Five Towns Jewish Home 05.08.25

May 8, 2025

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Dear Readers,

O

mer Shem Tov spent 505 days in the dark tunnels of Gaza. He was finally reunited with his family in February of this year.

All of the hostages have been subjected to terror and horror. Slowly, slowly, they are beginning to share the trauma of what they endured. In a recent interview, Omer disclosed that Hamas terrorists wanted Omer to carry out a suicide attack against Israeli soldiers.

“They put booby traps in the house above the tunnel,” Omer recalled. “They said to me: ‘Omer, when soldiers reach this house, you blow it up.’ I told them: ‘No.’ “They threatened, ‘If you don’t do this, we’ll shoot you in the head.’ I said, ‘Shoot me.’”

Heroism is the power to rise above a natural fear, to put your needs aside to help another person, to risk your life so others may live.

Omer – living in that dark tunnel, surviving on salty water and a bit of bread, tormented by psychological terror, subject to the whims of his captors – knew that to acquiesce to the debased demands of his kidnappers would only bolster them. Instead, he chose to rise above his circumstances and showed true strength in risking his life so his fellow brothers would live.

Omer’s story of courage is miraculous. It

shows that humans have the ability to stay true to their values and morals despite the distress they are experiencing. And that’s a power that is given only to people, who are able to make choices and live their lives grounded on honorable principles and beliefs.

But even more inspiring is the fact that Omer’s narrative is far from unique. Every hostage has been able to recall times when they were given a choice and then clung to their values and morals. The stories of hostages’ heroism and humanity in the holes of Gaza is in stark contrast to the evil perpetrated by their kidnappers.

When I read about these stories, I am awed and I am humbled. It gives me tremendous pride to read about the strength that these people – my brothers and sisters – have exhibited.

Throughout the generations, our nation has always managed to rise above and elevate ourselves despite the pain and challenges. That has always been our mantra and our mission: to only be guided by our principles and our values, to uplift ourselves and those around us, to stay true to our Torah and our G-d.

And that is what has helped us to survive.

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 | May 9 – May 15

Friday, May 9 Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim

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Candle Lighting: 7:41 pm Shabbos Ends: 8:47 pm Rabbeinu Tam: 9:13 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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Weak Leadership, Weak Budget, Weak Mask Law by Leg. Mazi Melesa Pilip 74 NEWS Global

12 National

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That’s Odd

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ISRAEL

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Israel News

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Driving Forces by Barbara Deutsch

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How to Receive Hostages

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JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Wein on the Parsha

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Where We Belong by Rav Moshe Weinberger

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Achieving the Impossible by Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

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Delving into the Daf by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

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Headlines and Halacha by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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Pesach Sheini and R’ Meir by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

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PEOPLE Inspiration Nation

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Jewish Marine Heroes by Avi Heiligman

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HEALTH & FITNESS Brain Candy by Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

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FOOD & LEISURE Food for Thought

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The Aussie Gourmet: Milk Tart

110 Marblespoon on the Menu

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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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School of Thought

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Up, Up and Away

by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS 130

HUMOR Centerfold

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Dovi’s Diaries

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Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the Navidaters’ column last week. The young lady has an attractive and friendly, but generally unmotivated and unambitious, young man. It seems the decision of whether or not to marry is up to her.

The consensus from the experts is that she should not have any expectations that he will change. The precise quote was: “You cannot get married to him, or anyone, hoping the other person will change.”

I take precisely the opposite view: if marriage does not change you, then you are not doing it right.

I know countless men who were generally unmotivated, but who, one way or another, found their work ethic – and even ambition – after marriage. We are not complete by ourselves, and we all need a partner who helps us change and grow. Speaking from personal and observed experience: there is no better motivator than the woman you love.

That is not to say that this particular young man is saveable – he may be a complete lost cause. The young lady may not have what it takes to lovingly and constructively help them find their way together. Marrying such a man is a risk, to be sure. But such a match is not unusual, and certainly not doomed from the start.

The question I would ask is: given the available options, is marrying this man worth it? I recommend looking up “Expected Value” to see how professional risk-takers evaluate opportunities. Relationships are squishier than financial deals, but they are no different in principle than any other investment. Include the chances of “dying single and alone” as one of the potential outcomes in your calculation.

Isaiah Cox, “The Curmudgeon” Dear Editor, Sol Liss finds fault in the fact that you printed an article about the massacre of

Alawites in Syria. He asks: “What possible motivation did you have in publishing a story of Moslems killing Moslems in a ‘Jewish’ Home newspaper?” (Letters, May 1). I, too, find fault: not, however, with your article, which was properly included in The Jewish Home, but with your decision to print Liss’s letter!

As Jews, as people who have suffered as probably no other people have suffered, we must be doubly horrified when innocents are murdered. The killings that have taken place in Syria are atrocities, wherein blameless men, women, and children have been targeted simply because they are of the Alawite sect. Does this horrible injustice not register with Liss’s Jewish soul?

As Jews, we must never be complacent when other groups suffer. Indeed, I am immensely proud that Israel has used its firepower to protect defenseless Syrian Druze civilians. I call upon Israel to do whatever necessary to help the Druze community, especially in light of the selfless loyalty that Israel’s Druze minority has displayed in fighting for the Jewish state.

Liss writes that when his mother, a survivor, was asked how she felt about the Polish Solidarity movement that rose up against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, her response was: “May they all drop dead.”

I am not going to specifically criticize a survivor, whose suffering at the hand of certain Poles must never be discounted.

However, the fact is that the Solidarity movement’s leader, Lech Walesa, worked hard to forge ties with Jews and with Israel. An astonishing story of Walesa and the Lubavitcher Rebbe is accessible on Chabad.org. It is titled: “Lech Walesa and the Rebbe’s Dollar.”

Over 7,200 Poles have been honored

by Yad Vashem among the Righteous of the Nations. This number, however, does not come close to the number of Polish Continued on page 14

POLITICAL CROSSFIRE Notable Quotes

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Trump Should Build a Wall Between Russia and Ukraine by Marc A. Thiessen 118 Trump’s Revolution at the Justice Department is Long Overdue

by Jonathan S. Tobin

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A Trumpworld Power Struggle by David Ignatius

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Did Bipartisan Diplomacy Achieve a Major Breakthrough in Africa?

by David Ignatius

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Have you applied for a REAL ID?

61 39 %

Yes

%

No

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Continued from page 12

non-Jews who risked their lives and the lives of their families to save Jews. Many estimates I have seen run north of 100,000.

Would I have done the same to save a Polish non-Jew? I am afraid to ponder the answer to the question.

Avi Goldstein Far Rockaway, NY Dear Editor, I am personally friendly with a 90 year-young Holocaust survivor who lives on Long Island. Much to her credit, she remains very much independently strong in all ways despite the horrors she faced from the Nazis, ym”sh, and the death of family members; she still drives, speaks, and runs errands without any help whatsoever.

I happened to bump into her the other day at a bank in Hewlett. She waited around a half hour just for some banking business (not financially related) that was supposed to take no more than five.

I tried going to the front of the line of those depositing and withdrawing funds to plead her case to one of the tellers, to no avail: sitting down personally with a banker by a desk is on a first-come, firstserve basis; all must wait their turn.

There were several areas where the bank shamed themselves: 1. First, and foremost, was the fact that not a single worker even thought to pause their business with the other customer to give the Holocaust survivor a few minutes to do a quick transaction and then all parties can continue to go about their day. Even in an era of sadly decreased customer service, I still see this being done amongst the smarter representatives – pause for a few moments, take care of the quick job, then continue with the lengthy one, so that all can efficiently go about their day.

2. Companies need to do a better job to address the staffing shortages. I know they’re trying to cut costs, but does it really need to come at the expense of angry customers?

3. The most concerning area was the lack of empathy towards not just the elderly but to a Holocaust survivor, of all people. Gone are the days when senior citizens are respected and offered some extent of derech eretz. Having a “first-come, firstserve” attitude would certainly not have been tolerated just a few decades ago.

Sincerely, Please respect Holocaust survivors Dear Editor, In this week’s parsha, Kedoshim, we read the phrase “Do not insult the deaf.” I wish to share with your readers my experience with the deaf so that readers will act accordingly.

Attending a simcha should be a joyous experience. Sadly, however, the joy can easily be diminished by loud wedding music. The noise can be more than just a painful, disturbing experience; it can be permanently damaging. Not only will it ruin your simcha experience, but it will ruin Shabbos, holiday, and daily functioning and communicating with others.

Hearing loss creates difficulties not just for you but also for your family members and close friends.

My parents were deaf. As a young boy, I described to my father how the cantor and shofar sounded. I was bothered that he could not experience these sounds firsthand. No description that I could give him was adequate to convey the experience of the actual sounds.

A study published by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) indicates that about 15% of Americans (26 million people) ages 20 to 69 have high-frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise at work or during leisure activities.

Audiologists confirmed a steady rise in the number of teenagers as well as preteens–all having some degree of hearing loss directly attributed to constant exposure to loud music especially via earbuds.

In an article on his website, www.shemayisrael.com, Rabbi Jeff Forsythe, a private counselor and motivational speaker, states that typical simcha music is one thousand times louder than normal conversational sound. Such loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss within 15 minutes of exposure. Hearing loss is irreversible.

There is no way to repair the damage!

In Devarim 4:15, the Torah says, “You shall guard your souls very much.” This implies that not only are we not allowed to be lax and passive regarding anything that may damage our health, but we can’t allow others to harm us. You cannot tell a musician to play loud music and absolve him from hearing damage to you or your guests.

Well-meaning people go out of their way to protect the health and safety of their friends. Thus, your friend is responsible for ascertaining that the musicians at their events maintain the music volume at a safe level. If your friend does not ask musicians to lower the volume, you can and should refuse to attend the simcha and explain to your friend that you are preserving your health. If your friend is offended, perhaps you need to reevaluate your friendship.

Educate yourselves, your family and your friends and be vigilant about hearing properly so that you can enjoy your simchot joyously, not painfully.

Daniel Feldman

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The Week In News

defenses. After 10 years, profits will be taken from the fund, Svyrydenko said.

Those profits will be used for mining, oil, gas, and infrastructure projects.

Australian Election U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

The United States and Ukraine signed a key minerals deal last week. If the agreement is ratified by the Ukrainian parliament, it would allow the U.S. to extract important minerals and natural resources from Ukraine. The deal also includes the creation of a reconstruction fund for Ukraine.

“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Just over a month ago, an earlier version of the deal was scrapped after a televised press conference between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a heated confrontation.

This deal allows the Ukrainian government to decide what minerals the U.S. can extract, as well as which areas are accessible to the United States. Currently, the agreement includes 55 minerals, including rare earth elements, though the two countries can agree to more. The deal also allows the U.S. to extract oil, natural gas, and other resources. Profits made from extracted resources will not be used to repay Ukraine’s debt.

The agreement doesn’t specifically include security guarantees for Kyiv. However, Ukrainian officials believe the deal will help them win the U.S.’s continued support against Russian aggression.

According to Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the U.S. and Ukraine will equally contribute to the reconstruction fund. Half of all future profits from government-owned Ukrainian natural resources will be contributed to the fund, while the U.S. will contribute direct funds and equipment, such as air

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese handily won his re-election bid this week, defeating his conservative rival, Peter Dutton, in a reported landslide.

Albanese, the incumbent and the Labor Party candidate, is now the first Australian prime minister in over 20 years to win two consecutive elections. His government’s majority will “dramatically increase,” since the Liberal-National conservative coalition lost seats throughout the country, the BBC reported. Dutton also lost his seat in parliament to the Labor Party’s Ali France.

“Ali and I have been combatants for a number of elections now, but she was successful in Dickson tonight and she will do a good job as a local member,” Dutton said in his concession speech.

Some have attributed Dutton’s defeat to his association with U.S. President Donald Trump, with many Australian voters choosing to elect Albanese because they see him as more likely to defend Australia’s interests against the Trump administration. The Labor Party labeled Dutton “DOGE-y Dutton,” in reference to Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. A similar phenomenon occurred in Canada, where Liberal incumbent Mark Carney defeated Trump-affiliated Pierre Poilievre.

“Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future,” Albanese said in a speech. “We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people.”

The election’s main issues included energy policy and the economy.

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said that the United States “looks forward to deepening its relationship with Australia to advance our common interests and promote freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific and globally.”

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Mexican Mayor Part of Cartel

The mayor of Teuchitlan in Mexico was arrested by prosecutors as part of an investigation into a nearby cartel training site. Mayor José Murguía Santiago is suspected of colluding with the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG), an allegation which he has denied.

Activists discovered bone fragments and hundreds of discarded shoes, backpacks and items of clothing at the Izaguirre ranch outside the town in March.

After the discovery, an investigation was launched, which led investigators to the mayor.

Rights groups said that they feared the ranch had been used as an “extermination camp,” where people were forcedly recruited and trained, and those who

refused were tortured and killed.

The discovery by people searching for their missing relatives of what appeared to be evidence of mass killings at the site shocked the country, where cartel violence is rife.

Mexico’s Attorney-General Alejandro Gertz confirmed that the site had been used as a training center for recruits of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most feared and powerful transnational drug trafficking gangs, which has its power base in Jalisco. He noted that there was no evidence that it had been used as an extermination and cremation site.

Gertz’s statements caused anger among “searchers,” the name given to relatives looking for the more than 120,000 people who have been reported missing in Mexico over the past two decades.

Prior to his arrest, the mayor had said that he had nothing to hide.

“If they want to investigate me, let them. I’m clean and willing to say what I know,” he told local media.

But prosecutors allege that he knew of the existence of the training center and did not act on that knowledge.

13 Killed in Kidnapping in Peru

Thirteen miners in Peru were found dead in a gold mine after they had been kidnapped several days earlier.

The miners had been working at a gold mine owned by Peruvian mining company Poderosa, which is based in Pataz province, north of the capital Lima.

They had confronted a group of people who had been involved in illegal mining in the area and were kidnapped by a criminal gang that had been trying to gain control of the mine.

The kidnappers held them hostage inside a mine shaft and threatened their relatives. They were then killed several days later.

There has been a spike in criminals attacking mines in the country in the past few years. On Friday, the mining company – which employs 8,000 people – released a statement saying it was disappointed that the police were not doing enough to prevent illegal mining.

“The climate of violence continues to escalate in the region,” the company said.

Since 2020, illegal mining has taken over several mines run by Poderosa, forcing them to abandon some operations and “putting the physical safety of our employees and the artisanal miners at risk,” the company said.

In March, criminals working alongside illegal miners near La Ciénaga ravine in the Pataz district attacked contractors at the mine, killing two people.

That same month, the company also said illegal miners blew up a high-voltage tower supplying power to the mines and tried to “invade” several mine sites.

Poderosa said the police and army were unable to take control and called on the government to restore order.

The company said illegal mining and organized crime were able to operate with “absolute impunity.”

Peru is one of the world’s largest gold producers, mining more than 100 tons a year, about 4% of the entire world’s annual supply.

ICJ Dismisses Sudan’s Case

The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan’s case alleging that the United Arab Emirates violated the Genocide Convention by supporting paramilitary forces in the Darfur region.

On Monday, the court said it did not have the jurisdiction to enact provision measures against the UAE, as Sudan had requested, and its judges voted to end the case.

The UAE praised the finding, asserting that the judgement is proof that the case was “baseless.” Reem Ketait, the Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, said in a statement that the decision is “a clear and decisive affirmation of the fact that this case was utterly baseless.”

“The Court’s finding that it is without jurisdiction confirms that this case should never have been brought,” Ketait said. “Quite simply, today’s decision represents a resounding rejection of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ attempt to instrumentalize the Court for its campaign of misinformation and to distract from its own responsibility.”

“The facts speak for themselves: the UAE bears no responsibility for the conflict in Sudan. On the contrary, the atrocities committed by the warring parties are well-documented,” Ketait said.

Sudan filed its case against the UAE in March, accusing it of arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an accusation that the UAE had repeatedly denied. Sudan’s acting justice minister, Muawia Osman, told the court that “a genocide is being committed against the ethnic group of the Masalit in the west of our country,” with the “support and complicity of the United Arab Emirates.”

Since April 2023, two of Sudan’s most powerful generals – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and former ally Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the paramilitary RSF – have engaged in a bloody feud over control of the country which is split between their strongholds.

The ongoing civil war has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes, and diplomatic efforts to

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bring the conflict to an end have failed.

Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICJ deals with disputes between states and violations of international treaties.

Sudan and the UAE are both signatories of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Would-Be Bomber Killed by Her Bomb

A 38-year-old woman died on Saturday in Thessaloniki, Greece, when a bomb she was carrying exploded in her hands. She had been carrying the device to plant it outside a bank at around 5 a.m.

Only the would-be bomber was killed in the blast. Several storefronts and vehicles were damaged by the explosion.

The woman had a criminal record related to drugs and had been involved in at least one robbery and thefts in the past.

The Greek police’s division for organized crime was investigating the incident, and authorities were also investigating whether the woman might have had ties to extreme leftist groups.

Greece has seen occasional bombings, as well as targeted killings, attributed to various organized crime groups. The country also has a long history of politically motivated violence dating back to the 1970s, with domestic extremist groups carrying out small-scale bombings that usually cause some damage but rarely lead to injuries.

The groups that had been most active in the 1980s and 1990s have mostly been dismantled, but new, small groups have emerged.

Last year, a man believed to have been trying to assemble a bomb was killed when the device he was making exploded in a central Athens apartment. A woman inside the apartment was severely injured. It was unclear what their intended target might have been.

In April, a new group calling itself Revolutionary Class Struggle claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded in central Athens near the offices of Hellenic Train, Greece’s main railway services operator, and the planting of another bomb near the Labor Ministry in early Febru-

ary. The explosion near the train offices resulted in limited damage to the building and no injuries. It had been preceded by an anonymous call to local media 40 minutes before the blast warning about the device, leading police to evacuate and cordon off the area.

The group that claimed responsibility said the bombing was part of an armed struggle against the state.

UK Arrests 8 in Terror Plot

Eight men were arrested by Britain’s counter-terrorism unit on suspicion of terrorism offenses, the Metropolitan Police said on Sunday. Seven of the arrested men were Iranian nationals.

The eight men were arrested in two separate occurrences. On Saturday, five men, four of whom are Iranian nation-

als, were detained on suspicion of terrorism offenses over a plot to target specific premises.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

The men aged between 29 and 46 were arrested on suspicion of “preparation of a terrorist act” and remain in custody, police said.

In a separate operation on the same day, three Iranian nationals were arrested in London as part of another counter-terrorism investigation, the Met said in a separate statement. It added that the investigation was unrelated to the earlier arrests of the five men.

The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of Iran-backed activities in the UK, with Britain saying it has responded to more than 20 such plots since 2022 and imposing sanctions on a Swedish-based criminal network linked to Iran for targeting Israeli and Jewish interests in Europe.

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Dead Snake Harms Children

More than 100 children became sick in the northeastern town of Mokama in India after eating school lunch. Supposedly, the school cook had found a dead snake in the food and removed the serpent. The food was then served to about 500 children.

Dozens became sick after eating the tainted food. For now, authorities are investigating if the school lunch caused them to become ill.

The country’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has demanded local police provide a “detailed” report of the incident within two weeks, which is expected to include the health status of the affected children.

If the reports are true, the case will

raise a “serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students,” the commission said, adding that villagers, angered by the reports, had blocked a road in protest.

While India has achieved food sufficiency in grain production and steady economic growth, the country still accounts for a quarter of the world’s hungry people and is home to over 190 million undernourished people, according to the United Nations.

In a bid to combat hunger, India rolled out a cooked Mid Day Meal Scheme in 2001 which provided a free lunch for children in public schools for at least 200 days a year. It is the world’s largest school food program, providing food to over 113 million children between the ages of 6-10.

Food safety complaints related to school meals are not uncommon in India.

In 2013, at least 23 children were killed by a free school lunch contaminated with concentrated pesticide. The students fell ill within minutes of eating a meal of rice and potato curry, vomiting and convulsing with stomach cramps.

Argentina Declassifies Nazi “Ratline” Papers

The Argentine government recently announced the release of nearly 1,850 classified documents that show how Nazi fugitives escaped to the country after World War II. The trove of documents were declassified and made available to the public this week at the urging of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish advocacy group named for the famed late Nazi hunter.

The papers will shed light on the financing behind scores of escape routes for Nazis, thousands of whom escaped to South America via so-called “ratlines” after the war.

Last month, Argentine President Javier Milei ordered the declassification of the documents after a meeting with leaders from the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, also requested the records in a letter delivered by representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Argentina’s Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers Guillermo Francos said Milei gave the order “because there is no reason to continue withholding that information,” according to Argentinian outlet Perfil.

The documents are now publicly available through Argentina’s National Archive, the Argentinian government announced in a post on X. The released documents include banking and financial transactions that show how Nazis were able to resettle in Argentina as well as records held by Argentina’s Defense Ministry.

Notorious Nazis are mentioned in the papers, including Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Holocaust who was captured by the Mossad in 1960 and was later tried and executed in Israel, and Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor dubbed the “angel of death.”

It is estimated that up to 10,000 Nazis and other fascist war criminals escaped justice for Holocaust atrocities by fleeing to Argentina and other Latin American countries. Some say that 5,000 of them ended up in Argentina.

Merz Fails to Form Gov’t

On Tuesday, in a shocking result, Friedrich Merz failed to be elected German chancellor, after he fell short of securing a majority in a first-round parliamentary vote.

Merz, 69, needed at least 316 votes to become chancellor, and only 310 members of parliament voted in his favor.

Germany’s Bundestag has a total of 630 members.

The result marks an unanticipated setback for Merz who was widely expected to secure the necessary votes and be officially sworn in later in the day. A second vote will take place within the next two weeks. Merz is expected to garner the sufficient votes then.

After the result of the vote was announced, the parliamentary session was halted to allow for discussion of next steps.

Merz’ Social Democratic Union, alongside its sister party the Christian Social Union, won the biggest share of votes in Germany’s February election.

They were due to form a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party.

Coalition governments are commonplace in Germany where it is very rare for a party to secure an absolute majority of over 50% in an election. The parties on Monday signed their coalition agreement, titled “Responsibility for Germany,” following weeks of negotiations that began soon after Germany’s February election.

Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, described the situation as a “bad surprise.” He echoed comments suggesting Merz would still become chancellor eventually, but “the unprecedented failure to be elected in the first round would still be a bad start for him.”

“It shows that he cannot fully rely on his two coalition parties. That will sow some doubts about his ability to fully pursue his agenda, damaging his domestic and international authority at least initially,” Schmieding said.

Merz has been in politics for a while.

He joined the CDU when he was still in school, eventually leading the local branch of the party’s youth organization.

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In 1989, he became a member of the European Parliament, later joining Germany’s Bundestag.

Ship Sinks Too Early

A ship that U.S. and Philippine forces planned to sink beat them to it.

The USS Brattleboro, a former U.S. World War II-era warship, had survived two of the Pacific War’s most important battles. It was supposed to go down in a blaze of glory in a live-fire exercise off the western coast of the Philippines as part of annually held joint military drills. But the ship, ready for its end, slowly began to slip beneath the surface of the South China Sea on Monday morning before the planned ceremony.

The 81-year-old ship was supposed

to be the main target for the maritime strike (MARSTRIKE) portion of the annual U.S.-Philippine “Balikatan” exercise, which began April 21 and runs to May 9.

“The vessel was selected because it exceeded its service life and was no longer suitable for normal operations,” according to a statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As the 184-foot-long vessel was being towed to its station for the exercise, 35 miles west of Zambales province on the northern Philippine island of Luzon, it took on water, the Philippine military statement said.

The ship sank quietly at 7:20 a.m. local time near the spot where it was to be obliterated later in the day, according to the Philippine military.

It confirmed that there was no environmental danger from the sinking as the vessel had been cleaned before being towed out for the exercise.

The sinking of the ex-USS Brattleboro was a quiet end for a ship that distinguished itself across decades.

In World War II, it participated in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa, two key U.S. defeats of Imperial Japanese forces in 1944 and 1945 respectively. The ship, designated as a submarine chaser, served in a key rescue and air defense role

in the Battle of Leyte during the U.S. invasion of the Philippines. Over the course of a month, it helped get more than 400 wounded soldiers from shore to larger hospital ships and shot down a Japanese aircraft.

Later, it headed to Okinawa to support the U.S. invasion there in the spring of 1945.

The invasion of Okinawa commenced on April 1, and “over the next 91 days, the subchaser treated over 200 badly wounded men and rescued in excess of 1,000 survivors of ships that sank,” the NHC history says.

After being retired from U.S. service in the mid-1960s, the ship was transferred to the South Vietnamese military in 1966.

With the fall of Saigon in 1975, the then-South Vietnamese ship was transferred to the Philippines, where it was recommissioned as the Miguel Malvar – a hero of the Philippine revolution – in the Philippine Navy in 1977. It was decommissioned in 2021.

Jerusalem Wildfires

cue Service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Palestinian arsonists for starting the wildfires. Netanyahu said that 18 individuals were detained on suspicion of starting the fires. However, police officials corrected the premier, noting that they had arrested three people.

Channel 12 has suggested that Netanyahu’s confusion may have stemmed from the fact that there were 18 cases of incitement to arson.

On the other hand, Israeli news outlets, including Channel 13, claimed that hikers started the wildfires by mistake.

President Isaac Herzog, while at an Independence Day event at his home in Jerusalem, blamed “climate change” as one of the causes of the blazes.

While the wildfires raged, some Palestinians urged others on social media to start more fires. Police on Thursday arrested a 19-year-old East Jerusalem resident who celebrated the fires on social media, expressing the hope that they cause more destruction so as to punish Israel’s “destruction of Muslim lands.” That same day, authorities detained another suspect, a 50-year-old who is believed to have started a fire in an open field in south Jerusalem. Authorities have not revealed the reason the third suspect was arrested.

On social media, Netanyahu said that there was a “very serious suspicion” that arsonists started the fire. He added, “If you love this land, why are you burning it?”

He said, “This is our land, we take care of it.”

More Sorrow

On Thursday, authorities reopened roads and train lines near Jerusalem and allowed locals, who evacuated due to approaching fires, to go back to their homes.

Hours later, the Fire and Rescue Service announced that the wildfires that raged for nearly 30 hours were finally under control.

No one was killed or seriously injured in the Jerusalem hills fire. However, it burned down about 5,000 acres of land, including 3,000 acres of forest land. Around 70% of Canada Park, a national park in Judea and Samaria, was destroyed. The fires also led to most Independence Day celebrations being cancelled.

The exact cause of the fire is currently unclear, according to the Fire and Res-

Two IDF soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in an explosion in a booby-trapped tunnel shaft in southern Gaza’s Rafah on Saturday.

The two heroes were named as Cpt. Noam Ravid, 23, from Sha’arei Tikva, and Staff Sgt. Yaly Seror, 20, from Omer.

Both served in the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.

According to an initial IDF probe, the Yahalom soldiers, operating under the Golani Brigade, were scanning the entrance to a tunnel inside a building when

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the family, the crown jewel, their whole world. He was always the first to step up— and it was the same in the incident that took his life.

“He was very close to them [his two brothers]. It was more than just a familial connection—three warrior brothers going in and out of Gaza since October 7,” she said. “Yaly loved the army and dreamed of reaching the position he held. Wherever he went, you could feel his light.”

The Samaria Regional Council, in a statement, said that Ravid was a beloved youth counselor for the local Bnei Akiva branch.

“Noam was one of our finest sons and fought heroically in the war, defending the people and the land. He fell in battle in Rafah with great courage. We send our condolences to the extended Ravid family and the entire community,” council head Avi Roeh said.

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Soldier Killed in Crash

they were suddenly hit by an explosion.

The deaths brought Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip to 416.

One of the wounded soldiers was listed in serious condition, while the other was moderately hurt.

In a separate incident on Saturday, a reservist with the Jerusalem Brigade’s 7007th Battalion was seriously wounded in northern Gaza. The circumstances of

his injury are still under investigation, the military said.

Also on Saturday, two soldiers of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 46th Battalion were wounded, one moderately and one lightly, in a blast in an army encampment in the area of Gaza City’s eastern Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods.

According to an initial IDF investigation, the blast was apparently caused by a tank shell that detonated prematurely when it was being fired. Another possi-

bility being looked into was that a mortar struck the area.

Seror was the youngest in his family.

His two brothers also served in the IDF and fought in Gaza.

“Yaly was special,” said his cousin Daniel Karai. “He was one of those people where any words fall short. Always smiling, never complaining, deeply respectful of everyone around him, and always ready to help—even without being asked.”

She added: “He was the youngest in

Sgt. Niv Dayag was killed on Thursday night in a military-related car crash during operational activity in the Golan Heights.

The 19-year-old was part of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 890th Battalion, from Ramat Hasharon.

Three other soldiers were lightly injured in the crash on the Route 98 highway near Ramat Magshimim in the southern Golan Heights, the military and medics said.

According to first responders, the army jeep that the soldiers were in hit a guardrail, flipped over, and caught fire.

A panel of experts has been appointed by the chief of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, and chief of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, to investigate the deadly crash. The team will be headed by Col. Nadav Maisles, the commander of the Yiftah Brigade.

It was the second death of a soldier in a car crash in two days. On Wednesday, Sgt. Shimon Tubol, a soldier from the Hasmonean Brigade, was killed in a crash on Route 457 in the northern West Bank while on leave. The Hasmonean Brigade is a new brigade formed to draft charedi

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soldiers, and Tubol’s death is its first casualty, though he wasn’t on active duty at the time of his death.

Since December, Israel has bolstered its presence in the Golan Heights, including moving forces into the UN-monitored demilitarized zone on the Syrian side of the mountain range.

Houthi Missile Hits Airport Grounds

from the National Unity party, urged Netanyahu’s government to retaliate against Iran for the attack.

“This is not Yemen, this is Iran. It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must bear responsibility,” Gantz said, adding that the attack “must lead to a severe response against Tehran.”

The Houthis, in solidarity with Hamas, have been attacking Israel and the Red Sea since November 2023. Recently, the United States began launching major airstrikes in Yemen in an effort to attack the Houthis.

Antisemitism Around the World The Houthis, an Iranian proxy terror group based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for a Sunday morning missile strike that hit Ben Gurion Airport’s grounds.

According to Magen David Adom, the attack injured six people: a man in his 50s, who is in good-to-moderate condition after sustaining trauma to his limbs; two women, a 54-year-old and a 38-yearold, who were hit by the shockwave and are now in good condition; a 64-year-old man who was slightly injured after being hit by a object hurled from the hit area; and a 22-year-old and 34-year-old woman, who were slightly hurt while running for shelter. All those injured were treated at hospitals in central Israel. No one was seriously hurt.

The missile hit a grove next to an access road in the vicinity of the airport, triggering sirens at 9:22 a.m. and forcing Ben Gurion Airport to close its airspace for around an hour. The Israeli military tried to stop the missile but was unable to. Takeoffs and landings from the airport were temporarily paused after the attack, and many airlines canceled flights scheduled for Sunday.

The Houthis’ spokesman, Yahya Saree, declared that Ben Gurion was “no longer safe for air travel” in an apparent warning to airlines. Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said that the terror group has “no red lines” in fighting Israel and pointed to the missile attack as proof that the Houthis are capable of attacking sensitive locations in Israel.

Following the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed how to respond to the attack with security and defense officials.

Benny Gantz, an opposition leader

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry publication on Monday published a report on global antisemitism, including on campuses and social media websites.

The document, a 153-page English report based on data from watchdog groups and media accounts, described the rise in antisemitism since the October 7 massacre, when Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others.

The report declared Canada, which has seen a 670% increase in antisemitic incidents, the “champion of antisemitism.” Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s December 2023 anti-Israel speech at the United Nations contributed to that rise in antisemitism, according to the report.

According to the report, Australia has seen a 320% increase in anti-Jewish incidents since before October 7, while antisemitism in the United States jumped by 200%.

The report also labeled France and Britain problematic, as 64% of French citizens say that Jews should be afraid to live in France, and 90% of British Jews surveyed by the Campaign Against Antisemitism said they steer clear of city centers during pro-Palestinian protests. The report alleged that Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has also fueled farleft antisemitism by condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Notably, the

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U.K.’s Labor Party purportedly contributed to antisemitism by enacting an arms embargo against Israel, while England’s state-owned BBC swept antisemitic complaints under the rug and refused to refer to members of Hamas as “terrorists.”

Additionally, 80% of Jews told the Anti-Defamation League that they felt less safe in Germany.

The report called Australia, Canada, France, and Britain “morally ambiguous” because they have been fighting antisemitism and, at the same time, unfairly condemning Israel, thus fueling local Jew-hatred. On the other hand, the report singled out South Africa, Spain, and Ireland for “their asymmetrical application of normative principles, [which] directly undermines Jewish communities’ senses of belonging and security within these societies, as documented through both quantitative and qualitative research.”

The report only recognized the United States and Germany for genuinely combating antisemitism.

The ministries also condemned the United Nations General Assembly, which passed 17 anti-Israel resolutions in 2024 and only a combined six resolutions against all other nations, and the International Criminal Court, which sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The report labeled the arrest warrants as “among the most severe antisemitic incidents of 2024.”

The report also criticized TikTok, a social media platform whose advertising executives are in favor of terrorist groups, including Hamas and the Houthis. TikTok has also banned Israel’s sponsored campaigns, though the social media platform has recently tried fighting antisemitism and promoting Holocaust remembrance.

According to the report, Instagram deleted 40% of anti-Jewish posts during the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, while Facebook deleted 24%, X 22%, and TikTok 17%.

Additionally, the report covered college antisemitism, with campuses seeing a 477% increase in antisemitism between June 2023 and May 2024 compared to the year prior. The report, citing Amcha Initiative, listed New York’s Columbia University as the U.S.’s most antisemitic college. In 2024, Columbia saw 127 anti-Jewish incidents, 90% of which were perpetrated by left-wing parties. In second place was UCLA, which saw 63 incidents. In third was the University of Michigan, with 35. And in fourth place was Harvard University, with 32.

Israel Strikes Yemen’s Airport

This week, Israeli officials warned those in Yemen’s international airport to evacuate.

“Failure to evacuate the area endangers your lives,” Avichay Adraee, the IDF spokesperson, said on social media in Arabic.

The warning came a day after the Israeli military carried out a series of strikes against the port in Hodeidah, Yemen, and a cement factory. At least one person was killed in that strike and another 35 were injured, according to the Houthi-run Ministry of Health.

Twenty IAF fighter jets dropped 50 munitions on the Houthi targets, the military said, publishing images showing the jets preparing for takeoff. IAF refuelers and spy planes also participated in the operation.

The Israel Defense Forces said the Hodeidah port was used by the Houthis “for the transfer of Iranian weapons, equipment for military needs, and other terror purposes.”

The Bajil concrete factory “serves as an important economic resource for the Houthi terror regime and is used for building tunnels and military infrastructure,” the IDF said, adding that the strikes “constitute a blow to the regime’s economy and its military buildup.”

“The strike was conducted in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, during which surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs were launched toward Israeli territory and its civilians,” the military said in a statement On Tuesday, after the unprecedented warning, Israel struck Yemen’s airport.

“A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terrorist infrastructure at the main airport in Sanaa, fully disabling the airport,” the Israeli military said in a statement, adding that several major power stations in the Sanaa area were also hit.

The IDF noted that the airport was used by the Houthis “for transferring weapons and operatives and is regularly

operated by the Houthi regime for terror purposes.”

Israel has been upping its attacks against the Houthis after a ballistic missile from the Iran-backed terror group penetrated Israel’s air defenses and struck near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday. Several attempts to intercept the missile failed, the IDF said.

Israel had struck Sanaa international airport in December, killing at least three people and injuring 30 others, according to the Houthi-run al-Masirah satellite television network.

IDF Will Stay in Gaza

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army would, from now until Hamas is defeated and the hostages are returned, retain control of captured regions of the Gaza Strip. Doing so will prevent Hamas from regaining the areas as soon as the Israeli army withdraws.

“This was the recommendation of [IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir] — to move, as he put it, toward the defeat of Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages along the way. I agree with him. We are not letting up on this effort, and we will not give up on a single one. That is what we are doing.”

The premier added: “One thing will be clear — we’re not going in and out [of Gaza] just to call up reserves so they’ll come and seize territory, we withdraw from territory, and carry out raids on what remains… That’s not the intention.

What’s our intention? The opposite.”

The war’s new phase has been declared Operation Gideon’s Chariots. According to IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the aim of the new phase is to bring the hostages home and defeat Hamas.

The new offensive “will include a wide-scale attack and the movement of the majority of the Strip’s population — this is to protect them in an area sterile of Hamas. And continued airstrikes, elimination of terrorists, and dismantling of infrastructure,” said Defrin, adding that

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the Israel Defense Forces will employ the “Rafah model,” destroying Hamas infrastructure and declaring seized areas as part of Israel’s buffer zone.

Bezalel Smotrich, the minister of finance, said that Israel wouldn’t leave Gaza even if another hostage deal happened.

“Stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation’,” he told Israelis. “We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip.”

On Monday, Miki Zohar, the minister of culture, alleged that Israel aims to completely occupy Gaza. “Such a move endangers those who remain in captivity, but there is no choice left,” Zohar said.

Some have condemned the move, including the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Democrats party chairman Yair Golan, and Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman.

Ecuadorian Pres.

Visits the Kotel

the Kotel and placed a note between the stones.

Naboa then met with Rabbi Rabinowitz for a private meeting.

Naboa spoke of “his unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people.

He declared that his country will continue to stand by Israel in its just struggle against terrorism—a struggle he himself is waging in his own country on behalf of citizens who seek life.”

Naboa was elected last month, making history as the youngest person – 37 years old – to be elected president of Ecuador.

Noboa is in Israel on an official state visit along with a high-level delegation to celebrate 75 years of friendship between Ecuador and Israel. The delegation is led by the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister and Ecuador’s ambassador to Israel. Naboa also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Waltz Now U.S. Amb. to UN Ecuadorian President Daniel Naboa visited the Kotel on Sunday. The leader of the South American country came to the Western Wall with an official delegation.

He was wearing a hostage pin on his lapel as he paid his respects to the holy site.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz of the Kotel welcomed the delegation. The rabbi and the president read Psalm 121 together. After this, the president took a private moment to say his own personal prayers at

President Donald Trump, on Thursday, removed Mike Waltz from the position of national security adviser and

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nominated him as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Until Trump finds Waltz’s permanent replacement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as the country’s national security adviser.

Rubio will be the first secretary of state to simultaneously fill the role of national security adviser since Henry Kissinger.

The national security adviser, the leader of the National Security Council, does not need to be confirmed by the Senate.

According to a report by Politico, Trump was considering Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as Waltz’s successor.

However, another source disputed that report.

Alex Wong, the deputy national security adviser, is also leaving his position, according to sources.

Waltz, a former Florida congressman, was criticized after an incident in March when he mistakenly added the editor of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat where government officials were secretly discussing an impending U.S. bombing attack in Yemen. Though Trump and others in the White House publicly defended the national security adviser, the president privately criticized Waltz. According to reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also shared the same details with his wife and brother on a different chat.

Waltz, 51, has also been criticized for being too aggressive with foreign affairs, thus being at odds with the president, who opposes the U.S.’s direct involvement in wars. Some have also accused Waltz of failing to effectively coordinate foreign policy between relevant government agencies. Additionally, the NSC has been losing staff, with four senior directors and over 20 other employees being fired recently.

Trump: No Funding for NPR, PBS

Last Thursday night, President Donald Trump issued an executive order ending federal funding for NPR and PBS, two news organizations the president has criticized as “biased and partisan.”

The executive order demands that

the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) “cease federal funding for NPR and PBS.” On Friday, the White House said that NPR and PBS have taken “tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”

“Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options,” says the executive order. “Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

“Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens,” Trump added.

Currently, the government gives NPR and PBS, in all, around a half a billion dollars. Less than 1% of NPR’s funding comes from federal funds, according to the organization.

The White House has criticized the two news organizations for providing left-wing coverage on several issues, including the issue of gender and illegal immigration.

“The President’s blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50plus years,” said PBS CEO and President Paula Kerger. “We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans.”

The CPB’s CEO and president, Patricia Harrison, rejected the executive order, asserting that the federal government has no control over the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a nonprofit organization.

“The appropriation for public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS, represents less than 0.0001% of the federal budget,” said NPR CEO and President Katherine Maher. “The President’s order is an affront to the First Amendment rights of NPR and locally owned and operated stations throughout America to produce and air programming that meets the needs of their communities.”

Three CPB board members were fired recently by the White House. They were notified of their termination with a oneline email. The board members, claiming that the White House doesn’t have the power to fire them in that way, have sued the Trump administration and, for now, have refused to leave their jobs.

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Trump Seeks Alcatraz Revival

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said he wanted to revive Alcatraz, the infamous San Francisco coast prison that closed six decades ago.

That same day, Trump declared on Truth Social that Alcatraz, once rebuilt and reopened, “will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” The president said he would order the government to reopen the prison. However, he later said that it was “just an idea.”

“I have ordered an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps. USP Alcatraz has a rich history. We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law, order, and justice. We will be actively working with our law en-

forcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission,” said William K. Marshall III, the director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, vowing to “pursue all avenues” to put Trump’s revival idea into action.

Some of the most notorious criminals were imprisoned at Alcatraz, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and James “Whitey” Bulger. Originally used as a U.S. Army fort in the 1850s, it became a military prison soon after the Civil War. Then, the military, in 1933, gave Alcatraz to the Justice Department, turning it into a maximum-security federal prison. Those jailed at Alcatraz only had rights to food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, while everything else, including family visits, books, music, and the like, were earned privileges. On average, Alcatraz housed around 260 to 275 prisoners at any given time.

No prisoner is known to have successfully escaped Alcatraz. In an elaborate escape, three men, Frank Morris, John Anglin, and his brother Clarence Anglin, fled from the prison but are believed to have drowned in the San Francisco Bay. According to the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, “Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other Federal prison.” In fact, it

was shuttered because of infrastructure damage and the high costs to maintain it. Aside from daily costs, it would cost around $3 million to $5 million to restore and maintain Alcatraz, according to authorities.

Now, Alcatraz is a tourist attraction that sees around 1.2 million visitors yearly.

There were 283 people eligible to cast ballots in Saturday’s Cameron County special election, according to county election records. Eligibility was determined based on if a resident’s home would fall within the boundaries of the proposed new city.

Starbase City

Warren Buffett to Retire

Howdy, welcome to Texas! The Lone Star State now has a new city: Starbase.

A vote on Saturday passed with broad support to turn part of south Texas into a new city centered around Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The incorporated city will be made up almost exclusively of SpaceX employees and people connected to the company.

The final vote tally Saturday night was 212 in favor of incorporation and six against; only 143 votes were needed for the measure to pass.

“It’s officially statistically impossible for the measure to fail,” Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza said.

“Cameron County is about to have a new city.”

Musk celebrated the vote in a post on X Saturday night. “Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!” he wrote.

Shortly after the vote, an X account for the new city was created.

“Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity’s place in space,” the account wrote in its first post, which was reposted to SpaceX’s official account.

The new city of Starbase covers about 1½ square miles at the southern tip of Texas, a coastal spot nestled against the Mexico border. The area is home to SpaceX headquarters, and it’s where the company builds its boosters and engines and launches its huge Starship rocket on test flights.

Saturday’s election also selected Starbase’s first mayor — Bobby Pedden — and two city commissioners — Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka. The candidates for all three positions ran unopposed; all three are employees of SpaceX.

On Saturday, at Berkshire Hathaway’s 60th annual meeting, Warren Buffett announced that he would be retiring as the company’s CEO and chairman at the end of 2025.

During the surprise announcement, Buffett, 94, also revealed that he expected Berkshire Hathaway’s vice chairman, Greg Abel, to become the trillion-dollar conglomerate’s next chief executive.

Buffett, in 2021, said that Abel would someday be his successor. However, before his retirement announcement on Saturday, the only Berkshire directors aware of his imminent plans were his children, Susan Buffett and Howard Buffett. Abel himself wasn’t aware that Buffett had intended to step down so soon. Previously, Buffett said that Howard would become Berkshire Hathaway’s next chairman.

Buffett clarified that, despite his retirement, he would continue to play a role at Berkshire Hathaway.

“I would still hang around and could conceivably be useful in a few cases,” Buffett said. “But the final word would be what Greg said, in operations, in capital deployment, whatever it might be.”

Abel, 62, was born and raised in the Canadian Prairies. In 2018, he joined the board and became the company’s vice chairman, leading non-insurance operations.

In 1965, Buffett gained control of Berkshire Hathaway, then a failing textile company, eventually turning it into an incredibly successful conglomerate. Now, 60 years later, Buffett’s retirement marks the end of an era.

“Warren Buffett represents everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself—investing in the growth of our nation and its businesses with integrity, optimism, and common

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sense,” stated JPMorgan Chase’s CEO Jamie Dimon. “I’ve learned so much from him to this very day, and I am honored to call him a friend.”

Newark Airport Meltdown

Last week, air traffic controllers in Newark Liberty International Airport lost primary communication and the backup line did not immediately take over, resulting in a chaotic situation at the airport.

The 30 seconds of silence when communication went down ultimately cascaded into a weeklong meltdown at Newark, one of the nation’s largest airports. Thousands of flights were delayed or cancelled.

At least five FAA employees took 45 days of trauma leave afterward. Thankfully, no crashes occurred.

Most of all, the chaos highlighted the challenges of an understaffed system, the latest incident in an already turbulent year for aviation that included a deadly collision between a passenger jet and U.S. army helicopter.

The connectivity between Federal Aviation Administration radar and the frequencies that air traffic controllers use to manage planes at the airport “completely failed,” a source with knowledge of the situation said. Without radar, another approach controller told the pilot of a smaller aircraft to rely on towers for clearance.

About 15 to 20 flights were being controlled by Newark Liberty approach controllers when communication and radar went down on April 28, according to an analysis by flight tracking site Flightradar24.

More than 150 flights into or out of the airport on Monday were canceled, with more than 350 flights delayed. On Tuesday, the FAA announced a ground delay for inbound flights at the airport, causing further delays.

The current shortage of air traffic controllers is nearly the worst in 30 years, noted the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents 10,800 certified air traffic controllers across the country.

The control facility responsible for

traffic at Newark has been “chronically understaffed for years,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on Friday. He also said the shortage was compounded by over 20% of FAA controllers who “walked off the job” at Newark Airport last week.

The controllers’ union said workers did not “walk off the job.”

“The controllers didn’t just walk off the job. They were traumatized, their equipment failed,” the source with knowledge of the situation said. “It’s written in the regulations if they experience a traumatic event, they can take time off to go see psychiatrist. The people working that day did that.”

But filling those empty positions won’t be easy.

New air traffic control applicants must be younger than 31 years old so they can work the 20 or 25 years needed to qualify for pensions before their mandatory retirement age of 56, according to the FAA. Physical stamina and mental sharpness are critical to performing the job. They also need a lot of preparation before working at a different airport.

“When you first start at an air traffic control facility, you have to do a lot of memorization,” explained Michael McCormick, a professor and air traffic management coordinator at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “Most air traffic controllers don’t just monitor one airport. Many keep tabs on dozens of other regional airports to make sure planes keep a safe distance from each other.”

The Department of Transportation will announce a plan on Thursday to transform the air traffic control system, remodeling an outdated system that contributed to days of delays at Newark, according to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

The system used to manage air traffic at Newark is “incredibly old,” Duffy said.

“We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” he said on Friday. “The system that we’re using is not effective to control the traffic that we have in the airspace today.”

Duffy has since pledged to implement a new, “state-of-the-art” system at air traffic control facilities across the country that would be the “envy of the world,” although it may take three to four years to implement.

3 Killed When Boat Overturns The U.S. Coast Guard said that it was suspending its search for seven people who went missing after a small boat

overturned on Monday in the ocean near San Diego. Three people were confirmed dead; four others were injured.

The survivors were found about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, along Torrey Pines State Beach.

Coast Guard officials searched for 28 hours by sea and air with a 45-foot-long rescue boat, a helicopter and other craft.

So far, Coast Guard officials said they did not know where the 12-foot boat was coming from before it flipped.

“They were not tourists,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey noted. “They are believed to be migrants.”

He added, that while “vessels coming up in the past have, under similar circumstances, been migrants,” the immigration status of the passengers “is not confirmed at all yet.”

In 2023, eight people were killed when two migrant smuggling boats approached a San Diego beach amid heavy fog. One boat capsized in the surf, marking one of the deadliest human smuggling operations ever in the U.S.

Utah is the Best

For the third straight year in a row, Utah ranked number one in the Best States rankings of U.S. News, home to a low crime rate, a fairly healthy population, a robust economy, and good students.

Twenty-five years ago, “Utah was probably known for three things: ‘Footloose,’ green Jell-O, and the third would be a very youthful workforce,” says Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Provo-based Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “There’s a lot that has happened in Utah in the last 20 years where we have moved … to being an entrepreneurial, startup state.”

Now, Utah has one of the most diverse

economies in the United States, with industries like tech, tourism, health care and energy standing as major employers.

First launched in 2017, the Best States rankings assess the 50 states across eight categories: health care, education, natural environment, opportunity, economy, crime and corrections, infrastructure and fiscal stability. Among the 71 metrics within the analysis, Utah has the third-highest labor force participation rate at nearly 69%, the fourth-highest rate of gross domestic product growth at 4%, and the fourth-highest rate of business creation. In each of the seven years U.S. News has published the Best States rankings, Utah has never placed outside the top 5 in the economy category.

Utah’s diverse economy has contributed to it ability to weather downturns.

“Our economic structure is similar to the U.S., so when the U.S. suffers so do we,” Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, notes. “But I will say that as a general rule, our lows are higher and our highs are higher – in the last two and a half decades, Utah’s economy has outperformed the nation, had greater strength, and when we’ve had downturns, we have been able to rebound much more quickly in our state.”

Utah has the country’s lowest smoking rate – six percent – and is 12th-lowest when it comes to violent crime. Its eighth graders averaged the fourth-highest score in the country on standardized math tests.

The state also ranks within the top 10 in five Best States categories: fiscal stability, economy, infrastructure, education, and crime and corrections.

Following close behind Utah on the rankings list was New Hampshire, which captured the No. 2 spot for a second consecutive year, bolstered by a top ranking in the crime and corrections category and a No. 4 placement in natural environment. Idaho rose to No. 3 from No. 5 in 2025, switching places with Nebraska.

Also for the second straight year, Minnesota maintained its spot in the rankings at No. 4.

Florida came in sixth place; Vermont placed seventh; South Dakota entered the top 10 for the first time in 2025, moving up to No. 8 from No. 11 in 2024. Massachusetts nabbed slot number nine; and Washington rounded out the top ten.

One state – Iowa – slid out of the top 10, dropping from No. 6 in 2024 to No. 14.

The lowest spots on the list were taken by Louisiana, Alaska, Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

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A Real Gem

ery. Rainfall helps to uncover gems and stones, which may have helped DeCook with his find.

The Duke Diamond is the largest find at the Crater of Diamonds State Park since a French visitor found a 7.46-carat diamond in January 2024. The tourist, Julien Navas, named the gem after his fiancée, Carine.

He’s a real gem.

World’s Oldest Person Dies David DeCook is ready to rock.

The amateur rock collector was exploring Crate of Diamonds State Park last month when he hit the jackpot.

DeCook, from Minnesota, found a huge 3.81-carat brown diamond while in the Arkansas state park, the largest that’s been found in the park in 2025 so far.

According to Arkansas State Park, “DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother,” the press release said. “Stirring up some natural sibling rivalry, David told Derek, ‘Oh, you’re going to be mad once you see what I found!’”

DeCook returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. He named the stone “the Duke Diamond” after his dog.

He told FOX 9 Minneapolis that the diamond “kind of looks like a candy wrapper.”

“Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther’s candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it’s a diamond pretty quick,” he said.

DeCook added, “I was very surprised, I guess, and never thought I’d find one that big.”

He observed, “You just never know what you’re gonna find. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”

Park authorities said that a lot of rain had fallen prior to DeCook’s discov-

great-grandmother Ethel Caterham became the oldest person in the world, at age 115 years and 252 days, according to GWR. Caterham is believed to be the last living person born in 1909 and is the last British person born before 1913.

Canabarro was the second-oldest Brazilian and 15th-oldest person ever. The title of the oldest person ever recorded belongs to Jeanne Louise Calment. Born on February 21, 1875, her life spanned 122 years and 164 days.

You know what they say: a woman is only as old as she admits.

Lost Treasure

Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas died last week at the age of 116. She had been the world’s oldest person.

The soccer-loving Brazilian nun officially became the oldest person in the world in January following the death of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, according to Guinness World Records (GWR).

Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908.

There is some dispute about her exact birth date, though, as Cleber Canabarro, her 84-year-old nephew, said that her birth was registered two weeks late and she was actually born on May 27.

Canabarro’s longevity could not have been predicted when she was growing up. She was “so skinny” that her family doubted she would make it to adulthood.

Canabarro eventually became a nun.

She was also a teacher.

Canabarro was a lifelong fan of her local soccer club, Sport Club Internacional (Inter), which celebrated her birthday every year. The club released a statement on Wednesday paying tribute to her “kindness, faith and love.”

Following Canabarro’s death, English

Did you know?

The “Liberty” in Newark Liberty International Airport was added in 2002 to honor hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 that left from Newark on September 11, 2001 and crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA.

In February, two hikers at the edge of a Czech forest near the Polish border noticed a metallic container protruding from a wall. Opening the box, the hikers found 15 pounds of gold coins and jewelry.

Now, the large collection of precious items is in possession of the Museum of East Bohemia.

The collection includes 598 coins, bracelets, a chain with a key and tobacco pouches, alongside several other items.

The coins span a wide historical period, with dates ranging from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. Some coins include markings that suggest they were in use after World War I, possibly into the 1920s or 1930s. The majority of the coins are of French origin, with others minted in Austria-Hungary, Belgium and the Ottoman Empire.

It is assumed that the lost treasure was buried intentionally, likely as a way to protect the possessions during a time of uncertainty.

In the years leading up to World War II, many residents – including Jews, Germans and other minorities – fled Czechoslovakia to escape growing persecution, particularly after Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938. The region where the treasure was found would have been a prospective corridor for those escaping Germany’s wrath.

According to the head of the museum’s archaeological department, the person who buried the items likely did so

to protect them, with the intention of returning to recover the valuables.

Now, the items will be on display, for patrons to view a glistening glimpse into the past.

Larger than Life

Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke (say that ten times fast) may not be able to speak well, but he can sure paint.

The 15-year-old Nigerian boy set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest art canvas to raise awareness for autism.

Tagbo-Okeke is autistic. He executed a painting featuring a multi-colored ribbon — the symbol for autism — surrounded by emojis, covering 12,304 square meters. That’s a lot bigger than a typical soccer field, which is 7,140 square meters.

Asked about the painting, Tagbo-Okeke said, “I felt fine. Happy. Just fine.”

His artwork eclipsed that of Emad Salehi, the previous world record holder, who was nearly three times older at 42 when he set the record with a 9,652-square meter canvas.

Tagbo-Okeke’s painting, created in November 2024, was unveiled and officially recognized by the Guinness World Record organizers in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja during the World Autism Acceptance Day in April.

Nigeria’s art and culture minister Hannatu Musawa said Tagbo-Okeke’s artwork is “a beacon of hope and inspiration” for people with autism.

Tagbo-Okeke was born in Canada but moved to Nigeria with his family when he was young. He was diagnosed with autism in Canada after many years of failed attempts in Nigeria.

“We’ve done a lot of work with him,” Tagbo-Okeke’s father said. “Kanye can tidy his room, he can wash his clothes — all of this is because of early intervention.

If left alone, he definitely would not be able to do these things.”

Sort of paints things in a different light.

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Community MAY Arista Induction and Awards Night

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ast Wednesday evening, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov held its annual Arista Honor Society Installation and Awards Night, at which tribute was paid to the myriad accomplishments of MAY Talmidim. MAY’s Arista program is particularly special, as it commemorates Rabbi Elchonon Zomber, z”l, a MAY alumnus and veteran teacher. The Zomber family graciously endowed the MAY Arista Honor Society in his mem-

ory.

Consistent with MAY’s emphasis on developing the entire talmid, excellence in many areas was recognized: Limud haTorah, Tefillah, Middos, Academics, Athletics and Extracurricular Activities. Awards were presented to over 100 students for excellence and progress in these areas.

The Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, introduced the program, fo-

cusing on the small acts of greatness performed by MAY talmidim that can often go unnoticed. He noted how the Mesivta not only engenders these acts but also tries to publicly recognize them. Rabbi Yaffe was joined by Menahel, Rabbi Yossi Bennett, and General Studies Principal, Rabbi Sam Rudansky, in presenting the awards of the evening.

Rabbi Rudansky commented, “The evening serves as an opportunity to

recognize those students who excel in different areas of the high school experience. That may be academics for some, and community service, extracurricular activities and even athletics for others.

It’s an evening of tremendous nachas for parents and grandparents.”

The evening closed with the induction of over 50 Arista honors students and lots of pictures and nachas being shared.

Mazal tov!

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Around the Community

DRS Holds Annual Nidivei Lev Service Society Induction Ceremony

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his past Sunday, DRS held its Annual Nidivei Lev Service Society Induction Ceremony, a meaningful program that honors those students who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to chessed and community service. The ceremony recognizes members of the senior class who have devoted themselves to serving both the school and the broader community with distinction.

The entire student body, faculty, and many parents gathered together for this special event, which was made even more meaningful through a series of beautifully produced video vignettes created by junior Shua Wiesel. Each video highlighted an awardee and their contributions, featuring heartfelt commentary from the leaders and organizers of the respective organizations. These moving presentations allowed the audience to truly appreciate the depth of each student’s chessed and the lasting impact they’ve made.

This year’s keynote speaker was Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, rabbi of Chabad of the Five Towns, who inspired the audience

with powerful stories and a passionate call to lead lives rooted in chessed, emphasizing the eternal impact that selflessness can have on others.

The following students were recognized for their incredible contributions: Sammy Fruchter, Ethan Ostrow, Binyamin Posner, and Yosef Steiner were applauded for their steadfast commitment to Chabad’s Friendship Circle program.

Yitzchok Galler, Eliezer Wexler, Moshe Brazil, and Yaakov Meisels were honored for their outstanding work with Ivdu.

Yosef Adler was acknowledged for his dedicated volunteerism at The Premier Nursing Home. Yachad awarded Moshe Aryeh, Noah Blum, and Dovi Kimmel for their years of meaningful involvement with the organization. Hudi Hartstein, Leo Lisker, and Rami Shafran were recognized by Ohel Bais Ezra for their selfless service. Aaron Danesh and Mishael Lalehzari were commended for their role in publishing DRS’s weekly Torah publication, Devarim HaYotzim Min HaLev. The Shalom Task Force Purple Fellowship celebrated the contributions of Isaac

Butler, Shaya Grunstein, and Sruli Siegel for their efforts in raising awareness and advocacy. iShine presented awards to Asher Fogel, Ben Rabe, Micha Kahn, and Kalman Singer for their heartfelt commitment to their program. Finally, Aiden Frankel and Joshua Papilsky were honored for their leadership in organizing the DRS Blood Drive and Gift of Life initiatives.

The event was organized by Rabbi Kivi Naiman, Director of Chessed Initia-

tives at DRS. He shared, “This program doesn’t only recognize the hard work and dedication of our student leaders—it also serves as an inspiration for our younger students, who see firsthand how they, too, can step up and make a difference.”

The Nidivei Lev ceremony is a powerful reminder of the mission of DRS: cultivating young men who lead with compassion, act with purpose, and live lives of meaningful impact.

YUHSG Celebrates Israel

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he energy is high as the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) nears the end of the semester. One piece of recent, excellent news: Central’s Torah Bowl team, led

by Judaic Studies faculty member and Director of Israel Guidance, Rabbi Zvi Lew, were named this year’s champions of the Metropolitan Yeshiva Torah Bowl League! The Metropolitan Yeshiva Torah Bowl League was established 31 years ago by Rabbi Mair Wolofsky. There are currently over 70 teams that participate in the league each school year.

Accompanying spring’s academic and athletic competitions is the observance of Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut – the Israeli holidays of remembrance. On Thursday, April 24, Central held a special observance ceremony for Yom HaShoah in order to give students a chance to learn and reflect on the day’s significance, with Central’s History of the Holocaust class, led

by Judaic Studies faculty member, Ms. Sydney Daitch, presenting. Later in the day, the school was honored to welcome a guest speaker: Mr. Albert Lock, who

survived the Holocaust by way of the Kastner Transport. Originally from Vienna, Mr. Lock later fought in Israel’s War of Independence before arriving in the United States. Mr. Lock is also a part of the Central family as the father of alumna Mrs. Dina Lock Weis (Central ‘67), and as the grandfather of History faculty member Mrs. Saritte Wolkenstein, who interviewed her grandfather during the presentation. Mrs. Wolkenstein spoke to the import of her grandfather sharing his story as a survivor with Central students.

“I love that this is a full circle moment,” Mrs. Wolkenstein said. “My mother graduated from YUHSG’s Brooklyn campus, and I teach here now. The fact that there’s a sense of legacy involved makes this additionally important. It’s a moment of everything coming together.”

In the afternoon, the junior and senior classes embarked on a new and meaningful experience – a virtual tour of Auschwitz, made possible by VR headsets.

This new addition to the Yom HaShoah schedule, while deeply emotional, sparked reflection and new understanding.

On the evening of Tuesday, April 29,

Central welcomed yet another special guest, hosting a community mishmar with Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rosh Kollel of RIETS’ Marcos and Adina Katz Kollel (Institute for Advanced Research in Rabbinics) as well as YU’s Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professorial Chair in Talmud. “What an incredible zechut we had to host Rav Schachter in Central,” said Associate Principal, Ms. Leah Moskovich. “He had never visited our campus before, and he commented positively about the happy girls and smiling faces around the halls. His words were heartfelt and touching.”

On Wednesday, April 30, the school observed Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, with a meaningful program that reinforced YUHSG’s integral ties to Israel, including a visit from guest speaker Mr. Gabi Sackett, Program Director for YU in Israel and Lieutenant Officer in a combat branch of the Military Rabbinate, Division 99, of the IDF Reserves.

Mr. Sackett as he spoke to students about his experiences serving in the IDF since October 7. In the afternoon, YUHSG celebrated the day with a Yom HaZikaron Film Festival, showing Beneath the Hel-

met, The Children of October 7, and Heroes of October 7.

On Thursday, April 31, the school pivoted to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, with a schedule of fun and activities, including a chagiga, grade-wide chessed stations, and Israeli-themed sessions and schmoozes on topics ranging from “STEM With Roots: Israel as the Global Leader of Science and Technology” and “Reflections on My Trip to the Gaza Strip.”

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Around the Community

The Five Towns-Far Rockaway Rebbetzins Conference; Strengthening Ourselves, Supporting Our Communities

By Miriam Liebermann

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he White Shul was the perfect setting for the 5 Towns Rebbetzins’ Conference, held this past Sunday. Join me please, and let’s take in the scene. We’re surrounded by the venerable rebbetzins of the greater 5 Towns Far Rockaway communities. Our beloved senior cohort, Reb. Bryna Bender, Reb. Faigie Horowitz, Reb. Beatty Kalish, Reb. Katz, and Reb. Pelcovitz and Reb. Myrna Weinberger are there to lend support and encouragement to their younger counterparts.

The diversity of the shuls that grace our extended community is most impressive. Yet our rebbetzins all have much in common; foremost, the desire to tend to the needs of their congregants to the best of their abilities, whilst still meeting the needs of their ka”h growing families.

A most worthy objective, but not an easy one!

We were graciously welcomed by Reb. Suri Groner, who had originally embarked on this project, as suggested by Aliza Bulow, to bring to fruition the ideals of CORE, to support the women of Klal Yisrael.

Rebbetzin Debbie Greenblatt welcomed us with her signature warmth, pointing out, if I may paraphrase her, that whilst some of these women may have heard the calling and may have dreamed of becoming a rebbetzin, for many, it was the husband who heard the calling and the wives came along for ride! Ultimately, it is all by Divine design that finds these

women now shepherding Hashem’s flock.

Reinvigorating the rebbetzins’ mission is Reb Greenblatt’s objective; her wise words received with appreciation.

She helped define Jewish leadership, using Moshe Rabbeinu as the primary role model. “Jewish leadership is not about personal glory or honor. Rather, it revolves around the caring and concern for the yachid, the individual. ….. We must seek out the neshama of each person, the kavod of each person. And as a group, we must become a family, being there for one another, being supportive and encouraging.”

Reb. Slovie Wolff Jungreis then took the podium. She began by pointing out that she had grown up as the daughter of a rabbi, so she well understood the complexities and delicate situations that the rebbetzins and their families may have to deal with. It’s a constant struggle to balance one’s private life with one’s public life. Advises Reb. Wolff, “We must add meaning and purpose to every day of our lives. How do we do that? Each morning, we wake up with Modeh Ani on our lips.

Who is the ani? Who am I? What gifts have I been blessed with? What do I love to do? What am I passionate about? We must be authentic. Real… What is my magic? What personal gifts can I use to connect to others? We must open our eyes and see the needs of those around us.”

We then were enthralled with magnificent stories of her parents and grandparents. Well aware of the legacy that she absorbed from her forbears, Reb. Wolff encourages us to create our own legacy,

create footsteps for our progeny to fill, to follow. Small actions can be powerful and remain with our progeny for eternity. We were left with several probing questions.

“Whose eyes did I make shine today?

What would we want to be written on our tombstones, at 120?” Ultimately, v’heyai bracha. We must be a source of blessing for others.

At that point, we embarked upon the next part of the well-planned, comprehensive program. Each table was presented with a challenge that is common to the majority of these women; all were soon engaged in robust discussion on their designated topic.

Here are several of the scenarios being discussed: How do we maintain our sense of idealism while accepting the realities of our own limited capacity? While accepting the realities of our specific community?

How do we support our congregants when they make choices that we do not support?

How do we balance the needs of our immediate family when they conflict with Klal needs?

How can we give all of our congregants a sense of belonging and a sense of significance? How do we give attention to the range of congregants without spreading ourselves too thin?

How can we hold space for our own pain and challenges while supporting our congregants with challenges that may seem greater than ours or more trivial than ours?

After these discussions, the audience was honored with the presence of Rabbi Yaakov Bender, shlita. Rabbi Bender emphasized the crucial role that our rebbetzins play. He advised all to maintain 1/64th

of “gaavah,” of pride, so that they will remember how important they are and how vital is the role that they play within their communities.

The final portion of the program was devoted to a panel discussion, “Strengthening our Communities, Families and Children,” moderated by Reb. Batya Krasnow.

Morah Penina Neuburg discussed how the rebbetzins can help mothers reinforce the schools’ chinuch messages.

Reb. Bluma Drebin elaborated on the role of the rebbetzins as they collaborate with therapists to address the emotional and mental health needs of community members.

Reb. Rifka Ganz offered her take on encouraging our women to become more involved in tefilla and more attentive to communal needs.

Reb. Rebecca Jerozelem explored a crucial issue: how do we protect the privacy of ourselves and our families, especially of our husbands when they/we are such public personalities?

In conclusion, many essential subjects were discussed. How rich and complex are the everyday lives of these n’shei chayil! Much encouragement and inspiration was gleaned throughout these four hours.

Women connected and bonded over their common concerns. How intricate is the role that these women play. And how essential is their role. May Hashem continue to bless their efforts.

Special thanks to our beloved Reb. Aviva Feiner who ran the program, making sure that all was in perfect working order and, in her gentle, engaging fashion, kept us all moving along oh so gracefully!

May all be blessed!

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Around the Community

Camp Dora Golding Turns 100 and the Celebration Starts Now

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amp Dora Golding is turning 100, and the excitement is already in full swing.

For generations of campers, CDG isn’t just a summer camp. It’s a second home, a brotherhood, and a launchpad for life.

This centennial year is more than just a number. It’s a celebration of a legacy built on bunk beds, grand singalongs, spirited leagues, and Shabbosim that uplift the soul.

The countdown is on for the official CDG100 celebration, taking place Sunday, August 10. Alumni from all eras are clearing their calendars, booking flights, and digging up old photos. One scroll through social media tells the story: CDG memories are flooding timelines, rekindling friendships, and building momentum for what’s being called The Celebration of the Century.

From its legendary beginnings as Camp Deal in New Jersey to its iconic presence today in East Stroudsburg, Camp Dora Golding has left its mark on thousands of campers across generations. Just ask CDG alumni like Yaakov Shwekey, Mordechai Shapiro, Nachas, or Rabbi Yitzy Erps, all of whom once sang, danced, or inspired under the same camp sky.

And it’s not just the alumni feeling the energy. Current campers are already repping the moment in brand-new CDG100

Gabe Solomon reading his favorite newspaper on his way to London

varsity jackets, hoodies, and more. Even before the summer begins, the campgrounds are buzzing with a sense of history in the making.

Look out for the CDG100 car magnets, now proudly displayed on the backs of hundreds of vehicles across the country, plus some even spotted in Eretz Yisrael.

What’s planned for August 10? Let’s just say: picture the ultimate reunion meets crazy entertainment meets memory lane, with some surprises still tightly under wraps.

“This year feels electric,” said one longtime staff member. “You can feel the CDG ruach building already, and we haven’t even lit the first bonfire.”

There’s a century of stories behind us. And a celebration like nothing before ahead.

Visit www.campdoragolding.com/100 for more updates, nostalgic throwbacks, and to register for the free event this coming August.

Flag Football Week # 5

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hat a great fifth week it has been at the Five Towns FM Home Loans Flag Football League! The boys were very excited to play before Shabbos. The Pre-1A division had a great time learning the game and getting ready for the big leagues with Rabbi Jeremy Fine. The first grade division had a lot of fun catching the ball and playing with their friends. In the second grade division, Steelers beat the Jets, Broncos beat the Patriots, Panthers and Vikings tie, and Eagles beat the Giants.

Aryeh Levkovitch, Jakey Preminger and Azi Englard all played great this week! In the 3rd/4th grade division, Vikings beat the Eagles, Steelers beat the Broncos, Seahawks beat the Giants, Saints and Jets tie, and the Panthers beat the Patriots.

Ezra Kleinman, Avi Gorin and Dovid

Gluck all played great this week! In the 5th/6th grade division, Giants beat the Seahawks, Steelers beat the Broncos, Saints beat the Jets, Vikings beat the Eagles, and Patriots beat the Panthers.

Yaakov Bollag, Meyer Knoll and Eliyahu Stern all played great this week! In the 7th/8th grade division, the Giants beat the Jets and Patriots beat the Broncos.

Shimshie Goldman and Yitzy Blackorsky all played great this week!

Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut at YCQ

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he Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) marked Yom HaZikaron with meaningful and age-appropriate ceremonies for our students in grades 3-8. Students honored the memory of the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism and were inspired by the heroic sacrifices they made to ensure the establishment and continuation of Medinat Yisrael. Students in grades 5-8 had the special opportunity to hear from Yehonatan Asayag, an IDF soldier who grew up in Queens.

He concluded his moving talk with powerful words of inspiration: “You guys fought the war just as much as I did. The prayers that you said, I felt them over there, the letters you wrote, I received them. Am Yisrael is one, one nation and we are all in this together. Yes, we will win this war, and when we do win, we will all, b’ezrat Hashem, be in Israel together.”

The next day, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, was a day like no other. After davening, the entire school gathered outside in the yard to participate in YCQ’s annual school-wide musical Hallel. Over 1,000 students and staff members sang and praised Hashem for the gift of Medinat Yisrael. Led by JHS

rebbe and Jewish music star Rabbi Ophie Nat, the sea of blue and white was a remarkable display of achdut and hoda’ah.

Throughout the day, students participated in special lessons, games, and activities connected to Eretz Yisrael, including a meaningful kumzitz.

The Early Childhood Program enjoyed an amazing hands-on tailored program of their own. Students grabbed their passports, boarded an El Al plane, and arrived in Israel for a short visit. In Yerushalayim, they davened at the Kotel and bought snacks at the shuk with shekalim. Students ventured south to Eilat where they snorkeled and found seashells. They also planted trees in the Galil, and their busy trip concluded with a stop in Tzfat, the holy northern city, where they made beautiful colorful candles and artwork.

Thank you to everyone who made these two programs so meaningful. YCQ looks forward to a continued future of peace and celebration for Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael. May Hashem continue to watch over His people, and may we merit the ultimate Geulah speedily. L’shanah haba’ah B’Yerushalayim!

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Around the Community

Glow Well Health and Wellness Expo Shines Bright in Support of Bikur Cholim of Far Rockaway and Five Towns

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his past Sunday’s Glow Well Health and Wellness Expo, joyfully presented by Bikur Cholim of Far Rockaway and Five Towns, was a resounding success. Held at the beautiful Beth Sholom in Lawrence, the event drew a large crowd of women from across the community, all coming together to enjoy the day while showing their support for the vital work that Bikur Cholim does every day. From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric with warmth, unity, and a shared mission of chessed and wellness.

The event was generously supported by a host of prominent sponsors and featured a vibrant selection of vendors, offering everything from health products

and services to stylish accessories. This created a dynamic and engaging environment where attendees could explore, socialize, and connect while supporting a meaningful cause.

A highlight of the day was the much-anticipated Power Hour, skillfully moderated by Tzipora Grodko, LMSW, a respected psychotherapist known for her insightful and empowering approach.

The all-star lineup of speakers during this segment provided valuable inspiration and practical tools, focusing on emotional wellness, self-care, and community strength. Grodko’s guidance kept the session flowing with energy and depth, leaving the audience both uplifted and equipped with new perspectives.

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many women expressed that the day’s events were meaningful and rejuvenating, noting not only the excellent speakers but also the sense of camaraderie and purpose that filled the room. “It was uplifting to be part of such a beautiful event,” shared one participant. “I left feeling inspired and connected, and I can’t wait for the next one.”

Indeed, the success of Glow Well has already sparked excitement for future Bikur Cholim events in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway area. The strong turnout and enthusiastic response are a testament to the community’s deep appreciation for the support and services that

Bikur Cholim provides to families during their most challenging times.

As the day came to a close, it was clear that Glow Well was more than just an event — it was a celebration of resilience, compassion, and the incredible power of women coming together for a greater good.

Bikur Cholim is building a healthier, more connected community. It is an organization that unites and provides services for the entire community, regardless of background — not only supporting those in times of illness, but also offering enriching programs for those who are vibrant and thriving.

For more information about Bikur Cholim, please visit www.bikurcholimfr5t.org.

Shulamith ECC celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut

Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut at Rambam Mesivta

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om HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut at Rambam Mesivta were times of reflection, growth, and ultimately joy as the school moved from the somber tone of Yom HaZikaron to the heights of happiness on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

Senior Gavriel Rubin and junior Avi Lax, both Friends of the IDF Fellows, transformed Rambam Mesivta into a tribute to those who fell to protect Medinat Yisroel. On every floor, on nearly every wall, they displayed posters from the FIDF with photos of fallen soldiers. One could not help but feel the significance of the day. Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HaYeshiva, spoke about the importance of Yom HaZikaron and introduced all the speakers. Rambam alum, Gabi, as well as Director of Student Activities Reb Yitz

Milworn spoke about their experiences in the IDF and the pain of losing someone to combat. They did so while also maintaining the importance of those sacrifices and left the students feeling moved and inspired. Avi Lax then read “final letters” from soldiers. These letters each began with something like, “If you are reading this then something has gone wrong…” and they were addressed to parents, wives, and children and gave an intimate window into the lives and dedication of those who were prepared to die to protect their people.

On Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the significance of the sacrifices of the soldiers was made clear as the school celebrated the birth of the Jewish State. Once again, Gavriel and Avi transformed the school: this time decking it out with Israeli flags ev-

erywhere. Classic blue and white cupcakes were of course distributed to the students and another soldier, Samuel F. from the FIDF, came and spoke about his service in the IDF and his many combat missions. It was an uplifting speech and highlighted the Jewish tradition of military service from Bar Kochba to now.

After the speech, the Rambam Men were treated to their Annual Bowl-AThon Tournament at Woodmere Lanes.

The seniors won the overall highest totals

and were crowned the “Best Grade.” Junior Ephraim Twersky with a 195 scored the highest individual game.

The students concluded this period of school with a greater appreciation for the people and the land of Israel and they left with a renewed commitment to doing their part through learning, tefillah, chessed, and in whatever way they can.

Wherever they go, their hearts are in Israel.

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Around the Community

A Week of Remembrance, Inspiration, and Celebration at SKA

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his past week at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (SKA) was one of deep emotion, reflection, and spirited unity as students commemorated Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

Through a series of powerful programs and speakers, the girls were reminded that their connection to Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael is not just taught—it’s lived.

The week began with the solemn commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. SKA had the incredible privilege of hearing from Mrs. Wohlberg, a Holocaust survivor, whose moving story of survival and rebuilding left a lasting impact. With grace and unwavering strength, she spoke about her journey after the war, emphasizing the importance of emunah and bitachon—faith and trust in Hashem—despite unimaginable loss.

Her words reminded the students of the resilience embedded in our national iden-

tity and the power of holding on to hope.

As the week progressed, the tone shifted to one of solemn remembrance once again for Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Students heard from Mrs. Irit Kerstein, the mother of a soldier who left the comforts of the Five Towns to serve on the front lines in defense of Eretz Yisrael. Her heartfelt message gave a personal and profound perspective on sacrifice, courage, and love for the land and people of Israel. The day concluded with a meaningful kumzitz, where the girls united in song and spirit, connecting through music and memory.

On Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the atmosphere transformed into one of joy and gratitude. The day began with heartfelt tefillah as the entire school gathered to daven together, giving thanks for the miracle of the modern State of Israel. The girls then heard from Arky Staiman, who shared

stories from his time in the IDF. With a contagious smile and infectious simchas ha’chayim, Arky’s uplifting message of joy, unity, and purpose deeply resonated with the students, reinforcing their pride and connection to Israel.

The celebration continued outside on the lawn, where the school gathered for a spirited chagigah led by Gary Wallin. The music, dancing, and ruach were followed by a delicious falafel lunch – bringing the tastes of Israel right to the SKA campus.

At SKA, the lessons of the week extended far beyond the walls of the classroom. Through personal stories, powerful role models, and shared experiences, the students felt the heartbeat of Am Yisrael and the spirit of Eretz Yisrael. It was a week that beautifully reflected SKA’s mission—to instill a love for Torah, for the Jewish people, and for our homeland that runs deep and lasts a lifetime.

From Sadness to Strength: A Week of Remembrance and Celebration

By Jakey Aron

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s we observed Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, and then transitioned into Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the celebration of Israel’s independence, the contrast between sadness and joy felt especially close to our hearts this year.

On Wednesday, April 30, HAFTR High School was honored to hear from Lieutenant Yaniv Galkovsky, an Israeli commander who spoke to students about his harrowing experience in the war. He recounted the story of how his unit was struck by a bomb and how several of his soldiers were killed, while the rest of his crew, including himself, were severely wounded. It took him months to recover.

He showed students photos of his time in the hospital; it was heartbreaking to see the physical toll the war had on those protecting our homeland. His story and his strength brought the terrifying realities of the conflict in Israel to our school and into our hearts. Listening to him reminded us that the freedoms we celebrate on Yom Ha’Atzmaut are not guaranteed, and our soldiers are continuously sacrificing to defend our holy land.

The following day, in celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, we began with a beautiful schoolwide Shacharit, led by Rabbi Yaakov Abramowitz, assistant rabbi of the Young Israel of West Hempstead. He led us in Hallel, filling the room with joyful song and deep religious devotion. After dav-

ening, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together, followed by a fun Yom Ha’Atzmaut-themed Kahoot. We then headed to Oceanside Park, where the atmosphere was filled with excitement and community. Everyone was able to spend time together, enjoying the warm weather and each other’s company. There were so many activities – pickleball, basketball, tennis, football, softball, baseball, soccer, and more. For several hours, the park was alive with laughter, music, friendship, and celebration. We ended our day with a delicious Israeli-themed lunch, followed by a memorable student vs. teacher softball game. Before returning to school, we all davened Mincha, a perfect tribute to the spirit of Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

While we live on Long Island, far from the front lines in Israel, we remain deeply connected to our land and our people. It is difficult to fully embrace any celebration with everything that is happening to our people, yet we experienced a unique feeling teetering between sadness and joy. As high school students, we were reminded that we must continue to celebrate and fight for our identities as Jews, whether here in America, in Israel, or throughout the world. We mourned our injured and fallen, but also celebrated Israel’s 77th year of independence.

Gathering together as one nation and one people, we dedicate ourselves to support and celebrate the continued resilience and unity of our people. Am Yisrael Chai!

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Around the Community Photos by Yoel Hecht

Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, addressing the assemblage

Rav Eliyahu Dessler, grandfather of talmidim, financial director of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, saying the hadran

Rav Shmuel Rodkin, grandfather of talmidim, rav of Khal Zichron Dovid V’Sorah, leading Tehillim

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he Yeshiva Darchei Torah fourth grade siyum was on a big cheilek of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah numerous times, learned over the Pesach break by fourth graders, their fathers and their grandfathers, as a zechus for the neshamos of the Yidden who were killed al Kiddush Hashem in Eretz Yisrael. The Siyum was held the Sunday morning after Pesach in the main beis medrash of the Yeshiva.

Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh Hayeshiva; Rav Dovid Morgenstern, menahel; and raffle winner Avi Walden

Rav Leibish Langer, mashpia in Yeshiva Darchei Torah, told an inspiring and spellbinding story

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M’dor L’dor Mishnayos Siyum

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Around the Community

A Beautiful Milestone for the Far Rockaway Community

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his past week, KZMD, led by Mara D’asra Rabbi Aaron Eliezer Stein, celebrated the groundbreaking of its new shul. With heartfelt tefillos, divrei bracha, and a strong sense of achdus, the event marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this growing makom Torah and tefillah. May we continue to see the community built — both physically and spiritually — b’siyata d’Shmaya.

Planting the Seeds of Belonging Inside the Vision of the Shtilim Special Education Network

By Rachel Rabinowitz At the Shtilim Special Education Network, we believe that every individual— regardless of the challenges they face—is an essential part of the social fabric. As such, every person deserves to experience inclusion, dignity, and opportunity at every stage of life.

Shtilim provides specialized interventions for children and adults with a wide range of needs, including autism, behavioral disorders, and other developmental conditions. This continuum of care spans from early childhood through adulthood and is facilitated by 44 educational institutions in 22 communities across Israel.

At its heart, the Shtilim model ensures that every student has the opportunity to transform their challenges into meaningful contributions to society.

Guided by the vision of founder and director Rabbi Yisrael Reisner, the network is grounded in a deep commitment to student and family well-being. “We advocate not only for educational support,” he says, “but for full, respectful integration into the mainstream—a life filled with mutual giving, receiving, and purpose.”

Life Skills, Unlocked At the Shtilim School for Boys in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood, students on the autism spectrum acquire not only academic knowledge but also practical life skills. Many of the students have medium-to-low functioning levels, and the school is designed to meet their unique needs with patience, expertise, and dignity.

Sivan Pelvani, a behavioral guide at the school, specializes in designing and im-

plementing strategies to improve behavioral and social functioning. “Children on the autism spectrum with medium-to-low functioning tend to be unpredictable,” she explains. “They can have outbursts and struggle to self-regulate in stimulating environments. As a result, parents often avoid taking them out—to the store, the park, or family events.”

Shtilim’s mission, she emphasizes, is to give these children the tools they need to participate in everyday life. Students learn how to shop independently, navigate public transportation, and use tools like the Rav-Kav transit card—essential steps toward autonomy and social participation.

A Trampoline and a Turning Point One recent experience exemplifies how even a small request can become a transformative educational opportunity.

Sivan recalls a student named Nati*, 19, who expressed a strong desire to jump on a trampoline. “That kind of self-expression isn’t something we take for granted,” she explains. “For someone with autism, recognizing a desire, articulating it, and sharing it with others is a major developmental milestone.”

The staff listened carefully. “When a student makes a request, our job is to receive it with respect, to show that his wishes matter, and to do what we can to make it happen.” They soon realized that the school’s existing trampoline no longer met the needs of the older teens. In response, the team organized a trip to an indoor trampoline park.

The result was powerful. “Everyone gained thanks to Nati,” Sivan smiles.

“And for Nati himself, seeing his idea come to life was a huge personal accom-

plishment. It gave him validation, confidence, and joy.”

Inclusion in Action At the Shtilim communication kindergarten in Beit Shemesh, children on the autism spectrum are educated in an environment specifically designed to support their emotional regulation and communication development. But what makes this kindergarten truly unique is its “reverse integration” model: instead of integrating children with autism into mainstream classrooms, typically developing children come to visit and interact within the special-ed setting.

Ruth, an occupational therapist at the kindergarten, explains: “For the autistic child, this environment is safe, structured, and familiar. That stability is what allows them to engage. For the visiting children, it’s an opportunity to meet someone different, understand their needs, and realize how much they have in common.”

When Empathy Meets Friendship Ruth shares the story of Avi*, a fiveyear-old boy in the program who struggled deeply with emotional and sensory regulation. “He rarely participated in group activities and often seemed restless or disengaged,” she says.

That changed when Shmuel, a neurotypical child participating in the integration program, came to visit. The two quickly discovered a shared fascination with tools and “fixing things.” What began as parallel play evolved into true engagement. “Avi initiated conversations, invited Shmuel to play in the yard, and even began using new language to describe what they were building together,” Batya recalls. “It was incredible to witness.”

Their connection grew beyond the classroom. “Shmuel recently invited Avi to his home for a playdate,” Batya says.

“And it wasn’t out of pity or obligation.

They’re just friends. That’s the beauty of what we do here.”

Changing the Narrative Programs like Shtilim’s reverse integration don’t just help children with autism gain critical social experience—they also shape how future generations understand difference. “Inclusion is a two-way street,” Batya emphasizes. “When typically developing children grow up interacting with kids who have special needs, they learn empathy, patience, and respect.”

At Shtilim, inclusion is more than a principle—it’s a practice lived out every day, in classrooms, kindergartens, and community centers throughout Israel.

“We don’t just teach life skills,” says Rabbi Reisner. “We teach that every life matters.”

To learn more about Shtilim, please visit https://shtilim.org/

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Around the Community

DRS Students Inspired by Transformative Shabbos L’Maalah Experience

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his past weekend, a group of DRS talmidim participated in the inaugural Shabbos L’Maalah, a spiritually uplifting Shabbaton designed for students seeking to deepen their connection to Shabbos and their avodas Hashem.

From the moment Kabbalas Shabbos began in the DRS Beis Medrash, there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air. The spirited davening in the DRS Beis Medrash set the tone for a meaningful and heartfelt Shabbos. Following tefillah, talmidim gathered with their rabbeim for a Seudas Shabbos, filled with divrei Torah and lively zemiros.

The evening continued with a chabu-

rah delivered by Rabbi Akiva Willig in the Beis Medrash of Woodmere, followed by a “DRS Style” tisch, joined by special guest Rabbi Yaakov Trump, Mara D’Asra of YILC. The tisch was filled with singing, warmth, good food and heartfelt inspiration.

On Shabbos afternoon, the boys met at Aish Kodesh, where Rav Moshe Weinberger offered stirring divrei chizuk. Students then walked to North Woodmere for a shiur from Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, whose clarity and depth and fascinating shaylos the room captivated. The Shabbos culminated in a beautiful Shalosh Seudos at Rabbi Farber’s house, bringing the entire experience to a meaningful

and emotional close.

Shabbos L’Maalah was more than just another school Shabbaton – it was a recharge of the soul, a reminder of the

power of Shabbos, and a testament to what can be accomplished when a group of talmidim come together with a shared desire to grow.

Yom Ha’Atzmaut at HALB and Lev Chana

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he excitement was palpable all day at Lev Chana and HALB as students and teachers celebrated Israel’s 77th birthday. At Lev Chana, the entire school building was transformed

into different cities in Israel. Students made their very own passports, boarded their flight, and landed in Ben Gurion airport! They went from city to city, milking cows, training at an IDF base, picking

oranges, fishing, and of course davening at the Kotel! At HALB, all students joined together for a beautiful musical Hallel.

Shoshana and Chen, HALB’s Bat Ami girls from Israel, ran an incredible Chi-

don for each grade. The day ended with a spectacular Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration where families joined together for good food, music, dancing, and fun with the Shnitzel Guys!

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A Joyous Yom Ha’Atzmaut at Mercaz Academy

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Rav Yaakov Bender greets Rav Yitzchok Kolodetsky, son-in-law of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, before a meeting at Yeshiva Darchei Torah

Yom HaZikaron at SHS

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om HaZikaron has taken on deeper significance for Jews across the world these past two years, as our hearts continually break from the notices of young chayalim killed while fighting on behalf of our country. Not a day goes by when we don’t think about those who fell in battle or who were tragically killed in terror attacks. However, our Yom HaZikaron program included a tekes that gave our students to opportunity to learn about their sacrifices in greater

depth, followed by building a permanent memorial to honor their memory. We had the great honor to hear from chayal Gabi Sakett, a hero of Am Yisrael and uncle of sophomore Evie Miller, who recounted the challenges faced by soldiers called up for milluim and by their entire families.

But he left us inspired by the joy they feel in their mission to fight on behalf of Klal Yisrael and the commitment to Torah and mitzvos they manage to maintain even in these extremely challenging conditions.

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ercaz Academy celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel by parading in front of the school, with excited students and their families enthusiastically waving Israeli and American flags.

The pride that the students and their parents feel in Israel pride was very much on display as the parade circled the route repeatedly, accompanied by live music provided by music teacher Craig Resmovits.

The parade was followed by a reflective time for tefillah, during which the crowd recited the Prayer for the Welfare of Israel, the Prayer for the Hostages, and a special musical rendition of the Prayer for Israeli Soldiers led by Mr. Resmovits.

The celebration continued with dancing on the lawn to more live (and lively) music, with students joining hands to dance along with parents, and teachers as Israeli flags continued to fly high at the center of circles and the head of fast-moving conga lines.

After parents left and classes resumed, students engaged in a schoolwide Kahoot quiz competition. Twenty-four mixed-grade teams competed to show

their knowledge of Israel as they sorted information about Jerusalem and Haifa, and it was an exciting race to the finish line as one team and then another pulled ahead.

Mercaz Academy is grateful to Program Director Phyllis Tessler, the Mercaz Academy PTA (which, among other things, provided blue and white cookies), and to the administrators, teachers, and lay leaders who ensured that the Yom Ha’Atzmaut festivities strengthened the students’ connection to Israel while creating joyful memories that will last throughout the year.

Money Masters at YOSS

HAFTR Runs for Shalva

By Vivian Sharon

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n early April, fellow junior Laila Cohen and I had the life-changing opportunity to travel to Israel and run in the Jerusalem Marathon. Our goal was to support Shalva, an incredible center for individuals with disabilities.

After a long flight on Wednesday, April 2, we finally landed the following day and went straight to the Shalva Center, where we were welcomed warmly and spent time connecting with the children there. Knowing that we had each raised $3,500 to support Shalva’s efforts and their amazing services for people with disabilities and their families made every

moment feel even more meaningful.

The next morning, after a 5 a.m. wake-up followed by davening, we hit the streets for a powerful 26 km run through Jerusalem’s hills. Soldiers, police, and locals cheered us on, and the sense of unity was unforgettable. After the exhilarating experience, we celebrated with a victory party and then spent Shabbos at the Caesar Hotel, building friendships and reflecting on everything we’d experienced. Leaving was tough, but we came home proud, inspired, and forever changed. This trip was more than just a marathon—it was a testament to the power of community, compassion, and perseverance.

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he boys in Mrs. Berkowitz’s second grade math class at YOSS have been hard at work! They recently completed their unit on money, and the boys can confidently identify each of the coins and their value. The boys had a great time applying these skills to many real world situations, including making change, grouping like-valued coins together, and figuring out if they had enough money to buy something.

The most popular activity, however,

was figuring out different ways we can group coins together to make a dollar!

Boys were excited to earn BC Bucks while learning, which they can then redeem for prizes in our yeshiva store. Now that we are back from Pesach break, the boys are excited to learn how to tell time on an analog clock. The boys are getting very good at calculating elapsed time, as well as solving all sorts of story problems, and I am very proud of their hard work!

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Celebrating Israel at HANC ECC

HALB’s Ivrit teachers put together a moving and meaningful program for Yom Hazikaron

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he Yeladim in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead embarked on an exciting adventure on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The day began with a joyous parade of children marching out of the building to greet their parents who came to celebrate, sing and dance with them. They proudly wore their own creative hand-painted crowns and necklaces that celebrated Israel’s Independence Day on their heads and had big smiles on their faces. Leading this special event was Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Head of HANC’s West Hempstead Campuses, and Morah Trudy Rubinstein, Director of the HANC Early Childhood Center. The program began with beautiful voices singing Hatikvah together followed by an array of Israeli music to sing and dance to. Surrounding the celebrants were magnificent murals that the children hand decorated with blue handprints, Magen Davids and symbols of Israel to show their love for our beloved homeland.

After the parade, the children were surprised with delicious blue and white cookies, compliments of the HANC PTA. The Nursery Bet children then had their passports stamped and embarked on a trip to Israel. Once they “rode in the plane,” they arrived in a virtual Israel to experience this magnificent country firsthand in a unique way. The children went fishing in Eilat, using fishing rods to catch the dagim in the water tables; milked a cow on a moshav in Haifa; used their fine motor skills to squeeze their own orange juice and prepared Israeli salads on a kibbutz; and davened at the Kotel.

At the conclusion of this busy, handson, fun-filled day of learning, exploration, travel and culinary delights, the children had their passports stamped once again for their return trip to West Hempstead.

From the smiles on their faces as they greeted their parents at the end of the day, it was clearly a spectacular experience that they will fondly remember.

MAY Talmidim Earn Adventure Park Trip Through Night Seder Commitment

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group of dedicated students at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov (MAY) were recently rewarded with an exciting trip to the Adventure Park at Long Island, featuring zip lines and ropes courses. These boys earned the experience by voluntarily participating in the school’s Monday and Tuesday night learning seder program, which is run by Rabbi Karp. Staying late after school,

they chose to grow in Torah by learning with older chavrusas, demonstrating impressive commitment and enthusiasm.

Rabbi Karp, who also organized and led the trip, ensured a memorable and meaningful day for all. Special thanks to the MAY G.O. for generously sponsoring all the snacks, adding extra flavor to an already amazing outing.

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Around the Community

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n honor of Israel’s 77th Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the children and staff at HANC Elementary School in West Hempstead were treated to a virtual tour of Israel. Prepared by the sixth grade girls, under the guidance of Morah Vered Sharoni, Hebrew Department Chair, the children toured the “Shvil Yisrael” with great excitement. After researching different locations of interest throughout Israel, the sixth graders prepared tri-folds displaying their work by listing informative facts, photographs and sharing what they learned with their “visitors.” As the rest of the children entered the auditorium, they visited “Ben Gurion Airport” and were greeted by flight attendants who provided them with passports, chocolate coins symbolizing the excitement of travel, and a Ziploc bag in which to collect all of the treats from the many attractions that they would soon visit.

They then continued to Tel Aviv, where they learned about this great city and enjoyed ice cream sandwiches while sitting on the “beach.”

In the Golan, the children tasted grapes and grape juice, representing the magnificent vineyards in this region, and at the Kinneret, they made fish-shaped scratch art and tasted gummy fish. Moving on to Mt. Hermon, they were greeted by hosts wearing ski outfits, who taught them about this snow-covered mountain.

After their virtual ski adventure, the children enjoyed smores and chocolate milk. Next, it was on to Yerushalayim, where they wrote their own note to Hashem and placed it on the floor-to-ceiling Kotel. What trip to Yerushalayim would be complete without a visit to the shuk?

The students were riveted by the virtual tour of the shuk that they could watch on the jumbo flat screen and felt as if they were actually there, walking through the streets and seeing all the food, drinks

and sights. Delectable treats awaited, and the children filled their treat bags with freshly baked rugelach, burekas and even pickles!

Heading south to Eilat, the children decorated a cookie with blue icing for water, crushed graham crackers for sand, and even colorful sprinkles, evoking the sunny vibes of Eilat’s beaches. The fun continued outdoors in Hevron, where the next stop was a visit to the Pita Bakery.

The Ivrit staff demonstrated how to flatten balls of homemade dough into pitot, and the children watched eagerly as the pitot baked. Once the pitot were finished, the children truly enjoyed tasting this very Israeli treat that they proudly made themselves.

At the conclusion of this action-packed day, the entire school joined their parents and grandparents in the backyard for the culminating event. Following a meaningful Yom Ha’Atzmaut ceremony, the singing of Hatikvah, a salute to the five families who will be making aliyah this summer, and a performance by the baton twirling Color Guard, the HANC family was treated to a riveting performance by music superstar Joey Newcomb. Watching the crowd singing together and proudly waving Israeli flags was truly inspirational!

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Yom Ha’Atzmaut at HANC

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Congressman Ritchie Torres to Deliver Keynote Address at Touro’s Lander Colleges Commencement

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ongressman Ritchie Torres (DNY) will serve as keynote speaker for the 51st commencement ceremony of Touro’s Lander Colleges, to be held on May 25 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Torres will also receive an honorary doctorate at the event.

Congressman Torres, who now represents New York’s 15th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, previously served in the New York City Council. He chaired the Committee on Public Housing and served as deputy majority leader. He passed over 40 pieces of legislation, including laws protecting the city’s affordable housing stock and tackling the city’s opioid epidemic.

Congressman Torres, who was raised by a single mother in a public housing project with mold, lead, leaks and no reliable heat or hot water, considers himself a fighter from the Bronx.

Advocating for Israel In addition to working for those struggling with poverty, Torres is a passionate

supporter of Israel and the Jewish community. In the wake of the attacks on October 7, 2023, he issued a statement in support of Israel and condemning the actions of Hamas. In the months that followed, he joined Jewish students, parents, faith leaders and advocates in calling out antisemitism on college campuses across the U.S. and pushing federal education officials to protect Jewish and all students from hostile learning environments “Touro is honored to recognize the efforts and action of Congressman Torres to advocate for the Jewish community and speak out against antisemitism and bias everywhere,” said Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish.

Torres introduced legislation to create a new Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, who is responsible for coordinating on behalf of the U.S. government with regional ambassadors, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen and expand the Accords. In

light of the current war, Torres feels it is more important than ever to protect Israel’s global standing and partnerships.

Torres also introduced the No Foreign Gifts Act into the U.S. House of Representatives, which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include a prohibition of gifts from foreign nations that have provided financial support of foreign terrorist organizations, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

Message To Graduates Torres has a positive message for Touro University’s 600 graduates. “Looking at my own experience, I never thought, by the grace of G-d, I would have a fighting chance to rebuild my life and go on to become the youngest elected official in America’s largest city, and a member of the United States Congress,” Torres said. “And so for me, the lesson learned is, even in your moment of greatest darkness, never lose hope. Believe in yourself and in our great country where these kinds of successes are possible.”

“I am proud to be joining and celebrating Touro University’s graduating class of tireless students who will undoubtedly become key leaders across the nation.

Their achievements should inspire us all.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!” said Congressman Torres.

Young Israel of West Hempstead Commemorates Major Ilay Zisser

By Moshe Hill

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n Sunday morning, the Young Israel of West Hempstead (YIWH) hosted a heartfelt event in partnership with the Israeli organization Running With Zisser. Taking place in Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, the community gathered with the friends and family of Major Ilay Zisser, a 27-year-old Israeli hero who was killed in the tragic attack on October 7, 2023.

The purpose of the gathering was explained by Ido Zisser, Ilay’s brother, who brought his daughter to share personal stories about Ilay’s life, passions, and legacy. Ido’s words painted a vivid picture of a young man who was shy yet profoundly observant, contemplative, and exceptional in everything he pursued. “The idea of the Running With Zisser initiative came from my personal need to digest the sorrow and agony I have,” Ido shared.

“I tried to understand how to continue in my life with the pain in me.”

Ilay Zisser loved running, nature, coffee, and playing the guitar—simple joys that defined his vibrant spirit. These passions inspired the creation of Running

With Zisser, an initiative that encourages people to come together through exercise and community events to keep Ilay’s memory alive. “Every time I have this kind of event, I feel attached to him,” Ido said. “If you are smiling, if you are exercising, it means that Ilay is with us.”

The event was designed to reflect Ilay’s love for community and the outdoors. Families walked together along the park’s picturesque paths, children participated in fun on-site activities organized by YIWH’s youth programming team, and a fueling station at the finish line offered refreshments to energize participants for the rest of their day. The atmosphere was one of togetherness, with attendees from West Hempstead,

Boston, Pittsburgh, and beyond uniting to celebrate Ilay’s life and sacrifice.

Ilay Zisser was the youngest in his family, a thoughtful and talented individual who excelled in everything he did. A skilled chess player, guitarist, and physicist, Ilay’s keen observational skills and dedication earned him high grades and distinguished military achievements. As a member of an elite unit equivalent to Delta Forces, Ilay was among the first to respond when terrorists attacked on October 7, 2023.

Stationed near Be’er Sheva, Ilay and his unit were among the initial forces to reach Kfar Aza, a kibbutz under siege. In a harrowing battle, Ilay and eight fellow soldiers faced hundreds of terrorists.

Video footage later discovered showed Ilay running fearlessly into the firefight, a testament to his courage. Tragically, Ilay and his comrades lost their lives, but their sacrifice was not in vain. Near the site of the battle, a mother and her three children were found hiding, their lives spared because of Ilay’s bravery. “I know Ilay,” Ido said with conviction. “If he had to do it again, he would.”

Later that evening, Ilay’s legacy was further celebrated at YIWH’s 70th anniversary dinner, held at the Sephardic Temple. The dinner provided an opportunity for the community to reflect on Ilay’s heroism and the values he embodied—courage, dedication, and a deep love for life.

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Around the Community

Ezra Academy Mock Trial Team Heads to Florida

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he Ezra Academy Mock Trial Team proudly represented their school at the prestigious Yeshiva League Mock Trial (YLMT) Katz Yeshiva High School Invitational this past week, with 13 students making the trip to Florida to present both prosecution and defense arguments in the case of State of Michigan v. Hunter Hemingway, a first-degree murder trial simulation.

The Ezra defense team remained undefeated throughout the competition, demonstrating exceptional legal strategy and courtroom poise. The prosecution team also had a strong showing, winning several ballots against tough competition.

Standout performances included Penima Soble of the defense team, who was named Ezra’s Best Attorney, with Samantha Onefater from the prosecution earn-

ing the Runner-Up Attorney distinction.

Natalie Gavrielov, playing the role of the defendant, was awarded Ezra’s Best Witness, with Rafaela Fatakhov, a prosecution witness, named Runner-Up Witness.

Special recognition goes to Paulina Khaitiov for her dedication and precision in timing all rounds of the competition.

The team, accompanied by dedicated coaches and chaperones, stayed near the Katz Yeshiva High School campus, the host of the event. Beyond the courtroom drama, students enjoyed an evening exploring the Boca community, sampling fine kosher cuisine and attempting to “escape the room” in a thrilling group challenge. Before heading back to New York, the group made time to celebrate a team member’s birthday under the Florida sun, capping off an unforgettable trip. Ezra

Aademy is grateful for the opportunity to participate in YLMT. Kudos to Deena Sturm for organizing and executing a great tournament.

This competition is just one highlight in a banner year for Ezra Academy’s Legal Eagle teams. The Mock Trial team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the New York State Mock Trial Tournament, while Ezra’s debate team earned First Place in multiple tournaments and reached the Semifinals in the Northport Civil Law Competition.

Ezra Academy extends a heartfelt congratulations to all students involved in the Legal Eagles Honor Society—and to their parents—for their ongoing support and dedication. The Legal Eagles can’t wait to return next year!

A Report Card on Digital Hate

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n Tuesday April 29, 2025, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council members and the Simon Wiesenthal Center released the annual report on digital hate.

The report card measures and documents the failure of leading social media companies to adequately address the growing climate of hate rhetoric online.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center evaluated the world’s most popular digital platforms using a nine-point rubric to structure the report card. Platforms were scored out of 36 factors, earning letter grades from A to F. Criteria included responsiveness to flagged hate speech, enforcement of content policies, transpar-

ency, cooperation with law enforcement, and adherence to international standards such as the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and the EU Digital Services Act. The vast majority of online platforms earned failing or near-failing grades, indicating widespread neglect in addressing antisemitism and extremism online.

Only one platform, Roblox, received a grade above a C, earning a B+ for its content moderation and emergency response protocols. With over 3 billion monthly active users across the lowest-performing platforms, the report underscores the grave implications of digital negligence at scale.

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center was for the fourth consecutive year, proud to stand with NYC Council Speaker Adams to present our Digital Hate Report Card.

This Report Card clearly demonstrates the toxic levels of hate on social media platforms and the urgency of teaching our next generation how to identity and combat this online hate,” said Michael Cohen, Eastern Director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “With the Council’s help and support, the Simon Wiesenthal Center has been able to train nearly 100,000 middle and high school students on such lessons and help ensure a better future for us all.”

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center is so grateful for Speaker Adams’ steadfast leadership and support for the SWC’s Digital Terrorism and Hate Project. It enables our researchers to identify and track breaking trends to help us all in combatting online hate. It’s important as it enables us to provide continuous updated and relevant materials to the thousands upon thousands of middle school

and high school students in the New York City School system.”

“The Speaker’s leadership also bolsters our outreach to top tier companies to properly monitor and remove the hate that pollutes too much of social media’s food chain,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Global Social Action Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center.

The grades: Failing grades (“F”): Telegram, Gab D-range: X (D), Amazon Music (D), Discord (D), Steam (D-), Truth Social (D), Rumble (D-), Odysee (D-), Bitchute (D), VK (D+) C-range: Facebook/Instagram (C-), Google/YouTube (C), TikTok (C), LinkedIn (C), Twitch (C-), Spotify (C-), Amazon (C) B-range: Roblox A-range: None To Access the Report Card: visit https://wiesenthal.org/dthrc2025/ to read the full 2025 Digital Terror and Hate Report Card and view the platform grades in detail.

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Around the Community

Ateres Eitz Chaim Enjoys Education Shulamith Celebrates Yom Day at Citi Field Ha’Atzmaut

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s part of Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim’s educational Life Skills curriculum, the talmidim participated in a meaningful and engaging field trip to Citi Field, where they took part in a special anti-bullying awareness program. This initiative was led by former professional athletes who shared powerful messages about the roots of bullying and how to prevent it.

They discussed how unresolved frustration, anxiety, and internal pressure can often be misdirected onto others in harmful ways – or lead individuals to retreat from their challenges through distractions like work, sports, or excessive sleep, potentially spiraling into depression. The speakers emphasized the importance of self-awareness and emotional health, encouraging the boys to care for one another, notice changes in friends’ moods, include others, and even make a difference just by offering a kind word or friendly greeting.

The program helped reinforce the message of “v’ahavta le’reiacha kamocha” that we focus on during the days of Sefiras HaOmer.

Following the program, the boys had a great time watching the Mets take on the Diamondbacks, adding a fun and memorable conclusion to a deeply impactful day.

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hulamith celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut with a day full of exciting and meaningful activities that brought the spirit of Israel to life! Students took part in Tzahal-style training with fun obstacle courses, joined in lively Israeli dancing, and tested their skills in a spirited Hebrew Bee. A hands-on cooking station gave everyone a taste of Israel, and an Israel Family Feud provided an opportunity to show off our knowledge.

We were honored to hear from a special visiting Chayal, Arky, who shared personal stories and insights about life in the army.

To end off an amazing Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the whole school came together for a special Daglanut performance by the 8th grade, followed by a festive chagiga. The achdut was beautiful as the girls danced and celebrated Medinat Yisrael together!

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Mazal tov to HALB’s third grade boys on receiving their very own Mishnayos!

Their rebbeim organized a very special breakfast celebrating this milestone

Ben Sholom Hosts Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir

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n April 26, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar BenGvir delivered a powerful and deeply moving address at Congregation Beth Sholom of Lawrence, following Shabbat morning davening. As the minister overseeing Israel’s internal security, including the Israel Police and Border Police, Ben-Gvir reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the strength and future of the Jewish state. Speaking with visible emotion, he shared the searing images he personally witnessed after the October 7th Hamas attacks, the charred remains of children, the unspeakable cruelty, and the devastating betrayal of Israel’s outstretched hand of peace. He honored the bravery of the police forces under his command, who fought with courage and determination to repel the terrorists and save lives on that harrowing day.

Ben-Gvir then turned from sorrow to resolve, passionately presenting “peace through strength” as the only path forward. He made clear that lasting peace will only come when Hamas is dismantled and has no role in Gaza or beyond. With deep empathy, he spoke of the pain of the hostages and the heavy burden of leadership, sharing the sobering reality that 81% of released terrorists return to violence.

Acknowledging that Israel’s choices are often between difficult and more difficult, he called on all of us – left, center, and right – to stand together with unbreakable love for our people and our land.

Cedarhurst Trustee Dan Plaut and co-chair of Cong Beth Sholom Security

The atmosphere in the sanctuary was electric. Applause rang out throughout his speech, reaching a crescendo when Ben-Gvir spoke of Israel’s unyielding spirit. When he concluded, the congregation rose together in a standing ovation, an overwhelming expression of unity, pride, and renewed strength. In the lively Q&A that followed, Ben-Gvir’s warmth, sincerity, and belief in Israel’s flourishing future left an indelible mark. In his words and presence, many were reminded that the Jewish people have never survived by weakness or surrender but by standing tall in the face of hatred, with faith in our destiny and courage in our hearts.

Am Yisrael Chai.

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Moments of Greatness

By Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger We Choose the Glasses Yid from England, R’ Shalom, shared with R’ Meilich Biderman that many years ago, he flew from England to New York to attend the wedding of his brother’s child. Just as the plane landed in New York, he had a heart attack. He was taken to the hospital and spent ten days there. Because he didn’t have medical insurance in the United States, he racked up a hospital bill of $30,000. He was devastated.

In his moment of weakness, he called out to Hashem with a question: “Ribbono shel Olam, the fact that You caused me to have a heart attack I can accept as an act from Heaven. But had that very same heart attack occurred just eight hours earlier, while I was still in England, almost all my medical expenses would have

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been covered by insurance. My expenses would have been minimal. Why did the heart attack have to take place specifically after I was in New York, where, without insurance, I now have to come up with $30,000?”

R’ Shalom related his frustration to his rav, who answered him brilliantly.

“R’ Shalom, listen to me carefully.

Don’t you realize that on Rosh Hashanah, it was decreed for you to spend $30,000 on medical expenses. Imagine if the heart attack had indeed occurred in England and thus did not cost you very much financially. Think of how much you would have had to endure in order to accrue $30,000 in medical expenses! Imagine how many doctors you would have had to visit. Imagine how many operations you would have had to undergo. Imagine how much therapy you would have had to deal with. You would have been busy with

health-related challenges all year! Instead, the Ribbono shel Olam had mercy on you and sent you to New York, where you wouldn’t have insurance and you would thus reach the necessary amount in just ten days.”

R’ Meilich concluded by quoting the Chazon Ish, who remarked that while everyone has to pass through this world, some go through it crying and some go through it laughing. If we can spend our lives laughing, why would we choose to cry?

The Chazon Ish told R’ Shmerel Greineman that the “package” we receive in this world is given to us by Hashem. But we choose the glasses that we wear to view the package. With what color lens do we wish to view our world? We can view the $30,000 spent as a very “black” event or we can view it as “white” and merciful.

How we look at things is our choice.

Let’s choose wisely.

Reprinted from Moments of Greatness

by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

Yeshiva Har Torah Honors Yom HaZikaron and Celebrates Yom Ha’Atzmaut with Meaningful Programming and Joyful Spirit

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t Yeshiva Har Torah, the days of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut are not simply noted on the calendar — they are brought to life through immersive, meaningful programming that reflects the school’s deep commitment to religious Zionism, Hebrew immersion, and fostering a genuine connection to the State of Israel. These days are an expression of the school’s core values, and the thoughtful approach to both mourning and celebration allows students to experience the depth and richness of these important moments in the Jewish calendar.

On Yom HaZikaron, students from all grade levels participated in emotionally resonant tekesim (ceremonies) designed to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror. In the lower grades, students in grades 1 and 2 had the opportunity to hear from one of their very own teachers about her experience in the IDF. This gave the students a truly special look into the important work that Israeli soldiers do to protect Eretz Yisrael every day. In grades 3 and 4, the tone deepened as students researched individual fallen chayalim and shared their stories with classmates. The tekes included recitation of Tehillim, the singing of “Acheinu,” and the Mi Sheberach for chayalim, allow-

ing students to participate in communal prayer and remembrance. In the upper grades, students in grades 5 through 8 heard powerful stories about three specific fallen soldiers and listened to music that was written in their memory. The atmosphere was quiet and contemplative, creating a space for students to reflect on the personal sacrifices made in defense of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The following day, the mood shifted from solemn remembrance to spirited celebration as the entire school came together to mark Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Even the youngest students in the Early Learning Center (Pre K -2) joined the festivities with a joyful tekes, filled with singing and dancing. A highlight of the program was Israeli daglanut (flag dance) performed by the second graders, which brought smiles to all in attendance. The ELC 3rd floor was transformed into a replica of the Machane Yehuda Shuk in Yerusha-

layim and was run entirely by our second graders. The Shuk included Israeli foods, music and crafts and gave the students a real feel experience of the sounds, feel and smell of the Shuk.

Later that morning, the entire Grand Central Parkway campus (grades 3-8) gathered outdoors for a school-wide tekes. Flags waved in the air as students and staff danced together, celebrating Israel’s independence with palpable joy and unity. The ruach (spirit) was unmistakable as Hebrew songs filled the air and students celebrated their connection to Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.

One of the most exciting elements of the day was the transformation of the school gym into a full-scale replica of the Machane Yehuda shuk in Yerushalayim, run entirely by the eighth grade. The space was filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling marketplace — colorful signs, makeshift tents, and lively

booths gave students the feeling of being transported straight to the heart of Yerushalayim. Students offered freshly made limonana, squeezing lemons and adding mint by hand. Younger students created bracelets, wrote letters to IDF soldiers, and took part in a range of Israel-themed crafts and activities. The atmosphere was one of excitement and pride, as students immersed themselves in a hands-on celebration of Israeli culture.

The two days served as a beautiful reflection of Yeshiva Har Torah’s commitment to nurturing a strong, lasting connection to Israel among its students.

Through a balance of heartfelt remembrance and joyful celebration, the school creates meaningful experiences that not only educate, but also inspire. At Yeshiva Har Torah, the love of Israel is not taught — it’s lived.

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t’s been an exciting couple of weeks at Rambam as students, alumni, and faculty engaged in a wide array of events.

Rambam was honored to welcome Sam Salz, the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to play Division I College Football, for an inspiring talk with our students.

Special thanks to Avrumi Weinberger, Class of 2019 alumnus, and Rambam staff member for organizing this visit.

Sam shared his journey from making the team to playing in his first game and reflected on how his unwavering faith and commitment to Torah guided him every step of the way. He emphasized the importance of making a Kiddush Hashem and reminded students that with determination and belief in themselves, they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

On another note, Sophomore Bezalel Graber launched a unique Bughouse Chess Tournament. Played in pairs, the game allows captured pieces from one board to be used on another—a fast-

paced, team-based twist on traditional chess. Rambam has won back to back chess tournaments so the chess culture at Rambam is at a high point and Bughouse was a nice variant and change of pace.

The Rambam Book Chat Club also recently met to discuss Isaac Asimov’s classic book Foundation. The discussions were led by beloved teacher Honorable Judge Ronald Goldman and Director of Student Activities and Rebbe, Rabbi Yitz Milworn. Students were treated to a delicious lunch from Carlos & Gabby’s and rich discussions. Topics ranged from the impact of knowledge on the fall of civilizations to debates over historical forces versus the “great man” theory of history.

As part of the Alumni Rabbinic Fellowship Program, Ezra Feder (Class of 2022) returned to Rambam to deliver two model lessons. He received feedback from Principal Dr. Hillel Goldman, Rabbi Ariel Rosensweig, and Rabbi Daniel Kuznicki (Class of 2000). Ezra opened his lesson with an anecdote about a man

MTA Talmidim Hear from the Honorable Moyshe Silk

By Binyamin Sheinfeld

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TA juniors and seniors were privileged to be able to join YU students in the Strauss Center to hear from the Honorable Moyshe Silk, Former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. He shared his story of how he got to working in the United States government.

He spoke to the students about growing up and working in a Chinese restaurant, which helped him to learn Chinese.

He later used those skills to become a lawyer in Hong Kong for over a decade.

After being a lawyer for several more years, he had the opportunity to become the first Chassidic Jew to hold a senior position in a U.S. administration during President Trump’s first term.

The Honorable Moyshe Silk also spoke about how Hashem helped him along the way with maintaining his Yiddishkeit and giving him the many opportunities that he had. He noted how important his presence was in his work, as he was setting an example for all Jews and always making

sure to make a kiddush Hashem.

The Honorable Moyshe Silk credits his achievements to hashgacha pratis and hard work. He spoke about his struggles with learning Chinese, but how one thing led to another within his education in college, that eventually led him to becoming a successful lawyer.

who failed to save himself, using it as a springboard to explore the delicate balance between faith in Hashem and personal responsibility and the role miracles play in the world. His presentation prompted meaningful reflection on how much trust we place in divine help and how much effort we are expected to make ourselves.

The fun and creativity continued when the Rambam Writers’ Guild showcased student creativity with over 50 pages of original short stories all written from the same prompt: “Four people are

on a boat. Only three return to shore.”

The students read the stories before the meeting and at the meeting gave feedback on everything about the stories ranging from plot and voice to offering alternative endings.

To top it all off, students also enjoyed some friendly competition at the Annual Schoolwide Bowling Tournament held at Woodmere Lanes on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

At Rambam, there truly is something for everyone—Torah, sports, creativity, or competition.

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Rambam Recently: Tournaments, Culture, and Learning

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Voice N

tes

Weak Leadership, Weak Budget, Weak Mask Law

By Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip

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s a black woman in New York State, I believe there are protections in place to protect myself and my family from intimidation and violence. But, as a Jew, our new state budget has a weak and pathetic mask law that says, “We don’t care.” In fact, it gives a green light to masked protesters who

prey upon Jews throughout our State.

The fact that my family, and all Jews in New York State, continue to be put at risk from masked thugs, terror supporters and protestors doesn’t matter to our Governor.

She clearly refuses to see the protests on our college campuses and in

the streets. She must have been too distracted to see the anarchy in Crown Heights over the past few days. And, she must have forgotten what happened on the subway when students were threatened by a mask-wearing terror supporter who announced that Zionists had to get off the subway.

During Covid, the mask law was repealed by the Governor and State legislature. This, in effect, took the mask law off the books. It was done at the height of the pandemic for health and safety reasons. That action was never revisited and fixed. It should have been, but there again, is State government at work.

Thus, action had to be taken.

It should be noted that mask laws were enacted to protect minority groups from the KKK. They were developed to take the sheets off the heads of those committing violence, intimidation, menacing and crime.

As the author of the Nassau County Mask Law, I built the legislation by reinstating the prior law and enhancing it. We added medical, religious and holiday usage. I made it a priority to address the issues that are plaguing our college campuses and Jewish neighborhoods by giving law enforcement tools to engage proactively. I listened to law enforcement, advocates and learned law scholars and built upon over 170 years of New York State Law in bringing back the mask law.

So, what did our Governor and State Legislative leaders do? They ducked the problem and simply said that penalties could only be leveled if a suspect is charged with a class A misdemeanor

or anything more serious. In fact, according to reports, their law only swings into action once there is either a crime or victim.

Their action is weak and does nothing to address the problem. How could they come up with such an agreement?

The answer is simple. Our State government has been hijacked by people who live in a dream world and live in fear of the politics from the far left. So, the Jews are expendable.

I would challenge them, as a woman of color and a Jew, to have simply framed this issue as one impacting, Asian, Latino, African American or those who live alternative lifestyles. We all know what the Governor and legislative leaders would have done. They would have been protesting on the streets. They would have demanded justice, and they would not have stopped until the mask law was reinstated. But, they didn’t. The reason? They don’t care.

Instead, our Governor rolled over to the far left in the State Legislature. Senators and assemblymembers cowered in their offices hoping the storm would pass. It has not, and it will not. Even the sponsor of the bill, Senator James Skoufis, is underwhelmed by the result. He said, “We are at least doing something.

It’s narrower than I would’ve liked.”

That’s putting it mildly.

Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip represents the 10th Legislative District in Nassau County including Great Neck and Manhasset. She is the author of the Nassau County Mask Transparency Act.

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Centerfold

Signs That a Racehorse is High-Maintenance Will only eat organic oats—gluten-free, obviously.

Horsin’ Around Spot the one horse below that did not race in the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Demands a hooficure before race day.

Citizen Bull

Publisher

Won’t go near the starting gate unless it gets to pick the music playlist.

Neoequos

Tiztastic

Final Gambit

Render Judgment

Has a TikTok account and more followers than you.

American Promise

Coal Battle

Only drinks Evian. From a silver bucket.

Admire Daytona

Sandman

Sleeps in a climate-controlled stall with mood lighting.

Luxor Café

Sovereignty

Demands to be addressed as “Sir Gallops-a-Lot.”

Maga Ride

Chunk of Gold

Wears designer blinders “for the aesthetic.”

Journalism

Owen Almighty

Demands a carrot-tini after every workout.

Burnham Square

Has a standing reservation at the equine spa.

Flying Mohawk

Travels with an entourage of stable influencers.

East Avenue

Gets Botox…for the muzzle.

Won’t accept the winner’s roses unless they’re ethically sourced.

Riddle Me This Six horses—A, B, C, D, E, and F—compete in a one-mile race. The horses are all in top form, but the final standings reveal some surprising patterns. Based on the clues below, can you determine the order of finish from 1st to 6th?

Clues: 1. Horse A finished somewhere ahead of Horse D, but not in first place.

2. Horse B finished two places behind Horse F. 3. Horse C was not last and beat exactly two horses.

4. Horse E did not beat Horse F but was not last either.

5. Horse D finished after Horse E.

Answer: 1-A; 2-E; 3-F; 4-C; 5-B; 6-D

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TJH

Answer: Maga Ride

1. *

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1. Which racetrack hosts the Kentucky Derby? a. Churchill Downs b. Belmont Stakes c. Monticello Raceway d. Saratoga Racetrack 2. After winning the 2000 Kentucky Derby, how much was Fusaichi Pegasus sold for? a. $600,000 b. $2.1 million c. $14.5 million d. $70 million 3. Approximately how many calories does a racehorse eat in a day? a. 1,500 calories b. 10,250 calories c. 35,000 calories d. 52,500 calories 4. What is the typical weight of horse jockeys? a. 108-118 pounds b. 145-170 pounds c. 185-210 pounds d. 240-280 pounds 5. In order to name a thoroughbred racehorse, what is needed? a. Approval of the name by the Jockey Club

b. Registration of the name with the U.S. Patent & Trademark office. c. A name plate must be purchased from the top 5 racetracks in the U.S. d. A horse birth certificate 6. How many of the horses that raced in the 2025 Kentucky Derby were offspring of legendary racehorse Secretariat? a. 3 b. 7 c. 9 d. Every horse in the race Answers: 1-A 2-D 3-C 4-A 5-A 6-D Wisdom key: 5-6 correct: You are a class A thoroughbred racehorse…but you are still a horse.

2-4 correct: You are in the middle of the pack; no chance that you will win the Triple Crown.

0-1 correct: You are a total Belmont Stakes person… definitely not the big leagues.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me A man is driving down a country road when he sees a sign that says: “Talking Horse for Sale — Inquire Within” Curious, he pulls into the farm.

The farmer points to a horse in the stable.

The man walks up and asks, “You talk?”

The horse looks up and says, “Yes, I do.”

The man jumps back. “This is amazing! What’s your story?”

The horse says, “Well, I’ve had quite the life. I started out as a racehorse—won a few stakes races.

Then I retired and joined the police force; helped solve a couple of crimes. After that, I did therapy work at children’s hospitals. Now I mostly spend my time reading Nietzsche and reflecting on the fleeting nature of hay.”

The man turns to the farmer and says, “This horse is unbelievable.

Why are you selling him?”

The farmer shrugs and says, “Because he’s a liar. He didn’t win a single race.”

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Horse Racing Trivia

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Torah Thought

Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim

By Rabbi Berel Wein

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sually, reaction to defeat and tragedy is the true defining moment of one’s inner strength and faith. Aharon’s silence in the face of the loss of his two older sons is reckoned in Jewish tradition as an act of nobility and sublime acceptance of the unfath-

omable judgment of Heaven.

Contrast Aharon’s silence and humble acceptance of fate with the response of Iyov to his troubles and tragedies.

Iyov has a great deal to say, to complain against, to bitterly question and to debate almost endlessly with his compan-

ions and visitors as to the unfairness of what has befallen him. To the human eye, we are all aware that life and its events are often unfair.

There is no one that I am aware of that has successfully “explained” the Holocaust. So it seems that we are faced with two diametrically opposed choices as to the proper response to mindless fate and tragedy. Are we to remain mute and silent or are we to rail against the “arrogant fate” that has brought misfortune to us?

The Torah does not seem to inform us about this and in fact, as shown above, apparently even contradicts itself regarding this continually recurring

and so is Iyov. King Solomon correctly noted that there is a time for silence and a time for speech. So too there are people for whom mute silence is the proper response to tragedy and there are people who must give expression to their feelings of grief and frustration by words, debate and even complaint. In most instances, the rabbis of the Talmud voted for silence over speech and acceptance of one’s fate over complaint and public debate. Yet the rabbis did not exclude the book of Iyov from the biblical canon of holy books. In that act of inclusion, they allowed varying degrees of response to troubles and travail.

There is no one correct, one-size-fits-all response to the failures and tragedies of life.

facet of human existence. Yet the Torah and all the books that it contains is one seamless whole, and the seeming contradictions lie within us and not within its holy words and exalted ideas. We are brought to study this matter with greater introspection and with less judgment and personal bias.

I think that the Torah means to teach us that there is no one correct, one-size-fits-all response to the failures and tragedies of life. Aharon is correct in his response to inexplicable tragedy

Iyov also has a place in the pantheon of heroic human views regarding tragic events. Within limits and with a faith-based attitude, one can question and complain, express wonderment and even somehow demand answers. But, deep down, all humans understand that they cannot fathom Heaven’s wisdom, decisions and the individual fate that is visited upon us all. So the death of Aharon’s sons serves as a template for life, a lesson for all of us.

Shabbat shalom.

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From the Fire Parshas Kedoshim

Where We Belong

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

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he greatest ideal in our lives is captured in one word found throughout our parsha: holiness. The Ramban (on Vayikrah 19:2) explains that the exhortation to be holy “because I am holy” “means that we merit to attach ourselves to Him when we are holy.” But what does it mean to be holy? As Rashi explains on the pasuk, it means to be separate from immorality and sin. At the beginning of the chapter called Shaar HaKedushah, Reishis Chochmah writes that holiness means “making a fence within a fence in order not to go outside.” What does this mean? Can it mean that it is G-d’s will that we always remain indoors?

Rav Yerucham Levovitz, zt”l, gives us a further insight into holiness by explaining, “‘You shall be holy’ means that we are commanded to be inner-focused people.

Externality is the nature and essence of impurity.” We see that not going outside has nothing to do with staying indoors.

For the majority of our history, most Jews have worked and done many of their activities outside. Holiness, not going outside, means something completely different: we must be deep people with rich inner lives.

The essence of exile and diaspora is not being in our place, in our true home. Why has it been Hashem’s will that we have not merited to live where we belong, in our national home where Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov dwelled 4,000 years ago?

Moshe Rebbeinu asked himself this question when he saw his brothers enslaved in a foreign country (Rashi on Shemos 2:14).

According to the Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:29), after Moshe killed the Egyptian, he looked around and saw that some Jewish people saw what happened.

He said to them, “You are compared to sand. Just as [with regard to] sand, a person takes it from one place and places it somewhere where else and it makes no

sound [during the transfer], so too this matter will remain hidden among you and it will not be heard.” Moshe assumed and expected that the Jewish people would be true to their nature and not reveal what he had done to the Egyptian.

But when he learned that certain Jews had circulated – “posted” – the secret, he said (Shemos 2:14) “The matter has become known.” The Midrash (Shemos Rabah 1:30) explains that Moshe understood why the Jewish people were in exile, outside their place, being persecuted by a strange nation: “There is lashon hara among them. How can they be worthy of redemption? ... Now I know why they are oppressed.” What is the essence of lashon hara? And why is exile and oppression its natural result?

A few pesukim after the commandment to be holy, Hashem tells us, “Do not go tale-bearing among your nation” (Vayikra 19:16). The Rambam (Hilchos Deios 7:2) explains the nature and full impact of the prohibitions against lashon

hara and tale-bearing, rechilus: “What is a tale-bearer? This is one who carries ‘merchandise,’ going from one person to another and saying, ‘Poloni said suchand-such.’ ‘I heard such-and-such about Ploni.’ Even though it is true, this destroys the world.”

Lashon hara and rechilus mean habitually revealing others’ secrets, speaking about things and people which are not their concern. Such a quality goes against the true nature of the Jewish people. We are deep people with powerful inner lives. That is why Moshe thought the Jewish people who witnessed his killing of the Egyptian thought they would keep it a secret.

People who have no inner life of their own have “no choice” but go outside of themselves and speak constantly about others. Redemption is when we have our own place. And exile is when we are outside of our true place. When the Jewish people go outside of their true place, their inner spiritual world, this mani-

fests itself in exile – our removal from our physical place.

This focus on talking about externality, other people’s business, or other superficial matters, is the ultimate betrayal of the essence of the Jewish people. Moshe realized that this was why they were in exile.

In fact, the Hebrew word for exile, galus, comes from the word “l’galos,” meaning “to expose.” When we jabber about others’ lives, exposing their private business, the natural result is exile. But after a couple of people revealed the fact that Moshe killed the Egyptian, the Jewish people learned their lesson and returned to their true nature. And this was the key to their redemption. How do we see this?

Most people are familiar with three things the Jewish people did that caused them to merit redemption (not changing their names, clothing, or language), but fewer know about the fourth one (Bamidbar Rabah 25:22): “They did not reveal their secrets.” They returned to their true inner-focused natures. Once again, they began to live lives of “a fence within a fence,” not going outside of themselves to prattle endlessly about others’ lives.

There are two Jewish ideas that most young women returning from seminary would be content never hearing again: “the whole honor of the daughter of the King is inside” (Tehillim 45:14) and tzinius, modesty. And while these ideas are often applied to sleeve lengths and hemlines, appropriate clothing is only the edge of the tip of the meaning of these concepts, which are applicable to both men and women.

Rav Yerucham explains tzinius this way: “The secret of the idea of tzinius is to be hidden, internal.” As we have already seen, this has nothing to do with remaining indoors and not going out into the

become a rarity. Today, in frum communities, everyone must discuss and have an opinion on whatever everyone else is doing. Why must we discuss other people’s tragedies at all? What does it have to do with us? Do people even begin to think about the pain of the parents of this bride and groom, knowing that the whole world is talking about them? Do people consider how this talk and speculation destroys the lives of the young man and

And who says it is a mitzvah to post every picture from their private simcha for the whole world to gaze at?

Why are our inner lives so empty that everyone must post every little thing that happens on their favorite WhatsApp group? “My baby had solid food for the first time today!” Following the big news, everyone feels like they would be callous and uncaring if they ignored this important announcement. “Wow!” “What a big

We must be deep people with rich inner lives. woman involved? Or how it affects the other relatives who are broken-hearted over this tragedy? Do we realize that we are destroying the world? Why must we prattle on, behind the guise of a concern for other Jews’ welfare, about other people’s business?

We live in a world where parents learn that their children are engaged only after the whole world has seen the 40 pictures they posted of themselves sitting inappropriately close to one another on a simcha website or Facebook.

baby!” “Congratulations!” “What did she eat?” The endless, pointless chatter goes on and on.

How much value do we really add to the world by talking with our friends or commenting somewhere online about the latest banality uttered by Kamala or Donald? Do we actually believe our political analysis on Twitter or Facebook will turn the tide of the election? The reason we become so obsessed with what is going on outside in the world is because our own inner life is completely barren.

But our nature as Jews is to bring out the depth and inner focus with which we merited the redemption from Egypt.

We can become holy and cling to G-d by turning away from focusing on what other people are saying or doing and turning our attention inward. We can set aside time to improve the quality of our davening or our motivations for doing the things we do. We can dedicate our attention to rectifying our own personal characteristics. In doing so, we begin to turn inward, working to become the people we want to during our 120 years on this earth.

Let us consider how we can build fences within fences to separate ourselves from superficiality. Let us turn inward because Hashem is telling us that this is the way to access holiness. In the merit of our efforts to turn our focus and attention where they belong, may Hashem return His entire nation to where they belong, Eretz Yisroel, with the coming of Moshiach and the complete redemption, may it arrive very 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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street, though unfortunately many have misinterpreted the concept this way. The deeper meaning of “the whole honor of the daughter of the King is inside” is that we access holiness when we direct our attention to our inner life and away from things and people outside ourselves that do not truly concern us.

But what are these inner ideas with which we should occupy ourselves? How does one distinguish between superficial and essential concerns?

One deeper focus is the study of Torah. The Gemara (Sotah 49b) says, “What does the pasuk (Shir HaShirim 7:2) mean ‘the curves of your thighs’?

Why are the words of Torah compared to the thigh? To teach you that just as the thigh is hidden, so too the words of Torah are hidden.” What does it mean that the words of Torah are hidden? Isn’t sharing the Torah far and wide a great ideal?

The Gemara means that the words of Torah are called “hidden” because they are not superficial or external. They go to the heart of life. The more one is focuses on superficial things, the less he can focus on putting his full energy into understanding Hashem’s will as expressed through the Torah.

But maintaining a rich inner life has

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Think. Feel.Grow.

Sefiras Ha’omer Achieving the Impossible

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

I

magine a teenager lying on a grassy field, gazing into the night sky. As he stares up at the stars, he thinks to himself, “Look at how enormous the universe is. The sky just expands endlessly... It must go on forever.” After sitting with that thought for a few moments, he becomes uncomfortable. “How can anything go on forever? Everything must stop eventually.” But after a few moments of relaxation, his thoughts intrude again. “But how can the universe stop? What exists on the other side when the universe ends? It must go on forever...” This inner dialogue continues as he struggles to contemplate the infinite within his finite mind.

This struggle is not a childish one; it is a challenge that confronts any finite being who tries to connect to the infinite.

Younger children, however, do not face this struggle. They are dreamers, living in a world of fantasy where anything is possible. Just ask a group

of children what they want to be when they grow up, and you’ll get some of the most fantastic, unrealistic responses imaginable. “I’m going to be an astronaut fireman, so that I can save people on the moon,” or “I’m going to become a great tzaddik and learn how to speak every language so that I can teach Torah to everyone.” Children live within the infinite, the realm of endless possibility. However, as we grow up, we begin to experience the struggle of reality, where our notions of the infinite start being challenged. We then face the question: How do we, as physical and limited beings, transcend our finite dimensions?

How do we relate to the abstract, to the infinite, to the spiritual?

Let us approach this question through the lens of sefiras ha’omer, the counting of the omer.

Sefiras Ha’omer: Our Yearly Counting We are commanded to count the

days between Pesach and Shavuos, a period known as sefiras ha’omer (Vayikra 23:15–16; Devarim 16:9). At first glance, this can be understood on a very simple level: As we approach Shavuos, we excitedly count down to Matan Torah as we anticipate our acceptance of the Torah.

This can be compared to a countdown toward a wedding, a vacation, or some other exciting event. However, there is a feature of the sefiras ha’omer count that is markedly different: Rather than counting down toward the destination, Shavuos, we count up from the starting point, Pesach. We don’t mark how many days remain until Shavuos; we count how many days have elapsed since Pesach. What is the meaning behind this strange method of counting? And more generally, what is the purpose of counting in the first place? By no other holidays do we count the days between them; we don’t count the days between Sukkos and Chanukah. Why then do we specifically count the days between Pe-

sach and Shavuos?

In truth, we are not counting down to Matan Torah but rather are building toward it, ascending one day at a time.

We do not wait for Shavuos to arrive; we actively bring it ourselves through the time and effort we invest as we count the omer. If Shavuos — and its accompanying Matan Torah — are a skyscraper, each day of the omer is a brick. Each day we place the next brick in our building, and each day we build ourselves one step higher. The extensive halachic emphasis on counting each and every day of the omer highlights the fact that every single brick is essential and that every single day is fundamental (Tosafos, Menachos 66a).

If, while building a staircase, you miss one step, you simply cannot build the next step up. Each step requires a foundation to rest on. The same is true of counting the omer. Each day builds upon the previous ones, ascending toward our ultimate destination. Matan

Time-Bound Mitzvah?

This elucidation of sefiras ha’omer sheds light on the Ramban’s enigmatic approach to the counting of the omer.

He maintains that women are obligated to count the omer because it is not a mitzvas aseih she’ha’zman grama, a time-bound commandment. How are we to understand this? Sefiras ha’omer, the counting of each specific day between Pesach and Shavuos, seems to be the epitome of a time-bound mitzvah!

However, a deeper understanding of sefiras ha’omer clarifies the Ramban’s opinion. In general, a time-bound mitzvah is an opportunity to tap into a certain power of time that exists at that moment. On Pesach, when we eat matzah, we tap into the power of freedom, a pre-existing reality. This same principle applies to all time-bound mitzvos. For sefiras ha’omer, however,

we don’t tap into a pre-existing time; we create time. When we count the omer, we do not tap into the reality of the omer, we create it. Time does not create the omer; we do. This is why there is no specific date mentioned for Shavuos in the Torah. Shavuos — and Matan Torah — are not tied to a specific day (the sixth of Sivan); it is the result of the forty-nine days that we count. The fifti-

Connecting to the Infinite Just like the teenager in the introductory story, we all struggle to connect with the infinite; to see the spiritual within the physical; to find genuine meaning and purpose in an often turbulent and chaotic world. It can feel overwhelming — if not impossible — to build a skyscraper; the task is quite daunting. However, the key is

We are building up toward it, one day at a time.

eth day, the day of Shavuos and Matan Torah, emerges from the forty-nine days of counting. We bring it into existence.

This is why the holiday of Shavuos literally means “weeks” — the seven weeks that we count create the holiday of Shavuos. (Shavuos also shares the same root as the word sheva, seven, reflecting the seven weeks that creates the chag of Shavuos.)

to have the ultimate goal in the back of our minds while we focus on each individual day, trying our best to place each individual brick perfectly while we build toward our ultimate destination.

Each day of the omer is a new brick — a new part of our journey toward Matan Torah, toward the infinite, and toward marrying Hashem. May we be inspired to create something magical as

we build toward Matan Torah, one day at a time.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is the author of the bestselling book, “The Journey to Your Ultimate Self,” which serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is an educator and speaker who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He is also the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy, the transformative online self-development course based on the principles of high-performance psychology and Torah.

After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

To invite Rabbi Reichman to speak in your community or to enjoy more of his deep and inspiring content, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com.

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Torah does not come after forty-nine days – it comes because of them, built by our effort and investment during sefiras ha’omer. This is why we count up. We are not counting down to Matan Torah; we are building up toward it, one day at a time.

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Delving into the Daf

Preparing for Shavuos More Than Just Cheesecake

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

H

ow does one prepare for the holiday of Shavuos? Should you experiment with various salmon recipes, dust off the milchig china, or gather the best cheesecake recipe? One can certainly sympathize with how much effort it takes to make a proper cheesecake.

In September, an upstate town set a new Guinness World Record. In a place where dairy dreams become reality, Lowville whipped the competition at the Cream Cheese Festival by showcasing an enormous cheesecake that could have had its own zip code: 15,008 pounds of creamy delight, stretching over 11 feet in diameter. This monumental dessert was crafted from over 13,000 pounds of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 870 pounds of graham cracker crumbs, 300 pounds of sugar, and more than 100 pounds of butter—a true testament to culinary ambition.

But the Shulchan Aruch offers a different perspective on how to prepare for Shavuos. It states: “We discuss the laws of Pesach thirty days before Pesach.” The Mishna Berura traces this halacha back to Moshe Rabbeinu, who taught the laws of Pesach Sheni thirty days prior—on Pesach itself. The Mishna Berura adds that this principle applies not only to Pesach, but to every yom tov. The Sha’ar Hatziyon discusses whether this is a full rabbinic obligation or a strongly rooted custom.

The Vilna Gaon notes, however, that unlike Pesach, one only needs to begin studying the laws of Shavuos from Rosh Chodesh Sivan, since there are relatively few unique halachos for this holiday. Some authorities even argue that the requirement of 30-day preparation applies exclusively to Pesach because of its complex laws.

Nevertheless, there is consensus that studying the halachos of any yom tov during the holiday is a mitzvah—including on Shavuos. The Gemara (Megillah 32a) teaches: “Moshe enacted that we should

ask and expound on the laws of Pesach on Pesach, the laws of Shavuos on Shavuos, and the laws of Sukkos on Sukkos.”

If someone wants to delve into the halachos of the yomim tovim in the Gemara, which tractates should they study? For Pesach—Pesachim; for Sukkos—Sukkah; for Rosh Hashana—Rosh Hashana; for Yom Kippur—Yoma. And for Shavuos? The obvious answer might be Masechta Shavuos, especially as Daf Yomi has

noted in the name of the Chasam Sofer that there is a beautiful custom to learn Masechta Shavuos before the holiday.

A story from the Chasam Sofer’s rebbe highlights this connection.

One of the Chasam Sofer’s rebbeim was Rav Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz (author of the Haflaah). The following story occurred when he was a young boy.

It was the second night of Pesach, after the Seder and at the start of Sefiras

He explains that the holiday name of Shavuos alludes not just to the counting of weeks but to the oaths we made at Har Sinai— our eternal promise to uphold the Torah.

just begun it. But here’s the twist: Masechta Shavuos deals with the laws of oaths, not with the holiday of Shavuos.

The more halachically relevant tractate is Masechta Beitzah, which focuses on the general laws of yom tov. Still, it is

HaOmer. The venerable Rabbi Zvi Hirsch gathered his two young sons. With reverence, he asked: “My dear sons, which masechta shall we begin learning now, as we count the days until Shavuos?” The older son, Shmuel Shmelke, replied confident-

ly: “Masechta Shavuos—one daf a day will complete it just in time.”

Their father smiled but challenged the answer. “Is that appropriate? Masechta Shavuos is about oaths, not the festival.”

The younger son, Pinchas, spoke up: “No, Abba. I know it’s about oaths.

But that’s why it’s perfect. On the first Shavuos, at Har Sinai, we took an oath to uphold the Torah. Learning about oaths reminds us how serious that moment was and how careful we must be to keep our commitment.”

One source adds an addendum to the story. On a later Pesach, he repeated the question. This time, Pinchas answered with two tractates: Kesubos and Kiddushin.

“Abba,” he said, “you taught us that at Sinai, Hashem ‘married’ K’lal Yisrael.

The Torah is the kesubah given to His bride. To prepare for that wedding on Shavuos, we should study these masechtos to remember our responsibilities in this heavenly marriage.”

The Sfas Emes echoes this idea. He explains that the holiday name of Shavuos alludes not just to the counting of weeks but to the oaths we made at Har Sinai—our eternal promise to uphold the Torah.

So while preparing the perfect cheesecake may be a sweet part of our Shavuos tradition, the deeper preparation is spiritual. Whether it’s through learning halacha, reflecting on our sacred vows, or viewing the Torah as our divine marriage contract, Shavuos calls us to reaccept our commitment to Torah with love and awe.

The cheesecake may nourish the body— but it’s Torah that nourishes the soul.

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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Headlines

Halacha

The Short Mincha Controversy: A Divided Tradition

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

I

n the minyanim of many Litvish yeshivos, a curious practice has taken root,one that pits pragmatism against tradition, and convenience against custom. The “short Mincha,” known as “heicha kedushah,” has sparked debate among some of the greatest rabbinical authorities of our time, creating a fascinating split in the Orthodox Jewish world.

to work quickly. For some congregations, the short Mincha enables prayer where none might otherwise occur. For others, it represents an unwelcome compromise.

Diverse Customs and Practices Different communities have developed varied approaches to the heicha kedushah. The Ba’er Heitev notes that Sephardim begin their silent prayer with the leader, aiming to finish simultaneously. Ashkenazim, however, wait until after Kedushah before starting their silent prayer, often resulting in the leader finishing before the congregation.

The Great Divide On one side of the fence stand giants: Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, the Chazon Ish, zt”l, and Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l. All opposed this abbreviated prayer service.

Yet in countless Litvish Yeshivos, the short Mincha remains a daily reality. Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, seemingly supported it—except on Chanukah and Purim, when the full repetition served the purpose of pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle.

of the first three blessings together with the leader before continuing silently.

This innovation allows Kedushah to be recited quickly with the leader while eliminating the need for repetition—a solution born of necessity.

yan barely has ten men and some fail to respond “Amen” to the blessings, the short Mincha becomes the lesser of two evils—better a truncated service than a compromised one.

The Origins: When Excitement Meets Prayer

Sephardic Perspectives and Pushback

The practice’s origin tells a compelling story. In older yeshivos, the afternoon prayer (Mincha) immediately followed the Rosh HaYeshiva’s shiur. Students, still buzzing with intellectual excitement from the lesson, found themselves unable to maintain the necessary reverence during the prayer repetition. Their continuous discussions during the Amidah repetition led to a drastic solution: eliminating the longer version entirely.

The Beis Yosef notes that this was common Sephardic practice for Mincha daily, even without emergency circum-

The practice has spread beyond yeshiva walls into the corporate world.

Many Jewish offices—where time constraints and workplace demands mirror the original yeshiva challenges—have

The Mechanics of the Short Mincha The Rema (Orach Chaim 124:2; 232:1) describes this abbreviated service. Instead of the traditional repetition of the Amidah, the prayer leader begins the Shmoneh Esreh aloud immediately.

He continues vocally through the Kedushah section until the blessing “Ha’Kel Ha’Kadosh,” then switches to silent prayer. The congregants recite every word

Conclusion

The Office Controversy

Students, still buzzing with intellectual excitement from the lesson, found themselves unable to maintain the necessary reverence during the prayer repetition.

stances. However, in Tzfas, where he lived, local rabbis attempted to eradicate this practice, going so far as to excommunicate anyone who observed it.

Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, allowed the practice only when the prayer repetition is endangered. For instance, when a min-

adopted the short Mincha. Some employees appreciate the efficiency, while others feel the spiritual experience is diminished.

Office environments present unique challenges: limited break times, meetings that run long, and the pressure to return

The question of office minyanim requires careful consideration and rabbinic guidance. It is this author’s opinion that a posek should be consulted for each office individually. If the business is owned by Person X – and he started the minyan – then he should pose the question to his posek. If the minyan is an eclectic one where everyone just kind of all got together, then the regular attendees should agree on the posek to ask and the majority posek among the regulars should be consulted. The question should be posed in writing so that no “spin” would be put on it. The previous practice should be included in the question.

The short Mincha represents more than just a time-saving measure; it embodies ongoing tension in our lives between l’chatchila ideals and practical realities. While revered authorities have opposed it, its persistence in yeshivos and offices speaks to genuine challenges in maintaining focused prayer in our fast-paced world.

This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.

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Pesach Sheini and R’ Meir

Second Chance Not by Chance

By RaBBi Daniel Glatstein

I

t is a widely accepted custom to visit the tomb of R’ Meir Baal Haness on 14 Iyar, Pesach Sheini, and to celebrate in his honor.

Many assume that Pesach Sheini is the yahrtzeit of R’ Meir. However, it is difficult to find a reliable source for this; in fact, R’ Chaim Chizkiyah Medini (1834–1904), author of the Sdei Chemed, sent a letter to the rabbis of Teveriah inquiring into the meaning of the newly established annual pilgrimage. In their response, they related that a new beis haknesses and beis midrash had been constructed directly near R’ Meir’s tomb, and to celebrate its establishment, there had been a chanukas habayis, an inauguration ceremony, which happened to coincide with Pesach Sheini. Since many from the Diaspora had flocked to Eretz Yisrael for Pesach, the event was particularly well attended. Thus, a tradition began for people to travel to celebrate at the tomb of R’ Meir on Pesach Sheini.

Although it might seem that this explanation credits a “coincidental occurrence” as the basis for the Pesach Sheini/R’ Meir connection, we know that nothing is by chance. If Klal Yisrael celebrates R’ Meir on Pesach Sheini, there must be a deeper significance in it.

Finding Yourself

Aside from the minhag of contrib-

uting tzedakah as an aliyas neshama for R’ Meir in times of distress, there is a custom that specifically when looking for a lost object, one recites the prayer “Eloka d’Meir aneini” while pledging charity in the merit of R’ Meir. Whence does such a practice stem? How is finding a lost object relevant to R’ Meir more than to any other of the host of great Tannaim?

The answer, perhaps, lies in the significant worldview that R’ Meir promulgated: Either way, no matter who, no matter

R’ Meir, hoping that the item will reunite with its owner, just as every Jew will reunite with his Father.

Hidden Under Hide

R’ Meir’s opinion that sin will never obfuscate our identity as Hashem’s children can help explain a curious Midrash.

The pesukim in Bereishis describe the aftermath of the sin of eating from the Eitz HaDaas. Before Adam and Chava were expelled from Gan Eden, Hashem

No matter to what extent we sin, no matter how far we’ve drifted, a Jew is never truly lost. where, the Jewish people are called Hashem’s children. What this means, then, is that no matter to what extent we sin, no matter how far we’ve drifted, a Jew is never truly lost. Even when he seems to be very distant, he is still Hashem’s child.

He may not recognize it, but in Heaven he continues to be a beloved child, and in reality he is not lost at all.

A principle taught by the Zohar is that “the lower world reflects the reality of the Upper World.” In R’ Meir’s view, the Upper World will never regard a Jew as “lost.” As per the Zohar, the lower world will then reflect this reality: no item will be lost forever. Therefore, when one loses an item, he elicits the merit of

garbed them in kasnos ohr, garments of skin (Bereishis 3:21). The word ohr in this verse is spelled with an ‫ ;ע‬thus, it is translated as “skin.” Prior to the sin, Adam and Chava were enveloped in a coating that was entirely translucent, kasnos ohr, garments of light (ohr with an aleph). Following the sin, this translucence was replaced with a coarse, solid material: skin.

However, the Midrash tells us that in the Torah of R’ Meir, the word ohr is spelled with an aleph, meaning “light.”

In R’ Meir’s view, following the sin of the Eitz HaDaas, Hashem continued to clothe Adam and Chava in garments of light.

This is incredible! Even following the sin, Adam and Chava are still being

graced in the ethereal clothing of light!

But in the world of R’ Meir, this is merely the reality of our being Hashem’s children. Even after we sin, says R’ Meir, we still glow in some semblance of the original incandescence that comes with being the children of Hashem.

Why Should We Lose Out?

Appreciating the reality that in the world of R’ Meir nothing is lost will illuminate the connection between R’ Meir and Pesach Sheini. Those who were “impure or distant” on the fourteenth of Nissan and therefore unable to bring a Korban Pesach have a second chance on Pesach Sheini.

In the Midbar, Moshe Rabbeinu was approached by men who had come into contact with a corpse, rendering themselves impure with tumas meis. These individuals appealed that they, too, should be able to bring the korban Pesach, saying, “Lamah nigarah, Why should we be diminished?” (Bamidbar 9:7). This was an expression of the Jewish soul’s eternal pining for connection with Hashem. Even when impure, even when distant, we still crave a relationship with our Father — and He, in turn, craves a relationship with us.

Pesach Sheini is the day of second chances. It’s the day when we realize that no one is too distant and nothing is hopeless. It’s the day when we realize that a loving Father will always endow us with the opportunity to return to Him. It is the day of R’ Meir.

This article was excerpted from Rabbi Meir Baal Haness and the Eternal Children of Hashem by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, published by ArtScroll Publications.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the Mara D’asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime.com, podcast, his website rabbidg.com, and other venues.

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School of

Thought

Driving Forces

By Barbara Deutsch

I

t has been an incredibly emotional week that included a raging fire that postponed and cancelled commemorative events and programs. I can usually easily process and reflect upon the effects of what I see and do living our lives in Israel; not this week. Yom Hazikaron followed by Yom Ha’Atzmaut and infused with the effects of the fire gave me pause; I need more time to reflect.

Also, this week, we finally got our Israeli driver’s licenses.

If you have an American license, a good driving record, a clean bill of health and can see (glasses), within the year of making aliyah you can apply for an Israeli driver’s license at the Misrad Harishui.

You don’t have to take a test or struggle through the Israeli system for licensing, 25 lessons and counting; my granddaughters did that (and are in the midst) and so far two out of the four have licenses with the other two are taking test after test. One of them is taking a driving test break.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

We have no plans for owning a car.

There is nowhere to park on our block, and driving in Israel is not for the faint of heart; in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,

there are insane drivers and crazy congestion. Our kids live close by, and if we need to get somewhere, the buses and trains are accessible and free with a Rav Cav; there is no uglier picture of me than the identifying one that’s posted on my bus pass.

Just last week, the government passed a bill allowing anyone 67 and older to get a free all access card like the one I have because I’m old. In Israel, seniors get treated with respect and compassion; free transport, discounts galore, passes in all national parks. Plus, once you hit 80 and you luckily haven’t been hit by a moving vehicle, you go to the head of every line.

All of our Anglo friends got their licenses. Even if you don’t own a car, you can rent a small Citi-Car for short term driving or a family size comfortable one for weekends away from Jerusalem.

It’s so simple to get a license as a new oleh, so why not?

Those who have been following along on our aliyah journey know that this kind of thinking is ludicrous. It’s Israel, and nothing is ever simple. It took more than four tries to accomplish our goal of getting that Israeli license.

When we arrived in July, the long list of things to do prioritized getting one. Plus, living on our narrow, steep, no-room-for-cars-to-even-stop street lulled us into thinking that we don’t want or need a license or a car. But as I said, who knows what the future will bring and having a license has got to be a good thing.

We got the instructions from Nefesh B’Nefesh. They have been very helpful for the range of our needs. The list of what was needed included: a medical history form filled out by the doctor, an eye test, downloading our American driving history (accidents), the teudat zehut (your identification number without which you don’t exist as an Israeli, not kidding!) and your teudat Oleh; we are both registered on the same document that looks something like a skinny passport. We never needed it before and have no clear understanding of what it is and why we need it.

Our first challenge was locating the Misrad Harishui. Once you find it, get there before it closes, which is usually before 2. They provide the forms you will need to give to the doctor to fill out.

I’m not sure what impact cholesterol has

on your ability to drive, but apparently, it does. The first two times we went for the forms it was closed.

We took a break; why aren’t the forms digital?

Winter and being in America for three weeks slowed our momentum; we told ourselves that we really didn’t care if we got a license as we had no intention to drive. As the months passed and the deadline neared, I began to feel that it would be a mistake not to take advantage of the easy route to driving, want to or not.

Right after Pesach, we went to the Ministry bright and early (our third time) to pick up the forms. The guard asked if we had an appointment; of course not. He looked at us closely and asked our age. Remember, over 80 and no line. We hope to reach that milestone, but not yet. I’m not sure how I felt about his age assessment. Nevertheless, the kind guard pushed us front and center.

The clerk gave us the medical forms and told us to get our eyes checked.

There is an eyeglass store with lovely staff right across the street from the Ministry. Bob took the forms to our primary doctor, and we were ready to

the supervisor called us to the window.

“Where is the eye test?” I pointed to it.

“No, the computer eye test?”

The teudat Olami was our neglect.

It’s on the website, and we were negligent. But the computerized eye test?

It seems we had to go to a special optical store called Optic Shaish Shaish.

It’s located on King George and operated by two teenage girls who spend all day cranking out eye tests. Each one cost 65 shekel, and for 130 shekel on

After all the months of doing things over and over again, I finally broke.

Come on. “Go tell the eye doctor to send us a computer-generated form!”

I lost it.

After all the months of doing things over and over again, I finally broke.

With only a few minutes until they closed, we ran back to the eye doctor who said in all of his hundreds of forms, this never happened. There is nothing more he can do. He has no access to the computer forms.

Back to the Ministry we ran. I demanded to speak to the supervisor, Pink Nails couldn’t care less. The supervisor?

The same.

top of the useless 60 shekel we already spent, we had our computer-generated eye test.

The Ministry closed at noon.

We cut Ulpan, no biggie, and went back the next day. I apologized to the supervisor for losing my cool; she softened, looked me in the eye, nodded and invited us into her office. “I will take care of you myself!”

In Israel, being right does not mean that it will influence the outcome. My apology softened the clerk’s attitude towards us, which allowed us to move forward with the application process.

It turns out that the supervisor was right; it needs to be on a computer so that we would have a photo ID for the license, something which can only be created on a special computer.

Thank you Hashem for giving me the clarity to accept responsibility for my mistakes. As a new oleh with mediocre language skills, there is so much material to integrate and understand. Israel is a Bureaucracy with a capital B; if you don’t have savlanut, a positive attitude, and knowledge of the latest updated information, it’s a challenge.

Now, we both have our Israeli licenses, but you won’t have to worry about us being on the road. We have no intention of driving.

Despite and because of this week in Israel, we are so happy to be home.

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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roll. We then got our eyes checked at the eyeglass store, 30 shekel each, and back we went for time number four.

The guard, a new friend, shuttled us to the front of the line, and we confidently submitted our paperwork. The same very bored bleached-blonde clerk sort of greeted us. She sported long, hot pink acrylic nails that made a loud staccato rap-tap sound as she typed our driving fate.

As she rifled through our papers, she asked for our teudat zehut, our American driver’s license and our medical forms. Suddenly, she froze, in Hebrew she demanded, “Where is the teudat Olami?” It was downhill from there.

The Ministry closes at 12:00 p.m., and we had an hour. Determined to get this done, we ran home. It’s only about a 15-minute walk to our house.

Time number five: we got the document, and we were back in her face. The supervisor, a typical looking secular Israel, came to help her. “Go sit down, I don’t want you hovering!”(It’s more effective when said in Hebrew accompanied by a pointy finger with a long, hot pink nail attached to it).

Happy to accommodate, we sat. No more than two minutes passed when

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Israel Today

A New Medical Discipline in Israel: How to Receive Hostages

By Johnatan Reiss and Isabel Kershner

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ERUSALEM — A woman recently released after more than 15 months of captivity in the Gaza Strip refused any medical tests one day at the Israeli hospital that received her.

The doctors were delighted.

“We canceled a whole day’s schedule,” said professor Noa Eliakim-Raz, who heads the department that receives hostages at Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv.

The woman’s ability to retake control indicated progress after months at the mercy of her Hamas captors.

This was one of the small victories doctors say they have seen as dozens of freed hostages transition back to everyday life.

For over a year, a team from Israel’s medical, military and social welfare systems has been updating a manual based on what it has learned about helping hostages readjust.

There were few precedents to learn from, officials said, especially as the captives ranged in age from infants to octogenarians.

“We are now writing the theory,” said Eti Kisos, a deputy director general at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs.

About 250 people were seized during the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that set off the devastating war in Gaza. More than 100 hostages were released during a brief ceasefire that November, and Hamas returned 30 more living hostages this year before a shaky ceasefire collapsed.

Many were held in dark tunnels while shackled and deprived of food, according to relatives, doctors and their own testimony. Up to 24 living hostages remain in Gaza. Here’s a look at how the released hostages have been received back in Israel.

Psychologists, Hairdressers and Smartphones After the Red Cross transferred hostages from Hamas gunmen to Israeli forces in Gaza, a mental health professional with the military accompanied them to their first point of reentry — an army facility on the Israeli side of the border.

Physical contact is reserved for those who request it. Some ask for a hug.

“We learned from other countries’ experience that it was essential to enable them a gradual transition process and not

to flood them with stimuli,” said Lt. Col. Uzi, a military mental health officer who agreed only to be referred to by his first name because of the sensitivity of his role.

At the base, the released hostages had their first taste of freedom. One asked to see herself in the mirror, Uzi said. Others asked for nail polish or a comb. Some speak little, while others are eager to share their experiences.

After something light to eat and drink and some time to adjust, they are reunited with close family members.

Often for the first time since they were captured, the released hostages get choices. “What do you want to eat, drink? What kind of clothes to wear, what colors, what sizes? Where to meet their families and to shower before or after?” said Col. Avi Benov, a doctor and deputy chief of the military’s medical corps. He called the gradual transition from captivity to freedom “grounding.”

Health experts also compare it to decompression, the way a diver returns to the surface.

After an initial physical and mental health assessment, returnees can make

phone calls and use the services of a hairdresser, barber or beautician.

At first, only gradual exposure to communications and social media was recommended. But some of the younger hostages found it therapeutic to reconnect with the outside world. Now, every returning hostage is offered a new smartphone.

On their return, some receive difficult news about loved ones who remain in captivity or were killed in the October attack.

One Israeli hostage, Or Levy, was freed in early February. He was abducted as he and his wife, Einav, fled the Nova music festival, where more than 380 people were killed. Military officers broke the news to him that she had been killed, his brother, Michael Levy, said in an interview.

Learning to Eat Again The next stop is a dedicated, secluded wing at one of the three hospitals set up to receive hostages, where multidisciplinary civilian teams await.

At Beilinson Hospital, each returnee is assigned a dietitian, according to EliakimRaz. Weight and muscle grip are checked, and diets are individually tailored.

“There’s a healing power in this group,” Eliakim-Raz said, adding that their physiotherapy became like group therapy.

Preparing for the arrival of hostages, the hospitals described their special wings as if they were vacation spots. Beilinson’s wing features 21 “spacious and luxurious rooms” equipped with soft clothing and bedding, cozy blankets and

colored ottomans. Towels were rolled up on beds, spa style.

Initial Elation, a Long Recovery Many hostages came back with physical injuries and shrapnel in their bodies, doctors and relatives say. Some require complicated surgery.

“There’s immense joy that the nightmare is over,” she said, “and then, many times, there’s a downfall.”

slippers, mini-fridges, potted plants, recovery teddy bears and phone chargers, the hospital said in a statement sent to journalists.

Also available: private dining facilities for family meals made by chefs, as well as beauty treatments, manicures and pedicures.

Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv, issued images of lounge areas it had prepared with pastel couches and brightly

The first days of freedom are “euphoric,” said Kisos, the welfare ministry official. “Adrenaline is at its peak. There’s immense joy that the nightmare is over,” she said, “and then, many times, there’s a downfall.”

The initial smiles and social media posts can be deceptive, concealing deep trauma. Insomnia and nightmares are common. Some released hostages fall ill.

“They’ve come out of immediate danger,

and now the body is allowing itself to react,” Kisos said.

Once discharged from the hospital, the returnees are assigned a social worker who can provide emotional support and help with bureaucracy.

“Their trust in the systems, in the state has been shaken,” said Rosi Neuman, a social worker who has accompanied released hostages.

Levy was discharged from the hospital after about 10 days and moved, together with his 3-year-old son, into an apartment provided by authorities. “He went back to being a dad very fast,” his brother said.

Another hostage, Eli Sharabi, came back Feb. 8 to find that his wife and two teenage daughters had been killed in the October attack. Yet like many of the returnees, Sharabi has already thrown himself into the campaign for the release of those still held in Gaza.

He traveled to New York to address the United Nations Security Council last month.

“My name is Eli Sharabi; I am 53 years old,” he told the council. “I’ve come back from hell. I’ve returned to tell my story.” © The New York Times

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One of Levy’s first cravings after his release was a shawarma wrap, his brother said. Despite dietitians’ warnings against the high-calorie dish so early on, his brother decided he wanted one, he said.

Doctors have been wary of re-feeding syndrome — the potentially dangerous effects that eating too much, too fast can have on people who have been starved or severely malnourished. Eli Sharabi, who came back from Gaza’s tunnels emaciated, slowly increased his food intake by 100 grams a day, said his brother, Sharon Sharabi.

About 24 living hostages remain in Gaza. Some have been kept in tunnels, shackled, for much or all of the past 18 months, according to the testimony of released captives.

Maintaining the privacy of the returnees is considered essential. But the hospitals also try to reduce the institutional atmosphere, so special wings have been adapted to feel more homey. There are formal protocols to follow, but adjustments are made to treat each case individually.

A group of female lookout soldiers, abducted from the military base near Gaza where they had been serving, for example, wanted to be together after release.

nspiration Nation

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R’ Reuven Epstein The Three Levels of Marriage

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

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o have a happy marriage, you need to communicate effectively with your spouse.

We’ve all heard that advice before, right? Open a book about relationships, and you’ll probably find a chapter titled, “Communication is Key.” Read a blog, and that’s one of the first suggestions. Or watch a video; that’s likely the lecturer’s main message.

In other words, “communicate well” is the most common (and cliché) marriage advice, bar none. And probably for good reason. No one would argue that talking and listening aren’t important in a marriage.

But with all the emphasis on communication, it begs the question: Is its importance overstated? Is communication really the key? Is it truly the main pillar — the be-all and end-all — of a happy marriage?

The answer, actually, is no, according to Rabbi Reuven Epstein. A healthy marriage actually requires much more than

communication.

“Communication is not the essence of marriage,” declares Rabbi Epstein, a prominent marriage expert. “I could communicate that I hate you — and I’d be doing a great job communicating — but our marriage is not going to be good. So, that’s not what marriage is about.”

So then, what is marriage about? According to Rabbi Epstein, it all comes down to connection. * * * A marriage’s tone is set much before the wedding. In fact, the couple’s mindset while dating, in a way, sets the stage for what’s to come. As Rabbi Epstein explains, many people enter the dating world with a selfish mentality, perhaps subconsciously. I want to marry someone who looks like X, Y, and Z. I want my spouse to have X amount of money and Y job. I want someone who comes from X family and Y community.

It goes without saying that standards

In His Words… one of the most basic marriage principles is that relationships don’t speak English. They communicate in emotions.

Being a parent and being a spouse is really no different in the sense that you have to program your mind to be completely altruistically dedicated to this person.

Before you say something, ask yourself, ‘is this going to create more connection or less connection?’ if the answer’s less connection, don’t say it.

are important (it’s reasonable to expect certain qualities in a future spouse), but it’s not healthy when the emphasis is exclusively on what “I” want. And naturally, when a “self-centered” dater graduates into a husband or wife, their selfishness doesn’t magically vanish. Instead, as Rabbi Epstein explains, the marriage unfortunately becomes transactional: I want something from you, and you want something from me, so, we’ll trade — I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want.

“Essentially, what’s going on in many relationships is that I give you, and you give me, and I give you, and you give me,” Rabbi Epstein shares. “And then when I stop giving you — maybe because I get caught up with my job or with other things that are going on in my life — then you stop giving me. So I withdraw, and then you withdraw.

“The classic example is a man who starts married life, and he doesn’t have a lot of financial obligations. But then, he needs to work and pay the mortgage and tuition, and all the other stuff. So, he thinks he’s giving his wife by going to work and being really dedicated to his job and working till two in the morning, and coming home and being on the phone and answering emails. He thinks, in the recesses of his mind, that he’s doing a great job giving to his wife, but he’s really not,” Rabbi Epstein explains. “He’s not giving to her. He’s absent in the relationship. And the most obvious issue in most relationships is that the person stops giving, and then there’s a withdrawal. So the wife will fight, she’ll be angry, she’ll yell, she’ll complain, she’ll withdraw. He’ll feel attacked, and he’ll be like, ‘Well, it’s more exciting to be in the office than it is to be at home.

And therefore, I’m going to spend more time away from home.’”

If a marriage is nothing more than a give and take, it will inevitably grow stale, because selfishness cannot lead to connection.

“There’s a lot of people who are quote-unquote givers and quote-unquote receivers, quote-unquote husbands and quote-unquote wives. But they’re not really husbands, and they’re not really wives.

They haven’t fully identified with the personalities that they’re supposed to be,” he explains. “So, from a high level, what that looks like to me, is a person who is completely given over to the other person. I’m not giving you so that you’ll give me. I’m giving you because you’re mine. That’s it. What will happen from there? I don’t know. I probably will receive, because if that’s the dynamic of our relationship, then I’m probably going to get a lot. But I’m not giving you because you’re going to give me. It’s not scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. This is not a transactional relationship. I married you, therefore you’re mine, and therefore I give — for no reason other than to give.”

In other words, you shouldn’t give to receive. You should give because you love and care deeply for your spouse; because you want them to be happy. You should give for the sake of giving.

And if you could reach that state, you will have mastered what Rabbi Epstein calls the “Level One” of marriage. * * * According to Rabbi Epstein, marriage has three levels. The first is connection.

Level One: Connection “Level One is the difference between coexistence and connection. So, the most

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But even before getting to that level, achieving a healthy Level One (building a connection) is relatively simple. As Rabbi Epstein explains, you don’t need to buy anything. You don’t need flowers or jewelry (at this stage). Rather, it’s about adopting a mindset that focuses on bringing your spouse joy and a feeling of security.

Accomplishing that is less about showering them in gifts and more about simply telling them: “I like you. I like spending time with you. You’re an amazing person.

I care about what you think. I listen to what you say.” Moreover, it’s about spending quality time together.

If a husband and wife, for the very least, have that basic connection, they’ll be ready to face Level Two.

Level Two: Navigating Life’s Challenges At first, a marriage may suffer from disconnection. And while far from desirable, that alone may not be the end of the world. But once a couple enters the real world, they’ll find it difficult to navigate life’s challenges together if they don’t connect.

Level Two is about having the harder conversations: paying bills, raising children, and dealing with life’s countless dilemmas. When there’s no Level One — when husband and wife co-exist but don’t connect — marriage becomes about avoiding. But if a couple advances to Level Two without having a healthy Level One, their avoidance risks becoming confrontation, as life forces them to work together. Instead of facing challenges head-on, however, the husband and wife may start blaming each other: “Why didn’t you pay the bills? Why aren’t you making more money? Why are you never around? Why didn’t you do this? Why didn’t you do that?” And according to Rabbi Epstein, that’s where marriages usually fall apart.

Any sort of challenge — from children struggling in school to financial burdens to everything in between — becomes a point of contention, as, unless a couple is emotionally connected, they can’t face

life’s challenges as a single unit.

And then, while struggling to work together, many couples haphazardly move onto Level Three.

Level Three: Transformation “People diagnose their spouse in my office, like, every day,” Rabbi Epstein explains. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, my spouse’s bipolar, they’re ADD, they’re borderline personality, they’re narcissistic.’ I hear all the diagnoses. And that could be the case, but more often than not, that’s not what’s happening. What’s happening is that they want the person to change so badly that they’ll throw anything at them. And when they’re diagnosing their spouse, what they’re really saying is: ‘You need to change. You’re broken. There’s something inherently off with you.’”

In a healthy marriage, a couple grows together. In an unhealthy marriage, the husband and wife point fingers at each other, insisting that the other needs to change. It becomes: “You need to change,” “No, I don’t need to change. You need to change,” “No, you need to change,” ad infinitum.

And that dynamic is the tragic result of a failed Level One and Level Two. Even if the husband and/or wife needs to change, Rabbi Epstein notes, “There’s no way you’re going to change for somebody that you don’t feel close with. There’s no way you’re going to change for somebody that you don’t feel oneness with.” And thus, Level One’s avoidance grows into Level Two’s contention, which tragically turns into Level Three’s animosity.

Take one minute to imagine the opposite scenario. The couple has a beautiful Level One: they connect and love spending time with each other. Then, when they reach Level Two, they work as one and face life’s challenges together.

“And then, after some time, they’ll be able to reach Level Three conversations, where a husband says to his wife, ‘Hey, what could I work on? Tell me honestly. I feel like I could upgrade my life.’ Or, ‘Hey, can we learn this self-help book together?’

That transformative state becomes attainable then, because they’re not resistant to change,” Rabbi Epstein shares. “I don’t think you’re trying to change me. I think you want me to develop, to grow. You want the best for me, I want the best for you, and you’re going to help me develop into the best version of myself.

“That’s an incredible stage, which few couples achieve.”

Rabbi Epstein advises couples struggling with Levels Two and Three to go back to Level One. Develop Level One, and many of the later problems will become nonissues, as it’s much easier to navigate challenges and grow when one has the foundation of connection. * * * “I once sat with somebody who was literally a genius. He probably had one of the highest IQs I’ve ever seen. But his marriage was really struggling,” Rabbi Epstein recalls. “I said, ‘Tell me what’s going on.’ And he laid it out. It took him like an hour to explain the intricacies. And I was listening, and he said, ‘So, what do you think?’ And I said, ‘I think you’re too smart for your marriage.’”

You see, people think of marriage as very complex. But it doesn’t have to be.

Rabbi Epstein’s paradigm is as follows: Everything you do or say in a marriage is binary. Either it brings you closer to your spouse or it brings you further. Being that marriage is the most important human relationship one can have, deciding whether to do something that helps or harms one’s connection should be a no-brainer.

“People want to be heard. People want to be understood. And when we feel something, we feel like we need to say it. And that’s called being transparent in a relationship. That’s also sometimes called being dumb in a relationship,” Rabbi Reuven Epstein says. “You want to say the things that are going to increase your connection versus the things that you’re just feeling.

Before you say something, ask yourself, ‘Is this going to create more connection or less connection?’ If the answer’s less connection, don’t say it.”

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.

MAY 8, 2025 | The Jewish Home

obvious statement I think that could be made about marriage is that the opposite of connection is disconnection. And to me, disconnection looks like coexistence,” shares Rabbi Reuven Epstein. “You have a home where the husband is out at work or the wife is out with her friends. And they’re like two ships passing in the night.

That relationship is not a relationship. You might be legally married. You might, from a Jewish perspective, be halachically married, but you’re not really married. You don’t have a marriage. You don’t have a conversation. You don’t have an interaction. You’d rather go on vacation with your friends, you’d rather hang out with other people, you’d rather be at work, you’d rather do almost anything than spend time with your spouse.”

In that sense, marriage becomes a technicality. While the husband and wife live in the same home, they exist as separate, unrelated entities. They aren’t connected and they aren’t one, as a couple should be.

“Our emotional batteries tend to drain. That’s just how we are as people.

And for a lot of people, their spouse is a drain on their batteries. So, they almost don’t look forward to coming home. Like, their batteries are so low that they know that when they walk in the door, it’s going to go from 10% to zero,” says Rabbi Epstein. “Our batteries are constantly draining. And a big part of what Level One is charging those batteries. So, what better way to charge your batteries than with the love of your life? And I always say: The most romantic thing a husband could say to his wife is not ‘I love you.’ I’ve seen couples that are getting divorced say, ‘I love you.’ The most romantic thing is, ‘I couldn’t wait to see you. I had such a crazy day and I just wanted to come home to see you.’ If you’re saying that in your marriage, it means your marriage is really strong. It means that the two of you are really connected; you’re charging e ac h ot he r ’s batteries.”

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Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I appreciate your insight every week so I figured I’d reach out about an issue you may be able to help me with.

I’m 25 years old, and have been dating for four years, although it feels like forever.

I was very excited to finally meet someone amazing (for the letter I will call him Eli) two

months ago. I actually met him at a close friend’s vort. She had tried setting us up prior, but my parents gave a “no” to the shidduch. After meeting him in person at her vort, I knew I had to go out with him – he was very much my type!

I went behind my parents’ back, and we have been going out and it is going very well. I recently told my parents about it, and they are very upset I went behind their back. They said no for a very superficial reason. Eli is shorter than me. That’s why they originally said no, and now that I am dating him seriously, they are upset that I went behind their back. They say we don’t “look” right together.

My parents happen to be very superficial and into how things look and what people will say. I could see it now... They are probably thinking about how their friends will say things like, “Look how Kayla couldn’t find a guy so she ended up settling for a short guy” and whispering to each other. It’s what I’ve dealt with my entire life.

The bottom line is I don’t care at all. I know they’re wrong, and I want to proceed, but I also don’t want my parents to resent him. Is there anything I can do? What can I say to them to get them to accept him?

Thank you for your time, Kayla*

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

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The Panel

You also need to give this time to resolve. Don’t rush things. And there is no need to share with friends and other than your trusted mentors, rabbis, and stakeholders. You don’t want word to get out that you are getting engaged and your parents will hear that you shared this without their input. It can only make things more tense.

world’s True Shadchan could have orchestrated. OK, maybe your friend has something to do with it, too! But the fact that you connected so quickly and naturally is truly Hashem’s hand.

Approach the conversation maturely. Begin by expressing how much you love and respect them. Then, walk them through what you’ve come to admire and value in Eli, not just emotionally, but in practical ways that show he’s a good fit for you. The goal isn’t to argue but to help them warm up to the idea by understanding how you feel and what you see in him.

If, after all that, they’re still firmly opposed, it might be time to involve your family’s rav to help mediate. That way, the engagement and marriage can move forward in the most peaceful and respectful way possible.

I truly believe your parents will come around. They may just need time to cool off from their initial disappointment over how things unfolded. Hatzlacha!

The Shadchan

The Zaidy

Michelle Mond

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

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I

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 Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

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t’s time to bring some more people into the loop. This is not going to be solved by your talking to them, Kayla. People who know the young man’s values and abilities and who can attest to his growth, character, and worthiness over a long period will be able to help. Rabbis, mentors, family friends, neighbors, and others will be able to give great references, I am assuming.

And they should sit and talk with your parents who will also need to meet his family eventually as well. You do need a third party to help you manage the timing and context of the input of others.

Don’t do this yourself. Do this together as a couple. Consult with someone you both trust and know a long time. This has to be someone who knows them well and knows your relationship with your parents fairly well.

It could be a rabbi, neighbor, or friend.

Your young man will also have to prove himself to them, so to speak.

When things are less tense, in a couple of weeks when your parents have heard from several trusted people how wonderful he is and have see how respectful, menschlech, and responsible he is, he can take them to dinner a few times to get to know them. They will want to feel trust and confidence in him, even if they don’t like his height/looks.

hanks so much for writing into our panel with such an important question. You’re caught between a shidduch you truly want and parents who are disappointed, or at least acting disappointed. I say “acting” because I’m not entirely convinced they’re as opposed to the shidduch itself as they are upset that you didn’t follow their original decision.

As you probably know, it can be very hard for people, especially parents, to admit fault. Your parents truly believe that everything they do is for your best.

This is a really tough spot to be in, and I applaud you for listening to your gut and standing strong against superficial pressures. My advice is to sit down with your parents in a calm and loving way. Let them know that it was never your intention to go behind their backs.

Meeting Eli at your friend’s vort was pure hashgacha, something only the

n 1972, Ricky Nelson sang: “You see, you can’t please everyone; so, you’ve got to please yourself.”

The point, of course, is that it’s your life, and that your happiness and your wellbeing come first. But it’s very sensitive of you to try and get your parents to understand and accept your decision.

Convincing your parents might be a “tall” order, but here are some thoughts for you to consider: First, try a heart-to-heart talk.

Carefully determine if their rejection of your boyfriend is solely based upon his height. Perhaps they have deeper, more relevant concerns that they have not yet shared with you. Sometimes parents mask more serious worries with superficial excuses.

But if their objections are as superficial as you suggest, consider saying something like: “Mom and Dad, I ap-

It takes real courage to follow your own truth when it goes against the grain of what you’ve been taught to prioritize.

preciate how much you care about my future. But, late at night, when the two of you are discussing important concerns, trying to solve problems, and making important decisions, does it matter which one of you is taller? Or, is it more important that you share the same values, the same religious outlook, and the same goals and aspirations?

“Please understand that Eli and I will match perfectly, will bring out the best in each other, and will make each other very happy.

“Please be happy for us and help us enjoy a wonderful relationship with you.”

Second, try a history lesson.

Do your homework. Explain to them that statistically, in the United States today, it’s true that only about five percent of wives are taller than their husbands.

However, this height difference has not hindered many famous women from achieving great success in life. Note that there are many, many highly accomplished, greatly admired women who married shorter husbands.

For example, famous Nobel Prize-winning scientists like Marie Curie, Dorothy Hodgkin, and Barbara McClintock were taller than their husbands. Other powerful women in history such as Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, and Margaret Thatcher married shorter men. Even famous astronauts like Mae Jemison and Sally Ride, or celebrities like Uma Thurman, Venus Williams,

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Reader’s response Rabbi Jack Abramowitz The Educator

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hank you for your question. Some people may not like what I’m going to say, but I’m going to say it anyway: You are an adult. You can date whoever you like. You can marry whoever you like. You do not need your parents’ permission. And, as nice as it would be to have, you do not need your parents’ approval.

Don’t get me wrong: kibbud av v’eim is an extremely important mitzvah, but it doesn’t give parents the right to micromanage their grown children’s lives.

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters

Just like they can’t

They can’t dictate where you live, what career you pursue, or whom you marry.

You should value their input, but all of these decisions are ultimately yours.

What’s important is that when you disagree with your parents, you do so respectfully. You’re never allowed to raise your voice at your parents; that much is non-negotiable.

Now, as far as what you can do to get your parents to accept him: absolutely nothing. Your parents are entitled to feel the way they do, even if you think they’re completely off base. Just like they can’t micromanage your life, you can’t micromanage their feelings.

If you date this boy and he’s a good guy, they may come around, but there’s no guarantee. If you get engaged, or married, or have children, they’re even more likely to come around – but there’s still no guarantee. You simply can’t control the way other people feel.

So, what can they do? Not throw you a vort? Not pay for the wedding? Cut you out of their lives, chas v’shalom? Those would be extreme (and petty) reactions, and you have

a better idea if your parents are capable of such things. But despite these worstcase scenarios, the decision is yours and they’re entitled to react – and even overreact – however they feel.

In my experience, parents usually come around, and it usually doesn’t take until the grandkids are born. I can’t give you a guarantee, but if he’s a good guy, that would hopefully be the case. But don’t waste time and energy trying to change your parents. The only ones who can bring them around is them, and that will be when they’re ready.

You’re in a stage of life where your job is no longer to please your parents but to build your own home, with your own values, your own voice, and your own inner compass. That doesn’t mean you need to be harsh or dismissive. It just means you can speak to them from a place of grounded love. You can say, “I know you’re worried about how this looks. But I’m more interested in how it feels, and this feels right to me. I need you to trust me. I want you to be part of this next chapter in my life, not because you agree with every detail, but because you love me.”

And you know what? They may struggle. They may need time. But they also may surprise you. Sometimes when parents see that something isn’t

a “rebellion” but rather a deeply joyful choice, their hearts soften – and sometimes not. Being respectful does not mean it is your responsibility to make life choices that please them. As healthy parents, it is their job to keep their personal disappointments far away from you. You don’t have to manage their feelings.

You’re not a teenager sneaking around. You’re a 25-year-old grown woman who met someone wonderful and chose to listen to her intuition. That isn’t betrayal. It’s called living and being blessed.

Wishing you clarity, confidence, and lots of love along the way.

Warmly, Jennifer Mann, LCSW

micromanage your life, you can’t micromanage their feelings.

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

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ear Kayla, Thank you so much for writing in. I can feel the depth of your heart in this letter, the excitement of finally meeting someone who feels right, and the ache of navigating your parents’ disapproval. That push/pull between your joy and their judgment is painful, and you’re carrying it with a lot of strength and self-awareness.

First, let’s pause for a moment on something important: you like him.

Not just “kind of like,” but you’re telling us you felt an instant connection, he’s very much your type, and it’s going really well. That is something to celebrate. Especially after four years

of searching, this sounds like somet hing meaningful and g r ou nde d , a nd that matters.

Now, the part that hurts: your parents’ reaction. It makes sense that it would bring up old wounds, especially when you say they’ve always cared deeply about appearances and what other people will say. That kind of messaging can run deep, and even though you’ve come so far in building your own values, those voices can still echo. It takes real courage to follow your own truth when it goes against the grain of what you’ve been taught to prioritize.

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.

MAY 8, 2025 | The Jewish Home

and Zendaya have married men who are shorter.

Third, try sharing some statistics.

Studies seem to suggest that while couples where the husband is taller might experience more initial happiness because of societal expectations, this gap tends to dissipate over time.

Ultimately, happiness in a relationship is far more about compatibility, shared values, and mutual respect, than physical attributes like height.

Finally, good luck to you and your boyfriend. And, I am wondering if, right at this moment, your boyfriend is seeking advice on how to convince his parents that it’s perfectly OK to marry a taller woman.

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Health & F tness

Brain Candy

By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

T

here’s something almost disarmingly sweet about the calm that washes over you when a benzodiazepine kicks in. If you’ve ever experienced a full-body sigh of relief in the middle of a panic attack, a long-haul flight, or a medical procedure that makes your palms sweat, then you already understand why I like to call it “brain candy.”

Benzodiazepines, often shortened to “benzos,” are a class of psychoactive drugs that can feel like emotional first aid. They don’t fix life’s problems, but they do a miraculous job of hitting the mute button on the internal alarm system that screams “DANGER!” when there is none. Taken at the right time, in the right dose, and for the right reasons, these medications can be deeply effective tools for managing anxiety and acute stress. But like candy, they’re not meant to be consumed all the time – or even considered as a first line of treatment.

Let’s unpack what makes this class of medication so potent, how it works in the brain, when it can be used wisely, and why moderation and monitoring are absolutely key.

duce calming effects. Common examples include diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin). While each has slightly different properties (onset time, duration of effect, potency), they all work through the same fundamental mechanism.

They’re prescribed for a variety of conditions: • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) • Panic attacks • Insomnia • Seizure disorders • Muscle spasms • Alcohol withdrawal • And occasionally, as premedication for medical procedures But their primary appeal? They work fast. Unlike antidepressants or behavioral therapy – which take time – benzodiazepines provide near-instant relief from symptoms of overwhelming anxiety or panic. That’s part of what makes them feel like “brain candy” – a sweet, fast-acting antidote to the bitter taste of anxiety.

What are Benzodiazepines

How Do Benzodiazepines Work in the Brain?

Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants. This means they slow down brain activity and, in doing so, pro-

To appreciate what benzos do, you need to meet GABA,gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is the brain’s principal

inhibitory neurotransmitter. Think of it as your brain’s natural brake pedal.

When GABA binds to its receptors, it slows down nerve activity, producing a sense of calm.

Benzodiazepines don’t create GABA, but they do amplify its effects.

Here’s how: • GABA binds to a specific receptor on neurons called the GABA-A receptor.

• Benzodiazepines attach to a special “pocket” on the GABA-A receptor.

• When both GABA and a benzo are present, the receptor opens wider and stays open longer.

• This allows more chloride ions to flood into the neuron, making it more negative and less likely to fire.

The result? The firing of neurons slows down across the brain, particularly in areas involved in stress, fear, and arousal, like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.

You experience this as: • Muscle relaxation • Reduced anxiety • Slowed thoughts • A wave of emotional calm It’s a bit like taking the volume down from a deafening 10 to a manageable 3. You don’t suddenly love turbulence or crowded subways, but your body stops reacting like you’re about to be eaten by a lion.

Why I Call It “Brain Candy” The term “brain candy” isn’t just playful – it captures both the sweetness and the risk of benzodiazepines.

Years ago, a friend of mine, let’s call her Chaya, was gearing up for her first transatlantic flight. She was already a nervous flier, but this trip was unavoidable: her sister was getting married in Portugal. As the flight drew closer, she was losing sleep, breaking into sweats just looking at the boarding pass. She even considered cancelling. Her therapist suggested she talk to her doctor about a one-time dose of lorazepam to help get her through the flight.

I was with her at the airport. Her hands were shaking so badly she spilled her tea three times. Then, about 20 minutes after taking the pill, something remarkable happened. Her shoulders dropped. Her breathing slowed. She looked at me and half-laughed, halfsighed: “Oh my G-d. I feel like I just got my brain back.”

That’s when the phrase brain candy clicked into place for me.

It wasn’t that she felt high or out of control; far from it. She felt functional. Grounded. Like she’d stepped off a mental rollercoaster and found steady ground. That’s the kind of sweetness benzos can bring in the right moment.

Not a First-Line Treatment for Anxiety This part is crucial: benzodiazepines should not be the first-line treatment for chronic anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder. Why? Because while they mask the symptoms, they don’t address the underlying causes.

Instead, first-line treatments typically include: • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – proven to change thought patterns long-term • SSRIs or SNRIs – selective serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which work more gradually but offer sustained benefit • Lifestyle modifications – including exercise, sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and dietary changes Benzos are better suited for:

• Short-term relief while other treatments take effect • Specific situations (like flying, dental work, or MRI scans) • Occasional “breakthrough” anxiety where long-term meds are already in place Used this way, they can be highly effective without encouraging dependence or avoiding the root of the issue.

short-term use can help restore sleep and function while longer-term coping strategies are built.

Why Monitoring is So Important If benzos are “brain candy,” then part of the metaphor must include a responsible adult watching the candy jar.

A short-term benzo can be like a fire extinguisher – essential in a flare-up.

When to Use Benzodiazepines Appropriately 1. Fear of Flying As with Chaya, a small dose before flying can turn a dreaded experience into a tolerable one.

2. Breakthrough Anxiety Even with good treatment in place, anxiety can occasionally break through.

A short-term benzo can be like a fire extinguisher – essential in a flare-up.

3. Acute Trauma or Crisis In the immediate aftermath of a crisis,

1. Tolerance and Dependence The body adapts. What works today might feel ineffective in a few weeks, leading to dose increases and eventually dependence.

2. Cognitive Impairment Over time, regular use can impact memory, attention, and coordination, especially in older adults.

3. Risk of Interactions Combining benzos with alcohol or opioids can be deadly. Both suppress the central nervous system and together can

dangerously slow breathing.

4. Withdrawal Stopping benzodiazepines abruptly after regular use can trigger rebound anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures in extreme cases. This is why supervised tapering is essential.

There is no shame in needing help.

If you’ve ever experienced anxiety that makes your chest tighten, your vision blur, or your thoughts race so fast you can’t keep up, then you understand what a gift a few hours of peace can be. Benzos can restore the silence in a brain that feels like it’s under siege.

However, they’re not the foundation of anxiety treatment. Think of them not as daily vitamins, but as peppermint drops for a sore throat: soothing, helpful, but not curative.

Rivka Kramer is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a psychiatric private practice based in Cedarhurst, NY. She serves as a member of the board of JANPPA, the Jewish American Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Association. She can be reached at 516-945-9443.

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Like candy: • It tastes great at first. You feel better almost immediately.

• It’s easy to reach for more. The more anxious you are, the more tempting it becomes.

• It’s not great for everyday use. Longterm reliance can lead to dependency, cognitive dulling, and withdrawal issues.

The Jewish Home | MAY 8, 2025

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Parenting Pearls

Learning Success

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

F

ormal education is a major part of childhood, with kids spending the majority of their waking hours in school. Children are primed for learning with this being their primary task. Even outside the school building, families are focused on homework, studying for exams and school projects. Upon meeting a new child, one of the first questions an adult will ask is “what school are you in?” or “who is your rebbi/morah?”.

While we often focus on school-based education, one could easily argue that a significant portion of their learning will take place outside of school. This isn’t to belittle the crucial role of formal education but to highlight the many life lessons children learn outside the classroom.

As adults, life itself is the classroom Hakadosh Baruch Hu designed for us.

We go through each day, learning lessons and growing as we encounter each new situation. Children, too, learn at home, in the playground, in camp and everywhere they go.

Recognizing and incorporating these opportunities into our child’s day can yield significant benefits. Additionally, parents may find it meaningful to contribute to their child’s development in these crucial areas. We, too, should get the nachas that comes from being a part of their learning during these growing years.

Seeing Success Success breeds success, and children need to feel a sense of accomplishment to encourage themselves further. There is a quote from basketball, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Often, those who are the most successful aren’t necessarily the most talented but simply those who believe in themselves and try.

Children who don’t feel success in school can struggle with feelings of being “less than.” They may feel pushed down or like a failure. It’s our job to give them opportunities to succeed and recognize their capabilities. Whether it’s signing them up for a sports league, giving them a task we know they will do well or something else they can excel in, we can give

them the chance to accomplish outside of school. Giving them the ability to trust in themselves may be the biggest gift towards their ability to aim for goals and succeed.

The summer is an incredible opportunity to give these children another means of seeing themselves as the competent individuals they are. Camp and other settings introduce them to a new group of peers and areas in which they can excel.

Improve School School is not only a main venue for a child’s education; it’s also a source of a child’s self-concept. Being successful in school is interpreted as being successful in life, along with the opposite negative perception when they’re not doing well.

With the importance of school, we understand there are serious concerns when children are struggling in this part of their life. The first and primary goal is to improve a child’s school situation.

It’s important to do whatever we can to help – even if the problems won’t be fully solved. I want to reiterate the importance of any improvement or step to better their school experience.

The school’s staff is no stranger to the idea that children can struggle and parents should not feel embarrassed to reach out. These educational professionals are the best people to address these particular concerns. As we near the end of another school year, now is the time to evaluate what has worked and what could be improved for the upcoming year.

A World of Learning Most adults are not in school but that does not mean our growth is stagnant.

We are continuously learning and growing. Regardless of if a child is struggling in school, we can – and should – make their home environment one in which learning is natural.

We set the example. When we are growing as people our children will follow.

In a home where reading, seeking knowledge, attending shiurim/classes and curiosity are encouraged, children will recognize this as normal and do the same.

We can share what we’re learning, ask questions, and discuss interesting topics. Kids and teens don’t like being lectured to, and we should avoid giving this impression. If we keep it conversational and interesting, we will be more likely to catch their attention and not turn them away.

Life Skills There are many life skills that children need. Going into adulthood, children will need to be independent and capable of functioning. As parents, we should always incorporate these practical skills into our child’s life curriculum.

I’ll include only a few examples, but any skill we use in our daily life should be passed on to the next generation.

Personal finances and practical math are important but not as easily transmitted in a classroom. Even children who understand addition and subtraction may have trouble bringing those skills into the grocery store, being unable to estimate if they have enough money to purchase their treat – and then we tell them about taxes! Savings and checking accounts, yearly income taxes (an upsetting revelation for any teen employee), rent/mortgages and health insurance are all realities they will face and need to understand.

Basic home repairs, cooking, cleaning, laundry and other domestic skills are best taught at home. Both boys and girls need to learn this area of life as they will inevitably encounter these situations. Beyond the practical necessity,

these hands-on skills allow children to see visible results from their efforts, leaving them with a sense of accomplishment and proficiency.

Social skills and learning to interact with others is a skill that will last a lifetime. Relationships are not only a major part of life but also a source of enjoyment and positive emotional health. Much of our happiness and contentment comes from our interactions and relationships with those around us.

In school, many kids learn to interact with their peers. There are a number of children who will not learn these crucial skills in a classroom environment. Perhaps they are not naturally social or their peer group isn’t a good fit. There are any number of reasons why children may need to be actively taught social skills, but we can’t forget this important area of their development. In many ways, this may be one of the most crucial areas we work on to ensure their future happiness and success.

Every moment of life is a gift and one that can be used to grow as individuals.

While spiritual development is high in our priorities, building skills and improving ourselves and our children in all areas helps to ensure a lifetime of success and happiness.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.

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School of

Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, This past week, my daughter’s school gave out the state tests. My daughter was so anxious, and everyone in the carpool was also. She told me that the grade doesn’t even go on her report card, but she was still so stressed out.

Should I just keep her home next time?

What do you advise?

- Stressed for My Stressed-Out Child

A:

Dear Stressed, A smart person once told me that “we are only as happy as our unhappiest child.” It is true for pain and stress as well.

I get it. It’s completely natural for parents to feel concerned when their child experiences anxiety, especially around high-stakes situations like state testing. The instinct to protect our children is deeply rooted in love and care.

But we need to be careful not to love and care too much!

There is a growing consensus among educators and psychologists that while some stress should be addressed and supported, avoiding it altogether may hinder a child’s ability to develop crucial life skills, particularly grit, perseverance, and resilience.

Dr. Angela Duckworth, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, defines grit as “passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement.” In her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, she argues that one of the most reliable predictors of success is not talent or intelligence but the ability to stick with difficult tasks and push through failure and frustration.

If we remove every stressful or demanding experience from a child’s path, we risk sending the message that discomfort is something to avoid at all costs. Opting children out of testing to shield them from stress can unintentionally send a very different message, one that says, “You can’t handle this.”

Abigail Shrier, journalist and author of Bad Therapy and Irreversible Damage, speaks powerfully about the subconscious messages adults send when we remove all struggle from children’s lives. She argues that while our intentions may be protective, our actions can actually communicate a lack of faith in their strength. “When we constantly intervene to spare them discomfort, we’re telling them they’re fragile,” she writes. “We’re saying: You can’t do it. You won’t make it through. You need someone else to protect you from the world.” That message, though

can grow through effort. “When subtle, can be internalized deepwe give kids the message that they ly and shape how children view Opting out of can grow their abilities by facing themselves for years to come. challenges and learning from Child psychologist Dr. Lisa tests may feel mistakes, we prepare them for a Damour echoes this in her book lifetime of resilience and perseverUnder Pressure, where she dislike kindness in ance,” she writes. Allowing chiltinguishes between harmful, the moment, but dren to face testing, with guidance overwhelming stress and healthy, and compassion, reinforces this growth-producing stress. “Stress it can also deny empowering belief: I can handle is not the enemy,” she writes. “It’s hard things. Opting out of tests often the vehicle for growth.” children the may feel like kindness in the moShe encourages parents to rechance to prove ment, but it can also deny children frame challenges like state testing the chance to prove to themselves not as crises to avoid but as expeto themselves that they can overcome anxiety, riences to navigate with support. work through difficulty, and come Facing anxiety-producing events out stronger on the other side. with gentle coaching and encourOf course, none of this means we should ignore or agement can actually increase a child’s confidence and emotional resilience. “When we help kids face manage- downplay anxiety. The goal is not to dismiss children’s able challenges, we also help them build confidence in feelings, but to coach them through rather than rescue their ability to navigate the world,” she writes. “Protec- them from hard things. We should be providing tools like tion becomes overprotection when it undermines our breathing exercises, time management skills, reframing negative thoughts, and not removing the challenge. Supchildren’s capacity to function.”

Avoiding state tests altogether may provide short-term porting children through discomfort is how they come relief, but in the long run, it can unintentionally rob chil- to see themselves as capable.

School testing, though certainly not the only way dren of an opportunity to build confidence in their own coping mechanisms. Stress related to performance, when to cultivate grit, offers a practical and age-appropriate handled with guidance and care, can be a valuable teach- setting for children to encounter challenge, experience er. As the American Psychological Association points out, pressure, and learn to manage it constructively.

If your child is generally healthy and the anxiety is resilience isn’t about avoiding stress but learning how to recover from it. Helping children prepare for tests, man- situational, not chronic or debilitating, consider viewing age time, deal with nerves, and reflect on the experience the testing experience as one more step in their emoafterward are all ways to turn testing into a growth op- tional and academic development. Life will inevitably bring bigger, harder tests. Helping your child learn to portunity, not just a measure of performance.

If we always remove the discomfort, we deny children meet them with courage now is one of the greatest gifts the opportunity to discover that they can cope, adapt, you can give.

Believe in your child and show her that you think her and even thrive under pressure. Tests can be framed as learning experiences, not just academic ones, but emo- best is all she needs to do. tional ones as well.

Dr. Carol Dweck, known for her work Growth Mind- Hatzlacha, set, reminds us that kids need to believe their abilities Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an 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. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, 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. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

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F

d for Thought

Mike’s Burgers

By Nati Burnside

W

alking into Mike’s Burgers is a one-of-a-kind experience, but once you sit down, you’ll feel at home in a very familiar place.

That’s because Mike’s Burgers is situated inside the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack. It’s not in a Jewish community like most kosher restaurants; it’s on the fourth floor across from a GameStop.

No, it’s not some type of mall kiosk either.

This is a real restaurant with waiter service and a bar.

But Mike’s Burgers didn’t start out in a mall. It started out as a restaurant in Cedarhurst in 2014. The place was instantly a huge success, but a fire in 2018 forced them to slow their roll. After reopening a block away in 2019 and regaining their momentum, ownership decided to open another location in the Palisades Center Mall.

Unfortunately, the new location in Cedarhurst was destroyed by another fire in late 2019. In the meantime, work at the mall was underway, and that iteration was able to open in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Plans for a third version of Mike’s Burgers in Long Island were paused for seven months during the pandemic, and ownership eventually decided to abandon the project completely to focus on the location in the mall.

When I was invited to Mike’s Burgers, I was lucky to know that you should park between the Target and the Barnes & Noble. The mall is big and that entrance is not only close to the restaurant horizontally, but it’s also on the fourth floor as well.

The menu at Mike’s will look pretty familiar to you as a patron to kosher restaurants. It’s a fairly standard fleishig place in most ways. But much like the location, there are a few things that stand out.

The first is the lunch special. If you happen to be here before 3 p.m., you’re in for a great deal. During the day, Mike’s

serves full size portions for a fraction of the price. A burger, fries, and a drink can be had for under $20 before tax and tip.

That said, if you are looking at the appetizer options, you’ll notice that the pulled BBQ brisket features strongly. If that interests you, go slightly off the beaten path and order the Brisket Hummus Plate. This is an especially great option for sharing as it comes with plenty of pita to go along with Mike’s version of a hummus basar. The brisket and grilled mushrooms work well as a hummus topping, and who can say no to warm pita anyway?

For the next recommendation, I’d advocate for the Crispy Chicken Tenders.

I’m not going to tell you that these are the best of their kind I’ve ever had. They are good, but the real reason you are getting them is because Mike’s offers almost 20 dipping sauces and you need something to use as a base because it isn’t yet acceptable (despite the efforts of some people) to just drink sauces. The waiter will ask you which sauces you want and bring you a flight of four to go along with your order.

You could lean spicy and get the four different hot sauces or you could try some of the more interesting choices like the truffle mayo or balsamic mayo. I’d recommend the sweet chili (always a favorite), the habanero mayo (their spiciest sauce), pesto mayo (great change of pace), and the ketchup (classic for a reason). But go out there and explore for yourself.

It should be noted that sauces are not where the endless customization stops at this restaurant. For instance, you can make your own salad with a dozen protein choices, dozens of ingredients, and plenty of dressing options. There are premium toppings for added charges, but the plethora of combinations will suffice for most people.

As the restaurant is called “Mike’s Burgers,” I suppose we should investigate the most popular section of the menu… the burgers. For me, this was a tough call,

but the NYC “Bacon” & Sunny Side is the choice. The thing that really put it over the top was the fact it uses a lamb burger as the base. I love a good lamb burger, and the taste came through alongside the pan-seared bacon and the egg. Even if this burger was close to impossible to hold and many napkins were needed, it was absolutely delicious.

But as much as I liked that burger, The Ribeye Club is my favorite thing here. It’s a baguette with thinly sliced chimichurri ribeye, and it’s a monster. Many of the offerings at Mike’s are large portions, and this is no exception. From the texture of the bread to the tender slices of beef, everything about this sandwich is perfect.

I’d personally add red onions, pickled jalapeños, BBQ sauce, and pesto mayo… but that’s me. Maybe you want to add grilled mushrooms, onions, and peppers?

Sounds great. I could even see adding on the non-dairy cheddar to make a kind of Philly cheesesteak. Customize it how you see fit and enjoy.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t sneak in a mention of the Dulce de Leche Milk Shake. You could order it as dessert (or with dessert, no judgement), or alongside your burger like a proper American, but either way it’ll impress you with its non-dairyness. With a very rich caramel taste, the flavor packs a real punch and the texture would stand up to scrutiny about its milk content.

So next time you’re choosing an indoor activity, remember that the Palisades Center Mall has Mike’s Burgers ready and waiting for you to grab a bite.

Legitimate kosher dining in a mall?

Sounds crazy, but go taste for yourself.

Meat - Bar & Grill - Waiter Service

4320 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994 (845) 217-2100 | MikeBurgers.com Orthodox Union (OU)

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In The K tchen

Milk Tart

By Dina Miller and Naomi Nachman

The first time I tried this delicious dessert was in South Africa, and I knew I had to get the recipe. My friend Dina Miller, who now lives in Australia, grew up in South Africa and gave me her recipe. Although Dina gave me a recipe on how to make a pie crust, I made a shortcut by using the prepared pie crusts. This Shavuos is the perfect time to make this for your fa mily and guests. You’ ll see how quick the recipe is to make and is a nice alternative to cheesecake. You can make this parve by swapping out the milk and butter for non-dairy milk and butters.

Ingredients BASE

◦ 1 graham cracker pie crust

FILLING ◦ 2 eggs ◦ ½ cup sugar

Preparation

Beat eggs, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and 1 cup milk and set aside.

Bring to the boil remaining milk with butter. Once the milk has come to a boil,

◦ 3 rounded tablespoons cornstarch

lower heat, and slowly add the egg mixture to the pot on the stove and stir continuously

◦ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

till thick.

◦ 3 cups milk, divided

Pour mixture into the pie crust and sprinkle with cinnamon.

◦ 1 tablespoon butter

Place in the fridge for a few hours to set before serving.

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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MarbleSPOOn On thebyMenu Vera newman • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar • 2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard or Dijon mustard • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice • 2 Tbsp orange juice • 1 garlic clove, grated, or 1 frozen garlic cube • ¼ tsp sea salt • ¼ tsp black pepper

Preparation Prepare the roasted butternut squash: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place butternut squash cubes on prepared baking sheet. Spray or drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Spread in a single layer. Roast for 25-28 minutes.

Pareve Yields 6 Servings

Prepare the sweet + tangy dressing: In a glass jar, combine all dressing ingredients; whisk or shake until emulsified. Taste; adjust seasonings, if necessary.

This salad is guaranteed to earn you the most compliments from family and guests around your table. An incredible option as a simcha salad. Can you imagine how sharp it would look in tiny cups? Also, it gets better as it sits, thanks to the sturdy kale; I call that a winner!

To assemble: Place kale into a large bowl.

Add orzo, dried cranberries, pecans, and red onion with about one-third cup dressing. Add roasted butternut squash; gently toss again. Add additional dressing, to taste, if desired. Transfer to a serving bowl or platter.

Ingredients

Note: For a gluten-free salad, substitute quinoa for the orzo.

OrzO Kale Salad

• 4 oz (2 cups) kale, chopped • 1 cup uncooked orzo, prepared according to package directions (see note) • 1/3 cup dried cranberries • 1/3 cup pecans • ¼ red onion, thinly sliced Roasted Butternut Squash

Plan Ahead: Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 4 days when stored in the fridge. Refrigerated dressing will stay fresh in an airtight container for about 2 weeks.

Ingredients

aPrIcOt-SIlan chIcKen

• ½ lb. butternut squash, peeled and cubed • 2 Tbsp olive oil or olive oil spray • ¼ tsp sea salt • pinch black pepper

Meat Yields 6-8 Servings Freezes Well

Sweet + Tangy Dressing • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 Tbsp honey

I think Jews collectively can agree on one thing: We love a good sweet, saucy chicken. There are a bajillion recipes out there; this is my newest one.

Trust me, you are gonna want to try it! Make sure

to serve it alongside fluffy white rice, so you can spoon the delicious sauce over it and get the full experience; honestly, over mashed potatoes or potato kugel it’s pretty great, too!

Ingredients • 6-8 bone-in chicken thighs, with skin (see note) • ½ tsp sea salt • ¼ tsp black pepper Apricot-Silan Sauce • 1/3 cup apricot preserves • 1/3 cup silan • 2 Tbsp oil • 1 packet (4 Tbsp) onion soup mix • 1 tsp paprika • ½ tsp turmeric

Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken into a baking dish. Season with salt and pepper.

Prepare the apricot-silan sauce: In a bowl, combine apricot-silan sauce ingredients.

Pour sauce over the chicken. Bake, covered, for 1½ hours. Uncover, baste chicken with the sauce, and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes.

115 high heat. Add onion; sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until translucent.

One-POt GnOcchI bOlOGneSe

Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart any bigger chunks.

Meat Yields 6-8 Servings Do Not Freeze Coziness in a bowl. This is one of my family’s favorite suppers of all time. After a long day, a warm shower, and cozy pjs, all my kids (and I!) want to do is to cozy up to a warm bowl of yummy comfort food, and this, my friends, always hits the spot! The gnocchi comes out pillowy and soft, and the bolognese is so simple yet perfectly balanced!

Ingredients • 2 Tbsp olive oil • 1 small onion, finely diced (see note) • 2 lb. ground beef • 1 (24-oz.) jar marinara sauce • 12 oz. water (half the sauce jar) • 2 Tbsp teriyaki sauce • 1 Tbsp soy sauce • 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar • 2 tsp granulated sugar • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp sea salt • ½ tsp onion powder • ¼ tsp black pepper • 2 (16-oz.) packages classic gnocchi

Preparation In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium-

MAY 8, 2025 | The Jewish Home

Note: Feel free to use your favorite chicken parts for this recipe; adjust cooking time accordingly.

Add marinara sauce and ½ jar of water; stir well to combine. Add teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and pepper. Mix well; cook for 1 minute.

Add gnocchi; mix well. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes or longer if desired (gnocchi should be soft and pillowy). Mix well.

Note: If you know your kids won’t try a meat sauce with visible pieces of onion, even if they are tiny, you can grate the onion. This recipe doesn’t have a strong onion flavor.

butterScOtch-Pecan chOcOlate bIScOttI Pareve Yields Approx. 2 Dozen Biscotti Freezes Well For the entirety of the time I worked on this cookbook, only people close to me knew what I’d been so busy with the entire year. Not because I was trying to be secretive, but just because I was just immersed in cookbooking and didn’t have the time or energy to be publicizing it on social media. The few friends who knew and people who started hearing what I’d been working on would ask, “What’s that one new recipe you’re most excited about?” My mind would immediately land on these. They are seemingly ordinary, but the reality is, they are one of the best biscotti you’ll ever taste. Trust me, out of all the recipes in this chapter, this is the one I recommend you give a try first. They can be made just an hour before Shabbos, and you’ll get to enjoy the most delicious treat with your Shabbos afternoon tea or morning coffee!

Ingredients • 1½ cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup granulated sugar • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 cup butterscotch chips • ½ cup candied pecans, chopped

• ½ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp baking soda • ½ tsp sea salt • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract • ¼ cup oil • 2 large eggs + 1 egg white

Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, add flour, sugar, cocoa, butterscotch chips, candied pecans, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.

In a large bowl, whisk together vanilla, oil, eggs, and egg white. Add the dry mixture to the wet; stir to combine into a soft dough. Divide dough in half; form 2 (12-inch) loaves, about ¾-inch thick, on prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 22 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes, before cutting each loaf into ½-inch slices. Place slices, cut-side down, on the baking sheet, leaving some room between each; return to oven to bake for an additional 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Recipes excerpted from Marblespoon – Tried and True

by Vera Newman, published by ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

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Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

The time has come to strike Gaza hard, take full control, impose military rule, seize territory, and carry out President Trump’s plan to relocate 1.5 to 2 million Gazans out of the Strip. There’s no other choice.

- Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

As of today, I’m leaving the party of paid protests, purple hair, and pronouns, and I’m joining the party of faith, family, and freedom — the Republican Party.

- Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva at the Unite Inland Empire Conservative Conference

The Democrats, they can scream and light their hair on fire, but it’s not going to change anything.

According to the Trump Administration, you are a terrorist… What do you make of that?

- CNN’s Isobel Yeung while interviewing a Sinaloa Mexico cartel member inquiring whether Pres.

Trump hurt his feelings by calling him a terrorist just because he illegally imports drugs into the U.S., resulting in the deaths of thousands of Americans

They said today they want to talk. Look, China, and I don’t like this. I’m not happy about this. China’s getting killed right now. They’re getting absolutely destroyed. Their factories are closing. Their unemployment is going through the roof. I’m not looking to do that to China now. At the same time, I’m not looking to have China make hundreds of billions of dollars and build more ships and more army tanks and more airplanes.

- President Donald Trump on “60 Minutes”

I think I speak for everyone at the White House. We encourage Kamala Harris to continue going out and doing speaking engagements - White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt when asked for the president’s reaction to a recent cringy speech by Kamala Harris

I could code talk to White guys watching football, fixing their truck.

- Kamala Harris’s former running mate Gov. Tim Walz—who many thought was quite strange— explaining why he was on the ticket

-Senate Majority Leader John Thune talking to Breitbart News about Democrats’ failed efforts not to confirm Trump’s nominees

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The polls this week show Trump has the lowest 100 day approval rating since they started polling 80 years ago, the lowest.

- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), at the start of his weekly press conference

There’s a poll out today that has your approval ratings lower than any other congressional leader, 17%. Are you concerned that you may be a liability for your party?

- The last question asked to Schumer at the press conference

Polls come and go.

- Schumer’s response

Would you like to directly tell Hamas right now to release the hostages?

- Piers Morgan questioning former Columbia professor Ahmed Eldin

No, I wouldn’t.

- Eldin’s response

The time has come for Qatar to stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it’s on the side of civilization or if it’s on the side of Hamas barbarism. Israel will win this just war with just means.

- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X

I never saw the person on that debate stage. I was in the Oval Office every day. I’m not a doctor. Aging happens quickly.

- Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki claiming that the first time she realized that Biden has cognitive decline was during his infamous debate with Trump

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It is a sad reflection on the state of our media, and many of the outlets represented in this room, that you obsessively try and shill for this MS-13 terrorist when no coverage occurred in your papers about any of the Americans that were…tortured and murdered by the illegals that Biden was importing into our country.

- White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller addressing the media at a White House press briefing

Most of your papers never covered the story of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s brutal … assault and murder by two illegal aliens Joe Biden allowed to remain in the country. To the extent that you covered it at all, it was because President Trump forced you to cover it by highlighting it repeatedly over and over again. He had to shame you into covering it.

- ibid.

And each and every one of you that sides over and over again with these MS-13 terrorists, to the extent that you have the financial means to do so, you all choose to live in condos or homes or houses as far away from these kinds of gangbangers as you possibly can.

- ibid.

If I offered any one of you a rent-free home with no taxes to pay in any of these gang neighborhoods, and I said, “Your neighbors are MS-13 terrorists or Mexican Mafia or Sinaloa cartel or Tren de Aruga,” I couldn’t pay you to live there. But yet you, with your coverage, are trying to force innocent Americans to have these people as their neighbors.

- ibid.

As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.

The one we’re sitting in right now. You know, Buckingham Palace, which you visited as well. And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign last several months, it is not for sale – won’t be for sale, ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.

- Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, to President Trump at their Oval Office presser this week

Never say never. I’ve had many, many things that were not doable and ended up being doable.

- Trump in response

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Political Crossfire

Trump Should Build a Wall Between Russia and Ukraine

By Marc A. Thiessen

P

resident Donald Trump believes in border walls. “Walls work,” he has said, and he remains determined to finish his wall on the U.S. southern border that Democrats obstructed in his first term.

In the meantime, here’s an idea: Trump should build a wall between Russia and Ukraine.

Right now, Poland is building one across its entire 400-mile frontier with Russia and Russia-allied Belarus. Polish officials went to school on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and came up with a border barrier specifically designed to stop the Russian army. The project, dubbed “East Shield,” began construction in October and will combine oldschool physical barriers with high-tech surveillance systems.

The design for the physical impediment starts with a steel wall secured by razor wire and backed by a deep anti-tank ditch. Behind that: 650 feet of anti-tank obstacles and minefields, followed by trenches from which Polish and NATO forces could engage an advancing enemy.

Those are followed by a man-made swamp and drainage ditch, in turn followed by military bunkers with gun turrets and underground shelters where civilians could seek safety in the event of hostilities.

These imposing physical defenses will be bolstered by high-tech elements not visible to the naked eye. Poland is building base stations along the border equipped with sophisticated early-warning systems, which will collect signals intelligence, data from acoustic sensors, and imagery from satellites, reconnaissance aircraft and drones. They will serve as hubs from which to identify advancing Russian forces and repel them using kinetic weapons, electronic warfare and anti-drone capabilities. The entire effort will be undergirded by AI-powered intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

platforms as well as four “aerostat” systems consisting of radars attached to massive tethered blimps floating miles above the border. These systems, which Poland ordered from the United States last year, will conduct surveillance across hundreds of miles.

East Shield has strong support across the political spectrum in Poland. It was

with the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to expand East Shield to cover their borders with Russia as well.

So why not expand it to Ukraine? If Poland can build a sophisticated barrier designed to stop the Russian army, then we can certainly help Ukraine build a similar system across an area that would become a demilitarized zone, similar to Korea’s,

A border wall might be the most cost-effective way to help guarantee Ukraine’s postwar security.

launched by the right-wing Law and Justice party when it held power and is now being brought to fruition by its successor, Civic Platform. “We’ll make the Polish border secure in peacetime and impassable for the enemy in wartime,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared about a year ago, adding that Poland would work

alongside Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory under any peace agreement.

The project, given its benefits, would be a bargain. Poland is spending about $2.5 billion for its 400-mile border protection, so the cost should not be radically greater for a similar barrier along the front line in Ukraine – slightly more if extended

along the rest of Ukraine’s international border with Russia. Compared with the $50 billion that Ukraine wants to spend on U.S. weapons, a border wall might be the most cost-effective way to help guarantee Ukraine’s postwar security.

Significantly, Ukraine’s wall could be built at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. Indeed, Trump could help Ukraine build it at a profit, using the same Foreign Military Financing direct loans that Poland is using to build key elements of its East Shield – loans that come with interest paid to the U.S. government. Ukraine could also use some of the $50 billion in Group of Seven loans it has received, funded with interest from frozen Russian assets. Or, if the European Union agreed, the assets themselves could be tapped. The cost of a Ukraine wall would be small, the mechanisms to pay for it plentiful. All that is needed is a peace agreement and the will to build it.

Some Ukrainians might not like the symbolism of a wall separating the free and occupied territories of their country, seeing it as a modern-day Iron Curtain.

Some Poles have similar misgivings about East Shield. But, as Polish President Andrzej Duda explained last year, “If the security of my compatriots is to be safeguarded by the Iron Curtain being put up again, then okay … as long as we are on the free side of it.”

Ukrainians should remember: The Berlin Wall fell less than two decades after it was completed; the Cold War ended, and Germany was reunified. The same might one day happen in Ukraine.

Until then, Russia poses a mortal threat to Ukraine’s existence – and an East Shieldstyle border wall would help protect the Ukrainian people from that threat.

Trump should build it. Because he is right: Walls work. © 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

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Israel Today

Trump’s Revolution at the Justice Department is Long Overdue

By Jonathan S. Tobin

I

n a series of articles published in the last week, The New York Times has given voice to the anguish and outrage of the career lawyers at the U.S. Department of Justice who are upset at the Trump administration’s policy changes.

They think that by altering the focus of the department’s efforts, particularly the Civil Rights Division, President Donald Trump and his appointees are abandoning the rule of law and using the power of the government to persecute those it should be protecting.

Their point of view was supported not only by the sympathetic coverage of the Times but at May Day demonstrations across the country, as well as by protests organized by lawyers that not coincidentally also occurred on the traditional day of Marxist activism.

But the more you read about their complaints and the umbrage they are expressing about the orders they are receiving from their new bosses, the more you realize what is really upsetting them

and why the administration is seeking to clean house at the DOJ. Far from ordering government lawyers to do terrible things, Trump has only asked them to follow the orders of the democratically elected government and to, among other things, enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect Jewish students and to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.

And, as far as that is concerned, both tasks are actions they are not only not prepared to do but are outraged at the mere thought that they should be asked to do them.

How can that be?

One is that, like much of the federal bureaucracy, the lawyers at the Department of Justice are civil-service employees. Thus, they are the permanent staff while the politically appointed heads of the various divisions of the department, as well as the Attorney General, come and go with each passing administration, leading the staff lawyers to often treat them as people whose orders should be taken with a grain of salt.

The federal civil-service system was put into place in the late 19th century by reformers like the young Theodore Roosevelt to prevent government jobs from being merely pieces of political patronage to be doled out to supporters of the government of the day. It was a fine idea in its time, but by the 21st century, it has led the creation of an administrative state that is dominated by the left and acts as an unelected and unaccountable fourth branch of government entitled to thwart the will of administrations they don’t like, such as those led by President Trump.

Living in the Past Trump has rightly concluded that this cannot be allowed to continue, and he is moving, piece by piece, to dismantle this “deep state.”

This has led to accusations of authoritarianism on the part of his liberal and leftwing critics. But they have it backward. In this case, it is Trump—and not those caterwauling about the destruction of democracy—who is actually defending democratic

principles against anti-democratic forces.

The DOJ staff is like the rest of the federal bureaucracy, largely composed of left-leaning professionals who believe that their point of view about the law is the only one that deserves respect and that conservative opinion about the subject should be dismissed out of hand.

That’s particularly true of the civil-rights division.

It came into existence in the 1950s when, in the aftermath of the Brown v.

Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision, the DOJ was the branch of government that was utilized to enforce the laws against racial segregation. And after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, it was Washington’s weapon that was deployed to ensure the demolition of discriminatory “Jim Crow” laws and practices throughout the nation. The DOJ won those battles and deserves a great deal of the credit for the enormous—indeed, transformative— advances toward equality that occurred in the United States in the last 60 years.

Investigating Columbia Once you understand that, it becomes easier to explain both the reactions of the DOJ staff to Trump’s orders and why the Times thinks it is right to be angry about them, sentiments that are made clear in its article titled, “Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept.”

The story describes the alarm and consternation of the government lawyers when they were ordered by Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to conduct an “aggressive investigation” into acts of antisemitic intimidation and violence directed at Jewish students and faculty at Columbia University by pro-Hamas protesters on the school’s campus on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Needless to say that if there were similar actions directed against African-American or Hispanic students at Columbia by groups of students with a political agenda, there would have been no hesitation about

making them feel the full force of the law, let alone merely investigating their activities. Such discriminatory practices put these “activists”—and the university administration that tolerated and even encouraged them—afoul of the Civil Rights Act. Any hesitation on the part of the government when it comes to protecting such minority students would have been considered a scandal by the Times. Nor would anyone, let alone the lawyers of the Civil Rights Division, accept such harassment of blacks by racist students and groups, including chants praising anti-black terrorism or a genocide against them, as merely an exercise of their constitutionally protected right to free speech.

But as the article notes, the government lawyers who were given this entirely reasonable and much-needed order to act

criminal investigation into antisemitism at Columbia has fizzled.

Again, if this had been an investigation into anti-black racism at Columbia, the stories in the Times about this series of events would have resonated with outrage at the government’s failure and the recalcitrant attitude of the DOJ lawyers to do their jobs.

They Won’t Protect Jewish Students Instead, the point of the articles was to highlight what the Times’ sources inside the DOJ as well as its “experts” commenting on the affair felt was the inappropriate nature of any orders to investigate the antisemitism of pro-Hamas groups or to find out whether any of those who had committed these outrages were foreign students

Under this deluded approach, America is an irredeemably racist nation locked in a permanent race war between people of color who are always victims and “white” oppressors who cannot change and are always in the wrong.

to protect Jewish students and to find out whether there had been violations of civil rights and anti-terrorism laws, thought it “unjustified and might violate the First Amendment.” They were also angered by orders they were given to give any information, including lists of members of proHamas groups, they might find about those engaged in these illegal acts, to immigration authorities.

Would any of them have hesitated to do so if white supremacists were running amuck at Columbia or any other campus?

Of course not. Nor would they have hesitated to send the FBI agents who work with them to the place where such acts of racist intimidation were occurring.

The lawyers at the Civil Rights division, however, simply balked at obeying such orders when Jews were the targets of the mobs. And they were joined in what was obviously an effort to slow walk the DOJ’s orders by other federal lawyers who worked in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. As a result, despite the desire of Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Civil Rights Division chief Harmeet Dhillon and Bove, the

violating the terms of their visas. They all seem to think that an administration determined to protect Jewish students and enforce immigration laws is a danger to the Constitution and democracy.

That does make sense if you think that Jews are, by definition, unworthy of civil-rights law protections and enforcing immigration laws is a form of tyranny.

But the assertion that this position is somehow a principled stand rather than an indefensible effort to enable antisemitism and to thwart the legal orders of the elected government is what is truly outrageous.

That’s the context for the widespread claims that Trump and his appointees are riding roughshod over the law or engaging in abusing their power or bullying federal employees.

It’s not Trump, Bondi, Bove or Dhillon who is in the wrong in seeking to use the DOJ to enforce the law. On the contrary, it is the permanent DOJ staff and their leftist cheerleaders at the Times who have contempt for both law and principle, not to mention little or no interest in defending Jews against antisemitic actions on the part of mobs of terror-supporting thugs.

This fully demonstrates why what’s needed is an effort to rid the DOJ of lawyers who think the people at Columbia who are targeting Jews are the ones who need to be defended rather than their victims.

Opposing Efforts to Stop Antisemitism It is high time that the federal government uses its power to roll back the reign of racially discriminatory DEI actions at schools throughout the country.

Sadly, it’s not just the Times and leftist lawyers on the federal payroll who think that Trump is wrong to act on enforcing civil rights and immigration laws when it comes to pro-Hamas Jew-haters.

Some of those who purport to speak for American Jews, like Abe Foxman, the longtime former head of the Anti-Defamation League, and a group of 500 rabbis from the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements, have taken to mimicking the rhetoric of antisemitic groups like the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR).

Foxman disgraced himself and forever tarnished his legacy by using a congressional Holocaust commemoration to describe the efforts of Trump’s DOJ to target antisemites and enforce the laws by claiming that the government is “abducting” innocent people. He also used that moment to denounce efforts to drive DEI discrimination from higher education.

Foxman and the left-wing rabbis are part of a partisan pushback against Trump’s campaign to fundamentally reform the Department of Justice as well as American education.

What this effort is exposing is not wrongdoing on Trump’s part. It’s the way so much of our country’s liberal establishment is committed to leftist policies that are essentially racist as well as harmful to Jews. Far from being damaging, Trump’s revolution at the DOJ, and in particular, at the Civil Rights division, is a long-overdue effort to return it to the fight for justice.

Instead, it has been weaponized for an ideological crusade for leftist ideas that are aimed at toppling Western ideals and enabling antisemitism.

Trump should do all he can to push these leftist lawyers out of the DOJ and replace them with people who are committed to a justice system that doesn’t enable Jew-haters in the name of toxic progressive myths about race.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

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The problem, though, is that most of those who work in the DOJ think that they should be operating as if it were still 1965 and not 2025. Even worse, they seem to be heavily influenced by the rise of woke ideology like critical race theory, intersectionality and settler-colonialism that teaches, among other toxic ideas, that there is no such thing as racial progress.

Under this deluded approach, America is an irredeemably racist nation locked in a permanent race war between people of color who are always victims and “white” oppressors who cannot change and are always in the wrong.

That leads to a mindset that would have the DOJ go on conducting itself as if Jim Crow laws and efforts to prevent African-Americans from voting hadn’t been eradicated decades ago; America hadn’t elected a black president twice; and the establishment of “minority-majority” districts throughout the nation had not led to the election of vast numbers of minority representatives.

That’s part of the reason why these leftwing lawyers on the government payroll think the job of the DOJ’s Civil Rights division is to mandate the implementation of the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) throughout the country.

These rules amount to racial quotas that are the opposite of the equal opportunity and color-blind laws that the leaders of the civil-rights movement, like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., believed in and which pointedly exclude Jews, who are also a discriminated-against minority, from its “inclusion” policies.

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Political Crossfire

A Trumpworld Power Struggle Muscles Waltz Out

By David Ignatius

M

ichael Waltz had all the right credentials to be national security adviser in a normal administration. He was a respected former Green Beret, a strong supporter of Israel, and tough on Russia, China and Iran.

Maybe that’s what did him in.

Waltz’s ouster on Thursday was cushioned by his appointment as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. That soft landing will play well with Waltz’s many friends abroad but distance him from a White House power struggle in which he never had much influence.

Taking Waltz’s place temporarily as national security adviser will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sources tell me has won the president’s confidence by being deferential, unquestioningly supportive, and a frequent weekend visitor with Trump over the past six weeks.

Many guesses are circulating about a permanent replacement, but insiders predict that person will be low-key and detail-oriented rather than a big name.

Waltz became a lightning rod for c riticism after the “Signalgate” flap in March. Trump was peeved about Waltz’s use of a commercial messaging app for sensitive discussions and the fact that a c hat list used to plan strikes in Yemen inadvertently included the editor of the Atlantic magazine, whose number was saved among Waltz’s contacts. And from t he beginning, the disciplined Waltz s eemed to have poor chemistry with Trump, who has filled his administration with billionaire buddies.

But Washington insiders say Waltz’s ouster was driven in part by a feud that

h as been smoldering within Trump’s administration since Inauguration Day. That fight pits hawks such as Waltz, sometimes dubbed the “neocons,” against allies of Vice President JD Vance, described a s “neo-isolationists.” That shorthand understates the complex power dynamics within the Trump team.

T he White House national security s hake-up comes at an especially awkward time. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s inexperienced special envoy, is trying to broker deals with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and with Iran to curb its nuclear program. Several foreign officials I spoke w ith Thursday were flummoxed that Waltz, seen as a figure of stability, would be departing with his skilled deputy, Alex Wong, at such a sensitive moment.

T he second Trump administration h as been characterized by unstinting public loyalty to the president. But this seemingly united front has masked three distinct groups jockeying for power. That internecine war just found its first prominent victim in Waltz.

The first are the MAGA true believe rs, who are deeply skeptical of what t hey see as entangling foreign alliances that lead to wars and economic burdens for the United States. In addition to Vance, this group has the backing of D onald Trump Jr., who fills the family consigliere role occupied during Trump’s first term by his daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer has acted as an online enforcer for this group.

A second group are traditional Republican internationalists. Waltz was a prominent member of this group, along with

Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

This faction has the big titles but more limited influence with Trump.

The third faction, probably the most important one, might be described as the “oligarchs.” These are the billionaire friends Trump feels closest to and trusts the most. Witkoff, often described as Trump’s oldest confidant, tops this list.

Others are Steve Bessent and Howard Lutnick, respectively the treasury and commerce secretaries. And most visible until recently, DOGE-meister Elon Musk, the wealthiest billionaire of all.

This three-legged stool has sometimes been stable, but tension was evident among the groups in two recent events that illustrate the ideological rifts underlying the administration.

First was an attack in a New York Post news story on Wednesday headlined “Steve Witkoff shouldn’t be leading Iran, Russia negotiations, allies and insiders say.” The article quoted an anonymous former Trump aide calling Witkoff a “nice guy, but a bumbling … idiot.” It also included critical comments from two staffers at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a pro-Israel think tank that has been skeptical of Witkoff’s role in the Iran negations.

The article brought a quick response from Trumpworld. Charlie Kirk, a MAGA media voice who often appears with Don Jr., posted on X Wednesday night: “The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is leading the anti-Witkoff operation.

They are openly calling for people in the

administration to undermine President Trump and stop a deal with Iran. The anti-Witkoff forces are anti-MAGA.” Loomer, too, has continued agitating against Waltz after helping persuade Trump to fire at least seven National Security Council staffers last month. Shortly after the first reports of Waltz’s ouster, Loomer tweeted the word “SCALP.” A second illustration of the turmoil is the firing of three top aides to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month. Commentators have cited various factors, from Hegseth’s chaotic management style to concerns over media leaks. But several insiders told me that some of the aides who were fired shared Vance’s skepticism about overuse of American military power and unnecessary foreign conflicts.

Hegseth’s own position in the triarchy is unclear; he’s a military hawk but also a MAGA-motivated critic of DEI policies.

This internal disarray comes at a dangerous moment: The Trump administration is trying to broker peace deals with Iran and Russia without imperiling close allies in Israel, Ukraine, and Europe.

Waltz was an anchor to the traditional Republican world of foreign policy, as is his temporary successor, Rubio.

But Trump is the only fixed pole in his administration. This week, he’s toughening his stance on Russia, signing a security deal with Ukraine and moving toward a nuclear deal with Iran. Next week … well, who can say? © 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

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Political Crossfire

Did Bipartisan Diplomacy Achieve a Major Breakthrough in Africa?

By David Ignatius

I

n a darkening world, here’s an unlikely glimmer of light: Last month, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a “declaration of principles” that could end an unspeakably brutal border war that has killed 6 million people over the past 30 years.

It’s a sign of how crazy Washington is these days that this remarkable good news went almost unnoticed. Maybe that’s because the omnipresent news magnet, President Donald Trump, had little to do with it. Instead, it was crafted quietly by a diverse group that included a bipartisan team of senators, a Biden administration intelligence chief, a Qatari mediator, and, finally, the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany.

The conflict in Congo has long been one of the most vicious on the planet. It began as a gruesome aftershock of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda in which Hutus killed more than 500,000 Tutsis. Hutu leaders fled to eastern Congo. Rwandan-backed Tutsi militias pursued them, and the nightmare of killing and assault continued. Diplomats have tried repeatedly to find a peace formula – to bring a truce between Congo and the Rwandan-backed militia known as M23 – but until now they had failed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the agreement April 25. He called it a “win-win for everyone involved.” That phrase has become a dreadful diplomatic cliché, but in this case, it’s true. And it’s one of the few examples of a successful diplomatic handoff from President Joe Biden to Trump.

Rubio, often overshadowed since he took over at State, kept the Congo peace initiative rolling.

“As long as the parties kept talking, I was optimistic,” Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, told me. He has worked for peace alongside Sen. Mike Rounds, a

South Dakota Republican. After Trump was elected, Coons urged his former Senate colleague Rubio to get involved.

Rubio called the Congolese and Rwandan presidents on Jan. 28, according to Rwandan officials. He then handed the issue to Massad Boulos, the father of Tiffany Trump’s husband – who used his contacts as a Lebanese businessman long active in Central Africa.

The Trump factor here, unsurprisingly, was the prospect of an economic deal.

The war zone in eastern Congo is rich with strategic minerals. A peace pact, if it can be finalized, would encourage big U.S. investments in Congo to mine the minerals and in Rwanda to process them. Yolande Makolo, a Rwanda government spokesperson, told me: “The new U.S. administration has changed the conversation in a useful way that points towards a sustainable solution, where all parties have a stake in ensuring peace and security.”

The Congo nightmare had drawn an earlier mediation effort by the Biden administration. It was led by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who

shuttled between Kinshasa and Kigali in 2023. Her aim was “intelligence diplomacy” that would use U.S. monitoring of M23 and Congo forces to build confidence and reassure both sides. Officials hoped a peace deal might be concluded by the time of Biden’s trip to Angola in December. But by then, Biden was a lame duck, and his clout had disappeared in Africa and most everywhere else.

M23 grabbed a decisive tactical advantage in January, when it seized Goma and other territory along the Congo-Rwanda border. Caught in the crossfire and forced to surrender were about 300 Romanian mercenaries who had been hired to assist the Congolese army. Forces backed by South Africa also departed. M23 declared a ceasefire on Feb. 4; the balance had clearly tipped toward Rwanda’s efficient but authoritarian president, Paul Kagame.

An embattled Congo tried to push Trump’s dealmaker button. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi sent a Feb. 8 letter to Trump proposing that in exchange for American help against the M23 rebels, Congo would “provide the

U.S. with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper and tantalum,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Tshisekedi’s letter laid it on thick, telling Trump, “Your election has ushered in the golden age for America.” But Trump didn’t bite.

Qatar, which has become an indispensable, all-purpose mediator, played a key bridging role. The emirate had long maintained close relations with Rwanda, and Qatari officials told me that Congo had requested Doha’s peacemaking help in 2022. After Trump’s election, Qatar expanded its role, and on March 18, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hosted a meeting with Tshisekedi and Kagame.

After that breakthrough, Trump on April 1 named Boulos as his senior adviser for Africa. He traveled to the region April 3 to meet “heads of state and business leaders to advance efforts for durable peace … and to promote U.S. private sector investment in the region,” according to the State Department.

Just three weeks later, Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers were in Washington with Rubio signing the “declaration of principles” for ending the war. Such preliminary deals often fall apart, so it’s too early to break out the champagne. But there’s a chance now to resolve what a recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations called “one of the largest and deadliest humanitarian crises in the world.”

What’s useful about the Congo story is that it shows the broad, bipartisan process – and the intermingling of security and economic interests – that can actually solve conflicts in this battered world. Maybe Qatar, Saudi Arabia or some other freelance mediator would like to help end the war in Ukraine. © 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

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Forgotten Her es

Jewish Marine Heroes

By Avi Heiligman

U.S. Marines landing on Guadalcanal, August 1942

E

ntering World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps was the smallest of all the military branches, with just 28,000 marines on active duty. By the end of the war, this number would expand to 485,000 marines. During battles early on the war, the marines weren’t equipped with the most updated equipment. For example, during the invasion of Guadalcanal in August 1942, the marines went ashore equipped with 1903 bolt action Springfield rifles instead of the M1 Garand. Many marines were decorated for their bravery and valor despite being put into some of the harshest battlefields during the war.

Stanley Spierer was born in the Bronx and at 18 years old was with the marines hitting the Guadalcanal beach in August 1942. While attacking a machine gun nest, he was hit by a mortar shell and lost a leg. For this action, he was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

After the war, Spierer became a leader in both the Jewish War Veterans and Disabled American Veterans chapters and was often seen riding his scooter during Veterans Day parades.

The fighting on the South Pacific island continued for several months.

Fighting on Guadalcanal was especially tough for the marines as they were cut off from supplies because of possible Japanese attacks to the supply ships.

The marines targeted an airfield that

Jonathan De Sola Mendes

the Japanese were constructing that the Americans renamed Henderson Field after its capture.

The harsh fighting continued, and soon Samuel Hirsch and his unit were facing a numerically superior Japanese force on the Lunga defense line. Private Hirsch was from Philadelphia and was with Company D, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division.

On October 24, the marines in the front line trenches were dangerously low on ammunition. Even though the enemy fire was intense, Hirsch carried ammunition back and forth to keep the American guns in operation. Enemy soldiers infiltrated near the ammunition dump area, and Hirsch kept on loading the ammunition belts despite the risks. For his heroic action, the Jewish marine was awarded the Silver Star.

Another Jewish marine served in the same unit as Samuel Hirsch and also received a Navy Cross for bravery during the same battle. Private First Class Jack Sugarman was from Media, Pennsylvania, and on October 24, his unit was the subject of a large Japanese frontal assault.

He and three other marines were not only outmanned, but their machine gun was malfunctioning. They had to repair it and put it back into a position where they could place fire on the enemy. The machine gun had to be moved four times as it was in danger of being captured. Sugarman is

Marvin Corff with Rocky in Saipan, 1944

credited with saving the lives of nine American marines, and the vital position remained in American hands.

Pilots and planes from marine air squadrons started landing at Henderson Field, thus providing a huge morale boost for the marines on the island. Marine pilots served throughout the war in the Pacific and like other marine units that were tiny at the beginning of the war saw a huge increase in manpower by 1945. Jewish aviator Jonathan De Sola Mendes volunteered for fight training and flew over 100 missions during World War II. Hailing from New York, Mendes was a scout bomber pilot with VMSB151, and his missions consisted of patrols and protection of convoys. After the war, Mendes stayed in the Marine Reserves and was activated for front line duty during the Korean War. He flew another 70 missions in the F9F Panther jets and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Two of the pilots that served in the same squadron were baseball legend Ted Williams and future astronaut John Glenn.

Colonel Mendes retired in 1973 after 30 years in the marines and serving during two wars.

Private First Class Marvin Corff of Chicago was another decorated Jewish marine. He was with the Military Police Company, Third Marine Division during their assault on Guam in the Mariana Islands. Corff was a dog handler, and

his companion was a Doberman named Rocky. On September 2, 1944, Corff was on a long patrol and started to rest when Rocky alerted him to some movement in the undergrowth. Corff immediately drew his attention to the area and discovered five enemy soldiers hiding. Aiming his rifle, Corff shot four of the enemy soldiers, while the fifth escaped. For his actions that day Corff was awarded the Silver Star.

This was the first time that Rocky had alerted him to a Japanese attack. Later, on July 25, 1944, he alerted Corff to an upcoming attack which turned out to be a Banzai charge. They went on over fifty patrols together, and Corff later recalled, “On many missions, he alerted me to enemy movement, once saving our patrol from ambush.”

Receiving medals for bravery in battle is a much respected honor in the marines. These Jewish Forgotten Marine Heroes are just a few of the many marines whose stories need to be remembered. Their bravery during the long and tough Pacific campaign changed the tide of the war.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

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Life C ach

Up, Up, and Away

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

I

s it asking too much to want to know how long it will take to get to our destination?

Let’s say you book a flight for 11. You want to go from New York to Miami. Is it asking too much to ask that you arrive the same day you took off?!

After all, air travel came about to beat out the railway system!

And then they proceed to add insult to injury.

Bad enough they have you take off even more than your internist ever does.

But then they make absolutely sure the Starbucks line takes almost as long as it did for you to get through high school.

And finally, they always, consistently, put your gate last, no matter where you’re heading to.

Are all those other gates only there for show?!

So is it really too much to ask that your flight take off within an hour or two of when they said it would?

Are they just beginning to realize that you came to the airport to go somewhere and not to hang out on a shidduch

date? After all, can’t they see you’ve got the kids with you already?

I mean, if they are going to keep these delays up, then they should stop providing only the shopping centers and restaurants and open up a few child care centers.

it would be that the people telling planes where to go have no idea where to send them.

We force our kids to take science, social studies, and math, starting from the tender age of five, and most of them hardly enter professions where they use

Then they make absolutely sure the Starbucks line takes almost as long as it did for you to get through high school.

There are just so many takeoffs and landings any kid can watch before they themselves are flying around the airport.

So what is the hold up?

It used to be to be weather. Or maybe plane trouble.

But would anyone have guessed that

those skills. But an air traffic controller, whose running the skies on a daily basis, is not trained to do so?!

Who’s the wise guy who came up with that idea?!

I want to show up at the airport, and actually get to keep my clothing on that I just spent an hour getting into or pack-

ing up.

I want to go to my gate without having to drag my carry-on, carriage, and coffee through most of the airport – and then some.

I want to then sit down for a respectable amount of time, and finally, with pride and confidence, hear them announce, that my flight is ready to board.

The shoe stores provides shoes.

The restaurants provide food. The airlines should provide air.

The dependable motto should be: Up, up, and away – same day!

Honestly, is that asking too much?!

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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MAY 8, 2025 | The Jewish Home

UNITEDREFUAH SAVINGSSTORY MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS: Appendicitis MEDICAL SERVICES: ER, X-rays, CT Scans, Labs, Surgery, Anesthesia, Operating Room, Recovery Room, Pharmacy MEDICAL INCIDENT: 11:00AM: Arrived at the hospital by Hatzalah.

1:30PM: Test results confirmed an inflamed appendix and need for an emergency appendectomy.

3:00PM: Surgery began.

4:00PM: Woke up post-operation in the recovery room and cleared for discharge.

6:30PM: Back home.

BILL CHARGES: $88,893.21 UNITED REFUAH: I was assigned a case manager who was helpful, responsive, and assisted me in working with the hospital and other providers to significantly reduce the billed charges. United Refuah then promptly shared in their part, leaving me with only $622.24 out of pocket.

I PAID: $622.24 About the Member: Tuli Kraus, a Monsey resident, joined United Refuah in 2023 as a solution to exorbitant healthcare costs.

Tuli Kraus

Professionally, Tuli is the CEO of Blackbird Recruiting.

He is constantly expanding his LinkedIn network and recently launched the “What it Takes” podcast where high-level professionals talk business and life.

Speak with a member advisor to learn what your savings story can be. No pressure, no obligations — just answers.

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(440) U-REFUAH | WWW.UNITEDREFUAH.ORG | INFO@UNITEDREFUAH.ORG

United Refuah is a non profit healthsharing organization. It is not insurance and does not offer insurance. See Sharing Guidelines for full details. Application and annual renewal fees apply.

The Jewish Home | MAY 8, 2025

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