost six hours or I I think the clock should be changed early and nobody is in shul - and ingained a day or lost a day - where did during the day so you actually see how stead of being happy that he finally I lose them? Where did I gain them? you gained an hour! made it to minyan on time for once in I’m sitting on the plane the whole For instance - I think the kids his life, he’s upset because he could time - minding my own business - I’m should go to school as usual and at have slept an hour longer! drinking soda and eating pretzels 4:00 when it’s dismissal time they Now I know I’m a mature adult everything seems O.K. to me - what should announce over the speaker sysand I should understand a simple conare they hocking about. tem - “Now hear this, now hear this, cept like “You gain an hour.” But beIf they would tell me we just lost this is your principal speaking - when I tween you and me I have yet to see this your luggage - that I understand. I say now I want everyone and I mean EXTRA hour. Let me explain - let’s mean I’m not stupid! But to lose a everyone to turn back their WATCHES say it’s the Saturday night you change day? A whole day?? I just don’t get one hour to 3 o’clock. After this is the clock - it’s 11:30 p.m., you’re it!! done you will all remain in school an ready to turn in for the night - but hey But then - there’s a lot of things I additional hour and be dismissed as - it’s really 10:30 there’s no way you’re don’t get - this is just the tip of the usual at 4 o’clock - Get ready - Get set going to bed at 10:30 - so you stay up iceberg. - NOW - Thank you everyone - we longer. By 12:30 your eyes are closing Happy Chanukah and don’t rush have just officially turned back the - but hey - it’s really 11:30 - still too the party, remember - you gained an clock!!” early - especially for a Saturday night hour!!

K ay l a Kuchle f fe l SAVINGS TIME

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Shmoozse… Cont. from Page 87 the peaceful majority, the ‘silent majority,’ is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China’s huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.’ ‘The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery? Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were ‘peace loving?’ ‘History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: peace-loving Muslims have

been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don’t speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.’ ‘Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.’ ‘Now Islamic prayers have been introduced in Toronto and other public schools in Ontario and Ottawa, while the Lord’s Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?). The Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in our country until the fanatics move in.’ ‘In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them. Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local super-

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market. Food on aircraft have the halal emblem just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the nation’s shores.’ ‘In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of “no-go” zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon. Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim communities in those areas refuse to acknowledge British law.’ ‘As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten our way of life.’ Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just disregards this message without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. Extend yourself a bit and make sure people understand the situation. Let us hope that thousands worldwide read this, think about it, and send it on before it’s too late, and we are silenced because we were silent!! Received via email

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