Five Towns Jewish Home - 11-16-17

November 16, 2017

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SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN

A Thousand-Year-Old Conflict Reignited See page 7 & 13

Around the

Community

48 Learn, Live & Grow: Annual YILB Dinner

pg

111

Chinuch Begins at Home 40 Hundreds Attend Gesher’s Annual Carnival

A Conversation with Rebbetzin Bryna Bender pg

92

Teens & Sleep

by Dr. Hylton I Lightman

46 45 Holocaust Survivors Celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs for the First Time SHUVU C H A Z O N

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Dear Readers,

I

read from the book. Why? Because they knew how true it was – they were all doing those same tasks before “heading to bed” in their houses too.

Being a mother is a constant juggling act.

Nowadays, as most mothers work outside the home too, we’re being pulled in many directions at once. We all want to be home for our children as they come off the bus, be able to do homework with them and serve them nutritious, delicious dinners but work and our other obligations can sometimes get in the way of our best intentions. And even when we’re home and able to focus on our family, we are also faced with many tasks to be completed all at once – do we do homework with our second grader or give the younger child a bath? Do we sit down with our fifth grader as he relaxes on the couch or do we read a bedtime story to the littler ones? Do we drive one child to baseball practice or stay home and play with the others?

There are so many choices.

Rebbetzin Bender, in our feature article this week, stresses that a woman’s primary focus should be on her children. Yes, our lives sometimes stretch us in so many directions and so many ways. But if our center and our core is our family then we will be able to be the steadying force in our children’s lives forging everlasting, strong relationships with them.

thought of Rebbetzin Bender today when I got a call from my daughter’s school to pick her up. The call came as my son was heading onto his bus and my other daughter still needed to be dropped off at her school.

Turns out that daughter number one wasn’t feeling good and needed a little bit of TLC. Well, my morning was certainly turning out differently than I expected.

The night before we had moved our living room and dining room furniture to make way for workers who were coming in the morning to redo our floors. So I woke up to two couches and a piano in my kitchen, making it a bit harder than usual to tackle the morning rush.

The sprinkler company was also set to show up today. And TJH was still in its final stages, needing a little bit extra attention from me and others on staff before being sent to the printer.

Whoa! A lot to be done and a lot to juggle.

My sister recently sent me a short video of a speaker addressing her audience of mostly women. She was reading from a book in which the author was detailing her mother’s nightly routine. “Well, I’m heading to bed,” said the mother in the book. But then, before putting on her pajamas, she threw in a load of laundry, rinsed out the dessert bowls, prepared the children’s lunches for the next day, set the table for breakfast, sewed on some buttons, ironed a shirt, and performed various other tasks...all while she was “heading to bed.” The women in the audience were laughing as the speaker

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman MANAGING EDITOR

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Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Berish Edelman Mati Jacobovits Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classifieds: Deadline Mondays 5PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

8

COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

8

Community Happenings

40 NEWS

133

Global

13

National

22

Odd-but-True Stories

32

Saudi Arabia and Iran: A Thousand-YearOld Conflict 111

ISRAEL Israel News

20

World Builders

90

PEOPLE Chinuch Begins at Home A Conversation with Rebbetzin Bryna Bender Dr. Jakob Rosenfeld by Avi Heiligman

92 126

PARSHA Rabbi Wein

82

I am a Rock by Rav Moshe Weinberger

84

JEWISH THOUGHT Rock Stars by Eytan Kobre

86

Course Corrections by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

88

HEALTH & FITNESS Children Over the Line by Dr. Deb Hirschhorn

102

Nursing vs. Formula Feeding by Aliza Beer, MS RD

104

Teens and Sleep by Dr. Hylton I Lightman

106

FOOD & LEISURE The Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner for a Crowd

108

Dear Editor, Rabbi Dr. Hoff’s article this week was insightful. What he wrote in the second paragraph was what interested me the most. He quoted a comedian who quipped, “Do you know how alone you have to be to take a picture of yourself?” Wow. What powerful words. Many times mussar is best given in jest. And that line is a mussar shmooze for our entire generation. Our children nowadays think they are so popular and have so many friends because their social media is popping. But all they are busy with is trying to up on another with their posts and trying to make sure they are on top of their other “friends’” posts.

Enough! Sadly, they are not fostering real relationships – they have no clue how to really connect with people and look into their eyes, have a real conversation, and feel their happiness or pain. How sad that in this day and age we are more lonely than years ago. Our lives are filled with people – and yet we’re all living in our own zones, trapped in our lonely bubbles.

I think that every parent of a teen should show this quote to their teenager. They should remind them that sometimes it’s best to turn it all off, to take a walk, to connect – really connect – with others.

And then we’ll all be less lonely and less alone.

Chana P.

LIFESTYLES

Dear Editor, Rabbi Moshe Rabinowitz’s article on how we can become “defenders” of Yerushalayim has changed my Shemonah Esrei. Yasher koach on a wonderful article.

A Reader Dear Editor, I enjoy your paper immensely and cherish reading it every week.

Reading about Russia and the Soviet Union took a nice chunk of my Shabbos morning – and I’m happy that I did. History is fascinating.

There is so much to be learned and understood. Your piece was comprehensive and covered a large swath of time. Even so, I would like to hear more about Jews living in Russia at that time – how did they take to the Revolution? Did revolutionaries target them directly?

When did religion become illegal in the Soviet Union?

A follow-up piece would be most appreciated.

Thank you, Yona Bamburger Dear Editor, I want to respond quickly to the letter of a “wise” man criticizing Trump’s tax plan (I guess I am one of “dumb and uneducated people” in the words of that writer, and I wonder why he doesn’t instead write to the newspaper for “thinking people” – the New York Times).

Continued on page 10

Dating Dialogue, Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW 98

108

Your Money

132

Smile and I’m a Goner! by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

133

HUMOR Centerfold

Gym Jargon by Jon Kranz

80 124

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

115

Could the Ambitious Saudi Crown Prince Unleash a Storm across the Middle East? by David Ignatius 122 Hidden Costs for Homeowners in Latest Tax Bill

by Kenneth R. Harney CLASSIFIEDS

123 128

Did you or do you wear braces on your teeth?

54

%

YES

46

%

NO

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

It’s that ahhh moment.

The work day is done.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

stock markets, Trump needs to make corporate taxes lower and make our companies as well as companies overseas hire American workers here.

To accomplish this he needs to lower corporate taxes, but significantly increasing the debt is certainly not desirable, so he has to increase some other taxes (in addition he wants to simplify the tax code that currently is too complex).

I am sure there are many people including my own family that will overall lose, but if the dollar is strong, my investments are growing and economy is good, I am willing to pay a larger tax when necessary. Note also that this tax plan will go through a lot of changes before it’s approved

by Senate anyway. At any rate, if no change is done, stock markets can crash since much of the recent investor enthusiasm is based on the hope that Trump will be able to implement what he promised. Moreover, even families that lose from some of these changes will gain from others (e.g. the estate tax will not be withheld from inheritance).

Also, Trump’s school choice proposal (if he will be able to implement it) is beneficial to yeshiva-tuition paying parents! (As a side note, the following experiment was done: college students were asked to evaluate Trump’s tax proposal but it was said this is Sanders’ plan and they responded overwhelmingly positive, until they were told this is Trump’s plan. This is yet another proof that people writing against Trump in most cases are terribly biased against him personally to be able to objectively evaluate his ideas.)

Sincerely, Michael Rosen

Continued from page 8

While the plan is quite complex and certainly some people will win and some will lose, I want to mention the following points. 1. Is it fair? I think it is. Why should people living in states that spend more money and therefore have larger taxes pay less to the federal government? Trump’s general policy is to never reward losers; just because some states are failing welfare states, why should their

taxes to U.S. government decrease?

They get the same benefits the federal government provides for everyone.

Indeed, what may hopefully happen is that the people living in these states will push their governments to decrease the high taxes.

2. Is Trump’s policy specifically anti-blue states (and presumably Trump just wants to benefit in the next election)? No! Not all blue states have high taxes and not all red states

and swing states have low taxes.

Trump is not benefiting himself; his policy could actually make him lose some supporters in the swing states.

3. Most importantly, overall Trump’s plan is to make American economy stronger. Trump inherited from Obama (and Bush) a weak dollar and a huge 20 trillion dept. In order to bring jobs back to America and to benefit those Americans who have savings including 401K invested in

Views expressed on the Letters to the Editor page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jewish Home.

Please send all correspondence to: editor @fivetowns jewishhome.com.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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The Week In News

Hundreds Dead in Earthquake in Iran

At least 530 people in Iran have been confirmed dead after an earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border region on Sunday. Over 7,400 others in Iran were injured in the 7.3 magnitude quake. In Iraq, on the other side of border, seven people lost their lives. 535 people were reported injured there.

Hassan Rouhani, president of Iran, toured the area of Kermanshah, which appeared to be the most affected by the tremor. “This was a pain for all Iranians,” he said.

Seven big cities and 1,950 villages were damaged in the quake. At least 12,000 homes were completely destroyed.

Officials in Iran declared Tuesday as a national day of mourning and newspapers broke with tradition to publish their front page headlines in the Kurdish language in a rare move showing solidarity with the majority-Kurdish areas worst affected.

“Iran wept,” read the front page of Aftab-e-Yazd, over a big photo of an Iranian woman holding a lost family member in her arms. “Kermanshah, you are not alone,” read the reformist Etemaad’s headline.

Serious questions have been raised about the construction standards of a series of newly built apartments that collapsed or were severely damaged. Iran’s first vice-president, Eshaq Jahangiri, said many had been built as part of an affordable housing scheme introduced by the former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian daily newspaper Hamdeli blamed Ahmadinejad for the scale of destruction, publishing

a cartoon on its front page under the headline “This is what you cooked [for us]” of the former president taking a selfie in the rubble.

Iran has seen powerful earthquakes in recent decades. The 1990 Manjil–Rudbar earthquake in northern Iran, which had a magnitude similar to the one on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of 35,000 to 50,000 people. The 2003 Bam earthquake in the southern Kerman province killed at least 31,000. Sunday’s earthquake was the deadliest in Iran in over than a decade.

Israel offered condolences and assistance to Iran and Iraq after the dissaster, but was immediately rebuffed.

Australian MP Resigns

A by-election was recently triggered in Australia when Liberal MP John Alexander resigned from parliament there. The 66-year-old recently found out that he may not be a pure Australian and is therefore unable to hold public office. He announced that after checking with the British Home Office – he was no longer certain that he was a sole Australian citizen.

“Given what I have learned about the constitution and understanding now of the high court decision just a couple of weeks ago, I can no longer, with sufficient certainty, maintain the belief that I have held through my 66 years,” he said. “Therefore, it is my obligation that I must resign.

That’s what I will do. I think there is a great need for certainty, to clarify the situation and to do so as expeditiously as possible.” He added that Australians are fed up with the uncertainty in their government.

The loss of Alexander means that the government does not have a majority in the House of Representatives. The Labor party announced its intention to bring money back into the government’s coffers. Of the 148 members of the House, 74 are from

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

the government’s Labor party. It takes a majority of 76 votes to win a vote. Putting together a coalition government will be very difficult now that many members have been found to have been born in England and were also UK citizens at the time of their nomination to parliament.

According to the constitution, representatives can only hold Australian citizenship and not be dual citizens of another country.

The by-elections are set to take place on December 16.

The chief government whip, Nola Marino, is also facing questions after it was revealed that she may have Italian blood in her through marriage. According to the consulate general of Italy “foreign women who married an Italian citizen prior to 27 April 1983 automatically acquired Italian citizenship on the date of marriage.” Marino married her husband in Western Australia in 1972.

According to Marino, registration is required in order to be disqualified from holding office, and she is not registered. Ultimately, the Supreme Court will decide what exactly constitutes “citizenship” from another country.

Joint U.S. War Carrier Exercises For the first time in a decade, three 100,000 ton carriers, the USS Ronald Reagan, USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz, and their multi-ship strike groups sailed together off the Korean Peninsula. The group on Tuesday was finishing up four days of exercises in the waters between South Korea and Japan.

But so many U.S. ships – and several South Korea and Japanese warships – are making North Korea uncomfortable. According to a letter from North Korea to the United Nations secretary-general, the exercises are creating “the worst ever situation prevailing in and around the Korean Peninsula.”

Washington “is now running amok for war exercises by introducing nuclear war equipment in and around the Korean Peninsula, thereby proving that the U.S. itself is the major offender of the escalation of tension and undermining of the peace,” the letter written by North Korea’s UN Ambassador Ja Song Nam read. He added that the exer-

cises show that North Korea is right to build up its defenses.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday that the presence of the three carriers was part of Washington’s “sinister intention to maintain military hegemony in the region.”

The United States has said that their presence is a signal to North Korea that it will not be intimidated

by Kim Jong Un’s constant testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

“We sent three of the largest aircraft carriers in the world [to the Korean Peninsula] and a nuclear submarine is also positioned,” U.S. President Donald Trump noted after his arrival in South Korea last week.

The president also chastised North Korea on his trip, calling for an end to its nuclear program and saying “we hope to G-d we never have to use” the military strength the U.S. has on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean government officials told CNN last week that the U.S. was increasingly taking action that could “ignite another Korean War.” “Nobody knows when and how the ‘war maniac’ Trump will ignite

the ‘wick of war,’” the officials said, referring to the presence of the carriers near the peninsula.

Most Visited Countries

Looking to take a vacation? The rankings of the “world’s top tourist destinations” have been published, and Hong Kong once again nabbed the top slot. 25.7 million tourists visited the bustling city this year. Although Hong Kong saw a 3.2% drop this year compared to last, it was still higher than Bangkok, Thailand, which landed at number 2.

Bangkok saw a 9.5% spike in tourist visits this year with 21.3 million guests visiting the city. It came in sec-

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

ond last year as well. The third spot went to London, which was Europe’s most visited city. By the end of 2017, 19.8 million tourists will have visited the city of Big Ben. As Asian capitals become more popular, large European cities like London will see their spots on the list fall, the findings predict. “Asia Pacific is the standout region driving change in travel,” said Wouter Geerts, Senior Travel Analyst at Euromonitor International.

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv came in as the 76th and 78th most visited cities in the world.

Following Hong Kong, Bangkok and London, the rest of the top ten includes Singapore, Macao, Dubai, Paris, New York, Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur.

According to Euromonitor’s estimates, the five most toured cities in 2025 will be Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Macao and Dubai.

China Dominates Supercomputers

It’s been a race of the supercomputer between the U.S. and China.

For years, China has claimed the top spot on a list of the 500 fastest supercomputers. Now it dominates the overall list, too, pushing the United States into second place.

For the first time ever, China has the most systems on the Top500 list – 202 – up from 159 six months ago. The U.S. dropped from 169 to 144. And in terms of the total performance of those machines, China also overtook the U.S., the Top500 supercomputer list organizers said.

The news underscores the relentless ascent of China’s supercomputing trajectory in recent years. It also marks a notable shift in the international balance of high-end computing power that’s closely tied to industrial, academic and military abilities.

As President Trump knows, China is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Supercomputers, mammoth ma-

chines that can occupy entire buildings and use thousands of processors, are useful for tasks like simulating nuclear weapons explosions, forecasting weather, designing aircraft and investigating the cosmos by reconstructing thousands of years of the universe’s history.

The Top500 list, released twice a year in conjunction with the annual SC conference, is compiled by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee and cloud-computing company Prometeus. It ranks supercomputers by how fast they can perform mathematical calculations on an imperfect but still useful speed test called Linpack. Results are measured in floating-point operations per second, or FLOPS. The top two machines both are in China. Sunway TaihuLight, at China’s National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, was clocked at 93.01 petaflops, or 93 quadrillion calculations per second. The No. 2 machine, Tianhe-2 at the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzho, scored 33.86 petaflops.

They’ve held the top two spots for two years.

The United States might reclaim the top spot on the Top500 list, though. An IBM-built machine called Summit at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is designed to reach about 200 petaflops, double the performance of Sunway TaihuLight. It’s housed in a 10,000-square-foot facility that has a 20-megawatt power system for running the machine and keeping it cool.

That’s enough electricity to power about 16,300 houses.

Ancient Jewish Cemetery Discovered in Italy

About five centuries ago, Italy was home to many Jews. But due to oppression and persecution, most signs

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

of Jewish life have been erased – until recently. As part of an excavation, the largest medieval Jewish cemetery known to have ever existed in Italy has been discovered, nearly 500 years after it was desecrated.

Bologna Mayor Virginio Merola announced the discovery last week.

The project actually began over five years ago when archaeologists began discovering graves. The graves were those of men, women, and children, and some plots had ornaments made of gold, silver, bronze, hard stones, or amber.

“It is a unique discovery,” Merola said. “It is an enrichment of the cultural story of our city and of the presence of the Jewish community in Bologna.”

Located in Via Orfeo, in central-Northern Italy, the excavation began by accident during a residential construction project. Archaeologists were able to date the cemetery back to the 1390s and assumed it was destroyed when Pope Pius V banished Jews from the region in 1569. Only Jews in Rome and Ancona were allowed to remain in Italy. At the time the Jews were forced to live in a ghetto in Bologna. In 1586 Jews were once again allowed back into the town of Bologna until 1593, when they were again banished. 900 Jews left at the time and were not allowed back for more than two centuries.

Historians say that the pope’s instructions to local nuns were “to dig up and send, wherever they want, the bodies, bones and remains of the dead: to demolish, or convert to other forms, the graves built by the Jews, including those made for living people: to remove completely, or scrape off the inscriptions or epitaphs carved in the marble.”

Big Brother Coming to China The Chinese government will be introducing the Social Credit System in order to track its citizens. The controversial system will be similar in some ways to a credit score but will include factors other than finances such as political leanings, purchase history, and even a “trust score” based on social interactions.

All citizens will be evaluated using the new system by 2020. Chinese officials claim that the system will influence their citizen’s behavior to better benefit society and “move their coun-

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try forward.” Critics of the system say that the system is the latest attempt by the Chinese government to keep tabs on its citizens and continue a long tradition of state surveillance.

Rachel Botsman has written a book about the new system that is to be implemented in the coming years.

Botsman explains that the system will look at many aspects of a person’s life, such as whether someone pays their bills and their mortgage on time.

The system will also look at people’s online presence and whether their comments are in-line with the Chinese government’s agenda. It will also be able to track a person’s friends’ behavior and their social connections as well in order to fully assess a Chinese person’s “National Trust Score.”

Botsman explains that the government will be tracking purchases to gauge how responsible a person is.

She says that if someone buy shoes

or diapers, their score would go up, but if they buy video games, their score would go down as they are seen as less responsible. The idea of the score is to sum up a person’s character and make predictions based on their social environment, which many find very frightening.

The benefits of a high score include being fast-tracked for visas, discounts on insurance policies and even discounts on cars and hotel

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stays. The scariest part of the system, according to Botsman, are the consequences of having a low score.

A low trust score would mean that your children might not get into the schools that you want and you may not be able to get a job or a mortgage.

Many supporters of the system say that big companies are gathering this data anyway, so at least let the government regulate it. Time will tell whether the Chinese government will abuse the system or will use it to truly advance China’s society and business culture.

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The president of Slovenia was re-elected in a runoff vote this week.

Borut Pahor just beat out his challenger with 53 percent of the country voting for him to hold office for a second term.

The voter turnout was about 42 percent, according to the preliminary figures released by the country.

They are the lowest numbers for a presidential election since the country became independent in 1991.

Pahor promised to focus on cooperation, political stability, and security after his win was announced.

“I will be the president of all; I will connect people, build upon the things we have in common,” he said.

The role of president in Slovenia is mostly a ceremonial one, however, the president does lead the army and nominates top officials who are then confirmed by the parliament.

Pohar was forced into a runoff race after he could not secure a majority of voters in the first round.

Pohar was only able to garner 47% of the vote in the first round three weeks ago. The former fashion model is known as “the king of the Instagram” because he often posts pictures of himself on social media playing sports.

Military Coup in Zimbabwe

After 37 years of rule, Robert Mugabe’s power over Zimbabwe seems to be over. On Wednesday, the military said that it was holding the president and his family “safe” while targeting “criminals” in his entourage.

Mugabe is the only ruler the country has known since its independence. The main goal of the military seems to be preventing Mugabe’s wife, Grace, from taking over after Mugabe. Robert Mugabe is 93-years-old; Grace is 41 years younger than her husband.

Soldiers seized the state broadcaster and a general appeared on television to announce the takeover.

Armored vehicles blocked roads to the main government offices, parliament and the courts in central Harare, while taxis ferried commuters to work nearby. The atmosphere in the capital remained calm.

Mugabe, still seen by many Africans as an anti-colonial hero, is reviled in the West as a despot whose disastrous handling of the economy and willingness to resort to violence to maintain power destroyed one of Africa’s most promising states. He plunged Zimbabwe into a fresh political crisis last week by firing his vice president and presumed successor.

The generals believed that move was aimed at clearing a path for Grace Mugabe to take over and announced on Monday they were prepared to “step in” if purges of their allies did not end. “We are only targeting criminals around him [Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice,” Major General SB Moyo, Chief of Staff Logistics, said on television. “As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy.”

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Hours after the coup the country remained calm. Traffic was lighter than usual, but without chaos. Whatever the final outcome, the events could signal a once-in-a-generation change for the southern African nation, once a regional bread-basket, reduced to poverty by an economic crisis Mugabe’s opponents have long blamed on him.

Even many of Mugabe’s most loyal supporters over the decades had come to oppose the rise of his wife, who courted the powerful youth wing of the ruling party but alienated the military, led by Mugabe’s former guerrilla comrades from the 1970s independence struggle.

While most African states gained independence by the end of the 1960s, Zimbabwe remained one of the last European colonies on the continent, ruled by white settlers as Rhodesia until 1980. Mugabe took power after a long guerrilla struggle, and two decades later ordered the forcible seizure of white-owned farms.

The fall in output that followed was one of the worst economic depressions of modern times. By 20072008 inflation topped out at 500 bil-

lion percent. Mugabe blamed Britain and the United States for sabotaging the country. His followers used violence to suppress a growing domestic opposition he branded lackeys of former colonial powers.

The economy briefly stabilized from 2010 to 2014, when Mugabe was forced to accept a power-sharing government with the opposition, but since then the recovery has unraveled. In the last year, a chronic shortage of dollars has led to long lines outside banks. Imported goods are running out and economists say that by some measures inflation is now at 50 percent a month.

The economic implosion has destabilized the region, sending millions of poor laborers streaming out of the country, mostly to neighboring South Africa. The political crisis came to a head last week when Mugabe sacked his presumed heir, Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa, a long-serving former leader of the security forces nicknamed “the Crocodile” for his role as Mugabe’s enforcer over the decades.

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Visa Waivers for Israelis?

The State of Israel has almost completed a visa waiver agreement with the United States. The arrangement will allow 90-day visits to the U.S. for business or tourism for Israelis without the need to apply for a visa to gain entry. Currently, there are 38 countries that participate in the program with the United States.

“We are finalizing a deal to cancel the visas,” Justice Minister Ayelet

Shaked tweeted. “Ever since I took up the post we have been working with the Americans to join the group of select countries whose citizens are exempt from obtaining an entry visa to the USA. We found the balance between protecting the privacy of Israeli citizens and the demands of the Americans.”

A main issue that has delayed the agreement has been granting the United States access to Israeli fingerprint records. Israel has a Biometric Database Law which prohibits the transfer of details such as fingerprints to any foreign government unless it is for a specific criminal investigation. A major step forward was taken when Israel negotiated that only Israelis with a criminal record would have their fingerprints passed to American authorities.

Another issue holding up Israel’s entry into the program is the requirement that visa denials be under three percent. Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said that her department was “acting on various levels to reduce the number of Israelis who are refused visas to the U.S.” She is reportedly meeting with the U.S. Consulate General to discuss the provisions further.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Bibi Firm on Israel’s Operations in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will continue to operate in southern Syria when necessary. Bibi spoke at a weekly cabinet meeting in response to a ceasefire deal that was reportedly struck between the United States, Russia, and Jordan to keep foreign fighters away from the northern border of Israel.

“I have clarified to our friends in Washington and our friends in Moscow that we will operate in Syria, including southern Syria, in accordance with our understanding and in accordance with our security needs,” Netanyahu said, describing Israel’s security policy as “the right combination of firmness and responsibility.” Israel has carried out many airstrikes against weapons convoys in Syria that were headed to Hezbollah militia, which are backed by Iran.

The ceasefire, which was announced by both the United States and Russia, calls for the “the reduction, and ultimate elimination” of foreign fighters in Syria. Israel was not a party to the deal and has been clear that the IDF will continue to defend its interests in the war-torn region. “We have proved that before and we will prove it again in the future,” asserted Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz.

Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi is very critical of the deal that was struck. Hanegbi said that he does not feel the deal went far enough. The pact “does not meet Israel’s unequivocal demand that there will not be developments that bring the forces of Hezbollah or Iran to the Israel-Syria border in the north,” he said.

Brain “Naps” without Sleep

Researchers at Tel Aviv University, UCLA, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have released a study on the brain activity of those that are sleep deprived. It turns out that lack of sleep doesn’t just mean bleary eyes the next day. The researchers showed that individual neurons slow down when we don’t get enough sleep and that the brain’s visual perception and memory associations are damaged.

Many studies have been done on the bad effects of not having enough sleep, but this study looked at exactly how the lack of sleep took a toll on brain activity and subsequent behavior. The researcher found that neurons – the nerve cells inside the brain – in the temporal lobe of the brain need to take a break when they are overcome by slow brainwaves and almost take a nap, which results in slower overall brain function.

The slowdown of the individual neurons leads to delayed behavior responses to events taking place around us, the study says. “When we’re sleep-deprived, a local intrusion of sleep-like waves disrupts normal brain activity while we’re performing tasks,” said Yuval Nir of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, who led the study. “The data gleaned from the experiment afforded us a unique glimpse into the inner workings of the human brain,” Nir said.

“It revealed that sleepiness slows down the responses of individual neurons, leading to behavioral lapses.”

Nir said he hopes the results of the study will translate into practical ways to measure drowsiness in tired individuals before they pose a threat to anyone or anything, “since drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving.”

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This week the IDF deployed Iron Dome batteries in the Gush Dan region – which includes Tel Aviv and central Israel – in anticipation of a possible attack from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group.

Israel also shut down three tourist sites near the Gaza Strip out of concern for a potential attack.

Despite Israel’s growing fear of an escalation of hostilities with the southern enclave, Palestinian sources within Gaza have said that Egypt has been exerting significant pressures on the PIJ to desist from launching any kind of revenge attack.

On Saturday night, Israel promised to respond to any revenge attack from Palestinian Islamic Jihad with “power and determination.”

Warning the PIJ in Arabic that it is “playing with fire” in a video posted online, Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai stressed that Israel would respond to any attack from the group and from Hamas. The next day, members of the terrorist organization said the threats were tantamount to “a declaration of war.”

Blue Flag 2017

manned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The event takes place every two years. This is the third time Israel has hosted the event, which included participants from Greece, India, the U.S., Germany, Poland, France, and Italy.

During the drill, Israeli F-15 and F-16 jets were pitted against German Eurofighters and French Mirage jets.

“It’s interesting to see different approaches to solving the same problem,” said a high-ranking IAF officer.

“This is an international event that is strategically important to Israel.

We’ve matched each country with the scenarios that interest it.”

“It’s quite an experience to see the Eurofighter maneuver and lock in on its targets,” he added. “It the closest to war we can get in an exercise, under a policy of openness that includes dilemmas over what to reveal and what not reveal to our guests. You get to see your level as a pilot and as a soldier when compared to others.”

“What’s really interesting to see during the exercise itself is how each country brings its culture into the exercise,” Cpt. Noam, from the Israeli Air Force, noted. “Some are more precise and ‘strict,’ let’s call it that, when it comes to punctuality, while others in charge have more of the Israeli creative thinking mentality, with a little more flexibility.” He further stated that “what’s really fun to see is how each country brings its own colors to the exercise itself.”

Several scenarios are presented and practiced in the exercise. Although no specific enemy is identified, each pilot was given an Arabic name and intel they must use to overtake the enemy. The scenarios range from head-on aerial attacks to facing UAVs, dropping ammunition, and attacking and evading anti-aircraft systems.

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Israel began running the largest aerial exercise the country has ever seen last week. The two-week event, which has been titled “Blue Flag,” includes nearly 1,000 pilots from eight different countries and roughly 100 fighter jets, helicopters, and un-

Kiryas Joel on its Own The community of Kiryas Yoel in Monroe, NY, voted to become their own enclave last week. Residents overwhelmingly backed a referendum (about 80%) that will make the town the first fully ultra-Orthodox town in

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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the U.S. This will be New York State’s first new town in 35 years.

The community of 20,000 chassidim, who mostly only speak Yiddish, are of Satmar affiliation. The town will be called The Town of Palm Tree, an English translation of the Satmar rebbe’s surname, Teitelbaum.

“Today is truly an historic day that will usher in a new era of peace and stability for all the residents of Monroe,” Kiryas Joel village administrator Gedalye Szegedin said in a statement.

“We would like to thank all the voters in Monroe for their overwhelming support. They chose a better path forward, one of diplomacy and compromise instead of angry rhetoric and litigation.”

The new town will be made official in 2020 unless lawmakers are able to speed up the process. Over the years, Monroe officials and Kiryas Joel lead-

ers have clashed. In 2015, Kiryas Joel annexed 164 acres of Monroe land and asked for over 500 more. Monroe challenged the original annexation, but both sides let their requests go through to the vote. Now, Kiryas Joel will get 56 more acres in addition to the 2015 annexation and will drop its request for more.

The community was started in the mid-1970s when the first Satmar families moved in under the guidance of the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum.

Americans Oppose Visa Lottery

Currently there is a program that grants immigrants permanent U.S. residency by a lottery system, an idea strongly opposed by many Americans,

according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The majority of Americans are in favor of enabling immigrants to obtain green cards through sponsorship

by U.S. employers.

The poll, released last Thursday, found that only 25% support the lottery system and 60% oppose it. The green card lottery, also called the “diversity visa” program, attempts to diversify the U.S. immigrant population by allotting 50,000 immigrant visas each year to citizens of countries that do not send many people to the United States. Recipients are selected randomly, but once chosen are supposedly required to go through standard security checks before they are granted permission to enter and remain in the United States.

Government officials have also expressed skepticism for the “diversity visa” program. Last week, members of Congress, the Trump administration, and other Republicans criticized the program that allowed Sayfullo Saipov into the country. Saipov, an Uzbek national, entered the United States on a diversity visa in 2010; he ultimately mowed down eight innocent pedestrians in New York City two weeks ago.

Trump has been campaigning for

Congress to end the program, claiming it to be a vulnerable system that allows for fraud and national security risks.

Roger Goodell: More Money & a Jet

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been living the high life, making a cool $30 million. But now, Goodell, whose proposed contract with the NFL is undergoing an approval process, is asking the league’s compensation committee to raise his salary to a whopping $49.5 million per year. He is also asking for use of a private jet for life and, to be practical, lifetime health insurance for his

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

family.

The commissioner currently is embattled with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has threatened to sue the NFL if negotiations regarding Goodell’s contract extension are finalized without approval from all NFL team owners.

An unnamed NFL owner told ESPN that there are “several owners in this league who don’t make $40 million a year.” The owner added: “That number for Roger just seems too much. It’s offensive. It’s unseemly.”

Goodell has made headlines in recent months for his handling of league players protesting during the national anthem ahead of NFL games. He said last month that “we want our players to stand” during the anthem, but stopped short of imposing a rule for players to do so.

On Monday, the compensation committee gave Jerry Jones a ceaseand-desist warning in response to his threat to sue the league over contract extension talks with Goodell.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, the chairman of the six-member committee, terminated Jones as a non-voting, ad-hoc seventh member on Saturday because of Jones’ threat to sue the league.

In a letter sent last week to owners on the committee, Jones claimed he “has discovered a number of very concerning issues” while engaged as a committee member, including that “the Ownership (sic) and Jerry Jones now understand that they have been unquestionably misled” by Blank and that “critical facts” have been misrepresented regarding Goodell’s contract.

The committee still is in negotiations with Goodell regarding his compensation.

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Riders on New York City transit are now being greeted with announcements like these. No, most people cannot make out what they’re saying on the trains (I think he was trying to tell them to “watch the closing doors”). What they will be able to make out is that no longer will ladies and gentlemen be riding the buses and trains in the city. Now, in a city so skittishly sensitive, the Metropoli-

tan Transportation Authority (MTA) is opting for a more gender-neutral approach. Bus drivers and subway conductors are now told to use words such as “passengers,” “riders” and “everyone.”

“We’re fundamentally changing the way we talk with riders to give them better and clearer information,” MTA spokesman Jon Weinstein said.

Pre-recorded messages that in-

clude the former language will also be changed, and more emphasis will be placed on real time live updates.

Conductors will also have more freedom in terms of announcements, making them more personable and even shouting out local landmarks.

“Everyone, check out Lady – I mean the Statue – of Liberty.”

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one or more related areas reported higher levels of stress and loneliness, which often translated into poorer physical and mental health.

“We’ve known for a long time that social skills are associated with mental health problems like depression and anxiety, but we’ve not known definitively that social skills were also predictive of poorer physical health,” says study author Chris Segrin. “Two variables — loneliness and stress — appear to be the glue that bind poor social skills to health. People with poor social skills have high levels of stress and loneliness in their lives.”

“We started realizing about 15 years ago that loneliness is actually a pretty serious risk for health problems,” Segrin explains. “It’s as serious of a risk as smoking, obesity, or eating a high-fat diet with lack of exercise.”

Recently loneliness has been connected with declining health. Segrin gives the example of someone who is always searching for their car keys.

Segrin states that lonely people are simply “not finding what they’re looking for, and that stress of frantically searching takes a toll on them.”

The good news is that with the proper intervention, a person can develop social skills. Therapy and counseling can help an individual develop these crucial skills. Future research could look at how a lack of social skills may affect other aspects of one’s health, including the development of chronic illness.

“I want to get the word out about how valuable good communication skills are,” Segrin emphasizes. “They will not just benefit you in your social life but they’ll benefit your physical health.”

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Bill Gates: $100M to Dementia Research

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to bringing together industry and government to seek treatments for the degenerative disease. The initial donation will be doubled with another $50 million pledge dedicated to several start-up ventures working in Alzheimer’s research. This is a personal donation and will not be given through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is rising quickly. Gates explained that the disease is manifesting itself in a whole new way as life expectancy gets higher. As people live longer, it’s taking a growing emotional and financial toll.

“It’s a huge problem, a growing problem, and the scale of the tragedy – even for the people who stay alive – is very high,” he lamented.

There is currently no treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, although there are drugs that can ease symptoms. Gates believes that with focused and well-funded innovation, he’s “optimistic” treatments can be found. He’s acknowledged that it can take as long as a decade to make any major breakthroughs.

“It’ll take probably ten years before new theories are tried enough times to give them a high chance of success. So it’s very hard to hazard a guess [when an effective drug might be developed]. I hope that in the next ten years that we have some powerful drugs, but it’s possible that won’t be achieved,” he said.

According to the non-profit campaign group, Alzheimer’s Disease International, about 50 million people worldwide are affected by dementia, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common form. Researchers predict that by 2050 there will be more than 131 million people suffering from the disease.

By speaking with experts in the field over the past year Gates says he has defined five areas of need: understanding better how Alzheimer’s unfolds; detecting and diagnosing it earlier; pursuing multiple approaches to trying to stop the disease; making it easier for people to take part in clinical trials of potential new medicines; and using data better.

It is not uncharacteristic of Gates to be dedicated to this cause. He often funds research on infectious diseases in poorer countries. He also mentioned that Alzheimer’s has affected him personally. “I know how awful it is to watch people you love struggle as the disease robs them of their mental capacity... It feels a lot like you’re experiencing a gradual death of the per-

son that you knew,” he said in a blog post about the dementia investments.

He added: “Some of the men in my family have suffered from Alzheimer’s, but I wouldn’t say that’s the sole reason [for this investment].”

Sinister Motives in Green Beret Death

The death of Green Beret Logan Melgar is looking to be a much more sinister affair than first thought. The elite Navy commando is thought to have been killed by members of SEAL Team Six after he discovered they were pocketing money from the U.S. government.

Melgar told his wife before he was sent on an intelligence operation in the West Africa country of Mali that he did not feel good about the assignment and suspected there were sinister motives behind him being specifically selected for the mission. He then told his wife that he would fill her in on the details when he got home – but he never made it out of Mali.

Two Navy SEALs are now under investigation for killing Melgar. The story that is coming out seems to be that Melgar discovered that a few Navy SEALs were pocketing cash that they were given in order to pay informants to cooperate with U.S. forces in Mali. Melgar approached the group about the money they were stealing and was offered to be “cut in on the scam.” Melgar refused, and an altercation ensued in which Melgar was killed.

The cover-up story that was given by these Navy SEALs was that Melgar was drunk during a sparring exercise and that’s why he was killed accidently. The autopsy report has shown that there were no drugs or alcohol in Melgar’s system.

The Army Criminal Investigation Command has now taken over the case, and all evidence in Mali is being preserved in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Wisconsin Hawaii Rhode Island Maryland Alabama Arkansas Louisiana New jersey South Carolina Maine

California ranked number 29 out of the 50 states and New York clocked in at number 33.

UCLA Players Back in U.S.

Taking Care of Business Being a successful entrepreneur takes more than just a good idea and a passion. Much of the success of a new business is dependent on the cities in which they are built.

Regulations vary by city and state.

Details to consider when starting a new business include the process of getting a business license, the quality

and number of available employees, and the tax code in your region.

In order to give start-ups a good idea of what to expect, GOBankingRates created a list of the best and worst states for small businesses.

Where should you head if you have a great idea and can’t wait to get it off the ground? Consider these ten states, ranked as the best states for business in the nation: 1. South Dakota 2. Wyoming 3. Nevada

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Florida Montana Alaska Utah Texas Missouri Colorado

On the other side of success, if you really believe in your product you may want to move out of these states if you’re starting a business.

They were ranked the worst states in the nation for a new business:

On Tuesday, after President Trump spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, three UCLA basketball players were on their way back home from China. LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were arrested after being accused of stealing designer sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store in China next to the team’s hotel in Hangzhou.

They were subsequently arrested for shoplifting and detained. The rest of their team flew home to Los Angeles on Saturday.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said on Tuesday that the matter “has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Chinese authorities.”

Trump personally asked Xi Jinping for help to resolve the case during his visit to Beijing last week.

Scott thanked Trump, the White House and the State Department for their efforts in resolving what he called “the incident with authorities in Hangzhou, China.” He indicated UCLA made “significant efforts” on behalf of its three players.

The team was playing their sea-

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

son-opening game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai on Saturday. They won the game 63-60.

Alex Azar for HHS

President Trump has nominated Alex Azar to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The position was vacated by Tom Price at the end of September when Price resigned amid claims that he took repeated trips on government and private jets that cost taxpayers over $1 million.

The high profile role in Trump’s cabinet involves overseeing many aspects of health care, from Medicare and Medicaid, to drug approvals and disease control. This position will also

F R O M

be heavily involved in the conversation regarding the implementation of a new health care law.

The nomination still needs to be approved by Congress, and the Democrats will surely resist Azar and his conservative views. Any individual who supports the Republican agenda, such as repealing and replacing Obamacare, is considered a threat by the Democratic Party. Despite certain opposition, the GOP controls 52 seats in the Senate, and Azar only needs 51 votes to win Senate confirmation.

Previously, Azar ran a pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, which he left in January, clearing the way for him to be appointed HHS. Azar worked in the HHS during former President George W. Bush’s administration, when he served as the department’s general counsel from 2001 to 2005.

He would bring “competence, leadership, a smart, conservative agenda, and also an understanding of how the regulatory process works, which I think is important given that the Trump administration is trying to accomplish a lot of its health policy goals via the administrative process,” said Tevi Troy, who served as Bush’s deputy head of the White House Domestic Policy Council when Azar was at HHS.

Free Legal Help for Illegals

The Vera Institute of Justice recently has launched their Safety and Fairness for Everyone, or “SAFE” Cities Network campaign. The campaign’s goal is to assist undocumented immigrants who are in trouble with legal representation. According to a recent study by the organization, those detained who don’t have legal representation are at a huge disadvantage simply because of their financial constraints and lack of resources. While detained immigrants without attorneys had a success rate of around 4%, immigrants facing deportation with an attorney present had a success rate of about 48%.

Interestingly, this past fiscal year, U.S. agents were on pace to deport fewer people from the U.S. than during the same period last year. As of September 9, three weeks before the end of the 2017 fiscal year, ICE had deported 211,068 immigrants.

In contrast, ICE removed 240,255 people during the government’s 2016 fiscal year. The number of people attempting to sneak across the U.S. border with Mexico fell dramatically in the months following Trump’s inauguration, as people who were emboldened by Obama’s policies stayed on the other side of the fence once Trump got to the Oval Office.

The 11 members of the SAFE Cities Network share the belief that regardless of politics, economy, and ethnically diverse jurisdictions those who have a proper legal team generally receive outcomes that allow them to continue moving forward.

The inaugural cities, counties and communities involved in the SAFE Cities Network campaign are: (1) Atlanta, Georgia; (2) Austin, Texas; (3) Baltimore, Maryland; (4) Chicago, Illinois; (5) Columbus, Ohio; (6) Dane County, Wisconsin; (7) Oakland-Alameda County, California; (8) Prince George’s County, Mary-

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

land; (9) Sacramento, California; (10) San Antonio, Texas; and (11) Santa Ana, California.

Alcohol Linked to Cancer

Last year, 1,685,210 individuals were diagnosed with cancer. The disease ravages the bodies of those with the illness. Their loved ones are thrown into a tailspin of grief and pain. This growing epidemic has become a sad reality of life.

There has been extensive research regarding the causes of some types of cancers. Science has proven a strong link between sun exposure, smoking, and obesity to cancer. Now the American Society of Clinical Oncology is begging people to curb their alcohol consumption, asserting that it has a strong link to cancer.

The group is composed of top cancer doctors who have done extensive research on the correlation between alcohol and cancer.

In a statement released last week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the ASCO wrote, “ASCO believes that a proactive stance by the Society to minimize excessive exposure to alcohol has important implications for cancer prevention.”

This is the first time that the organization has formally stated that less alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cancer. The recent update is based on research conducted by two separate groups of doctors. Researchers found that even drinking as little as a glass of wine or a beer a day can increase the risk of developing both pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. For that report, scientists from the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund looked at 119 studies from around the globe and incorporated data from roughly 12 million women as well as some 260,000 cases of breast cancer. Alcohol was also linked to a common type of esophageal cancer, mouth and throat cancer, liver cancer, and other types of cancer.

Alcohol is listed as a human car-

cinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Research highlighted by the National Cancer Institute suggests that the more alcohol one drinks, particularly on a consistent basis, the higher the chances of developing cancer.

The research doesn’t suggest to never drink at all, but it does suggest that having a drink every single day can be detrimental to your health.

“The message is not, ‘Don’t drink.’

It’s ‘if you want to reduce your cancer risk, drink less. And if you don’t drink, don’t start,’” Noelle LoConte, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who was the lead author of the ASCO statement, said.

for transport, only two have actually signed up, Mike Byrne, a FEMA federal coordinating officer, told CNN last Thursday.

“They want the other assistance we can give them,” Byrne said. “But (there’s) not a lot of interest in leaving. I think that’s not a surprise. They want to stay close to their homes because then they have a chance to repair them. They want to stay close to family.”

Byrne said a several hundred families have already relocated on their own. Others have now signed up for the new benefit, and still some 40 families are staying in hotels on the island.

With a population of about 3.4 million U.S. citizens, about 60% of the territory is still without power.

Free Flights for Victims of Hurricane Maria The Bench Burglar

As Puerto Rico continues to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Maria, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering to help transport hurricane victims from Puerto Rico to the continental United States.

FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance will be handling all transfers.

The department is specifically dedicated to helping displaced residents find interim housing while they sort out their home repairs. Often, they relocate residents to nearby hotels that were unaffected from storms but in Puerto Rico there aren’t many hotel rooms available that were not damaged by the storm.

FEMA is currently in negotiation with Florida and New York to host those who choose to temporarily relocate from Puerto Rico. The two states were selected by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, with priority given to approximately 3,000 people who are living in shelters, according to FEMA. Flights and hotel rooms for up to 60 days will be covered by FEMA. Shockingly of the over 1,000 people interviewed by the media so far

Heading to Denmark for vacation? You may want to bring along a chair.

This week, police in Denmark announced that a man is suspected of stealing twelve of Copenhagen’s iconic green public benches that Danes instantly associate with the capital city.

Investigator Jesper Cederholm says the unidentified Dane, who was briefly detained on August 29, had confessed to stealing twelve benches out of a total of 65 benches that have gone missing and selling them online.

Copenhagen is home to about 3,000 of the green benches, which feature a dark grey painted iron frame with wrought swirls and weigh approximately 77 pounds. They cost about 8,000 kroner ($1,250) each and were first introduced in the 1880s.

The perpetrator will soon be brought to justice. Authorities will not stand for this type of criminal behavior.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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The top 100 candidates will be chosen in December. Five finalists will fly out to Cancun in January for the final selection process.

Our advice for the next CEO: Don’t work too hard.

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CEO of Cancun Turn your dream vacation into a job! Recently, Cancun, the popular vacation resort along the Mexican coast, announced that it is looking for a CEO – a Cancun Experience Officer.

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you’ll be taking selfies and videos while you sip your strawberry daiquiri at the beach. Be prepared to go on field trips – like climbing a 3,000-year-old pyramid, swimming with sharks, or jet skiing. In essence, it’s a working vacation.

Looking for fun in the sun while you make money? Make sure you are available to live in Cancun from March through August 2018 without interruptions, as it’s only a sixmonth gig.

The most expensive wine ever sold was just bought at a charity auction for $350,000. The 2015 cabernet sauvignon was created by celebrity winemaker Jesse Katz, the youngest person ever to become a head winemaker in the U.S. The standard-size 750 ml bottle was blended for renowned Hollywood agent Shep Gordon – subject of Mike Myers’ 2013 documentary “Supermensch.” Gordon donated one of his bottles to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Carnivale du Vin annual charity auction, where a private wine collector from Mississippi snatched up the bottle with funding from a group of friends. The autographed bottle of Shep Gordon wine, called The Setting, includes a drawing of the agent.

“The Setting breaks record for most expensive single bottle ever sold at auction at $350,000! The money went to a great cause! The Emeril Lagasse Foundation,” Gordon wrote on Instagram to celebrate the coup.

The only other bottle of wine that has sold for more was a special imperial-sized bottle of cabernet sauvignon sold at a Napa Valley charity auction in 2000 for $500,000 but that bottle holds as much wine as 8 standard wine bottles so there’s really no comparison.

Chances are the group of Mississippians won’t be uncorking this bottle any time soon.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Turkey Ticket

Challenging Iyun Shiurim

S.A.T. PREP

Strong Bekius Program

Stimulating Electives

Mussar and Shmuessen

Major trips

Mashgiach Ruchani

Football and Basketball Leagues

Advanced General Studies Curriculum

Satisfied students (Happy Parents!)

RESERVE THE DATE! YAM HATORAH Open House/Melave Malka

Officers in Billings, Montana, were pulling over residents by the dozen last week. But drivers were happy they were stopped by police.

Instead of tickets, the cops were handing out frozen turkeys and a warning for traffic violations.

A local businessman donated twenty turkeys to the department for police to hand out to local families.

One driver, Larry Riddle, was extremely appreciative for the unexpected present after he was pulled over for not signaling a turn. Riddle, whose wife died of cancer, said he lives alone on a limited budget and the turkey surprise will make this year’s holiday meal he tries to cook for his daughter and himself a little easier.

This is the first year the police department has handed out fowl for infractions, but people are not crying foul.

Motzei Shabbos, December 9th at 8:15 PM 2716 Healy Avenue • Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718.471.7471 • MesivtaYamHatorah@gmail.com

Rabbi A. Pollak, Rosh Mesivta • Rabbi E Zoldan, Menahel Rabbi N Dinowitz, Principal

Clean Clothing?

You know who loves you? Your cleaners. Yes, they tell you that every time you take a shirt out of your closet: We Heart Our Customers.

Now, you can wear this love on your sleeve. Recently, Moschino debuted some clothing that many people would think of dumping in the trash. Among the items was a dress, called a “cape sheer overlay dress,” that was composed of the cleaners’

iconic white triangle on top with their slogan of love for their customers along with the long, sheer plastic overlay. It is intended to be worn over something else (thank G-d) and is sold for only $737.

We don’t know how many people will be buying this piece of garbage.

We do know, though, that those who buy the plastic sheeting/clothing have truly been taken to the cleaners.

The deeper essence of kindness is when a person lives for others and not for himself.

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

The story of Yeshiva Darchei Torah is a significant chapter in the chronicles of the Torah world today... ...written with care

by Harav Yaakov Bender.

Avi Weinstock Campaign Chairman

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Sunday EvEning

‫ אור לכ׳׳ח טבת תשע׳׳ח‬January 14, 2018

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the

Community Huge Crowd Enjoys Gesher’s Annual Carnival

C

lose to 500 participants – men, women and children – enjoyed the annual, free carnival hosted by the Gesher Early Childhood Center this past Sunday.

The event is an opportunity for the Gesher administration to thank the greater community for its support.

The Gesher model attracts families from across the spectrum of the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities, and the carnival reinforces the relationship with those populations.

Gesher was proud to offer its guests a chance to tour the high quality facility and to meet the administration, faculty, and parents.

This year’s attractions included a super-fun photo booth with a variety of props and with pictures printed on the spot. Expert face painting was provided by the talented Face Painting by Sheindel. A huge indoor bounce house offered the children a great way to let out some energy. And an assortment of hands-on craft projects were available for the children to express their creativity.

Guests were very appreciative of the selection of attractions and the efforts made by Gesher staff to keep things moving throughout the morning. Mini hot pretzels and mini water bottles were available as well.

The highlight of the day was the

Exotic Parrot Show performed by the Parrot Rebbe. Adults and children alike were fascinated and entertained by the beautiful majestic birds and the amusing show that was presented.

Congratulations to the raffle winners who took home a parrot of their own in a fully stocked new cage.

The smiles continued as all of the children were treated to Grandpa Lenny’s freshly spun cotton candy as

they prepared to leave.

This year’s event was expertly planned and carried out by Gesher’s new Executive Director, Rabbi Moshe Lewin, with the help of Executive Assistant Ms. Millie Gittelman. Rabbi Lewin joined the Gesher team this summer following ten years at Yeshiva Mercaz Hatorah of Belle Harbor.

His dedication and vision have been of invaluable support as Gesher is currently educating over 80 students

and preparing to expand its resources and programming.

Gesher would like to thank its event sponsors: the Bakst, Bolinsky, Herring, Katz, Kohn, Mandel, and Rabinowitz families.

Registration has begun for the 2018-19 school year. For more information and to view pictures from the carnival please visit www.gesher-ecc.org.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Yeshiva Madraigas Haadam

Chai

CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ITS

Dinner Celebration Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Honorees

Mr. & Mrs. Henry and Sara Gerson Machzikei Torah Award

HoRav Avraham Yitzchok Berman t�yhka, Menahel

Mr. & Mrs. Simkha and Nayomi Fazylov Oskim B'tzorchei Tzibbur Award

Kesser Torah Award

DINNER CO-CHAIRMEN

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Rabbi Binyomin Grossman Rabbi Gilboa Merdinger

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Mr. Avi Faskowitz, ESQ HoRav Moshe Faskowitz t�yhka Rosh HaYeshiva

HoRav Avraham Yitzchok Berman Menahel

t�yhka

(CORNER JEWEL AVE. & PARSONS BLVD.) VALET PARKING ON PARSONS BLVD.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Commemorating Kristallnacht through Education and Action PHOTO CREDIT: JOEL BERKOWITZ

T

his year students from Rambam Mesivta reinforced their knowledge of the Shoah with an assembly about Kristallnacht.

Principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach provided context and showed a brief documentary film on the horrific events that took place on November 9 and 10, 1938.

Rabbi Zev Friedman, Rosh Mesivta of Rambam, commented on ”the calculated German plan to test the reaction of the world and on the silence that ensued.”

Afterwards, students began preparing to translate their history lesson into action. “Learning about history is always important and it becomes much more meaningful and real when you actually use your knowledge of the past to influence the present,” said Associate Principal Mr. Hillel Goldman.

Students broke up into groups and began making posters in anticipation of a rally to protest the continued presence of a Nazi concentration camp guard living in the United States. Jakiw Palij was a guard at the notorious Trawniki killing camp and participated in the brutal massacre of the 6,000 confined Jews in one 24hour period in November 1943. Palij gained entry into the United States by concealing his Nazi past, lying to Federal officials. He lived under the radar for many years collecting Social Security and enjoying all the benefits of American society. Eventually his lie was exposed, and after extensive trials and appeals, he was stripped of the citizenship and ordered deported in 2004.

Unfortunately, no country agreed to accept him. Neither Poland nor the Ukraine, where the murders took place, accepted the U.S. request to take him back. This case continues to remain in limbo, relying on a techni-

cality, something that frustrates students at Rambam.

They have been campaigning relentlessly to have him removed and shipped to Germany. Protesters assembled outside of his house chanting, “No SS in the US”; “Your Neighbor is a Nazi”; and “Kick Him Out!” The media was out in full force for the story. News of the rallies have traveled around the world through the Associated Press. Reports reached San Francisco and even Australia.

Students then boarded buses and headed to the German Consulate in Manhattan where the protest continued. Assemblyman David Weprin issued a statement commending Rabbi Friedman and Rambam Mesivta for their tireless efforts and spoke about what an affront it was to Jackson Heights, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the world, to be harboring someone whose values

were antithetical to what the neighborhood stands for.

Councilman Bruce Blakeman also spoke at the rally and read a statement of support from Congressman Peter King stating that he is committed to sending Palij out of the country to face justice. Ninth grade student Joseph Schwartz read a letter of support from Congressman Suozzi and sophomore Avi Balsam shared his letter of support from Congressman Crowley. Abie Hersch read a letter of support from Congresswoman Rice while Avi Koenig read bipartisan letter signed by 29 members of New York State Delegation. Senior Akiva Schuck also read a statement of support from Congressman Peter King.

Mr. Hillel Goldman, Associate Principal of Rambam, spoke about the world’s silence during the Holocaust and forcefully stated, “We will not stay silent,” demanding that Germany “Take him back” which was fol-

lowed by chants of that very theme.

The finger was pointed squarely at the German government demanding that they take Palij back. Rabbi Friedman cogently asked the crowd: “Who gave him the gun...” in unison they responded “Germany!”

“Who gave him the bullets...”again the answer was “Germany!”

“Who gave him the uniform...” and the students shouted, “Germany!”

“Who gave him the training...” and the crowd answered, “Germany!”

“Who gave him the orders...” and again they declared, “Germany!”

“Who bears ultimate responsibility...” and, once more, they thundered, “Germany!”

Afterward, officials from the German Consulate came down to the rally organizers and when asked whether they felt at least the moral responsibility to take him back…they admitted that they had no answer.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Professional Development at HANC

O

n Tuesday, November 7, more than 100 Early Childhood Educators from all over Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens gathered at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Early Childhood Center, located in West Hempstead, for a day of meaningful professional development.

This collaborative event was coordinated by the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools.

A highlight of the conference was a workshop called “How to Bring Conscious Discipline into Your Classrooms” given by Mrs. Becky Udman, Early Childhood Director of the Torah Day School in Dallas. Mrs. Udman spoke about how specific words can be used to build a child’s self-esteem as well as help students feel more comfortable in a classroom setting. A participant teacher remarked that Mrs. Udman’s engaging talk provided her with tools that she can use daily in her professional practice. Another educator mentioned that Mrs. Udman’s passion for her craft was palpable. Many participants felt that the recommen-

dations will produce tangible results with their students. A local preschool director mentioned that using the Conscious Discipline Approach can be used in any setting, in any classroom.

“We may live in different communities but our challenges are very similar.”

In addition to the discipline work-

shop, other presentations included Mrs. Sharon Schwartz, a pre 1A teacher from Bais Yaakov of Queens who gave a session called “Conflict Resolution and Classroom Behavior Techniques”, and Mrs. Chavi Schmell, a reading specialist, who conducted an insightful session on literacy.

Many thanks to Mrs. Trudy Rubinstein, HANC Early Childhood Center Director; Mrs. Elana Fertig, Pre-School Director Yeshiva of South Shore; and Rabbi Heshy Glass, Chairman of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools, for organizing this amazing day of learning and discovery.

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community PHOTO CREDIT: NOAM MOSKOVICH

45 Holocaust Survivors Finally Celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs

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orty-five Holocaust survivors in Israel finally got a chance to celebrate their bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies for the first time this week, on Monday, November 13 at the Kotel. Because of the War, the survivors never had a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony. Alexander Buchnik, one of the participants in the event, said: “All my life, I felt that I missed it so much. I am so excited and happy.”

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Israel’s Office for Social Equality, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

(IFCJ) sponsored the moving ceremony. The survivors and their families joined Monday’s event, which included a tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall. The men put on tefillin and read from the Torah, while the women participated in another ceremony at the Western Wall Tunnels Hall. The group ended the celebration dinning together.

All now elderly, many of the survivors said they’ve long felt that because they’d never had a bar or bat mitzvah, something was missing from their Jewish identities.

Hiding their Jewish identity

to survive was necessary not only during the war but also during communist rule in the years that followed. Semyon Liebman was a young boy in St. Petersburg when

the war broke out. Together with his sister and mother, throughout the war years they were forced to leave their homes and wander. After the war, the family returned to live in the St. Petersburg area. “When we came back, it was forbidden to talk about Judaism or anything about the bar mitzvah, so we did not talk about it at all,” he said. “I feel like a little boy today! I’ve been eagerly anticipating this day throughout my life.”

Alexander Buchnik reached bar mitzvah age immediately upon the liberation of Moscow from the Nazis.

When the war ended, the family returned to the city. “But we could not celebrate my bar mitzvah,” he said.

His mother “was busy surviving and keeping us alive―we could not think about it at all.” In 1994, Buchnik immigrated to Israel with his family and said that he had long been waiting for the moment when he would celebrate his bar mitzvah. “I thought about it during the course of my life, and all my life I felt that I missed it so much.”

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Annual Young Israel of Long Beach Dinner

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he Young Israel of Long Beach held its annual dinner on November 8, 2017.

The evening honored three couples who belong to the “next generation” of our synagogue: Elliot & Frada Pasik, Yechezkel & Michele Brucker and their children Yigdal & Yocheved and Michael & Rebecca Lazar. They were chosen because of the initiatives they have displayed and their representation of the type of families that we would like to join our congregation. Together with several other newly affiliated families they represent the beginning of nucleus that will iy”H attract others to seek out Long Beach as a place to raise their families.

Dovid Fohrman, dinner chairman, opened up the program by welcoming the very well attended gathering followed by Chumi Diamond, the newly elected City of Long Beach councilwoman, who presented each honoree

L-R: Yigdal Brucker, Yechezkel Brucker, Rabbi Chaim Brucker,Elliot Pasik, and Michael Lazar

with a “City of Long Beach” citation.

Rabbi Chaim Wakslak, Morah D’osrah, was called upon to deliver words of greeting and share words of Torah. Rabbi Wakslak indicated that Parshas Chayei Sorah is in a large measure dedicated to the shidduch initiative of finding a suitable wife for Yitzchok Avinu.

From the lengthy description of the process used by Eliezer to discern Rivka’s suitability we can establish several important characteristics in seeking a shidduch.

Rabbi Wakslak suggested using “five mem’s” as an appropriate mnemonic: middos (character), mishpacha (family), mamon (financial status), mo’ach (intelli-

gence), and mareh (appearance).

Similarly, the Rov indicated that a shul in relation to those who attend a particular Bais Haknesses represent a shidduch of sorts. In this realm there also need to be certain qualities which ensure a positive and successful relationship. Once again a mnemonic, three lamed’s,

will address the necessary attributes: l’chaim (live), l’lmod (learn), and l’gadel (grow), which was the theme of this year’s dinner. Live: an individual’s shul must be a place where they can experience life cycle events, feel part of a Klal and feel a sense of comfort and security; learn: a place where a person is able to daven and learn; and grow: a place where one can continually grow in their connection to Hashem and Am Yisroel.

At this point each honoree was called upon to receive a token of appreciation and was afforded an opportunity to respond. The program concluded with a video presentation of the varied activities of the Young Israel over the course of the past year.

Dinner committee members included Nelson & Tara Spiess, Joseph & Esther Langer and Ilana Austin, and Malka Fishman served as dinner coordinator.

SKA’s New Honor Society Inductees

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azel tov to the new members of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls Re’ut Chapter of the National Honor Society!

The Re’ut Honor Society Induction ceremony was held in the SKA auditorium on Wednesday evening, November 1. Almost 50 junior and senior inductees were selected to be members of the National Honor So-

PHOTO CREDIT IRA THOMAS CREATIONS

ciety, based on scholarship, leadership abilities, character and service to the school and community.

After greetings by Mrs. Helen Spirn, Head of School, and a dvar Torah by senior Rachel Ash, president of the Re’ut Chapter, the audience heard a keynote address delivered by Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, Senior Vice President, Yeshiva University.

Mrs. Deena Kobre, Associate Principal, then introduced the theme of the evening, “Heroes of the Holocaust.” Seven groups of the new member students displayed impressive slideshows of their research to parents, administration and faculty members.

Certificates were presented to the new inductees by Mrs. Bluma Drebin, Principal, General Studies, and

Ms. Eliana Spiess, Vice President, Re’ut Chapter. Welcome to the new SKA members of the National Honor Society!

Our thanks go to Mrs. Kobre for guiding the inductees throughout the process and arranging the event, and Mrs. Rivky Watman, SKA Technology Integrator, for her assistance.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

‫בס׳׳ד‬

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam

is proud to announce that Registration for 2018-2019 is now open

Please call our office to make an appointment for an interview, feel the excitement and meet with our devoted Hanhala.

We are pleased to welcome the following Mechanchos to our administration.

MRS. CHANA BANDMAN Hebrew Curriculum Coordinator MRS. SHANI STADTMAUER Early Childhood Coordinator MORAH DEENIE SCHUSS Pre-School Administrator

BYAM | A Bais Yaakov with a heart!

RABBI NOSSON NEUMAN Menahel

MRS. LEAH ZYTMAN Principal

12-14 HEYSON ROAD, FAR ROCKAWAY, NY 11691 | 718-868-3232

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Around the Community

Ashreinu Outing

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam Visits Green Meadows Farm

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he first graders at BYAM were treated to a trip to Green Meadows Farm in conjunction with learning about farm animals and fall. They had a great, hands-on learning experience milking cows, riding ponies, picking pumpkins, going for a hayride, and petting and feeding farm animals.

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fter having two weeks of Motzei Shabbos shiurim, Ashreinu had its first Motzei Shabbos outing of the year. It may have been a cold winter Motzei Shabbos outside but inside Fitwize it felt like a beautiful summer camp night activity. Coaches Steven and Sam started the boys off with some warmups and then the boys were off with some races. Divided into two teams

the boys raced against each other in different sport activities. After that, the boys each got a chance to use the machines. There was some intense games of tug of war. The winner was the team of Toothpaste. Thank you to Coach Steven and Coach Sam. For more information regarding more Ashreinu programs please email us at ashreinufr@gmail.com.

Shulamith Early Childhood Hosts Professional Development Workshop

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n Friday, November 10, the Early Childhood Division of Shulamith hosted a morning of professional development. In attendance were the staff of Shulamith EC, as well as the early childhood teachers of Tiferes Moshe in Queens.

Prior to the workshop, Mrs. Estee Scher, principal, distributed copies of Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish’s seminal bestseller, How to Talk So Kids Can Listen, and Listen So Kids Can Talk. The workshop was based on the book and led by Mrs. Adina

Sociof, a parent educator for Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau. Mrs. Sociof is the Director of Parent Outreach for A+ Solutions, a psychology practice and educational company that runs educational workshops like this one for parents and professionals. She delineated practical behavior management tools for teachers to implement in order to maintain a calm environment in their classrooms.

Her useful tips were much appreciated by everyone in attendance.

CAHAL Workshop A Change in Mindset Can Make a World of Difference in the Life of a Child

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hat does it take to be motivated, to take chances, to learn from your mistakes and not give up? Why do some children love to learn and rise to new challenges while others choose the easy way out or shut down when faced with novel or difficult tasks? These were some of the questions that the CAHAL staff considered at a staff development workshop focused on the critical need for teaching their students the importance of understanding and developing a growth mindset. Mrs. Naomi Nadata, the program director of CAHAL, shared the results of the research conducted by Carol

Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, and the insights presented in her book: Mindset, the New Psychology of Success.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the teachers realized that by subtly altering the words they use to praise a child and the manner in which they help a child understand the benefit of making mistakes and accepting failure they could literally change the course of that child’s life. They left with a plan in place to create an environment that would nurture the understanding and implementation of growth mindset for all their students.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Around the Community

CAHAL Challah Baking at BYAM

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fter learning how Rivka Imeinu was chosen as a wife for Yitzchak because of her middah of chessed, and that the miracle of the challah staying fresh for the entire week occurred again when Rivka entered Sarah Imeinu’s tent, the third and fourth grade students in the CAHAL class at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam decided to turn baking challah into a chessed project. They each kneaded their dough and created two challahs, one to take home and a second challah to give to Achiezer for the

cholim and their families at a local hospital. In the process, Morah Aviva Balsam taught the girls that when you are mafrish challah, it is an eis ratzon, a special time when Hashem answers our prayers. As their morah recited the bracha, the girls were encouraged to keep in mind someone in need of a refuah or a shidduch or help with parnassa. The students had a wonderful time preparing the challah and enjoyed a sense of being part of our kehillah in caring for those in need.

Mock Wedding at BYAM

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ur nursery girls’ mock wedding in honor of Yitzchok and Rivkah’s marriage in the parsha was quite a joyous event! Every girl had a special part in the simcha. Besides for the chosson and

kallah, there was a caterer, photographer, musicians, a shadchan, the kallah’s best friend (who is also in charge of shtick), the mesader kiddushin, and all the relatives and guests.

Mazel tov!

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Around the Community

Camp Funshine Launches Woodmere Branch

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amp Funshine, a popular North Woodmere preschool camp for the last five years, has now expanded to a second location. The North Woodmere branch is hosted in Ohr Torah on Hungry Harbor Road while the new Woodmere branch is located at Cong. Sons of Israel, 111 Irving Place.

The new owners of Camp Funshine, Chaim and Yael Homnick, are dedicated camp experts who know what parents and campers want out of their camp experience and know how to deliver a top-notch summer for each child. They were the founders and owners of Machane Miami, a camp located in South Florida that served 500 campers each summer as well as 200 preschoolers.

Both branches serve boys and girls ages 3 to 5 who are entering Nursery through Pre1A. The new Woodmere campus on Irving Place is centrally located and features 2 beautiful playgrounds and a top-notch facility. The North Woodmere campus has a playground and a water play area that are being revamped for the summer to add new play options for the campers.

The Woodmere branch is overseen

by Director Rochel Lapidus and Assistant Director Chanie Pearlman. Both are experienced, warm morahs who are dynamic and creative. The North Woodmere branch returns its beloved head staff of Director Suri Feuchtwanger and Assistant Director Avigail Rosenbaum, both of whom oversaw a fantastic program last summer.

Funshine continues to add premium features to their popular program.

Both branches will now provide professional swim instruction and an exciting water play center. Funshine also has daily workshops like art, dance and baking as well as weekly entertainment like kiddie magic shows, balloon shows, puppet shows and more! The 4- and 5-year-old campers will enjoy trips each half of the summer as well.

Funshine provides a safe, enjoyable summer for each child thanks to Funshine’s warm, caring morahs and its dynamic programming.

You can learn more about Camp Funshine at funshineny.com or by contacting the Homnicks at 516-4568392.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

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aama Markovits, a”h, was a four-year old child, a student in our preschool, Shulamith, whose short life served as an example for all of us. Her pleasant demeanor and love for life endeared her to all who knew her. Naama had baked challah with her mother the Shabbat before her petirah, and this inspired us to begin the Neimat HaChallah Project.

In conjunction with Parshat Chayei Sarah we hosted a Challah Bake. Our students and their guests

were given a hands-on demonstration of this special mitzvah. The girls used their baking skills (i.e. following directions, measuring, kneading, etc.) to bake these delicacies and everyone enjoyed the smell of challah wafting through the air.

Thank you to all the guests for joining our Challah Bake. May the challah we ate on Shabbat sustain both our bodies and neshamot. May Naama’s pure neshama have an aliyah and may all our tefillot be answered.

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he YHT kindergarten is enjoying a special addition of robotics to their weekly science lessons. The children, under the leadership of Mrs. Alissa Ossip, are learning to build and program their robots.

The children are learning amazing skills of problem-solving and creative thinking as they help their robots navigate the classroom environment.

It is an incredible blend of learning and fun.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community

YU Museum Welcomes Shulamith Third Graders

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ith the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel fast approaching, Shulamith third graders traveled to the Yeshiva University Museum last week to learn more about Yom Haatzmaut and their beloved homeland. The girls visited an exhibit entitled, “The Arch of Titus – From Jerusalem to Rome and Back,” and learned how the menorah became the emblem of the state of Israel. After the trip, Lower Division Principal Mrs. Joyce Yarmak received an email from a museum educator complimenting the students. “I don’t know if we’ve ever had such lovely girls at our museum.

They really made my day.”

JHS Shabbaton and Election Day at YCQ

By Ahuva Shachar and Hannah Zakry

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ovember 4-5, Shabbat, Parshat Vayeira, the Yeshiva of Central Queens Junior High School girls attended their annual Shabbaton. The girls stopped by Sports Time USA arcade for an afternoon of games and rides before arriving at the Raleigh Hotel where they would enjoy the rest of their Shabbaton.

Faculty and alumni joined the students for a Shabbat of learning and ruach. The girls entered Shabbos with a beautiful atmosphere led by singing and dancing. They also had the pleasure of being joined by guest speaker Devorah Keigel who inspired the girls by sharing some difficulties in her life and how she overcame obstacles on her path to becoming more observant. Talya Gazal, Bat-Tzion Atik, Ashley Landsberg, Eva Lalo, Rebecca Lalo, Talia Cohen and Eliana Kovan shared divrei Torah. There were ongoing games, raffles and more. After Shabbos the girls enjoyed music and dancing and were given special shirts to commemorate the experience.

“This was my first Shabbaton. I liked that Mrs. Keigel shared her life and it really inspired me to want to make some changes to become a better Jew,” said Tammy Dan, grade 6.

During the week to experience the importance of Election Day and our

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earned right to vote, the JHS from YCQ has an election day of their own to elect their student government representatives. This gives a chance for even minor-aged kids to experience the process of voting. The candidates spent time prior to the election putting up posters and signs to persuade students to vote for them. Mrs. Golubtchik, assistant principal of general studies, said that the “YCQ elections had been going even before she joined the school 14 years ago.”

All the candidates wrote speeches about what they would do if they would become president and how they would try to make the school better.

In her speech, Leah Levine, grade 8,

said, “I will make a suggestion box for not only what I want to change in the school, but also for what students want, so they can have a way to voice what they want.” Riva Goldberg said, “I want this year to be ‘the best year ever of our lives at YCQ.’” All speeches were well thought-out and inspiring.

The winners were Haim Abayev and Olivia Kandinov for grade 6 Representatives, Raymond Tawil and Ahuva Shachar for grade 7 Representatives; Joshua Hedvat and Emma Gurovich for grade 7 vice presidents; and Yehoshua Goldglancz and Leah Levin as YCQ’s JHS Presidents. Yasher koach to the winners and all of the candidates.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community

Mike Pompeo Addresses Crowd at OSS Dinner

OSS Founder Sergeant Benjamin Anthony in dialogue with CIA Director Pompeo

O CIA Director Mike Pompeo addresses the Our Soldiers Speak Dinner

n Thursday, November 2, more than 700 guests filled the ballroom at Capitale, New York, for the Our Soldiers Speak 2017 Gala Dinner. The evening honored Joe and Trina Cayre, Dr. Jana Kohl and David and Karen Rosenberg. The keynote speaker was Director of the CIA Mr. Mike Pompeo who briefed the audience on the ongoing close relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

Additional speakers included Major General Avshalom Peled, Commander of the Israel National Police Training Academy, and Colonel Richard Kemp, former Commander of British forces in Afghanistan. All three highlighted and praised the work of OSS. Rozita Pnini, president of Our Soldiers Speak, and Sargent Benjamin Anthony, Founder and Director of Our Soldiers Speak, also addressed the guests. The Mas-

ter of Ceremonies was Mr. Benjamin Brafman.

Our Soldiers Speak is the only organization which brings high-ranking, senior, uniformed commanders and officers of the IDF and the Israel National Police to speak at college campuses, brief Congressional and other governmental leaders, and present at community and synagogue programs.

Pheffer Amato Organizes Community Cleanup in Far Rockaway

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his past week, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway) organized a community cleanup of a formerly neglected street corner in Far Rockaway, employing specialized graffiti cleanup crews of the NYPD 101st Precinct and volunteers from the 101st Precinct Community Council and Harmony Services, an Orthodox Jewish community-based group that helps mentally handicapped adults get involved with their communities.

“When you clean graffiti from a site like this, it really helps an area restore pride and get back on its feet,” said Pheffer Amato. “Community members benefit, bridges get built between police and citizens, and the wonderful work of Harmony Services is moved forward. It was a great community mitzvah to do with everyone. I want to thank the 101st Precinct Community Council, Shmuel Russell, Victor Boamah, the officers of the 101st Precinct, and all of our volunteers!”

“I can’t say enough good things the cooperation and initiative we got from Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s office,” said Shmuel Russell, Coordinator of Special Activities with Harmony Services. “From the time we called and pitched our idea, the response we got was, ‘Great, let’s do it.’ They were there with us the whole way. They fed everyone, and they

brought the parties together. And the 101st Precinct were incredible. From beat officers to higher-ranking folks, we had up to 20 there at a time, and everyone wanted to help. I think this event built real bridges, and it gives me hope for the future of this community.”

“Thank you to the Assemblywoman and her staff who came out to vol-

unteer with us and also to our brothers with Harmony Services,” said Victor Boamah, President of the 101st Precinct Council. “Thanks to the rest of the Precinct Council and to the officers of the 101st. Everyone came and did a great job for the whole community. We look forward to doing many more events with the Assemblywoman’s office!”

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community

YOSS Mechina Teaches Self-Defense with Krav Maga

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s part of Yeshiva of South Shore’s commitment to educating body, mind and soul, the seventh grade Health and Wellness Program presented Captain

Eilon Even-Esh, founder of Shomer 360. Captain Even-Esh kicked-off a self-defense workshop series that will use Krav Maga techniques taught as part of basic training in the Israeli

Defense Forces. He instructed the students to have both the awareness and tools to navigate through threating situations.

“The exercises and drills were

YOSS Presents at Networking Event for Yeshiva Guidance Counselors

Learn & Live

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T

ickle me a pickle is just what Learn & Live did this week. R’ Feivish Rotbard, who presented for two back-to-back weeks, made pickles with the boys for the melacha of mabaid. Of course the program started with our weekly Question of the Week raffle run by L&L Assistant Yossi Kielson. This week’s winner was Sruly Pinchasov. Just call the hotline to find out more and to enter the raffle.

R’ Rotbard had the boys assist him in making their very own pickles to be eaten when they are ready in a couple of weeks. A small video was shown of how leather is made. Each boy, as they left, received a fresh pickle to enjoy.

both challenging and fun and the students are eagerly anticipating their next session,” said Mr. Daniel Winkler, general studies principal, Junior High/Mechina Division.

This coming Sunday, iy”H, will be “Real Smooooth.” For more information regarding L&L please email us at learnandlivefr@gmail.com or call our all new L&L hotline 641-7153800 pin 932191# for all the up-todate L&L info.

n November 1, guidance counselors from Yeshiva of South Shore and Torah Academy for Girls were among representatives from about a dozen New York area yeshivas and day schools who attended the first mental health networking event from the Jewish Education Project. Scheduled monthly, the network will provide an opportunity for school counselors to enhance their knowledge and share clinical challenges with fellow practitioners.

Moderated by Mrs. Yael Shayne, a licensed clinical social worker, the first event dealt with an in-depth exploration of “Toxic Stress” and its impact on the brain and classroom behaviors. The counselors discussed the different levels of stress in students’ lives. Young children whose brain development have been disrupted by toxic stress are at a much higher risk for physical and mental health problems later on, including developing a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, or addiction.

Toxic stress can occur when a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity – such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or

mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship – without adequate adult support.

Rabbi Yehuda Baruch Kamenetzky, MEd., NCC, Director of student services and guidance at Yeshiva of South Shore, presented a relevant case study to the group. A graduate of University of Missouri, Rabbi Kamenetzky is the author of “Brainstorm,” a personal recollection of his courageous battle with cancer.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to get to meet other professionals who are out there, doing the same things that I do,” said Rabbi Kamenetzky. “I know that I will definitely utilize their advice and suggestions in the future and hope to share some of my insights as well.”

The other schools counselors who were in attendance were from Yeshiva Torah Vo’daath, Central HS for Girls, HANC Elementary and High Schools, Shulamith School for Girls (Brooklyn), Solomon Schechter of Manhattan, Heschel School, Yeshiva Prep, Beit Rabban, B’nos Menachem, and B’nos Bracha.

The next meeting is scheduled for December 20.

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Around the Community

Siach Women’s League Tea

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his past Sunday night, the much-anticipated Women’s League Tea of Siach Yitzchok arrived at last! Mothers and staff members alike entered the home of the Weissmans, impressed with the beautiful display of delicious, home baked goods and salads. The cleaning theme was artfully expressed in a presentation that bespoke class, beauty and just plain fun. And what an awesome evening it was! The main room overflowed, there was standing room only.

The energy permeated the room with the happy chatter of conversations between old friends, and introductions to new mothers and grandmothers.

The program was packed with, as predicted, inspiration and laugh-out-loud comedy. Rebbetzin Sitnick instilled within us a message of mesiras nefesh for Torah, both by her very presence and persona as well as by her words.

Mrs. Shoshanna Jaeger’s address was practical, inspirational and enjoyable.

The comedy skit comparing two mothers whose humorous switch of roles which resulted in their appreciating themselves more left us all wondering and chuckling to ourselves...which mom am I? The icing on the cake was the Siach Yitzchok trivia game and

the raffles to win a Gourmet Glatt gift card and the much coveted broom and dustpan. Thank you to all of the mothers who signed up for Women’s League jobs and activities. All in all, it was a wonderful evening!

Thank you to Mrs. Tova Katz and Mrs. Elana Jacobs for their hard work in arranging all of the details to make the Tea successful. Thank you to Mrs. Tania Weissman and her family for hosting the Tea. Thank you Mrs. Malki Katz for making the many calls necessary to arrange the food. To all the mothers who baked and cooked, chopped and dressed salads, thank you for making the evening so delicious! Thank you to the setup and cleanup committee, Mrs. T. Katz and family, Mrs. Forman, Mrs. Soberman, Mrs. Mindell, Mrs. Mergi, and to Mr. A. Jacobs for setting up the chairs.

Thank you for a hysterical skit by Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Mindell, Mrs. Zupnik, and Mrs. Krasnovsky. Thank you to Mrs. Gluck and her family for assembling the door prizes. Thank you Mrs. Cooper for assembling the directories.

Thank you to our dedicated office staff Mrs. Ganz (please don’t delete your name!) and Mrs. Kay for all of their behind-the-scenes work for the Tea.

Shevach Students “Work out their Words” With Mishmeres

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n Thursday, November 2, Shevach High School had their annual Mishmeres breakout. Mishmeres is a program of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation which encourages high school girls to increase their shmiras halashon and ahavas Yisrael.

The Shevach Mishmeres program is headed by huniors Tehila Hecht, Chaya Podemski, and Batzie Schwartz, under the guidance of their Mishmeres coordinator Ms. Elka Feder. At this “Mishmeres Breakout” the

heads performed an original and fabulous song incorporating the theme of this year, which created a positive energy permeating the room. The heads then presented a video which humorously depicted the scenario of what can happen when one does not know the halachos of shmiras haloshon.

The Mishmeres theme this year is Adam L’Amal Yulad, “WORKOUT Your Words.” The multi-purpose room was transformed and decorated to reflect the “workout” theme. Each

pillar of the MPR was decorated with another catch phrase such as “Know the WEIGHT of your words,” “Stay FIT with your words,” and “EXCERCISE your speech.” To jumpstart the program, on each student’s seat was a water bottle also labeled with the “workout” theme, and a booklet containing a compilation of the halachos of shmiras halashon.

As a follow-up to this breakout every week the heads will present a scenario that teaches a halacha of shmiras halashon. The heads also an-

nounced that Shevach will be having an optional learning program where every girl is partnered with a girl from a different grade in order to learn hilchos shmiras halashon together.

Incentives will be forthcoming to all those who participate. The students left with a ponytail holder imprinted with the Mishmeres logo and theme, as a reminder to always “grip onto your words.” All are looking forward to a great year of growth in shmiras halashon and ahavas Yisrael in a positive and fun-filled atmosphere!

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

HaGaonim HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and HaRav Dovid Cohen, Shlita, Attend Acheinu Yeshiva Chanukas Habayis

By Chaim Gold

“I

f I hadn’t witnessed it myself I would never have believed it! To think that teenagers who, not too long ago, were completely secular now displaying a comprehensive knowledge of the entire Masechta Bava Metziah, including the most difficult parts of perek Eizehu Neshech on ribbis, is simply beyond anything I could have imagined!” Those were the moving words of HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, after giving a lengthy, detailed oral test to the bachurim of Acheinu’s Yeshiva Hekedosha HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka and Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi Dirshu came to the yeshiva to participate in the Chanukas Habayis of the yeshiva’s new building in the city of Petach Tikva and to mark the 10th anniversary since the yeshiva’s establishment. In honor of the occasion, the bachurim made a gala siyum and were tested on the entire Masechta Bava Metziah.

“You have to understand,” says Rabbi Ariel Elbaz, a devoted R”M at the yeshiva.

“When these bachurim came to us less than two years ago they were completely secular. They come from homes that do not keep Shabbos and they went to regular public schools. Their progress in learning cannot be explained by the laws of nature. It is chutz m’derech hateva.”

Exceeding All Expectations Ten years ago, Acheinu, the kiruv arm of Dirshu, established the Yeshivas Acheinu in the Har Nof section of Yerushalayim led by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Zev Hofstedter. The yeshiva was designed to cater to boys from completely secular homes. It has become so successful that it outgrew its home in Yerushalayim.

During the week after Sukkos the yeshiva held a chanukas habayis and siyum highlighting ten years and hundreds of neshamos who have not just become frum but have become talmidei chachomim and have been mainstreamed into the yeshiva world of Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Zev Hofstedter, Rosh Yeshiva, giving divrei chizuk at the Acheinu event

The event began with a test on the entire Masechta Bava Metziah. Rav Dovid Cohen candidly admitted that he had initially intended to ask relatively simple questions of the bachurim until he began to quiz them and talk in learning. He was flabbergasted at their high level of learning and the sophistication of their lomdus. When he reached the perek of Eizehu Nesech that details the complex laws of usury, he decided to skip it, not dreaming that these bachurim who had been learning Torah for such a short period of time would have

sufficient grasp of such difficult material. The bachurim, however, begged him to ask them questions and the Rosh Yeshiva simply couldn’t believe the depth of their knowledge.

Rav Dovid Hofstedter also asked numerous difficult questions that had been designed to see if the bachurim truly grasped all of the foundational elements and details of the masechta. He similarly had no adequate words to describe both his surprise and deep satisfaction at the level of learning of these boys who not long before had been immersed in Israeli pop culture.

HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch addressing the Acheinu Chanukas Habayis

The Miracle of Yeshivas Acheinu At the Chanukas Habayis, Rav Dovid Hofstedter highlighted the source of the yeshiva’s success in what he aptly called, “The nes, the miracle, of Yeshivas Acheinu.” Rav Hofstedter gave a shiur on the topic of miracles. He cited numerous examples of miracles that are elucidated in the Torah and Mishnayos. There are miracles that Hashem placed into the creation from the beginning of the world, such as kriyas Yam Suf. There is, however, another type of miracle that is dependent on

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Around the Community tremendous dedication, effort and tefillah. This is manifested immeasurably when someone displays unbelievable dedication to a spiritual goal and davens with every fiber of his being he can sometimes invoke Heavenly mercy and siyatta d’Shmaya that is completely miraculous. It simply doesn’t make sense according to the natural order of things. However, when a person brings the Shechina into his own neshama anything is possible.

“This,” Rav Dovid said, “is the miracle of Acheinu. When bachurim sacrifice everything, leave everything behind, open their hearts and bring the Shechina into themselves, they are bringing Hashem’s bracha upon themselves. When that happens the greatest miracles can transpire. There are many yeshiva bachurim who daven and beg Hashem to help them learn. Nevertheless, to progress from zero knowledge to knowing the entire Bava Metziah in two years is virtually impossible according to teva! This is a miraculous outgrowth of a unique shefa of siyatta d’shmaya.

“The nes of Acheinu can certainly be partially attributed to the hasmada and tefillos but the fact that you bachurim have left everything behind coupled with your complete and singular desire to grow in Torah and yiras shomayim empowers you with a unique level of Divine assistance and hashraas haShechina…”

The Power of Mesiras Nefesh One of the most powerful moments was the entry of the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Rav Hirsch was deeply moved by the sight of bachurim who had come so far so quickly. In his remarks he said, “At the time of the erection of the Mishkan, the pasuk tells us, ‘This is the thing that Hashem has commanded you to do, in order that the glory of Hashem appear to you.’ The pasuk, however, does not specify what that thing is.” Rav Hirsch asked. Rav Hirsch answered that the Chofetz Chaim says, “Before a person does anything he must always contemplate, ‘Is this something that Hashem commanded? If it is a mitzvah, then I will do it and if it is not, I won’t.’ That is what Hashem told them before they made the Mishkan. The same lesson applies today, when you are moving into a new Mishkan, the new campus of Yeshivas Acheinu. Hashem’s presence will

rest in this Mishkan because you are doing what Hashem wants. All of you have come to learn Torah and serve Hashem with such remarkable mesiras nefesh!”

“Against All Odds!”

Another moment that aroused heartfelt emotions transpired when more than 120 alumni of Yeshivas Acheinu came to participate in the festivities. The overwhelming majority of those alumni are now kollel yungeleit who, after leaving Acheniu, were mainstreamed into some of Eretz Yisrael’s most prestigious yeshivas such as Tifrach, Ponevezh, Kol Yaakov and many others.

To see the profound nachas on the faces of Rav Dovid and Rav Zev Hofstedter and the entire staff was to witness what success above and beyond teva looks like.

In addition, it is not possible to overestimate the benefit that the present talmidim gained from their interaction with the alumni. It was so moving to watch one alumnus, today a yungerman learning in Kollel Volozhin, telling a bachur, “I want you to know that for me this was also difficult at the beginning but ultimately you will be able to overcome it and you will see how happy you will be and how fulfilled you will feel!”

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Zev Hofstedter, in his powerful, riveting address, truly encapsulated the unique essence of Yeshivas Acheinu. “Truthfully, what transpires at Yeshivas Acheinu simply doesn’t make sense.

That talmidim from backgrounds such as these should make such tremendous strides is the greatest chiddush! Acheniu is a yeshiva that against all odds and all ‘common wisdom’ is continuously producing talmidei chachomim of the highest caliber.”

Bear in mind, you only need one man to build your future home.

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Around the Community

Rabbanit Taragin at Central

C

entral was privileged to host Rabbanit Shani Taragin this past Wednesday as part of the Central @ 70 Sandy Thurm Memorial Learning Program, Distinguished Speaker Series. Rabbanit Taragin is a renowned teacher at Midreshet Lindenbaum, MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha’alvim for Women, and other Israeli institutions. At Central, she spoke to the students about “Akeidat Yitzchak: The Sequel” and after school conducted a professional development seminar for faculty about the challenges facing Jewish education in Israel and America today.

Ms. Elana Kook commented that the program was “very interesting.

We discussed the strengths and

weaknesses of the Israeli and American educations respectively, the different values at play in each, and what we can do to improve both.”

In the evening, Central invited the entire community, including alumnae, family, and friends, to hear from Rabbanit Taragin. Rab-

banit Taragin, also a Central alumna, was excited to come back and share Torah at her Alma Mater.

Design Your Destiny: SKA’s Graphic Design Program

T

here are twenty-two large screen iMac computers in the new state-of-the-art graphic design studio of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls. With seven graphic design classes held throughout the day, the iMacs are in constant use!

SKA’s graphic design program provides our students with the option of attaining professional level expertise through a four year elective track. Taught by faculty members and SKA alumnae Mrs. Rivie Blum

(SKA ‘07) and Mrs. Jordana Mallin (SKA ‘08), students learn how to create page designs for books and magazines, as well as creating graphics for digital and print publications.

“We feel as if we’re really working in a professional capacity,” says 11th grader Elisheva Ismach. “We are learning Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign and use them as if we’re producing material for a real company. We’ve even designed business cards! We now look at publicity items and magazines with such a

different eye and carefully analyze what went into the initial concept and the actual design.”

Junior Shelly Forkosh agrees.

“Taking Graphic Design is such an opportunity for me to be innovative and creative. Learning these techniques really appeals to girls my age and encourages us to consider careers in this field.”

Classroom assignments are also tied to tefilla, the chagim and events in the school. “We design and produce yom tov magazines and news-

letters, the Production Baybill, the SKA haggadah, flyers and posters and other items for the school.” explains Mrs. Blum. “The girls actually see their design work displayed throughout the school and in our publications.”

By focusing on marketing as if the school is the client, the SKA students get hands-on experience in graphic design as a viable and potential career choice!

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community When Rav Yaakov Bender, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, was informed that a group of bachurim in the Mesivta have become accustomed to learning the parsha every week Shnayim Mikra V’echad Targum with Rashi (the ideal system, according to halacha), he decided to present them with brand-new sets of the ArtScroll Mikraos Gedolos Chumashim to encourage them to continue this special mitzvah.

L-R: Avi Eiferman, Avi Herskowitz, Moshe Krasnow, Yoel Tepler, Rav Moshe Bender, Rav Yaakov Bender, Yitzchok Alter, Eli Dreifus, Yaakov Oratz and Nachman Greenblatt

Come and Hear

1

70 boys representing 23 different yeshivas attended Rambam Mesivta’s 26th Annual Open House. The program highlighted Rambam men from different grades and different neighborhoods.

Rabbi Dr. Andrew Sicklick opened the program talking about the process he went through four years ago in choosing a high school for his son, Sam, who is a senior in Rambam.

Dr. Sicklick mentioned how happy he was with the choice he made and spoke about the excellent well-rounded experience Sam has benefited from in learning Torah, academics and extracurricular activities, “One of the advantages of having smaller grades is that it provides more opportunities.

There are no quotas or limitations on participation – whether its athletic teams, academic teams, hobbies, additional Torah learning, your son can participate in a variety of programs.

He doesn’t have to choose one or the other.”

Senior Yoni Grossman and freshman Binyamin Werner spoke about the opportunities that they embraced in Rambam. They introduced Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman who paid tribute to Rabbi Dr. Sicklick for scaling back his hours teaching in Montefiore Medical Center in order to join the Rambam limudei kodesh staff.

Rabbi Friedman spoke about how

Rambam inculcates in its students a love and proficiency in avodas Hashem through tefilla and limud haTorah.”Years ago we initiated a Sefardi minyan in order to give our talmidim the opportunity to celebrate their proud mesorah – and we are proud to have Rabbi Gez, a true ‘chacham,’ davening and learning with the boys every morning.”

Rabbi Friedman also outlined the unique limudei kodesh program and spoke about the product one would expect after four years. He stressed the importance of personal middos and the value of being concerned about Klal Yisrael in a hands-on way.

Senior Akiva Schuck and freshman Azi Frogel shared their perspective on Rambam, the chevra and the extracurricular activities, introducing

Mr. Hillel Goldman, Associate Principal, who also coordinates all extracurricular activities.

Mr. Hillel Goldman, who inspires students throughout the school with his engaging classes in English literature and writing, spoke about the importance of having “smart fun.”

He listed the myriad of activities that take place on an ongoing basis, joking that there seems to be “more clubs than students.” He spoke about providing a team for every talent, a club for every curiosity and a place for every person.

Rabbi Yotav Eliach soon took the podium and spoke about Rambam’s goal of inspiring students to be the leaders of tomorrow. He highlighted a number of alumni and their active roles in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Eliach also outlined Rambam’s academic program and amazing track record paradigmatic of Rambam graduates. “We were fortunate to be the only high school that was granted coveted Blue Ribbon status ‘based upon their consistent high level performance on standardized state and national exams and other criteria.’” This honor came on the heels of our being recertified by the Middle States Association. Clearly outlining what makes Rambam unique, Rabbi Eliach emphasized the school’s merit-based admissions program and focus on middos.

Sumptuous food, melava malka style, capped off a warm and informative glimpse into what Rambam has to offer those who join.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community

HAFTR HS Open House

H

AFTR High School opened its doors to more than 350 people on Sunday, November 12. Prospective members of HAFTR’s Class of 2022 attended alongside their parents to learn more about the Modern Orthodox Yeshiva located in Cedarhurst. More than 80 families from other neighborhood schools attended the event and all were introduced to the wonderful experiences that their children will have at HAFTR High School. Visitors learned about the unique and individualized educational opportunities that HAFTR High School has to offer both in general and Judaic studies.

The day’s program began with speeches from the HAFTR High School Principals Ms. Naomi Lippman and Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, in addition to short presentations by Jillian Mestel, Aliza Gettenberg and Joseph Kaufman, current HAFTR students. There was standing room only in the High School auditorium as guests listened to the presenters and watched a unique video pre-

sentation which highlighted the institution.

Parents spent the remainder of the morning sitting in on four model lessons which included presentations by Directors of our College and Israel Guidance Departments, as well as an intriguing conversation with Dr. Hinda Krinsky, our Literacy Coordinator, and a current events lesson from Mr. Jason Gelman, Chairman of our Social Studies Department.

Students were divided into six groups where they ventured on a virtual tour of the school, followed by a Q & A session with current HAFTR High School student representatives. The program culminated with an extraordinary lunch served to both parents and students in the current HAFTR High School Scott Satran Arena, where High School students and faculty members showcased the various extracurricular activities available at HAFTR High.

We look forward to welcoming all of these new families to the HAFTR High School community.

Teach NYS and Five Towns Tackles the Tuition Crisis

O

n Shabbos Parshas Toldos, November 18, Young Israel of Woodmere and The Irving Place Minyan will host a speaking series after Mussaf entitled, “Tackling the Tuition Crisis.” Maury Litwack, executive director of the Orthodox Union’s Teach Advocacy Network, and Annie Watman, director of Teach NYS’ Grassroots Engagement, will provide a comprehensive overview of the tuition crisis, describe efforts to gain equitable funding through local and state governments, and offer ways people can get involved. They’ll share solutions that have worked and what we need to do as a community. A community-wide panel discussion on the tuition crisis will be held in Young Israel of Woodmere on Motzei Shabbos at 8:30pm

and will feature Maury Litwack, Chavie Kahn, Director of Day School Initiatives at UJA Federation, and Asher Mansdorf, Vice President of Board of Ed on the Lawrence school board.

The Teach Advocacy Network is dedicated to securing government funding to ensure that Jewish schools are safe and fairly funded. They also fight for equitable government funding, tax credit scholarships and education savings accounts to make a difference for our students, families and schools.

According to Litwack, the tuition crisis, as it’s now being referred to, has been getting worse over the last 15-20 years. “The costs of education have been going up rapidly,” Litwack told The Jewish Link. “The cost of

tuition is pricing some people out of providing their children with a Jewish education. Some families are being forced to rethink vacations, cost of living and in some cases, how many children they have. It’s affecting people’s way of life.”

“For the long-term sustainability of Jewish life, you need Jewish education. We need to make that as affordable and attainable as possible,” Litwack reflected. “There’s an understanding that this is a crisis. But a crisis requires serious investment of time and involvement over the same period. For those who want to make a meaningful difference, there’s a lot that they can learn at the program.

For those who want to move beyond discussion around dining room tables this is going to be an excellent

forum to do so. Jewish education should be a communal responsibility.”

Teach Advocacy operates in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland and California, covering 186,000 children. Thanks to their efforts, 450 day schools and yeshivas receive government funding. To learn more about Teach Advocacy, the tuition crisis or how to get involved in solving it, visit www. teachadvocacy.org.

The event is free and open to the public. Maury Litwack will speak at Young Israel of Woodmere located at 859 Peninsula Blvd. in Woodmere.

Annie Watman will speak at The Irving Place Minyan located at 111 Irving Pl. in Woodmere.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Shulamith HS Open House

“S

hulamith High School for Girls is a school where your daughter can be the architect of her own dreams,” declared Mrs. Rina Zerykier at last Sunday’s Shulamith High School Open House, before a standing-room-only crowd of 450 prospective students and parents.

Board President Mr. Ari Cohen welcomed the audience, and 11th grader Chevi Charlap, Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, and Mrs. Zerykier laid out what it means to be a student at Shulamith High School. Attendees included families from Brooklyn, Great Neck, Queens, West Hempstead and the Five Towns.

Open House guests were challenged to find out why with the premiere of Shulamith’s new video. The program then followed with an array of opportunities for students and parents to learn about the Shulamith experience. Student and parent panels were followed by 12-minute mini-

tastes of Shulamith High School’s secret sauce: it’s student-centered teaching in STEM, art, halacha, math, English, Chumash, public speaking, Ivrit, biology, chemistry, Navi, and history.

The day finished off with an epic co-curricular fair, created by Ms. Ricky Gaerman, Director of Student Learning, and Ms. Shelly Adelson, art teacher, which included interactive displays of the many co-curricular opportunities open to Shulamith high schoolers.

“This place is so dynamic,” said one prospective parent. “I really feel this is a place where my daughter could thrive,” gushed another mother.

The applications are pouring in.

Over 90 applications have already been submitted since Sunday, and over 100 students have registered to take the entrance exam on Tuesday, November 14. The application deadline is Tuesday, November 28.

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic attended a reception hosted by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) last week. Rozic spoke with Daniel Shapiro, Former Ambassador of the United States to Israel, about the importance of supporting AIPAC and the U.S.-Israel relationship on a local level. As the only Israeli-born state legislator, Rozic proudly supports AIPAC’s efforts working with elected leaders on legislative priorities as well as their student activism opportunities provided on college campuses across the country. Rozic looks forward to a future partnership with AIPAC’s Young Leadership Division.

Writing Our Names at Ohr Leah

T

here are many ways to teach a child to write. At Ohr Leah we use all of them. All the children are encouraged to “sign in” every morning. Any scribble is acceptable!

On the first day Morah Peshy starts teaching them to write the first letter of their name. They start making straight lines on a whiteboard. Gradually the lines turn into a letter. “Once they can make straight lines and circles, they can make any letter!” says Morah Peshy.

There are many other ways we familiarize the girls with the letters: sandpaper letters, playdough, puzzles, matching games, blocks... These reinforce the letters they are trying to make to write their own names. What an accomplishment, writing your own name for the first time. Kol kakavod

Rifka!

The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been ripping the fabric of the Middle East since the Iranian Revolution of 1979 Page 122

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community

Education Hits the Road at Shulamith Middle Division

F

ollowing the eighth grade’s successful trip two weeks ago to the 9/11 Memorial Museum and One World Observatory, grades five, six, and seven embarked on their own educational outings last week.

On Monday, the fifth graders visited MoMath in Manhattan. In small groups, each accompanied by a parent or teacher chaperone, the girls had the opportunity to engage in hands-on and interactive exhibits.

They had fun doing various activities which demonstrated scientific and math concepts. The girls were amazed and excited by all the museum had to offer and enjoyed spending

Fifth graders at MoMath

Sixth graders at the Museum of Natural History

the day together in the City.

On Wednesday, sixth grade students traveled to the Museum of Natural History where they enjoyed the world-famous dioramas of animals from around the world and exhibits as diverse as ocean life, dinosaur fossils, and ancient people and civilizations. The girls were excited to participate in a scavenger hunt created by their social studies teacher Mrs. Danyel Goldberg.

The week ended with the seventh grade trip on November 9th to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The significance of the date was noted as the girls learned about Kristallnacht, and each girl had an opportunity to light a candle in memory of those who suffered on that fateful night in 1938.

Seventh graders light candles to remember Kristallnacht

The girls toured the first two floors of the museum, seeing the hundreds of artifacts throughout Jewish history, stopping along the way to watch different videos. Docents asked the girls questions and many were eager to respond or share short stories of their own family history. On the second floor, students learned more about

what led to the Holocaust and some of the atrocities that occurred. Students came away with much knowledge and the message of how important it is to continue to learn and remember so that nothing like this ever happens again.

YOSS Hosts New Parents Tea

Y

eshiva of South Shore held its New Parents Tea on November 7, where new and prospective parents received a warm reception at the Woodmere home of Dr. Mark and Mrs. Andrea Coronel. They were greeted by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, along with members of the administration on every level.

The parents got a sense of the Yeshiva’s hashkafos and educational perspectives by listening to a discussion on “Developing a well-balanced child – spiritually, educationally and emotionally.” Moderated by Rabbi Avraham Robinson, Associate Menahel, the panel included insights from Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, Menahel HaYeshiva as well as Rabbi Avraham Fridman, Elementary General Studies Principal; Rabbi Zev Davidowitz, Menahel HaMechina; and Mr. Daniel Winkler, Junior High General Studies Principal. The discussion was followed by a video presentation, and closing remarks from Mrs. Elana Fertig, Hollander ECC Director.

“At Yeshiva of South Shore, we are committed to forming enduring relationships and connecting with the families of our students,” said Rabbi Kamenetzky. “Of all things, we want to help your child grow to be a mensch.”

It was wonderful to meet with parents in a more relaxed setting. We look forward to more of these events.

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Around the Community

Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Adds Social Adult Day Care Program

A

ribbon cutting ceremony was held recently for the Social Adult Day Care program at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack. An extension of the long-established Adult Day Health Program at the Center, Gurwin’s Social Adult Day Care program focuses on providing participants with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias a safe and stimulating environment while providing respite to their caregivers.

According to Jeraldine Fedoriw, LMSW, Director of Adult Day Care at Gurwin, “Millions of people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and their caregivers – often family and friends – provide countless hours of care for them.

On Long Island, the crisis is getting worse with the aging of our population. We need more programs not

only for those suffering from the disease, but also to provide respite for those caring for them.”

Gurwin’s Social Adult Day Care Program, which is housed in the Center’s Weinberg Pavilion, provides a caring environment that is safe and social. Frail, elderly individuals, including those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, thrive with the support they need to remain living in the community. The program operates from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and includes meals and snacks, a variety of creative and social activities, cognitive stimulation, and access to a gift shop, beauty/barber salon, and a private outdoor courtyard. Transportation is also available.

“Providing a safe place for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia to engage in activities while safeguarding their health and

Gurwin Executive Vice President/CEO Herbert H. Friedman; Board President Bert E. Brodsky; Administrator/COO Stuart B. Almer; Board Vice President Phyllis N. Charash; Director of Adult Day Care Jeraldine Fedoriw, LMSW; and Honorary Board Member Rosalyn C. Gordon

well-being is vital to our community,” said Herbert H. Friedman, Executive Vice President/CEO. “We are pleased to add this important component to our Adult Day Care

services.”

For more information about Adult Day Care services at Gurwin, call (631) 715-2520.

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Around the Community

Yeshiva Har Torah Bar Mitzvah Workshop

O

n Motzei Shabbat, the Yeshiva Har Torah seventh grade boys gathered for a very special bar mitzvah workshop melava malka. The boys attended three workshops, each focusing on a different aspect of becoming a bar mitzvah.

In session one, the boys learned from “The Mezuzah Doctor” all about how tefillin are made and saw samples of each stage of the tefillin-making process. In session two, Rabbi Tsvi Selengut, Rabbi of Ohab Zedek in Belle Harbour, spoke to the boys about “the true meaning of becoming a bar mitzvah.” In session three, the boys put on their dancing shoes with Jeff Neckonoff of Azmara DJ and learned several popular simcha dances. Following the sessions, the boys, their parents, and rebbeim spiritly danced together as they celebrated the milestone of reaching the age of bar mitzvah. The evening ended with a delicious dessert buffet and a grand raffle. The boys walked away from the night enriched by the experience and prepared to enter this new stage of their lives.

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HAFTR Hosts Professional Development Day

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n Tuesday, November 7, HAFTR’s Early Childhood, Lower School and Middle School teachers gathered at The Sephardic Temple for a day of learning to discuss how to instill confidence, persistence and frit in our children. The days keynote speaker was Rabbi Mark Wildes.

Rabbi Mark Wildes is the Founder and Director of Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE), a highly successful Jewish outreach and educational program that engages and reconnects unaffiliated Jewish men and women in their 20s and 30s with Judaism and the Jewish community.

Rabbi Wildes earned a BA in Psychology from Yeshiva University, a Law Degree from the Cardozo School of Law, a Masters’ degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, and ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University).

In its 19 years of existence, MJE has successfully reconnected thousands of previously unaffiliated Jewish men and women with Judaism and the Jewish community, hundreds of whom are today living lives of Torah and mitzvot and sending their children to Jewish Day Schools. Op-

erating from its three locations in the city, with a talented staff of 15 full-time professionals, MJE’s inspirational Shabbat Dinners, Beginners Services, Retreats, Classes, Holiday Events and Trips to Israel have touched the lives of thousands of young Jews and provided a venue through which over 283 Jewish couples have married. Rabbi Wildes also teaches an outreach training seminar at RIETS, Yeshiva University’s rabbinical school. He and his wife Jill and their four children live on the upper West Side where they maintain an open home for newcomers and friends alike.

Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, Rabbi Mark Wildes, Mr. Joshua Gold, Mrs. Cyndy Goldberg and Ms. Joy Hammer

HANC Students Welcome Sergeant Jason Turk in Honor of Veteran’s Day

O

n Friday, November 10, Sergeant Jason Turk, a former HANC student, spoke to the students at HANC High School about his experience in the United States Army. He discussed the reasons he enlisted, as well as life as a Jewish soldier. Sergeant Turk described some of his missions in Afghanistan, as well as his current position as a recruiter for the National Guard.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions and gain further insight as to how the U.S. Army functions. All in attendance expressed their appreciation to Sergeant Turk for his service and his devotion to the United States.

Thank you to Special Projects Coordinator Maddie Hamada for coordinating this program and to Social Studies Chair Mrs. Myra Cohen for facilitating this event on this important day.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Around the Community

MSH Reunion in Israel

T

he much anticipated annual Midreshet Shalhevet alumni Israel reunion took place on Monday night in Jerusalem at Café Rimon. The class of 2017 alumni, studying in ten different seminaries, have been looking forward to this night since they arrived in Israel. The girls trekked from Jerusalem, Givat Washington, Modiin, and even Netanya to visit with their beloved principal and catch up with old friends. It was the first time some of the girls had seen each other since graduation, and the excitement in the air could not be missed. The relationships formed at Midreshet Shalhevet truly last after high school is over. The girls were excited to share some of the Torah they are learning with Mrs. Eisenman and expressed that the education and skills they received at Midreshet Shalhevet has enabled them to feel confident with their ability to learn in the Beit Midrash.

The Class of 2018 is already looking forward to their reunion next year!

After the reunion, Menahelet Esther Eisenman traveled to visit the MSH alumni and heads of schools at the various seminaries, as well as schools the current seniors have expressed interest in attending. Her goal is to fully understand the level of learning and culture at each school. This information is extremely helpful for the entire Israel Guidance department to most effectively advise the class of 2018 in making their choice of school. In previous years, MSH graduates have been accepted to wonderful seminaries such as Amudim, Darchei Bina, Machon Maayan, Michlalah, Midreshet Eshel, Midreshet Harova, Midreshet Lindenbaum, Midreshet Moriah, Midreshet Tehilla, Midreshet Torat Chessed, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, Migdal Oz, MMY, Nishmat, Sha’alvim for Women, Tiferet, and Tomer Devora.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Understanding the World of Prescription Drugs and Substance Abuse:

A Breakthrough Gural JCC Event

T

he Marion and Aaron Gural JCC hosted an informative, professional panel commu-

& JY

nity workshop last Tuesday evening addressing the difficult but timely topic: Understanding the World of

Prescription Drugs and Substance Abuse. Dr. Miriam A. Knoll, Dr. Akiva Perlman, pharmacist Devorah

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Roth, a Hatzalah first responder, and a member of the community who shared her personal and painful journey were the featured panelists at this event which took place at the JCC’s 207 Grove Avenue location in Cedarhurst. In a sequential and cohesive presentation each panelist spoke of their unique experiences and involvement with issues of substance and prescription medication abuse.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Miriam A. Knoll explained from a medical perspective the frequent and legitimate necessity of prescribing pain medications for her patients suffering from various types of cancer.

Often a physician prescription is the first step in what later can become a dependency on substance abuse. The physician’s role is a sensitive and complicated one, encountering many challenges when prescribing medications, due, in part, to the stigma of addiction that is attached to them.

Dr. Akiva Perlman, Director of Clinical Supervision at Amudim, spoke of his many years’ experience as an addiction and trauma specialist. He methodically explained how and where addictions stem from, the unfortunate resistance to recognizing this growing problem in our community, as well as the lack of knowledge regarding the many helpful resources available to addicts and their families. He offered invaluable information, including how to identify the signs of someone becoming a prescription drug or substance abuse addict.

Sandy Klar, the brave community member who provided a personal testimony, shared a heart-wrenching retelling of her experience as a recovering addict. She disclosed the ease in which she fell into her addiction and the out-of-control spiraling of her life as a direct result of this addiction. She was extremely grateful that the JCC was hosting this event and for giving her the opportunity to finally speak about her lonely struggles. She assured the audience of lay people and professionals that there is a real and pressing need for more events such as this one in our community, including open, shame-free

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Around the Community discussion.

Community member Devorah Roth discussed her experiences as a pharmacist who juggles the need to responsibly fill prescriptions, while being attuned to clients she encounters who are clearly misusing their medication, and some, obviously addicted to drugs. She recounted a personal story where she was robbed at gunpoint by an addict. Both Dr. Knoll and Ms. Roth explained how the medical field is reacting to this drug abuse crisis and is making changes, requiring newer standards for doctors prescribing opioids to patients, as well as a coordinated effort

between physician and pharmacist to prevent and recognize substance abuse.

Lastly, a dedicated first responder Hatzalah member for over three decades told of several devastating and shocking stories of drug abuse calls with which he has been involved.

At some, the use of Narcan to bring victims back to life after an overdose was necessary. He described how Hatzalah is the end of the line – a line you don’t ever want to reach.

With the new intensity and frequency of drug and substance abuse in our area sometimes it is simply too late even for a Hatzalah call. Mem-

bers have sadly witnessed a frightening increase in death by overdose, especially in young people.

The evening was intense and enlightening. The knowledge and essential information shared by the panelists as well as the resources provided from agencies who were in attendance gave audience members a newfound understanding of the critical issues our community is currently facing and guidance to identifying the signs and symptoms of substance abuse. This was an important step in raising the awareness in our community of a problem that exists, as painful as it is to admit,

and is growing. It finally opened the doors to dialogue and action and was a first attempt to break the silence and start making a difference.

For more information about the workshop and other JCC support groups and services please contact The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC (516)569-6733.

The Marion and Aaron Gural JCC is a Proud Partner of UJA-Federation of New York, a member agency of the United Way of Long Island and an affiliate of Community Chest South Shore.

Freedom is Not Free

R

ambam’s principal, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, explained why those oft-spoken words are more than just a cliché.

In introducing Rambam’s 26th annual Veterans Day, Rabbi Eliach explained the vital role that the armed services provide in protecting our freedoms and lifestyle in the U.S. “We have freedom of religion, freedom to speak out and unlimited opportunities in this country.” Rabbi Eliach pointed out that the United States military is still actively engaged in conflicts around the world. However, we are fortunate the battles are being fought thousands of miles away from our homeland. The men and women in the Armed Forces are actually putting themselves at risk protecting our freedom. Freedom indeed is not free.

Rambam Mesivta has been paying tribute to veterans since the inception of the school.

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman explained that hakaras hatov is a fundamental Torah concept. America is a medinas chessed, affording us the ability to live a full and vibrant Jewish life. “We must be loyal to the government in general and thankful to our troops in particular,” said Rabbi Friedman.

Mr. Hillel Goldman, associate principal, explained that “recognizing the sacrifice of our veterans and honoring them is an important educational message that has to be transmitted to students as part of their high school education.”

Rabbi Eliach introduced Captain Eric Kucich who teaches biology and earth science at Rambam. Mr. Kucich

in the Pacific with Korea; we are preparing for the worst. Fortunately, he explained that the battleground is far away from the United States. Citizens in the United States need not worry but must be aware of what is going on around the world, explained Kucich.

At the end of the assembly, Mr. Kucich expressed his gratitude to the Rambam community and presented

spoke about the challenges that he faces whenever he’s called upon to do a tour of duty. “During my last stint, which lasted almost a year from 2016 to 2017, I was called up suddenly and had to leave my wife with three little kids and a house that was under construction. It was a challenging and difficult sacrifice to make but I knew it was the right thing to do,” he explained. “When people see me and say, ‘thank you for your service,’ I’m not sure they realize that I consider my service to be an honor and a sacred obligation. Hence, no thank you is needed.”

Captain Kucich explained that his unit was in charge of 5,000 men and helped our allies in psychological operations against the enemy.

He reiterated Rabbi Eliach’s points made earlier by explaining that we live in a tough world both in Asia and

Rabbi Eliach with a special plaque of appreciation and an American flag that was flown during his service in Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait.

Students from Rambam gave Mr. Kucich a standing ovation, indicating that the appreciation was reciprocal, demonstrating that the educational message of the assembly was successfully internalized by the students.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Around the Community

Uncle Moishy’s New Album “Welcome” is More than a Welcome Addition

W

hat do you get when you combine Moshe Tanenbaum (aka Uncle Moishy), Broadway-inspired orchestrations, a serious dose of thought and talent with the #1 name in authentically engaging “edutainment” for Jewish children the world over? You get “WELCOME,” the Uncle Moishy we know and love as you’ve never heard him before.

When it comes to children’s albums and acts with authentic “kid appeal” longevity is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule.

Are there exceptions? When it comes to Jewish children’s performers that have withstood the test of time, taste, and toddlers...only one name makes the grade: Moishe Tanenbaum’s Uncle Moishy, now celebrating his third generation of entertaining, engaging and educating Jewish children the world over, with a new album entitled WELCOME. More than generating sales, Uncle Moishy is commencing on a year-long world tour that’s been getting the kind of interest – and bookings – usually reserved for headliner “grown up” acts.

So what’s causing a whole new level of interest in one of the most consistently entertaining acts in the business?

Sound-wise, WELCOME is most definitely a departure in terms of what generations of Uncle Moishy fans are used to. Think of it as a bit less basic and more than a bit “richly cinematic,” as in rich, full orchestrations that add a whole new dimension to the listening experience. Will your kids be impressed by the 15-piece string section, the 21-piece brass/woodwinds, and the 8-piece keyboard/percussion/rhythm sections? Doubtful.

Will they be enchanted by the kind of fuller, richer, more “cinematic” sound usually associated with the Jewish music superstars their mommies and daddies listen to? Count on it.

Will you find yourself enjoying the “umpteenth” playback of WELCOME, especially the material composed by the likes of Yossi Green, Malky Giniger and Dina Storch, waymore than you imagined? Bet on it.

The reason? Rather than subject you to endless adjectives and superlatives, we’ll instead go for authenticity, as in telling you to give it a listen. All you’ll need is a few minutes to understand what your children will instantly grasp...this is more than just another Uncle Moishy album, this is a seriously “great” Uncle Moishy album by Moishe Tanenbaum. (Added note: for anyone who’s spent time in traffic with their children, listening to some CD to entertain them, the music and general production quality of “WELCOME”

won’t have you wishing your car’s audio system blew a fuse.) But as impressive as all the music and production value is, all it really does is make the reason for Uncle Moishy’s star and staying power even more obvious, because the one thing you immediately notice about “WELCOME” is that Uncle Moishy – aka the irrepressible Moishe Tanenbaum – sounds better than ever. No small feat once you realize that Moishe has engaged, entertained and, yes, educated, three generations of children (not to mention their aforementioned parents, grandparents and probably even teachers) since he introduced Uncle Moishy to the world back in the ‘70s.

More than clearly having done their homework in terms of both understanding and updating the sound without losing the brand’s timeless sense of “Uncle Moishy-ness,” the team behind WELCOME (aka Mendy & Chesky of Sonic Duo) also thought past the project in terms of well...everything.

Name the country or continent and odds are Moishe Tanenbaum has sold out a venue there – and not just once, but on an annual basis.

Surprised? Don’t be. After all, he is a bona fide superstar that’s been part of the Jewish music landscape almost as long as there’s been a Jewish musci landscape.

Uncle Moishy shows are (for obvious reasons) unique, memorably fun events with a natural, dare we say it, “childlike” energy all their own.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Around the Community Moishe attributes his precedent-setting longevity to the fact he’s enjoying himself every bit as much as his audience. “Children – especially when they’re the age of our fans – are VERY perceptive. They instinctively sense genuine interest from a performance that’s on ‘autopilot.’ When people who know me personally see me in concert, their reaction is always along the lines of ‘When you’re on stage, it’s not an act – it’s you...the same Moishe we know from shul, the bungalow, the neighborhood, etc.’” Moishy smiles and continues, “A few years ago, I was reading a series of interviews with well-known mechanchim. One of the questions was along the lines of ‘if parnassa wasn’t an issue could you ever see yourself doing anything else?’ Across the board the answer was emphatically ‘no.’ These world class mechanchim all shared the realization they were given an exceptional gift – the ability to teach and ensure the mesorah, the lifeblood, of our people.

While I don’t for a second delude myself into thinking I’m in their league, or that what we do on stage compares to what they do in the classroom, I did understand how and why they valued their very special gifts because I’ve b”H seen the effect our ‘chinuch method’ has had on children and vis-a-vis that, their families. I’ve seen parents who had no interest in Shabbos or kosher ultimately begin to observe Shabbos and kashrus because they wanted to make their child who heard our songs about keeping Shabbos and kosher to be happy. That’s what I’ve tried to make our live shows about – to take the kesher that begins with the album and build on it when we’re in concert – as that’s an environment that lets you connect with children and their families on a way more authentic and personal level. And the reason we’ve b”H been successful in doing it is because the children sense without a doubt that Uncle Moishy is enjoying the show every bit as much as they are...sometimes even more,”

he says with a grin.

Will this new sound cause any of that classic Uncle Moishy DNA to change? “Only for the better,” says Mendy Hershkowitz, Sonic Duo’s Musical Director and the album’s arranger/conductor. “We went for a sound that’s richer and more contemporary and we have successfully integrated fully orchestrated tracks for the concert experience,” explained Mendy.

When asked what was in the works for the upcoming “WELCOME” tour, Chesky Breuer, Mendy’s partner and the “Duo’s” Executive Producer and Talent Director, refused to elaborate as details were still being worked out.

“We also realized that Moishy’s audience loved seeing the Uncle Moishy they’ve been hearing at home, in school and in the car come to life and not just in the usual ‘singer and music’ sense but in the high-energy, ‘I’m having as much fun as you are’ sense – and that becomes much easier to convey thanks to the dimensions these fully orche s t rat e d tracks add.”

While the album and concert tour have been generating the kind of interest usually associated with a major debut album, the level of interest being generated by the totally reimagined website has far exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

“To our market, most websites are at best passive forms of entertainment, rarely about anything that lets the child interact with the content in a positive and productive manner. That’s why we chose to call it Uncle Moishy World because we’re planning to populate it with content from all parts of the ‘world’ that Uncle Moishy has created for over three generations of children,” explains Chesky who added that most of the site’s content was inspired by Moishy himself. “He told us, the #1 question he gets from children after concerts is ‘When are you coming back?’ straight to the point, the way the age group that makes up his fan base tends to be. Moishe’s vision for

the site was in effect a 24/6 ‘answer’ to that very question, a place where children could experience ‘the next best thing to Uncle Moishy actually being there.’”

Uncle Moishy explained that because a child’s imagination is an amazing entity, rather than limit it we want this site to be both a source and resource – a source of fun and kosher interactive entertainment for children and a resource that parents and adult family members can use to help their children appreciate the “basics” of our people and faith, Hashem, Shabbos, kosher, our Jewish holidays, mitzvos, etc.

To ensure that the site will be “all that, and then some” the group engaged the services of an award-winning, Hollywood animation artist/ cartoonist to execute it.

“Of course, it will also provide ‘product and performance’ related content,” adds Chesky, “though it’s main purpose is to welcome children to a whole new ‘world’ of Uncle

Moishy. Besides, if the current calls, texts and emails are b”H any indication, people always seem to know just where and how to find us,” Chesky says with a grin.

Not surprisingly the “buzz” generated by both the new album and the new site has been causing Uncle Moishy’s “Concert Hotline” to ring 24/6 with inquiries. “Once word got out about our upcoming tour – we’ve been getting calls from communities all over the globe – all asking when Uncle Moishy’s going to be coming to their town,” Mendy says. “Once we share our plans for recreating the album experience – and to expect an Uncle Moishy concert like never before – the response is usually ‘please email me the contract’” Mendy concluds with a smile.

To arrange for Uncle Moishy and his world to come to your town as part of his “WELCOME” 5778 Tour, please contact Sonic Duo directly at 347-467-1958.

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

TJH

Centerfold

You gotta be kidding

When NASA was preparing for the Apollo project, they did some training on a Navajo Indian reservation. One day, a Navajo elder and his son were herding sheep and came across the space crew. The old man, who spoke only Navajo, asked a question which his son translated. “What are these guys in the big suits doing?”

A member of the crew said they were practicing for their trip to the moon. The old man got all excited and asked if he could send a message to the moon with the astronauts.

Recognizing a promotional opportunity for the spin-doctors, the NASA folks found a tape recorder. After the old man recorded his message, they asked the son to translate it. He refused. The NASA reps brought the tape to the reservation where the rest of the tribe listened and laughed but refused to translate the elder’s message to the moon.

Finally, the NASA crew called in an official government translator. He finally was able to translate the old man’s message for the moon: “Watch out for these guys; they have come to steal your land.”

So Many Ways to Say In how many languages can you say “thank you”?

Language 1. Arabic 2. Cantonese 3. Finnish 4. French 5. German 6. Greek 7. Hawaiian

11. Indonesian 12. Italian 13. Japanese 14. Korean 15. Mandarin 16. Polish 17. Russian 18. Yiddish 19. Zulu

8. Hebrew 9. Hungarian

Phrase

10. Icelandic

A. M h ̀ ’gōi

B. Todah C. Takk D. Shukran E. Gamsahamnida F. Mahalo G. Kiitos H. A Dank I. Ngiyabonga J. Jenkoo-Yen K. Terima Kasih L. Efhahreestoh M. Köszönöm

N. Arigatô O. Xièxiè P. Spuhseebuh Q. Grazie R. Merci S. Danke

 Matches 1-D, 2-A, 3-G, 4-R, 5-S, 6-L, 7-F, 8-B, 9- M, 10-C, 11- K, 12 -Q, 13-N, 14-E, 15-O, 16J, 17-P, 18- H, 19-I

Riddle me this?

If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?

See answer to the right

Their age!

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The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Native American Trivia 1. Why did Christopher Columbus call the natives “Indians”? a. Because he located the first ones in Indiana b. Because he observed that they were very “independent” c. Because he thought he had landed in the East Indies d. Because they spoke a language called Indianas 2. Which Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the colonists? a. Wampanoags b. Passthewassabis c. Wannagoshoppings d. Palewyamis 3. Approximately how many Native Americans are there in the U.S. today? a. 5 million b. 12 million c. 20 million d. 30 million 4. Which state has the most Native Americans? a. South Dakota b. New York

c. Montana d. Alaska 5. What is the Trail of Tears? a. It refers to a ceremony that Native Americans conduct in which the group leader cries and everyone cries after him b. It refers to a journey that took place when Native Americans were forced out of their lands and had to travel thousands of miles to new land c. It was a war between Native American tribes d. It refers to a journey which Native Americans went on in order to discovery Canada 6. Which one of the following is the largest Native American tribe? a. Navajo b. Cherokee c. Sioux d. Chippewa 7. Which of the following states does not have a name root-

ed in a Native American language? a. Iowa b. Texas c. Wyoming d. Colorado 8. In what year did all Native Americans get U.S. citizenship? a. 1776 b. 1835 c. 1924 d. 1938 9. Where did the term Buffalo Soldier come from? a. Native Americans gave the term to regiments of African-Americans fighting in the Civil War b. It was a name given to soldiers who rode on buffalos c. It was a term for soldiers, derived from a song by a Jamaican artist (Go ahead hum along—oy, yoy, yoy, oy, yo yo, yoy) d. It was a term given to people who hunted buffalos

 Scorecard

 Answers

7-9 Correct: You are obviously going to score well with a name like Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.

5-B 9-A

4-D

8-C

3-A

7-D

2-A - but please pass the wasabi anyways

4-6 Correct: Not bad, you must be a founding member of Mohegan Sun.

6-B

1-C

0-3 Correct: You ain’t got no feathers in your cap, my friend.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Torah Thought

Parshas Toldos

By Rabbi Berel Wein

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ur father Avraham was, according to the Mishna in Avot, tested ten times and overcame all of them. It is interesting that most of the commentators that describe and enumerate these ten tests do not identify Avraham as being the son of Terach as one of these tests. One can easily think that this perhaps would have been one of the major tests in his lifetime.

But the Torah takes into account a fact of human nature that, in one way or another, every generation strives to be different than the one that precedes it. Sometimes this is for good and sometimes not.

Avraham differed from Terach in a good way. Eisav differed from Yitzchak in a negative fashion. The greater challenge seems to be to emulate and build upon the positive attributes and accomplishments of one’s forbearers. The challenge to Yitzchak is to emulate his father Avraham, to spread the idea of monotheism in a pagan and violent world, to dig once again all of the

wells that his father had dug, from which the life-giving waters of Torah would again flow.

It is easier to rebel and discard than to continue and replenish. The world is always unenthusiastic about revisiting old wells even if they have been proven to be bountiful and eternal. The prophet Yirmiyahu com-

the legacy of Avraham and creating the Jewish people.

The challenge of continuity in the generations and their relationship one to another has been the internal challenge in Jewish life throughout the ages of our history. We have always longed to be fresh, new and different than our ancestors. Any

We have always longed to be fresh, new and different than our ancestors.

plained about new wells that do not really contain water and abandoning old wells that are yet bountiful and blessed with water. This would be the great test for Yitzchak and later for his own son Yaakov, in transmitting

new idea or ideal in world civilization always had Jewish adherents, even when it was obvious that it was against their own self-interest to advocate that new fad or ideal. And, we have paid very dearly for those

monumental errors of judgment and policy. Jewish history is littered with the wreckage created by these empty wells. And the non-Jewish world is complicit in this debacle. Avimelech, the king of the Philistines, repeats the grievous moral error made with the wife of Avraham, and then with the wife of Yitzchak.

When it comes to the Jewish people the attitude of much of society is not to learn from the past. One would think that by now the world would have absorbed the lessons of self-destruction that anti-Semitism brought and continues to bring to its proponents. But, alas, such is not the case. For centuries on end, the Philistines and others would continually make new peace treaties with the Jews only to revive fresh hatred and violence as a “new” tactic in their enmity towards the Jewish people. We have our challenges but so does the non-Jewish world. Ours is to retain continuity, theirs is to discard it.

Shabbat shalom.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

From the Fire

Parshas Toldos I Am a Rock

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

he Torah reiterates a great deal of biographical information about Rivka when the pasuk (Bereishis 25:20) says, “And Yitzchak was forty-years-old when he married Rivka, the daughter of Besuel, the Aramean from Padan Aram, the sister of Lavan, the Aramean, to himself for a wife.” Rashi asks why the Torah has to repeat all of these background facts about Rivka when we already knew them from earlier parshios. He answers, “But this is to recount her praise because she was the daughter of a wicked man and sister of a wicked man and her place was [filled with] wicked men, yet she did not learn from their actions.”

Interestingly, it seemed from last week’s parsha that Rivka’s greatest trait was her kind and gentle nature.

This was the primary quality she passed on to the entire Jewish people, who are characterized by, among other things, the fact that they are “givers of kindness.” Why then does

the Torah emphasize here that her greatest praise is that “she did not learn from their actions”?

The truth is that one of a person’s strongest drives is to feel “normal.”

And for most people, one of the greatest sins is to be considered “weird” or “not normal.” The Rambam (Hilchos De’os 6:1) explains this as follows: Man was created in such a way that he is drawn after his friends and acquaintances in his attitudes and actions and to behave according to the customs of the people in his country. Therefore, one must attach himself to tzaddikim and always dwell near wise people in order that he should learn from their actions and distance himself from wicked people who walk in darkness in order that he not learn from their actions.

Rivka was the daughter of a wicked man, the sister of a wicked man, and lived in a world full of wicked people, yet she remained a tzadeikes

in spite of it all. This is even more amazing considering how Avraham also lived in opposition to his environment, but he did so by cutting himself off from his land, his birthplace, and from his father’s house.

Yet Rivka accomplished this while still in her environment; she still managed to become and remain a tzadeikes. She personified that which the pasuk (Shir Hashirim 8:10) said (which Chazal teach refers to Avraham Avinu), “I am a wall.”

She was rock solid, like a wall. There are Jews who are not moved by any force in the world, and Rivka was one of them.

The pasuk (Bamidbar 23:9) says, “From the top of rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him.” Rashi, quoting the Midrash, explains, “I gaze at their origins and the beginning of their roots and I see them established and strong like rocks and hills because of their Avos and Imahos.” We see that the Avos were a powerful foundation upon which the

entire Jewish people were built because they were like rocks, immovable in their dedication to Hashem.

That is why Chazal (Rosh Hashana 11a) call the Avos the “Strong ones of the world.” This trait is why they merited to serve as the bedrock of the Jewish nation and why the Torah’s primary praise of Rivka is to tell us her background in order to show us that she was a rock and “did not learn from their actions.”

But how does this square with the fact that Eliezer found Rivka not because of her trait of strength in the face of opposition but because of her great kindness? Even Avraham seems to be known mainly for his trait of kindness and, as the pasuk (Tehillim 39:3) says, “The world was built on kindness.”

We must understand the trait of kindness more deeply. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 87a) says, “Tzaddikim say little and do much. The wicked say much and do not even do a little.”

Rivka personified this trait of the

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

tzaddikim. She only told Eliezer that she would bring him water but, in the end, she also brought water for all of his camels as well. The difference between tzaddikim and wicked people is not how many words they speak.

The Chofetz Chaim was known to be

to marriage. The Gemara (Yevamos 62b) teaches us that “any man who has no wife lives without… a wall…” When a person gets married, he learns what it means to live for another person and not just for himself in a way he can never expe-

There are Jews who are not moved by any force in the world, and Rivka was one of them.

an active conversationalist. There are probably bad people who speak very little. The key difference is how they follow through on their words.

This is the difference between the kindness of the wicked and the kindness of the righteous. The deeper essence of kindness is when a person lives for others and not for himself. Everything he does is for the sake of his wife, his children, his friends, his shul, his community, for Hashem. Because he does not live for himself, there is no “I” to get in the way of his commitments. A wicked person, on the other hand, may intend to keep his word. But since whatever he resolves to do for others is based on selfish motives on some level, he gives up as soon as his own needs conflict with his commitment.

This is the trait about which the pasuk (Devarim 32:20) says, “They are a generation of changes, children in whom there is no trustworthiness.”

Tzaddikim possess the trait of being rock-solid, like a wall. They follow through on their commitments. That is the deepest meaning of kindness. Because tzaddikim live for others, their personal concerns do not get in their way. If any obstacle arises, it is best to move out of their way lest one get run over! Because Rivka possessed the attribute of kindness, she lived for others, and that is why she was a wall who “did not learn from their actions.”

That same trait of kindness, of living for another person rather than for one’s self, is also the key

rience as a single person. If a husband lives for his wife, if he “says little and does much,” and if a wife lives for her husband, then it will be a successful marriage. Nothing will stand in the way of whatever each one must do to take care of the other. This is what it means to be a “wall.” But if each one primarily looks out for themselves and what they get out of the relationship, then the wall of their marriage will, G-d forbid, crumble.

As we approach Rosh Chodesh Kislev, we begin to see the Chanukah lights on the horizon and think of the words from Maoz Tzur, “And they burst through the walls of my towers.” The Greeks personified the self-centered attitude of the wicked who “say much and do not even do a little.” They lack that “wall” characteristic. That is why they tried to break down our walls.

May we merit to fulfill our heritage of kindness bequeathed to us by the Avos and Imahos, living for others with rock-solid fortitude.

And with that accomplished, may we see the rebuilding of the walls of Yerushalayim and the Beis Hamikdash with the coming of Moshiach, may he arrive soon in our days.

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and has served as Mashpia in Yeshiva University since 2013.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Between the Lines

Rock Stars

By Eytan Kobre

The last thing one knows is what to put first.

-Blaise Pascal

A

philosophy professor once opened the semester standing before his class with a large empty jar. Without a word, he filled the jar with rocks and asked the class whether the jar was full.

It was full, they agreed.

The professor then produced a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar, and the pebbles settled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor again asked if the jar was full.

This time it really was full, the class confirmed.

The professor then poured a bag of sand into the jar, and the sand quickly filled the remaining open pockets of air.

“Now the jar is full,” the professor declared triumphantly. “You see, this full jar embodies life itself. The rocks are the truly important things: G-d, family, health – if all else was lost and the rocks remained, life would still have meaning. The pebbles are other things of value, such as school or work – these, however, are just means to a more momentous end. The sand is life’s ‘small stuff,’ like material possessions and social status – these have little or no real

value at all. Lead lives that prioritize appropriately your rocks, pebbles, and sand.”

Eisav was all about misplaced priorities.

On the day he sold his birthright, Eisav committed five grave sins, the worst of which was being “kofer b’ikar” (Bava Basra 16b) – literally, “denying that which is primary” – a euphemism for one who denies G-d’s existence, supremacy, and control over every aspect of life.

Now, to be sure, Eisav was a bad guy. But denying G-d’s existence is hard to fathom. Eisav lived in the house of Yitzchak and Rivka; his brother was Yaakov; his grandparents (at least on one side) were Avraham and Sarah. He no doubt witnessed open miracles routinely.

He excelled at honoring his parents (Devarim Rabba 1:15; Rashi, Bereishis 27:41). He even inquired, earnestly or otherwise, about tithing obligations (Rashi, Bereishis 25:27).

All this is incompatible with the profile of a total non-believer.

Some suggest that Eisav was not your typical non-believer. He didn’t deny the existence of G-d or even His supremacy. His fault was not that he “denied that which is primary” – his failing was that he denied that it was primary. He was prepared to accept G-d and all of that good stuff – so long as doing so didn’t interfere with what he want-

ed for himself, so long as it wasn’t priority number one. Eisav was prepared to recognize G-d, so long as he did not have to prioritize G-d.

His priorities were misguided.

Yaakov had his priorities straight.

He knew what was primary. He was the consummate devotee to G-d’s word (Bereishis 25:27). Eisav, on the other hand, was all about elevating superficiality to an art form. So when Eisav chanced upon the opportunity to trade eternal birthrights for a bowl of lentils, he did not hesitate. It’s not that Eisav saw absolutely no value in the birthright; he simply failed to appreciate that the birthright was far more important than sating his palate. That typified Eisav’s outlook on life.

Perhaps that is the reason Eisav inquired about tithing salt and straw (Rashi, Bereishis 25:28). By their nature, salt and straw are subordinate to other things: straw to the grain with which it grows, and salt to the food it is used to spice (Gur Aryeh, Bereishis 25:28). Eisav was not being sanctimonious – he genuinely believed that subordinate things (like straw) could take the place of primary things (like wheat) (Shem MiShmuel, Bereishis 25:28).

Eisav may have typified misplaced priorities, but we are all guilty of losing perspective every now and again. We all struggle at times to keep our priorities straight. Life is

busy and full of necessary, even constructive, diversions. There are work demands. There are social demands.

There are physical demands. We have recreational and social needs.

But the truest test of what we value is what we choose to prioritize in those pockets of air not consumed by what we need to do and available for what we want to do.

Even Noach, for example, did not always have his priorities straight.

He is referred to as a “man of the land” because, upon exiting the ark, he set out to plant a vineyard before all else. There is nothing inherently amiss with a vineyard or with wine; both have virtuous outlets. But they should not have been Noach’s first order of business upon exiting the ark. Noach should have prioritized the divine before turning to the mundane (Da’as Torah, Bereishis 9:20).

The tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe acted similarly when settling in the trans-Jordanian lands (Rashi, Bamidbar 32:1-5, 16). They prioritized the building of barns for their animals over the building of cities for their children – and they are therefore regarded as the epitome of one who misguidedly “turns the subordinate into the primary and the primary into the subordinate” (Tanchuma, Matos 7).

This is the lesson R’ Yisrael Salanter taught the man who,

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

claiming to have only a half hour per day for Torah study, asked what he should spend that time learning.

“Study mussar (ethics),” R’ Yisrael replied, “because then you will find more than thirty minutes per day for Torah study.” Mussar – teaching us to discern between the rocks and the pebbles and the sand – would recalibrate the man’s priorities.

On another occasion, R’ Yisrael Salanter lodged in a Jewish-owned inn that had exhausted its supply of meat for its patrons. The innkeeper did not know who R’ Yisrael Salanter was but seemed satisfied by his “rabbinic” look. “Excuse me,” he prodded, “but are you able to prepare some meat for our guests?” R’ Yisrael declined.

The next morning, R’ Yisrael approached the innkeeper with a proposition. “I have a great investment that promises to yield significant returns. Would you like to invest with me?”

“Well…I never really met you be-

fore,” the innkeeper hesitated. “Perhaps you can furnish me with some personal and business references. I’ll do my due diligence and get back to you.”

“I see,” said R’ Yisrael. “When it comes to ritual slaughter, you were ready to trust me based purely on my

study primary and all your other activities subordinate” (Rambam, Avos 1:15). We are to fill our life’s jars with Torah (and other pursuits of lasting value) before and above all else.

Full-time Torah scholars – those for whom Torah learning is a prime occupation – are exempt from pay-

when there is a free hour, it is spent in Torah study; on vacation, time is spent in Torah study; waiting for the bus or the train, there is Torah study. That, too, qualifies as an occupation in Torah. It’s all about priorities.

*

Eisav was prepared to recognize G-d, so long as he did not have to prioritize G-d. appearance; when I ask you for money, however, you insist on due diligence. Shouldn’t you take at least as much care in your spiritual pursuits as in your financial ones?”

To achieve this end, “one should not make an occupation primary; rather [an occupation should be] subordinate, and Torah study primary” (Orach Chaim 156). “Make Torah

ing municipal taxes (Bava Basra 7b; Rosh, Bava Basra 1:26). Some might tend to characterize such a person as one who does nothing but study Torah, but that status also could be conferred upon one who spends considerable time in necessary, mundane pursuits but devotes all free time and attention to Torah study (Responsa of Rosh 15:8) –

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One who excels in a given pursuit often is referred to colloquially as a “rock star.” But to truly qualify as rock stars, we must train ourselves to constantly reassess what is primary and what is subordinate, what is central and what is peripheral. When we emphasize the important things in life – prioritizing the rocks over the pebbles and the sand – we truly qualify as rock stars.

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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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

The Observant Jew

Course Corrections

By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz

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hile at shul one evening, something caught the attention of my peripheral vision. Sitting on a table was a tefillin bag with a padlock on it. Turning to look at this strange sight, I realized that it was not a padlock at all, rather it was a small compass with a carabiner to connect it to the bag.

Being that when we daven we try to face Eretz Yisrael – normally being east for people in Europe or the United States – it’s a great addition to the young man’s prayer arsenal.

In fact, we are supposed to pray towards Israel. If we are there, we pray towards Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem we pray towards the site of the Holy of Holies. Having a guide for this can really help us.

It got me to thinking about why we face that way when we daven.

There are a number of references in Tanach and the Gemara about it but aside from that, it makes a lot of sense. In truth, Hashem is everywhere, so one should be able to daven in any direction he wants. While in certain circumstances one may rely on this if he already began praying in the wrong direction, we generally aim to face Jerusalem. Why do we do that if Hashem is all around us?

Not to be considered a halachic opinion, but purely philosophical, it seems to me that since Hashem chose Yerushalayim as the place for His home, by facing that direction we are acknowledging that it is our will to do His will. When we daven to Hashem, it is on His terms, not our own.

There’s a car company whose ad

says, “Choose any direction you like, as long as you’re moving forward.”

The problem with that is that life isn’t about enjoying the comfort of the car but getting to your destination. If you’re just concerned with moving in whatever direction the car is facing, you may end up very far afield.

In fact, instead of moving forward towards your goal, you may be going backwards very fast because your direction is wrong. Stopping ourselves three times a day to refocus and redirect our energies should help us keep

scrolls. One he kept safely locked in his treasure house in the palace, and the other was one he carried around with him. Wherever he went, he was to look into the Torah and keep his bearings by reading the word of Hashem. However, he still had the other Torah in his storehouse. What was that about?

That one had a very special purpose. Because it hadn’t been subjected to the elements: water, heat, cold, sweat, blood, or anything else, it was pristine and correct. The same

Stopping ourselves three times a day to refocus and redirect our energies should help us keep our bearings.

our bearings.

The Torah tells us not to veer from the words of the sages “right or left.” Chazal explain, “Even if they tell you your right is your left.” Well, if you’re facing the wrong way, it’s quite possible that your right hand is where your left hand should be, and the rabbis and teachers are helping you figure that out.

Similarly, the last mitzvah in the Torah is the requirement to write a sefer Torah (or have one written.) The King of the Jewish People, though, had a very special mitzvah in this regard. He had to write two Torah

could not be said for the one the king carried. Therefore, periodically he was to take the Torah from his storehouse and use it to correct the one he carried. Perhaps a letter smudged, or got erased, and that could change the meaning of an entire section! Being able to get back on course was very important.

Today, we live in a world where the Torah we carry with us is constantly under attack. Under whatever label it is, our opinions are barraged by society and the “thinking” people who seek to undermine the Torah’s perspective. They may not even real-

ize just how far off they are because they don’t have a way to check their own direction. Which brings me back to the compass.

Three times a day, we daven to Hashem. When we do, we don’t face whichever direction we feel like.

Rather, we turn towards Jerusalem in an effort to recalibrate our desires, values, and perspectives. We remind ourselves that though we may be moving forward, we aren’t sure we’re heading in the right direction, towards our goal of serving Hashem.

That’s when we should check our internal sensors and make sure they are in alignment with the words and values of the Torah; that the ideas and principles upon which we guide our lives are the same ones which Chazal identified as being the ones by which Hashem wants us to live.

If we remind ourselves that there are many things which can affect a compass, pulling the needle away from its true North, we can recognize and overcome the false readings we get in our lives and get our proper bearings once again.

Jonathan Gewirtz is an inspirational writer and speaker whose work has appeared in publications around the world. You can find him at www.facebook.com/RabbiGewirtz, and follow him on Instagram @RabbiGewirtz or Twitter @RabbiJGewirtz.

He also operates JewishSpeechWriter. com, where you can order a custom-made speech for your next special occasion.

Sign up for the Migdal Ohr, his weekly PDF Dvar Torah in English. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com and put Subscribe in the subject.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

World

Builders

The Child Who Died and Then Danced on Stage

By Raphael Poch

Elchanan dancing on stage

W

elcome to our new column, “World Builders.” We chose the name from the Babylonian Talmud which states that “anyone who saves a single life in Israel it is as if they have saved an entire world.” I am a volunteer EMT with United Hatzalah, an organization that facilitates some 3,500 emergency medical service (EMS) volunteers to save lives on a daily basis in Israel. These volunteers come from all walks of life in Israel. They are dedicated men and women, Jews, Arab, Christians, Druze and Bedouin, religious and secular alike, who work together, armin-arm, to save the lives of those in need

O

n Thursday, the first day of Sukkot, a two-year-old boy left his family’s sukkah in the French Hill neighborhood of Jerusalem just after lunch and made his way to a nearby pond where he slipped and drowned. The missing boy was underwater for some time before he was located by his worried parents who immediately called emergency services.

United Hatzalah volunteer EMTs Meir

during the time of a medical emergency.

The response time of the volunteers is, on average, less than three minutes, making it among the fastest EMS organizations in the world.

The organization trains and equips its volunteers, outfitting each one with all the medical equipment necessary to save a life. Its EMTs, paramedics and doctors are all volunteers, and the organization provides all of its services for free. In addition to the medical first response aspect, United Hatzalah also developed the world’s first fully-integrated emergency psychological first aid unit known as the Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit,

Framowitz and Yishai Blau were the closest responders to the incident and arrived in less than two minutes from the time the call went out.

When they arrived they were handed a young boy, completely blue, who was not breathing and had no pulse. They immediately began CPR on the boy named Elchanan while his family and onlookers prayed for his recovery. A few minutes later they

which is tasked with providing psychological and emotional stabilization at the scenes of traumatic incidents. It also sends its volunteers to visit elderly people, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, who live on their own. These volunteers check their vital signs and provide a social outlet on a weekly basis. Each of these volunteers has an incredible story.

It is the purpose of this column to shed light on some of them. In a world of news that is most often negative and scandalous, these heroes and their stories of acts of loving-kindness are a welcome source of positive energy that helps build up our world.

were joined by other first responders and an ambulance team who took Elchanan to the hospital where the resuscitative efforts were continued.

Dr. Adam Ballin, a volunteer with United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit, arrived at the scene in an effort to comfort Elchanan’s parents. Dr. Ballin accompanied the distraught mother to the hospital after the father had gone with the am-

bulance. He spent five hours with the family in the hospital until the holiday had ended and Elchanan’s condition had stabilized somewhat. “The doctors who were treating him in the hospital said that he was in serious condition but stable later that evening,” explained Dr. Ballin. “We were praying that Elchanan would recover and that there would not be any brain damage.”

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Their prayers were answered. Elchanan was released from the hospital on Monday morning, and, due to the quick intervention by the first responders, he made a full recovery.

“I didn’t want to tell the parents at the time but their boy was clinically dead when the team arrived, and he was brought back from the brink,” said Dr. Ballin. “The chances of this kind of CPR succeeding on a young boy in this situation are infinitesimal.”

Five days later, Elchanan and his parents, Yehoshua and Rivkah, were invited by the organization to tell their story in front of the gathered crowd at the annual Sukkot concert that took place on Monday evening.

Elchanan, who had just been released from the hospital earlier that day, ran, jumped and played on stage as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The family thanked the first responders who saved their child’s life in a heartfelt speech that left the audience in tears.

Meir Framowitz said, “Seeing Elchanan laugh, play and roll around on stage as if nothing had happened five days prior was simply miracu-

together in saving Elchanan’s life and giving this family something to celebrate rather than mourn. Being on stage with him tonight was simply out

“Seeing Elchanan laugh, play and roll around on stage as if nothing had happened five days prior was simply miraculous.”

lous. This organization gave us the tools, the technology and the training needed to create a miracle, and that miracle is now smiling and laughing with us on stage here at this concert.”

Dr. Ballin added, “We succeeded

of this world. On Sukkot afternoon that child was basically dead and now he is up and around and jumping on stage and has a bright future in front of him. It is simply unbelievable.”

At the concert, both Rivkah and Yehoshua thanked United Hatzalah

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and the first responders for their quick lifesaving intervention.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing my baby back,” said Rivkah with tears in her eyes before passing the microphone to Yehoshua.

“We are so happy to be here with good news as this situation could have gone very differently,” Yehoshua said. “There are different ways that G-d does miracles but He prefers to do them in a natural way. Even though these responders seem like they are G-d’s natural way it is hard for me to imagine that I can touch this guy and that he is not an angel. These people are G-d’s messengers. The doctors at the hospital didn’t recognize the miracle. There was water in my son’s lungs. My only son. There is no water there anymore. This is truly a miracle. G-d used these men as His arms and we will thank them forever and ever. We will always thank them.”

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Chinuch

Begins at Home

A Conversation with Rebbetzin Bryna Bender

By Susan Schwamm

H

orns are honking. Music is blaring. Donkeys, monkeys, a Man with the Yellow Hat, and Mr. Potato Head. All of this, on a normally quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Far Rockaway. Inside, Rabbi Yaakov Bender is accepting mishloach manos with one hand, grasping the wrist of a young father to make sure he doesn’t leave with the other hand, kissing a young talmid on the top of his head, and posing for myriad pictures – all at once.

In the background, making this wheel of simcha go round, is Rebbetzin Bryna Bender. You may not even notice her. She may be in the kitchen, talking to a young mother or holding a grandchild. But she’s there and she’s making it happen.

For many of us, that’s possibly the only time we’ll catch a glimpse of Rebbetzin Bender in her own home.

Quite a scene, isn’t it?

Rebbetzin Bender has always been a steady force in the Bender household, focusing on her children and their chinuch. This week I was able to sit down with Rebbetzin

Bender and hear her insights and thoughts on chinuch. Asking her to sit down for an interview wasn’t easy; Rebbetzin Bender is not one who likes to talk about herself.

Together, Rabbi Yaakov and Rebbetzin Bryna Bender have a total of 85 years of chinuch habanim and habanos between them. While Rabbi Bender has been responsible for the chinuch of thousands of boys in Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Rebbetzin Bender has been nurturing and guiding the young women of our community for more than three decades.

The truth is, if you know Rebbetzin Bender, you’d know that an article touting the rebbetzin and her accomplishments is almost incompatible with the rebbetzin herself. She is a woman who shuns the spotlight; she doesn’t ask for accolades or awards.

But this year Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bender are being honored by Yeshiva Darchei Torah. “If it helps my husband to pay off the multi-million dollar mortgage so he doesn’t have to run around asking for money, it’s worth it,” she says. But it’s his honor, she asserts. “And he truly deserves it.”

Yeshivos today are different than when Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bender grew up. They are much better, in fact. Rebbeim are no longer using a ruler to administer discipline. Instead, they are connecting with their students with empathy, respect and love. There are certain standards we have in our community when it comes to chinuch and Rabbi Bender is a big part of that.

When I sat down with Rebbetzin Bender this week, we discussed many topics.

The conversation, though, focused around one theme: a mother’s role.

Throughout all her years in chinuch, Rebbetzin Bender has made her children her priority. Never did the Bender children feel that they were second place to their parents’ chinuch of others. And that, said Rebbetzin Bender, should be the goal of every woman. An akeres ha’bayis needs to be in the home, focusing on her children, her husband and her family.

A Home of Torah Rebbetzin Bender is one of three

children – the only girl – born to Rabbi Yehudah Elchonon and Toby Diskind. They lived in East Flatbush, which was a very different neighborhood than it is today. The family davened in Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s shul.

There were other shuls in the neighborhood at the time, but Rabbi and Mrs. Diskind were true talmidim of Rabbi Miller. In fact, Rabbi and Mrs. Diskind went to almost every shiur that Rabbi Miller gave. As Rebbetzin Bender says, “Rabbi Miller transformed a shul of nice, fine people into big talmidei chachamim with wives who were equally proud of them.”

Rebbetzin Bender comes from a family of mechanchim. Her father was a ben Torah, a masmid, and a rebbe for many years; her mother taught in public school.

Rabbi Diskind received semicha from Rav Hutner, zt”l, and was a fourth grade rebbe in Yeshiva of Eastern Parkway and Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush for almost 40 years.

(He moved to teach second grade when Rebbetzin Bender’s brother was in fourth grade, not wanting to teach his son.) As one of the

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first American-born rebbeim in the United States, Rabbi Diskind was a progressive mechanech for his times, understanding the needs of students. Certain things that he did then are only now being instituted in yeshivos. For example, he made birchas hamazon contests for his students, attempting to engage and inspire his students. Before every school year, he would call each parent. Today, we consider that a given but back then no other rebbe was calling a child’s home to speak to his parents before school started. A call in those days usually meant trouble, not a caring rebbe on the other line.

Rabbi Diskind kept in touch with the parents of his students throughout the school year, and he lavished extra attention on children from single-parent homes. “Instead of potches, my father was giving out little cars and prizes,” Rebbetzin Bender recalls.

Aside from the chinuch she learned at home, Rebbetzin Bender attended Crown Heights Yeshiva for elementary school. In those days, there were three large high schools for girls in the area: Esther Schoenfeld, Central of Brooklyn, and Bais Yaakov of Williamsburg. Each school had hundreds of students.

Rebbetzin Bender attended Esther Schoenfeld High School on the East Side of Manhattan. She would travel for an hour each way during her high school years.

Her choice of high school led to her shidduch years later.

At the time, Rebbetzin Bruriah David, daughter of Rav Hutner and founder of BJJ in Yerushalayim, had a seminary attached to Esther Schoenfeld High School. This was before Rebbetzin David went to Boro Park and before she went to Eretz Yisroel. The seminary started, for students of Esther Schoenfeld, in January of twelfth grade and was a two year program.

When Rebbetzin Basya Bender, Rabbi Bender’s mother, called Rebbetzin David for information about a young lady who had attended Esther Schoenfeld seminary, they both realized that the shidduch with that young woman was not a match for Rabbi Bender. Bryna Diskind’s name came up – and

Rabbi Bender as a seventh grade rebbi, his first year at Darchei, in 1978-79

that was how the shidduch came to be between Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bender.

“So I have hakaras hatov to Rebbetzin David on many levels – for my chinuch, my hashkafa, and, of course, for my lifetime, basically,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

When they were first married, Rabbi Bender learned in the kollel in Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn. After kollel, Rabbi Bender worked part-

When the Bender family finally moved to Far Rockaway 34 years ago, it was not the Far Rockaway of today. “There was potential here,” Rebbetzin Bender explains. Even so, some people thought they were moving to the “boondocks,” she adds.

There were a number of shuls and yeshivos in the community at the time. Yeshiva Darchei Torah was small – there was no Mesivta

“People should know it’s an achrayis and a zechus to be able to be there and to take care of your own children.”

time for Agudah and then became a seventh grade rebbe in Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway. At the end of the year he was asked to become menahel. During the first five years of being a rebbe and then menahel in Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Rabbi Bender would travel back and forth between Far Rockaway and Brooklyn, where the family and their five children lived. Although they were asked to move to Far Rockaway during those years, they took their time, deciding only after five years of traveling to move to Far Rockaway.

Chaim Shlomo, no bais medrash, and no kollel. The 878 wasn’t here.

Everything was smaller. Since then the community has grown exponentially. “The yeshiva,” Rebbetzin Bender notes, “has a lot to do with it.”

The Bender family couldn’t afford much but managed to buy a house for under one hundred thousand dollars. “We haven’t looked back,” the rebbetzin quips.

Teaching Young Women When the family moved to Far

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Rockaway, Rebbetzin Bender began to teach in TAG High School. She has been teaching girls for 46 years.

Her first two years of teaching were in the fourth grade in Bnos Yisroel of East Flatbush. She then taught high school in Bais Yaakov of Williamsburg with her mother-in-law, Rebbetzin Basya Bender, and then spent nine years in Yeshiva of Brooklyn teaching high school.

“I enjoy teaching young, intelligent adults,” she says.

Hundreds of students have passed through her Chumash, Navi, and Jewish history classes in TAG High School. Her Jewish history classes are about recent movements in history through a Torah perspective. The girls learn about the Bais Yaakov movement – which Rebbetzin Bender knows a lot about from her mother-in-law, Rebbetzin Basya Bender, who was a talmidah of Sarah Schenirer. They learn about the yeshiva movement and the Reform and Conservative movements. Rebbetzin Bender covers Israeli politics and speaks about how the Knesset works.

She cuts out articles from newspapers to show the girls the facts. It’s interesting and relevant for these young girls – whether or not they go to Israel for the year.

Teaching young women today presents its own challenges. “Girls today are more knowledgeable about certain things in life but not necessarily about certain things in Yiddishkeit,” Rebbetzin Bender notes.

“Our children have grown up in a place with a whole infrastructure of Yiddishkeit, Torah, yeshivos, etc.

But the challenge for today in chinuch is that we can’t just assume that people are going to stay on the right path because they were born into that. We have to try to give over a passion, an inspiration, for Yiddishkeit.” She adds a caveat: “We can’t just do things by habit.”

The questions that girls pose today are different than what they were years ago. “They are more challenging. They are questions brought out by being exposed to so many different hashkafos. There are so many different ideas today that are antithetical to our Torah values.” And our children are exposed to them too.

Aside from teaching young wom-

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Photo credit Ira Thomas Creations

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Purim in the Bender home

en in high school, Rebbetzin Bender has been teaching young women at a later stage in life – when they are kallahs.

Rebbetzin Basya Bender was the first official kallah teacher in America. With her encouragement and with the encouragement of Rabbi Bender’s mashgiach, Rebbetzin Bryna Bender began to teach kallahs almost 44 years ago. Because there were only a few women teaching kallahs at the time, Rebbetzin Basya Bender taught the halachos in large classes. Thousands of women came to her classes over the years. But as years went on, and more women were able to teach kallahs, the classes became smaller. When Rebbetzin Bryna Bender starting teaching kallahs, she started out with groups of five or six women. Slowly, she was able to start teaching one-on-one.

Teaching kallahs is not just about halacha. “It has to be taught with the right hashkafa and a flavor and enthusiasm,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

“The pride of being a wife ... I speak to kallahs of the concept of serving their husbands, making him feel like a king in the house.

“Girls say, ‘It’s old fashioned,’ but it’s not. You can be a very respected wife and be a full partner with your husband and still be a wife who ‘serves’ her husband.”

Additionally, Rebbetzin Bender stresses the importance of kallahs and wives not to compare their husbands to others. That, she points

out, can only have negative ramifications on a marriage. A woman should focus on the positive attributes found in her husband and in their marriage. She should focus on developing the best possible relationship with her husband, highlighting his strengths.

Her Children, Her Priority The Benders have eight children – six biological sons, one adopted son, and their youngest, a girl. Four of their children live in Lakewood, and four live here.

Speaking about bringing up her children, Rebbetzin Bender says that it’s “a lot of siyata Dishmaya.” She adds, “We have to daven.”

“I still daven for them each day,” she says. “The Steipler used to daven for his son after his son reached adulthood. I still daven for my children and grandchildren.”

She urges women to use the chachma that Hashem gave them in the right way. “Chanoch l’na’ar al pi darko,” she says.

The Bender family grew up in the public eye. Rebbetzin Bender says that people would ask her how it felt for her or for her children to be on “display.” But, she says, “I was makpid, almost obsessed, that I would not be the one to take care of the whole world and neglecting my own.” Her children were – and still are – her priority. Granted, Rabbi Bender had to be busy with different things and with numerous

issues throughout the years. “But my home had to be an island of normalcy, of tranquility, of no pressure,” Rebbetzin Bender says. That didn’t mean it was a free-for-all.

Each child was expected to do his or her best. “But my children didn’t have major responsibilities in the home other than to be good children and to do their work properly.”

Rebbetzin Bender made sure to be home for each child, doing homework with each one, helping them get their assignments in on time.

The Bender children didn’t miss school. In fact, if they wanted to go to a chasuna for a relative the night before, they had to be in school on time the next day.

Rebbetzin Bender never felt that her children should miss out because she was busy with others. She was home when her children came home from school. “And my children appreciated it,” she says. At times, there were chasunas or functions the Benders had to attend. And, at times, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bender would take different cars and go at different times to the events: Rebbetzin Bender would not leave the leave house until “dinner was served, homework was done, and everyone was tucked into bed with a good night kiss.” She adds, “It almost doesn’t make sense on paper – we’re going to the same hall, why go separately? But I felt it was the right thing to do. I was determined not to do anything at the expense of my children.

“And I hope that I succeeded.”

When the Benders’ youngest, Esther Gittel, was growing up, people would tell Rebbetzin Bender that she would be able to shop a little longer or stay out of the house later because most of her children weren’t home. But she would tell them, “Just because she’s the youngest she deserves less of a mother? She should be having more of a mother!” She recalls many times that she would be shopping in Brooklyn and would cut her trip short – necessitating another trip to Brooklyn the next day – just so she could be home when Esther Gittel got off the bus from school. Esther Gittel is now married – and she still remembers that her mother was always there when she came home from school. “Seeing the expressions on your kids’ faces when they walk in from school ... when they first come home you see what’s on their minds. And for me it was worth it,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

What advice would the rebbetzin give to the mother who can’t be home with her children when they get off the bus? “It’s a hard situation,” she admits. “I think that if a mother is focused on putting her children first then even if she works long hours, she’ll find a way to give the necessary time and care to her children.”

Children are only children for a short period of time. Soon enough, they grow into young adults. “Some mothers enjoy being out with

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others more than doing ‘tedious’ things with their own children, but that, to me, is unfortunate because there’s a short time that they’re children and then when the kids grow up the time is over already.”

She adds, “People should know it’s an achrayis and a zechus to be able to be there and to take care of your own children.”

Rebbetzin Bender adds, “No one can take care of your home as good as a Jewish mother.” Hashem gave women bina yeseira. We have a special patience as mothers. “You should enjoy taking care of your home.”

She adds that there will come a time when children grow up – and that’s when women can do different things. Every stage provides a different opportunity. When the children are young, women should be focused on their children and be home with their children. But as they mature, there are different prospects available to mothers.

Her mother, Mrs. Diskind, put her education on hold when Rebbetzin Bender and her brothers were young. Only when they were older did she go back for her Master’s and complete her education.

Spending time with children, says Rebbetzin Bender, is quantity, not just quality. You have to spend the time. You need to listen to them, enjoy them. “You know, soon enough they grow up and then the things you wanted to do or could have done you can’t do anymore.”

She adds a powerful thought.

“Many times children will repeat the parenting that they received. So if you want your grandchildren to be raised by certain types of parents, then you have to start with parenting your own children in the right way.”

A close kesher when they’re young will ensure a strong bond as they grow older. You need to cultivate a relationship with your children, even when they’re out of town in yeshiva, the rebbetzin says. Spend time with them during bein hazmanim, call them, show interest in what they’re doing. A boy who is close to his mother will continue that close relationship when he’s married. But you can’t start a relationship once your children are married – it’s too late for that.

A Gut Shabbos Shabbos in the Bender home was focused on the children. The Bender family rarely had guests on Friday night. Friday night was reserved for family. Rebbetzin Bender explains that there’s a certain excitement to Friday night; it’s the end of a long week, you sit around the table and sing Shalom aleichem together.

Even when guests were invited on Shabbos day, the Bender children would sit next to Rabbi Bender. And the Shabbos table was not pressured.

It was enjoyable. They sang zemiros, the children took turns talking about the parsha. They weren’t forced to sit the whole time at the seudah.

Rebbetzin Bender explains that

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adds that the Gemara says that Rabbi Meir would mediate many disputes on erev Shabbos because of the rush and stress that people feel on that day.

“The idea is to be organized,” she says about maintaining tranquility before Shabbos. “If there’s too much hassle or too much pressure, you have to restructure your responsibilities.”

She recalls an incident that happened a few years ago. She arrived at work one Friday morning and noticed that one teacher looked exhausted. She asked her if she was feeling OK. The teacher told her that she was up until two o’clock in the morning baking a cake. “Baking a cake?” Rebbetzin Bender asked.

“You must be having guests.” “No,”

“Part of the chinuch aspect of a home is instilling a pride in who we are.”

it’s up to the parents to make Shabbos exciting for the children. The parents set the tone for the home.

Children pick up on subtle feelings.

Take, for example, Pesach. If children just hear about how Pesach is so much work, they won’t look forward to it, says Rebbetzin Bender. “I’ve heard more than one teenager say that there’s so much tension in my house before Pesach. That shouldn’t be,” she cautions.

Rebbetzin Bender recalls hearing of one young mother of 13 children.

Every Shabbos she would put a treat at each child’s setting – a miniature challah, a special note. That mother was setting a tone of excitement for Shabbos in her home. You can make the parsha questions exciting, you can talk about the special things that happened during the week at the Shabbos table. Parents have a responsibility to convey a “positivity” in their homes.

Excitement for Shabbos is one thing. But how does one bring in Shabbos calmly, without the typical erev Shabbos rush?

Rebbetzin Bender says that one time she spoke about getting rid of the “storm” before the “calm.” She

the teacher responded, “I just wanted to bake a cake.”

Rebbetzin Bender gently chided her. “I said, ‘Look at yourself. You are exhausted. You won’t be able to be up for the meal tonight. You know, the bakeries in town make very good cake.’” There is no reason for young women to bake cakes or challahs or make extra side dishes if it’s going to take away from their positive attitude, she says. “It’s more important to be a smiley wife and a smiley mother – especially for Shabbos.”

“It’s choices,” Rebbetzin Bender says. “That’s where a person has to realize, What am I giving over to my children? A perfectly set table with perfectly formed challahs and cakes or a happy mother and a happy wife?

“I’m not the one to give advice.

But a positive attitude is a very important thing.”

Being a positive person and exuding positivity requires work. Rebbetzin Bender says that Project Inspire always says, “You can’t inspire others if you don’t inspire yourself.”

She suggests that young women who are striving to become more positive read books on the topic, or go to a

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support group, or find a mentor in this area. Once you realize you have to work on something, she points out, you’re already halfway there.

“We all want positive, upbeat children – and again, it’s all siyata Dishmaya, there’s no question about it – but it has to come from you.”

Nowadays, we are fortunate to live in a time where everything is prepared for us. The supermarkets are filled with kosher items; cholov Yisroel foods are readily available.

But we need to make sure we don’t just go through Yiddishkeit without thinking. We can learn from people who were not born into frum homes; we can see their excitement and inspiration for Yiddishkeit.

“They can teach us how to appreciate what we have and that’s, I think, a common denominator for everything we’re talking about today. I think the way to reach your children, to teach your children, for the most part is by example. ...

There’s no question about it. They see their parents and what they do,” she says.

Jewish Pride Every parent has had their child come to them with the words “but everyone has it” or “everyone else is going...” Dealing with those words and feelings can be challenging.

But, Rebbetzin Bender points out, it’s generally not completely true. If you make a few phone calls you’ll see that it’s not “everybody” who is going somewhere or who has something.

At times, though, there could be a situation where everyone does have something. And that’s when parents need to make a decision. Sometimes they have to give in a bit or ask an eitzah. “You have to use seichel ha’yashar,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

She extols the virtues of a chevra.

“Just like with a diet it’s easier to stay the course if your friend is eating carrots and not Boston cream pie next to you,” there’s nothing as powerful as peer pressure – good and bad. And having a good chevra can help you hold onto certain values and standards.

Years ago, when her daughter was young, there was a class birthday party that Rebbetzin Bender

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The Yeshiva’s old campus and a partial view of the elementary school as it stands today

did not feel comfortable sending her daughter to. She knew that there were five or six other families who felt the same way. And so they consulted with each other and stood strong. “Sometimes even if it’s difficult we have to say no.” She adds that it should be done in a respectful fashion. “We try to instill a certain pride in what we are doing.

There are certain standards we try to maintain.” She remembers that when her daughter wanted to get her ears pierced she told her that “at this age, in our home, our minhag” is that they don’t wear long, dangling earrings.

And when said like that, her daughter accepted it.

“Part of the chinuch aspect of a home is instilling a pride in who we are. There’s a certain mesorah, a certain legacy of the family we try to perpetuate,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

And when children have that pride, they are less likely to be concerned with what others are doing.

“It all boils down to the same thing: a certain positivity, an appreciation, for what we have; a certain pride in what we’re doing. And hopefully that will all impact our children so when they grow up they’ll be able to retain those standards.”

Even so, there is always a delicate balance to strike. Every child is different, and it’s a parent’s job to acknowledge, respect and appreciate what makes them unique.

Yes, there are some children who do better academically or who are

more organized or more personable. But each child has his or her own strength. Parents have an obligation to make sure every child in their family is considered choshuv and feels genuine warmth, love, and respect from them. “If children think that their parents have more pride in one child over the other then, I can tell you, they won’t be close to their parents after they get married,” Rebbetzin Bender says.

A

s our conversation comes to a close I ask Rebbetzin Bender, “Can you believe it’s been 40 years? To what do you attribute your husband’s success?”

After a moment of reflective silence, she answers simply: “I think my husband has a very warm heart...

That’s the bottom line – he has a lot of compassion and a huge heart.”

She notes that as someone who became a yasom when he was a young teenager, Rabbi Bender has a special place in his heart for people who have difficult circumstances.

She adds, “Because of his compassion and feeling for others, he has a good ability to tap into the potential of every child.”

This sensitivity has been one of Rabbi Bender’s building blocks over the past four decades and has permeated every aspect of Yeshiva Darchei Torah.

Rebbetzin Bender points out that when hiring rebbeim in the Yeshiva,

Rabbi Bender looks for a rebbe who can love the children, relate to them, and be totally devoted to them.

“Love and flexibility and respect for the child – it’s so important – those are the keys to success for a rebbe,” she says.

Love...flexibility...respect...

These are ideals to live by. And these certainly are ideals that Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bender have lived by, manifest by the beautiful mossad that they have built over the last forty years.

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I’m 37-years-old and single. I feel like my dating years are long behind me. I started out of the gate like all my friends. Same prospects, excitement, dating, etc. But through the years, as most of my friends started getting married one by one, my bashert just never seemed to be showing up.

For the past ten years or so, I hardly ever go out. Once in a while, something pops up and usually the guy is really kind of pathetic. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, because maybe that’s how I’m seen, but more often than not, they are unemployed or barely making a living, often living in someone’s basement apartment, almost zero social skills. Usually these rare dates are a disaster.

At this point, I really don’t believe I’ll ever get married. I don’t understand why I missed the boat. Looking back, maybe I should have been less selective and settled on someone who I had certain concerns about, but here I am now, 37, single, with a couple of single friends who are in similar situations. It’s pretty depressing.

Thank goodness I have a career that I find very stimulating. I make a nice salary so that I’m able to travel and do pretty much what I want. I feel like I need to make peace with the idea that I’ll never get married, never have children and this is what the rest of my life will look like. So, I know this is not the typical type of questions you’re used to getting in this column, but I wonder whether any of you have any advice for me regarding how to accept my present life and find joy and fulfillment – despite the fact that this is not the life I always dreamed I would have.

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. have some things to say about the first few paragraphs of your query but will leave unsaid comments about the competitive language you use, your depressive tone, and your sense of being set up with losers.

They are certainly worth exploring in depth with a mentor/therapist/ rabbi. You may need to do some internal work on some things which are blocking you from moving forward in shidduchim.

But the last paragraph is the one that is most important. You are focused on developing a mindset for the future in a healthy way. I give you a lot of credit for seeking to work on this objective. You are expressing an understanding that it will take effort to acquire the ability to accept your single existence and find joy and fulfillment without a life partner and children.

It is a woman’s nature to give; revel in your womanly nature and find young children to nurture and give to. There are Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister Programs that can help you find a child who needs attention.

You can volunteer for Links, an organization that helps Jewish girls (and boys through Shloimi’s Club) who have lost a parent. If you prefer to help teens, find organizations such as Rachel’s Place and get involved.

Open your home and host Shabbos dinners and game nights for friends.

Be a giver and don’t live just for a gym routine, your new booties and your next trip.

Develop new interests and social groups that are related to them. This may mean an art, a craft, book club or a hobby that you can perfect.

Growing spiritually will give your life ongoing meaning and direction. Find a group to learn with or start one of your own. You will feel fulfilled to learn with not-yet-religious people who would love to avail themselves of your Torah education.

I

You can join Partners in Torah and participate in their activities.

Find a warm mentor whose family you can become part of. You may be a single but you don’t have to be alone.

In short, continue taking the initiative as you continue to daven.

The Mother Sarah Schwartz Schreiber, P.A. efore I address your question, which boils down to, “Do I dare to hope?” I’d like to throw out a question of my own: Did you ever play the lottery?

If you think about it, your odds of finding Mr. Right at age 37 are a thousand times greater than your winning Powerball. Yet, the innate, very human characteristic of hope and emunah spur you to buy the ticket (“Hey, you never know”), travel to potentially dangerous destinations (Europe, anyone?) and, on rare occasion, date your potential zivug. All because you believe, in your heart of hearts, that you will beat the losing odds. Your bitachon gets you out of bed in the morning; you could not have accomplished as much as you describe if your life was not fueled with positivity and joy.

Age 37 is far too young to relinquish your optimism and positivity; no matter what your age, you may never allow yourself to wallow in complacency. Go ahead, enjoy your single life – socially, spiritually and professionally! At the same time, cast a wider net in your dating endeavors. If the opportunity arises (e.g., your second cousin’s wedding in Scottsdale), travel to never-explored cities, daven in various shuls, meet different shadchanim, cultivate new friendships with other women (single or married), attend single mixers, volunteer at tzedakah events, and (gasp!) register on kosher dating websites (it’s worked for more happy couples than you realize). Bear

B

Bear in mind, you only need one man to build your future home.

in mind, you only need one man to build your future home.

A note of caution: Your acceptance of your fate as on older single may be a rationalization for not embarking on any of the above modalities. Perhaps you lack the confidence or motivation to leave your Single Life Comfort Zone. Maybe your stoicism is a cover-up for profound depression over your singlehood. If so, be true to yourself – be good to yourself – and seek professional help in navigating the wide, deep and sometimes terrifying waters of dating as a thirty-something.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond he place you are in sounds so painful. I recognize how hard this must be for you, especially based on the past few years of your dating experiences, but I urge you not to give up. There are so many stories of people who find their bashert later in life and there is no reason that story can’t be your story.

I would urge you to practice thinking positively about the future. You have a great job and a fulfilling life. As long as hishtadlus is being done to meet eligible suitors, and you put your all into dating when you get a date, you can breathe easy and realize that Hashem is in complete control of your life. You are leaving it in His hands to find you a husband and trust that He will.

Make a sign for your room, “Hashem is my shadchan, I shall not fear.”

Reach out to your married friends once every few months with your updated resume and ask that they please keep you in mind. Join Saw You at Sinai, an amazing networkwith tons of shadchanim and singles. Go to singles events where you have the opportunity to meet people on your own and be open to different types of guys you may have not been open to before.

That will all be in the hishtadlus cate-

T

gory, it is your investment in showing Hashem, “I’m really trying!” Then just sit back and enjoy your wonderful life.

Perhaps get involved in chessed organizations where you feel extremely fulfilled.

Remember that wherever you are now is where you are meant to be, but keep in mind “yeshuas Hashem keheref ayin.” Things can change in an instant, you don’t need to accept that you will be single forever for you to be happy. Find ways to enjoy your life being single, but never give up on hishtadlus since that is the only way for Hashem to send you your bashert when the time comes.

The Single Tova Wein

I

find your question a little confusing. It almost sounds to me like what you are really asking from the panel is permission to retire your dating heels, call it a day, and assume the role of singlehood forever more. As if, like the person who retires from her

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job at age 65, you’ve decided that 37 is the magical age at which a woman decides she will never get married, forgets about dating from here on in, and now all she needs to do is readjust her attitude to accept the new normal that is being self-imposed.

Now why would you want to do a thing like that? And what made you decide that age 37 is the age when all bets are off? The fact of the matter is that many people have fallen into wonderful marriages at 37 and way beyond that age.

True, the prospects don’t come along nearly as often as they did when you were in your 20s and no

doubt some of the people you go out with seem to be struggling with issues, but like you, there are also plenty of perfectly wonderful candidates, who like you, for whatever reason, seemed to have missed the boat – but make no mistake about it, the boat has not totally sailed away.

I think what you need to work on is how to balance two opposing ideas in your mind successfully that are both part of your reality but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive to one another. On one hand, you should never give up hope.

We all need to bring hope into our lives about so many things. As

long as we’re alive, there is no reason to ever give up hoping and praying that our situation will improve. And along with that hope must always come proactive efforts.

On the other hand, and this applies to so many different challenges everyone deals with, it’s important to live in the moment and fill your heart with the necessary gratitude one must have for all the blessings that are constant in your life. And through gratitude, one learns how to create and find joy in their present life without any strings attached. No more “I’m happy but…” Leave off the but.

Love your life for all that it is,

Find ways to enjoy your life being single, but never give up on hishtadlus.

stay true to your dreams of someday meeting someone wonderful and having a family, stay away from others who are downers and will drag you down, and continue to be your best self.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

I

n therapy, oftentimes a client will come in carrying an incredible amount of pain. And the job of the therapist is not to move that person past his pain while he is actively in pain. Sometimes a person just needs to be emotionally held, needs to be seen, needs to be validated. A person needs a space where their pain is allowed to exist. And so, though you are not a client, and this column is not a therapy session, I would like to make space for your feelings about being single. I think these feelings are normal. I can’t make normal go away.

For as long as you are single, this bad feeling will probably be a part of your life. I wish there was a way to magically never think about it. But this isn’t the case for you, or for anyone else living with any hardship. The first step to living your most joyful life in the now, believe it or not, is to accept that this sadness will be part of your life. To deny it may work for a period of time, but the feeling will likely hit you like a ton of bricks when it returns. I think the goal is not to deny it or “positive” it away, but to learn how

to manage it and not to let it control you.

Part of managing and controlling the sadness may be to see a therapist as needed to talk about your feelings. No, it doesn’t bring you the guy of your dreams on a silver platter or make life’s problems disappear, but it can help you feel more in control of your situation. Knowing you have a place to go to every week to “unpack” can be quite helpful in keeping your wits about you.

In the meantime….

Keep up your relationships with your friends.

Take classes.

Travel.

Focus on your accomplishments.

Focus on the things in your life that you do control and that you have had major successes at.

Live your best life.

I’m taking off my therapist hat now and putting on my coaching hat.

Let’s brainstorm. I have a lot of questions for you about your dating history and current approach to dating.

I can’t help but wonder why you are getting set up with “pathetic” guys.

Surely, there are men in their thirties and forties who are not “pathetic” and who are single and ready to mingle, so to speak. Do you know of any, and do you have someone who can introduce you or set you up? Also, are you open to dating divorced and widowed men? There are wonderful divorced and widowed men out there.

In my experience, I have worked with a handful of single women your age who refused to date these guys because they wanted to marry someone without the “baggage.” I encouraged them to spread their wings and broaden their horizons. Of course, you want to make sure nothing outlandish happened in their prior marriages, but most of the time when two people get divorced, it is because they have unfortunately outgrown one another (it’s so much more complicated than that, but for the purpose of the paper, let’s leave it at that). Will you date a man with children? If you’re the maternal type, I generally encourage this as well (unless there are outlandish circumstances).

Sometimes women have to get creative in their approach to dating.

Here’s an exercise. Think of ten untapped resources to meet men. These resources can be old friends, family, neighbors, Shabbatons, new shadchanim, and rebbeim in cities other than your own. I want you to contact all of them. Tell them you are looking to meet a great guy and ask them to keep you in mind. I know, I know. It’s an awful, awful process. But you never know who will come through and who you may meet this way.

Start thinking outside the box.

Hire a dating coach to help you. He or she may offer you some brand new insight and a fresh approach to dating.

Praying that you find you bashert very soon!

Jennifer Mann 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. 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.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Dr. Deb

Children Over the Line

By Deb Hirschhorn, Ph.D.

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hildren going over the line: They’re hitting parents, calling them names, refusing to do what they’re told. You just about want to strangle them.

That’s the problem.

That’s the reaction that is diametrically opposed to fixing things.

That’s the reaction that escalates things. Obviously, you’re not literally going to kill your child. But you are that angry.

And she or he knows it.

That’s the problem.

Why? I recall a teen telling me (true story but took place 20 years ago) that she was sure her mother didn’t like her. At all. When I spoke to her mother and told her what her daughter felt, she was absolutely shocked.

While it is true that kids will say things like that to their parents in a manipulative way, to play on their heartstrings and thereby get the night out or the car keys or the video game or whatever-it-was that they wanted, this kid said it to me and knew that there was nothing particular I was about to give her for it.

WHAT’S THE MESSAGE KIDS GET WHEN WE ARE ANGRY WITH THEM? Well, that depends on how angry. It also depends on the nature

of your relationship.

If you’ve cultivated a mutually respectful, mutually loving relationship, then when you are angry the child is clear that he must have done something wrong. He may protest – which means he may test the waters and see how much he can get away with by crying or denying – but in the end, he will accept his punishment and apologize.

I remember my father, a”h, just giving me a look, a certain kind of look, that made me feel very sorry I’d done anything. In all my years growing up, neither of my parents yelled at me. Neither one ever got that angry.

I wasn’t so successful with my own children, unfortunately raising my voice to them on occasion.

Yet, there was a powerful relationship there. They knew I loved them; that was never in doubt. And they knew I respected them and valued them. Therefore, when I was able to contain my anger and I gave that look, it worked. They settled down.

They did whatever it was to correct the bad behavior. And now I get the nachas of them successfully getting their children’s cooperation with that same look.

If, on the other hand, you haven’t cultivated a good relationship with this child and if your anger is one step away from being out of control, then the child receives a

completely different message.

High levels of anger convey hate.

You may wish that were not true. You may want, very badly, to convey displeasure with a behavior.

But that’s not what happens when you’re that angry.

doesn’t believe you really like her, unconditionally, then she doesn’t see the existence of a relationship.

This all does not mean that you’ve got to be mean. Clearly, it means you need to start building a relationship.

BUT MY CHILD WON’T LISTEN IF I’M NICE!

HOW DO WE BUILD A RELATIONSHIP AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME?

Here are reasons that have come to pass: 1. You never enforced anything you said.

2.

OK, you did enforce some things and not others. Did you know that, according to B.F. Skinner, the famous behaviorist who studied rat behavior, that is called a “variable reinforcement schedule” – giving in sometimes and not others – and VR schedules are the hardest ones to break? How about that? It would have been better to go with option 1 because, then, if you suddenly stick to your guns it will be a completely new experience for your child.

3.

You never developed a relationship so the child doesn’t feel connected to you.

This last one could come from being too ready to condemn behavior but really slow with the positive comments and praise. If the child

Here are the elements of a solid, real relationship: • G enuine interest in what interests them, their doings, their opinions, their feelings.

• Respect for who they are as people regardless of accomplishments • Valuing them just because they’re yours, they’re special, they were a gift from Hashem • Therefore, to do the above, be a good listener – that means no agendas when talking • It also means giving compliments as you really feel them, but you don’t have to wait until they discover the cure for cancer to give a compliment.

• It means liberal doses of warm, kindly words.

• It means believing in them; fight the halo effect (which is the bias you already have about who this person is) • It means having fun together; create family nights with

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

board games and popcorn or something along that line.

Start a Friday night learning session together. Something.

Take small steps with this process because you can’t expect them to believe you’ve switched your approach over-night.

And apologize if you need to.

Apologize for the times you gave in to their screaming which must have been very confusing to them. They might have thought, “Ah, so this screaming is good because my parent just rewarded me for it.”

Apologize for the times you lost it and went overboard with your punishments. Apologize for not being there, not listening, not taking them seriously, not understanding what was bothering them.

Now, you may not like that idea. You may think that apologizing lowers your authority in your child’s eyes. Let me tell you what it will accomplish: 1. It will surprise the heck out of

them! (Which is good.)

2. It will make you real, a human being with humility in-

In fact, by apologizing appropriately, you show them that although it takes courage to apologize, it is

“I’m expecting only good and I believe in you”

stead of arrogance.

3. A nd that, in turn, will make you approachable, which is a very good thing.

BUT HOW CAN I APOLOGIZE AND DO ALL THE THINGS ON THE LIST WHEN THEY ARE STILL MISBEHAVING? You can.

One has nothing to do with the other.

possible for them, too. You set the tone for them.

Nevertheless, their misbehavior does need to be addressed. The question is: How? One thing that would most likely make things worse is for you to pull a power play with them. You might have to.

But let’s save that one for last. Let’s save that for when you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to be working. Keep it hidden in your back pocket and maybe you won’t need it.

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I would tell the child – in addition to the apology – “I’ve done a lot of thinking about my own behavior and I want to be a different parent.

So going forward, we will discuss things you do like the intelligent boy you are. I’m expecting only good and I believe in you.”

Then when the child backslides, you can say you realize this is new for them; you never held them to standards before and you are looking forward to seeing the behavior you know they are capable of. You might then ask them what they should have done instead of the bad behavior. By encouraging positive responses, you will eventually get them.

Dr. Deb Hirschhorn is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She can be reached at 646-54-DRDEB or by writing drdeb@drdeb.com.

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Health & F tness

Nursing vs.

Formula Feeding

By Aliza Beer MS, RD

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hoosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is one the biggest decisions new mothers make. A number of health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), recommend breastfeeding as the best choice for babies. Most agree that breast milk is usually best for a newborn. It offers many health benefits that, at this time, are not accessible in formulas, even those meant to closely mimic human breast milk. The AAP recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months. Beyond that, nursing is encouraged until at least 12 months, and longer if both mother and baby are willing. On the other hand, sometimes nursing the baby is not possible or desired.

For many, the decision to nurse or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations. For mothers who are unable to or decide not to nurse, infant formula is a healthy alternative. Formula provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Let’s examine the benefits and challenges to nursing.

BENEFITS

• Fighting infections and other conditions: Breastfed babies have fewer infections and hospitalizations than formula-fed infants. During nursing, antibodies and other germ-fighting factors pass from a mother to her baby and strengthen the immune system. This helps lower a baby’s chances of getting ear infections, diarrhea, respirato-

ry infections, and meningitis.

Breastfeeding is particularly beneficial for premature infants.

• Nutrition and ease of digestion: Breast milk is often called “the perfect food” for a human baby’s digestive system.

It is made up of lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat and is easily digested by a newborn.

It also naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires. One exception is vitamin D, so the AAP recommends that all breastfed babies begin receiving vitamin D supplements during the first two months and continuing until a baby

shrink the uterus.

Also, some studies show that nursing helps lower the risk of uterine, breast, and ovarian cancer.

It may lower the risk of osteoporosis too.

CHALLENGES

• Personal comfort: Initially, many moms might feel uncomfortable nursing but usually with proper education, support, and practice, most moms overcome this. Latch-on pain is normal for the first week to ten days and should last less than a minute with each feeding. If nursing hurts throughout the feedings then seek help from a lactation

Breastfed babies have fewer infections and hospitalizations than formula-fed infants.

consumes enough vitamin D-fortified formula or milk (after 1 year of age).

• Smarter babies: Some studies suggest that children who were exclusively nursed have slightly higher IQs than children who were formula fed.

• Free and convenient: The cost of formula can quickly add up, as well as the other supplies needed like bottles. Breast milk is also always fresh and available.

• Beneficial for mom: Nursing burns calories and helps

consultant and your doctor.

• Time and frequency of feedings: Nursing requires a big time commitment from mothers, especially in the beginning, when babies feed often.

Nursing or pumping can make it harder for some moms to work, run errands, or travel.

Also, breastfed babies need to eat more often than babies who take formula because breast milk digests faster than formula. This means a nursing mom may find herself in demand every 2 to 3 hours, sometimes

more or less, in the first few weeks.

• Diet: Women who are nursing need to be aware of what they eat and drink, since these can be passed to the baby. If a mom drinks alcohol, she should wait at least 2 hours to nurse. Caffeine intake should be kept to no more than 300 milligrams, about 1-3 cups of regular coffee, or less per day because it can cause problems like restlessness and irritability in some babies. Certain vegetables that are known to be “gassy” should be avoided, such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and string beans. Eat veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, spaghetti squash, and carrots.

Deciding how you will feed your baby is not an easy decision to make.

You’ll really only know the right choice for your family once your baby comes. Some women decide on one method before the birth and then change their minds once the baby is born. There are some women that utilize both methods because they find that is the right choice for their family and lifestyle. While weighing your pros and cons, speak with your doctor and/or lactation consultant.

These healthcare providers can give you more information about options available and help you make the best decision for yourself, your baby, and your family.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietician 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.

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Health & F tness

Teens and Sleep

By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH, FAAP

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ast week’s article elicited numerous requests from parents of pre-teens and teens about sleep. Sleep is important for our teenagers. It’s food for the brain. During sleep, important body functions and brain activity occur. Yet so many teens are sleep-deprived. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 85% of teens sleep less than the minimum 8 ½ hours needed nightly.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends 9-10 hours nightly. Why is sleep so important?

And what can be done to structure the environment for better sleep?

THE NEED FOR SLEEP Sleep is the necessary fuel for brain and overall development. It’s as crucial as a healthy eating regimen and regular physical exercise. In adolescence, the brain is still developing.

The brain’s pre-frontal cortex—responsible for complex thinking and decision-making, as well as emotional regulation—is among the last areas of the brain to develop and undergoes significant maturation during teenage years. This part of the brain is especially sensitive to the effects of sleep deprivation.

There are two main factors that affect how sleepy or how alert a teen is at any given time in a day. The first is the sleep-wake balance: how long it has been since he last slept? If a

person stays awake for too long, this will throw off his sleep-wake balance, which will make him sleepy.

The second factor affecting his level of sleepiness is his internal body clock. This clock controls the “circadian rhythms” in his body. “Circadian” means to occur in a 24-hour cycle.

These rhythms make one feel sleepy or alert at regular times every day.

Each person’s internal clock tells his body when it is time to sleep at night and when it is time to be awake during the day. Each person’s body has this natural timing system. When you feel sleepy at night, your circadian rhythms are telling you it is time to go to bed.

Many people feel a mild need for sleep in the afternoon. This need to sleep grows much stronger at night.

This set rhythm in the body triggers the urge to sleep at these times of day and occurs no matter how much sleep you got the night before. But there’s also a lack of quality sleep which can make one tired at the wrong times of day. Teens can throw off their body clocks by often staying up late at night.

Their internal clocks get more confused when they continually change their sleep and wake-up schedules.

Once the internal clocks are not set right, teens can become sleepy when they should be wide awake. Lack of sleep could cause them to fall asleep at school, at work, or, G-d forbid, while they are driving.

The lack of sleep can limit your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. You may even forget important information like names, numbers, your homework, or a date with a special person in your life. Sleep deprivation can be confused with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some young people are thought to have ADHD when in reality they are having a problem with their sleep. Both of these problems share many of the same signs. A visit to the pediatrician can help to clarify.

MANY FACTORS KEEP TEENS FROM GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. The teen’s rapidly changing body is one cause. Puberty ushers in an era of exponential changes which includes sleep. Before puberty, the body makes one sleepy around 8:00 or 9:00 pm. When puberty begins, this rhythm shifts a couple hours later and your body tells you to go to sleep around 10:00 or 11:00 pm. The natural shift in a teen’s circadian rhythms is called “sleep phase delay.” Teens may appear initially to be suffering from insomnia. They will have a hard time falling asleep at the usual time.

They still need 8-9 hours nightly. The result: Teens have a miserable time waking up early for school. So your

masmid may be thriving at mishmar, yet 10-11 hours later, he isn’t bouncing out of bed; some say the need for an alarm clock means he’s not getting enough sleep.

Because most teens have to wake up early for minyan and school, it is important for them to go to bed on time. If they go to bed late, they will be unable to get the sleep that they need. This change is a normal part of growing up. With some extra care, teens will quickly adjust to the new sleep schedule of their bodies.

There’s so much competing for our teens’ attention that sleep can be compromised. School is a big one, as are the demands made on teens in our world.

Peer pressure. Yes, peer pressure can cause teens to make poor decisions that will affect their sleep. Staying out too late, drinking, smoking, or using drugs – all of these can disturb sleep patterns. Kids need good sleep in order to have the wherewithal to withstand today’s peer pressure.

Teens may have a wrong view of sleep, seeing it as something that keeps them from the things they want to do. It is something to be conquered.

It becomes a contest to try to get by on as little sleep as possible. They rarely consider their need for sleep and how it affects all that they do.

Something we all know but needs to be repeated and repeated: Over

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

90% of teens use some form of digital technology or social media at night and close to bedtime. The resulting stimulation will, of course, throw off good sleeping patterns. The light from the device will definitely compromise circadian rhythms.

Teens: I understand that you know all this. You also know that lack of sleep puts you at risk for cognitive issues, i.e., trouble with memory, diminished focus and attention, difficulty learning, poor judgment and decision making, and reduced ability to problem solve; behavioral and social issues; emotional issues; and academic and performance issues. And many of you still don’t allow yourselves the sleep you need! Perhaps this “cool” piece of information will incite better sleep patterns. Lack of sleep can make you more prone to pimples and can contribute to acne and other skin issues. Do you want nice skin? Then, in addition to eating healthy and hydrating properly, get enough sleep and do it consistently.

WHAT IF YOUR TEEN IS GETTING THE “RIGHT” AMOUNT OF SLEEP YET IS SLEEPY DURING THE DAY? This can happen. You and your teen should meet with your pediatrician to ascertain the cause. One reason may be Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when, during sleep, the tissue in the back of the throat collapses which keeps air from getting into the lungs. This is not uncommon because the muscles inside the throat relax as you sleep and gravity then causes the tongue to fall back and block the airway. The pauses in breathing disturb your sleep, causing you to be tired the next day. Being overweight can be a factor here.

Other reasons can be narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes people to feel severely tired during the day.

They may fall asleep suddenly at any time or place. These “sleep attacks” can occur while eating, walking or driving and it begins to affect people when they are between the ages of 15 and 25. Mood swings, not uncommon in teens, may be a symptom here.

WHAT CAN BE DONE The National Sleep Foundation

recommends as follows: 1. Create a calm atmosphere in the home at bedtime.

1. Set a regular bedtime.

2. Teens should have a regular, relaxing routine just before bedtime.

3. To help them relax, teens should

Parents should teach their children about the importance of sleep.

They are likely to be more amenable to sleeping healthily if they understand why sleep is important.

A visit to the pediatrician can help ascertain what’s causing the lack of sleep. It’s also an opportunity to de-

give into the drowsiness. More than half of sleep-deprived car accidents are caused by drivers under 25 years of age. The signs of drowsy driving include repeated yawning and blinking, drifting out of the lane, trouble remembering the miles driven, and hitting the rumble strip at the edge of the world.

If you exhibit any of these signs, immediately reach out to a parent or friend for help driving.

Parents: You have a zero-tolerance policy about your teens driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Establish the same policy for drowsy driving.

It’s never too late to cultivate good sleep hygiene. The benefits are untold.

The lack of sleep can limit your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems.

avoid activities that will excite their senses late in the evening.

They should find another time for computers, social media and “heavy studying.” No exercising within of three hours of bedtime.

4. N o caffeine (including soda and chocolate) after 4:00 pm.

5. Do not smoke or drink. Along with hurting their health, nicotine and alcohol will disturb their sleep.

6. A regular exercise routine and a healthy diet will help them sleep better at night.

7. Keep the lights dim in the evening. Open the curtains or blinds to let in bright light in the morning. This helps keep their body clocks set at the right time.

8. Cooler temperatures are better for sleeping.

9. If they must take a nap, they should keep it to under 45 minutes.

10. It can be hard for teens to get enough sleep during the week.

They may need to wake up later on weekends. But they should not wake up more than two hours later than the time when they normally rise on a weekday. Sleeping in longer than that will severely disrupt a teen’s body clock. This will make it even harder to wake up on time when Monday morning arrives.

11. Prioritize sleep over late-night studying. This dovetails with helping your children carve out the right schedule that allows for homework, fun and sleep.

velop good sleep hygiene. If necessary, the pediatrician will refer to a sleep specialist.

Dr. Hylton Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at #dr.lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

The Perfect

Thanksgiving Dinner for a Crowd

By Jamie Geller

Roasted Turkey Roasted turkey is perfect for holidays and entertaining. Plus, turkey is one of the most economical and delicious ways to feed a crowd.

4 tablespoons margarine, melted 1/3 cup olive oil

Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spray a 12×17-inch roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Rinse turkey inside and out under cold running water. Pat dry. Place turkey in prepared pan. Stuff cavity of turkey with lemon, thyme, garlic and 1 of the onions.

In a bowl combine paprika, salt, pepper, margarine and olive oil. Mi-

1 turkey, about 10 pounds 1 lemon, halved 6 sprigs fresh thyme 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 3 large onions, peeled and quartered; divided 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper

Directions

crowave on high for about 20-30 seconds or until margarine has melted.

Mix well. Baste and rub the mixture on the turkey and under the skin.

Scatter the other 2 onions around the bottom of the pan. Loosely cover turkey with aluminum foil.

Bake, loosely covered, at 350° for 2 hours and 30 minutes (15 minutes per pound for turkeys less than 12 pounds and 12 minutes per pound for turkeys larger than 12 pounds), basting occasionally. The turkey is done when an instant-read digital meat thermometer inserted into

the inner thigh reads 180° to 185°, or when the juices run clear when a long-tined fork is inserted into the thickest part of the inner thigh. For golden and crisp skin, remove foil for last 45 minutes of baking. For neater slicing, let turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving.

During the last hour of baking, surround the turkey with 20 baby carrots; 3 sweet potatoes, sliced; 20 red bliss potatoes, halved; and 3 large heads of fennel, quartered.

Sprinkle vegetables with kosher salt and pour 2 cups of water over them.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015 The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans

Cider Glazed Vegetables

Ingredients

Directions

4 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges 5 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon kosher salt 6 tablespoons maple syrup 2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400°.

Divide sweet potatoes evenly between two sheet pans in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and roast for 30 minutes. Remove and toss with maple syrup and pecans.

Return to oven and roast 5 to 10 minutes more or until tender and slightly browned.

This simple apple cider glaze works well with any fresh or frozen vegetable you happen to have on hand for a quick side dish. This recipe uses green beans but it’s great on sliced carrots, parsnips or other winter root vegetables. Also try it with other types of vinegar or different kinds of nuts.

Ingredients 2 pounds green beans, washed and trimmed

Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Whipped Cream To save time use a store-bought prepared graham cracker pie shell instead of making your own.

Ingredients For Pie: 1½ cup crushed chocolate graham crackers 4 tablespoons margarine, melted 1 cup pumpkin puree (15-ounce) 1 cup soy milk 2 large eggs ½ cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg For Caramel Whipped Cream: 4 tablespoons caramel sauce

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4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons honey 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions Preheat oven to 400°.

Spread green beans out on a large sheet pan in a single layer. Toss with vinegar, olive oil, honey and salt. Roast 8 to 10 minutes or until tender but still crisp. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

2 cups pareve whipped cream

Directions Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine crushed graham crackers and margarine and stir.

Press mixture into a 9-inch pie plate in an even layer, across the bottom and up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes and remove.

Increase oven temperature to 400°. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, soy milk, eggs, sugar, maple syrup and spices and whisk.

Gently pour into pie shell and bake 40 minutes or until set. Let cool completely or refrigerate overnight for best results.

Gently fold 4 tablespoons caramel into whipped cream. Spread over chilled pie just before serving and slicing.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

onto a rack, lift off pan, and cool cake completely.

Top with powdered sugar or make a quick glaze by mixing 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar with 1/4 cup cocoa powder and 1-2 tablespoons soy milk.

Jamie Geller is the only cookbook author who wants to get you out of the kitchen – not because she doesn’t love food – but because she has tons to do.

As “The Bride Who Knew Nothing” Jamie found her niche as everybody’s favorite cook next-door. Specializing in scrumptious meals that are a snap to prepare, she authored the Quick & Kosher Cookbook series and is co- founder of the Kosher Media Network, which recently launched the Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller magazine and companion website JoyofKosher.com, a social network for foodies. Jamie hosts the

Chocolate Pumpkin Marble Cake

Layer chocolate and pumpkin batters and swirl with a knife to create the gorgeous marble effect. Top with a sprinkling of powdered sugar or a chocolate glaze

Ingredients 1-1/2 cups margarine, room temperature 3 cups sugar 6 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1-1/4 cups canned pumpkin 2-3/4 cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2/3 cup soy milk mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice Chocolate glaze or powdered sugar for serving

Directions In the bowl of stand mixer, beat margarine and sugar until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat

in vanilla. Scrape half the mixture into another bowl.

Make pumpkin batter: Beat the pumpkin into the half of the mixture in the mixer, until well blended. In another bowl, stir together 1-3/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and beat on low speed just until blended.

To make chocolate batter: In another bowl, mix remaining 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the cocoa. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the other half of the batter mixture (starting and ending with flour mixture), beating after each addition just until blended.

Spray and flour a 12 cup bundt pan. Spoon half the pumpkin batter into pan. Spoon half of the chocolate batter over top and repeat with the rest of batters. Gently run the blade of a butter knife around the center of the pan several times, then draw the knife across the width of the pan in 10 to 12 places to swirl batters.

Bake in a 350° oven until a wood skewer inserted into center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cake cool 10 minutes in pan, then invert

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popular Quick & Kosher cooking show online at youtube.com/joyofkosher and on-air on JLTV. Jamie and her “hubby” live in Israel. Their five children give her plenty of reasons to get out of the kitchen — fast.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Saudi Arabia & Iran A Thousand-Year-Old Conflict Reignited

By Sholom Nachtman

I

ran and Saudi Arabia have long been rivals for supremacy in the Middle East but the two energy-rich superpowers have traditionally avoided direct confrontation. Instead, they have waged their struggle for regional supremacy through proxy wars and diplomatic skirmishing. Wariness and instability in the region have kept the two rivals from taking each other on directly. In the past decade, Saudi Arabia has dealt with turmoil and change while Iran has been consolidating power. In 2015, this fragile stalemate began to unravel. Iran entered a nuclear deal with six major powers, and Saudi Arabia became concerned that Iran’s outcast status on the global stage was beginning to change. In January of 2016, Iran and Saudi Arabia broke off all diplomatic relations in

an acrimonious dispute related to the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

In June of 2017, Saudi Arabia fired the next shot when the Kingdom and several of its Sunni allies cut off all diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism with the backing of Iran.

To international observers, these developments represented a rapid escalation of tensions between the two countries. The pace of the aforementioned events, however, seems downright glacial when compared to the startling news emerging from the region since November began. A string of unprecedented events that threaten to completely upend the status quo have occurred in quick succession. While some of these actions seem unconnected, experts on the region say they are

all part of Saudi Arabia’s new strategy of a direct confrontation with Iran.

Military conflicts, political machinations, purges, and ideological schisms are adding up to a potentially explosive geopolitical storm that could bring Iran and Saudi Arabia to the brink of war.

Sunni vs. Shiite: An Age-Old Battle While modern-day animosity between Iran and Saudi Arabia is influenced by recent power struggles, it is also firmly rooted in a centuries-old sectarian dispute.

A foundational schism occurred in the Islamic faith 1,500 years ago.

After the death of Mohammed in the year 632 C.E., a conflict about succession arose amongst his followers. One

group believed Mohamed’s successor should be someone in his bloodline.

The other group maintained that a devout person who would follow Mohammed’s example would be acceptable as a leader. The first group, who believed only in Mohammed’s relatives’ supremacy – coalesced to become the Shiites; the second unit joined to form the Sunnis.

Although the original dispute was only about who would lead the Islamic movement and not about religious doctrine, over time the two groups developed distinctly different religious identities, and conflicts in the Muslim world have often broken down along Shiite and Sunni lines of division. Today, Sunnis have become the majority in the Islamic world, encompassing 90 percent of the global Muslim popula-

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

tion. While the two groups have much in common, they have significant difference in their beliefs and practice, such as how many times a day to pray and which sites are considered holy.

Sunnis are more beholden to strict interpretations of ancient religious texts, while Shiites follow the edicts and directives of individual clerics.

Sunni-majority countries include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and others. Iran and Iraq are primarily Shiite. In the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when radical Shiites gained control of Iran, the Sunni/Shiite rivalry became the dominant theme of Middle Eastern politics. Shiite Iran, with its rabid hatred of the West, became the sworn enemy of Sunni Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which was allied with the U.S. In the decades that followed, with the weakening and eventual removal of Saddam Hussein, Iran and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the leading combatants in a perennial religious rivalry fused with a modern geopolitical power struggle.

An Ascendant Iran The exact starting point of the current situation is a matter of perspective. According to a Middle Eastern diplomat quoted in The Guardian, “Where this story starts depends on your vantage point… To the Saudis, it’s the Islamic Revolution of 1979. They say that forced them to behave abnormally, and that now things are reverting to their old ways. There is truth to that, but there is just as much truth in suggesting 2003 kicked things off.

Some of the Iranians at the pointy end of this, meanwhile, might go back another 1,500 years.”

Many would agree that the Unites States’ 2003 invasion of Iraq was a definite turning point for the region.

One of the unforeseen consequences of the U.S.’s action against Saddam Hussein was the way Iran would manipulate the region in the war’s aftermath. Hussein’s Iraq had been acting as a containing force on Shiite power in the region. (Although the country of Iraq is majority Shia, Saddam and his cohorts were Sunni Muslims.) Iran was held in check territorially and politically for so long as it was bordered by its strongman enemy to the west.

With the fall of Saddam came a pow-

Prime Minister Hariri of Lebanon meeting with Saudi King Salman in Riyadh

er vacuum that Iran was eager to exploit. In the decade and a half since the invasion, Iran has emerged as a regional force with an ever-widening wide sphere of influence. They were one of the main backers of the insurgency that rocked Iraq for years after the war. Now they have become allied in a Shiite partnership with their erstwhile foes and have a permanent military presence in Iraq that is larger and more powerful than Iraq’s own army.

In Syria, it is Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces and Iranian soldiers (in the semantical camouflage of “military advisors”) who have bolstered Bashar Al Assad’s forces in their battle against a fierce rebellion. It was also Iran’s partnership with the Kremlin that has allowed the Assad regime to rely on Russian air support and weaponry.

With Iranian support, Houthi rebels have successfully engaged Saudi Arabia in a costly war of attrition for two years.

As the result of all these strategic partnerships, Iran has carved itself a swath of control that stretches from Tehran to the Mediterranean coast.

Along with an increase in military power and political clout, Iran has also raised its profile as a player on the global stage. The tenure of Prime Minister Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust-denying provocateur vocal about his nuclear ambitions as well as his animus towards Israel and the West, caused the world to take notice of Iran and their growing power.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia was in a state of flux. The Saudi kingdom’s

dominance has historically been tied to their status as the nexus of the oil industry. The emergence of new forms of energy and other economic developments weakened the Saudis in the marketplace. In addition to economic distress, societal turmoil was brewing. Seventy percent of the country’s population was under 30 and this demographic was hungry for change in Saudi Arabia’s strict religious laws and unfair economic system.

Saudi Arabia was forced to contend with these internal problems while Iran continued its quest for power beyond its own borders.

New Sheriff in Town In June of 2017, a sudden change in leadership in Saudi Arabia occurred, leading to a seismic shift in politics and society. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayaf, nephew of King Salman, was ousted by the king and replaced by the king’s son, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is known in Saudi Arabia.

The prince’s profile had rocketed in the years prior to this move. Soon after his father ascended the throne in 2015, the 32-year-old quickly began gaining control and earning a bullish reputation. He was unafraid to take on Saudi power players, including religious leaders, titans of industry, and fellow members of the royal family. Sweeping ambition and a desire for change were the defining traits of his vision for the country. In his positions on both foreign and domestic policy, MBS seems

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determined to change the fortunes of Saudi Arabia. His economic plan, named Vision 2030, is meant to transform the Saudi Arabia’s oil-centric economy into a more diverse system.

The plan includes selling shares in Aramco, the Saudi national oil company (considered to be the world’s most valuable company), and the development of an independent economic zone on the borders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.

Some of MBS’s most radical changes have been to the religious nature of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s leading powers are followers of Wahhabism, an austere and conservative sect of Sunni Islam. Wahhabism is reflected in the extremely religious nature of Saudi Arabia’s laws, which famously includes a ban on women driving. Devotion to Wahhabism is what has given rise to the western perception of Saudi Arabia as an insular country steeped in fundamentalist belief. Wahhabism is also seen as the philosophy behind the rise of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS. In 2014, Saudi Arabia’s rulers took a tentative baby step away from Wahhabism, saying that the movement had led to jihadism among its adherents and that the strict religious observance it dictates was adversely affecting the country’s economy. Saudis began promoting moderate clergy and introduced legislation that reined in the more extreme clerics and their rhetoric. The government also began involving itself in education and law, areas that had previously been the sole domain of religious leaders. At the time, experts said this was not a rejection of Wahhabism, but a slight softening of very harsh theological views meant to differentiate Saudi Arabia from the nascent Islamic State and make Saudi Arabia friendlier looking for international business.

Stephane Lacroix, author of Awakening Islam, has explained the government’s move towards the center. “They’ve been pushing for a more national Wahhabism, one that is more modern in its outlook, one that is better in terms of the Kingdom’s image overseas, one that is more economically suitable.”

Under MBS, this push towards modernization and a more western-friendly image for Saudi Arabia has been kicked into high gear. In

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

September, the prince ended the ban on women driving and has stated his intention to bring Saudi Arabian culture into the twentieth century. In an interview with The Guardian, MBS explained why Saudi Arabia needed to change: “What happened in the last 30 years is not Saudi Arabia… After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, people wanted to copy this model in different countries, one of them is Saudi Arabia.

We didn’t know how to deal with it…

We are simply reverting to what we followed – a moderate Islam open to the world and all religions.”

He added, “Seventy percent of the Saudis are younger than 30. Honestly, we won’t waste 30 years of our life combating extremist thoughts; we will destroy them now and immediately.”

The socially moderate and politically strong-willed MBS was hailed as an ally for the current U.S. administration when he rose to power in June. At the time, a source close to the Trump administration said that the American president was happy with MBS taking control of Saudi Arabia and that he was an asset to the U.S. vision for the Middle East. “The circles who have worked on the bridge between this administration and the Arab coalition, they know each other, and they know Prince Mohammed is a solid ally,” the source said.

“The consolidation of Prince Mohammed’s influence within the government of Saudi Arabia is going to be seen as a positive development for the administration ... and now there are less risks that there will be opposition to him in the near future.”

Despite this early vote of confidence from the U.S., recent drastic moves by MBS have outsiders worried that the prince’s brand of decisive leadership may prove to be a risky source of conflict.

Purges and Power Grabs On November 4, a sudden blitz of police action shocked Saudi Arabia.

In what amounted to a purge, MBS ordered the arrests of many influential Saudis, including eleven princes and several business tycoons. Accused of corruption and taking bribes, these powerful Saudis were abruptly taken into custody and imprisoned at the Riyadh Ritz Carlton. Along with the ar-

rested: some sources say they were for real crimes discovered by intelligence agencies, while others say the charges were trumped up excuses for MBS to consolidate power and eliminate enemies. A report by The Economic Times quoted sources who said that a coup against MBS was in the works and that the corruption charges were a cover to prevent the takeover. Whatever the reason, the purge revealed the extents to which MBS will go to maintain control of Saudi Arabia.

Concurrent with the purge, Saudi Arabia saw a major escalation in its military conflict to the south with Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has been backing Yemenite government forces in their battle against the

Iran and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the leading combatants in a perennial religious rivalry fused with a modern geopolitical power struggle.

rests came the freezing of thousands of bank accounts and almost 800 billion dollars’ worth of assets. Among the arrested were Miteb bin Abdullah, MBS’s cousin and a rival for the throne, and Alwaleed Bin Taleel, a major shareholder in companies like Apple, Twitter and Citigroup. There is ambiguity surrounding the charges against those ar-

Iranian-allied rebels. Thanks to Iran’s support, the war has dragged on for two years and has led to the deaths of the 10,000 civilians, the displacement of three million more, and a crippling famine. On the day after the purge, the rebels launched a rocket at Riyadh. The missile was shot down 125 miles away from the capital and

caused minimal damage. MBS called the missile attack “a direct military action” by Iran against Saudi Arabia, although Iran has denied supplying the missile to the rebels.

The missile attack is yet another indication that proxy warfare is bleeding into more open combat.

Resignation or Coercion?

Another major development in the emerging tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia was the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Said Hariri.

Hariri was in Saudi Arabia on the day of the purges in the Kingdom. In an unexpected televised press conference, Hariri announced his resignation.

During his remarks, he criticized Iran for meddling in his home country by backing Hezbollah, saying that the interference had made his job impossible and that their efforts were a failure. “I say to Iran and its allies – you have lost in your efforts to meddle in the affairs of the Arab world… [The region] will rise again and the hands that you have wickedly extended into it will be cut off.” Hariri seemed to be issuing a stern rebuke to Iran with his comments and resignation, an act which caused reverberations throughout the region.

During the days that followed controversy swirled surrounding Hariri’s resignation. Hariri was not seen for eight days and many began to suspect that the Saudis were holding Hariri against his will. Stories began to emerge that painted a picture of coercion. Hariri’s phone had been con-

The 16, 2015 2017 TheJewish JewishHome Home| NOVEMBER | OCTOBER 29,

fiscated at the airport and there were rumors that a resignation script had been handed to the prime minister upon his arrival in Riyadh.

On Sunday after his long absence from the public eye, Hariri gave another press conference. Looking haggard and at times close to tears, the former prime minister denied that he was being held against his will and declared his intention to return to Lebanon for a formal resignation.

He added a surprising caveat: the possible rescinding of his resignation if Hezbollah would cease its military activities in the Middle East. If the Iranian-backed group would stop fighting in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, Hariri would return to his post and keep Lebanon neutral in all ongoing regional conflicts. This press conference and strange bargain did little to deflect rumors that Hariri is the unwilling pawn of the Saudis. In fact, the blatantly pro-Saudi nature of his resignation terms only served to increase suspicion of heavy-handed

tactics on the part of the Kingdom.

Maha Yaha, director of the Middle East Center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has pointed out that Hariri’s television appearance was meant as a way for the Saudis to save face. “I suspect that this [statement by Hariri that he might return] is kind of a more honorable exit for everyone concerned… I think this kind of strong-arm tactic [by Saudi Arabia] obviously caused a lot of alarm and that flies in the face of international norms. So I suspect that this was [to] kind of soften the entire situation.”

The Saudis claim that Hariri acted of his own accord, coming to Saudi Arabia because of death threats he faced in Lebanon. They say his resignation was meant to send a message to Hezbollah and Iran about the corrosive effects their meddling has had on Lebanon. Hezbollah has responded by saying that Saudi Arabia’s actions are a declaration of war against Lebanon.

Whatever the truth is behind the resignation of Hariri, it has served

to markedly ramp up the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

A Tumultuous Future The recent firestorm of political and military upheaval in the Middle East makes the future of the region very uncertain. The specter of a head-on collision between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a frightening one for the international community. The U.S. has sought to moderate the friction between the two powers. Initially, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seemed to tentatively back the Saudi Arabian narrative about Hariri’s resignation, saying that it was “well intentioned.” However, he later released the following statement as the mystery deepened: “The United States supports the stability of Lebanon and is opposed to any actions that could threaten that stability… There is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state –

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which must be recognized as the sole authority for security in Lebanon…

The United States cautions against any party, within or outside Lebanon, using Lebanon as a venue for proxy conflicts or in any manner contributing to instability in that country.”

Tillerson’s statement serves as a warning to both Iran and Saudi Arabia, two parties who have been guilty of manipulating Lebanon in the past.

His request seems reasonable enough on the surface: don’t use Lebanon to wage your grudge match. Complying with Tillerson, however, would come along with a troubling reality that belies the simplicity of his request.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have always used countries like Lebanon to fight their wars. Devoid of proxies and puppets, and with their fundamental conflicts unresolved, is the only remaining option a hot war between the rivals? The world can only watch and wait as these two powerhouses square off in an increasingly fraught, fearful and fragile environment.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Finally, I saw that Starbucks just unveiled its holiday cups, which had illustrations that customers can color in themselves.

It’s perfect for people who are too busy to make their own coffee at home, yet still have enough time to color in a coffee cup.

- Jimmy Fallon

The reason I’m so excited to see you all here today in part is because this is where I started. This isn’t where I was born. I was born in Kenya – that’s a joke.

- Barack Obama, speaking at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago

I now appreciate that Arabs and Jews were all a Semitic people originally and it is the influx of foreign, European Jews (especially from Poland, they say) which has helped to cause great problems. I know there are so many complex issues, but how can there ever be an end to terrorism unless the causes are eliminated? Surely some U.S. president has to have the courage to stand up and take on the Jewish lobby in U.S.? I must be naive, I suppose!.

-From a recently disclosed letter written by Prince Charles in 1986

That’s how you get the Iran deal.

That’s how we still allow the American government to finance people that have blood on their hands of innocent Jewish civilians.

-Steve Bannon in a speech to the Zionist Organization of America last weekend, talking about the Washington establishment

We’re a nation at war. This war is only going to be won if we bind together and work as partners.

-Ibid.

Amazon has unveiled a new way to view its products in 3-D. Amazon is calling its new invention “a store.”

- Conan O’Brien

Ladies and gentlemen - Term now banned by the MTA of the hyper-politically correct City of New York

MORE QUOTES

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017 The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

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As against our gauzy national hopes, I will teach my boys to have profound doubts that friendship with white people is possible. When they ask, I will teach my sons that their beautiful hue is a fault line.

Spare me platitudes of how we are all the same on the inside. I first have to keep my boys safe, and so I will teach them before the world shows them this particular brand of rending, violent, often fatal betrayal.

- From an op-ed in last Sunday’s New York Times by Ekow N. Yankah, who is a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

A new iPhone glitch is causing the lowercase letter “I” to be replaced by weird symbols. Have you experienced this? It’s so odd. Apple addressed the issue with an official statement saying, “What are you gonna do, buy a Samsung?”

-James Corden

I am so disappointed. I used to love, during the fall and winter, to watch the NFL on Sunday. And it’s not that I’m some great patriot. I was in the Navy for a year.

Didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t do anything. But I have overwhelming respect and admiration for anyone who puts on a uniform and goes to war. So the only thing I can do in my little way is not to preach.

I will never watch another NFL game.

- Vin Scully, the legendary Dodgers broadcaster who left the booth after 67 major-league seasons last year, talking about the NFL National Anthem protests

In order to maintain your attention they have taken all the techniques of Edward Bernays and Joseph Goebbels, and all of the other people from the world of persuasion, and all the big ad agencies, and they’ve mapped it onto an all-day product with highly personalized information in order to addict you. We are all, to one degree or another, addicted.

- Early Facebook investor Roger McNamee, in an interview with The Telegraph, talking about the dangers of Facebook and other social media

No, I hate everything.

- Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) when asked by a reporter whether he was enjoying himself at a UN climate conference in Germany

It’s not my personal mission, but it is an objective that I — I have an objective that Mitch McConnell will not be majority leader, and I believe will be done before this time next year.

- Steve Bannon, in an interview with the New York Times

You can write that down. I laughed. Ha-ha.

- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) responding to Steve Bannon’s pledge, in his own interview with the New York Times

You get old and stop drinking milk and next thing you know every time a mediumsized neighbor tackles you all your ribs are snapping like the buttons on tearaway pants… Drink that milk, Rand Paul. This is not a game out here.

- Liberal writer Hamilton Nolan mocking Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) who was assaulted and broke five ribs last week

MORE QUOTES

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Reckless remarks by an old lunatic like Trump will never scare us or stop our advance.

On the contrary, all this makes us more sure that our choice to promote economic construction at the same time as building up our nuclear force is all the more righteous, and it pushes us to speed up the effort to complete our nuclear force.

- Statement by North Korea about President Trump’s criticism of them while in Asia

Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old,” when I would NEVER call him “short and fat?” Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend – and maybe someday that will happen!

- Tweet by President Trump

I wish I wasn’t in this situation, but it’s been one of the great gifts in my life.

- Michael J. Fox in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning about his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease

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I heard that O.J. Simpson was kicked out of a bar in Las Vegas for being drunk and belligerent. Wow — just when you think you know someone.

- Jimmy Fallon

Los Angeles apparently will be one of the first cities to get flying Ubers. L.A. is perfect because who is more qualified to fly you through the sky at 5,000 feet than an out-of-work actor-deejay-dog walker?

– James Corden

The cracks in the foundation are there. The day-to-day issues, as serious as they may be, they may come and go.

But you cannot change the nature of the game. I certainly would not let – if I had an athletically gifted 12- or 13-year-old son – I would not let him play football.

It came out that Donald Trump Jr. was in direct contact with WikiLeaks during last year’s election. You can tell Don Jr.’s in trouble, ‘cuz his dad just demoted him to “Eric.”

- NBC sportscaster Bob Costas at a sports roundtable last week

- Jimmy Fallon

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Political Crossfire

Could the Ambitious Saudi Crown Prince Unleash a Storm across the Middle East?

By David Ignatius

S

audi Arabia risks committing the original sin of modern Middle East politics – fighting its regional wars in Lebanon and driving that fragile country once again toward civil strife.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s target in Lebanon is Hezbollah, the nation’s dominant political force, which is backed by the Saudi’s nemesis, Iran. Unwilling to risk a direct shot at Tehran, the crown prince is instead attacking Iran’s clients in Beirut.

The proxy battle has escalated over the past week. First, the Saudis pressured Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign last Saturday; hours later, MBS, as the 32-year-old crown prince is known, launched sweeping arrests of rival princes and business leaders in Riyadh, creating an uproar across the region. On Thursday, the Saudi government told its citizens to leave Lebanon and advised against future travel there.

For a Sunni Arab world that fears and loathes Iran, the moves by MBS will probably be popular. He’s emerging as the strongest (if also the most impulsive) Sunni leader in decades, exercising a kind of raw power at home and in the region that hasn’t been seen since Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.

The Saudi moves have rattled the Lebanese political class but haven’t panicked the financial sector. Riad Salameh, the governor of Lebanon’s central bank for the past 25 years, said last weekend that the monetary authorities had over $43 billion in reserves, enough to ensure stability.

That calmed the markets.

Lebanese officials fear that what’s next is a broader economic quarantine on Lebanon, much as Saudi Arabia has imposed on Qatar. Lebanese sources told me Thursday in telephone interviews that the Saudis want to force Hezbollah to leave the Cabinet and Parliament. That’s understandable for Riyadh, but not realistic.

Saudi Arabia’s real leverage is that about 500,000 Lebanese work in the

Christian and Shiite Muslim proxies and finally invaded outright in 1982.

The Syrian regime held Lebanon hostage from 1976 until 2005, when enraged Lebanese demanded they withdraw after the assassination of Rafik Hariri, Saad’s father.

Hezbollah emerged as the dominant force in Lebanon partly because of the instability that followed Israel’s unwise 1982 invasion. The Iranian-backed militia has subverted

The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been ripping the fabric of the Middle East since the Iranian revolution of 1979.

Gulf, sending home roughly $3 billion annually, a tide of remittances that keeps Lebanon’s financial and property markets afloat. If those Lebanese were expelled, a dramatic downward spiral would begin.

For Lebanon, this is a familiar story. Since the 1950s, regional and global powers have manipulated the country’s all-too-pliable sects for their own advantage.

The Sunnis were played by Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and then, catastrophically, by the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whose challenge to the central government triggered the 1975-76 civil war. The Israelis battled the Palestinians in Lebanon using

Lebanese democracy and been a dangerous forward outpost for Iran’s power. When the Syrian civil war began in 2011, many analysts predicted that a frail Lebanon would tumble back into chaos. But it hasn’t happened – yet – because Hezbollah worked quietly with Saad Hariri and other Lebanese leaders to keep a lid on unrest.

Can such quiet cooperation continue? Not if the Saudis sabotage the country’s economy in what they describe as an effort to punish Hezbollah.

For the U.S., Lebanon poses what’s becoming a recurring challenge – how to encourage MBS’ push to modernize the kingdom without letting him drive Saudi Arabia and

the region off a cliff.

Call it the MBS conundrum: The headstrong crown prince jumped into what U.S. officials thought was an unwise war in Yemen; it’s still raging, despite U.S. attempts to find a settlement. MBS escalated a feud with meddlesome neighbor Qatar; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has tried unsuccessfully to mediate. This week in Lebanon, the U.S. was again attempting damage control, as Ambassador Elizabeth Richard pledged $42 million for the Lebanese army and expressed support for “a stable, secure, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon.”

The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been ripping the fabric of the Middle East since the Iranian revolution of 1979, spawning terrorist movements and proxy wars among Shiite and Sunni allies of the two nations. This sectarian bloodletting seemed unstoppable when a strong, arrogant Iran faced a weak, confused Saudi Arabia.

MBS wants to become the powerful Sunni leader who could eventually balance the region – and open the way for a grand bargain that would bring stability. That’s a desirable outcome. But in the short term, the challenge for Washington is to prevent this would-be strongman from blowing up himself and his neighbors.

Another failed state in the Middle East is not in America’s interests. (c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group David Ignatius’ latest novel, “The Quantum Spy,” was released this week.

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Political Taxes

Hidden Costs for Homeowners in Latest Tax Bill

By Kenneth R. Harney

T

he message sent by Republicans in the tax overhaul bill they launched last week is unmistakable and blunt: We think homeowners and buyers have gotten much too sweet a deal from the federal tax code for far too long – and now we’re going to whack them down. No other major sector of the economy gets hit so hard in the proposal in so many places as homeownership.

You’ve probably heard about the splashiest cut proposed in the bill: a reduction in the maximum deductible mortgage amount from $1 million to $500,000. And you might have figured, “Eh, no big deal, my mortgage is nowhere near that size.” But you might have missed some of the other less publicized, but punitive, changes tucked away in the legislative text that just might bite you, now or in the future.

For example, Section 1402 of the proposal would significantly alter the ground rules governing a benefit that millions of homeowners have factored into their financial planning for decades. Under current law, you can exclude from taxation the first $250,000 of capital gains on a sale as a single filer ($500,000 filing jointly) provided you have used the house as your principal residence for an aggregate two years out of the five years preceding the sale. Plus you can use the exclusion as frequently as once every two years.

Under the Republican proposal, the two-out-of-five standard would vanish. Instead you’d need to live in and use the property as your main res-

idence for five of the preceding eight years – a requirement designed to lower the number of people eligible to claim the exclusion. This would inevitably hurt middle income and other families who were forced to sell their houses because of job transfers or medical reasons, as well as first-time buyers moving up to a new home a few years after purchase as their families

weekend getaway houses. Removing the deduction would increase the cost of ownership on potentially millions of second homes. According to a study last year by the National Association of Home Builders, 7.5 million second homes qualified for the mortgage interest deduction, based on the latest available Census Bureau survey data.

Then there’s the whole issue of

With that brief redefinition, the bill would eliminate thousands of homeowners’ ability to write off mortgage interest on second homes and weekend getaway houses.

expand. The bill also would limit use of the tax-free exclusion to once every five years, up from the current two years.

Another noteworthy change that’s easy to miss: Section 1302 of the bill, which would slice the mortgage-interest deduction in half, includes a single sentence that could be important to many Americans who own second homes. It says simply that taxpayers can have only one “qualified residence.” With that brief redefinition, the bill would eliminate thousands of homeowners’ ability to write off mortgage interest on second homes and

when the housing changes proposed in the bill would take effect. Traditionally major tax bills contain “transition” periods to give affected taxpayers time to adjust. That could happen with this bill as well, but at the moment, the starting dates included for housing provisions are shocking. Check out these effective dates as they currently stand in the bill: • T he reduction in the mortgage-interest deduction ceiling, plus deductions for second homes, would take effect on loans taken out after Nov. 2. Not

only is there no transition time, the changes are essentially retroactive. This could negatively impact shopping, sales – even prices – on homes closed after Nov. 2.

• The capital-gains exclusion changes would cover home sales after Dec. 31. No grandfathering, no wiggle room.

• The capping of deductions for state and local taxes to $10,000 – currently there is no limit for taxpayers who itemize – would start for everybody after Dec. 31. Note that only property taxes could qualify for even this limit – sales and income taxes would no longer be deductible.

• E xpenses related to moving from one home to another no longer would be deductible after Dec. 31.

You might be wondering: Could all this nasty targeting of homeownership actually make it through Congress and get signed into law? Certainly the major real estate lobbies – the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors – plan campaigns to block the housing changes as the bill moves through the House and the Senate unveils its version.

But keep this in mind: The Republicans are desperate to pass a “tax cut” bill by year’s end. There are plenty of obstacles in their way – even from within their own ranks. But it could happen. (c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group

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Good Hum r

Gym Jargon

By Jon Kranz

S

ome people like to exercise their rights, freedom and voice, while others like to exercise discretion, discipline and caution. In a gym, however, the main form of exercise is purely physical, requiring exertion and effort, which is why the activity is commonly referred to as “working out.” (Note: Working out a deal, math problem or the kinks in your backswing does not really qualify as “working out.”) People usually work out when they are “going to the gym.” That means that, colloquially speaking, you are not “going to the gym” if you merely drop someone off at the gym or if you are going to visit your friend named Jim. Similarly, going to phys. ed. means attending physical education class. It does not mean going to visit your friend Edward who is obsessed with carbonated beverages, hence his nickname “Fizz Ed.” Fitness freaks who work out regularly tend to speak a special language filled with all sorts of technical terms like calisthenics, isometrics, circuit training and

Pilates. Such gym jargon may be lost on the average person who is unfamiliar with the vernacular of the vigorous. Thus, gym terminology can be tremendously confusing to the typical sedentary schlemiel and can easily discombobulate the unfit who spend more time on kugel than crunches. Technical fitness terms also can baffle, befuddle and bewilder those who choose General Mills over treadmills and those who would rather be stationary than be on a stationary bike.

For illustrative purposes, below is list of confusing gym jargon and how some Jews might misinterpret each term: 1. Sit-ups - A floor exercise focusing on abdominal muscles.

Jewish Version: What you do when your nagging Jewish parents tell you to stop slouching: “How can you go on a job interview if you don’t sit up straight?”

2. Crunches - A floor exercise focusing on the stomach.

Jewish Version: When it’s the middle of Pesach and you find yourself desperately and endlessly

crunching on matzah.

3. Spin Class - An indoor aerobic cycling session.

Jewish Version: When your rabbi teaches you how to spin a dreidel on Chanukah.

4. Rowing - An aerobic exercise that simulates rowing a boat.

Jewish Version: Trying to find the perfect row in shul in which to sit.

5. Clip - Small device placed on the end of a barbell to keep the weights from sliding off the bar.

Jewish Version: Small device placed on a kippah to keep it from sliding off your head.

6. D ips - An upper body bar exercise focusing on chest and triceps.

Jewish Version: Hummus, techina, babaganoush, matbucha and schug. Do not make Shabbos without them.

7. Warm-Up - Getting loose before exercising.

Jewish Version: In preparing dinner, what you do to leftovers.

8. Medicine Ball - Large round rubber weight used a variety of

exercises.

Jewish Version: Matzah ball, as used in Jewish homeopathic soup.

9. Dumbbell - A handheld weight.

Jewish Version: Anyone who pays the full initial asking price at the shuk without even attempting to bargain.

10. Steam Room - A room filled with steam.

Jewish Version: Whatever room your fuming parents are in when you tell them that you are not coming home for the holidays.

11. Lats - Exercise focusing on the latissimus dorsi muscle.

Jewish Version: Abbreviation for latkes. Of course, if you consume mass quantities of fried latkes, you will need to work out.

Bottom line on Jews and the gym: If you want to be svelte, put down the chocolate gelt.

Jon Kranz is an attorney living in Englewood, New Jersey. Send any comments, questions or insults to jkranz285@ gmail.com.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Forgotten Her es

Dr. Jakob Rosenfeld A Ukrainian Jew in the Chinese Army

A statue of Dr Rosenfeld being unveiled in China

By Avi Heiligman

B

efore the Holocaust started, some Jews were given an avenue of escape by the Nazis. If they transferred all of their property to Germany, they would then be allowed to leave. However, they needed a country to go to and only two willingly opened their borders to Jewish refugees. The Dominican Republic needed agricultural workers and expressed willingness to accept Jewish refugees even after the war had started. Only a tiny handful of Jews made the dangerous journey, hazardous because of submarine warfare, across the Atlantic. The other country was Japanese-controlled China.

Jews were allowed into the Shanghai Ghetto without a visa, and it soon became home for about 23,000 Jews, including the Mir Yeshiva. One of the refugees decided to enlist in the Chinese Army as a doctor and joined the communist army to fight fascism.

Built around the Ohel Moshe Shul, the living conditions in the Shanghai Ghetto were poor to begin with and deteriorated as the war continued. Despite the conditions, more and more Jewish refugees arrived to one of the few safe havens from the Nazis. Many had already been in concentration camps prior to escaping Europe and didn’t complain about the poor living conditions.

Dr. Jakob Rosenfeld was born in 1903 in the city of Lemberg which is now a part of the Ukraine. Before World War I, Lemberg was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Rosenfeld’s father was a non-commissioned officer in the army. Ja-

kob graduated Vienna University with a degree in urology at about the time the Nazi began rounding up the Jews. He was sent to Dachau and then Buchenwald. Dr. Rosenfeld was released in 1939 on the condition that he leave the country within two weeks. His only option was to go to China, and he quickly boarded a ship. He was allowed to enter without a visa and made himself at home with the other Jewish refugees in the Jewish neighborhood.

living in Austria but he didn’t complain. He said that after Dachau and Buchenwald no conditions would be able to stop him from doing his work.

It was very rare to have a European-trained doctor fighting with the Chinese but he brought along reforms to their medical practices that certainly saved lives. Hygiene in the army was poor, and Dr. Rosenfeld took it upon himself to change that around. When there was a bit of downtime, he would give lectures

“He was a great hero and a humanist, admired by the army and the population, who saved thousands of lives.”

One of the first things Dr. Rosenfeld did was open a medical clinic, and soon he was in contact with the health officials in the Chinese communist party. Friends in the medical realm tried to convince him not to join the army but he decided to join as a field doctor. Assigned to the New Fourth Army at the beginning of his service, Rosenfeld quickly gained the admiration of his Chinese peers. One said, “He was a great hero and a humanist, admired by the army and the population, who saved thousands of lives.” The living conditions were a downgrade from the life he had been

to other medical personnel and help them save lives on the frontlines.

The medical education of many of the young doctors and medical assistants was poor so Rosenfeld took it upon himself to teach these men and women better techniques and procedures. He learned a little Chinese so that he would be able to communicate with his patients and be able to make a prognosis on their condition.

As a field doctor he was tasked with performing countless surgeries and sometimes had to do several dozen in one day. Japanese action in his area was intense but Dr. Rosen-

feld continued operating under all types of conditions.

Dr. Rosenfeld kept a diary and wrote of the conditions: “There were no hospitals in our sense. The wounded and the sick lay on straw, on the ground, usually ten in a It lacked everything, farmhouse. medicine, instruments, personnel and specialists. Only the diet was enough. Nurses and doctors did superhuman things, the political care of the sick and wounded was well organized, and the military commanders visited the ‘hospitals’ at regular intervals.

Metal instruments were used almost exclusively for operations, for dressing changes you made use tweezers made of bamboo or, more simply, pointed chopsticks.”

Eventually Dr. Rosenfeld rose to the rank of brigadier general and became known as General Luo Shengte. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, Rosenfeld was appointed as the head of public health of the 1st Army in Manchuria. His duties as the general of a medical brigade included being a health minister for the entire region. After participating in the Communists’ March on Beijing, Rosenfeld began to look to go back to Europe.

In 1949, Dr. Rosenfeld went back to Vienna to look for relatives after the communists took control of Beijing. Already with a weak heart, Rosenfeld did not have much connection with a post-war Europe and yearned to go back to China. This time around he needed a visa but was unable to obtain one. In the last chapter of his

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

eventful life, Dr. Rosenfeld moved to Israel in 1951. He worked as a doctor at a hospital in Tel Aviv for about a year. He died in 1952 from a heart attack; he is buried in the Kiryat Shul Cemetery in Tel Aviv.

Many years after his death, the Chinese government recognized the sacrifices that Dr. Rosenfeld made for the country. A statue was erected in his honor and a hospital was named after him. In 2006 Chinese President Hu Jintao inaugurated an exhibit on Dr. Rosenfeld at the National Museum of China. As a tribute to his dedication to a country and to the many lives he saved, a memorial plaque was put up with these words under his name: “In memory of the great doctor, humanist and friend of China.�

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.

Dr Jakob Rosenfeld, center

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WOODMERE: BEST BUY – NEW PRICE SMALL PETS OK: Beautiful Corner Unit In Elevator Bldg, 2BR, 5 Closets, All Large Rooms, Sunny & Spacious, Close To All...$165K Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com FAR ROCKAWAY 833 Central , 1st floor, balcony, doorman. Completely renovated, near LIRR, 2BR/2 full bath, 2 DW/sinks, wood cabinets, granite counters $339 917-572-9644

APT FOR RENT FAR ROCKAWAY: BUNGALOW New from the Ground Up, Roof, Siding, Eik, 2BR, Near All…$1,950/mo.

Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

355 Central Avenue, Lawrence NY 11559 (Across the street from Seasons)

P: 516.791.6100 | F: 516.374.7059 www.WeissmanRealty.com

WOODMERE COOP/NEW TO MARKET Large, stately apartment in prestigious and secure Woodsburgh building. All rooms have high ceilings and roomy feel. Updated granite kitchen and bathrooms.

Private stall shower in each bathroom. Many deep closets.

Washer/dryer in unit. Parking spot and storage unit included.

Won’t last! $355K Call Sherri Slochowsky 516-297-7995

LAWRENCE/FAR ROCKAWAY Sunny Junior 4 in Beautiful Co-op Building.

Renovated Kitchen & Bath, Hardwood Floors.

Elevator, Doorman, and Laundry.

Asking $265,000 Call Melissa 347-757-0224 FAR ROCKAWAY APARTMENT RENTALS

OFFICES FOR LEASE Far Rockaway

Cornaga location, 3 to 4 offices, plus bthrm. Good for doctor, dentist or business. $1900 Call Sherri 516-297-7995

Cedarhurst

Single rooms or executive suites. All utilities included. Starting at $400. Call Sherri 516-297-7995

CEDARHURST: NEW LISTING, 2BR, 2BA In 2 Family House, Eik, LR, DR, Washer/Dryer, Very Close To All, Great Location... $2,500/mo Call Carol Braunstein (516) 295-3000 www.pugatch.com

HELP WANTED Pugatch Realty Corp., in Woodmere, is looking to hire and train a select group of motivated Realtors. If you are looking to build a career in real estate, or looking to take your existing career to the next level, there is no better place to start that the #1 Real Estate Brokerage in the Five Towns…

Call Today (516) 295-3000 x 128.

All calls kept confidential.

Mazel Tov! Due to simchos, Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway seeking two qualified, experienced moros for our 5thgrade. Please email resume to mlevin@tagschools.org

REAL ESTATE MANAGER R.E. Management Co. in Bklyn seeking capable & hard working individual .

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Pls email resume to REALTY@CGMAIL.NET (Pls enter resume in subject) or fax to 718-851-3511 SECRETARY Real Estate Management office in Boro Pk is seeking a F/T Secretary with gd phone manner, able to multi task & have computer knowledge.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Pls email resume to REALTY@CGMAIL.NET (Pls enter resume in subject) or fax to 718-851-3511

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Classifieds HELP WANTED Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, Woodmere, NY seeks a FT Middle School Language Arts Teacher for immediate hire. Resumes to ulubetski@halb.org The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach is seeking Limudei Kodesh and Secular Studies substitute teachers for grades 1-8. Email resume and cover letter to hweiselberg@halb.org BOYS KIRUV SCHOOL LOCATED IN KEW GARDENS SEEKS GENERAL STUDIES TEACHERS for upper elementary grades. Must be proficient in Common Core curriculum and comfortable with technology in the classroom in addition to receiving training in an award winning system.

Competitive salary.

Hours are Monday-Thursday 12:30-3:45 Please send resumes to jobseekfr@yahoo.com F/T & P/T REGISTERED NURSE openings to work with adults who have developmental disabilities within residential settings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Long Island. Current NYS RN, min 2 years hospital experience. OHEL: 855-OHEL JOB, www.ohelfamily.org/careers

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classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MISC

FIVE TOWNS OFFICE LOOKING FOR immediate hire of several people…part time and full time…starting at $15 per hour. Need detail- oriented person to handle A/P, A/R, customer service, and ability to negotiate bids and contracts.

Computer literate a must.

Please email fabadi@egwaste.com

YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND is looking for a dynamic, positive and professional afternoon assistant for a general studies first or second grade position.

Please fax resume to 516-368-9199 or email to office@ykli.org

DOG SLEDDING/CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TRIP IN FEBRUARY TO IMPROVE LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK SKILLS. Limited space avail. Great for executives or biz owners. Grow thru challenging yourself in safe setting. Glatt kosher, shomer shabbos. 410-262-7654 Shidduch Dating?

Need places to go?

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

MISC WIG GEMACH Everyone in our community deserves to look great! Donate used wigs and make a world of a difference.

For appointments to see wigs or to donate, call Deena 845-304-6668

Check out Pegishaplace.com

Local F.T. Accounting Office Seeks P/T JR. ACCOUNTANT proficient in Q.B. knowledge of payroll tax, sales tax, business tax and individual taxes Qualified applicants should please e-mail resume to: 5towntaxoffice@gmail.com

Life CAPTURE

I M A G E S LTD PHOTOGRAPHY I VIDEO

GABRIEL SOLOMON

GABE@LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM 516.499.9620 WWW.LIFECAPTUREIMAGES.COM

Rabbi Dovid Fleischmann Certified Mohel

WWW.BABYSMOHEL.COM

Baby-Friendly Care

 Personalized Attention

Expert Skill and Dedicated Service you Deserve

516-314-3236 babysmohel@gmail.com

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

Your

Money

Stranger Taxes

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

T

he streaming video service Netflix has earned a reputation for providing quality content. But Netflix has also upended how millions of people consume television.

How have they done that?

By dropping an entire season’s worth of a series all at once, letting you “Netflix and chill” with a single episode or binge for an entire weekend. (What kind of savage network would make viewers wait an entire week between episodes of their favorite show? HBO, that’s who.)

Netflix’s latest hit, which dropped its second season last month, is a show about the 1980s. Naturally, it makes us nostalgic for 1980s taxes. (Have we told you we need to get out more often?) So, for all you fans, let’s take a walk down memory lane and see what taxes looked like when it was “morning in America”: • The ‘80s opened with 15 tax brackets top-

ping out at 70% for joint filers reporting $215,400+ in taxable income (roughly $683,000 in today’s dollars).

In 1981, Washington dropped the top rate down to 50%, and the Tax Reform Act of 1986 condensed the whole shebang into just two

ties, including oil and gas programs, real estate syndications, cattle feeding schemes, aircraft and equipment leasing deals, and “master recording disks,” whatever those were. Nobody “invested” in these boondoggles because they made business sense;

for nonexistent children and even household pets.

(Don’t just love them like family ... deduct them like family!)

• You could disappear from the office like Don Draper for a three-martini lunch and write off 100% of the cost, versus

Nobody “invested” in these boondoggles because they made business sense; they were all about the tax losses. brackets topping out at 28%.

• Tax shelters were big business! If you didn’t feel like giving Uncle Sam 70% of your last dollar of income, you could buy limited partnership interests in all sorts of activi-

they were all about the tax losses.

• You could report your dependent children on the honor system, without supplying Social Security numbers.

This led to millions of people fraudulently claiming deductions

50% today. (As former President Gerald Ford put it in a 1978 speech, “Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful, and a snootful at the same time?”)

• You could deduct interest you paid to buy al-

most anything except tax-free bonds. Want one of those little Japanese cars that were just hitting the market? How about your first “personal computer”? What about a microwave oven or VCR? You could deduct interest you paid to buy all of them.

Here’s something to think about as you sit down to watch E.T. while you’re wearing jellies, slouch socks, and a scrunchie: the risk of overpaying your taxes is something that’s happening in 2017. So don’t fight your way out of the next episode of Barbie and the Rockers — or scary IRS tax code — all by yourself!

Call us for a plan and we’ll guide you to safety Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 yea rs in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Life C ach

Smile and I’m a Goner!

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

M

y friends are all suddenly having babies! And the new method of delivery is painless, at least physically.

What “medicine” won’t come up with? It is amazing! Why we didn’t think of doing it this way before is a mystery to me. It is brilliant!

And the new babies are a lot easier. You hear them crying much less at night. Honestly, they seem to be less work in general. I would recommend it to everyone who wants to have a baby!

Are you familiar with it?! The funny thing is, it’s not really that new. My mother knew about it, and even her mother did! The only problem is you have to have at least one baby the old-fashioned way first in order to use this method. That’s because, after that, your baby can have it for you!

Then pretty quickly you are repossessing it and taking it everywhere, whenever possible. You are holding it incessantly. Feeding it many bottles. And wheeling it down the street with great pride. But, most nights, luckily, you have someone else to take care of it.

I can’t say it’s the same financial-

ly, though. That, I think, is taking a bigger toll. Every new gadget raises interest.

Remember the old baby swings!

Back and forth! Back and forth!

Back and forth! Well, forget it. Now, it’s up and down, side to side, to and fro, all around, and whatever other rhythmic movement you can imagine! And there has to be a different piece of equipment each month, providing each action best. So, it’s necessary to have them all.

buggy can become a stroller. A car seat can convert into a carriage.

And a single stroller can turn into a double. If a baby just could turn into a mother, it could take care of itself, and you could go on vacation!

But with all its brilliance and flexibly of these strollers, if you have one package to shlep along, you’re done for. There’s not one spot available on the carriage to shove in a single bag.

You have this 2-by-nothing baby, and there’s not a spot to spare.

If a baby just could turn into a mother, it could take care of itself, and you could go on vacation!

And what about today’s carriages? Cars don’t cost that much. A convertible used to be a car whose roof went down so that you could enjoy the wind and fresh air. Now, it’s every carriage that you buy. A

So some try resting their stuff on the handle bar. But, if the baby isn’t strapped in, this action could create an immediate ejector seat. Your kid possibly could be found dangling from a telephone wire.

Babies are certainly getting lots of new paraphernalia these days, but really they haven’t changed all that much. They still basically are doing the same three things: • S ecretly calling each other nightly and planning whether to cry at 2, 3, or 4 A.M. • W orking in cahoots with the cleaners on which of their mom’s outfits to totally sabotage • A nd staying up to listen to the news each night which then causes them to spend the whole next day crying Well, whatever they have up their sleeve, once they give you that smile, you’re lost. So, avoiding the actual delivery may be the only thing that makes you less than a parent of that new baby. But after that you find yourself running around trying to make them happy, as fast as any parent ever did!

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds. com

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Are you trying to decide between heating your home and buying groceries?

With SNAP, you no longer have to choose.

SNAP is a monthly supplement that stretches your food budget. If you are eligible for SNAP, you may also be eligible for HEAP. Together, they can help you stay warm and nourished this winter.

Your local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinator can provide a free prescreening to see if you may be eligible for SNAP, and can offer referrals for HEAP. NOEP Coordinators help you fill out the SNAP application, gather paperwork, and send it in.

They can even help with home visits and language translation. It’s free and confidential.

Contact your local NOEP Coordinator today: Agency logo (optional—remove if not using

Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) (718) 327-7755 Ext: 6114

Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York; funded by NYSOTDA and USDA/FNS. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | The Jewish Home

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association proudly recognizes St. John's as the recipient of the Stroke GOLD PLUS Achievement Award

Thank you for applying the most up-to-date evidence based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and the outcomes in the community you serve.