Five Towns Jewish Home 07.31.25

Seniors Tour Local Landmark

Dear Readers,

Ifind it very hard to really contemplate the Churban. When Tisha B’Av comes, we find ourselves sitting on low stools, reciting kinnos, and listening to shiurim. But the truth is that I also find myself dealing with children who need entertainment and lunch and activities, especially when Tisha B’Av falls out on a Sunday. Bringing myself back into the mindset of mourning the Beis Hamikdash seems almost impossible when I’m dealing with the mundanity of life.

We go through the year with the same difficulty. Although we think about the Churban in our davening and yearn to return to Yerushalayim three times a day, we are so busy with grappling with the vicissitudes of our day that it’s hard to remember what we’re missing once we take three steps back in Shemonah Esrei.

But then, unfortunately, we’re awakened with a jolt when we hear of a tragedy that hits close to home. The pain, the suffering, the horror – those feelings remind us that we are very much in galus.

The uneasiness of exile, the shouts of “Jew, go home,” the tens of our brothers still locked away in Gaza, the rocket attacks and stabbings – those are sharp reminders that we are not welcome here.

A young man leaving a large family behind, a child gripped by an unbearable illness, a mother collapsing from the hurt

around her – these are painful reminders that our nation still aches for a yeshuah.

We are confronted by the oozing sores of galus on an almost-constant basis, a continuous loop of persistent tragedies.

And there are questions, so many questions, that stem from all the pain that we see around us. We wonder why we are being subjected to such heartache, such good people confronted with such horror. We wonder why our nation has become so despised, so reviled, so scorned, why we have become the reason for the world’s problems. Our emunah carries us through, our belief that someday soon Hashem will bring us comfort and clarity, as only He can.

And so, although I can’t truly comprehend the Churban and wrap my head around the magnitude of the enormity of our loss, on Tisha B’Av, I contemplate and recall all the pain that our nation has suffered throughout the millennia. I feel the anguish of my brothers and sisters and our nation and remind myself that all that suffering stems from the loss we felt two thousand years ago.

Someday, very soon, Tisha B’Av will be a day for celebration. I hope, beg, plead that this year will be the year when it will be a day of joy.

Wishing you all 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.

PM Showers Showers/ Wind

Dear Editor,

I was beyond astounded by Elmo’s social media account getting hacked, leading to the hacker posting antisemitic comments against Jews.

Equally surprising, without offense to this newspaper, was how there was absolutely no mention of this event.

What semi-puzzled me was Sesame Street’s public apology, which was rather vague and neutral; they would have otherwise said outright that they were at times allies to the Jews – such as their fairly recent episode on Shabbos, some showings during my childhood, and definitely showing Elmo on Shalom Sesame, if I recall correctly.

Sesame Street, with their amusing Muppets, had a long reputation of offering the public humorous and entertaining episodes of education mostly geared towards inner-city children, where there was emphasis on real diversity (not the fake stuff we see today where that translates to “minorities”), where different cultures were taught and proper behavior was displayed.

It’s pathetic that Sesame Street has changed for the worse. Has Elmo become a Nazi?

Sincerely, Elmo Hates Jews :(

Dear Editor,

We know the premise that on Tisha B’Av G-d had mercy on us by just destroying the edifice of the Mikdash and not us. When thinking of the number nine (as in the ninth day of Av), the idea of tisha yarchei leida comes to mind, the nine months a woman is pregnant. This symbolizes rebirth, that in fact on Tisha B’Av we were spared and reborn.

Proofs to this notion lie in the fact that it happened in the month of Av, symbolic of our Father of Mercy, that the eleventh

month is the month of the lion, symbolic, as the sages say, of the lion of Moshiach that will rebuild Jerusalem, and that, as the Talmud says, Moshiach was born on Tisha B’Av, to mean his aura is associated with this day of ultimate rebirth. Steven Genack

Dear Editor,

Each year when I read Parshas Devarim, I am filled with amazement and pride. When Moshe first meets G-d at the Burning Bush, G-d charges him to speak to Pharoah and tell him to free all the Jews. Moshe tells G-d, “I am not a man of words...” (Exodus 4:10). Forty years later, we find, “These are the words that Moshe spoke to the children of Israel” (Deuteronomy 1:1). It’s not just a few words, but almost an entire book of the Bible that’s devoted to Moshe speaking! It’s quite amazing how much a person can mature in forty years!

The book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) is unlike the other four books of the Torah. The language is different because a human, Moshe, is speaking to the people most of the time rather than G-d. He offers an honest, no-nonsense talk to the nation of Israel. He rebukes them for their mishaps at several places particularly emphasizing their failures regarding the Golden Calf and the failed spy mission exploring Israel. He mentions his own failures as well. He withholds nothing. Yet, he consistently offers blessing and encouragement as well.

No one can describe the land of Israel as beautifully as Moshe. Who else but Moshe would describe the land of Israel as one producing immense fruits and grain; one filled with deep wells and springs that you don’ have to dig; one where the rocks are iron and you can mine copper from its hills?

Parshas Devarim is always read on the Continued on page 14

Continued from page 12 Shabbos immediately before Tisha B’Av.

In the parsha, Moshe reminds the people about the immense sin that the spies did in discouraging the nation from entering the land of Israel. Legend says that the spies returned on the night of Tisha B’Av and the people cried on that night. The punishment was severe – forty years of wandering in the desert until everyone aged 20 or older eventually died. The next generation was cautioned not to repeat their parents’ mistake. They were an improved matured people who successfully conquered the inhabitants in Israel and settled in the land and prospered.

Moshe’ message applies to our times. Israel has been fighting Hamas for nearly two years. Israelis and Jews throughout the world are depressed that Hamas still holds hostages and is still in control in Gaza. It seems easy to relinquish hope and say like what is stated in this week’s parsha, “What kind of place are we going to? Our brothers have taken the heart out of us, saying, ‘We saw there people stronger and taller than we.’”

It is especially at this time of year that we should be encouraged by Moshe’ encouragement and his example. Despite his challenges and most of all despite not entering the land of Israel himself, Moshe encourages the people to be strong and courageous and successful knowing that behind all our efforts, G-d is there to protect us and help us succeed and prosper.

Daniel Feldman

Dear Editor,

How did we get to the point where wealth can be both praised and ostracized in the same breath? How can calls for global human rights and global jihad be uttered by the same party? How is censoring and stifling the other party’s works not a book ban? All these questions and more can be answered by the simple fact that liberals have spent years of goodwill, bandwidth, time money and energy on resisting Trump; that’s the party line. That’s the Democrat Party line: “Resist, resist, resist!” Ever pull a resistance band too hard? It snaps. That’s the sad state of affairs for the Democrats today. Anything goes so long as it’s critical of the President. Wealth? It’s “kashered” with donations to the right causes. Terrorism? It doesn’t exist if say the right talking points about “white colonialism.” Book bans? Only if it’s Dr. Seuss or Ben Shapiro! It’s no wonder then that California billionaires are celebrated, jihad supporters are mainstream politicians, and antisemitism is used as a sword and a shield. When a suspect is not white they are still categorized as white.

Yet, when they are discriminated against, suddenly people “other” the Jews! The effect is that the ball is hidden, and attacks against Jews are discounted.

How do we counter the madness? In Sefer Devarim, Moshe implores the Jewish people to appoint leaders to learn the laws of the Torah from. Moshe also warns the Jews what will happen if they don’t listen, rachmana litzlan. Finally, Moshe begs the Jews to do teshuva. Let us set role models for ourselves, understand the consequences of our actions, and also repent for our past misdeeds. In this zechus, Hashem will “remember” His covenant with us and rejoice with us much like He did with our forefathers. In the midst of this madness, there is hope for the future.

Chaim Yehuda Meyer

Dear Editor,

Thanks for an amazing read! I would really like to see some more info in your very informative paper regarding the Assisted Suicide legislation that was tragically passed in the New York State Senate (S138) and is pending on the approval – or veto – of Governor Kathy Hochul.

As we know, this bill presents a real and immediate danger to the Jewish community of New York in so many ways. It is vital to alert your esteemed readership to please urge the Governor to please veto that murderous legislation. It is of utmost importance to save Yidden from retzicha/murder. Jewish doctors, patients, family members, caretakers, therapists, aged, infirm, medically and mentally compromised, disabled, as well as the terminally ill, etc., must be saved from murder (frum or not).

Governor Hochul’s contact info:

By Phone: 518-474-8390, By Mail: The Honorable Kathy Hochul Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224,

On Line: https://www.governor. ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

It’s very quick and easy. All you have to do is let the Governor know that you are a citizen of New York, and that you are urging her to please veto the assisted suicide bill.

Many organizations, including Agudath Israel of America, the Orthodox Union (O.U.), the Rabbinical Alliance of America, the Vaad Rabbonim of Queens, and many others, have all come out and clearly urged all of us to urge the Governor to veto the assisted suicide legislation a.s.a.p.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Goldstein Monsey, NY

Lethal Landslide in Germany

More than 100 people were on a Deutsche Bahn train in an area near Riedlingen, Germany, on Sunday evening when the train derailed in the forest. Three people were killed in the incident.

The train’s 32-year-old driver, a 36-year-old apprentice and a 70-yearold passenger lost their lives in the crash. Forty-one people were injured, some of them seriously.

Investigators say that the train derailed due to a landslide brought on by heavy rainfall. The copious amount of rain caused a sewage shaft to overflow, which probably triggered the landslide.

Thomas Strobl, interior minister of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, where the incident occurred, said, “There have been heavy rains here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and a related landslide accident may have been the cause.”

He added, “However, this is currently the subject of ongoing investigations.”

Australia to Import U.S. Beef

Prior to this week, Australia had strict restrictions on U.S. beef imports in an effort to keep the country free of mad cow disease. This week, it an-

nounced that it would relax those restrictions, leading U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to claim a major victory over “non-scientific trade barriers.”

Australia’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep Australia free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, would not compromise biosecurity.

“Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this,” Collins said in a statement.

Trump celebrated the announcement with a post on Truth Social. “Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins responded to Australia’s announcement by congratulating Trump on a “major trade breakthrough that gives greater access to U.S. beef producers selling to Australia.”

“This is yet another example of the kind of market access the President negotiates to bring America into a new golden age of prosperity, with American agriculture leading the way,” she said in a statement.

Australia has allowed imports of beef grown in the United States since 2019. But Australia has not allowed imports from the U.S. of beef sourced from Canada or Mexico because of the disease risk. The U.S. recently introduced additional movement controls that identify and trace all cattle from Mexico and Canada to their farms of origin.

In April, Trump attacked Australian import restrictions on U.S. beef when he announced that tariffs of at least 10% would be placed on Australian imports, with steel and aluminum facing a 50% tariff.

“Australia bans — and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything — but they ban American beef,” Trump told reporters then. “Yet we imported $3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and, you know, I don’t blame them, but we’re doing the same thing right now,” Trump added.

Around 70% of Australian beef is exported. The price of U.S. beef has been rising due to drought and shrinking herd numbers. As such, demand for U.S. beef in Australia is expected to remain low.

UK’s Jeremy Corbyn’s New Party

Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently announced that he was forming a new political party that will push for a “mass redistribution of wealth and power” and a “free and independent Palestine,” opposing all British arms sales to Israel.

The MP announced the party alongside fellow independent MP Zarah Sultana, who was suspended by Labour last year after she and several other members of parliament voted to scrap a controversial cap on child benefits.

The two lawmakers said their new left-wing party will be called Your Party.

“We will only fix the crises in our so-

ciety with a mass redistribution of wealth and power,” they said, calling for raising taxes on the wealthy, nationalizing utilities, challenging fossil fuel companies, and boosting public housing.

“Meanwhile, millions of people are horrified by the government’s complicity in crimes against humanity. Now, more than ever, we must defend the right to protest against genocide,” it continued, in an apparent reference to the UK’s recent ban of an anti-Israel activist group as a terror organization, following its attacks on British military sites.

“We believe in the radical idea that all human life has equal value. That is why we will keep demanding an end to all arms sales to Israel, and the only path to peace: a free and independent Palestine,” they said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to pull Labour to the center since succeeding Corbyn as leader. He has been facing growing calls within his party to recognize a Palestinian state.

Both Corbyn and Sultana have been accused of antisemitism in their comments about the war in Gaza.

Corbyn was slow to explicitly condemn the atrocities by Hamas on October 7 and initially refused to call the group — whose members once thanked him for

his “support and solidarity with the Palestinian people” — a “terror group,” or to advocate its deposition as the de facto government of Gaza.

Since then, Corbyn has called for a total arms embargo on Israel as it battles the Hamas terror group and seeks to bring home the hostages that Hamas kidnapped on October 7.

But even prior to October 7 Corbyn showed an antisemitic streak. He endorsed a mural that appeared to show an antisemitic caricature; he wrote a glowing foreword to a book that claims Jews control global financial systems; he called terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah “friends” when inviting members for a parliamentary meeting in 2009; and he attended a ceremony that honored the terrorists behind the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre.

In 2020, a UK government investigation found in Labour under Corbyn “a culture within the party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent antisemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it.” The party ousted Corbyn after he responded to the report by saying that the problem of antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons.”

Sultana, for her part, said in since-deleted social media posts from 2015 that she would celebrate the deaths of former UK prime minister Tony Blair, former U.S. president George W. Bush and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She also wrote that she supported “violent resistance” by Palestinians and that Zionism is a racist ideology.

Deadly DoubleDecker Bus Crash

On Friday, a double-decker bus carrying more than 60 people crashed and landed upside down after careening over a slope in Peru. At least 18 people were killed in the crash. Forty-eight others were injured.

Clifor Curipaco, a health director in Peru, said that the bus was traveling from Lima towards the country’s Amazon forests, specifically in the Junín region,

when the tragedy occurred.

This is not the first major fatal bus crash in Peru this year. A bus crashed into a river in January, killing six people and injuring 32 others. A previous bus accident in April 2024 resulted in the death of 24 people, making it the deadliest crash in the country in several years.

A report from the country’s Attorney General’s office stated that recklessness and excessive speed are the leading causes of vehicular accidents in Peru, although the cause of this recent crash is under investigation.

In 2024, approximately 3,173 people died as a result of traffic accidents in Peru.

Jews Arrested in Iran

Around 35 members of the Jewish community in Iran were arrested at the conclusion of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran. All of those people, except for five of them, have been released.

Two of those who had been arrested were U.S.-Iranian citizens who found themselves caught in the government crackdown. They both live in the U.S. and were visiting family when the war broke out.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” one person said.

One of those Americans lives in Los Angeles and was released on bail a few days ago. The other, who is still being held, has lived in New York for at least 30 years.

The remaining three Jews held were detained because they posted to social media against the regime, or liked such posts by others.

The Jewish representative in the Iranian parliament, Homayoun Sameyah Najaf Abadi, in an update on Saturday said that he had met with the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps judiciary, which is handling the cases, and reached an agreement to release most of the detainees.

Najaf Abadi said that the espionage charges against all the detainees have been rejected.

“We hope that as a result of continued cooperation, the remaining problems

20 will soon be resolved,” he was quoted by Ynet as saying. The report did not specify which of the five detainees would be released and which would remain behind bars.

Arrests of Jewish community members were made in Tehran, Shiraz, and Alborz province.

Supposedly, Iranian officials had been looking for collaborators with Israel. One person said they were checking cellphones of those who were arrested to see if any calls had been made to Israel. In the past, calls made to people in Israel had been quietly tolerated even though any connection to Israel is unlawful.

Aside from members of the Jewish community, more than 700 other people have been detained by authorities since June 13, when Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran.

There are around 10,000 Jews still living in Iran.

Dubai Cracks Down on Illegal Apts.

In June, a fire broke out in a 67-story apartment building in the Dubai Ma-

rina district of Dubai, forcing over 3,800 residents to evacuate. Though no one sustained significant injuries, the fire prompted authorities to crack down on partitioned apartments.

The building had 532 occupied apartments, which means that around seven people resided in each unit, even though the building only has one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

Many underpaid migrant workers rent space in cramped, partitioned apartments. One unit can be divided up into several small rooms with plywood boards, drywall, or plastic shower curtains, allowing one apartment to house 10 or even 20 people. Some people live in closets that can only accommodate a mattress. Others pay a few dollars a night to live on a bunk bed with no privacy.

The majority of Dubai’s migrant workers, many of whom come from Asia and

Africa, are paid $300 to $550 a month. In general, space in a partitioned apartment costs $220 to $270 a month, while a legal one-bedroom rental costs around $1,400 a month, according to real estate firm Engel & Völkers. Dubai has few options for low-income workers, with around a fifth of homes in the city state valued at over $1 million in 2024, according to Knight Frank, a property firm.

Workers at large companies, including resorts, hotels, factories, and construction firms, who make less than $400 a month, are entitled to housing. However, since many migrants work off the books, they can’t claim those benefits. As such, many can only afford to rent space in illegal partitioned apartments. Only Emirati nationals are entitled to government financial assistance for housing.

Now that officials in Dubai are cracking down on illegal subletting, many migrants live in fear, since they have nowhere else to live in the event that they’re forced to leave their cramped living quarters.

Colombian Ex-Pres. Convicted

On Monday, Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia found former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe guilty of abuse of process and bribery of a public official, making him Colombia’s first former president to be convicted of a crime in court.

Uribe, a 73-year-old right-wing politician who served as president from 2002 to 2010, was accused around 13 years ago of tampering with witnesses, kicking off a case against him that has continued since.

Heredia spent around nine hours reading out loud her decision, which was about 1,000 pages long in full, to the court. The judge will sentence Uribe at another time. For each charge, Uribe can receive six to 12 years in prison. If the conviction survives appeals, Uribe may serve his sentence under house arrest due to his age.

“Justice does not kneel before power,” Heredia declared. “It is at the service of the Colombian people.”

“We want to say to Colombia that justice has arrived,” Heredia added.

Uribe and Jaime Granados, one of his lawyers, were present virtually during the hearing. Jaime Lombana, another lawyer, was there in person.

“This is not the end of this process. The appeal is next, and we are going to demonstrate that this decision, which we respect, is wrong,” said Juan Felipe Amaya, one of Uribe’s lawyers.

Granados asked for Uribe to still be presumed innocent and remain free for the time being. Uribe’s supporters claim that the trial is politically motivated. In less than a year, Colombia will hold its 2026 presidential election, which will feature a number of politicians allied and associated with Uribe.

According to the accusation, Uribe tampered with witnesses in an effort to disprove allegations that he was illegally associated with paramilitary groups.

As president, Uribe shared a warm relationship with the United States.

“Uribe’s only crime has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland. The weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges has now set a worrisome precedent,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Fatal Russian Plane Crash

On Thursday, an Antonov An-24 plane with 48 passengers onboard crashed in Russia during a failed landing at Tynda Airport. Everyone on the Soviet-era twin-propeller plane was killed.

The craft, which was built in 1976, was operated by Angara Airlines. It departed from Blagoveshchensk and was headed to Tynda, a town in eastern Russia. The plane tried to land twice, crashing in a forested area around ten miles from Tynda after its second attempt. At around 1 p.m. local time, it went off the radar. Later, it was found by a rescue helicopter. At a Russian submarine development meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his “condolences to the relatives, friends, and all the families of those killed in this air crash,” declaring a moment of silence. The Amur region’s governor declared three days of mourning for the area.

Russian officials, suspecting that human error and technical issues played a role in the crash, have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

“In 2021, the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate was extended until 2036,” according to Russian state media.

However, the crash has led many to question the old plane’s integrity. Since 2018, the craft has been involved in four relatively insignificant incidents.

In the Soviet Union, nearly 1,340 An24 planes were built, of which 75 are in still operation, 88 have been lost in crashes, and 65 have been lost in non-fatal accidents. Western sanctions have played a role in Russia’s ability to maintain its aircraft.

Ceasefire in ThailandCambodia Conflict

On Thursday, clashes between Thailand and Cambodia began near their disputed border, with both countries launching airstrikes at each other. Since then, 38 or more people have died, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced because of the conflict, which had

the potential of becoming an all-out war.

However, on Monday at midnight, a truce went into effect, following a handshake between acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

“The United States applauds the ceasefire declaration between Cambodia and Thailand announced today in Kuala Lumpur,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday. “President Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.”

Officials from the United States and Malaysia led the negotiations at Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official residence. During the meeting, U.S. ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan was the U.S.’s top diplomat. Chinese diplomats were also present, acting as ob-

servers. Anwar issued an announcement, noting that, on Tuesday at 7 a.m., military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia would hold an informal meeting. If both countries agree, two more meetings — one with military attachés, and the other on August 4, held by Cambodia — could take place.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that the U.S. wouldn’t hold trade deal negotiations with Thailand and Cambodia until the conflict ends. Recently, Trump said he would levy 36% tariffs on Thailand, Cambodia, and 10 other countries, unless trade deals are reached by August 1. That threat may have pushed Thailand, which is desperate to avoid U.S. tariffs due to its weak economy, to accept the truce.

“I have now ended many Wars [sic] in just six months — I am proud to be the president of PEACE!” wrote Trump in a Truth Social post.

Talks between the U.S. and the two countries resumed after the ceasefire was reached.

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, to when France, which occupied Cambodia until 1953, first mapped the land border. Clashes over the 508-mile border have erupted over the years. The most recent episode began in May, when troops briefly exchanged fire at a contested area, killing a Cambodian soldier. This led to a series of tit-for-tat actions by both governments: Thailand imposed border restrictions with Cambodia, while Cambodia banned imports of fruit and vegetables, broadcasts of Thai films, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand, among other measures.

Tensions were enflamed last week when five Thai military personnel were injured by landmines while on patrol. They accuse Cambodia of laying the landmines recently, an accusation Cambodia denies.

ists. The attack caused a short but deadly conflict between Pakistan and India. This week, an Indian official said that the three militants behind the deadly attack were killed.

The militants were killed in a joint operation called Operation Mahadev by the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force, and Jammu and Kashmir police officials on Monday, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament.

“Those who were responsible for killing our citizens in Baisaran Valley were these three terrorists and all three were killed,” Shah said.

All three of those killed were Pakistani nationals.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denied. New Delhi launched airstrikes on its neighbor in the weeks following the attack, sparking a tit-for-tat military response that claimed lives on both sides of the border.

India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been under immense pressure to find and punish those behind the tourist massacre. The militants were killed on the same day the Indian parliament convened a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, the formal name given to India’s retaliatory action against Islamabad following the attack.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir as their own. The two nations – Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan – gained their independence from Britain in 1947. There have been at least three wars between the two nations over the disputed territory.

The conflict that followed April’s massacre was India and Pakistan’s worst in decades, with both sides striking deep into the other’s territory.

After four days of fighting, a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed Washington helped secure the deal. India denied U.S. involvement in the talks.

Justice in Indian Attack

In April, gunmen stormed a mountain spot in India-administered Kashmir and killed 26 people, mostly Indian tour-

So Much Pain

On Saturday evening, two IDF soldiers in the Technology and Maintenance Corps serving in the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit — Cpt. Amir Saad and Sgt. Yinon Nuriel Vana — were killed in an explosion in Khan Younis. That same day, a third soldier, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Bezalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, succumbed to

24 wounds he sustained in a separate attack in Khan Younis a week prior.

Saad and Vana were killed when an explosive device hit the Namer armored personnel carrier they were inside. Saad and Mosbacher were buried on Sunday, while Vana was laid to rest on Monday morning.

Saad, 22, was from the Druze town of Yanuh-Jat. During his funeral, Sheik Muafak Tarif, the leader of the Druze community in Israel, eulogized the fallen soldier.

“How difficult it is to stand here again, to once again lay a fallen IDF soldier to rest in the same place and the same village,” said Tarif during the funeral, recalling that Saad’s cousin, Alim, was murdered during a Hezbollah terrorist attack on October 9, 2023.

“In any situation and at any time, the pains of peace are preferable to the agonies of war,” Tarif added, offering his condolences to the families of Vana and Mosbacher. “I hope and pray that an agreement will be reached in the south, that we will see the hostages return, and that we can return to routine life in the country.”

During the roadside bomb attack that critically injured Mosbacher, 32, on July 19, another combat engineer was seriously wounded. The two were attacked while driving a jeep in Khan Younis.

Mosbacher, who succumbed to his injuries a week later, was a reservist from the city of Or Yehuda, which is near Tel Aviv. He grew up in Aveni Eitan in the Golan Heights. On Sunday, Mosbacher was laid to rest at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem. He leaves behind his parents, Yaakov and Hannah, and 10 siblings, as well as his wife, Maayan, and his infant daughter. Before he passed away, Mosbacher was able to communicate with his family.

“In the last week, you gave us instructions. What to do with Maayan [and] your daughter… We will take care of Maayan, Yaeli, and the baby on the way,” vowed one of his brothers, Shmuel, during the funeral, thanking the fallen soldier for “32 years of joy.”

“He parted from us quietly that week. He and [G-d] had come to terms a week earlier, and he gave him time. His [G-d’s]

plan was fulfilled,” said Mosbacher’s father during his eulogy.

“Let’s hope there won’t be more problems in Israel… There is so much pain in this war,” he added. “The madmen that don’t understand what life is — let us hope that they wake up and understand that there is a nation here that understands and knows what it means to preserve life. This life is a gift. One has no right to treat it as if it’s something bought at the market.”

Mosbacher’s mother said he “filled the world with so much light, joy, wisdom, and love.”

“In the end, you were also ready to give your life for the sake of your nation,” she said. “My love for you is eternal. I wish you could have stayed here longer. I now have to give back to the Creator the greatest gift in the world, and it’s hard. Love is eternal, and we are connected forever and ever.”

On a Sunday morning Facebook post, Nava Nuriel, the mother of Vana, wrote, “For two days now, I’ve known deep inside that you would come to me. I’ve been preparing myself for the worst, wondering how I’ll cope, what I’ll do. For two days, I’ve felt it – and pushed it away. But nothing prepares a mother for the knock at the door.”

“My little Yinon. My beloved. The whole world is crying for you now, and I find myself asking for forgiveness – for not holding you tightly enough the last time. Then came the knock at the door: ‘We won’t leave you. We are here for you.’ And in that moment, I disappeared into the abyss. Now, all I can do is begin the long climb out,” she wrote. “With deepest sorrow, we announce our joining of the family no one wishes to join – the family of the bereaved. Our Yinon is gone.”

The three fallen soldiers were hailed as heroes by Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Ceasefire Talks Fall Through

Though another ceasefire-hostage deal seemed imminent, talks fell through on Thursday after Hamas responded to a 60-day truce proposal with several unrealistic demands. In response, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that the United States’ negotiating team would be returning home because Hamas demonstrated “a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.”

Previously, the terrorist group said it would free all 50 of the remaining hostag-

es it has held for nearly two years — 20 of whom are believed to be alive — if Israel completely withdraws from the Gaza Strip, leaving the militant group in power. The Jewish state maintains that the war will only end once all hostages are freed and Hamas is demilitarized and no longer in control of Gaza.

“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff stated, calling Hamas’s actions “selfish” and affirming the U.S.’s commitment to peace in the region. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

It is unclear what alternative options the U.S. is weighing.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also ordered Israel’s negotiating team home from Doha.

Previously, Israel had agreed to release 125 Palestinians serving life sentences along with 1,200 other prisoners. However, Hamas reportedly demanded the release of 200 terrorists and 2,000 others held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, in exchange for 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages, who would be released in five batches over the span of two months.

“Ultimately, the special envoy statement speaks for itself, but I think the broader context here is also important. The fact that we have seen Hamas first break that ceasefire that existed on Oct. 7, then break another ceasefire, and then, here, as the special envoy makes clear, not acting in a way in order to achieve a ceasefire again,” said U.S. State Department principal deputy spokesman Tommy Piggot. “So, to reiterate, the question has never been our commitment to a ceasefire. It has been Hamas’. They have shown that again and again and again and have just shown it once again.”

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that a ceasefire may not be possible in the near future.

“Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die,” Trump said, adding that he had predicted that the truce wouldn’t work out. “We got a lot of hostages out. But when you get down to the last 10 or 20, I don’t think Hamas is

going to make a deal because that means they have no protection. And basically that’s what happened.”

“I think what’s going to happen is they’re going to be hunted down,” the president added. “It [has] gotten to a point where [Israel is] going to have to finish the job.”

Trump later added that Israel will have to decide its next move in the war. The president said that he knows how he would handle Hamas but refrained from specifying, adding that it would be inappropriate for him to weigh in.

On Friday, Egypt and Qatar said that they were still working to secure a ceasefire. The two countries asserted that the U.S. and Israel left the negotiation table only “to hold consultations before resuming dialogue,” which is “normal in the context of these complex negotiations.”

On Friday, several hostage families visited the White House to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who gave them an update on the talks. According to a family member of one of the hostages, the Trump administration told them that the U.S.’s decision to recall its negotiating team was merely a “muscle flex” tactic intended to pressure Hamas into dropping some of its demands.

France to Recognize “Palestinian State”

On Thursday, Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, announced in a post on X that his country would recognize a “Palestinian state” in September at the U.N. General Assembly. The largely symbolic move would make France, which hosts the largest Jewish population in Europe, the first major Western country to recognize a state for the Palestinians.

Macron’s announcement was praised by both Hamas, the terror group that governs Gaza and led the October 7 attacks, and the Palestinian Authority, which controls parts of Judea and Samaria.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the deputy to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said Paris’ gesture “reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian

people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.” Hamas called the move a “positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination.”

Macron claimed that the move will encourage the realization of a “two-state solution.” According to Macron, Abbas has promised him a reformed PA and vowed that a Palestinian state would be

peaceful and demilitarized.

Meanwhile, Macron’s announcement was met with condemnation from the United States and Israel.

“This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Macron, noting that the French president was recognizing a “state next

due to Hamas’ unwillingness to negotiate.

Ofir Sofer, the minister of immigration and absorption, urged French Jews to make aliyah. Other ministers mocked Macron on social media with memes and GIFs.

Israel has previously taken diplomatic action against countries that recognize a Palestinian state.

Some ministers are now calling for the annexation of Judea and Samaria as a response to France’s move.

“I thank President Macron for providing yet another compelling reason to finally apply Israeli sovereignty over the historic regions of Judea and Samaria and to definitively abandon the failed concept of establishing a Palestinian terrorist state in the heart of the Land of Israel,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a post on X.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin also called for an annexation, which he said would be “a response of historical justice to the shameful decision of the French President.”

Yair Lapid, an opposition leader and former prime minister, condemned France’s planned recognition of a Palestinian state as “a moral error and diplomatically damaging,” adding that “the Palestinians should not be rewarded for October 7 and for supporting Hamas.” Naftali Bennett, another former prime minister, also slammed the French president’s announcement.

In a twist, Lapid blamed Netanyahu’s government for Macron’s move. “A functioning government doing basic diplomatic work could have prevented this harmful declaration,” Lapid claimed.

Netherlands Bans Smotrich, Ben Gvir

to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre.”

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it,” said Netanyahu. “Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”

Macron’s announcement came the same day that ceasefire talks fell through

This week, the Netherlands announced a ban on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, the latest Western nation to bar the pair from visiting their nation.

Monday’s decision came as part of a slew of measures to pressure Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The

Dutch government will also summon Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Modi Ephraim, to denounce the “unbearable and indefensible” situation in the Strip.

In a letter to Dutch lawmakers quoted by local newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Caspar Valdekamp said the move against Smotrich and Ben Gvir came “because they have repeatedly incited violence by settlers against the Palestinian population and…called for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”

The announcement is the latest sign of escalating tensions between Israel and the European Union, as well as the Netherlands specifically, as unsubstantiated reports of starvation in Gaza circulate around the world.

Two weeks ago, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held meetings with EU officials to stave off sanctions on Israel in exchange for an increase in aid entering Gaza. EU leaders have complained that Israel has not done enough, and are considering suspending Israel from a signature EU research funding program, a step Schoof said may be among “additional measures” his government could support.

On Tuesday, Sa’ar summoned Marriet Schuurman, the Dutch ambassador to Israel, for a reprimand at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem over the steps the Netherlands is pursuing regarding Israel.

“The conversation will take place in light of the Dutch government’s decisions to take measures against Israel, including against its right to self-defense and against ministers in its government,” Sa’ar’s office said.

The Netherlands is the second EU country to bar Smotrich and Ben Gvir; Slovenia announced its own ban earlier in July. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway also banned the ministers last month. Separately, several EU countries, including the Netherlands, have weighed arresting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in compliance with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

Responding to the announcement, Smotrich and Ben Gvir both accused the Dutch government of siding with extremist forces and alluded to Europe’s history of antisemitism.

“Even if I’m banned from all of Europe, I’ll keep working for our country and demanding that we topple Hamas and back our fighters,” Ben Gvir, who chairs the Otzma Yehudit party, posted on X. “In a place where terrorism is toler-

ated and terrorists are welcome, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwelcome. Terrorists are free and Jews are boycotted.”

Smotrich accused the Netherlands’ government of surrendering “to the lies of radical Islam.” He wrote regarding Europe that “Jews will not be able to live there in security in the future either,” just as they were not able to in the past.

“What they don’t understand in the Netherlands and other European countries is that, far more than it matters to me to enter the Netherlands, it matters to me that my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and those of all the Jews in the world, can live in the State of Israel in security for decades and centuries to come,” Smotrich, who chairs the Religious Zionism party, posted on X.

Flotilla Fail

On Saturday, Israel intercepted a ship carrying 21 activists trying to break through the Jewish state’s maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip. The anti-Israel activists were aboard the Gaza-bound Handala, which departed Sicily in early July. The Israeli navy seized the ship around 40 miles from Gaza just before midnight.

On Sunday, Israeli authorities brought the vessel to the port of Ashdod, with the Foreign Ministry confirming the passengers’ safety.

The flotilla was sent by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the same organization that, a few weeks ago, dispatched the Madleen, another Gaza-bound vessel intercepted by the Israel Navy. The Madleen, which carried 12 activists including Greta Thunberg, had the same goals as the Handala. Both ships carried tiny aid packages intended for Gazans, mainly their goal was for show.

Among those on board were two French MPs, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala — both members of the leftwing France Unbowed party — and two Al Jazeera journalists.

On Monday, Israel was expected to hold hearings for 13 of the activists, including Braedon Peluso and Christian Smalls from the United States; Robert Martin and Tania (Tan) Safi of Austra-

lia; Justine Kempf of France; Fourreau from France and Sweden; Antonio La Picirella from Italy; Chloé Fiona Ludden of the United Kingdom and France; Sergio Toribio Sanchez and Santiago González Vallejo of Spain; Vigdis Bjorvand of Norway; and Hatem Aouini of Tunisia.

Antonio Mazzeo, a citizen of Italy; Cathala, the French MP; Jacob Berger, a U.S. citizen; Waad Al Musa, who holds dual U.S. and Iraqi citizenship; and Mohamed El Bakkali from Morocco, were already deported. Two other activists, Bob Suberi and Huwaida Arraf, who hold citizenship in the U.S. and Israel, were being held by police, according to pro-Palestinian legal organization Adalah, whose lawyers are representing the activists.

tures chips based on designs provided by other companies rather than designing and manufacturing its own chips like Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs) do. It is the second largest provider of foundry services globally, behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

The company stated in April that it aimed to commence 2 nanometer mass production in its foundry business and secure major orders for the nextgeneration technology. In semiconductor technology, smaller nanometer sizes signify more compact transistor designs, which lead to greater processing power and efficiency.

Local South Korean media outlets have also reported that American chip firm Qualcomm could place an order for chips manufactured using Samsung’s 2 nanometer technology.

Samsung’s Deal with Tesla

This week, Samsung Electronics announced that it has entered into a $16.5 billion contract for supplying semiconductors to Tesla.

The memory chipmaker, which had not named the counterparty, mentioned in its regulatory filing that the effective start date of the contract was July 26, 2025 — receipt of orders — and its end date was December 31, 2033.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X, “Samsung’s giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip. The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate. Samsung currently makes AI4. TSMC will make AI5, which just finished design, initially in Taiwan and then Arizona.”

He added, “Samsung agreed to allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency. This is a critical point, as I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress.” He suggested that the deal with Samsung could likely be even larger than the announced $16.5 billion.

Samsung’s foundry service manufac-

Hate Crime Killer Dies

Joseph Czuba was convicted and sentenced to 53 years in prison in May for the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume, a six-yearold Palestinian American boy who had been Czuba’s tenant in Plainfield, Illinois, in 2023. Czuba was also found guilty of severely wounding and the attempted murder of the boy’s mother, Hanaan Shaheen. Last week, Czuba died in prison just months after beginning his sentence.

Police say the landlord targeted the pair for their Islamic faith shortly after the start of the Israel-Gaza war.

Czuba was 73 years old.

The family had been renting rooms from Czuba when the attack took place. Police say Czuba stabbed al-Fayoume 26 times. The boy later died in hospital.

Czuba was convicted of two counts of hate crime, one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and two of aggravated battery.

His mother testified in court that Czuba had also attacked her with a knife before moving on to her son, telling her, “You, as a Muslim, must die.”

Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic

30 Relations’ Chicago office, said in a statement after Czuba’s death that while “this depraved killer has died, the hate is still alive and well.”

Many Palestinians live in Plainfield.

Tragedy in Hersheypark

Last week, a nine-year-old girl lost her life at The Boardwalk water park in Hersheypark. The tragedy took place at the wave pool.

There were ten lifeguards watching the wave pool at the time of the incident. Lifeguards immediately responded after noticing the child was in distress, a statement released by John Lawn, CEO of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, said. He said they rescued the girl and began performing “continuous, coor-

dinated life-saving efforts.”

The victim, Sophia Subedi, unfortunately, did not survive.

Tilak Niroula, a chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in nearby Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, remembered the child, describing her as a “beloved” member of their local Bhutanese community. “At just nine years old, she was full of promise, innocence, and joy — a light in the lives of all who knew her,” Niroula said. “Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of.”

“Our entire community is grieving alongside the family during this unimaginably difficult time,” he continued. “Words cannot fully capture the depth of our pain, but we are united in our mourning and committed to standing with the family in love, prayer and support.”

Lawn said, “Our hearts break for this child and the child’s family. We extend our deepest condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release any personal details at this time. The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority. In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough and internal review and cooperate fully with authorities.”

According to the Hersheypark website, The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a water park with 16 water attractions, including several water slides, a lazy river, and a 378,000-gallon wave pool.

At the time of the incident on Thursday, more than 100 lifeguards were guarding the various parts of the water park.

Santos Starts Sentence

On Friday, former Rep. George Santos reported to federal prison to start his more than seven-year sentence after pleading guilty to a series of fraudulent schemes and being convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

On Wednesday before heading to prison, Santos posted a clip of Frank Sinatra singing a portion of “My Way,” beginning with the lyrics “...and now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.”

On Thursday, Santos spent an hour and a half on X streaming his thoughts. He began the stream by addressing questions on whether he would receive a pardon, saying that only President Donald Trump has the answer.

“The only person that could answer that question is, you know, whoever the President of the United States is – in this case, President Donald Trump.”

He told people who were listening not to follow in his ways. “I think that the importance here is for people to understand: make better choices, be smarter than me, that’s for sure,” Santos said.

“I’ve made a string of [bad] choices in my life and for that, I’m sorry. To those I’ve disappointed, to those I’ve let down, to those that I have caused irreparable damage even, I’m sorry,” Santos said.

Santos repeatedly thanked fellow speakers and listeners for their support and, at several points, he became choked up as several friends started to cry during their remarks.

“I love you,” Santos said. “We built common ground through trust and transparency, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

Santos also called his sentence unfair.

“Incarceration is not supposed to be a demonic torture or torturous process,” Santos said. “I think a lot of our sentencing in our country tends to be punitive and full of reprisal.”

Santos also criticized the broader criminal justice system.

“There’s something to be said about the prison industrial complex, by the way. They’re selling … Twinkies for $5. I mean, they have to be making banging profits,” he said. “I mean, I’m thinking maybe when I get out of prison, I open a prison.”

Santos said he had learned through the experience the need to be “unapologetically, 100% authentically yourself.”

“I would not change much of what I decided to do with my career, I would just change the how,” he said. “I’m every congressperson and politician’s nightmare because I set such a high standard for transparency and communication.”

Santos said that he was hoping to teach civics inside the prison and planned to bring a standard white notepad, a Bible his grandmother gave him, and a pocket Constitution with him.

Looking toward the end of his incarceration, Santos said, “I’m surrendering in Ferragamo so I can walk out in Ferragamo.”

U.S.-E.U. Trade Deal

Less than a week after the United States struck a $550 billion trade agreement with Japan, the Trump administration scored another victory, securing a historic deal with the European Union.

The U.S.’s trade agreement with the E.U. was announced at a Sunday press conference by President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the U.S. president’s golf course in western Scotland. The deal was reached after months of talks.

“I think this is the biggest deal ever made,” Trump said.

Previously, the U.S. threatened to levy 30% tariffs on E.U. goods, starting August 1, if a deal wasn’t reached. The E.U. said it would respond by implementing tariffs on $109 billion of U.S. imports. Initially,

talks failed. However, on Sunday, the two parties reached an agreement, preventing a trade war between the two Western powers.

Now, the U.S. will instead levy 15% tariffs on the majority of E.U. imports, but not all. According to von der Leyen, aircraft parts, certain chemicals, some generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products, natural resources, and critical raw materials will not be subject to tariffs from the U.S. or the European Union. Tariffs on spirits are still being negotiated, she said. For the time being, there will also be no commercial aircraft tariffs, pending a U.S. review.

“We will keep working to add more products to this list,” said von der Leyen.

Meanwhile, the U.S. will still impose 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, though von der Leyen has proposed the implementation of a quota system instead of tariffs.

In exchange, the E.U. has agreed to invest around $600 billion in the United States. As per the deal, the E.U. is expected to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and spend hundreds of billions of dollars on arms purchases.

The E.U. also said it would bring down non-tariff barriers for vehicles and certain agricultural products, according

to U.S. officials.

According to a senior official from the Trump administration, the president has the right to impose higher tariffs if the E.U. doesn’t fulfill its investment promises.

Less than an hour after the deal was announced, the euro’s value increased by around 0.2% against the dollar, sterling, and yen.

Von der Leyen said Trump was a tough negotiator and noted that the agreement was “the best we could get,” though many Europeans believe the E.U. didn’t get a fair deal.

“We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world, and it’s a big deal. It’s a huge deal. It will bring stability. It will bring predictability,” she assured.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also hailed the trade agreement, which he said would spare Germany’s economy, particularly its major auto sector, from a harmful trade war.

This deal follows similar deals recently reached between the U.S. and Britain, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Fatal Shooting in NYC

On Monday at around 6:30 p.m., a gunman armed with an assault rifle entered a skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan and shot five people, killing a New York City police officer and three civilians — one man and two women — and critically injuring one other person.

The assailant reportedly stepped out of a black BMW and entered the building — the headquarters of the NFL, Blackstone, Rudin Management, Morgan Stanley, and other companies — while holding an AR-15 style M4 assault rifle. Later, authorities found a revolver, ammunition, and magazines in the car. The gunman is believed to be Shane Tamura, 27, a resident of Las Vegas. He opened fire in the building’s lobby, fatally shooting 36-yearold NYPD police officer Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant who joined the force three and a half years ago.

According to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Tamura then shot a woman sheltering behind a pillar. Officials have said that the gunman also shot a security guard hiding behind a desk. Another man is also believed to have been shot in the lobby. The gunman allowed one woman exiting an elevator to escape, according to officials.

The two women who were killed, Wesley LePatner, 43, and Julia Hyman, 27, were both Jewish.

Tisch said that Tamura had documented mental illness, though his motive is currently unclear.

Tamura then “begins to walk the floor, firing rounds as he traveled. One person was struck and killed on that floor. He then proceeds down a hallway and shoots himself in the chest,” said Tisch. One of the victims was an off-duty cop who was shot dead while working as the building’s security guard, according to reports. The officer, Islam, passed away at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Tamura shot himself dead in the chest in Rudin Management’s 33rd-floor offices. According to Tisch, Tamura was licensed in Nevada to carry a gun.

The NYPD secured the area and ordered approximately 100 nearby residents to shelter in place. The FBI helped respond to the shooting. Workers in the building — many of whom were about to go home — had to barricade themselves in their offices. Employees started leaving the building at around 7 p.m.

The 44-story building, built and opened in 1969, is situated between Lexington and Park Avenues, between East 51st and 52nd Streets. As of Monday night, the subway was skipping the Lexington Avenue/53rd Street station due to police activity.

“He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers,” Mayor Eric Adams said of the slain police officer. “He embodies what this city is all about. He’s a true-blue New Yorker, not only in a uniform he wore.”

At a press conference that night, Adams said, “Five innocent people shot tonight. We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence.”

Turf Nation

Across the country, cities and towns are replacing grass fields with synthetic turf, a change that is driven by youth sports teams eager for more year-round playing spaces and the multibillion-dollar turf industry working to convince communities that plastic fields are better than natural ones.

Many local officials, at the urging of families involved in youth sports, say turf fields can easily be played on after it rains and don’t need to be mowed or reseeded.

But some residents, environmentalists and coaches are pushing back, claiming turf — which is made of plastic blades that mimic the look of grass and often sit on a layer of crumb rubber — is expensive to maintain, is vulnerable to flooding, and

exposes children to harmful chemicals and hotter temperatures.

The debate over whether to install turf over grass fields has become a referendum on sports, health, the environment and the use of scarce public resources. In 2022, Boston effectively banned the installation of artificial turf, and municipalities in California, Connecticut and elsewhere have followed suit.

The rift has been particularly intense in Ridgewood, New Jersey, a community of 26,000 residents about 15 miles west of Manhattan. Disputes over turf have spilled onto local blogs and into public meetings, where some of the village’s powerful youth sports leagues — there are at least 10 — have lobbied for replacing grass fields at schools and parks with synthetic turf to give their athletes more chances to play, rain or shine.

Scientists have presented their findings about the chemicals in the fields to village officials.

For the synthetic turf industry, billions of dollars are at stake. Over the past two decades, private equity groups and companies like Berkshire Hathaway have bought turf manufacturers including FieldTurf, Shaw Sports Turf and Polyloom. The industry’s lobbying group, the Synthetic Turf Council, has fought efforts to ban turf and tried to reassure the public that the fields are safe.

In 2023, about 1,500 large turf fields were installed in the United States, bringing the total to around 19,000 fields nationwide, according to AMI Plastics, an industry data organization.

New Jersey has been a focus for the industry. FieldTurf, which has installed fields in Ridgewood, called the state the “FieldTurf Capital of America.” In 2020, the company said its fields in New Jersey covered more than 60 million square feet — “enough to surface all of Central Park, twice!” (© The New York Times)

Kid Kills Cobra

Toddlers are known for their sharp bites. This week, a venomous cobra learned the hard way to stay away from a youngster’s mouth.

Two-year-old Govinda Kumar was playing in his home in Bankatwa, a village in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, on Friday when he spotted a three-foot long cobra and grabbed it.

The snake lunged at the child and coiled itself around his tiny hands. But instead of getting hisss-terical, Govinda put the snake’s head in its mouth and clenched his jaw, Mateshwari Devi, the boy’s grandmother, recounted.

Kumar lost consciousness after ingesting some of the snake’s deadly venom but was quickly brought to a hospital and was revived.

The cobra, though, didn’t fare as well. It died on the spot.

Devi said, “I was moving firewood near the house, and the cobra came out. The child perhaps saw the snake moving and caught hold of it.

“We rushed towards the boy and saw he had taken the cobra’s head into his mouth. We then separated the cobra from

his mouth and hands.”

Cobras are highly venomous snakes. Their bites can kill a human within hours by paralyzing people’s respiratory muscles. In this case, the snake did not bite the toddler, and the venom did not enter his bloodstream.

According to the doctor, “The child had eaten a part of the cobra and the venom had gone into his digestive tract, unlike in the cases where the cobra bites the person and venom goes into blood and triggers neurotoxicity.

“We gave him anti-allergy medicine and kept him under watch. As he didn’t develop any symptoms for 48 hours, we discharged the child on Saturday.”

There are at least 300 species of snakes that reside in India. Sixteen of those are highly venomous. The “big four,” which are responsible for most snake bites, include the spectacled cobra, common krait, Russel’s viper, and sawscaled viper.

Sss-uper sss-cary.

Up, Up, and Not Away

For the fourth time since it opened at the end of June, Siren’s Curse, the newest roller coaster thrill ride at Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park, stranded riders at the top.

The ride is the first “tilt coaster” in the United States. When riders reach the top, a section of the coaster detaches and then tilts 90 degrees to reattach to a sharp decline.

On Tuesday, the ride came to an abrupt stop mid-tilt.

Park spokesman Tony Clark compared the issue to a “check-engine light.”

“The coaster’s safety system performed as designed, the ride was restarted, and guests continued their ride. It reopened shortly after, and all guests exited the ride safely,” he said.

This is not the first time the coaster stranded riders. It left them in the lurch on July 19, July 2, and June 28, its first day of public operation

Going nowhere fast.

Traveling on the Spot

Thinking of where to go for vacation? Stop putting so much thought into it.

Sorin Mihailovici has the right idea. The 48-year-old chooses his own adventures by throwing a dart at a map of the world while blindfolded and then packing his bags and heading to that destination.

Mihailovici started the journey in 2012 after telling a friend he wanted to “wake up one morning and throw a dart at a map and go there.”

He began by visiting far-flung places like the North Pole, Russia and Indonesia. At first, he took one trip a year. Now, the Canadian visits up to 16 places annually with companies funding his adventures. According to the seasoned traveler, he doesn’t travel to the exact spot where his dart lands, but begins in the country’s capital because some nations, such as Uruguay, are too small for precise targeting. So where are the best places to visit? His favorite countries so far include Iceland, Argentina and Thailand, while Madagascar ranked “hands down” as his least favorite, he said, due to a “misconception” shaped by the animated movie sharing its name and locals who “didn’t have the best intentions.”

Mihailovici said he loved Vietnam for its amazing street food and for its cheap accommodations. Other countries, like Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, are quite expensive.

He recently visited Iraq. “People said, ‘Are you crazy?’ Maybe it was not safe, but nothing happened to me. We went to Baghdad and Babylon. It was great. I was eating camel every day,” he recalled.

So far, Mihailovici has traveled to Easter Island, Indonesia, Bermuda, Portugal, Cuba, Thailand, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Iceland, Greece, Japan, Antarctica, Germany, Vietnam, India, Turkey, South Korea and Yemen. He would love to go to Australia and Spain, although those places are hard to hit with a dart.

For those who don’t want to travel based on a spot on a map, Mihailovici has a travel show where you can watch him tour the world.

Bullseye.

Around the Community

Summer Fun at Camp Matov

An Amazing Second Half Begins at Camp Machaneh Yisrael

Summer Fun at Simcha Day Camp

Summer Fun at Simcha Day Camp

The Other Side of The Cork

Cantina Giuliano – Destination: Tuscany, via Paris and London

By Yael E. Geller, MPH

Italian kosher wines continue to proliferate on the shelves and in wine clubs around the kosher world. For a long time, French, Israeli, and American wineries were the first choice for kosher-adhering consumers. However, there has been a significant increase in the production of kosher Italian wines from some of the finest wineries across the entire region. I have previously written about Terra di Seta winery in Tuscany as one of the original kosher wineries producing award-winning wines. Another recently established winery that is becoming a popular choice and tourist destination is Cantina Giuliano.

Cantina Giuliano’s story is as romantic as any burgeoning winery’s tale could be. A young, attractive couple meets, discovers their passion for wine, and strengthens their connection to Judaism through wine and the spiritual realms it encompasses. As we have discussed numerous times, wine accompanies our people through rituals and life cycles that follow Jews throughout their lives and the calendar year. It might sound cliché, but I am still going to tell you all about Eli and Lara Gauthier.

Eli and Lara met while studying at university in London. Eli hails from Paris and Lara from the Tuscan countryside, and though they did not initially realize that wine was a shared passion, Eli confessed to me when I first met him many years ago that it had become his passion since meeting Lara. The Gauthiers continued to develop their relationship, eventually marrying in Israel and settling in London. Eli worked in a market selling wine and conducting tastings, which bolstered the flame lit by his relationship with a native Tuscan. This led him to explore his passion further by enrolling in a winemaking course in Strasbourg, France. He eventually obtained a winemaking degree and a job producing wine in one of the numerous local (non-kosher) wineries the famous wine region had to offer.

The story takes an obvious turn: Eli realized there was a significant lack of kosher wines from Italy. At the time, a few wineries were producing kosher wines, but it was nothing compared to

the number coming from France, California, and, of course, Israel. More variety allows consumers to learn and choose how to drink their wines. The opportunity almost presented itself in 2014, as Lara’s parents had available space in their small Tuscan garage that Eli and Lara could take over to experiment and create a boutique winery that would grow by leaps and bounds. Production began in 2014 with a single Chianti, progressively scaling up, and in 2017, a mere three years later, they were able to open a dairy restaurant to attract more visitors to their winery and the region.

After the first harvest, Eli and Lara welcomed their son and decided to stay in Strasbourg to provide him with a Jewish education and environment, which was not available in Tuscany. Eli now divides his time between France and Italy, spending from Pesach to Sukkot in Tuscany to oversee wine production and manage the tourism and culinary business. The winemaking process is concentrated in September and October, after which Eli returns to Strasbourg to study in Kollel and manage the business from afar. He still makes monthly trips to Italy for essential winemaking tasks like racking, filtering, bottling, and blending.

Tuscany’s diverse terroir is a mosaic of soil types, microclimates, and elevations, all contributing to the distinctiveness of its wines. The region is characterized by its hilly, picturesque terrain that we are all familiar with when we imagine rolling Tuscan hills or even check it out on Google. This climate and terrain provide excellent drainage and varying sun exposures, which are optimal for the varietal grapes the region is famous for. The soils range from clay and limestone in Chianti to sandy and volcanic in other areas, each imparting unique flavors and qualities to the grapes. The Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, ensures a long growing season, allowing grapes to develop to full ripeness potential.

Chianti, made primarily from Sangiovese grapes, is perhaps the most famous type of wine made in Tuscany. A “young” Chianti Primizie was the first wine Cantina Giuliano had to produce and get ‘right’ to solidify their success. Chianti comes in varying levels of quality and barrel aging, producing robust

yet elegant wines showcasing notes of cherries, leather, and earth. Cantina Giuliano now offers several other wines, including Rosato, Vermentino, Merlot from Campagna, Cabernet, Chianti Primizie, a Super Tuscan blend, and Sweet V. The flagship wine, also a blend, is called A Mano, which translates to “handmade.” This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is fermented in oak barrels with manual punch-downs and aged for 18 months in French oak, resulting in a rich and lush mouthfeel.

The winery has grown significantly since its modest inception. Starting with a few thousand bottles of Chianti, the production has expanded ten-fold to 120,000 bottles annually, with eight types of wine ranging from lighter, fruit-forward reds to richer, barrel-aged blends, rosé, whites, and now dessert wines. The Sweet V, made from prized Vermentino grapes, is a low-alcohol, slightly frizzante, fruity hit. There is both a classic white and a rosé version. Eli and Lara are also excited about a new, more traditional Tuscan dessert wine, Vin Santo, which will be exclusively available at their restaurant.

The labels certainly stand out and tell the story of the Gauthier family and the Tuscan countryside. The first Chianti label features a photo of Lara’s father, 18 years old, carrying a 10-liter bottle of wine on a school trip, symbolizing friendship, traditional Italian wine culture, and passion for wine. Subsequent labels focus on the essence of Tuscany, avoiding clichés and old-school imagery.

Wine tourism in Tuscany offers an immersive experience, and with the addition of more kosher options, it has become a popular place for kosher-keeping tourists to vacation, especially in the summer months. Visitors can explore ancient vineyards, tour historic wine cellars, and engage with passionate wine -

makers like Eli and Lara. Cantina Giuliano’s restaurant and holiday offerings provide a fulfilling way to showcase an Italian lifestyle with a deep connection to the countryside.

Looking ahead, the Gauthiers are working on expanding their facilities, especially their tasting room, and increasing the winery’s capacity to meet consumer demand, which has continued to grow. They also aim to expand distribution and strengthen their presence in restaurants, offering catering services including bar mitzvahs and weddings. As well, they now offer an authentic Italian meat menu in addition to the dairy one.

We would be remiss not to mention the passion that drives this power couple to continue improving and producing. They both comment that the most fulfilling aspect is crafting a product used for pleasure and mitzvot. ‘Seeing friends make Kiddush on our wine for significant occasions is tremendously satisfying. Celebrating the bottling of a new batch with our staff at the end of a long process is a cherished tradition.’

Near the conclusion of my interview with Eli and Lara, they gave some wine-pairing tips for some of their offerings, which I happily accepted as they are not exclusively fleishig. “For an ideal meal pairing, I enjoy sea bass crudo with peaches and basil with our Vermentino, while my wife prefers duck confit with parsley potatoes paired with our Super Tuscan.”

I would go with Lara’s suggestion for sure if I were visiting their restaurant. The wine region of Tuscany, with its rich history, diverse terroir, and the Gauthier family’s passion, continues to produce exceptional wines. From classic Chiantis to innovative blends, Tuscan wines offer a journey through tradition and innovation, making it a premier destination for wine enthusiasts, and I will drink to that! L’chaim!

Rooted in Values, Growing Together A Conversation with HAFTR Associate

Principal Temima Feldman

For Temima Feldman, education is more than a career—it’s a legacy.

Inspired by her grandparents, Rav Solomon Shapiro and Rabbi Kowalsky, who devoted their lives to Torah and Jewish education, Feldman brings passion, purpose, and deep personal connection to her role as Associate Principal of HAFTR Lower School.

“When I moved to this community, I already knew of HAFTR’s outstanding reputation,” she says. “I admired its commitment to excellence and couldn’t wait to join a team that so deeply values children, community, and Torah.”

That commitment to community is a recurring theme in Feldman’s approach to leadership. Living and working in the Five Towns/Rockaway area, she experiences firsthand the synergy between school and home.

“It’s more than being part of a school— it’s being part of something greater,” Feldman shares. “The partnership between parents, faculty, and students is real and incredibly powerful.”

At the core of her philosophy is the belief that academic rigor must be built on a foundation of heart. “We see each child as a whole person. Every student receives the challenge and support they need to grow in a way that’s meaningful for them,” she explains. “That level of difficulty looks different for each child, and that’s by design.” From developing empathy and self-awareness to learning how to make responsible decisions, Feldman is proud of the social-emotional growth students experience during their time in the Lower School. “Watching a student mature into someone who supports others and reflects Jewish values—that’s true success.”

HAFTR’s commitment to Jewish life is also personal for Feldman, who was born and raised in Israel. “I’m especially moved by the way HAFTR infuses its love for Israel—its land, people, and culture—into the daily fabric of school life. We don’t just teach Torah—we live it.”

Whether through enhanced enrichment offerings like national math competitions and chess teams, or student-driven learning programs like Multiple Intelligences time, Feldman is most

excited about HAFTR’s responsiveness to student strengths and interests. “It’s a school that says yes to potential,” she says. But for Feldman, it’s not just about programming—it’s also about people.

“Our admin team is a true chevra,” she notes. “We support one another, think collaboratively, and celebrate together. That camaraderie strengthens our leadership and builds a unified school culture.”

When asked to describe HAFTR in one word, Feldman doesn’t hesitate: “Community. From HAFTR Day to Family Learning Nights to Yom Ha’atzmaut, the school creates meaningful moments of connection. That’s what makes HAFTR so special.” As the new school year unfolds, Feldman offers a heartfelt invitation: “Get involved! HAFTR is more than a school—it’s a place where children thrive, families connect, and Torah values come to life.”

Mrs. Temima Feldman has served as Associate Principal of HAFTR Lower School for the past three years. Born in Israel and raised in NY, Mrs. Feldman brings a deep commitment to Jewish values, educational excellence, and building a connected and compassionate school community. Her passion for education begins at home, raising her five children, and now grandchildren, and extends to the school community at large. Her leadership is thoughtful, student-centered, and filled with heart.

Summer Fun at Camp Areivim

Far Rockaway Expands Open Streets Initiative

This past week, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers joined Community Board 14 District Manager Felicia Johnson, Pesach Osina, Richard Altabe, Baruch Rothman, Detective Lynn Blanchette of the 101st Precinct Community Affairs Unit, Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol (RNSP) Coordinators, and local community members to announce the launch of Far Rockaway’s second Open Streets location.

Building on the success of the existing Reads Lane site, Seagirt Avenue—between Beach 6th and Beach 3rd Streets— will now be closed to vehicular traffic on weekends, creating a safe and welcoming space for residents to gather, socialize, and enjoy outdoor activities.

The site will be staffed and monitored by RNSP volunteers, ensuring safety and accessibility. As part of New York City’s broader Open Streets initiative, this program

transforms roadways into vibrant public spaces by reducing or removing vehicle traffic, enhancing community engagement, and improving pedestrian safety.

Summer Fun at Camp Areivim Continued…

Perseverance, Purpose and Plenty of Fun

Week Four at Hillel Day Camp was nothing short of unforgettable. With inspiring guests, meaningful initiatives, and non-stop excitement, we continued to live out our core belief: experiences make memories. We were honored to welcome two very special visitors to camp this week— New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor and catcher Luis Torrens! These MLB stars didn’t just come with baseball skills; they came with a message. Speaking to our campers about perseverance, resilience, and the importance of hard work, they reminded us that success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication, patience, and a positive attitude— lessons that resonate both on and off the field. Our campers listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and left with something tangible to remember the experience: autographed photos and

memories of an afternoon that will last a lifetime.

These lessons in character and determination are especially meaningful as we enter the Nine Days, a time of reflection and growth. At Hillel, we’ve taken this moment as an opportunity to focus inward—working on our middot, strengthening our relation- ships, and joining together to raise funds for the Fountain of Kindness Foundation, whose mission is to unite Jewish families through acts of chessed and kindness. This week kicks off our annual Swim-a-Thon, where every lap counts toward a greater purpose. On Friday, we continued this mission with our Chessed Day Walkathon, bringing campers together to walk for a cause and show that every step can make a difference.

But that’s not all! Our calendar was packed with fun and excitement for all

ages. Our younger divisions were thrilled to welcome Little Racers and Battle Party, turning camp into a world of racing tracks and laser-tag battles. Meanwhile, our older campers enjoyed an incredible trip to American Dream’s Nickelodeon Universe, taking on thrilling rides and sharing laughter and memories.

And of course, we didn’t forget our amazing staff! After a month of nonstop

dedication and passion, they were treated to a well-deserved “Staff Party” celebration and a delicious Staff Appreciation Breakfast. We are endlessly grateful to the counselors, morot, division heads, specialties, and leadership team who bring their full hearts to camp every single day.

Touro Law Professor Receives Prestigious Faculty Development Grant from The Israel Institute

Touro Law Professor and Director of the Jewish Law Institute Samuel J. Levine has been awarded a faculty development grant from the Israel Institute in recognition of his outstanding scholarship and dedication to Jewish Law studies. The grant will support Professor Levine in developing and teaching a new three-credit course, “The Supreme Court of Israel and Jewish Law.”

“This grant honors Professor Levine’s dedication to Jewish Law scholarship and will provide our students with an exceptional educational opportunity to explore the intersection of Jewish legal traditions and modern Israeli jurisprudence” stated Elena Langan, Dean and Professor of Law at Touro Law. She continued, “This grant represents worthy

recognition of Professor Levine’s scholarly work and his commitment to advancing understanding of Jewish Law in modern legal contexts.”

Professor Levine, a distinguished member of Touro Law faculty since 2010, has established himself as a leading scholar in the field of Jewish Law, with extensive research and publications that bridge traditional Jewish legal principles with contemporary legal practice. He has published two books and more than sixty law review articles and book chapters; he has lectured throughout the United States and has delivered online presentations on webinars hosted in countries around the world. The Israel Institute grant acknowledges his significant contributions to this specialized area of legal scholarship.

The Jewish Law Institute at Touro Law offers a scholarly and intellectual framework for the academic study of the Jewish legal experience. Under the direction of Professor Levine, the Institute acts as a center for the study and teaching of Jewish law throughout the United States, bringing together leading scholars, teachers, and lawyers, and serving as a clearinghouse for new ideas and independent research.

The new course will explore the impact of Jewish Law on the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Israel, carefully and critically examining the judicial reliance on Jewish Law and its application to complex legal, social and political issues that touch on the fundamental val-

ues and identity of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The course is expected to launch in the next academic year and will be open to all Touro Law students interested in comparative legal systems, religious law, and Israeli jurisprudence.

The Fun Keeps Rolling at Machane Hakayitz

Bringing Jewish Wisdom to Life: A Campaign to Strengthen Jewish Education

By David Jasse

Igrew up traditional, with a deep love for being Jewish, but it wasn’t until later that I truly discovered the depth and beauty of Orthodox Judaism. At the same time, I had launched a TV career that began at CNN, CBS, FOX, and MTV. Gradually, I merged these two worlds by using my skills in video production to serve the Jewish community.

Through my work, I’ve had the privilege of creating films for Agudath Israel, Chabad, Chai Lifeline, Shuvu, Ohel, Darchei Torah, Sh’or Yoshuv, and many more. One of the highlights of my career was interviewing the legendary Dr. Bernard Lander, zt”l, founder of Touro College. I’ll never forget his words: “Retirement is a misnomer — there is no such concept in Jewish tradition. As long as the Al-mighty gives you strength, you should use it to be productive.”

Dr. Lander started Touro at the age of 58 and passed away working at 95. His

passion for serving Hashem through action continues to inspire me every day.

Working in Jewish media has been a remarkable journey. When I first started, my own knowledge of Judaism was limited, but my career gave me a “tour” of Jewish life. I quickly realized how little the average Jew — myself included at the time — really knows about their own practices.

I often meet Jews who proudly display a decorative mezuzah case on their front door, but have no idea that the true mitzvah lies in the parchment inside, the klaf, handwritten by a sofer. Beautiful cases are nice, but the soul of the mezuzah is what’s inside. This realization drives much of what Torah Wisdom is about.

Over the years, I’ve produced videos featuring leading figures like Rabbi Pesach Krohn, Rabbi Avraham Twerski, zt”l, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Rabbi

Ephraim Buchwald, and Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, z”l. In the early days of this project, when I knew little, I naively approached the major kiruv pioneers — and they all immediately said yes. After all, real outreach leaders are always looking for new ways to spread Torah. The more I learned, the more I realized how much work there is to do; many Jews don’t know basic blessings, many are unaware of the meaning behind holidays and fast days like Tisha B’Av or even Tu B’Shvat. Even among those who do observe, the reason behind our traditions is often lost. When it comes to life milestones, weddings, bar mitzvahs, burials, it’s heartbreaking to see how much of our traditions are overlooked, replaced, or forgotten.

That’s why we’re launching the Torah Wisdom CauseMatch campaign. Running from July 31-August 8, this campaign will raise funds to create high-quality, accessible, meaningful, Jewish educational videos. Short films that meet people where they are, both

online and in real life. And while there may already be other forums with which to spread Torah, we understand that no two teachers are alike. No two educational films are alike. Different voices, different presentations, different souls reached.

Our mission is simple: To use the talents and experience Hashem has given us to help His children reconnect to their own heritage. If someone prepares a seder next year and knows just a little more than they did this year, we’ve succeeded.

We’re calling on the community to partner with us; whether it’s sponsoring a short 2-minute lifecycle video or helping produce a 15-minute exploration of Jewish traditions, you will play a vital role in a movement that believes in the power of Jewish education.

To learn more or join us, visit: https:// causematch.com/torahwisdom Because the next generation deserves to know.

Ishay Ribo’s Historic Upstate Concert Nears Sell-Out; Final Pavilion Tickets Released

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has announced that Pavilion seating is now nearly sold out for Ishay Ribo’s upcoming concert — set for Thursday, August 7 (Yud Gimmel Av), just before Shabbos Nachamu. As demand continues to surge for what’s expected to be one of the most significant Jewish music events of the year, a limited number of Pavilion seats remain available. Lawn tickets and Separate Seating sections are also still open, offering a range of options for guests looking to be part of this historic night.

The open-air amphitheater, nestled in the Catskills, will host Ribo’s only largescale U.S. concert of 2025. The evening will feature a full-length performance by Ribo, joined by a powerhouse lineup of guest artists — led by Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried, whose legendary voice and timeless songs have inspired and shaped generations; the soul-stirring, genre-blending Zusha; and rising star Shmuel, bringing fresh energy and heart to the stage.

As the first-ever Jewish concert at Bethel Woods — and in response to high demand — designated Men’s and Women’s Separate Seating sections have been added within the lawn area. These tickets include a folding chair and are located near the stage, offering a structured and respectful experience without compromising comfort.

● Free on-site parking will be available, with overflow lots and entry support

Smile on Seniors’ Trip

Last week, Chabad of the Five Towns’ Smile on Seniors group enjoyed a special summer outing to the Rock Hall Museum — a local gem in the Village of Lawrence! They toured the

coordinated by trained staff.

● Kosher food vendors will be stationed throughout the grounds for quick and convenient service.

● Security protocols will match the standards of major venues, with gated entry, clear bag policies, and a respectful guest experience.

● Separate Seating sections are located near the stage within the lawn and include a folding chair. Tickets are $76.50 all-in on Ticketmaster ($59.50 base). To choose Men’s or Women’s sections, click “Lawn” and select your section.

The concert will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025 (13 Av 5785) at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Upstate New York. For tickets visit Ticketmaster. For groups and VIP access, visit YamimBaim. com

historic 18th-century mansion, explored the beautiful grounds, and shared a lovely picnic lunch together. A heartfelt thank you to Councilwoman Missy Miller for coordinating this memorable experience!

Five Towns Premier Welcomes Yad Vashem

The Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center had the distinct honor of welcoming Beth Katznelson, Deputy National Director of Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and home to the world’s largest repository of Holocaust documentation.

During this poignant visit last week, 102-year-old Holocaust survivor Marvin Jacobs shared his personal testimony of surviving the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Mr. Jacobs was accompanied by his daughter Susan Stevens and his son David Jacobs. His account will be formally recorded as part of the official testimonies in the Yad Vashem archives, preserving his story for generations to come.

“We are honored to work hand in hand with Yad Vashem to preserve the

legacy of those who perished, and to ensure that the voices of survivors like Mr. Jacobs are never forgotten,” said Joe Benden, Administrator for The Five Towns Premier. “Our facility is home to many Holocaust survivors, and we are deeply privileged to serve them in their final chapters—whether as long-term residents or during short-term rehabilitation.”

The collaboration with Yad Vashem reflects The Five Towns Premier’s ongoing commitment to remembrance, dignity, and compassionate care for its residents, many of whom carry with them the indelible memories and legacies of history.

For more information about the Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, please call (516) 374-9300.

On Sunday, the BACH Jewish Center’s Youth Department hosted a special Sunday Fun Day event: Balloon Twisting with Shelly. The program was part of the BACH’s weekly series of youth events during the summer

Avnet Families Visit Israel Chesed Center

At Avnet Country Day School, engaging in acts of chessed is just as integral to the programming as participating in exciting specialties, sports and trips. In fact, there are always daily opportunities to show kindness and good deeds across all divisions. This past week, the importance of achdut was on full display at the Israel Chesed Center when campers, parents and staff gathered after hours for the second annual “Avnet Family Night of Chesed.” In the midst of the Nine Days, the group was proud to immerse themselves in helping their brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael. There was much to do including packing Shabbos clothing and shoes for families who have fathers serving in the IDF, as well as decorating personalized cards for the chayalim.

“It was a beautiful night celebrating

chesed and watching parents share such a meaningful experience with their children,” said Daniel Stroock, Camp Director. “We want our campers to understand that even at a young age they can always help Am Yisrael.”

Since chessed at Avnet is ongoing, earlier in the summer the older Avnet girls wrote letters and made bracelets and key chains to show solidarity with the victims of flooding in Texas. In addition to the family night, this week Avnet campers are collecting non-perishable food for the Rina Shkolnik Kosher food pantry at the JCC. Avnet’s annual “swima-thon” is also underway during free swim to benefit Chai Lifeline. Donations can be made to this great cause by visiting https://chaiathon.org/chaiathon/ avnet-halb/

Bikur Cholim of Far Rockaway and the Five Towns recently hosted an uplifting Evening of Inspiration for women and teens featuring Rabbi Asaf Haimoff. The event offered meaningful words of reflection and growth as the community prepares for Tisha B’Av

HaGaonim HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Shlita, and HaRav Dovid Cohen, Shlita, Address Thousands of Bachurim in Eretz Yisroel at Dirshu’s Seder Hachanah Event

By Chaim Gold

“Our Torah learning is bringing the entire yeshuah to all of Klal Yisrael. The reason for this is, that when we learn Torah, this brings us closer to Hashem, and when we are closer to Hashem, we merit siyata d’Shmaya. We and all the Yidden in Eretz Yisrael can merit siyata d’Shamaya only when there is a tremendous amount of Torah being learned.

“When you are in yeshiva gedolah, there may come a time when you have to be very careful. You should know that there might be people who try to convince you to join the army. They may tell you that there is a chareidi program. You should know that it is not permitted to go to the army. Each and every one of you is obligated to learn Torah. That is the key to our hatzlacha in Eretz Yisrael!”

Those were the passionate words of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, in a seminal address to thousands of bachurim at Dirshu’s annual “Seder Hachana” event for bachurim who are completing yeshiva ketana

Indeed, it was an unforgettable scene. More than four thousand bachurim from all over Eretz Yisrael, all the same age, converged on the Armanot Chen Halls in Bnei Brak to hear guidance from senior Gedolim. The upstairs floor of the hall, the downstairs floor of the hall, the streets and all the hall’s environs were full of bachurim. Those who could not get in watched on screens.

In addition to being addressed by the Gedolei Roshei Yeshiva, HaGaonim HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, Sephardic Rav of Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elitzur, and Rav Yaakov Shternshus, shlita, Mashgiach of Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuos they were also treated to an address by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu.

There was also a unique shailos and teshuvos session wherein many questions about how to be successful in yeshiva gedolah were posed to the three panel members, HaGaon HaRav Yehoshua Eichenstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Yad Aharon, HaGaon HaRav Bunim Sch-

reiber, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Nesiv Daas, and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva at the Ponevezh Yeshiva. The event was also transmitted live to thousands of bachurim in locales around the world.

The Importance of Preparation for Yeshiva Gedolah

What exactly is the Seder Hachana that Dirshu has been hosting annually for nearly two decades and why is it so important? Seder Hachana is a unique maamad specifically designed for one demographic, bachurim finishing yeshiva ketana and entering yeshiva gedolah. In Eretz Yisrael, the transition from yeshiva ketana – a very regimented system – to yeshiva gedolah which offers much more independent learning can mean the difference between a lifetime of success in learning or challilah the opposite. It is a transition that requires much guidance. Without a doubt, the very practical hadracha of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch was powerful, fascinating and transformative. In clear, concise language he underscored a number of major keys to success and outlined strategies to avoid pitfalls.

“The most important thing that a bachur should know,” Rav Hirsch began, “is that in just one month from now, on Rosh Chodesh Elul, you will be making what might be the most transformative change of your life! One’s entire life is built on the foundation that you make in yeshiva gedolah. I would therefore like to give you several pieces of advice on how best to succeed.”

“The first thing a bachur must realize is that he can unwittingly waste so much precious time in a yeshiva gedolah setting when there is less hashgacha than there was in yeshiva ketana. After a full day of learning, a bachur finally returns to the dormitory and wants to schmooze with his friends a bit. A bit of schmoozing is permitted. The problem begins when that twenty minutes of permissible and even necessary schmoozing can turn into two or three hours… one goes to sleep very late, and the next day is a disaster. The talmid sometimes feels so bad in hindsight, becoming broken and that leads to the next day not being good and the vicious cycle begins…all because he couldn’t control the bittul zeman of ex-

cessive schmoozing at night.

The second point Rav Moshe Hillel passionately made was that when one enters yeshiva gedolah one is also the recipient of a “new yetzer hara.”

“Until now, you were always under someone’s control. You slept at home, you were under your parents, the yeshiva ketanas are very regimented, and you are under constant watch. In yeshiva gedolah there is much more ‘freedom.’ When a person has more freedom, he likes to think, ‘I will now decide what is good for me and otherwise…’ That is a mistake! That is the yetzer hara talking!”

“A Factory that Produces the Greatest Thing in Humanity – a Ben Torah!”

An exceptional highlight of the event was the powerful, moving words of Rav Dovid Cohen. He said, “I have merited to participate in this event for several years already, and each year I am filled with emotion when I see the massive turnout of bachurim who are joining the ranks of Hashem’s army, yeshiva bachurim, bnei Torah.

“Entering yeshiva gedolah is not only a new chapter in life but perhaps the central chapter in your lives! I can still remember how I felt on the day I entered yeshiva gedolah. It was a new chapter in my life, the chapter of becoming a ben Torah, a ben yeshiva.

“Let us try to understand what defines a ben yeshiva and what defines a yeshiva. The yeshiva,” explained Rav Cohen, “is the ‘factory’ that produces the greatest thing that can be found in humanity. That great thing is called a ‘ben Torah!’”

“Now, we can try to encapsulate what that yeshiva, that factory is,” continued the Rosh Yeshiva. “Some say it is a place where we learn Gemara or learn how to learn Gemara. That is incorrect. Yes, what we primarily do in yeshiva is learn Gemara, but that does not define a yeshiva. When a person l’havdil wants to become a doctor or an accountant he goes to a college to learn that trade. A yeshiva is not a college, it is a factory that builds and produces the unique product called a ‘ben yeshiva’. So, what is a ben yeshiva? A ben yeshiva is one who becomes a child of the yeshiva. The yeshiva functions as his ‘father’ and his ‘mother.’ They enable him

to grow and become the talmid chochom who will continue the mesorah of Klal Yisrael for the coming generation!”

The Importance of Recognizing that “Everything Depends on Me”

Another highlight of the event was the passionate address by the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita. Rav Hofstedter cited the words of Rav Eliyahu Dessler who compares the way a person progresses in Torah and avodas Hashem to a ladder that is rooted in the ground but reaches all the way to the heavens. He explained that a person must climb that ladder one rung at a time. He must conquer the yetzer hara at the level that he is at now. Rav Chaim Volozhiner says that when a person tells his slave to climb up to the roof, he doesn’t demand that he jump up from the ground to the roof in one jump. He means that he should climb up one level at a time.

It is this important lesson that every bachur has to understand about aliyah in ruchniyus. He must proceed step by step. Don’t jump and try to do everything at once. A bachur should not think, “I am in yeshiva gedolah. I can reach shleimus right away!”

That is not a healthy thought. Growth in ruchniyus is a process. Slow and steady. Our she’ifos must be to reach very high, but the way to get there is slowly, step by step.

The smiling, yet earnest faces of the bachurim as they exited after being infused with such divrei chizuk and hearing so many real-life scenarios played out in the question-and-answer session said it all. Their shining countenances displayed how glad they were to have heard practical guidance from the Gedolei Hador on the most important period of growth in their lives!

Fortunate is the generation where the young listen to the elders!

Rav Dovid Hofstedter greeting HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon

The Jewish Home will not be printing next week, AUGUST 7, SHABBOS NACHAMU. We will be back in print and on newsstands AUGUST 14.

We wish all our readers an Easy and Meaningful fast.

Around the Community

Live The Blessing

To bring out all the strength and beauty that lies dormant in a sibling relationship, we not only have to recognize who our siblings are but also realize what they need. Ironically, this is often the last thing on our mind; the relationships that matter most in our lives are the ones we worry least about maintaining. After all, we know they care about us and we care about them. What more does anyone need to do?

For friends we will do favors, offer compliments, and watch our tone of voice. We want them to think of us as nice people and to feel assured of our friendship. Under everyday circumstances, however, no such thoughts enter our minds when we’re dealing with our family members. Even spouses rarely get that kind of consideration, unless we’re actively working on the relationship.

However, benign neglect is not the Torah’s model for our relationship with those who are closest to us. “Mibesorcha lo tis’aleim – From your kin do not hide yourself,” advises the navi Yeshayah (58:7). In some families, everyone is

out there in the world making it a better place. They’re volunteering here, giving donations there, helping out everywhere. But for their sibling suffering silently with some difficult challenge, they’re in hiding; they’re nowhere to be found.

The navi tells us that if this is the case, our priorities are backward. Building shalom in a family takes more than overlooking insults and trying not to say or do anything that will be interpreted the wrong way. It takes a proactive interest in each other’s lives.

The Kapichnitzer Rebbe once called one of his chassidim at his business office in Manhattan. He wanted an “appointment.” The chassid was aghast. He would come to the Rebbe; the Rebbe shouldn’t have to come to him! The Rebbe insisted that he wanted to make the trip and asked simply that some time be set aside for him. When the Rebbe arrived and was ushered into the chassid’s office, he launched into a description of the dire circumstances that had befallen a member of the community. The man had lost his job. His family and his health were

falling apart.

The chassid offered to write a $1,000 check on the spot. “Whom should I make it out to?“ he asked. The Rebbe hesitated. His eyes cast to the floor, he said softly, “To your brother.”

Is this an extreme case, in which one brother doesn’t know of the other’s suffering, or that he knows but it simply doesn’t occur to him to offer help? It probably isn’t as extreme as we might think.

Even more commonplace is a relative who simply could use a little backup, not because of a burgeoning crisis but just because he counts in your life. He could use a call – your warm voice and a little conversation rather than a WhatsApp message or a text. Maybe your leftovers could save your sister the chore of making dinner one night. Maybe an invitation to attend a shiur could light up the day of your single sister.

We actually can choose our relatives. We can choose them as the beneficiaries of all the kindness we offer to so many others, thereby building a living, active peace with those who matter most.

Harav Elya Brudny Visits Camp Simcha

On Monday, July 28, Camp Sim-

cha was honored to welcome a special visitor: Harav Elya Brudny, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Brooklyn and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. The visit was a meaningful moment for the children, families, and staff of Chai Lifeline’s summer program for children living with serious illness.

During his time at camp, Harav Brudny toured Camp Simcha’s advanced medical center and expansive recreational facilities, and experienced the joy, warmth, and uplifting energy that define the camp experience.

He addressed the campers with heartfelt words of encouragement and blessing. “It’s a tremendous zechus to be here in such a makom kadosh,” said Harav Brudny, speaking about the value of every soul and the power of joy, even in the face of illness.

“To have a respected Torah leader like Harav Brudny visit our campers and staff, bringing them strength and inspiration, is something they will never forget,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline.

This excerpt is reprinted from Live The Blessing with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

TJH Centerfold

20 Signs It’s Too Hot Outside

U Your flip-flops have fused with the asphalt.

U You put deodorant in the freezer.

U You burned your hand opening the car door.

U Your AC sounds like it’s filing for workers’ comp.

U Ice cream? You mean flavored puddle.

U You’ve seriously considered moving into the freezer.

U The pool is bathwater.

U You tried cooking an egg on the sidewalk—and it worked.

U You canceled plans because “my eyebrows might melt.”

U Your weather app just says “LOL.”

U You opened your mailbox and the letters were sweating.

Riddle Me This!

U Your iced coffee evaporated before you took a sip.

U You stepped outside and instantly regretted every decision in life.

U Your phone overheated just from checking the weather.

U You’re using potholders to touch your steering wheel.

U You’ve switched from cooking with gas to cooking with sidewalk.

U You measure distance in “how many sweat patches” it will cost.

U Your ceiling fan just said, “I’m doing the best I can.”

U Your brain refuses to form coherent thoughts.

U The forecast just shows a picture of the sun laughing.

On a brutally hot summer day, two ice cream vendors set up across the street from each other.

Vendor A stores his ice cream in a regular ice cooler.

Vendor B stores his ice cream in a high-tech insulated ice cooler that blocks all outside heat. By noon, Vendor A’s ice cream is still solid, while Vendor B’s has turned to soup.

Answer: Vendor B forgot to put ice in his cooler.

7 Trivia Questions: “So Hot Right Now” Edition

1. Death Valley, California, holds the record for the hottest reliably recorded temperature in U.S. history: 134°F. In what year did that take place?

a. 1913

b. 1998

c. 2021

d. 2025

4. In the summer of 1980, how many consecutive days was it over 100°F in Dallas?

a. 11

b. 14

c. 19

d. 42

What famous

European city has banned air conditioning in some buildings to preserve historic structures?

7. What is the average daily high temperature in Anchorage, Alaska, during the summer months?

a. 59

b. 67

c. 78

d. 84

Answer key:

2. What was the lowest recorded U.S. temperature in the month of August 1992?

A. 39°F in Colorado

B. 27°F in Wyoming

C. 10°F in Montana

D. 2°F in Alaska

3. Miami has never recorded a temperature of 100°F or above.

a. True

b. False

a. Athens

b. Paris

c. Venice

d. Rome

6. Which Middle Eastern city built air-conditioned bus stops as a public health response to extreme heat?

a. Tel Aviv

b. Riyadh

c. Kuwait City

d. Dubai

You Gotta Be Kidding Me

Moshe and his wife had the same argument every summer: She was always freezing. He was always melting. He’d sneak the AC on. She’d shut it off. He’d lower it to 65°F. She’d bump it back to 78°F. It was the thermostat tango.

One day, during a brutal August heatwave, Moshe gave in and said, “You know what? I love you more than

Wisdom key:

6-7 correct: You are sizzling!

3-5 correct: You are right in the middle, 82°F and balmy!

0-2 correct: YOU forgot to put ice in your cooler… Now your brain is mush!

cold air. Leave it off.”

She smiled lovingly and said, “Thank you, Moshe. That’s so sweet.”

Then she turned on the oven…to roast vegetables. Moshe stared at her. “In THIS weather?!” he gasped. She shrugged and said, “What? The house was getting too cool.”

The parsha of Devarim traditionally precedes the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha b’Av. There are many connections between the parsha and the fast daym but I feel that the main connection lies perhaps in the word “devarim” itself. The word means “words,” and, as Rashi points out, the nuance of the word in Hebrew is almost harsh. The words of Moshe in Devarim are stern and reprimanding. They are the bitter truth that people are so loath to hear.

Soothing promises and vague commitments are much more popular and acceptable to the public. The rabbis of the Midrash emphasize the statement of Solomon that it is better to hear criticism from a true friend than to hear flattery and compliments from an enemy. These are words that are always to be remembered. The enemy that the Midrash refers to is Bilaam and the friend is Moshe. The flattery of Bilaam led eventually to thousands of deaths

Torah Thought

Parshas Devarim

By Rabbi Berel Wein

among the Jews. The words of Moshe have preserved the Jewish people for countless generations. And this is the story of Tisha b’Av and its connection to the parsha and the word “devarim.”

hear sweet lies than to have to listen to harsh and painful truths.

The haftorah of Shabbos Devarim is always the first chapter of Yeshayahu, which begins with the Hebrew word

We always prefer to hear sweet lies than to have to listen to harsh and painful truths.

The prophets of Israel, Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, Amos, Hoshea and others all spoke harsh words to Israel and warned of the impending tragedy. The false prophets who are always to be found in our midst retorted with soothing words and lies that were sweet to the ears of the public. Thus, the destruction of the Temple and Jewish sovereignty became inevitable. We always prefer to

“chazon.” In fact, the Shabbos preceding Tisha b’Av is always named Shabbos Chazon after this first word of the haftorah of Parshas Devarim. “Chazon” means vision, prophecy. Vision can be positive or otherwise. A madman has a vision of world domination and the extermination of other human beings. A righteous person has a vision of a better, more peaceful, moral society. The great

Chasidic masters stated that a person is judged in heaven not only on what that person accomplished and omitted to do but on the visions and goals that motivated that person in this world.

It is not only what a person is, it is also important to realize what that person wishes to be in order to be able to judge the person correctly. Though “chazon” can many times indicate a negative or sad prophecy, the word itself is a neutral one. One can choose whatever vision one wishes to choose.

Therefore Yeshayahu chooses the word “chazon” to begin his book of prophecy. What is the vision of the Jewish people? What kind of a nation do they wish to be? This choice is particular and pertinent to individual human beings as well. Hearing the words of Moshe and of Devarim can be of immense help to us in deciding what our “chazon” – national and individual, should be.

Shabbat shalom.

From the Fire

Parshas Devarim

Which Odessa Do You Live in?

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted

for publication by Binyomin Wolf

There is a story of the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch, zy”a, which can help us understand the unique position in which we find ourselves. Two Jews from Odessa, in southern Ukraine, came to visit the Rebbe. In his private meeting with the first one, the Rebbe asked how things are with the Jews in Odessa. The man answered that, baruch Hashem, things were difficult but that there were shuls, learning, davening, and gemachs (charity funds) to help people. The Rebbe seemed very happy with this and gave the man a donation of ten rubles, a large sum.

Very pleased, the man left the room, and his friend asked him how it went. The first man showed his friend the donation. He asked what the first man had told the Rebbe, so he answered how he had recounted to the Rebbe the fact that Odessa had shuls, davening, learning, and gemachs. The second Jew was surprised, since things in Odessa were very bad and such good things were hardly a prominent part of life for the people there. He resolved that if the first man got such a good donation for telling the Rebbe a misleading narrative, he would get an even better donation for telling the unvarnished truth.

The second man met with the Rebbe, and again, in the course of the conversation, the Rebbe asked how things were for the Jews in Odessa. The man then laid the full story on the Rebbe. The city was full of machlokes – bitter disputes between Jews of different factions. Torah observance was almost non-existent. Physical life was also difficult, and life in the city needed drastic improvement. The Rebbe thanked him and gave him one ruble, a relatively insignificant donation.

Surprised, the man asked why he had gotten such a relatively small sum when he had merely told the truth about Odessa, while his friend had, in fact, exaggerated the significance of the good things happening there. The Rebbe answered, “Do you think that I did not already know the situation of the Jews in Odessa? I have been involved in their welfare for a long time. The truth is that there are two Odessas: Higher Odessa and Lower Odessa. Higher Odessa has shuls, learning, davening, and gemachs. Those things are happening in Odessa right now. But there is also a lower Odessa. That city is full of machlokes, non-observance, and bitterness.”

The man then asked the Rebbe why

he asked them about how the Jews were doing in Odessa if he already knew the answer to his own question. The Rebbe answered that he asked him about the state of the Jews in Odessa only to see which Odessa he was living in – Higher Odessa or Lower Odessa.

“Your friend revealed through his answer that he was living in the part of Odessa where good things were happening. He therefore saw the city through the eyes of one living in Higher Odessa. You, however, resolved to tell me the ‘truth.’ This revealed that you are immersed in the negativity and machlokes of Lower Odessa.”

Ultimate Projection

The root of Tisha B’Av is the sin of the spies. Because they cried for no reason on Tisha B’Av, that day was established as a day of tears for generations to come (Sota 35a). The Lubavitcher Rebbe, zy”a, in a sichah, explains that the Torah reveals an additional insight into this question. Moshe told us in this week’s parsha, “You complained in your tents and you said, ‘Because Hashem hated us, he took us out of the land of Egypt to give us over into the hands of the Emori to destroy us’” (De-

varim 1:27). How the Jewish people possibly think that Hashem hates them? These are the same people who experienced the Ten Plagues, the Splitting of the Sea, the giving of the maan every day, and the Well of Miriam which traveled with them in the desert. How is this possible?

Rashi says that by saying this, Moshe was implying to them, “But He [Hashem] loves you! It must be you who hate Him.” The root of understanding what Tisha B’Av is and why it is not yet a yom tov is that we must always begin by asking ourselves: “Which Odessa am I living in: Higher Odessa or Lower Odessa?” Each of us explains the world around us according to the world in which we live. If our inner world is focused on or filled with negativity and machlokes, then we look through those glasses and see a world around us filled with darkness, evil and cynicism. But if our focus and inner life is centered around kindness, goodness, learning, davening, giving, and light, then we look through those glasses and see the goodness in the world and people around us.

The Jewish people only felt that G-d hated them because, inside, they were living in a world of negativity and hatred.

That is why, against all evidence to the contrary, they thought Hashem hated them. Let us consider an event 900 years after the sin of the spies, the time of the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. The Jewish people were entrenched in the Lower Odessa of idol worship, murder, and immorality. We know that whether the keruvim, the golden angels on top of the holy Aron, were facing each other or facing away from each other was a sign of how Hashem was relating to us at that moment. The Gemara says that when the enemies of the Jewish people entered the Holy of Holies, they saw that the keruvim were not only facing toward one another, they were embracing (Yuma 54a). How can we understand this? The only explanation is that Hashem loves us. No matter how much things hurt, no matter how incomprehensible Hashem’s actions are, we can still choose to live in the world of the keruvim embracing one another, the world of Higher Odessa.

A Slap on the Back

There was a well-known Yerushalmi named Nachum Margolios, a”h, who was known for always having a smile on his face, though his life was far from easy. He and his wife only had two daughters, and

it happened that both of them were killed in an accident. To everyone’s surprise, even during shiva, Reb Nachum continued to appear in good spirits, with a smile on his face. Some of his friends asked how he was able to maintain his happiness immediately after both of his children were killed. He answered them, “Let me explain

around, I saw that it was Hashem behind me, and I know that He loves me. That is how I am able to continue to rejoice even now despite my tremendous pain.”

When the pain of Tisha B’Av comes Motzei Shabbos, we turn around and gaze through the eyes of Higher Odessa and look back at Shabbos, on which we say ev-

“I felt a huge slap of pain, but when I turned around, I saw that it was Hashem behind me, and I know that He loves me.”

with an analogy. If you are walking in the street and feel a painful slap on the back. What happens? If you turn around and see that it is a stranger, you are upset at the person and rightfully complain about what he has done to you. But if you turn around and see that it is a close friend, then you immediately realize that it is a slap of love. You embrace your friend with compassion and happiness. So what can I say? I felt a huge slap of pain, but when I turned

ery yom tov, “with love and good will.” We see that Hashem loves us and is behind all of the pain.

Somewhat counterintuitively, this is the most rational response. Each of us have a brother, sister, parent, child, or even a friend who has been good to us over the years and we know that this person loves us. What is our reaction if suddenly they do or say something that hurts and pains us? Do we immediately assume the worst?

That the person is intentionally hurting us? Or do we look at the love they have for us and that we have had for them and ask ourselves, “Let me understand more deeply. Someone like this who loves me would not have intentionally hurt me out of the blue. It must be that there is a deeper cause. Perhaps he or she is going through tremendous pain. Perhaps something is going on that we know nothing about that explains this.” If we look at our friend or loved one through the eyes of Higher Odessa, we will continue to see the love between us even when they cause us pain.

On this mysterious mixture of Tisha B’Av and Shabbos, may the love of Shabbos color the glasses through which we see the world and particularly the things that cause us pain. In the merit of this, may we see the ultimate sweetening of every drop of pain and suffering with the arrival of Moshiach ben Dovid, the rebuilding of the third and final Beis HaMikdash, and the reestablishment of the permanent revelation of Hashem’s Presence in this world.

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.

Aspeaker once started his seminar by holding up a $100 bill.

“Who would like this $100 bill?” he asked.

Every hand in the room went up.

The speaker looked around and then crumpled the bill in his hand.

“Who wants it now?” he asked. Every hand in the room remained in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what about now?” He dropped the bill on the ground and stomped on it with his shoe.

He picked up the now crumpled and dirty bill and showed it to the crowd.

“Who still wants it?”

Every hand was still up in the air.

“My friends, you have just experienced a very powerful lesson. No matter what I do to this money, no matter how

Think. Feel.Grow.

Soul Questions: Who Are We?

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

crumpled or muddy it gets, it does not decrease in value. Many times, in our lives, life has a way of crumpling us up and grinding us in the dirt. We make bad decisions or deal with poor circumstances, and we begin to feel worthless. We feel that Hashem has abandoned us; that He no longer values us. But no matter what has happened, and no matter what will happen, you will never lose your value. You were created b’tzelem Elokim, and nothing can change that.”

What Are We?

Arguably, the most important concept in life is the nature of the soul.

Most people believe that they “have” a soul, some spiritual essence they possess within themselves. However, the deeper Jewish sources reveal a pro -

found spiritual secret: you don’t have a soul, you are a soul.

In other words, the soul is not an aspect of your self, or some spiritual component of your being; it is your very self. You are a soul, a consciousness, a spiritual being. When you say “I,” you are referring to your soul, your inner sense of self. You have a body, emotions, and an intellect — all different aspects and expressions of your soul. But you are a soul, a neshama, an infinitely expansive consciousness.

A soul is angelic, perfect, pure, and transcendent. Before entering this world, we exist as this perfect, pure being. (Even when we are the womb, we are in a near perfect, pure state of being — what Chazal refer to as our “fetal self.” See Niddah 30b.) However, the

moment we enter the physical world, the infinite expansiveness of our soul is confined within our physical body. The body is the container of the soul, but it is also the soul’s vehicle and tool, allowing the soul to manifest its will in this world. This is our mission in life. We enter this world with an undeveloped vehicle — our limited body. The soul, our existential self, is already perfect, but we don’t yet have access to the fullness of our true self. As we journey through life, we tap into greater and greater aspects of our soul and our self, and we must then manifest them into the world through our physical bodies. In doing so, we uplift our physical vessels, enabling them to tap into greater and greater aspects of our true self. This is the beautiful cycle of life, the endless

Our Inner Struggle

While this perspective is both powerful and fundamental, its implementation is elusive. (It is perhaps humanity’s most central struggle.) Many people believe that they are a body — a physical, finite being. Having forgotten our true selves, we are born with the illusory belief that we are only that which we can see. When we look in the mirror, we see only flesh and bone, and we believe that this is all that we are.

However, this is merely our starting point. The turning point in life is the moment we realize that we are angelic souls in a physical casing. We are not physical beings attempting to have a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings trying to uplift our physical experience.

There is a paradoxical relationship between the body and the soul:

Your soul, which is your “self,” is transcendent, infinite, and purely spiritual. You cannot see, smell, or touch the consciousness, the mind. You will never see someone else’s inner world.

The body, however, is finite, limited, and physical. Your soul will never die, but your body will eventually age and wither.

If the soul and body are diametrically opposed, how do they manage to coexist? One would expect them to repel each other like two opposite sides of a magnet.

This is the powerful purpose of food. There needs to be something to keep your soul attached to your body, some kind of “glue.” Eating food generates the energy that keeps your neshama connected to your body. This is why the lack of eating has the opposite effect. What happens when you don’t eat? You become faint. What happens if you continue to fast? You will pass out. And if you still don’t eat, your soul will leave your body, and you will die. Eating maintains the connection between your soul and your body; it is what keeps you alive.

This is the depth behind the phrase: “U’mafli la’asos — Who performs wonders,” that we recite in Asher Yatzar. What “wonder” are we referring to? Many commentators, such as the Beis Yosef, suggest that it is the wondrous paradox that our soul, infinitely transcendent, remains connected to our bodies, a physical, finite vessel. We mention this specifically after using the bathroom because we have just filtered

out the unneeded parts of what we ate or drank, the very means of forging the connection between body and soul.

We can now understand the power of fasting, especially on the day of Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, we attempt to live as malachim, completely transcending the physical world. We therefore fast, allowing our soul to slightly disconnect from — and transcend — our body, enabling us to experience one day of living in an angelic state.

This principle sheds light on all the issurim of Yom Kippur as well. We don’t

out of your “shoe” represents removing your angelic soul from your body. On Yom Kippur, we aim to transcend our physical bodies and embrace our angelic selves. We therefore remove our shoes, our “physical vessels.”

Moshe vs. Yehoshua

Both Moshe and Yehoshua were commanded to remove their shoes. Moshe was instructed to remove both shoes, whereas Yehoshua was commanded to remove only one. Based on the previous discussion, let us now

When you say “I,” you are referring to your soul, your inner sense of self.

engage in the physical world because Yom Kippur is a day of transcending the physical aspects of human experience. (Physical relations, eating, washing the body, and wearing perfume all require one to engage in the physical.) There is, however, one halacha that still requires elucidation: Why do we remove our shoes on Yom Kippur?

The Spiritual Concept of Shoes

The Nefesh Hachaim explains the profound spiritual concept of shoes. The body uses the shoe as its means of traveling through the world. The lowest part of your body rests in your shoes, allowing you to walk. (Nefesh Hachaim 1:5, note 6; see also Ruach Chaim, Avos 1:1.) This relationship — between the body and shoe — is the same relationship between the soul and the body. You are an angelic soul, a neshama, but the lowest part of your angelic self resides within your physical body, serving as your container, your “shoe,” and this is what allows you to “walk” through the world, to interact with the physical, to actualize your potential. Naal , the Hebrew word for shoe, also means to “lock,” because shoes lock your feet in and allow you to walk around. So, too, your body locks your angelic self in, allowing you to use your body to navigate this physical world.

The Nefesh Hachaim explains that the spiritual concept of removing our shoes represents the act of transcending our physical bodies. Taking your “foot”

is to connect the finite to the infinite and to connect Klal Yisrael to Hashem. Yehoshua, however, was not on the same level as Moshe, and his nevuah was therefore on a lower level as well. Consequently, he only removed one shoe, representing his partial transcendence during his prophetic experience. He was halfway between the infinite and finite, bridging the gap between the two. The transition to Yehoshua’s leadership represents the transition from Moshe’s transcendent leadership to Yehoshua’s more immanent and this-worldly leadership. This is the transition from the midbar — the stage of constant miracles, to Eretz Yisrael — the stage of hishtadlus (effort), of finding the miraculous within the natural. (See Netziv, Haamek Davar 20:8.)

Our Mission in Life

try to understand this mysterious command.

Prophecy was an other-worldly experience. Hashem expanded the Navi’s consciousness, enabling him to connect to a higher dimension of existence — one that lies far beyond the limitations of time and space, far beyond the capacity of the normal human mind. In doing so, the Navi became capable of experiencing lofty ideas and intellectual truths that he would otherwise not have access to. These ideas and truths would then filter down through the Navi’s intellect and get translated by his imaginative faculties, resulting in his unique experience of those objective truths. Nevuah was an otherworldly and angelic experience of the spiritual world that a Navi experienced while still in this world.

This is why Moshe was commanded to remove both of his shoes before receiving nevuah at the burning bush. Before transcending into the spiritual, angelic realm, Moshe had to remove his shoes to loosen the connection between his soul and his body.

The Malbim explains the difference between Moshe and Yehoshua: Moshe was on a much higher level of nevuah and, as such, completely transcended his body. This was expressed by removing both of his shoes, reflecting total transcendence. The same is true when Kohanim duchen: When they are performing the avodah, they transcend their bodies and connect to a higher consciousness. This is because their job

The goal of life is not to transcend this world while living as angelic and perfect spiritual beings; the goal is to live a transcendent live within this physical world, transforming and uplifting our limited existence into something infinite and eternal.

May we be inspired to fully experience our angelic inner selves, while also infusing it into our physical life, elevating our actions and intentions as we move this physical world toward its ultimate spiritual root.

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.

Torah Thought The Tisha B’Av Remedy

By Rav Yaaov Feitman

Tisha B’Av is a day of contradictions. It is the saddest day of the year; in the morning, we sit on the floor and cry. Aside from the destruction of both Batei Mikdash (Sanhedrin 104b), World War I, which led directly to the Holocaust Churban Europa, began on that day, the expulsion from Spain happened then, and many other tragedies took place on that day as well. Yet, Tisha B’Av is called a Moed (Eichah 1:15), and therefore we don’t recite Tachanun. Chazal (Yerushalmi Berachos 2:4) teach that Moshiach will be born on Tisha B’Av, the best of predictions for the seemingly worst of days. How do we reconcile all these apparent conflicts?

The path to an answer may be found in the poignant words of the Telzer Rav, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Bloch. He was murdered in cold blood by the Nazis, but he taught us a crucial lesson in his very last words. The Nazi who was beating him to death cynically mocked him with the words, “Herr rabbiner, vu ist dein Gott jetzt ? Rabbi, where is your G-d now?” The Rav answered calmly but forcefully, “He is not only my G-d,

He is your G-d as well, and the world shall yet hear of this.”

That was his answer to the Nazi, but for us, there is a lesson from the word moed. He explained that moed here does not mean a holiday; it comes from the word vaad, which means an appointment. On Tisha B’Av, we have an appointment with the Ribbono Shel Olam.

With some trepidation, I would like to offer a modernization of Rav Bloch’s metaphor. On a Friday, a man is called into his boss’s office. “On Monday morning, first thing, I want you in my office.”

The man goes home and tells his wife, “I don’t know if I’m being fired on Monday or I’m getting a raise and promotion. The one thing I know is that I have an appointment with the boss.”

As Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman used to say famously, “Our Boss is Hashem. Nothing else and no one else counts.”

The Telzer Rav was telling us all the good news that we have a Boss. He runs the world and rewards and punishes us accordingly.

Chazal (Yoma 9b) teach us that the first Bais Hamikdash was destroyed

because of the three cardinal sins and the second because of baseless hatred. We didn’t always understand each detail of the connection between the act and the punishment, but we knew for sure that it came from Hashem. Countless pesukim in Eichah attest to this fact which is often forgotten by historians and even ourselves. My rebbe, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l, often reminded us that the tragedies of Jewish history are not necessarily always connected to any immediate sins or failings. His words were that “a Tochacha is hanging over us, and we cannot predict when or why it will come at that time.” In other words, the statements of chastisement in the Torah are eternal and applicable according to His will. Our job in every generation is to be as good as we can and accept His decrees and be grateful for His gifts.

The ramifications of these teachings are that it is not up to us to be judgmental of any one group or generation. Only the Nevi’im and Chazal were capable of drawing those connective lines. We dare not blame anyone else, but we must each do our own personal cheshbon hanefesh

– self appraisal – of our spiritual status. Thus, when Chazal (Gittin 54 and on) tell us how several individuals brought about the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, it is to remind us how each and every one of us can cause or prevent a churban. While we can’t judge others, our free will is such that we can change ourselves in a moment and possibly change history as well.

That is just part of the greatness and majesty of Tisha B’Av. Despite all the tragedies which occurred on this day, the seeds of redemption were planted then as well. The meforshim point out that there are 21 days from the Seventeenth of Tammuz until Tisha B’Av, and there are 21 days from Rosh Hashanah until Hoshanah Rabbah. Not only is this no coincidence, but the type and result of 21 days in our calendar depends upon us. It is not always the large events which cause a churban, but even seemingly inconsequential happenings such as a private dinner (Kamtza and Bar Kamtza) which bring calamities to pass. We should never abdicate our personal role in history, both for better or worse.

To return to the burning words of

the Telzer Rav, the Navi Amos (3:3) says, “Do two people walk together unless they had so arranged (noadu)?” The word noadu includes the letters of vaad. Any meeting can, G-d forbid, turn into an opportunity for lashon hara or for a message from Hashem, as the posuk states, “It is here that (venoadeti ) I will set My meetings with you” (Shemos 25:2). We can make any moment into a meeting with Hashem, or into time wasted, or worse, a horrible sin.

I have a friend who is not a rabbi but an honest businessman. He never fails to initiate a dvar Torah when he is speaking to a fellow Jew. One of the mashgichim in Telz named Rav Yankel Cohen, zt”l, started a custom. After the chuppah at a wedding, there is often a “downtime” of an hour when people are sitting around waiting. He would throw out a Torah question at the table. Rav Yankel made sure it was something about which anyone could offer a thought or chidush. Soon there was a rischa d’oreisa – Torah lively debate – for an hour of what might have been emptiness at best. That is what a person can accomplish. It may not seem like something which would save the Bais

Hamikdash or bring Moshiach, but it might, and the cumulative effect can certainly move mountains.

There is a famous diyuk, a careful reading of a Gemara, which can change our lives. Chazal (Taanis 30b) say that one who mourns for Yerushalayim “zocheh v’roeh,” sees the joy of her happiness.” The use of the present tense

see also Ohr Gedalyahu Moadim, page 46) points out that the word mimena uses the same letters as mei’Haman, meaning that the salvation of Purim came not only from Mordechai but ironically from Haman as well. We are living in turbulent and dangerous times, but we can turn the negatives into positives. One way, of course,

We should never abdicate our personal role in history, both for better or worse.

(roeh) means that he will already see the joy even before the rebuilding. How can that be? The answer may be found in the pasuk, “It will be a time of trouble for Yaakov but he shall be saved mimena from it.” The Netziv (on the Sheiltos, Kuntres Kidmas Haemek 8) and many others teach that mimena means that “from the trouble itself Yaakov will be saved.” The Sfas Emes (Purim 5657 and

is have full bitachom in Hashem that He is doing all for our benefit. Secondly, we are being given many opportunities to counteract the sinas chinam which destroyed the Second Bais Hamilkdash with the ahavas chinam of loving every Jew whether or not we agree with him or even understand him. Thirdly, from now until Yom Kippur, we must enter every day knowing that we have an ap -

pointment with Hashem. Our very lives and certainly livelihood and quality of life are at stake. Hashem wants to hear our tefillos and will answer according to our level of kavanah – intent – and seriousness. Fourthly, we must remember that He is the Boss in all things, and we cannot be arrogant enough to think that we are masters of our own destiny.

Lastly, as we go from the 21 days of tragedy to the 21 of happiness, let us keep in mind those who are suffering in any way and keep them in our prayers. As we cry over the loss of the Bais Hamikdash, let us cry over them, whether those who are still hostages, those who have lost their lives or their innocence and truly commiserate and empathize with their pain. This is where we were promised that when we mourn we shall rejoice as well.

May Hashem send us the true yeshuah out of the midst of the tzarah bimeheira b’yameinu.

Harav Yaakov Feitman is the rav of Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi in Cedarhurst, NY.

De MA n D ing t zion

By Rabbi Daniel Glatstein

Klal Yisrael has been suffering in galus for more than two thousand years. Remaining in exile is a clear indicator that something is still lacking. There must be something we still need to accomplish before Mashiach can arrive.

A Divine M AnDAte

In Parshas Re’eh , the Torah tells us: “Rather, only at the place that Hashem, your G-d, will choose from among all your tribes to place His Name there shall you seek out His Presence and come there” (Devarim 12:5).

Although Hashem will select the location to rest His Divine Presence, it is still critical that “l’shichno sidrishu,ּ You shall seek out His Presence” — i.e., the location of the Shechinah, “u’basa shamah, and come there.” Malbim points out that throughout Tanach, the Makom HaMikdash, the site of the Holy Temple, is referred to as the Makom asher yivchar Hashem, the location that Hashem will choose . We need the Navi to advise us as to the precise location of the site Hashem has selected. In fact, in Sefer Shmuel and again in Divrei HaYamim , the Navi tells us exactly where the Temple was to be built:

“Gad came to Dovid on that day and said to him, ‘Go up, erect an altar to Hashem on the threshing floor of Aravnah the Yevusi’” (Shmuel II 24:18).

“Shlomo then began building the Temple of Hashem in Yerushalayim on Har HaMoriah, where He had appeared to his father, Dovid. He established it at

Dovid’s place, on the threshing floor of Arnan the Yevusi” (Divrei HaYamim II 3:1).

However, even though Hashem has selected the site and the location is mandated by Divine decree, a task remains for Klal Yisrael to perform: l’shichno sidrishu! Klal Yisrael must seek out the Temple Mount! This is what Dovid HaMelech referred to when he declared, “Before I find a place for Hashem, resting places for the Strong One of Yaakov” (Tehillim 132:5).

The Malbim teaches us that Dovid understood the message in the directive of darash, seek . L’shichno sidrishu refers to personal exploration and investigation to identify and locate. Dovid realized that while ultimately the location would be identified by the Navi, the Navi would reach out and provide the location only after Dovid had put in significant effort into identifying it on his own. He therefore proceeded to search for and identify the Makom HaMikdash even before the Navi had the opportunity to reveal its location.

Why LeArn MAseches MiDDos?

The Navi has assured us that when Mashiach arrives, Hashem will advise us as to the dimensions of the Third Beis HaMikdash. We will be able to employ those directions in the construction of the Temple. Yet Rambam teaches that we must study Maseches Middos in order to know how to build the future Beis HaMikdash. But if Hashem will provide all the information we need, why do we expend time and effort in learning it now?

The Tosafos Yom Tov addresses this question in

his hakdamah to Maseches Middos. He explains that the measurements of the Third Temple will be provided only to those who have previously attempted to understand them on their own. Only people who had already expended their maximal effort to understand how Hashem would want the Beis HaMikdash built will be privy to the instructions that will be provided when Mashiach comes.

DerishAh is requireD

The Malbim and Tosafos Yom Tov both present a similar teaching. To be privy to the building of the Beis HaMikdash, we need to be engaged in derishah, in personal inquiry and exploration. In this same vein, our active participation is a prerequisite for the coming of Mashiach. We cannot rest on our laurels and wait for Hashem to send Mashiach. It is not sufficient for us to merely go about our regular Torah study and performance of mitzvos and let the Redemption come when it may. We must be proactive and engaged now, while still in galus, in seeking out the arrival of Mashiach. The bechirah will belong to Hashem; He will choose where and when. But we must be engaged in l’shichno sidrishu — in energetically and enthusiastically seeking.

The Navi Yirmiyah gives us a similar admonishment: “For I will make a cure for you and I will heal you from your wounds — the word of Hashem; for they called you ‘Discarded!’ [saying] ‘She is Tzion — no one seeks her out’” (Yirmiyah 30:17).

The Gemara explains: From the fact that it is a problem that no one is seeking, doreish, Tzion, we can infer that we should be doing so. The implication of this pasuk is that doreish Tzion, seeking Tzion, is a requirement. It is necessary for us to be engaged in derishah. Twice in the Shabbos zemiros we mention seeking Tzion. In the zemer Baruch Keil Elyon, we sing, “May He seek out Tzion, the outcast city.” Similarly, in Dror Yikra, we sing, “Seek My Temple and My Hall.” But to what does derishah refer?

WhAt Does DerishAh entAiL?

What is this task with which we are charged? What must we be seeking? R’ Chaim Kanievsky seeks to understand the meaning of doreish; to what action does it refer? R’ Chaim cites a pasuk in Parshas Noach to offer a powerful explanation: “However, your blood that belongs to your souls I will demand, of every beast will I demand it; but of man, of every man for that of his brother I will demand the soul of man” (Bereishis 9:5).

Targum Onkelos translates the word “edroish” in the pasuk as “esbah, I will claim.” Thus, doreish means to demand or lay claim to something that is mandated. A gift cannot be claimed or demanded. One can only demand or claim something that is owed to him.

R’ Chaim offers another example about when Rivka was pregnant with Yaakov and Eisav: “The children agitated within her, and she said, ‘If so, why am I thus?’ And she went to inquire of Hashem” (ibid. 25:22).

Once again, it is instructive to see how Onkelos interprets the pasuk: “The children clashed inside her, and she said, ‘If this is so, why did I desire this?’ She went to claim instruction from Hashem. ”

When the Gemara tells us, “Tzion hi doreish ein leh m’klal d’vayah derishah,” it means that we are required to demand Tzion! We need to demand that Hashem restore Yerushalayim and bring Mashiach! It is not sufficient to ask and request in a gentle manner. We must demand it! Although the Gemara states that Klal Yisrael took an oath that we would not try to hurry the keitz, the end of our exile, we are still mandated to “claim” and demand that Hashem bring Mashiach.

DeMAnDing tzion

Three times a day, when we daven Shemoneh Esrei, we request that Hashem rebuild Yerushalayim: “And to Yerushalayim, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may You rest within it, k’asher d’bartah, as You have spoken.”

This should not be treated as a mere request; rather, it can be considered a demand that Hashem keep His promise and rebuild Yerushalayim k’asher d’bartah, “as You promised!” We are telling Hashem that we want to collect on His assurance to rebuild and restore Tzion!

R’ Chaim cites an astounding Yalkut Shimoni. The Midrash teaches that the reason many soldiers died in the times of Dovid HaMelech was because they did not demand the building of the Beis HaMikdash! These soldiers, adds the Midrash, had never seen the Beis HaMikdash, yet they were taken to task for not demanding that it be built, and for this, they paid with their lives. We must learn from this and resolve to demand that Hashem rebuild the Beis HaMikdash.

We can also accomplish this in Shemoneh Esrei when we recite, “And may our eyes behold Your merciful return to Tzion.” Chazal established this bracha not to merely politely request that Hashem send Mashiach and restore Yerushalayim and the Beis HaMikdash. It is for us to claim of Hashem — to be doreish — that He do so immediately!

iMpossibLe to refuse

The Chofetz Chaim would often relate the following story: After the Beis HaLevi had served as the rav of Slutzk, he was offered the position of Rav of Brisk. At first, R’ Yoshe Ber adamantly refused to accept the position. It was his hope that he would be able to spend his time fully engrossed in learning Torah, without the yoke of rabbanus. One of the emissaries sent from Brisk implored him to accept the position. “How can you refuse? There are 25,000 Jews asking you to come be their Rav, and they are eagerly awaiting your arrival! You can’t turn them down!”

The Chofetz Chaim commented on this incident, saying that if the Beis HaLevi understood that he could not turn down 25,000 waiting Jews, then Mashiach also could not possibly turn down 25,000 Jews waiting for him to arrive! How, then, wondered the Chofetz Chaim, can Mashiach keep us waiting for hundreds of years?

We must sadly conclude, he answered, that we are not truly waiting for him. We daven, “And to Yerushalayim, Your city, may You return in compassion.” We ask, “And may our eyes behold Your merciful return to Tzion.” But it is mere lip service. If we really wanted him to come, if we really demanded his arrival, he would have to come. He would not keep Klal Yisrael waiting. This is taught explicitly in the Kuzari, the great work of R’ Yehudah HaLevi.

Among R’ Yehudah HaLevi’s contributions to the world of Torah literature is his great work, Kuzari, which describes the quest of the king of the Khazar

We must demonstrate that we have a gaping void, a vacuum that can be filled only by Mashiach’s arrival.

tribe to determine the true religion by questioning a Christian, a Muslim, and a Jewish scholar. The king was finally convinced of the authenticity of Judaism. Ultimately, he and his entire kingdom embraced Judaism as the true religion.

During the dispute, the king of the Khazars taunts the Jewish scholar, saying that the Jews seem to pay insincere lip service to Tzion. The Kuzari contends that when we pray thrice daily, “Who returns His Divine Presence to Tzion,” it is mere lip service. It is insincere. If we were to truly demand His arrival wholeheartedly, then we would experience what our ancestors experienced in Egypt — redemption.

Upon hearing this, the Beis HaLevi turned to his wife. “Please hand me my kapoteh; I can’t refuse 25,000 Yidden.” He accepted and moved to Brisk.

The imperative of demanding Tzion is sourced in the Rishonim. The sefer Metzapim L’Yeshuah cites the Shibbolei HaLeket, who writes that Klal Yisrael will not be redeemed until we acknowledge and demand three things: the restoration of the acceptance of Malchus Shamayim (which we request in the bracha Mishan

u’mivtach l’tzaddikim), the Beis HaMikdash (Bonei Yerushalayim), and Malchus Beis Dovid (Matzmiach keren yeshua).

the guiDAnce of the chofetz chAiM

None other than the Chofetz Chaim himself also instructs us that Klal Yisrael is mandated to demand Mashiach’s coming. Several times a day, we ask Hashem to bring Mashiach and to rebuild Yerushalayim. However, it does not suffice to merely ask Hashem, to politely request this. Rather, we need to demand it of Hashem as if we were workers demanding our wages! The halacha is that an employer is obligated to pay his employee on the very day he completes his work only if he claims it. It is in this same manner that we must demand the Redemption and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash from Hashem.

The Chofetz Chaim then adds a chilling statement. If we do not demand that Hashem bring the Geulah, if we do not petition Him for it as if we are urgently awaiting payment for our labor, then we are displaying that we do not truly long for Mashiach to come!

But we do have to ensure that we are asking for the Geulah with a sense of great urgency and extreme need. We must demonstrate that we have a gaping void, a vacuum that can be filled only by Mashiach’s arrival.

When one asks Hashem for a refuah from a serious illness, his requests will be of a more urgent nature than someone asking for something that is merely a preference. Asking Hashem to bring Mashiach and rebuild the Beis HaMikdash must be like someone asking for a very pressing and serious need.

DeMAnDing tzion to gLorify hAsheM’s nAMe In Tehillim 122, Dovid HaMelech sings the praises of Yerushalayim and prays for its well-being: “For the sake of the House of Hashem, our G-d, I will seek good for you” (Tehillim 122:9).

Targum Yonasan explains: “On account of the Sanctuary of Hashem, our G-d, I claim for your good.” We pray for Hashem to rebuild Yerushalayim and the Beis HaMikdash — but not for ourselves. This is not a claim that we make for our own benefit; rather, it is for Hashem. We tell Hashem that we are demanding on His behalf! We want the Final Redemption so that Hashem’s existence and dominion will be recognized throughout the entire world!

Mashiach’s arrival will result in a great kiddush Hashem, and this is what we are demanding: that Hashem bring the Redemption and rebuild the Temple so that His Name can be glorified and sanctified.

It is our intent l’sheim Shamayim that allows us to make demands of Hashem. Granted, we are making demands, but they are to honor and glorify Hashem. In the merit of adding this demand to our tefillos, may we merit the Geulah Sheleimah b’karov.

There are many tragic stories that occurred during the time of destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. One of them is described in Kinnah 34, which we say on Tisha B’Av morning. It speaks about the murder of Zechariah ben Yehoyada, who was a prophet, a judge, and a kohein during the time of the first Beis Hamikdash. Hashem sent him to reprimand Bnei Yisrael for worshipping idols. But when Zecharia admonished Bnei Yisrael for rejecting Hashem, they stoned him in the courtyard of the Beis Hamikdash. Our rabbis tell us that this occurred on Yom Kippur, which that year happened to fall on Shabbos. In effect, Bnei Yisrael murdered the holiest man, on the holiest day, in the holiest place.

A Babylonian general named Nevuzardan came into the Beis Hamikdash and saw Zecharia’s blood seething on the floor. Upon learning the source of this boiling blood, Nevuzardan declared that there would be a reckoning for this crime. He proceeded to kill many kohanim, as well as many other men and women. Nevuzardan and his men tragically murdered over 900,000 Jews at that time. But then the story takes an unexpected turn. Upon seeing that Hashem allowed so many Jews to be slaughtered as retribution for the killing of just one individual, Nevuzaradan realized that his own punishment for murdering thousands of Jews would be vastly greater. He therefore repented and converted to Judaism. One might wonder how a person like Nevuzardan could be absolved for his many heinous crimes. The answer is that Hashem forgives anyone who is sincere in his repentance. We are never too far gone to turn back from our wrongdoing. We shouldn’t feel that, because we have repeatedly committed a certain aveira or haven’t kept a certain mitzvah, it’s too late to change.

There are two lessons for us here: the first is that Hashem accepts anyone who

Torah Thought It’s Never Too Late To Improve

By Prof. Adina Broder

wants to follow the right path, regardless of his past history. Second is that we also should never give up on anyone.

An incredible story is told about Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, that shows this second point. There were some yeshiva boys hanging out together one night – boys

sleeping. She asked if this was so important that she should wake him. The boy said yes. When Rav Moshe got on the phone, the boy asked his question, and Rav Moshe immediately realized that it was a bogus question. Rather than reprimand the boy, Rav Moshe asked him what

We are never too far gone to turn back from our wrongdoing.

who were more interested in causing mischief than learning. They were making prank phone calls, as kids sometimes do, but they took it to a shocking level. They decided to call gedolei Yisrael and ask fake halachic questions. It was already late at night, and it was one boy’s turn to make a prank call to Rav Moshe Feinstein. Rebbetzin Feinstein answered the phone and said that Rav Moshe was

topic he was learning in Gemara. The boy told him, and Rav Moshe proceeded to tell him a question on the Tosfos to that Gemara. The boy confessed that he didn’t understand the question – and that he barely understood the Gemara itself. It was past midnight, but Rav Moshe patiently explained to the boy the entire daf of Gemara, line by line, with Rashi and Tosfos. (It is said that Rav Moshe did this

without even having the Gemara in front of him, such was his level of scholarship.)

And when the boy still didn’t understand, Rav Moshe went over it all again, and then a third time. After an hour, when the Gemara finally made sense to the boy, Rav Moshe repeated his question on Tosfos. The boy heard it and recognized that it was a remarkable question. Rav Moshe told the boy that when they learn that Tosfos in yeshiva, he should ask this question. And that’s exactly what the boy did.

The next day when the rebbi taught the Tosfos, the boy raised his hand and asked this question. The rebbi exclaimed, “That’s incredible. Where did you get that kasha from?” The boy answered, “From Rav Moshe Feinstein.” Over the next few days, the rebbi worked on this question, and when he finally came up with an answer, he excitedly shared it with the class. From that moment on, the boy’s attitude in yeshiva radically changed. He focused on his learning and ended up becoming a great Talmid Chacham. He credits his achievement to the fact that Rav Moshe believed in him, which made him believe in himself.

What an incredible lesson for us – not to give up on anyone; to recognize that everyone has potential. This also means not giving up on ourselves and doing our best to realize our own potential. This will help us all become the versions of ourselves.

For more inspiration during the Nine Days, please listen to my audio series, Mourning with Meaning, from the OU Women’s Initiative.

Professor Adina Broder, MS, JD, is the author of Meaningful Kinnos, Meaningful Viduy and Viduy Booklet for Kids . She teaches at Touro Graduate School of Education and is a frequent presenter for the OU Women’s Initiative.

Sparks of Light

Seeking G-d Through the Darkness A Living Kinnah for Tisha B’Av

We find ourselves once again on Tisha B’Av, the day when the heart of the Jewish people remembers its deepest wounds and cries out in mourning. But the cries of Tisha B’Av are not only about what was lost thousands of years ago. They are the same cries that echo in every generation, in every moment when Hashem feels hidden, when His face is concealed – what the Torah calls hester panim.

In Kinnah number 8, the poet says: “I will cause my heart to faint as I try to find Him. I will search for the words to draw Him close. I will worry and cry, ‘Where is the Shepherd? I cannot find Him.’ I will lament, ‘If only I knew how to find Him!’”

This is the heartbeat of the Jew throughout history, not just the pain of the loss, but the yearning to find G-d.

Sometimes we encounter real-life examples of Jews who live with this search in ways that leave us speechless.

I want to share with you a modern-day kinnah, one of the most moving things I have ever watched. It was a video of Margalit Megidish, the mother of Ori Megidish, the young Israeli soldier who was brutally taken captive by Hamas on October 7th.

Before Ori was, thank G-d, rescued, a video circulated of Margalit performing hafrashas challah, separating and blessing the challah dough. But as she did so, Margalit was not just reciting the standard prayers. She began davening, pleading with Hashem to have mercy, to bring her daughter home safely. It was raw, spontaneous, and genuine.

And then, in the middle of this an-

By Rabbi Benny Berlin

guished plea, she suddenly exclaimed, “Hashem, ani ohevet otcha, Hashem, I love You.”

Stunning words. In that moment,

the Knesset who spoke about this moment, said she felt jealous of Margalit’s faith. It was not simplistic, it was the most sophisticated, the highest form

In that moment, when her daughter was still in Gaza, in the hands of Hamas, how could she declare her love for Hashem?

when her daughter was still in Gaza, in the hands of Hamas, how could she declare her love for Hashem? Where does a person find the strength to say that?

Galit Distel-Atbaryan, a member of

of emunah. It was emunah peshutah , simple faith, but there is nothing simple about it.

Galit, standing in front of the Knesset, admitted that her own belief is dry

by comparison. “I believe when I’m safe, when I’m home lighting Shabbos candles, but not when one of my children is in the hands of Hamas.” She declared, “Margalit, you are my hero, my role model. I wish I could reach the spiritual heights that you reached.”

We recite kinnos on Tisha B’Av, and it often feels like ancient poetry. But this, this is a living kinnah. This is what it looks like to cry, “Ayeka, where are You, Hashem?” and still say, “I love You.”

Margalit’s daughter, Ori, thank G-d, was rescued by a joint operation of the IDF and Shin Bet. But that moment of faith, of crying out in the midst of despair, remains etched in the soul of our people.

It teaches us that the kinnah of “I will worry and ask ‘Where is the Shepherd?’” is not just a relic of the past. It is alive today, in every Jew who searches for G-d in exile.

As we sit on the floor on Tisha B’Av, as we mourn, let us hear the voice of Margalit echoing. Let us hear the voice of every Jew who, even when Hashem is hidden, still searches, still loves, still believes. That is the indomitable Jewish spirit. That is what keeps us alive.

So today, we say: I am looking for You, Hashem. I am searching for You.

Hashem, ani ohevet otcha, Hashem, I love You.

Rabbi Benny Berlin is the rabbi of BACH Jewish Center located in Long Baeach, New York. For more information, visit: https:// www.bachlongbeach.com/

Delving into the Daf

Over the Moon

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

The Gemara in Avodah Zarah discusses the fact that Rabban Gamliel owned pictures of the moon. These images facilitated the questioning of witnesses who came to testify about the new moon. If the witnesses were unable to describe what they had seen, Rabban Gamliel would ask them to select the moon’s appearance from a lineup of drawings. It seemed like a brilliant and practical idea. However, the Gemara notes that there is a biblical prohibition against making images of the moon, leading to the question: why was Rabban Gamliel permitted to draw pictures of the moon?

The pasuk in Shemos (20:20) states, “You shall not make [images of] what is with Me.” A beraisa in Rosh Hashanah 24b explains that this includes a prohibition against fashioning images of the sun, moon, stars, constellations, humans, and angels. The Shulchan Aruch rules that it is only prohibited to fashion a raised image of a human—such as one embossed on a coin. Rav Yaakov Emden addressed this issue in a real case: a coin had been minted in honor of a rav, bearing his likeness. Rav Yaakov Emden ruled that not only was this not an honor, it was a biblical violation. It is certainly forbidden to carve or mold a human figure. However, one may draw or paint a likeness of a person, since it is flat and not raised.

But why, then, did the Gemara take issue with Rabban Gamliel’s pictures— weren’t they simply drawings, flat depictions of the moon? Since they were not raised, they should have been permitted. Most Rishonim explain that because the sun and moon appear to the naked eye as flat images in the sky, even drawing flat representations of them is prohibited. This contrasts with angels (when seen, by merit) or humans, who appear three-dimensional. The Shulchan Aruch indeed rules this way. Accordingly, the Gemara assumes that Rabban Gamliel should not have been allowed to draw even flat images of the moon, even for the purpose of facilitating eidus (testimony)

for kiddush ha’chodesh.

The Gemara implies that rendering incomplete depictions of these celestial bodies is permitted. For example, one may draw only part of the sun. The Sfas Emes wonders why the Gemara didn’t simply suggest that all of Rabban Gamliel’s drawings were incomplete depictions. After all, he was showing the witnesses drawings of the new moon, which is, by definition, only a sliver—not a complete circle. The Sfas Emes answers that one may not even draw a sliver of the moon, since that is how the moon naturally appears during that phase. By contrast, a sliver of the sun would be permitted, because the sun appears full throughout the day unless obscured by clouds. Therefore, one may draw a partial sun at the edge of a page or depict the sun with a portion blocked by clouds. (The Mesivta Gemara includes illustrations of the sun with a small section shaded to make it incomplete. Some argue, however, that one should not even depict the sun as obscured by clouds, since that’s a natural occurrence.)

Given that even incomplete and flat depictions of the moon are forbidden, how was Rabban Gamliel permitted to possess them? The Gemara, grappling with this, suggests that Rabban Gamliel didn’t draw them himself but had a non-Jew draw them on his behalf. While it is usually prohibited to ask a gentile to perform an action a Jew may not do (amirah l’akum), in this case, it was allowed because the drawings were essential for fulfilling the mitzvah of kiddush ha’chode sh. (See Tosfos.)

Nevertheless, the Gemara raises another concern: Rabban Gamliel still should not have been allowed to keep the pictures, since people might suspect him of using them for idolatry. The Gemara accepts this concern but offers an explanation for why Rabban Gamliel was an exception. The concern of chashad (suspicion) generally applies to individuals. But since Rabban Gamliel was the Nasi, and his office constantly had people coming

and going, any suspicion directed at him would extend to the group—and a group is not subject to such suspicion. Therefore, Rabban Gamliel was above suspicion.

The clear implication is that, in a private home, one may not own pictures of the moon, and this is codified in the Shulchan Aruch. If you own textbooks or magazines containing images of the moon, you may be violating a clear halacha. Quick! Toss out those science books and magazines!

However, the reason the Shulchan Aruch prohibits possession of such images is the concern of suspicion—people might think the owner worships the celestial bodies. Today, this concern no longer applies. In some areas of halacha, it’s hard to determine whether a law changes with societal norms. Here, the answer is clear. Already the Vilna Gaon wrote that some of the suspicions mentioned in Yoreh De’ah 141 no longer apply. The Chochmas Adam, writing later, was even more lenient. It is hardly a stretch to say that no one would suspect a science magazine reader of worshiping the moon.

This was the position of Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l. Regarding the question of whether one should cover pictures of the moon in children’s textbooks, he stated: “It’s not even worth being machmir; why would you want to plant foreign ideas in the children’s minds?”

Still, one final question remains: even if a group is above suspicion of avodah zarah, one person actually drew the pic-

tures. We still maintain that drawing images of the moon is biblically forbidden. So why should it be permissible for Rabban Gamliel to keep them? Perhaps someone will suspect that he drew them himself! Rav Shlomo Eiger, explaining Tosfos, answers that the Gemara is only concerned with suspicion of avodah zarah, which is a grave sin. The prohibition against drawing images of celestial bodies, while biblical, is not as severe. Therefore, Chazal did not institute added restrictions to avoid suspicion of this lesser transgression.

Rav Gavriel Kraus, a dayan in Manchester, once asked Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, whether schoolchildren are permitted to draw pictures of the sun and moon. Rav Moshe ruled like the Sefer Yad KaKetanah, which holds that only drawings of the sun that people would look at and say, “That resembles the sun,” are prohibited. Accordingly, older children should not draw pictures of the sun and moon. However, young children may, since no one would look at their drawings and say they resemble celestial bodies. Still, Rav Moshe added: why encourage children to draw such images? Once they improve and their drawings start to resemble the sun and moon, they will have to stop!

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.

Alawyer once told of a surgeon who lined up his surgeries back-to-back-to back in order to maximize his income. He would have an assistant close up the stitching as he would move on to the next patient. The problem was that sometimes problems develop during the immediate post-surgery recovery, and since he is in another surgery, a quick and effective response, doesn’t always happen. On the other hand, there are surgeons who time things in such a manner where the patient’s care is the top priority, and they ensure that they can monitor and respond efficiently to any post-surgery glitch.

Does a doctor who looks at patients only as cash cows also get a mitzvah of healing patients? What about other health professionals if their intent is solely to make a living? What about pharmacists or those who electronically fill prescriptions with no manual labor on their part whose only intent is for making a living? Parenthetically, and actually, most primary, we must always express our appreciation and admira -

Headlines Halacha

Do Doctors Always Get a Mitzvah?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

tion for our health professionals who give their heart, soul, time and life to help heal others. But this question is fascinating, nonetheless.

A Story From the Chofetz Chaim

A story is told of the Chofetz Chaim who entered the local pharmacy in Radin and told the pharmacist, “I am quite jealous of all of the multiple mitzvos that you get each and every day!”

The pharmacist responded, “Rebbi, the truth of the matter is that I am in it strictly for the money. I don’t intend for any mitzvah of healing others. To me, it’s a living.”

The Chofetz Chaim then remarked, “If that is the case, then I have some very worthwhile advice to give you. Whenever you prepare a medicine thinking that you are doing it to make a living, add to the thought. Also think about the fact that you are trying to heal this customer or the one it is intended for and that you are performing a mitzvah. Doing so will earn you remarkable merit and reward.”

It is said that the pharmacist ended

up becoming very close to the Chofetz Chaim and became one of the most righteous and leading citizens of the area.

Although we generally do not pasken halacha from stories, the general implication of this story is that, had the pharmacists not focused on the mitzvah aspect of his career, he would not have received merit for it.

Generally speaking, we rule that when a person fulfills a Torah mitzvah, kavana is required in order for it to count (see Shulchan Aruch OC SIman 60 Mishna Brurah 60:10). Kavana means that a person must have in mind that he is fulfilling the mitzvah of Hashem as found in the Torah. This would seem to be the case in regard to chessed as well (see Ahavas Chessed 2:23) and would also seem to be the Chofetz Chaim’s view as seen from the aforementioned story.

It is also interesting to note that many poskim distinguish between a Torah mitzvah in this regard and a Rabbinic mitzvah. For a Rabbinic mitzvah, if one performed it without intent or by rote, then post facto it still counts and

one does not need to repeat it (Magen Avrohom citing the view of the Radbaz).

The Mishna Brurah 60:10 cites the view of the Vilna Gaon who makes no distinction between Torah mitzvos and Rabbinic mitzvos in regard to this concept (with the exception of reciting a blessing the second time). Healing, of course, is a Torah mitzvah.

The Chazon Ish’s View

The Chazon Ish, however, believed that this concept of not receiving credit for a mitzvah when one does it by rote without intent does not apply in regard to mitzvos that are between man and man (Toraso yehge, Miluim #10). This author’s reading of the Chazon Ish’s view is that “rote intent” still has the underlying realization, if one were to ask him, that he is doing something beneficial for another.

Rav Zilberstein’s View

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein has a view that is slightly different than that of the Chofetz Chaim. He (Shiurei Torah LaRofim Vol. I p.55) rules that if one has intent for money, he receives no

merit and compares it to a case of a paid messenger who is travelling on Sukkos. We know that a messenger for a mitzvah who is travelling is exempt from the mitzvah of sukkah. The paid messenger, however, is obligated in sleeping in a sukkah. However, Rav Zilberstein distinguishes between intent at the very beginning and intent while healing. He explains that while the doctor is involved in the action of healing, he intends to heal and is “not in it for the money” at that time. He therefore rules that the doctor does get a mitzvah.

The story from the Chofetz Chaim seems to indicate that he would not have agreed with this analysis.

The Toras Kohanim

There is also a fascinating Toras Kohanim (12:13) that is cited by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein which states that if a wealthy person inadvertently dropped money from his cloak and a poor person picked it up and benefited from it, the Holy One establishes blessing for the former. This means that there still is at least minimal merit even if there is no such realization.

It could be, however, that this Toras Kohanim is only referring to a case

where the rich person would have responded, “Well, I didn’t know that I dropped it, but given the choice between having the coin be lost forever or for someone poor to benefit, I would prefer that someone benefit from it,” but a true misanthrope would not receive credit.

Also, presumably, the Chofetz Chaim would not reject this Toras Kohanim

result-oriented mitzvos. He writes that healing is a result-oriented mitzvah and that kavana, intent, is thus not required for its fulfillment. Rav Shternbuch thus explains that if a doctor performs the minimal requirements to treat the patient, then he would receive reward for a mitzvah – even if his intent is just to make a living. He writes, however, that

While the doctor is involved in the action of healing, he intends to heal and is “not in it for the money” at that time.

as authoritative, so he would probably assume that it refers to a lower level of credit and bracha.

Rav Shternbuch’s View

In a fascinating response to Rav Zilberstein’s conclusion (ibid p. 573), Rav Moshe Shternbuch differentiates between action-oriented mitzvos and

if he rushes his patients, as is often the case, he notes, then he receives no mitzvah at all.

So it seems that we have a number of different opinions.

• The Chofetz Chaim holds that kavana to perform a mitzvah is required in order to receive higher level merit (above that of what is referenced in the

Toras Kohanim).

• The Chazon Ish holds that when dealing with mitzvos between man and man intent is not required in order to receive credit.

• Rav Zilberstein holds that the doctor does receive credit during the actual healing action because he does not intend for money when he actually heals.

• Rav Shternbuch holds that the doctor does receive credit because it is a result-oriented mitzvah but only when there is an actual action that is medicinal rather than keyboard action. He writes that if there is any rushing or otherwise substandard behavior, he gets no mitzvah.

Regardless, everyone would agree that the greater the intent to perform Hashem’s mitzvah of healing the better off everyone is. And, once again, we must always feel and express our deep hakaras hatov and appreciation for our hard-working doctors and other healthcare professionals.

This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.

All of my life as a school kid and in my work, I had what is known as a “summer break.” As I never left the school setting, the months of July and August were sacrosanct in that they were reserved for sun, beach, bungalow, travel or doing nothing – two uninterrupted months to do what I wanted when I wanted.

One time, in a passing conversation that I had with one of our children, I asked about summer plans – a mistake. “Summer, winter, all the same to me.”

Being retired is weird. Day after day, month after month, all the same. That is, unless you make things happen, and you plan things accordingly.

In our case, we overschedule and do, do, do.

In Israel, there are always things to do, people to see and places to go; my husband Bob and I are trying to take advantage of as much of what is available as we can while we can. Sometimes – very often, really – we overbook ourselves with classes, trips, meals and whatever looks too good to miss. We also have our beloved longtime friends, neighbors, campers, students, family and friends with whom we do not want to lose touch; those relationships are too precious to lose.

November is almost all booked up.

We are busy every day including Shabbat. We belong to various WhatsApp groups that provide us with multiples of opportunities. We promised ourselves that we would only do one trip, one speaker, and one meal out a week. If we are invited out for Shabbat, it should be one meal, and if it’s for Friday night, only if they make it early.

We are seniors, and we should try to conserve our energy; we have not been successful at keeping our commitment to limit activities.

This past week has been fabulous, crazy, hectic, and overbooked. It starts with Sunday, which in Israel is really Monday. It’s been a year, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Sunday is not a lazy hang-around-the-house chill day. No

School of Thought

On the Road Again

By Barbara Deutsch

more. Sunday is just like any other day; no slowly easing into the work week.

If Sunday is Monday, then it’s almost Shabbat on Wednesday. Don’t get me wrong. I love Shabbat, especially long winter Fridays, but I don’t like the feeling that I need to start shopping on Wednesday or I won’t get it all done before candle lighting.

This week:

Sunday, we did our usual errands, went to an engagement party of a “friend who is like family” daughter – all of their kids call us Grandma and Grandpa. We left to go for dinner with a couple from New York whom we have known for over 60 years. When the Jewish Agency lost our passports, the husband helped us resolve the situation; suddenly, the passports were located. “Who do you know?” asked the harried clerk at the Jewish Agency tasked with finding them.

They are great people.

We caught up in a “steakaria” that was hot, crowded and yummy, one of those places that keeps the salads and bread coming. Our friend knows the owner, so you can figure out the rest.

Monday found me listening to a masterful class showcasing Eicha as a book of poetry.

In the evening, we went on a tour of the Kotel Gates, Aggadot HaHurban; we visited sites between the Dung and Lions’ Gates exploring legends and stories of the destruction. Shuli Mishkin, our guide, along with the brilliant Yosefa Wruble, a Tanach scholar, walked and talked for three hours. It was fascinating and a little strange to walk through the Arab neighborhoods and cemeteries.

It is one thing to wait for the Moshiach. It is quite another to long for his coming in a real place and in real time; living in

Israel gives you the opportunity to feel it.

Tuesday, we went to the Agam Museum in Rishon L’tzion. I have always wanted to be a genius; this museum dedicated to Agam’s work showcases the complicated creative mind of a man that is one. Learning about the artist and his artistry gives you a perspective on how he creates and the skill set he has to conceptualize and execute.

I wish I could do that.

We learned about his life in Israel, his family, his desire to be immersed in art, he lives in France, and his connection to his homeland, Israel. The museum with many of his most ambitious pieces is housed in his birth city, Rishon L’zion.

Agam is still working at 97.

We went to Tel Aviv to explore the Carmel Mall, hot with yummy street food and designer knockoffs. We also shopped in the Tuesday Flea Market where we met artists and heard their stories of struggles. Sadly, many have packed up their tools to find real jobs because the war climate has kept tourists away.

I bought two pairs of silver earrings and a pendant inscribed with a Walt Whitman poem engraved in ancient Hebrew letters because I just had to.

Wednesday, we celebrated our first Sabra great-grandson’s pidyon haben; it is a very big deal. More about this whole magnificent experience another time.

Thursday morning, we made a shiva call in Beit Shemesh to a West Hempstead family to whom our oldest grandson is mishpacha. We have a background filled with all kinds of complicated and loving ties. In Israel, as I have said before, we reconnect and connect with so many grieving families who come to bury loved ones.

When we walked into the shiva house, the widow smiled warmly in greeting.

There is so much appreciation for efforts made to console a mourner; it is not until you sit in those low chairs yourself do you appreciate the importance of this mitzvah.

One of our Canadian grandsons, Noam, will be spending Shabbat with us. He is experiencing Israel with Mach Hach. He is having a blast. Thankfully, there are many young men and women who were able to make the trip despite the war. Noam is hiking, swimming, riding donkeys, hiking in water, learning, making new friends, hiking some more, and getting the perspective you can only get as a kid embracing it all.

We picked him up early so that we could hug him and get him soap, snacks, water sandals, and anything else grandparents get to buy for their grandchildren when parents are not around to interfere.

I have not listed and described the long list of places we went to eat: Chazot, Happy Fish (rooftop Mamila) 2C (49th floor in Tel Aviv), Rechov Yerushalayim (in the forest), Mojo (espresso martini and meat pizzas), Grill Bar (pidyon in Mevaseret), Nocturno (with a friend who is like family and to whom I gifted my first very novice papercut which she hung up in a place of honor despite the multiple imperfections), Joy (with Noam), and a delicious homemade lunch with a reconnected high school friend-classmate.

Noam’s summer vacation is being spent exploring Israel. I asked him what has made the biggest impression on him so far. Noam, a reflective kid, responded, “It is so clear how much Israelis love their country.”

I am embracing my “summer vacation” in the land that I love, Israel.

You got it right, Noam!

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.

My Israel Home

What Happens to Israeli Real Estate After a War?

By Gedaliah Borvick

With Israel’s decisive victory over Iran – even as fighting continues in the south and north – many are asking: what will happen to the real estate market when the fighting ends? Will prices drop? Will the market stagnate? Or will we see the familiar pattern of resilience and growth?

Looking at Israel’s history, a clear trend emerges. While previous wars created short-term uncertainty, Israel’s real estate market has consistently rebounded – often with surprising strength. During and in the immediate aftermath of previous conflicts, domestic and foreign buyers were understandably hesitant to purchase and developers sometimes delayed projects. But these slowdowns were temporary.

After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel’s economy was shaken and inflation surged, but real estate values ultimately climbed. A similar pattern played out during and after the two Intifadas. Although terrorism and instability rocked the country, housing prices held steady and resumed their upward trajectory once tensions eased. The Second Lebanon War in 2006 caused brief jitters in the northern market, yet within a year, prices were rising again. Even during repeated conflicts with Hamas in

Gaza over the past two decades, market hesitation has been short-lived. Across much of the country, demand has outpaced supply — and prices have risen.

Soon after the war began on October 7, overseas buyers responded with urgency. After a brief initial lull, sales in key markets picked up quickly, and prices began to rise. Some are planning long-term for Aliyah. Others are

row – it’s about knowing there’s a home waiting, if and when it’s needed.

Given strong sales over the past 18 months, and clear historical patterns of post-war growth, prices are expected to keep rising.

There are several factors that explain why prices tend to rise after wars. Israel’s population continues to grow rapidly, but new housing hasn’t kept

A growing number of Jews around the world want an anchor in Israel –a place of their own, just in case.

motivated by a deep sense of connection and solidarity. And for others, the motivation is practical: a growing number of Jews around the world want an anchor in Israel – a place of their own, just in case. With antisemitism on the rise globally, the idea of having “a piece of the rock” in Israel has shifted from dream to necessity for many families. It’s not necessarily about moving tomor-

pace, creating ongoing pressure on supply. Land is limited — especially in central areas — which makes development more difficult and drives competition. And perhaps most importantly, despite the challenges of war, Israel’s economy is widely viewed as resilient and fundamentally strong, giving both local and international buyers confidence in the market’s long-term prospects.

Emerging from its war with Iran having restored deterrence and regional standing, Israel’s global business ties are likely to deepen. Countries looking to strengthen security partnerships and tech collaboration may view Israel as a more attractive partner than ever before. A stronger economy supports a stronger real estate market — particularly in big cities where international business often drives demand.

The October 7 th war is not yet over, but prices in major cities have been rising. If history is any guide, coupled with all the reasons listed above, this conflict’s end will mark the beginning of Israel real estate’s next wave of growth.

Perhaps most importantly, moments of national trauma often ignite renewed commitment. For many, buying a home in Israel is not just a financial decision — it becomes a deeply personal act of connection with Am Yisrael.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.

Jerusalem under construction: Light Rail in the foreground, Givat Hamatos in the background

Emil Fish

Preserving the Past from Bardejov to Bergen-Belsen and Beyond

By t ammy m ark

Holocaust survivor Emil Fish’s life story

can fill volumes – from his childhood in Slovakia to his liberation from Bergen-Belsen, from immigration to Israel and Canada to building and living the “American Dream” in California.

Fish is a father and a philanthropist, an entrepreneur and an educator. He’s spent the last 20 years rejuvenating his birthplace of Bardejov in efforts to preserve its Jewish history, while ardently working to expand Holocaust education in the U.S. and abroad. In a somewhat unexpected turn, nonagenarian Fish recently added a new title to his extensive resume: movie producer for the film Bardejov.

Bardejov follows the story of Rafuel Lowy, a successful businessman and president of the Bardejov Jewish Community of North-Eastern Slovakia, during World War II. Lowy and the other leaders displayed composure and bravery as the government took over the Jewish businesses – and eventually their freedoms. To the G-d-fearing non-violent Jews of Bardejov, obedience had thus far seemed safer than resistance.

In March of 1942, the community received orders from the Hlinka Guard – the Slovakian Nazi collaborators – to assemble all healthy Jewish girls, without exception, for transport to work in a shoe factory. The command comes right before Purim; Lowy instructed the Jews to fast, pray and believe in the possibility of a miraculous, dramatic salvation.

Compliance was again determined to be the only choice, until community leaders uncovered the truth – their girls were in

actuality bound for Auschwitz. A risky but ingenious plan was then devised: infect the girls with typhus to force a quarantine and circumvent the orders.

Though Fish himself was just a young boy at the time, his parents were community leaders involved in the rescue mission and are portrayed in the film. Fish explains that the tale is just one story from one town, that there were so many heroic stories to be told from that period of time.

“It’s only an example of what Bardejov was all about,” the 90-year-old shares.

“I didn’t just wake up and say I want to be a movie producer!” Fish says. “The film is a coincidence. It’s just a result of my 20 years of work. The film is one percent of the whole story.“

Fish exudes enthusiasm, tenacity and faith. Undeterred by challenging situations or challenging people and unafraid of hard work in all endeavors, he also manages to make friends along the way.

The idea for the film began three years prior. Fish knew it was a compelling story and was looking for someone to tell it. He connected with Rabbi Shmuel Lynn, director of the kiruv organization Olami Manhattan and a former screenwriter, to write the story. Fish then began the search for a filmmaker to produce the movie, without having the typically large budget needed for production. Fish couldn’t find the right fit for his important project – that is, until a seatmate on an airplane flight struck up a casual conversation.

The seatmate was Danny A. Abeckaser, the Israeli-born American actor, director and filmmaker who specializes in making impactful movies on smaller budgets. Fish told him a little bit about his life’s work and how he had been looking to make a Holocaust movie. Abeckaser was intrigued. Fish and Abeckaser soon got together and quickly developed a working relationship. Fish insisted that Abeckaser join him

wardrobe was historically and culturally accurate – particularly when he noticed a missing kippah or an extra wearing a miniskirt. Fish’s valuable notes were ultimately incorporated into the production.

With the help of screenwriter Kosta Kondilopoulos and executive producer Yoav Gross, the story of Emil’s beloved Bardejov came to life, with Bardejov released on Amazon Prime in 2024. Abeckaser and Fish appeared in the movie as well, with Fish in the introduction, and the men went on to work together on other projects.

“We became good friends, real close friends,” shares Fish.

The sentiment is absolutely mutual for Abeckaser.

“I love that man. I just love everything he stands for and everything he does,” says Abeckaser of Fish.

Abeckaser explains that he was busy with other projects at that time, but he went into deep dive on perfecting the script after his visit to Bardejov. He really wanted people to understand the history.

“I told him I have to shoot in Israel…we need Jews to work on this,” he says.

Much of Abeckaser’s current work focuses on other significant true stories. Fresh off production of 12 Hours in October about the October 7 th attacks, Abeckaser is now again in Israel to begin filming the story of Israel’s successful “beeper” operation, titled Frequency of Fear.

correspondence. He worked hard there and became both a big talmid chochom and a bookkeeper.

Herman Fish secured a job, married Leah Handler in 1930, and had two children, a daughter Ann and son Emil, who was born in 1935.

Emil was sent to cheder. Herman indeed went on to be a very successful businessman and one of the community leaders, thus enabling him to help his fellow Jews in Bardejov survive.

Adolf Hitler, ym”sh, and Jozef Tiso, president of the Slovak Republic, were allies. At the time, there were only two countries in Europe that were not occupied by the Germans: Italy and Slovakia. Slovakia was nonetheless very anti-Semitic. By the middle of 1942, there was an order to take 80% percent of the 80,000 Jews in Slovakia to Auschwitz and other concentration camps. They allowed a 20% exemption because Slovakia said they needed the successful Jews to stay – Fish’s family was part of that group. 80% of the 80% of Jews taken to Auschwitz did not survive the war.

The tale told in the Bardejov film took place before the order of the 80%.

on a visit to Bardejov before undertaking the project – Fish was passionate and persistent until Abeckaser agreed.

Fish recalls Abeckaser’s reaction, “He was blown away. He said, ‘We’ve got to make the movie!’”

Bardejov was shot primarily in Israel, with a day on location in Bardejov. Fish insisted on being on set throughout the filming, intending on being a bystander.

With his devotion to his hometown and attachment to the story, Fish couldn’t help but get involved in the process, much to Abeckaser’s surprise.

“Danny is very good and passionate! Then I also took a personal interest in every actor, so that they should know what they’re doing,” he says.

Fish spent time with lead actor Robert Davi, who portrayed Lowy, and the rest of the cast to enlighten them as much as he could about the town, the people, and the surrounding history. He made sure the

“Emil realized I knew what I was doing, and in the meantime, I ‘fell in love’ with him. He has such energy – he stays young and motivated. Just a good, good person,” shares Abeckaser. “He became a part of my life.”

Emil Fish was born to an Orthodox Chassidic family in Bardejov, a formerly idyllic Slovakian town two hours from the Polish border. The pre-war population numbers around 10,000 people including 3,000 Jews, 70 percent of whom were Orthodox. Most were Chassidim from Poland, who escaped during the decades of pogroms there. Fish’s grandfather was a Chassid from the B’nei Yissaschar sect in Poland, donning a long beard and a shtreimel. He came to Bardejov in 1900. He owned a small grocery store but was quite poor.

His son, Fish’s father Herman, decidedly did not want to live a life of poverty and refused to go to the Satmar yeshiva in the Carpathian Mountains as he was expected to, choosing instead to go to Breuer’s in Frankfut, where they allowed the yeshiva boys to study trade through

“There was an initial order to send a thousand girls to work in a shoe factory. The leader, Mr. Lowy, found out that it was a lie; they were sending them to Auschwitz.” Through his research, Fish believes that this would have been the first official Jewish transport to Auschwitz.

“Between the years of 1942 and 1944, they left us alone to live in Slovakia – but we had to have yellow bands, we couldn’t go to public school or public spaces. It wasn’t normal, but they didn’t arrest anyone or send them to the concentration camps,” Fish recalls.

As the 20% of 3,000 Jews of Bardejov, approximately 600 people remained. In 1944, Tiso ordered all remaining Jews to relocate to another part of the country and subsequently issued orders to send the Jews to the concentration camps. Some tried to escape, some went into hiding in the forest, and most got caught. Lowy was taken to Auschwitz in 1944; he did not survive.

“I was nine years old, and I remember everything from the age of three. In my family, we have good memories,” Fish shares. “Everybody who survived had to have a gimmick or luck or did something in their lives – they had to survive. If you had nothing to eat, you’d have to steal bread to survive.”

Fish is very proud of his father’s shrewdness and bravery. He recalls an in-

Emil with Danny Abeckaser on set of the film

cident when the family was trying to hide from authorities. They had stopped at a coffee shop where they had come face to face with a German officer; instead of staying quiet, Herman Fish spoke directly to him. Speaking in perfect German, he addressed the soldier, exchanging words and salutes as if he was a proud gentile Slovakian!

Herman Fish had certain connections, and the family was initially able to move around to avoid capture during the fall of 1944. They sought shelter in a gentile family’s home but were soon reported; the Slovakian Gestapo came and arrested them in the middle of the night. The Fish family was deported by train and sent to the concentration camps – Emil, his older sister Ann, and his mother Leah to Bergen-Belsen, and Herman to Buchenwald.

“We went to Bergen-Belsen. We came very late, and by that time there was not enough order in the concentration camp. We came out of the train, there were guards at the train, and it was midnight -- just like you see in the movies – with the lights and the dogs. They put us on a truck, and they let the family stay together in the barrack. Three people per bed. No food – maybe one piece of bread,” recalls Fish.

At first, they still had their suitcases with them, and while some people had prepared and brought provisions, within a few days everything was gone. There was hunger, and the situation quickly became dire. Bergen-Belsen was especially overcrowded. Illness spread easily, and people were dying on the streets.

Diarist Anne Frank was in the next block, with the other children from Holland. Both she and her sister Margot contracted typhus and died there in 1945. Fish’s sister Ann caught typhus as well. Those with typhus were separated from the others and left to die, but Emil bravely snuck out to visit his sister each day by the window – she ultimately survived.

In April 1945, Fish, his sister and his mother were liberated from Bergen-Belsen by the British Army. Unfortunately, many of the sick and starving survivors subsequently died from overfeeding.

Emil, Ann and Leah survived the Holocaust and made their way back to Bardejov. After an initial miscommunication that their father Herman had died, he, too, returned home and the family was reunited.

“We had a great life in 1945 – we had a business and food, and we went to school,” Fish share. “We knew there was going to be a State of Israel. The Israeli government

The town square

sent shlichim over, and we went to B’nei Akiva meetings where teachers taught about Zionism. There were only 30 kids in town so we all became close to each other, and we became Zionists.”

“In 1945-48, we knew there was going to be a State of Israel, but we didn’t know when. In 1948, the communist party won the election in Czechoslovakia. We knew that Jews and communism didn’t get along. Almost everybody left. I went to Israel without my parents – I didn’t want to wait.”

Emil Fish was only 14, but he told his

from the concentration camps, except for him,” Fish says. “All his brothers, uncles, grandfather – everybody was killed. On my mother’s side, almost everybody survived.”

Emil received an engineering degree at the University of Southern California. He met and married his wife Jenny Schiff, and together they raised children David, Jeffrey and Monique.

“I get married, I have three kids – and I live my American Dream,” he quips.

One might say he was living the Jewish American dream, as Fish gratefully

“I made a neder: they killed my family but they’re not going to take my heritage.”

father his plans and traveled to Bratislava to get himself a passport. He went off to Israel with B’nei Akiva, and spent two and a half years there immersed in the language and culture but without his family. Those early years in Israel were challenging, and he didn’t want his parents to have to struggle again after the war.

Everyone eventually left the town of Bardejov, and Fish’s family chose to immigrate to Canada in 1950. Herman then insisted that Emil join them in Canada, and as a minor, he was required to comply. In 1955, the family of four moved to America.

The Fish family landed in California, where Leah’s sizeable extended family had already settled years before and were prospering, working mainly in construction and movie production. Fish gratefully counts hundreds of cousins in the Los Angeles area, including the Spiegel family who helped establish the Yad Vashem Children’s Memorial in Jerusalem, in memory of their baby Uziel who was killed in the Holocaust.

“Nobody came back on my father’s side

recounts the privilege of being able to take his family away for Pesach and other vacations, going skiing in the winter, and serving as president of his community shul and school, Congregation Shaarei Tefila and Hillel Hebrew Academy, respectively.

With all that, something was missing from their lives, Fish explains.

“One day, my children said, ‘Everybody takes their kids on a heritage trip to Europe, and you never took us!’”

His reaction at the time was viscerally adamant against going.

“I said, ‘I’m not going back to Europe – under no condition am I going back to Europe! I will go back if you give me a plane to bomb Germany, then I’d be more than happy to go. Otherwise, I’m staying right here where I am.’”

Fish’s children persisted, insisting that they wanted to know where they came from. After two months of pleading, he changed his mind; in July 2005,

Emil Fish returned to Bardejov for the first time since 1949.

By this time there were no Jews left in Bardejov, as the last remaining survivor had recently died. Fish had made advance arrangements to see his hometown. When the designated tour guide came to greet the Fish family, he announced that the mayor wanted to see them. When they arrived at the city hall, they were warmly welcomed, and Jenny was presented with flowers.

While they outwardly looked like tourists, Fish made sure to clarify to the mayor, “I just came home. Don’t think of me as American. I came home.”

This initial homecoming tour was far from complete; though much of the town had been restored to its beauty since the war, the Jewish sites of Bardejov were neglected. Fish couldn’t get inside to see his childhood shul or his grandfather’s home. Other main Jewish sites, including a yeshiva and a mikveh, were preserved and still intact, although in poor shape. The cemetery was overgrown with weeds. One shul called Bikur Cholim was saved by a non-Jewish neighbor who would not let the Germans enter it.

Fish says, “A gentile woman, who lived next door to the shul where I was bar mitzvah, would not let anyone go in there, and the shul stayed intact the way it was built – unbelievable.”

Fish couldn’t get inside the shul – nobody had the key. As a home builder, Fish insisted he would somehow find an opening, and sure enough, he did.

“It was the way I left it in ‘49. Even the siddurim were there. Can you believe it? She saved the shul – she wouldn’t let the Germans or the Hlinka Slovakian police in.”

Fish promised to go back with better arrangements, and indeed returned the following year. He was able to visit the home

A photo of young Emil with his mother and Ann, his sister

Pre-war siddurim and a map of Israel found in the Bikur Cholim synagogue

during the 1942 deportation of Bardejov

he was born in and even befriended the current owners. Still, Fish was disheartened to see his shul used as a storage area for a hardware store.

Standing in front of his old cheder and seeing it in such disarray, Fish took a personal vow.

“I made a neder: they killed my family but they’re not going to take my heritage! I’m going to fix these buildings. I’m an engineer. I don’t care if there are no Jews here. I owe something to my father’s family to save their heritage – and that’s what I did.”

Fish learned that in November 2000, Bardejov had been selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, recognized for its “Jewish suburbia and historic town center” – this gave him hope. Fish went on to develop a longstanding relationship with the mayor and the Bardejov officials throughout the years.

In 2006, Fish founded the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee and truly invested himself, and his own funds, in his noble mission. Fish began going through various channels in attempts to make things happen. Many of the people he dealt with in Bardejov had Jewish family names but weren’t Jewish. It seems that many Jewish men remained in Europe and eventually intermarried and were now controlling the Jewish heritage sites. Fish accepted that it was not going to be an easy process, but he was determined – and determined to do things his way, not to be taken advantage of.

Fish went back and forth with contacts in both Europe and in the United States –ambassadors, members of Congress – but nobody would help him. After five years of efforts, visiting Bardejov and meeting with the committee every few months, Fish didn’t see any significant progress. Undeterred, Fish informed the mayor that he wanted to build a memorial and insisted

that he should provide the land for free –boldly positing that the land belonged to his grandfather and was left by the communists when they gave up. It was three years later when the mayor called up Fish, seemingly out of the blue, and finally agreed to allocate the land to the project.

Construction of the Bardejov Holocaust Memorial began in March 2013. During this time, Fish also was able to work on a memorial book to help celebrate and honor the formerly vibrant Jewish community. The Memorial Book of Jew-

of the distinguished graduate schools under the YU name. Feeling strongly about the vital need for an increase in formal Holocaust education, Fish met with President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman to discuss a proposal and plan a curriculum.

In 2019, Yeshiva University’s Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies was established. Under direction of Dr. Shay Pilnik, the center’s mission is to train the future generations of educators and leaders in Holocaust education, a crucial undertaking in these cur-

“This person is different than you, but there’s one thing in common: you’re Jews.”

ish Bardejov features photographs and historical information depicting generations of Jewish life before the war, along with a comprehensive registry of families of the region who perished during the Holocaust. A formal dedication ceremony for the Bardejov Holocaust Memorial was held on June 24, 2014, with Fish delivering the opening remarks. A commemoration is now held annually in June.

Fish was gratified to see his personal vow now coming to fruition. A few years after the memorial project, Fish discovered that as a “new democracy,” the Slovakian government had received a foreign grant to build up the town. This enabled the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee to rebuild the main synagogue, and they are now constructing a museum, among other developments.

For Fish, there was still more to be done. When his grandson Zachary graduated from Yeshiva University High School in 2017, Fish took notice of all

rently challenging times. Fish’s daughter Monique Mogyoros received a Master’s degree through the program and became an adjunct professor teaching Holocaust studies, while Emil Fish received an honorary doctorate from YU.

Fish currently spends time between Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia, where his daughter lives, having moved there prior to Jenny’s passing in 2020. He recently remarried Esther Muller. He is very grateful to have 12 Torah-observant grandchildren and to be celebrating family milestones.

“I have a simple principle in life – G-d is good to me,” he shares.

The Bardejov film provides a perspective on how Emil Fish and his ancestors approached life and its challenges. The Jews of Bardejov embodied the values of unity, faith and prayer; the tenets of emunah and bitachon were integral to their strength and survival. Their stories exemplify the concept of making a plan, working hard – and turning to G-d.

Fish recently returned from Bardejov after attending the 2025 Holocaust Commemoration, a smaller yet particularly meaningful event, as it fell during Israel’s 12 Day War. He spends time traveling the world to share his personal experiences, as well as focusing efforts on expanding Holocaust education. Fish firmly believes there should be increased support for Holocaust studies across all spectrums of the Jewish community and feels that awareness was waning before the October 7 th attacks.

“I’ve been to Dubai, I’ve been to Rwanda, I speak to high schools, to colleges –sometimes more than I can handle…I sold half of my business,” shares Fish. Boxes in his New York City office are filled with research on Bardejov, with a full team enlisted to help him in his endeavor to preserve Jewish heritage.

“It’s all in the honor of my parents… of my father.

“I tell the stories from my point of view,” he explains.

Fish was asked to speak at a Jewish club at New York University to tell his story. He relates that he opened with a message, telling the students to look to their right and their left.

“This person is different than you, but there’s one thing in common: you’re Jews. And Hitler didn’t care who you are. Don’t think that you’re not Jewish if you don’t eat kosher or whatever; you’re all the same. Hitler didn’t care. All of you are the same, you’re a group of Jews; and if you ever forget that, you’ll be in trouble.”

Bardejov can be viewed on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Google Play, Vudu, and more. Visit Bardejov.com for more information on the film and how you can book a screening of the film for your shul. Photos courtesy Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee/Emil Fish/YU

With Rabbi Ari Berman of YU

Speaking at the 2025 commemoration at the Bardejov Holocaust Memorial

Speaking in the Bikur Cholim synagogue during a memorial tour

Jewish History

My Eastern European Journey

By Reuven Guttman

My wife Esther and I go on vacation every year, usually combining destinations in Europe with Israel and sometimes other parts of the Middle East. However, due to the war at the time of our recent trip, Israel was not an option. We decided instead to take a historical tour—something we truly enjoy, especially when it involves a lot of walking and capturing places of architectural beauty, which Europe offers in abundance.

We hired a phenomenal expert in Eastern European culture and Jewish history: Agnieszka, a professional photographer and film producer who has published several photographic books on Jewish history in Poland.

Upon arriving in Warsaw, Poland, we began at a museum, which led to another museum, and eventually to a hidden synagogue tucked into a residential courtyard. It was still standing—but locked. With a little effort (and some magic), we managed to get inside and take pictures and videos…until we were literally told to leave.

The next day, we traveled to Gdańsk, a beautiful seaside town rich in culture and history, which was actually part of Germany before the war. From there, we went to Łódź, where we visited a magnificent castle that once belonged to a Jewish family and now serves as a museum. We also toured the site of the former ghetto.

In Kraków, the most interesting part of our journey began. Agnieszka, with her vast knowledge of Jewish history, took us to the former home of Sarah Schenirer, founder of the Bais Yaakov movement. To our surprise, the house was under renovation. Undeterred, we went inside and found the apartment, including the original doorframe where the mezuzah had been affixed. Sadly, we also saw other doorposts with clear mezu -

zah indentations that had been removed and brought downstairs—discarded, as though they held no meaning.

Our journey continued to Wrocław, a beautiful city on the Polish-German border, en route to Berlin, where we would spend a few days before flying home to the Five Towns.

Just over the border on the German side—once Polish territory before the war—we came upon a flea market. Something made me stop. My mouth dropped. A vendor had World War II insignias from Germany and Russia, along with a pile of Gemaras and even a cap from a concentration camp prisoner.

Trying to remain calm, I asked the man where he got all of this (as if I didn’t know). He said it had belonged to his grandfather, and he was cleaning out the basement. I started to feel uneasy— thinking about the atrocities committed and why these items were still in his possession.

I asked the price. It was clear he had no idea of their real value. I purchased several items I thought were the most meaningful. When I inquired about the books, he turned to another man who responded in German—language I understand—“Alte Bücher von toten Juden ,” meaning “Old books from dead Jews.”

Little did he know—those were the very items I was determined to take. So that he, and his Nazi-sympathetic grandfather’s legacy, would no longer have them.

Baruch Hashem, I now have them in my possession.

Reuven Guttman is the historian for the Village of Lawrence.

A once thriving Jewish area at the German Polish border

 Some of the items that Reuven purchased from the collector

Reuven’s wife Esther placing a stone on the grave of Sara Schenirer, a’”h

  A destroyed shul remade into a restaurant

The door of Sara Schenirer’s home with an empty spot where the mezuzah was once placed

Nation

R’ Yoel Gold Where is the Menorah?

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

Around 70 CE, the Roman army breached the walls of Yerushalayim. Three weeks later, on that horrific Tisha B’Av, Jewish survivors

In His Words…

watched the second Bais HaMikdash burn to the ground. Just that morning, the House of G-d stood strong. A day later, it was gone.

People see themselves in other people’s stories. so, when you hear a story that matches or echoes your life story and a struggle that you’re experiencing in your personal life, that story will be more inspiring to you than any other story, because you see yourself in that story.

This year, on Tisha B’av, we’re not telling one person’s story and hoping that the masses will be able to see themselves in that story. We’re actually telling your story. We’re telling her story, his story, my story. Because it’s our story. it’s the story of the Jewish people, of our journey into galus.

i’m excited for viewers to connect, not just with the history, but with the present reality of having the keilim in existence. They’re just waiting to come back and take us home with Moshiach. Because they’re not just history. They’re a living, breathing reality.

On that day, we lost more than the Beis HaMikdash. We also lost the keilim, the most prominent of which was the Heichal’s golden Menorah. The Romans emptied the Bais HaMikdash of its treasures, bringing the keilim and Menorah back to Rome. Now, some 1,955 years later, the question remains: Where are the keilim? Where is the Menorah?

In the second century, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Rabbi Eliezer bar Rabbi Yossi, and other sages saw the Menorah in Rome, according to the Gemara. Today, Rabbi Yoel Gold says, it might be in the Vatican.

While conducting research for his latest Tisha B’Av documentary — a film that investigates the Menorah’s whereabouts — Rabbi Gold sat down with a rabbi who lived in Rome in the 1970s and ‘80s. The man, who now lives in Northern Israel, makes an extraordinary claim.

“He claimed to have seen the Menorah and the keilim in the Vatican. And I was absolutely fascinated because I don’t know anybody in the world who can make such a claim,” says Rabbi Gold. “But when we began doing research, I found that he’s not the only person in the last 40, 50 years who has claimed to have seen keilim of the Beis HaMikdash.”

The man shared the following story with Rabbi Gold: Pope John Paul II, a friend of the Jewish people, guided him through the bowels of the Vatican. During the tour, the man saw the golden

Menorah. He was then asked to keep the visit a secret.

“So, why are you coming forward now, 45 years later?” Rabbi Gold asked him.

“I didn’t want to upset the Vatican. They told me not to reveal what I saw,” the man explained. “But now that we have hostages in the tunnels of Gaza, I speak about it because I want to give people hope. I want to let them know that we also have our treasures in the tunnels of the Vatican. And just like there’s a promise that those treasures will come out of the tunnels of the Vatican, we can know that all the hostages will come out of the tunnels of Gaza and return home.”

* * *

His film this year, “Hidden Light,” isn’t a typical project for Rabbi Yoel Gold, a storyteller known for his inspirational videos. Instead, his videos usually focus on moving stories about hashgacha pratis and chessed.

“This year, on Tisha B’Av, we’re not telling one person’s story and hoping that the masses will be able to see themselves in that story. We’re actually telling your story. We’re telling her story, his story, my story. Because it’s our story. It’s the story of the Jewish people, of our journey into galus,” Rabbi Gold shares.

“We begin the film by retracing the steps of the Menorah and the klei ha’mikdash, how it arrived from Eretz

Yisrael after the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdash to Rome. And we literally stop at the port where it arrived, we follow the steps from Ostia Antica, the ancient port city of Rome, which was literally the gateway to the Mediterranean, and then we go down the Tiber River, we get to Rome, and the Temple of Peace. We literally show you the journey of the Menorah and the klei ha’mikdash , the history, and then we talk about the mystery of where it might be today.”

One of the questions the film addresses is, if the theory is true, how did the Menorah get from Rome, a pagan empire, to the Vatican, a religious institution?

As Rabbi Gold explains, in 1940, the Vatican excavated space for a tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica to bury Pope Pius the 11th. While doing so, one of the workers dropped a tool and mistakenly cracked open a floor tile.

“And they realized that under the floor tile isn’t just dirt. There’s a whole underground that was hidden away in the grottos, which is under St. Peter’s Basilica. They started excavating, and they continued digging for ten years,” Rabbi Gold explains. “Now, what’s really interesting is that they didn’t tell anybody they made this discovery for ten years. It was a secret. Nobody knew that they even discovered it.”

Ten years later, in 1950, National Geographic came out with a cover story about the discovered underworld.

“Now, why am I saying that the Menorah might have been there? Because the person who covered that necropolis was Constantine, the emperor of Rome who embraced Christianity as

the state religion of the Roman Empire in the third, fourth century. That means that the moment he did that, the Menorah turned from a spoil of war into a religious symbol,” Rabbi Gold says. “Because, now, it’s not just that they beat the Jews. They believed that they replaced the Jews and that G-d chose them instead and replaced the Temple with the Basilica. And now the Menorah belongs to them; it’s a religious item and symbol. So, it’s very possible that Constantine put treasures right under the Basilica, and he may have hidden the Menorah when he covered over that ancient necropolis.”

For 1,600 years, the Menorah was hidden away, unbeknownst to a single person. That’s why, in that time, no one claimed to have seen the Menorah. But after 1940, when the necropolis was uncovered, that’s when people began testifying that the Vatican showed them the Menorah.

Is the Menorah there? We can’t know for sure. But we do know that before Moshiach comes, the keilim of the Beis HaMikdash, including the Menorah, will be revealed to us.

“Over the last 40 years, there have been diplomatic efforts to try to retrieve treasures in the Vatican that belong to the Jewish people,” Rabbi Gold shares. “I met with Israel’s Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, and he told me that when he became the minister of heritage, he got a call from the Italian parliament.

“‘We recognize that we wronged the Jewish people 2,000 years ago,’ the Italian official told Minister Eliyahu. ‘Our country needs to repair the damage we have done. We took precious, spiritual

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.

items from you, and we want to facilitate talks between the parliament, the Vatican, and the Israeli government to get those items returned.’”

As Rabbi Gold says, “I think that is the closest we’ve ever gotten to retrieving them. But then October 7 happened, and those talks stopped.”

* * *

Rabbi Gold’s Tisha B’Av film, which can be purchased on hashkifa.com, isn’t meant to convince you that the Menorah is in the Vatican.

“When I tell everyone about the film, I say, ‘Walk in as a skeptic.’ That’s our natural posture as Jews. We are skeptics. I’m not here to convince you that the Menorah is in the Vatican or it’s not in the Vatican,” he maintains. “I’m just here to present to you the facts,

the theories, and the uplifting message that keeps appearing and reappearing throughout the narrative. And the viewer will make their own decision.”

Indeed, the Menorah’s exact location doesn’t matter anywhere as much as the mind-blowing realization that it still exists — that the holy keilim of the Bais HaMikdash, though hidden, are still in existence.

“As I went through the journey of producing this film with my team, I suddenly felt, ‘Oh my gosh, this is real. The Menorah, the keilim, are still in existence. And I’m excited for viewers to connect, not just with the history, but with the present reality of having the keilim in existence,” Rabbi Yoel Gold declares. “They’re just waiting to come back and take us home with Moshiach.

“Because they’re not just history. They’re a living, breathing reality.”

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Love your column! I’ve been dating a girl for a few weeks, and things are going well. The thing is she seems to be more loose with money. She’s a nurse and does well, so I understand that a single girl can get used to these habits. I’m nervous though that when it comes to real life she won’t know how to limit, and I’m not the

type of guy that wants to tell his wife what to do or how to spend... But I am worried, that based on her spending, she won’t understand the concept.

Firstly, is this something I should be majorly concerned about? And secondly, when is the best time to bring the topic up and how do I go about this?

Thanks, Dovid*

The Panel

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.

Good for you for noticing important differences between the two of you. You say she is “more loose with money.” You also say about yourself that you don’t want to control your spouse’s spending. The answer to your question is that you need to discuss differences and concerns, this one and others.

Families of origin patterns strongly influence young people’s early approach to money and family finances. Keep that in mind when you listen, discuss, and share. How you navigate differences will be important to any couple. Thus, broaching these differences early on is smart and helpful.

The context of bringing this up is not difficult. When you talk about long- and short-term goals for yourself and a family such as security, housing, lifestyle, and community, it’s not going to be a stretch. You can also bring up today’s financial literacy initiatives for young people such as Living Smarter Jewish, Mesilah, and RSK (Reb Shayale’s Kitchen) which offer curricula, counseling, and guidance. In addition, you can also bring up the growing number of podcasts on this topic and ask her what she thinks their popularity reflects about today’s challenges for frum families.

Remember that finances need to be negotiated but it all starts with numbers on paper, facts on the ground, a budget. Budgeting is a skill to be learned, and there are many ways to do it as a couple moves on in life. Awareness, the ability to respect individual styles, and flexibility go a long

way towards achieving goals as a team.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Thank you so much for your question!

The good news is that everyone who dates goes through the same (or similar) type of experience. The reason shidduchim is considered “kasheh k’Krias Yam Suf ” is, just as it is seemingly impossible to separate an entire ocean into two (or 12) different parts, it is seemingly impossible for two people with their own personal backgrounds and experiences to decide to come together.

There are so many differences to navigate. Everyone grows up with different ideas surrounding money; it’s the way you discuss it that will make all the difference. The important thing here is for the two of you to learn to communicate thoughts and concerns in a constructive way.

The girl you are dating is spending her hard-earned money this way right now because she is single and making a nice income. She is taking care of herself in the way she can for the stage of life that she is in. I don’t have to tell you how hard it is to be single when those around you have moved forward. Buying nice things for herself is a way that makes her feel good. Once she gets married and has a family, many things may change. If she is smart and mature, she knows this and understands how important it is to be monetarily responsible.

It is very possible that she acknowledges how her spending habits will ultimately

change at that stage in life. You won’t know this until you talk it out with her directly. Don’t bring up her expensive purchases or habits specifically; rather, talk about the concept and see where it takes you. It is a very normal conversation to have while dating, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Obviously, if she gets upset and reactive, hinting to an attitude surrounding money that is unhealthy (such as no concept of budgeting or expectations for constant spending and luxuries), you will know that this is clearly not a match for you.

Hatzlacha!

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

What an amazing, remarkable coincidence!

You cannot realistically expect to find someone who exactly mirrors all of your own opinions.

The very same week that we received your letter, we also received the following letter:

Dear Navidaters, I am a nurse, and for the past three weeks I’ve been dating a wonderful guy. I’m wondering if I have finally met “the right one,” but there is one thing that

bothers me. Whenever I talk about how stressful my job is, and how I periodically enjoy treating myself to a nice meal or a vacation, he looks very uncomfortable.

I understand the importance of proper money management and living within your means, but I worry that he might turn out to be the kind of guy who is very stingy and who just doesn’t know how to enjoy life.

I’m thinking of dropping him. What do you advise?

OK, OK, that nurse’s letter is a fake. We never actually received it. But I made it up because I wanted to share some thoughts with you.

First, you’ve only been dating for a few weeks, and that’s definitely not enough time to get to know someone. You need more time to really understand each other.

Second, there is a big difference between a girl who’s never worked a day in her life and is extravagant with her father’s money, and a hard-working girl who treats herself from her own hardearned salary.

Beware of the high-maintenance Daddy’s girl, because you will spend the rest of your life competing with how her father indulged her. On the other hand, respect the hard-working girl who knows how to balance working hard with enjoying life.

Third, no one wants to marry someone who is either a reckless spender or who is annoyingly stingy. However, it’s completely reasonable that a single, hard-working nurse might want to occasionally reward herself. Similarly, a future husband might want to take a more responsible approach to managing finances.

That said, it’s important to recognize that you cannot realistically expect to find someone who exactly mirrors all of your own opinions. True, there are certain principles that are non-negotiable: Will we be shomrei mitzvos? Do we share the same important goals and aspirations? Can we love, respect, and value each other?

But in the grand scheme of things,

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Hi Dovid,

I really admire how you’re thinking this through. You’re clearly not looking to control or criticize. You’re just noticing something that might matter in the long run, and you’re trying to figure out how to talk about it in a way that’s honest but respectful. That says a lot about the kind of partner you want to be.

If you’re already wondering about long-term compatibility around money, that’s important. It doesn’t mean you’re being judgmental, as much as it means you’re being mindful. People have differ -

most other issues are relatively minor. Successful couples find ways to blend their differing perspectives and learn to compromise on their individual desires. Moreover, marrying someone slightly different than yourself can lead to a more interesting and, potentially, a more stimulating and happy marriage.

So, take your time and continue dating her. Gently and thoughtfully share your concerns, and you’ll probably find that if you align on core principles, the differences that you’re concerned about can be worked out.

The Reader’s Response

Judith Stark

Dear Dovid, Talk to her.

ent rela - tionships with money, and those differ - ences don’t have to be deal - breakers. But they do have to be talked about.

I actually think this kind of conversation is best had early on, especially if things are going well and marriage is a realistic outcome. Not because it’s romantic to talk budgets on date four, but because intimacy is built through honesty. If she’s the right one, the conversation will bring you closer, not push you apart. You might say something like:

How you have the hard conversations matters most of all.

You’re right to be concerned. Disagreements about finances and spending habits can lead to tension and conflict in a marriage. If you are serious about this girl and are ready to explore the possibility of building a future with her, then yes – this is something the two of you will need to discuss.

However, I would advise you to go about this very carefully. This conversation must be approached in a gentle, open-minded, and non-judgmental manner. Your goal should not be to criticize; it should be to open the lines of communication about a potentially sensitive subject, so that the two of you can honestly discuss your needs and attitudes about money.

Realize that this will likely not be a one-time conversation. Like most disagreements, it may take some time to resolve. If you can express your concerns respectfully and accept her feelings calmly, you will strengthen your relationship and make progress towards finding mutually acceptable solutions.

“This feels a little awkward to bring up because I know money is personal, and I wasn’t sure when the right time would be, but I really like you and I’ve been enjoying getting to know you. I also know that in a relationship, shared values around money can really matter, not necessarily doing everything the same way, but being able to talk about it. I’ve noticed I tend to be more cautious with spending, and I was curious about how you think about these things. Is that something you’d be open to talking about?”

That’s not judgment or control. It’s being vulnerable and taking a risk and having the hard conversations I wish all couples would have before marriage.

And the most important thing here isn’t whether she spends too much or not enough; it’s how she responds when you bring something up that matters to you. Does she get defensive? Shut it down? Or does she stay open and curious, even if the topic is hard? And do you do the same?

That’s what you’re learning here. Not just about spending but about partnership. Marriage is a lifetime of conversations; some enjoyable and some difficult. How you have the hard conversations matters most of all. Don’t shy away from it.

Sincerely, Jennifer

“We’ve tried everything,”

Sara said, tears in her eyes. “Charts, rewards, therapy, cutting sugar, essential oils—I even made him do yoga with me before school. Nothing’s working. He’s still getting sent out of class, and now he’s starting to say things like ‘I’m the bad kid.’ I just…I don’t want to medicate him and lose the spark that makes him who he is.”

Sara wasn’t a neglectful or clueless parent. She was loving, intentional, and exhausted. Her 9-year-old son was bright, creative, and full of energy—too much energy. He struggled to focus, constantly interrupted, and couldn’t sit still for five minutes, let alone a full school day. At home, the smallest frustration would send him into full-blown meltdowns. Despite being a sweet kid, he was starting to feel ashamed of himself. His self-esteem was slowly unraveling.

By the time Sara asked about medication, it wasn’t because she wanted a quick fix—it was because she had already done everything she could think of. But she still didn’t know if it was the right choice.

And she’s not alone.

Medication Is a Tool—

Not a Solution, Not a Failure

Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further: considering medication is not a sign of bad parenting. In fact, asking the question “Does my child need medication?” is often a sign of deep engagement, concern, and thoughtfulness. You’re weighing the risk of doing too much against the risk of doing too little—and that is no small thing.

Medication isn’t a cure or a parenting shortcut. It’s a tool —a potentially powerful one—used to reduce symptoms that interfere with a child’s functioning, happiness, and development. Sometimes, it’s a game-changer. Sometimes, it’s unnecessary. And sometimes,

Health & F tness To Medicate or Not To Medicate

By Rivka Kramer, PMHNP-BC

it’s a step taken too early.

So how do you know the difference?

When Is It Not Time for Medication?

There are moments when medication is the right next step—and moments when it’s not. If you’re still early in the process of trying to understand your child’s struggles, it may not be time to reach for the prescription pad just yet.

1. There Hasn’t Been a Full Evaluation

A 10-minute questionnaire at the pediatrician’s office is not enough. If your child is exhibiting signs of anxiety, ADHD, mood swings, tics, or behavioral issues, a thorough psychological or psychiatric evaluation is key.

Many mental health conditions have overlapping symptoms. Anxiety can look like hyperactivity. Trauma can look like defiance. Without understanding why your child behaves a certain way, medication may only cover up the symptom rather than treat the root.

2. There are Environmental Stressors at Play

If your child is going through a major life transition—divorce, a new sib -

ling, bullying, grief—it’s important to distinguish between a mental health condition and an emotional response to stress. Children process stress differently, and sometimes, what they need is time, support, and stability—not medication.

That doesn’t mean medication is never used during hard times—but it should never be the first line of defense if the behavior is a normal response to a painful situation.

3. Therapy or Behavioral Strategies Haven’t Been Tried or Fully Implemented

If your child hasn’t yet had a chance to try therapy, behavioral coaching, or school-based support plans (like an IEP or 504 plan), those options should often come first—especially for mild symptoms.

In many cases, consistent structure, emotional coaching, and parent training can significantly improve behavior, anxiety, and focus—sometimes enough to avoid medication altogether.

4. You’re Feeling Pressured by Others

A school counselor, teacher, or even a spouse might push for medication when your child’s behavior disrupts classroom

flow or family life. But pressure isn’t a reason to medicate.

You are allowed to pause. You’re allowed to gather information. And you’re allowed to say, “Let me think about it.”

When

Is It Time to Consider Medication?

Now, on the flip side—there are moments when medication is not only appropriate but deeply beneficial. And in some cases, waiting too long can result in unnecessary suffering, academic failure, or damage to your child’s self-esteem.

1. The Symptoms are Severely Interfering With Functioning

If your child can’t get through a school day without significant disruption, refuses to attend school, experiences frequent meltdowns, or is unable to sleep, concentrate, or regulate emotions—medication may help open the door to functioning.

Medication can reduce the intensity of symptoms so that a child is more available for learning, socializing, therapy, and family life.

2. You’ve Tried Other Interventions Without Enough Progress

If therapy, structure, routines, rewards, diet changes, and sleep hygiene have all been explored, and your child is still suffering, it might be time to consider that biology is playing a bigger role.

Some children’s brains simply need chemical support to function. That doesn’t mean they’re broken. It just means their nervous systems need help getting to a baseline.

3. Your Child Is Asking for Help

As kids grow older, they may start to express their distress directly.

“I hate my brain.” “I can’t stop thinking.” “I want to focus but I can’t.” “I don’t like who I am.”

If your child is showing insight and

asking for relief, it’s worth taking seriously. While this doesn’t mean you jump straight to meds, it’s an important indicator that their suffering is internal, not just behavioral.

What About Side Effects?

This is usually the biggest hesitation for most parents—and for good reason. Any time you put a chemical into a child’s developing brain, you want to proceed with caution.

But the reality is: most children tolerate psychiatric medication quite well when properly prescribed and monitored. The best practitioners will “start low and go slow,” beginning with the lowest effective dose and closely monitoring effects.

Common side effects, such as appetite changes, sleep disturbances, or mild irritability—often fade with time or dosage adjustment. And if they don’t, the medication can be stopped or switched. And remember: doing nothing also has risks. Chronic anxiety can turn into panic. Untreated ADHD can lead to school failure, damaged self-esteem, and social rejection. Unmanaged depression can lead to withdrawal or even

self-harm. Inaction isn’t always neutral.

How Will I Know It’s Helping?

A well-matched medication should improve function, not change personality.

You should see your child:

• Thinking more clearly

• Calming down more easily

• Focusing longer

• Sleeping better

Involve Your Child

When Possible

When developmentally appropriate, include your child in the process. Ask them how they feel, what they notice, and what they want.

This fosters ownership and trust, and helps avoid the feeling that something is being done to them rather than with them.

Let them know: “This isn’t forever.

Asking the question “Does my child need medication?” is often a sign of deep engagement, concern, and thoughtfulness.

weeks, his teacher called to say, “He raised his hand for the first time today. It was like he knew he could get through the whole sentence.”

At home, things weren’t perfect, but the outbursts softened. The homework battles eased. Most importantly, her son started smiling more.

“It’s not that it fixed everything,” she said. “But it gave us a fighting chance.”

And that’s what medication can do when used well. It doesn’t erase the hard parts of parenting or make life easy. But for the right child, at the right time, it can be the difference between surviving and thriving.

So trust yourself. Take your time. Gather information. Ask hard questions. You are the most important part of your child’s care team—and you don’t have to make this decision alone.

• Engaging more socially

• Enjoying things again

They should seem more like themselves, not less.

If they become zoned-out, flat, or agitated, it’s a sign something needs to be adjusted. You’re not stuck. Medication can always be reevaluated.

We’re just trying something to help you feel more like you.” That alone can bring huge relief.

You Are the Expert on Your Child

Sara ended up choosing to try a lowdose stimulant for her son. Within three

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.

Health & F tness

Fast Times The Science Behind Time-Restricted Eating and Circadian Nutrition

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

In recent years, people have started paying more attention not just to what they eat but when they eat. New research in nutrition shows that eating in line with our body’s natural daily rhythms can help improve metabolism, support healthy weight, and lower the risk of disease. Two main ideas in this area are Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) and Circadian Nutrition. These approaches work with the body’s internal clock— known as circadian rhythms—to create healthier eating patterns and improve overall health.

Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythms are the body’s natural 24-hour cycles that control important functions like sleep, hormone levels, body temperature, and metabolism. These rhythms are managed by a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), also known as the “master clock,” which responds mainly to light. But the body also has other “clocks” in organs like the liver, pancreas, and digestive system. These are called peripheral clocks, and they are mostly influenced by when we eat and when we fast.

When the timing of food intake is out of sync with our circadian rhythms, such as eating late at night or during the biological “rest” phase, this can disrupt metabolic processes, leading to poor glucose control, insulin resistance, increased appetite, and even weight gain.

Time-Restricted Eating (TRE)

Time-Restricted Eating is a dietary strategy where food intake is confined to a specific window of time each day, typically ranging from 6 to 12 hours. Unlike calorie-restricted diets, TRE does not focus on reducing caloric intake but rather on when calories are consumed.

For example, an individual might eat all meals and snacks between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., followed by a fasting period from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next day. During the fasting period, only water and non-caloric beverages are typically allowed.

Examples of TRE Schedules:

• 16:8 – Eat within an 8-hour window (e.g., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), fast for 16 hours.

• 14:10 – Eat within a 10-hour window (e.g., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), fast for 14 hours.

• 12:12 – A gentler form with 12

hours of eating and 12 hours of fasting.

The

Science Behind TRE and Metabolic Health

Several studies have demonstrated that TRE may offer various metabolic benefits, even without intentional caloric restriction. These include:

1. Improved Insulin Sensitivity

TRE can enhance glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, particularly when food intake is restricted to earlier in the day. A study found that early TRE (eTRE)—eating from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.— improved insulin sensitivity, beta cell re -

sponsiveness, and blood pressure in prediabetic men, independent of weight loss.

2. Weight Management

By reducing late-night eating and shortening the eating window, TRE may help reduce overall caloric intake naturally. Participants in some TRE studies reported spontaneous reductions in energy intake and modest weight loss.

3. Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure

TRE has shown improvements in blood lipid profiles and reductions in systolic blood pressure, possibly by giving the cardiovascular system time to rest and repair during the fasting phase.

Circadian Nutrition

Circadian Nutrition is a new approach that focuses on eating meals at times that match the body’s natural daily rhythms. The main idea is to eat most of your calories earlier in the day, when the body is better at processing food and using energy. It’s also important to avoid late-night eating, as the body’s ability to handle blood sugar drops in the evening and at night. Lastly, keeping a consistent meal schedule each day helps support your body’s natural circadian rhythm and overall health.

Why Morning Matters

In the morning, the body is in a more insulin-sensitive state, meaning it can process carbohydrates and sugars more efficiently. This makes breakfast an important time to give your body energy and help your metabolism start off strong for the day.

A study has shown that overweight women who consumed a larger breakfast (700 kcal), compared to those who ate a large dinner (700 kcal), experienced greater weight loss and better glucose and insulin control.

TRE vs. Intermittent Fasting

While Time-Restricted Eating is often grouped together with intermittent fasting due to their similarities, it is actually a specific type of Intermittent Fasting. Intermittent fasting is a broader approach to eating that focuses on when you eat and sometimes how much you eat. This can include patterns like alternate-day fasting or the 5:2 diet, where you eat very little or fast completely on certain days of the week. These methods are mainly about cutting calories to promote weight loss and don’t always consider when you eat during the day.

In contrast, TRE is less about restricting calories and more about when you eat. It focuses on eating all your meals consistently within the same daily time window, such as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and fasting during the rest of the day. Unlike other forms of intermittent fasting that emphasize periodic calorie restriction, TRE is designed to align food intake with your body’s natural circadian rhythms. By eating at the same times each day, TRE may support better digestion, blood sugar regulation, and metabolic function.

In conclusion, all TRE is a form of Intermittent Fasting, but not all Intermittent Fasting is TRE. TRE emphasizes daily consistency and biological timing, while other forms of intermit-

a set eating window. In addition, people with certain medical conditions, like diabetes or low blood sugar, or those taking medications, should talk to their doctor before trying TRE. It’s also important to

Keeping a consistent meal schedule each day helps support your body’s natural circadian rhythm and overall health.

tent fasting may involve longer or more irregular fasting periods focused on calorie restriction.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

While Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) and circadian nutrition offer many potential health benefits, they may not work well for everyone. For example, people who work night shifts, have latenight social routines, or irregular daily schedules might find it hard to stick to

remember that TRE is not a free pass to eat unhealthy foods, meals should still be balanced and full of nutrients.

Practical Tips

If you’re interested in adopting a time-restricted or circadian-informed eating pattern, here are a few tips to get started:

1. Start Gradually: Begin with a 12-hour eating window (for example: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and slowly narrow it as desired.

2. Eat Early: Try to consume most of your calories before 6 p.m.

3. Avoid Late-Night Snacking: Brush your teeth or drink herbal tea to signal the end of eating for the day.

4. Be Consistent: Stick to similar eating windows each day to maintain rhythm.

5. Prioritize Quality: Focus on whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats.

Time-Restricted Eating and Circadian Nutrition are interesting concepts that emphasize the timing of food intake as a vital component of health. By eating in sync with the body’s natural rhythms, individuals may enhance metabolic function, support weight management, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@ gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

A Fulfilled L fe Are You Listening? The Keys to Effective Communication

By Miryam Werdyger and Sarah Ziet

Sarah and Mendy have been married for 14 years, and lately, their conversations felt more like parallel monologues.

One evening, Sarah came home distraught from work.

“My boss completely undermined me in the meeting today,” she began, her voice trembling.

Mendy, engrossed in his phone, barely looked up. “Hmm, that’s tough,” he mumbled, his eyes still glued to the screen.

Sarah felt a familiar pang of disappointment. She wasn’t looking for solutions; she just wanted to be heard, to have her emotions acknowledged. The incident, though seemingly small, added to a growing sense of disconnection.

The next day, she found herself confiding in her colleague, Rifka, who listened intently, validating her feelings without offering unsolicited advice.

The relief Sarah felt highlighted the void in her own marriage. Mendy’s lack of “active listening” wasn’t malicious, but it created a chasm of unspoken needs.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship, be it marriage, familial or platonic.

It’s the art of conveying your thoughts, feelings, and needs clearly and empathetically, while also “actively listening” to and understanding others. Without it, misunderstandings fester, resentment builds, and connections weaken. In this article, we’ll explore key effective communication skills, illustrating their power with relatable stories that highlight their transformative impact on relationships.

The Foundation: Active Listening

One of the most crucial, yet often overlooked, aspects of communication is active listening. It’s not just about hearing words; it’s about truly understanding the speaker’s message, both verbal and non-verbal, and showing them that you

are engaged. This involves giving your full attention, making eye contact, nodding, offering verbal affirmations like “I see” or “Go on,” and resisting the urge to interrupt or formulate your response while the other person is still speaking.

Expressing Yourself

Clearly and Respectfully: “I” Statements

When expressing your feelings or needs, it’s vital to do so in a way that doesn’t sound accusatory or critical.

“You” statements (“you always...” “you never...”) often put the other person on the defensive. Instead, use “I” statements, which focus on your own feelings and experiences, taking ownership of your emotions. For example, instead of “You make me so angry when you leave your clothes on the floor,” try “I feel frustrated when I see clothes on the floor because it makes the room feel cluttered.”

From Blame to Understanding

Consider the case of Devorah and Leah, roommates constantly at odds over household chores.

Leah would often erupt, saying, “Devorah, you never do your dishes! It’s disgusting!”

Devorah, feeling attacked, would retort, “I do, too! You just don’t notice!”

Their arguments were circular and unproductive. One day, after a particularly tense exchange, Leah decided to try a different approach.

“Devorah,” she began calmly, “I feel overwhelmed when the sink is full of dirty dishes because I worry about attracting pests, and it makes the kitchen feel unhygienic to me.”

Devorah, surprised by her shift in tone, actually listened. She hadn’t realized the extent of her concern. “I didn’t think about it that way,” she admitted. “I’ll try to be more mindful.”

While not an overnight fix, this small shift in communication opened the door for a more constructive conversation, leading to a chore schedule they both agreed upon.

Empathy and Perspective-Taking Empathy is the ability to understand

and share the feelings of another.

In communication, it means putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, even if you don’t agree with their viewpoint. This involves acknowledging their emotions and validating their experience, even if you see things differently.

Bridging the Generational Gap

Mindy, a recent seminary graduate, was struggling to find a job in her field. Her father, a successful business executive of a different generation, often offered advice that felt out of touch. “Just go knock on doors, Mindy! That’s how I got my first job!” he’d exclaim, oblivious to the digital reality of today’s job market. Mindy would often shut down, feeling unheard.

One evening, she tried a new tactic.

“Dad,” she began, “I understand that your generation had a different approach to job searching, and I appreciate your desire to help. I know you want what’s best for me.”

Her father, disarmed by her understanding, softened.

Mindy continued, “However, the job market has changed so much. Most applications are online now, and networking happens differently. I’m feeling a lot of pressure, and sometimes your advice, while well-intentioned, makes me feel even more overwhelmed.”

Her father paused, truly considering her words for the first time. “I hadn’t thought about it that way,” he admitted. “Tell me more about how things work now.”

This empathetic approach from Mindy opened a dialogue, allowing her father to truly grasp her perspective and offer more relevant support.

Conflict Resolution

Disagreements are inevitable in any relationship. The key isn’t to avoid conflict but to manage it constructively. This

involves approaching conflict with a collaborative mindset, aiming for a win-win solution rather than a winner-loser outcome. This requires open discussion, a willingness to compromise, and a focus on the problem, not the person.

The Vacation Compromise

Eli and Brenda were planning their annual vacation. Eli dreamed of an adventurous hiking trip in the mountains, while Brenda yearned for a relaxing beach getaway. Their initial conversations were tense, each defending their preferred destination. “But I need to relax!” Brenda would argue. “And I need to be active!” Eli would counter.

The stalemate seemed insurmountable. Then, they decided to try a different approach. Instead of focusing on where they wanted to go, they discussed why they wanted to go there. Eli expressed his need for physical challenge and connection with nature. Brenda voiced her desire for stress relief and quiet time. Through this deeper understanding, they realized their underlying needs weren’t mutually exclusive. They brainstormed solutions and eventually settled on a compromise: a resort in a coastal town

that offered both beautiful beaches for Brenda and nearby hiking trails for Eli. They both felt heard and their vacation was a success, a testament to their collaborative communication.

The Importance of Non-Verbal Cues

Communication isn’t just about words. Our body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even si -

Yossi and Chani weren’t speaking.

Yossi felt terrible about some harsh words he’d said, but he was too proud to apologize directly.

One evening, Chani was struggling to carry a heavy box into her apartment. Yossi, seeing her from across the hall, immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed to help her. He didn’t say a word, but his actions spoke volumes. He held the door, helped her

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship.

lence convey powerful messages. Being aware of your own non-verbal cues and reading those of others is essential for effective communication. A crossed-arms stance might signal defensiveness, while a warm smile can convey openness.

The Unspoken Apology

After a heated argument, siblings

driven by a desire to reconnect, had mended the rift.

Ongoing Investment

Effective communication is not a skill you master once and then forget. It requires ongoing investment, practice, and a willingness to learn and adapt. It means being mindful of your interactions, regularly checking in with your loved ones, and being open to feedback. Just like a garden, relationships thrive when nurtured with consistent and thoughtful communication. By actively listening, expressing ourselves clearly and empathetically, practicing empathy, resolving conflict collaboratively, and being aware of non-verbal cues, we can cultivate deeper, more resilient, and ultimately more fulfilling relationships.

lift the box, and even offered to move some furniture. Chani, recognizing the silent apology from his help, felt her anger dissipate. When they were finished, she looked at him and smiled genuinely. “Thanks, Yossi,” she said softly. “No problem,” he replied, a sense of relief washing over him.

Their unspoken communication,

Miryam Werdyger and Sarah Ziet are Certified Life Coaches and mentors specializing in effective communication skills for individuals, couples, groups, and singles navigating the dating world. They can be reached via email at ActiveListening247@gmail.com or via WhatsApp/text at 516-924-7695.

Afrum woman listened sympathetically as her coworker vented about the amount of cooking she was doing to prepare for her family’s Thanksgiving meal. There was a soup course, main, sides and even dessert. She was physically and emotionally overwhelmed. Trying to maintain a neutral face, the frum woman informed her coworker that she did the same thing each week for Shabbos.

Many outside the frum community are often shocked to hear we prepare elaborate multi-course meals each week. The house is cleaned, the kids are dressed in fancy clothes, and we tune out the rest of the world.

This oasis of peace and serenity is a gift each week. In an ever increasingly fast-paced world, we can appreciate the beauty of Shabbos that much more. We are forced to put aside the distractions and focus on those who matter most to us.

Along with this mesmerizing scene comes much planning and preparation. Sadly, the serene picture can turn into screaming, tears and stress. Maintaining the proper pre-Shabbos feeling can

Parenting Pearls Preparing for the Shabbos Malka

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

be a weekly challenge, but a little foresight can reduce some of the tension.

First Steps

The first step to making Shabbos with children is to simplify and prioritize. Rather than try to figure out how to “do it all,” take a few things off the list. It’s far better to have a less fancy menu with simcha than a gourmet meal with stress. My experience is that kids tend to prefer foods they can readily recognize. Often, it’s the items we put the most effort into that kids shy away from. Rather than diminish from the holiness of Shabbos, simplifying is meant to enhance the overall atmosphere and shalom in the home. If parents want to do more in honor of Shabbos, then they should certainly feel free to add in more complicated tasks when the children are older. Choose easier recipes and make more familiar items – less steps, fewer dirty dishes and increased calm. It’s my personal experience that it’s easier to cook items that don’t require constantly checking a recipe. Alternatively, the more complicated recipes can be

prepared earlier in the week and cooked (or reheated) fresh for Shabbos.

In general, it’s wise to prepare some food in advance. Erev Shabbos is hectic enough, and we want to minimize what needs to be done in those limited hours.

Preparing in bulk is often easier than making the same recipe each time. For example, it’s easier to double or triple the chocolate cake recipe and freeze the rest of the cakes for future weeks.

Some families have a particular food they enjoy best when it’s prepared just before Shabbos. Preparing everything else earlier in the week leaves extra time for that special dish.

Laundry, cleaning and other preparations can often be done earlier in the week. Yes, the kids will find a way to dirty their clothes or rooms, but it’ll still be less work if it’s just one small load or a quick tidy up.

Call In The Crew

Shabbos preparations can – and should – be all hands on-deck. Everyone should contribute towards ushering in the Shabbos Malka. Children, espe -

cially, should be added to the roster and given their own age-appropriate tasks. There are many reasons to include the children. One obvious benefit is that we can often use a little extra help. Every small task adds up, and having something taken off your personal list is one less stress. Preschoolers can open tissue boxes or bring them to the bathrooms. Ten-year-olds can vacuum and put away clothes. Teens can cook and do most jobs that an adult can.

We assume certain skills are natural and kids just “pick them up.” It’s surprising how many adults get married and panic when encountering jobs they’ve never done before. Laundry, cleaning, cooking and other daily tasks are not intuitive. Rather than assume they’ll learn simply through existing, we are doing a chessed by actively teaching them how to function in the adult world. Assigning them a Shabbos job provides them with the opportunity to learn an important skill when the pressure is not as intense as it will be in adulthood. Children should take pride in their accomplishments. When they complete a

task well we should thank them and compliment a job well done. It’s really beautiful to see their young faces shine when they recognize their accomplishments. Rather than fall into Shabbos, we invest into it each week. The planning and preparations all enhance our value of the day. Our children, too, can benefit from making a weekly Shabbos investment. They can add it to their portfolio.

Children may erroneously think Shabbos just happens to come together each week. The Shabbos Malka just waves her wand, and a full meal appears. Another magic wave, and the table is set. It’s miraculous! Children can better appreciate what goes into enhancing Shabbos when they’ve seen the work happen. Hopefully this will also lead them towards some hakaras hatov for their parents.

Working With the Crew

Working with children is a skill on its own. They are the sweetest, most adorable crew you will ever work with – but they start off inefficient and, at times, unmotivated. How we handle the situation now is how they will view

these tasks going into the future. Kids change at a rapid pace, as do their capabilities. We should only assign tasks that are age appropriate and within their current abilities. All tasks should be explained in simple language they can understand, demonstrating when possible. For example, to teach a

only be more likely to gain compliance, we will also maintain a more pleasant environment and demonstrate proper middos.

They will most likely work slower and sloppier the first times they are assigned a given task. It will be easier and quicker to do it yourself – but then

Children, especially, should be added to the roster and given their own age-appropriate tasks.

child how to set the table we might put out all the plates and then demonstrate correct placement of the silverware on one setting.

Often, kids work slower the louder our voice becomes. We can make the same request in a normal volume and precede it with a “please.” We will not

they won’t learn. Educating them will require patience and accepting that jobs may not be completed to our usual standard.

Kids have this tendency of not following through on assigned jobs. It’s important to take a quick peek and ensure they actually did what they were asked.

We can gently and clearly point out any corrections that need to be made. “You did a great job setting the table. You forgot the spoons. I’ll show you where to place them.” We can demonstrate good middos, too, and take the time to thank them and compliment them on a job well done.

Many children, especially teens, prefer being assigned their task earlier in the day. This allows them to work the job into their schedule rather than be pressured on our timetable. “I am giving you a heads-up that your job is to set the table before 4 p.m. Thanks!”

Sadly, in too many homes, Shabbos is ushered in with stress and tension. With some adjustments and siyata dishmaya we can be one step closer to “yom shekulo Shabbos u’menucha .” Have a wonderful Shabbos!

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.

for Thought

Biarritz Kosher Pizza & Wine Bar

YBy Nati Burnside

ou probably can’t tell the story of kosher restaurants in America without mentioning Basil.

Whether it was starting the trend of artisanal kosher pizzerias, hosting famous politicians and others, employing some of the most talented kosher chefs, or having a feature in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, Basil will be remembered.

Enter Biarritz. Located in the same famous space at the corner of Kingston and Lincoln (famously on the “wrong side” of Eastern Parkway), Biarritz is a kind of follow-up to Basil. Former managing partner of Basil, Clara Pérez, is the managing partner at Biarritz, and the menu was created by Michael Arrington, the former chef at Basil.

The menu might not be quite as expansive as Basil’s, but it’s clear that the inspiration is there. And like its predecessor, Biarritz is also pledging to do everything the right way. That means making everything (other than bread) in house from fresh, top quality ingredients. There’s also plenty of choices for alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, mixed drinks) to go along with the food.

When I was invited to Biarritz, I did something that you, reading this column, probably can’t do… I made sure I could order from both the brunch and dinner menus. I really wanted to be able to recommend dishes from each as they are both crucial parts of what Biarritz has to offer. For your information, brunch lasts until 3 p.m. on Sunday and 1 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.

Starting off with the brunch menu, there’s nothing like some French Toast. The French toast at Biarritz comes as two thick slices topped with caramelized bananas and pecans with powdered sugar, and it is served alongside both maple and blueberry syrups. If that sounds great to you, it’s just as good if not better than it sounds. The

slices having substantial thickness leads to that optimal dense spongy nature of the French toast itself, and the bananas and pecans are caramelized nicely as they add an agreeable flavor and crunch. The syrups are both delicious, and you can choose either one or both depending on how you feel about the slightly tart blueberry version. There are those who would assert that you can’t have brunch without some type of eggs. If that’s the case, you might as well make those eggs be of the most luxurious variety…poached. The Poached Eggs on a Crostini is very similar to a version of Eggs Benedict, but there is no secondary protein and the base is a crostini. It’ll certainly remind you of Eggs Benedict because it does come with a hollandaise sauce that is simply everything you want it to be. Rich, creamy, and helping stick the egg to the crostini, the sauce is the highlight of a dish that frankly has a lot of contenders. The other two occupants of the plate are some cubed home fries and a light salad. Both are top notch with these being perhaps the best home fries I’ve ever had (their crispiness was off the charts) and the salad being a great reminder of the “unch” in “brunch” while still being light enough to exist as a sidekick.

Moving on to the main menu, the Mushroom Cannelloni is a great choice if you came with pasta on your mind. If you aren’t familiar, cannelloni are long thick rolls of pasta that are stuffed with a filling before being baked in a sauce. Biarritz makes their own pasta, and the filling here is a combination of ricotta and mushrooms. If that wasn’t rich enough for you, it is baked in a cream sauce that tastes heavily of a blend of hard white cheeses. The cannelloni also comes topped with some asparagus that has come along for the ride to add some color, absorb the flavors, and fill the plate with even more love. This is the kind of decadent

choice that works if you are that kinda person who loves a really rich plate of pasta.

Before we finally get to the pizza, I know there are those who can’t go to a dairy restaurant without ordering fish. But this entry is not only for the protein proficient pescatarians among us. The Sea Bass was one of the best fish dishes I have had in a long time. The fish was cooked perfectly and was golden brown on top while being that delicate flaky white on the inside. It was delicious. But sea bass is usually very good. It’s what came with it that made this plate elite. The fish was served atop a pile of three varieties of sphere. The cherry tomatoes, baby potatoes, and pearl onions were covered in a thick butter cream sauce that I won’t soon forget. With similar sizes but different colors and textures, this trio was perfect to combine with a bite of the fish and that delectable sauce.

Biarritz is primarily an artisanal pizzeria, and I saved the best for last. The most interesting of their pies is easily the Kale & Fire Pizza. Before getting into specifics, let me just say how much I love when places go outside the box in sections of the menu that rarely see such risks. This pizza is certainly one of those times as the usual cheese blend is swapped out for a mozzarella/cheddar mix, a combination of garlic confit and habanero peppers lend their oils to mixing with the cheeses, and the finishing touch is small pieces of kale. Now, this might be one of the first times I’ve recommended anything that includes kale, but hear me out. The kale can’t stand up to the heat of a pizza oven, so it shrivels and chars into what essentially becomes a crunchy topping and it works amazingly well. In terms of flavor, this pizza is, like its name would suggest, very spicy. In fact, it may be the spiciest

dairy pizza I’ve ever tasted. There’s just nothing stopping the oil from the habanero from getting into the cheese, so the “fire” is in every bite. If that sounds as awesome to you as it did to me, don’t skip it. For those that might not be up for the heat but still want a pizza recommendation, don’t worry. The Mushroom Pizza is also fabulous. Using a blend of mushrooms with truffle oil on a white pie is obviously nothing revolutionary. One thing that does stand out though is the inclusion of goat cheese. This gives an already creamy pie a great bonus that kicks it up a notch. I now think goat cheese should be used more often for this type of pie. Regardless, the white mushroom pie is a staple on menus at restaurants like this for a reason, and the version here at Biarritz is great.

Maybe you have some nostalgia for the heyday of Basil, or maybe you just want to check out a new restaurant that makes great food from scratch using top quality ingredients. Either way, Biarritz is worth a trip for your tastebuds.

In The K tchen

Sara’s Pancakes

By Naomi Nachman

I am writing this recipe which I got from my friend Sara Erlich who made these amazing pancakes when I went to her house in Sydney last week. She had gotten the recipe from Once Upon A Chef and made her own tweaks. She has also made them parve by omitting the butter and switching milk to almond milk. These pancakes were absolutely amazing and so light and fluffy.

Ingredients

◦ 2 cups all-purpose flour

◦ 4 teaspoons baking powder

◦ ¼ cup sugar

◦ 1 teaspoon salt

◦ 2 large eggs

◦ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

◦ 1½ cups milk, plus more if necessary

◦ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, plus more for cooking

◦ Canola oil, for cooking

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla and milk until evenly combined

3. Pour the milk/egg mixture and the melted butter into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. If the batter seems too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more milk.

4. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat; coat it lightly with oil and swirl in a thin pat of butter.

5. Ladle or drop the batter into the pan, using approximately ¼ cup for each pancake; cook until the first side is golden brown, or until the top surface bubbles and is dotted with holes. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown. This happens quickly so peek after 30 seconds and watch carefully! Adjust the heat setting if necessary. Wipe the griddle clean with a paper towel between batches.

6. Serve immediately with maple syrup.

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.

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

The “Torah brigade” — which is an inseparable unit of the IDF — cannot, at this time, go on a three-week vacation.

- Itzik Bonzel, whose son was killed while fighting in Gaza, issuing an open letter begging yeshivos to cancel the summer bein hazmanim

All military brigades are in emergency mode. Hundreds of thousands of reservists have left their families and are serving in repeated combat rotations for over 400 days.

– ibid.

The Torah world is part of the battlefield. This is not the time for the Torah brigade to go on break and leave the other brigades alone at the front. Torah learning and prayer are vital, and stopping them endangers our soldiers and harms efforts to return the hostages.

- ibid.

Torah values were central to [my son]. He used every free moment to learn — to purify his soul from the horrors of war, and to remind himself where he came from and where he was going. . - ibid.

I’m surrendering in Ferragamo so I can walk out in Ferragamo.

- Former Congressman George Santos (R-NY), before he was about to surrender himself to serve a 7-year prison sentence for corruption

I will tell you right now. I am sold on Trump. In fact, I’ll say this: I think he has a good shot as going down as one of the best presidents ever. – Home Depot founder Ken Langone, who in the past criticized Trump’s economic policies, on CNBC

These Democrat politicians parading down here [to protest against Alligator Alcatraz which houses illegal immigrants], I’ve never seen one of you show up to comfort an angel mom who’s lost a child because of illegal alien crime.

- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Wow! How you framed that question — I would have framed that question like: “You got a chance to go visit with the President, man. What was that experience like?” It was amazing. It was awesome. And I promise you I root for our president. I want our president to be successful just like I want my quarterback to be successful and I want my team to be successful, and it was an amazing experience.

- Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh responding to a reporter asking him why he recently met with President Trump

My family was there, my daughters, my brother Jim, my mom, my dad… Seeing how President Trump treated my mom was really meaningful. – ibid.

[Obama’s] done criminal acts, no question about it. But he has immunity, and it probably helps him a lot. He owes me big. Obama owes me big.

- President Trump responding to a reporter who pointed out that Obama can’t be criminally tried for creating the Russia hoax because of a Supreme Court decision that Trump fought for regarding presidential immunity

Did you get to see my drive on the first hole? Pretty long! That’s no Joe Biden, let me tell you.

- President Trump talking to the press about his golf outing in Scottland

I’ve stopped six wars…I’m averaging about a war a month.

- President Trump while at a press conference with England’s prime minister

I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture … Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture. I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group — or just don’t do it at all. I’m not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what’s funny.

- Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno in a recent interview talking about how the current late night hosts are completely politically one-sided and ruining the industry

Rodney Dangerfield and I were friends. I knew Rodney 40 years, and I have no idea if he was a Democrat or Republican. We never discussed politics; we just discussed jokes. I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life. I love political humor — don’t get me wrong. But people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other.

– ibid.

The entire European press is singing the president’s praises right now, amazed at the deal he negotiated on behalf of Americans. Tomorrow, the American media will undoubtedly run headlines like “Donald Trump Only Got 99.9 Percent of What He Asked For”

- Tweet by Vice President JD Vance after President Trump signed a new

When I hear my colleagues talk about, you know, the doors of the inn being closed, no room in the inn, I’m saying, you know, I need more people in my district, just for redistricting purposes and those members could clearly fit here.

- A resurfaced video clip from a 2021 House Foreign Affairs Committee briefing in which Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., says the quiet part out loud—the reason the Democrats encouraged an invasion of the country by illegal immigrants was for redistricting purposes, to help Democrats pick up more seats in Congress (although illegals can’t vote, they are counted in the census, which is used for Congressional redistricting)

There’s a lot of great things about California but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.

– California-based In-N-Out Burger chain owner, Lynsi Snyder, disclosing that she and the company headquarters are moving to Tennessee and will seek to expand into markets outside of California

Catlyn Clark had to miss the All-Star game due to an injury. Sports fans, though, say that there are still plenty of good reasons to watch the WNBA; for instance, if someone has a gun to your head.

- Greg Gutfeld, Fox

I’ve been very vocal about the genocide of a generation of women by the cosmeceutical industrial complex, who’ve disfigured themselves.

- Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, in a recent interview disclosing that she is leaving Hollywood because the only way to stay relevant there is by getting plastic surgery, and she refuses to do that

I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human appearance. The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers – there’s a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances.

- ibid.

All I know is that it is a never-ending cycle. That, I know. Once you start, you can’t stop.

- ibid.

In the now infamous interview making the rounds, Hunter Biden said that illegal immigrants now do all the jobs that nobody wants to do. For example, harvesting, processing, and selling him cocaine.

– Greg Gutfeld, Fox

President Trump said that he plans on going after Obama for ordering the Russian collusion investigation. He claims that the only reason he let Hillary stay out of jail is because he wanted Bill to suffer.

- ibid.

I feel bad for them lowballing Joe Biden on his book, until I remembered— he’s going to sell a ton of these in the middle of the night. Right around 2 a.m., there’s going to be a toilet in Georgia that overflows and then he’s going to sell like 20 million of these things.

- Comedian Michael Loftus on Fox

Political Crossfire Trump Refuses To Be Restrained By Isolationists

TBy Marc A. Thiessen

he neo-isolationist right does not like being called isolationist, a term they know is sullied in the American psyche by its association with the 1940’s isolationists who fought to keep the United States out of World War II. So, they are coming up with new euphemisms to describe their non-interventionist approach to the world.

They now want to be called “restrainers.” The restrainers don’t want to retreat from the world, they claim; they simply want to restrain the use of force, the growth of U.S. military spending and U.S. security commitments abroad.

But their moniker begs a question: Who, exactly, are the restrainers seeking to restrain?

Answer: Donald Trump. Unfortunately for them, six months into his second presidency, Trump is proving to be quite unrestrainable.

The restrainers did not want Trump to bomb the Houthis in Yemen, arguing the terrorist attacks on ships and tankers crossing the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were primarily a European problem. They would have effectively continued the feckless policies of President Joe Biden, who allowed these terrorist proxies of Iran to fire with virtual impunity more than 140 times at merchant vessels and 174 times at U.S. warships.

Trump was having none of it. “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated,” he declared on Truth Social. He warned the Houthis, “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, [CHAOS] WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” And he warned Iran that

“support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!”

When the Houthis failed to comply, Trump launched a 51-day military campaign, during which U.S. forces struck more than 1,000 Houthi targets, killed hundreds Houthi fighters and leaders, and destroyed their headquarters, weapons depots and missiles poised to be launched – until the fighting ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by Oman.

Not very restrained!

The restrainers also did not want Trump to bomb Iran’s nuclear program, warning Trump not to listen to the “neocons” and “warmongers” (as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard put it). Trump ignored their warnings and gave Iran a deadline to peacefully give up its nuclear weapons program.

When it failed to do so, he launched Operation Midnight Hammer, deploying a squadron of B-2 bombers that “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites. He warned Iran he would subject its Supreme Leader to “A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH” if they killed a single American in retaliation. And, to the horror of the neo-isolationists, he declared on Truth Social soon after the attack: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” Iran backed down. With his decisive action, Trump delivered a devastat-

ing setback to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and brought an end to the Iran-Israel war after just 12 days of fighting.

The restrainers also did not want Trump to arm Ukraine. Indeed, restrainers inside the Pentagon suspended U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine without Trump’s knowledge. They were not paying attention to Trump’s repeated warnings that if Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not agree to his efforts to broker peace, he would give Ukraine more weapons than it has ever received from the U.S. and impose crippling secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia. Now that Putin has rejected Trump’s peace efforts, Trump is delivering on those promises – sending Ukraine advanced U.S.-made weaponry (purchased for Kyiv by European allies), including rockets, artillery and Patriot air defense systems, and giving Putin 50 days to come to the peace table or see his economy crushed.

None of this should come as a surprise. Trump’s second term actions are consistent with his first term record, when he drove the Islamic State from its caliphate, bombed Syria (twice) for using chemical weapons on its people, gave the green light for the U.S. military to take out hundreds of Wagner Group mercenaries in eastern Syria, launched a cyberattack on Russia targeting St. Petersburg’s Internet Research Agency, armed Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles and killed then-leader of Iran’s Quds Force Qasem Soleimani. Trump is not, and never was, an isolationist.

Neither are his supporters. A CBS News poll finds that 94 percent of self-identified MAGA Republicans support

Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. And 65 percent of Trump voters say they agree with his decision to increase the sale of weapons to Ukraine, while just 22 percent are opposed, according to a new Echelon Insights poll.

This should not be a surprise either. Polling by the Ronald Reagan Institute has consistently shown that MAGA Republicans are more hawkish and supportive of U.S. leadership on the world stage than establishment Republicans: 73 percent of MAGA Republicans want the U.S. to be “more engaged and take the lead” on foreign policy; 74 percent say that “U.S. involvement with international affairs is mostly beneficial for the U.S.”; 84 percent say “the U.S. has a moral obligation to stand up for human rights and democracy whenever possible in international affairs”; 71 percent support “the U.S. responding with military force if a NATO ally in Europe was attacked”; and 73 percent would support “taking military action to defend Taiwan” if China were to attack or blockade the island.

In other words, the “restrainers” are out of step with both Trump and his supporters. They are a tiny minority in the GOP, which has tried to hijack the MAGA movement to advance their neo-isolationist agenda – and are now finding just how isolated they really are. Indeed, the only thing as satisfying as watching Trump exercise bold American leadership on the world stage over the past six months has been watching the isolationists realize that Trump is not one of them. © 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

The 12 Days That Turned Back the Clock on Iran’s Nuclear Program Political Crossfire

Now that the rhetorical debris has settled from Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, there’s growing evidence that Iran’s nuclear program suffered such severe damage that it will be neutered for at least a year, and probably far longer.

“Iran is no longer a threshold nuclear state,” one well-informed Israeli source told me. He said that Iran would now require at least one to two years to build a deliverable nuclear weapon, assuming it could somehow hide its activities. Tehran could conceivably try to demonstrate a crude nuclear device more quickly. But Israel would probably see the test coming and could mount a disabling attack, the source said.

This account supports claims by both the Trump administration and Israel that the Iran campaign achieved its objectives. This new evidence adds weight to that assessment, but some issues are still unclear. Iran could have hidden centrifuges, uranium stockpiles or weapons that weren’t destroyed. It could react by dashing toward a bomb with its meager resources – or by mounting terrorist campaigns that could be devastating for Israel or the United States. There are still many unknown unknowns.

Israeli and American sources said the bombing campaign, in addition to destroying many of the Iranian centrifuges that enrich uranium, shattered most elements of Iran’s aggressive program to prepare to weaponize that uranium. For example, Israeli sources believe the Iranians were studying an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon that could cripple Israel electronically, a more-complex nuclear fusion bomb, as well as a standard fission warhead.

The most devastating, and least reported, aspect of Israel’s campaign may have been its targeting of Iran’s leading nuclear scientists. Sources said strikes in the first hours of the war killed all of Iran’s first and second tier of physicists and other nuclear scientists, as well as most of the third tier.

By David Ignatius

That’s a massive loss of talent, and Israeli officials believe it will deter younger Iranian scientists from participating in a program that proved to be a death sentence.

By killing key Iranian scientists, Israel believes it halted the exotic EMP and fusion programs, an Israeli source said. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders had encouraged the EMP effort because they believed it wouldn’t violate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s fatwa against nuclear weapons, the Israeli source noted. But rapid progress toward nuclear weapons was happening anyway, regardless of the fatwa, awaiting only a final nod from the leader to build a bomb.

The coordinated and near-simultaneous strikes on Iran’s military and scientific elite were a stunning display of intelligence collection and targeting. But they also demonstrated an ability to coordinate diverse strands of complex data, at a level that may be unprecedented in warfare. Israeli and U.S. sources describe that assault as, at once, an air war, a spy war and an algorithm war. The sources requested anonymity to discuss these sensitive issues.

The United States struck the final blow,

with Air Force B-2 bombers carrying bunker-busting bombs and Navy ships launching Tomahawk missiles. That strike capped Israel’s devastation of Iran’s program and gave President Donald Trump a share of the success – and also provided an important demonstration of U.S. military might.

The Trump administration had given Israel a green light to launch its assault on June 13 but signaled it would intervene only if the campaign was going well, the sources said. When Trump declared a ceasefire, Israel was moving into a final phase of attacks intended to topple the regime.

Israel’s after-action assessment matches most details of the reported U.S. analysis. The combination of Israeli and U.S. bombing destroyed the Natanz enrichment facility and disabled the big enrichment complex buried underground at Fordow. Strikes on Isfahan destroyed the uranium conversion facility there needed to turn the fissionable material into a metal plate required for a weapon, the Israeli source said. Strikes also buried a site where Iran had hidden 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

Even if Iran has some other secret cach-

es of highly enriched uranium, this probably wouldn’t help build a “dirty bomb” – a device laden with nuclear material to create a Chernobyl-like diffusion of radiation, Israeli sources said.

Operating with total air superiority after the first two days of the war, the Israelis were able to destroy half of Iran’s 3,000 ballistic missiles and about 80 percent of its 500 missile launchers. Iran had planned to boost its ballistic missile stockpile to 8,000, Israeli sources say, so delaying the attack might have meant much greater damage to the Israeli homeland from counterstrikes. In an unwelcome surprise for Israel, Iran had a larger-than-expected arsenal of solid-fuel missiles, which are harder to target in flight, the Israeli source said.

Beyond targeting the nuclear facilities and the scientists who worked there, Israeli attacks destroyed logistical foundations of the program, including its headquarters, archives, laboratories and testing equipment, the Israeli source said. This devastation may increase Iran’s desire to possess a nuclear deterrent, but it will be hard to reconstruct all these pieces.

After the decisive 12-day war, a remaining policy dilemma for the Trump administration is whether to seek a new nuclear agreement that would prevent Iran from rebuilding its program. So far, according to U.S. officials, Tehran has balked at a U.S. demand for a ban on enrichment – so the issue might be moot.

Israelis and Americans both hope Iran will remain a signatory of the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing inspection of its facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency. But for now, and probably for a long time to come, most of those facilities are little more than rubble and dust.

Political Crossfire

The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn

By Bret Stephens

Egads! After a disastrous first 100 days, Donald Trump is starting to have a much more successful presidency. This is not what we, his foam-atthe-mouth critics, had planned or perhaps secretly hoped for.

Some of this is a function of good policy, like getting NATO’s European members and Canada to spend much more on their defense, something previous American presidents asked for, but much too politely. Far from destroying the Atlantic alliance, as his critics feared, Trump may wind up being remembered for reviving and rebalancing it, to the advantage of both sides.

Some of this is courageous policy: joining Israel in its strikes on Iran, which Trump carried out in the teeth of political resistance from parts of his own base, did not lead us into a calamitous Middle East war, though Iran may yet seek retaliation. Instead, it helped bring the war between Israel and Iran to a swift end and, as The Washington Post ’s David Ignatius has reported, did “such severe damage” that Iran’s nuclear program “will be neutered for at least a year, and probably far longer.”

Some of this is belated good policy: speeding the delivery of arms to Ukraine, after Trump’s disastrous initial pressure campaign on Ukraine backfired by emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin, is the only way to end the war. The next step for Trump is to make good on his sanctions threat, ideally by seizing Russia’s frozen foreign assets so that they can finance Ukrainian arms purchases.

Some of this is good policy that’s gone too far: we no longer have a migration crisis, an achievement that should not have eluded the Biden administration for most of its term and that cost the Democrats dearly. But Americans want an immigration policy that secures the border and deports criminals, not one that goes after law-abiding, hardworking immigrants lacking permanent legal status on whom many areas of the economy

depend and who should be given a viable path to citizenship.

Some of this is bad policy that could have been much worse: the trade deals that Trump has recently struck with Japan and the European Union will raise costs for American consumers and hurt American businesses, especially smaller ones. But they also expand markets for American exports, including cars and ag-

administration needed it to pass and it did. The directives abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government will not sit well with much of the country. But it does not seem to be costing Trump his significant support among Black and Hispanic voters. The way to get universities to crack down on antisemitism should not be to threaten their research funding. But the $200

Sometimes the president’s bad manners and over-the-top tactics achieve useful diplomatic or political results.

ricultural products. After months of the White House’s erratic and capricious trade sanctions and bellicose rhetoric, the trade deals bring predictability and clarity.

Some of this comes down to a series of partisan victories. The big, “beautiful” domestic policy bill had many unbeautiful parts. But, as a political matter, the

million settlement that the administration reached with Columbia probably ensures that the university won’t again make the mistake of letting campus fanatics run wild.

Finally, there’s luck. Widespread fears of a recession haven’t materialized; instead, the economy appears to be grow-

ing at a healthy clip, and the S&P 500 is up by about 10% since the election. The Democratic Party’s approval rating is at a 35-year low, according to a Wall Street Journal survey. If Zohran Mamdani gets elected mayor of New York City, it will almost surely go further to cement the party’s sadly earned reputation for urban misgovernance and elite radicalism.

All of this leaves plenty to fear, dislike and even despise when it comes to this administration. We do not strengthen alliances by threatening to seize the territory of our allies. We do not depoliticize justice by accusing a former president of treason or threatening to “go after people.” We do not safeguard free speech by suing journalists. We do not strengthen the rule of law by shaking down law firms. We do not make America healthy again by promoting medical quackery.

But if Trump’s opponents want to someday be effective — and let’s face it, we haven’t been — then we have to come to grips with realities that have so far eluded us. Such as: not everything Trump does is bad. Sometimes the president’s bad manners and over-the-top tactics achieve useful diplomatic or political results. His about-face on Ukraine is a welcome demonstration that he’s capable of changing his mind when the facts don’t bear him out. Fulmination and moral hectoring are rarely persuasive, and neither are incessant predictions of doom that never quite materialize. Americans will listen to Democrats when they propose better solutions to common problems, not when they openly root for the administration to fail.

I have lambasted the administration over and over again, both in its current and previous term. I’m sure I will again. But while it’s never fun to be fair to those you dislike, it’s also healthy. For criticism to be credible, it cannot be blind.

Political Crossfire

No, Israel Is Not Committing Genocide in Gaza

By Bret Stephens

It may seem harsh to say, but there is a glaring dissonance to the charge that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. To wit: If the Israeli government’s intentions and actions are truly genocidal — if it is so malevolent that it is committed to the annihilation of Palestinians — why hasn’t it been more methodical and vastly more deadly? Why not, say, hundreds of thousands of deaths, as opposed to the nearly 60,000 that Gaza’s Hamasrun Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatant and civilian deaths, has cited so far in nearly two years of war?

It’s not that Israel lacks the capacity to have meted vastly greater destruction than what it has inflicted so far. It is the leading military power of its region, stronger now that it has decimated Hezbollah and humbled Iran. It could have bombed without prior notice, instead of routinely warning Palestinians to evacuate areas it intended to strike. It could have bombed without putting its own soldiers, hundreds of whom have died in combat, at risk.

It isn’t that Israel has been deterred

from striking harder by the presence of its hostages in Gaza. Israeli intelligence is said to have a fairly good idea of where those hostages are being held, which is one reason, with tragic exceptions, relatively few have died from Israeli fire. And it knows that, as brutal as the hostages’ captivity has been, Hamas has an interest in keeping them alive.

Nor is it that Israel lacks diplomatic cover. President Donald Trump has openly envisaged requiring all Palestinians to leave the territory, repeatedly warning that “all hell” would break out in Gaza if Hamas didn’t return the hostages. As for the threat of economic boycotts, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has been the world’s best-performing major stock index since Oct. 7, 2023. With due respect to the risk of Irish boycotts, Israel is not a country facing a fundamental economic threat. If anything, it’s the boycotters who stand to suffer.

In short, the first question the anti-Israel genocide chorus needs to answer is: why isn’t the death count higher?

The answer, of course, is that Israel is manifestly not committing genocide, a legally specific and morally freight-

ed term that is defined by the United Nations convention on genocide as the “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.”

Note the words “intent” and “as such.” Genocide does not mean simply “too many civilian deaths” — a heartbreaking fact of nearly every war, including the one in Gaza. It means seeking to exterminate a category of people for no other reason than that they belong to that category: the Nazis and their partners killing Jews in the Holocaust because they were Jews or the Hutus slaughtering the Tutsis in the Rwandan genocide because they were Tutsi. When Hamas invaded on Oct. 7, intentionally butchering families in their homes and young people at a music festival, they also murdered Israelis “as such.”

By contrast, the fact that more than 1 million German civilians died in World War II — thousands of them in appalling bombings of cities like Hamburg and Dresden — made them victims of war but not of genocide. The aim of the Allies was to defeat the Nazis for leading Germany into war, not to wipe out Ger -

mans simply for being German. In response, Israel’s inveterate critics note the scale of destruction in Gaza. They also point to a handful of remarks by a few Israeli politicians dehumanizing Palestinians and promising brutal retaliation. But furious comments in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 atrocities hardly amount to a Wannsee conference, and I am aware of no evidence of an Israeli plan to deliberately target and kill civilians in Gaza.

As for the destruction in Gaza, it is indeed immense. There are important questions to be asked about the tactics Israel has used, most recently when it comes to the chaotic food distribution system it has attempted to set up as a way of depriving Hamas of control of the food supply. And hardly any military in history has gone to war without at least some of its soldiers committing war crimes. That includes Israel in this war — and America in nearly all of our wars, including World War II, when some of our greatest generation bombed schools accidentally or murdered prisoners of war in cold blood. But bungled humanitarian schemes

or trigger-happy soldiers or strikes that hit the wrong target or politicians reaching for vengeful sound bites do not come close to adding up to genocide. They are war in its usual tragic dimensions.

What is unusual about Gaza is the cynical and criminal way Hamas has chosen to wage war. In Ukraine, when Russia attacks with missiles, drones or artillery, civilians go underground while the Ukrainian military stays aboveground to fight. In Gaza, it’s the reverse: Hamas hides and feeds and preserves itself in its vast warren of tunnels rather than open them to civilians for protection.

These tactics, which are war crimes in themselves, make it difficult for Israel to achieve its war aims: the return of its hostages and the elimination of Hamas as a military and political force so that Israel may never again be threatened with another Oct. 7. Those twin aims were and remain entirely justifiable — and would bring the killing in Gaza to an end if Hamas simply handed over the hostages and surrendered. Those are demands one almost never hears from Israel’s supposedly evenhanded accusers.

It’s also worth asking how the United States would operate in similar circumstances. As it happens, we know. In 2016 and 2017, under former President Barack Obama and Trump, the United States aided the government of Iraq in retaking the city of Mosul, which was captured by the Islamic State group three years earlier and turned into a

At the same time, the Islamic State fighters have used masses of civilians as human shields, and have been indiscriminate about sniper and mortar fire.

This fight, carried out over nine months, had broad bipartisan and international support. By some estimates, it left as many as 11,000 civilians dead. I don’t recall any campus protests.

The first question the anti-Israel genocide chorus needs to answer is: why isn’t the death count higher?

booby-trapped, underground fortress.

Here’s a description in The New York Times of the way the war was waged to eliminate the Islamic State group:

As Iraqi forces have advanced, American airstrikes have at times leveled entire blocks — including the one in Mosul Jidideh this month that residents said left as many as 200 civilians dead.

Some readers may say that even if the war in Gaza isn’t genocide, it has gone on too long and needs to end. That’s a fair point of view, shared by a majority of Israelis. So why does the argument over the word “genocide” matter? Two reasons.

First, while some pundits and scholars may sincerely believe the genocide

charge, it is also used by anti-Zionists and antisemites to equate modern Israel with Nazi Germany. The effect is to license a new wave of Jew hatred, stirring enmity not only for the Israeli government but also for any Jew who supports Israel as a genocide supporter. It’s a tactic Israel haters have pursued for years with inflated or bogus charges of Israeli massacres or war crimes that, on close inspection, weren’t. The genocide charge is more of the same but with deadlier effects.

Second, if genocide — a word that was coined only in the 1940s — is to retain its status as a uniquely horrific crime, then the term can’t be promiscuously applied to any military situation we don’t like. Wars are awful enough. But the abuse of the term “genocide” runs the risk of ultimately blinding us to real ones when they unfold.

The war in Gaza should be brought to an end in a way that ensures it is never repeated. To call it a genocide does nothing to advance that aim, except to dilute the meaning of a word we cannot afford to cheapen.

© The New York Times

Pictures of starving children are horrifying and motivate decent people to do anything to relieve their suffering. That sentiment is driving the current diplomatic offensive against Israel, in which much of Europe is demanding that the Jewish state end the war against Hamas on virtually any terms.

There is a growing consensus within the mainstream media and the foreign-policy establishment that what is going on in the Gaza Strip has become so grievous that the fighting must end immediately. With even some supporters of Israel saying that after nearly two years of inaccurate if not downright false claims of famine and “genocide” in the coastal enclave, there are now the first credible claims that hunger is spreading, the political and diplomatic situation is beginning to turn even more sharply in favor of Hamas. Talks Derailed By Propaganda

Israel Today

Hamas’s Strategy Pressures Israel, Fuels Antisemitism and Starves Palestinians

By Jonathan S. Tobin

that began with the Hamas-led Palestinian-Arab attacks on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, closer to a conclusion, it has, at least in the short term, made it even less likely. The breakdown of the talks for a ceasefire-hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas that has been pushed by the Trump administration is a direct result of the propaganda victory won by the terrorists. Their strategy to create a famine in spite of the fact that food and other supplies were available to feed the hungry didn’t just create suffering for their own people. It gave them leverage to continue the war they started on the morning of Oct. 7 to not only worsen the plight of Palestinians but also to bludgeon an exhausted and beleaguered Israel into submission.

We don’t know whether that will mean a ceasefire deal that will be skewed even more in Hamas’s favor and essentially allow them to remain in charge of much or all of the Strip. Nor

can we be sure if it is a sign that Hamas intends to continue fighting in Gaza indefinitely, confident that the increased casualties and the pain of Palestinians caught in the crossfire of the conflict will only increase sympathy for their jihad to ultimately destroy the one Jewish state on the planet.

But we do know that those who have—either out of malice for Israel or ignorance of facts on the ground—aided Hamas’s efforts to manufacture a famine or have spread misinformation about the crisis to blame the Jewish state for what the terrorists have done are as much to blame for this dismal situation as the terrorists. Those in the United Nations and international community, and those tasked with aiding humanitarian disasters and the so-called human-rights organizations, coupled with media outlets playing along with Hamas’s strategy, aren’t just wrong. They bear a great deal of the responsibility for any starvation in Gaza and the failure of the negotiations.

Hamas Digs In

Just days earlier, few doubted that an agreement to end the fighting was within reach and would likely be sealed within the week. But those expectations were derailed by the same factor—agony in Gaza—that had seemed to fuel the urgency to conclude a ceasefire.

What happened was that the food crisis that Hamas manufactured through tactics designed to hijack and/ or obstruct the delivery of supplies to those Gazans who needed them succeeded not merely in increasing sympathy for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israel.

It also gave the terrorists a reason to dig in their heels.

On the brink of what most observers assumed was a successful negotiation, Hamas was encouraged by the way their propaganda victory had caused 25 countries and the European Union to demand an immediate end to the war. France, which has been increasingly

hostile to Israel since Oct. 7 , then declared its recognition of a Palestinian state, rewarding the terrorists, albeit with a meaningless gesture toward a sovereign nation that doesn’t actually exist.

And with headlines screaming outrage about starvation in Gaza, Hamas has decided there’s no reason to concede anything in the negotiations.

They are clearly determined not merely to hold onto at least some of the hostages who were kidnapped on Oct. 7, but to also insist on paying no price for starting a war by committing unspeakable atrocities against Israel and then waging it by sacrificing Palestinian civilians. If Hamas emerges from any agreement still in control of the Gaza Strip, they not only have reason to declare victory. They will be in a position to rebuild the military forces that Israel shattered in the fighting, as well as the terrorist tunnels that made the fighting so difficult. The end result will be that the independent Palestinian state in all but name that was created by the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 will be reconstituted with Hamas in a position to keep its promise to repeat the horrors of Oct. 7 until Israel no longer exists.

A Manufactured Famine

It’s important to understand what created the food shortage in Gaza.

Contrary to the misleading stories in the corporate media, it’s not because Israel is preventing food from getting into Gaza or because of a mythical effort to perpetuate a genocide there.

The main cause of the problem is, as Amit Segal reported this week in The Free Pres s, the price of food rather than its unavailability. As Hebrew University economics professor Yannay Spitzer has documented, the price of flour—“the most essential consumer good”—has undergone an 80-fold increase since the start of the war.

The cause of that out-of-control inflation of prices was not, however, an Israeli effort to prevent flour from entering Gaza. As has been proven by the comments of Gazans and the numerous photos and videos of the availability of foodstuffs in the Strip, the problem has been that Hamas has been stealing the aid that comes into Gaza and then either hoarding it for their own cadres and/or selling it at exorbitant prices to Palestinian civilians.

U.N. agencies that are driven by their support for the Palestinian war on Israel have been claiming that Israel doesn’t let convoys of aid trucks into Gaza. But

the plain fact is that, as has repeatedly been the case since conflict began, more than 900 trucks packed with supplies intended for needy Palestinians have already entered Gaza and are in the hands of the United Nations. Yet their contents are not being distributed, something verified by the press. Israel has offered the world body five different routes for the distribution of the food, though none have been accepted or acted upon.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the organization created by the United States and Israel to make up for the failure of U.N. aid agencies to do their job in Gaza, is also seeking to provide more food and to hand it over to the world body’s agents. But again, the U.N.

all casualty numbers produced by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

This has further damaged Israel’s image abroad, adding more fuel to the fire of a post-Oct. 7 global surge in antisemitism rooted in fraudulent smears about “genocide.” More than that, it has now led to something that up until now was largely untrue: a genuine shortage of food in Gaza.

This shortage is entirely the fault of Hamas.

The terrorist group’s refusal to lay down their arms and give up the hostages has always been the only hindrance to the cessation of hostilities. Yet by pursuing a policy of obstructing the distribution of aid and stealing as much of it as they can, the Islamists have driven food

With headlines screaming outrage about starvation in Gaza, Hamas has decided there’s no reason to concede anything in the negotiations.

groups are doing nothing while working overtime to spread the blood libel that it is Israel that is causing Gazans to starve. Hamas is also responsible for the problems that the GHF has encountered and the claims that Israel is slaughtering Palestinians who come to it for aid.

Again, as they have sought to do since the conflict began, Hamas terrorists have done their best to prevent anyone but themselves from being in charge of the distribution of products needed for the population’s survival. Since the GHF began its efforts to get around the logjam created both by Hamas hijackings of convoys and the stalling of U.N. agencies, the terrorists have deliberately created situations in which the crowds attempting to access the aid have either been attacked or seeded with the Islamist group’s operatives. That has resulted in repeated instances in which Israeli troops guarding the distribution efforts have come under threat and responded by firing into the air. Inevitably, that means some casualties to the mobs rushing toward them, which have been augmented by Hamas fire. The numbers of those hurt or killed in these unfortunate incidents are then inflated out of all proportion to reality, as has been true of

rael a pariah state, as well as leading to increased incidents of antisemitism across the globe. It might also lead to the release of some, but almost certainly not all, of the Israeli hostages and some of the corpses of their victims that the terrorists are still holding for ransom.

It would also give the Israel Defense Forces a much-needed respite for an unspecified period. But that period of calm would only last as long as it takes for a rejuvenated and triumphant Hamas to be able—with the international aid that will pour into the Strip—to rebuild its armed forces enough to the point where it will return to a position where it will again be a deadly threat to the Jewish state. No one should doubt that this will happen, regardless of any pledges to the contrary or safeguards built into a ceasefire agreement. Or at least it will unless and until the United States is committed to supporting a resumption of Israel’s war against Hamas as soon as that becomes obvious.

But no one should think a U.S.-Israel surrender to Hamas will end the suffering of Gazans, who will remain in thrall to a terrorist group that will not hesitate to continue sacrificing them in the name of a “resistance” that won’t cease until the Jewish state is destroyed.

prices inside Gaza up to ruinous levels.

And there is nothing that Israel can do about it except to redouble its efforts to destroy what’s left of Hamas’s forces, and thereby prevent them from continuing to harass and intimidate Palestinians, who don’t wish to be dependent on the gunmen for food. As long as Hamas can continue to sabotage humanitarian efforts and U.N. groups that are implacably hostile to Israel and essentially in the pockets of Hamas—as they were on Oct. 7 and before that—are complicit in this Hamas plan, no humanitarian efforts or Israeli generosity to their foes can entirely prevent hunger from spreading there.

The Price of Giving In

The question then is whether the international pressure the crisis has generated—combined with the war weariness of Israelis and eagerness of the Trump administration for a deal that it can claim as a diplomatic victory for the president—will be enough to force Israel and the United States to return to the talks, and give Hamas everything it wants.

That might turn down the volume on the propaganda that is branding Is -

What is happening there ought to be listed along with human-made famines plotted by Communist tyrants Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung, which killed many millions of people in the history of self-inflicted catastrophes undertaken for political reasons. Yet this crime committed by Hamas is being blamed on Israel and the Jews because of lies spread by the media and buttressed by antisemitic tropes.

After 22 exhausting months of fighting Hamas, the impulse to give in to this propaganda war is understandable, if regrettable. The dilemma of those in Washington and Jerusalem, who must now consider whether or not they have the moral strength to resist the opprobrium that will be falsely slung at them while Hamas continues to starve its own people, is unenviable. But they should remember that the price of letting the terrorists get away not only with starting a war and committing unspeakable atrocities, but also for manufacturing a famine, will continue to be paid in the blood of countless Jews and Arabs if the terrorists achieve their objective.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

Forgotten Her es World War I Medal of Honor Awardees

By Avi Heiligman

World War I began in 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo. Tensions had been brewing for years before this incident, which caused a chain of events that led to all-out war. The United States remained neutral until 1917. Unrestricted submarine warfare of Germany’s underwater fleet as well as public sentiment stemming from a publicized telegram from Germany to Mexico caused the U.S. to join the war. Approximately 4.7 million Americans joined the military, and they mainly saw combat starting in 1918. One hundred twenty one Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Great War honoring their bravery for the greatest acts of heroism on the battlefield.

Pharmacist’s mates were part of the U.S. Navy’s Hospital Corps and were tasked with providing medical care on both sea and land. John Henry Balch was a highly decorated pharmacist’s mate from Kansas City and was in the major battle at Belleau Woods. On July 19, 1918, at Vierzy Balch, he was with the 6th Marine Regiment when they came under withering machine gun fire. Casualties were heavy as 1,300 of 2,400 Americans at the battle were either killed or wounded. Balch’s Medal of Honor citation reads that he exposed himself “unhesitatingly and fearlessly … to succor the wounded as they fell in the attack, leaving his dressing station voluntarily and keeping up the work all day and late into the night unceasingly for 16 hours.” The citation says that he was also establishing an advanced dressing station under heavy shellfire while in action at Somme-Py in October 1918. Balch also received the Distinguished Service Cross and three Silver Stars for his actions that saved the lives of countless marines and soldiers while under constant enemy fire.

The 1st Infantry Division was formed in

1917, and later that year was the first American unit to see action in the trenches on the Western Front. Known as the Big Red One, the 1st Division saw extensive action in Europe until the end of the war in November 1918. Private Sterling Morelock from Silver Run, Maryland, was with Company M, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division when volunteers were needed as a patrol in advance of the company on October 4, 1918, near Exermont, France. Four men were led by Morelock through heavy German fire when they encountered the enemy’s front line. They came upon five machinegun nests, each with one to five guns ready for action. The patrol wiped out all of the guns, even though all of the Americans had been wounded. After reinforcements came, Morelock dressed the wounds of those who were wounded and used German prisoners that he captured as stretcher bearers. A short time later, he and his company commander were both wounded and needed to be evacuated. Morelock was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action as his heroic deeds inspired the entire regiment.

William “Wild Bill” Donovan is well known as serving as the head of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) which was the American intelligence agency during World War II and the precursor to the CIA. Before becoming a major general, Donovan was a highly decorated soldier who had distinguished himself during World War I and was a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Born in Buffalo, Donovan was a very successful Wall Street lawyer and in 1912 joined the New York National Guard. He formed a cavalry troop and in 1916 was sent to the U.S.-Mexico border in the fight against Pancho Villa.

When the U.S. entered World War I a year later, Donovan was a major, commanding the 1st Battalion, 165th Regiment, 42 nd Division. On October 14-15, 1918, Lieutenant Colonel Donovan, now the com-

manding officer of the 165th Regiment, was leading his men in an assault at Landreset-St. Georges, France. The Germans were in a strong position and were inflicting heavy American casualties. Donovan led by example by moving towards his men that were in exposed positions, reorganizing the platoons, and leading the attacks. Despite being wounded in the leg, Donovan refused evacuation until his men were in a safer position. For his extraordinary heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Donovan was the recipient of several other medals but refused the French Croix de Guerre for a rescue under heavy enemy fire. A Jewish soldier who had taken part in the rescue was not awarded the medal, and Donovan wouldn’t accept his medal until the Jewish soldier was presented with one as well. Donovan’s record for both world wars is quite long and is the subject of many books. His Medal of Honor is now in the CIA museum, and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Over 200,000 Jews served in the American military during World War I, with one-third of that number being foreign born. One thousand one hundred servicemen were recognized for valor in combat, and Sergeant William Sawelson was one of four Jewish soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor. Sawelson was born in Newark, New Jersey, and during World War I was with Company M, 312th Infantry, 78th Division. On October 26, 1918, at Grand-Pre, France, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, he heard a wounded soldier who was stuck in a crater shouting for water. He crawled to the position and gave the man water from his canteen and went back to get more water. As he was crawling back to help the wounded soldier, Sawelson was killed by machine gun fire. Sawelson’s father accepted the Medal of Honor for his son’s heroic act of compassion.

The Medal of Honor has been awarded

John Henry Balch receiving the Medal of Honor in September 1919

General Pershing awarding General Douglas MacArthur his medal while Wild Bill Donovan on the right awaits his Medal of Honor

for courageous and heroic acts of bravery since the Civil War. The highest honor for battlefield bravery is only presented to those who are truly deserving as their actions are carefully reviewed before the prestigious medal is awarded.

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.

Private Sterling Morelock

Classifieds

SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES

DU N DURT

Power & Soft Washing

We clean siding, stucco, decks, driveways, concrete, pool patios, pavers & sidewalks.

Say goodbye to grime, mold & allergens!

Call/WhatsApp: 718-688-2964

Email: dundurtny01@gmail.com

VACUUM SALES AND REPAIR

All areas call Max Flam 718-444-4904

THE LEATHER SHOPPE

The spot for all your custom leather Judaica. Tallis/tefillin bags, lulav and esrog bags, havdallah sets, challah covers, shtenders, pesach sets, matzah/afikomen bags.  WhatsApp: (732) 523-0007 or email: theleathershoppe732@gmail.com for a full catalog. We ship.

PEACEFUL PRESENCE STUDIO

Men’s private yoga, Licensed Massage & Holistic Health Guidance 436 Central Ave, Cedarhurst Info. & free video training www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715

GERBER MOVING

Full Service Moving Packing Moving Supplies

Local Long Distance. Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422

HANDYMAN AVAILABLE

For big or small jobs, Sheetrock, carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, install & repair appliances Call Ephraim at 347-593-4691

MANAGEMENT STAFF WILL ASSIST

you with: * Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust

* In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling

* Securing reliable home care assistance

* Case and Care Management services

Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

LEARN MATHEMATICS

At home with my tutorial software. Algebra Through Statistics. www. math911.com Only $1 for flash drive with tutorials. Call 347-528-7837

Professor Moshe Weissman 60 years teaching Mathematics Martin Weissman 193 Edward Ct West Hempstead 11552

HAIR COURSE:

Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs. Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009

ZEVIZZ WOODTURNING JUDAICA

Challah knifes, batei mezuzah, besamim holder, kiddish cups, havdalah candle holders, yad for sefer torah, pens, stenders, bowls and more  952-356-2228

MY MOTTO IS DON’T WAIT TO buy real estate

Buy real estate and wait Your realtor for life 516-784-0856 Alexandra at Realty Connect USA

HOUSES

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT

Services – Do Not Manage Your Properties Alone!

Contact Aliyah Suites for all your real estate management needs and affordable office space near you! (516) 366-1049

Management@aliyahsuites.com

Marc Jeret (MJ) Team Leader &

Licensed Real Estate Agent

CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES? MORTGAGE? Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!

COMMERCIAL REAL ESATATE HELP WANTED

CEDARHURST

Prime Restaurant Location For Lease.

For more information:

Call/Text/WhatsApp Owner:

(516) 206-1100

Don’t Get Stuck With a Two Story House Ya Know, It’s One Story Before You Buy It But a Second Story After You Own It!

Call Dov Herman For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection InfraredTermite Inspection

Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT

Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND TEACHER ASSISTANTS

HASC seeks Special Ed Teachers and Teacher Assistants for our Early Learning Program. Warm, supportive and enjoyable working environment. Great Pay and Benefits! Sign on Bonus! Referral Bonus!

jobswd@hasc.net

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver this Newspaper every Thursday  morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Mini van or SUVand availability to work Consistently every week. Good pay - Please email gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

ISAACS

Sarahcisaacs@gmail.com

Classifieds

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

REGENTS EXPERT

Tutoring regents in Algebra and Geometry A Darchei Torah instructor. Guaranteed results

Text 347-491-8045

WhatsApp 347-767-1755

YESHIVAT KOL YAAKOV

In Great Neck, NY, is seeking general studies teachers for both the elementary and middle schools, for the upcoming academic year. Mon-Thur afternoons. Competitive salary, warm and supportive environment.  Send resume to m.kalati@kolyaakov.org

YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH LOOKING FOR SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED FEMALES TO LEAD KRIAH GROUPS.

Monday-Thursday from 9:10-2:10 GOOD PAY

Please email jkay@darchei.org with a resume and any further questions.

HELP WANTED

A 5 TOWNS NON-PROFIT

Institution recruiting a parttime 25 hrs/week bookkeeper/ office coordinator.  The position is responsible for managing, processing and reporting of billing, accounts receivable+collections, accounts payable, payroll and timekeeping, bank account management, and customer information maintenance.  The position also works closely with vendors, customers, and other staff.  Applicants must be proficient users of Excel, MS Word, and other PC tools.  Please email your resume, references, and salary history to SHULRECRUITER@GMAIL.com

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

SEEKING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS and assistants for General Studies for the ‘25-’26 year. Assistants should have skills to take over for teachers if needed. Far Rockaway area boys’ school, M-Th, PM hours, strong support. Excellent salary. Send resume to teachersearch11@gmail.com.

BOOKKEEPER

A Five Towns Real Estate Company is seeking a full-time Bookkeeper. The right candidate must be proficient with QuickBooks and Excel. They must also be self-motivated, organized, detail oriented, reliable, and able to work independently or as a team player. Warm, frum office environment with excellent salary & benefits. Please email resume to HR@capsprop.com

Classifieds

MDS REGIONAL NURSE

5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office. Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required. Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered. Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well. Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

SHMIRAS HALASHON

Text 516-303-3868 with a time slot of your choice to be careful on lashon hara. Be a part of the 1,000 people for klal yisroel!

BEIS HAMEDRASH CONG.

Chasdei Uvois Oshpitzin Talmidei chachomim are willing to learn mishnayos, say kaddish and be the shliach tzibbur to daven for the umid on the yartzeit yom hashanah of your parents or close relatives or loved ones

To arrange please call Rabbi Miller 917-445-6220

Classifieds Reach Your Target Market

Life C ach Is This a Time of Laughter?

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

Laughter is the best medicine. But it’s questionable whether this is the week to take that medicine.

There is that story of Rabbi Akiva. It contrasts three other rabbis who cried seeing the destruction of the temple, but Rabbi Akiva laughed.

Why –how could he?

Because he saw the unfolding of a prophecy. A prophecy that the Temple Mount would be like a forest before the final Redemption came.

And so, seeing a fox wandering in the place of the Temples, he felt like this was wilderness, like a forest, so to speak. This felt like the unfolding of the prophecy. The ushering in of the Third Temple.

Yet, we have no Temple today! Wait – I stand corrected. We have endless temples.

So was the prophecy fulfilled?

Well, not exactly. You know how they say if there are two Jews in any area, there are usually at least two shuls?

That’s the problem – too many shuls/ temples and it’s no laughing matter. Because we need to be more united.

It’s certainly not a matter of the number of shuls, actually. Especially, if people wanted them to pray and connect and elevate themselves. The problem comes

in when there are multiple shuls because people want to disconnect.

The ultimate Temple we are longing for is that amazing “Gumby” one. It stretches and stretches to fit as many Jews as want to attend.

Life is, after all, about stretching. When we feel stuck or limited and we take a risk, that’s us stretching.

We know when we stretch before or after exercise we limber ourselves up. We create comfort and allow performance.

As we enter the holiday where we mourn the absence of our Temple, let’s all work on giant stretches. Let’s be fox-like and cunning in sneaking up on self-improvement. Let’s ban together to try to escape this wilderness. Then maybe we can usher in that elusive Third Temple.

Now that’s a plan worth laughing about!

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 917705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.