Five Towns Jewish Home - 6-27-19

June 27, 2019

Distributed weekly in the Five Towns, Long Island, Queens & Brooklyn

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Hate, Hope, and the Long Road Home

36 OHEL Friends and Supporters Go Green

Your Favorite Five Towns Family Newspaper

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76 A School of Warmth and Comradery Closes its Doors

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72

Warm Memories for Touro Alumni at Celebration

72 Annual Sh’or Yoshuv Dinner PAGE 9

Grilling the Healthy Way

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

15-Year-Old Budding Shas Yiden?

By: Rabbi A. Sandler

Recently, the Torah world was electrified by the news and video of the Shas Yiden public farher on the entire shas by Harav Nissan Kaplan and Harav Rephael Shmuelewitz at Yeshivas Daas Aharon. Maran Harav David Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, suggested that yeshivos should invite the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim so that yeshiva bochrim could see true Shas Yiden and be inspired.

Let the Geonim Test Them!

However, Hagaon Harav Yehoshua Menachem Weiss, menahel haruchani of the Erlau Yeshiva Ketana in Bnei Brak, decided to go a step further. “The second shiur of the yeshiva had been spending many hours mastering the 120 daf of Bava Kamma. 20 of the bachurim knew the masechta both by heart and in depth. What better challenge could there be than for them to be tested by the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim?

They are acknowledged masters of Shas about whom so much has been written, and who are praised by the

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Chaim Kanievsky, the nasi of Shas Yiden.”

Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet, Rosh Hakollelim of Shas Yiden, consulted with the avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden Yerushalayim.

They agreed to make time in their heavy learning schedules for such bochurim. For weeks, the Erlau Yeshiva was buzzing with excitement.

They could not believe this unique opportunity.

No Seforim on the Tables!

The 15-year-old bochurim arrived at Shas Yiden Yerushalayim and were divided into pairs, each with an avreich. Moreover, there were no seforim on any of the desks! There was no need. All the testers and the bochurim knew the gemora texts in detail and by heart. If there was any question, the volume could be found on the shelf. For an intense hour, the bochurim were quizzed over the entire Bava Kamma – length and breadth, forwards and backwards,

and in depth – and they could answer all questions!

After this initial question period, the bochurim were gathered together and, collectively, had a general farher. The faces of all were shining with glow and sparks of Torah.

Gedolim of the Future The avreichim were overjoyed to see the prowess of each of the bochurim.

The general sense was these young and budding talmidei chachomim are proof how in-depth and allencompassing knowledge of Shas can begin at a young age. Harav Yosef Danziger, masgiach ruchani from Erlau, who arranged the occasion, reported that the bochurim returned to the yeshiva on a ‘major high’, inspired and eager to tackle the next masechta with the hope to become true Shas Yiden. (To watch the Erlau and other live farheren click on www. shasyiden.com/farher/)

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

L

public defender, has been leading the race with a mere 1,090 votes between Caban and Borough President Melinda Katz.

There is one reason and one reason only why this political newcomer – who had campaigned on decriminalizing numerous offenses like prosecuting subway fare beaters, recreational drug-related crimes, and resisting arrest charges and achieving “population zero” in the city’s prisons – came out ahead in this race: the people living in Queens who would otherwise support Melinda Katz did not come out to vote. It’s all about numbers, and in many races, it comes down to just a few people who were too busy to head to the polls. According to the New York Post, one of Katz’s strongholds was the Rockaways, and voter turnout there was dismal.

The district attorney position does not come with term limits. The last district attorney of Queens, DA Richard A. Brown, served for 28 years before he passed away earlier this year. When it comes to prosecuting criminals, Queens is about to become more “progressive” – or should we call it regressive, going back to days of old when drug dealers were able to ply their trade on sidewalks and low-level criminals were let go with nary a slap on the wrist? Will those people who were too busy to go to the polls complain about their lost sense of security as they cower as they walk down the streets? Probably. But if they’re not willing to voice their opinion when it matters, well, then, no one will be listening to them later down the line.

Elections matter. Local officials and their decisions affect us directly. This week’s election is one that Queens residents will not forget for a long time.

ast night I was privileged to enjoy the Broadway show, Fiddler on the Roof, also known as A Fidler Afn Dakh, as the play has been rewritten in Yiddish with English subtitles. Fiddler is a classic. The songs, the dances, the script, the jokes…. I remember watching the movie years ago and experienced the same emotions this week – feelings of sadness for the hardships the Jews went through combined with admiration for their strength and ability to find wit and humor in their times of pain.

The show was wonderful; the cast was so talented. It was enlightening for me to see how many words in Yiddish I use every day and how many Yiddish words I know.

In order to get to the show on time, I took the LIRR to the city. Walking out of Penn Station, though, I was slightly taken aback. On every block there were handfuls of homeless people laying on the sidewalks with their possessions and cots strewn across the pavement. According to The New York Times, in January, there were an estimated 3,588 people living on the streets – and not in shelters – in the city. The homeless problem in New York has exploded under Mayor de Blasio for numerous reasons. And it’s only going to get worse. Other cities in the nation – think Los Angeles – have been suffering with this problem with seemingly no solution in sight. In fact, Los Angeles is the only city that has more homeless than New York. The only difference between these two cities is that most of the homeless in New York live in shelters as opposed to Los Angeles, where 75% of their homeless live on the streets. Who can compete with the balmy Los Angeles temperatures?

On Tuesday of this week, the Democratic primary for Queens district attorney was held. As of this printing, Tiffany Caban, a 31-year-old former

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Shabbos Zemanim

June 28 – July 4

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

34

A School of Warmth and Comradery Closes its Doors by Susan Schwamm 72 NEWS Global

12

National

24

Odd-but-True Stories

30

ISRAEL

PARSHA

84

Israel News

21

Cisco Kids by Rafi Sackville

70

Rabbi Wein

60

The Joy of Torah and Eretz Yisroel by Rav Moshe Weinberger

64

Parsha in Four by Eytan Kobre

66

Potential vs. Reality by Shmuel Reichman

68

PEOPLE Hate, Hope, and the Long Road Home by Tammy Mark Charles Feuereisen: Silver Star Hero by Avi Heiligman

76 100

HEALTH & FITNESS Grill to Your Health by Aliza Beer, MS RD CDN

84

Narcissism is the Opposite of Self-Love by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

86

FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Liz’s Gazpacho 88 LIFESTYLES Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 80

86

Mind Your Business

90

Describe the Action, Not the Person by Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff 102

Your Money

109

When Sleep Eludes You by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

110

Dear Editor, Within the letters of the word shlach lies the story of the spies. They first chose out of free will to see a land despite the fact that there were already guarantees. Reversing the word shlach, we arrive at the word chalash, weak. In this case, their free will decision was an exhibition of weakness as G-d already promised a land that would stand as their home. Certainly, man should exercise his free will, the greatest gift bestowed upon us, but not when the Al-mighty already gave promises. Then, the final straw was the report which was tinted with their own interpretations. They were on a fact-finding mission, not a mission to offer their opinions and personal judgements about what was possible.

Rearranging the word shlach, we arrive at the word lachash, to remain quiet. Their failure was in them not silencing their imaginative thoughts regarding what they saw.

Despite the destruction caused by the spies, perhaps leading to the forfeiting of the land, our merciful G-d delivered the mitzvah of giving challah when we enter the land. All was not lost after all.

Furthermore, my uncle, Rabbi Genack, points out that G-d gives the mitzvah of tzizit at the end of the parsha as a tikkun for the meraglim. In both occurrences the words, re’item (to see) and taturu (to spy) are used. In the mitzvah of tzizit we are told not to spy after our eyes, but rather to “see” G-d’s grandeur through the tzizit by looking at the techeles which reminds us of the heavens above (see the beginning of Yerushalmi, Brachos).

Let us celebrate the “second

chance” doctrine offered by G-d to give us a land despite our imaginative belittling of it and giving us a tikkun for a sin that had major historical consequences.

Steven Genack Dear Editor, Congratulations to all of you Far Rockaway residents on your new district attorney! She is a proud 31-yearold Democrat Socialist who was bolstered by her 29-year-old Socialist pal Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. She has a background as a public defender and ran on a platform of not prosecuting fare beaters and numerous other crimes. She also wants to make it easier for criminals to post bail so that they can get back on the streets as fast as possible. She wants to close Rikers Island. Her goal of making things fairer for criminals will certainly help make Far Rockaway a more equitable and enjoyable place to live. No longer will criminals be under the thumb of the ruthless hammer of justice. If you break into someone’s car or steal Amazon packages off of your neighbors’ porches, you won’t face harsh and out-of-proportion consequences. If you harass and threaten people on the street, you will be treated with compassion and told that it’s not your fault. If your neighbors call the police on you, they will probably tell your neighbor not to waste his/her time as the DA’s office won’t prosecute them anyway. More criminals roaming the streets will only add character to the neighborhood.

Continued on page 10

HUMOR Centerfold 58 POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

92

There is No Dachau in Texas by Rafael Medoff

96

Biden’s Problem with Democrats is that He Doesn’t Hate Republicans

by Marc A. Thiessen 97 Feeling Squeezed, Iran is Trying to Fight its Way Out

by David Ignatius CLASSIFIEDS

98 103

June 26 is National Canoe Day. Did you ever go canoeing?

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Continued from page 8

For the 99.9%of you who didn’t vote, don’t worry about it – the result you wanted happened anyway— crime in Far Rockaway is about to skyrocket!

Sincerely, A Proud Democrat Socialist who loves Far Rockaway Dear Editor, No, I am not going to give you a lecture on the importance of vaccinating your children. I am not going to even give you a medical perspective, halachic analysis, or my personal opinion too because every Tom, Dick, and Harry shed light on the topic and gave you their expert opinions. So when I met my first anti-vaxxer earlier in the week, and within minutes he told me to shut up because I don’t know anything, I thought of this and would like to share this with readers because it beats getting aggravated or getting high blood pressure.

As I get older, and a bit wiser, I’m slowly learning that even if I react, it won’t change anything. It won’t make people suddenly convinced and respect me. It won’t magically change their minds. Many times it’s better to just let things be, let people go, don’t fight for having the final word, don’t

ask for explanations, don’t chase answers, and don’t expect people to understand where you’re coming from.

I’m learning that life is a thousand times better when you don’t center it on what’s happening around you and center around what’s happening inside you instead. Work on yourself and your inner peace and you’ll come to realize that not reacting to every little thing that bothers you is the first ingredient to living a happy and healthy life.

Israel Root P.S. Thanks Mom and Dad or giving me this advice when I was young and less wise but failed to listen Dear Editor, This week, I wanted to write about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent comments about migration camps at our southern border. She said that America is running concentration camps! When a lot of people listen to AOC, they think that whatever she is saying is the craziest thing that she said, but then they hear her next speech and it gets more loony.

These comments are not only ludicrous but appalling. Democrats seem to have a trend of constantly comparing anything to do with Trump to an aspect of Nazi Germany. Calling an

immigration camp which provides food, clothing, education and assistance in other things a death camp is just factually wrong. I find it interesting to see that Democrats don’t call out such comments that are offensive to Jews. Jews suffered through concentration camps which were also death camps. Concentration camps had crematoriums and gas chambers. Migration camps are not concentration camps; they are places with human compassion. It’s a place where illegal immigrants go until their own situations are sorted out.

AOC doesn’t believe in the word “illegal” because she believes that no human is illegal. First of all, everyone agrees that no person is illegal, but isn’t the definition of illegal mean that an act is forbidden by law” Saying the words “illegal immigrants” is just saying that we have millions of people that are breaking not only our law, but our sovereignty.

Many of the Holocaust museum organizations have condemned these loony comments. If Trump or a Republican said the same thing, can you imagine the outrage that there would be!? However, this happened to Republicans a few months ago when Republican Representative Steve King

said an anti-Semitic comment. Not only did Democrats condemn his act immediately, but Republicans did too.

Not only did Republicans do so, they suspended him from all congressional committees. Republicans have always condemned anti-Semitism, but Democrats only condemn anti-Semitism when it works in their favor. Why don’t Democrats call out AOC’s anti-Semitic comment?! Why aren’t Democrat Party leaders calling out AOC? Where are the “Moderate Democrats” condemning this crazy progressive? Why do we have the incompetent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who brushes off her comments by saying that she hasn’t heard the exact comments from AOC and that she is just representing her district? Why are people being complacent about this? This is an issue that all of us should be concerned about.

Let’s all unite to condemn anti-Semitism and to condemn a political party that only say things for the sake of it working out in their favor politically!

Sincerely, Donny Simcha Guttman The article in TJH last week entitled, “Please Protect the Jewish Community,” written by Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld was originally printed in Queens Jewish Link.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Week In News

India to be Most Populous Country

India will be the world’s most populous country within less than a decade, pushing China down into second place, a new report from the United Nations says.

The two countries account for approximately 37% of the world’s 7.7 billion people, with China claiming 1.4 billion and India just behind it

with 1.3 billion. However, the new UN 2019 World Population Prospects Report says that India will outpace China by 2027.

The report, released on Monday, notes that “between 2019 and 2050, 55 countries or areas are expected to see their populations decrease by at least 1%.” Most of the decrease, it says, is due to low fertility, but some is due to high emigration rates.

“In the largest of these, China, the population is projected to shrink by 31.4 million, or 2.2 percent,” the report noted. If the report is accurate, China’s population would shrink to 1.1 billion, while India’s would grow to 1.5 billion. The world’s total population in 2050 is predicted to be 9.7 billion people, compared to 2.6 billion in the 1950s.

China, facing an increasingly aging population, recently ditched its “one child” policy in an attempt to encourage couples to have more children. But a high cost of living means most couples feel they cannot afford to have more than one child.

According to the report, Nigeria will be the world’s third most populous country, forcing the U.S. down into fourth place. Pakistan will retain its place as the world’s fifth most pop-

ulous country.

Over half of the globe’s population in 2050 is expected to be clustered in nine countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, and the United States.

Czechs Take to the Streets

Tens of thousands of Czech citizens protested on Sunday against Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who has been accused of fraud as well as collaborating with the Communist-era secret police. The demonstration took place in Letna Plain Park overlooking Prague’s historical center and was described as “the biggest protest since the fall of Communism.”

This was only the latest in a string of anti-Babis protests taking place in recent weeks. Babis, who has been dubbed the “Czech Trump,” is a billionaire with a vast business empire.

He became prime minister in 2017, when his populist ANO movement received nearly 30% of the vote.

In addition to calling for the resignation of Babis and his justice secretary Marie Benesova, protesters were also lobbying lawmakers for new safeguards surrounding the country’s justice system.

Babis has been accused of fraud related to EU subsidies received by his former agricultural business empire. Following an investigation, the police had proposed criminal charges against him, of which Babis denied all accusations. Prosecutors are now deciding whether or not to indict the prime minister. In a separate incident, the European Commission is investigating whether Babis’ ownership of a major business receiving EU funding poses a conflict of interest with his role as prime minister.

Babis had allegedly worked as a secret agent for the StB, or Communist-era secret police. He was identified by historians as an agent operating under the codename “Bures.”

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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Babis has rejected the claims and had sued for defamation, but a 2018 court case in Slovakia dismissed his complaints, ruling that he was not wrongly identified as an agent in the archival documents.

“We think it unacceptable that…29 years after the Velvet Revolution, an StB agent would be the prime minister of our country. We will not pretend that that is normal.

We demand his resignation,” protest organizers said.

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For the first time since the 1980 Refugee Act, in 2018, more refugees were accepted by Canada than by the United States.

Previously, the U.S. had consistently been in first place when it came to resettling refugees. According to a report by the United Nations Refugee Agency, of 92,400 refugees who resettled in 2018, a total of 28,100 were accepted by Canada. The U.S. came in second, with 22,900 refugees entering the country. Canada also had the second highest rate of refugees who earned citizenship in 2018, with a total of 18,000 refugees becoming Canadian citizens.

While the U.S. has historically led the world in resettling refugees, the numbers have dropped sharply ever since President Trump came into office. During Trump’s first year as president in 2017, the U.S. allowed in only 33,400 refugees — a 65% decrease from 2016.

According to the Pew Research Center, the “sharp drop in U.S. refugee resettlement is in part due to the Trump administration’s decision to set a considerably lower cap the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. than in previous years.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has often proclaimed his desire to accept Syrian refugees into his country, once publicly welcoming families at the airport in 2016.

Did the BBC Contribute to the Death of Hungary’s Jews?

A report in the Times of Israel notes that on December 17, 1942 former British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told his country’s House of Commons that the Nazis were carrying out Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s threat to “exterminate the Jewish people in Europe,” condemning the “bestial policy of cold-blooded extermination.”

The statement, which had been coordinated with the other Allied governments, was followed by a moment of silence.

By then, BBC had already reported the mass murder of Eastern European Jews, both in Britain and via the media outlet’s Polish Service.

The Times of Israel, however, noted that the station’s broadcasts to Hungary omitted the reports, due to reports that Hungary’s ruler, Admiral Miklos Horthy, would abandon the Axis and switch sides. Hungarian Jews, however, were already subject to anti-Semitic laws and restrictions, and their countrymen handed thousands of non-Hungarian Jews over to the Nazis, who massacred them in August 1941. Additionally, in January 1942, Hungarian forces murdered 3,000 Jews and other civilians in northern Serbia.

Despite all this, Hungary’s government had rebuffed Germany’s pressure to deport Hungarian Jews, and deportations were halted when news of Ukrainian massacres reached Budapest, with five officers court-martialed for the Serbia killings.

On March 24, 1944 – five days after Nazi tanks invaded Budapest – BBC’s Hungarian Service broke its silence and reported on the extermination of Jews, broadcasting appeals for Hungarians to aid them and warnings against collaboration with the Nazis. But within weeks, the Nazis had already begun the murder of half a million Hungarian Jews.

The reason for BBC’s silence in

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

plained of “Jewish accents,” the Times of Israel noted.

In August 1942, PWE Director-General Robert Bruce Lockhart ordered Macartney to be given “a rest from broadcasting.”

Prof. Frank Chalk, director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University in Canada, began investigating the issue in 2012. His conclusion? “I have found no archival evidence that the British asked Hungary to delay its withdrawal from the alliance with Germany or that they took seriously into account saving the lives of Hungarian Jews.

“British policy and the BBC’s Hungarian Service worked toward only one goal: to advance the cause of an Allied victory.”

The late David Cesarani, one of the top Holocaust experts in his time, told “The Document” program in 2012 that: “It wasn’t the job of the BBC to warn Jews that the Nazis were coming to get them. The responsibility lay elsewhere. The BBC was doing everything it could to help win the war.”

Milland defended the BBC’s stance: “Once Germany occupied Hungary, the Jews were its prisoners.

In this context both the potential and

actual impact of the BBC on Hungarian Jewry was limited.” When BBC did make appeals for Hungarians to assist their Jewish countrymen, those appeals went largely unheeded, he added.

India’s Water Crisis

Chennai, India’s sixth-largest city, is running out of usable water due to droughts and a quickly-worsening water crisis. Last week, 550 protesters were arrested during a demonstration in front of the municipal government’s headquarters.

Lake Puzhai, Chennai’s largest lake, was full of water at this time last year. Now, its bed is almost com-

pletely dry – and so are the four reservoirs supplying the city with water.

India has had no rainfall since December. Even after last week’s rainfall, the reservoirs remain empty: the rain only offered relief from the oppressive heat. The reservoirs themselves are only expected to refill in November.

Chennai’s government has been trucking water into the city, offering rations to the residents, who lug it home. Sometimes the trucks are hijacked and drivers are attacked by desperate civilians fighting for water.

Chennai, however, is not alone: cities from Mumbai to Delhi are all facing droughts and water shortages, and some small towns have sporadically run out of water. According to the DMK opposition party, the government “is not even acknowledging that there is a water crisis,” much less looking for a solution. Meanwhile, workplaces have closed and employees have been asked to stay at home.

Although India sees seasonal monsoons, this year’s monsoons are late, and since the country’s infrastructure does not offer an adequate way to store water, much of it flows out to sea.

ACH LACH L H S ME A V A A

HA C

TEHIL AT N

Hungary? Britain’s expert on the country, Professor Carlile Aylmer Macartney, and his work with BBC to devise a strategy that would “eventually compel Germany to divert a certain number of troops to Hungary, either as a safeguard against disorders and sabotage, or as an occupying force.”

But Gabriel Milland, who has studied the issue, said BBC’s “fundamental role” was “as a weapon of political warfare to secure influence it first had to achieve an audience and respond to their instincts.” Among the topics to avoid, Macartney advised, were communism, capitalism, big business, the aristocracy, liberalism and democracy, and “Jews in general.”

“We should not mention the Jews at all except to say that, on the one hand, we want a national Hungary, on the other hand, a tolerant Hungary,” he said. “Appeal to Hungary’s traditions real or imagined.” This, he said, was because the “great majority” of Hungarians sided with neither the Nazis nor the British, and it was “more important to gain the floating vote than to please the faithful supporters.”

The broadcasts also avoided “Jewish-sounding voices” and critics com-

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

rest of the country and praised his supporters for “fixing democracy.”

“We are opening up a new page in Istanbul,” he said. “On this new page, there will be justice, equality, love.”

He also said he is “ready to work in harmony” with Erdogan.

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Erdogan’s Party Loses Power in Istanbul Turkey’s ruling AK Party (AKP) lost Istanbul’s mayoral race to the opposition this week, giving its candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu, a 775,000 vote lead, BBC reported. The victo-

ry comes after a quarter century in which the AKP retained power.

A total of 99% of the votes have been counted, with Imamoglu winning 54% of the vote and the AKP’s Binali Yildirim receiving the remaining 45%.

The country held repeat elections due to an “irregularity” found in the March elections.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip

Erdogan of the AKP tweeted, “I congratulate Ekrem Imamoglu who has won the election based on preliminary results.”

Previously, Erdogan had blustered that “whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey.”

Meanwhile, Imamoglu, who heads the Republican People’s Party (CHP), said the election results mark a “new beginning” for both Istanbul and the

Vietnam Sentences U.S. Citizen to 12 Years

A Vietnam court on Monday sentenced a U.S. citizen to twelve years behind bars after he was found guilty of “attempting to overthrow the state.”

Michael Phuong Minh Nguyen, 55, was detained in Vietnam in July 2018 on suspicion of activity against the government, his brother-in-law Mark Roberts said.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to the charges but requested the court reduce his sentence so that he could see his family again, lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng said. The attorney added that the trial lasted just half a day.

Following serving his sentence, Nguyen – who was born in Vietnam but has lived in the U.S. since childhood – will be deported.

Quoting the indictment, the Tuoi Tre newspaper noted that Nguyen was accused of attempting to attack government offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Molotov cocktails and a slingshot, as well as inciting Vietnamese to join protests.

Two Vietnamese men found guilty of the same crimes will serve eight and ten years in prison, followed by three years of house arrest.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

19

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Attempted Coup Myanmar’s in Ethiopia Mobile Data Blackout

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An attempted coup in Ethiopia’s Amhara regional state government led to the deaths of four people, including the country’s army chief of staff and the head of an important region in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office.

The coup began on Sunday evening in Amhara’s capital of Bahir Dar, when regional President Ambachew Mekonnen and Amhara Regional Government Office Adviser Ezez Wassie were shot dead. The region’s Attorney General Migbaru Kebede was heavily injured and eventually died.

A statement from the prime minister’s office noted that at around the same time, Army Chief of Staff General Seare Mekonnen and retired Major General Gezai Abera were murdered at Seare’s home by his bodyguard.

The situation is now under the federal government’s control. The prime minister “conveys his deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

According to PM Abiy, the coup was perpetrated by Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige – who had headed the regional government’s Peace and Security Bureau since he was released from prison last year – and others. Asaminew was killed on Monday in a firefight with security forces. At least 180 others have been arrested for being involved in the coup.

The attempted coup was widely seen as an attack on reformist Abiy, who has pushed through sweeping reforms since his election last year.

Asaminew had been pardoned by Abiy after being jailed by the previous government for allegedly plotting a coup. He had recently used social media posts to incite a rebellion in Amhara, according to reports in Ethiopian media.

On June 20, all mobile internet traffic was cut by the government in the townships in Rakhine and Chin State in Myanmar.

“The directive, which makes references to the Myanmar’s Telecommunication Law, does not specify when the shutdown will end as basis for its request,” Telenor, a Norwegian telecom firm, said in a statement, adding that officials “referenced disturbances of peace and use of internet services to coordinate illegal activities.”

United Nations officials warned of “serious implications for human rights” coming from the shutdown.

The Myanmar military, also known as the Tatmadaw, has been conducting a major security operation and crackdown in the western province of Rakhine since August 2017, when alleged Rohingya militants attacked police posts.

More than 720,000 Rohingya are estimated to have been forced to flee into Bangladesh as a result of the ensuing violence, which U.S. lawmakers and international human rights bodies have said amounts to ethnic cleansing and even genocide.

The unrest caused by the anti-Rohingya crackdown and exodus has been exacerbated by conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army, a Buddhist insurgent group, which has been fighting with the government since last year. More than 35,000 civilians have been displaced by the conflict, according to the United Nations, with violence spilling over into neighboring Chin state.

U Myo Swe, an official with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told Irrawaddy, a Myanmar news site, that this month’s internet shutdown was “for the sake of security and the public interest.”

“All of us know the situation in Rakhine. People are in trouble, and many people have been displaced.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

The internet is one of the contributors to this. So it has been temporarily suspended. It will be resumed when stability is restored,” U Myo Swe said.

Internet shutdowns have become increasingly common across the world in recent years, especially in Asia, often in the wake of protests or other anti-government activity. Other governments have moved to legislate greater internet controls in the wake of terrorist attacks or violence such as that in Christchurch, New Zealand earlier this year.

There is little evidence to support justifications for the bans – particularly nationwide ones – which experts say do not hinder terrorists and may increase the amount of fake news and rumors being spread because they can’t easily be rebutted.

A Peek into the “Deal of the Century”

The White House unveiled the economic aspect of its Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative on Saturday, presenting a series of ambitious proposals that would pour $50 billion into various regional projects and a railway link between Gaza and the West Bank.

Nicknamed the “Deal of the Century,” the proposal attempts to solve the Israeli-Arab conflict by involving surrounding Arab nations such as Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and the Gulf States. Led by Jared Kushner and Presidential Envoy Jason Greenblatt, the parameters of the proposal have been kept under wraps – the White House’s announcement marks the first time that its details have been made public.

The main aspect of the economic peace plan is the $50 billion earmarked for 179 different projects meant to benefit the Palestinians.

Plans include the establishment of an international investment fund for the Palestinian economy and the Arab states in the region and the construction of a corridor linking the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

Speaking with Reuters, Kushner said that the funding would come from U.S. taxpayers’ money as well as donations from Arab nations and the private sector. “We are confident that we will be able to raise the necessary funds,” Kushner assured.

The plan was swiftly rejected by Palestinian Abbas President Mahmoud Abbas, who vowed to rally his people to oppose it. Speaking at the opening of the Fatah leadership’s meeting in Ramallah, Abbas said that “Palestine is not for sale” and alleged that the Deal of the Century ignored the Palestinian right to a homeland.

The proposal was also condemned by the rival Hamas terror group, which runs the Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas figure Ismail Radwan said on Sunday that “Hamas and the entire Palestinian people are united against the Deal of the Century.”

Kushner said that he was not worried over the wall-to-wall rejection his plan received from the Palestinians.

“I laugh when they attack this as the ‘Deal of the Century,’” Kushner said.

“This is going to be the ‘Opportunity of the Century’ if they have the courage to pursue it.”

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In his resignation letter, Kara said that he was resigning “in order to restore my reputation” and root out the racist tendencies he alleged were rife in the Likud party.

“After many years of military and public service in which I lost my dear brother for the security of Israel, the

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

time has come to tell the people of Israel the truth,” wrote Kara.

A member of Israel’s Druze minority, Kara went on to allege that his political career had stalled as a result of racist attitudes among senior Likud members. “Since I was appointed Communications Minister there’s been a tendentious campaign against me stemming from prejudice, and every success was turned into a failure, including tendentious criticism from within and without,” Kara said.

He asserted, “The Likud leadership acted to weaken me and remove me from the movement’s centers of power, and even barred me from running [in the primaries] as a representative of minorities, something that hasn’t been done to any public official in the history of the State of Israel.”

The Druze legislator has long been politically active and was first elected to the Knesset in 1996. He has since made a name for himself with his hawkish political stances as well as his uncompromising support of Prime Minister Netanyahu amid the premier’s recent brushes with the law.

However, Kara’s loyalty to Netanyahu didn’t bring political dividends, as he did not win a realistic spot on the Likud’s Knesset slate in

the party’s recent primaries. Kara also lost much of his Druze-based political base after he voted for the Nationality Law last year, which Israel’s Druze community views as discriminatory.

Jordanian Arrested for Spying for Iran

Israel’s Shin Bet security service announced last week that it had arrested Thaer Shafut, a 32-year-old Jordanian businessman residing in Hebron, for spying on behalf of Iran.

Shafut was first arrested in April and has been in custody ever since.

During the Shin Bet investigation, it emerged that Shafut had entered Israel on instructions by Iran to build infrastructure for future espionage

efforts in Judea and Samaria.

Shafut’s ties with Iranian intelligence began in Lebanon, where he met two Arab-speaking operators from Tehran who called themselves Abu Sadek and Abu Jaafar. Following the first meeting in Lebanon, Shafut met his handlers over seven additional times in locations in both Lebanon and Syria.

During the meetings, Shafut was told to open a business in Israel that would serve as a cover for future Iranian activity and to recruit spies that would assist Iran in gathering intelligence on Israel. As part of this effort, Shafut began planning to establish a factory in Jordan that would employ Shiite workers from Iran who would eventually infiltrate Israel.

Shafut was also told to transfer money from the Islamic Republic to terrorists across Judea and Samaria for purposes of planning future attacks. Throughout the affair, the businessman kept in contact with his handlers via an encrypted communications device.

“Ten days ago, the military prosecution filed an indictment against the businessman…in which he was charged with contacting an enemy agent, contact with a hostile organi-

zation, and conspiracy to enter enemy money into the region,” said the Shin Bet in a statement.

“This incident is another example of Iran’s ongoing attempt to establish infrastructures for operations against Israel in a variety of ways and through the investment of considerable efforts and resources,” it added.

Smotrich and Peretz Sworn into Office

Union of Right Wing Parties lawmakers Rabbi Rafi Peretz and Betzalel Smotrich were sworn in as Ministers of Education and Transportation on Sunday after their appointments were approved by the government.

The two had been nominated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the position last week but were

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

only confirmed by Israel’s caretaker government via a telephone vote on Sunday. At their handover ceremonies, the newly appointed ministers promised to faithfully serve the people of Israel during the short sojourn they will have heading their respective ministries.

“There is no more worthwhile investment than investing in infrastructure,” said Smotrich at the Transportation Ministry’s headquarters in Jerusalem later that day.

Smotrich added that his immediate goal would be reducing Israel’s high rate of car accidents, calling the “carnage” on the roads “unacceptable.”

In becoming Transportation Minister, Smotrich replaces Likud lawmaker Yisrael Katz, who had headed the powerful government body for almost a decade before becoming Foreign Minister earlier this month.

Smotrich will also be a member of the security cabinet, a committee comprised of ministers that is responsible for making decisions on security issues.

Peretz, meanwhile, replaces Naftali Bennett as education minister after the latter was fired by Netanyahu earlier this month. A former Israeli air force pilot and IDF chief rabbi, Peretz also founded the prestigious Atzmona pre-military academy and is a lifelong educator.

The two Religious Zionist lawmakers were selected by Prime Minister Netanyahu after he fired Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked from the Education and Justice Ministries early this month. Under Israeli law, ministers do not need to be Knesset members, and Bennett and Shaked had kept their jobs despite their New Right party failing to cross the electoral threshold in the April elections.

Robert Kraft Pledges $20M to Fight BDS

New England Patriots owner and famed philanthropist Robert Kraft

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announced last week that he will dedicate $20 million of his personal wealth to fight the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) and anti-Semitism around the world.

Kraft announced the move upon being awarded the Genesis Prize at the Jerusalem Theater. “My vision is to put an end to the violence against Jewish communities, to deal with the anti-Semitic narratives spread throughout the world that question Israel’s right to exist, to educate, inform

and heal intercommunal relations,” he said.

“My most important goal is to stand firm against any form of intolerance towards us,” he added.

Known as the “Jewish Nobel,” the Genesis Prize celebrates extraordinary people each year whose values​​ and achievements inspire the next generation of the Jewish people. Past winners include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, philanthropist and former New York Mayor

Michael Bloomberg, actor and peace activist Michael Douglas, and violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Like previous prize winners, Kraft will donate the $1 million prize money to institutions that further causes beneficial to the Jewish people. The billionaire said that he would dedicate the money to continue his efforts in battling anti-Semitism as well as the BDS movement.

In order to effectively combat BDS, Kraft will establish a special fund,

24

JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera, center, visited the Kotel this week with his wife and a delegation as part of a state visit to Israel

which has already raised $30 million. $20 million was earmarked by Kraft towards the effort, while another $5 million was given by billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Fear in the Skies

Israeli media, the teens denied that they had acted inappropriately and chalked up the bomb threat to a misunderstanding.

“No one said there was a bomb on the plane and the police did not intervene in the matter,” one passenger told Walla News. “We are now working to get home, we are looking for a new flight, and we do not understand why they took us off – everything was a mistake,” the passenger complained.

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Eighteen British teenagers were kicked off their flight on Sunday at Ben Gurion Airport after engaging in rowdy and disruptive behavior that included threatening to blow up the plane.

According to British Airways, the group was returning home to the UK after taking part in a private event in Israel. Immediately after boarding, the group began to play loud music and refused to listen to instructions from the flight crew, leading the captain to order them off the flight.

After they were informed of the captain’s decision, one of the travelers announced that there was a bomb on the airplane that was scheduled to detonate shortly. A bomb squad was immediately dispatched to Ben Gurion Airport but found no evidence of explosives after stringently checking the passengers and their luggage.

Following a two-hour delay, the flight took off without the 18 British citizens on board. Speaking with the

Chaos at the NRA

The National Rifle Association (NRA) recently suspended two senior employees amid claims that they attempted to overthrow Chairman Wayne Lapierre, the latest twist in the chaos rocking the U.S. gun lobby organization.

The NRA confirmed that it has suspended Chris Cox, its top lobby-

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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ist and number 2 after Lapierre – the NRA’s longtime chairman and face of the powerful lobby – as well as his top aide Scott Christman. Both were put on administrative leave amid allegations that they attempted to push out Lapierre.

According to a court filing, Cox and another NRA official participated in a meeting devoted to exploring means to remove Lapierre. Cox has denied the allegations, telling The New York Times that he would never do anything to hurt the group.

“For over 24 years I have been a loyal and effective leader in this organization,” Cox said. “My efforts have always been focused on serving the members of the National Rifle Association, and I will continue to focus all of my energy on carrying out our core mission of defending the Second Amendment.”

As the NRA’s top lobbyist, Cox managed nine different divisions that pressed for gun-friendly legislation in federal, state, and local government affairs. Widely seen as the driving force behind the NRA’s political operations, Cox enjoyed close ties with President Donald Trump and senior officials in the Republican party.

According to his profile on the NRA’s website, Cox “develops and

executes independent political campaigns and legislative initiatives. He also serves as the Association’s principal contact with the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the White House and federal agencies.”

The ouster comes as the NRA is buffeted by the worst turmoil the organization has ever experienced. Last month, former President Oliver North was fired after he attempted to push out Lapierre. North accused Lapierre of using the group to enrich himself, pointing to his inflated salary and the six-figures he billed the NRA for his personal clothing bill.

Huawei Sues the U.S.

Huawei, a Chinese tech giant and the second-largest smartphone company in the world, filed a civil lawsuit on Friday against the U.S., claiming

that the Commerce Department mishandled equipment seized from the company in 2017.

According to Huawei, the U.S. government confiscated several pieces of equipment being shipped to China from an independent testing facility in the U.S. in order to decide whether the equipment should be subject to export controls. The company claims it provided the U.S. government with the documents necessary to resolve the issue but that its technology is still being held in Alaska, nearly two years later.

The suit requests that the court order the Commerce Department to determine whether the equipment is subject to export controls and to release it if it does not. Huawei is not seeking financial damages.

Typically, disputes such as this are resolved in up to 45 days.

The Commerce Department announced last month that it had added Huawei to its “Entity List,” which virtually bars the company from buying components from American companies without U.S. government approval. President Trump also signed an executive order declaring a “national emergency” that empowers the White House to bar foreign tech companies deemed security threats from doing business in the U.S. Huawei has denied it cooperates with the Communist Party. China’s company has said it could lose $30 billion over two years over the trade restrictions.

In retaliation for the administration’s blacklist, China announced last month it would establish an “unreliable entity list” of foreign companies and individuals that “seriously damage” Chinese enterprises.

Slave Photos Controversy

Forty-three descendants of Professor Louis Agassiz recently signed a letter demanding the family of an enslaved man and his daughter re-

ceive the pair’s photographs which are now held by Harvard. The photographs, commissioned by Agassiz, were among the first known photos of slaves.

“Now is the time to name, acknowledge and redress the harm done by Louis Agassiz,” the letter reads.

The enslaved man, Renty, and his daughter, Delia, were among the first slaves to be photographed. The photos show Renty stripped completely and photographed from every angle, and Delia stripped to the waist. The photos were taken in the 1850s.

Earlier this year, Tamara Lanier, a descendant of Renty, filed a suit against Harvard demanding that the university turn over the images – which she says are “family photos” – and pay unspecified damages.

Turning the photos over would “begin to make amends” for the university’s use of them “as exhibits for the white supremacist theory Agassiz espoused.” Agassiz believed in polygenism, which he used to justify the enslavement and segregation of black people.

“By stepping forward and owning my family connection to Louis Agassiz, I give voice to my belief that transforming out of the governing lie of white supremacy is both possible and necessary,” said Marian Shaw Moore, a great-great-great granddaughter of Agassiz who resides in Minneapolis. “I want to be part of the healing of the wounds it has rendered.”

Harvard spokeswoman Rachael Dane said that the university could not comment on the lawsuit but that it “has and will continue to come to terms with and address its historic connection to slavery.”

The Heart-Brain Connection

Patients who suffer coronary heart disease are at a higher risk for cognitive decline later on, a new study shows.

The study, published on Mon-

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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day in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that patients’ scores on cognitive tests dropped more quickly after a heart disease diagnosis than prior to it.

“This study adds to the increasing body of literature that showcases how the heart and brain work together,” noted the Rush Heart Center for Women’s Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal.

Dr. Aggarwal, who serves as a cognitive neurologist at the Center, was not involved in the study but noted, “We are now seeing more issues related to cognitive function from heart disease as more people are living longer and also undergoing more heart procedures and placed on medications.”

According to the study’s authors, heart attack patients “had a significantly faster memory decline than those with an incident angina.” The study followed stroke-free adults for a median of twelve years. All of the subjects had been diagnosed with a heart attack or angina.

It is not clear what causes the memory loss, and “teasing out what contributes most to the cognitive decline may be difficult,” Dr. Aggarwal says, since those with heart disease “have multiple medical conditions operating at the same time.” Medications, as well, “are a huge factor,” as is whether they are taken as prescribed.

Small changes in cognitive function “can result in a substantially increased risk of dementia over several years,” the study’s authors emphasized.

“First step is to encourage patients to tell their physicians about their memory concerns,” Dr. Aggarwal said. “Often patients don’t mention this.”

She also urged patients to take better care of their health. “What is good for your heart is good for your head,” she concluded.

LA Sues FAA

It’s too noisy, the city of Los Angeles says.

Citing concerns about airplane noise for residents in West Adams, Mid-City and surrounding neighborhoods, the City of Angels is suing the

Federal Aviation Administration to get a court to invalidate the routes jets now used to access Los Angeles International Airport.

The lawsuit follows complaints from residents in those neighborhoods who say planes are bearing down on their homes, causing a thunderous and constant commotion.

City Atty. Mike Feuer’s office said in a statement on Monday that the FAA changed flight patterns in 2017.

Further changes were made in May 2018, but the agency “allegedly failed to perform the required environmental review or seek public comment,” the statement said.

The FAA’s new flight pathways are part of the Southern California Metroplex project, which created satellite-based routes at airports throughout the region. The routes, according to the agency, are supposed to be more precise than previous path-

ways, which use ground-based navigation.

In 2016, the agency declared that the Southern California Metroplex “would not result in significant noise impacts or reportable noise increases.”

But the city says that its lawyers will argue that the FAA failed to properly consider the environmental impacts of changing the flight paths.

It wants the court to deem the paths

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invalid and force the agency to do a proper environmental review.

The Southern California Metroplex project is part of a larger FAA modernization program called NextGen, which has drawn complaints in several cities. Newport Beach and Culver City have also filed legal challenges against the FAA.

Melania Aide to Replace Sanders

Stephanie Grisham, the communications director for First Lady Melania Trump and a longtime aide to President Donald Trump, will succeed Sarah Sanders as White House press secretary.

FLOTUS announced the development in a tweet to close out the president’s search for a press secretary after Sanders decided to resign and

head back home to Arkansas earlier this month.

Grisham, 42, a fixture in the Arizona Republican Party, was one of Trump’s first hires – as a press aide in 2015 – in his presidential campaign.

She served as a deputy press secretary in the White House when he took office in January 2017 and eventually moved over to the First Lady’s operation.

“I am pleased to announce @ StephGrisham45 will be the next @ PressSec & Comms Director!” the Ffirst Lady tweeted. “She has been with us since 2015 - @potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country.

Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse. #BeBest.”

Trump Shows Restraint Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump rescinded approval for a military strike on Iran, telling one confidant that his advisers “want to push us into a war, and it’s so disgusting.”

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“We don’t need any more wars,” he added.

Trump bemoaned the cost of the drone downed by Iran earlier in the day – approximately $130 million, excluding research and development – but said the potential casualties on the ground caused by a strike against Tehran mattered more to Americans than the cost of the drone.

Advisers said the cost in human life could reach up to 150 people.

“I don’t want to kill 150 Iranians,” the president explained on Saturday.

“I don’t want to kill 150 of anything or anybody, unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He added, “Everybody was saying I’m a warmonger, and now they’re saying I’m a dove. And I’m neither, if you want to know the truth. I’m a man with common sense.”

According to Trump, “anything [any number of casualties] is a lot when you shoot down an unmanned” drone, and therefore preferred to avoid a direct attack, at least for the time being. The option is still open, the president noted.

Meanwhile, Trump is supporting additional sanctions on Iran and gave Tehran a deadline for open talks before a military strike would be needed. But despite talks of a dovish nature, the president conceded that if Tehran does strike at the United States – as they are threatening to do after more sanctions had been heaped upon them – they will be met by “overwhelming force.”

“Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration,” Trump tweeted.

In response to the increased sanctions over the weekend, Iran’s Presi-

dent Hassan Rouhani said they were “outrageous and idiotic.” Another Iranian official said the sanctions had permanently closed the door to diplomacy.

Over the weekend, Trump told reporters that he’s hoping for a positive outcome when it comes to a relationship between the rogue state and the U.S. “Hopefully, we can get Iran back onto an economic track that’s fantastic, where they’re a really wealthy nation, which would be a wonderful thing,” Trump said on Saturday.

“All those things, I want to do. But if they’re going to be foolish, that’s never going to happen.”

NYC: Keep Cops Out of Schools

New York City has unveiled a new policy that drastically restricts when police are permitted to enter public schools.

Currently, police officers are often called to deal with low-level offenses in educational institutions, such as violent brawls, graffiti, and theft. The policy of summoning police to handle such simulations began under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s zero-tolerance policing and has continued to this day.

Yet the practice rankled many members of New York City’s minority communities, who contended that the policy inordinately targeted black and Hispanic students. Following years of protests, Mayor Bill de Blasio will now restrict the types of incidents that can be handled by law enforcement.

Under the new policy, officers are forbidden from making arrests when intervening in minor instanc-

Can you play a glass armonica? Just ask Benjamin Franklin.

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In the largest amount ever won in a single drawing in the game – $7.8 million – 2,014 winning tickets were sold in Saturday’s Carolina Pick 4 in the North Carolina Educational Lottery.

Those who purchased one of the 1,002 winning $1 tickets are able to claim the $5,000 prize; those who purchased one of the 1,012 winning 50 cent tickets won a $2,500 prize.

The odds of winning with “0-0-00,” known as “Quads” in the lottery game, are 1 in 10,000, the NC Lottery said.

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es of student misbehavior, such as disruptions, smoking, gambling, or refusing to wear the school uniform.

In addition, school safety officers will be instructed to pursue disciplinary action via the school as their first option as opposed to detaining students.

Overall, school staff will only be allowed to call law enforcement for felonies and “crimes where there

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is an immediate risk of escape or where the perpetrator is apprehended in hot pursuit.”

The recent changes were hailed by minority-rights activists, who said that it was time for police to stop treating teenage misbehavior as a criminal offense. “Police presence in schools and a zero-tolerance disciplinary approach make students feel like criminals in their own class-

rooms,” said Johanna Miller, who directs the Education Policy Center.

She added, “Today’s announcement is about treating kids like kids, allowing them to recover from mistakes, and teaching them the tools to manage emotions and behavior.

By adopting these recommendations from the Leadership Team, the city is taking real a step toward ending the school-to-prison pipeline.”

Last week, police had to detain a suspect who was stopping traffic in Florida. Thankfully, the suspect did not put up a fuss, and police were able to let him go after giving him a cita-

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tion. Truthfully, though, the perpetrator didn’t have a pocket or purse to put the citation in, although he does have a shell. In this case, the wrongdoer was a slow-moving gopher tortoise who was delaying traffic as he meandered across the road.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s Deputy L. Fontenot spotted it during a routine patrol. Identifying it as Gopherus Genus, Fontenot quickly detained the tortoise and the two had a “heartfelt conversation regarding this risky behavior.” The suspect was “released on his own recognizance.”

“Gopherus was cooperative during the remainder of my encounter with him, so I chose to use discretion and let him go with a warning,” Fontenot said in a statement.

Gopher tortoises, which are the only tortoises found east of the Mississippi River, are listed as threatened in Florida and are protected under state law, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They are known for the deep burrows they dig for shelter, which are on average about 15 feet long, and they can live as long as 60 years in the wild.

Gopher tortoises tend to prefer high and dry habitats, typically where many apartments are built. They also spend up to 80% of their time in burrows, so maybe this tortoise was just on his way home after a day at work.

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If you drink so much coffee that you think you’re going to start to look like your latte, Dunkin’ may just be able to help you along.

Last week, on June 21 – the first day of summer – the coffee chain announced the return of its “Espresso Wear” fashion collection: the Latte-nkini, Latte-viators, and the Latte-nk Top. These pieces of fashion are aimed at keeping consumers both fashionable, i.e. clad in orange, and accessible to Dunkin’s food and drink.

All three items of apparel – the tank top, glasses, and bathing suit – are outfitted with two cupholders for Dunkin’s drinks. In other words, you

can go to the beach, play ball, or hang out at a barbecue with your favorite Dunkin’ lattes hands-free.

Dunkin’ had previously trolled consumers with faux coffee clothing like Cappu-chinos and Americano-veralls. This time, though, the apparel wasn’t all a joke. The coffee chain gave away 15 Latt-nk Tops through an online contest.

I’m just so happy I didn’t win.

Dog Days

At this wedding, the best man wasn’t a man. In fact, he wasn’t even a human. He was a dog – clad in a tux.

Christopher McCarron, 69, and Margaret Allison, 56, wed on June 19. Standing beside them on four legs was Jack, their six-year-old Rottweiler. Christopher and Margaret consider Jack a part of their family. The two met at an animal rescue center when Christopher was out walking Jack.

“When we decided to get married, Jack had to be there,” Christopher said. “We had a lovely sentimental day, and Jack played a big part. He loved it; he really did.”

Margaret was thrilled to have Jack at the wedding. “When Chris said ‘I do’, Jack sneezed, as if to say ‘I do too,’” she said. “He was a star – he posed for all the pictures. The registrar said it was the first time he’d seen a dog being the best man.

We did think about Jack carrying a cushion with a ring.”

This is a second marriage for both Christopher and Margaret.

“This is our family now – me, Margaret, and Jack,” the beaming groom said.

Sounds like the paw-fect family to me.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

Times Square The Big Cheese Tightrope Walker

There was a lot going on Sunday night in Times Square in Manhattan.

Truthfully, there’s always a lot going on at the Crossroads of the World.

Sunday, though, was different because a big chunk of the action was taking place between two skyscrapers, 25 stories above street level.

Balancing atop a wire strung between two buildings, Nik and Lijana Wallenda, members of the Flying Wallendas circus family, held balancing poles and slowly crossed the busy intersection thousands of feet above speechless onlookers. They started out on opposite sides of a 1,300-foot wire strung between 1 Times Square at the south end at 42nd Street and 2 Times Square, just north of the TKTS booth at 47th Street. As they met in the middle of the wire, Lijana carefully sat on the wire while Nik gently stepped over her.

Although she struggled a bit while getting up, Lijana said, “I was calm about it – I was like, ‘I got this.’”

Nik began slowly from the north end of the wire at roughly 9 p.m. He completed the feat before his sister.

This was the first time that Lijana completed a high-wire attempt since a 2017 accident in which she and four others fell 30 feet off a tightrope during a rehearsal and were injured.

Nik has been conquering highwire attempts for many years. In 2012, he walked a wire over Niagara Falls. In 2013, he traversed the Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon.

New York has seen its fair share of death-defying stunts. In 1912, Harry Houdini escaped from handcuffs, legirons, and a sealed, weighted crate that was submerged in the East River.

The daredevil Evel Knievel jumped his motorcycle over nine cars and a van in Madison Square Garden in 1971. In 1974, Philippe Petit walked a wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

As for where Nik would like to spread his high-wire wings next?

“Over an active volcano,” he says.

They don’t call him a stuntman for nothing.

If you love cheese, you may enjoy hearing that there’s someone who loves it even more than you.

Ivan Suarez, owner of restaurant Llagar de Colloto in Spain, recently set the Guinness World Record for most expensive cheese sold at auction when he bought 5.78 pounds of artisan blue cheese for a jaw-dropping $16,142.41.

Cabrales cheese is one of the strongest, most recognized blue cheeses in the world. The purchased cheese hails from the Valfriu cheese factory.

Cabrales cheese maturates inside the caves of the Picos de Europa mountain range in Spain. It spends roughly between three to six months in the caves with shepherds rubbing and turning the cheese to assist with the maturating process. Most of the areas in the cave cannot be accessed via car, so shepherds need to carry the cheese on their shoulders for almost a mile.

Suarez competed against 15 other restaurants while bidding on thedairy delicasy.

“There seemed to be no limit to the bidding, and it lasted for almost two hours,” a Valfríu cheese factory spokesperson said in the Guinness release. “The audience was very lively and applauded incessantly. The peak moment was when the figure of €10,000 [about $11,328] was surpassed, which was when we realized that we were on the way to the record.

“We thought it was a good idea to investigate and see if it was the most expensive cheese in history,” he added. “That’s how it all started, and luckily it ended well.”

Suarez’s restaurant has started working with the Valfriu cheese factory and places weekly orders for the company. He sells Cabrales cheeses and recommends them at all meals.

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Around the

Community Nachas and Smiles at Siach Yitzchok’s Recent Aleph-Bais Siyum

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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Around the Community

OHEL Friends and Supporters “Tee Off” & Make a “Racquet” at 15th Annual OHEL Rosemil Healthcare Golf & Tennis Classic

David Brecher and friends on the tennis court

M

ore than 125 friends and supporters of OHEL Children’s Home & Family Services joined the 15th Annual OHEL Rosemil Healthcare Golf & Tennis Classic earlier this month.

Drive Out Stigma was the event slogan, mirroring OHEL’s mission of 50 years of breaking down various stigmas in the community.

The event was held at Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Harbor, NY on June 17 and was a great success.

Eve & Stephen Milstein and Rosemil Healthcare were once again the generous benefactors of this year’s golf and tennis event. Marc Herskowitz of Infinity Land Services was the Premium Giveaway Sponsor and all golfers were thrilled to receive a Golf Buddy Laser Rangefinder. Several corporate sponsors went above and beyond to support OHEL’s children and families.

Special thanks go to event co-chairs Ben Englander, Izzy Kaufman, Jonathan Marks, Michelle Sulzberger and Jeffrey Schwartz for working tirelessly as always to creating yet another fantastic event to benefit OHEL. Golfers and tennis players en-

joyed a lavish breakfast, a delicious and plentiful barbecue lunch on the greens, and a sumptuous buffet dinner catered by Catering by Michael Schick. During dinner, Mrs. Malka Fischman, executive director of Shulamith High School, told her personal story of OHEL’s impact on her family.

Mrs. Fischman moved the audience to tears, describing the transformative impact that OHEL’s inclusive summer camp, Camp Kaylie, had on her son. He overcame many challenges, and then thrived and grew in his self-esteem and self-confidence. “He came home a different child that first summer of attendance.” She continued to speak with pride when, several years later, her son became a staff member at Camp Kaylie.

The winning golf foursomes received beautiful trophies and awards in the country club’s ballroom. The first place winning foursome was David Rosenberg, Sam Fruchter, Steven Fruchter, and Noah Fruchter. Kenneth Schuckman, Jason Breitstone, Gary Meltzer, and Matthew Colantonio came in second place, with Jonathan Marks and

Will Biden be able to get through the primaries?

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Ben and Aiden Englander enjoying a ride through the course

Jon Marks and family receiving the third place award surrounded by his co-chair buddies

family coming in third.

Great raffle prizes were awarded, including a 55” flat screen TV, the latest Apple iPad, autographed baseballs from several Yankees legends, and VIP Mets tickets Other prizes featured hotel and restaurant certificates, tech gear, Broadway show tickets, and golf foursomes at prestigious country clubs.

“This is really an important yearly event. I’m proud to be a part of this outing and glad that so many people from different communities and corporate teams join for a spectacular golf and tennis outing which supports so many of the 11,000 people OHEL serves. OHEL is a great cause that is very dear to me and my family,” said Ben Englander, cochair of the event.

Tennis players brought their energy and enthusiasm to the day. A round robin game, which was played in doubles, proved highly competi-

tive. Howard Hershkovich and Michael Pfeifer won first place trophies in the Tennis Tournament, while second place trophies were given to David Schulman and Judah Hammer.

The evening concluded with the event’s co-chairs being awarded a handsomely engraved corkscrew set which accompanied bottles of Glenlivet 15, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this successful event.

Robert Katz, OHEL’s Chief Development Officer, wished everyone a great summer and encouraged those who will be upstate to stop

by Camp Kaylie and see firsthand how this fundraiser helps OHEL’s children. He concluded by asking everyone to “stay tuned” for exciting “big plans” for next year’s outing as OHEL celebrates its 50 year.

For more information or to seek its assistance, please contact OHEL at 1-800-603-OHEL.

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

Around the Community

CAHAL Kindergarten Graduation: A HANC 6th Grader’s Perspective

O

n Tuesday, June 18, the kindergartners in the CAHAL class at HANC thrilled their families, teachers, and school administrators with a Tony Award-worthy performance for their graduation. The 45-minute show was a review of the year’s curriculum in which each child was able to shine. Each one came to the microphone to say their speaking parts as well as sing and dance with their classmates. The nachas that filled the room was palpable, the smiles were broad, and the tears of joy and pride kept flowing. What these children accomplished in just three weeks of rehearsal is just a snapshot of the growth and progress academically, socially, and emotionally that they have achieved this year.

Not only did our kindergartners have a huge impact on their audience on graduation day, but throughout the year they have endeared themselves to everyone in the HANC build-

ing. Through a special program that Morah Harris developed in collaboration with the HANC sixth graders, each morning very special “big sisters and brothers” escort our children to the classroom, settle them into their daily routine, do sensory integration exercises with them, practice reading and check homework, and engage them in creative free play. Saying good-bye to our dear friends was painfully difficult for all, as one of these special young ladies, Adina L., expressed so whole-heartedly in her personal letter to each child, “It has been a wonderful year spending time with you and watching you learn and grow. I am so lucky and overjoyed that I can get to see you for a glimpse of your day, even if it may be only for 1 hour, because you are truly such amazing kids with strong personalities. I hope you work hard and try your best in whatever path you take. Every day when I wake up I feel

so motivated to get out of bed to come see you even when I am not excited for the rest of the day.

“I will truly miss you so much. I hope to see you again because you will forever be in my heart. You had mesmerizing smiles, cute faces, and amazing personalities. With all the things you learned this year I hope you remember to be nice to others and treat others the way you would want to be treated.”

Our CAHAL kindergartners have

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IVDU End of Year Literacy Celebrations

Four-year-olds at the nursery in the JCC in Lawrence enjoyed their graduation last week

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s part of literacy month at IVDU Long Island, a division of Yachad, as well as to commemorate the culmination of a successful school year, the classrooms hosted a school-wide literacy celebration. Morah Leah Rivka Karr’s class reenacted “Lion Learns to Care” with an entertaining and interactive performance, displaying the importance of having friends and caring for one another. The students’ parents arrived at school to find the students excitedly donning jungle-themed costumes made by IVDU’s talented staff.

The parents were engaged and entertained throughout the lively performance.

In Mrs. Aliza Goldstein’s classroom, the students worked tirelessly to publish their very own books. The class had numerous writing lessons where they learned about the components of publication, including book titles, writing drafts, and illustrating

Graduation at HANC Middle School

books. The students were excited to host their parents in school and did a wonderful job presenting their books.

At IVDU Long Island, literacy is exciting and hands-on. The students enjoy the dynamic and engaging lessons, truly gaining literacy skills for life.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

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n Thursday, June 20, MTA talmidim in Rabbi Genachowski’s freshman shiur had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mesameach chosson v’kallah at the wedding of an incredible couple who recently converted to Judaism. What an amazing way to welcome them to our community!

Talmidim had a great time dancing with the chosson and even got to sing with Eitan Katz during the chuppah.

“When I was invited to this spe-

cial simcha by a friend who was helping to coordinate it, I knew that I had to include my talmidim,” said Rabbi Genachowski. “Watching my talmidim generate the signature MTA ruach and excitement and contribute to the pure joy of this unbelievable couple, is an experience that none of us will forget. As a rebbe, there is such tremendous nachas in joining my talmidim and participating in this meaningful mitzvah.”

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ANC Middle School’s eighth grade graduation took place on June 20. It was held in the school’s auditorium. The room looked very festive with balloons and a “2019” arch through which the students walked down the aisle. The graduates looked extremely proud as they walked down the aisle, and their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were certainly shepping a lot of nachat.

After the procession and the national anthems, Shira Rothbort and Leba Weissman, pras hitztaynut award recipients, delivered the invocation. They spoke about the theme of the graduation which was L’maan Achai V’raay – for the sake of my brothers and friends. Following the invocation, Mrs. Morey, the assistant principal, offered words of greeting.

She spoke about how the students started in seventh grade not even knowing how to open the lock to their locker and now, as they graduate, they accomplished so many fantastic things. Judah Ehrenhaus, one of the Torah Umada Award recipients, spoke next. Judah spoke about two meaningful experiences he had related to the theme of the graduation.

One was when he volunteered with his family at a Thanksgiving banquet run by an organization that offers

support to the Jewish elderly population. The second was the Names, Not Numbers© program that our school participated in. The program continued with a performance by the graduates on the theme of the evening.

This was followed by a montage of the students’ years in middle school.

Adina Lippman, Torah Umada award recipient, spoke about the mitzvah of tzedaka and how everyone in HANC has a big heart full of love and devotion towards everyone. Rabbi Hecht, principal, spoke about realizing that everything comes from Hashem and that He can change anything in an instant. Two students, Jason Brand and Tzippora Friedman, shared their reflections on their years at HANC Middle School.

The evening concluded with a benediction delivered by Yishai Kaufman and Moe Newman, pras hitztaynut award winners, who spoke about hakarat hatov (recognizing the good that someone does for you) and derech eretz (being respectful of one another). The boys shared that these were messages imparted to us by our beloved Dean Emeritus, Rabbi Moshe Gottesman, zt”l, who passed away earlier this school year.

We wish all of the graduates and their families much bracha and hatzlacha!

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MON.THURS : 6: SUND AY: 9:4 45-8:15 5-2:15

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No Artist Like Hashem at Gan Chamesh

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an Chamesh, Chabad’s Early Childhood Center, celebrated graduation with a fun-filled and meaningful art parade last week.

Art is an integral part of the education at Gan Chamesh, where every student is encouraged to be an artist and to create and explore endless opportunities through the creation of artistic masterpieces. Gan Cha-

mesh embraces the philosophy of open-ended art and the importance of the process, not the product.

“There is no artist like Hashem” was a central theme of the graduation parade. Children at Gan Chamesh are encouraged to see the beauty of all of Hashem’s creations. Each child has come to see himself/herself as one of Hashem’s masterpieces, expertly and

perfectly designed with his/her own unique qualities. At Gan Chamesh, Hashem’s handiwork is celebrated each and every day.

The graduation parade was a huge success. We thank the families and friends that celebrated with us.

Thank you to the local police department, the auxiliary police department, the Village of Cedarhurst,

Gary Wallin of Gary Wallin Entertainment, Ronen Riskovich of Action Studios, Jerusalem Florist, and Hana Adler for all your help. A huge mazal tov to all the graduates!

Gan Chamesh Early Childhood Center is under the auspices of Chabad of the Five Towns, headed by Rabbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik.

Hundreds of Alumni Gather at Touro’s Lander College for Men

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lose to 600 alumni, families, faculty and rebbeim enjoyed a sunny afternoon at an alumni celebration held at Touro’s Lander College for Men this week. Alumni reconnected with old friends, introduced professors to their wives, and shared a delicious barbeque. Lander Dean Moshe Sokol and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yonason Sacks enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with alumni.

A musical group entertained diners while a magician, face painters, and carnival rides kept the children smiling.

“It was wonderful to see so many alumni, successful in their careers, and to meet their families. It made me appreciate just how much of an impact Lander College has had on their lives,” said Dean Sokol.

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HaRav Aharon Schechter being presented with Great Jewish Photographs by its author, Rabbi Moshe Bamberger

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Levi Yitzchak Library Auction

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ince 2010, the Levi Yitzchak Family Center and Library has become a staple in our community as a place for families to spend time together, as a host for a myriad of organizations, clubs, and learning groups, and, of course, as a crucial source of much-needed Jewish books and multimedia. Not only is the library a living memorial to Levi Yitzchak Wolowik, a”h, but it has also become an incredible resource for our community and a valuable asset to our neighborhood. The library is a home away from home for so many children and adults who visit often and rely on it as their place to study, connect, and develop a love for Jewish literature, and, with its constantly expanding educational and inspirational programs for adults and children, the library fills a critical community need. The library was created so that anyone, regardless of age or religious affiliation, can have a place to feel welcome and connected.

If you are not already taking advantage of all the Levi Yitzchak Library has to offer, we invite you to visit us and join the diverse group of people who have already found a purpose and meaning in the library. On any given day, you’ll find Mommy and Me classes, men taking a break from their workdays to learn, school children on class trips, grandmothers and grandfathers spending quality time with their grandchildren, homework help-

ers, programs for seniors, learning programs for young women, and so much more taking place at the Levi Yitzchak Family Center and Library.

The library is truly a neighborhood haven that inspires visitors to interact and grow together in a warm environment of discovery and learning.

As an independent organization, the Levi Yitzchak Family Center and Library needs your help to continue performing its vital role as a community center. On Tuesday, July 9, please join us at the home of Dr. Evan and Lisa Pockriss, 290 Ocean Avenue in Lawrence at 7 PM, for our Under the Stars IV Chinese Auction event. Admission is $54, with all of the proceeds going to help support our library. The evening will feature luau-themed live music and fire throwers, a fire roasted BBQ, and specialty tropical drinks and amazing prizes such as a Kosherica cruise, a trip to Israel, a trip to Hawaii, a personal Flewber for two, $1,800 American Express gift card, and many, many more. If you can’t join us, you can also participate in the auction by visiting www.libraryauction.org and checking out our fantastic prizes, or by calling the Library 516-374-2665 or 516-4269477 or 917-620-0572.

May every aspect of this endeavor be a zechus for the aliyah of the neshama of Levi Yitzchak Wolowik, a”h.

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JCCRP First Time Homebuyer Workshop

Moshe Brandsdorfer introducing the speakers

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ast Tuesday, the JCCRP hosted its annual First-Time Homebuyer Workshop in collaboration with the White Shul. The MP room was full of eager participants awaiting to learn about the preparatory steps of purchasing their first home.

The panel of experts included: Pinny Heskiel of Pin It Realty, Aryeh Kohn of Exclusive Repair, and an expert mortgage broker in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns was on hand to provide guidance.

The presenters explained and illustrated their unique areas of expertise including: credit scores, mortgage qualification, first time assistance program, budgeting, multi-family homes, property taxes, common repair costs, inspection tips, use of a

realtor and tax benefits were among the many topics that presenters expounded.

“The process of buying a home is a most complex one, and many factors come into play. A well-educated firsttime homebuyer will save themselves a lot of time and money, ensuring a pleasant buying experience,.” commented Moshe Brandsdorfer, executive director of the JCCRP, during his opening remarks.

The panel of experts provided a wealth of practical information so that prospective homebuyers would have a clear understanding of the intricate, yet exciting journey ahead of them. Each panelist concluded with a Q&A session where the attendees could ask for further clarification and more personal implications about the

Aryeh Kohn of Exclusive Repair explaining the costs of various construction projects

information they learned. The dedicated presenters even stayed after the workshop to meet with people oneon-one and to schedule private appointments for further consultations.

Yechiel from Bayswater expressed, “The workshop was very educational.

We are looking to purchase our first home and really needed the proper guidance to get all of our finances and credit in order. We are so grateful to the JCCRP for arranging this fantastic workshop.”

This workshop is one of the many valuable free services the JCCRP provides to the Rockaway/Five Towns community. Other assistance available at the JCCRP includes; Information and assistance with government benefits including: SSI and HEAP, food stamp enrollment, Medicaid/

Child Health Plus enrollment, recertification and advocacy. Help with eviction prevention and tenant/landlord mediation services, crisis intervention, camp scholarship Assistance, career counseling, kosher food pantry, financial assistance and legal referral.

The JCCRP is a proud affiliate of Met Council and a beneficiary agency of UJA Federation of NY. The JCCRP provides a range of services for any clients who need assistance in social services or resource directing within the community. Please contact the JCCRP for further information; located at 1525 Central Avenue (entrance on Foam Place), Far Rockaway, NY, 11691— Call the JCCRP at (718) 3277755—or visit them on the web at www.jccrp.org.

Crohn’s and Colitis ID Card Bill Passed Unanimously by Senate

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enator Felder and Assemblymember Paulin proposed legislation (S6226/A8146) requiring the NYS Health Department to create a Crohn’s and Colitis identification card. Passed unanimously by the Senate, this bill addresses the difficulty people encounter when exercising their right to access a restroom under the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act by creating and issuing a state ID card to patients. As many as 1.6 million Americans suffer from the conditions that can necessitate sudden, urgent access to a restroom.

“Coping with an illness is hard enough. I am proud that the Senate has assumed their responsibility to do everything we can to help people suffering from these illnesses gain access without suffering indignity,” said Senator Simcha Felder (D-Midwood,

Boro Park).

“No one should be forced to endure a humiliating situation in public simply because they have a medical condition over which they have no control,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale). “Last year’s Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act made it possible for those who suffer from an eligible gastrointestinal medical condition to have access to an employee-only restroom in a place of business. But my office has heard stories from people denied the accommodations they deserve under the law because employees were confused over their legal obligations or were unconvinced by the third-party ID they were shown. This bill will eliminate that confusion and guarantee access to those who suffer from these diseases.”

As an accepted method of authorization, government issued ID cards legitimize claims and obligate compliance with the law by informing business employees of their legal requirement while facilitating a challenging conversation. They are the best way to allay the fears and concerns of sufferers and business employees alike.

Under the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act, a person with an eligible medical condition that requires immediate access to restroom facilities, must be allowed, on request, to use an employee-only restroom. This applies during normal business hours, if there are at least two employees present at the time, and allowing use of the facility would not pose a health or safety hazard to the customer or an obvious security risk to the business.

In practice, however, these rights

have proven hard to access. Businesses are still unfamiliar with the new law and additionally, employees have no way of confirming who has an eligible medical condition.

“This bill is a common sense way to achieve crucial advancement.

We’ve mandated businesses to make a reasonable accommodation; this is a reasonable way to help facilitate compliance,” concluded Senator Felder.

Signed into law in 2018, the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act amended the business code to mandate a compassionate accommodation for people who suffer from certain gastro-intestinal diseases.

Inspired by the courageous advocacy of Ally Bain, similar laws exist in 17 states across the country.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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Honorees at MSH

M Talmidim in Rav Shneur Silverman’s sixth grade at Yeshiva Darchei Torah made their own tzitzis after studying the relevant halachos

Distinguished Award for Lawrence Resident

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awrence resident Dr. Nadja Graff, vice president of the Touro College Division of Graduate Studies, recently received the Touro College Graduate of Social Work’s National Distinguished Leadership Award for Social Justice and Educational Advancement at the school’s annual Academic Recognition Ceremonies. The event was held at the 92nd Street Y for the Class of 2019 and their families and friends on June 4.

In accepting her award, Dr. Graff told a packed auditorium that she was “honored and humbled” to be receiving an award from a school that educates social workers, professionals she holds in high esteem. “Your profession is built on a foundation of giving and caring. You embody the charge of justice, kindness, and humility,” Dr. Graff told the graduates. “With your idealism and courage, you are not afraid to go out into the night and comfort the homeless and the ill, to be the rock that peo-

ple seek when they are most needy, to know just the right words to say that will lighten a person’s heavy heart.”

Dr. Graff has a long history with Touro and her academic experience encompasses more than 30 years of teaching in higher education. She joined Touro in 1980 as a professor of clinical biochemistry and an academic coordinator in the School of Health Sciences’ Physician Assistant program, going on to serve as the founding director of the Manhattan campus Physician Assistant (PA) program in 1999. Beginning in 2010, she served as associate dean of the School of Health Sciences, and in 2014 she was appointed vice president of the Division of Graduate Studies, which encompasses the six graduate schools of business, education, health sciences, Jewish studies, social work and technology. Pictured presenting the award are Touro Provost Patricia Salkin, J.D. and Dr. Steven Huberman, founding dean of the GSSW.

SH’s 2019 valedictorian, Hadassah Krigsman, is a student of both academic and creative strengths who has a deep sense of responsibility toward others and is dedicated to achieving excellence in everything she does.

She goes about her academics with a quiet but fiery intensity, aiming for nothing short of absolute mastery.

During her tenure at MSH, Hadassah has consistently challenged herself to excel in both academic and extracurricular activities. In her senior year alone, Hadassah completed a three AP courses, multiple honors classes, was the co-editor of the yearbook, and captain of the basketball team. Additionally, Hadassah has been on the math team and college bowl team throughout high school, and captained the college bowl team this year. With all that, she also joined the inaugural MSH soccer team this year and has been the starting third baseman of the softball team the last two years.

Despite her many varied endeavors, she excels in all of them.

Hadassah is extremely gifted in the creative arts. Her mathematical mind, combined with her artistic talent, make her a uniquely creative force who adds out-of-the-box thinking to the hard sciences and mathematical precision to the humanities.

As one of the student school photographers, one will often see Hadassah in the hallway, camera in hand, taking pictures or video of her fellow students for the yearbook and social media campaigns. In fact, her photography and videography skills are so impressive that, as a camper on a summer program, she was asked to create a video to be used for their promotional materials. Encouraged to enter by her FIT summer instructor, Hadassah entered and won an award from the National Young Arts Foundation.

Hadassah moves through life with purpose and poise, serving her community outside school as she spends during summers and weekends as a volunteer at the Kitty Cove animal shelter. As a well-rounded student with an overall 4.0 GPA in both Judaic and general studies, Hadassah is truly deserving of the valedictorian award. After graduat-

Hadassah Krigsman

Eliana Hirsch

ing MSH, Hadassah plans to attend Amudim in Israel, then Macaulay Honors Queens.

Salutatorian Eliana Hirsch is naturally intelligent, but she also has a lot of grit. Her academic strengths are evident in her 4.0 GPA, top scores in her AP courses, and equally strong ACT and Regents scores. Eliana is a student who deals with life’s challenges with poise and pushes herself to excel in all of her endeavors. She genuinely wants to understand and to learn lishmah.

She aspires to be a creative, original thinker, and is passionate about mastering whatever she learns.

Eliana is a leader. The myriad of leadership positions she’s taken over the course of her high school career demonstrates her take-charge personality and determination. Lobbying to start a school band, forming a glee club during her free time, she was the head of choir her junior year, and captain of Torah Bowl senior year, are just some examples.

Eliana is a musical talent within the halls of MSH. Not only is Eliana often cast as one of the lead roles in the school production, but she is often called upon to perform, both as head of the school choir, and on her guitar, at many school functions. Eliana, along with two classmates, formed a band to perform at community events. When she is not performing, Eliana divides her time between school work and volunteer work with Friendship Circle, an organization that caters to special needs children, where she visits these children in their homes, on a weekly basis. After graduating MSH, Eliana plans to attend MMY in Israel, and hopes to pursue a degree in music therapy, allowing her to combine her love of music with her natural empathetic nature.

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Around the Community

Scenes from the YOSS 8th grade graduation

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Congrats Graduates

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he Shulamith Middle Division’s graduation took place on Wednesday, June 12, at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.

Valedictorian – Arielle Rosman Arielle Rosman is honored to be named valedictorian of her eighth grade class at Shulamith School for Girls. She is a bright, caring, and sensitive young woman who has grown tremendously during her time in Shulamith. Arielle resides in North Woodmere with her parents and five siblings and attends the Bais HaKnesses of North Woodmere. She thanks her family for their constant support and encouragement over the years.

Arielle has attended Shulamith since nursery. She was the head of backstage for last year’s production, a member of the yearbook design team, and the proud recipient of the Keter Shem Tov award three years in a row. Arielle has tremendous hakarat hatov to Shulamith, her principals, and her teachers for instilling within

her a true love for Am Yisrael, Torat Yisrael, and Medinat Yisrael. She is confident that these critical values will serve as a strong foundation for her continued growth as she begins a new chapter in life.

Arielle feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to develop strong and close relationships with her classmates during her time in Shulamith.

She wishes them a heartfelt mazal tov and hopes that these friendships will continue for many years to come.

Salutatorian – Sheera Rockoff Sheera is focused on achieving goals and is a highly motivated student. She has received the Keter Shem Tov Award for three consecutive years and is always looking for ways to grow in Torah. Sheera was elected G.O. President and won first place in the Pi Competition, memorizing over 200 digits. For the past two years, Sheera has been the pointguard for the Shulamith Basketball Team, the Mustangs.

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Arielle Rosman

Sheera Rockoff

Michal Moskowitz

Hannah Zucker

Sheera embraces chessed opportunities both in and out of the classroom. She enjoys visiting the elderly in nursing homes and is involved with the special needs population through her work with Friendship Circle.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017, Sheera was instrumental in organizing a drive to provide school supplies for school children who had lost their belongings.

Sheera would like to express hakarat hatov to the wonderful principals, teachers, and administration of Shulamith for helping her realize her potential. She feels humbled and privileged to be named the salutatorian of the Shulamith Class of 2019.

hatov to all her principals and teachers at Shulamith for the outstanding education she has received throughout the years. Middot tovot and chessed have always been the number one focus and it has really helped her grow into the person she is today.

Keter Shem Tov Award – Michal Moskowitz Michal lives in Cedarhurst with her parents and three sisters. She has attended Shulamith school for girls for the last 10 years. Michal has always felt a strong love and respect for all her teachers and the entire faculty at Shulamith. She is honored to receive the Keter Shem Tov award of her graduating class.

Michal has always been one-of-akind in the eyes of family and friends.

Her warm and infectious smile make everyone around her feel loved and welcome. Michal is an extremely caring and selfless young lady. She is always looking for ways to help others.

It was not surprising that Michal’s first choice for her eighth grade job was to be head of the chessed committee.

Michal has many interests that she pursues outside of school. She is a very talented piano player. She also enjoys playing sports, swimming, and reading. But most of all she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Michal is a youth group leader in her shul, Congregation Bais Ephraim Yitzchok, and is beloved by all the children and parents alike.

Michal has tremendous hakarat

Keter Shem Tov Award – Hannah Zucker Hannah Zucker lives in Woodmere with her parents and four younger siblings. In her free time, you might find her reading, drawing, spending time with friends, or jumping on her trampoline. Hannah is looking forward to her fourth summer at Camp Kaylie.

Being a student at Shulamith has not only served Hannah’s academic interests and curiosity, but also nurtured her growth in character and leadership. Some of her academic activities and achievements have included spelling bee winner, Math Olympiad competitor, Tech Squad member, and Bake Sale Coordinator. She was also part of the yearbook design team and worked hard with her friends to get the yearbook finished on time. Recently, she joined a group of her peers in donating their hair for cancer patients.

Hannah is very grateful to Shulamith for all the support and good memories, and most of all, for the outstanding education she has received. She is also beyond grateful to her peers for always supporting her and being there when she has ever needed them. She wishes everyone bracha v’hatzlacha in high school and in everything else that they do.

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Chagigot B’not Mitzvah

By Esther Nazarov

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n Tuesday, June 4, the sixth grade girls of YCQ had their annual Chagigot B’not Mitzvah program. The girls each researched where their name came from.

The students raised money for an orphanage called Ulpanat Yavneh.

During the year, the girls each played a role in raising funds. They ran bake sales, made posters, and sold candy and mishloach manot, putting their 100 percent effort into it.

Ruby Samson stated, “The B’not Mitzvah program made me realize that some people aren’t as fortunate as us. The program made me feel good knowing that I helped over a thousand girls.”

With the help and guidance of Morah Leemor Abraham, the girls were prepared and the program was a success. As a token to remember

the special day, each b’nei mitzvah received a women siddur, a portrait with their namesake, and a book put together with all the girls’ research on where their names came from and what they are going to commit to as they become bat mitzvah. The idea behind the namesake project is to help the girls make a connection to where their name came from and to live up to their names.

The West Hempstead Little League champions enjoyed a wonderful season with all the teams in the league

LEADing in Business at MTA

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TA LEAD, an entrepreneurship program designed to empower MTA talmidim with the ability to build on their entrepreneurial ideas and create meaningful and sustainable business projects while gaining lasting business and communal leadership skills, announced its winner for the 2018-2019 school year. Sophomore Akiva Kra of Teaneck, NJ, won the competition after presenting his final business plan for modular sneakers to Sy Syms School of Business Associate Dean Michael Strauss.

Akiva developed a model for sneakers with tops that feature a unique zipper component, making them interchangeable for different designs while still using the same sole. As the competition winner, Akiva re-

Akiva with Dean Strauss

ceived seed money to help develop his product as well as continued mentoring from Dean Strauss and industry leaders.

Community-Wide Anxiety Awareness Evening

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ore than 500 people – men, women, married and single – attended the Crown Heights “Dear Anxiety, Let’s Break Up” event, which featured numerous experts in the field of anxiety, as well as speakers who courageously shared first-hand experience with anxiety.

Anxiety is the number one diagnosis in children seen at OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services and the second most prevalent diagnosis in adults. Anxiety can be debilitating and affects not only the individual experiencing anxiety but his or her whole family. Most people will be challenged by anxiety at some point in their life. However

the comforting fact is that anxiety is very responsive to treatment.

To address this increasing challenge in the community, OHEL, Neshamos.Org, and Center for Anxiety partnered to bring this anxiety workshop to the Crown Heights community.

OHEL has hosted numerous anxiety awareness events, clinical trainings and educational workshops, and this workshop which was formed as part of OHEL’s comprehensive and on-going efforts to address the greater prevalence of anxiety amongst everyday people, the consequence of many factors including multiple stresses that could be financial, familial, academic, job-re-

lated, technological, and related to other demands of everyday living.

Dr. David Rosmarin, PhD, and Dr. Norman Blumenthal, PhD, ABPP, the Zachter Family Chair in Trauma and Crisis Counseling at OHEL, and Director of the OHEL Miriam Center for Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Response, spoke about the prevalence of anxiety, treatment approaches, and how family and friends can help. Dr. Blumenthal shared a comprehensive overview of OHELs work in anxiety amongst children and adults.

A young medical student with OCD spoke candidly and movingly about his struggles and overcoming anxiety.

The evening was capped with Rabbi Saul Haimoff, PsyD, who led a mindfulness exercise, demonstrating healthy breathing techniques to mitigate anxiety.

Tzivy Reiter, a director at OHEL and joint organizer of the event, commented, “It is clear by the attendance that there continues to be enormous interest in the topic of anxiety in the community. Both through on-going awareness and treatment through OHEL’s out-patient centers in Brooklyn and Far Rockaway, OHEL will continue to meet the needs of so many in the community.”

For more information, please contact 1-800-603-OHEL.

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Around the Community The Yeshiva Darchei Torah middle school finished the year with a focus on kiddush Hashem, the imperative to act, both in public and private, in consonance with the Torah and its values

Presenting a token of appreciation to Everett Fortune, veteran security guard at Darchei

Rav Dovid Frischman, menahel, presenting a token of appreciation to Nelson Ramos, a member of Darchei’s maintenance staff

Rambam’s 23rd Graduation Celebrates Chessed and Excellence

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ambam Mesivta graduated its 23rd class of talmidim committed to Torah, middos, and excellence. With gradating seniors Eliyahu Levy and Daniel Ganopolsky serving as the MCs, it was student-centered affair that highlighted the diverse accomplishments of the last four years.

The night began with the senior members of The Harmonides, Captain Yosef Kuperman, Adam Cohen, and Aaron Azose leading the proud parents, grandparents, and family members to the “Star-Bangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.” The MCs then introduced Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, who shared words of Torah and chizuk with the graduating class. Rabbi Friedman recognized the learning accomplishments of the grade, noting that they served as the core of the school’s Masmidim extra learning program.

He also reflected on the role the students/activists played in standing up against anti-Semitism in their successful efforts to have Nazi war criminal, Jakiw Palij, deported from the United States.

The salutatorian, Josh Koegel, then spoke to the audience and his fellow graduates. He shared how the grade came together over a shared sense of mission and noted that the school, “Expounds values like reflecting on Torah, middos, and scholastic excellence, and it also encouraged us to cultivate other val-

ues, like a sense of civic duty for activism, to take a stand against injustice, and use our voices to impact our local and global communities.” Josh also thanked his parents and family for their support and acknowledged the role the faculty played in his success.

Following Josh’s speech, awards for academic excellence, for both Limudei Kodesh and General Studies were distributed, and students were also recognized for leadership, chessed, activism, Zionism, sports, and a host of other categories that highlighted the eclectic skillsets, interests, and accomplishments of the Class of 2019. During the award ceremonies, Dovid Lichter, who was awarded the Torah Communications Network Keter Shem Tov Award, spontaneously asked if he could take the microphone. After being

granted permission he took a moment to thank the school’s custodial engineer, Bernardo, for all his hard work. The Class of 2019 greeted this moment with thunderous applause.

The awards concluded with the Director of College Guidance, Professor Joanne Stevens, calling up the Arista Awardees for their outstanding academic accomplishments, and Assistant Principal Rabbi Avi Haar calling up the Masmidim.

Members of Senior Council, SeniorCorp, and the Yearbook Committee were then called upon to present the senior gift. Jonah Matlis, Jakey Semel, Avrumi Weinberger, as well as junior Elliot Speiser, all worked to craft a one-of-a kind mosaic that reads, “Am Yisroel Chai,” that they gave as a gift to the school in the spirit of i. The Yearbook Com-

mittee then called up recently retired Rambam administrator Shirley Levy and bestowed upon her a yearbook, that to her surprise, was dedicated to her for all her years of service to the school. Before sitting down, however, there was one more surprise when Avrumi called up his father and bestowed upon him a plaque thanking “Coach Steven Weinberger for his six years of service as the Rambam Robotics Coach.”

The principal of Rambam, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, then took center stage. He offered the graduates advice on how to make the most out of the year in Israel, urging them to hit the ground running and have a true, religious Zionist experience. Benjy Wiener, the valedictorian, was then called up to address the audience. Benjy focused on the idea of “The Rambam Man”

as seen through the prism of Mesechet Shabbos and the life of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l. He concluded by quoting Pirkei Avos urging the graduates that “when there is a place where there is no man, strive to be a man,” and in the words of Benjy, “Be a Rambam Man.” To conclude the night, Associate Principal Hillel Goldman,was asked to speak. Mr. Goldman began with the Rambam tradition of presenting a “Graduation Mezinka Award” to a family who is graduating their last son from Rambam. Mr. and Mrs. Szpigiel were presented with a plaque thanking them for their commitment to the school in allowing them to educate all of their sons: Sruli (Class of 2007), Yossi (Class of 2010), Eli (Class of 2012), and Yoni (Class of 2019). He then concluded the night by reflecting on the accomplishments of the grade and exhorting them to, in the words of Rabbi Norman Lamm, raise a “degel” to all they encounter showing they are proud of their lineage and reminding them that a “Halachic Man” can thrive and lead the way wherever he goes. He then pronounced them “The Class of 2019” and, following Maariv, dessert was served, tears of joy were shed, and memories made.

Special thank you to Mrs. Renee Friedman for another meaningful graduation ceremony.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Ezra Academy Graduation – Another Link in the Chain

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n Wednesday, June 19, Ezra Academy held its annual graduation, an event which symbolizes the close of a chapter for the seniors – the end of a chapter filled with skills, growth and memories that will last them long into their future stages of life. This year’s class was the largest in recent history, showing not only the growth of the seniors but the growth that the school itself has been experiencing.

The evening began with the procession of the senior class followed by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikvah. The students were then addressed by Rabbi Ilan Meirov, founder and director of Chazaq, who drove home the message of how much potential each and every one of us has. We are called adam man, who was created from the adamah, earth. The same way a plant grows from the earth fulfilling its potential, so can every one of us. “Ezra gives you the seeds to succeed” was not only the inspirational message Rabbi Meirov gave, but a recounting of his own personal experience.

He himself began his teaching career in Ezra Academy, teaching Torah one morning

a week to three boys, in a special program the school had seventeen years ago.

Rabbi Yitzchok Sladowsky, Rabbi Emeritus of the Forest Park Jewish Center and one of the founders of Ezra, spoke next. Relating a similar idea to that of Rabbi Meirov, he spoke about Aharon’s special job of lighting the menorah in the Mishkan. Rashi twice makes reference to the idea that one needs to strive to grow, once from the halacha that the flames have to catch and ascend on their own and from the requirement of steps leading up to the Menorah.

Abigail Aronova, valedictorian, stressed a different but equally important message from the parsha in

her address. We are familiar with the fact that Miriam contracted tzara’at, leprosy. While the entire nation waited for her to heal it was Moshe who made sure to pray for her. It was with a focus on this idea that Abi reminded her classmates to love each and every Jew and to truly and sincerely care for them the same way Moshe did for Miriam. She then reminisced upon her years at Ezra and what they meant to her class at-large and herself specifically.

Ms. Sima Fish, Esq., the new principal of Ezra Academy, briefly addressed the graduates to thank them for helping her learn the ropes as a new administrator and left them with the message that the real work starts

now as they graduate. Quoting the idea of l’fum tzaara agra from Pirkei Avot, she warned them that there are no shortcuts in life. She reminded them of all the lessons they were taking with them as they continued on to adulthood and wished them success in their learning, their academic pursuits and their development in the professional world.

The awarding of diplomas was done with a little extra touch. As has been Ezra tradition, when each graduate is called up to receive their diploma as well as a special gift from the school, each one receives a personalized introduction.

A short paragraph, written by a staff member, and often times humorous, reflects

on each student’s time and accomplishments at Ezra.

These short summaries often linger with them as the final touch of their high school education and transforms what can be a long and tedious ceremony into an endearing and sweet one.

The evening concluded with parting words from Rabbi Feilich, the dean. His message was simple, sweet, and from the depth of his heart. “Farewell from Ezra is not goodbye” are words he truly means. Having been at the helm of the school since day one over 50 years ago, Rabbi Freilich has shared this sentiment with many classes before and has kept true to these words. Students often come back and visit, sometimes to say hello, other times to talk things out and yet other times to introduce their children to their teachers and vice versa. Rabbi Freilich invited the newest installment of Ezra graduates to join those who call Ezra home. He congratulated the Ezra class of 2019 to a round of applause and cheering, and with the launching of their caps into the air, a new group of alumni proudly joined their predecessors.

Avnet: Ready for Action

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he staff at HALB’s Avnet Country Day School are ready for an action-packed summer. With an incredible array of exciting activities and specialties planned for all seven divisions, fun is certainly on the agenda.

Avnet’s 300-plus staff members gathered for an orientation and workshops this week to ensure that the children in their care have a happy and memorable experience. Guided

by Director Daniel Stroock, the group received instruction from experts on campus safety and security, allergy awareness and Epi-pen training, staying hydrated, and the proper method to encourage camper participation in

sports and all activities. There was also a discussion on professionalism and safety for camp counselors.

“At Avnet, our goal is to make sure our campers are happy, active and social. Whether they are a sports fanatic, love to bake, create art, or are

thrilled to sing and dance, Avnet provides opportunities for every child to shine,” said Daniel Stroock. “We want our campers to have happy memories, and we prepare and guide our staff through all aspects of their summer leadership experience. We’ve assem-

bled a responsible team that understands that our number one priority is the well-being of our campers. We’re looking forward to a terrific summer – one our campers will remember!”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

Around the Community The Pre1A at Siach Yitzchok recently celebrated their chumash mesiba

OF THE BOSTONER BAIS MEDRASH

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Limited Space Available for Fall Registration Contact Rebbetzin Chansie Horowitz 516.371.6848

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

The Learn & Live program/Pirchei of Far Rockaway held its annual L&L melochos carnival on Sunday. All the booths were based on the lamed tes melochas that the boys experienced and saw at the L&L program this year. An example booth was the popular marshmallow fluff and chocolate chip for the melacha of borer.

HANC High School Graduation Highlights

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n Wednesday evening, June 12, the 9th of Sivan, HANC High School seniors graduated before an audience of several hundred proud family members, guests, administration and faculty members. The ceremony took place at The Space in Westbury, New York.

The program opened with a poignant video presentation filmed by faculty honoring the graduating class. The video featured administrators, teachers, and juniors reflecting on their most meaningful memories with the graduates.

Following the processional of graduates and the anthems sung by Bernie Maslin, Rabbi Shlomo Adelman, principal of the High School, welcomed guests and graduates and introduced co-valedictorian salutatorian, David Reitano, who delivered the valedictory invocation.

Mrs. Marie Palaia, associate principal, greeted the graduates with an upbeat congratulatory message. She reminded students to strive for excellence, find balance in life, and laugh and smile each day.

In her outstanding valedictory address, Adena Cohen encouraged her classmates to continue making positive choices based on the foundations each student received while at HANC. Additionally, Adena expressed her hakarat hatov to her beloved school, family, and friends and thanked Hashem for bringing the class to this milestone.

Ms. Tziporah Zucker, assistant principal, addressed the graduates with a heartwarming dvar Torah, reminding them of the unique qualities of HANC and how it has impacted each individual throughout their four years. She then introduced the

class speaker, Aeton Rabanipour who reflected on his four years of high school.

Graduate Bernie Maslin, accompanied by music teacher Mr. Jacob Spadaro, performed an original composition called “Appreciate” in memory of Rabbi Moshe Gottesman, z”l, Dean Emeritus of HANC. Prior to the distribution of the diplomas, Dr. Ruchi Kushner, HANC’s president, congratulated the class on their accomplishments.

Rabbi Adelman, Mrs. Palaia, and Ms. Zucker distributed the diplomas to the graduates who were also greeted by Dean of Students Rabbi Etan Ehrenfeld and Director of Student Life Rabbi Daniel Mezei. Graduates received a personalized autographed copy of Unlocking Greatness written

by Mr. Charlie Harary. The books were distributed by the Chairman

of the Board of Education Mrs. Loren Daitch and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Duvy Maryles.

HANC’s Menahel Rabbi Shlomo Adelman, in his humorous yet heartfelt charge to the graduates, recognized his special bond with the graduates and encouraged students to always stay close to Hashem.

Salutatorian Jonah Rocheeld administered the Benediction and reminded fellow graduates to “keep close to their teachers” and thanked Hashem for bringing the students to this milestone.

Closing out the ceremony was a moving rendition of “Nafshi” performed by Chazan Yosef Karavani and father of graduate Noy Karavani.

After the proceedings, graduates and guests enjoyed an elaborate collation.

Mazal tov to all the graduates and their families!

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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Around the Community

Scenes from the Sh’or Yoshuv Annual Dinner

PHOTO CREDIT IRA THOMAS CREATIONS

Gov. Cuomo Approves $20M in Security Funding for Nonpublic Schools & Day Camps

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each NYS, a project of the Orthodox Union and a leading advocate for equitable funding for New York State’s nonpublic schools, lauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent announcement of an additional $20 million in safety and security grant funding to nonpublic schools and day camps at risk of hate crimes, bringing the total tally for security funding to $60 million.

The new funding is in addition to the $40 million approved in the FY 2020 budget in April.

“Together, with the support of

our partners – including nonpublic schools, parents and even the students themselves – our community has raised our collective voice and advocated respectfully but forcefully for the necessary funding to ensure the safety of our students,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.

The Orthodox Union, through its state advocacy operation, Teach Coalition, has not only fought for this latest grant and other funding on the national, state and city levels, but has also recently hired full-time staff to provide direct assistance to schools

and synagogues to help them apply for the grants.

“This new allocation of an additional $20 million will go a long way towards ensuring New Yorkers stay safe no matter where they are,” said Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein. “I thank Assembly Speaker Heastie and Governor Cuomo for securing this long overdue funding.

The safety and security of our children must be our number one concern. As a member of the Assembly, I have been advocating for security funding since the day I took office,

and I am grateful that the Governor and my Assembly colleagues recognize the significance of this funding and the difference it will make in keeping thousands of New Yorkers safe.”

Teach NYS, a division of the Orthodox Union’s Teach Coalition, was founded in 2013 to advocate for equitable government funding for New York nonpublic schools to increase security, enhance education and defray higher tuition costs. For more information, visit http://teachnys. org.

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Around the Community

On June 24, Deputy Presiding Officer Howard Kopel joined with the Nassau County Legislature to honor six BSO Officers, Keath Mishkin, Nicholas Collins, Alejandro Perez, Christopher Faughnan, Frank Donohue, and Sgt. Daniel Delargy Jr, as Top Cops for the month of June for their brave apprehension of a man threatening to murder them, without causing any injury to themselves or the suspect.

Handling the Summertime Blues

By Rabbi Dr. Dovid Felt, PhD

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or most of us, “summer” conjures a warm nostalgic feeling accompanied by good memories. As youngsters, we couldn’t wait until summertime arrived. It was the countdown to summer that kept most of us going, enduring the sometimes difficult and mundane times throughout the year.

Unfortunately for some, the long and unstructured days of summer are not as pleasant. When school is in session, they can pretend they are too occupied to socialize. Summertime takes that away. For others, the school schedule provides some structure.

Having to keep up with your classes provides a break from the relentless thoughts about everything uncertain.

Summertime takes that away, too.

Chava, a ninth grader, is the eldest of 7. She is smart and has always done well academically. At home, she is her mother’s right hand, always helping with her siblings, and working hard to make sure the house is in order. She prepares and serves dinner, makes sure her siblings do their homework, and puts the younger ones to bed.

When Chava was completing eighth grade, her parents recognized that between her schoolwork and helping at home she did not have much of a social life. They decided to enroll her in a sleepaway camp in the Catskills for the summer. Chava’s parents chose a camp where many of the girls going to the same high school would be attending. Her parents felt this would provide Chava with the opportunity to make some friends and continue these friendships in high school.

Chava went to camp but was afraid

to socialize with the other girls. Chava kept to herself and didn’t participate in any group activities or games. It wasn’t too long before her “camp friends” picked up on her fears and began taunting her. When they returned to school, these so-called “camp friends” managed to infect the rest of her classmates who then used every opportunity to exploit Chava’s fears.

Several months later, Chava’s Navi teacher noticed a small cut on her forearm. The school suspected that Chava was cutting herself and referred her to a therapist. When confronted by the school psychologist, Chava explained that she got a papercut the day before while doing homework with her siblings.

After a few sessions with a therapist, it became clear that Chava was suffering from an anxiety disorder brought to the surface by her difficult camp experience. Since she was a very young child, Chava always felt awkward among strangers. As a coping mechanism, she made sure to keep busy at home. The routine of a school day and the assistance she provided at home kept her anxieties from being noticeable. Her camp experience took that away. What should have been an opportunity for healthy developmental growth instead became the impetus for an ongoing emotional horror.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, summer is primetime for latent anxieties to come to fore. Unfortunately, until a child presents with a full-blown episode, his/her anxiety disorder is mostly ignored. The National Institute of Mental Health claims that anxiety affects close to one-fifth of all teens and because its manifestation isn’t consistent

is often overlooked. Philip Kendall, director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University in Philadelphia, explains that we all have anxieties. Because of its ubiquity, it is easily dismissed and unnoticed. Regardless of why anxiety disorders are not taken seriously, for the child suffering from it, it can be debilitating.

Suniya Luthar, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University, found that privileged youths are among the most emotionally distressed young people in America.

Comparing their ability to deal with distress with adolescents from less fortunate homes, she found that children from affluent families are incredibly anxious, perfectionistic, and have little resilience. Children who have never faced any real difficulty are not prepared for life outside their protective bubble. For a number of them, summertime is the first time out of their home, leaving them to fend for themselves – and they cannot!

In yet another study, Madeline Levine, a founder of Challenge Success, a Stanford University-affiliated nonprofit that works on school reform and student well-being, found a significant factor in what may contribute to the rise in anxiety disorders among adolescents. She found that in the past, adolescents complained about getting too much pressure from their parents.

However, now teens themselves are creating their own internal pressure that feeds on itself. As a result, Levine explains that anxiety, which may begin as natural and healthy, can easily feed on itself to the point where it becomes a disorder.

As we begin to enjoy the summer-

time, we need to be aware that it may be a difficult period for someone suffering from an anxiety disorder. For those who have already been diagnosed and are receiving professional services, their therapist will hopefully help them prepare for this time. However, for those individuals who haven’t been professionally diagnosed, this can be a trying time.

As parents, if your child is apprehensive about the summer, discuss this hesitation with them and let them know that you are there for them. If you are sending them to camp, especially a sleepaway camp, make sure you are in touch regularly with someone at the camp who can alert you if there is a change in your child’s behavior or demeanor. We can never assume that just because our child did well during the year they will be able to handle the summer, too.

At Madraigos, the number of referrals involving children, teens and young adults with anxiety disorders has become significant. As part of our prevention program, we support the community with school presentations, workshops, and one-on-one consulting for parents and teens. For more information, please contact Rabbi Dr. Dovid Felt, Director of SchoolBased Services, at 516-371-3250 ext 111 or rdfelt@madraigos.org.

Madraigos, a 501c-3 not-for-profit organization, offers a wide array of innovative services and programs geared towards helping teens and young adults overcome life’s everyday challenges one step at a time. Our goal is to provide all of our members with the necessary tools and skills to empower them to live a healthy lifestyle and become the leaders of tomorrow.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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Around the Community

Meet Rambam’s Awardees

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ambam’s valedictorian, Benjy Weiner, salutatorian, Joshua Koegel, and Keter Shem Tov Award winner, Dovid Lichter, represent everything Rambam stands for: a love of learning, commitment to chessed, leadership, middos, and a mission to the world.

Benjy was captain and lead programmer of the Rambam RamBots Robotics Team and led them to a second place finish in the RoboCup Jr. competition in 2017. He was a consistent top-scorer for the Rambam Radicals Math Team. He is an independent software developer and recently started freelancing. So far, he’s released three mobile apps on the App Store. He is in the process of rolling out a cloud-based “Mi Shebarech” list service for shuls, which aims to help gabbaim keep their lists up-to-date, while also being more convenient for congregants. Benjy is also an AP Scholar and Arista member. Next

Benjy Weiner

Josh Koegel

year, Benjy will be studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush), after which he will be attending the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University to study computer science.

Josh is known around school for his humble demeaner and desire to get involved. He was involved with the Meet The Author Book Club,

Dovid Lichter

Fencing, EMT, Mock Trial, Robotics, Soccer, the Poe Pack, Model Beis Din, Chess, College Bowl the Math Team, and so much more. He was a Rambam Ultimate Frisbee Team Captain; a Shakespeare Festival Winner; Survivor Winner; and is an AP Scholar and a member of Arista. Next year he is learning in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and then going to Macau-

lay Honors College at Brooklyn. He is hoping to study pre-law or pre-med.

The Torah Communications Network Keter Shem Tov winner, Dovid Lichter, is the first to tell you he doesn’t deserve the award. He is humble, kind, and always there to help anyone who needs assistance.

Dovid was involved in the Jewish Action Committee; math team where he placed in the Top 50 in Nassau county; soccer team; and was captain of JV Basketball. He was a starter for the Varsity Basketball Team and helped lead them to one of their most successful seasons. He is also an AP Scholar. Next year he plans on going to Migdal Torah in Israel and then will continue learning while going to College in the States.

Three unique individuals, all exemplary in their own way, but alike in their dedication to the values of Torah, middos and excellence.

Celebrating with a Shabbaton and a Siyum

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veryone knows the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes with making a siyum. The talmidim in Rambam Rosh Mesivta’s Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman’s Gemara shiur experienced it firsthand as they successfully completed Mesechtas Sukkah, comprised of 55 blatt. The boys accomplished this by participating in Rabbi Friedman’s Iyun shiur and Bekius shiurim given by both Rabbi Shlomo Kovitz and Rabbi Yaacov Weisenberg. For many, this was not their first siyum.

This year marked the occasion with an amazing Shabbaton in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. They arrived on a Thursday night and were treated to a sumptuous barbeque sponsored

by Rabbi and Mrs. Friedman. Friday featured davening, learning, breakfast, biking, and hiking the Flume Gorge in Franconia.

Shabbos was ushered in with a rousing kabbalas Shabbos, with divrei Torah and zemiros punctuating the seudah.

After more of the same for Shabbos day, the boys had the opportu-

Mind Your Business Page 90

nity to visit the new Arlington Hotel in Bethlehem. They joined other guests and a walking tour of Jewish Bethlehem led by Mrs. Friedman.

They continued learning and snacking (some even rested) up to Mincha and shalosh seudos and later were treated to a masterful and melodious Havdalah by Rabbi Weisenberg. A kumzitz rounded out the evening with the experience continuing a few hours later with Shacharis, breakfast and a hike up Mount Agassiz.

The boys departed with lunch bags in hand preparing for the trip back to Rambam.

Just a few days later, Avrumi Klein, who never missed a blatt, made the formal siyum. Some of the fathers were able to join the festive meal in Traditions. Singing, dancing, and divrei Torah enhanced the seudas mitzvah and was a wonderful testament to the joys that the boys had in making the siyum.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

ELEVATING THE TORAH LANDSCAPE FOREVER. Be part of an experience that will change your life!

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The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

THE DIRSHU WORLD SIYUM IN NORTH AMERICA

will be held at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Additional locations worldwide.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

TJH

Centerfold Franklin Facts

By age 12, Benjamin Franklin left school and served as an apprentice at a printing shop owned by his brother, James. Despite being almost entirely self-taught, Franklin later helped found the school that became the University of Pennsylvania and received honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the College of William and Mary, the University of St. Andrews, and Oxford.

Forbes ranked Benjamin Franklin the 89th richest man in American history.

Franklin invented the “glass armonica,” which was an instrument designed to replicate the otherworldly sound that a wet finger makes when rubbed along the rim of a glass. To play the instrument, the user would simply wet their fingers, rotate the apparatus and then touch the glass pieces to create individual tones or melodies. The armonica would go on to amass a considerable following during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Thousands were manufactured, and the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss all composed music for it. Franklin would later write that, “Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.”

According to legend, Benjamin Franklin was not allowed to write the Declaration of Independence because everyone thought that he would try to slip a joke into the document.

Franklin is the only Founding Father to have signed all three documents that freed America from Britain: the Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris, and the United States Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin had a son who remained loyal to the British and fled to London after the war.

In 1728, when he was 22, Franklin wrote his own epitaph.

It was Franklin’s idea to use a matching grant combining public money with private donations to build the Pennsylvania Hospital. It was the first time that this concept was used.

Among Franklin’s inventions are swim fins, a library chair, an extension arm, the Philadelphia or Franklin stove, the lightning rod and bifocals. He never patented his inventions as he considered them a gift to the public.

At the age of 42, Franklin was rich enough to retire and become a “gentleman of leisure.” Franklin’s retirement allowed him to spend his remaining 42 years studying science and devising inventions such as the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and a more efficient heating stove.

You gotta be kidding Jimbo was really having a hard time in class. One day the teacher asked him who signed the Declaration of Independence, and, of course, he didn’t know.

The teacher asked him every day for a week but still he couldn’t give the right answer.

Finally, in desperation, she called Jimbo’s father to come and see her. She said to him, “Your boy won’t tell me who signed the Declaration of Independence.”

The father said to Jimbo, “Come here, boy, and sit down.”

Jimbo duly did as he was told and then his dad said to him, “Now if you signed that silly thing, just admit it so we can get out of here.”

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

De laration of Independence Trivia 1. How old was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence? a. 70 b. 38

market for $4. It was verified as one of the 24 surviving copies from the official first printing of the Declaration. How much did it sell for in 2000?

c. 26

a. $1,200,000

d. 22

b. $8,100,000

2. There are 24 known copies of the version of the Declaration known as the “Dunlap Broadside,” named after John Dunlap. Who was he? a. Vice president of the Congress b. A printer c. An early historian d. The first librarian of Congress 3. In 1989, a Philadelphia man found an original copy of the Declaration of Independence in the back of a picture frame that he bought at a flea

to Virginia. At that point, the Declaration was already complete. c. Because he wrote it and is listed as the author. d. Because he was in New York preparing to defend Manhattan from the British.

c. $36,000,000 d. $47,000,000

5. Which of the following was included in the Declaration of Independence?

4. Why didn’t George Washington sign the Declaration of Independence? a. Because when they approached him to sign it, he explained, “I’m fully in support, but I don’t want my name on it because I’d rather work behind the scenes.” b. Because he said that he wanted to discuss it with his wife first and would do so when he returned

a. A list of bad things that the King of England had done to the colonies

6. Which two states voted against the Declaration of Independence? a. Pennsylvania and South Carolina b. New York and Virginia c. Delaware and Maryland d. Colorado and California 7. What is the first word of the Declaration? a. We b. When c. Whereas d. Wherefore

b. A threat that the colonies would take over Britain if the King did not stop the fighting c. A declaration that George Washington was president d. The Bill of Rights

 Answers

 Wisdom Key 6-7 correct: If you would have been around in 1776, you would have been one of the Founding Fathers. Nice wig!

3-5 correct: Not bad, although you are not exactly Benjamin Franklin.

0-2 correct: It’s a good thing America wasn’t relying on you in 1776!

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7. B (The first sentence in the Preamble: “When in the course of human 6. A 5. A 4. D 3. B 2. B 1. C

events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of Nature’s G-d entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”)

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Torah Thought

Parshas Shlach

By Rabbi Berel Wein

Solomon Schechter, founder of Conservative Judaism, with students and professors and their wives

M

uch has been written and taught regarding the motives of the leaders of Israel, those who Moshe sent to spy out the land of Israel in advance of the Jewish people entering their homeland.

After all the explanations, it remains a baffling mystery as to how such great people could have been so wrong on such an important issue. Just as they were able to convince an entire gen-

eration to believe as they did, we have found that over the centuries of human history, there have been many instances of such types of situations.

Sometimes these matters are treated as being a symptom of mass hysteria. In the Middle Ages there were many such instances when people were led to believe in the false narratives of leaders, some of whom were even sincere in spreading these narra-

tives. There was a derisive expression in Yiddish that stated that “the masses of the general public are always fools and ignoramuses.” This is a rather harsh assessment and in a democratic society such as ours, which is allegedly run by and subject to the will of the masses, it does not register favorably in our ears. Though that assessment of public opinion and belief may be too broad, there is certainly more than a kernel of truth in that saying. And the reaction of the Jewish people to the false narrative stated by the spies who visited Israel serves as a bitter and eternal reminder of human folly. Such instances are not subject to rational explanation, but they are omnipresent throughout the story of human existence on this planet.

The question always arises as to

its various forms, only to be devoured by the very beast that they had nurtured. Others searched for new forms of Judaism they felt would be relevant to their children and to future generations. After all, we were in a different world and a different society than that of our ancestors. The old Judaism would somehow prove to be irrelevant and doomed. But just the opposite has seemingly occurred. While all the forms of new, modern and progressive Judaism are teetering on the verge of extinction, the old, “irrelevant” Judaism has revitalized itself and inspired generations with its eternal truths and values granted at Mount Sinai.

The Jewish people traditionally are hasty people. New ideas capture them and, to a certain extent, cause a type of mass hysteria that blindsides

While all the forms of new, modern and progressive Judaism are teetering on the verge of extinction, the old, “irrelevant” Judaism has revitalized itself and inspired generations with its eternal truths.

how to prevent such suicidal mistakes from occurring in Jewish society.

Over the past century masses of Jews allowed themselves to be persuaded by false narratives, as was the case with the spies in the desert, resulting in death and disaster. Millions of Jews followed the red flag of Marxism, in all

them. Yet, it is also within our nature, by tradition and history, to be a skeptical people. We should never lose that healthy skepticism when dealing with issues, problems, and the possibility of solutions in our current society.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire

Parshas Shlach The Joy of Torah and Eretz Yisroel

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

The Geshmak of Eretz Yisroel This is the parsha of Eretz Yisroel. The commentators explain a variety of reasons why Moshe consented to send the spies to Eretz Yisroel. There was no doubt that Hashem would fulfill his promise to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov to give their descendants the land.

In addition, there was no doubt that the land was good, a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Shmos 3:8).

So why did Moshe agree to send the spies?

The Ramban (on Bamidbar 13:2) explains Moshe’s consent in a beautiful way that also enlightens us to a new perspective of the uniqueness of the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel: “Because Moshe knew that [the land] was rich and good…he told them to pay attention so that they would know this, in order that they tell the nation [so that the nation would] rejoice and be reenergized to ascend [to Eretz Yisroel] with joy.”

This is somewhat difficult to understand. We know that there is a general principle that one should perform all mitzvos with joy, as the pasuk (Tehillim 100:2) says, “Serve Hashem with joy…” But this refers to a general state of spiritual happiness that one is fulfilling Hashem’s command. This is a value common to all mitzvos that should accompany the performance of any mitzvah. But

with regard to particular mitzvos, their purpose is not to give us physical enjoyment, as the Gemara (see, e.g., Eruvin 31a) says, “Mitzvos were not given for physical enjoyment.”

Physical enjoyment from mitzvos would make them “not for the sake of Heaven.”

In contrast, with respect to the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel, the Ramban teaches us that that Moshe specifically wanted the Jewish people to know that the land was “rich and good” so that they would rejoice and feel great happiness while living in Eretz Yisroel. It seems that Moshe did not only want them to feel a spiritual enjoyment in knowing that they were fulfilling one of Hashem’s mitzvos. He wanted them to feel a geshmak, a sense of pleasure, from living in the land of Israel.

This is why Hashem told us that Eretz Yisroel is “a good and expansive land…a land flowing with milk and honey” (Shmos 3:8). It is why Moshe told the spies (Bamidbar 13:20), “Strengthen yourselves and take from the fruit of the land.” He wanted them to see the geshmak of living in Eretz Yisroel. This is why, when Hashem first spoke to Avraham to command him to go to the land of Israel, He told him (Rashi on Bereishis 12:1) “Go for your good and for your pleasure.”

The unique nature of the mitzvah to enjoy living in Eretz Yisroel is also

reflected in the Rambam’s statement (Hilchos Melachim 5:10) that, “The greatest scholars would kiss the borders of Eretz Yisroel, kiss its stones, and roll around in its dirt…” Living in Eretz Yisroel must be incredibly enjoyable! After returning from his visit to Eretz Yisroel, Rebbe Nachman once commented that the land was very beautiful. The listeners assumed he meant that in a spiritual or kabbalistic sense, but he clarified that he was talking about “the streets and the houses.” The fulfillment of the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel must be enjoyable, beautiful, and geshmak!

The Pleasure of Learning Torah There is another mitzvah that is also an exception to the general principle that “mitzvos were not given for physical enjoyment.” And that is the mitzvah to study Torah. In this regard, the Taz writes (Yoreh Deah 221:43) that if, for example, Reuven vows that Shimon may not derive any benefit from him [Reuven], then Shimon may not study Torah from Reuven’s sefer. He explains that this is because “the Torah certainly gladdens the heart… Therefore this mitzvah [to study Torah] is not comparable to other mitzvos with regard to which we say that they are not given for physical enjoyment. In contrast, this [mitzvah to study Torah]

brings a person enjoyment.” Because it offers tangible enjoyment, Shimon may not study from Reuven’s sefer.

In order to counteract the erroneous notion maintained by some that Torah study is only for the sake of Heaven if one does not enjoy it, the Avnei Nezer writes in the introduction to his sefer Eglei Tal that the primary fulfillment of the mitzvah to study Torah is to enjoy one’s learning and that this is the only way that the words of Torah will “become absorbed into the blood…

This is what it means to study Torah for the sake of Heaven. It is entirely holy because even the enjoyment itself is a mitzvah.” According to the Avnei Nezer, enjoying one’s learning is the primary way one must fulfill the mitzvah of studying Torah!

These two mitzvos involve the two main categories of enjoyment.

The mitzvah to study Torah involves a positive emotional and intellectual enjoyment, and the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel includes a component of physical enjoyment.

The common denominator in these two mitzvos is that neither are circumscribed activities done for the sake of the performance of an obligatory act. Both are much more.

They are life itself. With respect to Torah, we say (Maariv), “For they [the words of Torah] are our life and the length of our days.” Without Torah, we are like fish on dry land. The

Torah is the wedding ring, the bond connecting the Jewish people and G-d. Can one imagine if a chosson told his kallah under the chuppah, “Just so you know, even though I’m marrying you, it’s nothing personal.

I’m doing this because it’s a mitzvah.

Sure, I’ll be happy, just like there is a mitzvah to do any of Hashem’s mitzvos with joy. But it has nothing to do with you. I do not enjoy you personally in any way.” What kind of marriage would that be!? Hashem expects us to enjoy Torah, to have a geshmak in our learning. That is the essence of our relationship with G-d.

And it is the same with the mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel. Living there is not simply the ability to have a land of our own, a refuge from persecution, or even a place to unify us as a nation. The land of Israel is intertwined with the essence of our lives as Jews. As the pasuk (Tehillim 116:9) says, “I will walk before Hashem in the land of life.” The life of the

Jewish people and Eretz Yisroel are inseparable. They are one life. One essence.

And the connection between them and the reality that both are the essence of our lives is reflected in the pasuk (Devarim 32:47), “For it [the study of Torah] is your life and through it you will lengthen your days upon the land which you are crossing over the Jordan to possess it.”

This is what Rav Kook describes at the beginning of Oros Me’ofel, as translated by Bezalel Naor, “The Land of Israel is not something external, not an external national asset, a means to the end of collective solidarity and the strengthening of the nation’s existence, physical or even spiritual. The Land of Israel is an essential unit bound by the bond-of-life to the People, united by inner characteristics to its existence.” Eretz Yisroel is part of our lives, physical and spiritual, with all that this entails. It is not a detail of

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our national reality, but rather it is an inherent part of the richness of our spiritual and physical life.

With this in mind, we can now understand the root of the sin of the spies. As Dovid Hamelech said (Tehillim 106:24), “And they were disgusted by the desirable land.” With all of their justifications, the spies concluded (Bamidbar 13:31), “We cannot ascend.” Calev, on the other hand, cried out (ibid. at 30), “We can surely ascend and take possession of it, we can surely succeed in doing it!” What was the difference between them? The spies put on their white fabric gloves, so to speak, inspected the land, found a speck of dust, turned up their noses and said, “You call this a good land? Is this a beautiful kallah?” In contrast, Yehoshua and Calev said (ibid. at 14:7), “The land is exceedingly good! She is a beautiful and kind kallah!” (cf. Kesubos 17a).

Rav Kook, zy”a, in his essay, The Great Call to Eretz Yisroel, writes,

“[We must] destroy, with the powerful arm of the spirit and with the spiritual holiness of the desirable land, the filth of the spies…” Rav Kook calls upon us “to awaken the ancient love for Zion, to take hold of it and to settle it with the ropes of man and cords of love.”

May Hashem allow us to learn the Torah and make our lives in Eretz Yisroel with joy, peace, and happiness. And may Hashem fulfill our request in the blessing of the haftara, “Have mercy on Zion because it is the house of our life. And save those who are sad of spirit and cause them to rejoice soon in our days. Blessed are You Hashem, Who causes Zion to rejoice in those who build it!”

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.

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Parsha

in 4

Parshas Shlach

By Eytan Kobre

Weekly Aggada And your children, which you said would be prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected (Bamidbar 14:31) The Jewish people here are comparable to a prince whose father, the king, arranged for him to marry the most beautiful, wealthy, pedigreed woman in the world. When the king told his son that he had arranged for him to marry the most beautiful, wealthy, pedigreed woman in the world, the prince asked to see his bride-to-be (for he did not

believe the king).

The king was in a quandary. On the one hand, he did not particularly like being distrusted by his own son; on the other hand, if he refused his son’s request, the son would conclude that the bride-to-be was less pleasing than the king made her out to be. In the end, the king decided to permit his son to meet the bride-to-be, but he added the following: “See her and know that I did not deceive you. And because you did not trust me, I swear that you will not marry her; instead your son will marry her.”

So, too, G-d promised the Jewish

people an exceedingly good land – the Land of Israel. But they did not believe Him; instead, they wanted to send spies to see for themselves. G-d was in a “quandary” (so to speak): if He would decline the request to see the Land of Israel, the Jewish people would say, “the land is no good and He therefore refuses to show us.” So what did G-d do? He said, “Let them see it, but none of them will enter it; rather, their children will” (Tanchuma, Shlach 5).

Weekly Mussar Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and up, you who have murmured against Me (Bamidbar 14:29) The sin of sending spies to report on the Land of Israel was not, of course, the Jewish people’s only misstep during their journey. There was the sin of the Golden Calf. There was the sin of the Complainers. There was the sin of Korach and his cronies. Indeed, during their sojourn in the desert, the Jewish people seemed to vacillate between belief in G-d and challenging Him at every turn.

And yet, with the exception of those directly involved in all those sins, G-d forgave the Jewish people without punishing them collectively.

Not so with the sin of the spies. In that case, G-d decreed that all living adult males between the ages of twenty and sixty would perish in the desert before reaching the Land of Israel; only the next generation would enter the land.

Why did G-d forgive all the other (seemingly more grievous) sins, while punishing the Jewish people collectively for this one?

Because all sins can be forgiven,

observed R’ Yitzchok Elchonon Spector, except for those one commits against himself or herself. Whether a sin is committed against G-d (e.g., the Golden Calf and the Complainers) or against man (e.g., Korach and his cronies), one can make amends. But those committed against oneself, and which fundamentally alter oneself, cannot be rectified.

The sin of the Jewish people in the case of the spies was that they harmed themselves: they cried for nothing because they chose to believe tall tales and slander over recognizing obvious truth. In so doing, the Jewish people degraded and debased their very essence and nature. G-d does not forgive that lightly.

Weekly Anecdote Send men for yourself, that they may spy the Land of Canaan that I give to the Jewish people; of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, every one a prince among them (Bamidbar 13:2) The passage of the spies and the passage of Miriam are placed next to one another because Miriam was afflicted on account of the ill she spoke of her brother (Moshe), and these spies saw as much but did not take mussar (Bamidbar Rabba 16:6; Rashi, Bamidbar 13:2).

At the outbreak of World War I, a young Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach was learning in Yeshivas Knesses Yisroel, better known as the Slabodka Yeshiva. When war erupted, the yeshiva was closed and many of its students were forced to flee, scattered all across Europe. Eventually, Rav Shach made his way to Slutsk, where he became close with R’ Issur Zalman Meltzer, who would often relate the following story.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

When the Slabodka Yeshiva was closed, Rav Shach and his friends made their way out of the town to avoid the oncoming Russian onslaught. But just as they reached the outskirts of town, Rav Shach slapped his hand to his forehead. “Oy! I forgot an object of great value in the yeshiva. I must run back to retrieve it!”

Mind you, Rav Shach was an exceedingly poor young man, with hardly any worldly possessions to his name, let alone ones worth risking his life over. So his friends were puzzled by what this “object of great value” could possibly be. And they tried to reason with him. “What could be so valuable that you really need to go back for? Just leave it!” But Rav Shach would not be dissuaded, and he ran back in the direction of the yeshiva.

Only a few minutes later, Rav Shach could again be seen by his friends racing toward them with a small package tucked under his arm. He had made excellent time back-and-forth. When he finally reached his friends, sweating

and breathless, it became apparent that the “object of great value” was an old, tattered version of the classical mussar treatise Shaarei Teshuva (written

by Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerondi). Rav Shach was overjoyed that he had the bravery to run back and retrieve it and that he had done so successfully.

But some of his friends were less pleased. “Important as it is, is that book really worth putting yourself and us in danger?”

“We are taught,” replied the young Rav Shach, “‘Take hold of mussar, let her not go; keep her, for she is your life’” (Mishlei 4:13). We leave our yeshiva now to save our lives, but without this little book of mussar, I have nothing by which to live. With this little book of mussar, I do now.”

Weekly Halacha Speak to the Jewish people and say to them that they should make throughout their generations fringes in the

corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue (Bamidbar 15:38) There is some debate as to what is considered a “garment” for purposes of being obligated in tzitzis (Menachos 39b) Sephardim generally follow the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch, who holds that only garments made of wool or linen have a Torah obligation in tzitzis; other materials require tzitzis only on a rabbinic level (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 9:1; Rambam, Tzitzis 3:2; Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvos, Positive Commandment 14). Ashkenazim, on the other hand, hold like the Rama, who maintains that nearly all materials are included in the Torah obligation (Rama, Orach Chaim 9:1; Tosfos, Menachos 39b). Still, some maintain that even Ashkenazim should wear wool and linen garments to satisfy all opinions (Mishna Berura 9:5), except that some authorities are lenient when it is hot outside (see Igros Moshe,

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Orach Chaim 2:1). Notably, the Vilna Gaon (Maaseh Rav, Birchos HaShachar 17) and the Chazon Ish (Shoneh Halachos 9:1) wore non-wool garments for their tzitzis, but that is not necessarily to be followed ideally (see e.g. Teshuvos VeHanhagos 1:18).

Leather garments are exempt completely from tzitzis (Menachos 40b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 10:4), and there is some debate as to whether other synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, nylon) also are completely exempt (see Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim 2:1; Responsa of Har Tzvi, Orach Chaim 1:9).

The Weekly Halacha is not meant for practical purposes and is for discussion purposes only. Please consult your own rav for guidance.

Eytan Kobre is a writer, speaker, and attorney living in Kew Gardens Hills. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail eakobre@outlook.com.

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Think, Feel, Grow

Fantasy or Reality The Ultimate Challenge

By Shmuel Reichman

A

peasant farmer in old Russia stood weeping by the side of the road. He had no land to farm and no food to feed his family.

As he stood there, contemplating his bleak future, the Czar happened to pass by in his royal coach. He saw the peasant, and the flow of tears rolling down this poor man’s face touched the Czar’s heart. So much so, that he asked the driver to stop so that he could inquire about the nature of this poor man’s misfortune. When he heard the whole problem was a lack of land to farm, he took a stake and drove it into the ground, right where they stood.

He then gave the peasant three stakes and instructed him: “Walk as far as you wish and then drive this stake into the ground. Turn, walk again as far as you wish, and then place the next stake in the ground. Finally, turn again and walk as far as you’d like before placing the last stake in the ground. The land between the four stakes will be yours as a gift from me, the Czar.”

The man was overcome with joy and eagerly began to walk. After some time, he stopped and prepared to plant the stake in the ground. He was about to shove it in when he paused and thought, “Why should I stop here? I can have so much more!” So he continued to walk. After some time, he stopped and he once again prepared to plant the stake in the ground. He was about to shove it in when he once again paused and thought, “Why should I stop here? I can have so much more!”

So he continued to walk. And as the

story goes, this man never stopped walking….

The powerful message from this story is clear; we have so much potential in our lives but if we never sacrifice our potential in order to create something real, we will never accomplish anything!

Potential vs. Reality The Maharal explains that there is an important relationship between the spiritual concepts of potential and actual. Potential is endless, multipotent, everything and anything. It has no boundaries, no borders, and no limitations. Something real, on the other hand, is limited, has borders, and is restricted only to what it is. Potential might be endless, but it’s not real.

What is real might be limited, but it has taken on true existence. Our lives are filled with experiences of both potential and actualized potential. Let us explore a few manifestations of these ideas in order to better understand this root concept.

The prime example and illustration of potential and reality is our relationship with time. Every single morning, when you wake up, the day holds infinite potential. You have the time to do anything, go anywhere, meet anyone. But that’s only potential – for in reality, you haven’t done anything yet.

And in reality, you can’t do everything, only something. On the other hand, every night when you go to sleep the potential of that day is completely gone. The only thing that remains is

that which you made real from the time you were given, what you accomplished, who you became in that day.

The sadness of this moment is that the potential is gone – your day is over.

The happiness is everything that you have accomplished, everything you’ve made real.

This same paradigm applies to life itself. At the beginning of life you have infinite potential; you can become anything, learn anything, meet anyone. Your whole life is ahead of you, but completely in potential. This is not real, it’s only potential, the possibilities for what you can choose to become. Only the potential that we actualize and make real becomes eternal. At the end of our lives there is a mixture of feelings. The sadness is that your potential is gone. The happiness is that we can then look back at all that we have accomplished with a feeling of pride, knowing that we have taken the time we were given to build ourselves, to make our potential real.

In secular culture, youth is associated with spring and summer while old age is compared to winter. This is because youth is a time of potential, of excitement, of newness and fun. Old age, on the other hand, is when that potential is nearly gone and when the physical body has withered and gone cold. It’s therefore associated with the depression and darkness of winter, as death is nearing and potential has dwindled. Fascinatingly, this is in stark contrast with the Jewish approach.

Shlomo Ha’Melech compares youth to winter and old age to summer. This is because winter is the time of planting seeds, the ultimate time of potential. It represents childhood, the beginning of your journey in this world.

Summer, on the other hand, is like the end of life, when your seeds have borne crops, when you see all that you’ve produced with the life you’ve been given, all your growth and accomplishments.

Secular culture is enamored with youth and potential, with less attention paid to actualized potential and achieved greatness. The mode of Judaism is not an infatuation with what can be; it’s an appreciation of what has been made real. We don’t see potential as the ultimate end, on the contrary, we aim for the rich satisfaction of actualized potential. This is the true joy of life, the ultimate summer.

This pattern of potential and reality is behind the experience of every creative process as well. When you begin an artistic work, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, a book, or anything of the sort, you have infinite potential. The creative process can lead you down any path; there are endless possibilities of what you can make.

However, in order to make something real, you must decide on only one thing to make. You must limit the endless potential in order to make something real.

Interestingly enough, this process mirrors Hashem’s creation of the world. The Ramchal states that Hashem is infinite and therefore has

the ability to create any type of world that He chooses. However, out of all the endless possibilities, He chose to create this world, the one in which you and I exist.

Potential is beautiful, majestic, and genuinely precious. We all understand the value of potential. However, the weakness of potential is that it’s just that: potential. It’s not real; it’s merely theoretical. The greatness of something that’s been actualized is that it’s tangible and real. The weakness, though, is that it’s only that, nothing more. A finished project is form of actualized potential. It’s beautiful in that it’s real, but it’s still important to realize that it’s limited to what it is. It could have been anything else – there were endless possibilities. However, it’s now the specific and unique form that the artist chose to create.

The ultimate challenge is limiting infinite potential for the purpose of making something real.

Just imagine if a wealthy and generous person comes over to you and

offers you any amount of money in the world. “Just quote me a number and I’ll give it to you,” he says. Your mind races as you think about what number you’re going to state. Ten thousand dollars? A million? Let’s say you finally

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However, much like the farmer in our introductory story, if you can’t sacrifice potential for actual, you won’t end up with anything.

We genuinely struggle in this area.

You’ll often hear people saying, “Why

The mode of Judaism is not an infatuation with what can be; it’s an appreciation of what has been made real.

decide to say five million dollars, and he hands over the money; the pleasure of that decision is that you are now five million dollars richer. The pain is that you don’t get a single dollar more. You could have said six million, or five hundred million, or seven trillion. The list of potential numbers is never-ending.

get married to this person, perhaps the next one who comes along will be better?” “Why take this business offer, maybe the next one will be better?” When we fall prey to this line of thinking we end up with nothing.

We like to fantasize about perfect futures, ideal living conditions, and ul-

timate relationships. However, sometimes we get so caught up in dreaming about a better life that we don’t end up living our own. In fact, many people are stuck fantasizing about the life they want to live instead of bringing that potential into reality. We must be willing to start with what we have, where we are, and work our way from there.

Potential is beautiful, but only inasmuch as we use it and bring it to fruition.

May we be inspired to actualize as much of our potential as we can, choose the real over the fantasy, and prepare ourselves for the ultimate summer.

Shmuel Reichman is an inspirational speaker who has spoken internationally at shuls, conferences, and in Jewish communities. You can find more inspirational shiurim, videos, and articles from Shmuel on Facebook and Yutorah.org. For all questions, thoughts, or bookings, please email shmuelreichman678@gmail.com.

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Israel Today

Cisco Kids

By Rafi Sackville

I

t is not beyond the realm of probability that many of the current day professions will not exist in 30 years’ time. The global transformation towards internet-related work is challenging a generation of youngsters who would, under normal circumstances, find their places in the work force doing manual labor.

It doesn’t matter what field you work in, every profession in the future will be connected in one way or other to technology.

A perfect example of our changing world can be seen in the time it takes between the emergence of new technology until there are 50 million people using it. When the transistor radio first appeared, it took 47 years before people were using it. Television took off more quickly; only 13 years passed before it caught on.

In contrast, it took 50 million people only two years to sign up to Facebook, and only two weeks for that number to start using Instagram. So yes, the world is changing very fast.

Governments aren’t the only bodies dealing with this issue. Cisco Israel, the worldwide networking hardware company, has invested time and effort to help generate an interest in telecommunications-related professions with the aim of conscripting a new generation of youth into the next phase of their lives.

Cisco, whose main headquarters is in Netanya, has a working partnership with Ta’asieda, an educational organization whose mandate is to help youngsters integrate into this changing workforce. Cisco claims that the world has changed so quickly that today one million people could easily find employment in internet security, two million in information and communications technology, while there is a need to increase the field of data science by 40%.

Understanding this phenomenon has been recognized by my school.

This year they introduced telecommunications, an elective for challenged students. I am the homeroom teacher to a classroom of twenty such like students.

I have previously written about the difficulties facing such youngsters. Whereas they don’t all come from similar backgrounds, they share an us vs. them mentality that occasionally finds them feeling like outcasts.

Their lives have not been easy.

Some come from broken homes, or poor homes, or complications in life none of us would wish for. Without the recognition that one has to shift into a different gear when walking into their world, a teacher will quickly fail to gain their confidence.

My class’s introduction to this sophisticated new world of computers got off to a shaky start this year.

The students have yet to gel with their computer teacher. Moreover, they have shown resistance to having telecommunication forced upon them. They cannot see that many of the jobs currently available to their parents’ generation will no longer exist once they get out of the army.

They can only see as far as the present.

It’s a dilemma that translates into drama in the classroom. There have been days when they have rebelled and refused to come to class.

There have been lessons when they will not stop using their cellphones.

There have been many occasions when the teacher has yelled at them.

And when they come out on top, when they have won a battle against their teacher, they are emboldened and become stronger and think they are doing wonderfully. They cannot see that they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Thus, the trip to Netanya. With an eye towards giving back to society, Cisco has been inviting classes like mine to their headquarters, where they give them a briefing about Cisco’s place in the workforce, show them how the world is changing, and, more importantly, highlight what role young people like my students will play in the coming years.

The lecture got off to a good start, although lecturing challenged kids is not easy and is best done in

bursts. Einat was our guide. She is in charge of Cisco’s school program.

She had been speaking for only a few minutes when there was a detectable shuffling of feet and playing with cellphones.

Then she brought up a slide showing Cisco’s global earning from the previous year, which amounted to $49.3 billion. It was as if the students had undergone a collective wake-up call. Those using phones stopped swiping and looked up. That number had made quite an impression. They began asking questions connected to earnings... of anyone who worked in Cisco. I could hear them whispering among themselves.

“How much do you think she makes? It’s got to be at least 30,000 shekels a month. If not more!”

Einat had their interest at last.

We took a break in the refreshment area. They huddled around the latte machine like Monday morning gatherings around the water cooler.

It was a fancy machine – the kids drank so much they finished off three liters of milk.

We were then given a tour through Cisco’s offices. Two students refused to budge until given permission to go outside and smoke.

Yes, that’s an issue that cannot be ignored. Of the 20 kids, 13 are smokers. We apply a rule of thumb when it comes to smoking; you know they smoke. You cannot stop them.

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Shimon Peres giving the world’s biggest civics lesson at Cisco’s Netanya headquarters in 2014

Turn a blind eye as long as they don’t smoke in front of you. These two students have excessive habits and regularly roll over twenty cigarettes a day. The tobacco they buy is suspect because it comes from Gaza and is known to be grown on sewerage water. It took a while before I convinced them to give their lungs

a rest. They reluctantly followed along.

Our final stop was in two identical conference rooms. These rooms were the same used by the late Shimon Peres when he broke a world record in 2014 by delivering the largest online civics class in the world.

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Rafi’s students in the same room that Peres sat years before

The students bantered by camera between the two rooms. Their level of discourse did not quite match that of Peres’s civics lesson. In fact, at one point, I had to intervene to prevent the conversation from spiraling into a less than civic discourse.

At this point in time it is difficult

to judge whether our visit to Cisco will have its intended effect. What I can say with confidence is that I have faith that my students will survive and thrive in the coming years, be it in hi-tech or not.

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.

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W armth & C omradery A School of

Closes its Doors

By Susan Schwamm

N

estled on a small street in Lawrence, just one block off Central Avenue, Machon Basya Rochel has been an integral part of many girls’ post-high school education. There, tens of young women spent their gap year ensconced in Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner’s and Mrs. Debra Green’s warm embrace. Aside from learning Chumash and Rashi and delving into the Rambam’s principles of faith, the girls were taught life lessons, aimed at helping them develop into mature young women and arming them with messages and morals for them to bring along on their life journey.

Machon Basya Rochel opened ten years ago to fill a role in the community. Now, a decade later, it seems that the need is no longer there. With aching hearts and with

gratitude to Hashem for many wonderful years, the school closed its doors earlier this month.

Recently, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rebbetzin Feiner and Mrs. Green to reminisce about the past few years. As we peeked into the classrooms, we noticed how the students were enthralled with the lessons. We observed the close relationships shared between the students and between their mechanchos. The atmosphere was cozy, inviting, cheerful – a home away from home.

Indeed, Machon Basya Rochel – although started for girls in the community who wanted to spend their seminary year close to their families – attracted many young women from out-of-town. The girls became part of the community, dorming in the Machon Basya Ro-

chel dorm in Far Rockaway and connecting with many families in the Far Rockaway-Lawrence community.

I

n the summer of 2008, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Feiner had come to the United States from Eretz Yisroel to work in Camp Simcha, as they had been doing for six years prior. That year, though, they brought along their beautiful baby, Shaya, who has special needs. Shaya had been in the hospital in Israel – where the Feiners had lived – for the first six months of his life.

“I loved Eretz Yisroel with all my heart and soul,” Rebbetzin Feiner recalls, “but I knew that after six months of caring for Shaya on my own without any familial support, it would be good to get some family time again.”

At the time, Rabbi Feiner, a Far Rockaway native, was approached by the board of the White Shul in Far Rockaway to take on the position as a rav.

During those first few years in the United States, Rebbetzin Feiner was extremely busy taking care of Shaya and dedicating herself to the klal. Numerous organizations, schools, and shuls invited Rebbetzin Feiner to speak for their audiences.

She gave over life lessons, inspirations, and insights into Yiddishkeit.

Rebbetzin Feiner was well-suited to speak to members of the community. In Eretz Yisroel, Rebbetzin Feiner poured her heart into inspiring others. She taught in Sharfman’s and Tomer Devorah. She also taught in JEWEL and Tikva. She ran a children’s library in her home and directed the N’shei of Shaarei

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Chesed. Her life was brimming with giving.

A few years before the Feiners came to the U.S., Rebbetzin Feiner opened a seminary for women in Shaarei Chesed called Chachmas Nashim. What started out with 25 women blossomed to 100 when Rebbetzin Feiner left to the States.

Now, hundreds of women enjoy the weekly shiurim.

A

few years after settling into Far Rockaway, Rebbetzin Feiner noticed that her schedule that involved taking care of Shaya had stabilized. She was ready to take on another role in inspiring young women in the community.

Soon Rebbetzin Feiner found an opportunity in which to give back.

Mr. Yoeli Steinberg, vice president and general manager at Gourmet Glatt, approached Rebbetzin Feiner ten years ago with a proposition. His daughter wanted to attend seminary close to home. The Steinbergs knew other girls like her – girls who wanted to receive an extended Torah education posthigh school but who wanted to stay near their families in New York. Mr. Steinberg knew about Rebbetzin Feiner’s expertise and experience.

He asked if she’d be interested in becoming menaheles of a seminary in the Far Rockway-Five Towns community.

It was a perfect match. Mr. Steinberg brought on Mr. Aaron Rubin, his chavrusa, as the first member of the board. Mr. Rubin, an accountant, was able to handle the seminary’s accounts. His wife, Shifra, eventually became the secretary at Machon Basya Rochel this past year.

Mr. Steinberg also got Mr. Alex Edelman, currently mayor of Lawrence, involved in the initiative. Mr. Edelman’s mother had passed away that year. Wanting to do something for her, they named the seminary after her: Basya Rochel. Three years after the seminary opened, Mr. Edelman bought the iconic building on Lawrence Avenue. It was the ideal location for a seminary that had girls commuting from Brooklyn and Queens, as it was adjacent to the LIRR station in Lawrence, although Mr. Edelman provided a van for the

girls who were commuting from Brooklyn to the seminary.

Throughout the years, Mr. Steinberg maintained a close connection to the seminary. Their breakroom was fully stocked by Mr. Steinberg every week from Gourmet Glatt, and the food at every event was generously donated by him as well.

Knowing that she had obligations to her shul and to her family,

scheduling, and administration. She assisted teachers with their curriculum and forged strong relationships with the students.

T

welve girls comprised the first class of Machon Basya Rochel the first year. That year, five girls from the Five Towns joined. A few others were from Brooklyn and Queens. The next

“We had so many wonderful years, and we made a difference in so many girls’ lives.”

Rebbetzin Feiner needed a righthand man – or woman, in this case – to help with the logistics of the school. After interviewing candidates, she found the perfect partner in Mrs. Debra Green.

Mrs. Green, a resident of Far Rockaway, had worked in HAFTR High School for fourteen years and was seminary advisor and senior mechaneches for ten years there. Together with Rebbetzin Feiner, they formed the perfect team. “We were mom and pop, and pop and mom for the girls,” Mrs. Green jokes. She had been in charge of many of the technical aspects of the program. Mrs. Green would deal with transcripts,

year, the seminary grew. Twenty girls were part of that class – the seminary had grown.

For girls in a small seminary, there are many advantages. The small group becomes a distinct unit.

There’s cohesiveness, a comradery; every girl is integral to the group.

And every girl can shine.

Teachers are also more readily available for each student. Close relationships and sincere connections are developed. Students feel more comfortable approaching teachers when they know that their focus is less dispersed.

“They knew that they could ask us any question,” Mrs. Green shares.

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“All the staff were approachable and open to questions. We wanted the girls to have their questions answered so they can become stronger for the future.”

Mrs. Green had a suggestion box in the seminary in which the girls knew they could drop in their ideas and suggestions for the school. One suggestion in the box a few years ago was about a question and answer session with the teachers.

Another suggestion asked for muffins. And so, Mrs. Green combined the two and came up with “Muffins and More.” At Muffins and More sessions throughout the year, the girls and teachers enjoyed muffins.

Along with the muffins came food for thought – answers given by Mrs. Green and Mrs. Yocheved Shonek, Director of Student Life, to questions given by students before the gathering.

The girls were creative and open with their questions. Why can I wear a blue shirt and not blue nail polish? queried one girl. Other questions centered around Israeli politics, areas of hashkafa, dating, and marriage. The questions piqued other students’ interests and engaged the teachers and students on a deeper level.

Mrs. Green adds, “There was no pressure here. We weren’t about busy work, although we did have tests and midterms periodically so girls could receive college credits for the courses. Overall, our main goal was that we wanted them to enjoy their seminary experience.”

After the first year, a few out-oftown girls came to Machon Basya Rochel – think Providence, Rhode Island; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; and Montreal. The seminary had made itself a name as being a home away from home. It was a small setting with a large heart. Girls knew that at Machon Basya Rochel, they would be nurtured and their kishronos would be honed.

“We never wanted a circle to be a triangle or a triangle to be a circle,” Rebbetzin Feiner explains. “We wanted each girl to shine in their own way.”

Initially, the out-of-towners dormed at local families’ homes.

Five years ago, the seminar y

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opened up a dorm. They wanted to give girls not living nearby a more “seminary-like” experience. Eleven girls took advantage of the dorm last year. These were girls who wanted to go away from home for seminary but couldn’t go to Eretz Yisroel and were possibly overwhelmed by the busyness of Brooklyn. A small, warm seminary in the Five Towns was the perfect place for them.

Mrs. Yocheved Shonek, a Far Rockaway native known for her kallah classes and parenting workshops, was the aim ha’bayis at the seminary. She wouldn’t go to sleep until all the girls were in for the night at the dorm. And even when they were all sleeping, she slept with her phone near her bed in case there was an emergency. Going to the hospital in the middle of the night with one girl was part and parcel of the title Mrs. Shonek held – and she did it with lev v’nefesh, tending to the girls as if they were her own children.

Throughout the years, Rebbetzin Feiner and Mrs. Green recall, the seminary girls became part of their families. They would often drive girls to school, and, before the dorm opened, many times girls would sleep at their homes when they needed a place to stay. Mrs. Green observes that throughout the years there had been times when she’s noticed that a girl needed a bit of time out of the dorm and she would invite her to her home for a few days of rest and relaxation. Many Shabbosim were spent around teachers’ tables as the girls enjoyed seeing their mechanchos in a different light.

Once the dorm opened, the seminary began to offer classes on a full-day schedule. Until then, Machon Basya Rochel was a four-daya-week, half-day program. It was the perfect option for those wanting to hold down a job or enroll in college classes the other part of the day. After the dorm opened and girls were living in the community from out-of-town, a full-day option was offered. Those in the dorm joined the full-day sessions and the majority of the girls generally signed up too.

The rebbeim and mechanchos at Machon Basya Rochel were dynam-

ic and engaging. Rebbetzin Feiner’s classes focused on the chamesh Megillos and the yomim tovim along with cornerstones of emunah. Mrs. Green taught the parsha and the essence of Jewish marriage. Focusing on one’s growth and development were covered by Mrs. Yocheved Shonek in her classes. Rabbi Yaakov Feitman, Rabbi Ilan Ginian, Rabbi Zalmen Mindell, and Rabbi Shmuel Witkin also taught the girls, along with Mrs. Yael Bertram, Mrs. Rivka Gross, Mrs. Rochel Laya Moskovitz, Mrs. Chaya Sarah Rapps, Mrs. Miriam Roth, Ms. Deena Sturm, and Mrs. Nechama Perel Wachsman.

The students were immersed in learning about fundamentals in Yiddishkeit and developing as a person.

In addition to the vibrant classes the girls took every day, special lecturers were brought in weekly. At one point, the mechanchos saw that the girls needed extra chizuk and brought in Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe in Lawrence, to give them a bracha. When Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, passed away, a Sephardic man from the community who was connected to the chacham spoke with the girls about him. When they noticed a need, the hanhala brought in professionals or lecturers to address that need for the students.

Sprinkled throughout the year were yimei iyun focused on different topics. These programs were run

by Mrs. Shonek with her distinct flair and attention to detail, as were Shabbatonim throughout the year and rosh chodesh programs.

At the yom iyun on harbotzas Torah the girls were given the Te-

fillah Ha’Shla and excerpts on Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, a”h, from her biography. Accountants and career counselors were brought in for the parnassah yom iyun, and a copy of the tefillah l’parnassah was given out as well. Mothers and members of the community were invited to attend the Chanukah and Purim yimei iyun to enjoy the speakers who were specially invited those days. The “Beautiful You” yom

iyun reminded the girls about their inner beauty and the impression one makes when they choose to dress a certain way. All these symposiums were aimed at developing the girls and molding them into more complete, mature, wholesome people.

“Fun programming” – as Mrs. Green puts it – added spice and sweetness to the year.

One former student of Rebbetzin Feiner who is a makeup artist was brought in at one point to teach the girls how to do their makeup beautifully and naturally. Mrs. Shonek would arrange a scavenger hunt each year on Rosh Chodesh Adar in Target to bring in the Purim simcha.

The Home Sweet Home program brought the students to their teachers’ homes in the evening where they would do a fun activity together with their teachers like baking challah, cupcake decorating, and putting together mishloach manos for children in the hospital.

One of the highlights of the girls’ year was the Shabbaton spent

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in New Square. Rabbi Zalmen and Mrs. Mindell is related to the Skverer Rebbe and arranged the Shabbos for the girls. The students spent Shabbos in New Square not as tourists but as guests of Skver. They walked the inner roads of the community and met incredible people along the way.

There were also Shabbatons held in Far Rockaway – one at the beginning of the year and the other at the end of the year. It was overwhelming to see how far the girls had come in just a few months. The culminating shalosh seudos at the Feiner residence was always emotional – lots of singing, some tears, many insights into how seminary was meaningful to each girl.

The siyum ha’shana was also focused on each girl’s accomplishments. Held the last week of school, the girls received their diplomas and reveled in what they gained over the year. Mothers were invited for dessert to join in the simcha and to

shep nachas over their daughter’s accomplishments.

W

hen word got out that Machon Basya Rochel would not be reopening come September, many members of the community were heartbroken.

“We wanted each girl to shine in their own way.”

Recently, one woman met Mrs. Green on the street and told her that she was sad that Machon Basya Rochel would no longer be part of the community. “It was comforting,” the woman said, “to know that it was

s

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there. Our community has everything – schools, kollelim, mikvaos – and we had a seminary. It felt good that it was there.”

“Im Hashem lo yivneh bayis shav amlo bonav bo,” Rebbetzin Feiner observes. “It’s up to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. It’s in His hands. We had so

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many wonderful years, and we made a difference in so many girls’ lives.

We saw them – how they developed and grew and matured. And we’re sad that we won’t be able to continue to help so many other wonderful,

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special girls. But it’s not meant to be.”

She adds, “We had a shem tov in the community and in the educational world as well. We’re so thankful for all of it and for the dedication of all the rebbeim and mechanchos who came along with us on this journey.

“The past few years have been filled with simcha and camaraderie and shalom. Hashem will take us someplace else – which will be good, but it will be different,” the Rebbetzin concedes.

“This was so special.”

A mechaneches at heart, Rebbetzin Feiner assures that the school will still be open for adult classes and possibly for rosh chodesh classes as well. Foundations, a program started by Mrs. Green for post-seminary girls on Sunday mornings, will continue to be held in the Machon Basya Rochel building.

The community, it seems, does not want to see this bastion of women’s Torah education go.

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Hate, Hope, and the Long Road Home A

rticulate, soft-spoken and pleasant with a kippah on his head and a Star of David around his neck, you would never guess the life that John Daly has lived by looking at him.

John was a teenager who took a wrong turn and found himself in the darkest depths of hate, implausibly becoming a high-ranking officer in one of America’s largest neo-Nazi skinhead organizations. As Daly shares his story, he pauses every so often. He pauses not only as he retells his harrowing tale of being brutally beaten and left for dead by the neo-Nazis who had recruited him, but also as he reflects on the painful reminders of his family’s journey away from Judaism and his personal return back.

On a recent speaking tour in the States, Daly was visibly moved by his surroundings. Taking the stage in the Young Israel of Woodmere, a vibrant Orthodox shul on Long Island, Daly shared the marked significance of the venue and the visit – the first visit back to New York since his ancestors sat shiva for his great-grandmother when she married out of the fold over 100 years ago.

“As you can tell by my name, Daly is Irish. My dad’s side is Jewish and

By Tammy Mark

Irish,” he explained. “Three years ago, I had the great honor of speaking in Northern Ireland where I spoke to groups of Catholics and Protestants together. For the first time ever, they had come together in one room to hear one Jew talk about his story. In a sense, going to Ireland made me feel like I had returned home. Coming to this – it feels like a circle has been closed.”

John traced his ancestors’ departure from their Jewish roots. His paternal great-grandmother was the first to marry a non-Jew because she didn’t want her children to be subjected to “the horrors” of being a Jew. John’s father’s mother was thereby Jewish, but also married a non-Jew because her mother had married a non-Jew. John’s mother’s lineage was Jewish throughout, though her extended family eventually became mixed as well. Daly can proudly trace his family tree back to Germany’s Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, an early religious Zionist.

A Feeling of Belonging Daly described how a Jewish boy from a loving home became involved with a gang of neo-Nazis, particularly a group considered one of the most dangerous hate groups in the United States.

He grew up in Ocala, Florida, as the second of four boys in a secular family.

Though academically very successful, he was socially an outsider and often the target of bullying. He joined his first gang simply to feel like he belonged.

“The first group of guys that I met were ‘anti-racist’ skinheads. Just a group of guys hanging out with shaved heads. They said, ‘We’re skinheads’ and I said, ‘Wait, I can’t be a part of this,’” John recalled. “One lifted up his shirt and showed me a white hand and a black hand cracking a swastika in two and said, ‘No, no, we’re not those guys – we’re not those types of people.’”

John relished the sense of camaraderie he found in the gang, finally believing he was a part of something.

He went from being picked on to feeling safe and powerful. The young teen put on combat boots and began to distance himself from his parents.

Racism was rampant in Central Florida, and Daly’s situation abruptly took a dangerous turn. “Two of my friends went to Orlando and met neo-Nazi skinheads. Those guys don’t ask. One day I got a knock on the door...” To John’s shock, the neo-Nazi skinheads had come to his home to personally recruit him. They took him

for a drive and explained the violence that befell those who had tried to leave the group.

“Once I figured out that they didn’t know I was Jewish and they said, ‘Welcome aboard,’ what was my choice? A group of Nazis don’t know you’re Jewish and recruit you, what do you say?

Thanks – or ‘I’m Jewish’? What’s your choice?” he posits. “16 years old. On the spot, on the fly, I said, ‘Thanks,’ and I became a member.

“Because I was a little bit different than most of the other radical crazy guys, I got moved up. Eventually I found myself to be the Northern Florida leader for a group called the American Front.

He adds, “I rose up very rapidly through the ranks because, unfortunately, I was in gifted classes at school and most of the other guys had already quit school. So being gifted, having a job as a high school student – they found it incredibly different.”

John used his wit to avoid partaking in gang violence whenever possible and would attempt to divert the hate talk away from targeting Jews. He refrained from getting a tattoo. “I knew that once you got a tattoo you were marked forever, and I knew this was not my life – this was not who I was.

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This is what I had to be. I was hiding in plain sight, knowing at any given moment they would find out about who I really was.”

A Brutal Attack John successfully hid his Jewish identity from his neo-Nazi comrades until another member of the group decided to expose him. It was early October 1990 when John was ordered to go to an officers’ meeting and house party in Daytona Beach. John had a bad feeling that something was going to happen that night. John’s group was being watched, having grown to become one of the biggest hate groups with its members listed among the most terrifying skinheads in the U.S. He couldn’t imagine what could possibly come next.

John worked hard to stay sober during that fateful party while the others were drinking all night. They suggested a drive down to the beach, and Daly took his own car in hopes of leaving. As the gang arrived at the beach, a violent and merciless attack on John began. When he heard the shouts of “Die, Jew boy, die!” John knew that his true identity was discovered – and that his closest “friends” were now assigned to be his executioners.

The skinheads held him underwater until he passed out and was assumed dead. John soon awoke on the seashore in a state of confusion, and then they picked him up and started all over again. They again held him underwater as he held his breath as long as possible. John’s attackers later testified that it was one of the most savage beatings that they had ever participated in.

“I was in and out of unconsciousness,” John recalled. “It was an extensive, lengthy, brutal kicking and beating. They left when I was a foot underwater with my eyes and mouth open – they pushed me and watched me go out with the tide. I woke up above the sea line – there’s no explanation as to how that happened. No one found me, there was no one there, it was the middle of the night. The tide was going out so there was no way of floating back up.”

John saw this as an open miracle.

“Hashgacha pratit. Nes galui,” he asserts. “The police, the doctors – everybody said that there’s no physical explanation as to how I was saved. Everybody said it all throughout the court

John’s eleventh grade high school photo a picture hated by his mother

John with his younger brother

testimony – they watched me float out and disappear because they wanted to make sure I was dead.”

Beaten and bruised, John made his way back to his car and miraculously drove himself over 80 miles back to Ocala in total shock. He got home and went straight to bed. He initially told his parents it was a random attack, a “wilding” – so as not to worry them.

But he inevitably shared the horrible

on. But his life was still under threat of retaliatory attacks.

Loving the Land An exceptional student who took the SATs in the seventh grade, Daly had always planned to go to college.

Florida law enforcement told him he couldn’t risk staying in any one place, so college was not an option for him.

He moved around trying to hide and

“A group of Nazis don’t know you’re Jewish and recruit you, what do you say?” truth. He was hospitalized for a week, with a guard put there to protect him, and was even moved at one point to the psychiatric ward for extra protection.

As word got out that John had survived the attack, his assailants began to turn themselves in in the hopes of cutting a deal with law enforcement.

“I made a decision when I was lying in the hospital bed that I knew would affect the rest of my life,” John says. “I could get on a plane and move to Israel immediately. If I did that, what message am I sending? If you beat up a Mexican, you go to jail; you beat up a Chinese person, you go to jail… But if you beat up a Jew, he gets on a plane – so beat up Jews, and they’ll all leave.”

John bravely testified against his attackers and sent several of the most dangerous neo-Nazi skinheads to pris-

survive and fight the fear as much as possible. He studied martial arts and went for cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome the endless fears he was left with, such as fear of water and a fear of being touched.

In 1997, as his attackers began coming out of prison, John knew the time had come for him to leave and finally make aliyah. He reached out to the Jewish Agency for Israel for help; the organization got him safely relocated in Ashkelon. John considers Israel his only home.

“The land of Israel really helped me start keeping kosher more,” he shares.

“I didn’t keep kosher before the attack.

After that, I decided, for me it was a gift to Hashem daily that every time I ate that I be cognizant that I’m only alive out of His benevolence…modeh ani…

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what else can I say? So every time I sit down to eat I’m thankful for the fact that I have the opportunity to eat.”

He adds, “I’m always asked, ‘Is your life still in danger?’ Definitely yes. If they get the opportunity, they’ll do it.

They’ll come after me again. They’ve tried numerous times over the years to organize or set up various hits on my life. That’s why I moved to Israel, because now I’ve got an army that stands between me and them. I live under a flag that says, ‘Not here, not today.’ It will always be my home.”

When John made his move to Israel in 1997 he realized he was finally home and didn’t have to be afraid anymore. He easily embraced the culture and didn’t miss much from the States.

“I didn’t drink Coca-Cola – nothing American, nothing. The United States told me You’re not welcome here anymore. I never thought I’d come back to the States again. Never thought I’d visit again.”

John’s mother, Ruth, had planted seeds for John’s return to Judaism long before John’s move to Israel. Though they primarily observed the high holidays only, the Dalys would travel to Tampa to learn with a rabbi for many years. John had a bar mitzvah, and the family had attempted aliyah soon after in 1987. His mother immediately felt that it was home but, ultimately, the family couldn’t succeed there and returned to Florida.

Though John knew he was Jewish, he had very little opportunity to practice. Shabbat at the rabbi’s house in Tampa was the only real exposure to Jewish life. John couldn’t even connect with his cousins, since their Jewish identity was hidden from them by their parents.

“My mom’s connection was the Jewish Press – that was her only connection to the Jewish world. That came every week and that was her connection. It meant a lot to her,” John recalls.

John’s mother would also send her sons to read Tanach as a form of discipline.

This unique routine gave John a surprisingly strong textual background, which served him well during his journey to Judaism.

After John’s father passed away, Daly brought him from Florida to be buried in Israel, where the Chief Rabbi of Chabad of Ashkelon did the hesped.

Ruth subsequently made aliyah, happi-

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John with his mother, Ruth, and other relatives

ly joining her son in Ashkelon, and her sister now lives in Jerusalem. John’s brothers stayed in the States, one still in his hometown, with some of the family engaged in Jewish life on different levels. With rockets intermittently raining on Ashkelon, John checks in with his mother regularly for mutual reassurance of safety throughout his travels.

Nazis in Auschwitz John knew his father’s family was originally from Brooklyn. His recent visit to New York was more emotional than he could have ever expected. “I wept coming into New York because for me this was coming home in a different way,” John said. “It was like a spiritual return to where my family was lost, and it meant a great deal.”

Bill Rothchild invited John on the trip to speak at the Gilbert Davidoff Memorial Lecture, an event in partnership with the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC. Bill and John then continued up to Canada. Though always reluctant to leave Israel and return to the States, John knew he had to. “I realize there are certain things I can talk about that other people can’t, things I’ve seen and things I’ve participated in…”

John’s first visit back after his aliyah in 1999 was also with Rothchild, who at that time was the Palm Beach Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League. Rothchild had been dealing with the Ku Klux Klan for several years during John’s involve-

Speaking in Cote Saint-Luc in Montreal

ment with the skinheads but the two never crossed paths until Rothchild met John’s parents at an ADL meeting.

Rothchild met John two years later.

They formed a close relationship and have been touring together for nearly 20 years.

gives John the immense strength to keep going during all he has endured, including a harrowing “awake” brain surgery during which the anesthesia didn’t take. “Nothing bad comes from Heaven,” he asserts. “Hashem is in everything, we just forget to look for Him

“It was an incredibly moving experience to walk through the gates of Auschwitz, the gates of hell, with somebody that has a swastika on his shoulder. ” In 2009, John’s strength and leadership qualities were noticed in Israel as well. John was approached by a small Israeli party asking if he’d be on the list to run for the Knesset. “I agreed – I thought it’d be awesome,” he said.

“At the time I was working on my Master’s in Public Policy and Administration. I ran and our party lost...baruch Hashem. Hashem had other plans.”

That same year John was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He went on to have two brain surgeries and still continues to receive treatment.

It is an unyielding faith in G-d that

– and that has been my mantra and my goal in life. The Al-mighty is in everything – if you look for Him, He’s always there. It’s up to Him; it has nothing to do with me.”

In 2015 John began traveling and speaking throughout Europe. The reaction of students hearing his stories also gives John strength. “I speak to groups of Protestants, Catholics, atheists and Muslims kids together in one high school, all coming together to hear one Jew talk about hatred and how we need to stand and fight against hatred together. It is an honor that was worth

the story. It was worth taking the beating that I took,” he says.

John warns of the never-ending threat of anti-Semitism.

“It’s a statistical fact that anti-Semitism is on the rise,” he notes. “Their hatred for us is a colossal hatred against us as a people, as a religion, as an entity. I still have all the court documents, all the original documents going back from 39 years ago. It’s the exact same stuff. The beast from years ago is the exact same beast walking the earth today. The only change is that with social media it’s easier for them to connect than it was before.”

He notes that there’s no simple solution. “To reach them would require one to show and prove some kind of humanity to them because we are less than humans to them. Just like the stuff that came out of Nazi Germany.”

One of the most amazing aspects of John’s story is the possibility of change.

He shares a story of Kevin Connell, a member of the neo-Nazi organization who wasn’t there the night of the attack. Connell, like John, was an intelligent outsider who had also joined the gang primarily for the camaraderie, and they had become fast friends.

Connell contacted John 20 years after they had parted ways, explaining that he finally got out and wanted to make amends for who he was and what he had done.

Connell made an astonishing request – he wanted to visit a concentration camp with John. John knew

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The crew with John and Kevin filming their emotional journey

Cover photo of the film, Escape from Room 18

John and Kevin at Theresienstadt

it was a very risky situation: either an ideal setup or an incredible story. John called a contact in Hollywood and explained the situation knowing that either way it should be filmed.

In 2014, John and the film crew flew to Prague. John recognized a neo-Nazi skinhead standing outside the airport. “I lost it. It’s a setup,” he thought. “We’re going to die. I was convinced. I was visibly shaking – you can see my fear in the film.” As the film crew backed up to get a better angle, John feared for his life. But what ultimately transpired was a positive and life-changing adventure.

The unlikely reunion is documented in the film Escape from Room 18.

The first stop was Theresienstadt, a

John and Kevin speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union

waystation concentration camp and ghetto established by the Nazis. The men visited room 18 at the camp; John explained to Connell how the number 18 in Judaism represented life, chai.

They spoke about how “18” was eerily appropriated by the neo-Nazis to represent Hitler’s initials, since the numbers also corresponded to the letters A and H. Connell felt he needed to see more and pay his respects.

“The following day we got up at the crack of dawn and went to Auschwitz,” John recalls. “It was an incredibly moving experience to walk through the gates of Auschwitz, the gates of hell, with somebody that has a swastika on his shoulder. As soon as we crossed into

the camp, he fell on me, wrapped his arms around and started crying, ‘I’m so, so sorry.’ That, to me, is why it had to be done.”

Keep Your Kids Close The film is being shown in schools around the world. John cautions that all children, even those from loving homes, could be at risk for going wayward. He admits that his tumultuous teenage years were partly due to a classic rebellion against his parents.

“Make sure that they have an outlet, that they have a voice and someone they know they could turn too,” he cautions. “Most of these kids are on the fringe – they feel like they do not

belong anywhere to anybody and nobody wants them.

“When they start feeling a sense of belonging it gives them a sense of empowerment,” advises John. “Give them a tool, give them a task – something they can do to raise their selfworth. When their self-worth is raised it makes them feel like they belong somewhere, that they actually have some sort of importance.”

John looks back on both his ancestral and his personal journey, grateful to have returned to his roots and now reunited with his mother in Israel.

“Loving parents are very important,” John says. “Marrying out is a silent holocaust – and part of my story is that we can come back.”

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters, My sister has a very good friend, Batsheva, who has always spent a great deal of time in our house. They are two years younger than me, and when they were young, they were annoying little girls. But over the past few years, I have come to look at Batsheva differently and am finding myself very drawn to her for so many reasons.

My whole family has always liked Batsheva very much and she’s almost like part of the family. However, last year her parents got divorced. We were all shocked over the news, but that’s another story. I’ve overheard my parents discussing the sad situation and often saying things like, “Poor Batsheva. This is really going to affect her shidduch prospects. After all, the people we know wouldn’t want their sons to date a girl from a divorced home.” Obviously, the way in which they said it tells me that they wouldn’t want any son of theirs to date a girl from a divorced home.

My game plan for a while now was to eventually, when the time was right, tell my parents that I would like to date Batsheva. Had her parents not gotten divorced, my guess is that they would have been thrilled with this revelation and supported me going forward. Now, I’m afraid that they will say no. Even though they still are very fond of her, they view her with pity and as a second class citizen.

I respect my parents and have always sought out their support and approval, but my feelings for Batsheva go very deep and I don’t want to just give up on my dream. How do I approach this situation with my parents?

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions.

Our intention is not to offer any definitive

conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. onesty is the best policy in human relations, with some exceptions.

Be upfront with your parents and don’t hesitate to lay out your interest in Batsheva. They have known her for years and like her a lot. The fact that they have discussed her situation in the light of her parents’ divorce last year and expressed sympathy for her confirms that they care about her. Be confident and go forward with the expectation that they will support your plans.

I would not discuss your feelings for Batsheva. Talk about your interest in dating her. It’s too soon to have feelings, isn’t it? I also have some concerns about why you are afraid to approach this with your parents, but will leave that aside as I continue to answer the question.

If your parents bring up the fact that Batsheva’s parents are divorced, you have to be prepared with responses. You will have to craft them based on your years of experience with them and their individual personalities.

However, the repeated point can be made that they know her, like her, and respect how she has handled her life before, during, and after the divorce. She is all the more mature for this experience and has dealt with the situation wisely and gotten the support she needed to deal with it. Life brings challenges to all of us and she has already developed tools. She will continue to grow in resilience and maturity, and that makes her even more attractive as a potential spouse in your eyes. They can attest to the fact that she not only survived a difficult situation but thrived. In other words, take the perceived negative and turn it into a positive. Don’t shy away from addressing the divorce of her parents.

If your parents bring up the issue of what will the neighbors say, address that directly, as well. Say that outsiders will say that your family knows Batsheva for a long time and were smart enough not to be put off by her parents’

H

divorce. They know her and they like her for who she is – a wonderful girl.

Tell your parents that if this relationship works out, they will look better on the street; they will be perceived as people who value people for themselves – not a family situation. Again, turn the negative into a positive.

The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. o, nu, what are you waiting for?

Batsheva sounds like a great catch. You’ve adored her from her Barbie days; now that she’s grown up, your feelings for her are, in your words, “very deep.”

Funny thing about labels (“Divorced Home” “FFB” “BT” “Israelis” “Immigrants” and the like): they are meaningless monikers used by people who are judgmental, ignorant and frankly, don’t know any better. In Batsheva’s case, her parents’ untimely split shouldn’t sully your respect for someone you’ve admired for a really long time. Don’t be discouraged by your parents’ unfortunate comment; their tsk-tsk-ing about “poor Batsheva,” may be a projection of what other people (who don’t know Batsheva from childhood) may say about a child growing up in a broken home. They themselves should know better and rise above judgment, labels and what the Cohens have to say.

So, go ahead. Approach your parents in the most mature, respectful manner you can muster. Tell them you’d like to start dating and believe Batsheva is a most attractive contender. But what about the public shanda?

The “D” word? Gently and wisely make the point that many intact couples lack shalom bayis; many divorced couples get along better once separated. If they admire Batsheva like you do, they will agree that, despite her parents’ domestic difficulties, Batsheva remains lovely Batsheva: talented, refined, attractive and smart. She is the girl of your dreams – even if her parents don’t share an address.

S

The Shadchan Michelle Mond atsheva sounds like a lovely girl, and it’s so nice that you have gotten to know her organically over the years.

This would be the perfect opportunity to assert yourself as a grownup with opinions who can make thought-out decisions on his own. If you are old enough to get married, you are old enough to decide what type of family situation you are comfortable with marrying into.

Approach your parents in a confident manner, asserting your position that you would like to pursue this shidduch with Batsheva. While it would be rather harsh for your parents to claim that she is currently not marriageable because of her parents’ divorce, it is

B

If you are old enough to get married, you are old enough to decide what type of family situation you are comfortable with marrying into. possible that they are worried about the emotional toll the divorce has had on her. During the course of getting to know Batsheva on a deeper level, you

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

will need to make sure she is emotionally healthy and has worked through the trauma she may have experienced.

The Single Tova Wein t sounds as though you are fearing the worst from

I

your parents and have little faith in them regarding the acceptance of you dating a woman with divorced parents.

I understand how overhearing them discuss Batsheva’s situation may have left you with the impression that they would be one of “those people” who are totally judgmental and close-minded about a potential daughter-in-law like Batsheva. But it’s very possible

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

I

can understand your trepidation in pursuing a relationship with Batsheva based on your parents’ comments regarding prospective shidduchim.

However, open and honest communication with your parents at this time is what is needed. You can do this.

When you approach your parents, come from a place of confidence and optimism, while remaining open to your parents’ feedback, which will most likely come in the form of concern.

Open your response to their concerns with phrases such as “I hear you,” and “I’ve thought of that as well.” Be prepared with your thoughts about dating a girl whose parents are divorced. Part of your truth that you will be imparting to your parents is that you and your family know Batsheva intimately.

If need be, the main message you will be conveying to your parents is Do we discount the person we know and love because of her parents’ situation? If your parents are reasonable, somewhat open-minded individuals, they will most likely have a hard time saying yes to this question.

While no one knows what goes on in any marriage or home, the truth is that when parents (a couple) are no longer amicable, there is often incredible stress and tension in the home. Sometimes, in certain situations, the greatest gift a parent can give to a child is to remove that tension from the home,

which can only come in the form of a divorce. Most people do not flippantly get divorced. Most people have struggled with the decision for years or there was some catalyst that left one or both parties with no other option. It is a sad reality that in shidduchim the children have to suffer because of this. They didn’t ask for any of this!

I have seen firsthand how many incredible young men and women learned from the mistakes their parents made and how many of them have a clear vision of the healthy relationship they want for their future. The lengths they take to create that impress me greatly (therapy, close relationship with a rav or mentor, visiting intact, healthy families for Shabbos that serve as a role models).

Look, I’m a social worker at heart and a crusader for social justice. I have to use this platform to point out this almost “social injustice” in our community. Why should a child from an unhealthy marriage that remains intact for social standing be “more desirable” than a child whose parents are divorced? And while we’re on the topic of “why,” allow me to extend my questioning into the arena of “who.” Who are any of us to judge? Shouldn’t every young person be evaluated on his/

that when push comes to shove, you will be surprisingly delighted to learn that they would welcome Batsheva into their family with open arms.

So before working yourself up into a panic expecting the worst, tell your parents how you feel and be open to outcomes you may not expect. If, however, your worst fear is realized, it’s time to decide whether you want to listen to your parents or to your heart. Obviously it’s a wonderful thing that you respect your parents so much and appreciate their support, but there comes a

her own merit? What did the adult child learn from his parents’ marriage and/ or divorce? What are the young person’s ideas about marriage? Let’s look at the individual.

Truth time: there are kids that come from healthy marriages who are very healthy minded. There are kids who come from healthy marriages who aren’t. There are kids who come from divorced homes who are healthy minded. And there are kids who come from divorced homes who aren’t. I think we parents feel safer when we believe we have the ability to predict and determine our children’s future based on a formula such as “If my child marries someone from an intact family, the likelihood of his marital success will greatly increase.”

A far better measure of our children’s “marital success” is to pour our hearts into teaching them about healthy relationships (whether that means working

Do we discount the person we know and love because of her parents’ situation? time in a grown child’s life when they have to take matter into their own hands if their heart is telling them what they must do. Sounds like this is one of those times!

on our own marriages or sometimes unfortunately leaving them) and evaluating the potential shidduch based on the young man or woman’s character and traits.

I hope your parents allow you to date Batsheva and that not much convincing is involved.

Sincerely, Jennifer Esther Mann, LCSW and Jennifer Mann, LCSW are licensed psychotherapists and dating and relationship coaches working with individuals, couples and families in private practice in Hewlett, NY. Jennifer is looking forward to teaching a psychology course at Touro College in the fall. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516.224.7779. Press 1 for Esther, 2 for Jennifer. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Hi Readers!

Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback.

Esther and Jennifer

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Health & F tness

Grill to Your Health

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

I

t’s time to dust off the grates and check your propane. Summer has descended, and with it comes the balmy evenings full of grill marks and artisanal ketchup stains. There’s nothing like the great company and excellent food that a backyard barbeque provides.

If you’re trying to keep it light and stick to a healthy regimen this season, navigating BBQs can be slightly daunting. The typical menu tends to lean heavy on the fat, sodium, and excess calories. However, pit masters and barbeque eaters can easily eat healthier without sacrificing the classic, flavorful barbeque delicacies. Here are a few helpful ways you can reduce the diet detriments at this year’s BBQs: • Grill a Lean Protein – A leaner piece of meat means a less fatty piece of meat. Trimming off excess fat, or buying meat that has less fat, reduces the amount of calories and limits the amount of fat consumed from the meat. Skinless, boneless chicken breast, lean ground turkey, and salmon are all great protein options. If the ball’s in your court and you’re hosting, prepare a lightened up version of traditional burgers by combining ground, lean turkey with chopped onions and portabella mushrooms.

The umami flavor of the mushrooms makes up for the lack of beef flavor.

If you’re just simply craving meat, opt for a leaner cut like oyster steak.

This doesn’t mean you need to refuse those short ribs at every meal but it is important to remember that red meat has a lot of saturated fat and can cause weight gain; this is

where portion control would be key.

• Pass on the Carcinogens – We often think “grilled” means low in calories because it’s an open flame and no frying oils are necessary. However, grilling does cause two harmful compounds to form: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). So, while it’s certainly true that grilling does cause fat to drip off food, the oil ends up landing on the grill element or coals and causes PAHs to form in the smoke. Additionally, high-heat cooking causes HCAs to be produced in red meat and poultry so that the (albeit tasty) char that forms on the meat is actually quite carcinogenic and can have numerous health ramifications. To minimize the negative effects of the grill, cut down on cooking time by precooking the meat and finishing it on the grill. Less time on the barbeque means fewer carcinogens in your meal.

Another way to minimize grill time is to skewer! Besides for being visually appetizing, kebabs are fun and you can add chunks of vegetables for a pop of color (and nutrients)!

• Marinate Your Meats – Soaking proteins in an aromatic blend of acid, oil, and herbs is a must for me. Besides for imparting (unmatched) rich flavor, marinades can actually drastically reduce the formation of HCAs. A good marinade has acid for tenderizing, a little flavorful oil for moisture, and your own personal touch. For me, that translates to a ton of dried herbs, a heaping tablespoon of honey, fresh-

ly squeezed lemon, a squirt of Dijon mustard, olive oil, and a few grinds of pepper.

You can get creative with your marinades and mix combinations of the following: • Light soy sauce or liquid aminos • Dijon mustard • Worcestershire sauce • Crushed peppercorns • Herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley • Honey • Garlic • Onions • Wine • Fresh citrus like lemon juice (or orange if you’re daring!)

• Olive oil • Vinegars like apple cider, balsamic, or red wine • Fresh grated ginger If you’re short on time and need a store-bought quickie, look for varieties that are low in both calories from fat and sugar and compare the nutrition facts to see which offers the best bang for your buck (healthwise)! Remember, always marinate in the fridge to prevent bacteria growth or food poisoning especially in the hot weather.

• Portion Control – When you’re at a party and having a great time, it’s easy to fall into the trap of mindless eating. When you’re with the griller that keeps on giving, it’s also hard to say no. A rib steak, hot dog with a bun, a can of Coke, garlic mayonnaise, pretzels, Jell-O, caramelized onions, and (a few servings of) French fries provide way more calories than one typically eats in a

sitting. Instead of scarfing down lettuce all evening, choose one protein or portions of a couple of proteins.

Instead of refilling your plate, take a smaller plate and choose some things you still want to try or must have doubles of. This way, you’re not depriving yourself or over-indulging. One great idea is to first fill part of you plate with veggies and fruit and then add the proteins after.

• Nix the Nitrates – Sodium nitrite is a preservative that protects cured meats from harmful bacteria or spoilage. Nitrate changes to nitrite in the body and can cause internal harm by damaging cells.

Typically, our gut turns nitrite into nitric oxide which carries out a myriad of essential bodily functions. However, if consumed in large amounts, nitrites can be poisonous.

Studies have found a link between cured and processed meats and cancer. Try steering clear of hot dogs, sausages, salami, and smoked turkey. The good news is that companies recently started picking up on the health trend, and stores are now offering kielbasa or sausage free of nitrates and preservatives.

• Go Bun-less – Ditch the refined carbs and pull out your fork and knife. Going with the bun approach adds calories to your meal that could be used for a serving of whole wheat pasta salad or a sweet potato, both healthier carb options.

You can still include all your favorite fixings sans the bun. If you want a bun, look for healthier whole-grain options. As for carbs, fill your plate up with veggies! The best side dish at any BBQ is the array of flavorful

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

grilled zucchini, mushrooms, yellow squash, peppers, and red onions.

You can even brush on some extra marinade for extra flavor. I like to put a cast iron skillet straight on the grill and toss some baby bella mushrooms in with a little olive oil, thyme, and a few garlic cloves.

• Salad Selection – I often bring up the point that all salads are not created equal. The word “salad” does not automatically impart nutrition. Usually, a salad will be the healthier option but if it’s between a mayo-based schnitzel, fried onion, and Cajun crouton salad or a chopped variety with kale, fire-roasted tomatoes, and smoked salmon, opt for the latter. Mayobased dressings can add upwards of 93 calories per tablespoon to a salad. We rarely engage in dressing-control and bathing greens in Caesar or thousand creamy balsamic is often what ends up happening.

Instead, go for a dressing that’s composed mainly of vinegar and oil

like a red wine vinaigrette. However, choose your battles wisely, and if coleslaw is your preferred chop of choice, by all means, do not deprive yourself.

zines this year and for good reason.

The caramelization lends a sweet but slightly smoky flavor to peaches, pineapples, and even strawberries.

Grilled fruit is great with a dollop

Besides for being visually appetizing, kebabs are fun and you can add chunks of vegetables for a pop of color (and nutrients)!

• Dessert Dos – After a long meal filled with wine, meat, and potatoes, does anyone really need a heavy dessert? Instead, end the day with something refreshing and light. Grilled fruit finally has been gracing the covers of food maga-

of whipped coconut cream from a can – your new pareve best friend.

If you’re not feeling the trend, a big fruit salad or frozen grapes or bananas dipped in dark chocolate on a popsicle (great for kids) are solid alternatives.

Barbeque season is here and everyone should enjoy the variety of grilled delicacies that come along with it. It is feasible to have a very tasty and filling barbeque meal in a healthy way. Choosing low-fat proteins such as chicken and turkey, becoming aware of portion control with the red meats, and having salad and veggies will allow you to have a nutritious meal. Moreover, marinades and nitrate-free meats will also keep your body healthy. It is important to be aware of what you grill and eat, focusing on the plethora of diet-friendly barbeque options available.

Barbequing can be done in a healthy and nutritious way, while keeping the BBQ classics on your plate.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Deb

Narcissism is the Opposite of Self-Love

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

O

n Shabbos, Rabbi Feiner was sharing a story. A gadol in the U.S. was being asked a question by a person who was visiting Israel. The problem was that the seeker of wisdom forgot how to calculate the time difference between Israel and America. So he woke up the gadol at 3a.m.

Now, here is the important part of the story.

The gadol believes in his heart that he is here to serve G-d. So he didn’t get angry. Anger would have been “about him” and he knows that his life is not about him. It’s about responding to the people who need him.

He was put here for a purpose and that is his purpose. He understood the other person made a mistake; so be it.

How does a person get that way?

In a way, nullifying yourself before Hashem has the opposite effect: If Hashem made me and He gave me these special gifts of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom so that I can serve His people, then obviously, He created me with an extra dose of goodness. He gave me a marvelous gift. So I must be quite wonderful, really.

But the moment the gadol spends more than half a second thinking this way, he’s not serving G-d anymore.

The “how wonderful I am” conversation with himself can lead him astray. So he must not go there. It is a basic fact, a reality that he accepts with pleasure and gratitude. In fact,

looking at himself too closely would be just the opposite of what he knows his purpose is, so the minute he does it, he no longer deserves the self-accolades that he was about to give himself.

At one and the same moment, a tzaddik knows that he is gifted with generous gifts from Hashem and also cannot look at them because the act of looking tarnishes them.

But the reality is that he doesn’t need to. After all, his days are full and rich doing the work he loves, serving the people who need him and thereby serving HaKadosh Baruch Hu. He’s happy doing what he was put here to do. There is no additional pleasure he is going to get by examining how wonderful he is.

He knows who he is and he is satisfied. Perhaps this is really what hasameach b’chelko means. We were each given a portion of non-physical gifts that we are meant to use in our lives. Using them in service to the world at large and being grateful for them is a way of thanking G-d for them. The person who sees who he is and happily uses his gifts has selflove.

If the tzaddik is a template for having no desire or need to pat himself on the back and clearly is pleased with this “portion” that makes up who he is, his Self – as demonstrated in how he lives his life in service to others using those gifts – then the narcissist is clearly the opposite.

As many people have expressed, when it comes to the narcissist’s conversation, “it’s all about him.”

Why would that be? Why does he/ she need to focus so much on what he needs and wants? Why is it that he never seems filled up and satisfied no matter how much he sings his own praises?

The answer is simple: he is not happy with who he is, his “portion,” his Self. If he were, he wouldn’t need to waste his time this way.

Underneath the constant quest for adulation is much self-doubt. So much so that he’s literally frightened to discover that there’s nothing there, underneath the façade. That’s where the energy comes from to constantly divert attention from looking too closely at himself. He’s literally a frightened person.

You doubt me?

Then explain why he/she will not come into marriage counseling. Explain why they will not have any sort of a deep conversation with their children, wife, sister or rabbi. They do not want to look. They do anything and everything to avoid it.

How did such a thing come about?

I believe that the only way for a tzaddik to be cultivated is to struggle.

He struggles with learning, with middos, with the expectations of those that love him. But the unfortunate narcissist was spared of struggling.

Without struggling, he is unclear on who he is; his abilities are never test-

ed. Without testing, he has no way of knowing his potential for greatness.

And the more he is spared of struggle, the more distant from himself he becomes. The unknown inside of him is a frightening black hole because he’s never used it to do anything that was difficult, so he doesn’t know what it is capable of.

Parents of a tzaddik don’t spare him the pain of struggle. Parents of a narcissist spare him everything.

Obviously, wisdom needs to be applied. If something is truly beyond a child’s reach, then making him struggle will not work. He will not turn into a narcissist, but he won’t be a gadol either. That’s for another topic.

What’s the solution?

The narcissist must – under the care of someone who knows what they’re doing – help him face himself and step up to life’s tests. Only through those tests will he discover what capabilities he has. He will then discover himself and come to genuinely appreciate who he is.

Most therapists are terrified of trying to help narcissists; they believe that they cannot change. The reality is they’re often too afraid to even try.

But for the brave souls who are game, it’s a different story.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want help with your marriage, begin by signing up to watch her Masterclass at https://drdeb. com/myw-masterclass.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

In The K

tchen

Liz’s Gazpacho

By Naomi Nachman

I have a cooking show on kosher. com called Sunny Side Up. Each episode features different guests cooking with me. One of my recent guest chefs was Liz Reuven.

We made this delicious gazpacho soup together. This cool summer soup is a tasty variation on classic gazpacho.

Ingredients 3 cucumbers, peeled and chopped 8 cups seedless watermelon, roughly chopped with all juice saved 5 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped 1 small onion, peeled and quartered 3 cloves garlic, peeled and halved 2 tablespoons cumin 1 teaspoon sriracha ½ cup cilantro, chopped ½ cup basil, chopped ¼ cup mint ¼ cup red wine vinegar ½ cup olive oil 1-2 tablespoons pink Himalayan salt

Preparation Using the chopping blade (“S” blade) of a food processor or a powerful blender, pulse cucumbers, watermelon and tomatoes. Be sure to add any juice from the watermelon and tomatoes to the puree. You’ll need to blend in batches, so have a large bowl ready to pour puree into. Stir with a large spoon to combine.

Pulse onion and garlic. Add cumin and sriracha.

Set aside a bit of chopped herbs to use as topping when you serve. Add cilantro, basil and mint to processor and blend with pureed vegetables.

Add vinegar and stream olive oil slowly while processor is whirring. Add salt.

Note: Use a large food processor or process in batches to make the full amount of this recipe.

Tip: Adjust seasoning as you like but give the gazpacho a day in the refrigerator before adding more vinegar, salt, or spice. The flavors will develop over time so prepare this at least one day in advance.

Topping suggestions: sour cream (vegan or dairy), a drizzle of very good olive oil, chopped herbs, cubed watermelon or avocado Adapted with permission from Pyramid Bistro; Aspen, CO, and Liz Reuven.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The| Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home

Mind Y

ur Business

Jeffrey Hayzlett: “Create a Culture of Heroes”

By Yitzchok Saftlas

E

very Sunday evening since July 2015, Yitzchok Saftlas, CEO of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts 77WABC’s “Mind Your Business” show on America’s leading talk radio station. The show features Fortune 500 CEOs, CMOs, and top business leaders, where they share their business knowledge and strategic insights on how to get ahead in today’s corporate world. Since Q2 2017, the 77WABC “Mind Your Business” show has remained in the coveted Nielsen “Top 10” in New York’s highly competitive AM Talk Radio market. Guests have included John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; and Captain Sully Sullenberger, among nearly 200 senior-level executives and business celebrities.

Every other week, TJH will feature leading questions and takeaways from Yitzchok’s popular radio show.

O

n a recent 77WABC “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok sat down to speak to Jeffrey Hayzlett. Jeffrey is a global business celebrity, prime-time television and podcast show host, author, and keynote speaker. He was the chief marketing officer of the Eastman Kodak Company from 2010-2006. Mr. Hayzlett co-founded the C-Suite Network and established The Hayzlett Group. He is the author of several books, including The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing? Running the Gauntlet: Essential Business Lessons to Lead, Drive Change, and Grow Profits, and Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless. In his most recent book, The Hero Factor: How Great Leaders Transform Organizations and Create Winning Cultures, Hayzlett discusses the importance of a strong company culture as the backbone of any successful business.

Yitzchok: Let’s jump right in.

You maintain a personal brand, correct? Why is it so critical to

maintain a personal brand independent of your company?

Jeffrey: Because you then have control over your brand. If you don’t, someone else is going to create it for you. For example, I have a Wiki page that’s been developed for me for years, and I don’t always like the stuff that’s on there. But I have no control over it.

It’s not my page. So why wouldn’t you want to establish your own brand, your own story, and have control over it? As you know, a brand is nothing but a promise delivered. By establishing your own brand, you get to make your own promises, rather than someone making them up for you. This at least gives you some control. Now, I’m not saying that you can control it all, because you can’t.

With your brand you’ve got to nurture it. You’ve got to feed it and water it. And so that’s why it’s very important to develop a personal brand.

YS: Is that your line? “A brand is a promise delivered.”

JH: I actually got that from a woman by the name of Sharon Napier. When

I was the CMO of Eastman Kodak, she was the one to shepherd me there. I borrowed it from her and added to it, so I give her credit for that. But yes, that’s what a brand is. It’s a promise delivered. You know, a lot of people think of brands as being made up of the colors, the look, the feel. Those are all brand attributes, but that’s not the brand.

The brand is really what your customers perceive of you and what you really deliver. That’s really the essence of the brand. That’s part of the reason I wrote The Hero Factor. It’s about creating a culture of heroes within your brand.

We also established this thing called The Hero Club, and we’ll obviously talk more about it later, but it’s really about creating winning cultures, hero cultures, to create a hero company.

YS: You know Jeffrey, I remember when we were together at a C-Suite networking conference and you had just given the keynote speech. We were backstage together, and I said, “Jeffrey, how do you do it?” And I remem-

ber your response so clearly.

It’s seared into my brain. It’s the greatest line. You said, “It’s what you do.”

JH: If you do what you love, you do it. You never get tired of it. And I love doing what I do. I guess I’ll never stop doing it.

YS: How important is it for someone in business to absolutely love and be passionate about what they do?

JH: Well, why wouldn’t you? Why would you waste your time on something you don’t love doing? Why would you do something you don’t like to do?

I have three conditions that my work needs to meet. Number one is the satisfaction I get out of providing for my family. The second condition is that I want to do things that I find to be interesting and I can learn from. At the end of day, I always write down what I learned over the course of that day. And the last condition is simple. I want to have fun. I want to have fun and enjoy what I do.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 29, 27, 2015 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER

YS: Just coming back to the C-Suite network — why is it so important that executives get out of their space every once in a while and mingle with like-minded people?

JH: These executives need dialogue. They need to have the exchange of ideas and thought. They need to have input across the board from like-minded individuals. And what I mean by like-minded – not that we want it different, but look, when you’re a billion-dollar company your problems are different than a million-dollar company. And when you’re a fast-growing company, it’s different than a company that’s trying to maximize margins. So it’s really important for executives to get together with others in their situation.

YS: So now let’s talk about The Hero Club. It’s what – a year and a half old?

JH: Yes, it’s very new. We bought The Hero Club from a guy named Rob Ryan. Rob Ryan sold his business for $20.4 billion a number of years ago.

He then set aside a certain percentage for all his employees, making the single largest number of millionaires ever created one day. It’s never been surpassed. In fact, that purchase price never has been surpassed until December 2016, when Microsoft bought LinkedIn. So Rob started to gather a group of people from multi-million dollar businesses together to network and discuss things. But he was never able to scale it until he saw what we were doing with the C-Suite Network.

So he offered it to us, and we took it.

One of the things that we changed, and it’s in The Hero Factor, is a pledge we make every member sign that says that they are going to operate their businesses with high integrity. I really feel the difference between a hero company and a regular company is that pledge.

We noticed that hero businesses gross more dollars than normal good businesses. They make more money.

They have higher-engaged employees.

They have customers who like them more than other companies. And they have vendors who want to work with them. That’s kind of where good-togreat leaves off — that’s where the hero factor kicks in.

YS: You know, what you’re pointing out is so critical. Yes, a business has to be grounded.

There has to be the foundation on how it generates revenue.

Yet, there still has to an emotional side. There still has to be aspirational values that are built in.

JH: Exactly. What are your walkaway values like? If you go to theherofactorbook.com, I’ll give you a free assessment so you can gauge your business’s walkaway values.

Your walkaway values are the things that you’re not willing to negotiate as a businessowner about the way you operate with other companies. Because there comes a time in your business where someone will offer you money, and you don’t like their values, or you don’t respect them. But there is a lot of money right there, and it becomes a real question. And if you’re run like a hero company, you say no. You walk away from it and because that’s a walkaway value for you. It’s really important for you to paint the vision and then be able to pick a side. Just pick the side.

YS: There’s another line that you always say, and it’s such a great line: “An executive does not need to be the smartest person in the room. They need to be the most strategic.” Can you elaborate on that?

JH: Sure. When I say you have to be the most strategic person, your job is to know the three things. There are three things a CEO has to work on. You have to work on a vision. You have to know the vision of the business, and you have to own that and then get everybody to buy and drink the KoolAid on it. The other thing CEOs have to worry about is talent and numbers.

Market penetration, size growth, profitability, customer satisfaction — you have to keep track of all those. And it’s not just the bottom line, it’s all the numbers of the business. You have to be strategic. You have to be the one who’s thinking out there.

Then, you have to be the one that pushes the buttons, the one that’s a little edgy. A lot of times employees think their CEO is crazy. Well, that’s their job. They aren’t just supposed to take you from point A to point B. They

tell you – we’re going to go way over here, just to get you to point B. You’ve got to drag everybody along. That’s what we’re supposed to do in business every day. As a leader, you’re supposed to know the limitations of your team.

You have to know how to take them to the edge and then beyond, because that’s where you get the growth. You have to be strategic and understand where you’re going to go. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out, but you just keep moving and keep focusing on that dream.

YS: We have to talk about one of the key buzzwords — storytelling. How important is storytelling? Does a CEO really have to craft the story and know how to narrate it? What’s your take on it?

JH: If you want to be valuable, if you want to have good value in the company in terms of business to make it worth more, yeah, you need to be able to tell the story. You need to be able to tell the story so that people

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believe it. We learn through storytelling. We love a good story because we’re visual and auditory people. So why wouldn’t you want to craft a great story for your business? When you create a great narrative for your business, everybody can tell the story and everybody plays a role in the story. So yeah, without question you want that.

I think it is important for CEOs to do it. You have to be able to get the basics down so that you can show your value. You know, you used to be able to sell yourself based on certain attributes and promises, but you can’t do that today. You have to really live the story. You have to live the narrative of your business.

YS: Jeffrey, what final takeaway would you like to share with the listeners of “Mind Your Business”?

JH: An idea without implementation is air, so you’ve got to do deliver in the end. You’ve got to deliver. That’s the thing I’d take away from today, folks.

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OCTOBER 2015 | The Jewish Home JUNE 27,29, 2019 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

In the software world, in particular for platforms, these are winnertake-all markets. So, you know, the greatest mistake ever is the whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is – Android is the standard nonApple phone form platform. That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win….

There’s room for exactly one nonApple operating system, and what’s that worth? $400 billion that would be transferred from company G [Google] to company M [Microsoft].

- Microsoft founder Bill Gates speaking at a forum last week about the biggest mistake that he ever made

I always came running in to answer the phone so I thought maybe I could run.

Manny Machado received a one game suspension for contact with an umpire over balls and strikes and VIOLENTLY throwing his bat against the backstop with absolutely no regard to anyone’s safety.

Violence in the workplace is not tolerated, and offenders are dealt with severely and even made examples of for the good of its employees, as well as the company itself. Is this truly what MLB wants to teach our youth? #Disappointed #LeadByExample #NotAppreciated #Violence #TemperTantrum #Inaction #NotTolerated #MakeanExampleof #OneGameSuspension #RepeatOffender #Nonsense.

- Statement released via Twitter by the MLB’s umpires union which was upset that San Diego Padres star Manny Machado was only suspended for one game after he allegedly touched the umpire, something Machado denies

Just…I mean…it’s kinda like…you just kinda get used to it. I mean, you see weird stuff all the time driving in. I lived outside the city in the suburbs. But driving into Fremont Street – that’s kinda where the old ballpark was – driving down there you see something weird every day. Eventually, you just kind of put the blockers on and kind of get used to it after a while.

- Mets rookie Pete Alonso when asked on ESPN if he ever saw UFOs while playing for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, which is located in the infamous Area 51, where alien spaceships have been rumored to be stored

This has been my life, longer than I’ve been alive.

- Seventh generation tightrope walker Nik Wallenda, while crossing New York’s Times Square on a tightrope 25 stories above city streets last weekend

- Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins, age 103, who won gold in the 50- and 100-meter races at the National Senior Games this week, on the TODAY show

Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck.

- Name of the Cardinal Stritch University, Wisconsin, student who wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on the classroom effects of an unusual name

These members of Congress, they come to represent their districts and their point of view and they take responsibility for the statements that they make.

- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) when asked about comments by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Socialist/ Democrat-NY) equating border facilities for migrants to “concentration camps”

Theoretically, they could have the ability to vote.

- State Senator Luis Sepúlveda (D-Bronx) while arguing in favor of a bill which gave illegals driver’s licenses in New York

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

Which one of these children needs Chai Lifeline?

(Hint: They all do.)

Chai Lifeline is renowned for the care and love it bestows on children fighting cancer. But that’s only the beginning.

Chai Lifeline serves thousands of children with medical challenges that aren’t evident on the outside, everything from Crohns Disease to cystic fibrosis to heart disease and illnesses so rare only a handful of children have been diagnosed. And still, that’s only the beginning.

Chai Lifeline includes siblings and parents, too, with programs geared towards the entire family.

We care for more than 5,000 children and their families around the world and across the street.

Chances are, you know them. They just don’t look sick.

Whenever, wherever we’re needed, Chai Lifeline is there.

Chai Lifeline. Comprehensive, compassionate, professional assistance for families facing illness, loss or trauma.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

It’s 2019 & @JoeBiden is longing for the good old days of “civility” typified by James Eastland. Eastland thought my multiracial family should be illegal…. It’s past time for apologies or evolution from @JoeBiden. He repeatedly demonstrates that he is out of step with the values of the modern Democratic Party.

- Tweet by 2020 Democrat hopeful Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with a photo of his African-American wife and their mixed-race son and daughter, responding to reports that at a private fundraiser Joe Biden boasted about his friendship with segregationists when he was a young senator

I’m disappointed that he hasn’t issued an immediate apology for the pain his words are dredging up for many Americans. He should.

- 2020 hopeful Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) responding to Biden’s comments

Apologize for what? Cory should apologize.

He knows better. There’s not a racist bone in my body. I’ve been involved in civil rights my whole career. Period. Period.

- Biden responding to Booker’s calls for an apology

Everybody was saying I’m a warmonger and now they say I am a dove. I think I’m neither if you want to know the truth. I’m a man with common sense and that is what we need in this country, common sense. But I didn’t like the idea of them knowingly shooting down an unmanned drone then we kill 150 people. I didn’t like that.

- President Donald Trump rehashing with reporters his decision not to attack Iran last week after Tehran shot down a U.S. drone

I’m not one of these people that says I wouldn’t sit down with anybody to hear what they have to say.

- Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), during a faith breakfast in Columbia, SC, on Saturday when asked if he would be willing to have “an audience” with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who routinely calls Jews “termites” and all but advocates for the complete annihilation of Jews

It’s definitely a life-changing experience for you to really feel the energy of Israel and especially Jerusalem.... It’s made my spiritual side a lot stronger.

- Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson, while visiting Israel last week

Joe Biden references his relationships with two former Republican colleagues at an event in New York City. The only problem? They were both segregationists.

- MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt reporting on Biden’s comments and spreading fake news that the segregationist senators were Republicans. They were Democrats

My name is Ms. Hicks.

- Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks at the closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, after chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) called her “Ms. Lewandowski” three times

I took advantage of every possible low-fare flight.

- Florida native Taylor Demonbreu, age 24, who on June 10 accepted the Guinness World Record for fastest person to travel to 193 sovereign countries (in 1 year and 189 days), in an interview with the New York Post

MORE QUOTES

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019

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When President Obama gave the deal of the century of $150 billion to a world leader [in Iran] who celebrates January 27 as “Holocaust Denial Day,” how much ink was written on that as opposed to Charlottesville? And which do you think was worse?

- Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Rabbi Marvin Hier in an interview with the Times of Israel

I’m like, “I’m 17, like, please don’t let me die. Like, I’m not ready to die, I have stuff to do. Like, so much.”

- Paige Winter, 17, who survived a brutal shark attack last month telling “Good Morning America” how she prayed to G-d to let her live

History and Allah brought a real opportunity. The blood conflict had lasted too long. Us Saudis and all Gulf States plus Egypt and Jordan realize that the age of going to war with Israel is over.

- A top-ranking Saudi diplomat in an interview with an Israeli news site last week

I am not the prime minister’s man; I am a man of the people. I am a man of the public who sent me, and – I hope I’m not starting an outrage here – I work for G-d and do what I believe is good for the State of Israel and the people of Israel, according to my worldview.

- Israel’s newly appointed Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Political Crossfire

There is No Dachau in Texas

By Rafael Medoff

Roll call at Buchenwald of Jews inprisoned after Kristallnacht, November 1938

Y

ou wouldn’t think it would be necessary, in this day and age, to explain to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives that there is no Dachau in Texas, no Bergen-Belsen in Arizona, and no Buchenwald in New Mexico.

Yet it seems that is the level to which some of the combatants in America’s overheated immigration debate have stooped. In an Instagram video and several follow-up tweets last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) asserted that the U.S. detention facilities along the border with Mexico are “exactly the same” as “concentration camps.”

The term “concentration camp” is so widely associated with the Nazi-era camps that the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of the term actually specifies that it is “used especially in reference to camps created by the Nazis in World War II for the internment and persecution of Jews and other prisoners.”

In case anybody doubted that Rep. Cortez was alluding to the Nazi camps, she also invoked a slogan that is popularly associated with the Holocaust: “If that doesn’t bother you,” she declared, “I want to talk to the people that are concerned enough with humanity to say that ‘never again’ means something.” The words “Never Again” are prominently displayed in the exhibits of the

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and other Holocaust museums around the world.

In response to widespread criticism of her statements, Congresswoman Cortez and her supporters insisted that she was referring “only” to concentration camps and not to death camps.

The primary purpose of Nazi death camps, such as Auschwitz and Treblinka, was to carry out the mass murder of Jews.

Nazi concentration camps, such as Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, and Buchenwald, held a variety of inmates – Jews, political prisoners, and others – who were not sent there specifically to be killed, but were subjected to slave labor, disease, brutal beatings, systematic torture, ghoulish medical experiments, and starvation-level diets.

President Barack Obama visited the site of the former Buchenwald concentration camp on June 4, 2009. A great-uncle of his served in the U.S. army’s 89th Infantry Division, which liberated one of Buchenwald’s sub-camps. In his remarks at the site, President Obama described how the U.S. troops who reached Buchenwald encountered “piles of bodies and starving survivors.” He called it a place “where people were deemed inhuman because of their differences” and where the prison-

ers suffered under “the most unimaginable conditions.”

An estimated 56,000 prisoners were murdered in Buchenwald between 1937 and 1945. At least 50,000 – including Anne Frank and her sister Margot – were killed in Bergen-Belsen. Tens of thousands were murdered in Dachau. Does that sound “exactly the same” – or even remotely similar – to the conditions in the detention facilities in Texas, Arizona, or New Mexico?

Last December, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a press release consisting of an essay by one of its staff historians, Edna Friedberg, titled “Why Holocaust Analogies Are Dangerous.” She criticized “American politicians” and others who “casually use Holocaust terminology to bash anyone or any policy with which they disagree.”

Among others, she challenged the critics of U.S. border detention policies for using “sloppy” and “grossly simplified” analogies.

Friedberg argued that such comparisons not only “demean the memory of the dead” but are outright “dangerous,” because they “exploit the memory of the Holocaust as a rhetorical cudgel” in order to “shut down productive, thoughtful discourse” and “distract from the real issues challenging our society.”

Curiously, however, another

historian at the museum, Rebecca Erbelding, has been defending Rep. Cortez’s statements. Last week, Erbelding re-tweeted a series of messages praising Cortez’s concentration camp analogy. Next to one of the endorsements of the Cortez statement, Erbelding added the words “A Geppetto Checkmark” – referring to the label bestowed by Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler on controversial statements that at first appear to be false or exaggerated, but turn out to contain “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Perhaps Erbelding needs to have a conversation with her colleague Edna Friedberg.

Reasonable people can disagree about the detention policies of the current administration or the policies of its predecessors. But it’s not reasonable to compare those U.S. facilities to places where tens of thousands of people were tortured, starved, and beaten to death. There is no Dachau in Texas. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

Dr. Rafael Medoff is founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, and the author of The Jews Should Keep Quiet: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and the Holocaust, forthcoming from The Jewish Publication Society in 2019.

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Political Crossfire

Biden’s Problem with Democrats is that He Doesn’t Hate Republicans

By Marc A. Thiessen

L

et’s get this straight: Joe Biden is leading in the polls for the Democratic presidential nomination because he’s the most “electable” candidate in the Democratic field? A guy who doesn’t realize that I worked with segregationists isn’t a winning message with Democrats in 2020?

This is what you get when you turn to a candidate who has been in Washington for 46 years. Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, when the Democratic Party was very different than it is today. As a freshman senator, he had to get along with the senior leadership of his party – which included segregationists James Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia.

You may be thinking: who in the world are James Eastland and Herman Talmadge? You’re not alone.

Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of living Americans had either forgotten their names or never heard of them in the first place, until Biden decided to dredge them up from the fever swamps of the Democratic Party’s sordid racial past.

Why, you ask, would he do such a thing? Because that’s what Joe Biden does. He is a walking, talking gaffe machine. His point didn’t even make sense. He was trying to argue that he can work across the aisle with people with whom he fundamentally dis-

agrees. But Eastland and Talmadge sat on the same side of the aisle as Biden in the Senate; they were Democrats.

So now his younger, less popular Democratic opponents are pouncing on Biden’s mistake. California Sen. Kamala Harris (averaging 7.1% in the polls) declared that for Biden “to coddle the reputations of segregationists, of people who if they had their way I would literally not be standing here as a member of the United States Sen-

Give me a break. No reasonable person thinks that Biden was defending or even sympathetic to segregation. What Biden was trying to do – in his own, Bideny way – was to defend not segregation but civility and compromise. But sadly, in today’s Democratic Party, those ideas are just as controversial.

Recall that in February, Biden was forced to apologize for declaring – brace yourself – that Vice President Pence was a “decent guy.”

In today’s Democratic Party, “compromise” and “consensus” are dirty words.

ate, is, I think, it’s just misinformed and it’s wrong.” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (2.3%) declared, “Vice President Biden’s relationships with proud segregationists are not the model for how we make America a safer and more inclusive place for black people, and for everyone.” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (0.3%) tweeted, “It’s 2019 & @JoeBiden is longing for the good old days of ‘civility’ typified by James Eastland. Eastland thought my multiracial family should be illegal.”

Then, a few months later, Biden had to backtrack on his effort to craft a middle-ground approach to climate change that would be embraced by both environmentalists and blue-collar voters. After Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., thundered, “There is no ‘middle ground’ when it comes to climate policy,” Biden soon embraced the Green New Deal.

And this month, Biden was forced to flip-flop and abandon his fourdecade-long support for the Hyde

amendment – bipartisan legislation that bars public funding for abortions – after his Democratic opponents attacked him for reaffirming what he once proudly called his “middle-ofthe-road” policy on abortion. Biden has also been forced to apologize for his support for the bipartisan 1994 crime bill, which was signed into law

by Democrat Bill Clinton but which Democrats now blame for the mass incarceration of African-Americans.

“I haven’t always been right” on criminal justice, he declared earlier this year.

In today’s Democratic Party, “compromise” and “consensus” are dirty words. Biden’s problem is not that he is a closet racist; it’s that he does not hate Republicans and other political opponents. As he put it last Tuesday, “Today, you look at the other side and you’re the enemy. Not the opposition, the enemy. We don’t talk to each other anymore.” That is the point he was trying to make in his ham-handed way. And that is what his Democratic opponents are really upset about.

In a January speech, Biden said, “I read in The New York Times today that one of my problems if I were to run for president, I like Republicans.

Okay, well, bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” Apparently, for many on the left, that sin is unforgivable. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

Feeling Squeezed, Iran is Trying to Fight its Way Out

By David Ignatius

T

he most important variable in the current Persian Gulf confrontation is time. The Trump administration wants to play a long game, to draw the sanctions tourniquet ever tighter. Iran needs to play a short game, to escape the American chokehold before it becomes fatal.

This inner dynamic helps explain this past month’s events in the Gulf – Iran’s steady escalation of deniable strikes and President Trump’s relatively restrained military response. Each side has a different playbook, dictated by their interests, resources and ability to sustain operations.

Both nations tiptoed closer to the edge last Thursday, as Iran shot down an RQ-4 Global Hawk drone near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump tweeted, “Iran made a very big mistake!” but the U.S. didn’t initially take any overt military action.

Here’s the danger ahead: Iran probably can’t break out of this squeeze play without creating a larger crisis that forces international intervention – perhaps an Iranian attack that kills Americans and triggers a harsh U.S. retaliation. The Trump administration doesn’t want such a war – at least, not yet – because officials know that with every day of sanctions, Iran becomes weaker.

But how does this end, if not in conflict? That’s the troubling question for strategists in Washington and abroad.

The U.S. has offered negotiations (but not yet sanctions relief) through Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe;

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spurned the offer. In accepting international mediation to end the Iraq-Iran war in 1988, Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, may have drunk what he called “the cup of poison.” But Khamenei refuses, so far.

When we examine the inner logic of the confrontation, the surrounding events become more comprehensible.

Iran had been planning to wait Trump out. But after these strangulation moves, Tehran altered its strategy.

Feeling backed into a corner, the Iranians decided, in effect, to fight their way out. Much like the Russians in Ukraine, they have mostly chosen a strategy of deniable operations through proxies.

Their Houthi allies in Yemen have attacked Saudi oil pipelines, civilian air-

When you recognize that Trump is seeking to play a long game, some of the zigzag oddities of his policy come into focus.

Each side appears to be behaving rationally, hoping to obtain its goals without the broad military conflict that neither wants. That’s mildly reassuring, but the danger of miscalculation remains huge.

Let’s start with Iran: it began to escalate its tactics in early May, after Trump did two things the previous month that tightened the noose: the U.S. designated Khamenei’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, in effect declaring “open season” on its operatives, and the U.S. ended any waivers on its oil-export sanctions, seeking to drive Tehran’s oil revenues toward zero.

ports, power plants and other targets.

IRGC navy commandos appear to have stealthily mined oil tankers.

These limited tactics haven’t forced the U.S. to back off, and the Iranians escalated on Thursday by shooting down the American drone. A likely next step for the U.S. would be to send aloft F-18 fighter escorts to accompany the big drones; good luck to the Iranians in that contest.

When you recognize that Trump is seeking to play a long game, some of the zigzag oddities of his policy come into focus. In the run-up to Abe’s failed mediation mission to Tehran, Trump spoke ceaselessly of Iran’s supposed

enthusiasm for talks; he was chumming the water. After last week’s attacks on two tankers, Trump called the incidents “very minor.” Similarly, his one-sentence tweet after the drone shoot-down was relatively restrained, and he later said it made a “big, big difference” that the plane wasn’t piloted.

We’ll see, but for now Trump doesn’t seem to want a shooting war; he’s already waging a quite successful economic one, probably supplemented by covert actions in cyber and other domains.

Every time Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is asked publicly about an exit ramp in this crisis, he repeats that Iran should accept his 12-point list of demands, which amount to halting all nuclear development and proxy actions in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. Basically, it’s a call for capitulation. Pompeo might settle for a smaller slice of Iranian humiliation, but why should he, when time is working in his favor?

Trump says he isn’t seeking regime change in Iran. But frankly, it’s hard to see another way that this confrontation will end – unless Khamenei decides to take a gulp from that cup of poison.

This is a war that would be entirely unnecessary and would have very damaging consequences for Iran, the United States, and the region. But there’s an ironclad illogic at work here, and the internal dynamics of U.S. and Iranian policy are pushing us closer to the brink. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group

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Forgotten Her es

Charles Feuereisen Silver Star Hero

By Avi Heiligman

Troops of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment evacuating a wounded soldier on the island of Leyte in December 1944

M

illions of young Americans were drafted or signed up to serve in the U.S. military during World War II. Many wanted to go to the frontlines and take the fight

to the Nazis and Japanese by fighting in specialized units. Modern-day special forces were just getting started during World War II and were relatively small units. Even though air-

borne and glider-borne troops were still a new concept, there was a need for men to be able to jump behind enemy lines. In the U.S., five airborne divisions were raised, and tens of thousands of volunteers were needed to fill the ranks. The two most famous divisions were the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions that fought during D-Day and through the Battle of the Bulge. The 17 th also fought in Europe and the 13th Airborne remained stateside. Compared to the fighting in Europe and North Africa only a few army divisions were sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations. One of these was the 11th Airborne Division that had a decorated Jewish paratrooper that made a name for himself in the Philippines.

As the war progressed new tactics were developed and used for future operations. Each airborne operation learned from the previous mission and built upon their mistakes. Early large-scale American airborne operations took place in Sicily and were the subject of several miscues. The drops were widely scattered and achieved few of their initial objectives. Major General Joseph Swing was an observer for Operation Husky, codename for the Sicily landings, and upon his return to the U.S. was given command of the 11th Airborne Division.

Training for the 11th Airborne was intense after it was formed. The 511th Airborne Regiment was the sole

parachute regiment in the division that jumped from planes. The other two regiments, the 187 th and the 188th, came into battle riding in gliders.

Among the paratroopers was Charles Feuereisen. Not much information could be found on his early life (the author spent a decent amount of time trying to find information but did not find much to go on) but two instances involving the Jewish trooper deserve to be remembered.

Feuereisen most likely joined the 511th since its inception since it is known that he made 38 jumps from aircraft both in training and into combat. The regiment was sent in late 1944 to the Philippine island of Leyte. Some of the division jumped into combat but most were sent in by ship to relieve regular army forces in the battle for Ormoc.

It was during these battles that a map of California was found in a dead Japanese officer’s belongings.

Sergeant Feuereisen and Private First Class Ralph Merisiecki were sent to bring the map to their headquarters.

After completing the mission, they headed towards Tacioban to catch a ride back to their unit. While there, they discovered that it was the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, and they decided to pay him a visit. Normally meeting a commander of such a large army and complex operation would have been out of the question but Charles decided to

try anyway. The two made their way into the bullet-ridden house and soon found themselves in MacArthur’s office. The general greeted them warmly and talked about the 11th Airborne’s operations. Feuereisen wanted to know why they hadn’t made a combat jump yet. MacArthur responded by saying they would be making a jump soon enough. After ten minutes talking to MacArthur, the two paratroopers left the office and made their way back to the front lines.

In February 1945, Feuereisen was with the 511th when they made a regimental combat jump onto Tagaytay Ridge near the capital of Manila. On February 23, along with other enlisted soldiers, they manned an outpost over a bay looking out for an enemy landing. In complete disregard for their safety, they shot flares into the sky alerting both the Americans and the Japanese of the presence of enemy soldiers. Throughout the night they held their positions despite a strong attack. In the morning they

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Paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division assemble in the Philippines, August 1945

noticed an American tank destroyer surrounded by the enemy. Again ignoring the inherent risks, the group led by Feuereisen rushed at the enemy troops and killed twenty-three of them and forcing the others to flee.

On April 6, 1945 in Lipa, Philippines, the lead man of Feuereisen’s patrol was killed by a booby trap and a sniper hit Feuereisen in the back of the neck. He was evacuated and spent several months recovering from pa-

ralysis of his legs and left arm. For his actions during World War II, Feuereisen was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Asiatic Pacific Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.

The 511th Parachute Infantry regiment made two other combat jumps in the Philippines. One of these was the rescue of 2,147 Allied citizens and military personnel from a prison camp in Los Banos. 130 paratroopers of Company B, 1st Battalion jumped into the camp in a successful rescue mission.

Feuereisen was one of 1,600 Jewish servicemen to receive the Silver Star during World War II. In 1968 he was elected as national commander of the Jewish War Veterans. This forgotten hero passed away in 2008.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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A Fulfilled L fe

Describe the Action, Not the Person

By Rabbi Dr. Naphtali Hoff

“W

e judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior.”

-Stephen M.R. Covey What does “good feedback” mean to you?

As leaders, we give feedback constantly. We do it formally, such as in scheduled review meetings. But we also do so informally, such as when we notice something that we like (which should be the norm) or something that we don’t appreciate (a necessary but hopefully less frequent form.) It could be expressed directly in words, or communicated indirectly, as with facial gestures, tone of voice or even changes in behavior patterns.

During leadership trainings I will often ask participants to describe what good (and poor) feedback looks and feels like. At one recent talk to mid-level managers, I received the following descriptors about strong feedback.

• Honest • Transparent • Predictable • Prepared • Comfortable • Not offensive • Constructive • Action- and outcome-focused Added together, these people were

saying that feedback is most helpful and motivating when it is provided in a manner that respects the recipient and is intended to guide and correct rather than put down or label.

But how often do we see and experience the opposite? I know that I have, and it’s not fun. Not fun at all.

Perhaps the hardest form of feedback to deliver well is situational nega-

ing personal judgement. It’s called “EARN,” which stands for event, action, result, and next steps.

• Event: What was the situation?

• Action: What was the observed behavior?

• Result: What was the impact or consequence?

• Next Steps: What behaviors need to be continued/changed?

We start to think in terms of how to solve a problem rather than the person being the problem. tive feedback. By that I mean responses to specific instances and actions that demand attention and possible correction moving forward. In these cases, we often operate in the moment and fail to carefully consider both the purpose of the feedback as well as how it will be received. In our quest to correct, we often make matters worse.

The following is a feedback method that helps us focus on the action and how best to correct it while reserv-

Here is an example of EARN applied.

• Event (when and where the behavior occurred) – “During yesterday’s weekly team meeting…”

• Action (on which you’re providing feedback) – “You answered your phone and stepped away...”

• Result (the behavior created) – “When we have time set aside for meetings, it’s important that you’re present and focused, and by stepping

away to take a call you are neither…”

• Next Steps (suggestion for the future) – “How would you feel about leaving your phone at your desk during meetings or only answering it in an emergency?”

What’s great about this method is that it keeps the focus squarely on the behavior and moves us away from judging the person. We start to think in terms of how to solve a problem rather than the person being the problem.

This allows us to be more thoughtful and creative in finding a solution.

And besides, no one likes to be judged. As soon as we feel personally challenged, we shift from acceptance mode to a defensive one. When the right approach to feedback is taken, both parties can better collaborate towards a more harmonious solution.

Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is an executive and business coach and president of Impactful Coaching & Consulting. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call 212-470-6139 or email info@impactfulcoaching.com. Check out his new leadership book, “Becoming the New Boss,” on Amazon. Download his free eBook for understaffed leaders at ImpactfulCoaching. com/EPIC.

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5Towns/Cedarhurst

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, EIK, DR/LR, Asking 739k W.HEMPSTEAD

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Kitchen, DR/LR, Garage, Backyard BAYSWATER 3 story home, 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Kosher Kitchen, Den, formal DR, Formal LR, Building size 3,800 sq ft, Lot side 100x112. Detached Garage, driveway. Asking $899K JERUSALEM Luxury large Apartment, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Asking $4.2 mil.

INWOOD

3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Kosher Kitchen, Backyard, Driveway

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Classifieds HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam is seeking

Seeking full time OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST for Special Education school located in Brooklyn. Experienced preferred.

Competitive salary. Room for growth. resumes@yadyisroelschool.org

professional and caring teachers for elementary school and Pre-1A. Also seeking assistant teachers for preschool and elementary school.

Please email resume to teachingpositions1@gmail.com.

ASSISTANTS NEEDED FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON SESSION. Email: fivetownseducators@gmail.com REGISTERED NURSE openings to work with adults who have developmental disabilities within residential settings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Long Island. Current

CATAPULT LEARNING Teachers, Title I Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush Schools *College/Yeshiva Degree *Teaching experience required *Strong desire to help children learn *Small group instruction *Excellent organization skills Competitive salary Send resume to: Fax: (212) 480-3691 ~ Email: nyteachers@catapultlearning.com

NYS RN, min 2 years hospital experience.

OHEL: 855-OHEL JOB www.ohelfamily.org/careers 5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA SEEKING ELEM GEN ED TEACHERS Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply.

Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

SHULAMITH EARLY CHILDHOOD is looking to hire a full time teacher assistant for the current school year.

Please email resume to earlychildhood@shulamith.org Seeking full time PHYSICAL THERAPIST for Special Education school located in Brooklyn. Experienced preferred.

Competitive salary. Room for growth. resumes@yadyisroelschool.org

OFFICE MANAGER Do you have good organizational skills? Office Manager position available at local school.

Responsibilities: work with vendors, coordinate staff schedules, manage schedules, etc. Must have good computer and communication skills.

Great pay and work environment.

Email resume to manager5towns@gmail.com HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER FOR SEPT 2019 for grades 9 - 11 grade girls. email currentjoboptions@gmail.com

MISC DISCOUNTED 6 FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE + SAFARI All day pass valid any operating day $42 Discounted parking Pass $20 Discounted Hershey Park tickets $42 Contact Yehoshua @ 917 923 0011 LOOKING FOR A ZECHUS? To host a small party in your home for a Mikvah organization as a Zechus for a loved one, Please call: 845-205-0910

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Your

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Money

All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

O

n March 12, the “Varsity Blues” scandal hit the headlines, and gossips across America leaped at the fresh meat.

That’s the day we learned about a group of 1%ers who paid anywhere from $15,000 to $6.5 million to cheat their kids’ way into some of the most prestigious colleges in America. The Department of Justice indicted 50 people, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Those who pled guilty right away are starting to receive sentences. Those who claimed innocence got rewarded with additional money laundering charges.

The parents worked with a private college counselor named Rick Singer. In some cases, they paid him $15,000 or more for crooked proctors to doctor their kids’ SAT tests. In others, they paid up to $6.5 million for him to bribe complicit coaches to tag the children as athletic recruits. Of course, nobody put “bribe” on the memo line of the check. Instead, they made “donations” to Singer’s “charity,” the Key Worldwide Foundation. That way, they got to deduct the bribes as charitable gifts! But now the chickens are coming home to roost…and the IRS is there to collect, too.

Prosecutors have piled up 3 million pages of evidence, includ-

ing over a million pages of emails, 4,500 wiretapped phone conversations, extensive bank records, and cooperation agreements from Singer and half a dozen of his henchman.

(When you conspire with a guy named “Singer,” don’t be shocked when he sings like a canary when the you-know-what hits the fan.)

ecutors have recommended a relatively light sentence: four months in a place that looks nothing like Wisteria Lane, 12 months of supervised release, a $20,000 fine, and additional restitution.

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Gianulli, represent the opposite end of the spec-

The IRS is eyeing the couple’s tax returns like a hungry bear eyeing a particularly fat fish.

Deciding whether or not to plead sounds like some sort of one-question IQ test. Still, just 22 of the original 50 defendants have taken that easier way out.

Actresses Huffman and Loughlin have attracted the biggest headlines.

Huffman represents the man-up end of the spectrum – she copped a tearful plea almost immediately to mail fraud charges for paying $15,000 to doctor her daughter’s SAT scores.

Since the dollar amount in her case was at the low end of the scale pros-

trum. The couple dropped $500,000 to get their bratty daughters into a school they clearly don’t even want to attend. Loughlin swiped left on a deal that would have included two years in a fuller house, and now faces up to 40 with the extra money laundering charge. Us magazine – everyone’s go-to source for breaking legal news – reports that the IRS is eyeing the couple’s tax returns like a hungry bear eyeing a particularly fat fish.

It looks like parents can count on

paying back the taxes they avoided by deducting whatever they paid Singer. Real estate mogul Bruce Isackson pled guilty to paying (and deducting) $600,000 in bribes to pass his daughters off as athletes.

The charges included one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Prosecutors are recommending he spend 37-45 months occupying a 6’x8’ parcel of federal property and pay $139,509 in restitution. That figure just happens to equal the exact amount of tax he saved by writing off the bogus “gifts.”

Singer reports that he collected a total of $25 million to help 761 families open “side doors” to schools for their kids. That means we can probably expect more names to be named. Hopefully yours won’t make the list! The good news is, while we can’t help you get your kids into the Ivy League, we can help you make the most of tax breaks for paying the bill. Make sure you have a plan before you pack up the car to move them in and see how much you can save.

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

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JUNE 27, 2019 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

When Sleep Eludes You

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

D

on’t think I’m writing this in the middle of the night because I can’t sleep. OK, I take that back – that’s exactly why I am!

Sleep is that funny thing that: • Little kids avoid but certainly need, or maybe parents really need them to get.

• Adolescents avoid but often overly embrace simultaneously.

• New mothers and fathers crave but can’t really recall what it feels like. Especially for a full night!

• And thinking adults find they want but their minds have a different plan for them.

Sleep, fortunately, is not typically a challenge for me. Yet, I know many people struggle with either falling asleep or staying asleep.

Sometimes, it’s just about the other person in the room.

For instance, you’ve actually got no problem with sleep – till they do!

Go to sleep, I mean. They’ve got the light on, or some technology blasting, or they’re sipping some tea, or they’re just turning and twisting, and their struggle messes up your sleep.

Worse yet, is when they are, in

fact, fast asleep and are still messing with your sleep. Unbeknownst to them, they are producing a minor symphony. They are snoring away to their heart’s delight but you’re the one staying up listening to it!

Then there are those people who just wake up after a few hours of shuteye with nowhere to go and nothing special to do. They know

So, after tossing and turning, they get up and feel they should be productive. Oy, that’s where the trouble really starts.

Perhaps they’re productive at night but end up being exhausted during the day.

But what else is one to do when sleep eludes them?! Open the light, read a little, play some soft music or

You’ve actually got no problem with sleep – till they do!

they are out of REM but feel they need REM. And I’m not referring to the old interpretation of REM, Rapid Eye Movement. They’d be happy to have even slow relaxing eye movement. Instead, they feel they Require Extra Melatonin!

And for some, that sleep aid that actually works, but for others it’s just a myth.

watch something, get a warm drink, or try staying in bed so they don’t fully wake up – although that may mean some twisting or turning. And sometimes these methods really work and soon they’re catching some zzzs.

The only problem is the other person in the room who spends the next day exhausted because someone in their room kept them up all night

sipping, listening, watching, and twisting and turning. And often, that other person even fell asleep with the light and noise still blaring!

For those who suffer this type of PTSD – Passive Two-in-a-room Sleep Disorder – assuming you are not tactilely sensitive, just prepare. Put a pair of earplugs and an eye mask near the bed and go to sleep with your defenses ready. However, if these defense items tickle you or torture you, since you’re really not the one with the original sleep problem, you may need to resort to your own REM: Request Exiting My space!

Then again, you can also get a good book and a cup of hot cocoa and realize that if you can’t beat them, it’s good to join them!

And suddenly, instead of just feeling that sleep is eluding you, you’ve entered a whole different type of REM: a Remarkably Exquisite Meeting-of-the minds!

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach.

She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.

The Jewish Home | JUNE 27, 2019 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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