Five Towns Jewish Home 01.01.26

January 1, 2026

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Dear Readers,

E

that you will come away from TJH more content, enlightened, and grounded.

Our Year in Review is composed based on that concept. Sure, 2025 had its ups and downs, its challenges and pressures. There were days that were more stressful than others. There were times of uncertainty and confusion.

There were moments of angst and aggravation. But that’s not what we focus on. We try to remember the lighthearted moments of the year. Even when we recount the more serious parts of the news, we try to frame them in a more palatable style. And of course, foremost in our minds, is our gratitude to the One Above as we look over the past 12 months and see all that He did for us.

As with every issue of TJH, we hope that our final product reflects our intent. And if you come away feeling relaxed and maybe smiled a bit as you took a walk with us down the memory lane of this past year, then we know that we accomplished what we set out to do.

very year, we put together for you a TJH Year in Review. I like to refer to it as a “TJH Year in Review” because we try to put our slant on the year and the news that came along with it. We can’t change the news or recreate what has happened, but we can frame the news in a more positive and uplifting way. And that, I think, is what TJH is about.

Each week, as we send the paper to print, I breathe a small sigh of relief and send up a heartfelt prayer of thanks for having been able to get to the finish line.

When I leaf through the paper in its final form, I am amazed at how much we were able to pack into one issue.

More than that, I am humbled by the vibe that envelops you as you look through TJH. It’s a warm, comforting tone, a feeling of positivity and optimism. And that’s by design.

You see, we know that many of you look forward to reading TJH on Shabbos and see it as a respite from your busy life. We hope that TJH adds to your oneg Shabbos and menucha on Shabbos. Gone should be thoughts of stresses and busyness. Instead, we hope

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER

publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR

editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Nate Davis Editorial Assistant Nechama Wein Copy Editor Rachel Bergida Shana Brecher Lani White Design & Production Gabe Solomon Distribution & Logistics P.O. BOX 266 Lawrence, NY 11559 Phone | 516-734-0858 Fax | 516-734-0857 Classified Deadline: Monday 5:00PM classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com text 443-929-4003 PAYMENT VIA CREDIT CARD MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH CLASSIFIED ADS The Jewish Home is an independent weekly magazine.

Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The Jewish Home contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

Shabbos Zemanim

Weekly Weather | January 2 – January 8

Friday, January 1 Parshas Vayechi

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Candle Lighting: 4:21 pm Shabbos Ends: 5:26 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 5:53 pm

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Contents LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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COMMUNITY Readers’ Poll

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Community Happenings

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NEWS Global

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National

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That’s Odd

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TJH 2025 Year in Review

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ISRAEL Israel News

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Time by Barbara Deutsch

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JEWISH THOUGHT Torah Sparks

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Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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My Heart is In the East by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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PEOPLE The Wandering Jew

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Inspiration Nation

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Soul Stirrings

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Military Year in Review by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS School of Thought

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What Comes First: Children or Marriage? by Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

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FOOD & LEISURE The Aussie Gourmet: Pho Noodle Bowl

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LIFESTYLES

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Dating Dialogue, Moderated

by Jennifer Mann, LCSW

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Parenting Pearls

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Should We or Shouldn’t We?

by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 142 HUMOR Centerfold

Shmooze and Muse by Mordechai Schmutter

like a nut job and you don’t care or don’t have the fortitude to not give him the car (because you are more scared of his tantrum than an innocent person being killed), get yourself into therapy, talk to your rabbi, or do whatever he is have to do to fix your failure of a life.

Innocent people shouldn’t have to die because you are dysfunctional!

Enough already!

A Reader Dear Editor, Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Her statement is highly flawed, though it is fair to say that if someone can improve something that will give them greater opportunity, then they should do it. For example, if one can only drive right in basketball, they won’t lose out, and likely only gain, by learning how to drive left as well. Learning to go left doesn’t detract from one’s natural ability to go right but rather gives them more options to take advantage of an already built-in talent, helping their team prosper.

However, an attorney who lacks the skill to write a motion, and detests it as well, would be awfully foolish to dedicate major amounts of time “to do th[is] thing [they] think they cannot do.” Life is about building on the talent you already have, not wasting unnecessary time to see if you can pacify your ego when it’s bound to fail (though she only said if you think you can’t do it, and not that you know you can’t do it, it’s still worthwhile to stay away from that which your instinct rejects).

In this new, narrowly defined “Eleanor” model, opening up possibilities based on what you already have is an advantageous strategy.

The challenge now becomes in applying this to our G-dly mission. How does Continued on page 20

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POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

Dear Editor, I am heartbroken about the senseless death of an upstanding member of our community, Mr. Sol Zaltz, a”h, who was killed in a car accident involving an 18-year-old driver who crashed into him. I don’t know what happened, but word on the street is that the young boy was speeding.

This doesn’t surprise me!

Not a week goes by when I don’t see some young kid behind the wheel of a car (usually big SUVs) barreling down Central or going on the opposite side of the road to get around cars waiting at a light, stop sign, or even a bus!! I am always tempted to follow the vehicle and give the kid a piece of my mind, but I know that I would be driving equally as dangerous if I did that.

If a kid is driving like that, their parents are responsible!

You have to know how your kid drives when you give him (usually) the keys to the family truck or car. If your kid drives like a freaking lunatic, you certainly know that; you’ve seen it or heard about it. If you can’t get your kid to not drive like that, don’t give him the keys. If you can’t not give him the keys, take a parenting course. If you don’t care? You are complicit in retzicha (murder) Would you want some lunatic to T-bone you and end your life?

Would you like how it feels to be hit head on?

So why don’t you care about others?

If you let your kid drive like a lunatic, you have no value for life.

Why would you want to live that way?

What has gone so wrong for you that you have no value for life?

Are you too busy chasing money, stature or some other desire which has rotted your soul?

Do you ever look in the mirror and ask yourself what you have become?

Yes, I am saying it: if your kid drives

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What Huge, Beautiful Things Does 2026 Have In Store? by David Ignatius 128 Candace Owens Is the Conservative Movement’s Frankenstein Monster

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Mamdani’s Team of Jew-Haters Will Change New York

by Jonathan S. Tobin

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The Soldier Who Spent More Than a Year on the Front Line

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Do you prefer to eat thick or thin French fries?

57 43 %

Thick

%

Thin

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Continued from page 18

one transfer their natural passion to loving and attaching oneself to G-d? The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 10:3) addresses this transference by saying one should love G-d as he longs for and loves his wife.

The Rambam’s statement can be enlarged to apply to natural talents as well; everyone has their natural talent, but can that burning desire to engage in it be equally matched towards the Creator?

Can the talented skater have just as much love and fervor for G-d as she does for her practices and competitions? One strong reason why it should be possible is because with a neshama, there’s a built-in receptacle and desire to attach oneself to the Creator, thus making the transference more natural.

Once transferred, G-dly service becomes a fire of love and beauty, with an attachment to the One involved in every detail of one’s life. The learning of Torah and adherence to commandments then becomes a lovesick experience.

As we leave Sefer Bereishis, the book of creativity and lessons on how to live life, we have the chance to expand our natural passions towards the service of G-d, and be Vayechi, truly alive.

Steven Genack

Dear Editor, I believe that most if not all Torah Jews know what it means to do chessed.

If you asked a Jew what their concept is of chessed they would easily reply with descriptions on how to show kindness to others. This is certainly not a new concept in Judaism; in fact, it is safe to say that being helpful and considerate of others is at the core of our religion. We are taught to love others just like we love ourselves. So knowledge of the proper manner in which a Torah Jew should behave is not a secret.

There is, however, in my opinion, a challenge in the way some of us practice chessed. We eagerly go out of our way to help somebody in need. We seek opportunities to “do chessed” far and wide. Our Five Towns Jewish community is exemplary in the manner in which it extends personal time, energy and financial aid to so many diverse Jewish causes. Often, we see examples of how these deeds are fulfilled throughout our community and beyond as they are highlighted in our local Jewish publications. But why do we seek out opportunities to do chessed while we might be neglecting so many right nearby needing it?

This, in my opinion, is one of the ways that our chessed is falling short. Does it have to be newsworthy in order to be

meaningful? I think not.

As we continue with all the outstanding noteworthy chessed, maybe we could also be looking close to home. On a daily basis, we are presented with needy individuals in our personal fold who require simple kindness, respect, sensitivity and understanding. Approaching those in our inner circle with the same consideration that we extend to the many causes throughout the Jewish world that are in need might be something to consider.

Should our good deeds not be inclusive of all? One need not preclude the other.

A Five Towns resident Dear Editor, As a born and raised New Yorker (raised in the Five Towns, to be more precise), I’m sure I join the millions of others in the NYC metropolitan area in mourning the death of the MetroCard.

One of the main things the MTA has always been infamous for was wasteful spending of billions of dollars at the expense of hardworking taxpayers, while raising fares of the commuters.

I understand that tap-to-pay is universal now, but they should have kept the MetroCard system for those relying on cash payments, while installing an option for contactless payments via credit cards, saving a lot of money on creating OMNY. As a disabled person, I’ve been a participant of their reduced fare program for about 20 years. These individuals were issued a special MetroCard, which was white on the front. The back displayed our name, photo, as well as the word “disability,” making these cards priceless forms of identity to prove our disability status when necessary. Although a reduced fare OMNY does exist, it doesn’t contain the helpful aforementioned features.

The MetroCard was one of New York City’s most iconic symbols. It was a thin,

plastic card, with a magnetic strip, with a hole on one side, and a slant on the other.

It screamed “NEW YORK CITY!” offering the freedom to travel as far as Newark, NJ on the PATH, anonymously.

These MetroCards were additionally a powerful marketing tool. The colorful card featured ads from major businesses, TV shows, events, movies, helpful traveler information, and more. They were fun to look at, while giving businesses the perfect opportunity to get the word out.

Now that the MetroCard is obsolete, I heavily regret throwing out my stack from when I was younger. I decided to follow in the footsteps of my parents – they have old subway tokens, maps, and a few other items. I managed to snag one of the last remaining Airtrain MetroCards, which I hope to safeguard for many years to come, to show future generations how we traveled around New York.

MetroCard = a fun way to pay for travel, while keeping travelers informed.

Unlike the humble, cheery Metrocard, the OMNY card looks incredibly boring!

It looks just like a credit/debit card, featuring the infamous look of the dingy subway station – mostly black, with a bit of white. No cute ads or pretty art can possibly be on those things. Like, why on earth would anyone want to look at the thing? Seriously, I think it’s gross!

RIP, MetroCard. You’ll be sorely missed.

And for those who still have their old MetroCards, don’t throw them away.

Some of them are already being sold in the hundreds online.

Sincerely, OMNY stinks, MetroCard all the way P.S. Maybe TJH should do a poll one week asking if we prefer OMNY or MetroCard

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@fivetownsjewishhome.com.

Make your voice heard!

Be part of TJH’s weekly poll.

Email the editor to be included in the weekly poll at Editor@FiveTownsJewishHome.com

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The Week In News

Ceasefire for Thailand and Cambodia

U.S. Hits ISIS

In response to the killings of two U.S. soldiers and an interpreter on December 13, the U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Islamic States targets in central Syria on December 19.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “This is a declaration of vengeance. ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites. The strikes were a direct response.

We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region.”

Central Command said more than 70 targets were struck. Twenty-three suspected operatives were killed or captured in related operations.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command, said, “This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland.”

CENTCOM and Cooper said the strikes aim to prevent future ISIS attacks on the United States.

President Donald Trump noted, “Very serious retaliation. Just as I promised.

Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation.”

“All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned,” Trump added.

The December 19th strikes are the latest in a series of airstrikes and ground operations a U.S.-led coalition has carried out in Syria targeting Islamic State suspects in recent months, often with the involvement of Syria’s security forces.

This week, once again, Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire deal after hostilities erupted following the collapse of an initial deal agreed to earlier this year and signed in October. The neighboring Southeast Asian nations renewed hostilities following a skirmish in which each side blamed the other of violating that initial ceasefire.

Defense ministers from each country met at a checkpoint on the border to sign the new deal.

The two Southeast Asian nations have spent decades fighting over a 500-mile stretch of land between them which was demarcated by the French during their rule of Cambodia.

Five days of fighting in July raised concerns of a widening conflict between the two nations, which led Malaysia to spearhead peace talks with help from the United States as President Donald Trump leaned on both sides and pressured them into agreeing to a ceasefire.

The peace deal was signed on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur, but just six weeks later, the deal collapsed and fighting resumed. Trump once again said he would end the fighting and last Friday said that “both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America.”

The deal was signed after three days of talks between military officials. Each side has claimed dozens of deaths in the latest clashes, with Thailand saying it lost 26 soldiers and one civilian as a direct result of fighting and Cambodia saying that 30 civilians have been killed and 90 injured.

After the ceasefire holds for 72 hours, the new deal calls for Thailand to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it never returned despite a stipulation in the original agreement mandating they would do so.

The agreement also focuses on eliminating propaganda and disinformation, which complicated the aftermath of the first peace deal as each side engaged in

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heavy disinformation campaigns against the other side. The agreement also calls for a resumption of previous measures to demarcate the border and cooperation in suppressing transnational crimes, specifically online scams perpetrated by organized crime and located within Southeast Asia.

Cambodia’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha noted, “Today’s ceasefire also paves the way for the displaced people who are living in the border areas to be able to return to their homes, work in the fields, and even allow their children to be able to return to schools and resume their studies.”

Kosovo Elections

With 90% of the votes counted, the Albanian nationalist Vetevendosje party

won a landslide victory in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections.

The party, whose name means “self-determination,” nabbed 50.8% of vote, ensuring a third term in power for its leader, Albin Kurti.

The two main opposition parties, the center-right Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), won 20.98% and 13.89%, respectively.

Vetevendosje won elections in February but without a majority. Since then, Kosovo has been without a functioning government.

Now, Kurti still will need coalition partners to govern. But he should not find it difficult to find support among the MPs from the ethnic minority parties who are guaranteed 20 of the 120 seats in the National Assembly.

It is the fourth successive victory in parliamentary elections for Vetevendosje. Kurti claimed it was “the greatest victory in the history of the country” – and said he expected opposition parties to cooperate, rather than frustrate, this time around.

Arben Gashi, of the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), posted on social media, “When voters speak, the result cannot be ignored. Reflection and

responsible action are required.”

Without a functioning government, Kosovo has missed out on hundreds of millions of euros’ worth of EU funds.

Kosovo also needs to work on repairing its relationships with the EU and the U.S. Kurti angered Brussels and Washington by repeatedly targeting institutions serving Kosovo’s Serb minority – from post offices to healthcare facilities. This increased tensions in majority-Serb north Kosovo.

The EU has finally agreed to remove the punitive measures it imposed in 2023.

But it will be looking for Kurti to take a pragmatic approach to the long-stalled normalization dialogue with Serbia, rather than stick to his usual dogmatic line.

13 Killed in Mexican Train Incident

At least 13 people died and 98 were injured after a train derailed in Mexico on Sunday, according to the Mexican Navy.

There were 250 people on board the train during the accident.

The derailment occurred in Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca, on the train’s main line between Veracruz and Salina Cruz.

Hundreds of naval personnel and rescue vehicles were sent to the scene. For now, the cause of the derailment will be investigated.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X that she instructed the Secretary of the Navy and Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary for Human Rights “to travel to the site and personally attend to the families.”

Managed by Mexico’s Navy, the Interoceanic Train links Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts. Its main line only came into service in 2023, under a new program by then-Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador to promote economic development in southern Mexico and create an alternative to the Panama Canal for cargo transport.

Turkey Targets ISIS

As the holiday season is underway, Turkey is stepping up raids against ISIS targets across the country as it anticipates attacks from the terror group during the holiday season. On Monday, ISIS terrorists opened fire against police during an overnight raid in the western Yalova province, killing three people and injuring three others.

Six ISIS members were killed and five other people were detained in the operation which lasted more than seven hours in the village of Elmalik.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the raid was conducted with “a great deal of care because there were women and children at the address.” The five women and six children at the home were taken to safety, he said.

Electricity and natural gas to Elmalik were cut during the raid, and schools in the area were canceled for the day.

Turkey routinely launches wide-ranging counterterrorism sweeps around the country against ISIS as well as other groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that it designates as terrorist organizations. According to Yerlikaya, over the past month, 138 terror suspects were detained and 97 were placed under judicial control measures.

The arrests come days after the Trump administration launched widespread military strikes in neighboring Syria to “eliminate” Islamic State fighters and weapons’ sites in retaliation for an ambush blamed on the group that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter.

Turkish security forces have been carrying out coordinated raids across the country over alleged plots linked to holiday and New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to a statement by the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.

“Information was found that the ISIS armed terrorist organization was planning to carry out actions targeting our country, especially non-Muslim individuals, within the scope of the upcoming [holiday] and New Year events,” the statement said.

At its peak in 2015, Islamic State controlled a swath of territory across Iraq and

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Syria half the size of the United Kingdom.

It was notorious for its brutality against religious minorities as well as Muslims who do not follow the militants’ extreme interpretation of Islam.

After years of fighting, the U.S.-led coalition broke the group’s last hold on territory in late 2019, but IS cells in multiple countries continue to carry out periodic attacks.

Stabbing Spree in Japan

Fifteen people were injured on Friday when a 38-year-old stabbed eight people and sprayed seven other people with bleach at a Yokohama Rubber Co. tire facility in Mishima, Japan.

The perpetrator was taken into custody. The suspect is believed to be a former employee at the factory. He was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask during the attack.

Five of those who were stabbed were in serious condition. The seven others injured by the bleach thrown at them during the attack were hospitalized as well, the fire department said.

Japan has strict gun control laws and is known for violent crimes being rare, but there have been a number of high-profile knife attacks in recent years.

Iran: We’re at War With U.S., Israel

that the ongoing conflict is more severe than the war Iran and Iraq fought in the 1980s.

“During the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and we knew exactly where we were responding.

But now, we are being surrounded from every angle,” Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian president claimed that his country’s military has become stronger and more capable since Iran’s 12-day war with Israel. In June, Israel began targeting Iranian nuclear sites in an effort to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran retaliated with its own strikes against Israel. The conflict ended 12 days later with a ceasefire after the U.S. struck several nuclear sites within Iran with bunker bombers. During the war, Pezeshkian was injured and almost killed in an Israeli attack, according to Iranian reports.

Pezeshkian alleged that the war strengthened Iran and its unity, asserting that government services didn’t pause during the conflict. He also urged Iranians to stay united.

Pezeshkian also discussed Iran’s failing economy, admitting that his country was struggling due to sanctions, lower oil revenue, and its war with Israel. He affirmed the Iranian government’s commitment to protecting jobs and unveiled a 20-point economic plan meant to stabilize prices for necessities and help lower-income families.

He said that the government has to reduce spending, adopt an austere budget, and cut down on waste.

According to reports, Pezeshkian previously claimed, during a speech to college students in Iran, that he didn’t have the power to improve the economy, drawing criticism from the media and politicians. During his interview, he backpedaled on those remarks.

“Of course, I have said many times that I cannot do it, but that we can. The country’s problems are not something I can solve alone…but we will overcome these problems,” he said.

Voting in Myanmar In an interview released Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declaired that his country was in the midst of a “total war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, claiming that the West aims “to bring our country to its knees.”

Pezeshkian went further, declaring

As voters went to the polls Sunday for the first round of a heavily stage-managed election in Myanmar, the outcome was all but assured. The military junta that has ruled the country since seizing power in 2021 was almost certain to maintain its iron grip on power.

Some still hoped there was room for change.

“We have to do something,” said Nant Khin Aye Oo, chair of the Kayin People’s Party, one of the few parties that was not barred from fielding candidates. “We can’t live under this anymore.”

But turnout even in the country’s biggest cities, Yangon and Mandalay, appeared far lighter than it had been in the 2020 and 2015 elections, reflecting a more pessimistic mood.

“I don’t believe this election will really change things, but I came anyway to avoid trouble,” said Sandy Chit, 34, a cosmetics seller in Mandalay. “Many people here are voting out of fear, not hope.”

The military has governed Myanmar for most of its history since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. For about a decade starting in 2010, the country was seen as an exemplar for democracy after the military handed some power to a civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who had long been the beloved opposition leader.

That ended in 2021 when the army announced that it would not recognize the 2020 election victory by Suu Kyi’s party.

For the junta, the elections are in part to placate neighboring China, which has pressured it to hold the polls as a way out of a four-year civil war. The military — now estimated to control less than half of the country — also hopes that the elections to determine the next parliament will create an air of legitimacy that may give other countries an opening to embrace what is now largely a pariah state.

With the vote taking place on three separate days over the next few weeks, it will be hard to draw quick conclusions.

Ballots will be cast only in the areas under military control. Results are not expected until after the final day of voting on January 25.

In Naypyidaw, the capital, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 coup, emerged grinning from the polling station, showing off his left pinkie dyed purple as a sign of having voted. (© The New York Times)

Terror Plotters Convicted in UK On Tuesday, two Islamic extremists were convicted in Preston Crown Court of plotting a mass-shooting terrorist attack against England’s Jewish community.

The plotters, 38-year-old Walid Saadaoui and 52-year-old Amar Hussein, planned to murder hundreds of Jews using automatic firearms. The two men, who were brought to trial a week after another terrorist killed worshippers at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, were inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).

According to Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts, who heads northern England’s Counter-Terrorism Policing efforts, Hussein and Saadaoui’s planned attack, if successful, would have been “one of, if not the, deadliest terrorist attack in UK history.”

Prosecutors told the jury that the two plotters had “embraced the views” of ISIS and were ready to give up their lives to become “martyrs.”

Saadaoui was detained in May 2024, according to prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu, after arranging the smuggling of two assault rifles, an automatic pistol, and nearly 200 pounds of ammunition into Britain through the port of Dover. Sandhu said that Saadaoui hoped to acquire another two rifles, an additional pistol, and at least 900 more rounds. However, the arms dealer that Saadaoui was in contact with was an undercover operative.

According to Sandhu, Saadaoui specifically wanted assault rifles that were similar to the ones used during an Islamist attack in 2015 that killed 130 people in Paris’s Bataclan concert hall. Saadaoui, the prosecutor claimed, “hero-worshipped” the coordinator of the 2015 attack, Abdelhamid Abaaoud. In a message to “Farouk,” the undercover operative, Saadaoui, touted the attack in Paris as “the biggest operation after that of Osama (bin Laden),” in reference to the September 11 attacks.

“Based on Walid’s communications and interactions with the undercover operative, and some of the things he said, that made it very clear that he regarded

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served until 1996 and was the first female to head the country. Zia died this week at the age of 80.

Zia was reelected in 1996 but stepped down the following month because of an opposition boycott, which meant 90 percent of voters had abstained from participating in the election. She was elected again in 2001 and governed until 2006.

Zia was the second woman to govern a Muslim-majority country. The first was Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.

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Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, said in a statement that Zia was a “symbol of the democratic movement.”

“Her role in the struggle to establish democracy, a multiparty political culture, and the rights of the people in Bangladesh will be remembered forever.”

Zia became the leader of the BNP in 1984, three years after her husband, Ziaur Rahman, the former leader and founder of the party, was killed in an attempted military coup. She became an outspoken advocate for democracy and was voted prime minister in elections found to be free and fair by international observers.

She was imprisoned multiple times throughout her long political career, including in 2018 on corruption charges.

She was also put under house arrest by the military regime that ruled before she became prime minister.

Zia was the longtime rival of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s second female prime minister, who was ousted by protesters last year and fled to India after ruling the country for 15 years. Zia’s and Hasina’s parties — the latter called the Awami League — have been the two main political groups in Bangladesh since 1991.

a less sophisticated attack with less lethal weaponry as not being good enough,” Potts said. “Because, in effect, it was his role and his duty to kill as many Jewish people as he could, and that wasn’t going to be achieved via the use of a knife or, for example, potentially a vehicle as a weapon.”

Hussein and Saadaoui pleaded not guilty to the charges, with Saadaoui claiming he plotted the attack for fear of his life. Hussein presented no evidence to

the court and was barely present at the trial. On the first day, he yelled from the dock, “How many babies?” apparently referencing the war in Gaza.

Additionally, Saadaoui’s 36-year-old brother Bilel was found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. However, prosecutors noted that he was hesitant to play a role in the attack.

The two men were convicted just over a week after a terrorist shooting during Chanukah in Bondi Beach, Sydney, in

which 15 people were killed. The attack in Australia was praised by ISIS as a “source of pride,” though the terror group did not claim responsibility.

Bangladesh’s First Female PM Dies Khaleda Zia was first elected as prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991. She

U.S. Strikes IS in Nigeria On December 25, the United States launched “powerful and deadly” strikes against Islamic State-affiliated militants in northwestern Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian government, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, framing the attack as “a [X-mas] present” for Nigerian Christians persecuted by militant groups.

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“They were going to do it earlier,” Trump said regarding the strikes. “And I said, ‘Nope, let’s give a … present.’”

“They didn’t think that was coming, but we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated,” Trump said, adding on social media that he would “not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the foreign minister of Nigeria, seemingly contradicted Trump, claiming that the strike was a “joint operation” that had “nothing to do with a particular religion” or holiday.

The death toll is unclear, though an initial assessment from the U.S. army indicated “multiple” terrorist fatalities in Sokoto state.

For a long while, Nigeria has been at war with several jihadist organizations in the northeast, particularly Boko Haram and IS-affiliated groups. More recently, the terror group Lakurawa, which is affiliated with jihadist networks in Mali and Niger, has become an issue in Sokoto.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed his gratitude “for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”

Trump has accused Nigeria of turning a blind eye to what he calls a jihadist-led “genocide” against Christians. The president has declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a U.S. State Department designation that allows sanctions to be levied against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.”

Terror groups in northeastern Nigeria have killed thousands over the past decade, though analyses indicate that most of the victims were Muslim. Nigeria’s population is split in half; around 50% are Christian, and the other half are Muslims.

The U.S. strike in Nigeria was the United States’ second attack against IS over the past few weeks, with the U.S. joining forces with Jordan to attack IS in Syria in retaliation for the killing of three Americans in an ambush.

Iran’s Economic Woes On Monday, demonstrators gathered in Tehran and other Iranian cities to protest against rising inflation, the country’s

currency collapse, and Iran’s other economic struggles.

Iran’s annual inflation rate surged to 42.2% in December, while the country’s currency, the rial, recently fell to historic lows. Additionally, Mohammad Reza Farzin, the head of the central bank, quit his job on Monday, with former economy minister Abdolnaser Hemmati expected to succeed him.

Iran is still reeling from Western sanctions and U.S. and Israeli attacks during the 12-day war this summer.

In Tehran, shopkeepers protested near the city’s central bazaar, reminiscent of the Iranian revolution in 1979 when merchants played a key role by shuttering their shops and protesting against the reigning monarch at the time.

While the underlying reasons for the protests are economic, videos show crowds chanting against the country’s ruling clerics, although it cannot be determined when those videos were filmed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said this week he was concerned with the public’s livelihood and noted that the government plans to “reform the monetary and banking system and preserve the purchasing power of the people.” He added that he requested that the interior minister “hear the legitimate demands of the protesters through dialogue with their representatives.”

Experts believe that the Iranian government could improve the country’s economy by warming up to the United States, thereby freeing itself from crippling U.S. sanctions, or by slashing spending, which would come with its own challenges.

Inflation and the currency collapse have made it exceedingly difficult for Iranian households to afford necessities.

Parliament reportedly voted against a proposed budget.

The demonstrations this week appeared to be the largest in the Islamic Republic since the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022 and 2023, which posed a serious challenge to the Iranian government and only dwindled after a harsh crackdown from security forces that led to the death of more than 500 people and the arrest of thousands.

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keep trains running while protecting staff, about a quarter of whom have emigrated, joined the military, or have been killed or injured. According to Pertsovsky, railroad drivers entering Kherson now wear helmets, train roofs are lined with anti-drone jammers, and many substations have been reinforced with concrete to limit damage from strikes.

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Pertsovsky said the railway company will not be intimidated by Russian attacks, insisting it will continue to adapt by finding new ways to counter the threat, carrying out faster repairs, dispersing locomotives across multiple locations, and deploying replacement buses when parts of the network are knocked out.

According to Ukrzaliznytsia, maintaining train operations is a matter of national security.

“It is a constant fight to preserve the country’s logistics, and that’s the commitment we made on day one,” said Pertsovsky. “We’ll continue connecting the country, no matter how hard it is going to be.”

Arrests for Donating to Hamas

Russia Targets Ukrainian Railroads Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway company, said its infrastructure was attacked by Russia over 1,100 times in 2025, leading to casualties and $5.8 billion in damages.

In December, a Fastiv train station near Kyiv was decimated by a drone strike. A month earlier, a drone strike killed a guard who was watching a substation near Dnipro. In October, two other attacks led to one death and a major power outage.

“It is a war on railways that is a deliberate, structured, well-planned and concentrated effort to stop the system from running,” noted Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the head of the railway company, which

is Ukraine’s largest state enterprise, employing around 180,000 workers. “Pretty much every link in the chain is being targeted.”

Russia claims that it doesn’t target civilian areas and architecture.

In February 2022, at the beginning of the Ukraine war, the country’s railway system emerged as a source of pride for Ukrainians, with the railroad allowing millions of people to escape the war zone.

Ukrzaliznytsia said it is working to

Italian police revealed over the weekend that seven people were arrested for raising millions of euros for the Palestinian terror group Hamas.

Police also issued international arrests for two others outside the country.

Three associations, officially supporting Palestinian civilians but allegedly

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serving as a front for funding Hamas, are implicated in the investigation.

The nine individuals are accused of having financed approximately 7 million euros ($8 million) to “associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel, owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas.”

While the official objective of the three associations was to collect donations “for humanitarian purposes for the Palestinian people,” more than 71 percent was earmarked for the direct financing of Hamas” or entities affiliated with the terror group, according to police.

Some of the money went to “family members implicated in terrorist attacks,” the statement said.

Among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi posted on X that the operation “lifted the veil on behavior and activities which, pretending to be initiatives in favor of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organizations.”

2 Killed in Ramming Attack

a 19-year-old girl.

At Afula’s entrance, the terrorist attempted to run another man over but instead drove into a utility pole. The terrorist then exited the car and hit the man in the head with a stone, leading to a minor head injury.

Then, the terrorist attempted to run away but was shot and injured by a civilian. Authorities proceeded to capture the terrorist, who was in moderate condition, and bring him to a hospital.

Officials named the terrorist as 37-year-old Ahmed al-Rub, from Qabatiya, a village in northern Judea and Samaria. In response to the attack, the Israeli army reportedly set up a blockade around the town, raided the terrorist’s family home, and detained his father.

Aviv Maor’s parents remembered her as a girl who loved nature, people, and animals.

“Avivi was a child of nature, loving of both humans and animals, and had a passion for horseback riding for many years,” Aviv’s parents, Einat and Tal, shared.

“She cared for all the injured animals in the valley. A talented photographer, a caring and loving daughter to her parents, and a devoted sister.”

Aviv leaves behind her parents and two brothers, Nitzan and Itai.

Fewer Russians Making Aliyah

Two people were killed and two others were injured in northern Israel on Friday after a Palestinian terrorist from Judea and Samaria staged a car-ramming and stabbing attack.

According to security forces, the attack started shortly after noon in Beit She’an along Route 71. The terrorist, who had illegally left Judea and Samaria a few days prior and was illegally employed in Israel, reportedly stole his employer’s car and used it to run into a 16-year-old and a 68-year-old man. The teenager was treated for light injuries, while the 68-yearold man, Mordechai Shimshon of Beit She’an, was immediately killed and pronounced dead, according to officials.

Security forces then chased the terrorist as he traveled northwest toward the city of Afula. The terrorist stopped and exited the vehicle near Kibbutz Ein Harod before fatally stabbing Aviv Maor,

In 2025, Israel saw immigration rates fall by around one-third, the Immigration and Absorption Ministry announced Monday. The ministry attributed the decline to fewer Russians making aliyah.

Since the 1990s, the largest number of immigrants to Israel every year has been from Russia. In 2025, around 8,300 Russians made aliyah, a 57% decrease from 2024, when 19,500 immigrants came from Russia. In 2022, as the war in Ukraine broke out, a whopping 43,500 immigrants from Russia made aliyah.

Meanwhile, immigration from other Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, rose by 23.6% in 2025. In 2025, Israel saw 13,600 non-Russian immigrants ar-

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ister, we are promoting a broad government decision to encourage immigration from countries where antisemitism is increasing,” stated Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer. “This, along with many programs to integrate immigrants in the fields of employment, housing, higher education and the community, is expected to encourage further immigration and strengthen the State of Israel.”

Israel has been preparing for a potential influx of new migrants, and the government has been encouraging aliyah, offering zero-percent income tax rates for those arriving in 2026, along with an array of other offerings.

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Tel Aviv Shares Break Record Despite the several wars Israel is fighting, the Jewish state’s main stock indexes rose to record highs in 2025.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), Israel’s public stock exchange, was the fastest-rising market in the world back in 2024 following its post-October 7 rebound. In 2025, the exchange continued to rise.

According to the Tel Aviv bourse annual report released Sunday, the TA-35 index of blue-chip companies, in 2025, rose by 35%, while the benchmark TA125 index surged 52%, and the TA-90 index increased by around 46%, as of December 19. In contrast, the United States’ S&P 500 rose by 18%, the NASDAQ-100 jumped 22%, and the FTSE 100 index in the United Kingdom increased by 25%.

rive, up from 11,000 in 2024 and 7,500 in 2023, according to the ministry.

Around 3,500 immigrants hailed from the U.S., up 5% from 2024 and 30% from 2023. Another 3,300 were from France, constituting a 45% increase from 2024, which saw 2,200 French immigrants making aliyah. And 840 came from the U.K., up 19% from 2024. Additionally, 420 came from Canada, 220 were from South Africa, and 180 were from Australia, according to the ministry.

The ministry noted that around a third of the immigrants were between the ages of 18 and 35.

Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that promotes aliyah, noted that immigration from North America increased by around 12% in 2025, reaching 4,150, a near-record for the nonprofit.

“These new Olim are already helping to address Israel’s national needs and strengthen its future, and we recognize the significance of their decision to estab-

lish their lives in the State of Israel at this pivotal moment in the country’s history,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, the organization’s co-founder and executive director.

Though immigration rates have risen, Israel has a net migration deficit, since more people have been leaving than arriving. Around 82,700 Israelis left in 2024, largely due to the war in Gaza and political reasons, while only around 32,000 immigrants arrived.

“With the support of the prime min-

“2025 was characterized by the continuation of geopolitical challenges, alongside a gradual economic recovery from the repercussions of the longest war Israel has ever known,” Sarit Berman, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s research head, said.

“Military superiority and capabilities that Israel demonstrated during the war, as well as the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, were significant factors strengthening investor confidence in the local market and added an element of optimism,” Berman added, referencing Israel’s victories against Iran and its proxies.

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Berman also noted economic developments.

Since the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, the TA-35 index surged by around 100%, while the TA-90 index rose by approximately 93%, according to Tel Aviv bourse data.

The success of Israel’s stock exchange was driven by foreign investors, who collectively bought around NIS 4.3 billion worth of shares, while Israeli retail investors, last year, purchased NIS 13.7 billion.

Strong investor demand lifted financial stocks, with sharp gains across the country’s five largest banks and major insurance companies, alongside energy shares. In 2025, the TA-Insurance index surged 179%, while the TA-Financial index climbed 106%, the TA Banks index rose 68%, and the TA Energy Infrastructure index advanced 71%.

Additionally, the Tel Aviv stock market’s trading volumes soared to record highs, rising 56% from 2024 to NIS 3.4 billion.

“The improvement in investor sentiment after a prolonged period of uncertainty, the expectation of an economic recovery that will follow, a decline in geopolitical risk perception, and the sharp increases in local stock indices have contributed to an increase in investor appe-

tite for risk, increasing interest in new companies,” Berman said.

Israel Recognizes Somaliland

The international community condemned Israel following the Jewish state’s groundbreaking decision to recognize Somaliland, an unrecognized territory that declared independence from Somalia in 1991. On Monday, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting regarding Israel’s move.

Somalia was set to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council on January 1. A few days before the transition, Israel on Friday announced that it would become the first and, thus far, only U.N. member state to recognize Somaliland.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net-

anyahu said the decision was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords” and announced that Israel and Somaliland would work together in “economic fields, on agriculture, [and] in the fields of social development.” On Saturday, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon stated that “Israel will act responsibly and we will continue to cooperate with partners who contribute to regional stability.”

In reaction to Israel’s move, nations accused the Jewish state of diplomatically threatening Somalia’s sovereignty. The European Union was among Israel’s critics.

“The European Union reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations,” the E.U. stated.

“This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region,” the E.U. added. “The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences.”

Somalia also condemned Israel, framing the Jewish state’s recognition as a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty.

On Saturday, twenty-one countries, mostly from Africa, the Middle East, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, also rejected Israel’s decision in a joint statement, “given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole.” The countries added, “The recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran also fully rejected “any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land,” in reference to vague proposals regarding Gazans being relocated to Somaliland. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco — three countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 through the Abraham Accords — did not sign the statement, while Syria criticized Israel’s move in its own statement.

Somaliland is an internationally unrecognized territory that has been separate from Somalia for decades now. It has its own currency, passports, and military.

Former IBM CEO Dies

It took a strong and smart leader to bring IBM through one of the most consequential turnarounds in corporate history. Lou Gerstner, who ran IBM from 1993 to 2002, was such a leader. He died this week at the age of 83.

Gerstner came to the company at a time when IBM was under severe pressure, and its future was in doubt. It was losing money, the tech industry was shifting rapidly, and there was widespread expectation that the company would be broken up.

Gerstner pushed to keep IBM together and organize around customer needs.

He also drove cultural change inside the company. He emphasized direct decision-making, accountability, and execution, while insisting that innovation mattered only if it translated into real value for clients. The approach marked a sharp break from IBM’s inward-looking habits that had taken hold before his arrival.

The company saw painful restructuring under Gerstner. IBM abandoned long-standing traditions, including its decades-long “cradle to grave” no-layoff policy, as it sought to stabilize its finances and compete more aggressively. Many credit those moves, along with Gerstner’s strategic focus, with saving the company from collapse.

Before joining IBM, Gerstner built a high-profile career in corporate America.

He was a partner at McKinsey & Company, later served as president of American Express, and was CEO of RJR Nabisco.

After leaving IBM, he chaired the Carlyle Group and focused on philanthropy, particularly in education and biomedical research.

Gerstner was born in Mineola, NY, and earned a degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard.

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clear power plant in Europe, also remains unsettled. Russia controls the power plant, which provided more than 20% of Ukraine’s energy before the war began.

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Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea more than a decade ago, in 2014, and launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, seizing the nuclear plant and much of eastern Ukraine.

On Sunday, Trump said he talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone for more than two hours earlier in the day and could speak to the leader again soon.

The Kremlin said on Monday that another call was in the works and renewed its push for Kyiv to withdraw troops from the Donbas.

Fire Engulfs Maine Wharf

Zelensky Meets Trump On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Trump in Florida, hoping to help end the war between Ukraine and Russia.

According to Zelensky, Trump offered Ukraine 15 years of security guarantees, but Zelensky said he is pushing for more.

“I told him that we really wanted to consider the possibility of 30, 40, 50 years, and this would then be a historic decision by President Trump. The president said that he would think about it,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelensky presented his version of the plan to Trump and top U.S. officials on December 28 at the president’s private resort in Palm Beach. The leaders said afterward that they had made substantial progress on a security framework but had

not come to an agreement on the fate of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Russia has seized most but not all of the land.

Russia is pushing Kyiv to retreat from areas of the region that are still under Ukraine’s control and concede the territory in any peace deal. Ukraine has indicated a willingness to turn the disputed land into a demilitarized economic zone.

The issue of who will manage the Zaporizhzhya power plant, the largest nu-

On Friday evening, Portland, Maine, firefighters were called out to a huge fire engulfing a warehouse building off Custom House Wharf.

Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hendricks said that frozen fire hydrants and narrow roads posed stiff challenges to combat the flames.

Two firefighters were hurt in fighting the fire, but they were not hospitalized.

“The first in companies did a great job, and they made a very aggressive attack to keep it from spreading down the rest of the wharf,” Hendricks said.

The fire tore through a boat repair shop, which was completely destroyed.

Nearby buildings also sustained damage, including Nanqu Kayaks, Maritime Antiques, and the Sea Bags Factory Store.

The fire also caused one nearby boat to sink, and others were damaged.

“These old buildings, they could be full of a lot of things and hazards, and in

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this case, we were able to get it stopped quickly, and it didn’t spread,” Hendricks said.

Businesses along the waterfront were impacted. At one point, there was concern that the fire would engulf the whole wharf due to its old and wooden structures. Thankfully, the fire was contained within two hours.

Business owners, fishermen, and others are all trying to regroup and help their neighbors rebuild.

Store Closings

Over the past year, many stores shuttered their doors. Among them were major retailers like Forever 21, Rite Aid, and Party City.

Around 8,200 store locations shut their doors this year, about 12% more than 2024, according to Coresight Research.

What made these shops roll down their shades? Consumer sentiment slumped in 2025 along with people’s changing shopping habits. Some stores are headed down a path to bankruptcy as Americans dial back on discretionary purchases as inflation remains a stubborn problem.

Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in March and closed down its U.S. operations. The company closed about 500 stores this year.

The company blamed “economic challenges impacting our core customers” – namely, cost-sensitive teens shifting

their allegiance to competitors – as well as the rise of foreign fast fashion companies. Shein and Temu, on the other hand, were wooing younger customers, luring away some of Forever 21’s shoppers.

Party City announced that it would go out of business around a year ago and closed its stores in February after being in business for 40 years. The retailer previously declared bankruptcy in January 2023 and struggled with debt, carrying more than $1.7 billion at one point.

Rite Aid, whose stores populated so many city streets, closed its doors in October following its second bankruptcy in the past few years. The full-service pharmacy first opened in 1962 and became well known for its cult-favorite ice cream brand, Thrifty, which was sold off during the store’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile. That debt topped $4 billion due to expensive legal battles for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions. Rite Aid emerged from that first bankruptcy in September 2024, having slashed $2 billion in debt, closed 500 stores and secured $2.5 billion in funds to maintain operations. But, months later, Rite Aid’s store count dwindled and competitors like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens bought up its pharmacy operations.

More Taxes on the Wealthy in CA? Billionaires including Peter Thiel, a tech venture capitalist, and Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the

state’s wealthiest residents, according to five people familiar with their thinking.

Thiel, 58, who owns a home in the Hollywood Hills and operates a personal investment firm from Los Angeles, has explored opening an office for that firm, Thiel Capital, in another state and spending more time outside California, three of the people said.

whose net worth is around $27.5 billion, could be more than $1.2 billion.

Representatives for Page and Thiel did not respond to requests for comment.

In California, the SEIU-UHW has said the proposed tax measure could raise up to $100 billion from about 200 billionaires. The money could be used to offset federal budget cuts, the union has said. (© The New York Times)

A Proper Burial

Other billionaires who appear to be making moves to decrease their presence in California include Page, 52, a longtime resident of Palo Alto. He has discussed leaving the state by the end of the year, according to two people briefed on the talks. In mid-December, three limited liability companies associated with Page filed documents to incorporate in Florida, according to state records.

The moves are being driven by a potential California ballot measure from the health care union, Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the people said. The proposal calls for California residents worth more than $1 billion to be taxed the equivalent of 5% of their assets.

If the measure gains enough signatures to reach the state ballot in November and wins approval, it will retroactively apply to anyone who lived in California as of Jan. 1, 2026. Those with $20 billion in assets who resided in the state on that date would face a one-time tax of $1 billion and have five years to pay it, according to the terms of the measure.

Whether the proposal will reach California’s ballot is far from certain, but some billionaires may be unwilling to take the risk. For Page, whose net worth is estimated at $258 billion, the measure could result in a one-time tax of more than $12 billion. The tax bill for Thiel,

Lt. Morton Sher, a member of the Flying Tigers group that fought off Japan’s efforts to invade China during World War II, was killed in action in 1943 during a combat mission over Hunan, China. The Jewish American pilot finally received a proper burial in South Carolina last week after his remains were identified more than 80 years after he was killed.

The fighting hero was buried on his birthday, December 14, in Greenville, South Carolina, where a headstone with his name and a Star of David has waited for decades. Family and friends poured dirt from Israel onto his grave.

Sher was born in 1920 in Baltimore, Maryland. His family later moved to Greenville, where they became active members of Congregation Beth Israel. As a teenager, Sher was a founding member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization’s Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) fraternity for Jewish teens.

Sher later studied at the University of Alabama, where he joined the Kappa Nu fraternity and was manager of the school’s basketball team. He was also a member of ROTC and joined the Air Force to pursue his love of flying.

Did you know?

In 1995, potatoes became the first vegetable grown in space.

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Assigned to the 76th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force, Sher flew dangerous missions in the China-Burma theater, escorting bombers and engaging Japanese forces. By the time he died, he had logged three aerial victories, according to an Air Force historian quoted by the Department of War. In 1942, Sher’s plane was shot down by seven Japanese fighters after a successful air raid on Hong Kong. Despite a minor head injury, he returned to combat rather than seek reassignment.

Sher was 22 years old when he was killed Aug. 20, 1943, piloting a P-40 Warhawk fighter-bomber over Hunan province as part of the Allied air effort in China. His plane crashed and burned in a rice paddy in Xin Bai Village, and his remains were assumed to have been completely consumed by the fire. His squadron arranged for a memorial stone to be erected at the crash site.

His mother, Celia Sher, received his Purple Heart that year.

An effort to bring his remains home began in 2012, when a private citizen contacted the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency with a photograph of a memorial stone erected by Chinese villagers at Sher’s crash site. After initial searches yielded no remains, a more extensive

recovery mission in 2024 uncovered aircraft wreckage and human remains in Xin Bai Village near Hengyang. DNA testing later confirmed Sher’s identity.

“Our family tree produced a real hero,” his nephew, Bruce Fine, said. “The kind you read about and see on the big screen, except he was real. We hope his bravery and his courage will inspire the family members who follow us to believe that anything you can dream can be truly possible if you’re willing to commit to it and work hard to achieve it.”

Rain Slashes Southern California

Residents of southern California faced “hydroclimate whiplash” last week when

it received the wettest holiday season in recent history.

Southern California recorded its wettest December 24 and December 25 ever, with the Santa Barbara airport getting 5.91 inches of rain. More than 17 inches fell in a single area of the Ventura county mountains. More than 10 inches of rain fell in parts of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles county.

The stormy weather brought down trees, caused hundreds of car crashes, and knocked out power for thousands across the state. Hundreds found their homes and gardens hit by flows of mud.

The weather system spawned a tornado on December 25, the National Weather Service confirmed, that damaged a home and a commercial strip mall in Boyle Heights.

With a wind speed of up to 80 mph, the twister travelled for one-third of a mile soon after 10 a.m. on Thursday. It was classified as an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The destruction it caused included damage to the roof of a home and breaking windows and tree branches, bending a utility pole, and destroying commercial signage in a shopping plaza.

Firefighters in Los Angeles county rescued more than 100 people just on Thursday, with one helicopter pulling

21 people from stranded cars. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared emergencies in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Shasta counties.

What fell as rain in the lowlands fell as snow in higher elevations. As much as 2 inches of snowfall an hour fell in the Sierra Nevada.

U.S. to Give $2B for U.N. Aid

On Monday, the United States announced that it would contribute $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian aid, with the U.S. pledging far less than usual in accordance with President Donald Trump’s efforts to save costs by decreasing spending on foreign assistance. The Trump administration has been urging United Nations

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agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in response to the slashing of U.S. aid.

The United States, despite its diminished pledge, remains the largest humanitarian donor in the world. Along with the undertaking, an umbrella fund will be established for the purpose of distributing funds to individual agencies and priorities. Such a system was among the U.S.’s many U.N. reform demands.

In recent years, the U.S. has contributed as much as $17 billion a year for U.N. humanitarian aid, U.N. data shows, though American officials have said only $8 to $10 billion of that donation was voluntary. The U.S. gives the U.N. billions each year in membership-related fees.

The U.S.’s pledge comes as a result of a tentative deal with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is managed by former British diplomat and government official Tom Fletcher. Fletcher’s office — which took on the responsibility last year to oversee a “humanitarian reset” whereby efficiency, accountability, and effectiveness of humanitarian spending are ensured — is supposed to serve as a conduit for U.S. and other donor funds, which can then be redirected to aid agencies.

According to an anonymous senior State Department official, the U.S. wants a “more consolidated leadership authority” handling U.N. aid delivery. Fletcher’s office will “control the spigot” on how funds are doled out.

“This humanitarian reset at the United Nations should deliver more aid with fewer tax dollars — providing more focused, results-driven assistance aligned with U.S. foreign policy,” Michael Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said.

According to U.S. officials, the $2 billion represents an initial disbursement toward funding OCHA’s annual funding appeal, which was unveiled in December.

“Nowhere is reform more important than the humanitarian agencies, which perform some of the U.N.’s most critical work,” the U.S. State Department said.

“Today’s agreement is a critical step in those reform efforts, balancing President Trump’s commitment to remaining the world’s most generous nation, with the imperative to bring reform to the way we fund, oversee, and integrate with U.N. humanitarian efforts.”

Fletcher touted the agreement.

“At a moment of immense global strain, the United States is demonstrating that it is a humanitarian superpower, offering hope to people who have lost everything,” he said.

U.N. and humanitarian officials have criticized the U.S. for reducing aid spend-

ing, claiming that the reduction will harm countries in need.

9-1-1 Winner

If you’re a fan of emergency services, you may have won big.

The North Carolina Education Lottery announced this week that a Pick 3 drawing resulted in 5,151 tickets bearing the same numbers. The lucky digits? 9-1-1.

The winners collectively won over $1.43 million in prizes.

Lottery officials said Saturday evening’s Pick 3 drawing resulted in 5,151 tickets winning top prizes: $250 for every 50-cent ticket and $500 for each $1 ticket.

“Whatever three numbers you pick, the odds of matching exactly all three in a Pick 3 drawing are the same: 1 in 1,000,” officials wrote. “Winners have 180 days to claim their prizes.”

Good things come in threes.

Back to the Future?

If you want to go know what’s going to happen in 2026, head to Peru – or not.

A group of shamans gathered this week by the sea in Lima to carry out an annual ritual in which they make predictions for the upcoming year.

They perform a ceremony dressed in traditional gear and try to forecast what will be coming in the next few months.

Last year, they warned that a “nuclear war” would break out between Israel and Gaza. The group was wrong about that prediction.

This year, they say that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be re-

moved from office and that global conflicts, like the war in Ukraine, will continue.

“We have asked for Maduro to leave, to retire, for President Donald Trump of the United States to be able to remove him, and we have visualized that next year this will happen,” said shaman Ana María Simeón.

In December 2023, the group correctly predicted that former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who had been imprisoned for human rights abuses, would perish within twelve months. He died from cancer in September 2024 at the age of 86.

Before Monday’s ceremony, the shamans met to drink hallucinogenic concoctions derived from native plants — including Ayahuasca and the San Pedro cactus — which are believed to give them the power to predict the future. During the ceremony, they placed blankets with yellow flowers, coca leaves, swords and other objects on La Herradura beach, asking for positive energy for the new year.

After dancing in circles and playing ancestral instruments, the shamans asked for peace in the Middle East, an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and the fall of President Maduro.

They also predicted natural disasters, such as earthquakes and climatic phenomena.

Hey, a broken clock is right twice a day.

Flour Fight

On Sunday, the Spanish town of Ibi was covered in flour and eggshells. No, a food truck hadn’t overturned in the town.

It was the annual food fight festival in which participants wearing military-style costumes stage a fake coup using eggs, flour, and firecrackers to pummel others.

The fight is called “Els Enfarinats,” meaning “the breaded ones,” and has been celebrated for the past 200 years in the province of Alicante.

The eggers go around asking for “taxes” – donations to charity – from local people, and if you don’t pay, you could end up getting splatted with yolks. The town stages different activities during the

day, including a race for mayor when it is decided who will become the mayor of the Els Enfarinats.

The day culminates with fireworks and flour bombs.

Sounds eggs-tremely mature.

Queen Wins at Sailing

We’re not going to say that this contest was rigged, but last week, the queen of Thailand made waves when she won a gold medal in sailing at the Southeast Asian Games, a regional competition being held in her country this month.

Queen Suthida, the wife of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, competed in the mixed keelboat SSL47 category, on a 47-foot sailboat with nine other crew members.

The queen, 47, served as tactician and helmswoman to lead the Thai team to victory in the waters off Pattaya, ahead of Malaysia and Myanmar.

King Vajiralongkorn, 73, presented gold, silver and bronze medals to the winners, including to Suthida, whom he married in 2019.

Suthida was a flight attendant before joining the military. A keen athlete, she ran a half marathon in 2:13:40 this month in the capital Bangkok alongside Kenyan running legend Eliud Kipchoge.

Suthida is not the first member of the royal family to win gold in sailing.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the father of Vajiralongkorn, sailed in the fourth edition of the regional Games, held in Thailand in 1967. Competing in the OK class on a boat he built himself, Bhumibol won a gold medal alongside his eldest daughter, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, according to the SEA Games website.

The Games end on Saturday, with host Thailand well ahead in the medal count, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam.

Sounds like they “seas” the day.

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Community YKLI Yarchei Kallah

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t was an incredible Junior High School Yarchei Kallah morning at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. Fathers and grandfathers joined for a beau-

tiful Shacharis, a delightful breakfast, an elevated learning seder, and a powerful shiur by Rabbi Motti Neuburger.

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Around the Community

Asara B’Teves Yom Iyun at BYAM

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Mrs. Kolsky’s fifth grade students at Yeshiva Darchei Torah made projects on the various Native American regions

HAFTR Expands Literacy Program

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t HAFTR, fostering a genuine love of reading is an essential part of our students’ learning journey. To expand students’ exposure to rich, meaningful literature, students in grades 2-5 are participating in a literary analysis project throughout December and January, leading into our annual Book Month in February.

Each grade is exploring a thoughtfully chosen focus. Second graders are discovering Caldecott Medal books and learning how illustrations bring stories to life. Third graders are immersing themselves in literary classics, stories that have inspired generations. Fourth graders are exploring New York Times Best Sellers, gaining tools to identify quality literature, while fifth graders are reading Newbery Medal winners and learning what makes these books truly exceptional.

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n Tuesday, Asara B’Teves, the seventh and eighth grade students at BYAM, led by the Yom Iyun heads Batsheva Esther Bronstein, Rivky Sigmand, and Shevy Field, participated in a meaningful Yom Iyun focused on the theme of Ahavas Yisrael. The day provided the girls with an opportunity to reflect, learn, and engage in thoughtful dialogue about the importance of caring for and supporting one another.

The students gathered for a panel discussion led by dedicated mechanchos, where insightful questions—many

thoughtfully submitted by the students themselves—were addressed. These conversations encouraged open discussion about friendships, communication, and building positive relationships, creating a safe and supportive environment for personal growth.

The Yom Iyun concluded with the girls sitting together arm in arm, singing songs that fostered a strong sense of unity and connection. The warmth and inspiration of the day were deeply felt, as the message of Ahavas Yisrael came to life in a powerful and lasting way.

A Morning of Connection and Learning at SKA’s Dor L’Dor Breakfast

Through this experience, students are developing critical thinking skills, deepening their appreciation for storytelling, and strengthening their connection to reading. At HAFTR, our goal is simple and meaningful: to inspire every child to pick up a great book and enjoy the journey it takes them on.

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KA was filled with warmth, learning, and connection at our ninth grade Dor L’Dor Breakfast. A morning specifically designed to bring generations together through Torah and togetherness. Fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and uncles joined their daughters, granddaughters, sisters, and nieces for a meaningful start to the day that beautifully highlighted our values as a community.

The morning began with a scrumptious breakfast enjoyed by all, fresh bagels, eggs, tuna, muffins, and plenty of coffee, setting a relaxed and welcoming tone. Beyond the delicious food, the real nourishment came from the shared experience of learning and bonding side by side.

A heartfelt dvar Torah was delivered by ninth grader Edden Margarefteh, whose thoughtful words set the stage for the learning that followed. Rabbi Rice then introduced a selection of Torah sources for the participants to study together, emphasizing how relationships are deepened and strengthened through shared Torah learning. The topic, the

halachic implications of forgetting, sparked meaningful discussion and reflection among the tables, creating an atmosphere of engagement across ages and generations.

The Dor L’Dor Breakfast was more than an event; it was a beautiful expression of care, affection, and the values we cherish at SKA. It was a morning that reminded us how powerful it is to pause, learn together, and invest in the relationships that shape our families and our community.

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Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Evening Of Celebration Set For January 11

Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Leibie and Chavie Alter Guests of Honor

Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Sholom and Rivky Leibowitz Guests of Honor

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he Yeshiva Darchei Torah 53rd anniversary evening of celebration, scheduled for Sunday evening, January 11th at Crest Hollow Country Club, will pay tribute to five exemplary families: Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Leibie and Chavie Alter – Guests of Honor Carrying on a legacy of responsibility and dedication to the Klal, Chaim Leibie and Chavie Alter stand out as exceptional role models who are singularly committed to giving back to the community— wherever the need arises—while remaining devoted to the needs of their family.

Chaim Leibie, a native of Flatbush, was raised in a home that focused on Torah values and upon the paramount importance of responsibility both to one’s family and to the tzibbur. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mordechai and Esther Alter, highlighted through example the value of showing concern for others, of giving back to the community, of making time to give advice to those who could benefit, and of using one’s kochos to benefit the klal.

Chavie’s upbringing very much mirrored that of her husband, as her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rivie and Leba Schwebel, have demonstrated true achrayus for the Klal, are well known for the myriad ways in which they give back to the community, and show genuine concern for those in need. Both the Alters and Schwebels have always emphasized and instilled in their families the importance of menschlichkeit and middos tovos above all. They have also shown exceptional devotion to the needs of their parents, setting a sterling example of true kibbud av va’eim.

Chaim Leibie is a talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, as well as Yeshivas Mir Yerushalyim. His eishes chayil, Chavie, also from Flatbush, attended Bais Yaakov D’Rav Meir, followed by a year at Bnos Chava seminary. Today, they reside in

Mr. and Mrs. Nussi and Batsheva Dessler Parents of the Year

their native Flatbush, where they are mispallelim at Congregation Kol Torah and benefit from their close kesher with its mara d’asra, Rav Lipa Geldwerth. They maintain a connection with many other chashuveh rabbanim in Flatbush, including Rav Yosef Fischer, Rav Shaya Fischer, Rav Avrohom Eisen, Rav Noam Rosenzweig, Rav Yosef Chaim Perlman, Rav Pinchos Frankel, and Rav Alter Frankel.

Chaim Leibie and Chavie strive to follow in their parents’ footsteps and have mastered the art of balancing their communal obligations with their dedication to the needs of their beautiful mishpachah. While Chaim Leibie is an insurance professional and Chavie is an interior designer, their primary focus is on stepping up to the plate wherever and however they can, while remaining attentive to the needs of their family.

They are the proud parents of six children, two of whom have thrived as talmidim of the Yeshiva. Yitzchok, an alumnus, attended Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, and Kollel Tirtza Devora, where he grew as a ben Torah and forged close relationships with Rosh Kollel Rav Dovid Bender and many other rebbeim. Dovid is a current talmid in the beis medrash, and the Alters are so grateful as they watch him thrive in a wholesome environment in which the dual values of hasmadah and menschlichkeit are underscored. Darchei’s emphasis on bein adam l’chaveiro—as demonstrated and instilled by the Rosh HaYeshiva and his sons, and every other member of the hanhalah—dovetails perfectly with the chinuch the Alters themselves portray.

Undoubtedly, Chaim Leibie and Chavie have created a home that beautifully fuses dedication to their children’s hatzlachah with a commitment to serve the Klal in whatever way they can. It is with great pleasure that Yeshiva Darchei Torah recognizes Chaim Leibie and Chavie Alter as this year’s Guests of Honor.

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel and Shevy Herzog Parents of the Year

Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Sholom and Rivky Leibowitz Guests of Honor Chaim Sholom and Rivky Leibowitz truly exemplify the ideals of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Their dedication to creating a home where chashivus haTorah and consistent commitment to Yiddishkeit are paramount, as well as their sincerity and genuine care for the needs of others, are a true reflection of all that the Yeshiva stands for.

Chaim Sholom is a native of Monsey, where his parents, Mr. Emanuel, sheyichyeh, and Mrs. Devora, a”h, Leibowitz, raised him to appreciate the supreme value of Torah and avodas Hashem. Chaim Sholom also absorbed the exceptional emunah and simchas hachaim displayed in his childhood home, values that play an integral role in his own home today.

As a talmid of Yeshivas Pe’er HaTorah, he forged a close kesher with his rebbi, Rav Yissachar Rothschild zt”l, whose extraordinary warmth and personal example still stand by him today. Currently, Chaim Sholom and his wife are respected members of the Cedarhurst community, where he stands at the helm of Harborview, a network of nursing homes, but his primary focus is on the needs of others. He is exceptionally dedicated to Darchei and its staff, doing whatever he can to ensure their continued success. He is involved in countless other mosdos chinuch, batei midrashim, and of course, the family’s makom tefillah, Kehillas Ahavas Yisroel.

He and his wife value the close relationship they have built with the rav and rebbetzin, Rav Moshe and Rebbetzin Rina Plutchok.

Chaim Sholom’s eishes chayil, Rivky, grew up in Flatbush in a home in which consistency in Yiddishkeit and avodas Hashem were foundational. Today, Rivky’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Ruchi Sokoloff, have moved to the Five

Mr. and Mrs. Ari and Elisheva Treuhaft Parents of the Year

Towns, where Mrs. Sokoloff is the menaheles of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam’s high school. Rivky herself is a beloved ninth- and tenth-grade teacher at Ateres Miriam, using her talents and intuition to build her talmidos. While her primary role is as a devoted mother to her beautiful family, Rivky also dedicates her time and kochos as a Bikur Cholim volunteer.

As veteran parents of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Chaim Sholom and Rivky are grateful to work hand in hand with the Yeshiva in being mechanech their sons: Eliyahu, now in the Kibbutz; Akiva, in ninth grade; Yisroel, in sixth grade; and Betzalel, in first grade. “The Yeshiva — and specifically, the rebbeim — take such a balanced approach to being mechanech our children, and this very much reflects what we strive to give over in our home,” they aver. “Over the years, we have found, time and again, that the rebbeim are so available that they are truly on our team, and most of all, totally dedicated to ensuring that each child becomes the best that he can be. Our children, and we as parents, have gained so much from Darchei’s exceptional approach, as demonstrated by every single rebbi and morah.”

Yeshiva Darchei Torah is proud to partner with Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Sholom and Rivky Leibowitz in passing on their beautiful mesorah and hashkafas hachaim to their children. Yeshiva Darchei Torah is honored to recognize this exceptional couple as Guests of Honor this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Nussi and Batsheva Dessler Parents of the Year Nussi and Batsheva Dessler stand out as parents who exemplify the ideals of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. They expertly balance a supreme dedication to the chinuch of their children with a commitment to chesed and the community, carrying on a family legacy from which Klal Yisrael

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Around the Community tion to Yeshiva Darchei Torah for the efforts involved in being mechanech their children, as well as for its impact on the entire community. They, too, display a special commitment to ensuring the hatzlachah of local mosdos chinuch and beyond. Yeshiva Darchei Torah is proud to acknowledge their sterling example with this year’s Parents of the Year Award.

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel and Shevy Herzog Parents of the Year Daniel and Shevy Herzog stand out as exceptional parents who demonstrate admirable dedication to the hatzlachah of their children and to inculcating them with ahavas haTorah.

Daniel was raised in Montreal, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron and Chava Herzog, imbued him with values that are very much a part of who he is today.

His father instilled in him by example a love for Torah and learning, and always encouraged him to set goals based on his own abilities. His mother’s dedication to her children also played a pivotal role in his upbringing, and her outlook that nothing was more important to her than the happiness of her children continues to shape the way the younger Herzogs parent their children.

Daniel attended high school at Yeshivas Nehora in Eretz Yisrael and then continued his learning at Yeshivas Chevron and subsequently at Mir Yerushalayim. After returning to the U.S., he joined Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, simultaneously earning his undergraduate degree, and then moved on to learn at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.

Currently, he practices as an emergency room physician at NYU Langone Hospital and is an involved and active member of the North Woodmere community.

He delivers a daily Daf Yomi shiur in his shul, Khal Bnai Hayeshivos, which is under the leadership of Rav Shmuel Witkin.

Daniel’s wife, Shevy, is a beloved speech therapist in local yeshivos, where she is devoted to helping students in preschool and early elementary grades.

Shevy, a native of Flatbush, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nussen and Esther Berger. Mr. Berger was born in Germany shortly after World War II and was privileged to learn in the Gateshead Yeshiva from a young age. He truly epitomizes Torah im derech eretz, as one who is kovea itim, whether at home or on the road, and treats every person as a tzelem Elokim. Mrs. Berger has always stood behind her chashuveh husband, instilling in

her children the importance and value of living a Torah life.

The Herzog home is infused with the very same values, and Daniel and Shevy are gratified that their children are being educated in an environment that reinforces everything they hold dear. Their five sons are all talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei Torah and Mesivta Chaim Shlomo: Moshe in tenth grade, Nachum in eighth grade, Akiva in sixth grade, Yehuda in first grade, and Avi in nursery.

In the Herzogs’ words, “We have boys at all levels, each with his own unique personality. Darchei finds a way to reach the heart of every child and help each one achieve his potential, whether through additional support services, extracurricular activities, or simply through genuine love and encouragement.

“The Yeshiva is always focused on the positive side of the talmidim and on how to help them grow. If a child needs help, the call from Darchei is never one of critique but rather goal-oriented: ‘How can we help this child reach his fullest ability?’ That perspective stems from a place of genuine care and love for every talmid.”

Daniel and Shevy Herzog are partners in the Yeshiva’s efforts, and Yeshiva Darchei Torah is proud to recognize them with this year’s Parents of the Year Award.

Mr. and Mrs. Ari and Elisheva Treuhaft Parents of the Year Ari and Elisheva Treuhaft stand out as exceptional and dedicated parents who truly exemplify the ideals of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Their devotion to ensuring that each of their children can grow and accomplish in the best way possible has been clearly evident throughout their years in Darchei.

Ari is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan and Malka Treuhaft. Ari’s father, a talmid of both Telshe Cleveland and Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, settled and raised his family in Flatbush. Ari’s early association with the Far Rockaway/Five Towns community was as a talmid of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He later went on to learn at Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim in Kew Gardens Hills.

Elisheva is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sheya and Shaindy Braun. Mr. Braun is a talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and raised his family in the Flatbush community, as well. Elisheva is a graduate of Prospect Park Yeshiva and

Chochmas Lev Seminary in Eretz Yisrael.

Ari and Elisheva moved from their native Flatbush to North Lawrence seven years ago and are now an integral part of that community. They are mispallelim at Khal Mevakshei Hashem and maintain a close kesher with its rav, Rav Yussie Zakutinsky.

The Treuhafts are the proud parents of five children, three of whom are current talmidim of the Yeshiva. Tzvi is in tenth grade at Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, Yoseph is in eighth grade, and Daniel is in sixth grade. Over the last seven years— since their children joined the Yeshiva in kindergarten, first, and third grades respectively—the Treuhafts have forged lasting connections with Darchei rebbeim and menahalim, and they treasure those relationships, feeling that there is no part of their lives that has not been touched by their place in the Darchei family.

In particular, the Treuhafts express their hakaras hatov for the personal interest Rav Yaakov Bender took in their family during their early years in the school and in the community, playing a vital role in their integration and ultimate hatzlachah. “In Darchei, the staff truly look at the talmidim as their own,” says Ari. “If I’m losing sleep over my child, so are they; and if I’m celebrating my child’s success, they are too. Darchei has always given us the support we needed, and I can honestly say that our family would not be where we are today without Yeshiva Darchei Torah—both collectively and individually.”

As they watch their sons blossom in the unique atmosphere of this very special makom Torah, the Treuhafts express their overwhelming hakaras hatov for the incredible efforts invested in each talmid, and specifically, for the way the Yeshiva enables their sons to thrive and become their best selves.

Darchei’s overarching perspective that every child is valued as a world unto himself is very much in sync with the Treuhafts’ ideals, and it is an honor for the Yeshiva to partner with them in the chinuch of their children. Yeshiva Darchei Torah is proud to acknowledge Ari and Elisheva with this year’s Parents of the Year Award.

For campaign contributions, journal ads, or event reservations, call 718.868.2300 ext. 301; email dinner@darchei.org; or visit EverHigher.darchei.org.

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

continues to reap the benefits.

Nussi was raised in Cleveland, where he spent his foundational years at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, which was founded by his grandfather, Rav Nochum Zev Dessler, zt”l. He continued his growth at the Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic for seven years under the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Meir Stern, with whom he is grateful to maintain a kesher until today.

He then went on to learn in Eretz Yisrael at Brisk and the Mir, where he remained for several years following his marriage to his wife Batsheva, nèe Kappel, a native of the Five Towns.

Upon their return from Eretz Yisrael, the Desslers settled in Far Rockaway.

They are active members of Kehillas Bais Yisroel, which is under the leadership of Rav Elysha Sandler, and are involved parents in their children’s schools, Yeshiva Darchei Torah and Bnos Bais Yaakov.

Growing up in a home steeped in chinuch and chesed, Nussi was ever conscious of the mesiras nefesh of his grandfather in establishing Torah-true chinuch in Cleveland. He was also privileged to witness firsthand the dedication of his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Eli and Suri Dessler, to the community. His frontrow view of his parents’ daily devotion to tzarchei tzibbur, whether in the school or in the community, instilled within him the enduring value of contributing to the Klal, and he strives to emulate their example.

Batsheva’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. Chesky and Shaindy Kappel, built their home upon the dual ideals of chesed and unwavering dedication to family. Dr. and Mrs. Kappel are also proud parents of Darchei alumni, and Batsheva is gratified that her children can benefit from the same stellar chinuch she observed over the years.

The Desslers feel truly fortunate to be part of the Darchei family. They share, “Under the exceptional leadership of Rabbi Yaakov Bender and Rabbi Moshe Bender, every child is nurtured with signature care and devotion. Our sons, Nochum Zev, a fifth grader, and Yehuda, a first grader, leave for yeshiva each day with smiles on their faces—and come home the same way—which is all any parent can hope for. At the same time as the children are nurtured in the most positive environment, the rebbeim, moros, menahalim, and entire administration are united in the singular goal of providing the highest level of chinuch for every talmid.”

The Desslers have a unique apprecia-

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MTA’s Israel Exchange Program

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TA is proud to announce the launch of a new exchange program with Yeshivat Mitzpeh Yericho High School (Netivot Yosef), an award-winning Israeli institution recognized for the exceptional breadth, depth, and rigor of its programs in both Kodesh and Chol. The yeshiva’s strong educational vision and commitment to excellence make it a natural partner for a meaningful and immersive international learning experience.

Yeshivat Mitzpeh Yericho is known for setting a remarkably high standard in Torah learning. By graduation, students complete half of Shas b’kiyun, while also participating in a demanding and advanced general studies program. This balance of serious Torah learning and academic responsibility closely mirrors MTA’s own educational philosophy.

This year, six MTA talmidim have embarked on a one-month immersive experience in Israel as part of the program’s inaugural cohort. While in Mitzpeh Yericho, the students are fully integrated into the yeshiva’s daily schedule, learn-

ing in regular shiurim alongside their Israeli peers. In the afternoons, they continue their first-semester general studies coursework asynchronously, ensuring academic continuity while abroad. They also participate in hands-on general studies classes offered on campus, gaining exposure to Israeli classroom learning and instruction.

A key component of the program is meaningful chesed and community engagement. The students are actively involved in the local Mitzpeh Yericho yishuv, including providing English tutoring for younger children. These opportunities allow the boys to form real relationships within the community and to experience firsthand the values of responsibility, contribution, and service in daily Israeli life.

In addition, the program benefits from the involvement of local community leaders and educators who help facilitate connections and support the students’ experience. Among them is Uri Pilachowski of Nefesh B’Nefesh, whose wife serves as the mayor of Mitzpeh Yericho.

His involvement helps connect key pieces of the experience and offers students added insight into Jewish leadership, community building, and contemporary life in Israel. In addition to their academic and chesed commitments, the students will participate in educational tiyulim throughout the country, deepening their understanding of Israel’s history, geography, and society.

Beyond the classroom and community engagement, students participate in educational tiyulim throughout Israel, deepening their understanding of the land, its history, and its people. Shabba-

tot are spent both with host families in the yishuv and together with the yeshiva, creating powerful opportunities for spiritual growth and authentic connection to Israeli communal life.

This new exchange program reflects MTA’s ongoing commitment to creating immersive educational experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. By combining rigorous learning, academic responsibility, chesed, and meaningful engagement with Israel, the program offers students a true living classroom, shaping not only what they learn, but who they become.

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Around the Community

Be My Guest Event

By Chaya Feldstein

T

he emotion of togetherness with the large crowd at the third annual Be My Guest event is hard to articulate. The traffic and speed trap camera on Empire Blvd. that night is proof… no one got a speeding ticket...

Rabbi Feiner offered introductory notes, reiterated my message to the dear audience; each and every person who was present from near or far made the event the successful turnout that it was. An additional quiet shoutout for those of you dear readers who will now take the time to listen to the recording, thanks to Mr. Barry Salamon for videoing and uploading to Torah Anytime.

Rabbi Feiner introduced the night’s events, led by Rabbi Yaakov Bender’s in-

credible story about their neighbor, Rebbetzin Levovitz, and her parting words.

“When you do a favor, it always comes back.” A Yid must give to live. Rebbetzin Levovitz’s motto was, “Let me do a favor for you, it’s a favor for me.”

Rabbi Haber’s words penetrated, both the youth and adults, men and women.

Each person must find what his or her “stick” is. Whatever you were gifted with was for a reason – to give and benefit another. Each person’s path, no matter how many people are part of their family unit, truly has a lonely journey in this world’s mission…how much more so for people who truly are without support of a spouse or immediate family network support…we must never assume that the other person is OK. Genuine reaching out with warmth, love and care is always ap-

preciated and should never be underestimated! Allow someone to turn down an invitation rather than not invite at all because of some assumption or reasoning.

The mantra of Be My Guest is “Taste the sweetness of inviting one guest—no one should ever have to eat alone. We are all one family.”

True success will be marked by how our community members pining to be noticed will feel in due time. Anecdotally, I have heard countless times the day after that the people who were zocheh to be in attendance have replayed the lectures already, indicative of our truly amazing chessed-minded community to grow and actualize, putting to action right away!

Let’s keep the unity of December 29, as Rabbi Haber said, there is no such thing as “bessere menschen,” we are all in

this together! Please join the movement!

You will receive reminders and inspiration to reach out. Best, we help you set up a system of ambassadors in YOUR SHUL. Email bemyguestforShabbos@ gmail.com.

Thank you to the White Shul for hosting, the rabbanim for their support, the many volunteers for giving their energy time and efforts, and to HaKodosh Baruch Hu for making it all happen… no snow or ice! Just cold and wind! And thanks to Yossi Kohn Photography for the pictures on this page.

The recording can be found on Torah Anytime or by phone 718-298-2077, Press 9, and class ID 418390, then #, 418393, then #, 418397, then #.

Tivuch Shelly Brings Israeli Real Estate to NY & NJ: Why Now Is the Right Time to Buy in Israel

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nterest in Israeli real estate continues to grow among North American buyers—and for good reason.

To meet this growing interest, Tivuch Shelly Real Estate is conducting a series of exclusive Israeli real estate housing meetings in the New York and New Jersey areas, giving prospective buyers a rare opportunity to explore Israel’s best new developments—without boarding a plane.

Why Now Is the Time to Buy in Israel Today’s housing market in Israel presents a unique window of opportunity with a variety of new construction and pre-sale projects throughout the country. Buyers can take advantage of: ● Pre-sale pricing - significantly below the future market value ● Flexible payment schedules ● A wide selection of brand-new homes built to modern standards

● Strong demand in Anglo-friendly communities with excellent schools and infrastructure For many buyers, purchasing now means securing a home at today’s prices while planning for future aliyah, vacation use, or long-term investment.

Featured Opportunity: Ma’ale Adumim, Your Gateway to Jerusalem One of the highlights of these events is a new project in Ma’ale Adumim, an Anglo-focused community just 20 minutes from Jerusalem, offered at exceptional pre-sale pricing with no purchase tax (where applicable).

Ma’ale Adumim offers a warm, established Anglo community. Outstanding schools and educational options. Parks, shopping, country club with indoor and outdoor pools, and quality-of-life amenities. And Most importantly, quick and easy access to Jerusalem while enjoying a

suburban feel.

Other opportunities include Jerusalem, with pre-sale and new development projects in Arnona, Baka, New Katamon, and more, as well as brand-new projects and early-stage developments in Israel’s most sought-after locations, including Netanya (Ir Yamim to North Netanya), Ashdod, Carmei Gat, Ma’ale Adumim, Modiin, Tel Aviv, and Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Meet the Experts. Compare Communities. Get Real Answers.

These housing meetings are designed to be informative, personal, and pressure-free. You will meet a variety of experienced Israeli real estate professionals.

Compare multiple projects and communities side by side. Learn about the buying process, legal considerations, and financing options. And, receive clear, practical guidance from purchase through key delivery.

Event Locations -Englewood, NJ: Sunday, January 4 – 1:00 PM -Teaneck, NJ: Sunday, January 4 – 6:30 PM -Five Towns, NY: Monday, January 5 – 7:00 PM -New Rochelle, NY: Tuesday, January 6 – 7:00 PM -Fair Lawn, NJ: Wednesday, January 7 – 7:00 PM -Kew Garden Hills, NY: Thursday, January 8 – 7:00 PM Register Now: Please contact Tivuch Shelly for the specific locations. Use this link to register https://forms.gle/o3yophm3G1jLxhE39 or call Yoni Gold (USA Rep) at 516-7373180.

Don’t miss out on this personalized opportunity!

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Ezra Academy Hosts Inspiring Mother-Daughter Evening

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zra Academy welcomed mothers and daughters for a meaningful and memorable evening on Tuesday, December 23, at a beautifully curated mother-daughter event that drew an impressive turnout and vibrant energy from the community.

The evening was thoughtfully designed to foster connection, joy, and spiritual uplift. One of the highlights was an engaging and lively game show led by Rabbi Perlowitz, which brought laughter and enthusiasm to the room. Guests enjoyed an elegant spread that included sushi, fresh salads, tea, and an assortment of desserts, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout the night.

Adding to the excitement, the Ezra Academy Dance Team delivered a spirited performance that showcased student talent and school pride. The program also included heartfelt words of chizuk from Rabbi Geller, Mashgiach Ruchani, who offered inspiration and reflection that resonated deeply with attendees.

A central feature of the evening was the opportunity for informal schmoozing and meaningful conversation between parents and members of the Judaic Stud-

ies women’s faculty. Mothers had the chance to connect, catch up, and build relationships with Morah Simka, Morah Sperling, Morah Talya, Morah Sarah, Morah Gavrielov, and Morah Rosenthal, strengthening the partnership between home and school.

School leadership was also present to share in the celebration, including Mr. Miska, Assistant Principal; Rabbi Mittelman, Director of Programming; and Ms. Fish, Esq., principal, all of whom joined in the festivities and engaged with families throughout the evening.

The event was set up with great care and attention to detail, and as a keepsake, attendees received special personalized magnets to commemorate the evening. Above all, the night was marked by warmth, connection, and a strong sense of community, leaving participants with lasting memories and a renewed appreciation for the relationships that make Ezra Academy so special.

The mother-daughter event was truly a resounding success and a testament to the strength and spirit of the Ezra Academy community.

Gesher Celebrates Chanukah

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esher was filled with Chanukah spirit as we welcomed mothers and grandmothers for our annual Chanuka Workshops. The day began with student performances featuring songs about Chanukah, which got everyone into the spirit.

Following the performance, mothers and grandmothers rotated through a variety of interactive centers alongside their children. Participants enjoyed making their own Chanukah candles, squeezing fresh olives from California using an olive press, decorating doughnuts, creating edible menorahs, and coloring their very own dreidels. Each activity offered a hands-on way to connect to the themes of Chanukah.

The room was beautifully transformed into a Chanukah gallery, showcasing student artwork from every class.

Each grade explored Chanukah through a different artistic modality, including

mosaic tiling, collaging, mirror art, paint stamping, oil painting, and sculpting dreidels out of clay. The diversity of media reflected both the creativity of our students and Chanukah themes coming to life.

Overall, it was a meaningful day that captured the warmth of Chanukah in Gesher!

Always Having Hands-On Fun at YOSS

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he boys in Mrs. Berkowitz’s Math Enrichment class at YOSS have been hard at work. During Chanukah, the class enjoyed special in-class celebrations featuring engaging games and activities. One highlight was a mathbased version of a grocery shopping game.

Divided into teams, each group was given supermarket flyers and a budget to plan meals for a family for one week. The goal was to create the most well-rounded shopping list without exceeding the allotted budget. The activity sparked great enthusiasm and provided students with a meaningful appreciation for budgeting while encouraging teamwork and

thoughtful decision making.

These hands-on activities were not only fun but also helped students apply classroom math concepts to real life situations!

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Around the Community

A Gesture of Gratitude

Mrs. Katz’s second grade students at Yeshiva Darchei Torah practice reading and math in the Yeshiva’s CIJE computer laboratory

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n a small but meaningful gesture of gratitude, the Village of Cedarhurst was honored to provide lunch to the dedicated men and women of the 4th Precinct. Mayor Benjamin Weinstock, along with Trustee Israel Wasser and Village Administrator Jacob Plaut, personally visited the Precinct to express

their heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation for the tireless commitment, courage, and service shown each day by those who work to keep the Village safe. Their dedication to protecting and serving the community does not go unnoticed, and Cedarhurst is truly grateful for all that they do today and every day.

Hands-On Learning at Zareinu

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he Zareinu middle school inclusion class in South Shore stirred up a unique lesson this week, proving that learning can be both delicious and deeply educational. The students participated in a hands-on activity that seamlessly blended mathematics and literature.

The goal was simple: make smoothies. The execution, however, was a rich lesson in fractions. Students practiced measuring and calculating ingredients— turning abstract concepts like 1/4 cup or 2/3 cup into tangible, tasty results. This real-world application helped solidify their comprehension of essential math

skills.

Adding a unique twist, the ingredients were inspired by the class’s current novel, “City of Ember.” Students connected the process to the book’s themes of resources and rationing, deepening their literary analysis while practicing math.

The Zareinu program, which equips students with the skills to thrive in mainstream settings, uses innovative, multisensory lessons like this to make learning meaningful and memorable. By making education hands-on and engaging, the class is achieving great educational outcomes.

Supporting Growth, Connection and Wellbeing at HAFTR

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t HAFTR, social-emotional learning plays a central role in supporting students as they grow academically, socially, and personally.

This month, our middle school SEL programming focused on helping students build skills that foster confidence, resilience, and meaningful connections.

For sixth grade, the primary focus has been supporting a smooth and successful transition into middle school. Students participated in their first advisory session, during which the grade was divided into small groups and paired with a faculty advisor. These advisory meetings, which will take place two additional times this year, provide students with a space to come together as a grade while also building familiarity with trusted members of the guidance team.

Sixth graders also began their SEL curriculum by focusing on executive functioning skills. Through guided discussions, students explored the challenges that come with managing multiple classes, increased responsibilities, and new expectations. They then put these skills into practice through a hands-on activity in which they prioritized tasks and organized them into a daily planner, reinforcing effective time-management strategies.

Seventh-grade girls were introduced to a new DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) Skills curriculum, designed to support growth in four key areas: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.

This month’s focus was on distress tolerance, learning how to manage discomfort in challenging moments. Students worked through real-life scenarios and practiced identifying when to use coping

strategies versus when acceptance skills are most appropriate.

For seventh and eighth-grade boys, the SEL focus this year centers on teamwork and collaboration. Through handson, problem-solving activities, students are learning how to work together toward a shared goal. Seventh graders participated in a team challenge that required building a pyramid of cups using only a grabber, emphasizing communication and cooperation. Eighth graders are taking this concept a step further by designing and presenting an activity that will be used in an upcoming SEL lesson focused on digital citizenship.

Eighth-grade girls spent the month exploring the topic of relationships, with particular attention to exclusion. Students worked in small groups to analyze social scenarios and discuss thoughtful, respectful responses. The sessions also encouraged reflection, prompting students to consider both times they may have felt excluded and moments when they may have excluded others, fostering empathy and self-awareness.

Through intentional SEL programming at every grade level, HAFTR remains committed to nurturing academic success and the emotional well-being, character, and growth of every student.

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Around the Community

LEGGGGOOOO at SHS Shabbaton

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ean in. Engage. Grow. Own it!

Shabbaton 2025 at SHS fostered an unbelievable sense of connection, growth, and camaraderie. Our awesome seniors departed Thursday night to prepare welcome bags, put up several crock pots of cholent, and deck out the hotel for the arrival of the rest of the school. On Friday morning, underclassmen were greeted with song and dance before separating by grade to create personalized Lego mezuzahs. We soon ushered in Shabbos with more singing and dancing at pre-Shabbos ruach, Kabbalas Shabbos, and a Friday night meal packed with zemiros and delicious food.

A highlight for many girls were the sessions with our guest speaker, Dr. Yehuda Pryce, who became a ger after spending many years in prison for gang-related criminal activity. His resilience and fortitude in pulling himself out of the lowest depths gave a strong message of hope to our audience, each navigating her own challenges.

The weekend ended with a chagiga, melava malka, and beautiful kumzitz led by the Y-Studs. Despite the half-foot of snow on the ground, the weekend was packed with warmth, inspiration, and everlasting memories.

Ohel Honored Community Resilience and Hope at Its 56th Annual Gala

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hel Children’s Home and Family Services returned to Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers, NYC, to celebrate its 56th Annual Gala. Nearly 650 dedicated community advocates and supporters gathered to support the organization while raising essential funds and awareness for Ohel’s extensive range of mental health services and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Maintaining its tradition of providing a unique and memorable experience, the gala commenced with an introduction to social media influencers, brothers Nicholas Safier and Gabriel Safier (Nick and Gabe). The audience was captivated by the pair’s unbreakable bond and the unimaginable ways Gabe, a person with an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD), has impacted his brother’s life.

The event featured moving presentations underscoring Ohel’s

instrumental role in the community.

Lisa Sheinhouse, Ohel’s Director of Community Programs, addressed the significant way that Ohel’s day programs change the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. of the organization’s offerings. Tzipora Shapero, a key presenter from Ohel’s Communities Confronting Substance Use & Addiction (CCSA), spoke about the power of overcoming addiction and the importance of educating our children about addiction as a means of preventing substance abuse.

Throughout the evening, Ohel formally recognized several honorees for their dedication:  Ohel Champions Award: Nicholas Safier and Gabriel Safier  Breaking Barriers Award: Bina and Avrumy Mendlowitz  Corporate Honoree: Brendan Gallagher, Regional President, Northeast, Gallagher Ohel leadership, including Co-

Presidents Jay Kestenbaum and Mel Zachter, President Emeritus Moishe Hellman, Chair of Camp Kaylie Elly Kleinman, and CEO David Mandel presented each honoree with their award.

The most powerful moment came from the Mendlowitz family, who courageously shared how their son, Shimon, died by suicide. Their profound testimony was delivered with the intent of inspiring other families to seek help, encouraging others to ignore their fear of shame around this still sensitive topic.

David Brecher, president of Ohel’s Camp Kaylie, highlighted Ohel’s readiness to support families during crises. Mr. Brecher also detailed the organization’s strategic expansion, which includes new housing and mental health support in Queens, establishing a cornerstone of care in New Jersey, and launching the Ohel Family Center in Lawrence, Long Island, offering day programs, respite care, and parenting seminars. His remarks underscored

Ohel’s commitment to providing hope and a seamless continuum of care.

Mr. Mandel summarized the evening by stating, “Tonight’s gathering is a profound reaffirmation of our most sacred responsibility: the unwavering commitment to caring for our community. The thousands of unique stories unfolding daily at Ohel, stories of struggle, strength, and extraordinary resilience, serve not merely as narratives, but as a vital reminder of our mission.

When a community unites to meet every individual exactly where they are, we embody the very essence of partnership and shared humanity. Our work is not simply support; it is a covenant of hope.”

There is still time to donate to Ohel and make a lasting impact through a taxdeductible gift. Visit www.ohelfamily.org/ donate to help Ohel maintain momentum throughout its local communities and beyond.

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Rav Simcha Horowitz’s third grade talmidim at Yeshiva Darchei Torah pose next to a replica of Yosef HaTzaddik’s kesones pasim, complete with streaks of red “blood” (ketchup)

YUHSG Honors Tradition With 2025 Grandparents Day

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t’s been a whirlwind December at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central)! Earlier in the month, all Wildcats celebrated service work as part of Chesed Month. Last week’s Chanukah celebrations brought chagigas, treats, and surprises to the Holliswood campus. This week brought another much-anticipated event to YUHSG: Grandparents Day. Each December, YUHSG celebrates its wider community beyond the classroom with its annual Grandparents Day event. Grandparents Day is one of the school’s most cherished traditions, welcoming not only grandparents, but also parents, aunts, uncles, and family friends who play a meaningful role in students’ lives. Held on December 25, this most recent Grandparents Day, themed “Mesorah From Generation to Generation,” provided a joyful pause at the close of the semester, offering the community a moment to gather, learn, and reflect on the traditions and gifts passed between generations of families before midterms and the winter break.

The morning began with Shacharit and a welcome message from YUHSG’s Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Joshua Goller, which set the tone for a day grounded in warmth and gratitude. After davening, families enjoyed a light breakfast and took advantage of the ever-popular photo booth to commemorate the day. Visitors then headed to classrooms, where faculty offered a series of mini-lessons ranging from Judaic studies insights – including Rabbi Goller’s lesson, “How Our Tefillos Connect Generations” – to general

studies explorations like “Mesorah in Our Molecules: A Shared Story Written in DNA,” taught by Science Department Chair and Science Institute Director, Mrs. Ruth Fried. A spirited trivia segment added to the morning’s fun, testing all generations on their knowledge of Torah family trees, food trends, popular theme songs, and more! The program continued with a special community shiur from the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz. His remarks were both timely and uplifting and prompted conversation among students and their families.

Grandparents Day has long served as a bridge between generations. This year’s event was no exception; the positive energy in the building was palpable as families moved from classroom to classroom, meeting teachers, hearing from leadership, and seeing firsthand the vibrancy of the YUHSG community. It was a meaningful way to bring a busy month to a reflective, thoughtful close. The next major events for Wildcats: midterm exams, which begin January 5, with winter break beginning January 14.

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f you can’t beat them, join them, right? The first grade students at HALB celebrated the 67th day of

school with writing and math activities.

The students loved it!

Embracing “6-7” the YHT Way

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t Yeshiva Har Torah, connection and joy aren’t just saved for big milestones – we love finding meaning in the everyday moments that bring our community together! So on the 67th day of school, we joined in on the worldwide “6” and “7” fun and leaned right into the creativity, energy, and unity that this playful trend inspires.

Both campus lobbies were filled with towering “6” and “7” balloons, setting a lively, celebratory tone from the moment students walked through the doors.

Throughout the day, skits, smiles, and spontaneous laughter filled the halls, reminding our students that joy can show up in unexpected places – even in something as small (and delightfully silly) as two numbers.

Our administrative team and teachers were all in, proudly wearing custom 6/7 shirts and modeling what it looks like to

embrace community spirit with warmth, enthusiasm, and laughs. The result was a day buzzing with happiness, connection, and genuine togetherness. The number 67, the gematria of binah, “understanding,” beautifully reflects what happens at Yeshiva Har Torah every single day, as our students learn with curiosity, heart, and depth, turning knowledge into connection and meaning. Because at YHT, fun is never just fun – it’s a way to create meaning. It’s about intention and shared experiences. It’s about belonging, and moreover, it’s about unity within our school community.

On our 67th day of school, we didn’t just mark a date on the calendar – we turned it into a moment of joy, purpose, and collective celebration, beautifully aligned with one of YHT’s core underlying values of building connections.

Morah Tobi’s Kindergarten class in The Ganger Early Childhood of TAG got a chance to play with snow, a real hands-on experiment

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Day Six-Seven at HALB

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Literacy at Gan Chamesh

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n connection with Hey Teves (an important date on the Chabad calendar when a court ruled that the library of the famed Frierdiker Rebbe belonged to the Chabad movement), Gan Chamesh began its literacy unit. The children brought their favorite Jewish books to school and focused on reading and writing activities which highlight the importance of reading to the development of young minds.

HALB Bar Mitzvah Breakfast

Rav Yaakov Feitman speaking at the Shul and Kollel Mesibah on Chanukah with Roshei Kollel Rav Yechiel Gibber, Rav Moshe Kaufman, and Rav Avrohom Wachsman at the home of Uri Dreifus

YCQ Students Receive First Chumashim

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he seventh grade boys at HALB celebrated the start of their bar mitzvah year with a beautiful Bar Mitzvah Breakfast. Their parents and

T rebbeim joined them in tefillah, singing, dancing and words of Torah. It was a very meaningful start to this very special time in their lives.

HAFTR: “Are You Smarter Than a Second Grader?”

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AFTR recently hosted its first-ever “Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader?” event, and it was an event filled with energy, laughter, and school pride. In a friendly and fast-paced math showdown against their parents, our second graders emerged victorious, impressing everyone with their quick thinking and strong math skills.

Beyond the numbers, the event highlighted our students’ genuine excitement and confidence in learning. Cheers filled the room as children eagerly solved problems, while parents watched with pride, celebrating not just the win, but the growth and enthusiasm their children displayed.

The event was a joyful reminder that learning at HAFTR is engaging, em-

powering, and meant to be shared as a community. A special thank you to Mrs. Rahmani for creating this memorable experience that brought families together and celebrated our students’ love of learning.

he Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) wishes a mazal tov to all of their grade 2 talmidim and talmidot who received their first Chumashim this month! We’re looking forward to hearing the beautiful Torah learning that’s to come!

Thank you to Morah Foular, Morah Reut, Morah Dganit, and Morah Maya, Morah Tali Brody, Shirly-Pourad Kaikov, and the entire business office team for their efforts making each presentation so special.

Winter is “snow” much at Shulamith ECC

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Mercaz Celebrates Chag HaChumash

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ercaz’s Kitah Bet (second grade) reached a meaningful milestone last week as they celebrated Chag HaChumash, receiving their first Chumash in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by parents, grandparents, and siblings. Each student was gifted their very own copy of Bereshit in a beautiful hardcover edition personalized with their names and heartfelt dedications from families and sponsors.

The celebration began with a Chumash Play performed by the students, who confidently recited English and Hebrew lines on the importance and joy of learning Torah and sang songs in both languages. Accompanied by music teacher Craig Resmovits, the performance concluded with the crowd-pleasing favorite, “Thank You, Hashem!”

Principal Rabbi Kalman Fogel then offered the students a special bracha, or blessing, that they should always feel the same excitement in opening a Chumash and learning Torah as they did on this day. He then personally called each child forward to present their Chumash. As the students returned to their seat on stage, they began eagerly flipping through their new books, pointing out Hebrew words they recognized and poring over the texts they will spend the rest of the year – and the rest of their lives – learning.

After the performance, students posed for photos and enjoyed a reception with their families, who were filled with nachat, or pride. “Receiving their very first Chumash was as meaningful for me to watch, as it has been for them to earn,” said second grade parent Diane Herbst.

“You could see how proud each student on stage felt as they stood up to receive it.

Mercaz has helped them understand that Torah is present in every aspect of our lives, and I’m so grateful for that!”

“I am incredibly proud of how hard

the students worked and how seriously they approached this milestone,” shared second grade Judaics teacher Leah Levy.

“We’re all excited to open our Chumashim and start learning!”

loons, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Each family sat together at a table and was provided with all the materials needed to prepare challah dough, including a metal mixing bowl, wooden spoon, recipe card, ingredients, and a card with the bracha and the laws of hafrashat challah. After opening remarks

by Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Head of School N-8, the gathering of nearly 250 participants joined together in reciting Tehillim in the merit of Klal Yisrael.

Mrs. Tracy Lloyd, a HANC alumna and current fourth grade teacher, led the group through the challah-making process. Addressing the crowd, she reflected on the lasting influence of her own teachers at HANC and the inspiration she drew from the Shabbat tables they welcomed her into as a student. She emphasized the beauty and power of three generations standing together, participating

in a mitzvah that Jewish women have upheld for thousands of years. Speaking directly to the girls as they approach their bat mitzvah years, Mrs. Lloyd reminded them that this mitzvah is now theirs—transforming simple ingredients into something holy through intention, effort, and love.

As the dough was mixed and set aside to rise, Mrs. Lloyd continued to inspire the girls to perform mitzvot with joy and enthusiasm. By the event’s conclusion, it was clear that the experience had been deeply moving and unforgettable. The girls eagerly anticipated baking their challot at home and sharing them with their families, having created something special alongside their mothers and grandmothers in an atmosphere of warmth, tradition, and community.

Intergenerational Events at HANC

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ANC’s Middle School in the Reinstein Family Educational Center recently hosted two meaningful intergenerational events that brought students and their families together in powerful ways.

Recently, the Middle School boys, along with their fathers and grandfathers, gathered in the Rabbi Moshe Gottesman z”l Beit Midrash for the annual HANC Father-Son Learning Shiur. Following welcoming remarks from Middle School Principal and Campus Dean, Rabbi Elliot Hecht, the boys proudly escorted their guests to their classrooms, offering parents and grandparents a firsthand glimpse into how Gemara is learned each day with their Rebbes. The group then reconvened in the Beit Midrash for an engaging and interactive shiur exploring the question of whether certain mitzvot are more important than others. Using

a thoughtfully prepared source packet, Rabbi Mordechai Harris, Middle School Rebbe and Limudei Kodesh Rebbe, guided the learning and posed thought-provoking questions such as, “Are all mitzvot truly equal?” and “Are some mitzvot deserving of greater focus or reward?”

Through collaborative analysis and discussion, the group ultimately concluded that every mitzvah carries significance.

The opportunity for two and even three generations to learn Torah together made the experience especially meaningful and memorable.

At the same time, the Middle School girls participated in an extraordinary event of their own. Sixth through eighth grade girls invited their mothers and grandmothers to the newly opened and expansive lunchroom for a special challah bake. The space was festively decorated with tablecloths, flowers, and bal-

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Far Rockaway and Five Towns Community To Celebrate Dirshu Siyum and Evening of Celebration And Chizuk Next Sunday Event at White Shul to Feature Addresses by Leading Gedolim and Music by Boruch Levine

By Chaim Gold

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t is the talk of the town – or make it the Towns! All five of them and Far Rockaway.

Dirshu is coming to Far Rockaway and the Five Towns. This coming Sunday, 16 Teves/January 4, will mark a historic milestone in Far Rockaway and the Five Towns which will host their first ever major Dirshu event, An Evening of Celebration and Chizuk.

The evening will start off with a gala siyum on Mishnah Berurah Chelek Gimmel that was recently completed in Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha daily Mishnah Berurah program. Perhaps more importantly, however, is that it will serve as an opportunity for the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities to get a firsthand look at the Dirshu revolution that has transformed communities across the world, and to hear words of chizuk during the turbulent times in which Klal Yisrael finds itself from leading Gedolei Yisrael and inspiring speakers.

The event will be graced by numerous prominent rabbanim in Far Rockaway and the Five Towns and addressed by Gedolim such as HaGaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Staten Island, and HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, well known mashpia and mekubel whose brachos are sought by Yidden throughout the world.

A keynote address will be given by Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, shlita, rav of the Agudas Yisrael Beis Binyomin Shul in Flatbush, who is a dynamic and compelling speaker.

An important, poignant personal message will be delivered by the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, who is responsible for spearheading a Torah renaissance in Jewish communities across the globe. Whether it is Eretz Yisrael, North America, South America, Europe, Australia or South Africa, Dirshu is there, encouraging daily, accountable Torah learning in an unprecedented way.

One Public Siyum Leads to So Much More!

On Sunday, the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities will see the

revolution in action as they celebrate the event to be held at the White Shul with a beautiful seudah accompanied by singing and dancing led by R’ Baruch Levine.

Certainly, Dirshu is no stranger to Far Rockaway and the Five Towns. There are already numerous daily shiurim in both the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and Amud HaYomi programs, but this coming Sunday offers an opportunity for so many more to join.

Rabbi Doctor Ahron Glatt, Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere, and a Daf HaYomi B’Halacha maggid shiur who has already said daily shiurim on the entire six volumes of the Mishnah Berurah, put it succinctly when he said, “Any celebration of Torah generates interest. When we celebrate the completion of a limud, it encourages more and more people to dedicate themselves to learning.

“Many years ago, I went to a siyum someone made on the Mishnah Yomis.

I loved the idea and chose then to start learning Mishnah Yomis myself. Any time a siyum is publicly celebrated, it arouses a desire in others to emulate what the learners are doing. A siyum on Mishnah Berurah such as the one that Dirshu is making here in our neighborhood can pay eternal dividends. People are inspired to learn and their halachic observance improves. Then, others who see them and their halachic observance consider joining, thus a public siyum blossoms and blossoms bearing eternal fruit.”

Learning Halacha Daily Empowers One to Live with Hashem!

Rabbi Shmuel Witkin, rav of Kehillas Bnai Hayeshivos of North Woodmere, who delivers a daily Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur in his shul, related, “There are no words to describe the transformative impact that being part of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur has had on the participants! We started saying the shiur publicly when the last machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha learned hilchos Shabbos. Numerous members of our shiur are involved in industries that need to run twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Of course, there are halachically permissible ways to do this, but the awareness created by the shiur, and the

HaRav Shimon Galei speaking at a previous Dirshu World Siyum in Prudential Center

practical matters that they have learned have made a tremendous difference in the way they conduct their business affairs.

“It has been absolutely amazing to see how awareness of halacha has been so heightened for those attending the shiur.

I have seen how being part of this Dirshu program has really upgraded the ruchniyus of all participants, some of whom have even been taking Dirshu’s monthly tests.

“Another important benefit from learning the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is simply the fact that the participants now know when to ask a shailah. Learning halacha empowers you to live with halacha and live with Hashem, Who gave these halachos, all day and every day.”

Global Reach Rabbi Glatt echoes Rabbi Witkin’s words, but his experience has not only been on a local scale but on a global scale.

His daily shiur is featured on major platforms such as the OU’s All Daf and Dirshu. He has listeners who learn with his shiur daily from all over the world.

“The impact of Dirshu is just amazing! I get correspondence, of course, from those in America who listen to the shiur but also from people out in Australia, South Africa and Europe. In fact, I was invited to speak at the Dirshu siyum in South Africa on the entire Mishnah Berurah because many of the people in that community were logging into my shiur on a daily basis.

“People come up to me in airplanes and at weddings and thank me, telling me that they listen to my shiur. When we first started saying the shiur, at the beginning of the last machzor and it was put online

by the OU, the concept was something new. There weren’t too many shiurim like this being platformed on a daily basis. I try to condense the daily Daf into a twenty-minute shiur so it wouldn’t take up too much time from a person’s day. At the same time, my goal was that the listeners should come out with clarity. Baruch Hashem we now have over 1800 shiurim on the Mishnah Berurah!”

“Today,” Rabbi Witkin explains, “we have begun Hilchos Eruvin and although the halachos are complex in some ways, the Dirshu Mishnah Berurah’s Biurim and Musafim give us so many practical examples to illustrate how the words of the Mishnah Berurah come alive. When they bring Rav Moshe Feinstein’s shita on the eruvin in our communities it is no longer abstract.”

According to Rabbi Meir Avracen, Dirshu’s Far Rockaway and Five Towns coordinator, the response from the community has been remarkable! So many people have RSVP’d that they are excited to come to the siyum. A wide array of rabbanim of shuls in the various neighborhoods have enthusiastically agreed to participate.

There is still time to RSVP and attend this historic event that will offer tremendous inspiration, a seudas mitzvah and contemporary messages from leading Gedolim complemented by beautiful singing and dancing led by R’ Baruch Levine.

This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Please RSVP at DafHalacha.com/event or email, MA@Dirshunj.org. or call 732987-3948 ext. 112.

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TJH

Centerfold

Word-Up Each of the following became official words in established dictionaries in 2025, except for one.

Can you spot the non-word or phrase?

Beast mode: Intense performance Delulu: Short for “delusional” in internet slang

Well Said

GOATed: Considered to be the greatest of all time Hard pass: Firm, emphatic refusal

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the No cap: Genuinely, truthfully

new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure

Rage bait: Online content deliberately designed to elicit

the old year leaves.” - Bill Vaughan

anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive

“Many years ago, I resolved never to bother with Rizz: Charm

New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve stuck with it

Sigma: A person who is coolly self-assured, independent,

ever since.” - Dave Beard

and driven Touch grass: To step away from the internet and re-

“Now there are more overweight people in

engage with real life

America than average-weight people. So

Six-Seven: Siiiiiiiiixxxx seeeeeveeeen. Means nothing;

overweight people are now average. Which

means everything

means you’ve met your New Year’s resolution.”

Donutitis: The act of eating so many

- Jay Leno

doughnuts on Chanukah that by the time it’s over, the only thing you can

“Good resolutions are simply checks that men

think about is…more doughnuts!

draw on a bank where they have no account.”

- Oscar Wilde

recognized as a word. But don’t worry Answer: The disease that you have, donutitis, is not yet

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

1. *

– it’s still a real thing.

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“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I didn’t become a better person.” - Jerry Seinfeld

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1. Who had the highest batting average in the MLB last season? a. Aaron Judge b. Juan Soto c. Bryce Harper d. Starling Marte 2. Who was the MVP of the 2025 Super Bowl? a. DeVonta Smith b. Jalen Hurts c. Travis Kelce d. Patrick Mahomes 3. Which team won the 2025 NBA Finals? a. Milwaukee Bucks b. Oklahoma City Thunder c. LA Lakers d. Houston Rockets 4. Match the player with the money earned in 2021 Cristiano Ronaldo

$47 million

LeBron James

$114 million

Juan Soto

$137.6 million

Aaron Judge

$275 million

5. Which athlete made $2 million from actually playing his sport and $100,000,000 from endorsements, etc.? a. Kevin Durant b. Shohei Ohtani c. Tiger Woods d. Phil Mickelson 6. How many no-hitters were there in the 2025 MLB season? a. 0 b. 5 c. 9 d. 17

$70M/year salary paid out after his contract ends in 2033.)

6-A Scorecard: 5-6 correct: You are a big winner!

Not as big as Cristiano Ronaldo, though.

3-4 correct: You are middle of the pack. If you were an athlete, you’d only make around $107.5 million per year.

0-2 correct: Sorry that we didn’t have any questions about badminton.

Answers: 1-A 2-B 3-B 4-Cristiano Ronaldo ($275M); LeBron James ($137.6M); Juan Soto; ($114M); Aaron Judge ($47M) 5-B (Shohei Phtani’s official Dodgers salary for 2025 was only $2 million due to his record $700 million contract’s massive deferrals, with the rest of the

Riddle Me This What is something that comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

2025 Sports Roundup Trivia

Answer: The letter M.

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Torah Thought

Parshas Vayechi

By Rabbi Berel Wein z”l

T

he book of Bereishis is completed in this week’s Torah reading. The story of the emergence of first one person and then an entire family as being the spearhead of monotheistic belief in a pagan world is an exciting but difficult one. At so many turns in the events described in the Torah, the idea of monotheism and the few who championed its cause could have died at birth. Yet somehow the idea and the people advancing it survived and grew, until, over the ages, it became the defining idea in the major religions of civilization.

Truth somehow survived, unable to be crushed by the great and mighty forces always aligned against it. Our patriarch Yaakov tells the Pharaoh that “my years are relatively few and very difficult ones.” But Yaakov is not only speaking for himself in this statement. He speaks for the Jewish people as a whole in all of its generations and ages. And he also speaks for all those in the world who still value truth over falseness, accuracy over

populism, reality over current political correctness and imposed intellectual conformity.

The Midrash taught us that the seal of G-d, so to speak, is truth. The book of Bereshis begins with truth inscribed in its opening words, the last letter of these

needs no follow-up. It stands on its own for all eternity.

Thomas Jefferson in the American Declaration of Independence stated that truths are self-evident. If we merely contemplate, even on a superficial level, the events as described in the book of Beresh-

We must stand back in awe to realize the power of truth and the tenacity of individuals who pursue it and live by it.

first three words of the Torah spelling the Hebrew word emes – truth. Falseness requires publicity, media, excuses and greater falsehoods to cover and justify the original untruth.

In Yiddish, there is a phrase that says: “The best lie is the truth.” Truth

is, we must stand back in awe to realize the power of truth and the tenacity of individuals who pursue it and live by it.

How easy and understandable it would have been for any of our patriarchs and matriarchs to have become disappointed and disillusioned by the events of their

lives. Yet their ultimate faith, that truth will survive and triumph, dominates the entire narrative of this first book of the Torah. Bereshis sets the pattern for everything that will follow.

All of the Torah is a search for and vindication of truth. G-d’s revelation at Sinai was an aid in this quest for truth, otherwise so many people could not have arrived at that moment of truth all together. But falseness, human nature, greed and apathy continually whittle away at the idea of truth as the centerpiece of human endeavor.

The rabbis taught us that the acts of the patriarchs, which are the main story of the book of Bereshis, guide us for all later generations. This Shabbos, we will all rise and say “chazak” – be strong – at the conclusion of the Torah reading. The never-ending pursuit of truth requires strength of purpose and will. May we really have the strength of purpose and belief to “be strong.”

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parshas Vayechi

My Heart is In the East

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

T

he parsha begins (Bereishis 47:28), “And Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the days of Yaakov, the years of his life, were a hundred and forty-seven years.” Unlike every other parsha where there is a space in the Torah before the beginning of the parsha, Parshas Vayechi is “closed.” In other words, the last word of the previous parsha and the first word of Parshas Vayechi are adjacent to one another without any space between them. Rashi says, “Why is this parsha closed? Because when Yaakov Avinu died, the eyes and hearts of the Jewish people were closed because of the pain of the enslavement which they began to impose upon them.”

Many commentaries ask the following question about Rashi’s explanation: We know that the enslavement of the Jewish people did not begin until some time after Yaakov’s death. According to Rashi’s explanation, Parshas Shemos should have been the closed parsha because the enslavement of the Jewish people did not begin until the beginning of Parshas Shemos.

We have an additional question as well.

Just before Yaakov’s death, he asked Yosef (ibid. at 29) to swear to him, “Do not bury me in Egypt.” When Yosef agreed, the pasuk said (ibid. at 31), “And Yisroel prostrated himself at the head of the bed.” Once he was assured that he would be buried in Eretz Yisroel, he bowed down. He was then ready to die. We see that Yaakov valued burial in Eretz Yisroel so much that he was not ready to die until he knew that he would be buried there. With this in mind, let us study a somewhat perplexing Midrash (Bereishis Raba 47:5).

It once happened that Rebbi [Yehuda Hanasi] and Rabbi Eliezer were walking by the gates outside Tiveria. They saw the coffin of a deceased person who was coming from outside Eretz Yisroel to be buried in Eretz Yisroel. Rebbi said to Rabbi Eliezer, “What does this accomplish? Since his soul departed outside of Eretz Yisroel and is coming to be buried in Eretz Yisroel, I say about him (Yirmiya 2:7), ‘You have made my heritage an abomination’ in your lifetimes, ‘and you came and contaminated My land’ in your death.” He [Rabbi Eliezer] said to him [Rebbi], “Because he is buried

in Eretz Yisroel, Hashem atones for him, as it is written (Devarim 32:43), ‘And his land atones for him.’”

This Midrash is difficult to understand.

Why does Rabbi Eliezer prove from an oblique pasuk in Devarim that it is worthwhile to be buried in Eretz Yisroel even when one’s neshama passed into the next world outside of Eretz Yisroel? Why doesn’t he prove it from the fact that Yaakov wanted to be buried in Eretz Yisroel although he was about to die in Egypt?

In order to make sense of the foregoing questions, we must first study a famous teaching of the Baal Shem Tov. The sefer Tzava’as Harivash (Hanhagos Yesharos 69) quotes a brief but powerful teaching: “A person is where his thoughts are.” His grandson Reb Moshe Chaim Efrayim of Sudilkov expanded on this concept when he wrote (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Parshas Bereishis), “It is known that wherever a person thoughts are, he is entirely there.”

The Baal Shem Tov’s primary student, the Maggid of Mezritch, is also quoted (Hanhagos Tzadikim 27) as saying, “Whatever place a person is thinking about, he is at-

tached to that place.” This is one of the fundamental teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. We see the same idea based on a pasuk in Tehillim (87:5) which says, “And regarding Zion [Yerushalayim], it will be said, every man is born in her.” What does this mean? Is every Jew who will ever live born in Yerushalayim? The Gemara (Kesubos 75a) explains the pasuk as follows: “One that is born there, and one that longs to see it.” According to the Gemara, one who longs to see Yerushalayim is considered as if he was born there!

We have a beautiful teaching from Rabbi Chaim ben Betzalel, the brother of the Maharal (Sefer Hachaim and Geulas Yisroel, 1). He explains that the Gemara (Kesubos 110b) which says, “Anyone who lives outside of Eretz Yisroel is compared to one who has no G-d” is not referring to those Jews who are filled with love and longing for the land and are always waiting to see it. According to Rabbi Chaim ben Betzalel, if one is longing and waiting to see Eretz Yisroel, it is as if he is already there! That is why he is not in the same category as one who truly lives outside of

no separation between Parshas Vayechi and the prior parsha for a different reason.

Because Yaakov’s thoughts were just as focused on Eretz Yisroel after he came to Egypt as they were when he lived in Eretz Yisroel, there was no separation between the Yaakov Avinu who physically lived in Egypt and the Yaakov Avinu who lived in Eretz Yisroel. That is why there is no separation between Parshas Vayechi and the previous parsha, Vayigash.

That is also why Rabbi Eliezer was unable to prove from Yaakov Avinu that even one who dies outside of Eretz Yisroel benefits from being buried in Eretz Yisroel.

Because Yaakov’s thoughts were fixed on Eretz Yisroel, he never truly left. He could therefore not be used as an example of one who is buried in Eretz Yisroel after living in exile. Yaakov never really lived in Egypt!

Rav Kook taught the most beautiful thing along these lines (Oros, Eretz Yisroel): “The true encouragement and Jewish ideal in exile only comes from the depth of the desire for Eretz Yisroel…

Longing for salvation is the preservation of Judaism in exile… And in the Judaism of Eretz Yisroel, [longing for Eretz Yisroel] is the salvation itself.”

Let us conclude this thought with a few lines from Rebbi Nosson’s tefillos (Likutei Tefilos 84, 105) regarding Eretz Yisroel, which capture the true essence of longing for Eretz Yisroel in the most powerful way: “Hashem, Hashem, merciful and compassionate G-d, patient and abundant in kindness and truth,” in Your great compassion, cause me and all of Israel to long, pine, desire, and want to come to Eretz Yisroel until I merit, in Your great mercy and powerful kindness, to actualize my desire and will to go, travel, and come peacefully to Eretz Yisroel, quickly, speedily, and hastily. You know how much I must be in Eretz Yisroel, in the Holy land… Help me always desire, long, and pine to come to Eretz Yisroel. May I merit to draw upon myself the holiness of Eretz Yisroel all of the time and through this, may I merit perfect faith, to believe completely in Your providence at all times…

May even those of us who do not merit to live in Eretz Yisroel merit to desire and long for Hashem’s salvation and Eretz Yisroel so that it will be our true place now, with the coming of Moshiach and the complete redemption, may it be soon in our days.

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

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Eretz Yisroel about whom the Gemara says that he is living without G-d.

It is known that Rav Kook, zt”l, was forced to live outside of Eretz Yisroel for several years during World War I because he was in Europe working for the welfare of those living in Eretz Yisroel when the war broke out. During this period, while Rav Kook was serving as a Rav in England, Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap, zt”l, Rav Kook’s closest student, wrote in a letter (Hod Harim, Letter 31) to Rav Kook that someone told him the following: “The soul of your Rebbe pines exceedingly to be at the Western Wall. Sometimes, because of his great longing, when he concentrates his soul on that place, it is as if he is by the Western Wall. His soul actually comes there and draws all of his ideas from that place.” These mekubalim knew through their Divine inspiration that because Rav Kook’s thoughts were entirely focused on Eretz Yisroel, it is as if he was actually there.

Rav Yaakov Moshe also wrote (Mei Marom 5, p. 84) that Yaakov Avinu paved the way for his children so that even when they were in exile, if they would only long to be in Eretz Yisroel, Mount Moriah, the place of the Holy of Holies, it would come to them. And within the darkness of their exile, the shining light of the redemption would light their way. Yaakov Avinu felt that he wished he was in Eretz Yisroel at the site of the future Beis Hamikdash when he said (Rashi on Bereishis 28:17), “Is it possible that I passed by the place where my fathers davened and I did not daven there?” Rashi continues, “As soon as he made up his mind to return, and got as far as Beis El, the earth sprang toward him.” We learn from Yaakov Avinu that when a person longs for Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim comes to him! A person truly is wherever a person’s thoughts are.

It is told that after davening one morning, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev came over to someone in shul and said, “Welcome back from Leipzig! It’s good to have you back in Berditchev!” Confused because he had never been to Leipzig, the commercial capital of the region, the man replied, “But Rebbe, I’ve never been to Leipzig.” “What do you mean,” Reb Levi Yitzchak replied, “Just now, during Shemoneh Esrei, you were strolling through the streets of Leipzig!” A person truly is where his mind is.

We are accustomed to Rashi’s explanation that Parshas Vayechi is a “closed” parsha indicates that there was some deficiency in the Jewish people because of Yaakov Avinu’s death. But perhaps we can explain, based on the above, that there is

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Delving into the Daf

The Greatest Article Since Sliced Bread?

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

I

n the hierarchy of human achievement, there is a very specific, crusty yardstick by which all modern innovation is measured. Forget the moon landing, electricity, or the discovery of penicillin. According to our collective vocabulary, the pinnacle of human ingenuity occurred on July 7, 1928, in Chillicothe, Missouri.

That was the day the Rohwedder bread slicer made its debut. Before that moment, humanity was apparently stumbling through a dark age of uneven sandwiches and jagged toast.

But does halacha view sliced bread as so great?

The Toothpick Hack: Older Than You Think Some background is in order.

There is a “hack” that every baker knows. What do you do with a fancy cake or loaf that falls apart? A toothpick is a baker’s duct tape. By fastening the pieces together, the baker can make the item look whole again.

How old is this trick? A hundred years? Two hundred?

It is over a thousand years old.

Rav Chisda teaches this very hack in the Gemara in Eruvin 61a. Two pieces of a loaf that separated may be attached with toothpicks so that they appear whole. But what relevance did this have?

Whole Bread and Eruv Chatzeiros To understand this, one must review the halachos of Eruv Chatzeiros. Constructing a valid enclosure with walls or strings is only one requirement. In addition, all the residents of the courtyard must contribute to a shared meal of bread, placed in a single location.

Today, this is commonly done by acquiring a box of matzah on behalf of all the residents. Originally, however, each resident would donate bread. The halacha required that this bread be in the form of whole loaves. The size was irrelevant, but the bread had to be whole. If even one participant contributed a large half-loaf, the

eruv would be invalid, even bedieved.

It is in this context that Rav Chisda’s ruling appears: two pieces fastened together and appearing whole may qualify.

Extending the Hack: The Rokeach and Rav Yosef Karo The Rokeach, as cited by Rav Yosef Karo, extends this logic further. If this method works for Eruv Chatzeiros, it should also work for Lechem Mishneh on Shabbos, where there is a mitzvah to use two whole loaves.

Rav Yosef Karo goes even further. He rules that even during the week, if one has a roll that was cut into two, one should attach the pieces with toothpicks so that it appears whole.

The Mishnah Berurah explains an important limitation: this only works if the loaf actually appears whole. If attaching the pieces does not improve the aesthetics, the halachic benefit is lost. A visibly broken loaf remains broken, toothpicks notwithstanding.

Of the three halachic contexts in-

volved: Eruv Chatzeiros, Lechem Mishneh, and weekday hamotzi, Eruv Chatzeiros is the most severe. A half-loaf invalidates the eruv even bedieved. Lechem Mishneh, by contrast, is a mitzvah but is not me’akev, as the Mishnah Berurah notes. During the week, making hamotzi on a whole loaf is merely a ma’alah. Indeed, since it is just a ma’aleh, the Mishnah Berurah notes that the widespread custom is not to follow the Shulchan Aruch for a weekday hamotzi. One need not take the trouble to attach two pieces simply to recite a bracha on a “whole” loaf.

If the toothpick hack works for the most stringent case, it should certainly work for the others.

The Panim Meiros Pushes Back The Panim Meiros, quoted in the Be’er Heitev, rejects this entire extension.

He cites Tosafos (Zevachim 105b), who establishes a general principle: an object artificially attached by human intervention does not become halachically whole.

Tosafos gives the example of an esrog that

The Chelkas Yaakov’s Solution The Chelkas Yaakov suggests a possible reconciliation.

Perhaps the halacha follows Tosafos, which holds that an esrog attached with toothpicks is still two halves—and likewise for bread. However, the requirement for Lechem Mishneh and for weekday hamotzi may not be that the loaf be objectively whole, but that it be perceived as whole.

The kavod of the bracha is based on human perception—how the loaf looks to us. The same may be true for Lechem

Back to Sliced Bread Which brings us back to sliced bread.

What if an entire loaf of sliced bread is intact inside its bag?

The Netziv rules that such a loaf may be considered whole. For Eruv Chatzeiros, it will not cause animosity, since everyone can see that the entire loaf is present. For Lechem Mishneh on Shabbos, the container itself combines the slices into a single unit, rendering it a “whole loaf.”

If one resident contributed a whole loaf and another contributed a half-loaf, resentment and discord could arise.

Mishneh. If so, even Tosafos might agree that combining two halves can suffice in these contexts.

Still, the Mishnah Berurah concludes that if one has a loaf that is truly whole, it should be used for Lechem Mishneh instead.

However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ruled that as practical halacha, one should not rely on this opinion. Even if the entire sliced loaf is in a bag, it should not be used for Lechem Mishneh. This approach is consistent with a limitation already noted by the Chasam Sofer, who

observes that the “toothpick” solution discussed in the Shulchan Aruch was applied only to two pieces of a loaf, not to a loaf divided into many slices. Once a loaf has been cut into multiple pieces, even if all the slices are present and contained together, it no longer resembles the case addressed by earlier authorities.

That said, if no other option is available, one should indeed use a full bag of sliced challah, at least to fulfill the opinion of the Netziv.

While sliced bread is a notable modern invention, it is arguably overpraised, particularly from a halachic perspective. Its convenience is undeniable, but it lacks the aesthetic appeal and integrity of a whole, uncut loaf. Therefore, even though sliced bread might represent peak innovation to some, for the mitzvah of Lechem Mishneh, the traditional whole loaf is still the decisively preferred option.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.

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was split and reattached with toothpicks.

Despite appearances, it is still not considered a whole esrog.

By the same logic, says the Panim Meiros, two halves of a loaf fastened together remain two halves.

According to the Panim Meiros, Rav Chisda’s ruling in Eruvin is actually an outlier, driven by a unique social concern.

If one resident contributed a whole loaf and another contributed a half-loaf, resentment and discord could arise. The one who gave a whole loaf would be upset that his neighbor gave less. Therefore, Chazal were lenient: if the loaf appeared whole, animosity would be avoided. Actual wholeness was unnecessary; appearance sufficed.

But this logic does not apply to Lechem Mishneh or to honoring a bracha. There, the requirement is that the loaf be genuinely whole, not merely that it look whole.

Tosafos teaches that toothpicks do not create halachic wholeness. Accordingly, the Panim Meiros rejects the extension proposed by the Rokeach and Rav Yosef Karo.

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School of

Thought

Time

By Barbara Deutsch

W

hen I followed a school calendar, the new year began in September (no matter when Rosh Hashana fell out). The chagim provided an intense learning curve wherein a lot needed to be taught in a concentrated span of time.

After the chagim, for students and teachers, school started all over again.

For overworked teachers, Thanksgiving could not come soon enough.

Employing creative thinking, once Thanksgiving is celebrated, the year is done. Soon it is Chanukah (no homework or tests; it’s family time), January break, Purim, Pesach and done.

Time is a valuable commodity that too many of us take for granted until we don’t. When our kids are babies, each day sometimes feels like a week. After milestone birthdays are celebrated, time accelerates. High school turns into an Israel gap year, college years pass quickly, and, for the most part, our children will never live with us at home again.

Right now, time has become complicated. There are days that pass quickly; weekends and chagim most often don’t.

I’ve been cautioned to be patient; healing takes time. For me, passing time with trusted friends and family allay my feelings of loneliness and sadness. A Shabbat invitation most often offers a change of scenery, good food, company, a heimishe atmosphere and quality conversation.

I am blessed to have an available open invitation down the block at our daughter Rachel’s family table; the Shapiros know how to make the most of Shabbat’s inherent joy.

Last Shabbat, I went with grandson Ezra and his friend Moshe, both learning in Lev Hatorah, to a Shabbat meal hosted by the Horns. They are the machatanim of our Deutsch kids; our grandson Yoav is married to their amazing daughter, Michal.

Some interesting background to share.

One day, during the height of Covid, Yoav informed us that he wanted to introduce us to Michal, his intended kallah. Yoav is very low-key and private, and the Covid restrictions did present some pretty serious

challenges for the dating world.

Bob and I were shocked! Yoav dating?

When and how could that even happen?

The meeting came with a warning. “You know who her parents are, Grandma, so please don’t make a whole thing out of it!”

Michal’s parents, Shimi and Alyssa, had been participants in the Morasha Machon which provided a wonderful leadership training program for older teens wherein they worked two half days and found ways to keep me and my staff busy the rest of the week. It was also the only opportunity to be back incamp after a summer in Israel.

Luckily, Alyssa and Shimi were exceptionally good kids who never gave a moment of grief. As a young man, Shimi was very wise and responsible, an atypical kid.

Alyssa was the more fun-loving and adventurous; both are kind and compassionate.

During our delicious meal in their beautiful home, among other topics of mutual interest (their grandchildren and our great-grandchildren), Alyssa discussed her newfound deepening relationship with the former hostage Emily Damari’s family, particularly with the family matriarch, Mandy, who is British and married to a Temani.

When thinking about time as it relates to the hostages, one has to consider the endless days that they spent in the darkness of tunnels, yet somehow, they were able to find light in the nightmare that was their then-lives.

Miraculously, the hostages were able to keep track of time; they knew when to celebrate chagim (there is a recently released video of the “beautiful six” celebrating Chanukah). We have heard reports of hostages making kiddush on Friday nights.

There are many courageous stories of how they were able to mark time and to stay connected to Jewish rituals and holidays.

Emily Damari, despite her torture and destroyed hand, refuses to focus on the time that she spent enduring indescribable horrors in Gaza. As her guests, Alyssa and Shimi attended her packed house talk in New York’s Streicker Center.

Emily shared her determination to live in light; she wants to “live” in the present

and plan for the future. Emily will always remember the difficulties of her captive journey and will continue to make the most of the blessings of the gift of time that she is now able to reclaim.

The hostages have evolved into Israel’s celebrities; both as individuals and as a group, they are examples of heroism and resilience. Many found connection with Hashem whereas, before their imprisonment, He may have been absent from their lives.

Most of our Toronto Levys are visiting Israel this week; for them, especially our son-in-law Jonathan, keeping busy every second is the norm. It’s been good for me to have them here; it keeps me occupied, and I’m so happy to be able to spend time with them. Noam, the youngest, is staying with me. It’s good to have a loved one around to break the silence and help me carry boxes up and down from the storage loft.

Our daughter Meredith and I walk, talk and eat out a lot; as Meredith is in aveilut. There is no joining the meat party at Pitmaster or Omer Adam concerts for her.

Meredith joined me for a lecture on AI (get ready – it’s not going anywhere), and we all made candy at TOMO in Even Yehudah.

Making candy is loads of fun; I’m way better at eating than creating it. Candy-making is a combination of art and science, creating delicious and beautiful kinds of treats from sugar, heat and cold.

We picked flavors and colors; I want to say that “cherry” gets old quickly, and pineapple is the best. Tony, Tomo’s owner and Creative Director, is a former Australian/ Israeli lawyer who realized he had no life

when his son was born. TOMO is named for his son Tommy.

Ironically, Tony’s brother is a dentist.

Tony is funny. As we “worked,” he entertained us. “My grandfather told me that his brit was brutal. He couldn’t walk for a whole year after it was done.”

Rabbi Mosha Schreiber, my daughterin-law’s beloved uncle, was the sweetest of men. His father, Max Schreiber, built mikvaot all over Israel. Max and Hindi Schreiber were blessed with three wonderful children, Sorah, Mosha and Malkie (Tamar’s beautiful redheaded mom).

Mikvah Max is renowned for building mikvaot across remote villages in Israel.

His nephew, Rabbi David Schreiber, built mikvaot in America.

Following by example, Mosha and his wife Marsha made aliyah; together, they built a magnificent family dynasty in Israel.

Mosha’s time with us in this world is over. May his neshama have an aliyah. He will be missed. Mosha certainly made the most of the time he was granted.

As I get older – this year is aging – I am determined to savor the sweetness, find the light, and use my time well.

Barbara Deutsch is the former associate principal at HANC, middle school principal at Kushner, and Dean of Students at Yeshiva of Flatbush. A not-retired educator, she is trying to figure out life in Israel through reflections on navigating the dream of aliyah as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

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The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

The Wandering

Jew

The Amalfi Coast

By Hershel Lieber

O

View of Sorrento

ur trip to the Amalfi Coast actually began in Warsaw.

In 2024, as in the past 35 years, we had been traveling to Poland for the Yomim Noraim where I serve as the baal tefillah at Warsaw’s Nozyk Synagogue. Many years during the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we would leave Poland and travel to other countries. We were already in Europe, which kept our expenses within reason, and the travel prospect was always beckoning. When that period included Shabbos Teshuva, we generally sought out cities that had a respective Jewish community. This way, we could count on

a shul to daven at and many times a location where we could eat our meals.

Tzom Gedalya in 2024 was on a Sunday. After davening, we picked up fried breaded chicken schnitzel and bread at Warsaw’s Kosher Delight, which would be our daily main dish for dinner. We had crackers and cans of tuna which we would eat for lunch and hard cheese for breakfast. We planned to buy fruits and vegetables and drinks locally at our destination.

Well, you may ask, where was our destination? We were heading to Italy to spend the next four days at the Amalfi Coast. We would be staying in Sorrento and taking a day trip to Amalfi and Positano and a boat

Amalfi

to the island of Capri and Ana Capri.

I booked my Sunday flight to Rome for 3:30 P.M., a B & B in Sorrento for four nights, and a return flight to Warsaw on Thursday at 3 pm. The only arrangement that I had not made, was the train passage from Rome to Naples and from Naples to Sorrento. I was concerned that we may not arrive until after midnight, so I booked a cheap hotel room in Naples near the train station just in case we need to stay over.

Our flight to Rome was only two and a half hours, and we took an airport shuttle to Roma Termini for our train to Naples. We did not expect a four hour wait at the terminal! It was an exceptionally long wait in an uncomfortable busy train station until we finally boarded the train to Naples. We arrived in Naples at 10:30 P.M., and there weren’t any more trains leaving to Sorrento that night. I was glad I booked a room in Naples, but finding the hotel on the dark streets in a very seedy section of the city was a true challenge.

Shlepping our luggage was another test that we faced. Whoever we asked either could not speak English or didn’t know the hotel nor the street we were looking for. We finally found our destination and were a bit horrified from the appearance of the lobby, the old-fashioned elevator, and the condition of our room. Baruch Hashem, the refrigerator worked so we

could store our fried chickens. We were so tired and couldn’t care less about the dilapidated room. We fell into our beds and dozed off immediately. Somehow, Monday morning, the room’s appearance seemed a bit more inviting, and our view from the window included the iconic Mount Vesuvius. After davening and a quick bite, we took a short walk within that district. Very run-down and dirty was the only way we could describe the area. The train station had its share of vagrants and homeless people as well.

We finally boarded our train at 11 A.M., and in 90 minutes, we pulled into Sorrento. We couldn’t find an empty taxi, so we walked to Emily’s, our B & B, a relatively short distance but with luggage it presented a difficult task. Entering our room was a tremendous change of atmosphere from the previous demanding day.

The room was very pretty, the sun was shining from the window, the beds were made up with fresh white linen, and there was a welcoming vase with fresh flowers.

Emily came by to greet us and to give us all the necessary information.

After a quick lunch, we went out to see what arrangements we could make about visiting the various towns and islands on the Amalfi Coast. We walked around the city’s center and browsed in stores carrying tourist souvenirs as well as other

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From the heights of Anacapri

items. Pesi even bought some clothes. We made arrangements for a Tuesday tour that would take us by boat to the island of Capri. We also planned a Wednesday bus tour to the towns of Amalfi and Positano.

We picked up some fresh fruits, but the only edible raw vegetables available were tomatoes. Checking lettuce was too problematic. Supper every night was limited to fried chicken breasts with fresh persimmons preceded by a grapefruit appetizer. But we didn’t come to Sorrento for its haute cuisine, and we were glad that we had what to eat.

The next day we headed to the port where we boarded a small boat that took us to Capri. The winds were strong and the water was restless, but the sun was out and the voyage was exhilarating.

There were formidable rock formations jutting out into the sea near the island of Capri, and the waters near the Blue Grotto glistened in various shades of blue, turquoise and sea green.

When we arrived on the island, we boarded a bus that took us up the mountain to the village of Ana Capri. Both Pesi and I remember how my mother, a”h, who was once there, was overwhelmed with that town’s beauty. She painted many landscapes using the beautiful features that defined the town’s originality – staircases lined with flowerpots, patios

Capri rock formations

Water tour around the island of Capri

with vases of colorful flowers, and stone arches overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We took a walk along the mountainside overlooking the sea below and captured the natural beauty that defines this island. We walked back, stopping at some of the tourist shops that lined the route to browse at the pretty ceramics, scarves and lithographs that were for sale. Pesi

View from Anacapri

ty to see Capri and Ana Capri!

Wednesday we were up before six in the morning. At 8 A.M., we planned to board a small van in front of nearby Hotel Flora that would take us to the towns alongside the Amalfi Coast. Unfortunately, our van was in an accident, and we had to rebook for the 11 o’clock tour.

The drive along the coast itself was spec-

The winds were strong and the water was restless, but the sun was out and the voyage was exhilarating.

bought a pocketbook, and we took home a ceramic lemon which is Italy’s most famous fruit. When we returned from the mountaintop to Capri, we walked the length and breadth of the town and made a short stop at the botanical gardens.

On our return trip to the mainland by boat, the weather seemed very threatening with overcast dark skies above. Turbulent ocean waves and powerful gusts of wind rocked our boat to and fro. We made it back to land just as it started to rain in earnest. Our captain told us that our journey was the final one of the season since the weather was rapidly deteriorating. We were very lucky not to miss the opportuni-

Souvenirs in Positano

tacular, but the views entering Positano were breathtaking. The town, which is layered alongside the mountain, has a fairytale look with the colorful houses reflecting the spectrum of a kaleidoscope.

When viewing the town, one imagines a vertical village cascading down the steep cliffs toward the sea. At the bottom, one faces the pebbled beaches which was the starting point of this once quiet fishing village. The narrow streets are lined with chic shops, tourist traps and restaurants galore. We walked around for two whole hours bewitched by the colorful excitement in all that surrounded us.

Our next stop was the village of Amal-

Positano

fi. In a sense, it was a replicate of Positano – the colorful houses flowing down the mountaintop to the seabed, the winding, narrow streets, and alleys bustling with shops and eateries and tourists galore, though it was way past the height of the season. Again, we walked the maze of streets for two hours snapping photos of the vibrant scenes that unfolded by each turn and twist in the road. We returned from a super enjoyable day as dusk settled in Sorrento.

Thursday, we shifted gears in reverse, as we made our way by cab to Naples and from there by train to Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci Airport. Our plane was delayed for over four hours, and we didn’t reach our hotel in Warsaw until 10:30 P.M. All in all, it was a very pleasant trip, though the travel portion was somewhat daunting.

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit.

He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences.

Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people.

Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

nspiration Nation

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

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R’ Kalman Samuels The Dream That Became Shalva

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

H

e was supposed to spend two weeks in Israel. But two weeks turned into six weeks. Six weeks turned into a summer. And then, 20-year-old Kalman Samuels found himself at a crossroads: Should he return to college, accept his scholarships, and become a professor? Or should he stay in Israel and continue exploring Judaism?

Should he follow his mind or his soul?

“I wasn’t born in a frum community,” Rabbi Kalman Samuels shares. “I was born in 1951 in a beautiful community in Vancouver, Canada, which happens to probably be the most beautiful city in North America. It’s pinned between the

mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and it’s blessed in the most amazing ways with parks and greenery.”

His family was traditional. They went to shul on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, somewhat kept kashrus at home, and observed some of the traditions of Shabbos.

“My father would make kiddush on Friday night, make Hamotzi, but the television would go on afterwards, and our lifestyle was non-religious,” Rabbi Samuels adds. “I went to a Sunday school at an Orthodox congregation three times a week until I was 15, so I was initiated and had knowledge of some kind. We

In His Words…

Whatever your passion is, you’re entitled to. Don’t let anybody get between you and your dreams. and then, g-d willing, you’ll live a life of meaning that will bring you a lot of joy. hashem, in his goodness, gave us a child with a disability. he gave us a challenge. We’ll never understand why. But if we really believe in hashem and trust in hashem, then we just accept it with love, and do everything we can to shalva means peace of mind or serenity. and that’s what we want to give these families.

were very Jewish. But we were simply not Orthodox.”

Kalman was a star student in his public high school. By the time he graduated, his academic success had earned him a number of scholarships. He wound up studying math and philosophy, among other subjects, for a year at the prestigious University of British Columbia.

And for his second year of college, Kalman planned to study abroad in France with the hopes of becoming a professor of Western civilization.

“I was an academic, and my mother asked me en route to France in 1970 to stop for two weeks in Israel to just see the country. I did that. And, Israel being Israel, it arouses in people a great deal of feelings, especially the first time,” Rabbi Samuels recalls. “I realized very quickly that there’s much more here than I could have imagined. You know, I went to a kibbutz. I slept on the beach in Eilat. You speak to an enormous number of people.

And one of the people whom I met was an Orthodox rabbi, the likes of which I hadn’t seen in Vancouver.”

This rabbi didn’t have a beard or a hat.

He spoke, in Rabbi Samuels’ words, in a shockingly “perfect Australian English.”

Rabbi Samuels recalls their life-changing conversation. The rabbi asked him about his plans.

“Well, I’m off to France in two days to, you know, further my education,” 20-year-old Kalman replied.

“What are you going to study?” the rabbi asked.

“Western civilization and culture.”

“Why in the world are you going to

France to study someone else’s culture when you don’t even know your own?” the rabbi retorted.

Kalman argued that he did, in fact, know his culture. But the rabbi quickly proved the boy wrong.

“So, he said, ‘You know, I have a great program.’ This was 1970, before yeshivas like Aish HaTorah and Ohr Somayach were realities,” Rabbi Samuels recounts.

“He had a great group, a six-week program where guys from Ivy League universities would study Judaism, get a real handle, and then move on. It was a very difficult decision for me, but I said, ‘You know what? He’s right.’”

From there, Kalman spent the summer in Israel. And then, he had to choose between going to France and staying in Israel. He chose the latter.

Kalman went on to study at the most prestigious yeshivas, immersing himself in Torah study.

“At the age of 21, I was introduced to a nice young lady, and I got married some months later to my dear wife Malki.

And we began our life in Yerushalayim.

I started learning in kollel. And I was determined to study for semicha and hora’a,” Rabbi Samuels shares. “Four or five years later, I received semicha. And I thought that I would go on to be in the realm of posek.”

But then, everything changed.

By 1977, the couple had two kids.

When Rabbi Samuels’ wife brought their second child, 11-month-old Yossi, to receive his vaccinations at a public health center, disaster struck.

“This was 1977. Unbeknownst to the

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Israeli public, the Ministry of Health was having severe problems with several batches of what’s called DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine. And for whatever reason, they did not stop it. It went on from June to December. Hundreds of children were injured. We don’t know how many died,” Rabbi Samuels explains. “My son was injured, as well.

He immediately had a severe reaction, and he became blind, deaf, and very hyperactive. “ “So, our young lives were suddenly flipped…on their heads.” * * * The young couple moved to New York, where Yossi received medical care. While living in Brooklyn, they enrolled Yossi in the Lighthouse, a top school for the blind in Manhattan. Simultaneously, Rabbi Samuels entered the computer field in order to provide for his family.

One day, his wife Malki had a visitor from Israel: a rebbetzin she admired.

“Malki, it’s not fair that you keep this child at home,” the rebbetzin declared.

“It’s a life in plastic. It’s an extraordinarily limited life, where you’re running after him and just watching your other children from him. And it’s not fair to your husband. Really, you have to think about taking this child out of the family setting.”

Malki turned to the rebbetzin and gave her a serious look.

“Rebbetzin, you know how much I admire and appreciate you,” she said. “But you do realize that you have a serious problem.”

The rebbetzin looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“Rebbetzin,” Malki replied softly, “you don’t believe in G-d.”

There was silence for a moment. And then Malki continued.

“Everything is from G-d. Everything is hashgacha pratis. But when something comes up that’s not convenient — ‘Oh no, we’ll take this one out of the house’ — and then we’ll go on accepting everything else from G-d? Rebbetzin,” Malki said, “this is also from G-d. And it’s a gift from Him to me. And I will never take Yossi out of my

house. I will do everything I can for him for as long as I live!”

That night, Malki davened tearfully, vowing to G-d that if He helps Yossi, she would dedicate her life to helping other mothers of children with disabilities.

Soon thereafter, the couple and their then-six kids moved back to Yerushalayim. Yossi was eight years old, enrolled in a school for the deaf.

One day, a teacher took one of Yossi’s hands and placed it on a table. Then, in the palm of his other hand, she spelled out five sign-language symbols: Shin, Vuv, Lamed, Chet, Nun — the letters for the Hebrew word for table, “shulchan.”

“After days of this, Yossi suddenly smiled from ear to ear,” Rabbi Kalman remembers. “And she had the smarts, I must say, the good sense to realize, as she put it, that he had just had his ‘Hellen Keller moment.’

“He had just made the connection to communication where one recognizes that the object one’s touching has a name. And she taught him the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We very quickly learned how to spell those same letters.

And we began to communicate, for the first time, with our son.” * * * It was, in Rabbi Samuels’ words, “mission impossible.” When an ambitious young speech therapist from Yossi’s school took on the undertaking of teaching him how to speak Hebrew — verbally, mind you — it seemed improbable.

How do you teach a child, who can’t see or hear, to speak? The process took two years and involved complex therapies, but Yossi slowly but surely learned how to speak Hebrew.

“He was totally, totally a dynamic kid.

He was not your little kid sitting in the corner. Yossi has been part of our family from the very beginning. He’s number two in the family, and he has four younger brothers very close in age. And they grew up together. If the kids rode tricycles, he rode a tricycle, too. There was nothing he was ever afraid of, and there was nothing he wasn’t a part of,” Rabbi Samuels shares. “So, when he did

get communication, we learned just how much he knew of everything that was going on around him, but he was unable to express it…

“After learning to speak, he was off to the races. And he turned out to be more than brilliant. He had a deep thirst to learn more words. He learned nouns, he learned verbs, he learned adjectives. And then he learned things that were abstract — that he could never have touched or seen. But he understood them.

“It was extraordinary. They taught him, for example, dates, and then the English calendar, and then the Hebrew calendar. He learned it very quickly. And he actually could tell you two weeks from now what the Hebrew or English date would be. It’s something no one quite understands.”

After Yossi miraculously learned to communicate and speak, Rabbi Samuels’ wife decided that it was time to fulfill her end of the promise. G-d helped Yossi, and now it was time for Rebbetzin Malki Samuels to help the world. She, along with her husband, had a vision — a dream — to build an organization for individuals with disabilities and their families. After securing funding, they named the organization “Shalva,” a word that appears once in the entire Tanach — in Tehillim (122:7): “Yihi shalom b’chaylaych, shalva b’arminosayich, may there be peace in your walls, serenity in your palaces.”

“Shalva means peace of mind or serenity. And that’s what we wanted to give these families who’ve been dealing with the chaos of having a child that they weren’t expecting and of trying to get their lives together — we wanted to help them with quality of life,” Rabbi Samuels explains.

It started with a few employees in a small apartment with one after-school program.

“It was a game-changer because, all of a sudden, a parent, instead of rushing home from work to be prepared for their child to come home, could take a fulltime job. Both parents could work. The siblings could come home and do homework with mommy and daddy,” Rabbi

Samuels adds. “And people began banging down my door. This was 1990, and people began phoning for help. And we took them in, and the organization began to grow in leaps and bounds. Malki began creating new programs.

“After a year, when we had 40 kids, she decided to start an overnight program. It was a very unique program where we had, every night of the week, a subset of those 40 kids come for the after-school program and sleep over.

The kids had a blast, and we were able to teach them skills that mommy may not have had the time or ability for.”

By the end of the decade, Shalva had 400 kids on its roster and an ever-growing list of programs. In 2005, the government offered Rabbi Samuels a six-acre piece of land in Yerushalayim for Shalva’s new community center.

“It took 10 years, but we built the largest center in the world for people with disabilities. It’s magnificent. It’s 220,000 square feet, 12 stories, with a semi-Olympic indoor pool, a 350-seat magnificent auditorium, a full-size gym, and beautiful art,” he describes.

Many years ago, a man named Jack asked Rabbi Samuels, “All of this for who?”

“Jack, let’s take a tour, and then I’ll sit down with you for a cup of coffee,” Rabbi Samuels replied.

They toured the gorgeous campus and then sat down in the center’s beautiful cafe.

“Jack, I’ve been in your community in Old Westbury, Long Island. I’ve been to your community center. And if I’m not mistaken, you guys have a semi-Olympic pool, a gym, an auditorium — just like we do.”

“For sure,” Jack replied.

“But why do you invest in all of those things?” Rabbi Samuels asked.

“It’s called quality of life!”

“Jack, who told you that all because a mother gave birth to a baby with a disability — that she not only has to cope with the disability, but she has to forfeit her claim to quality of life?” Rabbi Samuels said. “This building’s here to show

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received was medical malpractice at its worst, and it has nothing to do with a typical vaccine.”

Today, Yossi is in his late 40s. He is, in his father’s words, “the most amazing young man.” In his early 20s, a failed medical procedure unfortunately robbed him of his ability to walk. As such, Yossi has been in a wheelchair for over 20 years.

“But that hasn’t stopped him. He is someone who’s been hosted by President Bush at the White House. He’s been hosted by the Prime Minister of England. He is a sommelier — he was trained to be a wine taster, and he’s produced two of his own wines. He has a sense of smell like a bloodhound. He works twice a week at headquarters for the toll highway, Route 6, in Israel. He’s in constant contact with people through text and email. He rides horses. He travels widely. He was in London for two weeks with two friends, and he’s been in London a number of times,” Rabbi Samuels describes.

“He’s an amazing, amazing young man full of life. And if anyone meets him, it’s just extraordinary. He’ll meet you today. He’ll talk to you about things — he’s involved with politics, he’s involved with anything you want — and if he meets you and has a meaningful discussion with you, when you meet him 10 years later, he’ll continue from the point when that discussion left off.”

Yossi is, as his father puts it, “a religious kid in the depths of his soul.”

“He is deeply religious in ways that are hard to understand. When he prays every morning at home with his tefillin, he prays for people who are ill, people who need a shidduch, whatever it might be,” Rabbi Samuels adds, recounting a story where Yossi prayed for a couple who had been struggling to have chil-

This article is based on a podcast, “Inspiration For the Nation,” hosted by Yaakov Langer. To catch more of this conversation, you can watch it on LivingLchaim.com or YouTube.com/LivingLchaim or listen wherever you listen to podcasts (just search for “Inspiration For The Nation”) or call our free hotline: 605-477-2100

dren, and they miraculously had a kid soon thereafter.

Since he was young, Yossi always dreamed of riding an elephant. Of course, Rabbi Samuels wanted to make that dream a reality, but logistically, it was complicated. If an Israeli wants to ride an elephant, they could technically fly to Kenya. However, they would first need a number of unnecessary vaccinations, and Rabbi Samuels didn’t want to expose Yossi to any more vaccinations.

But one day, Malki received an email from a man who had worked with Yossi.

“Malki, I’m in Thailand,” the young man wrote. “There are elephants here.

Vaccines aren’t needed. I’m here for three more weeks. Send Yossi immediately.”

And so, a good friend brought Yossi to Thailand to achieve his dream.

Two days later, Rabbi Samuels was hosting four congressmen at Shalva headquarters. A few minutes into their meeting, Rabbi Samuels’ secretary knocked on

his door, interrupting the conversation.

“Check your email,” his secretary said, getting emotional.

“I excused myself, I looked at the email, and I broke out crying. Yossi was on that elephant with his two friends, and he was smiling from ear to ear,” Rabbi Kalman Samuels recounts.

He turned to the congressman, gave them some background, and said the following: “Gentlemen, Yossi is a man who never stops dreaming. He’s got no reason to dream. He can’t walk, can’t see, can’t hear, and yet he’s forever dreaming. And incredibly enough, G-d is helping him realize his amazing, amazing dreams,” Rabbi Samuels shared. “As I get older, and I’m sure it’s true with you, we sort of slow down, and we dream less. But I think if there’s a lesson to be learned from Yossi, it’s that it doesn’t matter what stage in life you’re in: if you’re young, if you’re old — keep dreaming.”

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

you that we’re going to give this mother quality of life because she’s worthy of that quality of life.”

Today, over 30 years after its humble beginnings, Shalva has emerged as a major, transformative organization with a $23 million budget and 550 employees. Shalva services thousands of children each week. It has many programs, including for new mothers, as well as daycares, preschools, programming for adults, vocational training, apartments for inclusive living, and many other offerings. The organization even has a famous band — the “Shalva Band” — which was featured at Eurovision.

“Sometimes, people say, ‘You must be so proud.’ And I say, ‘Well, actually, pride doesn’t really enter the equation.’ Every day, when I walk into our center, I say, ‘Ribbono Shel Olam, Who built this?” * * * Before founding Shalva, Rabbi Kalman Samuels took the Israeli government to court over their catastrophic vaccine blunder, in an effort to hold those responsible accountable for injuring Yossi and so many other children. The case ended with a settlement, though the judge was prepared to rule in Rabbi Samuels’ favor.

A few years ago, Rabbi Samuels published a book called “Dreams Never Dreamed: A Mother’s Promise That Transformed Her Son’s Breakthrough Into a Beacon of Hope.” The book shares the miraculous story of Yossi and Shalva.

“One of the reasons for this book is Yossi’s ongoing request for me to write his story so that people know that he wasn’t born like this. He was born healthy, and someone injured him,” Rabbi Samuels shares. “People should not misunderstand. People are sometimes surprised that I’m not against vaccines.

I believe that the vaccine that my child

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Soul Searching

Chanan Volk: There’s No Such Thing as a “Bad Jew”

By David Brummer

T

here aren’t many students in Aish Yeshiva’s hallowed halls who have found themselves learning there because of a podcast they created – especially not one called “Bad Jew.” However, this is exactly the path that took Los Angeles native Chaz (Chanan) Volk from running his own business in the United States to wrestling with the intricacies of the Gemara and “its physiological impact” in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Volk’s childhood and adolescence mirrored the experience of many of his fellow students at Aish. While connected to Judaism from a young age during which his family went to a Conservative temple, the young Volk learned general Jewish knowledge and could read prayers in Hebrew.

However, like many, he had no clue what he was actually saying. He felt that his synagogue prepared him well for his bar mitzvah, but that the richness and depth he has come to appreciate in later life was sadly lacking from his formative Jewish educational experiences. Disaffected, he drifted to the Reform movement and slipped into atheism.

“I thought I’d found G-d; but I didn’t really know what it meant,” he recalls pithily.

A 2015 experience while he was at college at San Francisco State University (SFSU) (more on that later) would prove pivotal.

An only child, Volk was incredibly close with his Grandma Lucy. As she lay on her deathbed, Volk’s father, who had almost become president of his synagogue, reached out to the community’s rabbi, with whom he was having a political disagreement, to give some comfort to Lucy. Astonishingly, the rabbi refused. Volk’s father had a relationship with Rabbi Moshe Bryski of the Agoura Hills Chabad, who tended to Lucy’s spir-

itual needs without hesitation. “She was terrified when the rabbi walked in, concerned that such a religious Jew would be critical of her for knowing next to nothing about Judaism,” Volk recalls. Rabbi Bryski calmly told her that her immigrant parents had wanted her to assimilate into American culture and that there was still an opportunity to learn. She said Shema for the very first time before she died.

Even some 10 years later, Volk speaks reverently about the rabbi’s patience, kindness, and tenderness.

Volk was involved with Hillel and was closely attached to the Jewish community at college, an association that would also have a lasting effect. Although he graduat-

Tzfat, and arguably its most mystical.

“We were on a bus traveling along the winding road to Tzfat, when my friend, Gabi, who had been napping, suddenly awoke and asked, ‘Do you feel it?’”

“Feel what?” I asked.

“The holiness,” she replied.

“I thought she was just being a nerd, but I jolted awake sweating from a nightmare early in the morning, dreaming I got

“I knew I couldn’t just ‘be Jewish’ – I needed to ‘do Judaism.’”

ed in 2017, he was one of the lead plaintiffs in the 2019 lawsuit (Volk v. CSU Board of Trustees) brought against SFSU and the California State University system, alleging that they had been discriminated against. Broadly, they objected to SFSU and the Cal State University system trying to deny Zionism was an integral part of Jewish identity. In short, for its systemic antisemitism.

He attended an Aish Lit trip to Israel, run by Rabbi Jack Melul, and his wife, Shira, after Volk realized he was at a place in his life in which he knew he needed to change. It was also the impetus for his creation of his Bad Jew podcast.

A pivotal moment occurred while visiting one of Judaism’s four holiest cities,

into a fight with the three most religious guys in my group.”

Volk went to read a book in the hotel lobby but was drawn shortly after to Rabbi Jack’s voice coming from the synagogue on the premises. Volk helped to make up the early morning minyan, with the rabbi saying, “even if you don’t know the prayers, it’s a mitzvah that you’re helping us to make up a minyan.”

“I didn’t like that answer. I felt really disconnected. Eventually, all I could think about was my grandma. I’m disconnected from my Judaism, and she said the Shema on her deathbed for the first time in her life. I felt the tears swelling up realizing this. I knew something needed to change but didn’t know how to facilitate it.

“I waited for an 11th person, and then I left and went for a walk. I arrived at the city square and heard prayer from multiple shuls all at once. I broke down crying because I did feel the holiness. I knew I couldn’t just ‘be Jewish’ – I needed to ‘do Judaism.’ I felt I was missing something integral.”

On his return from the trip, Volk decided he would take on more mitzvos, as well as dive deeper into Judaism.

“I interviewed a broad spectrum of Jews [for my podcast] and found myself at Aish because of it. I interviewed everyone along the Jewish spectrum, and each of them taught me something. I got such wisdom from them, but there’s only so much you can learn from it. I understood I needed to actually do the thing.

It’s been an uncomfortable journey but so rewarding.”

Now into his second year of learning, Volk is in the process of making aliyah, realizing that while he might miss people in the United States, his future is in Israel. He is also able to take stock and see his own personal journey as being one of continuity from Moshe receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai nearly 3,400 years ago.

“If any less observant or secular Jew feels it’s too late to go to yeshiva, it isn’t. I did uproot my life to be here, but it’s never too late to learn a small amount of Judaism or Torah a day. There is no such thing as a bad Jew. If they have the audacity to call themselves a ‘bad Jew,’ it’s not an excuse to exclude themselves from their beautiful Jewish identity.”

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By TJH Staff

As we turn the calendar page of 2025, we look back on a year that made us laugh and cry, gasp and shudder, relax and worry. With an amalgam of emotions and events, 2025 proved to be its own rollercoaster of twists and turns, up and downs.

But as we look back on the year, we remember the lighthearted moments as well.

We hope that this glimpse into the year-that-was will help you walk down memory lane.

This brief overview, TJH-style, of the past twelve months will hopefully bring a smile or two to your face as you remember that there were some interesting, exhilarating, momentous, and even confusing events that made up the year 2025.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

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4.3%

President Donald Trump

8 in 8

92%

The number of wars that President Trump takes credit for ending in an eight-month period. For those counting, those wars are: Cambodia &Thailand; Kosovo & Serbia; DRC & Rwanda; Pakistan & India; Israel & Iran; Egypt & Ethiopia; Armenia & Azerbaijan; Israel & Hamas. Even if it is debatable whether each of these qualify as a war and whether President Trump is solely responsible for bringing them to an end, one thing is certain: he has certainly done more to earn the Nobel Peace Prize than Pres. Obama, who was awarded the prize in his first year in office based on speculation that he would bring world peace.

The decrease in border crossings to-date under the Trump administration, as it compares to the same time-period in the Biden administration. The locked-tight border combined with Homeland Security and ICE deportations have resulted in 2.5 million illegals leaving the country, yielding a net negative migration for the first time in at least five decades.

The number of illegal aliens released into the U.S. over the past seven months, compared to an average of almost 60,000 illegal immigrants officially released into the U.S. per month by the Biden administration.

The approximate amount collected from tariffs in 2025, resulting in the lowest trade deficit since 2020.

$400 Million or Less

The estimated cost of the White House’s new Trump Ballroom, which is currently under construction. “For 150 years, they wanted a ballroom, and we’re giving it to them,” said Trump at his recent Chanukah party. “I think I’ll do it for less. But it’s [$400 million]. I should do it for less. I will do it for less.” The East Wing of the White House was demolished to make room for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, resulting in hysterical criticism by Democrats and the media who suffer from the newly discovered ailment known as Trump Ballroom Derangement Syndrome.

L.A. Wildfires

13%

The number of cases decided by the Supreme Cour t about Trump policies. Many of these cases arise from the more than 253 lawsuits filed against President Trump in 2025. To date, the Trump administration has won 90% of its Supreme Court cases.

$257 Billion

Number of days fires ravaged L.A. from January 7 to January 31

$250 Billion

The GDP growth of the U.S. economy in the third quarter of 2025, resulting in the highest rate of growth of the U.S. economy in two years and smashing the narrative that the economy is stalling. The GDP was powered by consumer spending growth of 3.5% in the third quarter. However, some caution that the Trump economy is still on shaky grounds and that the GDP growth was fueled by business investments and is thus a boon for Wall Street but not Main Street.

The number of homes rebuilt to date

Estimated economic damage as a result of the fires

Percent of homes in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades that have received rebuild permits to date, despite Gov. Newsom and other L.A. officials promising to streamline the permit process.

57,529

Acres burned

16,000

31

Homes and businesses destroyed in the fires

Number of deaths directly caused by the fires; however, a study which was published in the JAMA journal found that there were at least 440 deaths caused by the fires

the year in numbers

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The chump change value of Musk’s 53% share of his artificial intelligence company, xAI. Oh, his neurotechnology company, Neurolink, is valued at $9 billion, and The Boring Company, which builds underground tunnel systems, is valued at approximately $7 billion.

$24.4 Billion

$1 Trillion The amount of additional stock in Tesla Musk will be awarded if his electric car company achieves its “Mars shot” performance milestones like growing its market cap more than eightfold over the next ten years.

Musk’s measly net worth in March 2020, before he gained a $425 billion lead over the current second richest person in the world, Google cofounder, Larry Page

$55 Billion

The relatively small amount he saved the federal government while he was the head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), well short of the $1 to $2 trillion that he was hoping to save. However, in fairness to him, his time at DOGE was cut short due to disagreements with the Trump administration.

$677 Billion

Musk’s net worth as of December 16, 2025

$800 Billion SpaceX tender offer valuation in December 2025, up from $400 billion in August. With his 42% ownership of SpaceX, if the targeted IPO valuation of $1.5 trillion happens in early 2026, Musk will be the world’s first trillionaire.

16,930%

The Costs of Eggs

Nancy Pelosi

5.81

Average cost of a dozen eggs on January 1, 2025

2.39

Average cost of a dozen eggs today

$ $

Pelosi’s years in Congress

$30.2 million The amount paid at an early December Christie’s auction for a Fabergé Winter Egg, which is expensive even considering high egg prices

$174,000 Pelosi’s yearly salary

The returns that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made on her stock investments while in Congress. When she joined Congress in 1987, her stock portfolio was estimated to be worth approximately $700,000; today, it is worth more than $133.7 million. Move over Oracle from Omaha and make way for Wax Figure from San Fran— Pelosi’s genius at stock picking was “ever so slightly” aided by a peculiar rule which allows members of Congress to trade stocks based on insider information. This rule is also responsible for birdbrain Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn) net worth ballooning from almost nothing when she entered Congress as a Somali migrant to a current day $30 million. Come to think of it, maybe they are smart after all!

$280 Million

Pelosi’s net worth as she gets set to retire from Congress in 2027. When she entered Congress, her net worth was $3 million.

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

$60 Billion Elon Musk

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Flooding in Texas

A flash flood tore through Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in the early hours of July 4, killing 27 girls and counselors in a crippling storm that took the lives of more than 130 people across the region. The all-girls Christian summer camp sits near the Guadalupe River in an area known as “Flash Flood Alley,” where torrential rains caused the river to rise more than 26 feet in about 45 minutes. Director Richard “Dick” Eastland, a fourth-generation owner of the camp, died trying to help children to safety. The camp is planning to partially reopen this summer.

D.C. Midair Collision

In the black of night on January 29, an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter midair over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It took place just half-a-mile from the runway of the Ronald Reagan Airport. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed in the crash. It was the first major U.S. commercial passenger flight crash since Colgan Air Flight 3407 in 2009 and the deadliest U.S. air disaster since the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in 2001.

Venezuela Vendetta

On November 13, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, intending to “[defend] our homeland, [remove] narco-terrorists from our hemisphere, and [secure] our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people” off the coast of Venezuela. The operation followed a series of kinetic strikes that the U.S. military conducted since early September on drug-trafficking speedboats launched from Venezuela. In December, the U.S. seized two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters as part of what the U.S. says is Venezuela’s attempts to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Relations between the United States and the South American country have been strained for decades, starting from the clashes between U.S. President George W. Bush and President Hugo Chavez. Trump is more than just boxing out leader Nicolas Maduro. He is flexing his muscles at Beijing, Tehran and Moscow to ensure they stay far away from U.S. interests.

Kirk Killed

Charlie Kirk made a name for himself by fighting for the truth. On September 10, Kirk was shot and killed by a gunman while debating students at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old had been the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that campaigns at universities and high schools for conservative ideas and principles. Today, it has over 2,000 student groups across the country. Kirk was an influential figure in the MAGA movement, with many seeing the young man as a contender for future president of the United States. But the 21st century “freedom fighter,” who was vocal against the woke, left-wing ideologies that threaten to choke American educational systems, was snuffed out by a bullet all too soon. His widow, Erika, is taking up his mantle, promoting his book, “Stop, in the Name of G-d: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life,” and taking on those on the right like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens who endanger the ideals that Kirk lived for.

Federal Shutdown

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 43 days – from October 1 to November 12. Sadly, not much was accomplished in those weeks when both sides attempted to tell the American people how much they were doing for the American people by not doing anything at all for the American people. The shutdown was caused when Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year, with Senate Democrats repeatedly blocking any efforts to push things through. The legislation failed 14 times before a revised appropriations bill was passed on November 10. The House of Representatives passed the Senate’s revised bill on November 12. President Donald Trump signed it that day.

Al-Sharaa Leads Syria

In December 2024, Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept down from its strongholds in the northwest countryside to take control of a vast swath of the country and eventually Damascus. On December 8, 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia.

On January 29, 2025, Syrian rebel leader Ahmed alSharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) was officially named the interim president of Syria.

Al-Sharaa, who was formerly part of al-Qaeda and ISIS, claims to be reformed, has exchanged his fatigues for a suit, and was even invited to the White House in November, the first Syrian head of state to ever been invited to the Oval.

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2025

Bondi Beach Horror

On December 14, as hundreds of Jewish celebrants came out for the Chanukah holiday, the joyous sounds of togetherness were marred by ricocheting bullets when two Islamic terrorists converged at Bondi Beach in Sydney and killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl. The two gunmen were father and son; the father was killed in the attack.

Forty people were injured in the shootings. Four bombs were also used in the attack, but they thankfully failed to detonate. This was the deadliest terror attack in modern Australian history. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting “a deliberate attack on Jewish people during the first day of Chanukah.” Many blame his spineless policies for the proliferation of antisemitism and Jew hatred on Australian soil.

Peace for India and Pakistan

Japan’s Iron Lady

With her short haircut and purse, Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister in October. She was elected PM weeks after she was chosen to lead the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The 64-year-old has advocated for tougher immigration restrictions and has embraced hawkish policies on China. She has drawn comparisons to the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for whom she frequently expresses her admiration and often wears blue suits in tribute. Takaichi does not come from an elite family and studied at a two-year college because her parents wanted to save money. She ended up attending Kobe University, a prestigious national university, paying her own way through part-time jobs and making the six-hour round-trip commute from her parents’ house. Just days after taking office, Takaichi caused a stir when she summoned aides for a 3 a.m. meeting. “I sleep about two hours now, four hours at the longest,” she told MPs. “It’s probably bad for my skin.”

Russia/Ukraine War

Despite efforts by the U.S. and EU to broker a peace deal, the war grinded on for its fourth year. Russia has taken control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, with Moscow nabbing less than 1% of Ukrainian territory in 2025. Even so, according to U.S. estimates, in 2025, approximately 250,000 Russian soldiers were killed, and 50,000

For just a few days, the world held its breath as it watched India and Pakistan trade bullets over the border. Twenty-six Hindu and Christian tourists were killed by militants near Pahalgam in an incident in which The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the attack. Armed skirmishes between India and Pakistan were reported along the Line of Control (LoC) beginning on April 24. On May 7, India launched missile strikes in Pakistan, leading to a military conflict between the two countries. Days later, on May 10, the two nations signed an agreement, with President Donald Trump claiming that he was instrumental in the ceasefire.

Sudan Civil War

It’s been going on for years, but it hasn’t gotten better. Sudan is being ripped in half by a civil war led by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The two men seized power in a coup in October 2021 but eventually had a falling out. The SAF governs from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, controls the major cities in the east and north, and is recognized as Sudan’s legitimate government. Meanwhile, the RSF controls most of Darfur and other areas in central and western Sudan. As many as 400,000 people have died in the conflict, and more than 12 million have been displaced. Much of the country faces famine. In October, the RSF wrestled Darfur from SAF after an 18-month siege. The slaughter that ensued was so widespread it could be seen from miles away.

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Ukrainian soldiers were killed as well. Although Putin has been talking peace, he recently signed a new law introducing year-round conscription. Speaking to military commanders in an end-of-year review, Putin said, “The goals of the special military operation will undoubtably be achieved. We would prefer to do this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy. If the opposing side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical land by military needs.”

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>>> 12-dAy irAn wAr

A

lthough Israel’s campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program officially took place over 12 days, from June 13 to June 24, the operation known as Operation Rising Lion was a years-long, multi-phase effort with agents smuggling components for hundreds of small explosive quadcopter drones into the country via commercial shipping, vehicles, and personal luggage. Israeli operatives inside Iran assembled the drones at clandestine locations and launch sites inside Iranian cities, allowing short-range launches that bypassed Iran’s national air-defense network. Israel used these drones to take out

many of Iran’s air defense and missile systems, giving the Israeli Air Force free rein over Iran’s skies. Over 200 Israeli fighter jets were involved in over 1,000 sorties over Iran. Miraculously, Israel did not lose one air force pilot or fighter jet.

In response, Iran launched between some 550 ballistic missiles and around 1,000 drones at Israel, 90% of which were intercepted. Twenty-eight Israelis were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded. It was anticipated that there would be thousands of Israeli deaths.

On June 22, the U.S. entered the war when seven B2

stealth bombers flew 18 hours straight from the U.S. to Iran and dropped 14 bunker-busting missiles on Iran’s main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Overall, the attack caused severe damage but not total destruction to Iran’s nuclear program.

>>> TAking ouT houThi leAderShip

A

fter years of unprovoked missile attacks by the Houthis, on August 28, an Israeli airstrike targeted Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, killing Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several other senior officials during a government meeting. This marked the most senior Houthi leadership targeted to

date and prompted mass funerals and vows of retaliation.

Among the Houthi terrorists killed were the minister of information and a government spokesperson, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of economy, industry, and investment, the minister of culture and tourism, and the military chief of staff.

The meeting of Houthi leadership was held in a private home, rather than a government office, as a security precaution. However, Israeli intelligence was a step ahead, and IDF air force fighter jets were dispatched to decapitate the Houthi leaders. The Houthis have continued to target Israel with missile and drone strikes, prompting Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to recently warn, “Whoever raises a hand against the state of Israel, his hand will be cut off; whoever harms us, will be harmed sevenfold.”

>>> gAining FooTholdS in SouThern SyriA

S

ince the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes across Syria, dismantling large portions of the Syrian military arsenal, including air-defense systems, aircraft, heavy weapons, and chemical-weapons stockpiles, to prevent those assets from falling into extremist hands; in 2025 alone, Israel carried out approximately 600 strikes inside Syria. Israel has also moved forces

into parts of southern Syria, expanding a security buffer along the Golan Heights.

Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said he is open to peace with Israel contingent on an Israeli withdrawal to the lines established after the 1973 war, while Israeli leaders have emphasized security first.

Following a recent meeting with Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Our interest is

to have a peaceful border with Syria… to make sure that the border area right next to our border is safe, we don’t have terrorists, we don’t have attacks.”

>>> Chipping AwAy AT hezbollAh

T

hroughout 2025, Israel continued an intensive campaign to degrade Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, striking fighters, weapons depots, and production facilities while carrying out dozens of targeted assassinations that killed more than 200 senior Hezbollah commanders and operatives. According to the Israel Defense Forces, since fighting began on October 8, 2023, Israeli operations have killed 4,000-5,000 Hezbollah operatives and commanders, rendered an additional 9,000 combat-ineffective, destroyed 70-80% of Hezbollah’s

short-range rocket launchers, and demolished roughly 1,500 frontline underground installations. Under a U.S.-approved plan adopted by the Lebanese army, Beirut committed to clearing all Hezbollah personnel, weapons, and infrastructure from areas south of the Litani River, which is about 20 miles from Israel’s border, by year’s end.

Lebanese officials claim disarma-

ment in the south is nearly complete, but Israel disputes this, saying Hezbollah is attempting to reconstitute its capabilities near the border. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz underscored Israel’s position, declaring, “Hezbollah, we will disarm them” and warning that there would be “no calm in Beirut, nor order and stability in Lebanon, until the security of the State of Israel is guaranteed.”

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his year brought relief and joy for Jews around the world as 51 living and 27 murdered hostages were brought back to Israel thanks to the tremendous efforts of President Trump and his team of negotiators. As of this writing, one hostage’s body, Ran Gvili, remains in Gaza.

On January 19, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were brought back home, returning to Israel after 471 days in captivity in Gaza. Gonen was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival, while Damari and Steinbrecher were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. On February 1, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, and Yarden Bibas were brought back home. “Finally, after 484 long, terrifying days and nights, full of immense worry for our father, we can breathe again,” Siegel’s family said in a statement. “Thank you, President Trump, for bringing our father back to us.” On February 8, three Israeli hos-

January 19, 2025

tages, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, were brought back home. Eli’s wife and two teenage daughters were murdered on October 7; he was only notified of their murder after he was released. Or’s wife was also killed that day.

A week later, on February 15, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn were reunited with their families. On February 20-22, the bodies of Oded Lifshitz, the red-headed babies Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and their mother Shiri Bibas were returned, all found to have been murdered in captivity. Six living hostages, including Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who had been held since 2014 and 2015, were also released. On February 26,

January 25

Emily Damari (28) Romi Gonen (24) Doron Steinbrecher (31)

Arbel Yehud (29) Agam Berger (19) Gadi Moses (80) Naama Levy (20) Liri Albag (19) Daniella Gilboa (20) Karina Ariev (20)

February 15

January 30

February 22

Alexander Trufanov (29) Yair Horn (46) Sagui Dekel-Chen (36)

February 1

Keith Siegel (65) Ofer Calderon (54) Yarden Bibas (35)

and 5 Thai nationals: Surasak Rumnao Bannawat Saethao Watchara Sriaoun Sathian Suwannakham Pongsak Tanna

May 12

Edan Alexander (21)

Eliya Cohen (27) Omer Shem Tov (22) Tal Shoham (40) Omer Wenkert (23) Avera Mengistu (38) Hisham al-Sayed (36)

the bodies of Itzik Elgart, Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mansour were brought home to be buried.

In March, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed, and hostage exchanges were halted. Finally, on October 13, the remaining 20 living hostages were brought back home in three batches in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” President Donald Trump told members of the Knesset.

“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better. Like the U.S.A. right now, it will be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East.”

February 8

Ohad Ben Ami (58) Or Levy (34) Eli Sharabi (52)

October 13

Matan Angrest (22) Gali Berman (28) Ziv Berman (28) Elkana Bohbot (36) Rom Braslavski (21) Nimrod Cohen (20) Ariel Cunio (28) David Cunio (35) Evyatar David (24) Guy Gilboa-Dalal (24)

Maxim Herkin (35) Eitan Horn (39) Segev Kalfon (27) Bar Kupershtein (23) Omri Miran (48) Eitan Mor (25) Yosef-Chaim Ohana (25) Alon Ohel (24) Avinatan Or (32) Matan Zangauker (25)

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

>>> bringing Them home

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CAME “ Six Seveeeeen”

AI Music

No, it’s not just your kid, Dictionary.com named this nonsensical phrase as When tone-deaf friends start sending you the word of the year.

WhatsApps to “check out this tune that I just wrote,” “It’s like a plague — a virus that has taken over these kids’ minds,” sevyou consider that human-created music may just be enth grade science teacher Gabe Dannenbring of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, officially in its death throes. When you hesitantly told CNN. “You can’t say any iteration of the numbers 6 or 7 without having turn on the song and like it, you confirm that it’s at least 15 kids yell, ‘6-7!’” all over for music.

Where does it come from? Honestly, knowing won’t make you any smartIn July, the folk band Velvet Sundown exer (some rap song, combined with an interview ploded on the scene and quickly amassed more and some really silly videos of kids saying “six than 1 million streams on Spotify. The band members looked like modern-day verseveeeen” while doing indecisive gestures, as sions of 1960’s rockers and had the harmonic chops of some of those early rock though they were weighing two options with their and roll bands. Only problem? It was all AI generated. They don’t exist. The band palms up.) However, despite the silliness of the released a statement on social media denying that it was AI, before admitting whole thing, it is very refreshing for there to be a that it was all created on song generator app Suno. In response to copyright intrend that is not spiteful, provocative or inapproprifringement suits by major record labels, platforms like Deezer are implementing ate, so I THINK that I’m all in…six seveeeeen. detection software and mandatory AI labeling.

Right-Wing Jew-Hating Rage-Baiters

Tariffs

President Trump dubbed April 2 to be “Liberation Day,” the day that the U.S. would announce heavy tariffs on imports, thus returning manufacturing This year saw the full embrace of Jew to the U.S. and leveling the economic playing field. hatred by several notable right winger A baseline 10% tariff was placed on most imports, podcasters, such as Tucker Carlson and with higher country-specific rates, including 25Candace Owens. Their hatred seems so off base and uncalibrated, Left-Wing 30% on Chinese goods. A tariff food fight immeleading many to conclude that it is all about getting clicks online, Celebration of Murder diately ensued with the U.S. and China increasing which results in more money in their pockets. tariffs on each other in excess of 100%.

In Tucker’s case, it is widely believed that he has been bought On December 4, 2024, Luigi MangiOn April 10, 2025, the administration announced and paid for by Qatar which he constantly props up and where one, then 26, shot and killed Uniteda 90-day pause on the newly imposed higher tariffs he recently “purchased” an apartment. Further proof of that Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a for most countries other than China, returning many nefarious relationship is the fact that Tucker has become an father of three, on a Manhattan street. trading partners to the 10% baseline rate. In late Ocapologist for radical Islam. Last week, he even had the audacWhy? Because he was an insurance tober, President Trump ity to falsely claim, “I don’t know anyone in the United States company executive, and Mangione, and Chinese President in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam.” then 26, was unhappy that insurance is Xi Jinping reached an As for Candace? She is simply Kanye West with lipexpensive. It’s nothing new that there are agreement to reduce stick. self-obsessed, entitled evil losers in the many tariffs, as part of Even so, they do have millions of listeners, and it is world, but what was shocking was the left’s a one-year trade truce to certainly a reminder that both extremes—the right and celebration and canonization of Mangione. de-escalate trade tension. left— are infested with Jew haters.

By mid-2025, donations to his defense fund exceeded $1 million.

This phenomenon reared its ugly head again with the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, after which many on the Astronauts From Space left took to social media to publicly celebrate his execution. In April, a Network Contagion In June 2024, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams went on a Boeing Starliner Research Institute report found that 55% of spacecraft to the International Space Station for what was supposed to be an eight-day left-leaning Americans said political violence is excursion. However, due to a technical issue with the spacecraft, they were stranded acceptable. A recent YouGov poll found that 34% in space for 286 days. The duo ended up getting back home on a SpaceX Dragon of liberal people say it’s acceptable “to be happy capsule that Elon Musk sent up for them. about public figures deaths,” whereas only 7% of “There’s some lessons learned,” said Suni Williams upon returning to Earth. “Part of that is just resilience and conservatives felt the same way. being able to take a turn that was unexpected and make the best of it.”

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Gold Bar Bob

On June 17, former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, 72, began serving an 11-year sentence for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt and Qatar. The former New Jersey Democrat, who has become known as “Gold Bar Bob,” served for four years as the powerful chairman of the Senates Foreign Relations Committee.

When his home was raided, federal authorities discovered $480,000 in cash stuffed in clothing pockets.

Bye-Bye

Late Night

On July 17, CBS dropped a bombshell, announcing that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will be canceled in May 2026. Colbert, who critics say suffers from TDS, had transformed the program from a light, end-of-day comedy show into a nightly hour of rage directed at Donald Trump and was reportedly stunned by the network’s decision. Others, however, were less surprised: the show was losing an estimated $50 million per year.

“Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, ‘Late Night,’” Trump posted on social media, after the announcement was made. “That is not true!

The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT…”

The Penny After 232 years of production, the U.S. Mint officially stopped manufacturing new pennies on November 12, 2025. The Trump administration ordered a halt to the mostly zinc coin with a copper coating due to its economic inefficiency: the cost to produce each penny is approximately 3.69 cents. As they say, a penny not minted is 3.69 cents earned.

Sinking Drug Boats

At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense, under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, launched an aggressive campaign against narco-trafficking vessels smuggling drugs into the United States from Venezuela via the eastern Pacific Ocean. Over the past four months, U.S. military forces carried out kinetic strikes on at least 30 suspected narco-boats. Many of these operations had been followed by the release of unclassified video footage from U.S. Southern Command, typically depicting a high-speed vessel in open water, the impact of munitions splashing alongside it, and then a massive fireball—ending with the charred hull drifting slowly while engulfed in flames.

MetroCard Swipes Right

For more than three decades, you needed a flimsy piece of plastic to board New York City’s iconic trains and buses. Introduced in 1993, the yellow and blue MetroCard replaced subway tokens and made it easy for commuters to transfer and hop off and on public transportation without frantic searches for coins and change.

Like many New York institutions, the MetroCard is having its final curtain call. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun replacing it with OMNY, a contactless tap-and-go system that accepts phones, credit cards, and reloadable OMNY cards. The goal: faster entry, fewer delays, and a system better suited to a digital city that rarely slows down. Still, saying goodbye to those bits of plastic may take some getting used to. After all, when you look down at the train tracks, you can count the many discarded cards blanketing the bottom of the subway tunnels.

MTG Marches On

One of the most vocal members of the House, Marjorie Taylor Greene will hopefully be less in the headlines next year as she announced her plans in November not to re-run for Congress.

The 51-year-old from Georgia said she did not want her district to endure a “hurtful and hateful primary” after President Trump revoked his endorsement of her.

At one point, MTG was best buddies with the MAGA movement, but she began to mouth off against the president this year, denigrating his support for Israeli strikes against Iran and his hosting of foreign leaders at Mar-a-Lago. She also called Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide” and referred to herself as being “naïve” for previously believing Trump was a “man of the people.”

“You know, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, don’t worry about the world,’” President Trump said. “But the world is turning out to be our biggest customer. The world is on fire, and we could have been in that fire very easily if you didn’t have a president that knew what he was doing.” Speaking about Greene, Trump said, “She’s lost her way, I think.”

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CAME & wEnt George Santos Commutation

Kamala-isms

From late September 2025 through November 2025, Kamala Harris toured the U.S. promoting her memoir on the 2024 presidential election, titled “107 Days.” Of course, the tour was chockfull of Kamala-isms, such as “part of how I was raised to think about things was that the children of the community are our children of the community,” and “this was the closest presidential election in the 21st century.” (Trump won the Electoral College with 312-226 votes and won counties nationwide by 2,600-525.)

Putin and Zelensky Summits

In July, former Rep. George Santos reported to prison to begin serving an 87-month sentence (more than seven years) after being convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. However, in October 2025, after serving just three months, President Donald Trump commuted Santos’s sentence, resulting in his immediate release.

Announcing the decision on social media, the president wrote: “At least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Trump also claimed that Santos had spent extended periods in solitary confinement and had been “horribly mistreated.” He concluded: “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from pr ison, IMMEDI AT ELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”

On February 28, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House, where an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance devolved into a heated exchange, after which Zelensky departed without any announced change in U.S. policy or the status of the war. On August 15, 2025, Trump hosted Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where several hours of talks ended without an agreement or change in the conflict. Three days later, on August 18, Zelensky returned to the White House accompanied by multiple European leaders for a follow-up summit, which also concluded without a peace deal. On December 28, Zelensky met Trump at Mar-a-Lago, after which both leaders stated at a joint press conference that progress had been made on a 20-point peace proposal backed by Ukraine, while emphasizing that further negotiations were required to end the war.

The Cuomo Comeback Four years after resigning as New York’s governor amid scandal, Andrew Cuomo resurfaced to run for mayor of New York City. True to form, Cuomo managed to upend not only his own comeback but the entire mayoral race. By challenging incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary, Cuomo effectively left Adams no choice but to run as an independent. For a time, Cuomo appeared poised to coast to the Democratic nomination. Then entered Zohran Mamdani, a young, largely unknown progressive state assemblymember who capitalized on widespread fatigue and outright hostility toward Cuomo. Armed with a relentless smile and a platform promising free everything funded by “the rich,” Mamdani rode anti-Cuomo sentiment to a decisive primary victory. Undeterred and apparently oblivious to the message voters had sent, Cuomo chose to launch an independent bid in the general election. With the field further fractured by Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, a radio host turned perennial candidate, Mamdani sailed to victory in the general election by 9.5 points.

Mamdani, who took office on January 1, may well proceed to run the city into the ground. The lone consolation is that this hopefully will be Andrew Cuomo’s final political nail in his coffin.

B u y i n g t h e W hol e Pac k ag e

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his 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Streamliner, a legendary Formula 1 car driven by icons Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, sold for a record-breaking $53.9 million at a RM Sotheby’s auction in Stuttgart in February 2025, becoming the most expensive car sold in 2025. It is not the most expensive car ever sold, though. That honor goes to a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which fetched $143 million in 2022.

2025

>>> Team

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n June, the Buss family sold an 85% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global Mark Walter for a gargantuan $10 billion, the most ever paid for a professional sports franchise. Since Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1980 for $67.5 million (the sale included the L.A. Kings and the arena that both teams played in), the Lakers have won 11 championships. Despite the hefty price tag paid for the Lakers, according to Forbes, the Dallas Cowboys have retained their status as the world’s most valuable sports team, with a value of $13 billion. However, Jerry Jones has not put out a “for sale” sign for his beloved football team.

>>> Yacht

>>> House

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n April, this beachfront residential property in Naples, Florida, sold for a whopping $225 million. The property totals 15 acres and has 812 feet of beach frontage. The main home, built in 1986, is 8,846 square feet and features six bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, three half-bathrooms and three garages. Although this is the largest residential transaction in Florida’s history, the largest residential transaction in U.S. history was the 2019 sale of the penthouse at 220 Central Park South in Manhattan for a jaw-dropping $238 million. The new owner of the Florida property has not been disclosed.

(And no, you can’t use your AmEx points to stay there.)

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ormer NHL star-turned-billionaire businessman Patrick Dovigi is the proud new owner of Bill Gates’ hydrogen-powered yacht called Breakthrough. Gates has never really stepped on the yacht. At 390 feet long, the futuristic yacht boasts seven decks, a pool, a helipad, spa, and a glass-walled observation lounge. The exact amount paid is undisclosed but is estimated to be at around the yacht’s value of $645 million. (And yes, it does come with Microsoft 360.)

>>> Art

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ustav Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer (from the Leonard Lauder Collection) was sold at a Sotheby’s New York auction for $236.4 million at a gavel-buster of an auction.

Standing at 71 by 51 ⅜ in (180.4 by 130.5 cm), this grand private commission is considered one of the artist’s finest works. This year, when the work commanded $236.4 million, it was a record price for any piece of art sold at Sotheby’s and the second highest price for any piece of art ever sold. The painting itself went for $205,000,000; the auction fees were $31,360,000. (They always get you on those pesky fees…argh!)

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The Winners

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2025

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On January 16, 2025, New Zealander

Gabrielle

Wall did what every parent has accidentally

Éclaircissement: On May 29, 2025,

The winner of the 2025 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest

Petunia, a hairless English-French bulldog

13-year-old Faizan Zaki of Texas won the

is

trained for their entire adult life: she sprinted 100

100th Scripps National Spelling Bee by spelling

mix from Oregon. Crowned at California’s Sonoma-

meters barefoot across a track covered in

this 15-letter French word which means “an

Marin Fair in August 2025, Petunia won the

661 pounds of Lego bricks, clocking in at a blistering

enlightenment or clarification” and tied the all-

$5,000 prize and a deal with Mug Root Beer, which

24.75 seconds, and earning herself a Guiness World

time record for the longest winning word in the

sponsors the yearly contest.

Record. Wall said she spent two entire months

competition’s 100-year history.

What’s Petunia gonna do with the $5,000? Well,

barefoot to build calluses in preparation for her attempt, even attending a wedding without any

Zaki won over $50,000 in prizes. Kool!

maybe she should start with some Botox.

shoes. Indeed, an amazing feet!

Trevor Mustafa, 44, was recognized at the

On February 1-2, 2025,

2025 World Beard and Moustache Championships as

Oregon earned the Guinness World Record for most

Truett Hanes of

valuable publicly traded company in late 2025,

having the world’s best beard, thanks to his 11-inch

pull-ups completed in 24 hours, starting at 11:00

became the first firm to surpass a $5 trillion market

bushy black mane. Winning a competition like

a.m. and finishing at 9:16 a.m. the next morning,

capitalization when it briefly closed above that level

this does not come easy. “Eating is a real challenge,”

when he pulled himself up for the 10,001 time,

in October 2025, driven primarily by demand for

revealed Trevor, after his big win. “I’ve had to learn

becoming the first person ever to break five digits in

its AI-focused chips. With its current valuation

to take soft first bites because there’s been more than

the category.

of approximately $4.4-$4.5 trillion, NVIDIA

st

a few times where I’ve swallowed my beard and been

NVIDIA, which has become the world’s most

is still ahead of major technology companies such “I wasn’t blessed with unique ability or super

as Microsoft and Apple. The company’s valuation

strength,” said Hanes, “I’ve just been gifted the

reflected its dominant position in GPUs used to train

There’s a place called 770 that may give him some

ability to not give up. The pain of regret far outweighs

large AI models, strong revenue growth, sustained

useful tips.

the pain of my hands.”

investor confidence, and strategic partnerships, all of

choking myself on it.”

which contributed to its rapid rise to historic valuation levels within a short period.

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The Year in heisTs

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2025

1234 your paSSworDS are not SeCure anymore

i

n July, cybersecurity experts discovered the largest-ever password leak which exposed more than 16 billion login credentials including from major platforms like Google, Facebook, Apple, and even government services.

Although that may sound like a lot of passwords, if my passwords were part of the breach, I contributed around 159 passwords to the total.

Betting the houSe the tiffany DiamonD Swallower

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n February 26, Jaythan Lawrence Gilder, 32, entered a Tiffany & Co. in Orlando, Florida, impersonating a representative for an NBA star. He grabbed about $800,000 of jewelry and ran out of the store. Police gave chase, but by the time they caught him, he had already eaten the jewels. X-rays later revealed the “sparkling loot” floating in his digestive tract. Nature does what nature does, and the jewels were recovered.

“Detectives monitored Jaythan Gilder for more than a dozen days at the hospital,” reported the Orlando police department. “After the diamonds were expelled from his system, we were able to bring them to Tiffany’s, where they were cleaned, and their master jeweler confirmed the inscription and serial numbers matched the stolen pieces.”

Memo to self: For the next 12 months, no shopping at Tiffany’s Orlando.

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n NBA betting and gambling scandal made headlines on October 23 following the indictment of Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat.

Billups is alleged to have participated in illegal poker games that were facilitated by Mafia crime families, and Rozier is accused of being involved in illegal sports betting. According to the indictment, the scheme used altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras and other technology to cheat unsuspecting participants out of millions of dollars. Billups and other ex-athletes were reportedly used as celebrity “face cards” to attract wealthy players to the illegal games. A real life house of cards. n October 19, 2025, thieves stole eight French Crown Jewels from the Galerie d’Apollon at the Louvre in Paris. The robbers used a truck-mounted mechanical ladder to reach a top-floor window, gained entry with power tools, and escaped on motorcycles—all in under eight minutes during regular museum hours. The haul included priceless Napoleonic-era jewelry; a ninth item, the Crown of Empress Eugénie, was dropped and recovered during the getaway.

To date, five suspects have been charged, but the jewels remain missing. Turns out that the Louvre’s biggest exhibit this year was a Van-Gogh-ing act.

the louvre

o

CryptoCrime

o

n February 21, 2025, hackers breached the Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, stealing approximately $1.5 billion in Ethereum tokens. The hack, which is the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history, is attributed to North Korea.

This was not the only crypto heist of the year. 2025 saw a total of $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency stolen.

holy Somali!

i

n December, federal investigators uncovered a fraudulent scheme in which members of Minnesota’s Somali community stole as much as $9 billion from the federal government. The scheme included $250 million for a program to feed hungry children who never existed and millions of dollars in federal funds for autism therapy for children that were falsely diagnosed with autism. Although 87 individuals have been charged to date, recovering the money has proven difficult as much of it was sent to Somalia, which has a total GDP of $12 billion.

“The magnitude cannot be overstated,” First Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson said on Thursday of the tentacles of the fraud. “What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s staggering, industrial-scale fraud…

Every day, we look under a rock and find a new $50 million fraud scheme.”

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Thanks for your help in advance! I’m writing because I’m very disappointed by a recent situation, and I’m trying to figure out what to do.

I was at an event that was advertised for ages 24-32. While at this event, I met

an amazing girl, and we really hit it off. We spent hours talking and at the end of the night exchanged numbers and started to date. She is really everything I’m looking for in so many ways.

Unfortunately, I found out after dating her for four weeks that she is actually 34. I’m 32 and really do not want to be dating someone who is older than me. I stand on principle with this.

Now, I’m in a bind. I’m upset that she went to an event meant for younger singles. I feel that this was dishonest. She assured me that she got permission from the people running the event. Even so, the thought of introducing my kallah to people as older than me makes me uncomfortable. I don’t know what to do now. I really do like her.

What would you all suggest?

Thank you, Ben*

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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Dear Readers, We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion!

Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition.

If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well.

Looking forward!

Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin

The Shadchan

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. en, I am not sure what you mean about standing on principle about not dating women who are older than you. You also say you are uncomfortable introducing her to friends as a kallah because she is older. It seems to me that you made your rule public and are not at ease with the social awkwardness of everyone knowing this.

This seems to be more important than the actual reality of a two-year age differential.

In other words, you like the woman well enough to want to marry her but the age difference in the eyes of your friends is troubling you.

Work through this social issue with a seasoned counselor, a professional. You want to marry her but need to learn some skills with which to navigate the social circumstances. Humor will certainly be one method that will be suggested; role playing situations where people tease you about getting what you didn’t want will be part of this process as well. There may be some other issues that come up between the two of you. After all, you only know each other for a month.

Do continue to date and deepen your relationship as you work on this concern and others that inevitably will come up.

Learn to consider context in making such an important decision. Don’t let age be a barrier if you have deep connection and alignment. You need to reach a comfort level with the differential which will come as you continue to date and explore your own issues with good help. Do make sure you keep connecting with the young lady and don’t distance yourself as you woo her.

Invest in the process. Be smart and resolve your issue before you go public.

Michelle Mond truly believe nothing is coincidence.

You made up your mind about age being such a HUGE deal and look what happened in the end. You have met a girl you are very connected with and, to quote your own words, “She is really everything I’m looking for in so many ways.” You should be thanking Hashem again and again for this unusual mix-up rather than complaining about a number.

In reality, that is what age is – just a number. So many guys marry girls older than them. You have nothing to be self-conscious about. Being nervous to introduce her to your friends because of her age is an issue that can be resolved in your own mind. Nobody is making judgments about you because of this. Furthermore, most people won’t even know her age to begin with.

You need to come to the realization within yourself. Recognize that Hashem crafted the perfect way for you to meet your bashert despite your insignificant “golden rule” of not dating someone older than you.

B

I

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler have a remorseful confession here. My first reaction to this letter was to respond a bit harshly: “Are you serious? You are 32 years old, so you’ve been dating for quite a while. You have finally found someone who is everything you’re looking for.

Now, incredibly, you’re troubled because

I

of a minor age gap. What’s wrong with you?”

But then I realized that such a response would be very wrong. Ben, the letter-writer, is obviously a thoughtful and intelligent young man, who is sincerely and honestly upset about a situation that he finds troubling.

So, Ben, with my sincere apologies, here are some thoughts for you to consider.

First, is there dishonesty?

If you step back and consider the situation objectively, your girlfriend never misrepresented herself to you. She attended the event with the knowledge and permission of the organizers. They accepted her, knowing that she was slightly older than the stated 24-32 age guideline.

She is innocent. There was certainly no intentional dishonesty here.

Second, why would you be uncomfortable introducing her to friends?

This would be understandable if your

History is replete with strongly held beliefs and principles that later proved to be mistaken.

girlfriend were ten years older than you.

But two years? That is a negligible age gap. Any friends who look askance at such a minor difference are not worthy of your friendship.

True friends will be genuinely happy that you may have finally found a potential life partner.

Third, what is so sacred about your not-marrying-anyone-older principle?

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Is it so hard for you to accept that this long-held “principle” may no longer serve your best interests? History is replete with strongly held beliefs and principles that later proved to be mistaken.

For centuries, people were certain that the Earth sat at the center of the universe. Today, we know that our planet orbits an ordinary star, in an unremarkable galaxy, among countless others.

Some principles endure because they are wise. Others persist simply because they have never been challenged.

Please allow yourself to abandon your principle of not marrying someone older. That idea is a relic of the past. Multiple studies have shown that couples with small age gaps report high levels of

marital satisfaction, regardless of which partner is older.

You are 32. She is 34. This is not a generational divide. It is a two-year difference that, in most marriages, becomes irrelevant very quickly.

Fourth, have you considered the following?

It is no secret that today, single women in their 30s often have a difficult time finding their bashert. This young lady sounds like a wonderful find. I hope that you can find it in your heart to reconsider this age-based discomfort and move forward.

If you do, she sounds like someone who could love you deeply, cherish the relationship, and become your closest

Pulling It All Together

friend and life partner. And one day, you may find yourself grateful to the organizers of that singles event for bending their rules and showing a bit of common sense.

There’s no moral failure in deciding that this matters

Reader’s Response Shlomo L. Young at Heart ear Ben, I’m excited to hear that you’ve found someone with whom you feel a connection and who is everything you are looking for!

I also share your disappointment with the organizers of the event; if the gathering was open to a wider range of people than advertised, I’d certainly want to know about that in advance.

I’d encourage you to focus on your relationship with your spouse-to-be, rather than on how others might feel,

D

too much to you and stepping away. or how you think they might feel, about her; after all, it is your marriage that will bring you happiness and not what others may think of it.

Speaking from my own experience, through more than 15 years of marriage I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been asked about my wife’s age (she was, and still is, a bit more than a year older).

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

B

en,

I hear how torn you are. You’re not asking a shallow question. You’re asking a values question, and those are the ones that tend to hurt the most because there isn’t an obvious right answer.

Let’s separate out the different threads here, because right now, they’re tangled together.

First, the honesty piece.

You felt blindsided finding out her age after four weeks, and that matters. It makes sense that you’d feel unsettled, especially since the event had an age range attached to it. That said, there’s an important detail you included that’s easy to gloss over when emotions are high. She didn’t sneak in. She didn’t lie to you directly. She says she got permission from the organizers. That shifts this from deception into something more nuanced. It may still feel uncomfortable, but it’s not the same as being intentionally misled.

Second, the age itself.

Yo u’r e 32. She’s 34. On paper, that’s a two-year difference.

In real life, the discomfort you’re describing isn’t really about biology or life stage. It’s about meaning. What it would say about you. How it would look. How it would feel to say out loud.

That’s important to be honest about.

But it’s also worth asking yourself whether this is a deeply held value or a rule you absorbed somewhere along the way and never revisited.

Here’s a hard but loving question: If you met her at a different event, knew her age from day one, and everything else was exactly the same, would you be sitting with this same intensity of conflict? Or would it have quietly faded into the background?

Third, the principle you’re standing on.

Principles are meant to protect something essential. They’re not meant to

override lived experience without question. Right now, your lived experience is that you met someone you genuinely connect with, someone who feels aligned with what you’re looking for.

So the real question isn’t “is it wrong to date someone older than me?”

It’s: what am I protecting by holding this line, and what might I lose by holding it too tightly?

There’s no moral failure in deciding that this matters too much to you and stepping away. But there is an opportunity here to check whether the discomfort is coming from your own values or from imagined reactions of others.

As for what to do now.

If you choose to walk away, do it cleanly and kindly. Own that this is about your discomfort, not her wrongdoing. Don’t turn it into a character judgment.

If you choose to stay, then you need to really stay. That means letting go of resentment, not secretly holding this over her, and not framing her age as something

you’re tolerating rather than accepting.

What I would not recommend is staying while trying to talk yourself into being okay with something you fundamentally aren’t or leaving while telling yourself you “had no choice.” You do have a choice. It’s just an uncomfortable one.

The fact that you’re this conflicted tells me this connection isn’t nothing.

Whether it becomes something is up to how honestly you’re willing to examine what truly matters to you versus what you were taught should matter.

Whatever you decide, make it a decision you can stand behind without bitterness.

Sincerely, Jennifer P.S. Just some food for thought: sometimes, people do something not because they are “liars” but because a system is so broken they are quite literally forced into these situations and they themselves don’t want to be.

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

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Shmooze & Muse

All Wound Up

By Mordechai Schmutter

E

ver since I wrote an article about my foot ulcers (big craters in my ankles) a couple of months back, people have been writing to ask me how they are.

No, I’m just kidding. Maybe one person wrote in. Most people think I make this stuff up. Like I see that foot ulcers exist, and I think, “How can I make this about me?”

But the people I see in real life definitely ask. (You guys are not real life.)

And I have to answer them. Because the thing is that most of the time when people ask how you are, you say, “Fine, b”H.” Even if you’re not fine, b”H. Nobody checks. Even if you’re walking around with a spear sticking out of your back.

But if they ask something specific, like, “What’s doing with that spear?” you have to give them a real answer.

“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten it checked out yet. My appointment is Wednesday.”

So when people say, “How are your foot ulcers?” I have to give them a real answer.

“It’s a long story. Read my articles.”

“I tried. They’re always about chickens.”

What am I going to do? Show them the pictures? They don’t want to see those.

And yes, I’ve been taking pictures. To track the progress, in case anyone asks.

Mostly doctors. My phone is a minefield of pictures you don’t want to see. On the

plus side, my kids have stopped scrolling through it.

Overall, they’re getting better. I think.

Well, the original ulcers are getting better, but I have new ones. And no one’s sure what’s causing it. One doctor thinks it’s a side effect of some medication I’ve been taking, but the other four doctors don’t know. Should they maybe have a meeting? I don’t know if they do that. I definitely thought they might, when I decided to primarily see doctors that all belonged to this one practice.

I have five doctors that I’ve inflicted this case on so far. As of when I last wrote about this, my physician had sent me to a dermatologist, and my hematologist sent me to a podiatrist.

The dermatologist drilled exploratory holes inside the existing holes in my foot, the morning that I had to go to Kosherpalooza.

Kosherpalooza is a food show I go to where everybody just stops in the middle of the aisles for no reason and shmoozes, and you have to stand there and think angry thoughts while blood pools inside your shoes. And then people come over to you and say, “You’re Mordechai Schmutter! Ha ha!” And you’re smiling along and thinking, “I just want to think of some jokes for my article and get out of here.” And they’re thinking, “He’s not as funny in person.”

The podiatrist, meanwhile, prescribed a $300 cream for me to put on every night. And everyone asks, “Isn’t it covered by insurance?”

It is. It’s normally a $900 cream.

He also took off my band-aids to look at it, told me that he did not have a single band-aid in the entire office, and then wrapped me in 85 feet of gauze that didn’t fit back into my Crocs and also stuck to his floors, and he sent me to something called “Wound Care.”

The thing is, Wound Care is not part of this practice. It’s actually in a local hospital that, when my wife later mentioned it to our neighbor who’s a nurse, the neighbor said, “No, don’t go to that hospital.”

Should I change now? Start over in my wound care regimen?

Apparently, Passaic has a hospital that doesn’t work. I don’t know how a whole hospital doesn’t work. Is the local med school just letting everyone cheat on tests? And how can they possibly be making my craters worse? They’re basically just unwrapping and rewrapping it. And they actually have band-aids.

So our neighbor told me to bring this up to my physician, who said, “Oh, that hospital? Yeah, I don’t send people there.

Except for Wound Care. Their Wound Care is good.” That’s the one department that works. The Department of Wrapping and

Unwrapping. That is only open on Fridays.

That hospital is bad? I’ve seen four doctors in your practice, and no one actually knows what’s causing this. You each went to school for a decade. This never came up? In 40 years of school? My thing was the thing they didn’t cover? Do you want to name it after me?

“Yeah, he has a foot Schmutter.”

So I started going to Wound Care every Friday. That’s when this hospital is open, apparently. Fridays.

He tried numerous things. Every time I came back, we’d unwrap my feet, and he’d say, “I think it’s getting better! But let’s try a different tactic anyway.”

He’s doing uncharted science over here.

He’s trying to write a paper.

A lot of the things he tried involved compression socks.

Compression socks are basically socks that are too small. And you have to wear them anyway. “No, it’s supposed to squeeze like that. It’s compression socks.” But meanwhile, if I wear a compression undershirt, my wife tells me I need to get skinnier. What do you think I’m doing?

And then, in case the compression socks aren’t compressing enough, he had me wrap two ace bandages around each leg. And then a medical sock. And then he said, “Also, don’t wash your feet.” Because the last thing you want is to wash your feet,

And so it went for a few weeks, one week at a time, except the week before July 4, when the doctor decided that for totally medical reasons, I had to have the boot on for two weeks.

“Why?” “We’re closed next Friday.”

“The whole hospital is closed? But it’s not even the 4th. It’s the 5th. I have to stew an extra week?”

turns off his phone for yom tov.

“Call on Monday.”

So I said, “I’m in agony. I just need to know if this is expected or if he wrapped me wrong.”

And she said, “If you’re in pain, go to the Emergency Room.”

Because they have a heter to work on the 4th. They asked their government official.

Do you want to name it after me?

“Yeah, he has a foot Schmutter.”

I got a heter from a rav to put on the cream on Shabbos; this doctor can’t get a heter to change my bandages on July 5?

So he said, “Well, you can come into my private practice on the 3rd.” So I came in, and he wrapped me personally, and as soon as I got home, I was in intense pain. I called the office to find out if I was supposed to be in pain, or what? And his receptionist told me that the doctor had left for the day. “It’s erev July 4; what are you thinking?” Like he has to get home for fireworks lighting. He

Wait, the Emergency Room of which hospital? I was told only Wound Care was competent. The Emergency Room of a different hospital? So they can say, “You went to that hospital?” and I can say, “No, the Wound Care is good! Except this.”

So I had my wife rewrap me as best she could, and I felt a little better for three days until the boot fell apart. At which point I put on a compression sock and some ace bandages Anyway, I finally saw the guy a week

later, and he looked at my wound and said, “Oh, it’s healing nicely. I did a good job!

Let’s do what we did last time. Unna boot, two weeks!”

And I said, “That’s not what we did last time. Last time was a combination of my wife rewrapping what you did, your office billing me, and then compression socks.”

And he said, “OK let’s do that.”

Apparently running a competent Wound Care department is mostly about trial and error.

Anyway, “healing nicely” took about four months. And by then I had more ulcers forming. But not in time for the doctor to be concerned about them at my last official appointment.

So now I think I’m on my own. I have a nice stack of compression socks, and about $85 worth of cream, which should last me like two applications if I run the tube over with my car. And I can always Google “Foot Schmutter” and see if anything comes up.

Maybe he published his paper.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. He can be contacted at mschmutter@gmail.com.

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in the summer, under several dozen layers of bandages and socks. But I mean my physician told me to keep washing it. And this was the physician who said that this hospital was not good except for Wound Care.

But as long as I got to wash the socks, right?

They gave me one pair of compression socks. They told me to hand wash it and air dry it and not to put them on wet.

Here’s something I discovered about compression socks: it takes them more than one night to air dry. Maybe you have to dry them on matzah poles, in a matzah oven.

But then every visit they gave me another pair, and I didn’t let them take back the old pair, and they asked, “You want the old pair?” like that made me disgusting, so eventually I had enough socks for a rotation. And also a rotation of ace bandages, so I could wash those and find somewhere tall enough to hang them. Just 10-foot wimples hanging everywhere. Like over the top of the door.

Some weeks he put me in something called an Unna Boot, which is a wrap that has to be kept on for a full week. And I’m like, “So when do I apply the $900 cream?” So the nurse put on like $100 worth of cream first.

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Parenting Pearls

Is That Parenting Gentle?

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

I

was with my crew and their little buddy at one of those bounce type kid gyms. What should have been a wonderful trip was marred by one little boy who ran wild, cutting others off and jumping in front of the kids. It wasn’t just unfair to the children; he was an outright hazard as he nearly tossed a few kids off elevated platforms. I would like to call him precocious or rambunctious, but he was really just out of control. The older man with him was a poor handler and barely made half-baked attempts to stop his young charge. I was not the only one asking the staff to address the situation. I remember as his “adult” (I use this term loosely) laughed and said to the staff, “Perhaps you can get him to stop.

He doesn’t listen to me.” He thought this was funny and didn’t seem to realize how inappropriate his response was.

My son’s friend gently put out his hand to stop this little boy’s next attempt to cut in line, while calmly asking him to stop. I was impressed by his patience since many boys would have already become more than a little aggressive. I spoke with my son’s friend and explained that he was showing excellent

middos, but he still shouldn’t have any physical contact with the other child.

While I knew his behavior was gentle, I was afraid the staff might think he was getting physical. He understood, and I later told his mother how impressed I was with his behavior.

Despite how upsetting this outing became, it was very insightful. We had two children in the same environment acting completely differently, both products of their individual family’s homes. One child was out of control and acting terribly, incapable of listening to authority. The other child showed self-control when many adults would have been challenged.

I often see different parenting methods thrown around, often the names being relatively meaningless since each person has their own definition for it.

While there are names that are used consistently and appropriately in professional literature, most of the names used are thrown around from popular books, lectures – or most often – from social media. Ironically, the most controversial name is “gentle parenting.” It’s ironic since both “gentle” and “parenting” are words common to our vernacu-

lar, understood by even young children.

Naturally, parents want to do what’s best for their child. We all hope to find the one parenting method that will guarantee a perfect product. We want to know how strict to be and when to be lenient, when do we say “no,” and when do we say “yes.” Parents want to know how and when to punish, as well as when to hold back. Unfortunately, there is no perfect guide to parenting. Children, families and individual circumstances are so unique that one-size-fits-all will never apply. Fortunately, there are defined parenting methods that are known to show better results than others. Understanding these parenting styles can be one guide for parents in creating that healthy balance.

Parenting Styles As mentioned above, there are certain parenting styles that are discussed in professional literature. These names are consistently used throughout the child development arena. The most commonly used names are permissive (lenient), authoritarian, and authoritative.

We often hear stories about children

who run wild through the stores. Parents refusing to say “no” to their child or just overall afraid of their little one.

It’s frustrating for others, and none of us want to be around these children.

What many people mistakenly call “gentle parenting” is actually “permissive parenting.” These parents give into their child’s whims, refuse to set boundaries, and let their child run the show.

This lack of parenting is neither gentle nor parenting. It’s not gentle because it lacks the love that comes with structure and parental security. It’s also not parenting because it fails to educate a child and prepare them for their future.

The wild-acting little boy in the opening story seems to have been raised in such an environment. While I’ve never been to his home, chasdei Hashem, I would imagine the parents failed to set boundaries or restrictions on his behavior. Perhaps he was permitted to run the house without any authority guiding him.

On the other end of the spectrum is authoritarian parenting. These parents may rule with an iron fist. They dictate the rules and demand strict obedience, disregarding their child’s feelings or

These parents will validate their child’s feelings and work to meet their child’s needs. They set firm, clear and reasonable boundaries that are enforced.

The parent often explains to the child why a rule is in place rather than relying exclusively on “because I said so.”

The rules are reasonable and can be

is educated and not merely punished.

When I say I am pro gentle parenting, it is this authoritative style that I refer to. It is parenting because it provides structure and education, but it’s gentle because it doesn’t rely on angry or aggressive methods. The child can grow up in an environment feeling loved

The child can grow up in an environment feeling loved and validated, while also understanding there are consequences to their actions.

explained, and the parent’s authority isn’t threatened by a child’s respectful questions. These parents will discipline in a way that enforces the rules but also helps the child understand why their behavior is inappropriate. More importantly, they want to teach their child what is the proper way to act so the child

and validated, while also understanding there are consequences to their actions.

Knowing our young friend’s family in the initial story, I think this is the method they use. He was able to listen to – and respect – the authority of myself and the staff because he knew we were looking out for him. I validated his

frustrations. He knew he could speak with me about his feelings and that he would be heard. His parents had expectations for his behavior, and they enforced it. From a young age, they calmly explained to him why certain behaviors weren’t appropriate and what was expected of him. They also provided him with love, reassurance, and looked out for his emotional needs. I know he was spoken to kindly, with respect given that he was a tzelem Elokim and their precious child.

This method is one means to guide us in raising our precious charges. Parenting is a journey with many possible paths to take in getting our child to an emotionally healthy adulthood. May Hashem always guide us and bring us on the road we need to take.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, holds a master’s degree in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 15 years. Sara provides personalized parent mentoring services, addressing a variety of general and specific parenting concerns. She can be contacted at Sara.Rayvych@gmail.com with comments, questions or for private consultations.

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emotional needs. These parents may rely strongly on spanking and yelling for discipline.

Rather than experiencing love from their parents, these children are told what to do without being given the warmth and affection so crucial to healthy development. Rather than educate and teach correct behavior, these discipline methods rely on force and power. It’s my personal and humble opinion that a parent’s response to a child is often based more on the parent’s level of anger or frustration and less on the child’s actual behavior. In other words, they hit their child to get out their own anger and not because they feel the child actually behaved that poorly. When parents rely on such aggressive methods, they take an even bigger risk when acting based on their own emotions. These authoritarian discipline methods are rarely the best choice nor most effective.

As the Rambam encourages, the middle of the road is often the best. Authoritative parenting is a combination of healthy boundaries and realistic expectations balanced with love, warmth and being emotionally responsive.

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, My sixth grader is extremely bright but struggles socially. He gets upset over small things and doesn’t know how to calm down. His teachers keep saying he’s “too sensitive.” How can I help him succeed emotionally, not just academically?

- Worried Mom

A:

Dear Worried, I love this question because it’s not just about school success – it’s about life success.

What you’re describing – sensitivity, strong emotion, difficulty bouncing back – isn’t weakness. It’s a sign that your son feels things deeply, and that’s a strength. What he needs now are the tools to manage those feelings and use them well. The Torah and psychology both agree: wisdom isn’t only about what you know, it’s about how you feel, respond, and connect.

In his article “EQ vs. IQ: The Rise of the Emotional Intelligence Concept,” Moshe L. Lax describes a beautiful story about the Rebbe of Sassov. The Rebbe asked a peasant, “Do you love me?” and the peasant replied, “Of course, I do.” The Rebbe then asked, “Do you know what gives me pain?” The peasant said no. The Rebbe answered gently, “If you don’t know what gives me pain, how can you say you love me?”

That story captures the heart of emotional intelligence, the ability to understand what another person feels and needs.

Lax explains that in the early 1990s, psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer developed the first model of emotional intelligence, or EQ. They identified four essential skills: 1. Recognizing emotions—in ourselves and others.

2. Using emotions—to guide thinking and decision-making.

3. Understanding emotions—why we feel what we feel.

4. Managing emotions—so they work for us, not against us.

Later, Daniel Goleman popularized this idea in his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, showing that EQ often predicts success in relationships, leadership, and happiness more than traditional intelligence. That means your child’s emotional world, the ability to name, tolerate, and express

now, so I’m going to take a few deep feelings, is a life skill and is every breaths before I answer.” You’re bit as important as the other subWhen you showing him how to regulate emojects he is learning tion without lectures.

It sounds like your son feels guide him 3. Reframe “too sensitive” deeply but doesn’t yet know what through his as “deeply feeling.” The more to do with those big feelings. Senhe sees sensitivity as a strength, sitive children often get labeled as emotions the less ashamed he’ll feel about it. “dramatic” or “overreacting,” but Children who feel accepted learn they’re actually wired for empathy rather than to manage emotion; those who feel and awareness. The same sensitivtrying to erase shamed try to hide it. ity that makes him cry over disap4. Praise process, not perpointment is what will one day them, you’re fection. Instead of “you’re so make him an exceptional friend, helping him smart,” try “I love how you kept spouse, and leader if he learns to trying even when it was hard.” regulate it. grow his own I see this in classrooms all the You’re rewarding self-regulation, time. The bright, emotional stunot outcome. inner compass. dents who struggle to control frus5. Teach empathy through tration are often the same ones who curiosity. When someone upsets write the most insightful essays or him, ask, “Why do you think your defend a classmate from teasing. Their emotional volume friend said that?” That shift from reaction to reflection is turned up high…so it needs tuning, not silencing. builds perspective-taking, the cornerstone of EQ. Note: Our goal isn’t to make boys less masculine. We Your son doesn’t need to be “fixed.” He needs to be must recognize that boys are often ridiculed by peers for understood. When you guide him through his emotions the very behaviors we admire in adults: thoughtfulness, rather than trying to erase them, you’re helping him humility, and emotional awareness. The Torah values grow his own inner compass. mussar, self-reflection, and empathy as essential traits of Tell him often that you love his sensitivity. Remind spiritual and personal maturity. Our gedolim personify him that strong feelings mean a strong heart. Help him these very EQ traits. see that being sensitive and being strong aren’t opposites You can help your son develop emotional intelligence – they’re partners. at home in simple but powerful ways: Because the truth is, children who learn to know what 1. Name, don’t negate. When he’s upset, avoid gives others pain, as the Rebbe of Sassov taught, are the “Stop crying” or “You’re fine.” Instead, mirror what ones who will one day know how to bring others comyou see: “You’re really frustrated right now.” “It’s dis- fort. Emotional intelligence begins when we stop saying, appointing when you study and still don’t get the grade “Don’t be so sensitive,” and start asking, “What are you you hoped for.” Naming feelings helps children’s brains feeling right now, and how can I help you handle it?” move from reacting to thinking.

2. Model recovery. When you’re upset, narrate Shep nachas! your own calm-down process: “I’m frustrated right - Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds a MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. Etti is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, FACTS Education Solutions, Brienza Academic Advantage, Yeled V’Yalda; is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country; and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School Leaders and has a weekly column in The Jewish Home.

Relationships

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Rewired

By Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

L

ife is moving faster than ever.

Everything seems instant these days—except personal growth.

Unfortunately, we can’t snap our fingers and undo long-standing patterns, engrained dynamics, or unwanted thoughts and behaviors. And yet, life keeps moving, relentless and demanding. Our lives are already full; add a growing family, a career with fast-paced expectations, finances, and daily responsibilities, and it can feel like there’s barely any fuel left for the parts of life that often most need attention.

Many of us find ourselves caught in a tug-of-war between two vital priorities. On one hand, we want to provide for our children, making sure every need is met, every opportunity taken, and every comfort secured. On the other hand, we want (and sometimes struggle) to sustain and nourish our marriage.

The question looms: what comes first, and does putting one first necessarily mean sacrificing the other?

Too often, we misunderstand the answer. Our marriage is not just one part of the family equation; it is the foundation of the home. The way we relate to one another sets the emotional climate for the entire household. Whether we consciously recognize it or not, the warmth, tension, and connection between us ripples outward, touching every corner of family life. The state of our marriage subtly shapes the atmosphere in which our children grow, learn, and thrive.

Consider this scenario: we disagree on which school our child should attend.

Both of us have valid perspectives and feel passionately about our choice. The conversation stretches over weeks, sometimes months—and though it feels like a private matter, it isn’t. When the child asks where they will be going next year, the tension is palpable. The child doesn’t just hear the disagreement, they feel it.

Body language, tone, subtle cues; all of it

communicates stress, uncertainty, and conflict. Even without words, the child senses which parent is more invested in each position, and the invisible tension affects the atmosphere at home.

Humans are wired to operate on far more than verbal communication. We pick up on what is not said as much as what is spoken. Children are expert detectors of emotional climate; they notice subtle shifts in tone, body language, and the overall feel of interactions. This isn’t about guilt or blame; it’s biology. When tension exists between us, our children sense it, even when they are too young to articulate it.

This means that when we push our marital needs aside, burying them under carpools, extracurriculars, pediatrician appointments, and schedules, we are modeling a message that can have longterm impact. Without realizing it, we teach our children that adult relationships, needs, and even desires can take a backseat to external responsibilities.

We teach them that self-reduction is acceptable, even expected. And while this may seem like the practical choice in the short term, it comes at a hidden cost.

Parenting and marriage are not mutually exclusive; in fact, the health of one directly impacts the health of the other. When we invest in our marriage,

we are actually investing in our children’s well-being. A secure, attuned partnership creates a stable environment, models respectful communication, and teaches children that relationships are safe, responsive, and worth caring for. A strong marriage ensures that the household feels balanced, resilient, and emotionally safe.

Finding this balance is no small task. It requires intentionality, self-reflection, and courage. It means showing up for each other even when life feels overwhelming. It means taking the time to check in, to listen, and to respond to one another’s needs. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures; a brief moment of connection, a shared laugh, or a simple acknowledgment of effort can keep the marriage strong.

Equally, it means releasing the idea that doing more for our children is the same as being a good parent. There is a difference between meeting children’s practical needs and attending to the emotional ecosystem in which those needs are met. Children thrive when the adults in their home feel seen, valued, and emotionally available. Not when we are running on empty, distracted, or resentful.

Ultimately, this is a lesson in priorities but also in perspective. Invest-

ing in our marriage is not selfish; it is foundational. It gives both partners the energy, resilience, and attunement to parent well, manage life’s challenges, and model healthy relationships. When our marriage is strong, children benefit without needing to compete for attention or resources. When it is neglected, even well-intentioned parenting can feel strained and uneven, and tension permeates the home.

So, what comes first? Our children are precious, and nurturing them is vital. But our marriage, the foundation of the home, is essential. It shapes the emotional climate in which the entire family lives and grows. When we focus on sustaining and nurturing that bond, we equip ourselves to parent with clarity, patience, and presence. A strong marriage doesn’t compete with parenting, it supports it, ensuring that the home functions as a harmonious, resilient, and loving ecosystem.

Life will never slow down. Responsibilities will never pause. But the care we invest in our marriage sets the tone for everything else. By prioritizing that foundation, we ensure that our household can thrive – children, careers, and all. Our marriage is not just part of the picture; it is the lens through which the entire family experiences life.

Bassy Schwartz, LMFT is the founder of Core Relationships, a boutique therapy practice in the Five Towns offering individual, couples, and family therapy. Her work centers on helping clients build safer, more authentic connections by healing the patterns that block intimacy and trust. Bassy is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and integrates trauma-informed care and relational insight in her approach. She believes therapy is not about “fixing” people — it’s about creating the safety to be fully human.

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

What Comes First: Children or Marriage?

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

122

In The K tchen

Pho Noodle Bowl Meat / Yields 4-6 servings

By Naomi Nachman

This soup is the street food of Vietna m. It’s served from big pots of beef bone broth, with a choice of different toppings of vegetables and herbs. The two main ingredients are slices of raw meat and lots of rice noodles. The raw meat and vegetables are added into a large bowl, and the hot broth is poured on top and cooks it fresh just as they serve it to you. Make sure to slurp the soup — that means you are enjoying it.

Ingredients

◦ 1 Tablespoon canola oil ◦ 3 cloves garlic, minced ◦ 1 inch fresh ginger, minced ◦ 8 cups beef broth ◦ 1 star anise ◦ ½ teaspoon cinnamon ◦ 1 teaspoon sesame oil ◦ 1 Tablespoon soy sauce ◦ ½ teaspoon sriracha (optional) ◦ 1 pound New York boneless strip steak, frozen for 1 hour ◦ ½ (8.8-ounce bag) package thin rice noodles, prepared according to package directions

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium high heat.

2. Add garlic and ginger; sauté for 2 minutes.

3. Add stock, star anise, cinnamon, sesame oil, soy sauce, and sriracha, if using.

4. Bring soup to a boil, turn down the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. While the soup is simmering, thinly slice the partially frozen meat paper thin.

6. In individual large, wide bowls, arrange noodles, scallions, bok choy, meat, and shitake mushrooms.

Pour boiling soup into bowls; serve immediately. The boiling broth will cook the

◦ 4 scallions, chopped

7.

◦ 2 baby bok choy heads, sliced

meat and vegetables. Eat immediately.

◦ 1 (3.5 ounce) package shitake mushrooms, stems removed, sliced ◦ Kosher salt, to taste

Cook’s Tip: Any leftover vegetables and meats can be added to remaining broth.

◦ Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bring to a boil to make a beef, vegetable, and noodle soup.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

MTG becomes a lib. I mean, that is what happened this year. She got a little bent out of shape because the president wouldn’t support her for a statewide office in Georgia, which she was going to lose if she had gotten into it, by the way, and so she goes off the deep end.

- Conservative commentator Scott Jennings, CNN

According to Forbes, more than 40 people became billionaires this year, mostly from Tech, AI…and Somali daycares in Minnesota.

Look, I don’t think these divisions and all this fraying are as big a deal as some people make it out to be. Trump is still extraordinarily popular among Republicans. He’s the strongest party boss in the modern era. And he can get his allies in Congress to do most anything he wants them to do, which is why I think in the coming year they really ought to spend some time trying to codify his executive orders and some of the other initiatives that he’s had, really try to make it stick and really fight it out. Because I think a lot of the things he did would actually be pretty popular political debates to have.

- ibid.

- Kat Timpf, Gutfeld

Sorry, I Been Drunk.

Reports are that some of the money that [went to the Minnesota day care centers] was sent to the terror group Al Shabab, where they ask kids: “What do you want to be when you blow up?”

- ibid.

Minnesota would not be able to survive nor thrive without the Somali community.

- Somali-born Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed, in response to the $9 billion fraud perpetuated by members of the Somali community in Minnesota

Instead of demonizing our Somali community, we’re going to welcome more in. Instead of cutting programs, we’re going to enhance them.

- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), former candidate for vice president of the United States

- Note left by a man who returned two mandolins that he stole from a vintage guitar store in New Jersey several days earlier

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We will continue to acquire essential supplies while independently arming ourselves. I don’t know if a country can be completely independent, but we will strive to ensure our arms are produced as much as possible in Israel.

Our goal is to build an independent arms industry for the State of Israel and reduce the dependency on any party, including allies.

- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that Israel will invest roughly $110 billion over the next decade to build an independent domestic arms industry

President Trump should hire Nancy Pelosi in retirement to manage Americans’ stock market portfolios. She beat the S&P 500 by 559%. We could all be retired in 6 months!

- Scott Jennings, CNN

This is not a one-way partnership. Many Americans say, “Oh, look what we do for Israel.” And I’m going to say, “Not that much really.” $3.8 billion in the great scheme of things may seem like a whole lot of money, but in terms of the overall U.S. federal budget, it is not much.

- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in a recent interview

Every bit of that $3.8 billion is spent immediately on purchasing U.S.produced military and even technological equipment, so we get the money back immediately. What we get in return is an R&D bonus that we could probably never even begin to pay for. We’re talking about a return on investment that some have estimated to be as high as 1,200%.

- ibid.

Israel did not attack the nation of Qatar. It did, in fact, send a missile to attack a terrorist that was partly responsible for the murder of Israeli citizens. But it did not attack the country. There was one missile; it was aimed at one person. Now, unfortunately, there were some people that were near that missile strike that were injured or killed from it. But that is not an attack on the nation of Qatar. If that is the new standard, then Israel didn’t attack the country of Qatar — it targeted Hamas terrorists hiding there.

- ibid.

I said yesterday, “Hit them on X-mas Day. It will be an X-present.”

- President Trump on WABC talking about strikes on terrorists in northwestern Nigeria last Thursday night

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I don’t know anyone in the United States in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam.

- Meghan McCain, in response

- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a recent interview

- Tucker Carlson

You have no idea how many powerful people have tried to threaten me to stop talking about @TuckerCarlson’s ties to Islam. I was the first person to identify the Islamic influence that has completely warped the mind of Tucker Carlson, and I have been warning everyone about this for a very long time. I came up with the name Tucker Qatarlson, and I made his controversy surrounding Qatar go completely mainstream. Now, @ TuckerCarlson is denying that Islamic terrorism has resulted in the murder of a single American citizen since 9/11, which is an egregious lie. I hope everyone realizes how right I was. I guess Tucker forgot how we kicked off January 1, 2025 with an ISIS terror attack in New Orleans. I called it. Now everyone is realizing Loomer was right.

- Tweet by Laura Loomer

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

Save this tweet: We’re like 3 months away from Tucker Carlson telling everyone you’re a warmonger neocon if you don’t convert to Islam.

In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees. During the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and we knew exactly where we were responding. But now, we are being surrounded from every angle.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

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Political Crossfire

What Huge, Beautiful Things Does 2026 Have In Store? Take My Quiz.

By David Ignatius

I

t’s New Year’s, and another calm, uneventful year surely awaits us all. Many branding opportunities lie ahead for our president in 2026, with five VERY Great Lakes and some prime real estate on Mount Rushmore still available. But let’s remember, as the late, great New York Times columnist William Safire used to say, “No one flower can ever symbolize this nation. America is a bouquet.”

In the spirit of Safire’s annual “Office Pool” year- end quiz, here’s a chance to sort out rumor, gossip and what used to be called “fact” in this survey of what’s ahead in 2026. As regular readers know, there are no “right” answers, just good guesses – and the only “extra credit” is for coming back to see us again in a year.

On Dec. 31, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s residence will be: - The presidential palace in Caracas.

- A Moscow villa in the Rublyovka suburb near the residence of Syria’s former president Bashar al- Assad.

- The presidential suite of the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

- The Hotel Nacional in Havana, with all- night room service.

- Miami on a million- dollar “Trump Gold Card” visa.

(My guess: The Hotel Nacional in Havana, with all- night room service.)

The biggest economic shock of 2026 will be: - The AI bubble bursts, with aftershocks spreading from data- center brokers to weaker AI companies, to chipmakers, to financial institutions that helped finance the boom.

- Oil prices crater, with Brent crude falling below $40 a barrel for the first time since 2020.

- Chinese labor unrest spreads as work-

ers protest rising unemployment and falling wages.

- European pensioners organize big demonstrations to protest government cuts to their generous benefits.

- U.S. Treasury bond prices fall sharply as investors demand higher premiums for increasingly risky U.S. debt.

(My guess: Too tough. Call your financial analyst.)

The Democratic presidential frontrunner on Dec. 31, 2026 will be: - Gov. Gavin Newsom - Gov. Josh Shapiro - Joe Scarborough - Former vice president Kamala Harris - Former Gov. Gina Raimondo (My guess: Gov. Josh Shapiro) The most surprising development in weapons technology in 2026 will be: - Israel fully deploys a new laser system for shooting down ballistic missiles and drones.

- Successful tests of the U.S. “Golden Dome” antimissile system of low- earth orbiting interceptors that can shoot down missiles from space.

- Deployment of the U.S. HiJENKS electromagnetic pulse system that can fry enemy electronics with high- powered microwaves.

- U.S.- Chinese “preparation of the battlefield” for space war, with satellites “overflying” adversaries secretly inserting malware by laser or microwave.

- The success of a new Chinese- owned mobile telephone company called “Halt Typhoon” that guarantees it can stop Chinese phone hacking.

(My guess: Israel fully deploys a new laser system for shooting down ballistic missiles and drones; and U.S.- Chinese “preparation of the battlefield” for space

war, with satellites “overflying” adversaries secretly inserting malware by laser or microwave.)

The leader most likely to make a political comeback from prison in 2026 will be: - Imran Khan (Pakistan) - Marwan Barghouti (Gaza) - Mostafa Tajzadeh (Iran) - Ruben Vardanyan (Armenian imprisoned in Azerbaijan) - Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar) (My guess: Mostafa Tajzadeh (Iran)) The President of Ukraine on Dec. 31, 2026 will be: - Volodymyr Zelensky, after winning an election that ratifies a “peace” agreement with Russia.

- Kyrylo Budanov, head of the military intelligence service GUR, elected despite revelations of his secret talks with Russia.

- Oleh Tatarov, Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff, who oversees security and internal affairs and represents the deep, deep state.

- Vitaliy Shabunin, a leading Ukrainian anti- corruption activist, whose platform proclaims: “Corruption kills.

Wake up!”

- Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Ukrainian army commander and ambassador to London, who heads a “national unity” government after Zelensky resigns.

(My guess: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Ukrainian army commander and ambassador to London, who heads a “national unity” government after Zelensky resigns.)

The breakout nonfiction bestseller of 2026 will be: - “The G- d Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning,”

by Robert Wright

- “How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University,” by Theo Baker - “Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America,” by Eugene Robinson - “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness,” by Arthur C. Brooks - “The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History,” by Odd Arne Westad (My guess: “Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America,” by Eugene Robinson) The biggest surprise of the Ukraine war in 2026 will be: - Ukrainian naval drones ravage Russia’s “shadow fleet” and cut Russian energy exports in half.

- Ukrainian “Flamingo” cruise missiles strike the Kremlin.

- Russian military forces break out of Donetsk and move west to take the city of Dnipro.

- A wider war as NATO shoots down a Russian drone crossing into E.U. airspace and threatening a civilian aircraft disaster.

- A peace agreement in which Ukraine offers territorial compromise and agrees never to join NATO. - The war continues as a bloody stalemate.

(My guess: Ukrainian naval drones ravage Russia’s “shadow fleet” and cut Russian energy exports in half; and a wider war as NATO shoots down a Russian drone crossing into E.U. airspace and threatening a civilian aircraft disaster; and the war continues as a bloody stalemate.) © 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

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130

Political Crossfire

Candace Owens Is the Conservative Movement’s Frankenstein Monster

By Michelle Goldberg

T

his past week, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet with Candace Owens, a podcaster who has become the premier purveyor of conspiracy theories about her husband’s murder. If the summit was meant to persuade Owens to back off her paranoid and fantastical speculations, it failed. On Thursday, Owens had on her show a man who claimed to have seen Erika Kirk at an army base the day before Kirk’s assassination, implying that Erika was somehow part of the plot against her husband. That plot also involves, in Owens’ telling, the French Foreign Legion, the federal government and leaders of Turning Point, Kirk’s organization, all somehow masterminded by demonic Zionists.

Owens musings are unhinged, but Erika Kirk’s trip to Nashville, brokered by conservative star Megyn Kelly, demonstrates that they’ve become too influential for right-wing leaders to ignore. Kelly herself — a former Fox News

host who’d never been known for her outré views — has refused to denounce Owens, insisting her ideas are legitimate. On her podcast Tuesday, Kelly said that she buys the official story that Kirk was killed by Tyler Robinson, the Utah man charged with the crime. But, she added, “many people believe there’s more to this story, that we’re being lied to by our FBI, that there are too many inconsistencies around the official story.

And those people are more than entitled to that belief.”

The aftermath of Kirk’s assassination should have been a unifying moment for the right. The facts of the case — Robinson is said to have had a … partner and was angry about Kirk’s demonization of [certain] minorities — would have been easy for conservatives to exploit in their fight against gender nonconformists. But Robinson evidently wasn’t a grand enough enemy for some on today’s right, which is increasingly built on conspiracies and the content they generate. So Kirk’s killing,

far from knitting the movement together in grief and anger, has precipitated a bitter, squalid internecine feud.

“Today the conservative movement is in serious danger,” Ben Shapiro said in a blistering speech on the opening night of Turning Point’s AmericaFest conference Thursday, the first since Kirk’s death. That danger comes not just from the left, Shapiro said, but “from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty.” He went on to denounce Owens by name, as well as his fellow Turning Point speakers Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon.

Shapiro, however, doesn’t have the power to excommunicate Owens. Maybe no one does. Her audience is simply too big. As of this writing, she is ninth on Spotify’s podcasts charts, ahead of every other right-wing podcast except Carlson’s. (Shapiro is at 48, right behind Oprah Winfrey.) A TikTok video she posted after her meeting with Erika Kirk was viewed over 14 million times.

Her fandom extends beyond political junkies; on TikTok, you’ll find Owens followers who otherwise post mostly about celebrities and wellness, both subjects she talks about often. In a world where traditional gatekeepers have lost most of their power, she’s a star.

This is partly a story about conservatives creating a monster they can’t control. Owens, after all, has been saying nutty things for a long time. In 2019, she left her job as communications director of Turning Point not long after arguing that Adolf Hitler’s real sin was globalism, not nationalism. (“If Hitler just wanted to make Germany great,” she said, it would have been fine.) Rather than ostracize her, however, powerful conservative organizations cultivated her. Republicans invited her to testify before Congress about why white nationalism wasn’t a problem. In 2020 Shapiro hired her at the Daily Wire, his media company, which is where she began her podcast. (They split in 2024 over her increasingly antisemitic rhetoric.) Having

car, which somehow, in her telling, point to problems with the investigation of his death. It demonstrated one of her chief innovations: She packages her conspiracy theories in the slick conventions of true crime, allowing people following

were working behind the scenes to set the world right. As one popular meme put it, “Patriots are in control.” But now, Donald Trump is firmly back in power, and no golden age is at hand. Rather than the cathartic unmasking of deep

Having elevated her in large part for her willingness to say outrageous things about her opponents, people on the right are now surprised by her willingness to say outrageous things about them.

along on their screens to participate in the search for answers.

QAnon once offered its adherents a similar sense that they were taking part in solving a great mystery. Lately, however, that movement’s energy seems to have dissipated. There was always a strange optimistic streak to QAnon, since it posited that heroic “white hats”

state pedophile networks, we’ve seen Trump struggling to keep the case files of his friend Jeffrey Epstein secret.

For at least some former true believers, disillusionment is setting in. Marjorie Taylor Greene mournfully referenced the QAnon movement’s tropes when she announced her resignation last month.

“There is no plan to save the world or a

4D chess game being played,” she said.

If patriots aren’t in control, it raises the question of who is. Unsurprisingly, some entrepreneurial figures on the right have settled on a tried-and-true answer: the Jews. Owens especially has taken this most elemental of paranoid fixations and turned it into something between a soap opera and a live-action role-playing game. “It’s necessary for people to recognize how greatly evil these Zionists are,” Owens said on her podcast this past week, describing them as “Trotskyites” who employ Soviet techniques of mind control. The implication is that if you reject her, you’re falling into their trap.

“Just asking questions, positing vague conspiracies, raving like Alex Jones about secret confederacies that control your life, none of it makes your life better,” Shapiro said in his AmericaFest speech, a cri de coeur against the direction of the movement he’s dedicated his career to. Unfortunately, when it comes to people trying to build an audience, he’s wrong.

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elevated her in large part for her willingness to say outrageous things about her opponents, people on the right are now surprised by her willingness to say outrageous things about them.

Owens’ rise, and the damage she’s done to her erstwhile allies, also offers a warning about the danger of the iv nfluencer politics that conservatives have excelled at. Since the 2024 election, Democrats have lamented the advantage Republicans have gained in new media, including long-form podcasts, webcasts and vertical video platforms like TikTok. Clearly, liberals should try to figure out how to become competitive in all these mediums, since many Americans rely on them to learn about the world. The problem is that the influencer ecosystem rewards those who promise access to suppressed, esoteric truths, making viewers feel as if they’re part of real-life melodramas. The algorithms are optimized for illiberalism.

I was struck by a stray reference in Owens’ podcast this past week to the “mommy sleuths and investigators” in her audience. She was announcing plans to provide these amateur digital detectives with photos of Charlie Kirk’s rental

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Political Crossfire

Mamdani’s Team of Jew-Haters Will Change New York

By Jonathan S. Tobin

T

he most important thing about the Anti-Defamation League’s latest “Mamdani Monitor” is that its results were so unsurprising and generated few headlines in New York or anywhere else. That 20% of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s 400 appointees to various transition committees have ties to anti-Zionist and antisemitic groups—or have engaged in acts of Jew-hatred online—is, in and of itself, an astounding figure. It’s even more astounding when you consider that they are engaged in an effort to govern a city with the largest Jewish population in the world.

But then, what else would you expect from someone whose entire political career is rooted in opposition to the existence of the one Jewish state on the planet?

Mamdani dismissed the ADL’s data as unimportant and claimed that those who accuse him of complicity with Jew-hatred don’t distinguish between “criticism of Israel” and actual antisemitism.

A Hostile Administration That isn’t true since the ADL report took into account such a difference. Like Mamdani himself, appointees who had engaged in antisemitism weren’t merely “critical” of Israeli government policies.

They seek the destruction of the Jewish state and/or support terrorism against it, as well as acts of intimidation and violence elsewhere aimed at bolstering Hamas’s genocidal goals and silencing Jews who will not renounce their ties and affection for Israel.

The question is: Will the sheer num-

bers of antisemites in the Mamdani camp overwhelm the ability of those seeking to hold him accountable for his tolerance and encouragement of Jew-hatred? One such appointee, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who was set to hold the crucial job of director of appointments, was forced to resign after her record of making antisemitic comments on social media was made public.

But in an administration where there will be more than 1,200 political appointees, the ADL report points to an obvious problem. It indicates just how prevalent this sort of behavior, which would have been considered aberrant even in the most liberal of governments in the recent past, has become among the Democratic Party activists who will take these jobs after Mamdani takes office on Jan. 1.

Mamdani leapt into prominence

from obscurity only after he won the New York City Democratic primary in June. Before then, the 34-year-old was an obscure member of the New York State Assembly and one of many hardcore leftists who make up a body that has a veto-proof Democratic supermajority. In the few months since, he has become not just a leading political figure in New York City, but a national celebrity of sorts that even some on the other end of the political spectrum— such as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance—have acted as if it was in their interest to ingratiate rather than confront him.

Does It Matter?

We have been assured by leading Democrats not to worry about Mamdani

or-elect’s sympathies are with those attacking the Jewish community, not the victims of such attacks.

A Hostile Environment As that incident demonstrated, at the very least, his administration will create an atmosphere where those who target Jews in New York for intimidation and support violence against them in Israel will feel empowered. Whether or not

tanyahu when he visits the city. And the fact that, unlike every other mayor since it began in 1964, Mamdani won’t march up Fifth Avenue in the annual “Salute to Israel” parade isn’t that big a deal.

Still, such gestures and policies will have a cumulative effect on public life in New York. They will create what in other contexts is easily identified as a hostile environment that will not only put Jews at risk but also make Jewish life more precarious. Outside of inter-

No amount of making nice with the mayor or seeking common ground will ever convince this hard-core ideologue to give up his lifelong commitment to Israel’s destruction.

Tisch remains police commissioner for long—or even if she is willing to act as a real check on his soft-on-crime and tolerance for antisemitism—the policies he is likely to implement will only exacerbate the problem.

In particular, the shift toward a “community safety” approach to crime that will emphasize social work, rather than police action, is likely to make a city where few feel safe even more dangerous. His determination to eliminate the New York City Police Department’s Strategic Response Unit, which is trained to deal with protests, will also be a gift that is likely to keep on giving to those who chant “Globalize the intifada” in the coming years.

Yet at the most basic level, the statistics about the number of his appointees who have engaged in Jew-hatred point to the real problem.

It’s not just that the election as mayor of someone whose adult life has been dedicated to hatred of Israel is chilling to the overwhelming majority of New York’s Jews, who regard Israel and Zionism as an integral part of their faith and ethnic identity. In his administration, such sentiments will become so commonplace that it won’t be possible to single them out as worthy of condemnation and outrage.

It’s true that Mamdani won’t be able, as he continues to threaten to do, to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-

actions with outlier groups like the Satmars or the not-inconsiderable number of (though still a minority) Jews who share the Democratic Socialist’s radical views, Mamdani’s disingenuous attempt to be an open opponent of a key aspect of Jewish identity without being viewed as antisemitic won’t wash.

The Lessons of History The Mamdani administration in New York is likely to teach us a lesson that should have already been obvious from even a cursory glance at Jewish history. Targeting one group of Jews or Jewish beliefs always leads to growing hostility against and ultimately violence against all Jews. And ignoring such problems or complacently wishing for them to go away won’t work.

Such horrors are only averted when societies regard the traditional tropes of Jew-hatred that are employed by leftwing antisemites like Mamdani, as well as the growing number of right-wingers who mimic them, as beyond the pale of civil discourse. Leading media outlets like The New York Times have mainstreamed antisemitic arguments about Israel and the Jews since Oct. 7 in their news coverage and commentary.

However, the election of Mamdani and the inauguration of a city administration where such views will be routine will take this process to the next level.

Though the new mayor will claim to oppose violence against Jews, the presence of so many city officials who have engaged in acts of Jew-hatred will remove any remaining stigma from such actions, no matter who is doing it.

In recent years, under its current CEO and national director, Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL has seemed to abandon its primary mission of defending Jews against antisemitism in favor of left-wing and partisan activism.

While there is still much to criticize in ADL’s approach to the issues, its decision to employ its considerable resources to scrutinize Mamdani is a welcome sign that it is returning to the job the Jewish community needs it to do.

They should not be alone in this.

Understandably, the reaction of most New York Jewish institutions and leaders to Mamdani’s election is to find a way to work with him, and hopefully, to influence the new mayor to abandon his radical past. But Mamdani is no ordinary politician, both in terms of his ability to appeal to young voters and his commitment to the causes that he supports.

Accommodation Won’t Work No amount of making nice with the mayor or seeking common ground will ever convince this hard-core ideologue to give up his lifelong commitment to Israel’s destruction. He has made no secret of the fact that his “pro-Palestine” support for the ongoing war on the Jews is non-negotiable. While that won’t stop him from carrying out some of the basic functions of running the city, it is incompatible with Jewish safety.

The ADL report is one more warning to New York’s Jews that the only path forward must involve active resistance to an administration that is determined to marginalize and isolate them, even if it won’t openly back attacks on them.

That will mean public protests and activities to confront the mayor and make it clear that business as usual will be impossible if Jew-hatred is tolerated and encouraged. And that will require the kind of courage and chutzpah to which the liberal-leaning Jewish establishment is generally allergic. But it is the only choice if New York is to remain a place where Jews and their families can still feel at home.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

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endangering the Jews of New York, and he has himself often spoken as if that is not his intention. His stated plan to leave in place New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish and perceived as a moderate Democrat, is also supposed to demonstrate that Mamdani’s long record of anti-Zionist activism and statements—which is, his disclaimers notwithstanding, indistinguishable from antisemitism—is a mere biographical detail that will have no impact on Jewish life in New York over the next four years.

Indeed, Mamdani is clearly aware that it’s in his interest to disarm Jewish critics.

In the wake of the mass shooting that killed 15 people on the first night of Chanukah in Australia, Mamdani reached out to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and paid a visit to the grave of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—in Queens, N.Y., as a solidarity gesture. In the week before the terrorist attack, he met with prominent rabbis, including some who were deeply critical of him.

He also had a friendly meet-and-greet with the anti-Zionist Satmar sect that supported him in the election.

Yet even as he keeps saying that he wants to keep New York Jews safe and is opposed to antisemitism, he hasn’t budged an inch from his position that the Jewish state has no right to exist.

And even after Bondi Beach and two years of the surge in antisemitism that followed the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Mamdani still won’t condemn the use of the slogan “Globalize the intifada” from his fellow anti-Israel activists.

As the ADL report indicated, he’s not alone in thinking that way. A significant number of those who are key members of his team and who will govern the city agree. They were among those who were cheering the illegal protests at colleges and universities throughout the five boroughs, where pro-Hamas mobs set up encampments, bullied Jewish students, blocked their entrance to classes and engaged in the violent takeover of buildings on campus.

Mamdani and his liberal media cheering section insist that there’s a difference between anti-Israel agitation and being anti-Jewish. But as his reaction to the siege of Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side indicated—where a pro-Hamas mob sought to “scare” Jews and prevent them from attending a pro-Israel event—the may-

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Political Crossfire

“Counting Every Day” The Soldier Who Spent More Than a Year on the Front Line

By Cassandra Vinograd and Oleksandr Chubko

K

YIV, Ukraine — The soldier suspected early on that this frontline rotation would be difficult.

But 472 days straight, in a bunker, under fire?

“I didn’t expect it to last so long,” the soldier, Sgt. Serhii Tyschenko, said one recent afternoon at his home outside Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, his wife glued to his side. “I hoped it would be a month, two months at most.”

Instead, he spent more than a year underground in a damp bunker without fresh air or even a ray of sunlight for much of the time. “It becomes very hard mentally,” he said.

Lengthy rotations have long been a problem in Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces, as Kyiv has struggled with troop shortages. The ubiquity of drones has made things worse because it is nearly impossible for soldiers to move positions without being spotted.

But overly long rotations damage morale and risk psychological harm, military experts say, which can contribute to further troop shortages from desertion or burnout. Ukraine’s military has acknowledged the problem and pledged to address it.

“To remain on the front lines for so many days, under extraordinarily difficult conditions, is beyond the limits of human endurance,” said a retired colonel, Vladyslav Seleznyov, who served 25 years in Ukraine’s military.

“This is unacceptab le,” he added.

“Scheduled rotations must take place.”

Tyschenko’s brigade commander, Col. Dmytro Dobush, acknowledg ed that his rotation was exceptionally long, calling him a “true patriot” who “performed an incredible feat.”

“Such a rotation is atypically long,” Dobush said in an interview, “but under conditions of intense combat and signif-

icant personnel shortages, such cases are not isola ted. Unfortunately, these are the realities of the current stage of the war.”

Tyschenko said: “I honestly don’t know how I coped. Even today, I don’t understand how I managed to endure it.”

“I Knew They Would Take Me” Born in a village about 30 miles east of Ukraine’s capital, Tyschenko, 46, was raised in an orphanage. He said he always considered himself to be “very weak” emotionally, largely because of his lifelong shyness.

He became a veterinarian, married and raised five children in a home filled with pet rabbits and birds.

He was working at a dairy farm in February 2023, when, a year into Russia’s full-scale invasion, he was called to a military recruitment center.

“I knew they would take me,” he said.

For a man who said he struggled to ask strangers for directions, leaving his

family and adjusting to military life was jarring and depressing.

He became a combat medic. His first frontline rotation, later that year in eastern Ukraine, lasted about 45 days. Two more 30-day rotations followed, then a short leave. His family went to meet him in the frontline city of Sloviansk.

“I didn’t expect them to come because it was far and risky,” he said. “I was very happy to see them.”

That was the last time he would hug his wife and children for more than a year.

“You Start Counting Every Day” In July 2024, he was transferred to the 30th Brigade and headed to a new position in the Donetsk region. He was not told, he said, how long his rotation would last. A spokesperson for his brigade confirmed that rotation lengths are not predetermined.

But the sergeant said he assumed he

would be in the post for 30 to 40 days maximum, as he had been before.

“You start counting every day,” he said.

He recalled his first day and night, traveling to the position. With three other soldiers, he walked through bushes and tall grass in the dark for about a mile. Drones buzzed overhead, but he thought they only observed.

The troops crawled into an underground bunker in the middle of a field.

The bunker was less than 5 feet high in most places, its sleeping area even lower in a maze of cold, damp passages.

There were no mattresses; water-resistant sleeping bags provided the greatest comfort. “The moisture was the thing you felt the most,” Tyschenko said.

More soldiers arrived in the bunker, bringing the group to around eight. At first, the men obtained supplies from a nearby position where they could also call family using a satellite internet device. But then things became more dangerous.

On Sept. 16, the position itself came under attack. Some in Tyschenko’s unit were killed. Nobody was sent in to replace the dead, and there was no information, he said, on whether replacements would arrive. That is when he realized, he added, that he would not be going home anytime soon.

“We had already been told that there were no people available to replace us,” he said. “It became clear to me that this was going to be long.”

“There Was No One To Replace Us” Starting in February, Russian drone attacks intensified, and the men could no longer safely come out of the bunker.

Fearful of being spotted, they covered a small window in the bunker, and from

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allowed to leave. But the weather did not cooperate, and the evacuation was put on hold.

About 20 days later, they tried again.

The two men crawled out of the bunker into a trench scattered with their trash and the remains of Russian soldiers.

The first move was a 500-yard dash to the nearby position that had internet access — the start of a grueling trek.

“Our legs felt like cotton,” he said, adding, “We could barely walk, but we kept going without stopping.”

When they finally made it fully out, the first thing he wanted to do, he said, was wash up and call his family. A proper reunion came later, at his home.

“I’m still surprised by how quickly I adjusted to the conditions,” he said

JANUARY 1, 2026 | The Jewish Home

that point on, they did not see the sun.

They relied on their phones’ 24-hour clocks and calendars to mark the passage of time.

Ukraine’s military started dropping supplies by drone that the men risked retrieving at night: charged power banks, canned meat, ready-made porridge. Tyschenko smiled recalling how one soldier with him was a chef who requested ingredients over the radio to make pancakes. But there were moments when food and water ran low.

All the while, Tyschenko said, they were under attack. Russian forces dropped grenades and cans stuffed with explosives and even made it to the edge of the trench that hid the bunker.

“We kept hoping, hoping, and it still

They relied on their phones’ 24-hour clocks and calendars to mark the passage of time.

dragged on and on,” Tyschenko said.

“Eventually, we accepted that, in the end, we might only be withdrawn when the war ends because there was no one to replace us.”

“We Kept Going Without Stopping” While they waited, a lot happened outside the bunker.

Ukraine mounted a cross-border offensive in the Kursk region of Russia.

Moscow’s forces advanced in eastern Ukraine, near Pokrovsk and into Chasiv Yar. North Korean troops joined the fight alongside Russian forces. From Western allies, Ukraine received F-16s and gained approval to launch long-range strikes into Russia.

There was a new U.S. president, a new pope.

None of those developments reached Tyschenko’s bunker. It was completely cut off. They had a radio, but it only communicated information about their company — not the rest of the battlefield, or the world beyond.

Their time in the bunker took a toll.

Muscles weakened, Tyschenko said. The cramped conditions led to back pain.

Hope flickered when a radio call came this fall, telling Tyschenko and another soldier that they would soon be

at home, halfway into a 30-day leave, where his wife and daughter would not let him out of their sight. Yet there he was adjusting again, squinting and rubbing his eyes in the light until a power outage darkened the room.

Days later, Tyschenko was named a Hero of Ukraine — the country’s highest honor. A presidential communiqué noted the length and dangers of his rotation.

Tyschenko said his experience was “not normal,” but he had no indignation or anger in his voice. He questioned the military value of experiences like his, though.

“Earlier, if we engaged in combat, we could jump out and act,” he said. “Now, everything is dominated by drones. So is there any point in having people just sit in a hole?”

Two weeks later, he joined his new post in Sloviansk. There, he helps treat soldiers evacuated from the front line.

Recently, his past and present collided when a patient was brought in.

It was the pancake chef from the bunker — evacuated after a 10-month rotation.

Tyschenko has not been told how long his own rotation will last this time, he said. Nor has he asked. © The New York Times

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Forgotten Her es

Military Year in Review Part II

By Avi Heiligman

Specialist 4th Class Kenneth David with his Medal of Honor

2

025 was a landmark year for military news. In addition to the conflicts between Iran, Iranian terrorist groups and Israel, several other military significant stories emerged in the news. These included topics ranging from renaming the Defense Department to major advancements in military hardware and equipment. Here are just some of the many topics that defined the military landscape in 2025.

In September 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that rebranded the Department of Defense as the Department of War. To be clear, the name of Department of Defense is still the official name as it was named in an act of Congress, and the name Department of War is secondary, although there may be an act of Congress in the future to permanently change the name. The name Department of War was in use from 1789 until 1947, when President Truman decided that all of the departments in the military needed to come under one command. For the next two years, it was called the National Military Establishment. In 1949, amendments to the National Security Act officially renamed the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense.

The military use of drones saw signif-

icant expansion and upgrades in 2025.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has sent a directive to the Pentagon to procure over 300,000 small drones over the next few years. Called the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), these unmanned aerial vehicles would be inexpensive and expendable on the battlefield. This could reshape the battlefield landscape

of drones to slam into oncoming drones headed for Israel. Furthermore, during Operation Rising Lion, Israeli operatives activated prepositioned explosive drones previously hidden within Iranian borders. These assets were used to create critical gaps in the Iranian air defense system by knocking out radar and communication sites. Israel also used

He hardly noticed that he was injured and threw grenades at the approximately 300 enemy fighters when he ran low on ammunition.

as the armed drones could overwhelm defenses and would be integrated with manned forces.

Lessons from drone operators on current battlefields in Ukraine and Israeli forces in Gaza and other parts of the Middle East have provided a blueprint for the future of unmanned warfare. One of the several ways that Israeli forces stopped over 1,000 Iranian attack drones in June 2025 was with the use

drones to mimic the radar signature of fighter jets baiting Iran to fire expensive anti-air missiles at low-cost drones.

Other drones targeted top Iranian military officials and scientists, resulting in the elimination of several IRGC leaders.

The United States honors extraordinary acts of bravery on the battlefield by awarding the Medal of Honor. In early January 2025, outgoing President Biden awarded seven servicemen from the

Korean and Vietnam Wars the Medal of Honor. Two additional soldiers from the Philippine-American War in 1899 were posthumously awarded the medal. Specialist 4th Class Kenneth David from Ohio was the only living recipient to receive the award in 2025. David was with Company D, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. On May 7, 1970, his company came under intense enemy fire, so David handed off his radio to return fire. David exposed himself to hostile fire while firing back with his automatic weapon. This drew attention away from the rest of his platoon which had suffered heavy casualties. He hardly noticed that he was injured and threw grenades at the approximately 300 enemy fighters when he ran low on ammunition. When the medevac helicopters arrived, David continued firing so the enemy could not prevent the choppers from landing. During the intense fight, he carried a wounded American soldier to safety. Finally, the enemy force broke contact, and David was evacuated.

In other Medal of Honor news, the Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends, or MEDAL Act, was signed into law by President Trump.

Key provisions of the act included increased pension for living recipients of

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the medal and spousal benefits. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed the act.

After President Trump took office and became commander-in-chief in January, changes within the military were soon made. Approximately 8,200 troops that had been discharged for refusing the Covid vaccine were reinstated with backpay. The enlistment process and shifting landscape within the military allowed all branches of service to meet their recruiting goals in 2025.

In addition to the bombing of Ira-

nian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer, the United States military has been launching airstrikes on other targets deemed a national security threat by the Trump Administration. Beginning in September, the United States Navy and Air Force conducted airstrikes on drug boats originating from Venezuela. These vessels, operated by narcoterrorist groups like Tren de Aragua, were located, intercepted and sunk in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific. This aggressive approach marks a shift from traditional

interdiction methods towards an active combat against international criminal organizations.

These stories represent only a fraction of the headlines that shaped the military landscape in 2025. As we head into 2026, the Trump Administration is expected to accelerate its overhaul of the Department of War. These changes will focus on many aspects, especially homeland defense and modernizing America’s aging war machines. Israel also just announced its plans to spend $110 billion creating an independent arms in-

dustry aimed at reducing its long-standing reliance on foreign weapons. Together, these shifts represent a new path forward in fighting foreign enemies and the rapid evolution of new and improved defensive capabilities.

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.

The Jewish Home | JANUARY 1, 2026

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Life C ach

Should We or Shouldn’t We?

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

W

herever you go, you can’t seem to totally avoid the sniffles. And if you really get caught, you might even get hit with the flu.

Sometimes, you play it smart right at the beginning of the season and you decide definitively: This year, I’m getting the flu shot. Maybe even early!

That doesn’t mean you necessarily do.

That’s a whole other decision. Do you actually make it to the pharmacy or doctor to get the deed done?

If you do take care of it, especially at the beginning of the season, you may start to feel a little smug or even upbeat.

Hey, hey, I’m protected!

Soon enough, though, it starts cropping up around you, and you begin to wonder: Am I truly safe?

Some people get lucky and avoid it completely all season.

However, for others, it suddenly sneaks up on them anyway.

At times, it plays out differently. You were planning to get inoculated, but you got distracted—with life. You just haven’t made it there yet. You’re still plan-

ning to go, but it’s kind of gotten away from you.

Then you start mentally hedging. I didn’t get sick until now, and I still feel pretty good, so maybe I shouldn’t bother with the shot.

Somehow, time passes.

Suddenly, comes the more prolific outbreak. Everyone you talk to is getting

You’re on the warpath. Do I try to get some Tamiflu, or do I run to get the shot? Is it too late? Am I doomed?

This is the saga of the seasonal flu.

Yet year after year, we hem and haw, delay, and struggle with whether it’s worth getting the shot.

Will it really cover this year’s strain? Did they even get it right?

The flu seems to like some people more than others.

sick. Your antennae go up. Your brain starts wondering: Do I still have time to shield myself? Have I already been exposed?

It escalates to: I feel a little feverish.

Or is it just paranoia?

Then your child comes down with it and feels awful. Your neighbor calls.

She’s got it too and sounds horrible. The walls are closing in.

Right now, you’re either reading this in bed with a raging headache and tissues all around you, or thinking you may have dodged this year’s outbreak.

Simply stated, there’s no clear-cut path.

The flu seems to like some people more than others. It finds them year after year, no matter what. There’s perspective to gain here: it’s not always

good to be liked.

Others seem to get away without it most years. There’s perspective there, too: they still live with the anxiety of never knowing for sure.

Bottom line: whatever path you take, do the best you can to protect yourself from feeling under the weather.

Changing weather can really mess us up. As my husband said recently, weather is named perfectly—because with all our technology and AI, we still never know whether it will be sunny, rainy, or snowy.

We can only hope that during these vulnerable seasons, when everything is in the air, the worst eventually “flu” by us all.

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.

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